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One man, one farm: witness to a 69-year legacy of evolving China-Slovakia cooperation

Xinhua) 10:28, May 03, 2025

BRATISLAVA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 69 years ago, the Czechoslovak Republic made a historic gesture by gifting 670 sets of advanced agricultural machinery to the newly-founded People's Republic of China.

Alongside the agricultural equipment, Czechoslovakia had sent eight experts to Cangzhou in northern China's Hebei Province to teach local farmers how to operate and maintain the machinery.

Their 139-day stay helped transform the region, and in recognition, late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai named the site, a once barren and salty piece of land, the Sino-Czech-Slovak Friendship Farm.

To honor this legacy, a museum was established at the farm, showcasing models of the donated machinery and documenting the contributions of those original experts.

Additionally, the national pavilions of Czechia and Slovakia from the 2010 Shanghai Expo were relocated to the museum, preserving the spirit of international cooperation.

A new chapter in this legacy is unfolding. Later this year, a new generation of flying cars, developed through collaboration between Slovak and Chinese researchers and entrepreneurs, is set to take off from the same site.

Eduard Sebo, president of United Industries investment group, has recently reflected on the significance of this traditional friendship and cooperation. "I am proud to shoulder the grand mission of inheriting the traditional friendship between our countries," he told Xinhua.

Sebo's personal connection to the farm began 15 years ago during a visit that moved him deeply.

"It means a lot to me that somewhere on the other side of the world, people still appreciate what our predecessors did," he recalled. Inspired by that experience, he sent one of his sons to China to study Chinese, emphasizing the importance of bridging language and cultural gaps to foster genuine, lasting economic partnerships.

Thanks to Sebo's support, 10 additional students from the farm have since been sent to study in Slovakia, laying the groundwork for robust people-to-people cooperation between the two nations.

Sebo himself hails from a family with a 400-year-old winemaking tradition in Modra, a town in the Small Carpathians near Bratislava. Building on this heritage, he established a joint venture at the farm, the Zhongjie Nitra Winery, in 2013, marking a pioneering step in modern Sino-Slovak agricultural collaboration.

In addition, Sebo has played a key role in promoting Central and Eastern European wine culture in China by helping organize four international wine competitions at the farm, with a fifth scheduled for this year. The competitions have helped raise awareness of Chinese wine brands, with a local company even winning the red wine category last year.

Over the decades, the farm has evolved into a thriving community of 80,000 residents. In 2007, it was officially designated the Zhongjie Industrial Park (ZIP). Then in 2018, the China-CEEC SME Cooperation Zone in Cangzhou was launched within ZIP, becoming a central hub for hosting forums and fostering cooperation between SMEs in China and Central and Eastern European countries.

Sebo's business endeavors in China have also grown. In March last year, Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology, a joint venture based at the farm and co-funded by United Industries, signed an agreement to acquire the production and sales rights for the Chinese market of the flying car developed by Slovak company Klein Vision.

The latest model of the vehicle is expected to make its maiden flight at the farm's airport later this year.

Sebo emphasizes that his commitment to investing in China is not driven solely by economic motives, but by a deep sense of cultural connection and mutual respect. A philosophy graduate, he resonates with the teachings of Confucius, particularly those related to self-cultivation and ethical conduct.

His efforts were recently recognized with a letter of appointment naming him the cooperation promotion advisor for Slovakia.

For Sebo, the driving force behind decades of effort is simple: "a personal conviction."

Reflecting on the current global landscape, Sebo noted that while the European Union faces uncertainties, China continues to demonstrate impressive economic and technological progress. "It remains a valuable partner for the EU, of which Slovakia is a member," he said.

"People easily forget outdated technologies, but we should never forget what people achieved together and the value of past cooperation." "That's something we must build on," Sebo noted.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
ABC's veteran political journalist Annabel Crabb has confused viewers on election night over her choice of tie.

During Saturday evening's coverage of 'Australia Votes', Crabb joined a panel of pundits as the polling centres closed along the east coast.

But some viewers were less concerned with exit poll results, taking to social media to comment on the journalist's choice of attire, namely her strange tie.

The formal suit was paired with a large pink tie that created a ripple shape and, on camera, looked to be made of a material similar to leather.

'What's going on with Annabel Crabb's tie? Is it made of leather?' someone asked on X, zooming in on the item of clothing.

This was echoed by another: 'What the f*** is Annabel Crabb wearing around her neck?'

One viewer compared the offending garment to an 'ox tongue' while another joked: 'Must be very cold in the ABC studios.

'Annabel Crabb is forced to wear a hot water bottle across her chest.'

ABC's Annabel Crabb (pictured) left social media in uproar over her attire on election night

Users questioned her choice of tie, comparing it to an ox tongue or a water bottle

Australians are waiting to hear who will lead the nation for the next three years, with polls closed on the east coast, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

The first official exit poll has already indicated that Labor is on track to win.
A musician who presided over one of the world's most celebrated chamber ensembles has avoided prison 'by a hair's breath' after he admitted sexually abusing a teenage boy a quarter of a century ago.

Paul Stubbings, 55, carried out the attack while he was Master of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields, a historic church in London's Trafalgar Square that is home to the eponymous orchestra founded by John Churchill and Neville Marriner in 1959.

Southwark crown court heard that Stubbings, a renowned organist who has performed recitals worldwide, regularly invited the music student, who was 17 at the time of the offence, to his nearby apartment.

On the night in question, Stubbings plied his victim with alcohol and later entered the spare room where the teenager was sleeping overnight, getting into bed with him before kissing and molesting him.

Stubbings, who pleaded guilty to one count of indecently assaulting the schoolboy at his former Westminster address on December 15, 1999, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of community service, plus 25 days of rehabilitation.

'You ought to be thoroughly ashamed of what you have done,' Judge Christopher Hehir told Stubbings. 'Almost every aspect of his life has been affected by what you did.

'His parents say they feel anguish that they were unable to protect their son from what you did. There was abuse of trust and use of alcohol to facilitate the offence.'

Nicole Shaw, prosecuting, told the court the victim was an ambitious and enthusiastic young musician who went on to study at Oxford University.

Paul Stubbings, 55,has admitted to sexually abusing a teenage music student while he was Master of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields, a historic church in London's Trafalgar Square

'You have avoided prison by a hair's breadth,' Judge Christopher Hehir told Stubbings during a hearing at Southwark crown court, above. 'I hope you reflect on the damage you have done'

Stubbings, seen here outside the court, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 300 hours of community service

'He was slowly coming out as gay and was regularly invited by Stubbings to his flat near the church, which he shared with his partner,' said Shaw.

'They had dinners and alcohol was always provided, and the complainant says it felt like a haven for like-minded individuals.

'On the day of the offence, when the complainant was to stay overnight, Stubbings' partner was not there and they had two large gin and tonics and lots of red wine.

'They were sitting on the sofa and Stubbings began rubbing his foot against the foot of the complainant, who by now was quite drunk.

'He went to the spare bedroom and this defendant appeared at the door and came in and got into bed with the complainant.'

'This lasted 10 to 15 minutes and the next morning Stubbings seemed 'sheepish', says the complainant, who felt the defendant was seeking assurance nothing would be said about it.'

The victim declined future invitations to the apartment and reported the attack to the senior clergy at St Martin-in-the-Fields, who gave Stubbings the option to resign or face dismissal. He also reported Stubbings to the police, but his refusal to support a prosecution meant the complaint went no further.

The court heard that Stubbings, of Ellington Road, Ramsgate lost his most recent role as a sessional academic at Canterbury Christ Church University following his admission of guilt. He is now living with his mother in his native North Yorkshire and claiming benefits.

Stubbings, of Ellington Road, Ramsgate lost his most recent role as a sessional academic at Canterbury Christ Church University following his admission of guilt, the court heard

'His hard work and illustrious career has been affected and he is now on benefits,' Stubbings' lawyer, Jennifer Dannhauser, told the court

The victim, who sat a few feet from Stubbings throughout the two-hour hearing, laid bare the lasting impact of the incident on taking the witness box.

'It was impossible at the time to know what a detrimental effect this would have on my life,' he said. 'I had a strained relationship with my parents that Paul weaponised.'

The victim described how he had several meals with Stubbings and his partner.

'They filled my head with how gay life functioned and took advantage of my naivety,' he said. 'Because of the stories they were spinning me, I felt like what happened was a consequence of gay life and I was made to feel like it was my fault.'

Following the assault, the victim's A-levels suffered and he endured a three-month stress-related illness.

'Paul and his friends spread malicious rumours that I lied about the whole thing and the organist community of London turned rank against me,' he said.

'My love for music and playing the organ died and, when I looked in the mirror, all I could see was shadow.

'In my first year of Oxford I was suicidal and almost asked the verger for the keys to the tower to throw myself from, and I felt like that three times.'

Describing the last quarter of a century as a time of 'pain and suffering', the man, now in his early 40s, said he had come forward for a second time to encourage other potential victims to do likewise.

Stubbings' lawyer, Jennifer Dannhauser, characterised the attack as an isolated incident that had blighted an otherwise eminent career.

'This is a one-off offence that occurred 25 years ago and has not been repeated,' said Dannhauser.

'His hard work and illustrious career has been affected and he is now on benefits and the pre-sentence report says he is at low risk of serious offending or causing personal harm.'

Judge Hehir told Stubbings: 'I am prepared to accept your genuine remorse, but you used your career to commit this offence, although no other complainants were made at the time or since.

'You lost your job, which was hardly surprising, and have now lost your most recent job as a result of coming to court.

'I have not found this an easy decision, but it is just appropriate to suspend the sentence.

'This was not an easy decision and you have avoided prison by a hair's breadth.

'I hope you reflect on the damage you have done and I repeat my admiration of the victim who has attended today.'

Stubbings has been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and pay 150 costs.
Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that his conversation with Donald Trump at the Vatican last weekend 'may have been the best we have ever had'.

'I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently,' Zelensky told a small group of journalists, including AFP, on Friday in remarks embargoed till Saturday. 'We'll see. That's his vision, his choice in any case.'

The two world leaders met face-to-face for the first time in two months at Pope Francis' funeral, following a disastrous meeting in the White House in February - in which Zelensky was unceremoniously booted out of the seat of American power.

Washington and Kyiv have also signed a new minerals deal that will see the US invest in Ukraine's rare earth and other deposits as it seeks to reduce military aid to the war-torn country.

Ukraine overnight staged its heaviest strikes on Russia in months, reportedly deploying British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles and kamikaze air and sea drones.

Among numerous targets by Ukraine overnight a renewed 'attack on Putin's 3billion Crimean Bridge'. Storm Shadows were reportedly used against Russian naval and commercial port Novorossiysk.

Zelensky has dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin coinciding with Moscow's World War II commemorations, but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.

He added that Ukraine won't be 'playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin's exit from isolation on 9 May' when some international leaders are expected in Moscow.

Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that his conversation with Donald Trump at the Vatican last weekend 'may have been the best we have ever had'

Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 3, 2025

Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 3, 2025

Ukrainian GUR military intelligence showed a video of its 'world first' strike from a Magura sea drone on a 38million Russian Su-30 multi-role fighter near Novorossiysk over the Black Sea. Russian sources - admitting the downing - said the unmanned boat was armed with a R-73 anti-aircraft guided missile

An Ukrainian drone hits residential building in Novorossiysk, Russia

Massive explosions were reported across the Krasnodar region - where Vladimir Putin has several palaces - as well as Rostov region and the occupied Crimea peninsula overnight.

Russia claimed it shot down 170 drones, 14 unmanned attack boats, eight Storm Shadows, and three Ukrainian Neptune-MD guided missiles.

It was not immediately clear how many British missiles struck targets, but it is the first time they have been reported as being used by Ukraine since Trump's January inauguration.

Among the targets - with thunderous explosions - was key Russian Black Sea port Novorossiysk, where shot down drone debris hit residential tower blocks wounding civilians including children.

Russian sources claimed Novorossiysk was attacked by Storm Shadow missiles, which - while British-supplied - needed specific US approval to use against Putin's territory.

'For the first time since January, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a strike with British Storm Shadow missiles on internationally recognised territory of Russia, on Novorossiysk,' said Sergei Markov, director of Russia's Institute of Political Studies.

'The Ukrainian Armed Forces cannot target these missiles themselves - they need a satellite constellation, which only the United States has.

Ukrainian rescuers extinguish a fire at a house after a drone strike on Kharkiv early on May 3, 2025. Forty seven people were wounded and stressed as a result of seventeen Russian drones night attack to civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, houses and shops in Kharkiv

Massive explosions were reported across the Krasnodar region - where Vladimir Putin has several palaces - as well as Rostov region and the occupied Crimea peninsula overnight

Novorossiysk was also attacked by Ukrainian unmanned boats which launched FPV drones. The city's public transport was crippled after the bombardment. The Kerch Bridge linking occupied Crimea to Russia also hit (pictured)

Russia claimed it downed 96 drones over Crimea overnight, but did not reveal how many hit targets. Pictured are Ukrainian drones over Crimea last night

'This apparently means that after signing the Mineral Deal with Ukraine, Trump ordered the US Army to again use the satellite constellation to target Ukrainian missiles on Russian territory.

'This means that the US [military] is again participating in the war against Russia.

'After coming to power, Trump ordered the US Army not to participate in strikes on Russian territory itself, so that there would be no escalation to a nuclear war.

'And now Trump has returned to [Joe] Biden's policy.'

Novorossiysk was also attacked by Ukrainian unmanned boats which launched FPV drones, with one Russian helicopter reportedly shot down, and the crew rescued.

The city's public transport was crippled after the bombardment.

Taman and Kerch, which is close to the 12-mile Crimean Bridge, built by Putin and opened in 2018, were also hit.

The bridge - a key supply route to Crimea - was closed for several hours amid the attack. Struck, too, in the blitzkrieg were Slavyansk-na-Kubani and popular Russian resort Anapa.

Russia claimed it downed 96 drones over Crimea, but did not reveal how many hit targets.

The punishing Ukrainian strikes came as evidence grew that Vladimir Putin has no intention of engaging with the month-long ceasefire demanded by the US and Ukraine.

Ukrainian rescuers work on a residential building after a drone strike on Kharkiv late on May 2, 2025, amid Russian invasion in Ukraine

A fire burns at the site of a drone strike near a residential building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 2

Among Ukraine's overnight targets - with thunderous explosions - was key Russian Black Sea port Novorossiysk, (pictured) where shot down drone debris hit residential tower blocks wounding civilians including children

According to local reports, Russians were stuck in a traffic jam in front of the Crimean Bridge last night while the air defense and alarms went off

US officials were drawing up new sanctions against Putin, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump 'must soon decide how much more time the US will devote to ending Russia's war against Ukraine'.

The sides remained 'far apart', he said.

The fresh sanctions were awaiting Trump's approval.

Despite this, Putin - branded a 'monster' by Zelensky - continued his relentless assaults on Ukrainian civilians last night, striking second city Kharkiv, where 44 people were injured, including one 11-year-old child.

'There were no military targets and there could not be,' said Zelensky. 'Russia is striking residential areas precisely when Ukrainians are at home, when they are putting their children to bed.

'Only monsters can give such orders and carry them out. While the world is slow to make decisions, almost every night in Ukraine turns into horror, because of which lives are lost.

'Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defence.

'We need strong and real decisions from our partners: the United States, Europe, all our partners who strive for peace. Only force and sanctions will make Russia stop.'

A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, wounded 47 people overnight, officials said

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations across the city late Friday. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles were damaged in the assault, according to Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov

Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 2, 2025

Rescuers work on a residential building after a drone strike on Kharkiv late on May 2, 2025

Zelensky defended his fresh strikes against Russia.

He said: 'Russia continues to refuse a full, long-term ceasefire - all partners are tired of these Russian manipulations.

'We are defending our positions, we will act accordingly both at the front and in our actions on Russian territory.

'The war must be felt where it came from.'

The new US sanctions - if Trump approves - would target Russia's energy and banking sectors, including Gazprom and key financial institutions.

The package could include secondary sanctions on exports to India and China aimed at stopping Russia's funding of the war.

Zelensky has also refused to guarantee safety of foreign guests - including China's President Xi Jinping - attending Russia's major commemoration of Adolf Hitler's defeat 80 years ago.

Putin has said he will call a unilateral ceasefire for three days covering the 9 May military parade in Moscow.

But Ukraine has said a ceasefire only makes sense if it lasts 30 days and leads to a bid to hold peace talks and end the war.

Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike on May 3, 2025 in Kharkiv, Ukraine

A burned-out car stands on the road after a Russian drone strike on May 3, 2025 in Kharkiv

The popular Russian resort Anapa was also struck by Ukrainian drones overnight

Struck, too, in the blitzkrieg last night were Slavyansk-na-Kubani and popular Russian resort Anapa

DI Ukraine special operations unit, in coordination with the Security Service of Ukraine and Defence Forces of Ukraine, eliminated a Russian Su-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea

Putin has rejected a longer ceasefire - but has multiple foreign leaders attending the Red Square commemorations.

Zelensky said: 'We behave decently with China and with states that have not supported Ukraine since the beginning of the war, but are somewhere in between or sometimes more inclined towards the Russians because of historical ties.

'But nevertheless, this is not the first time that we have been approached by other countries that they are travelling to Russia and would like to be safe at that moment.

'There is such diplomacy, such a format of diplomacy.'

But Zelensky insisted: 'Our position is very simple towards all countries that have travelled or are travelling to Russia on May 9 - we cannot take responsibility for what is happening on the territory of the Russian Federation.

'They provide you with security and therefore we will not give you any guarantees. Because we do not know what Russia will do on these dates.

'It may take various steps on its part, let's say, arson, explosions, and so on. And then blame us. Ukraine is definitely not responsible for what is happening in Russia today. This is a fact.'

Later it emerged that Russia had lost Su-30 multi-role in today's intense battles around the Black Sea - shot down by a R-73 anti-aircraft guided missile from a maritime drone, according to reports.

The crew of two was reportedly rescued after ejecting.

Firefighters clean up the aftermath of a Shahed drone hitting near a high-rise building in Kharkiv, Kharkiv region, Ukraine on May 2, 2025

The Kharkiv Prosecutor's Office said Saturday that Russian forces used drones with thermobaric warheads. In a statement on Telegram, it said thermobaric weapons create a powerful blast wave and a hot cloud of smoke, causing large-scale destruction. The prosecutor said its use may indicate a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law

Russia fired a total of 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine's air force said. Of those, 77 were intercepted and a further 73 lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles

Russia was today accused of using strike drones with thermobaric warheads, creating a powerful blast wave and a high-temperature cloud, causing large-scale destruction and numerous casualties among the civilian population.

'Its use is particularly dangerous and may indicate a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law,' said the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

A total of 51 were wounded, including two children.

Ukrainian GUR military intelligence showed a video of its 'world first' strike from a Magura sea drone on a 38million Russian Su-30 multi-role fighter near Novorossiysk over the Black Sea.

Russian sources - admitting the downing - said the unmanned boat was armed with a R-73 anti-aircraft guided missile.

'This is the first destruction of a combat aircraft by a sea drone in the world,' said the GUR.

'The historic strike was carried out by soldiers of the GUR special unit of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine Group 13 with a missile from an unmanned sea platform Magura.

'The multi-purpose fighter of the aggressor state Russia, whose estimated cost is about $50million [USD], burst into flames in the air and eventually fell into the sea .

'The successful strike on the enemy combat aircraft took place in the water area near the port in the city of Novorossiysk, where Muscovites hide the remains of their Black Sea Fleet.'

On December 31 last year a Magura V5 missile sea drone downed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters, another world first.

The Su-30's two crew members were believed to have been rescued by a cargo vessel.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky pushed US president Donald Trump to take a harder line with Russian despot Vladimir Putin during their historic chat at St. Peter's Basilica

A car burns in Ukraine's Kherson following a Russian drone strike overnight

Russian drone attack injures two in Ukraine's Kherson, governor says

Emergency services tackle a building fire after Russian drone strike in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia

Zelensky last week pushed Trump to take a harder line with Putin during their historic conversation at St. Peter's Basilica.

According to Axios, Zelensky told Trump that Putin would not be moved on his position on the invasion of Ukraine until he was forced to.

A source told the outlet that Trump admitted he might have to change his approach to dealing with Putin.

Hours later, Trump criticised Putin in a Truth Social post for attacking Kyiv with a missile strike, writing: 'It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!'

Zelensky also asked Trump to return to his original position on an unconditional ceasefire as a foundation for peace talks, which a source said Trump appeared to agree to.

The Ukrainian leader wasn't the only one to make demands of the other, with Axios reporting that the firebrand Republican pushed Zelensky to sign the US-Ukraine minerals deal as soon as possible.

Trump gave the details behind the iconic photo of the two world leaders during a NewsNation town hall Wednesday night moderated by Chris Cuomo, Stephen A. Smith and Bill O'Reilly.

With a newly-signed deal for U.S. access to Ukraine's natural resources in his back pocket, Trump gave a glimpse into his deal-making discussion with Zelensky.

'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 said.

He claimed that the Russians are 'just chugging forward' and called them 'a big, strong country' though 'not nearly as strong as the United States.'

Following a disastrous meeting in the White House in February, in which Zelensky was unceremoniously booted out of the seat of American power, the two world leaders met face-to-face for the first time in two months at Pope Francis' funeral last week

O'Reilly then wanted to know if he felt the new deal with Ukraine would prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from advancing further into the country.

'It could, but the reason I did that is because we're in for $350billion,' he said, citing the massive amounts of military aid given to the Ukrainians by Joe Biden.

Trump signaled that the deal was a chance for the United States to get its investments back from a costly military campaign.

'They have great rare earth, meaning certain materials, minerals, it's a big asset they have,' he said. He added that the minerals the U.S. gets access to could be worth more than the military aid.

'I didn't want to be out there and look foolish. This is not my war, it's Biden's warn. I want to stop this.'
Veteran journalist Peter Overton suffered an awkward gaffe during Channel Nine's election night coverage when he used the politically incorrect term 'Aborigine'.

Overton was talking about legendary Australian politician Neville Bonner AO, who was the first Aboriginal Australian to become a member of the Parliament of Australia.

According to Reconciliation Australia, 'Aborigine' is perceived as offensive because it has racist connotations from the country's colonial past, promotes negative stereotypes and puts people with diverse backgrounds into a single group.

'Let's move on to the seat of Bonner now in Queensland,' Overton said during the broadcast.

'Of course, named after Neville Bonner, the first Aborigine to serve in the Australian parliament and a Liberal.

'If those votes (from the early count) hold up, it won't be Liberal for long.

'Ross Vasta had the seat for a long time, he's getting 30 per cent. Kara Cook's had a great night so far she's up 12 per cent compared to that.'

Overton paused for a split second in seeming recognition of the slip-up, but then Nine's coverage rolled on despite the hiccup.

Veteran Nine journalist Peter Overton had a slip-up on election night when he used the term 'Aborigine' when speaking about legendary Indigenous politician Neville Bonner

Indigenous advocacy group Reconciliation Australia said 'aborigine' is offensive as it promotes negative stereotypes and harkens back to early colonial days

Amnesty International agreed the term Aborigine is not acceptable.

'You're more likely to make friends by saying Aboriginal person, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander,' the non-profit said.

'If you can, try using the person's clan or tribe name and if you are talking about both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it's best to say either Indigenous Australians or Indigenous people'.

'Without a capital a, aboriginal can refer to an Indigenous person from anywhere in the world. The word means original inhabitant in Latin.'

As about 8pm in the seat of Bonner, the voting numbers had grown closer, however, Ms Cook was still well head on 54.7 per cent of the vote compared to 45.3 per cent for Mr Vasta, an 8.1 per cent swing to Labor.

The electorate's namesake, Neville Bonner, made history after he had been appointed by the Queensland Parliament to fill a casual vacancy in the representation of Queensland in the Senate in 1971.

He later became the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the parliament by a popular vote.
Clive Palmer has been grilled over his election spending including spam texts sent to millions of Aussies spruiking his Trumpet of Patriots party.

Mark Riley questioned the mining tycoon during Channel Seven's election coverage on Saturday evening.

'You've been the great disruptor in this campaign, there's been absolutely no missing your spam messages on all of our mobile devices,' Riley said.

'What was your objective in this campaign? Last time we heard you spent 100-odd million dollars and got about 10 back. You're doing your dough, what's the point?'

Palmer replied by saying: 'Well I think we've got 130,000 Australians homeless at the moment, we've got 3.7million Australians having trouble with food.

'Those sort of issues are real issues to bring for the debate. And I think we put forward a lot of issues over advertising I think should be addressed by the political classes in general.

'So having a debate, having different ideas, having disagreements is not a bad thing for a democracy.'

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten then weighed into the discussion and told Palmer, 'there's no doubt Clive, you are a formidable communicator'.

Clive Palmer (pictured) has been grilled over his election spending, including spam texts sent to millions of Aussies spruiking his Trumpet of Patriots party

'You've been the great disruptor in this campaign, there's been absolutely no missing your spam messages on all of our mobile devices,' Mark Riley (pictured) told Palmer

'But for conservatives you're a wrecker, you split their vote... It's a giant billionaire's vanity project.

'And you're welcome to spend your money on whatever you want, it's a free country.

'I'm glad you're so motivated about the homeless and everything else, I'd just be interested to see what you do on Monday to look after them.'

The spam text messages sent by Palmer's party caused a furore and led South Australian candidate Mark Aldridge to distance himself from Trumpet of Patriots and resign.

Political parties are exempt from spam and privacy laws, and are able to send unsolicited text messages without an opt-out option.

Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday he would be 'happy' to ban the texts but added, 'I'm not sure that that fits with our democracy,' and would not commit to legislating a change.

Palmer said previously the party had sent about 17million text messages and received just 8,000 complaints.

Despite the campaign, the Hunter electorate was called for Labor on Saturday evening, leaving Trumpet of Patriots leader Suellen Wrightson with no way of getting into parliament.
A New York restaurantear who famously banned James Corden has revealed that British playwright Alan Bennett wanted him to keep their five-year love affair secret.

`Keith McNally, 73, said in his upcoming memoir that he has had two gay relationships - one with the celebrated writer, 90.

But when given a preview of the book, I Regret Everything, Bennett wasn't pleased.

McNally said: 'He didn't want me to write about him at all, but I had to be honest.

'He would write a character based on me in many plays and every one I liked a lot. But it's the first time I've written about him and he didn't like it,' he told the Telegraph.

When Bennett turned 90 last year, McNally posted on social media: 'We've been best friends since 1968 when I was in Alan's first play, Forty Years On.'

The relationship is understood to have started at that time of that production, which starred Sir John Gielgud.

Bennett had made his name as a satirist on the hugely influential comedy stage revue Beyond the Fringe, which also starred Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Peter Cook.

A New York restaurantear, Keith McNally, 73, (pictured) who famously banned James Corden, has revealed that British playwright Alan Bennett wanted him to keep their five-year love affair secret

When given a preview of the book, I Regret Everything, Bennett wasn't pleased

When Bennett turned 90 last year, McNally posted on social media: 'We've been best friends since 1968 when I was in Alan's first play, Forty Years On'

McNally was an aspiring actor at the time and his relationship with Bennett is said to have continued until he moved to America in 1975 to become a restaurateur.

He went on to open celebrity hotspot Balthazar among other successful establishments and later married fellow restaurant boss Lynn Wagenknecht, with whom he has children with including the actress Isabelle McNally.

While the Talking Heads creator has lived in London for decades with his long-time partner Rupert Thomas, the former editor of The World of Interiors magazine.

In 2022 the Balthazar owner made headlines when he took to Instagram to ban Corden from his Balthazar brasserie, describing the Gavin & Stacey star as a 'hugely gifted comedian but a tiny cretin of a man' for being rude to his waiting staff.

The former talk show host allegedly berated them over a hair in his food, demanded free drinks during the summer and furiously reprimanded the waiters over an omelet he was unhappy with.

According to staff, who were 'very apologetic,' the star allegedly declared: 'Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far. This way I [won't] write any nasty reviews in yelp or anything like that.'

McNally previously said there was more trouble when he came in for brunch with his wife Julia Carey but complained about 'a little bit of egg white' in her egg yolk omelet.

He then allegedly began 'yelling like crazy' when they made a new one but served it with fries instead of a salad.

McNally was an aspiring actor at the time and his relationship with Bennett is said to have continued until he moved to America in 1975 to become a restaurateur

In 2022 the Balthazar owner made headlines when he took to Instagram to ban Corden from his Balthazar brasserie, describing the Gavin & Stacey star as a 'hugely gifted comedian but a tiny cretin of a man' for being rude to his waiting staff

McNally previously said there was more trouble when he came in for brunch with his wife Julia Carey (right) but complained about 'a little bit of egg white' in her egg yolk omelet

Balthazar in New York's Soho is a much loved celebrity haunt

The post claimed James told the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelet myself.'

The couple received a free glass of Champagne and apologies, but the server 'was very shaken.'

Four hours after announcing the ban to his 87,000 Instagram followers, McNally promptly reversed it, saying he had received a call from Cordon apologizing.

In a later post, the fiery restaurateur admitted that he felt 'really sorry' for the comedian.
US President Donald Trump has posted an AI picture of himself as the Pope only a week after the funeral of Pope Francis.

The Republican, who is not Catholic, leader took to Truth Social to post the image, which shows him wearing a white papal hat, also referred to as a miter, while a large crucifix dangles from his neck.

Trump had previously joked with reporters how he wouldn't be against succeeding the late Catholic leader, adding: 'I'd like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.'

While chatting on the White House lawn, he revealed he did not have a preference on the next Pope, but quipped there was a 'very good' cardinal in New York.

It comes only one week after Pope Francis' funeral at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City as the conclave now gather to elect a new leader for the Catholic Church.

The 88-year-old passed away on Easter Monday after dedicating his 'entire life' to serving God and The Church. He spent his final hours with the devoted, emerging to bless thousands of people in St Peter's Square.

Trump's post has been met with outrage online with many branding the move as 'a great disrespect', urging the US President to remove the post immediately.

'Trump is literally mocking the Christian world with this image he shared,' one said: 'And on a day when Catholics are mourning the death of their spiritual leader, Pope Francis.'

US President Donald Trump has posted an AI picture of himself as Pope only a week after the funeral of Pope Francis

Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli arrives for the last congregation meeting at The Vatican before the conclave on May 3

Firefighters install the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on May 02, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. The chimney used to communicate the choosing of a new Pope

'Is anyone else surprised that Trump would be so brazenly sacrilegious? Me either. Classless,' a second said.

'Trump, as someone outside the U.S., I find your post utterly disrespectful to the Catholic community worldwide,' a third added.

'The papacy is a sacred institution for millions, and this mockery is an affront to their beliefs.'

'Please take this down,' one follower pleaded: 'May Catholics myself included, find this a great disrespect to the past and future leader of our church.'

'Completely disrespectful. The Catholic community is mourning and you post this?'

However it isn't the only faux-pas the US President has appeared to commit in the wake of the Pontiff's death, as he was accused of breaking the dress code at Pope Francis' funeral by wearing a blue suite and tie.

The strict dress code for the funeral at the Vatican dictated that men should wear a dark suit with a long black tie and white shirt. Shoes, long socks, coats and umbrellas also had to be black.

The president, who sat in the front row of hundreds of foreign dignitaries and royalty, donned a mid-blue outfit, adorned with a pin showing the American flag, which he paired with a shiny blue tie.

The strict dress code for the event at the Vatican dictated that men should wear a dark suit with a long black tie and white shirt. Shoes, long socks, coats and umbrellas also had to be black

The funeral dress code for the late Pontiff asked that men wore dark suits, a long black tie and a button of the same colour on the left lapel of the jacket, where only Vatican honours can be placed

Melania, beside her husband on her 55th birthday, could be seen pairing a conservative black coat with a lace veil and gloves

Women were asked to wear long black dresses, gloves and a veil, with the only jewellery allowed being a string of pearls

The Ukranian premier did not attend the Pope's funeral in a black suit, wearing an all-black combat-style jacket over a black shirt and trousers

Pallbearers carry the coffin during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square

Traditionally, smart, dark outfits are worn out of a sign of respect - a practice adopted by many of the gathered mourners, inluding Sir Keir Starmer.

Melania, sitting beside her husband on her 55th birthday, could be seen pairing a conservative black coat with a lace veil and gloves.

Ukranian leader Volodymyr Zelensky wore no tie, while Joe Biden also wore a blue tie. All three were accused of showing 'disrespect' because the majority of world leaders were dressed all in black.

During the Pontiff's funeral, Zelensky and Trump spoke face to face for the first time since their disastrous White House clash earlier this year, which had threatened to destroy diplomatic relations between the US and Ukraine.

The outcome was dubbed Pope Francis' 'final miracle' as the US President dramatically turned against tyrant Vladimir Putin following their discussions in the Vatican.

The US President accused the Russian despot of 'stringing him along' over Ukraine peace talks - as Trump's fury over Russia's latest deadly missile strikes against Kyiv boiled over.

And in a remarkable warming of relations, the 78-year-old billionaire embraced Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky during a fleeting meeting in the Vatican ahead of the funeral of the late Pontiff.

'It was also moving to see what they are now calling 'Pope Francis's miracle' with Trump and Zelensky meeting, there's so many things that happened today - it was just overwhelming,' Professor Father Francesco Giordano told Sky News.

A view of the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Saturday, April 26

People attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis at the Vatican, on Saturday April 26

Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re (L) officiates the mass in front of the coffin of late Pope Francis, during the funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 26, 2025

The coffin of late Pope Francis is transported from St Peter's Basilica to Santa Maria Maggiore

Priests attend the funeral service of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square

The coffin bearing the body of Pope Francis is seen on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica during his funeral service in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on April 26

Prisoners and migrants will later usher the late pontiff into the basilica where he will be buried, reflecting his priorities as pope

Cardinals arrive at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on April 26

Talks between the Ukrainian and American leaders were 'very productive', according to White House communications director Steven Cheung, with Zelensky later taking to X echoing his hopes for 'results' on their discussions.

'Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,' he wrote: 'Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.'

And later, in a furious broadside against Putin, Trump accused the Russian of trying to scupper peace talks with his repeated onslaught against Ukraine.

'There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days. It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently,' the American leader raged in a post on Truth Social today.

Trump - who later landed back in America with his wife Melania, said the US had to deal 'differently' with the Kremlin' either via 'banking' and 'secondary sanctions.'

'Too many people are dying!!!' he wrote, referring to the Russian military strikes on Kyiv last week which left 12 dead, and several building destroyed.

Further sanctions on Russia may be a possibility following a related bill received agreement from 25 Republicans and Democrats, respectively, in the Senate last week.

Trump's suggestion Putin doesn't want the war to end came after the longtime Russian leader welcomed US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Witkoff was reportedly there to discuss a US-brokered peace plan for Ukraine.

His statement came the same day he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Vatican City while they were both at the funeral for Pope Francis

It was the first time the pair met face to face since their disastrous meeting in February

It comes after Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin earlier this week, with the duo smiling and shaking hands

Trump and Zelensky's meeting on February 28 in the Oval Office did not go as well as their second attempt in Rome on Saturday

However, following these talks, a defiant Zelensky doubled down on Crimea, rejecting any suggestion Ukraine will hand over the region to the Kremlin.

The territory was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 and Ukraine feared that America could strong-arm Ukraine into handing it over to the Kremlin as part of a peace deal.

But Zelensky has remained steadfast the territory belongs to the Ukrainian people, insisting their 'position is unchanged', adding: 'The constitution of Ukraine says that all the temporarily occupied territories... belong to Ukraine.'

It comes as the cardinals of the Catholic Church held their ninth in a series of near-daily meetings at the Vatican ahead of the election of a new pope today.

The closed-door 'general congregations' allow them to discuss the challenges the new pontiff will face before they are locked into the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the vote.

Walking through crowds of pilgrims and journalists for the morning meeting, the so-called 'Princes of the Church' gave little away - not even speculating how long the conclave would last.

'We do not know, we just wait for the Lord to tell us,' said Cardinal William Seng Chye Goh, Archbishop of Singapore, seen as one of the more conservative prelates.

The cardinals were called to Rome from around the world after the death on April 21 of Pope Francis, an energetic reformer from Argentina who led the Catholic Church for 12 years.

Cardinal Fernando Natalio Chomala Garib walks at the Vatican, Saturday, May 3, 2025

A monk kisses the hand of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa as he arrives at the Vatican for a College of Cardinals' meeting on May 03, 2025 in Rome

Charles Maung Bo arrives at the Vatican for a College of Cardinals' meeting on May 03, 2025

On Wednesday, 133 of them will enter the Sistine Chapel and not leave until they have - after a series of secret ballots - given a two-thirds majority to Francis' successor.

'We recognise his achievement but no pope is perfect, no one is able to do everything so we will find the best person to succeed St Peter,' Goh told reporters.

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, archbishop of Algiers, said he hoped the conclave would choose a pope to follow in Francis' progressive footsteps.

'We must discover the one the Lord has already chosen,' he said.

'We could have had much more time praying together, but I am sure that at the right moment we will be ready and we will give the Church the pope that the Lord has wanted.'
Anthony Albanese will serve a second term as Prime Minister and not surprisingly, the major parties headquarters have reacted to the news in starkly contrasting ways.

Pictures have streamed out of both parties' election headquarters as the federal election result was announced.

At Labor headquarters in Sydney, Albanese's supporters burst into applause and chanted after the party secured victory at a lightning pace on Saturday night.

Some supporters could be seen refilling their drinks as the results were announced while they waited for the Prime Minister to arrive from Kirribilli House.

There were Albanese-branded cans among the beers handed out, 7News reported.

Meanwhile at the Coalition's headquarters in Brisbane, Peter Dutton's supporters stood in silence.

People frowned, and some were in tears, as the reality of the loss appeared to sink in over a quiet 30 minutes.

Volunteers, party members and supporters at the Liberal's headquarters were seen lingering in the main room waiting for the inevitable.

Labor supporters' reaction to the election victory was raucous at the headquarters in Sydney

But Liberal supporters were silent as the disappointing results came in, leaving some in tears

Dutton had spent the night fighting for his political future in his seat of Dickson before losing to Labor's Ali France in Brisbane.

After the news of his loss, the Opposition Leader travelled to the party's headquarters to give his concession speech.

Despite the sadness minutes before, Dutton was still greeted with cheers and applause loyal supporters.

He was flanked by his sombre family as he said 'sorry' to Liberal candidates who lost their seats, promising 'we will rebuild'.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister left The Lodge at 8.45pm en route to Labor's headquarters to make a victory speech.

Daily Mail Australia's political editor Peter van Onselen was the first in the country to call the election as Labor surged ahead of the Coalition both with the party vote and number of seats won.

'In a stunning result Peter Dutton looks like losing his seat of Dickson,' PVO said.

'No opposition leader has lost their seat at an election since the arrival of the two party system. John Howard - Peter Duttons mentor - lost his seat of Bennelong at the 2007 election, but that was as PM.

Party members and supporters lingered in the room waiting for the inevitable

The Liberals' headquarters in Brisbane was silent as results from the polls rolled in

There was a significantly more joyful atmosphere as Labor supporters chanted with joy

The crowd, wearing Labor merchandise, could be seen embracing each other

'The Liberals are going to have to start the search for a new leader.' Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Michaelia Cash, told 7News that she was not ready to count her leader out yet but used the time to sing Dutton his praises.

'Peter Dutton has been a phenomenal leader,' she said.

'He held a marginal seat since 2001. He was outstanding as a minister in an opposition government.

'I'm going to wait until the last vote is counted to rule him out.'
Prince Harrys allegation that his father doesnt speak to him amid a long-running row over the loss of his taxpayer-funded security is complicated by legal considerations unique to the reigning monarch, the Kings biographer has revealed.

Robert Hardman, Daily Mail journalist and author of Charles III: The Inside Story, said that Harrys perception that his father doesnt care about him is far from the truth  and his claim that Charles could step in to end the legal dispute over his security is false.

According to Hardman, the King is unable to speak to his son about the legal dispute because Charles is the fountain of justice in the UK - all legal authority and power ultimately stems from the monarch's courts.

With King Charles III as the cerom figurehead of the legal system - and the row over Harry's security effectively taking place in his courts - any intervention from the monarch may have been deemed as improper.

According to Hardman, there can be no reconciliation between Charles and Harry until the Duke of Sussex drops his litigation and stops speaking publicly about his feud with his family.

Harry gave the BBC a scathing interview about his family last night, in which he also claimed that he doesnt know how long his father has left to live and that members of his family will never forgive him or writing a book.

Hardman, author of the recently-published official biography, told MailOnline that had the monarch stepped into the row it could have led to a 'serious constitutional issue'.

As such, the monarch has to 'take a step backward'.

He said: 'Under our legal system the monarch is the source of justice. It's why when you go into the courts there's the King's coat of arms above the judge.

'The monarch is the basis of justice in our system. You can't have the head of the judiciary getting involved in a court case. It's as simple as that.

Prince Harry revealed King Charles 'won't speak to me' - and indicated the monarch had the 'control and ability' to help 'resolve' a row over his security arrangements

But the perception that King Charles 'doesn't care' about his younger son is far from the truth, a royal expert has revealed

'It is not a case of 'won't'. It's 'can't'. Legal jeopardy. Monarch is fountain of justice and #PrinceHarry is fighting HMG in his court,' the King's biographer Robert Hardman said on X

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard

'As one expert is quoted in my biography, you have the unhappy position of the king's son suing the king's ministers in the king's court.

'Had the King spoken to Harry, it could have meant the whole case would have collapsed.

'It would have raised the prospect of a serious conflict of interest and that could have led to a constitutional problem.'

Hardman added that reconciliation between the pair could still occur, but would be 'still pretty far off' unless certain factors change.

Charles III: The Inside Story, written by Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman

He said: ''It's very clear that Harry loves his father and his family - and his family loves him.

But for the pair to reconcile, two things need to happen - first Harry needs to finish all his litigation and secondly, he needs to stop discussing it in public.

'Everyone would love to see them reconcile, but it's not going to happen - not at least at the moment.'

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams branded the Duke's interview as 'confusing', as he thinks Prince Harry implied his father could 'arrange this' in his position as monarch.

'He didn't say that exactly, because he said that his father would step aside and let the experts decide. But then, on the other hand, that implied that his father was part of the process that was against him,' he said.

'I think people will find it confusing, because, in my opinion, it was confused'

'He believes that the Royal household is completely poisoned against him,' he said: 'This is where you get the conspiracy aspect, you could even argue there is a fantasy aspect of it.

'He believes that there are very malign forces out to get him or out to get him and his family. He believes there are those who want him to be in a vulnerable state.'

King Charles, (pictured with his wife Camilla) is still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer',

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 on Friday as he rejected Harry's appeal

Even without the legal restrictions on Charles becoming involved, insiders claim that the King had wanted to improve relations with Harry - but he has become increasingly 'frustrated' by the Duke's outspoken revelations about the royal family and the way he has handled his security row.

One insider told The Sun: 'The King has always considered this was an issue for His Government and courts to resolve and that for him to intervene in any way would be constitutionally improper.

'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, click his fingers, and demand a form of protection that the leading national experts on protection may or may not consider necessary on any given visit.'

Meanwhile a source close to the King told The Times: 'His son suing the King's government in the King's court over a decision taken by a committee that decides on the King's security makes it incredibly tricky for Charles.'

Revelations around why the King has not intervened in the security row come as:

In a blistering interview with the BBC, the Duke, who left Britain in 2020 for a life first in Canada and later in California, said he was 'devastated' after losing his battle over taxpayer-funded bodyguards  which additionally puts him on the hook for 1.5million in legal costs.

The Duke of Sussex candidly spoke about his disappointment and sparked speculation about his father's health after saying that he 'doesn't know how much longer [the King] has left'.

He also revealed he has had 'so many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond wrote in the Daily Express that the only way Harry would feel comfortable enough to return to the UK with his family would be if he is formally invited - as this would guarantee him the security 'he believes he needs'.

However, his 'bombshell of an interview' might only strain relations further.

'At the root of the rift is the question of trust,' she wrote: 'Harry's father and brother do not trust Harry to keep conversations private. And this loudspeaker of a diatribe against them is not going to make them change their minds.'

Bond also commented on the situation on Sky News, saying that the Duke was 'bristling with anger, isn't he, and resentment. And mistrust of the royal household.

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

'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.'

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.

'This is a very significant moment in what will be written about by the historians of the future about Harry,' she told Sky News.

It came after Harry last night launched a blistering attack on the King, who he complained 'won't 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 Majesty's 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.

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.

Harry's statement in full that he issued last night following the loss of his court appeal

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.'

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.

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.'

In the astonishing interview, Prince Harry revealed he did not know how long his father Charles had left (pictured together in 2022)

Last night Buckingham Palace rebuked Harry's claims of a 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.'

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.'

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 has said he fears for the security of his family. Pictured: Meghan and Harry in New York last month

Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan attending an event on October 2, 2019

Harry said his 'jaw dropped' when he discovered the Royal Household  he named the King's private secretary Sir Clive Alderton  sat on the Ravec committee. He said: 'There is a lot of control and ability in my father's 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'.

'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.'

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 yesterday 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.
British troops destined for the Russian border to help Ukrainian soldiers with drone warfare have been banned from practising the skill due to health and safety regulations.

Soldiers training on Salisbury Plain have reportedly been told to stop flying drones over colleagues' heads due to safety concerns, even if those down below are sitting in a heavily armoured tank at the time.

They have also been prevented from practising jamming radio control frequencies - stopping drone pilots and the devices they control from communicating, a key tactic in aerial combat - due to concerns it would have an impact on satnavs and other electrical equipment used by residents near the Wiltshire base.

It has prompted concerns that British troops at the base, which was visited by Prince William when he flew a drone there last year, will be woefully underprepared when dispatched to the fringes of the Russia-Ukraine frontline to help Volodymyr Zelensky's military defend its territory.

Labour MP Fred Thomas, who sits on the Commons Defence Select Committee, said: 'British soldiers who are deploying as part of a deterrence force to places like Estonia and eastern Europe are going out without the kind of training and capability that is completely bog-standard in warfare now, whether it is in the Middle East or in Ukraine.'

He told the FT: 'They (UK troops) are taking steps to try and protect themselves by going online and buying kit to then tinker around with to see if they can't jam frequencies themselves.'

According to the FT, soldiers complained that they were told to complete multiple requests for permission to the Military Aviation Authority - part of the MoD - to fly a drone over a tank during a training exercise in March.

This was despite the tank not having any personnel inside at the time.

Prince William visited troops based at Salisbury Plain in November last year when he got to launch a drone

The Prince of Wales, colonel of the Welsh Guards, was given a tour of the Wiltshire base during his visit

Soldiers have been told they are not allowed to fly drones overhead due to health and safety reasons - even if their colleagues are sat in a tank at the time

Drones have become a key component of aerial combat

Rules are in place to prevent the devices being flown near airports, buildings or above members of the public.

But drones have become a crucial facet of modern warfare, particularly due to their availability and cost.

Last month Defence Secretary John Healey announced Britain would send hundreds of thousands of drones to the Ukrainian frontline as part of a 450 million aid package.

The drones being supplied include highly maneuverable first-person view (FPV) drones to attack targets, and drones which can drop explosives on Russian positions.

These types of drones are reported to be responsible for 60-70% of damage currently caused to Russian equipment.

But there are concerns that a lack of 'real-life' training would restrict the soldiers' efficacy when dispatched to the frontline.

The base was given the once-over by former soldier Prince William in November, when he donned camouflage gear while visiting the Welsh Guards in his capacity as colonel of the regiment.
Labor has claimed a historic victory by unseating Opposition leader Peter Dutton as the party sweeps to victory with a massive swing across the country.

Former journalist Ali France toppled Mr Dutton in his long-held seat of Dickson, in Brisbane's west, with the Opposition leader conceding defeat in a gracious phone call at about 9.30pm.

'She has been successful in Dickson tonight - she lost her son Henry which is a tragic circumstance no parent should ever go through. Her son would be incredibly proud of her tonight,' he said.

Mr Dutton has held the seat of Dickson for almost a quarter of a century since beating Cheryl Kernot in 2001.

The one-time defence minister has been watching the live election count from Liberal Party headquarters at the W Hotel in Brisbane's inner-city, surrounded by family including his wife, Kirilly.

He was joined by former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott shortly before 9pm as the reality of the lose began to sink in.

It is the third time Ms France has run against Mr Dutton.

While she failed to beat him in the 2019 and 2022 election, she turned Dickson into the sunshine state's most marginal conservative seat at the last poll, with just 3,360 votes separating her from victory.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the woman who toppled Opposition leader Peter Dutton, Brisbane mother Ali France

Mr Dutton had held the seat of Dickon, in Brisbane's west, for almost a quarter of a century

The 49-year-old single mother had her leg amputated after saving her newborn son , Zac, during a car accident in 2011.

He was by her side on Saturday as she cast her vote a polling booth in the Brisbane suburb of Albany Creek.

Absent though was France's other son, and Zac's older brother, Henry, who tragically died from leukaemia at the Royal Brisbane Hospital little more than a year ago.

Henry was completing his HSC when he was diagnosed with the disease in November 2022, and spent the majority of the following 18 months in hospital.

'Henry did everything he was supposed to do to be a survivor, to stay with us,' Ms France revealed on social media last March

'Our health professionals did everything they could, but all the love & medicine in the world wasn't enough.'

Ms France said each day since she lost her son had felt like a year.

'He was loud (in the best way), so very funny, full of hope & so loving. I ache for him to tell me "love you Mum" again,' she said.

Ms France lost her eldest son Henry to leukemia last year, just months after her ex-husband also died

'He watched his friends go to schoolies, to university and jobs from his hospital bed, cheering them on. He just accepted what was in front of him - he was the very definition of courageous.'

Ms France added her son was sports-mad, loving everything from cricket to soccer to NRL.

'His glass was always overflowing with life & energy. He was a loyal friend, he always said sorry, he had an opinion on everything, he never stopped laughing & he moved at great speed & enthusiasm which sometimes got him into trouble,' she said.

Ms France also lost her ex-husband Clive to cancer in September, 2023.

Henry had been battling cancer at the same time and was transported by ambulance to say goodbye to his father.

'We were all broken. He [Clive] held on long enough for Henry to recover sufficiently to spend more time with his Dad, in another hospital,' Ms France said.

Ms France said Zac had been her saving grace as she was forced to deal with the deaths of both her ex-husband and a son in the span of six months.

'Right now it's raw, brutal devastation but I trust we will shift to a space where we focus more on honouring Henry,' she said.

Henry had been battling the deadly disease since November 2022

'I would do anything for more time with my Henry.'

During the crash that resulted in her losing her leg in May 2011, Ms France had been waiting for a lift at the shops in Brisbane's High Point Plaza when an out of control car slammed into her.

The elderly man behind the wheel smashed into the mother, who was pushing her son in a stroller at the time, pinning her against another car.

Milliseconds before the car hit her, she tried to push her son Zac, who was in the stroller, out of harm's way.

The collision severed an artery in her left leg which led to the loss of the limb, but her own injuries were not what haunted her in the days and weeks after the crash.

'Nobody realises that it wasn't so much that I lost my leg, it was my worst fear of nearly losing a child that was the biggest issue for me,' she told the Courier-Mail in 2018.

'What a lot of people dont know is, while I tried to push Zac out of the way, I didnt succeed and he ended up under the car. He was very, very lucky.'

A mother carrying her own newborn came upon the chaos moments after the collision, placing her own baby on the ground as she reached under the car and pulled Zac to safety.

Henry (left) and his younger brother Zac France are seen with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Other than a deep burn to one of his legs from one of the car's tyres, he was largely unhurt.

Two men passing by put the car - whose driver was still pressing down the on the accelerator - into neutral and physically heaved the vehicle off Ms France.

She then began bleeding out, and was only saved by the quick-thinking men who torniqueted her leg with one of their shirts.

Labor minister Tanya Plibersek paid tribute to Ms France's courage and determination while celebrating her success on Saturday night.

'Ali France, who is our our candidate for Dickson, we hope the next member for Dickson, she is a knockout,' Ms Plibersek said.

'This is her third time running, I think a lot of people know her background.

'She was in a terrible car accident, she lost her leg, she been an athlete... she's had some personal tragedy.

'She keeps turning up, she keeps working hard, she's got a lot of charisma and a lot of grit, and I think if it turns out that Ali France is the next member for Dickson, we will all be delighted because she'll make a stellar contribution to our parliament.'
Jaguar Land Rover has resumed shipments of its cars to the United States after apparently shrugging off concerns about Donald Trump's trade tariffs.

Having paused the dispatch of vehicles across the Atlantic last month following the president's introduction of a 25 per cent levy on imported foreign cars, the British company recommenced operations on Wednesday, hailing the US as 'an important market for JLR's luxury brands'.

The firm's bullish stance is likely to prompt speculation that it has resigned itself to the prospect of a sharp price increase for its US customers.

'The US is an important market for JLR's luxury brands and 25 per cent tariffs on autos remain in place,' a spokesman told the Times.

'As we work to address the new US trading terms with our business partners, we are enacting our planned short-term actions, as we develop our mid to long-term plans.

'We will give a further update in our full-year results in May.'

While British carmakers took steps to lessen the impact of the tariffs by building stockpiles in the US before the increase took effect, the company's shift of approach will inevitably add to a wider sense of unease within the industry.

Vehicles worth approximately 8.3 billion were shipped from the UK to the US in the 12 months through September, making cars the single biggest goods export to the country, according to government statistics.

Jaguar Land Rover has resumed US exports of cars like the Range Rover Evoque, its entry-level vehicle, apparently shrugging off concerns about Donald Trump 's trade tariffs

There are fears of job losses at Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull factory, above, where 9,000 workers face uncertainty following Donald's Trump's imposition of import taxes

But unless a trade deal can be struck soon, American buyers are likely to have to fork out an extra 9,500 ($12,500) even for a Range Rover Evoque, the company's entry-level vehicle.

The latest development is likely to fuel concerns among factory staff in the UK that Trump's import taxes could cost them their jobs.

'There could potentially be job losses because JLR export enormously to America,' Solihull resident Robert Mills, 70, told the Guardian last month. 'The knock-on effect is going to be enormous.'

The number of cars made in Britain dropped 13.9% to 779,584 vehicles last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

More than 77% of those vehicles were destined for the export market.

About a quarter of the 4,000 vehicles sold annually by Coventry-based Jaguar Land Rover are exported to the US.

The company has yet to open a factory Stateside, however, leaving it more vulnerable than rival manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, who respectively have plants in South Carolina and Alabama.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has unleashed on ABC star Sarah Ferguson after she was asked if she was the reason the Coalition lost.

The Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians made a major gaffe during the campaign when she promised to 'Make Australia Great Again' - just as Peter Dutton was trying to distance himself as much as he could from Donald Trump.

'Jacinta, Peter Dutton has lost his seat,' Ferguson said on Saturday night.

'With your embrace of Donald Trump, Make Australia Great Again, are you part of that loss?'

A seething Senator Price, who was surrounded by four stern-looking men including her husband, Colin Lillie, immediately blamed Labor for capitalising on her mistake.

'If you swing enough mud in an election, it sticks,' she responded.

'We did see a Prime Minister who absolutely mislead the Australian people all the way through and was rarely called out for his conduct. I think it is deceitful.'

Ferguson and Senator Price then proceeded to talk over one another in a heated exchange, before the ABC host pleaded: 'Let's just talk about this sensibly, Jacinta.'

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (pictured) has unleashed on ABC star Sarah Ferguson after she was asked if she was the reason the Coalition lost

The Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians made a major gaffe during the campaign when she promised to 'Make Australia Great Again' - just as Peter Dutton was trying to distance himself as much as he could from Donald Trump

Senator Price vented her frustration before insisting Trump did not own the copyright on making things great again.

'Can I just say, in terms of wanting this country to be great: Donald Trump doesn't own those four words,' Senator Price said.

'The media can go through your personal Facebook photos, and find a picture that was taken, in jest, at Christmas time, and then smear you with it, that is the problem.'

She is, of course, referring to a picture of her wearing a MAGA hat alongside a man in a MAGA Santa hat, which emerged after her 'Make Australia Great Again' gaffe.

She made the gaffe at a bowling club in Perth on April 12, just as the Coalition was trying to distance itself from the American leader in the wake of his imposition of tariffs on Australia.

Senator Price was introducing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who was also at the luncheon, when she evoked the polarising US President.

'[The Liberal party will] ensure that we can make Australia great again, that we can bring Australia back to its former glory, that we can get Australia back on track,' she said.

Her words were immediately seized on by Labor, and the comment was widely reported.

'The media can go through your personal Facebook photos, and find a picture that was taken, in jest, at Christmas time, and then smear you with it, that is the problem,' Senator Price said on Saturday night (pictured: the photo in question)

Labor's campaign spokesperson Jason Clare said the Coalition 'just want to import US polices and US slogans to Australia'.

Senator Price's accusations of mud-slinging echoed comments made by Michaelia Cash as the recriminations in the Liberal camp begin in earnest.

'I have to say, the online campaign by Labor and the Greens against Peter Dutton was probably the most disgusting I have ever seen,' Senator Cash told Channel Seven

'And I think that has resonated with people.'

It has been a disastrous night for the Coalition, with leader Peter Dutton set to lose his own seat.

Former journalist Ali France is on track to win Dutton's seat of Dickson with early analysis projection a 'probable' win for the Labor candidate.

Dutton had been trailing France since the first ballot boxes started to be counted but had been hoping that he would secure a bounce once the pre-poll votes began to drop about 8.30pm.
Prince Harry faces criticism for sparking speculation surrounding His Majesty's health after saying he didn't 'know how much longer' his 76-year-old father, King Charles, has left to live.

In a bombshell interview with the BBC, the Duke of Sussex, 40, revealed he wanted to reconcile with the royals, while alleging his father, the monarch, was not currently speaking to him.

It comes after Prince Harry lost his legal challenge over his UK security arrangements at the Court of Appeal. The Duke could potentially appeal the decision, which would then put it in the hands of the Supreme Court.

'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,' he said: 'Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things but... there's no point in continuing to fight anymore.'

He continued: 'Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile.'

It comes after the King recently opened up in a message to fellow cancer sufferers as he invited them to Buckingham Palace to recognise the incredible work of community-based cancer organisations.

His Majesty, who is still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer', previously described the moment of being informed of having the disease as 'daunting and 'frightening'.

Frustration has grown towards Harry since his shock interview, as former press secretary to the late Queen, Alisa Anderson branded his comments about the King's health 'unhelpful' amid continued treatment for an unspecified cancer.

Prince Harry faces criticism for sparking speculation surrounding His Majesty's health after saying he didn't 'know how much longer' his 76-year-old father, King Charles has left to live

King Charles, (pictured with his wife Camilla), who is still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer', was said to be 'frustrated' with his son over the pressure he has put on taxpayers, an insider claimed

Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales also own as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, meeting those who run the public ferry service this week

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard

Criticism of Harry's interview comes as:

Commenting that the royal family would be 'raising their eyes heavenwards' she told Sky News: 'That's going to cause real concern and more speculation in the media and the wider public about what his diagnosis is, which is incredibly unhelpful going forward.'

'What you don't want to do is have your private life played out in the media. So if you truly want reconciliation, you'll do it in private, not in a BBC News interview.'

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams branded the interview as 'confusing', as he thinks Prince Harry implied his father could have 'arrange[d]' a possible solution in his position as monarch.

'He didn't say that exactly, because he said that his father would step aside and let the experts decide. But then, on the other hand, that implied that his father was part of the process that was against him,' he said.

'I think people will find it confusing, because, in my opinion, it was confused'

'He is hung up [on the legal case] because it links directly back to what happened to his mother and that was referred to in the interview, not Diana by name, but the past repeating itself,' he added.

'He believes that the Royal household is completely poisoned against him,' he said: 'This is where you get the conspiracy aspect, you could even argue there is a fantasy aspect of it.

'He believes that there are very malign forces out to get him or out to get him and his family. He believes there are those who want him to be in a vulnerable state.'

Majesty Magazine's managing editor Joe Little said: 'From what Harry is saying, despite admitting that he has not spoken to his father for some time, I thought it sent out a bit of a mixed message, really.

'Is Harry suggesting that the King isn't as well as we are led to believe?'

Mr Little described the overall situation as 'a very unfortunate state of affairs' and is uncertain if it helps repair tensions since Harry and Meghan stepped away from being working members of the royal family as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2020.

He added: 'I think for somebody who is seeking reconciliation with his father, his brother and his family, his royal family as a whole, I think the very last thing that he should have been doing was talking publicly.

'He clearly feels aggrieved at the outcome of this legal action but there is a great deal to be gained by maintaining a dignified silence - sadly, as we know from from past events, this isn't Harry's way of doing things.

'Maybe lessons just haven't been learned from previous occasions where also silence would have been the very best thing to maintain.'

It also comes amid claims from an insider that King Charles III hoped to reconcile with his estranged son before the interview aired, but their reunion would be dependent on Harry's reaction to his legal loss.

An insider told The Sun before the interview was broadcast: 'But there is now a chance for his son to move forwards rather than dwell on past grievances.

Frustration has grown towards Harry since his shock interview, as former press secretary to the late Queen, Alisa Anderson branded his comments about the King's health 'unhelpful' amid continued treatment for an unspecified cancer

King Charles III (pictured with Prince Harry in 2022) hoped to reconcile with his estranged son before the interview aired, but their reunion would be dependent on Harry's reaction to his legal loss, an insider alleged

'From his father's perspective, the door has been shut by necessity while this painful issue played out through the proper judicial channels  but it has not been locked forever, nor the key thrown away.'

However the monarch was said to be upset and frustrated with his son, due to the pressure he had put on taxpayers, the insider claimed, whilst he was also annoyed by suggestions from Harry's supporters that 'he doesn't care about [The Duke's] family'.

They also alleged to the publication that controversy surrounding the security legal case as well as Harry's decisions in recent years had only worsened the family situation.

They added: 'The King has always considered this was an issue for His Government and courts to resolve and that for him to intervene in any way would be constitutionally improper.

'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, click his fingers, and demand a form of protection that the leading national experts on protection may or may not consider necessary on any given visit.'

During the shocking interview, Prince Harry also chillingly insinuated his downgraded security status could leave him and his family to suffer the same fate as the late Princess Diana, who died in a fatal car crash in Paris in 1997.

Harry warned that without the same security provisions given to other senior members of the royal family, he has become a greater risk to 'some people' who wish him harm.

Speaking about his fears for himself, wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, he declared: 'I don't want history to repeat itself. Through the [court] process, I have discovered that some people want history to repeat itself.'

Harry was aged just 12 when Diana was killed along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and her driver and security guard Henri Paul, in the early hours of August 31, 1997.

Diana suffered fatal injuries when the Mercedes-Benz car they were travelling in crashed into the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in the French capital.

A later inquest in 2008 concluded that Diana, 36, had been unlawfully killed by the 'grossly negligent driving' of Paul, who was being chased by a swarm of paparazzi vehicles at the point of the crash.

Harry 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.

He added: 'Im sure that some people out there, probably most likely the people that wish me harm, consider this a huge win.'

Harry was aged just 12 when Diana was fatally wounded in the crash. Pictured: The young prince with brother, William and his uncle, Charles Spencer at Diana's funeral in 1997

A later inquest in 2008 concluded that Diana, 36, had been unlawfully killed by the 'grossly negligent driving' of Paul, who was being chased by paparazzi at the point of the crash. Pictured: A sea of floral tributes were laid outside the gates of Kensington Palace

Diana, pictured with Harry as a youngster, was killed along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and her driver and security guard Henri Paul, in the early hours of August 31, 1997

The Duke, who left Britain in 2020 for a life first in Canada and later in California, also 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 said he was 'devastated' after losing his battle over taxpayer-funded bodyguards  which additionally puts him on the hook for 1.5million in legal costs.

The Duke of Sussex candidly spoke of the 'many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond wrote in the Daily Express that the only way Harry would feel comfortable enough to return to the UK with his family would be if he is formally invited - as this would guarantee him the security 'he believes he needs'.

However, his 'bombshell of an interview' might only strain relations further.

'At the root of the rift is the question of trust,' she wrote: 'Harry's father and brother do not trust Harry to keep conversations private. And this loudspeaker of a diatribe against them is not going to make them change their minds.'

Bond also commented on the situation on Sky News, saying that the Duke was 'bristling with anger, isn't he, and resentment. And mistrust of the royal household.

'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.'

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 on Friday as he rejected Harry's appeal

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.

'This is a very significant moment in what will be written about by the historians of the future about Harry,' she told Sky News.

It came after Harry launched a blistering attack on the King last night, as he 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 Majesty's courts to reinstate his police bodyguards.

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.'

During the extraordinary interview, the Duke of Sussex also 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.

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'.

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

Harry's statement in full that he issued last night following the loss of his court appeal

'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 a 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.'

In the astonishing interview, Prince Harry revealed he did not know how long his father Charles had left (pictured together in 2022)

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.'

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 King's private secretary Sir Clive Alderton  sat on the Ravec committee. He said: 'There is a lot of control and ability in my father's 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'.

'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.

Harry has said he fears for the security of his family. Pictured: Meghan and Harry in New York last month

Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan attending an event on October 2, 2019

Harry's 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 yesterday 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.

And it raises more questions over whether the Sussexes will visit Britain again.
A student has been caught shamelessly strolling around with a massive knife terrifying children and forcing classes into lockdown as two were injured.

The youngster was to have walked down a set of steps with the weapon as horrified teachers and students watched on yesterday.

Manshead School in Bedfordshire was plunged into lockdown.

It is alleged the knife-weilding school child was attempting to stab a boy who he was on the bus with.

The teenager is reportedly a student, aged around 16, and police said he was detained.

Two people were rushed to hospital but police said they managed to escape with only 'minor' injuries.

A text was sent to parents at around 2pm, which urged: 'You may have heard that there has been an incident at school.

'All students are safe. All procedures have been followed.'

A student has been caught shamelessly strolling around with a massive knife terrifying children and forcing classes into lockdown as two were injured

The youngster was to have walked down a set of steps with the weapon as horrified teachers and students watched on yesterday

A parent who wanted to remain anonymous told The Sun: 'Apparently he was trying to stab one of the kids who was on the bus with him, but it was done at the school, not on the bus.'

Bedfordshire Police said: 'Police were called just before 1.40pm today (Friday) to Manshead Upper School in Dunstable Road, Caddington, following reports of a student believed to be in possession of a knife.

'Emergency services attended and a teenager was quickly detained by police. Two members of the school were taken to hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

'We understand that this may be concerning, however we want to reassure the public that there is no wider threat to the community. We'd also like to praise the school for their swift response.

'A specialist support team will be working to support students on their return.'
Penny Wong has made a defiant Acknowledgement of Country on election night, after her Voice gaffe caused campaign woes for Labor earlier in the week.

Wong sparked a furore on Wednesday by predicting that the Voice - a separate indigenous body with powers to influence government legislation - will still be introduced despite it being voted down 60 per cent to 40 per cent in a 2023 referendum.

'We'll look back on it in 10 years' time and it'll be a bit like marriage equality,' Senator Wong told the Betoota Talks podcast.

'I always used to say, marriage equality, which took us such a bloody fight to get that done, and I thought, all this fuss... It'll become something, it'll be like, people go "did we even have an argument about that?"'

Her backing for the indigenous body came just three days after Anthony Albanese ruled out any attempt to bring back the Voice, telling the leaders' debate: 'It's gone... I respect the outcome (of the referendum), we live in a democracy.'

Albanese was forced to respond to Wong's comments and reassure voters that he was not planning another referendum, while the foreign minister made an apparent backflip, telling SBS, 'the Voice is gone... the prime minister has made that clear, and the Australian people have made their position clear, and we respect the result of the referendum.'

After Labor swept to victory in Saturday night's election, Wong took the stage at a Labor party in Sydney to introduce Albanese.

She made a point of performing a brief Acknowledgement of Country in her speech.

Penny Wong (pictured) made a point of performing a brief Acknowledgement of Country in her speech

Anthony Albanese then performed another Acknowledgement of Country in his own speech

'The power in our 26 million people from more than 300 ancestries... from the oldest continuing civilisation on the planet and I acknowledge the traditional owners, friends we love this country,' she said.

Albanese then performed another Acknowledgement of Country in his own speech.

'I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet,' the Prime Minister said to cheers from supporters.

'And I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet.'

The Voice campaign was a major blow for the Labor government and Albanese, who hitched his legacy to the proposal.

He went to the 2022 federal election with the referendum promise, spoke about it in his first speech as the PM and campaigned tirelessly for most of 2023.

Wong's podcast interview earlier this week was seen as a political gift to Peter Dutton, who quickly accused the foreign minister of 'letting the cat out of the bag'.

'Under a Labor-Greens government we see this secret plan to legislate the Voice and Penny Wong has let that cat out of the bag,' Dutton said.

'People will be opposed to that because they thought they sent a very clear message to the Prime Minister that they didnt want the Voice.'
One man and his team of 12 have tackled the filthiest job at the Kentucky Derby - clearing literal tons of poop left behind from 1,400 horses.

Churchill Downs, the iconic horse racing complex in Louisville, is renowned for hosting the world's most prestigious race, where thousands of spectators arrive in fancy hats, sip signature Mint Juleps and gather to watch what many consider the most exciting two minutes in sports.

However, behind the glitz of the southern tradition is a very dirty secret - massive piles of horse poop.

For more than two decades, Ramiro Palacios and his small crew have been the uncelebrated heroes behind the scenes, keeping the stables spotless and the smells at bay.

'When you got 1,400 horses here pooping every day, you got to pick it up every day. It's a handful,' Palacios told NBC News.

'It stinks, but it's a job,' he added. 'Somebody has to do it, somebody they really know how to do it.'

As General Manager of Fastrak Express - the company hired to deal with the mess - Palacios and his team have been knee-deep in the dirty work, day in and day out, all to keep the beauty of the complex intact and ensure smooth operations.

The real work begins each day around 10am, once the horses finish their morning workouts and are tucked away in their stables.

Ramiro Palacios (pictured), general manager of Fastrak Express, and his team at the company have been the uncelebrated heroes behind the scenes of the Kentucky Derby, clearing literal tons of poop left behind from 1,400 horses

Churchill Downs, the iconic horse racing complex in Louisville, is renowned for hosting the world's most prestigious race, where thousands of spectators arrive in fancy hats, sip signature Mint Juleps and gather to watch what many consider the most exciting two minutes in sports

The team fills about seven truckloads of spent hay a day, totaling anywhere between 6,000 to 8,000 yards per week - enough to fill several swimming pools

As General Manager of Fastrak Express - the company hired to deal with the mess - Palacios and his team have been knee-deep in the dirty work, day in and day out, all to keep the beauty of the complex intact and ensure smooth operations

From there, heavy machinery rolls in - skid steers and tractor-trailers weaving through the stables, hauling away massive loads of manure until the job is completely finished.

Incredibly, Palacios runs this massive operation with only a dozen men by his side - an incredibly small team for the mountain of mess they take on every day.

'A lot of people think, you know, 'It's just horses,'' Palacios told NBC. 'They don't realize how much they do every day, how much manure they put out every day.'

With so many horses, tons of poop - literally - is removed from the Churchill Downs day after day.

Palacios keeps track of the chaos by the size of his trucks, with each vehicle being able to hold roughly 165 yards of spent hay.

With 48 barns and more than 70 pits on the backside of the complex, it's no shock that collecting the mess is a full-time job in itself.

The team fills about seven truckloads of spent hay a day, totaling anywhere between 6,000 to 8,000 yards per week - enough to fill several swimming pools.

'If you skip one day, those horses don't stop,' Palacios told NBC. 'It really can get out of hand, really easy. So you really have to stay on top of it every single day.'

Around 10am, once the horses finish their morning workouts and are tucked away in their stables, heavy machinery rolls in - skid steers and tractor-trailers weaving through the stables, hauling away massive loads of manure

Derby 151 will mark the 25th year of Palacios working behind the scenes at the super bowl of horse racing - though you won't find him saddled up on a thoroughbred

Incredibly, Palacios (pictured) runs the massive operation with only a dozen men by his side - an incredibly small team for the mountain of mess they take on every day

But the job doesn't end once the stables are spick and span. Now, the team has to figure out where to dump the mountain of muck. At Churchill Downs, though, nothing goes to waste - not even waste itself.

'You have to know where to take it, how to take it,' Palacios explained.

Once the poop is scooped up and hauled away, its taken to the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington to be dumped, processed and given a second life.

Some lucky farmers get the goods, but most of it is shipped hundreds of miles away to mushrooms farms in Pennsylvania and Tennessee - because yes, horse poop helps mushrooms grow.

However, Fastrak's crew doesn't stop in Kentucky - they're completing the same filthy work at tracks all across the country with contracts at Keeneland in Lexington and tracks in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

It's a dirty job, but it's got its perks. Derby 151 marks 25 years of Palacios working behind the scenes at the super bowl of horse racing - though you won't find him saddled up on a thoroughbred.

Palacios's slice of heaven isn't in the spotlight - it's tucked away beyond the cameras and chaos, on the gritty, unglamorous side of the legendary complex.

'Every morning you see the people, you see the horses, you work around the animals,' Palacios told NBC. 'It gets you relaxed.'

Fastrak's crew doesn't stop in Kentucky - they're completing the same filthy work at tracks all across the country with contracts at Keeneland in Lexington and tracks in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia

Once the poop is scooped up and hauled away, its taken to the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington (pictured) to be dumped, processed and given a second life

Some lucky farmers get the goods, but most of the poop is shipped hundreds of miles away to mushrooms farms in Pennsylvania and Tennessee

This weekend, Mint Juleps will be consumed, the most extravagant hats will be worn, celebrities will step out in designer clothes, wagers will be placed and, most importantly, 19 thoroughbreds and their jockeys will race for their shot at immortality

Of course things can go wrong - broken machines, bad weather, no appreciation - but for Palacios, it's all about his hardworking crew.

'We work together and just make the horsemen happy and it just floats,' he said. 'You know, when everything works with as a team, it's a good thing.'

The 151st Kentucky Derby race is scheduled to kick off 6:57 pm ET is scheduled for Saturday.

Mint Juleps will be consumed, the most extravagant hats will be worn, celebrities will step out in designer clothes, wagers will be placed and, most importantly, 19 thoroughbreds and their jockeys will race for their shot at immortality.

Over $350 million in wagers were placed on The Run for the Roses last year, and we expect that number to taken an even further step forward this year - potentially up to $400 million.
An Illinois mom-of-two whose car plowed into an after-school camp on Monday and killed three kids and a teen is now explaining the tragedy through her lawyer.

Marianne Akers, 44, was driving her black Jeep home from work when the car sped off the road and veered through the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School Camp in Chatham, a village outside of Springfield.

The tragedy claimed the lives of four and shocked the community. Now, Akers' lawyer is offering an explanation for the horrific crash.

W. Scott Hanken, a criminal justice attorney in Springfield, revealed to local ABC affiliate, WICS News, that Akers suffered a seizure during the crash.

Hanken explained that Akers had left work at 3 pm and was traveling westbound when she suffered a seizure 'of some type of degree.'

'It rendered her completely and utterly incapacitated at the time, and as a result of that seizure, she has no recollection of what occurred,' he said.

Hanken said that Akers had no history of seizures and wasn't on any medications that would've impaired her driving.

'No one contemplated this happening. She surely didnt. It was a perfect storm of events that, if she could take back she would, just like anyone else,' Hanken told WICS.

Marianne Akers, 44, was driving a Jeep when the car veered off the road into the YNOT Outdoors Summer and After School camp in Chatham, Illinois, on Monday, April 28, around 3:20 pm

The car crashed into a pole and a fence after plowing through the camp. The devastating crash killed three kids and one teen

Akers' lawyer spoke to local news about the incident and said she had a seizure before the crash. He added that she was devastated and cooperating with law enforcement

Akers' lawyer said she was devastated and fully cooperating with law enforcement.

The Illinois State Police hasn't yet confirmed the cause of the crash, and a spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the investigation is ongoing.

Police said that Akers' car left the road at around 3:20 pm and traveled through a field before crashing into the east side of the YNOT After School Camp, which stands for Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors.

Akers' Jeep then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and a fence. She was transported to a local hospital but was uninjured and released.

Police said on Thursday that an initial toxicology report revealed that she didn't have alcohol or any controlled substances in her system at the time of the crash.

Akers was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. The four victims were killed on the scene.

Police announced that the victims were Kathryn Corley and Alma Buhnerkempe, both seven, Ainsley Grace Johnson, eight, and Rylee Britton, 18.

Britton was a high school student who helped run the after-school program. She was planning on studying English and secondary education at Iowa University.

Two girls, aged seven, were killed in the crash while attending the after-school program in Illinois

Ainsley Johnson, eight, lost her life in the crash. She was a dancer at Studio M Dance Centre. Her dance instructor, Mariah Clark, said she always 'brought so much light and joy into my class'

Rylee Britton was a high school student who helped run the after-school program. She was planning on studying English and secondary education at Iowa University

Her classmates described her as 'super intelligent' and 'unconditionally nice,' adding that she 'always made people laugh.'

Ainsley was a dancer at Studio M Dance Centre. Her dance instructor, Mariah Clark, said she always 'brought so much light and joy into my class.'

'Her smile was so bright, her personality was already so big at such a young age, and she danced like she meant it. I will forever keep Ainsley in my heart,' Clark added.

Kathryn went by the nickname Kit Kat and was described in her obituary as 'brightening the lives of everyone she encountered with her loving nature and unforgettable personality.'

'Alma came into this world exactly how she lived  in a burst of activity,' Alma's obituary read.

'From that point on, she never stopped. She lit up our world with an infectious energy, a goofy sense of humor, and a sense of compassion that was boundless.'

The Chatham community mourned the four victims during two vigils in the days following the crash

As the community mourns the devastating loss, the Illinois State Police have been investigating the crash. No arrests have been made yet

The three children killed were elementary school students, while Rylee Britton worked at the program

Two separate vigils were held to honor the victims in the days following the crash. The three children who were killed were students at the Ball-Chatham School District.

Britton's father, Zachary Britton, told the crowd at her vigil that seeing the support for his daughter made him smile.

'Our hearts are broken, but this helps a little bit,' USA Today reported.

Of the six children hospitalized after the crash, two have been released. Ella Orsi, another seven-year-old at YNOT, is fighting severe injuries.

She suffered facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling and brain bleeding from the crash.

Family friend Casey Sitko said that she has been responsive and can squeeze her parents' hands.

'Ella is an absolute joy to be around. She loves to have fun, make jokes, and laugh! Her smile is infectious, and we can't wait to see it again,' she said.

Ella Orsi, 7, was hospitalized after enduring severe injuries. She suffered facial fractures, a broken jaw, damaged teeth, brain swelling, and brain bleeding from the crash

A spokesperson for the Illinois State Police Department told DailyMail.com that there are no further updates on the case and the investigation remains ongoing.

Akers hasn't been charged with any crime. She is a mom of a teenage boy and girl and previously worked in food service at Chatham Elementary School.

She now works for the Illinois Department of Transportation's Bureau of Business Services and at the police department.

ISP previously clarified that Akers wasn't an officer or investigator with the department.
Anthony Albanese had a lot to say when he got on stage to declare victory - but one of the most powerful messages he had for the Australian people went completely unspoken.

The Prime Minister joined his loyal supporters at Labor's election party in Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club, Sydney, to celebrate his monumental win on Saturday night.

Addressing the country, he stood proudly beside three flags: the Australian national flag, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag.

It is a clear statement from Albanese on his view of the country's future - and a stark contrast to the country that Peter Dutton had envisioned.

The Prime Minister has displayed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags with the Australian flag at press conferences since he became prime minister in 2022.

But Dutton has previously said the nation should identify with one flag, and that he would appear only under the national flag of Australia if elected Prime Minister.

'I'm very strongly of the belief that we are a country united under one flag,' he said.

'If we're asking people to identify with different flags, no other country does that, and we are dividing our country unnecessarily.'

Anthony Albanese (pictured) gave his victory speech standing beside the national, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on election night

The Prime Minister promised to 'govern for every Australian' in his second term

Albanese promised to 'govern for every Australian' in his speech, making a clear statement about a future of inclusivity for the nation.

The PM also made a point of listing his promise to deliver on commitments to First Nations people in his speech, which was welcomed with applause from the crowd.

He said he would continue to lead a government 'that supports reconciliation with First Nations people'.

'Because we will be a stronger nation when we close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians,' he said.

The Prime Minister also delivered a defiant Acknowledgement to Country after a week of fraught debate around Welcome to Country ceremonies.

'I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet,' he said, to huge applause and cheers from the crowd.

'And I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging today  and every day.'
A video of Democratic Senator John Fetterman arguing with a pilot has resurfaced after a bombshell report raised concerns over his mental health.

Fetterman had been traveling to Pittsburgh earlier this year when he started arguing with the pilot after refusing to wear his seat belt in a way that it was visible.

In the clip, the pilot could be heard saying: 'It needs to be visible to the crew at all times, that's a federal regulation.'

Fetterman talked back to the pilot and raised his hands, before the pilot responded: 'If you want to go to Pittsburgh, it's simple.'

'You're going to have to follow our instructions or be asked to get off the airplane', he added while offering Fetterman a belt extender so it didn't have to go under his sweatshirt.

The pilot and three members of crew could also be seen staring at Fetterman in the brief clip before it ended.

The video's resurfacing comes after claims from current and former staffers that Fetterman is not well and has been behaving erratically since being treated for depression.

In a report by New York Magazine, several individuals have made concerning accusations against him and claimed he is not making his medication.

Fetterman had been traveling to Pittsburgh earlier this year when he started arguing with the pilot after refusing to wear his seat belt in a way that it was visible

It comes after claims from current and former staffers that Fetterman is not well and has been behaving erratically since being treated for depression

Only one staffer was willing to go public with the claims and Fetterman has denied them.

Some of the anonymous staffers shared marital strife and political disagreements with his wife Gisele.

Former Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson is the most public face of the story, titled 'The Hidden Struggle of John Fetterman.'

One year after Fetterman's release from the traumatic-brain-injury and neuropsychiatry unit at Walter Reed Hospital, Jentleson wrote a letter the division's director who treated Fetterman there.

'I think John is on a bad trajectory and I'm really worried about him,' Jentleson wrote in the 1,600-word email with the subject line: 'Concerns.'

He added that the senator 'won't be with us for much longer' if he doesn't change his behavior, with Jentleson claiming these are 'the things you said to flag, so I am flagging.'

One of the things he was told to flag: that Fetterman purchased a gun, though Jentleson admits the senator 'takes all the necessary precautions, and living where he does I understand the desire for personal protection.'

Jentleson is referring to the hard-scrabble small town of Braddock where Fetterman served as mayor and still lives.

John Fetterman's current and former staffers have lashed out at their boss, claiming the Pennsylvania Senator is not well and has behave erratically since being treated for depression

The Pennsylvanian had been the only Democratic senator to grace the halls of Mar-a-Lago after Trump's historic second win in November

Fetterman is accused of everything from the physical - 'not taking his meds' to eating fast-food multiple times a day - to the mental - lying, 'self-centered monologues,' 'conspiratorial thinking; megalomania' - among his issues.

The senator is also allegedly obsessed with social media despite admitting it was an 'accelerant' of his depression and driving 'recklessly' to the point that staffers refused to ride with him and a police officer said it was 'a miracle no one died' after one accident last June.

Jentleson also argued that 'every person who was supposed to help him stay on his recovery plan has been pushed out.'

The former chief of staff later said in an interview a year after writing the letter that he's telling his side of the story because he believes Fetterman's trajectory has taken him out of consideration to lead the Democrats going forward.

'Part of the tragedy here is that this is a man who could be leading Democrats out of the wilderness but I also think he's struggling in a way that shouldn't be hidden from the public.'

Fetterman's campaign is also reportedly bleeding money and losing small-dollar donors ever since he met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

Fetterman is seen here speaking at a Democratic event just outside of Pittsburgh last November

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

The author, Ben Terris, spoke to Fetterman ahead of publication and got a text message from him asking: 'Why is this a story?'

He added that the number of staffers leaving is typical for Washington and he is the 'best version' of himself right now.

Fetterman also denied claims that toward the beginning of his first term, he had to be spoken to for 'an hour' with staffers 'trying to trying to convince him, to talk him out of some crazy fantasy' that he wouldn't be allowed in the Senate.

He also said there is no truth to accusations that he began to 'sour' on his own party after bipartisan efforts to prevent him from wearing his trademark hoodie and shorts to the Senate floor.

Things became somewhat more complicated when asked about arguments over Gaza; he is a staunch Israel supporter, and has met with Trump with his wife Gisele, herself having come to the U.S. as an illegal migrant. Gisele reportedly did not want to join the meeting.

Fetterman called their disagreements 'very common in political marriage' and said Gisele 'has her own voice'.

Gisele, for her part, told New York Magazine that Jentleson is trying to harm her husband and lied to her about his health.

The Pennsylvanian had been the only Democrat senator to grace the halls of Mar-a-Lago after Trump's historic second win in November.

He described Trump's mental acumen as strong as ever while speaking to the New York Magazine about the visit.

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.'

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.
A cybergang have boasted that they stole 20million Co-op customers' data as it is revealed the hack is more serious than the retailer admitted.

The criminals, calling themselves DragonForce, said it had infiltrated the supermarket chain's IT network and stolen both customer and employee data, including contact details, in its cyberattack on Wednesday.

But the group have claimed that the breach was far more serious than what the company had told the public.

Co-op had previously claimed that the cyberattack only had a 'small impact' on its operations and insisted there was 'no evidence that customer data was compromised'.

However, yesterday a Co-op spokesman said the hackers 'accessed data relating to a significant number of our current and past members'.

In extortion messages sent to the head of Co-op's head of cybersecurity on April 25, seen by the BBC, the group said: 'Hello, we exfiltrated the data from your company,' the chat said. 'We have customer database, and Co-op member card data.'

The hackers were able to access customer and employee usernames, passwords, membership card numbers, names, home addresses, emails and phone numbers, in databases shared to the BBC.

The Co-op has now disclosed the full extent of the breach to its staff and the stock market.

A cybergang have boasted that they stole 20million Co-op customers' data as it is revealed the hack is more serious than the retailer admitted

The group, DragonForce, have claimed that the breach was far more serious than what the company had told the public

A spokesman said: '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.'

It comes as the group 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.

M&S were left reeling following the devastating hack two weeks ago which forced it to halt online sales for five days - with its share prices plummeting by more than 500m.

Following the alleged attack, some M&S stores have been left with empty shelves as the beleaguered retailer continues to battle with fallout of a crippling hack.

Shoppers were been left furious after some outlets were left 'completely empty', with items including bananas, fruit and vegetables, fish and Colin the Caterpillar cakes out of stock.

When asked, staff reportedly claimed the supply woes were linked to the suspected cyber attack, which has already forced M&S to cancel online orders.

M&S was forced to cancel wedding cake orders amid ongoing cyberattacks that have crippled its online operations.

The retailer was forced to shut down some of its systems after hackers launched a major ransomware attack almost two weeks ago.

It comes as the group said it are responsible for the attack on Marks & Spencer two weeks ago, whcih left the chain with empty shelves as the beleaguered retailer continues to battle with fallout of a crippling hack

When asked, staff reportedly claimed the supply woes were linked to the suspected cyber attack, which has already forced M&S to cancel online orders

M&S is still not taking online orders and has urged customers to shop in person at its stores this bank holiday weekend while it works day and night to restore services.

An M&S spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'As part of our proactive management of the incident, we took a decision to take some of our systems temporarily offline.

'As a result, we currently have pockets of limited availability in some stores. We are working hard to get availability back to normal across the estate.

But FragonForce have warned this is just the start after admitting to be behind the attacks wreaking havoc on Britains high streets.

The hackers claimed to have stolen millions of customers data and said they are trying to force their victims to pay a ransom.

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.
Greens leader Adam Bandt shared a late-night tweet to declare how successful the election has been for the Greens, despite being at risk of losing his seat own seat.

As of midnight Saturday AEST, Labor's Sarah Witty was ahead with 50.7 per cent of the vote compared to Bandt at 49.3 per cent, based on preference estimates.

This represents a 7.2 per cent swing to Labor in the seat of Melbourne that Bandt has held since the 2010 election.

If Bandt does lose, the Greens could be thrown into chaos without their leader in Parliament.

Two other high-profile Greens MPs, Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather, have already conceded defeat.

'Millions of people have voted Greens with hope and ambition,' Bandt said.

'We have secured the biggest national vote in our history. And together we have kicked Dutton out.

'We'll retain all our Senators, Melbourne and we're looking good in Ryan, Wills and Richmond  we'll know more soon.

'While our national vote has increased, the collapse in the Liberal vote means that Labor will win the seats of Griffith with Liberal preferences, and Brisbane too.'

Greens Party leader Adam Bandt could lose his seat of Melbourne, which is close, but has swung to Labor

Bandt was all smiles earlier in the night when he posed with a supporter at a reception at Hightail Bar in Melbourne

Bandt is ahead in his seat in primary votes at 42.3 per cent, compared to Ms Witty at 31.4 per cent.

Liberal Party candidate Steph Hunt has 17.5 per cent, while ex-AFL star Independent Anthony Koutoufides has 3.2 per cent, and One Nation's Melanie Casey has picked up 2.1 per cent of the vote.

The count continues for the electorate and no winner has been projected.

Firebrand MP Chandler-Mather, who has become the party's housing spokesperson, found himself on the chopping block with Labor claiming victory in his Brisbane-based seat of Griffith, following a huge 16 per cent swing to candidate Renee Coffey.

Shortly after midnight, he conceded defeat.

Chandler-Mather has been called Anthony Albanese's nemesis after butting heads with him about Labor's housing policy, claiming the Labor government was abandoning renters behind during the cost of living crisis.

'Sit up and pay attention,' Mr Chandler-Mather said in Parliament in 2023.

'When we stay at the negotiating table we get outcomes... (this is) proof that Greens in balance of power can drag Labor kicking and screaming to taking meaningful action.

'If we praise the Labor party for offering crumbs, that's all we'll get.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Greens member for Griffith Max Chandler-Mather exchange heated words after Question Time in Parliament in 2023

Anthony Albanese looks back at Max Chandler-Mather after reportedly telling him: 'You're a joke, mate'

Chandler-Mather has been described as a 'moron', 'egotistical', a 'joke' and a 'self-indulgent student politician' by some of the most senior members of the Labor party

He was a member of Labor's left during his time at the University of Queensland. Both of his parents were also members, and reportedly encouraged him to join

Chandler-Mather told a tearful crowd in Brisbane on election night: 'We know that the people happiest tonight will be those in the political establishment who hope that you will give up.

'What we are trying to do is fundamentally transform Australian politics, economy and society in favour of ordinary working people.

'That sort of project is going to have more setbacks than it has victories, because the forces that we are coming up against are enormously powerful. I believe we can get there. I believe we can win. It is going to take time.'

Bandt said in his election night tweet that: 'There's never been a first term MP who has had the impact of Max Chandler-Mather.

'He put the rental crisis firmly in the spotlight. He secured billions of dollars for social housing. He fed his local community with his own money. This is not the last we've seen of him.'

Brisbane Greens MP Stephen Bates also conceded defeat to Labor's Madonna Jarrett, finishing third behind the major parties.

They are both one-term wonders, despite the minor party's primary vote holding up.

Bandt also said that 'Stephen Bates has been an incredible voice for Brisbane'.

Greens MP Stephen Bates is seen voting at Windsor State School in the electorate of Brisbane on Election Day

'He has delivered 20,000 meals and holding more than 200 events in his community.

'He went from a retail worker into the halls of Parliament, to holding big corporations accountable for three years.

'Congratulations to Prime Minister Albanese and Labor on their campaign to keep Dutton out.

'The Greens are set to be a powerful force in the next Parliament, as part of a strong progressive crossbench and holding the balance of power in the Senate, pushing for more action on the climate, housing and cost of living crises.'

In the key seat of Ryan, Elizabeth Watson-Brown looks set to be re-elected for the Greens based on preference estimates, despite the Liberal's Maggie Forrest taking out 32.7 per cent of the primary vote compared to her 30.5 per cent.

The Greens' nationwide vote was 13.4 per cent at 10pm AEST - slightly up from its result at the 2022 poll - with almost 29 per cent of the ballots counted.
The Prime Minister has praised his son in a touching tribute during his victory speech in the wake of his landslide federal election victory.

Anthony Albanese said his son Nathan was 'a fine young man who I am just so proud of' in front of hundreds of Labor supporters at the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club near his Sydney home suburb of Marrickville on Saturday night.

Albanese also thanked supporters and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, as cheering and applause rang through the venue.

'To my son, Nathan, who has grown into a fine young man who I am just so proud of. Thank you.

'And to Jodie ...I am so grateful for your support, your friendship and your love. You make me so happy. Which matters.

'You have my heart, I love you and I look forward to living our lives together.'

Nathan was born to Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt and has a degree in business from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Albanese is set to marry Jodie in the coming months.

Anthony Albanese dedicated a touching tribute to his son, Nathan, during his election victory speech in Sydney on Saturday

'To my son, Nathan. Who's grown into a fine young man who I am just so proud of, thank you,' the Prime Minister said

The Prime Minister held his son's arm aloft on the stage at election night 2022, in a very similar moment.

He then called Nathan his 'proudest achievement' and embraced him in front of supporters.

The following year, however, the uni graduate was involuntarily dragged into the public eye.

Mr Albanese had procured his son a membership of the Qantas Chairman's Lounge - a privilege typically reserved for celebrities, executives and big name politicians.

Also, it was revealed Mr Albanese had pulled some strings back when he was opposition leader to secure an internship for Nathan at PwC after speaking with the company's government relations boss, according to the Australian Financial Review.

When Mr Albanese was grilled about the Qantas controversy, he declared his son was 'not a public figure', and, for the past couple of years, the 24-year-old has remained out of the public eye.
As much as Anthony Albanese and Labor resoundingly vanquished Peter Dutton at last night's federal election, even defeating the Opposition Leader in his own seat, we can't forget that every poll during the campaign made clear that voters weren't impressed by the Labor government's performance during its first term.

The thumping victory therefore isn't an endorsement of the job Labor has done. It is a mandate to do better. The question is, will they?

On the other side of the spectrum the result certainly was a repudiation of the Liberal Party. They were the evil of two lessers when voters sized them up against Labor.

It looks like all the teals have been returned and the Coalition may not pick up a single seat from the Labor Party. Deep soul searching is ahead for the Opposition - and they just lost their leader!

Many things contributed to Dutton's demise: his personal unpopularity, Labor's smear campaign against him, and Donald Trump's tariffs. And his policies certainly hurt. Plus we can't ignore concerns about nuclear energy or the messy campaign.

But the main game is what does Labor do now? The first thing it must do is implement its election agenda. Handing out its rebates and tax cuts, also cutting 20 per cent of HECS debts and making TAFE education completely free. More funding for childcare and housing also need to be delivered.

The new money for Medicare will need to lift bulk billing rates substantially - because that's what the PM promised it would do. Doctors groups have questioned how realistic that is.

There was plenty of money thrown around and lots of promises to do and not do various things. These commitments have hemmed Labor and the PM in for its second term, unless it is prepared to risk criticisms for straying from what was promised.

The new money for Medicare will need to lift bulk billing rates substantially - because that's what the PM promised it would do

The narrow pledges and what's been ruled out will certainly make it harder for Labor to do new things not already promised, such as get the country's structural deficit under control for example.

And will the Opposition be in much of a position to hold Labor to account in a second term? They've lost their leader, a swag of experienced MPs as well as up and coming ones.

The Opposition's first task will be to find a new leader, but more on that later.

Not long after it became increasingly clear that Labor won last night's election, a Labor MP texted me that the PM should now be known as 'Albo The Almighty'.

Interestingly, that same MP had been a critic of how Labor handled itself during its first term - concerned about the lack of reform, the state of the economy and the decision to lose the first half of Labor's first term to unsuccessfully fighting for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

But winners are grinners and the victor is invariably hailed. That is the Prime Minister.

Albo was weakened by his poor performance throughout most of Labor's first term. He started with significant standing having defeated Scott Morrison, but that faded as the rigours of government soon set in. Electorally at least Albo did always say he wanted to improve his standing closer to the election when it matters.

The surge in support for the Opposition prior to the campaign was a mirage. It was based on protest and profound disappointment in the performance of the Albanese government, not a desire to kick it out after just one term in power.

Albo was weakened by his poor performance throughout most of Labor's first term

That's something that hasn't happened since 1931, one of many reasons why I predicted Labor would win this election, albeit not by the margin they have.

Labor's two party preferred vote may end up being the largest in its history, despite a near record low primary vote. How Australia votes is changing.

The repudiation of the Voice wasn't a sign of things to come for Labor more generally. It was a response to the way Labor prosecuted that campaign. It needs to learn from that and not make such mistakes in a second term, thereby sapping it of the authority it needs pursue serious reforming policies.

What will Albo do with his new found authority? His majority is no longer wafer thin. His Senate standing will improve too, making it easier to pass legislation. Although to be sure the Labor Party will still need to deal with the Greens.

The tariffs issue might have helped Labor dominate this election campaign as much as it has, but if those same tariffs remain in place it will make managing the Australian economy in Labor's second term harder - especially without improvements to productivity to drive growth and to help fix declining standards of living.

Don't forget, Australians are worse off now than they were three years ago, notwithstanding the pro-Labor results last night.

If these economic indicators don't improve in the coming three years the next election campaign could turn very differently. We have seen how volatile modern elections can be, especially at state level but now federally too.

Given he has newfound authority, will the PM put pressure on the factions to give him a new look cabinet? Will he be promoting the likes of Andrew Charlton or Dan Mulino - who have much needed economic credentials (both have economics PhD's from world leading universities)? These people know how to craft a reform agenda that has been so lacking on both sides of the major party divide.

Given he has newfound authority, will the PM put pressure on the factions to give him a new look cabinet?

Judging by Albo's victory speech, he's clearly more interested in spending money than finding ways to ensure that when government does that it isn't spending borrowed money. Reform needs to come first so that spending is affordable and sustainable.

Currently it simply is not.

I sincerely hope that Labor's victory is not interpreted as just an endorsement of the unsustainable idea that social benefits are at the core of what government does. They matter to Australian egalitarianism, but they need to be part of a mix, including policies to imbed fiscal prudence.

Hopefully we are not administering the last rites of strong fiscal responsibility in this country with both this result and the reaction on the podium by the PM. Because there really have been few signs on either side of the major party divide of taking on the fiscal challenges that will give future generations the prosperity of the past.

The party that spent more won, but both parties promised to spend more than the national finances can afford. Labor succeeded in part because it demonised the risk that the other mob might institute cuts, which in fact they didn't have the courage to even announce much less ever enact.

The PM's speech last night was big on the idea that positivity won out in this election. Hope over fear. Kindness over nastiness. In fact, the reverse is true. Labor's scare campaign was a key feature of its win.

Meanwhile, what the Coalition does next will require it to go into its shell for a period of time as it tries to work out what its core values are and how best to rebuild.

Without Dutton's presence there is a strong chance the opposition descends into blood-letting

Get ready for Coalition bloodletting - and a new leader

The next leader might be a conservative choice - choosing either the deputy leader Sussan Ley or shadow treasurer Angus Taylor. Or there could be a radical decision to pick a younger member of the team who represents generational change, such as social conservative shadow defence spokesman Andrew Hastie.

There are other candidates who might emerge, such as Dan Tehan out of Victoria, but one of the challenges for the Liberal Party is that the last three years were all about Peter Dutton.

He maintained party discipline and was a cut above his colleagues who were left in the aftermath of the previous Coalition government.

Without Dutton's presence there is a strong chance the Opposition descends into blood-letting.

It could lead to potential infighting between the Coalition partners, especially if a moderate finds their way into the Liberal Party leadership and decides, just maybe, the teals are right about climate change and a few other moderate policy positions as well.

Could NSW MP Julian Leeser be a bolter to challenge for the leadership? He resigned as shadow AG and Indigenous affairs spokesperson when Dutton opposed the Voice. He's one of the last senior moderates left in the parliamentary Liberal Party, assuming he can retain his Sydney seat of Berowra.

Liberals traditionally tear themselves apart in opposition. They did it in the 1980s and again after the 2007 election defeat when they cycled through three opposition leaders within its first term in opposition.

The next leader might be a conservative choice - choosing either the deputy leader Sussan Ley or shadow treasurer Angus Taylor (pictured)

It's hard not to think wilderness years are ahead for the Coalition.

Albo must decide whether he will get more ambitious

The PM is certainly a confidence player. He can get testy when things don't go his way. He likes to surround himself with those who reinforce his opinions rather than challenge them. It has always been his way.

After last night's results Albo's confidence will be sky high. Let's see if such surety leads to a better government with bolder ambitions in a second term. Don't hold your breath.

Both Bob Hawke and John Howard really only properly began their ambitious agendas in their second terms. Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked about whether Albo's government would be more ambitious courtesy of the size of last night's win while sitting on the ABC's election panel, right after the PM spoke.

The answer was a clear no. He said the Senate would make that hard and straying from the election policies laid out (mostly just more spending) wasn't on Labor's agenda.

So ambition will most likely remain absent, unless Albo intervenes and decides winning isn't enough for his legacy. At 62 years of age Albo might not be around for that much longer, notwithstanding the size of his win.

That said, it will now be his choice to make. Will he serve a full term and seek a third at over 65 years of age? You can't rule it out after last night's results.

Let's hope, however long Albanese sticks around, he decides to emulate Hawke and Howard and turn Labor's second term into one that gets remembered for reforms that set up future prosperity, rather than simply enacting an election agenda that will continue to drain the national finances and rack up more debt.

Such promises might have helped get him and Labor re-elected, but they won't help the country get back on track.
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Military bands and units have paraded through central London overnight in a dress rehearsal for next week's VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations.

The rehearsal saw bands, soldiers and mounted units gather from about 2.30am this morning to retrace the route they will take.

Sounds of bagpipes, marching soldiers and trotting horses echoed through the streets as they progressed from Parliament Square to Whitehall, then to Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch, The Mall, and finally to Buckingham Palace.

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of central London on Monday, watching a ceremony with a packed schedule that includes a military procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces.

A flypast by the Red Arrows and aircraft used to support Ukraine will be part of the commemorative ceremony on Monday.

The show will include planes involved in tensions with Russia, such as P8 Poseidons, which conduct reconnaissance missions surveying Russian vessels near UK waters, and Voyager aircraft, which fly Ukrainian recruits to the UK for training and deliver equipment to Ukrainian forces.

Units from the armed forces of Ukraine were also involved in yesterday's late-night rehearsal parade.

Military bands and units paraded through central London overnight in a dress rehearsal for next week's VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations. The rehearsal saw bands, soldiers and mounted units gather from about 2.30am on Saturday to retrace the route they will take

Members of the Armed Forces marched through central London overnight during a procession rehearsal in preparation for the VE Day 80th Anniversary. Sounds of bagpipes, marching soldiers and trotting horses echoed through the streets as they progressed from Parliament Square to Whitehall, then to Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch, The Mall, and finally to Buckingham Palace

Military personnel pick up their guns at Wellington Barracks after taking part in the rehearsals for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of Saturday morning in London

Units from the armed forces of Ukraine were also involved in yesterday's late-night rehearsal parade. The Ukrainian soldiers are pictured during a procession rehearsal in London overnight

The band of the RAF (Royal Air Force) takes part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE (Victory in Europe) Day 80 procession on The Mall in central London on May 3, 2025. Britain kicks off four days of events Monday marking 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe, lent extra poignancy by the fading of the 'Greatest Generation' and renewed global turbulence

Members of the Household Cavalry take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession on Whitehall in central London in the early hours of May 3, 2025

A Pipe Band passes Buckingham Palace as they take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in central London on May 3, 2025. Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of central London on Monday, watching a ceremony with a packed schedule that includes a military procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces

Members of the Armed Forces process through central London overnight during a procession rehearsal in preparation for the VE Day 80th Anniversary. Victory in Europe Day, known as VE Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year to mark the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945

The VE Day 80 commemorations will begin on Monday with the military procession, expected to be viewed by thousands of people along The Mall. Members of the Armed Forces during a procession rehearsal through central London overnight

The King's Guards gather at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in central London overnight

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Foinette, 47, the Brigade Major of the Household Division, who is in charge of the ceremony, speaks to media after a rehearsal in preparation for the VE Day 80th Anniversary. Lt Foinette said he 'wonders what people coming out of nightclubs must think when they fall onto a military parade'. He said: 'Once you have got over the shock of trying to climb a horse in the morning, there is something quite extraordinary about parading through London in the middle of the night'

Military personnel unwind at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the RAF band stand with their instruments at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the NATO forces march overnight during a procession rehearsal in preparation for the VE Day 80th Anniversary on May 5, in central London

A Pipe Band passes Buckingham Palace as they take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Equipment is packed away at Wellington Barracks after an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the RAF march past Trafalgar Square as they take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Equipment is packed away at Wellington Barracks after an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Military personnel stand with their weapons Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the Household Cavalry take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession on Whitehall in central London on May 3, 2025

The band of the Royal Marines takes part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession on the Mall in central London on May 3, 2025. Historic landmarks across the country will be lit up in the evening on May 6 while a VE Day Anniversary Concert will be held by the Parliament Choir at the Palace of Westminster the following day

Military personnel hang their uniforms in the back of a truck at Wellington Barracks, after taking part in the rehearsals for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London, Britain May 3, 2025

RAF band members approach Buckingham Palace as they take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025. A variety of events are scheduled to take place around the UK to mark the 80th anniversary. King Charles and Queen Camilla will host a tea party for Second World War veterans as part of the celebrations

The King's Guards and other military personnel unwind at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Royal Navy personnel unwind at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025. The VE Day 80 commemorations will begin on Monday with the military procession, expected to be viewed by thousands of people along The Mall. The procession will conclude with The Mall being filled by members of the public, and a fly past featuring the Red Arrows and 23 current and historic military aircraft

Members of the Royal Fusiliers prepare to depart Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the Household Cavalry take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession on Whitehall in central London on May 3, 2025

Military personnel unwind at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK service personnel from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force in London on Monday

Military personnel pass Buckingham Palace as they take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Military personnel unwind at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Military personnel take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE (Victory in Europe) Day 80 procession on Whitehall in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the Royal Fusiliers prepare to depart Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

A group of military members smile and chat while unwinding at the Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London

A military band takes part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession on The Mall in central London on May 3, 2025. The rehearsal saw bands, soldiers and mounted units gather from about 2.30am on Saturday to retrace the route they will take

Military personnel unwind at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the RAF return to Wellington Barracks after taking part in a Guard of Honour at Buckingham Palace, a rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Military band members march past Trafalgar Square as they take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Military personnel are seen folding their uniforms at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day procession in central London

Flags of the Commonwealth are carried by members of the Armed Forces during an overnight procession rehearsal in preparation for the VE Day 80th Anniversary in central London

The VE Day 80 commemorations will begin on Monday with the military procession, expected to be viewed by thousands of people along The Mall. The procession will conclude with The Mall being filled by members of the public, and a fly past featuring the Red Arrows and 23 current and historic military aircraft

Members of the Armed Forces during a rehearsal in preparation for the VE Day 80th Anniversary on May 5, at Wellington Barracks, London

Military bands and units have parade through central London overnight in a dress rehearsal for VE Day, leaving bewildered nightclub goers 'falling onto a military parade'

Members of the Genadier Guards return to Wellington Barracks after taking part in a Guard of Honour at Buckingham Palace, a rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

SA80 rifles seen at Wellington Barracks after in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the Armed Forces during a rehearsal in preparation for the VE Day 80th Anniversary on May 5, at Wellington Barracks, London

Military personnel pass Buckingham Palace as they take part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession in central London on May 3, 2025

Gurkha military personnel talk at Wellington Barracks after taking part in the rehearsals for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London, Britain May 3, 2025

Military band members walk down a ramp into a car park at Wellington Barracks, after taking part in the rehearsals for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London, Britain May 3, 2025

The band of the Royal Marines takes part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession on Whitehall in central London on May 3, 2025

Members of the Armed Forces during a procession rehearsal in preparation for the VE Day 80th Anniversary on May 5, in central London

Military personnel relax at Wellington Barracks after taking part in the rehearsals for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London, Britain May 3, 2025

A Ukrainian military unit takes part in the rehearsals of the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London, Britain May 3, 2025. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK service personnel from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force in London on Monday

Military personnel from Ukraine rehearse to join British Armed Forces for the VE Day 80 parade in London, Britain, May 2, 2025. This joining together will symbolise the global support for Ukraine's 'continued fight for freedom against Russia's unprovoked, illegal invasion', the MoD said

Military personnel hang their uniforms in the back of a truck at Wellington Barracks, after taking part in the rehearsals for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London, Britain May 3, 2025

Instruments used by the military personnel during the VE Day processional overnight are placed on a pavement at Wellington Barracks

Military personnel stand at Wellington Barracks after taking part in the rehearsals for the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London, Britain May 3, 2025
When Anthony Albanese's ill-fated Voice to Parliament referendum spluttered out little more than 18 months ago, many predicted the humiliating defeat would be the Prime Minister's enduring legacy and ultimate undoing.

So it was with a sense of defiance that the Labor leader launched into an acknowledgement of country within moments of taking the stage to give his victory speech after his party surged to a landslide victory in Saturday's federal election.

'Serving as your Prime Minister is the greatest honour of my 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 began before pausing ever-so-slight for effect.

'And... I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet,' he continued to ferocious cheers.

'And I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging today and every day.'

As the newly returned prime minister lapped up the resounding applause at Labor's Sydney headquarters, there was a sense Mr Albanese viewed the electoral triumph as a type of reconciliation - for both his party and for Indigenous Australians.

After all, much of the final week of the federal election campaign had been dominated by a divisive culture war over the controversial ritual - one he had been intent to win.

Indeed, Mr Albanese began one of his final election pitches, while addressing the National Press Club on Wednesday, by making a similar acknowledgement, just days after booing and jeering surrounding a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony marred an Anzac Day dawn service last Friday.

Many predicted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's political career would go the way of his ill-fated Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum - only for his to oversee a historic election victory at the weekend

Labor Senator Penny Wong welcomes Mr Albanese to the stage on Saturday night

And Senator Penny Wong had conspicuously avoided offering a full acknowledgement while welcoming Albanese to the stage only moments earlier, instead opting for a trimmed down version.

'Thank you, friends. Thank you, all. Thank you for believing in Labor,' Wong said.

'Thank you for believing in the power of this great nation, the power in our 26 million people from more than 300 ancestries and and from the oldest continuing civilisation on the planet.

'And I acknowledge the traditional owners. Friends, friends, we love this country.'

But this was the Prime Minister's moment - and he wasn't going to let it slip away.

'Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values,' he continued.

'For fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all., for the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need.

'And Australians have voted for a future that holds true to these values, a future built on everything that brings us together as Australians and everything that sets our nation apart from the world.

The party faithful gather in Labor's Sydney headquarters for the Prime Minister's victory speech

Mr Albanese was at times emotional, jocular and jubilant throughout his speech

'Let us all 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 - so let all of us work together to build our national unity on the enduring foundations of fairness, equality and respect for one another.'

Mr Albanese was at some times jubilant and at others almost overcome with emotion as he rattled off his party's pledges to the nation's voters - and gracious in victory.

He admonished his own exuberant supporters for jeering when he name-checked the vanquished Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, who lost not only the election but also the Brisbane seat he had held for almost a quarter of a century to Labor candidate Ali France. The PM refused to continue in the face of their boos.

'No, no - what we do in Australia is we treat people with respect,' he told the party faithful, only continuing when the scoffing had ceased.

'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 wife] Kirrily and their family all the very best for their future.'

He went on to offer a 'solemn pledge' to invest in young Australians, look after old Australians, and build a better society - and strong economy - for all Australians.

Mr Albanese celebrates with his fiancee Jodie Haydon and son Nathan

And, of course, he took the time to acknowledge his own heritage, growing up in a housing commission townhouse in Sydney's inner-west, and the people in his life: past, present and emerging.

'I was raised to be an optimist,' Mr Albanese said.

'My mum had a hard life and we struggled financially, but she taught me to always be positive and see the best in people.

'When it comes to Australia's future, all of us have so much reason to be optimistic.

'Thank you...to my son, Nathan...he's growing into a fine young man, who I am just so proud of,' he continued, tearing up.

'And to my fiancee, Jodie Hayden... who probably wasn't expecting for this to be in your life half a dozen years ago.

'I am so grateful for your support, your friendship and your love.

'You make me so happy, which matters.

'You have my heart. I love you and I look forward to living our lives together.

The Prime Minister locks lips with his fiancee and says she has his heart - forever

'Every Australian who wants a fair go at work, fair wages, fair wages for their work and the right to disconnect when they're done with work.

'Every Australian who deserves the security of a roof over their head, or dreams of owning their own home.

'I want to thank the people of [my seat of] Grayndler, most of whom are here tonight.

'The people of Grayndler did me an incredible honour in choosing me as their representative, 29 years and ten elections ago.

'I've lived in this community in the inner-west my whole life, and it's an incredible privilege to serve a community that you love.

'And I do love it.'

Of course, despite of all his good graces and best intentions, this was after all a victory speech after a grueling five-week election campaign that saw Mr Albanese clock up more than 40,000km politicking around the country.

The defeated Coalition were not going to escape without at least a few veiled barbs.

And when they finally came, Mr Albanese delivered them with a wry smile and cutting jibe about a perceived invasion of US-style politics in Australia.

'My fellow Australians have chosen the Australian Labor Party as their government, and our government will choose the Australian way because we are proud of who we are and all that we have built together in this country,' he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivers his victory speech after winning the election while his fiancee and son proudly watch on

'We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else.

'We do not seek our inspiration overseas, we find it right here in our values and in our people.'

And with that, he said, it was time to stop talking; there was work to be done.

'Tomorrow we dedicate ourselves to your service,' Mr Albanese said.

'We renew the great responsibility and the opportunity of government, and with pride and purpose, optimism and determination, with faith in the fair go and faith in each other, we return to the work of building Australia's future.'

But that's tomorrow.

Tonight though? Tonight, the Prime Minister celebrates a victory few saw coming in the wake of his bungled referendum not so long ago.

That is all forgotten now - he is on top once more, with a majority government and already a vision for a third term in office.

Welcome to Albo Country.
Teal independent MP Monique Ryan has retained her inner Melbourne seat after a fraught election campaign, including an investigation by the electoral taskforce.

With 56.1 per cent of the vote counted, the former paediatric neurologist held an estimated lead of about four per cent in affluent Kooyong over Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer.

'We're still waiting for some data to come in,' she told supporters at the Auburn Hotel late on Saturday night.

'But it seems pretty clear that despite the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, this band of brothers has overcome the Brethren.'

The comment was a clear swipe at members of secretive Christian sect the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, which was campaigning for Ms Hamer.

While Ms Hamer is yet to concede, Dr Ryan concluded her speech with 'let's have a party' as Tina Turner's River Deep Mountain High blared through the venue.

Earlier on Saturday, Dr Ryan experienced a 'good luck' omen when a bird pooed on her outside Glenferrie Primary School in Hawthorn, where she would cast her vote.

But the road to re-election has been chaotic over the five-week campaign with Dr Ryan facing a series of controversies.

Teal independent MP Monique Ryan (pictured) looked set to retain the seat of Kooyong

The MP told Nine News on election day that the streets in her electorate had been 'tense' up until the last fortnight.

'There was more tension then there normally would be [at polling booths], it felt uncomfortable,' she said.

A week before election day, April 27, Dr Ryan came under fire after footage emerged of two campaign volunteers claiming they were told by the Hubei Association to support her.

The group has previously been accused of working with the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Department, a foreign influence operations agency.

As a result, the Australian Electoral Commission referred it to the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce, a move which was welcomed by the Teal MP.

The drama surrounding her campaign kicked off in March when her husband, Peter Jordan, was filmed removing a sign backing Ms Hamer.

'I unreservedly apologise for removing the sign. It was a mistake,' Mr Jordan later told Daily Mail Australia.

'I believed the sign was illegally placed, but I should have reported my concerns to council.'

Dr Ryan also issued her own apology, saying it should not have happened.

Dr Ryan concluded her speech with 'let's have a party' as Tina Turner's River Deep Mountain High blared through the venue

In a video that circulated on social media in April, leading spine neurosurgeon Professor Greg Malham could be seen tearing down one of her corflutes.

'Just finishing the job, boys. Always gotta bury the body,' he said to the camera after stomping on the sign multiple times.

Prof Malham apologised for his behaviour and agreed to fully co-operate with an independent investigation by Epworth Healthcare, the private hospital he works with.

Dr Ryan also endured a series of painful media interviews while campaigning, including being laughed at by an ABC presenter after failing to answer a simple question.

Referring to independent MP Allegra Spender paying social media content providers 'to make videos talking about the great things she is doing', Insiders host David Speers asked Dr Ryan if she had a problem with that.

The Teal MP at first looked confused at the question, then fumbled over an answer, eventually saying: 'We pay to generate the content we put to the voters.'

A week later, she then turned her back on a Sky News reporter as she attempted to ask her about Ms Spender's social media content.
The Trump administration has backed down on renaming the Veterans Day holiday to 'Victory Day for World War I'.

President Trump said on Thursday that he wanted to rename the national holiday, which is celebrated on November 11, to celebrate the victory of World War I.

In a post to his Truth Social page, he said: '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's post was not accompanied with an executive order, and only Congress has the power to change or create federal holidays.

On Friday however, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News that the renaming wouldn't be happening in an official capacity.

She said: 'We are not renaming Veteran's Day. It will just be an additional proclamation that goes out on that day.'

Trump gestures during inauguration ceremonies in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington

President Trump said on Thursday that he wanted to rename the national holiday in a post to his Truth Social

People participate in the 105th annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11, 2024, in New York City

It remains unclear what Leavitt means by 'additional proclamation'. It has been celebrated as a national holiday since 1918.

The date marks the official armistice that saw the end of World War 1, President Eisenhower saw it officially named 'Veterans Day'.

In branding May 8 as 'Victory Day for World War II', Trump would be aligning the US with Victory Day, which is already celebrated in Europe.

May 8 marks the day that the allied forces mark as the end of the war in Europe, after Germany's unconditional surrender. It is not the date officially recognized by the US as the end of the war.

American forces continued to fight the war until later that year when Japanese forces officially surrendered on August 15.

That fact has been highlighted by MSNBC host Keith Olbermann who branded Trump a 'moron'.

He posted on X: 'We won World War II on August 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered. Trump is a complete moron.'

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America group also told The New York Times that they would reject any name change.

Members of the FDNY march during the Memorial Day Parade on November 11, 2022 in New York

Trump salutes after stepping off of Air Force One upon arrival at Tuscaloosa National Airport in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on May 1, 2025

Their CEO Allison Jaslow said: 'It is not the veterans fault if we dont win wars. Veterans Day should be an acknowledgment of the ways that fellow Americans have served and sacrificed to protect and defend what we have in America.'

Left-leaning political action committee VoteVets also posted on X saying: 'Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, honoring the end of World War I  then it was changed to honor ALL who served. Now Trump wants to rename it.

'Reframe it. Twist it into a tribute to conquest. Veterans dont need rewritten history. They need respect  and the benefits they earned.'

It comes as Washington is preparing to celebrate the 250th year of the Army on June 14, the same day as Trump's birthday.

The large scale parade 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.

Trump, who curates his campaign play list, will also get to see as many as seven bands, assuming he attends the festivities.
Tensions ignited at a New York City town hall meeting when Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was confronted by a protestor demanding answers about her response to the genocide in Gaza.

On Friday evening, just as AOC began addressing Trump-era budget cuts during a district event in Jackson Heights, a woman suddenly blasted the congresswoman for her stance on the Israel-Palestine war.

'I am a health care worker, and I want to know what you're doing about the genocide in Gaza!' the infuriated disrupter shouted, loudly confronting the progressive congresswoman for her failure to act against the ongoing violence in Palestine.

'I'm a nurse! Shame on you!' she continued from her seat, screaming and pointing at AOC on stage. 'Shame on you, you're a liar. You're a liar!'

The abrupt outburst may be a sign of growing discontent among her supporters, despite political forecasters projecting her as a frontrunner for the 2028 presidential election.

Brewing feelings of outrage from the left may be attributed to feelings that the progressive has failed to turn her pro-Palestine ideals into any meaningful action.

Despite the criticism, Ocasio-Cortez has been outspoken in condemning Israel's continued violence on Gaza following the October 7 terrorist attacks, which left more than 1,200 people dead.

The US representative released a statement on the first anniversary of October 7, describing the attacks perpetuated by Hamas as 'a crime against humanity and an atrocity that will shock generations to come.'

On Friday evening, just as AOC began addressing Trump-era budget cuts during a district event in Jackson Heights, New York, a woman suddenly interrupted - loudly demanding answers from the congresswoman about her response to the genocide in Gaza

The protestor loudly blasted the progressive congresswoman for her failure to act against the ongoing violence in Palestine, even going as far as calling her a 'war criminal'

The abrupt outburst revealed growing discontent among supporters, which may be attributed to former supporters feeling as though the progressive has failed to turn her ideals into any meaningful action - including the aftermath of October 7

'It was the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust,' she wrote. 'I have seen the footage from that day. I will never forget it.'

'In the weeks after the attack, I met with hostage families whose loved ones were being held in Gaza,' she continued.

'Their message to me and to the world was clear: we can save the hostages, secure a ceasefire and stop the needless suffering of Israeli hostages and Palestinians alike.'

However, the statement quickly changed focus to Israel's response to the attacks, with AOC publicly criticizing both Netanyahu and the Biden Administration for playing a part in the unfolding horrors on Palestinian soil.

'Instead, Prime Minister Netanyahu pursued a path of mass revenge, killing over 40,000 Palestinians, blocking humanitarian aid, pushing Gaza to the brink of famine while only further endangering the lives of hostages, and consistently undermining negotiations,' she wrote.

'One year after the attack, the region is barreling toward even wider conflict,' she continued, placing blame on the Biden Administration for failing in its responsibility to prevent further conflict and 'withhold offensive military support when it is violated'.

Ocasio-Cortez said the previous administration's failure to enforce laws designed to address humanitarian crises has significantly contributed to the devastation in Gaza, specifically 'adding to the profound human toll'.

'None of this was inevitable. And it can still be stopped,' she wrote. 'Hamas, Israel, and Hezbollah should agree to a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. The world must come together to build a lasting peace.'

Ocasio-Cortez has been outspoken in condemning Israel 's continued violence on Gaza following the October 7 terrorist attacks, which left more than 1,200 people dead

In a statement shared on the first anniversary of October 7, AOC addressed Israel's response to the attacks and publicly criticized both Netanyahu and the Biden Administration for playing a part in the unfolding horrors on Palestinian soil

Ocasio-Cortez stated that the previous administration's failure to enforce laws designed to address humanitarian crises has significantly contributed to the devastation in Gaza, specifically 'adding to the profound human toll'

'All of us must protect our Jewish communities at home and abroad from rising antisemitism. All of us must demand respect for the lives of Palestinians and human rights everywhere,' she added.

'The only way to end these horrors is through a diplomatic solution.'

A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was struck on January 19, halting more than 15 months of conflict.

However, talks on extending the truce collapsed less than two months later, prompting Israel to resume hostilities with one of the most punishing single-day bombardments of the violence.

Following the disintegration of the ceasefire, Ocasio-Cortez took to X to express outrage over the US decision to continue supplying Israel with weapons.

'Netanyahu has blocked aid to Gaza for two weeks,' she wrote. 'Last night, he ordered strikes that killed over 400 Palestinians, endangered hostages and broke a fragile ceasefire.'

'Congress must uphold our laws and stop further weapons transfers to Israel.'

Meanwhile, Friday evening's protestor highlighted a growing frustration with Ocasio-Cortez - including among her most progressive supporters.

Following the disintegration of the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza earlier this year, Ocasio-Cortez took to X to express outrage over the US decision to continue supplying Israel with weapons

Tensions only escalated at the meeting as the woman continued to furiously shout and point at Ocasio-Cortez on stage - calling her a liar while admitting that she used to support her - before she was escorted out of the auditorium

Friday evening's protestor highlighted a growing frustration with Ocasio-Cortez - including among her most progressive supporters - despite political forecasters projecting her as a frontrunner for the 2028 presidential election

During this week's town hall meeting, the woman's sudden declaration was met with loud, audible 'boos' from the crowd, as some chanted, 'Shame! Shame! Shame!' back at the pro-Palestinian nurse while others chaotically counterargued her statements.

Tensions only escalated as the woman continued to shout and point at Ocasio-Cortez, undeterred by the congresswoman's repeated attempts to calm her down.

The woman was eventually hauled out of the room by security and staffers, but not without getting her last few words in.

'You're a war criminal! War criminal! War criminal! she screamed as she walked out of the auditorium. 'Shame on you! I used to support you!'

After the woman was escorted out and the room settled down, Ocasio-Cortez turned to address the crowd and respond to the unexpected outburst.

'I more than welcome people who disagree, or are super pissed off at me for any issue to come, but we have some ground rules here,' she said.

'Please wait for the Q&A, because we don't want to deprive all of our neighbors of the ability to have information and hearing them respond to it... We need to be able to have this conversation.'

The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health reported this month that more than 52,000 people in Gaza have been killed since October 2023.
Nigel Farage has declared 'Britain wants Reform' as he boasts of the party's 'unprecedented' results in yesterday's local elections, sparking a political earthquake for Labour and the Conservatives.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Reform Leader hailed: 'In post-war Britain, no one has ever beaten both Labour and the Tories in a local election before. These results are unprecedented.'

The Liberal Democrats previously surpassed Labour on the estimated national equivalent share of the vote from 1979 to 2023 by one per cent, according to a UK Parliament report.

Reform UK's current national share estimate stand at 32 per cent, following analysis of 1067, of 1,400 voting areas, while Labour has 19 percent and the Conservatives follow closely - behind by only one point.

In what has been dubbed a 'Reform-quake', the local election results saw the Tories lose every council - 676 seats in total - as it found itself squeezed between Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, while Labour saw 186 seats slip away.

The jubilant Reform party now runs a swath of big authorities for the first time - securing majorities on Kent, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire county councils after a Conservative collapse.

In the Runcorn & Helby by-election, the party gained a new MP, Sarah Pochin, while elsewhere in Greater Lincolnshire they scored their very first metro mayor, former Conservative MP, Dame Andrea Jenkyns.

It comes as Farage vowed to reject migrants from Reform-run councils as he promises to make Trump-style cuts across local governments, slashing work from home jobs and positions in climate change and diversity.

Mr Farage raised his hands as the incredibly tight result was read out in the Cheshire seat yesterday morning

Nigel Farage was joined on stage by Dame Andrea Jenkyns winner of Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty (L), and Sarah Pochin winner of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election (R)

Nigel Farage declared 'Britain wants Reform' as he boasts of the party's 'unprecedented' results in yesterday's local elections

Farage has pledged to imitate Elon Musk's drive in the US to cut federal spending after being appointed the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Trump

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In a speech in County Durham, where Reform replaced Labour, who were at the helm for almost 100 years, the Reform Leader said his party would 'resist' housing asylum seekers in their local authorities.

He claimed migrants were being 'dumped into the north of England, [and] getting everything for free,' before adding: 'It is unfair, it is irresponsible, it is wrong in every way and I don't believe Starmer has got the guts to deal with it.'

It is understood the Home Office runs the asylum seeker housing system, so it is not clear if Reform-run council would have the ability to block migrants.

The Reform leader also pledged to imitate Elon Musk's drive in the US to cut federal spending after being appointed the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Trump.

Now, Farage, 61, whose party caused a political earthquake as they nabbed hundreds of local seats across the nation yesterday, and gained control of ten councils, has issued a stark warning for certain council roles in Durham.

The controversial political figure told workers, where Labour was previously the biggest party, to seek 'alternative careers very, very quickly,' if they were in roles relating to climate change, diversity or if they worked from home.

But experts have said there is very little left of council budgets to cut, with much of what is currently spent going towards services that must be supplied by law.

When queried about his party's priorities, Farage told Today on BBC Radio 4: 'We are deeply dissatisfied with the way that county councils and unitaries in Britain have been running their budgets.

Reform UK celebrating the historic local election victories in Paddock Wood, England.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the public were 'fed up' with Labour, but admitted they are not yet ready to trust her party and were instead turning to 'protest' outfits

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'We look at the millions a year being spent, in many cases, on consultants. We look at the money being spent on climate change; on areas that county councils, frankly, shouldn't even be getting involved in.'

He promised to bring in auditors to assess long-term contracts as well as to introduce a 'change of culture'by putting an end to working from home, adding: 'That won't be a magic wand, it won't solve every problem, but it will be a good start.'

When asked if he would be able to show how much money had been saved in the next six months, he answered yes while also pressing the need for a DOGE-style department in every country.

'Local government has gone under the radar for way too long,' he said: 'And if youre a council tax payer and your bills going up 5 per cent every year, I think you deserve something better.'

And while the Reform leader warned council cuts could result in 'life or death choices', chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit think tank, Jonathon Carr West, argued funding had already been significantly slashed.

He said the party had removed only around a third of their spending power with their proposals, adding most big council's funding largely goes on adult social care and children's service, which are statutory duties.

'They are literally life-or-death issues. Sending someone to Mr Smiths house to make sure he takes his medication  its not an optional extra, thats what keeps him alive,' he told The Times.

'Safeguarding vulnerable children  these are all things that, as a society, we want to happen. Local authorities have a legal duty to make that happen.'

Mr Carr-West revealed the majority of local authorities would have a debt of 100 million or more as well as huge funding gaps for essential services.

And while he confessed it was 'compelling' to suggest some areas could be fixed if money was not 'wasted' in other places, it wasn't 'realistic' to say the hundreds of millions needed could be found through efficiency savings.

Nigel Farage hailed 'Reform-quake' in local elections as he saw his fledgling party rout the Tories and Labour in their back yards

The Tory's have been wiped out having lost 642 councillors during the local elections today and matters are no better for Labour who are down 180 seats

Luke Campbell, the former boxer and Olympic medallist, won the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoralty for Reform

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It comes after Farage and his party made several Freedom of Information requests, where they discovered councils were spending money on several things like free driving lessons for asylum seekers and trips to the South of France for civil servants.

According to The Times, one council was dishing out a 1,000-a-day on a pothole consultant, as well as spending on diversity officers and net-zero schemes.

However Mr Carr-West argued 'not a lot of money' was used in these areas, adding that there were 'merits' to these programmes, as well as pointing issues relating to diversity was about complying with the legislation under the Equality Act.

A projected national vote share from the local election results put Reform on 30 per cent, ahead of Labour on 20 per cent, the Liberal Democrats on 17 per cent, and Tories on 15 per cent.
An Ohio police officer patrolling traffic for a college graduation was killed after a father, whose son died a day earlier at the hands of a different officer, allegedly ran him over.

The shocking crash occurred on Friday when the sheriff's deputy was working traffic detail at a graduation ceremony for the University of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge then revealed the alleged perpetrator as Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, whose son Ryan was killed in a police-involved shooting on Thursday.

Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey told reporters at a press conference that a police officer arrived on the scene to provide care for the deputy, who has not yet been named, but he was later pronounced dead.

McGuffey said that he had just retired a few months prior but had stayed on the force to help when needed.

The deputy's death has stirred a strong reaction from colleagues on the force, including Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police Ken Kober, who called for the death penalty.

'This horrific and intentional murder of a Hamilton County law enforcement officer is one of the worst things that I've ever seen in my career,' Kober said.

'There's no room for anything less than the death penalty and we call on Prosecutor Pillich to confirm she will seek it,' he added.

Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, was arrested and charged with aggravated murder after he allegedly ran over a police officer on traffic duty

The fatal crash came a day after Rodney Hinton's son, Ryan, was killed by a police officer after he ran away from cops investigating an alleged stolen vehicle

Body camera footage showed a grainy video of Ryan Hinton running away from police officers before they shot and killed him. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said the officer who fired his gun feared for his life

County Prosecutor Connie Pillich released a statement that said if the facts show Rodney's actions were intentional, she would 'throw the full force of the law at the perpetrator.'

Theetge encouraged the community to remain calm amid the two shocking back-to-back events in their city.

'I do have a plea to everybody: Let the processes play out, let the investigations play out,' Theetge said.

'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.'

Rodney's son, Ryan, was shot and killed by a police officer on Thursday morning during an investigation of a stolen vehicle, Theetge said.

The deputies arrived at an apartment complex and located the alleged stolen vehicle, and four individuals jumped out of it.

The four people scattered as deputies attempted to chase after them. Blurry body camera footage then showed Ryan appear to trip and fall.

Theetge told reporters that at least one of the individuals had a gun, and the deputy who fired at Ryan feared for his life.

The deputy who was killed was a retired officer who had continued to work occasionally for the department. He was monitoring traffic for a college graduation when he was killed

The investigation into the events that led the officer to fire his weapon is ongoing. The police chief said the officer saw a weapon, which led him to grab his gun

Police played the footage at a press conference and said the interaction turned deadly in a matter of seconds.

'The body camera is kind of jolting as the officer is running. What that leaves us with is a very blurred image, unfortunately,' Theetge said.

The police chief added that based on interviews with the officers, the deputy who fired his gun said they saw Ryan in a 'bladed position,' meaning he allegedly had a weapon in his hand that faced the officer.

'He [the officer] felt threatened for his life. And that's why he discharged his firearm,' Theetge added.

The officer can be heard yelling 'gun' before firing. Police believe the officer fired around four shots, two of which hit Ryan.

Ryan sustained injuries to his chest and side, with one bullet exiting his back and another going through his arm and into his side.

There is no indication that Ryan actually fired a gun and police acknowledged that the body camera footage doesn't clearly depict the chain of events that led to the teen's death.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge stood up for the officer who shot and killed Ryan Hinton, arguing that the deputy feared for his life

Officers found a handgun at the scene that they believe Ryan had on him when he was killed. A second magazine was found in his jacket pocket, and another gun was located in the alleged stolen vehicle

Officers did find a handgun near the scene and found a second magazine in his jacket pocket. Police also found a second gun in the vehicle that they believe was stolen.

A second individual who fled from cops remains at large, while the other two were arrested.

Jurell Austin, 18, and DeAnthony Bullucks, 19, were charged with obstruction and receiving stolen property. Austin also faces an unrelated charge of felony assault with a weapon.

Austin is held under a $25,000 bond, and Bullucks faces a $20,000 bond. Their next court date is scheduled for May 12.

Officers responded to an apartment complex and located a vehicle that was reported missing. They confronted the individuals inside, which led to a disastrous chain of events, resulting in two deaths

Two individuals were arrested at the scene, Ryan Hinton was shot by an officer, and the fourth individual escaped

Meanwhile, Rodney Hinton attended a bond hearing on Saturday morning with over 30 deputies in attendance, local Fox affiliate WXIX reported.

He sat with his assigned public defender, who argued that he had no felonies and was in an 'emotionally charged situation' when the incident occurred.

Rodney was held without bond at the Clermont County Jail until his next court hearing on May 6.

DailyMail.com reached out to Cincinnati Police for an update on the case but didn't immediately hear back.
Prince Harry shocked the producers of his bombshell BBC interview after he spoke for 20 minutes over their agreed time in an emotionally charged interview.

The Duke of Sussex launched a scathing attack on his family and his cancer-stricken father King Charles on Friday just moments after he lost a legal challenge over his UK taxpayer funded security.

According to The Times, the BBC had been expecting a maximum of 10 minutes with the Duke, who ended up tripling that and speaking for around half an hour.

The outlet reported that unlike previous controlled interviews with the Duke, nothing was off-limits in his sit down with journalist Nada Tawfik. She later reported that Harry appeared agitated, tapping his foot during their chat, and that she was caught off guard by how 'candid and forthcoming' he was in the circumstances.

Sources told the Times that the Duke appeared 'subdued' but also 'very keen to talk' as he he leveled criticisms at his family and the British government.

A property near his Montecito home in California that he shares with his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and their two children was picked as the location. The interview took place in the living room, with the doors remaining closed throughout to keep out screeching peacocks on the porch.

The Duchess was not present at the interview. She also never appeared alongside Harry as he fought in court the last three years.

The PR boss for the couple's Archewell Foundation, Meredith Maines, was the chief architect of the interview. According to her LinkedIn profile, Maines has been working for the couple for three months, having previously held positions at streaming giant Hulu, and venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners.

The outlet reported that unlike previous controlled interviews with the Duke, nothing was off-limits in his sit down with journalist Nada Tawfik

The chief of communications for their Archewell Foundation Meredith Maines, seen here, had been the architect of the interview

In the sit-down, the Duke said he wanted to reconcile with his family, while alleging his father, King Charles III, was not speaking with him.

'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,' Harry said in the interview.

'Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things but... there's no point in continuing to fight anymore.'

He continued: 'Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile.'

Harry also said that he was 'devastated' after losing his court battle and claimed it was an 'establishment stitch-up'.

He also chillingly insinuated his downgraded security status could leave him and his family to suffer the same fate as the late Princess Diana, who died in a fatal car crash in Paris in 1997.

Harry warned that without the same security provisions given to other senior members of the royal family, he has become a greater risk to 'some people' who wish him harm.

Speaking about his fears for himself, wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, he declared: 'I don't want history to repeat itself.

The Duke of Sussex launched a diatribe against his family in an astonishing interview with the broadcaster on Friday

'Through the [court] process, I have discovered that some people want history to repeat itself.'

Harry was aged just 12 when Diana was killed along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and her driver and security guard Henri Paul, in the early hours of August 31, 1997.

Diana suffered fatal injuries when the Mercedes-Benz car they were travelling in crashed into the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in the French capital.

A later inquest in 2008 concluded that Diana, 36, had been unlawfully killed by the 'grossly negligent driving' of Paul, who was being chased by a swarm of paparazzi vehicles at the point of the crash.

Harry raged that 'the other side' in the court case had 'won in keeping me unsafe'.

He added: 'Im sure that some people out there, probably most likely the people that wish me harm, consider this a huge win.'

The Duke also 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.'

Frustration has grown toward Harry since his shock interview especially as his father King Charles III battles cancer

The Duke candidly spoke of the 'many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

After the backlash surrounding the interview, Harry seemingly doubled down on his remarks in a statement he issued.

Calling the court ruling 'a reckless action' that 'knowingly put me and my family in harm's way,' Harry went on to claim: 'This legal action has been a last resort, but one that has uncovered shocking truths, starting with the fact that the Royal Household are key decision-makers on RAVEC and my sole representation for matters regarding my safety.'

Adding that he had been 'subjected' to threats made by the likes of neo-Nazis and Al-Qaeda, the Duke said he was 'singled out' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago.

Writing a piece for the BBC titled 'what Prince Harry was like during our exclusive interview' after it went live, Tawfik described him as being 'down-to-earth'.

Tawfik noted however that he was his tapping his foot frequently as he spoke to her.

She also hinted that he gave them way more than they had anticipated, writing that 'he was surprisingly candid and forthcoming'.

His decision to speak to the BBC echoes past royal PR disasters - Dianas infamous Martin Bashir interview and Prince Andrews with Emily Maitlis.

Harry's candid interview and statement 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.

The Duke of Sussex is seen here arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice on April 8 as he pushed on with his legal challenge

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen here attending an Invictus Games event in Dusseldorf, Germany, in September of 2023

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.'

'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.'

Buckingham Palace rebuked Harry's claims of a 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.'

Harry last saw the King in February last year, shortly after Charles, 76, was diagnosed with cancer.

Prince Harry also said in the interview that he did not know how long his father Charles had left (pictured together in 2022)

Sir Geoffrey Vos told the Duke his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument'.

Vos ruled the original security decision had been a 'predictable' and even 'sensible' reaction to Megxit, when the couple stepped back from being senior royals and left the UK for Canada then California in 2020.

Harry's 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 Duke could potentially appeal the decision, which would then be put in the hands of the country's Supreme Court.

Frustration has grown toward Harry since his interview, as former press secretary to the late Queen, Alisa Anderson branded his comments about the King's health 'unhelpful' amid continued treatment for an unspecified cancer.

Commenting that the royal family would be 'raising their eyes heavenwards' she told Sky News: 'That's going to cause real concern and more speculation in the media and the wider public about what his diagnosis is, which is incredibly unhelpful going forward.'

'What you don't want to do is have your private life played out in the media. So if you truly want reconciliation, you'll do it in private, not in a BBC News interview.'

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams branded the interview as 'confusing', as he thinks Prince Harry implied his father could have 'arranged' a possible solution in his position as monarch.

'He didn't say that exactly, because he said that his father would step aside and let the experts decide. But then, on the other hand, that implied that his father was part of the process that was against him,' he said.

'I think people will find it confusing, because, in my opinion, it was confused'

'He is hung up [on the legal case] because it links directly back to what happened to his mother and that was referred to in the interview, not Diana by name, but the past repeating itself,' he added.

'He believes that the Royal household is completely poisoned against him,' he said: 'This is where you get the conspiracy aspect, you could even argue there is a fantasy aspect of it.

'He believes that there are very malign forces out to get him or out to get him and his family. He believes there are those who want him to be in a vulnerable state.'
When is your MSP a BPA?

The answer is when they choose to have two names and titles  in both English and Gaelic.

A trend is growing among SNP ministers for announcing themselves on correspondence with a pair of monikers.

Officials have worked up dual-language letterheads for members of the government.

Some involve rather intricate reworkings, with Fife-raised Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, for example, also being referred to as Jenny NicGilleRuaidh.

Meanwhile others Gaelic translations are identical to ministers names in English, which begs the question: why do it at all?

Scots have grown accustomed to seeing bilingual town signs and emergency service vehicles.

But critics note that three of the most fraught areas of government  health, education and finance  now have cabinet secretaries who have chosen to adopt Gaelic versions of their names.

Scotland's Health Secretary Neil Gray uses his Gaelic name Niall Gray

Scotland's road signs have also been given a Gaelic makeover

William Yarwood, media campaign manager of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Few Scots will begrudge the proportionate promotion of the Gaelic language by politicians.

But ultimately the core duty of ministers is to govern and they would do well to remember that fact.

John Swinney created the post of Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic especially for his deputy Kate Forbes last year.

She became fluent in the Celtic tongue while at school and represents the Highland constituency of Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch.

And shes since unveiled an extra 5.7 million of funding for the language.

Letters from her office carry her name both in English and Gaelic, the latter version being Ceit Fhoirbeis.

But others have been keen to follow her example - though for less discernible reasons.

Finance & Local Government Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison  born in Yorkshire, raised in Clackmannanshire and representing Dundee East  has announced herself as Runaire a Chaibineit airson Ionmhas agus Riaghaltas Ionadail Seona Robastan BPA [Ball Parlamaid na h-Alba].

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Neil Gray  originally from Orkney and MSP for Airdrie & Shotts  refers to himself as Niall Gray.

Among those doubling up on Gaelic letterheads, while having the same name in both languages, are Australia-raised Victims Minister Siobhian Brown; Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie (from Perthshire) and Children Minister Natalie Don-Innes (Renfrewshire).

Also joining in has been Social Care Minister Maree Todd  from Cromarty  who took her Holyrood oath in Gaelic despite not speaking the language,

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto, who now lives on Islay, even gives priority to Gaelic on her letterhead, and climate minister Alasdair Allan, the MSP for the Western Isles, has moved to Lewis and speaks the language.

Meanwhile, First Minister John Swinney has announced himself as An Fhior Urr [Rt Hon] John Swinney BPA, Am Priomh Mhinistear.

There were 69,701 Gaelic speakers in Scotland at the last census in 2022, up from 57,375 in 2021  but still well down on the 254,415 in 1891.

The Scottish Government spends up to 30 million a year supporting minority languages.

Among the outlay is the 5 million budget for the Bord na Gaidhlig quango, set up in 2005 to force public bodies to become more bilingual.

An extra 5.7 million has been promised to promote Gaelic this year, and Forbes says she wants it to be taught in every school.

Shes also backed a new centre in Inverness with 370,000 of taxpayers money, which will let speakers communicate without the fear of using English, she promised.

Last night, the Scottish Government said it is up to ministers to choose whether to have bilingual letterheads.

A spokesman said: Gaelic is an intrinsic part of Scotlands culture and heritage.

Bilingual letter templates are produced for ministers as part of commitments within the Scottish Governments Gaelic Language Plan for use at their own discretion.

The plan has been in place since 2010, which predates the Deputy First Ministers appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Gaelic in May 2024.
CATTLE and sheep could soon disappear from Scotlands fields as profits for farmers drop to a record low, a leading member of the sector has warned.

Official figures highlight the decline of the countrys once-vibrant farming sector - showing the average livestock farm last year made just 2,600.

Shockingly, two-thirds of livestock farms actually lost money.

Now farming leaders have issued a dire warning that falling profits are threatening entire rural communities.

They also called for urgent action, from individual shoppers as well as from supermarkets, to ensure farmers can afford to keep producing the high-quality beef and lamb for which Scotland is internationally renowned.

The head of farmers union NFU Scotland explained the sector is caught in a vicious cycle - where financial pressures mean fewer and fewer famers are able to continue in business.

And as numbers of cattle and sheep decline, supplies of Scotch meat are reduced, meaning shops and supermarkets become increasingly reliant on imported products - making it even harder for Scottish farmers to turn a profit.

NFUS President Andrew Connon said: Figures for falling farm income are a serious concern and highlight the deepening financial pressures facing Scotlands food producers.

Livestock farmers are caught in a vicious circle and the situation is unsustainable. Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy. It doesnt just support the farmers themselves, it also supports a whole network of other businesses, such as feed manufacturers, vets, shed-makers, engineers, mechanics, not to mention the abattoirs, hauliers, auction marts and all the other parts of the food industry.

The number of sheep on livestock farms has already reduced in Scotland

Farmer Hamish Waugh, from Dumfries and Galloway, still has 600 ewes

Scotland needs a vibrant farming sector, where farmers can actually make a living, otherwise farms will contract, merge or cease trading altogether. You can already see it in the fields and on the hills: there are fewer animals - and fewer people.

Newly published figures from the Scottish Government lay bare the stark economic realities of livestock farming.

A report into Scottish farm business income shows profits on an average lowland cattle and sheep farm fell sharply in 2023/24 to just 2,600. By comparison the average in 2012/13 was 35,000.

Even with government subsidies, the proportion of cattle and sheep farms making a profit dropped to a low of just 33 per cent.

Meanwhile only 45 per cent reported being able to afford to pay staff the minimum agricultural wage, which in 2023 was 10.19 an hour.

The new figures follow publication at the end of last year of an official agricultural census which showed number of cows and sheep in Scotland had fallen to a record low.

In the heyday of Scottish cattle farming in 1974, the country boasted a herd of 2.7million cattle.

After years of decline, the number fell last year to a low of just 1.7m cows. The total number of sheep dropped to a new low of 6.5m - down from 6.7m in 2012.

The census also showed a sharp decline is the overall number of farmers - with Working Occupiers on Scotlands farms falling to a record low, from 40,957 in 2012 to just 34,907.

An investigation by NFUS into supermarket sourcing revealed last month that just 17 per cent of own-label products in major retailers are sourced from Scotland, despite strong demand from consumers.

Meanwhile, imports from overseas rose by 6 per cent over the past year.

Last night the NFUS called on shops - and shoppers - to safeguard the future of farming.

Mr Connon said: Our members are proud to produce food to some of the highest standards in the world.

People need to show that those standards matter - by choosing Scottish products in their shopping baskets.

He also called for public bodies to demand Scottish produce, saying: From public procurement in schools and hospitals to hospitality and tourism, we need a whole-chain commitment to sourcing more from Scotland.

The union has now written to the countrys eight major supermarket chains, calling for them to introduce a Scottish First sourcing policy, to increase the promotion of Scottish food, and also to ensure that producers receive a fair price.

Mr Connon said: The wider supply chain must play its part by delivering a fairer return to Scotlands primary producers, many of whom face crippling cost pressures and reduced margins.
It's an estate that drew the worlds gaze when it hosted the celeb-filled wedding party for Game of Thrones stars Rose Leslie and her husband Kit Harington.

However, an Airbnb within the lavish grounds of Wardhill Castle and run by Ms Leslies brother has had its licence cancelled amid concerns over the propertys water.

William Leslie operates the accommodation in the grounds of Wardhill Castle, the 12th Century family seat near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, where sister Rose was married in 2018.

Successive descendants of Clan Fraser of Lovat have owned the idyllic property for centuries.

Mr Leslie and his family live in a wing of the Castle, letting out the further eight bedrooms, dining room and library to wealthy fee-paying guests.

However, it is the quality of the water in a separate two-bedroom bothy on the castles 750 acres of grounds which forced officials at Aberdeenshire Council to take action.

They discovered raised nitrate levels in the buildings water supply.

A report to the councils licensing sub committee last week said Mr and Mrs Leslie had failed within nine months to show that the water is drinkable.

Officials had suggested to the couple that they instal a nitrate filtering system and even indicated that there could be grant money available to them, should they apply.

However, things came to a head at Fridays council meeting. The report said the couple were refusing to let officials inspect the source of the water on security grounds.

William Leslie has been told he can no longer operate a two-bedroom bothy as an Airbnb within the grounds of Wardhill Castle

Mr Leslie's sister Rose celebrated her wedding to co-star Kit Harington at a bash at Wardhill Castle, the 12th Century family seat near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, in 2018

Rose and Kit got married after they met and started dating on the set of Game of Thrones

And their counter-proposal to provide bothy guests with bottled water was not considered feasible or realistic.

Having a potable water supply is a condition of the short term let licence, issued by the council.

At the meeting, Central Buchan councillor Geoff Crowson suggested a compromise action by merely suspending the Leslies licence.

However, committee member Jim Gifford moved to revoke the permit, insisting: There is clearly no intention of fulfilling the requirements.

Put to a vote, six of the committees eight members voted to scrap the licence.

This means the Leslies may no longer operate the Airbnb and are prohibited from applying for a new licence for a year.

Mr Leslie has been approached for comment.

The familys estate was at the centre of press attention in 2018 when Ms Leslie married Harington, six years after the couple, who played on-screen lovers Jon Snow and the wildling Ygritte, met on Game of Thrones.

Ms Leslie had been accompanied by her father, Sebastian, as she arrived at Rayne Church at Kirkton of Rayne in Aberdeenshire, wearing a flowing ivory gown and veil. Harington had arrived earlier wearing a morning suit.

Among the wedding guests at the lavish bash were Game Of Thrones stars Peter Dinklage, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner and Emilia Clarke, who played character Daenerys Targaryen.

After the ceremony the couple and their guests celebrated at the family home Wardhill Castle.

Speaking to LUomo Vogue, Harington previously said it was easy to fall in love with Leslie and his best memory of the show was meeting his future partner while filming in Iceland in 2012.

The country is beautiful ... the northern lights are magical ... it was there I fell in love, he said.

If youre already attracted to someone, and then they play your love interest, it becomes very easy to fall in love.
Ed Miliband has sacked Dame Mary Archer from her net zero advisory role in a move that has seen the Energy Secretary accused of 'suppressing all opposition' to his policies.

Dame Mary, 80, whose husband is Tory peer and novelist Lord Archer, was allegedly called to the department yesterday to be informed she was being fired.

The move comes just days after Sir Tony Blair attacked Labour's green agenda, raising questions over Mr Miliband's survival in Cabinet.

Downing Street insiders reportedly insisted there would be no change to their net zero policies, but Dame Mary appears to have been the first casualty of the fallout.

The 80-year-old was appointed as a Non-Executive Board Member to the net zero department in February 2024 and has reported to Mr Miliband since he took charge last July.

While she attended board meetings chaired by Mr Miliband, Dame Mary is understood to widely share Sir Tony's assessment of government policy - who earlier this week said it was 'doomed to fail'.

Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope said that by sacking Dame Mary, the Energy Secretary was 'doubling down' and 'resisting criticism'.

He told The Telegraph: 'I think they are quite keen to suppress all opposition to their net zero zealotry. Clearly they are not interested in listening to people on their board who may have a different point of view.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has been accused of 'suppressing all opposition' to his policies after sacking Dame Mary Archer from her net zero advisory role

Dame Mary (above) whose husband is Tory peer and novelist Lord Archer, was allegedly called to the department yesterday where she was informed she was being fired

The move comes just days after Sir Tony Blair (left) attacked Labour's green agenda, raising questions over Mr Miliband's (right) survival in Cabinet

'The attitude of the Secretary of State seems to be to double down and resist all criticism or comments from people who have an alternative viewpoint, and this has just added to the challenge of holding the Government to account on these policies.'

Former Secretary of State Claire Coutinho appointed Dame Mary to the role last year, and told the newspaper that the decision to remove her was a 'huge shame'.

She said: 'Since Ed Miliband has been in charge, his department has made scientifically illiterate claims about heat pumps, refused to provide any evidence that Ed's ideological plans will cut bills by 300, and scrapped the costing I started to reveal the true cost of renewables.

Dame Mary spent more than 15 years as a lecturer at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and founded both the National Energy Foundation and the UK Section of the International Solar Energy Society.

Her vast experience in the field even saw her awarded the Energy Institute's Melchett Medal, an award given to recipients 'for outstanding contributions to the science of fuel and energy'.

But the government said the decision to remove the 80-year-old was 'part of a wider restructuring of the departmental board'.

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero told MailOnline: 'A refresh will ensure the department puts its best foot forward in delivering the Prime Minister's mission to become a clean energy superpower, lower bills for families and create jobs across the country.

'The Secretary of State thanks Dame Mary for her work as a member of the board.'
A baby donkey at a popular farm park has ended up with two mothers after a one in a million birth.

The adorable little foal- named Solomon - will be raised by both females after the trio formed a bond for life.

The situation arose after Ben Best discovered the foal standing between his two female donkeys, Star and Mary, who had both been pregnant.

The delivery came as a surprise given the animals at Dalscone Farm in Dumfries had not been expected to deliver for several weeks.

However, in a sad turn of events he found that while both had given birth - just one of the foals - Solomon - had survived.

And with the little donkey already attached and nursing from both donkeys, Mr Best didnt know who the real mother was.

As such, staff have given up trying to find out which animal is the birth mother.

Mr Best said: Both mums thought the foal was theirs. The foal is grey so that gives us no indication from either mum.

Star and Mary both think baby Solomon is theirs and have bonded for life with the foal

The adorable little donkey is the latest addition to the farm

Farm owner Ben Best said he doesn't have the heart to separatethe trio

Because they foaled at the same time, both donkeys were looking round to see a foal that was fine and running about and thats what they found.

The two mums are already bonded together as they grew up together - donkeys bond for life and are highly emotionally intelligent - and now they have both bonded with the same foal. They are feeding the same foal and caring for the same foal.

Unsure what course of action would be in the animals best interest he sought advice from an equine hospital in Lanark and from a behaviourist at The Donkey Sanctuary in Devon but their conflicting advice left him none the wiser.

He said: The foal was snuggling with Mary and feeding, but then five minutes later he would nestle into Star. He is nursing from both donkeys at the same time. To the foal he has two mums.

The farm staff considered trying to find an orphan foal to give to the bereaved donkey, but realised neither mum would accept it as they both believed Solomon was theirs.

What I hope happens is that the foal is going to bond with one donkey over the other and naturally the other bond will fade, said Mr Best.

But if we just take the wrong donkey away, the real mum will suffer. If a donkey mum loses her foal she grieves and can even die of a broken heart, refusing to eat.

The animals have formed a strong emotional bond that Mr Best has said he won't neglect

Mr Best said baby Solomon is 'quite happy with two mums'

The farm is also home to 'Britain's loneliest sheep' Fiona - seen here shortly after she arrived

Staff at the farm gave her a much-needed shave after welcoming her and she is doing well

It is the strangest situation I have come across. The chances of this happening are one in a million.

He has decided against a DNA test as the results would take a month to come through and by then the foal may have bonded with the donkey that is not its biological mother.

Baby Solomon is quite happy with two mums. He feeds as he pleases, he nurses from each of them and as one udder empties, he has another one  its an unlimited milk bar, added Mr Best.

Im trying to do whats best for all of them. The more you watch them, the harder it comes to guess who the mother is, as he stands right in the middle of the both of them.

Dalscone Farm is already home to another animal celebrity  Fiona, Britains loneliest sheep.

Fiona had been marooned on her own for two years on a remote Highland beach.

However, as the Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed, a team of rescuers abseiled 800ft down cliffs to save her.

She was then taken to Dalscone Farm where she continues to thrive.

Being such a global superstar, we have to make sure everything is absolutely spot on for her. Shes doing well now and has made a couple of friends. Im looking forward to Solomon and Fiona meeting each other, said Mr Best.
Young people aged 18-24 are more opposed than any other age group to attempts to legalise assisted dying in Scotland, a new poll has found.

The news comes as the Lib Dem MSP spearheading the proposals announced he has dropped the section of the plans that would have allowed 16-year-olds to end their lives with medical assistance.

The proposed Bill  brought forward by Liam McArthur - would now require people to be at least 18 before they can apply for medically-assisted euthanasia.

The plans would see the law changed so a patient could request medical assistance to end their life if they had a terminal illness and had been ruled mentally fit to make the decision by two doctors.

MSPs are scheduled to vote on the broad principles of McArthurs bill at Holyrood on 13 May.

Discussing his decision, Mr McArthur said: In other jurisdictions that have changed the law to allow dying people access to the choice of an assisted death, such as the US, Australia and New Zealand, 18 is the age from which terminally ill adults become eligible.

On balance I now feel that this would be most appropriate for Scotland.

The change to the proposed Assisted Dying (Scotland) Bill comes as the results of a survey by pollsters Whitestone, commissioned by anti-assisted suicide campaign group Care Not Killing, are published.

The proposed Bill has been brought forward by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur

Health secretary Neil Gray has refused to say how he will vote on the Bill

It shows initial support for the Bill is highest among 45-54 year olds with 83 per cent of those surveyed in favour of it.

Meanwhile, the lowest level of initial support was found to be among people aged 18-24 at 69 per cent.

The poll also found that two thirds of Scots oppose assisted suicide when they consider how it operates in practice and think about the arguments against it.

The pollsters said that support for assisted suicide among the general population falls to just 19 per cent when those taking part were presented with 10 arguments against assisted dying, including facts about how it operates overseas.

The study found that among those who initially support assisted suicide, only 25 per cent continued to do so after considering the arguments against.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing which is spearheading opposition to the legislation said the results show the public have genuine fears about the Bill.

He added: This shows that most people have no fixed views on the matter and are deeply troubled by its consequences.

The news comes after SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray refused to reveal how he will vote on the Bill.

He will not make his views known publicly until after MSPs vote for the first time on the issue.

The private members Bill lodged by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur has so far failed to win public backing from a single member of John Swinneys Cabinet.

The First Minister has also said he intends to make his own personal views known on the issue in the coming days, before the Stage One vote to decide whether the Bill will continue to proceed through parliament.

Mr Gray had said: As Im the lead minister for the Bill, Im going to be following the governments position, which is of neutrality.

Three previous attempts to legalise assisted dying in Scotland have failed to secure enough support from MSPs.

Asked about his own position on Thursday, Mr Swinney said: I have got views on that and I will set them out in due course.

Mr Swinney, who has previously spoken of his deep Christian faith and voted against the Assisted Suicide Scotland Bill in 2015, said he intends to make a public statement on the issue before the Stage One vote, and added: It will obviously be my individual view.

I appreciate Im the First Minister but it will be my view, I will have one vote on this issue and I will make clear my view.

In order to proceed to Stage Two, the Bill would need to secure majority support among the 129 MSPs on May 13.
Prince Harrys constant need to air family grievances with the public means reconciliation is impossible, a close friend of the King has revealed.

Palace insiders have suggested that his bombshell interview with the BBC on Friday has only deepened the rift between The Duke of Sussex and the King.

Its not that the King wont speak to him  its that he cant, explained Charles friend.

How can you have a private and delicate conversation when you know it is going to end up on a news special within hours?

In Prince Harrys most recent scathing interview, he once again aired his familys private matters that have destroyed any remaining trust they had in him.

During the interview he claimed he is the victim of a 'stitch-up' after losing a legal challenge over his UK security.

His former royal protection officer has blasted the comment as 'really offensive' explaining that now is the time for Harry to show some 'humility' if he wants to begin talks with his family, along with the government and police, to try and improve his security.

Ken Wharfe, who was a royal protection officer to royals including Harry, William and their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales said: 'With regards to the stitch-up, I think that's really offensive... I think what he should be doing now is actually showing some humility, certainly towards his father.

In Prince Harrys most recent scathing interview, he once again aired his familys private matters that have destroyed any remaining trust they had in him

The Duke of Sussex claimed his father wont speak to me and that he doesnt know how much longer he has left.

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard

'If a reconciliation is part of what he wants, then this is hardly the way to go about reconciling the differences that exist within your family.'

During the interview, he was disrespectful towards his family - echoing past sentiments of his tell-all book, Spare, where he condemned his father, brother and stepfather.

Perhaps if he tried to earn rather than demand a reconciliation, things might go a little better for him. Its just very tragic, the close friend told The Times.

The Duke of Sussex claimed his father wont speak to me and that he doesnt know how much longer he has left.

A shocking statement that palace insiders considered to be in particularly poor taste.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, one insider said: If there were anxieties about things remaining private, then Friday will not have done them the power of good.

As for their being no contact, well, he has just proven why, yet again.

Harry also claimed there was 'a lot of power and control' in the King's hands, insinuating that the monarch could have intervened in the judicial process.

Prince Harry revealed King Charles 'won't speak to me' - and indicated the monarch had the 'control and ability' to help 'resolve' a row over his security arrangements

But the perception that King Charles 'doesn't care' about his younger son is far from the truth, a royal expert has revealed

In response a royal source said: '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.'

Commenting on the security issue, Mr Wharfe added: 'On the security issue, I think he has really played the wrong card.

'I don't see how he can expect to get full protection when he arrived back in the UK, when he is no longer a member working the royal family, when he knows that the actual security package comes at the expense of the British taxpayer.

'The government and the police are quite together on this.

'They are saying, "well, we understand that, but we can't suddenly just push on buttons to give you the all-singing-and-dancing protection that you had when you were in United Kingdom," the same that his mother had, his brother enjoys, and now it is, of course, his father and Queen Camilla.

'What the government has given and the police is a protection of sorts to guarantee his safety, which will be based on risk assessment that, quite frankly, is about the best he can expect.

'The High Court has seen that. The appeal court has seen it. The government has seen it. The police have seen it - so where's the problem?'

Prince Harrys allegation that his father doesnt speak to him amid a long-running row over the loss of his taxpayer-funded security is complicated by legal considerations unique to the reigning monarch, the Kings biographer has revealed.

'It is not a case of 'won't'. It's 'can't'. Legal jeopardy. Monarch is fountain of justice and #PrinceHarry is fighting HMG in his court,' the King's biographer Robert Hardman said on X

King Charles, (pictured with his wife Camilla) is still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer',

Robert Hardman, Daily Mail journalist and author of Charles III: The Inside Story, said that Harrys perception that his father doesnt care about him is far from the truth  and his claim that Charles could step in to end the legal dispute over his security is false.

According to Hardman, the King is unable to speak to his son about the legal dispute because Charles is the fountain of justice in the UK - all legal authority and power ultimately stems from the monarch's courts.

With King Charles III as the cerom figurehead of the legal system - and the row over Harry's security effectively taking place in his courts - any intervention from the monarch may have been deemed as improper.

According to Hardman, there can be no reconciliation between Charles and Harry until the Duke of Sussex drops his litigation and stops speaking publicly about his feud with his family.

Harry gave the BBC a scathing interview about his family last night, in which he also claimed that he doesnt know how long his father has left to live and that members of his family will never forgive him or writing a book.

Hardman, author of the recently-published official biography, told MailOnline that had the monarch stepped into the row it could have led to a 'serious constitutional issue'.

As such, the monarch has to 'take a step backward'.

He said: 'Under our legal system the monarch is the source of justice. It's why when you go into the courts there's the King's coat of arms above the judge.

'The monarch is the basis of justice in our system. You can't have the head of the judiciary getting involved in a court case. It's as simple as that.

'As one expert is quoted in my biography, you have the unhappy position of the king's son suing the king's ministers in the king's court.

'Had the King spoken to Harry, it could have meant the whole case would have collapsed.

'It would have raised the prospect of a serious conflict of interest and that could have led to a constitutional problem.'

Hardman added that reconciliation between the pair could still occur, but would be 'still pretty far off' unless certain factors change.

Charles III: The Inside Story, written by Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman

He said: ''It's very clear that Harry loves his father and his family - and his family loves him.

But for the pair to reconcile, two things need to happen - first Harry needs to finish all his litigation and secondly, he needs to stop discussing it in public.

'Everyone would love to see them reconcile, but it's not going to happen - not at least at the moment.'

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams branded the Duke's interview as 'confusing', as he thinks Prince Harry implied his father could 'arrange this' in his position as monarch.

'He didn't say that exactly, because he said that his father would step aside and let the experts decide. But then, on the other hand, that implied that his father was part of the process that was against him,' he said.

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 on Friday as he rejected Harry's appeal

'I think people will find it confusing, because, in my opinion, it was confused'

'He believes that the Royal household is completely poisoned against him,' he said: 'This is where you get the conspiracy aspect, you could even argue there is a fantasy aspect of it.

'He believes that there are very malign forces out to get him or out to get him and his family. He believes there are those who want him to be in a vulnerable state.'

Even without the legal restrictions on Charles becoming involved, insiders claim that the King had wanted to improve relations with Harry - but he has become increasingly 'frustrated' by the Duke's outspoken revelations about the royal family and the way he has handled his security row.

One insider told The Sun: 'The King has always considered this was an issue for His Government and courts to resolve and that for him to intervene in any way would be constitutionally improper.

'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, click his fingers, and demand a form of protection that the leading national experts on protection may or may not consider necessary on any given visit.'

Meanwhile a source close to the King told The Times: 'His son suing the King's government in the King's court over a decision taken by a committee that decides on the King's security makes it incredibly tricky for Charles.'

Revelations around why the King has not intervened in the security row come as:

In a blistering interview with the BBC, the Duke, who left Britain in 2020 for a life first in Canada and later in California, said he was 'devastated' after losing his battle over taxpayer-funded bodyguards  which additionally puts him on the hook for 1.5million in legal costs.

The Duke of Sussex candidly spoke about his disappointment and sparked speculation about his father's health after saying that he 'doesn't know how much longer [the King] has left'.

He also revealed he has had 'so many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond wrote in the Daily Express that the only way Harry would feel comfortable enough to return to the UK with his family would be if he is formally invited - as this would guarantee him the security 'he believes he needs'.

However, his 'bombshell of an interview' might only strain relations further.

'At the root of the rift is the question of trust,' she wrote: 'Harry's father and brother do not trust Harry to keep conversations private. And this loudspeaker of a diatribe against them is not going to make them change their minds.'

Bond also commented on the situation on Sky News, saying that the Duke was 'bristling with anger, isn't he, and resentment. And mistrust of the royal household.

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

'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.'

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.

'This is a very significant moment in what will be written about by the historians of the future about Harry,' she told Sky News.

It came after Harry last night launched a blistering attack on the King, who he complained 'won't 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 Majesty's 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.

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.

Harry's statement in full that he issued last night following the loss of his court appeal

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.'

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.

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.'

In the astonishing interview, Prince Harry revealed he did not know how long his father Charles had left (pictured together in 2022)

Last night Buckingham Palace rebuked Harry's claims of a 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.'

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.'

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 has said he fears for the security of his family. Pictured: Meghan and Harry in New York last month

Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan attending an event on October 2, 2019

Harry said his 'jaw dropped' when he discovered the Royal Household  he named the King's private secretary Sir Clive Alderton  sat on the Ravec committee. He said: 'There is a lot of control and ability in my father's 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'.

'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.'

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 yesterday 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.
Ioan Gruffudd said he saw his ex-wife Alice Evans try to give their children cocaine after leaving the door of their family home unlocked so a drug dealer could enter, court documents show.

The bombshell claim comes as the Welsh actor applied to renew his restraining order against Alice, who he says has harassed him.

Alice and Ioan underwent a messy divorce two years ago and have since been locked in a fierce battle over the support and custody of their two daughters Ella and Elsie.

Court papers now show that Ioan received panicked phone calls and text messages from his children in July 2020, stating that their mother was 'openly consuming cocaine'.

He added that while he was on a Facetime call he witnessed Alice attempt to give their daughters the Class A drug, the documents he filed in court say.

It came after the children claimed their mother had left the door to their family home unlocked so a 'drug dealer could enter', the documents also say.

Other bombshell claims from the court documents include allegations actress Alice repeatedly breached the terms of a restraining order dating from August 2022.

Ioan said in court documents she barged into their child's school while he was having a meeting with a teacher - despite checking they had not booked an appointment at the same time.

Alice and Ioan are still battling fiercely over spousal support and custody and financial support for their two daughters Ella, 15, and Elsie, 11 [pictured in 2018 with daughters Ella and Elsie]

Alice and Ioan underwent a messy divorce two years ago and have since been locked in a fierce battle over the support and custody of their two daughters Ella and Elsie

Ioan Gruffudd is pictured with his new wife Bianca Wallace

'I signed up to attend a private parent teacher conference at my childrens school on November 17, 2022,' he wrote in his court declaration in California.

'I selected the final appointment of the day to ensure no possibility of running into Evans and confirmed that Evans had not signed up to attend a conference.

'My private meeting with my childs teacher was in progress when Evans stormed into the classroom. I went into a state of shock.'

In court documents, Ioan also accused his estranged wife of giving him and his new wife Bianca Wallace the middle finger when they bumped into each other in the street in 2023.

He said Alice drove past them when they were walking their dog and made a u-turn towards them.

'Evans then stopped next to us and began beeping her car horn at Bianca and myself, waving at us, and gesturing the middle-finger,' Ioan has claimed.

Linda Blank, who was one of the managers of both Ioan and Alice's fan clubs between 2016 and 2014 also submitted a witness statement to support Ioan's claims.

She refers to emails in which Alice talks about how she could 'ruin' Ioan's career by making allegations such as that he was using sex workers.

Ms Blank wrote in her statement filed in court documents: 'Alice told me she was going to publicly state that Gruffudd was making her and the children homeless, that Gruffudd is a drug addict, and that Gruffudd uses sex workers.

Alice and Ioan formally divorced in July 2023 [pictured in 2016]

'Evans told me that Gruffudds reputation and image with his fans and within the film industry is that of somebody wholesome and kind and that these accusations would ruin him.

'Evans asked me to post these false stories to my social media accounts. I refused to do this on her behalf.'

Ioan  whose latest movie, Bad Boys: Ride or Die has grossed more than $403 million worldwide - has also fought against Alice's claims for more money to support their children.

In earlier court papers, he called her claims of poverty 'exaggerated' and said it's a 'false narrative' that she and the children have been left destitute.

Meanwhile in the latest documents Ioan claims that Alice started a GoFundMe when she had $86,000 available to her from personal accounts.

'Since that date I have been not only struggling as a single mother to my babies, but also trying to cover bills and food and legal fees (ha! don't even talk to me about legal fees) which dwarf any other expense in my life and have finally drained everything - savings, accounts, pension, the lot', she reportedly wrote on the page.

'Yesterday all my accounts ran out and I couldn't buy anything Anything you can spare.'

Alice and Ioan met on the set of the movie 102 Dalmatians more than 20 years ago.

Alice and Ioan met on the set of the movie 102 Dalmatians more than 20 years ago

They fell in love in real life and were married in Mexico in 2007.

Ioan filed for divorce in March 2021, shortly after Alice announced on social media that her husband of 14 years was walking out on her and their two daughters.

Meanwhile, in February this year, Alice revealed she's being evicted from her LA home after being 'unable to pay her rent'.

The actress wrote on Instagram that she and her daughters have 'no way of renting even the cheapest room in the city' after being beset by financial woes amid her bitter court battle with ex-husband Ioan.

Sharing a sweet throwback snap with her two daughters, Alice shared that she is like many others in Los Angeles trying to find a new place to live after the city was devastated by fires in January.

Alice was thought to be renting a home in California with her two children after her bitter divorce from Ioan.
Former president Barack Obama was spotted stepping out in New York City on Friday night alongside his sister Auma, in the latest string of public dinners without his wife, Michelle.

Obama, 63, wore an all black suit as the siblings, who share a father, left the ZZ Club in Hudson Yards.

The establishment is a private members club that has its own Japanese restaurant, a cigar terrace and is the only private location of a Carbone restaurant in the world.

Similarly, Michelle has been frequently seen in recent outings dining with her brother Craig Robinson, with the two also cohosting her new podcast.

The Obamas haven't strayed from the public eye since leaving the White House in 2016, but have rarely been seen together as of late.

Separation rumors started to swirl over the winter, when Barack was spotted without Michelle at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral and President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Speculation as to why the first lady skipped the two major high-profile events was unavoidable.

Michelle offered a vague explanation during an interview on actress and activist Sophia Bush's podcast, Work in Progress.

Barack Obama was spotted stepping out in New York City on Friday alongside his sister, who rarely attends public outings

Obama was spotted alongside his sister Auma

Michelle is frequently spotted with her brother, Craig Robinson, especially since the launch of their podcast

'That's the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with disappointing people,' she told Sophia.

'I mean, so much so that this year people were, you know, they couldn't even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,' Michelle continued.

'That this couldn't be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?'

At the time, Michelle's team said she missed Carter's funeral due to 'scheduling conflicts,' blaming her absence on a preplanned holiday vacation in Hawaii.

Michelle's comments only further fueled separation rumors, coupled with the fact that the two have rarely been seen together in public.

They were pictured together in December enjoying a dinner at a Los Angeles restaurant called Mother Wolf, but have been seen separately since.

Michelle was seen once again at Mother Wolf in February with her brother Craig Robinson.

The siblings were pictured smiling and laughing together amid heightened divorce rumors between the Obamas.

He attended dinner with a sibling instead of a spouse

The former president proved his swagger was still intact leaving the ZZ Club in Hudson Yards on Friday

Michelle and her brother launched their new podcast, IMO (In My Opinion) with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson in March.

The siblings have embarked on a media tour to promote the new project and were seen together once again in April.

Eagle-eyed fans spotted her diamond wedding ring as she visited The Academy headquarters in North Hollywood.

However, Barack was then spotted at a dinner once again without his wife in San Francisco last month.

The former president was also seen at a Japanese-Californian restaurant in West Los Angeles with his daughters, as Michelle was noticeably absent.

Despite the rumors, the Obamas have stayed tight-lipped about their marriage and have attempted to dispel the claims with social media posts.

Michelle finally spoke out about the rumors on Sophia Bush's podcast, explaining that she missed Jimmy Carter's funeral and Trump's inauguration because she's taking time for herself

Despite the frequent separate outings, the Obamas have stayed tight-lipped on their divorce and posted sweet messages to each other on social media

Barack posted a photo of the two on Valentine's Day with a sweet caption that read, 'Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away. Happy Valentines Day, Michelle Obama!'

Michelle also shared the photo, adding, 'If there's one person I can always count on, it's you, Barack Obama. You're my rock. Always have been. Always will be. Happy Valentine's Day, honey!'

Barack also wished his wife a happy 61st birthday, writing on social media, calling Michelle the 'love of my life.'

'You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace  and you look good doing it. Im so lucky to be able to take on lifes adventures with you. Love you!' he added.
Star Wars fans rapturously applauding and cheering during a scene where a child is murdered has left one cinemagoer 'sickened'.

Revenge of the Sith has returned to big screens across the world in a series of 20th anniversary showings after its initial release on May 19, 2005.

Starring Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Ian McDiarmid and Natalie Portman, the movie, which marked the end of the prequel trilogy, quickly became a box-office darling and fan favourite.

The plot centres around Anakin Skywalker - played by Christensen - and his descent from hero Jedi to the evil Darth Vader whose character was voiced in the original three films by James Earl Jones.

In a key turning point in the movie and arguably the the darkest scene in the franchise, Anakin is told to execute 'Order 66' - a plot orchestrated by Emperor Palpatine, played by McDiarmid.

The goal of the order was to brutally eliminate the Jedi, including the slaughter of children known as 'younglings' who were in training to become future masters of 'the force'.

But in one North London screening of the movie on Wednesday, the murder of the children was not solemnly observed, but loudly celebrated.

An anonymous moviegoer who went to watch the film for the first time caught the moment the Star Wars fans celebrated the series of killings - and told MailOnline he was left in shock by the scenes.

The plot centres around Anakin Skywalker - played by Christensen - and his descent from hero Jedi to the evil Darth Vader whose character was voiced in the original three films by James Earl Jones

In a key turning point in the movie and arguably the the darkest scene in the franchise, Anakin is told to execute 'Order 66' - a plot orchestrated by Emperor Palpatine, played by McDiarmid

The goal of the order was to brutally eliminate the Jedi, including the slaughter of children known as 'younglings' who were and in training to become future masters of 'the force'

He said: 'I'd never seen the film before as I was too young when it came out the first time. It was during a very sad part of the film when all the Jedi are being killed and the main character Anakin turns evil.

'In one scene he walks into a room and starts murdering children and everyone in the cinema started laughing. Some of them were screaming 'yes' and stomping their feet. Others were laughing, it was horrible.

'I later found out that it's part of a meme? That's sick. What sort of fans think child murder is funny?'

In the scene, one 'youngling' looks to Anakin for help against the slaughter which is taking place in the Jedi Temple, saying: 'Master Skywalker, there are too many of them! What are we going to do?'

But things quickly turn dark when Anakin draws his lightsaber to attack the children.

And in the footage obtained by MailOnline, many in the audience can be heard cheering and even shouting 'do it' as Anakin faces down the child with the weapon.

Starring Hayden Christensen (left), Ewan McGregor (right) and Natalie Portman (middle), the movie quickly became a box-office darling and fan favourite

Ian McDiarmid played the role of Palpatine, the Emperor who manipulates Anakin Skywalker to the 'Dark Side'

It comes as 'May the Fourth' - a play on the popular catchphrase 'May the Force be with you' - arrives tomorrow, and many Star Wars lovers will celebrate by sharing gags of 'Order 66' online.

A major factor in the love for the scene is that it marks Anakin's transition from hero to villain, laying the foundations for the first three films: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

As Anakin becomes Darth Vader, he transitions into the Star Wars anti-hero - a villain who, no matter what, is still beloved by fans.

Many fans sympathise with his character, who was manipulated by Palpatine to join the 'Dark Side' after being promised 'infinite power' to save his loved ones, specifically his wife Padme, played by Portman, from death.

And franchise lovers root for Anakin - despite the horrors of 'Order 66' - as they believe his heart was in the right place, though the character had unwittingly compromised by a greater evil in Palpatine.

Reflecting on the scene in an interview with Empire magazine last year, Christensen described George Lucas's decision to include the scene as 'bold'.

As Anakin becomes Darth Vader, he transitions into Star Wars's anti-hero - a villain who, no matter what, is still beloved by fans

Reflecting on the scene in an interview with Empire magazine last year, Christensen (above) described George Lucas's decision to include the scene as 'bold'

He said: 'There was a lot of talk about us doing that scene, and I love that George did it. It was a bold move. And it's shocking.'

The actor also told how he had to scare Ross Beadman, who played the role of the child in the scene, in order to capture the horror the child would have felt in that situation.

Christensen added: 'When we were filming that, we were having a hard time getting the reaction that we wanted from the kid. And so I shouted, or growled at him, because we needed a genuine moment of him being startled.

'It got the response that we needed, and it makes that scene work really well I saw him years later and said, "Sorry about how that went."'
Gamers who carry out virtual rapes in the 'metaverse' should be charged as real-life sex attackers, a legal expert insists.

Assaults are rife on the digital 'avatars' used by women and children in the online world, which, it is claimed, can leave them with trauma similar to real ordeals.

Players wearing virtual reality headsets often use interactive gloves and bodysuits to experience physical touch in the 3D games, meaning they will feel an assault on their avatar.

Professor Clare McGlynn, a law expert at Durham University, branded the metaverse a 'ticking time bomb' and warned that the number of sex attacks is set to 'explode' in the next few years.

Her paper, published in the Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, found that a rising toll of 'meta-rapes' are going unpunished in the unregulated digital spaces.

It cites a police investigation after a teenager was 'gang-raped', with officers concluding that she suffered the same psychological trauma as a real-life victim.

The case last year, revealed by the Mail, was thought to have been the first time in the UK that police had investigated a virtual sex offence.

Gamers who carry out virtual rapes in the ' metaverse ' should be charged as real-life sex attackers, a legal expert insists. Pictured: File photo of woman playing in Metaverse

Assaults are rife on the digital 'avatars' used by women and children in the online world, which, it is claimed, can leave them with trauma similar to real ordeals (Stock Image)

Players wearing virtual reality headsets often use interactive gloves and bodysuits to experience physical touch in the 3D games, meaning they will feel an assault on their avatar. Pictured: A woman using a headset to play in the metaverse

Professor McGlynn's study, with Carlotta Rigotti of Leiden University in the Netherlands, proposes that existing laws should be applied to 'appropriate cases of meta-rape'.

She said the law covers touching with any part of the body, 'with anything else and through anything', adding that it could be interpreted to include touching through an avatar.

'The metaverse is growing rapidly and we see abuse, sexual violence and hate speech,' she added.

'Very young children access these spaces with ease and, as engagement explodes, so will the risks.

'Due to the tactile technology... you can have physical sensations. If somebody touches your avatar, you feel it. Victims report the same level of trauma as if the rape had occurred in real life.'

In 2022, The Mail on Sunday told how a mother-of-four's avatar was sexually assaulted in Facebook's virtual world.

Nina Jane Patel, 43, from south London, watched in horror as the computer-generated version of herself was groped by three male characters in full view of others in the Horizon Venues metaverse.

Misogynistic extremists known as Incels - groups of men online who claim they are involuntary celibate and blame women for this - are set to weaponise the metaverse for 'virtual rape', Professor McGlynn also warned.

She said: This is going to become a major forum for extremists who are likely to adopt this technology far faster than the average user because of their intent to abuse and harass.

Its an unregulated space, which means extremism will flourish. Right now, no one is paying close enough attention.

Gamers must be aged at least 18 but critics say it is easy for youngsters to lie about their age.

Horizon Venues has since introduced a 'safe zone' that avatars can enter to avoid interaction.

A spokesman for Meta, Facebook's parent company, said it was 'committed' to safety and that it 'will continue to make improvements as we learn more about how people interact'.

Police chiefs have called for updated laws to keep pace with the online world. National Crime Agency boss Graeme Biggar said police must prepare for online incidents to be treated as crimes due to their real-life impact.
When the world's cardinals met in Rome last Monday for the first of their crucial pre-conclave discussions, they raised 'the issue of clerical abuse', according to a Vatican spokesman.

The cardinals are forbidden to reveal anything that was said.

But behind closed doors, the preparations for the conclave  which starts on Wednesday  are already mired in scandal.

Aside from doubts about the true age of Philippe Ouedraogo, a cardinal from Burkina Faso whom some claim is 80, meaning he's too old to vote, and concerns about the presence of the Peruvian cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, who faces sexual abuse allegations (which he denies), several cardinals have torn into the legacy of the late Pope Francis.

'We have listened to many complaints against Francis's papacy in these days', one unnamed cardinal told America Magazine, a Jesuit publication.

In any case, we can be certain that Monday's debate was haunted by a series of jaw-dropping scandals whose details are unknown to the vast majority of the 400,000 Catholics who attended Pope Francis's funeral a week ago.

If they had known, the crowds would have been much smaller.

When the world's cardinals met in Rome last Monday for the first of their crucial pre-conclave discussions, they raised 'the issue of clerical abuse', according to a Vatican spokesman. The cardinals are forbidden to reveal anything that was said. Pictured: Pope Francis

The 'people's Pope' was elected in 2013 on a promise to hold the Church accountable for clerical sex abuse. And it's true that he did establish new rules designed to punish bishops found guilty. But the first Argentinian pontiff did not practise what he preached. The darkest mystery of Francis's 12-year reign was his persistent habit of shielding credibly accused and even convicted sexual predators from justice

'A descent into hell' was how 'Anna', a 58-year-old former Italian nun, described the nine years of abuse she claimed to have endured at the hands of Fr Marko Rupnik (pictured)

The television priest Fr Julio Grassi (pictured) was Argentina's Jimmy Savile. His orphanage was a cover for assaults on teenage boys. In 2008 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison but remained at large during the appeals process

For the common denominator of these scandals  whose victims included 20 Slovenian nuns who claim to have been raped, Argentinian seminarians grotesquely assaulted by their bishop and a Belgian teenager subjected to incestuous assault by his uncle, a bishop  is that Francis went to bizarre lengths either to conceal or excuse these crimes.

The 'people's Pope' was elected in 2013 on a promise to hold the Church accountable for clerical sex abuse.

And it's true that he did establish new rules designed to punish bishops found guilty.

But the first Argentinian pontiff did not practise what he preached.

The darkest mystery of Francis's 12-year reign was his persistent habit of shielding credibly accused and even convicted sexual predators from justice.

The Pope enjoys supreme authority over the Catholic Church.

He can twist or ignore canon law, which is supposed to punish sex offenders, and the Vatican state's criminal law, without being challenged.

That is precisely what he did, again and again.

Indeed, his sinister modus operandi predated his election: as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he tried to keep a priest who abused homeless boys out of jail.

The Argentinian Church then produced a 2,800-page 'counter-report' slurring Grassi's young victims as liars and homosexuals. Pictured: Julio Grassi

As Pope, he was questioned about it and told a bare-faced lie in front of the cameras.

Francis's long record of protecting convicted and suspected predators should have been the biggest scandal to face the church in decades if not centuries.

Why, then, did it not dominate headlines around the world?

The answer is that, although some individual journalists reported the heartbreaking testimonies of the victims, they did not draw the necessary connections between cases separated by thousands of miles and, in some cases, several decades.

Meanwhile, members of the Vatican Press corps threw up a smokescreen to protect a Pope whose Left-wing agenda they shared.

Now, finally, it is time for an overview of Francis's support for some clerics who have faced appalling allegations  specifically three self-styled 'men of God': Julio Grassi, Marko Rupnik and Gustavo Zanchetta.

'A descent into hell' was how 'Anna', a 58-year-old former Italian nun, described the nine years of abuse she claimed to have endured at the hands of Fr Marko Rupnik, a Slovenian Jesuit priest  and friend of Pope Francis  who became the world's most successful mosaic artist.

In December 2022, Anna spoke to the Italian newspaper Domani, after his mosaics were installed in more than 200 Catholic holy places, including the basilicas of Lourdes and Fatima, the St John Paul II national shrine in Washington DC and a chapel in the Vatican.

The Pope enjoys supreme authority over the Catholic Church. He can twist or ignore canon law, which is supposed to punish sex offenders, and the Vatican state's criminal law, without being challenged

Rupnik's art struck many Catholics as creepy. Jesus, Mary and the saints were depicted with huge empty black eyes.

But Church authorities poured hundreds of millions of pounds into commissions. Rupnik was untouchable.

His alleged victims, however, were not. In the 1980s he founded an order of religious sisters in Slovenia.

Anna joined at 21, attracted by his 'charisma' and 'sensitivity in identifying people's weaknesses'.

He would touch her while he was explaining his art. Then, she says, 'he kissed me lightly on the mouth, telling me that this was how he kissed the altar where he celebrated the Eucharist'.

According to Anna, Rupnik would use theological language while molesting her. Soon after she took her religious vows, she said, he attacked her so violently she lost her virginity.

She said Rupnik abused 20 nuns, one of whom broke her arm trying to resist him.

Anna spoke out in 2022 because the Vatican, although advised by the Jesuit order that the claims were credible, refused to bring any charges under canon law against Rupnik.

Pope Francis also rehabilitated an even more unscrupulous retired cardinal  Theodore McCarrick (pictured), former Archbishop of Washington, whom Pope Benedict XVI had ordered to live in seclusion after he learned he had a long history of abusing trainee priests, even soliciting for sex in the confession box

In 2019 the priest was caught absolving a female victim in the confessional after a sexual encounter with her  a crime that earned him automatic excommunication when it came to light.

Incredibly, while his excommunication was being processed, the Pope allowed him to deliver spiritual reflections to Vatican officials. And when the penalty was imposed, Francis mysteriously lifted it within weeks.

In 2023, news leaked that Rupnik  by now expelled from the Jesuits  was returning to ministry in Slovenia as a priest in good standing.

The public reaction was so ferocious the Pope finally agreed to a trial. But nothing happened.

In 2024 two former nuns from Rupnik's community, Mirjiam Kovac and Gloria Branciani, held a press conference. Kovac spoke of 'young girls' subjected to sadistic abuse.

Branciani described being forced into a sexual threesome modelled on the Holy Trinity and how this would involve having to 'drink his semen from a chalice at dinner'.

In another interview, Branciani said when Rupnik 'threw himself on me', she protested: 'But I could get pregnant.'

The priest's chilling reply? 'You can always have an abortion.'

She walked into the woods intending to kill herself, but decided 'the Lord did not want me to die'. Still Francis did nothing.

Admittedly, it was John Paul II (pictured), not Francis, who elevated McCarrick, while dismissing reports of serial abuse by monsters such as Fr Marcial Maciel (pictured), founder of the Legionaries of Christ

The prelate in charge of the trial, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, explained that 'worse cases' took priority.

Meanwhile the Vatican communications office repeatedly promoted Rupnik's art online.

A pattern emerged, even if Francis's friends in the media refused to report it. When it came to protecting his abuser allies from justice  however diabolical the crime  the late Pope was a repeat offender.

The warning signs appeared from the moment Jorge Mario Bergoglio [Francis's real name] appeared on the balcony of St Peter's in 2013.

He was accompanied by the disgraced former Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, the late Cardinal Godfried Danneels, who was secretly recorded in 2010 telling a young man to shut up about the fact that he had been sexually abused by his uncle, Bishop Roger Vangheluwe.

Danneels had been one of the cardinals who campaigned to elect Francis. He got his reward the next year, when the Pope invited Danneels to be guest of honour at the Vatican's Synod on the Family, of all subjects.

Pope Francis also rehabilitated an even more unscrupulous retired cardinal  Theodore McCarrick, former Archbishop of Washington, whom Pope Benedict XVI had ordered to live in seclusion after he learned he had a long history of abusing trainee priests, even soliciting for sex in the confession box.

One of Francis's first acts as pope was to make his protege Fr Gustavo Zanchetta (pictured), known as his 'spiritual son', the Bishop of Oran, a remote diocese in the north of the country. As soon as he arrived, Zanchetta started hanging around the local seminary, making advances to the prettiest boys

Francis knew about McCarrick's habits but nonetheless brought him out of retirement as his private diplomatic representative. Only when McCarrick was accused of assaulting a minor did the Pope strip him of the rank of cardinal.

Admittedly, it was John Paul II, not Francis, who elevated McCarrick, while dismissing reports of serial abuse by monsters such as Fr Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ.

John Paul's stubborn refusal to believe accusations is a stain on his reputation. It seems to have been motivated by his experience in Poland, where the Communists used false abuse claims to undermine the Church.

The explanation for Pope Francis's far worse behaviour may also lie in his home country.

One of the mysteries of his pontificate was his refusal to set foot in Argentina as Pope, despite visiting most other Latin American countries. But we know he had many enemies there  and some truly depraved friends.

The television priest Fr Julio Grassi was Argentina's Jimmy Savile. His orphanage was a cover for assaults on teenage boys. In 2008 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison but remained at large during the appeals process.

The Argentinian Church then produced a 2,800-page 'counter-report' slurring Grassi's young victims as liars and homosexuals.

Before Zanchetta resigned in 2017, citing 'health reasons', pornographic material was discovered on his phone, including sexual pictures of himself. Francis (pictured) was shown it and dismissed it as fake

It was commissioned by the president of the country's bishops' conference  Cardinal Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, soon to be Pope Francis.

Grassi later claimed that during the failed appeals 'Bergoglio never let go of my hand'.

In the 2019 documentary Code Of Silence, reporters confronted the Pope in St Peter's Square. They asked him if he had attempted to influence Argentinian justice. 'No,' said Francis.

Then why did he commission a counter-inquiry? 'I never did,' said the Pope.

This was a demonstrable lie. Another Argentinian scandal is still unfolding. One of Francis's first acts as pope was to make his protege Fr Gustavo Zanchetta, known as his 'spiritual son', the Bishop of Oran, a remote diocese in the north of the country.

As soon as he arrived, Zanchetta started hanging around the local seminary, making advances to the prettiest boys.

This escalated into revolting assaults, described in court documents drawn up before Zanchetta was found guilty of abusing two young men and sentenced to four and a half years in 2022. The role of the Pope in this squalid drama is disturbing.

Before Zanchetta resigned in 2017, citing 'health reasons', pornographic material was discovered on his phone, including sexual pictures of himself.

Francis was shown it and dismissed it as fake.

Zanchetta (pictured) was found guilty of abusing two young men and sentenced to four and a half years in 2022

What happened next defies belief. After Zanchetta resigned, accused of financial mismanagement of Church funds, as well as sex offences, the Pope summoned him to Rome, where he created a job for him as 'assessor of the Vatican treasury'.

When Zanchetta was dragged back to Argentina to be tried, the Vatican refused the court's request to produce the findings of its own secret investigation into the bishop.

Citing 'health problems' again, Zanchetta persuaded the court to let him serve his sentence in a Vatican hotel.

Meanwhile the Pope sent investigators to Oran, in what locals claimed was 'a Vatican-authorised campaign of retaliation against those who gave evidence against the bishop'.

The drama continues. Last autumn, Zanchetta was spotted in Rome; he had been given permission to receive medical treatment there.

He was ordered to return by April 1 this year  but, as the Catholic investigative journalism website The Pillar reported on April 14, he had gone missing.

Meanwhile, where is the artist-cum-predator Rupnik? In March the Italian news outlet Daily Compass revealed this accused rapist had been given refuge in the majestic hilltop convent of the Benedictine Sisters of Priscilla in Montefiolo, in the Sabine Hills north of Rome.

The plan was to move the sisters out so the convent could house an 'artistic community' run by Rupnik's disciples.

Rupnik's art struck many Catholics as creepy. Jesus, Mary and the saints were depicted with huge empty black eyes

According to Anna, Rupnik would use theological language while molesting her. Soon after she took her religious vows, she said, he attacked her so violently she lost her virginity. She said Rupnik abused 20 nuns, one of whom broke her arm trying to resist him. Pictured: Pope Francis greets Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik in 2022

But that was before Pope Francis's sudden decline. Last month Ed Condon, a Church lawyer who edits The Pillar, noted that the Vatican was finally making preparations to try Rupnik.

Meanwhile, the Jesuits were paying compensation to his alleged victims, while his mosaics were being shrouded.

'What has changed?' Condon asked. One possibility was high-profile institutions 'feel suddenly comfortable stepping publicly away from Rupnik and towards his alleged victims as a result of the Pope's recent infirmity'.

In other words, the priest who appears to have run a sex cult in which he raped young women was suddenly vulnerable because his protector was on his deathbed.

If that is true, then it is hard to read the tributes to the 'people's Pope' without feeling sick.

Francis's culpability in the cases of Rupnik, Grassi and Zanchetta has been established beyond reasonable doubt. And there are other scandals that raise questions about his apparent willingness to use his office to protect sex criminals.

Why, for example, did Francis's chief of staff Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra issue an order last September reinstating the defrocked Argentinian priest Ariel Alberto Principi, twice convicted of child sexual abuse?

His order was later cancelled, but on whose instructions was he acting? Although Pena Parra was very close to Francis, we may never know if it was the Pope's doing  but it would certainly not be out of character.

What we do know is that, at the time of Francis's death, Grassi and Rupnik were still priests and Zanchetta was still a bishop.

And there is one final disturbing detail  a small thing, perhaps, but revealing. Until a new Pope is elected, Francis's apartment remains sealed with a red ribbon. Inside, hanging on the wall, is a mosaic by Rupnik.
The head of the UK's biggest trade union urged staff at Reform-controlled councils to sign up after Nigel Farage promised swingeing DOGE-style job cuts.

Mr Farage has warned council staff working on diversity or climate change initiatives to seek 'alternative careers' after Reform UK took control of Durham council.

The Clacton MP's party made major gains in the local elections, picking up 10 councils and more than 600 seats in Thursday's poll.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: 'Unions are there to ensure no one can play fast and loose with the law.

'Any staff working for councils now controlled by Reform, and who aren't yet members, should sign up so they can be protected too.'

Mr Farage has said he wants a British equivalent of DOGE in every council - referring to the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency, which was set up with the intention of slashing government spending in the US.

He said he would advise anyone working on climate change or diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to be 'seeking alternative careers very, very quickly', in a speech in Durham on Friday.

'We want to give council taxpayers better value for money. We want to reduce excessive expenditure,' he said.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea (pictured in December 2022) said staff working for UK councils run by Reform UK should join her union to 'ensure no one can play fast and loose with the law'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he wants a British equivalent of DOGE in every council - referring to the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency, which was set up with the intention of slashing government spending in the US

UNISON is one of the UK's largest trade unions, with 1.3 million members, and represents staff who provide public services in the public and private sector

On Saturday, a newly elected Reform UK councillor said Durham County Council would be 'getting the auditors in' right away to slash spending in areas like net zero and green initiatives.

'We're getting the auditors in to see ... actually what those jobs are, and if they're good value for money, and if they're not, well, the answer is, 'Yeah, goodbye',' Darren Grimes, a Durham councillor and former GB News presenter told the Today programme.

Ms McAnea said: 'This is not the US. Thankfully, workers in the UK have laws to protect them from bad employers.

'And soon employees will get even more protection from unscrupulous bosses when the government's new employment rights come in.'

She said the new Reform UK councillors have 'much to learn about local government' and will 'quickly discover there's nothing left to cut and many authorities are balancing on the edge of the financial precipice.'

'Most local authorities would love to be doing their core work, as Mr Farage says. But they simply don't have the staff nor the resources to do even that.'

Reform UK's success in this week's local elections 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.

Speaking on Today on BBC Radio 4, Farage said: 'We are deeply dissatisfied with the way that county councils and unitaries in Britain have been running their budgets.

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

'We look at the millions a year being spent, in many cases, on consultants. We look at the money being spent on climate change; on areas that county councils, frankly, shouldn't even be getting involved in.'

Mr Farage promised to bring in auditors to assess long-term contracts as well as to introduce a 'change of culture' by putting an end to working from home.

He added: 'That won't be a magic wand, it won't solve every problem, but it will be a good start.'

Mr Farage said Reform councillors would also push through culture change among staff, adding: No more working from home, increased productivity from staff.'
British soldiers destined to aid Ukraine's war effort are facing a fearsome foe closer to home  health and safety rules that hamper their training for drone warfare.

Troops have been told to stop flying drones that weigh more than 250g (9oz)  the weight of a cucumber  over their comrades while training on Salisbury Plain, even if they are in heavily armoured tanks at the time.

They have also been prevented from using signal-jamming equipment to stop drone pilots controlling the deadly devices due to fears it might interfere with satnavs and other gadgets used by residents near the Wiltshire site.

It has prompted concerns that troops at the base will be under-prepared when dispatched to the Russian border to help Volodymyr Zelensky's soldiers defend their homeland.

Labour MP Fred Thomas, who sits on the Commons' Defence Committee, said: 'British soldiers who are deploying as part of a deterrence force to places like Estonia and eastern Europe are going out without the kind of training and capability that is completely bog-standard in warfare now, whether it is in the Middle East or in Ukraine.'

'They are taking steps to try to protect themselves by going online and buying kit to then tinker around with, to see if they can jam frequencies themselves,' he told the Financial Times.

According to the newspaper, soldiers complained they had to make repeated requests to the Military Aviation Authority  part of the Ministry of Defence  for permission to fly a drone over a tank during a training exercise in March.

This was despite the tank not having any personnel inside at the time. Rules are in place to stop the devices from being flown near airports, buildings or above members of the public.

British soldiers destined to aid Ukraine 's war effort are facing a fearsome foe closer to home  health and safety rules that hamper their training for drone warfare

Troops have been told to stop flying drones that weigh more than 250g (9oz)  the weight of a cucumber  over their comrades while training on Salisbury Plain

Both Russian and Ukrainian troops jam radio control frequencies and video links between drones and pilots to down the devices

They were cited as the reason why soldiers had been prevented from practising electronic warfare, including using signals data to jam drones.

But drones have become a crucial facet of modern warfare. Both Russian and Ukrainian troops jam radio control frequencies and video links between drones and pilots to down the devices.

Last month Defence Secretary John Healey announced that Britain would send hundreds of thousands of drones to the Ukrainian frontline as part of a 450million aid package.

The devices being supplied include 'first-person view' or FPV drones, to attack targets, and aerial devices, which can drop explosives on Russian positions.

These types of drones are reported to be responsible for 60 to 70 per cent of damage caused to Russian equipment.

But there are concerns that a lack of 'real-life' training will restrict British soldiers' ability when they reach the front-line.

An MoD spokesman said: 'While operating within the UK, it's right that we balance safety with the need to train, innovate and operate new drone systems. To protect operational security and non-military environments, people would also expect us to ensure that electronic warfare capabilities have some restrictions.'
Two bullet holes from the bad old days still scar the black metal doorway of Ishmail Schbaitas busy corner shop in Copenhagen.

The migrant gangster who haphazardly fired the shots from a 9mm pistol during a drugs turf war has long disappeared from this once-dangerous suburb of Norrebro in the Danish capital.

He was deported as Denmark cracked down on rising crime caused, to a large degree, by the uncontrolled wave of 1.3 million migrants, which swept into Europe ten years ago, changing the face of the Continent for ever.

Denmark was not immune to the consequences of thousands of foreigners settling on their patch. But its Left-leaning government, which came to power in 2019, promised to curb migration to protect Danishness  and acted on the pledge...

The country famously banned the burka, the garment fully covering the face and body worn by devout Islamic women whod been brought to the country by their husbands. New rules came in compelling all newcomers and their children to learn Danish or lose asylum-seeker benefits.

A stones throw from Mr Schbaitas shop, residents of a notorious housing estate, Mjolnerparken  which had been categorised officially by Denmark as a ghetto for non-Westerners  were moved around the country to stop a parallel foreign society growing up.

Now the area is 99 per cent safer, Palestinian-born Mr Schbaita, 62, told us last week as he sat outside his shop in the evening sun during a rare spring heatwave. There are few bullets or gangs. Many who lived in the ghetto have been dispersed. The criminals in Mjolnerparken have been deported. Denmark did what it promised us.

Indeed, the country is considered a model for successful control of immigration.

Cameroonian lawyer Ndam Carlson Agwo, 48 ,speaking to Sue Reid at the deportation centre

A 23 year old Kurdish migrant (no name) who arrived in Denmark as an unaccompanied minor, pictured speaking to Sue Reid

Ndam Carlson Agwo spends his days collecting returnable plastic bottles to earn pocket money

It is a stark lesson for Labour. Immigration dominated last Thursdays local elections when the party, with its dismal record on border control, suffered an astounding defeat at the hands of Nigel Farages Reform, which has pledged to deport foreign criminals if it ever wins control in Westminster. And it is clear Denmarks hardline stance is now firmly on Sir Keir Starmers radar.

In February, the Prime Minister met his Danish counterpart, Mette Fredericksen, in Downing Street to hear about her approach. Her government had recently insisted that out-of-control immigration had become a threat to the daily life of Europe and that she would like to bring numbers down to near zero.

At the heart of the policy is a determination to protect the livelihoods of working-class Danes, to safeguard their jobs and to stop schools and welfare systems from being overwhelmed by newcomers.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Government statistics show that in Danish schools, the lower the age of pupils, the more Danes there are in the class.

This is an indication that the proportion of young ethnic minority families here is falling  and it is the reverse of what is happening in much of Englands education system where last year 37 per cent of pupils were from a minority ethnic background.

A side benefit for Ms Fredericksens Social Democrats is that her policy has effectively pulled the rug from under the feet of her Right-wing political opponents who have similar views to the Reform Party. The Scandinavian example shows that even a Left-leaning government can get a grip on immigration if it uses common sense.

Danish immigration minister Kaare Dybvad Bek has made it clear: We stand very hard against giving migrants the right to remain here. If youre rejected as an asylum seeker, you have a very low possibility of staying in Denmark.

Asylum applications have dropped by almost 90 per cent over the past decade. Last year they plummeted to 2,333, while the UK total hit a record 108,138.

A man who collects bottles from the bins to recycle for cash speaks to the Mail's Sue Reid

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's government had recently insisted that out-of-control immigration had become a threat to the daily life of Europe

The Sjaelsmark deportation centre, an hour outside of Copenhagen

Ndam says he will face jail and possibly death if he is sent back to Cameroon

Ndam pictured showing Sue some of the bottles he collected for his pocket money

And yet theres no doubt that Denmark, with a population of just six million, once had a huge problem  asylum requests here reached 21,316 in 2015 as the rush of migrants entered Europe at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

However, it appears to have controlled numbers by quite deliberately introducing a hostile environment for migrants. Asylum-seekers refused the right to stay are denied benefits. They get food, served three times a day, at the countrys two deportation camps, one of which was visited last week by The Mail on Sunday.

They are sent to the camps to await removal by the Danish Returns Agency, which gets extra funds for results.

Controversially, Denmarks border force has powers to confiscate items such as jewellery and watches from incoming migrants to help fund the cost of their stay. The officials will even remove the gold carried by a widow whose husband gifted it to her in case he died in battle and she needed to escape to Europe, one politician on the Danish Left complained to me in Copenhagen.

Migrants who tire of Denmark and return home voluntarily are given a 4,500 sweetener to leave. And if a migrants country of origin is deemed safe, such as Syria after the recent fall of President Bashar al-Assad, even a successful asylum seeker can lose Danish residency and face being returned home.

Crucially, the ghetto law has led to government regeneration of inner-city neighbourhoods which had to cope with large migrant influxes after 2015.

Places such as Mjolnerparken have been transformed into hipster areas with trendy boutiques, vegan coffee bars, workspaces and new-build housing blocks.

A wildly successful overseas PR campaign was also launched on social media. The message from Copenhagen was that migrants were not welcome and this quickly put off many from even attempting to enter the country.

Denmark banned the wearing of niqabs (pictured) and burkas in 2018 following security incidents

An overhead view of the Sjaelsmark deportation centre for illegal migrants in Denmark

The 48-year-old was chased out of his country for supporting democracy

Signs outside for the Sjaelsmark deportation centre

Cameroonian lawyer Ndam Carlson Agwo pictured in his legal gown and wig

Denmark crucially publishes league tables of criminal convictions based on the perpetrators national origins, something the UK does not do, although Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently agreed to publish such data by the end of this year.

These tables offer incontrovertible evidence that offences, particularly by foreign-born gang members, became an increasing problem after 2015. It is a hard truth but it has bolstered public support for cutting migration.

Last week, an hours drive outside Copenhagen, we visited an area that has both a deportation centre, called Sjaelsmark, for migrants on the way out of the country, and a reception holding centre, Sandholm, for those waiting to come in.

The residents of both camps catch buses and bicycle into the nearby town of Allerod during the day, as they wait for Danish officialdom to decide on their futures.

It was in this pleasant town that we met and talked to some of the migrants themselves.

Many were whiling away their time by gathering discarded plastic bottles and drinks cans from bins and the street, then taking the rubbish to shops, which weigh what they have gathered and pay them for what they have picked up. The system keeps the town clean and gives the camp residents pocket money for alcohol and cigarettes, I was told by one young African carrying a bag full of refuse on his way to a shop collection point.

It also gives us something to do. His days haul was worth about 11, he estimated with a grin.

There is no doubt about the migration crackdowns efficiency. But this has been achieved only by adopting tough measures  and, inevitably, some individuals get caught in the net who perhaps dont deserve to.

Ms Frederiksen has said she would like to bring immigration numbers down to near zero

New rules came in compelling all newcomers and their children to learn Danish or lose asylum-seeker benefits

People in the 'hip' district of Norrebro in Copenhagen - which was once considered a ghetto

Denmark has controlled its numbers by deliberately introducing a hostile environment for migrants

Migrants wave to a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines,in northern France

Denmark publishes league tables of criminal convictions based on the perpetrators national origins

An inflatable dinghy pictured carrying migrants makes its way towards England in the English Channel

At a bus stop, we met an Iranian woman of 28 who could not speak Danish or English and had been living in the Sjaelsmark deportation centre for six months.

She cannot be returned to her nations tyrannical Islamic regime because it is not deemed to be a safe country, and so she is in limbo. I have nothing. I go nowhere, she said.

Another Sjaelsmark resident was an Iraqi Kurd of 23, who arrived in Denmark as a 13-year-old unaccompanied migrant during the massive influx of 2015.

I was a child when I walked through the Balkans to get here, said the man, who suffers physical and mental health problems. Now I need drugs every day from the doctor to get my head straight. Please can I have a cigarette? he asked, putting out his shaking hands for my packet.

Former MEP Soren Sondergard, a Left-wing immigration expert, cited a Syrian family  an accountant father and psychiatrist mother with two children  whom he met recently. They, too, came to Denmark during the 2015 migration wave.

To qualify for citizenship, a migrant has to work for four-and-a-half years in a full-time job. This meant that the couple had to choose which of them should get citizenship in a quirk of the rules.

The husband works full-time as a driving instructor. The mother is a part-time kindergarten helper because one of them must care for the children. The result is that only he has been able to get his papers, said Mr Sondergard.

Then there is Ndam Carlson Agwo, a 48-year-old, English-speaking Cameroonian lawyer, who has been in Denmark for two-and-a-half years but was earmarked for deportation last month and brought to Sjaelsmark.

Many migrants facing deportation collect plastic bottles to sell for cash to spend in the local shops

Former MEP Soren Sondergard, a Left-wing immigration expert pictured after talking to Sue

Ndam's room in the deportation centre, with a single bed and small sofa

The Danish Parliament Building in Copenhagen

Carlson, as he likes to be known, is a divorcee with three children who fled to Europe after an arrest warrant was put out for him by Cameroons authoritarian government. His crime was to have given legal advice to arrested activists from the marginalised English-speaking community who are involved in a civil war against the Francophone government.

Today, Carlson has one small room with an iron bed in the deportation camp. It has a notice outside the door warning of rats. He has been there for a month looking at the ceiling and waiting.

Every day at 2pm, he goes down to the main building of the huge former military camp and peers at a notice on the wall. It has the names of those who must catch the bus that day for deportation.

I was told on Monday I may go at any moment, he explained. I have my suitcase packed. I cannot go back to Cameroon.

I am in mental agony thinking about it. They will put me in prison and leave me there.

I had no idea that liberal Denmark does not help asylum seekers any more, even desperate people like me, he added in his fine English accent. It is hard for me to accept that.

But accept it he must, for Denmark is resolute. The country is living through a remarkable success story, one in which the government believes borders matter and the Danish should choose who comes to live here.

It is a system other European countries grappling with their own immigration problems, including the UK, look at in envy. And who can blame them, as more and more come to our doors and knock  only to be let in.
The BBC's director-general is under increasing pressure to shut down a channel described as 'the media wing of Hamas'.

Tim Davie has been written to by Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, in the wake of a string of controversies about contributors to BBC Arabic.

Last week it was revealed that 'journalist' Samer Elzaenen, who has appeared on the channel a number of times, called for Jews to be 'burned as Hitler did'.

Mr Cohen's move comes as BBC insiders said that 'action would soon be taken' to clamp down on the output of BBC Arabic, which is funded through the licence fee and a Foreign Office grant.

In the letter, which has been seen by The Mail on Sunday, Mr Cohen said that BBC Arabic 'was responsible for a multitude of editorial failings in breach of BBC guidelines' and, in the five months which followed the October 7 attacks, 'was forced to make a correction at an average of one every 48 hours'.

Mr Cohen wrote: 'All of these corrections related to breaches that favoured an anti-Israel narrative... The BBC has also refused to sack BBC Arabic staff who had shown support for the October 7 terror massacres'.

Referring to Mr Elzaenen, Mr Cohen described as 'deeply disturbing' the fact that he 'was presented to audiences as a journalist', saying: 'Any single one of the many posts in which Mr Elzaenen displays vile racism against Jews should have been enough to preclude his being repeatedly platformed by the BBC, yet he has appeared as a reporter on BBC Arabic at least 14 times.

'To make matters even worse, the BBC's response to this information was to mislead licence-fee payers.

Danny Cohen (pictured) said that BBC Arabic 'was responsible for a multitude of editorial failings in breach of BBC guidelines'

Tim Davie (pictured) has been written to by Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, in the wake of a string of controversies about contributors to BBC Arabic

Last week it was revealed that 'journalist' Samer Elzaenen (pictured), who has appeared on the channel a number of times, called for Jews to be 'burned as Hitler did'

A BBC source said: 'Tim [Davie] knows that BBC Arabic is a problem and some form of action will soon be taken'

'The BBC's statement claimed that Mr Elzaenen was an "eyewitness". Yet an analysis of his appearances shows that he was repeatedly introduced to audiences as a journalist or reporter.'

In the letter, which was also sent to members of the BBC Board, Mr Cohen said: 'Given the platform it has repeatedly provided to supporters of terrorism some may conclude that [BBC Arabic] has now effectively become the media wing of Hamas.'

A BBC source said: 'Tim [Davie] knows that BBC Arabic is a problem and some form of action will soon be taken'.

Yesterday BBC Chairman Samir Shah said that there would be an investigation into the behaviour of BBC Arabic journalists.
Kemi Badenoch is set to launch a policy push as she tries to save her party from the 'existential' threat of Reform UK.

The Tory leader is lining up a set of proposals, including on sentencing and social media, after criticism she has been too slow to develop policies.

But her MPs want her to go further, and 'smash the glass' by making a new commitment to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

So far Ms Badenoch has refused to commit to quitting the ECHR, and instead launched a commission to examine it.

The Conservative party lost 674 councillors in last week's local election wipe-out, after being squeezed by both Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats.

Nigel Farage claimed his party's 'Reform-quake' marked 'the beginning of the end' of the Conservatives.

Former Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth said Reform could soon be the second party in Parliament. 'I think this is existential now for the Tories,' he told Times Radio.

Ms Badenoch said the results were disappointing but pledged to reverse her party's decline.

The Tory leader is lining up a set of proposals, including on sentencing and social media, after criticism she has been too slow to develop policies

Nigel Farage claimed his party's 'Reform-quake' marked 'the beginning of the end' of the Conservatives

Her allies emphasised that the results were always expected to be poor as they were coming back down from a 'historic high in 2021' when the party won many of the council seats following a Covid vaccine bounce.

But shadow communities minister David Simmonds said the results are 'not remotely' existential for the Tories and yesterday told Sky News: 'I think it's very clear, as somebody who was a Conservative councillor for 24 years, that we have been at a much lower level in local government than is the case now.'

But a source close to the Tory leader said she 'wants to learn the lessons from this set of elections', adding that Ms Badenoch 'continues her long-term plan to rebuild CCHQ and the wider Conservative Party and turn it into a world-class campaigning operation.'

Other policies backed by Ms Badenoch include raising the age of access to social media from 13 to 16, which will be put forward as an amendment to the Government's Data bill.

The Tory leader previously came out in favour of banning phones in schools, which Sir Keir Starmer dismissed as 'unnecessary'.

There will also be new proposals on sentencing and more detail on the forthcoming social cohesion policy commission announced in the coming days and weeks. Last night a Conservative party spokesman warned the party against infighting and not to 'turn in on ourselves'.

But critics of Ms Badenoch said they expect senior party figures to put her 'on notice'  as rivals start organising to be battle-ready for a 2026 putsch.

Donors and association chairmen are increasingly frustrated with Ms Badenoch and want to see improvements in the polls, where the Tories trail behind Labour and Reform UK.

Kemi Badenoch is set to launch a policy push as she tries to save her party from the 'existential' threat of Reform UK

Former Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth said Reform could soon be the second party in Parliament

MPs have been resisting launching a direct challenge, with many worried about a public backlash. 'Voters are sick of our psychodrama,' one MP said.

But last week's results have fuelled talk that Ms Badenoch could face a challenge next year, with shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick seen as the best choice to replace her.

'She will be allowed to deliver the big speech at conference, but others will be on manoeuvres by then,' one Tory MP said.

Meanwhile, Tory insiders are keen to counter reports that big-name Tory donors are unhappy with Ms Badenoch's leadership.

A source close to Ms Badenoch insisted the local elections 'have helped in focusing minds and donors are rallying round Kemi and the party.' They said the party has received 'over half a million in donations' over the past week.

It comes after the party announced that video-game tycoon and former Labour party donor Jez San has given the Conservatives 2 million this year.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'No one, least of all Kemi, is underestimating the scale of the renewal required to get the Conservative Party back to where it needs to be.

'Thursday's results show this very clearly.

'The local elections have woken up a lot of donors and supporters who didn't think they needed to get involved.'
Anyone out in central London early yesterday morning got an exclusive look at the pageantry of the Armed Forces as bands rehearsed for this weeks VE Day procession.

But as the nation prepares to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, a survey has revealed that almost half of all Britons would not be prepared to fight for their country today.

A staggering 48 per cent of those polled said there would be no circumstances in which they would be willing to take up arms and go to war.

Pollsters Ipsos surveyed more than 1,000 adults and found that just 35 per cent  roughly one in three  said they would be ready to fight, while 17 per cent said they did not know. They found men (49 per cent) were more willing to go to war than women (21 per cent), with adults aged 18 to 34 most likely to volunteer for action (42 per cent).

A military band takes part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE Day 80 procession on The Mall

RAF (Royal Air Force) band members approach Buckingham Palace in an overnight rehersal

Britain kicks off four days of events Monday marking 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe

However, 35 to 54-year-olds were the least willing to step up (28 per cent), with more than half of that age demographic saying there would be no circumstances in which they would serve.

Of the four biggest political parties, Reform UK voters were the most likely to fight, with Lib Dem supporters most likely to say no, according to the data.

Former Army officer Richard Gill, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan during a 15-year career, said: The fact that so many would refuse to fight for Britain is a symptom of a deeper national malaise. Weve stopped teaching pride in our country, its history, and its values.

A nation unsure of itself cannot expect its people to defend it. That must change.
Prince Harry faced a growing backlash from ministers, the Royal Family and the public last night over his bitter attack on King Charles.

The Duke of Sussex caused widespread disbelief when he complained in a BBC interview that his father 'won't speak to me' and that he was the victim of an 'Establishment stitch-up'.

He also accused the Royal Household of interfering in his battle to have his UK police security reinstated  an allegation dismissed yesterday by both the Government and Buckingham Palace.

Government insiders flatly rejected the Duke's extraordinary demand that the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper 'urgently' investigate the committee behind the decision to downgrade his security  with Whitehall sources pointing out that the body is designed to be strictly independent from political influence.

Palace insiders said his TV outburst risked deepening the rift with his family, adding that his comment about the King's cancer, saying he 'doesn't know how much longer he has left', was in particularly poor taste.

In another humiliating blow for the Duke, a Mail on Sunday poll today finds overwhelming backing for the King in his row with his youngest son.

Prince Harry faced a growing backlash from ministers, the Royal Family and the public last night over his bitter attack on King Charles

The Duke of Sussex caused widespread disbelief when he complained in a BBC interview that his father 'won't speak to me' and that he was the victim of an 'Establishment stitch-up'

Harry also accused the Royal Household of interfering in his battle to have his UK police security reinstated  an allegation dismissed yesterday by both the Government and Buckingham Palace

Government insiders flatly rejected the Duke's extraordinary demand that the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper 'urgently' investigate the committee behind the decision to downgrade his security Pictured: Harry hugging his son, Archie, as Meghan raises Lilibet into the air

Should Prince Harry and Meghan be formally stripped of their HR titles?

Yes: 67% No 33% Do you think Prince Andrew was culpable for Virginia Giuffres suicide? Yes 62% No 38% Who do you support in Harrys row with the King? King Charles: 64% Prince Harry: 36% Advertisement

According to the survey, by Find Out Now, 64 per cent of voters back Charles, while just 36 per cent support his son.

It also shows that the public would like to see Harry and Meghan stripped of their HRH titles.

Last week it was reported that Meghan had been using the title in private, despite an agreement that they would not do so.

Palace insiders also railed against the BBC for letting the Duke's outrageous claims go unchallenged.

After judges ruled against him over the security issue on Friday, Harry claimed the Royal Family had exerted undue influence over the Home Office's Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, or Ravec.

He said he was stunned to learn that two key Royal Household aides sit on the committee.

A royal source said their involvement was long established and insisted they had no 'advocacy' role. 'They advise on what the royals are up to,' said the source.

In his TV interview, the Duke suggested they helped influence decisions on behalf of the Royal Family and said he would ask the Home Secretary 'to look at this very, very carefully' and review Ravec and the Royal Household's 'influence' on it.

But a Government spokesman told The Mail on Sunday: 'All members work together to advise the independent chair on the protective security of the Royal Family and key public figures.

As part of long-standing arrangements these decisions have been taken by Ravec, not the Home Secretary.'

Meanwhile the BBC, which spoke to Harry near his home in California, admitted a 'lapse' in editorial standards over its coverage of the interview on Radio 4 Today programme.

It said: 'Claims were repeated that the process had been 'an Establishment stitch-up' and we failed to properly challenge this and other allegations.

This case is ultimately the responsibility of the Home Office and we should have reflected their statement.'

Palace insiders said Harry's TV outburst risked deepening the rift with his family, adding that his comment about the King's cancer, saying he 'doesn't know how much longer he has left', was in particularly poor taste. Pictured: Prince Harry (R) and Meghan Duchess of Sussex pose together with their newborn son Archie in 2019

In another humiliating blow for the Duke, a Mail on Sunday poll today finds overwhelming backing for the King in his row with his youngest son. Pictured: Britain's King Charles walks with Prince Harry as they arrive at St George's Chapel ahead of the Committal Service for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in 2022

In that statement, the department said: '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.'

The BBC said it also should have given the view of Buckingham Palace, which said after Harry's outburst: 'All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.'

Harry vowed he would never bring his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to Britain and claimed 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, alleged the Royal Household exploited security measures '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.'

Royal biographer and historian AN Wilson said: 'You keep thinking, 'Meghan and Harry can't get any worse.' And then they do.'

He added that since Meghan's arrival, Harry, 'a largely popular, merry prince who served his country in Afghanistan with courage and good humour, has become estranged from the British public.

According to the survey, by Find Out Now, 64 per cent of voters back Charles, while just 36 per cent support his son. It also shows that the public would like to see Harry and Meghan stripped of their HRH title

'Now, he is a humourless whinger, adrift from his former friends and speaks in the Californian psychobabble that Meghan has picked up among her ghastly Montecito neighbours.'

'It cannot continue. The King should strip them of the right to dignify themselves by their royal titles.

'Not just the HRH, but their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles. They should become simply Mr and Mrs Windsor, free to sink into their pathetic, unloved, sunlit exile, and the decades of pointless boredom that stretch ahead  a hell entirely of their own making.'

During the interview with the BBC's Nada Tawfik, Harry complained: 'I've been treated differently to everybody else that exists, I have been singled out.'

Friday'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 both sides.

Two in three voters back King over Harry in new bust-up

By Glen Owen

Even before Harrys interview with the BBC on Friday, public hostility was growing towards the Prince and his wife Meghan.

Despite the couples informal agreement with the late Queen that they would stop using the word Royal and their HRH titles after they quit their official duties and emigrated to the US to become financially independent from the Crown, it was revealed last week that the former actress had sent a food hamper with a note that said: With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan admitted calling herself Her Royal Highness to friends but denied it flouted the Megxit deal because it was not for commercial ends.

A Mail on Sunday poll found nearly two-thirds of voters back the King over Harry in the latest row

Voters are not persuaded. In a Mail on Sunday poll, conducted by Find Out Now, 67 per cent of people say that they would like to see the titles formally removed, with 33 per cent disagreeing. The poll also found that nearly two-thirds of voters back the King over Harry in the latest row: 64 per cent, compared with 36 per cent supporting his son.

The survey found wide variations according to party affiliations. While 70 per cent of Tory voters and 61 per cent of Reform voters sympathise more with Charles, only 28 per cent of Labour voters share that stance.

The poll also found a majority (62 to 38 per cent) saying Prince Andrew bore some responsibility for the suicide of his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, whose claims he has always strongly denied.

Simon English of Find Out Now, said: It is heartbreaking to hear that Prince Harry no longer talks to his father. It would be interesting to know what people think he should do to win back his fathers support.
A woman who took part in a protest against China's new 'mega-embassy' in London has claimed the regime's security police retaliated with dawn raids on her family in Hong Kong.

Carmen Lau, 30, a former politician who fled her native Hong Kong five years ago, joined 3,000 others at a rally in February against plans to build the 5.5-acre complex near Tower Bridge.

In a speech, the activist argued that allowing Beijing to build such a large embassy sends out the 'wrong message' that Britain welcomes authoritarian regimes.

But within 48 hours her elderly aunt and uncle in Hong Kong were arrested in dawn raids on their homes by the national security police and taken into custody, where they were questioned about Ms Lau for six hours.

The development came after leaflets were posted through the letterboxes of Ms Lau's neighbours in Berkshire, purporting to be from Hong Kong police.

They offered one million Hong Kong dollars, or almost 100,000, for information about Ms Lau or to anyone who could lure her inside the current Chinese embassy in Marylebone, central London.

Ms Lau said that after being arrested her relatives were questioned about the links she still has to the former British colony.

Carmen Lau, 30, a former politician who fled her native Hong Kong five years ago, joined 3,000 others at a rally in February against plans to build the 5.5-acre complex near Tower Bridge

In a speech, the activist argued that allowing Beijing to build such a large embassy sends out the 'wrong message' that Britain welcomes authoritarian regimes. Pictured: A demonstrator holds up a flag with the message 'No Chinese mega embassy' in February

Ms Lau said she took part in the rally in February as she believes the mega-embassy will become a hub for 'transnational repression' by China in the heart of London

She told The Mail on Sunday: 'They wanted to know about financial relationships I had with others in Hong Kong, and were interested in my family tree  the other relatives I have in Hong Kong.'

Although her two relatives were released, Ms Lau believes the police used information they gleaned to arrest another aunt a week later and question her for hours as well.

She claims the harassment is the regime's method of getting her to stop her 'anti-Chinese' activities in the UK.

Ms Lau was a former councillor in Hong Kong who fled the region and sought refuge in Britain after the Chinese authorities put her under surveillance for being a democracy advocate.

She said she had undercover police officers parked outside her apartment and was being followed wherever she went, as well as being harassed by both security personnel and the state media.

Although her two relatives were released, Ms Lau believes the police used information they gleaned to arrest another aunt a week later and question her for hours as well

The development came after leaflets were posted through the letterboxes of Ms Lau's neighbours in Berkshire, purporting to be from Hong Kong police

Ms Lau said she took part in the rally in February as she believes the mega-embassy will become a hub for 'transnational repression' by China in the heart of London.

There are particular concerns about underground rooms the new embassy will contain, which The Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed last month, with their exact purpose redacted on plans for 'security reasons'.

Ms Lau said: 'These rooms could be used for interrogations and locking up people like us. They could be used to torture us.'

She said the Metropolitan Police had advised her not to attend public gatherings as she could be attacked and her relatives back home could be put in danger.
The Trump administration has agreed to settle a lawsuit with the family of a January 6 rioter who was fatally shot by Capitol Police.

Ashli Babbitt, 35, was gunned down by then-Lieutenant Michael Byrd as she and thousands of others attempted to storm the Hill in 2021.

Byrd was cleared of any wrongdoing over the shooting which took place as 80 members of Congress were sheltering inside.

Babbitt's husband Aaron Babbitt filed a $30million lawsuit accusing the government of 'wrongful death, assault and battery and various negligence issues'.

But the Justice Department and Babbitt's 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.

The settlement is the latest boost of support from the president for Babbitt, who he has previously publicly defended along with other January 6 rioters who descended on the Capitol to try and block the certification of his 2020 election loss.

Trump branded Babbitt's death a 'murder' and demanded 'justice' for the Air Force veteran.

The Trump administration has agreed to settle a lawsuit with the family of Ashli Babbitt, a January 6 rioter who was fatally shot by Capitol Police

Babbitt, 35, was gunned down as she and thousands of others attempted to storm the Hill in 2021

'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 in March.

'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.'

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.

Babbitt was a vocal Trump supporter and promoted conservative activists and QAnon conspiracy theory movement leaders.

On the day of the storming, she walked to the Capitol for about one-and-a-half miles.

Two undercover Metropolitan Police Department officers followed closely behind her as she climbed the stairs to the West Terrace and entered the Capitol on the Senate side.

She was shot by then-Lieutenant Michael Byrd, who was later cleared of any wrongdoing

President Trump has previously expressed his support for Babbitt and called her death 'murder'

She had reached the Speaker's lobby when the shooting happened.

Court documents state that Byrd shot Ashli on sight as she raised herself into the opening of the right door sidelight.

He later confessed that he shot Ashli before seeing her hands, assessing her intentions, or even identifying her as female.

Video shows her on the floor after being shot in her shoulder and being surrounded by other witnesses.

After an internal investigation, Byrd was exonerated in August 2021.

He later defended his actions in an interview with NBC.

'I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger. And thats my job,' Lt. Byrd said.

'I'm hearing about the breaches of different barricaded areas, officers being overrun, officers being down.'

Babbitt's husband Aaron Babbitt filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit

The terms of the settlement have not been released. Pictured: Babbitt's mother Micki Witthoeft

Byrd said he had no idea if the person he shot was carrying a weapon.

'I was taking a tactical stance. You're ultimately hoping that your commands will be complied with, and ultimately they were not,' Byrd said.

Babbitt's family's lawyer argued he never gave commands. He told Holt during the interview he yelled multiple times, 'Stop. Get back.'

He said he fired a single fatal gunshot, striking Babbitt in the left shoulder, 'as a last resort.'

'You're taught to aim for center mass the subject was sideways, and I could not see the full motion of her hands or anything so I guess her movement caused the discharge to fall where it did,' Byrd said.

'I tried to wait as long as I could. I hoped and prayed no one tried to enter through those doors.

'But their failure to comply required me to take the appropriate action to save the lives of members of Congress and myself and my fellow officers.'

DailyMail.com has contacted the DOJ for comment.
A Labour minister is facing calls to step down after calling a nationwide grooming scandal a 'dog whistle'.

Lucy Powell, the leader of the House of Commons, was speaking on BBC Radio 4's Any Questions to Tim Montgomerie, the founder of ConservativeHome, The Telegraph reported.

In the midst of a discussion about councils' diversity spending, Mr Montgomerie asked Ms Powell if she had watched the recent shocking Channel 4 documentary that followed five women who had been victims of sexual grooming in the UK.

Mr Montgomerie asked: 'I don't know if you saw the documentary on Channel 4 about rape gangs.'

To which Ms Powell, the Lord President of the Council, replied: 'Oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now, do you? Let's get that dog whistle out, shall we, yeah?'

Mr Montgomerie responded: 'There is a real issue where There were so many people in local government, in the authorities, who, for good reason, were worried about upsetting community tensions, that those girls went undefended.'

Channel 4's film, Groomed: A National Scandal, delved into the stories of five women who had been targeted by rape gangs inside the UK.

The remarks by Ms Powell, who has been the Labour MP for Manchester Central since 2012, drew immediate ire from her political opponents.

Lucy Powell, the leader of the House of Commons, faces calls to resign after referring to a nationwide grooming scandal exposed by Channel 4 as a 'dog whistle'

Channel 4's film, Groomed: A National Scandal, delved into the stories of five women who had been targeted by rape gangs inside the UK

Katie Lam, the Tory MP for Weald of Kent, took to social media platform X to blast Ms Powell for her comments

Writing on X, Katie Lam, the Tory MP for Weald of Kent, said: 'If the Leader of the House of Commons does not, in fact, think that industrialised child sexual torture is just a "dog whistle" and a "little trumpet", she should take it back and say sorry.

'If she does actually think that, she has no business being in Cabinet and should resign.'

The backlash did elicit an apology from Ms Powell, who said: 'In the heat of a discussion on AQ [Any Questions], I would like to clarify that I regard issues of child exploitation & grooming with the utmost seriousness.

'I'm sorry if this was unclear. I was challenging the political point scoring around it, not the issue itself.

'As a constituency MP I've dealt with horrendous cases. This Gvt is acting to get the truth, and deliver justice.'

However, the show of contrition did not land for Ms Lam, who responded on X: 'No, this isn't good enough. Nobody is trying to score political points but you.

'Say that the grooming gangs are a fact and a stain on our country, not a "dog whistle" - or resign.'

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: 'Labour's Lucy Powell thinks it's a 'dog whistle' to demand arrests and accountability for the rape gangs. What a disgusting betrayal of the victims. They are part of the cover-up.'

Ms Powell, who has been the Labour MP for Manchester Central since 2012, was forced onto the defensive after making the remarks

In a post on X, she said that the target of her comments had been 'political point scoring' around the grooming scandal - not the issue of grooming itself

However, the 'clarification' was insufficient for Ms Lam, who said 'Nobody is trying to score political points but you'

A Reform UK spokesman told The Telegraph: 'If yesterday's local election results weren't enough, Lucy Powell's abhorrent comments truly demonstrate how out of touch the Labour Party is.

'She does not take the mass rape of young girls by predominantly Pakistani men seriously. The mask has slipped. After these comments, Keir Starmer should consider if Lucy Powell is fit to serve.'

The Channel 4 documentary revealed that a report that identified more than 330 young women at risk from Asian grooming gangs was deemed 'toxic' and suppressed by the Home Office.

The 90-minute film reveals that the report into child exploitation in Rotherham in the early 2000s was part of research funded by Tony Blair's government.

Hall asks one of its authors, youth worker Jayne Senior, whether the report's allegations were ignored 'because the perpetrators were overwhelmingly British-Pakistani'.

Senior replies: 'I was told on more than one occasion that I needed to stop rocking the multicultural boat. We were talking about children that were being exploited, trafficked, tortured, raped.'

The documentary followed five victims who had bravely told their story of grooming, sexual assault and rape and the hands of their abusers.

It also shed light on two women who began investigations into the scandal more than a decade ago and how their investigations were stopped in their tracks.

Anna Hall spoke to five victims of grooming gangs as well as two women who were silenced in their investigations into the vile criminals

Jade was one of the brave survivors who spoke out in the Channel 4 film about her experiences of grooming

Fellow survivor Chantelle was another who shared her experience of being groomed by a gang in Manchester from the age of 11

The Channel 4 documentary revealed that a report that identified more than 330 young women at risk from Asian grooming gangs was deemed 'toxic' and suppressed by the Home Office

Jade was one of two victims who waived their anonymity to appear in the film in person.

Alongside fellow victim Chantelle, they told their stories of the men who took advantage of them when they were teenagers.

In her interview, Jade showed Anna evidence of how the grooming started - hundreds of messages inviting her to various parties, which then turned into asking for sexual favours.

Labour came in for criticism earlier this year for its handling of a previous grooming gang scandal, in which rape gangs abused thousands of children.

After the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) found institutional failings and tens of thousands of victims across England and Wales, Yvette Cooper announced a 5million plan for probes in Oldham and up to four other pilot areas.

But last month Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, stopped short of saying five inquiries would take place.

She told MPs: 'Following feedback from local authorities, the fund will adopt a flexible approach to support both full independent local inquiries and more bespoke work, including local victims' panels or locally led audits of the handling of historical cases.'
A submersible will dive down onto the wreck of the sunken superyacht Bayesian this week in the first stage of a 20million operation to raise it.

The yacht sank in a freak storm off the fishing village of Porticello, Sicily, last August, killing seven, including British billionaire tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18.

The underwater vehicle will be the initial stage in a sequence of procedures to raise Bayesian to the surface, following the arrival of a floating crane, called Hebo Lift 10, at the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese near Palermo early yesterday morning.

Once the 184ft yacht has been checked by the mini-sub, the crane will join support vessel Hebo Lift 2 for the delicate lifting work.

Bayesian is expected to be raised by the crane from the seabed, 164ft underwater, by mid-May.

Lifting the 30million, 543-ton vessel is key to an investigation launched by Italian authorities.

They want to know why the yacht  which makers The Italian Sea Group claim was unsinkable  sank in just 16 minutes.

It will be raised after a series of slings have been threaded under the hull.

Pictured: The floating crane ships HEBO LIFT 10 and HEBO LIFT 2, which will recover the Bayesian

Pictured: Tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, both from Suffolk, died after the vessel was hit by an over-sea tornado, known as a waterspout

Pictured: Bayesian, the 30million vessel, which sank last August, killing seven people

The five design flaws that caused the 543-ton yacht to sink in a freak storm off the fishing village of Porticello, Sicily

There are still 18,000 litres of fuel in the yachts tanks, and booms have been set up to control any spillage.

The lifting is expected to take at least eight hours.

Once out of the water, the yacht will be sailed back to Termini Imerese.

Mr Lynch, the founder of Cambridge-based software firm Autonomy, had invited a group of friends, family and associates on to the yacht to celebrate being cleared by a US jury of fraud charges that could have seen him jailed for 20 years.
Cyber experts from the National Crime Agency  Britains equivalent to the FBI  are hunting computer hackers who claim to have stolen the private information of 20 million Co-op customers.

The criminal group, calling itself DragonForce, said it had infiltrated the retailers IT network and stolen both customer and employee data in its cyber attack on Wednesday.

Co-op conceded that personal data such as names and contact details had been taken from its membership scheme after the devastating scale of the attack was revealed by the hackers.

The retail giant, with more than 2,500 supermarkets, 800 funeral homes and an insurance business, initially downplayed the attack by saying it had pre-emptively shut down parts of its IT network after detecting an attempted breach.

But the anonymous hackers behind DragonForce contacted the BBC with evidence of databases they had accessed, containing the user names and passwords of all employees, as well as customer membership card numbers, their names, home and email addresses and phone numbers.

The ransomware group are seeking to extort money from the company, but have not said what they would do with the data if they do not get paid.

DragonForce has also claimed responsibility for the ongoing attack on M&S and an attempted hack of Harrods, the BBC said.

The Co-op has now admitted that National Crime Agency investigators have been called in, as well as the Governments National Cyber Security Centre.

Co-op conceded that personal data such as names and contact details had been taken from its membership scheme

An alleged cyber attack which has crippled Co-op has been linked to notorious teenage hacking gang, Scattered Spider (file image)

A Co-op spokesman said yesterday: As a result of ongoing forensic investigations, we now know the hackers were able to access and extract data from one of our systems. We have implemented measures to ensure that we prevent unauthorised access to our systems while minimising disruption for our members, customers, colleagues and partners.

DragonForces ransomware operation uses malicious software, which when triggered can prevent the target from accessing their own devices and data. Criminals then use stolen data as leverage to extort huge sums of money.

The BBC said hackers sent the first extortion message to Co-ops head of cyber security in an internal Microsoft Teams chat on April 25. The message read: Hello, we exfiltrated the data from your company. We have customer database, and Co-op member card data.

The hackers say they also messaged other members of the executive committee as part of their scheme to blackmail the firm.

The tactics used were similar to those of Scattered Spider, a notorious network of largely British and American young adults and teenagers skilled at evading detection.

An expert said the hackers were likely able to bluff their way past staff because their command of the English language gave them authenticity  a crucial asset in convincing targets to unwittingly compromise their own security.

Nathaniel Jones, vice president of security and AI strategy at cyber security firm Darktrace, told The Mail on Sunday this made the scam unique.

Most of those sort of cyber crime gangs are sitting in Russia or Belarus, he said. So the fact that theyre English native speakers, a number of them, thats quite unique. I dont know another group out there like that.

Marks and Spencer is also battling to restore its services following the Easter cyber hack

An alleged cyber attack which has crippled Marks & Spencer has been linked to notorious teenage hacking gang, Scattered Spider. Scotland Yard is now investigating

Mr Jones said hackers native language authenticity would likely give employees no cause for alarm, when typical scammers asking for log-in details are often distinctively garbled. He added: If [a member of staff] picks up the phone and youre talking to a British guy who says its his IT team, that does sort of give you that false sense of security that I think has been taken advantage of.

M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said on Friday that the firm was working day and night to resolve its IT issued, but did not put a time frame on when operations would be back to normal  leaving customers frustrated by disruption to online shopping and click-and-collect services.

Labour MP Matt Western, chairman of the joint committee on the National Security Strategy, said: These attacks are a startling reminder that whole chunks of our economy, including some of our most valued brands, are vulnerable to cyber attacks.

This is not an issue that should only concern those working in sensitive areas. And it isnt just the business that is affected, its the wider supply chains.

We need to encourage the whole of society to take part in building resilience against these serious threats.
Private schools have been left stunned after being banned from hosting this year's anti-bullying campaign organised by an official Princess Diana charity, after the Government slashed its funding.

The Diana Award charity has told private schools that it will no longer allow them to take part in events or host them because of 'newly defined funding priorities'.

Ironically, the charity is supported by Princes William and Harry, who went to Wetherby private school, in London, and Eton in Windsor. Diana was also educated in the independent sector  at West Heath Girls' School in Kent.

Private schools across the country have hosted anti-bullying talks from the charity free of charge for years, where local state schools are invited along.

But Philip Britton, headmaster of Bolton School and chairman-elect of The Heads' Conference (HMC), revealed that the school had received an 'absolutely astonishing letter' last week from The Diana Award.

The charity  whose mission is 'to ensure that the late Princess Diana's belief that young people have the power to change the world' is realised  told him fee-paying schools were no longer allowed to take part.

Bolton School, founded in 1516  where one in 12 pupils are on free places and one in five receive bursary support  had worked with the charity for more than a decade, hosting events for hundreds of children in the area.

Private schools have been left stunned after being banned from hosting this year's anti-bullying campaign organised by an official Princess Diana charity, after the Government slashed its funding

The Diana Award charity has told private schools that it will no longer allow them to take part in events or host them because of 'newly defined funding priorities'

Ironically, the charity is supported by Princes William and Harry, who went to Wetherby private school, in London, and Eton in Windsor. Diana was also educated in the independent sector  at West Heath Girls' School in Kent. Pictured: Diana taking Prince William and Harry to school in 1989

But instead of receiving confirmation that it could continue its work this year as expected, the school received an email, seen by The Mail on Sunday, which went to all other private schools working with the charity.

It stated: 'As we approach the 2025-2026 academic year, the Anti-Bullying Ambassador Programme is evolving to better align with newly defined funding priorities. As a result, we regret to share that fee-paying schools will no longer be able to take part as hosts or participants.'

Mr Britton told The Mail on Sunday: 'Bullying is not about privilege. They are all young people and The Diana Award should engage them all.'

When he challenged the decision, even offering to bar his own pupils from the events but still allow free use of the school's facilities, he was told it was still not welcome.

'We provide our facilities completely free of charge to host the anti-bullying events

for The Diana Award, inviting local state schools,' he explained.

'At the last event we held, we hosted 140 primary- and secondary-school pupils over two days. Twenty of our own pupils attended each day.'

Last night a spokesman for The Diana Award said that the Department for Education had previously sponsored its anti-bullying programme but 'it ended with the last government' and it was now relying on new funding.

The spokesman denied the new backers had told the charity not to work with private schools.

A source close to the charity said its grant was axed last year under the Tories and that 'regrettably' it had not been reinstated by the Labour administration.

However, Mr Britton said the decision meant that local schools would now miss out. He added: 'I am concerned The Diana Award is not working with independent schools because of perceptions of the type of pupil in them. This is simply driven by lazy and careless stereotyping of our sector.

'Independent schools should be seen as an important solution to the difficulties of education in our nation, and we are increasingly seen as the problem.'
President Donald Trump sacked his national security adviser Mike Waltz because he was plotting with Israel's leader to attack Iran, it was claimed last night.

Waltz, 51, was thought to have been fired because he accidentally added a journalist to a Signal chat about plans to attack Yemen's Houthi terrorist group, causing global embarrassment for the Trump administration.

But last night the Washington Post reported the real reason for Trump's ire was that Waltz huddled with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the latter's White House visit in February and 'appeared to share the Israeli leader's conviction that the time was ripe to strike Iran,' according to a source.

Trump was angered that Waltz 'engaged in intense coordination with Netanyahu about military options against Iran ahead of an Oval Office meeting between the Israeli leader and Trump.'

The source said: 'Waltz wanted to take US policy in a direction Trump wasn't comfortable with because the US hadn't attempted a diplomatic solution.

It got back to Trump and the president wasn't happy with it. You can't do that. You work for the president of your country, not the president of another country.'

Waltz, a former Green Beret, was sacked from his position as head of the National Security Council (NSC) on Friday and will now become ambassador to the United Nations, a 'massive downgrade move to save face', according to one Trump insider.

President Donald Trump sacked his national security adviser Mike Waltz because he was plotting with Israel's leader to attack Iran, it was claimed last night

Mr Waltz (pictured), 51, was thought to have been fired because he accidentally added a journalist to a group chat about plans to attack Yemen's Houthi terrorist group, causing embarrassment for the Trump administration when the news broke in March

A spokesman for Waltz did not respond to a request for comment nor did the White House.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said: 'The President sets the agenda and it's up to his administration to implement those policies and everyone was rowing in the same direction which is why he had the most successful first 100 days in history.'

Waltz has been temporarily replaced as head of the NSC by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Trump loyalist.

A Trump insider said Waltz's 'days were numbered' after he accidentally included the editor of The Atlantic in a Signal chat coordinating military bombings in Yemen, a scandal that became known as 'Signalgate.'
Two Greens MPs are likely to become one-term wonders, predicted to lose their federal seats despite the minor party's primary vote holding up.

Golden boy Max Chandler-Mather is on the chopping block, with Labor claiming victory in his Brisbane-based seat of Griffith after a sizeable swing to candidate Renee Coffey.

Admitting defeat last night, Mr Chandler-Mather told his supporters that he had set out to 'fundamentally transform Australian politics, economy and society in favour of ordinary working people'.

'That sort of project is going to have more setbacks than it has victories, because the forces that we are coming up against are enormously powerful,' he said.

'I believe we can get there. I believe we can win. It is going to take time.

'There is a reason that so much of the political establishment is happy about this result for us tonight - not because they think we're beat, because they know what we're capable of.'

While in parliament, Mr Chandler-Mather earned the nickname of 'Albo's nemesis' due to his clashes with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over housing policy.

In 2023, tensions first flared up during a debate over the $10billion Housing Australia Future Fund.

Labor claims victory in Griffith as Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather faces a shock swing against him

Nicknamed Albos nemesis, Mr Chandler-Mather repeatedly locked horns with Anthony Albanese over housing policy

As Mr Albanese was leaving the chamber, he reportedly turned back and directed an angry remark to Mr Chandler-Mather, saying: 'You're a joke, mate.'

Last year, Mr Chandler-Mather questioned why the Prime Minister was able to rake in an extra $115,000 a year in rental income while he lives rent-free at The Lodge and Kirribilli House during a housing crisis.

These confrontations led many young Australians to see Mr Chandler-Mather as a strong voice representing their concerns about the housing crisis.

In a post to social media on Saturday night, Greens leader Adam Bandt claimed Mr Chandler-Mather would be back.

'There's never been a first term MP who has had the impact Max Chandler-Mather has had,' he wrote.

'He put the rental crisis firmly in the spotlight. He secured billions of dollars for social housing. He fed his local community with his own money.

'This is not the last we've seen of him.'

Greens' Brisbane MP Stephen Bates is also projected to lose his seat to Labor's Madonna Jarrett.

In 2023, as Mr Albanese was leaving the chamber, he reportedly turned back and directed an angry remark to Mr Chandler-Mather, saying: 'You're a joke, mate'

The Greens' nationwide vote was 12.2 per cent with 70 per cent of the ballots counted on Sunday morning.

Mr Bandt had a major scare on Saturday night: as of midnight, Labor's Sarah Witty was leading with 50.7 per cent of the vote, while Bandt trailed with 49.3 per cent.

However, by Sunday morning, the tide had turned in his favour - Mr Bandt had taken the lead with 51.5 per cent, ahead of Wittys 48.5 per cent.

If Mr Bandt had lost, the party would have been thrown into chaos without their leader in Parliament.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Family were keen to put on a show of unity.

But their choice of display has been described by Kate as 'one of the hardest things' she has ever had to do - and Meghan hasn't been seen on UK soil since.

During the national mourning period, Prince Harry and Prince William observed the tributes and spoke to members of the public outside Windsor Castle - just as they had outside of Buckingham Palace when their mother died.

But this time the brothers were fully grown men and married too, each walking beside their spouse. More importantly, they were now estranged as the Sussexes had dramatically left the Firm two years earlier in January 2020.

The September 2022 walkabout marked two-and-a-half years since the couples had last been seen together in public, at the Commonwealth Day Service just before the Covid pandemic.

The royals, once dubbed the 'fab four', were greeted by applause as they walked along the gates of Windsor Castle together. But despite what the pictures would have you believe, the couples only came together briefly at the start and end of the engagement.

Throughout the rest of the walkabout, which lasted around 30 minutes, the Waleses and the Sussexes appeared to stick in their pairs.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle (pictured at Trooping the Colour in 2018) have never shared a warm relationship with each other

An 'icy moment' between Kate and Meghan was captured during the walkabout

It was no secret there was tension between the brothers and their partners - but there was hope that this poignant reunion would be a chance for reconciliation.

But in a telling moment, Kate was caught on camera flashing an intense glare at Meghan before she quickly turned her expression into a big smile for the crowd.

Body language expert Katia Loisal said she believed Kate's 'icy stare' knocked the confidence out of Meghan.

'Quite unlike the confident Meghan we know, Meghan appeared ill at ease during this encounter, which is not surprising given the recent criticism that she has faced,' Katia told Seven News.

The walkabout had come at a challenging time for the two couples. The previous October, the Sussexes released their documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey where they spilled details about their intense media scrutiny and the rumoured royal rifts.

Their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in March 2021 during which they made shocking accusations, including racism, against the Royal Family.

Katia claimed Kate's actions at Windsor castle made it look as though she was trying to 'freeze out' Meghan.

After speaking to the crowds the couples made their way to their separate cars. At one point the two Duchesses appeared to be avoiding making eye contact (pictured)

Harry and Meghan's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in March 2021 during which they made shocking accusations, including racism, against the Royal Family

It was no secret that there was tension between the brothers and their partners - but there was hope that this union would be a chance for reconciliation

The two couples, who had not been seen together in an official capacity since March 2020, appeared to maintain their distance from each other

'On numerous occasions Meghan looked over at Kate, however, the gaze wasn't reciprocated,' Katia said.

The expert noted Kate chose to 'look through' Meghan instead.

It is not surprising Meghan was hoping for some reassurance from Kate, who was perhaps primed to give the still-new Meghan advice.

Kate's lack of warmth towards Meghan appeared to make her feel uncertain and uncomfortable, said Katia, which can be seen in the way she stooped her head, side-stepped and faced away from Kate.

'Meghan's hand lifted hesitantly as if to wave, but stopped mid air, rather pausing to adjust her hair, her head and gaze lowered, before looking up and giving a quick wave, her arm coming back to rest in front of her body in a partial arm barrier,' Katia said.

Meghan's body language did not go unnoticed by Harry, according to Katia, who touched her arm gently and came to her side to protect her.

Communication and body language expert Judi James spoke to MailOnline about the Fab Four's surprise public appearance.

While the foursome attempted to put on a show of unity as they greeted mourners, who had turned out to honor the late Queen, Judi stated that there were 'no signs of affection' between the two couples.

Before the walkabout, the couples spoke to Paul Sedgwick (left), the deputy ranger of Winsor Park, with William and Kate appearing to do most of the talking, as Meghan hung back

Meghan was given flowers when she stopped to chat to the mourners

Body language expert Katia Loisal said she believed Kate's 'icy stare' knocked the confidence out of Meghan

At times, Kate appeared to stand some distance from the group

She said: 'This is a phenomenal and unexpected scene that displays some natural caution and awkwardness in the body language.

'Although as a statement of intent it seems choreographed as something of a loving tribute the Queen and in some ways the new King, who took what was maybe the first step in speaking of his love for Harry and Meghan in his recent speech.

'The four line up together to suggest some form of unity and it is William, with his puffed chest and air of confidence, who looks like the leader and instigator.

'Harry performs some clothing touch anxiety rituals but Meghan seems to be on hand to offer comfort, support and encouragement.'

As the four emerged from their vehicle, the couples spoke to Paul Sedgwick, deputy ranger of Winsor Park.

At one point during the conversation Harry stepped back towards Meghan, and the pair listened while locked in an embrace, with the Duke's arm around his wife's waist.

They started walking, with the two men standing next to each other, while their wives flanked them on the outside. While William and Harry appeared to engage in a brief chat, Kate and Meghan looked straight ahead.

And at times, Kate appeared to stand some distance from the group.

'Kate looks slightly distanced although she is close to William when the couples split slightly,' said Judi.

As Meghan and Harry stepped out of the Windsor estate with Kate and William (two days after the Queen's death) on September 10 2022, they had thousands of people watching their every move

Kate greets people outside Windsor Castle, holding a paper and flowers

During the walkabout the royals looked at floral tributes laid outside the gates of the Berkshire estate in tribute to the late Queen

As they reached the gates, the two couples stopped to look at some of the floral tributes left by well-wishers.

Harry and Meghan stayed close together at the beginning of the event, and often if they were separated, were seen reaching for each other to hold hands.

According to Judi: 'When the couple clasp hands it is Harrys fingers wiggling downward while Meghans are curled around his palm, with her thumb gently stroking his hand.

'She performs touches on his back and small strokes and other tie-signs and there are some moments when she is the one looking across for communication with William and Kate.'

It seems Meghan had forgotten proper royal etiquette, which dictates the more senior royals, in this case William and Kate, walk ahead of junior members.

Footage from the occasion seems to show Harry having to pull his wife back with his arm and slow down his walking pace so that she didn't pull ahead of his older brother.

The Duchess of Sussex shakes the hand of a little girl perched on her father's shoulders

The Sussexes stopped to shake hands and speak with the large crowd which had gathered

Describing the overall tone of the meeting, Judi said: 'Theres no signs of relaxed engagement or even affection here but the fact they are lining up together and communicating again is impressive in itself'

Once they finished meeting the public, they reconvened in front of their vehicles, where they had a brief chat, before getting into their respective cars.

Describing the overall tone of the meeting, Judi said: 'Theres no signs of relaxed engagement or even affection here but the fact they are lining up together and communicating again is impressive in itself.

'Its an adult approach from the new Prince of Wales and it could have broken a lot of ice in terms of their body language at the funeral and beyond.'

For just a short walkabout, there was certainly a lot to unpack.

As the months and years pass this memorable day, the question of when - and whether - Meghan will return to the UK remains.

Perhaps this tense engagement was just too much.
There is a look of utter desolation on Prince Harry's face as he delivers his latest bombshell interview. Desolation, interspersed with barely contained rage. He seems to veer between wanting to punch someone  and bursting into tears.

It's clear that we are meant to feel desperately sorry for him, poor lamb. He obviously feels desperately sorry for himself, at any rate. The self-pity is palpable, together with the paranoia.

Everything is everyone else's fault. He and his family are victims of a massive conspiracy, perpetuated by an evil and, by the sounds of it, utterly ruthless organisation called 'the Royal Household'.

He mentions it repeatedly, obsessively. It's never entirely clear who makes up the members of this shadowy cabal, but they seem to sit somewhere between Mossad and the Mafia in their modus operandi. Either way, they have been out to get him for years, even before he and the Duchess of Sussex decided to break free from the icy clutches of the Monarchy.

'There is a look of utter desolation on Prince Harry 's face as he delivers his latest bombshell interview,' writes Sarah Vine

'If Harry were to offer a genuine olive branch  one not dripping in poison  I'm certain the King (pictured) would accept with relief'

'They' are trying to kill him by removing his police protection. 'They' have 'won in keeping me unsafe'. 'They' want to hurt his family by deliberately exposing them to danger. 'They' maliciously downgraded the threat level against him overnight, to punish him and the Duchess for not submitting to their intolerable demands (such as expecting them to live in that humble little cottage on the Windsor Estate, or not letting poor Meghan use the tiara she wanted).

'They' use 'security' to control not just him, but other members of his family  again, unspecified  and stop them from running away like he did. The implication being that the Monarchy is some sort of Royal version of the Moonies, a cult from which no one can ever escape, on pain of having their motorcycle outriders removed.

On and on it goes, an endless litany of perceived injustices. His face as he stares into the middle distance, lost in his own misery, is at times startlingly reminiscent of his mother's, when she gave that ill-fated Martin Bashir interview.

'I don't want history to repeat itself,' he says darkly, clearly referencing her tragic death  but conveniently forgetting to mention that the whole reason Princess Diana ended up in the back of a speeding car with a drunk driver at the wheel was because she had dismissed her own security detail over worries that 'they' were spying on her.

He says: 'Through the [court] process, I have discovered that some people want history to repeat itself', adding with a petulant grimace, 'I'm sure that some people out there, probably most likely the people that wish me harm, consider this a huge win.'

It was at this point in the interview, I'm afraid, that I wanted to grab him firmly by his expensive lapels and say, 'Oh for Christ's sake, Harry, lighten up, will you?'

Of course no one wants history to repeat itself, that's frankly absurd. Just because people have criticised your behaviour, or have felt upset about some of the things you've said and done does not mean they want you dead. You're a grown man: stop being such a petulant child.

But also: you live in California; you have a beautiful mansion in Montecito; you've got a beautiful wife who never stops going on about how unbelievably super-hot and sexy you are; you have two healthy children; you have a large inheritance; hell, you even have some of your own hair left, which is more than can be said for your poor brother.

More than that: your beautiful wife hasn't just had cancer; you haven't had to face the prospect of losing the mother of your babies. You don't have cancer. Seriously man, why don't you just count your blessings?

'The people I feel really sorry for in all this are the Sussex children. I wonder what they will make of all this when they realise they have been denied their birthright and the love of their wider family because of the actions of their own father.' Pictures: Meghan and Harry with baby Archie in 2019.

How about you try enjoying your charmed life for half a minute? Get over yourself. Stop looking over your shoulder and raking over the past and fix your gaze on the future, and what that might hold. Help yourself to another dollop of the Mrs's jam, sprinkle a few extra dried flowers on your pancakes, wake up and smell the organic matcha chai oat latte. You live a life that 99.9 per cent of the planet can only dream of. The least you can do is try to enjoy it.

After all, wasn't that the whole point of this process? Isn't that why you left Britain in the first place? To get away from all those generational obligations, to escape the dead hand of tradition, to explore new horizons?

Not to stay trapped in this hell of your own making, endlessly picking away at the same scab.

It's terribly sad, really. He's stuck. He ran away to escape the trauma of his difficult childhood, his troubled relationship with his father and stepmother, his loathing of the Press  and it's all just come clattering along behind him. He's living proof that happiness is not to be found in a place or another person, but within yourself. It doesn't matter where Harry goes: until he vanquishes his demons, they will always follow him. If it wasn't this security issue driving him to distraction, it would be something else.

'Harry has backed himself into a corner and now has no choice but to defend it.' Pictured: King Charles and son Harry in 2019

But there's also a good reason he wants to be the victim, the wronged one, the righteous outsider. It exonerates him of all responsibility for this gigantic mess he's got himself into. It's certainly so much easier than confronting the truth, which is glaringly obvious to most intelligent observers: he's made a terrible mistake, which he now regrets.

He almost says as much, when he talks, rather airily, about seeking 'truth and reconciliation' and being willing (very generously, I'm sure we can all agree) to 'forgive my family's involvement' (meaning King Charles and the Queen and his brother, Prince William), in 'events'.

But as ever, with Harry, he can't resist the temptation to gaslight the very people he needs to win over. His lack of self-awareness and general narcissism  which, increasingly, has begun to rival that of his uncle Andrew  prevents him from having the emotional maturity to make the necessary compromises. He's backed himself into a corner and now has no choice but to defend it.

I have no insight into the King's thinking on this latest outburst. But I do know that he is generally deeply saddened by the situation. If Harry were to offer a genuine olive branch  one not dripping in poison  I'm certain he would accept with relief. For now, he has no choice but to keep his distance.

The people I feel really sorry for in all this are the Sussex children. I wonder what they will make of all this when, in 15 or 20 years' time, they realise they have been denied their birthright and the love of their wider family because of the actions of their own father. By dwelling so obsessively on the past, Harry is only storing up more pain for the future.
The Prince of Wales has paid a heartfelt personal tribute to David Attenborough ahead of his 99th birthday, calling him an inspiration to my children and me.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, William hailed the naturalists lifetime of extraordinary service to our planet.

He said: May we all raise a glass to a true giant  and continue the mission he has led with such grace and urgency.

In Sir Davids new documentary, Ocean, which airs in cinemas on Thursday  his birthday  he reflects on his mortality and what he has learnt from a lifetime studying the Earth, saying: After living for nearly 100 years, I now understand that if we save the sea we save our world.

Sir David is closely involved in Williams Earthshot Prize, which gives 1 million every year to five projects tackling climate challenges.

He has also worked with King Charles on numerous environmental causes.

William added: We celebrate not just a milestone of years, but a lifetime of extraordinary service to our planet. Through his boundless curiosity, gentle wisdom and unwavering commitment... he has brought the wonders of Earth into our homes and into our hearts.

His voice has become a guiding light in our understanding of nature, and his message  that we must cherish and protect our planet  has never been more vital.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Prince William hailed the naturalists lifetime of extraordinary service to our planet

He said: May we all raise a glass to a true giant  and continue the mission he has led with such grace and urgency

In Sir Davids new documentary, Ocean, which airs in cinemas on Thursday  his birthday  he reflects on his mortality and what he has learnt from a lifetime studying the Earth, saying: After living for nearly 100 years, I now understand that if we save the sea we save our world

He has inspired my children and me in so many ways.

It was the response of his son Prince George to one of Sir Davids shows on extinction that inspired William to act on climate change.

The then seven-year-old told his father: I dont want to watch any more  why has it come to this?

Later that year, Prince George and siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis put wildlife questions to Sir David in an interview filmed by their parents and released on social media.

Prince George and siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis put wildlife questions to Sir David in an interview filmed by their parents and released on social media - to one question about his favourite animals, Sir David replied 'I think I like monkeys best'

Sir Davids new film focuses on the industrial fishing method of bottom trawling which, he says, is draining the life from our oceans.

He adds: When I first saw the sea as a boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity. Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true.

After living for nearly 100 years, I now understand that if we save the sea we save our world.

Sir David is expected to make a rare public appearance at the London premiere of the documentary.
A mansion dubbed the 'Darth Vader house' for its striking resemblance to the Star Wars villain's helmet has been snapped up after being listed for a whopping $3.35 million.

The unique four-bedroom, five-bathroom property, designed to look like a stealth fighter, is located in Houston, Texas, and has become something of a local landmark.

But the distinctive home is set for a dramatic makeover after being purchased by renowned sculptor Enrique Cabrera.

Cabrera has big plans that he hopes will see the mansion renamed as the 'Black Bull House.'

The artist intends to install a colossal 16-foot, $2.7 million bull sculpture in front of the mansion.

He will not only live in the home but also use as a showcase for his provocative art collection.

Realtor Hardy Pollard, who represented buyer Cabrera in the sale, told local news network KHOU 11 News said the purchase is a great opportunity for Enrique.

'You have a lot of space where it's all angled around the outside of the house,' he said.

'This is a great opportunity for Enrique to come in and create his own masterpiece.'

A mansion dubbed the 'Darth Vader house' for its striking resemblance to the Star Wars villain's helmet has been snapped up after being listed for a whopping $3.35 million

The unique four-bedroom, five-bathroom property, designed to look like a stealth fighter, is located in Houston, Texas , and has become something of a local landmark

Pictured: Darth Vader, part of the inspiration for the house

But the distinctive home is set for a dramatic makeover after being purchased by renowned sculptor Enrique Cabrera

'The former Darth Vader house now is officially The Black Bull House by Enrique Cabrera,' Cabrera told The Houston Chronicle.

The spectacular 7,000-square-foot home sits on an 18,000-square-foot parcel in West University and features two large floating glass staircases, overlooking a sunken living room and floor-to-ceiling windows.

The property has had a long journey before finally being sold.

The house was originally designed and owned by Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Jean Cuckier, who was in awe of Star Wars and high-tech space flight.

Junkin revealed buying the house years ago was a dedicated process of 'calling again and again until he got a deal.'

'He loved the movies,' Nadia Carron, a co-lister of the house in 2021, previously told The Chronicle.

'That was his inspiration He sat down and drew on paper how he wanted the house to look inside and outside and worked with an architect to do that. What you see is his baby and his design inside and outside of the house. He made his dream come true.

The spectacular 7,000 sq ft. home sits on an 18,000-square-foot parcel in West University

It features two large floating glass staircases, overlooking a sunken living room and floor-to-ceiling windows

Striking angular black and white floors, crafted from concrete and hand-cut black stone, fill the home's four bedrooms and five bathrooms

Local real estate broker and 'House of Ho' star Washington Ho taking over the listing last August.

'I'm excited to apply the same pressure to sell the Darth Vader House to the perfect buyer,' Ho told The Chronicle.

'Representing such iconic homes as part of the Star Wars legacy is an honor, and we are committed to showcasing the Darth Vader House to its fullest potential and achieving outstanding results.'

But when the home failed to sell, Junkin, who had owned the house for about three years, took control of the listing again.

'I lived in Houston most of my life, and I had always seen the house, and it was just kind of an emotional buy I guess,' he told the outlet.

'If the house next door was for sale, I wouldn't have even batted an eye at it.'

Now the 'Star Wars' home is under contract to Cabrera with the deal expected to close on Tuesday.

Striking angular black and white floors, crafted from concrete and hand-cut black stone, fill the home's four bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The home's distinctive angular design also is fitting for the new owner's artistic vision

Pictured: The sprawling, 7,000-square-foot open floor plan of the 'Darth Vader House'

A bedroom in the 'Darth Vader house' in Houston, Texas

The home's distinctive angular design also is fitting for the new owner's artistic vision

The impressive property also features a spacious four-car garage and a hot tub.

The home's distinctive angular design also is fitting for the new owner's artistic vision.

The sculptor also is behind works in New Yorkers as the creative mind behind 'La Gran Manzana,' a large, angular red apple near Rockefeller Center.

He also created 'El Toro de Oro,' an imposing, angular golden bull in the Meatpacking District.
Steve Kang came soul-to-soul with the supernatural in a barren wasteland full of giant demons and other lost beings chained together.

While his spirit was trapped in what he believed was eternal torment, his physical body lay open on a California operating table - just hours earlier, he had attempted suicide.

As doctors battled to save his life on Earth, Kang said he had an out-of-body experience which sent him plummeting into a dark and agonizing realm he could only describe as hell.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, the Buddhist monk-turned-evangelical pastor shared what he remembers as one of the most disturbing experiences of his life in the hopes that no one else has to follow in his footsteps on an eight-hour journey through hell.

It was September 1998 and, at the time, Kang was in the grip of substance abuse. He was convinced he we possessed by an evil spirit urging him to commit suicide.

Following his attempt, as doctors worked to repair the resulting knife-cut veins in his neck and stomach, Kang said he found himself in a world of complete darkness.

'It's not a place you want to go,' Kang explained of his temporary surroundings. 'I almost feel like I don't even want Kim Jong-il or Hitler to go there. I don't want my worst enemies to go there.'

Pastor Steve Kang of the Revive The Nations Ministry shared his out-of-body experience in which he said he descended into Hell for what felt like 20 minutes

Kang described this realm as a dark and barren landscape, full of countless souls in agony and giant demons watching over them

A study by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine showed many survivors of near death experiences recalled an awareness of entering what feels to them like another realm.

'It was not a pleasant place, there was no light,' Kang said of his own near-death vision. 'There was no plants. I don't remember seeing even an ounce of grass. It was just like rocky floor.

'There's cliffs everywhere, and they look like purplish red, just not a pleasant color. You look up, and it's just dark. Just imagine a very dark night without the moon.'

He told the Daily Mail he wasn't alone in this dark realm, either - claiming his spirit encountered an endless number of others standing all around him.

Kang added that all of his feelings of fear, guilt and shame were suddenly magnified as he stood in the crowd of lost souls.

Making things even worse, Kang said he saw a group of giant demons wearing capes standing by, watching the souls' agony.

'I knew they were in charge of this place,' Kang claimed. 'They're like three, four, five stories tall, very tall beings.'

He said what scared him most aside from the pain - 'and I was in so much pain during this time' - was the lack of 'awareness or ability to look at somebody and go, "Hey, how are you doing? What's your name?"'

'You're just in this agony, and there's no ability to like converse with people. It was so much pain, so much accusation, so much fear. It was like anxiety multiplied, fear of condemnation multiplied.'

The NYU researchers revealed their subjects entered some sort of mental or spiritual state that allowed them to evaluate - on a moral level - the actions and relationships they've had throughout their lives.

The study found these experiences were not the same as hallucinations, delusions or dreams - rather, it poses the theory that a dying brain goes through disinhibition, which may allow people to access 'new dimensions of reality' and recall all memories stored throughout a lifetime.

Although Kang said his experience seemed to last all of 20 minutes, his loved ones and surgeons revealed that he didn't regain consciousness in the 'natural world' for roughly eight hours.

In 2017, Marc Wittmann, a psychologist at the Institute for Frontier Areas in Psychology and Mental Health, theorized that this time-bending experience arose during near-death experiences because the brains temporal processing is disrupted under extreme conditions, causing events to seem much longer or much shorter than they really were.

Thankfully for Kang, as he was going through this nightmarish journey, he was receiving help from the spiritual world.

Kang said the growing feeling of guilt, shame and fear while journeying through hell was worse than any torture he could imagine

Kang was raised in a Buddhist family. So while he was undergoing treatment, his mother reached out to the family's temple in Korea for support.

She was turned away without any help.

Ironically, Kang was training to be a Buddhist monk, and admitted to the Daily Mail he would often argue with Christians about their faith.

With her son in surgery and few people to turn to, Kang's mother reached out to a close friend who brought a Christian prayer group to the hospital for support.

That's when Kang claims something amazing started to happen both in the operating room and on his otherworldly journey.

'They started praying, and the doctor later said that this was a miracle,' Kang claimed.

The specialist who reattached Kang's blood vessels noted that it took two separate surgeries to fix all the damage.

However, Kang remembers the doctor telling him, 'It's a miracle that I found every vessel at the right time. If I was a few minutes late, you know, you might not be here.'

The now-pastor told the Daily Mail his entire experience in hell changed at one point, and he claims it coincided with when his mother's friend started to pray. He described a feeling of peace washing over him as he heard a voice he thought belonged to Jesus.

It was at that moment, Kang claims, when he instantly left hell and returned to his body.

He shared the experience with his mother and the prayer group, and told them of his new life goal of becoming a church pastor.

'I've been sober for 25 years - don't drink, don't smoke anymore, don't look [at] anything stupid online,' Kang explained, adding that 'God gave me this inner strength to be so pure.'

Now the pastor for Revive The Nations Ministry, Kang explained he had kept his journey through hell private until he started to connect with others on social media who say they've had similar experiences.

A recent study in Frontiers in Psychology of 465 near-death experiences revealed that up to 10 percent involve some sort of negative experience involving torture or a hellish landscape.

Through the social networks, Kang met many other people who have described the underworld with almost the exact same details, and some who described visiting heaven.

'I started seeing that this is not just Steve's story. This is a story of everybody, every nation across every country, anyone that God decides to have mercy on,' Kang explained.

'And now our job, I believe, is to share the story and tell people that there is a cure for spiritual cancer or sin or death,' the pastor added.
New York City is known for its array of strange smells, from urine to body odor, but one tree is filling the streets with a particularly unpleasant stench.

The Callery Pear tree, which is in the same family as the Bradford Pear, has a distinctive smell that many people find disgusting.

So if you find yourself scrunching your nose up this spring, that's why!

The Callery Pear litters the Big Apple's streets in all five boroughs, so there's no escaping it.

You might even find the invasive species beautiful due to its white flowers - it's one of the first to flower as winter breaks away.

But the tree releases the compound trimethylamine and that's what causes the fishy smell, native New Yorker Olivia Rose told DailyMail.com after sharing a recent TikTok.

The compound can be found in semen and ammonia and it's a pollinator attractor.

'The fact that they attract pollinators now - mostly flies and beetles - is more of an ecological irony. The scent is designed to mimic decay - thats what pulls in the bugs. Turns out, some of them think semen smells like Byredo [perfume].'

The Callery Pear tree - which is in the same family as the Bradford Pear - has a distinct smell

The peak stink comes between mid-March and mid-April as the tree begins to bloom

For those visiting or living in the Big Apple, the Callery Pear is littering the streets of all five boroughs, so there's no escaping it. NYC has 65,591 of these trees

The peak stink comes between mid-March and mid-April as the tree begins to bloom.

'Thats when they bloom and the smell is unmistakable - funky, fishy, and wafting through the city,' Olivia said. 'Its released during the early bloom. [The] Bradford Pear evolved to attract flies and beetles, many of which are drawn to the scent of decay.'

The trees first came to New York City around the 1970s as 'as part of broader street beautification efforts,' Rose told DailyMail.com.

'There are plenty of invasive species growing around the city, but they were not planted with malice,' Olivia, who has a degree in landscape architecture from Cornell, told DailyMail.com.

NYC has 65,591 of these trees and NYC Parks estimates it saves the city $8million a year through stormwater interception, energy conserved, and air pollutants removed.

However, the trees aren't all they are cracked up to be, Olivia said.

'The Bradford Pear seemed like an ideal choice: a picturesque tree with a lollipop form, early white blooms, fast-growing, inexpensive, and able to thrive in polluted and compacted soil.

'It was thought to be sterile and low maintenance, but widespread planting of other Callery pear cultivars led to unexpected cross-pollination - sparking a wave of invasive offspring.'

The tree released the compound trimethylamine, which gives the plant its fishy smell, Olivia told DailyMail.com

NYC no longer plants these trees and certain states, like Ohio and Pennsylvania, have banned the trees due to being invasive.

'They werent kept for pollinators. It was a visual choice. It was fast. It gave impact. Pretty - and symmetrical,' Olivia told DailyMail.com.

The trees are native to China and Vietnam that grow up to 26 feet tall.

In the springtime, the tree produces white flowers, but as the weather gets cooler, it blossoms red, pink, orange, and more, according to NYC Parks.
Music has been at the heart of Virgin ever since the first Virgin Megastore opened on London's Oxford Street in the 70s.

Originally a mail order company, Sir Richard Branson first set up shop in 'a little shoe shop with an empty floor', after a postal strike threatened the end of the business.

'We put headphones on the walls, people sat on the pillows and smoked a joint while they listened to music, we had people behind the counter that really knew their music - and Virgin was born,' he tells us in an exclusive interview with MailOnline.

Virgin Megastores quickly became one of the most popular record shops, with hundreds of branches worldwide.

But, as streaming took over, Richard's brainchild began to struggle  and, by 2015, it was operating only in the Middle East, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Morocco.

However, that all could be about to change, according to Richard, thanks to a surge in people buying vinyl again.

We used to have a great Megastore in New York,' he tells us. 'And we may even go as far as reopening some Megastores in other places, because I think people are loving discovering vinyl again, and Virgin could also sell them some holidays, Virgin balloon trips, and a few other things in these Megastores.

They're still going in the Middle East, so maybe we can get them going again in the UK.

Richard Branson exclusively reveals to MailOnline he's planning to bring back Virgin Megastores

Richard's lightbulb moment came during the unveiling of Virgin Hotel Shoreditch's brand-new listening bar Hidden Grooves, pictured here

Well most likely give it a shot.

Richard's lightbulb moment came during the unveiling of Virgin Hotel Shoreditch's brand-new listening bar Hidden Grooves.

Just hours after seeing it for the first time, Richard says: Coming into Hidden Grooves was almost emotional.

'Its just so beautifully done, and they really tried to create a blast from the past with music and 12-inch discs, a drawer full of all my favourite albums and pictures from days with the Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson and the Sex Pistols, and it was just lovely to see.

Today, seeing it in person, we decided on the spur of the moment to open a Hidden Grooves in our big hotel in New York, just off Times Square, too.

'In our New York hotel, the one thing I don't particularly like is the entrance area and this would just sort that out straight away.'

Hidden Grooves is just one new element of the London hotel, which has been undergoing a phased transformation since last August.

Virgin Hotel boasts a rooftop pool, stunning new suites with the brand's iconic red doors and famous 'lounge beds.

As well as Hidden Grooves (pictured), Virgin Hotel boasts a rooftop pool, stunning new suites with the brand's iconic red doors and famous 'lounge beds

MailOnline's Hayley Minn with Richard at Virgin Hotel Shoreditch's rooftop

Guests can also enjoy Marlin's on the Roof restaurant, a private gym, treatment rooms and rooftop club - and a new signature restaurant will be arriving later this spring.

Richard confesses that his 'mind is always racing' when it comes to building his business.

'If I feel that something's not been done well, I'll just jump in and do it. And obviously, I'm lucky, because I own the company, I can just say, "Screw it, let's do it' and get it done.

'And I try to enable everybody who works for Virgin to be able to do that, but, in the end, the buck stops with me, so I can just make decisions and get on with it.'

Richard has plenty of plans for Virgin over the next few years - including more Virgin Atlantic flights to India, Virgin Voyages cruises to the Red Sea, and also a rival to Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel.

But it's Virgin Galactic that Richard is most excited about.

He says: 'Virgin Galactic is building a number of spaceships and, by the end of next year, they should be ready to fly.

'We're also looking at other countries where we can build space ports, and not just America, so that's quite exciting.'

Richard says: 'I obviously think Virgin Galactic is the better experience than Blue Origin [pictured], and I'm sure if Jeff Bezos was here, he would argue that his his experience is the better, but there's room for both'

Richard says: 'Virgin Galactic is building a number of spaceships and, by the end of next year, they should be ready to fly'

But does he think Virgin Galactic can compete with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin?

'Jeff and I, we're good friends,' Richard says. 'He'll pop by Necker Island if he's in the area, and then we'll play pickleball together.

'I think it's important in life to be friends in the night time, with the people you're competing with in the daytime, and there are so many people who want to go to space that there's room for us both.

'I obviously think Virgin Galactic is the better of the two experiences, and I'm sure if Jeff was here, he would argue that his his experience is the better, but there's room for both!'
READ MORE: The easiest countries to relocate to on a working visa in 2025

Alex Brown, 31, has visited all 12 of the continent's country and reveals all here

From the globe's largest rainforest to world-class steak and ancient civilizations, South America has a lot to offer.

But where are its highlights - and where should you leave off your itinerary?

Here to help you plan a trip is intrepid traveller, Alex Brown, who has visited every single country on the continent.

In a chat with MailOnline Travel, the 31-year-old Brit reveals which of the continent's 12 countries is his favourite, where the safest destinations are and which popular spot he'd recommend avoiding.

The best country

Alex, who has visited 73 countries, says that Argentina is his favourite destination in South America, explaining: 'It's just got some of the best landscapes in the world. There's the glaciers in Patagonia, the Beagle Channel where you can see sea lions and then in the north you've got Iguazu Falls (the largest waterfall system in the world).

'And Buenos Aires (the capital) has got the best food in the world in my opinion. The steak is amazing and it's really cheap. The economy is a bit of a mess down there, so prices change pretty much every day but when I was last there a few months ago, it was about 10 for all-you-can-eat steak.'

The safest countries

Alex Brown, 31, has visited every single country in South America. He's pictured above in the desert in Huacachina, Peru

Alex, who has visited 73 countries, says that Argentina is his favourite destination in South America. Pictured above is Buenos Aires

Alex describes Peru as one of South America's safest countries. At Machu Picchu above

There's another reason that Alex thinks Argentina should be top of your South America bucket list.

'It's really safe,' reveals Alex. 'You won't really have any problems there. And that's not the case for every country in South America.'

When it comes to safety, the keen traveller also recommends Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.

The most dangerous countries

At the other end of the safety scale for Alex are Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. He explains: 'The Galapagos islands in Ecuador are really safe but the mainland is dodgy these days. They've had a state of emergency there due to clashes between the government and drug cartels.

'I spent about six weeks in Colombia and never had anything go wrong but if you stay in hostels, you'll eventually meet someone who has been mugged there.'

And while Alex explains that Venezuela has 'become a lot safer' in recent years, it's 'definitely not a beginner country' and he doesn't recommend travelling there without a 'fluent Spanish speaker'.

The most underrated country

Alex describes Argentina as his favourite country on the continent. He's pictured above at the country's Perito Moreno Glacier

If you're looking to get off-the-beaten-track, Alex describes Bolivia as the most 'underrated' country on the continent and it's also a bargain for Brits.

He says: 'A lot of American tourists don't go there because they have to pay $160/120 for a visa, whereas Brits go visa free. La Paz is a really interesting city and you can also go to El Alto, which is the highest city in the world. You can see cholita wrestling (indigenous women) there - it gets a bit repetitive after a while but it's cool to see one.

'Then there are the Uyuni salt flats, which are one of the coolest sights in the world. We also went to the Amazon where you can take a boat ride down the river and see waterfalls and caves.'

But while Alex explains that Bolivia isn't generally unsafe in terms of crime, there are still dangers to watch out for.

'In Bolivia, the real dangers are the roads. The traffic there is horrendous,' says Alex. 'The roads just wind around the mountains and there are also no safety standards on tours there at all. I ended up sinking in quicksand on an Amazon tour. I got off the boat and within seconds, I was knee-deep in mud. Our guide didn't say anything so presumably he's done this several times before!'

Alex adds: 'We also drank some sugar cane juice that had been produced in a tribal village in the Amazon and they put it in a container which probably hadn't been washed hygienically. All three of us who drank it became quite ill.'

Paraguay also earns an honourable mention as an 'underrated destination'. Alex reveals: 'It doesn't have much in terms of tourist attractions but you go there for the culture. There are great quality steakhouses as well.'

The destination to avoid

LEFT: Alex hiking the Cocora Valley in Colombia. RIGHT: Alex in front of the Moai statues on Easter Island in Chile

'Copacabana Beach is also really overrated, to be honest. Sunrise is nice there at five am but when it gets to daytime, it's just so busy,' says Alex

And the country to leave off your bucket list? Brazil, according to Alex, who says 'it didn't really deliver'.

He explains: 'We didn't like it that much. We went to Florianopolis on the coast, it's famous for amazing beaches, but we didn't really agree with that. A lot of them were quite touristy and there were loads of people there. There's nothing special about them.

'Then there's Sao Paulo. It's a very gloomy city and there's not much of interest there. It's also quite dangerous. There's somewhere called 'Cracolandia' there which is called that because there are loads of drug addicts. They just roam the streets like zombies and it's not safe at all. They won't harm you but it's a bit uncomfortable. It's absolutely not a place where you want to be after dark.'

Meanwhile Brazil's top destination, Rio de Janeiro, didn't impress Alex at all.

He says: 'There's loads of crime there. People have been shot just after accidentally turning down the wrong street. You should never wear jewellery there because you make yourself a target.

'Copacabana Beach is also really overrated, to be honest. Sunrise is nice there at five am but when it gets to daytime, it's just so busy. People set up tents and start selling stuff, it's really crowded and there's nothing enjoyable about it really. If Rio was safe it might be a good destination, but you do have to spend half your time looking over your shoulder.'

Want more from Alex? Find tips and advice on his blog adventuretoeverycountry.com
MV Narrative is designed to be a permanent home to a community of seafarers

Ever dreamed of waking up in a different destination every few days?

And what if you could do that from the comfort of your own home?

That's set to be reality for the residents of Storylines' MV Narrative, a cruise ship designed to be a permanent home for a community of around 1,000 seafarers.

Currently under construction, the 741 foot/225m long ship will transport its residents around the globe, stopping in a different city every few days.

MailOnline Travel caught up with Alister Punton, the founder and CEO of Storylines, to find out exactly what residents can expect onboard.

Alister, whose background is in real estate, says: 'Our tagline is that you'll live a happier, healthier life with Storylines. And it's not a throwaway line, we actually mean it. We'll have the largest Wellness Centre at sea, a longevity clinic and an anti-aging clinic.

'And then the residents will be around other good people, there'll be a happy mindset, travelling in the sun, all of these things compound to have a positive impact on your life.'

Although the ship isn't scheduled for delivery until early 2028, Alister reveals that Storylines has already sold around 35-40 per cent of its residences. Accommodation varies from 226 sq ft/21 sqm studios, priced from $625,000/470,500 to four bedroom homes spanning 1,432 sq ft/133 sqm priced from $8million/6million.

Storylines' MV Narrative is a cruise ship designed to be a permanent home for a community of around 1,000 seafarers

Currently under construction, the 741 foot/225m long ship will transport its residents around the globe, stopping in a different city every few days

MailOnline Travel caught up with Alister Lee (above), the founder and CEO of Storylines, to find out exactly what residents can expect onboard

Residents so far hail from 'around 20 different countries' and a whole range of ages are represented, says Alister.

He tells MailOnline: 'We've got people in their 20s and 30s with younger families and people who have businesses and are planning to work remotely. Then we've got retirees as well.

'We didn't want to create a space that was just one section of the community. We want people to experience a full community and not be segregated. When you have different generations in one location, it also generally leads to people living happier, healthier lives.'

And, perhaps surprisingly, not all of the ship's prospective residents have even been on a cruise before. Alister says: 'There's quite a big contingent of people who never have. Because this is going to be a home.

'It looks like a cruise ship but that's where the similarity pretty much ends.'

While the ship's lifestyle, community and health benefits are major draws for many residents, Alister claims that it will also be cheaper than living on land.

'You can live onboard Storylines for under $100,000/75,000 for two people, all inclusive, all year,' he explains. 'Get rid of your car, get rid of your car insurance and utility bills. You can really live a five-star luxury lifestyle without many monthly outgoing expenses and wake up in a new destination every few days.'

Residents will have around 20 different bars and restaurants to choose from on Storylines but of course they won't be confined to the ship. Alister says: 'We'll be in port every three to five days so people will be able to go out for dinner. They'll be able to make friends in the local community.'

Residents so far hail from 'around 20 different countries' and a whole range of ages are represented, says Alister

Perhaps surprisingly, not all of the ship's prospective residents have even been on a cruise before. Pictured above is the resident library

Aside from restaurants, MV Narrative will have an art studio, an 'oceanside marina' with direct access to the water and a running track

So far, residents have met each other at community events held by Storylines where Alister says they tend to get along like 'long lost buddies'

Aside from restaurants, MV Narrative will have an art studio, an 'oceanside marina' with direct access to the water and a running track.

And there's one extra facility that Alister said was a deal breaker for many of the ship's U.S residents. He explains: 'I'm from Australia so I didn't know what pickleball was but I learned very quickly. We actually redesigned the sun deck space so the pickleball court could fit.'

Although the ship's itinerary will be planned in advance, Alister says residents will get to pick stops every so often via an app.

Children on ship will attend a school with onboard teachers and field excursions in the destinations they visit.

'The students we'll turn out from that school will speak a couple of languages, they'll have a network of people from around the world they'll call friends,' says Alister.

So far, residents have met each other at community events held by Storylines where Alister says they tend to get along like 'long lost buddies'.

And that's good news for Alister who will be one of the first residents onboard MV Narrative.

He says: 'I've spent a long time building what I personally believe will be the best lifestyle community on earth. Will I be living there? Absolutely.'
Ross Kemp leaves Charlotte Hawkins red-faced with a cheeky question as Celebrity Bridge Of Lies returns with a new series.

The first episode of the third season will see Good Morning Britain's Charlotte compete with other presenters including Kaye Adams, Ade Adepitan and Matt Allwright.

During the first instalment, set to air tonight (May 3), Charlotte crosses the bridge and has to step on truths while avoiding the lies.

However, when Ross reads out a category to her, called 'horny animals', she begins to nervously giggle.

The cheeky name is soon clarified and Ross explains she would need to step on tiles that have animals with horns, antlers or tusks on them.

Charlotte plays to raise money for the motor neurone disease association.

Ross Kemp, pictured, left Charlotte Hawkins red-faced with a cheeky question as Celebrity Bridge Of Lies returns with a new series

The first episode of the third season saw Good Morning Britain's Charlotte, pictured,compete with other presenters including Kaye Adams , Ade Adepitan and Matt Allwright

'The category is animals, Rich what are we looking for?' Ross exclaims. After the category is revealed, Charlotte laughs, saying, 'Okay.'

While Ross adds: 'Horny animals! We are looking for animals where the males or females usually have horns antlers or tusks.'

During the instalment, Matt is challenged to find songs with repeated words in the titles, Kaye had to identify landmarks found in Italy and Ade had to pair up athletes.

The new series will see ten episodes, with one airing every Saturday night.

Host Ross previously revealed to MailOnline the touching moment he experienced when he had the honour of writing Dame Barbara Windsor's eulogy.

The Bridge of Lies host, 60, shared with MailOnline the final time Barb, known for her no-nonsense soap character Peggy Mitchell, sent her love and thanked him for the final time.

Barbara died aged 83 in 2020 following a battle with Alzheimer's.

But when Ross sat down to honour the veteran actress and write her eulogy for the funeral, he accidentally stumbled across an old card from her when looking for a pen.

He told MailOnline: 'I wrote her eulogy and I spoke her eulogy.

'I keep my pilot pens out of the reach because I'm old fashioned. I use a pen and paper when I'm working as a reporter and I keep the pens away from the kids.

However, when Ross read out a category to her, called 'horny animals', she began to nervously giggle

'I was writing her eulogy and my pen ran out. It took me two days to write it. And I reached up, it's a true story, a card, like a thin card - I didn't know what it was at the time - got caught under my fingernails as I was reaching for the Biro.

'And I pulled it up, and it was a card from her that she'd sent me some flowers. I didn't even know that was up there. I must have just thrown that up there in a little random moment.

'And it was ''Thank you, darling. Love you, Bar.''

'And it was like so weird that I rang Scott [her husband] up and I said, ''you won't believe what's just happened''.'

Celebrity Bridge of Lies airs on BBC One and iPlayer at 5:40pm on May 3.
She was once one of the highest paid models in the world.

However Yasmin Le Bon has now admitted a career walking the catwalks left her in chronic pain and 'very depressed'.

The star, now 60, was just 17 when she was spotted by a model scout and went on to sigh with Models 1 Agency in London after leaving school.

Over the course of her career she became the face of Versace, Chanel and Dior and graced the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Harper's Bazaar to name a few.

Reflecting on her years in the industry Yasmin explained the profession has led to her suffering crippling back pain for many years.

Speaking in an interview with Hello Magazine she confessed she has 'paid the price' physically.

Yasmin Le Bon, 60, has revealed how her highly-successful modelling career left her in chronic pain and 'very depressed' as she reflected on working in the industry

The star, now 60, was just 17 when she was spotted by a model scout and went on to sigh with Models 1 Agency in London after leaving school (pictured in 1987)

The star explained: 'I've had times in my life where it has become really, very depressing when I couldn't walk without pain, couldn't do anything and it's really hard.'

She added: 'I feel for anybody who's had back pain or is going through it. I think it's a mental thing as well, getting through the fact that maybe you're going to have to live with a certain amount of pain. You can do that, you just have to change the way you do everything.'

Yasmin described how she would often be doing balletic leaps across sets while wearing stilettos which nobody would do now.

Meanwhile the fashion icon also opened up about how she always had to be on her guard for predatory behaviour and thanks her strong personality for keeping her out of uncomfortable situations.

The star admitted there were a few instances that could have 'gone differently' as she explained: 'I think after those two instances, anything that made me feel in any way out of control, I made sure never happened again.... I think you can't give an inch.'

She explained how photographers would try to test you and push you psychologically to get you to do a job or see if you would be tough enough for it.

Yet she stayed true to herself and confessed that even in her younger days she had a no nonsense attitude.

Yasmin has also always had her rocker husband Simon Le Bon by her side after the pair married in 1985 when she was just 21.

Reflecting on her year's in the industry Yasmin explained the profession has led to her suffering crippling back pain for many years (pictured in 1990)

The star explained: 'I've had times in my life where it has become really, very depressing when I couldn't walk without pain, couldn't do anything and it's really hard' (pictured in 1989)

Over the course of her career she became the face of Versace, Chanel and Dior and graced the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Harper's Bazaar to name a few

Yasmin also opened up about how she had to be on her guard for predatory behaviour and thanks her strong personality for keeping her out of uncomfortable situations (pictured 1987)

She shares three daughters with the Duran Duran frontman. Amber, 35, who welcomed her first child at the start of this year, Saffron, 33, and 30-year-old Tallulah.

Yasmin previously revealed the stress of her daughters' teenage years, combined with the pressure she put herself under as a working mother, pretty much tipped her over the edge.

'Nobody can tear your heart apart within a couple of words like they can,' she told You Magazine back in 2016.

While she tried to be a 'real disciplinarian' in her early days of parenting she admitted: 'They get to a certain age and youre exhausted because you cant keep up that level of discipline. By the time they got to their teenage years they could walk all over me.'

Yasmin admitted she suffered a sort of breakdown as she revealed she thinks they also caused her back pain.

'My energy levels were terrible, I was sleeping very badly, my ability to recover after exercise was not good. I needed to address things in my past that I hadnt really dealt with. They were mounting up and making everything a lot worse.'

She added: 'You are so linked to all their moods, all their anxieties I had been a punchbag for a long time and it was having an effect.

'That whole emotional drain pushed me over the edge with my back. I couldnt cope with the pain; I was in a dark place  but, hey, thats what friends are for.'

Yasmin has always had her rocker husband Simon Le Bon by her side after the pair married in 1985 when she was just 21 (pictured in 2025)

Yasmin's daughter Amber (pictured in November) and her boyfriend Ben Mercer privately welcomed their son Sasha Echo Le Bon Mercer into the world on January 30

Amber and her boyfriend Ben Mercer privately welcomed their son Sasha Echo Le Bon Mercer into the world on January 30.

She told HELLO! magazine, saying: 'I'm just so obsessed with him. I keep looking at him and think, 'how on earth am I ever going do anything ever again? And all I want to do is cuddle you and smell you...

'We had two names on our shortlist and when he came out, I said, "I think he's a Sasha". I've always loved that name.

'Echo is a name from Greek mythology, and we liked the way it flowed on from his first name.'

Amber spent 40 hours in labour with Sasha - who weighed 7lbs 6oz - and had both Ben and her mother by her side at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

She said that her partner was 'brilliant' during the delivery, which she said took place while sound effects of a thunderstorm played on a set of speakers.
American Horror Story star Kate Mara was nearly unrecognizable as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Friday.

Gone were the actress' usual Titian tresses and in their place were golden blonde locks styled in a loose bun at the top of her head.

The Emmy nominee, 42, kept warm in the cool morning temperatures in a gold and white striped rugby shirt over a pair of black leggings.

She wore black mules on her feet and carried a straw bag with peach flowers and green leaves embroidered on it.

The Astronaut actress carried a nearly empty coffee drink as she made her way through the Los Feliz area.

The new hair color could be the result of a whim, or due to an upcoming job.

The acclaimed actress has signed to star in Imperfect Women with Elizabeth Moss and Kerry Washington.

Kate Mara, 42, was nearly unrecognizable as she debuted new blonde tresses in Los Angeles on Friday

The series, initially announced more than a year ago is based on the Araminta Hall novel of the same name.

The psychological thriller focuses on three longtime friends whose lives art shattered by a brutal crime.

The official description from Apple+ revealed the show is a 'mystery complicated by perspective that explores guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the compromises we make that alter our lives irrevocably.'

'As the investigation unravels, so does the truth about how even the closest relationships can change over time.'

Kate previously starred in American Horror Story as Hayden McClaine.

She and her sister, Rooney Mara, 40, recently completed work on Bucking Fastard.

They star as two sisters who are so close they speak in unison, love the same man, played by Orlando Bloom, and have the same dreams.

In the Werner Herzog directed drama they begin to search for an imaginary land where true love is possible.

The new hair color could be the result of a whim, or due to an upcoming job. The acclaimed actress has signed to star in Imperfect Women with Elizabeth Moss and Kerry Washington

The actress recently and her sister Rooney, 40, recently wrapped work on their first film together - Bucking Fastard, written and directed by Werner Herzog; Pictured in West Hollywood, CA in December 2024

Kate previously starred in American Horror Story as Hayden McClaine

Herzog reportedly met the real life twins, who inspired the story, several times and drew from that experience in writing the script, according to AVClub.com.

It was the first time the highly regarded sisters had worked on a film together.

The movie was shot in Ireland and Slovenia over several weeks.

The producers will be looking for buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.
Crystal Hefner is engaged.

The former Mrs. Hugh Hefner, 39, said yes to the boyfriend of one year, James Ward, after he proposed to her at her home in Hawaii.

James, a marine biologist, went down on one knee with a six-carat, vintage mine-cut ring, according to Us Weekly.

Crystal, a former Playboy model, was previously married to Hugh Hefner from 2012 until his death in 2017 when he was 91 years old.

She lived in the Playboy Mansion beginning in 2009 - and soon after, began dating the Playboy founder, getting engaged the following year.

Crystal Hefner is engaged. The former Mrs. Hugh Hefner, 39, said yes to the boyfriend of one year, James Ward, after he proposed to her at her home in Hawaii

James, a marine biologist, went down on one knee with a six-carat, vintage mine-cut ring, according to Us Weekly

Crystal and Hugh split briefly in June 2011, but they reconciled and tied the knot in December 2012.

Their five year marriage ended upon Hugh's death on September 27, 2017 at 91.

Following his death, Crystal moved to Hawaii.

Crystal and James met via mutual friends in April 2024.

The proposal took place on Friday, April 25 on a deck James built at her Hawaii home - which was also a surprise to her.

The proposal took place four days before her 39th birthday, and just days after they came back from their one year anniversary trip to Africa - which was a month long holiday.

'After we started down the path, I was puzzled, I was puzzled to see a brand-new staircase, and then I began to notice the notes - one after another, each one handwritten and deeply heartfelt,' Crystal said to Us Weekly.

'I was already tearing up when I reached the final card, which was waiting for me on the deck, overlooking the waves. At first, I thought it was an early birthday surprise,' she continued.

The proposal took place on Friday, April 25 on a deck James built at her Hawaii home - which was also a surprise to her

'But the words in the notes gently hinted at something more. And when I realized he had built an entire deck just to create a space for this moment, I was overwhelmed. It was one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me,' Crystal told the outlet.

When he got down on one knee, he used her maiden name - Crystal Margaret Harris - she told DailyMail.com exclusively.

My name is Crystal Harris, not Crystal Hefner. And I am never losing my identity to anyone ever again. James is a supporter of me being Crystal Harris. He is a feminist, like me. "Crystal Margret Harris" he said to me when he got down on one knee. My real name. My identity. The identity that we both fully support me keeping,' she told DailyMail.com.

Crystal revealed she didn't 'suspect' the proposal and was taken by surprise.

In addition, James had written love letters to Crystal with sweet notes.

He had notes that said: 'I love you when you're silly, I love you when you love, I love the way you make me feel about myself and the space you make for both us to nurture the child inside,' via Us Weekly.

Crystal, a former Playboy model, was previously married to Hugh Hefner from 2012 until his death in 2017 when he was 91 years old; Crystal and Hugh pictured in 2010

'Let's continue to build a life together. A home in this magical place (or wherever life takes us next) Let's fill all of the time we have left with memories like the ones we've started already and continue to dream of an even better world,' she told the outlet.

She told Us Weekly they plan on marrying in 2026 in an intimate outdoor wedding.

One week before their surprise engagement, Crystal told Us Weekly reflected on their one year anniversary: 'Honestly it feels like time flew and stood still at the same time,' noting that they are 'best friends who can't stop flirting,' and are 'not in a rush' but also 'not afraid of forever.'
Alexa Chung has revealed she underwent surgery for endometriosis and discussed her 'frustrating' experience with the condition.

The fashion designer, presenter, and model, 41, was diagnosed with endometriosis - when cells in the lining of the uterus are found elsewhere in the body - in July 2020.

Now, Alexa has admitted she has found her experience trying to treat the condition 'frustrating' and criticised it for being 'under-funded'.

She revealed she underwent a laparoscopy, where the pelvis is accessed through small incisions, to cut out the affected tissue to try and aid her symptoms.

She told The Telegraph: 'A number of years ago, I had a laparoscopy to help cure it, they don't really know how to cure endometriosis but they do like cutting it out people quite a lot, just on the off chance that it might work.

'I do come up against this wall, where no matter how helpful or amazing the doctors I've seen have been, you reach a point in the cul-de-sac of information where you realise there's a definitive end to the amount of treatment they can give you.

Alexa Chung has revealed she previously underwent surgery for endometriosis as she sells her designer wardrobe on Vinted

She has now partnered with second-hand fashion platform Vinted to offer a curated selection of luxury pieces from her personal wardrobe, with all proceeds going to Endometriosis UK

'I find it super frustrating. It's part of a canon of women's health issues that are desperately under-researched.'

Since her diagnosis, Alexa has made it her mission to raise awareness for the condition, which affects one in ten women.

She has partnered with second-hand fashion platform Vinted to offer a curated selection of luxury pieces from her personal wardrobe, with all proceeds going to Endometriosis UK.

The exclusive sale for her wardrobe, available only to Vinted members in the UK, launches on May 4, 2025.

Clothing, bags, sunglasses and shoes from sought-after brands like Prada, JW Anderson, Khaite, Magda Butrym and Galvan London will all be available.

Further highlights include a Miu Miu embroidered bralette, a pink Gucci bag and a coral silk 1930s vintage dress worn by Alexa herself at Paris Fashion Week.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Alexa opened up about her painful battle with endometriosis, which left her in so much pain that she sometimes had to take meetings lying down.

After years of pain, a kidney scan and a suspected hemorrhagic cyst, the model was diagnosed with condition while filming her Netflix series Next in Fashion in Los Angeles.

The fashion designer, presenter, and model, 41, was diagnosed with the illness in July 2020 and later had a laparoscopy in an attempt to treat it (pictured in 2019)

Before discovering she had it, doctors had to rule out ovarian cancer, and the fashion star recalled going back to film with co-star Tan France after her appointment.

'I had to go back on set and Tan asked how my doctor's appointment went. I was like, 'It might be ovarian cancer!', said Alexa.

In March 2020, Alexa suggested the lack of information about the endometriosis could be down to 'gender healthcare bias'.

She took to Instagram to share a photograph of an allontheboard tube poster that featured statistics about the condition.

She penned: 'Why don't they know what it is? Why don't they know how to cure it? Could it be to do with a gender healthcare bias? Also probably doesn't help that 'endometriosis' is the longest and most boring word to read.

'Thank you to @allontheboard for raising awareness about this debilitating disease that affects 1 in 10 women and yet on average takes 7 years to diagnose.

'Sorry if you have it, thrilled if you don't and grateful if you're a supportive partner, friend of family member to someone suffering with this invisible hellmare.

'I'm lucky because I felt much better after surgery but I know that's not the case for everyone and may not be the case forever. Sending love to those in pain and thanks to doctors trying to help.'

Women with endometriosis often have very painful periods as well as pelvic pain at other times of the month, and it can also cause a range of other conditions, including infertility, bowel and bladder problems caused by scarring, as well as fatigue and mental health difficulties.

Despite it affecting teenagers through to middle age, treatment options remain limited and diagnosis is difficult.

There is no cure and the available treatments often have significant side-effects, affecting fertility, for example, because they contain hormones.
Ellie Bamber cut a stylish figure as she attended the launch of the new Jaguar event during the Monaco E-Prix weekend on Friday.

The English actress, 28, looked stunning as ever as she enjoyed a shindig with other big names for the star-studded ABB Formula E evening.

Ellie sported a glamorous black two-piece suit which she paired with a glitzy bra to show off her toned midriff.

She added a few extra inches to her frame with a pair of pointed black stilettos as she joined other celebrities on a lavish yacht for the evening.

The Nocturnal Animals star let her outfit do all the talking as she kept her accessories simple while she swept her blonde tresses into a sleek up-do.

Also in attendance was director and producer Anthony Byrne, as well as actor Emmett J. Scanlan.

English actress Ellie Bamber, 28, cut a stylish figure as she attended the launch of the new Jaguar event to kickstart the Monaco E-Prix weekend on Friday

She looked super stylish in a glamorous black two-piece suit which she paired with a glitzy bra to show off her toned midriff

Mancunian rapper Bugzy Malone was also present, while presenter David Harewood also made up the guest list.

Ellie will soon be starring in an upcoming Kate Moss biopic focusing on her now iconic collaboration with celebrated figurative painter Lucian Freud.

Kate was 28 years old and well-established as one of Britain's most successful fashion models when Freud painted her in the nude, an arduous nine-month project carried out at the artist's Holland Park home in 2002.

The painting would be sold privately for 3.5million some three years later, but its waif-like subject and her relationship with Freud will be reenacted for a wider audience in a forthcoming film.

Directed by James Lucas, the appropriately titled Moss & Freud will feature rising star Ellie as the supermodel in what could arguably be her most challenging role to date.

The task at hand is all the more daunting given she was handpicked by Kate, but those charting her career - including the supermodel, a self-confessed fan - will know the role is in safe hands.

Ellie was in Surrey to investment banker father David and mother Zoe, who now works as her manager.

She then developed a keen interest in acting from the age of 12 after being inspired by her drama teacher at Hawley Place School, now Hurst Lodge School, in Berkshire.

The famous actress looked stunning as ever as she enjoyed a shindig with other big names for the star-studded ABB Formula E evening

Posing with the new Jaguar Type 00 car on a floating ocean terrace on a harbour in Monaco, she appeared in high spirits

Ellie poses with actor Emmett J. Scanlan at the star-studded event in Monaco, looking sophisticated in a suit

She was also pictured with presenter David Harewood who was in attendance of the luxury event on Friday night

Mainstream success would soon follow, with the then 15-year-old starring alongside Cold Feet star Hermione Norris and Martin Clunes in 2012 miniseries A Mother's Son.

It would be the first of many carefully chosen TV roles, with Ellie taking another small part in The Musketeers before emerging as a star in her own right with the lead in a 2018 adaptation of Les Miserables.

She would play Cosette in an ensemble cast featuring Dominic West, David Oyelowo, Lily Collins and Derek Jacobi - who reunites with Ellie by playing the enigmatic Freud in her latest film.

By then her personal life was winning as many headlines as her professional endeavors, with Ellie embarking on a relationship with Scottish actor Richard Madden in 2017.

By January 2019, her relationship with Richard was over after the couple experienced a rocky patch during which they 'argued every day'.
Kourtney Kardashian faced fan backlash for an 'offensive' Instagram post featuring her in a revealing outfit with a bible verse caption.

The reality TV star, 46, showcased her figure in a see-through lace-up racy black ensemble as she posed up a storm in snaps uploaded to her Instagram on Friday.

But many took issue with her caption, which included a well-known passage from scripture. The verse, 2 Timothy 1:7, states, 'For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline.'

Kourtney  who recently enjoyed a lavish getaway with husband Travis Barker and baby son Rocky  also added a screenshot of other bible verses to her post

'Why do you post bible scriptures in your stuff and than dress in see through clothing? Weird and kind of offensive to people,' one fan asked the star.

'Why is there a quote about god and a bare behind? This world is upside down,' another added.

Kourtney Kardashian, 46, faced fan backlash for an 'offensive' Instagram post featuring her in a revealing outfit with a bible verse caption

Many took issue with her caption, which included a well-known passage from scripture: 'For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline'

'Im trying to figure out where her super religious caption came from because huh,' someone else questioned.

'Ugh why do ppl cherry pick the bible,' yet another comment read.

'You quote scriptures then post a pic of your fancy garage w all your fancy cars.

'Kourtney is a Christian?' someone else asked.

Kourtney paused for photos inside a spacious hallway of what appeared to be the $10 million Calabasas mansion she shares with the musician.

The reality star sported a black, corset-styled blouse that was made of a sheer fabric as well as a matching skirt that fell down past her ankles.

She additionally slipped into a pair of black boots that offered an edgy flare to the look and carried a mini, cheetah-print purse in her hand.

Kourtney's dark locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves.

The Poosh founder added a warm blush to her cheekbones while a nude-colored, glossy tint was worn on her lips.

After taking pictures inside the abode, the beauty also snapped a quick selfie while strolling towards a sleek SUV that was parked in a large garage.

Her latest post contained other images from her busy lifestyle, such as a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a photo shoot she recently took part in for Remix Magazine.

The reality TV star showcased her figure in a see-through lace-up racy black ensemble as she posed up a storm in snaps uploaded to her Instagram on Friday

The reality star sported a black, corset-styled blouse that was made of a sheer fabric as well as a matching skirt that fell down past her ankles

After taking pictures inside the abode, the beauty also snapped a quick selfie while strolling towards a sleek SUV that was parked in a large garage

She also added a screenshot of other bible verses to her post

'Why do you post bible scriptures in your stuff and than dress in see through clothing? Weird and kind of offensive to people,' one fan wrote

'Why is there a quote about god and a bare behind? This world is upside down,' another added

'Im trying to figure out where her super religious caption came from because huh,' someone else questioned

'You quote scriptures then post a pic of your fancy garage w all your fancy cars'

'Ugh why do ppl cherry pick the bible,' yet another comment read

'Kourtney is a Christian?' someone else asked

The mom-of-four could be seen wearing an off-the-shoulder, fuzzy dress and held a cup in her hand that had the star's name written on the front.

The Kardashians store struck another pose in a fashionable look that comprised of red jacket that was styled over a blue sweatshirt.

She also donned a plain, white tank top underneath as well as a pair of black knee-high boots and black sunglasses.

Kourtney further flaunted her toned physique in a black bodysuit as she stepped out on the set of a photo shoot for her Lemme supplement brand that she launched back in 2022.

The media personality jumped inside of a large purple bottle that had a Lemme Grow label to promote vitamins that are geared towards hair growth.

Amid her on-the-go schedule, the beauty snapped a photo while grabbing a bite to eat at the Polo Lounge located inside the Beverly Hills Hotel. Lastly, she also included images of a scenic sunset.

The TV personality recently whisked herself away on a tropical vacation while joined by husband Travis and her children. She shares Rocky, one, with Barker as well as Mason, 15, Penelope, 12, and Reign, 10, with ex Scott Disick.

The Blink-182 drummer shares Landon, 21, and Alabama, 19, with his ex Shanna Moakler. The musician is also a father figure to Atiana De La Hoya, 26, from Moakler's previous relationship.

The getaway was seemingly a belated birthday trip for Kourtney - who celebrated turning 46 on April 18.

She shared memorable pictures from the getaway, such as one that was taken as Kourtney watched a fireworks show on the beach with Travis as well as sons Rocky and Reign.

Kourtney also paused for a quick photo alongside Atiana - who appeared to be wearing the same ensemble the reality star donned in her latest Instagram carousel.

Her latest post also contained other images from her busy lifestyle, such as a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a photo shoot she recently took part in for Remix Magazine

The Kardashians store struck another pose in a fashionable look that comprised of red jacket that was styled over a blue sweatshirt

She also donned a plain, white tank top underneath as well as a pair of black knee-high boots and black sunglasses

Kourtney further flaunted her toned physique in a black bodysuit as she stepped out on the set of a photo shoot for her Lemme supplement brand that she launched back in 2022

Amid her on-the-go schedule, the beauty snapped a photo while grabbing a bite to eat at the Polo Lounge located inside the Beverly Hills Hotel

Lastly, she also included images of a scenic sunset

She also shared photos of the quiet beach as the waves crashed down onto the sandy shore.

Kourtney later paused for more additional pictures on the beach after the sun had set in the distance while wearing a black satin dress with a plunging neckline on the front.

Social media users jumped to the comment section to send birthday wishes to the star - and to also applaud her daughter Penelope's photography skills after the TV personality credited the 12-year-old in the caption.

'Penelope really outdid herself with these pictures,' one penned, and another added, 'Happy Birthday! shoutout to P for being such a great photographer! You can tell she really loves her mama in the way she captured each picture! Much love from Texas!'

A fan shared, 'P is sooo good at taking photos HBD,' and one typed, 'Kourtney is literally so gorgeous without makeup. And P's photographing skills are on POINT! Future Annie Leibowitz.'

She also was able to indulge in a tasty cake which was topped with white sugary icing and fruit on the edges.

Barker had shared a loving tribute to his wife and also uploaded an assortment of images, including one as she held their son Rocky in her lap while on a private jet.

Rocky Thirteen has made rare appearances on his parents' social media accounts - but his face has remained hidden for privacy.

Earlier this year in February, Travis opened up to People about the little one's love for music and revealed that he also enjoys playing the drums 'constantly, 24/7.'

When it comes to parenting, the Blink-182 drummer told the outlet, 'I hope we just lead by example.

The TV personality recently whisked herself away on a tropical vacation while joined by husband Travis and her children

Kourtney paused for a quick photo alongside Atiana - who appeared to be wearing the same ensemble the reality star donned in her latest Instagram carousel

'I mean [Rocky], he just turned 15 months today, and he's like already playing drums and guitar and everything, so I feel like all we can do is steer them.'

Barker continued, 'I think you're born with like this DNA of who you are, but, like, we could always be there to just, you know, lead them in the right direction.'

He previously discussed fatherhood with People and gushed, 'The most wonderful thing you could do at any time in your life is have a baby or bring a human being into this world.'

The music artist added, 'I love being a dad. That's my favorite accomplishment, it's my favorite thing I get to do every day.'
Matt Zukowski has hit back at claims he apparently did not attend the birthday party of his stepson Wolf - or send him any well-wishes, further fuelling rumours he has split with his wife Tammy Hembrow.

Tammy, 31, recently shared a gallery of precious photos to social media which captured the birthday party she hosted for her 10-year-old son.

While many of her family and friends were in attendance at the get together, Tammy's husband Matt, 29, was seemingly nowhere in sight.

Although Matt did not publicly comment any birthday wishes to his stepson he may have done something for him in private.

Fans took to Reddit to question Matt's apparent absence and ask why he didn't appear to wish his stepson a happy birthday.

'He'll dedicate a post to his sisters dog, but not his wife's son. Sorry, I can't call him a stepdad,' one fan ranted, referring to Matt's latest Instagram post, shared on Friday, that showed him in Melbourne posing with the pooch.

Matt Zukowski has hit back at claims he apparently did not attend the birthday party of his stepson Wolf - or send him any well-wishes, further fuelling rumours he has split with his wife Tammy Hembrow

Tammy recently shared a gallery of precious photos to social media which captured the lavish birthday party she hosted for her 10-year-old son

'Such a bizarre marriage. Who spends this much time apart after only a few months?' a second person asked.

Meanwhile a third person shared a screenshot of a public chat they had with Matt on Instagram, in which they asked him why he didn't attend his stepson's party.

'Why aren't you in Queensland for your stepson's 10th birthday? No hate, just genuinely curious,' they asked in the since-deleted exchange.

'These photos were taken four weeks ago. Focus on your own life,' Matt replied.

'Way to be rude when I was just being polite!' the user retorted.

Meanwhile, Tammy shared a clip of her preparing for the celebration - and she was not seen wearing her wedding ring.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Tammy and Matt for comment.

It comes just days after Matt fuelled speculation that his whirlwind romance with Tammy may be over, after posting footage of himself going to the movies solo on Tuesday.

While many of her family and friends were in attendance at the swanky get together, Tammy's husband Matt was seemingly nowhere in sight

Tammy also shared a clip of her preparing for the celebration - and she was not wearing her wedding ring

A concerned fan shared a screenshot of a public chat they had with Matt on Instagram, in which they asked him why he didn't attend his stepson's party

The reality TV star took to Instagram to share a video from inside the cinema, revealing he was watching Death of a Unicorn alone - a move that came just days after fans noticed he was absent from Tammy's 31st birthday celebrations.

Sources close to the couple have now confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the pair have quietly split, with Matt relocating back to Melbourne.

'Matt and Tammy are on a break. They're not saying it's over for good, but for now they're taking time apart,' the insider revealed.

'They're both emotional people, and they've decided to put their marriage on pause for now.'

The reality star notably avoided addressing his relationship status with Tammy, who was seen living her best life during her birthday festivities on the Gold Coast.

The fitness mogul shared several glamorous snaps from her big day, including photos of her decadent cake, extravagant floral arrangements and gifts - but her husband was nowhere to be seen.

Tammy and Matt began dating in mid-2023, after Matt slid into her DMs, and were engaged just three months later.

They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Chateau Du Soleil in Byron Bay in November.
Pamela Anderson has changed up one of her most recognizable features.

The 57-year-old former Playboy pinup chopped her signature long blonde locks, debuting a bob haircut on Thursday at the 2025 Founders Breakfast hosted by the Tory Burch Foundation.

Anderson  who recently unveiled a career pivot  teased the fresh style underneath a beige bucket hat as she sported a monochrome outfit.

The low-cut head gear partially concealed her eyes, and she teamed it with a boat-neck blouse and coordinating wide-leg trousers.

After several decades in the spotlight, the star has shocked fans with bold beauty and fashion changes in recent years, including opting to go makeup-free for red carpet occasions.

Pamela Anderson has changed up one of her most recognizable features

The 57-year-old former Playboy pinup chopped her signature long blonde locks, debuting a bob haircut on Thursday at the 2025 Founders Breakfast hosted by the Tory Burch Foundation

Anderson was seated next to longtime Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour at the New York City event, which honored Martha Stewart, on Thursday.

Her hair switch-up comes days ahead of the 2025 Met Gala, which will take place on Monday.

This year's theme is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, the name of the Costume Institute's spring exhibition highlighting Black dandyism.

Pamela made her Met Gala debut in 2024, where she modeled an Oscar de la Renta gown with a Noel Stewart headpiece.

The Pandora partner accentuated the striking ensemble with pink and white lab-grown diamonds.

She's turned a corner in her career over the last year, gaining critical acclaim for her 2024 starring role in The Last Showgirl.

The Canadian-bred beauty earned her first Golden Globe nomination with the release of the Gia Coppola-directed feature, and amassed Oscar buzz.

However, the film did not become a contender when the 2025 Academy Awards nominee list was unveiled in January.

Anderson was seated next to longtime Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour at the NYC event

Pamela pictured with longer locks in February at the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Pamela made her Met Gala debut in 2024, where she modeled an Oscar de la Renta gown with a Noel Stewart headpiece

Pamela was a good sport about the snub, telling Elle magazine at the time, 'Oh my gosh, it's not something I ever expected. Doing the work is the win.'

She continued, 'That's what I like to do, and I think we can lose sight of that sometimes in this whole crazy awards season, but it's nice to be recognized, and it's all a bonus.'

Looking on the bright side, she said, 'I couldn't imagine [an Oscar win] anyway. I'm happy for the SAG nomination, that's [voted on by] your peers. That's really cool. This has been a long road promoting this film.'

The actress recently joined the cast of a revival of the Tennessee Williams drama Camino Real, which will be held at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts from July 19 through August 3.

Weeks ago she was spotted filming her next film, The Place To Be, in New South Wales, Australia.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard stunned fans as she debuted an entirely sexy new look in a new Instagram photo on Friday following her 25lb weight loss.

The TV personality, 33 - who first showed off her slimmer figure last month in April - uploaded a snap to unveil her latest hairstyle while cheerfully posing with partner Ken Urker.

Over recent months, the mom-of-one had been sporting a shorter brunette bob and was seen sporting the darker shade just a couple weeks earlier on Easter Sunday.

However, the reality star has now opted for longer, blonde locks that flowed down past her shoulders in light waves.

Gypsy - who welcomed daughter Aurora late last year in December - dressed for the warmer weather in a pair of denim shorts as well as a black, leather top with a plunging neckline.

She completed the ensemble by slipping into a pair of white boots and added gold-chained necklaces for a flashy flare.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard, 33, stunned fans as she debuted an entirely sexy new look in a new Instagram photo on Friday following her 25lb weight loss

The TV personality - who first showed off her slimmer figure last month in April - uploaded a snap to unveil her latest hairstyle while cheerfully posing with partner Ken Urker; seen in 2024 in NYC

In the caption of the photo, Blanchard simply added a red heart emoji to her nearly 1 million followers.

Her partner Ken also jumped to his own Instagram account to share another snap of the couple as they stopped by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The pair cozied up together as they stood not too far from a main stage while exploring the festival grounds.

It comes just one month after Gypsy revealed she had shed 25lbs after welcoming her daughter almost four months earlier.

At the time, she shared side-by-side photos highlighting her impressive weight loss transformation.

In the first image, taken in January 2024, she can be seen rocking a black dress to the premiere of her Lifetime show called The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

The next picture was a recent mirror selfie and displayed her slimmed-down figure as she sported a sleeveless white best, jeans and a pair of black booties.

Blanchard, who previously denied using weight-loss medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro, captioned her post: 'My 25lbs weight loss.'

Her partner Ken also jumped to his own Instagram account to share another snap of the couple as they stopped by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Over recent months, the mom-of-one had been sporting a shorter brunette bob and was seen sporting the darker shade just a couple weeks earlier on Easter Sunday

At the time, she shared side-by-side photos highlighting her impressive weight loss transformation

In January, the Munchausen by proxy survivor insisted her figure was the result of her focus on 'getting fit by doing yoga and other exercises to help tone' her stomach.

'I bought small gym equipment for my home to start getting healthy,' she revealed on Instagram. 'I never have used weight loss drugs to lose weight. I was blessed with a healthy pregnancy and gained very little during my pregnancy.'

Blanchard welcomed her daughter with Ken Urker on December 28 - exactly one year after she was released from prison.

She spent her childhood posing as a wheelchair-bound invalid after mom Claudine 'Dee Dee' Blanchard shaved her head, pumped her full of drugs, and convinced the world she was suffering from leukemia and muscular dystrophy.

Their 'inseparable' bond ended when Gypsy burst free of her warped mom's control in 2015 by letting her besotted internet boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, creep into their Springfield, Missouri, home to stab 48-year-old Dee Dee to death.

She ultimately plead guilty to second-degree murder and spent nearly a decade locked up before she was granted early parole and released in December 2023.

While in prison, she bonded with Ken after he sent her a letter; they started corresponding and things soon turned romantic, with him proposing in 2018.

But after the Hulu show The Act - which starred Joey King as Gypsy and Patricia Arquette as her mother - premiered a few months later and put an intense spotlight on Gypsy's story, she admitted in her memoir that Ken couldn't handle all the sudden attention.

Soon after, it was reported that Gypsy had reconciled with her ex, Ken; she then revealed that they were expecting in July; seen above with daughter Aurora on Easter Sunday

They ultimately split and she moved on with Ryan Scott Anderson, and they wed in July 2022.

Ryan was by her side when she was freed - but just three months later, news hit the web that they had split.

Soon after, it was reported that Gypsy had reconciled with her ex, Ken; she then revealed that they were expecting in July.

In a YouTube video at the time, Gypsy spoke about how her horrific upbringing would affect her outlook on motherhood.

'All the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby,' she stated. 'I just want to be a good mother to my child, I want to be everything my mother wasn't.'

Gypsy previously revealed the 'backstory' behind her baby's name during an interview with People last year.

'Ken came up with that. There's a whole backstory to it,' she dished. 'Some people think that it's because of the Disney Princess.

'Some people think that it's because Kristy's dog is named Aurora Grace,' she said of her step-mother, adding: 'It's not because of that.'

'Ken came up with that. There's a whole backstory to it,' she dished. 'Some people think that it's because of the Disney Princess'

'Back whenever Ken and I were together seven years ago, both of us have a fascination with the Northern Lights, and the proper term is the Aurora Borealis,' she said recalling her time dating Urker while imprisoned

Instead, Aurora was selected because of the couple's shared love of the Northern Lights.

'Back whenever Ken and I were together seven years ago, both of us have a fascination with the Northern Lights, and the proper term is the Aurora Borealis,' she said recalling her time dating Urker while imprisoned.

'I think it was maybe in 2018, we wrote each other's future kid's name on pieces of paper and Aurora is what we both picked without even knowing each other was picking it.'

Gypsy recently talked to A&E True Crime in March and opened up about how motherhood has changed her.

'It's made me a lot more mature. It's made me really have to analyze my priorities,' she explained.

'Coming out of prison, I wanted to do this and go there and have this experience and that experience and be very carefree. I was to the wind, acting on emotion and impulse.'

Gypsy recently talked to A&E True Crime in March and opened up about how motherhood has changed her

She added, 'But I have a child now. And so, I'm a lot more mindful about my decisions in life because they affect her as well.'

In regards to becoming a parent, Blanchard said it has made her look back at her own upbringing - some of it being 'negative.'

The TV personality expressed, 'I wish I could say that I can relate to my mom. I wish I could give you that answer, that I see her point of view now.

'But that's just not it. It just isn't. If anything, I see that I'm more lost in the questions that I have. I just dont have the mindset that my mom did, to relate to her.'
Nagi Maehashi has turned in her pick for the 2025 Federal Election, but not just for the sake of democracy.

The RecipeTin Eats star, who is in the midst of a plagiarism row with former travel blogger-turned-baker Brooke Bellamy, took a break from the online controversy to vote on Saturday.

And she shared a very delicious incentive for other Aussies to vote as well, posting a picture of herself eating a democracy sausage to Instagram.

'Australia knows how to make people vote,' she captioned the image, which saw her holding a snag loaded with onion, mustard and tomato sauce as she added an 'I voted' badge to the post.

It comes after the cookbook author and blogger took a stand against 'trolls' who have been attacking fellow cook Bellamy amid their plagiarism row.

Maehashi sparked a firestorm when she alleged former travel blogger-turned-baker Bellamy copied two of her recipes for caramel slice, and baklava in her book, Bake with Brooki.

Nagi Maehashi has turned in her pick for the 2025 Federal Election, but not just for the sake of democracy

And she shared a very delicious incentive for other Aussies to vote as well, posting a picture of herself eating a democracy sausage to Instagram

On Thursday, the row took a surprise turn when Maehashi posted a video to Instagram begging 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.

'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 Brooki, 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 corporation, allegations made by my company.

'So it just, we've gotta be respectful about this, you know, it's the RecipeTin way.'

The RecipeTin Eats star, who is in the midst of a plagiarism row with former travel blogger-turned-baker Brooke Bellamy, took a break from the online controversy to vote on Saturday

It comes after online baking sensation Bellamy locked down her social media amid a furious backlash over the plagiarism row which has blown up around her.

In the wake of the blockbuster claims, other chefs and authors have also now come forward with similar allegations.

US-based baker Sally McKenney of Sally's Baking Addiction fame claimed on Instagram Bellamy had also copied her vanilla cake recipe after Maehashi reached out to alert her about it.

'Original recipe creators who put in the work to develop and test recipes deserve creditespecially in a best-selling cookbook,' McKenney said.

Pregnant mother-of-one Bellamy rejected the claim, posting to Instagram that her book Bake with Brooki is made up of recipes 'created over many years'.

She has denied the plagiarism allegations and insisted she has been making the caramel slice recipe since 2016, re-posting a snap of the creation she made at that time.

Bellamy has now bunkered down at her $3.6million three-bedroom home in Brisbane and issued a plea for privacy as she turned her personal Instagram account private after trolls flooded her page with savage attacks.

'The past 24 hours have been extremely overwhelming,' she said in a statement.

'I have had media outside my home and business, and have been attacked online. It has been deeply distressing for my colleagues and my young family,' she continued.

'While baking has leeway for creativity, much of it is a precise science and is necessarily formulaic. Many recipes are bound to share common steps and measures: if they don't, they simply don't work.

'My priority right now is to ensure the welfare of the fantastic team at Brooki Bakehouse and that of my family.'

Maehashi said 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.'
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Married At First Sight veteran Jono McCullough has revealed his support for a surprising Melbourne candidate in the 2025 Federal Election on Saturday, despite not living in the electorate.

The reality TV star, 40, who lives in Palm Beach, Queensland with partner Ellie Dix, has shared images of himself to Instagram supporting his co-star Tim Smith, who is running as an independent for the seat of Melbourne.

Jono appeared to have jetted down to Victoria to help his TV pal, 52, hand out How To Vote pamphlets to constituents, which advised them to 'Vote 1 Tim Smith'.

And it seems Jono wasn't the only MAFS star to fly into town to help, as fan-favourite Tristan Black also shared images and video of himself helping Tim out amid voting.

'To all the political campaigns today, everyone deserves a shout-out. This shizz is hard to do! Be nice to the people handing out the pamflets [sic],' Tristan, 31, captioned one image of Jono enjoying a beer.

It comes just a few weeks after Tim performed a dramatic citizen's arrest early last month in Melbourne when he chased down a teenage boy allegedly armed with a machete.

Married At First Sight veteran Jono McCullough has revealed his support for a surprising Melbourne candidate in the 2025 Federal Election on Saturday, despite not living in the electorate. Pictured with partner Ellie Dix

Police arrested a 14-year-old boy, who allegedly attempted to carjack a woman with another teenager, after Tim managed to detain the youth when he ran, reported Seven News.

In shocking footage captured by CCTV, the reality TV star could be seen sprinting after the two youths in Prahran after he heard the commotion while standing outside his campaign office on Chatham St.

Tim was standing at the intersection of Chatham St and Chapel St when two black-clad individuals raced past him.

The TV star-turned-budding politician, who is running as an independent for the Melbourne seat in the federal election, immediately took off after the pair.

Further clips saw Tim keeping the alleged machete-wielder detained until police arrived to arrest him.

Tim later claimed on Jacqui Felgate's 3AW Drive he was first alerted something was wrong when he heard nearby screams while talking with his campaign manager.

'I was out the front talking to my campaign manager and then we heard some screams. Some guys came by, one with a machete, and I gave chase to the one with a machete,' he alleged.

'They were waving them around. As I was running behind him he kept yelling, "I'm gonna cut you," but he wasn't stopping.'

The reality TV star, who lives in Palm Beach, Queensland with partner Ellie Dix, has shared images of himself to Instagram supporting his co-star Tim Smith, 52, who is running as an independent for the seat of Melbourne

And it seems Jono wasn't the only MAFS star to fly into town to help, as fan-favourite Tristan Black, 31, also shared images and video of himself helping Tim out amid voting

Tim went on to claim the teenager burst into tears when he realised he was about to be arrested, but the reality star wasn't moved by the display.

'He was young. When they have a knife in their hand they're very confident. But once that knife's gone the tears start,' Tim said.

'But how's that lady gonna feel? That's traumatic. His tears don't do anything for me.'

Tim added he felt no fear for his own life when chasing after the boy, saying he was far more 'annoyed' with the wave of youth crime which has struck Melbourne in recent months.
Sian Welby has admitted she was scared she would lose her job at This Morning if she told them she was pregnant before she started.

The mother of one, 38, welcomed her daughter Ruby with her fiance Jake Beckett last June, at a point where her career was also taking off.

And now Sian has confessed she was in fact already 20 weeks pregnant when she began covering as a co-host on This Morning but kept her pregnancy a secret as she felt she had 'something to prove'.

Opening up on the latest episode of Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, Sian explained: 'When you first start a job, you think "nobody knows what I'm actually like, that I'm trustworthy" and you have to prove yourself.

'I felt like I had proven myself, that I can do this and that. When I got that first This Morning cover with Dermot, I knew I was pregnant but I didn't tell anyone.'

The presenter explained that her co-host Dermot O'Leary didn't know and neither did any of the team as at that point she had only told friends and family and was waiting on her 20 week scan.

Sian Welby has admitted she was scared she would lose her job at This Morning if she told them she was pregnant (pictured pregnant in January 2024 with Dermot O'Leary)

The mother of one, 38, welcomed her daughter Ruby with her fiance Jake Beckett last June, at a point where her career was also taking off

She continued: 'In the back of my mind I was thinking "if I tell them I'm pregnant, will this put them off getting me in again?" And will they think "Oh she's gonna be off for ages?"'

'I am sure so many women in any job, especially if they are starting a new one they must think "I have just got this new job and I can't tell them that I'm pregnant".

'It's the fear that you're going to be immediately judged or dropped or they'll go "Oh why you didn't tell us because that is really inconvenient for us now."

'You feel like that, you're like this is so natural and normal why and I feeling so bad of it and so bad about it.'

Sian added that while she did struggle to get some trousers on during fittings for the show she managed to conceal her bump with 'quite forgiving' outfits.

Yet a week later it proved more tricky when she was on a photoshoot as she admitted: 'It was stressful because I still hadn't publicly said anything.'

She joked: 'You can't breath in a baby bump! But I tried.'

Meanwhile Sian recently opened up about achieving her career dream as she told MailOnline: 'I have always wanted to be on This Morning, it was a big mission of mine.

She explained: 'I felt like I had proven myself, that I can do this and that. When I got that first This Morning cover with Dermot, I knew I was pregnant but I didn't tell anyone'

The presenter added: 'It's the fear that you're going to be immediately judged or dropped or they'll go "Oh why you didn't tell us because that is really inconvenient for us now"

After shining alongside Dermot in January last year, she's now very much part of the This Morning set-up (pictured with Craig Doyle)

'In my career, I've had reality stars overtake me, and you lose out on opportunities because they're hot right now, or they weren't looking for someone like me with my accent or whatever the thing was, but I had to wait my turn.'

Sian continued: 'I told two female producers on the show that I would do anything.

'I said, send me to Bognor Regis beach at 2am or get me dressed up as a Smurf in the middle of Skegness, I will do it. I just really wanted to work on the show. So, I did everything for them.

'I did live shows in the middle of Warwick, I was doing competitions and stuff online, a Showbiz segment and a bit like everything in life, I stepped in one day for Lisa Snowdon and it proved to them I could do live TV.

'And eventually the big pinch me moment came when they asked me if I would like to cover with Dermot O'Leary.'

After shining alongside Dermot in January last year, she's now very much part of the This Morning set-up alongside Alison Hammond, Rochelle Humes, Craig Doyle, plus main hosts Ben Shephard and her idol growing up, Cat Deeley.

Sian also admitted her work ethic combined with motherhood has put herself on verge of an 'exhaustion breakdown.'

She explained: 'Some days it is overwhelming and hard. I am not a quitter, I'm very motivated and I don't like anyone telling me that I can't do something and yet I have to admit to myself some days that I can't physically do everything.

'There aren't enough hours in the day. It's got to the point where I have to diary in a wee because I haven't factored in a two-minute moment.

'There are days when I have a 4am alarm, go into Capital, run across London to This Morning, then sometimes a junket and then home to do teatime and bath time.

'I want to spend time with Ruby and when she's been ill, I'm up in the night. There are times I have been sucking snot out of her nose at 1am and getting up a 4am for the radio and still having to do my hair and makeup.'
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Karl Stefanovic has made a telling prediction about Peter Dutton's political future in the Liberal party, as the Opposition Leader attended an election night party amid the vote count on Saturday.

The Today host, 50, believes Dutton, 54, will be rolled as the leader of the Opposition if he fails to secure an upset victory in the federal election tonight.

Speaking from the W Hotel in Brisbane's inner-city this evening, Stefanovic said Dutton would need a miracle to win - and that his entire political career was at stake.

'It's certainly the calm before the storm here at Liberal party headquarters in Brisbane,' he said.

'Peter arrived a short time ago with his entire family straight upstairs, where they'll watch those all-important numbers come in.

'It is a huge mountain to climb and he left no stone unturned during this five-week campaign, crisscrossing the nation from end to end, doing something in the order of 60,000km to try and secure every possible vote.'

Karl Stefanovic, 50, has made a telling prediction about Peter Dutton's, 54, political future in the Liberal party, as the Opposition Leader attended an election night party amid the vote count on Saturday

Stefanovic added: 'But it is a massive mountain for him to climb, there is no doubt about that.'

Stefanovic said Dutton would 'need a miracle of 2019 magnitude' when then Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison pulled off an upset victory against Labor leader Bill Shorten.

'That's exactly what they'll need, if not more,' Stefanovic said.

'You have the feeling, though, if things don't go his way, it may not just be the leadership of the country that is up for grabs tonight, but possibly leadership of the Coalition.

'Let's see how things pan out.'

It comes as Labor has shown an early lead in Tasmania, Daily Mail Australia political editor Peter van Onselen says.

'Something interesting is going on in Tasmania in the early counting. It's early but Labor is tracking well in both Bass and Braddon,' van Onselen said.

'If the Liberals lost both seats any chance of winning can be officially ruled out. It would also mean no Liberal held seats in Tasmania.

The Today host believes Dutton will be rolled as the leader of the Opposition if he fails to secure an upset victory in the federal election tonight

'In both 1993 and 2004 early results out of Tasmania quashed opposition attempts to win government. It happened to John Hewson's Liberals in 1993 and Mark Latham's Labor Party in 2004.

'Could history be repeating itself this year for Dutton's opposition? Maybe, but it's early and I keep reminding readers that when pre-poll votes land later they will favour the Liberals.

'But swings to Labor in Tasmania are a concern for Liberals if the early results become a pattern.'

The ABC's Antony Green also pointed out 'big swings' toward Labor in Tasmania during the early vote count.

'There is only five (Tasmanian) electorates and one of them is rock solid and if you look at the change in vote that is occurring there, a big swing to (Labor) and a big swing against the LNP,' he said.

'All of the electorates are showing a significant swing so it's not just one or two polling places, there is something else going on there.'

Green added that 'only time will tell if these figures are indicative'.

Speaking from the W Hotel in Brisbane 's inner-city this evening, Stefanovic said Dutton would need a miracle to win when the votes were counted tonightand that his entire political career was at stake

If Anthony Albanese is victorious, he will be the first Prime Minister to be granted a second term since former Liberal leader John Howard in 2004.

If Peter Dutton is handed the top job, it will mark the first time a first-term government has been kicked out of office since 1931.
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Abbie Chatfield was left in tears on Saturday night as she went on Instagram live to film her real-time reaction to the vote count for the 2025 Federal Election.

The media personality, 29, could be seen crying as she celebrated Peter Dutton falling behind in the polls, telling her followers she was 'so proud of Australians' who gave their support to Anthony Albanese and the Greens.

'This is the most important election of our lives. There are so many things at stake here... This is just so relieving. This is so important for our mental health not living in a country where the majority of people are hateful,' she said.

'I really do believe Australians are intelligent, empathetic people as a whole... It felt like we were American levels of divided, this result has shown we aren't divided.

'We are so lucky to live in the best election system in the whole world.'

As for Greens leader Adam Bandt, who Abbie has been a staunch supporter of, the former reality TV star said she was disappointed the party wasn't in the lead, but was happy to see Opposition Leader Peter Dutton falling behind.

Abbie Chatfield, 29, was left in tears on Saturday night as she went on Instagram live to film her real-time reaction to the vote count for the 2025 Federal Election

'I'm very upset about the Greens situation obviously, but... I'm just so proud of Australians for not doing what Americans did,' she said, referencing Donald Trump winning the last US election for presidency.

She went on to say she has been mercilessly 'trolled' by her critics and Liberal supporters in the lead up to the election.

'I've never been trolled harder. I've been trolled to s***. It's been the worst it's ever been. It's all been worth it,' she said.

It comes just hours after Abbie called for her followers to put 'the Libs last' on their ballots as she shared a gallery of photos which saw her posing with Bandt.

She donned bright green slacks and a white T-shirt to show her support for the party as she took pictures with the Greens leader/

One photo saw Chatfield sitting on a desk with her arms cross as Bandt slipped on a pair of dark sunglasses and took a seat behind the desk.

In another picture, she posed back to back with Bandt as he donned a serious expression.

The last image in the gallery saw Abbie throwing her hands up and jumping with joy in front of a Greens billboard.

The media personality, 29, could be seen crying as she celebrated Peter Dutton falling behind in the polls, telling her followers she was 'so proud of Australians' who gave their support to Anthony Albanese and the Greens

'This is the most important election of our lives. There are so many things at stake here... This is just so relieving. This is so important for our mental health not living in a country where the majority of people are hateful,' she said. Pictured with Greens leader Adam Bandt

'AUSTRALIA YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!' she captioned the reel.

'PUT GREENS FIRST AND THE LIBS LAST! KEEP DUTTON (the goo) OUT WHILE MAKING LABOR ACT!!

'I AM SO SCARED RN!!!!!!!!! How do u feel rn??'

It comes as Anthony Albanese won the 2025 Federal Election with a massive swing toward Labor across the country.

Daily Mail Australia was the first major Australian news site to call the result, with political editor Peter van Onselen making the call at 7.40pm.

'There is no way the Coalition can win this election even with just these early numbers,' he said at the time.

'Certainly not with a majority of their own, but even in minority.

'While it is too early to rule in or out the Coalition taking away Labors majority, one way or the other Anthony Albanese has won this election.

'Even if pre-poll votes see sizeable swings back to the Coalition it wont be enough to overturn an informed prediction that Labor has won this election.'
James Argent looked smitten as he enjoyed a romantic getaway to Spain with his model girlfriend Nicoline Artursson on Saturday.

The former TOWIE star, 37, couldn't keep his eyes off the Swedish model, 31, as they sunbathed on the beach before heading in side.

For their outing James cut a casual figure in a black bomber jacket which featured a striped pattern on the side.

He paired his jacket with some black swimming shorts as he went barefoot for their stroll along the beach.

Nicoline looked nothing short of sensation as she arrived in a pair of figure-hugging coral shorts.

She paired her colourful sheer shorts with an elegant white sheer blouse and carried a similar coloured towel to sunbathe on.

James Argent looked smitten as he enjoyed a romantic getaway to Spain with his model girlfriend Nicoline Artursson on Saturday

The former TOWIE star, 37, couldn't keep his eyes off the Swedish model, 31, as they sunbathed on the beach before heading in side

The holiday snaps comes amid reports James is 'looking to propose' to his stunning Swedish girlfriend.

Reports emerged the TV favourite is 'planning to take the relationship to the next level' with the former Miss Sweden - nine months after meeting casually in a supermarket.

The reality star 'has never been happier' after overcoming several challenges with insiders adding the model 'loves him for who he is' - something Arg is finally able to cherish.

'He's totally smitten. He's definitely looking to pop the question and start their future together,' a source told OK! Magazine.

'He has absolutely no doubt that she is the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, they are absolutely soulmates, there's no question about it.

'And seeing his good friend Mark Wright and his wife Michelle Keegan so happy and expecting their first baby, it's just a lovely sign to Arg of what his happy future might hold.'

James' representatives replied with 'no comment' when approached by MailOnline.

The star is also ready to settle down and have children.

For their outing James cut a casual figure in a black bomber jacket which featured coloured down the sides

He paired his jacket with some black swimming shorts as he went barefoot for their stroll along the beach

Meanwhile Nicoline looked nothing short of sensation as she arrived in a pair of figure-hugging coral shorts

She paired her colourful sheer shorts with an elegant white sheer blouse and carried a similar coloured towel to sunbathe on

The holiday snaps comes amid reports James is 'looking to propose' to his stunning Swedish girlfriend

James and Nicoline revealed that it was love at first sight for the pair after they bumped into each other outside a Spanish supermarket.

And since that fateful meeting, Nicoline moved to the UK and has now moved into Arg's Essex home.

James revealed he was on his way to his gig at Elliott Wright's restaurant in Marbella when Nicoline was walking past in her gym gear.

After summoning up the courage, he asked her out.

Nicole described James as a handsome man with a big smile, before adding that he makes her laugh, and it was these traits that helped cement their relationship.

James and Nicoline went on their first date a week later, where James explained about his past addiction issues and his weight loss, and the couple were so engrossed in one another that they forgot to order anything to eat.

Despite James's confession about his seven-year drug addiction which saw him go through a near-fatal overdose, a hospitalisation and a stint on rehab, the model was unfazed.

The pair had decided to be completely open with each other from the start.
Nick Knowles looked down cast as he joined his fiancee Katie Dadzie for a lunch date at La Brasseria in Marylebone London on Friday.

The DIY SOS star, 62, appeared tired as he rubbed his eyes throughout the meal while the lingerie businesswoman, 34, was seen smoking a cigarette.

Katie looked stylish as she opted for a red and white floral summer dress and sunglasses while tying her hair up off her face in a ponytail.

She accessorised with a brown Louis Vuitton handbag and showed off her large diamond engagement ring with matching diamond earrings.

Meanwhile Nick seemed slightly overdressed for the weather as he opted for a long-sleeved navy shirt and beige trousers.

Arriving at the restaurant he added a matching navy blazer and smart brown leather shoes.

Nick Knowles looked downcast as he joined his stylish fiancee Katie Dadzie for lunch date in the sun in London on Friday

Nick seemed slightly overdressed for the weather as he opted for a long-sleeved navy shirt as he was seen sipping his coat

The pair tucked into their meal in the sun as Nick was seen looking serious throughout the conversation.

The lingerie brand boss began dating the TV star in 2021 after they met when their children became friends at a play centre.

Yet the pair have been subject to cruel trolling during their relationship, with critics mocking their age difference and financial setup.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, about the 'gold digger' jibes, Katie admitted they don't get to her as much as they used to because she and Nick know its not true.

She said: 'I think at the start, it was probably more irritating, especially for my family. But now those comments kind of just pass over me because we both know it's not true.

'Nick works hard, he has what he has. I work hard, I have what I have and then we buy each other stuff.'

Katie continued: 'We're both really comfortable with where we are with that and you will always get it because there's an age gap.

'I know plenty of people who are together and the same age where someone's using the other one for money and they're not happy.

Katie looked stylish as she opted for a red and white floral summer dress and sunglasses while tying her hair up off her face in a ponytail

The DIY SOS star, 62, appeared tired as he rubbed his eyes throughout the meal while the lingerie businesswoman, 34, was seen smoking a cigarette

The pair tucked into their meal in the sun as Nick was seen looking serious throughout the conversation

Katie put on a leggy display in the summer dress which she paired with some white Converse, while Nick wrapped up in a blazer

Nick looked tired as he sat with his head in his hands

The pair tucked into their lunch at Italian eatery La Brasseria in Marylebone London

Nick was also seen lighting a cigarette as the couple sat outside

The lingerie brand boss began dating the TV star in 2021 after they met when their children became friends at a play centre

Katie tucked into her meal while soaking up the sun

Yet the pair have been subject to cruel trolling during their relationship, with critics mocking their age difference and financial setup

Nick has an estimated 7.5 million net worth but Katie has built up an impressive lingerie brand, having launched Boa Boa in 2022

In another picture he looked exhausted as he covered his face with his hands

'So as long as I know it's not true and he knows it's not true, I think that's, that's pretty much all that matters.'

Nick has an estimated 7.5 million net worth but Katie has built up an impressive lingerie brand, having launched Boa Boa in 2022.

She has proved to be her own best advert for the brand, modelling the skimpy looks to her 102,000 Instagram followers.

Katie revealed her battle with endometriosis has impacted the pictures she posts as she is now on a mission to show off her 'real' figure.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. It can cause pelvic pain, heavy periods, and difficulty getting pregnant.

Speaking about how she wants to represent real women Katie shared : 'I've got slightly better at trying to show slightly more real, as in I've put weight on recently so I know I can't just have the better picture of me where I haven't eaten at the start of the morning.

'I've got horrendous endometriosis, so I do bloat terribly but that's the company ethos that it's underwear that's made to fit you regardless of your size.'
Connie Britton would like to reprise her role in White Lotus with one caveat.

The Friday Night Lights alum, 58, appeared in season one of the HBO series, which was set in Hawaii, as Nicole Mossbacher.

And she's ready to step back into her role if it is set in a specific city.

'I keep telling them, "Listen, when youre ready to do White Lotus: Aspen, lets do it,"' Britton quipped during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly.

The Nashville star still gets asked about the show all the time.

'I have talked for several years to [creator] Mike White about shooting another season of that show, which I would love to do,' she told the outlet while promoting her Hallmark reality series The Motherhood.

Connie Britton would like to reprise her role in White Lotus with one caveat. Seen here in 2023

She explained that it is not easy for her to pack up and spend six months in Thailand, or whatever exotic locale the show is shooting in.

'We shot that show during COVID. So my son was able to go with me when we shot it,' the actress explained.

Connie adopted son Eyob (nicknamed Yoby), now 14, in 2011,

'He would do COVID Zoom school starting at 5:00 a.m. from Hawaii. But that show now means you go spend six months in Thailand to shoot [a season].'

Taking that much time away from home is 'not realistic' for Britton right now. 'As much as I would love to do it, its a whole thing. Ive definitely had to say no to [other jobs before].'

Britton has raised Yoby on her own, and she used the experience of being thrown into motherhood without any instructions in her new unscripted Hallmark series The Motherhood.

The show follows Britton as she connects with single moms who are juggling the demands of work, parenting and self-care.

'When I became a single mom, it was kind of a big awakening for me where I realized, like, "Whoa, this is no joke,"' she said.

The Friday Night Lights alum, 58, appeared in season one of the HBO series as Nicole Mossbacher

And she's ready to step back into her role if it is set in a specific city. Seen here in 2021

White Lotus creator Mike White in April

'I keep telling them, "Listen, when youre ready to do White Lotus: Aspen, lets do it,"' Britton quipped during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly.

The Nashville star still gets asked about the show all the time. Seen here on May 2, 2025

'Obviously being a parent period is a big, big transition and a big change in life, but doing it by yourself is kind of a whole other thing, Britton told Us.

'And so I learned in that process how important having a community is and a support system.

'I started thinking, "Gosh, Im one of the lucky ones. I am able to have help when I need it."

'And so many single moms and single parents in the world dont have the privilege of that."'

Britton set her mind to 'really change the cultural persepective' on single parenthood.

'Im hopeful that this show is going to kind of help contribute to reshaping how we think about single parents and maybe look out for each other a little bit more in our communities and say, 'Oh, I would love to lend a hand to this person,"' she added.

'As they say, it takes a village,' she said.

The Motherhood premieres Monday, May 5, on the Hallmark Channel and streams next day on Hallmark+.

'I have talked for several years to [creator] Mike White about shooting another season of that show, which I would love to do,' she told the outlet. Seen here on May 1 , 2025

Connie attended the event for her new reality series with her longtime boyfriend David Windsor

Friday Night Lights is getting a reboot with new characters, leaving behind the cast of the 2006 series starring Britton, Kyle Chandler and Minka Kelly.

Now a reboot is reportedly percolating at Universal Television with a new storyline - and is allegedly generating fierce competition over the streaming rights.

Netflix, Amazon and Peacock are claimed to be locked in a 'bidding war' to acquire the upcoming project, according to a new report in Puck.

Peter Berg, who directed the 2004 movie and developed the TV series, is also part of the creative team for the revival, according to Deadline.

So are Jason Katims, who was the showrunner of the series, and Brian Grazer, who produced the film and was an executive producer on the TV version.
Lorraine Kelly has revealed that she is in hospital ahead of undergoing keyhole surgery.

The presenter, 65, shared a video to Instagram from her hospital bed and was dressed in a hospital gown as she gave fans an update.

She told the camera: 'Just wanted to let you know I'm having a wee procedure today. I've not been feeling all that well for a little while, so I had some scans and tests, and I have to have my ovaries and my tubes taken out.'

Surgery to remove a woman's ovaries and Fallopian tubes is typically done to prevent them from contracting ovarian cancer.

Reassuring fans that she is being well looked after, Lorraine added: 'It's purely preventative. It's going to be with keyhole surgery, which is incredible, I'm being very well looked after, and I'll obviously see you really soon, and I'm gonna be totally fine.'

Lorraine added in the caption: 'Getting keyhole surgery - all preventative - feel very lucky to be treated so well - thank you Dr Raafat and all the staff!'

Lorraine Kelly has revealed that she is in hospital ahead of undergoing keyhole surgery

Lorraine added in the caption: 'Getting keyhole surgery - all preventative - feel very lucky to be treated so well - thank you Dr Raafat and all the staff!'

It comes after Lorraine left viewers of the ITV morning shows a little concerned after appearing on various programmes with a 'puffy' appearance.

During Lorraine's appearance on Good Morning Britain many fans shared their worry on social media.

She later appeared on Loose Women and revealed exactly what had happened to her - that she had fallen over a rhino ornament while putting the washing out at home and given herself a black eye.

On Good Morning Britain on Monday, Susanna Reid asked: 'How's your eye by the way?'

Lorraine said: 'You can see Helen has covered it up. Our fantastic make-up artist. Helen Hand the magician.

'It's still quite bad but the swelling as gone down.'

Susanna replied: 'Last week when we saw you, you looked very weepy.' Lorraine agreed: 'Yes, swollen.'

Just moments before Ed was left lost for words when Lorraine said a bit of a crude word.

The presenter, 65, shared a video to Instagram from her hospital bed and was dressed in a hospital gown as she gave fans an update

Reassuring fans that she is being well looked after, Lorraine added: 'It's purely preventative. It's going to be with keyhole surgery, which is incredible, I'm being very well looked after, and I'll obviously see you really soon, and I'm gonna be totally fine.'

The host was talking about the new drama Towards Zero when she said: 'It's called sh*gatha Christie apparently.'

A shocked Susanna replied: 'I beg your pardon?!'

And Lorraine asked: 'Am I allowed to say that? I've said it...'

Ed sternly shot back: 'No.'

A sheepish Lorraine said: ''Anyway... I apologise for apologising. I'll apologise again to myself.'

Lorraine later spoke about her black eye on Monday's episode of Lorraine.

'I had lots of things in my hands, lots of washing in my hand and then wham ! Fell!'

Dr Hilary Jones replied: 'Well you can't see it now?'

'That's because Helen has covered it up!,' Lorraine told him.

It comes after Lorraine updated fans on swollen face and is forced to apologise live on Good Morning Britain after VERY rude comment leaves Ed Balls stunned

She later shared a picture of her black eye on her own show Lorraine

They then shared a video of where the accident happened in her home on the show.

Dr Hilary then gave viewers tips on what to do if they find themselves in the same situation and how to improve bruises.

Lorraine later revealed the truth behind her swollen face live on Loose Women on Thursday after being asked 'if she'd had fillers.

'So I had a massive bag of washing, like a washing basket, I couldn't see, and I was going from the kitchen to the living room, and there was a wee step.

'My slippers are too big and I fell over and fell onto a rhino!'

She continued: 'I thought "Oh it will be fine!" but I woke up this morning with the biggest shiner, this big black eye!'

Lorraine explained that lots of 'lovely' viewers asked if she had allergies, but confirmed that this was not the case.

Lorraine Kelly reveals truth behind her swollen face live on Loose Women after being asked 'if she'd had fillers or an allergic reaction' by panicked fans

Lorraine (middle) appeared on the panel with Charlene White (left), Linda Robson, Judi Love and Nadia Sawalha (right)

She also addressed speculation around her having facial injectables, adding: 'Have I had fillers? No!'

But before they got into the chat, Lorraine also wanted to address the speculation about her face, after many of those watching at home had got in touch with her to share their worry.

Lorraine explained: 'Yesterday, you know as woman, when we try to do too many things at one time, and we try to do it really fast...

'So I had a massive bag of washing, like a washing basket, I couldn't see, and I was going from the kitchen to the living room, and there was a wee step.'
Taking the chance to soak up the glorious sunshine, Kate Moss looked carefree and relaxed as she went for a stroll with her dog Archie in Notting Hill last week.

But behind the smile, it appears the supermodel is far from happy.

For The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the 51-year-olds wellness brand  which was launched to much fanfare just three years ago  has proved a flop.

High-end stores stocking her products have slashed their prices, with some items even turning up for sale at huge discounts on a bargain-basement website.

Sources have told this newspaper: Its all completely over.

Kate Moss looked carefree and relaxed as she went for a stroll with her dog Archie in Notting Hill last week

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the 51-year-olds wellness brand  which was launched to much fanfare just three years ago  has proved a flop

High-end stores stocking her products have slashed their prices, with some items even turning up for sale at huge discounts on a bargain-basement website

Cosmoss was inspired by the models new-found love of spirituality and sobriety after decades of wild partying

Cosmoss looked set to turn Ms Moss into Britains answer to Gwyneth Paltrow, whose alternative lifestyle business Goop is worth millions

The wellness brand offers everything from teas and face creams to 125 sacred mist perfumes

Items can no longer be bought on the Cosmoss site, while others are being sold at knockdown prices on a clearance website called Discount Dragon

Cosmoss  which was inspired by the models new-found love of spirituality and sobriety after decades of wild partying  was designed to complement her newly serene way of life in the Cotswolds countryside.

The wellness brand, which offers everything from teas and face creams to 125 sacred mist perfumes, looked set to turn Ms Moss into Britains answer to Gwyneth Paltrow, whose alternative lifestyle business Goop is worth millions.

However, items can no longer be bought on the Cosmoss site, while others are being sold at knockdown prices on a clearance website called Discount Dragon, better known for selling cut-price shampoo and surplus supermarket food stock.

The brands Sacred Mist spray, which normally costs 125, is on sale for just 39.99, while its Golden Nectar CBD Oil, which was once 105, is also available for 39.99.

The Face Cleanser, once touted as the core of the Cosmoss skincare ritual routine, is marked down from 48 to 11.99.

At Libert London Cosmoss stock is buried among a small table of items from other brands

Ms Moss - a notorious 'party girl' - lives by the mantra never complain, never explain

At Liberty London, products are still on sale at full price but the Cosmoss counter has been dismantled

Ms Moss has failed to shed any light on the situation via her website

In March, Cosmoss attracted scrutiny after being threatened with compulsory strike-off action due to overdue accounts

Kate Moss strutted down the streets of Notting Hill in a denim mini skirt

Kate Moss opted to accessorize with large sunglasses and gold bangles

Kate Moss wore stacked necklaces around her neck, both with chile charms on

Kate Moss was seen laughing while holding her dog's chic red lead

The fashion legend browsed the multiple clothing shops in Notting Hill

Kate Moss appeared to enjoy some retail therapy - accompanied by her dog

Kate Moss kept it casual with a simple black vest and frayed denim skirt

Kate spent almost 2 hours inside vintage couture store 'Lovers Lane London'

Kate Moss and her assistant Fiona Young, walking Kate's dogs in Notting Hill,

'Lovers Lane London' closed its doors just for Kate, so she could shop in private

Meanwhile, Bond Street department store Fenwick has slashed its remaining stock by 30 per cent and Niche Beauty, once a stockist of the range, has nothing left to sell.

At Liberty London, products are still on sale at full price but the Cosmoss counter has been dismantled and what stock remains is hidden in the beauty department, buried among a small table of items from other brands.

Ms Moss, who lives by the mantra never complain, never explain, has failed to shed any light on the situation via her website.

In March, Cosmoss attracted scrutiny after being threatened with compulsory strike-off action due to overdue accounts. This was reversed without explanation.

A spokesman for Ms Moss and for Cosmoss did not respond to requests for comment.

Cosmoss was designed to complement her newly serene way of life in the Cotswolds countryside

The brands Sacred Mist spray, which normally costs 125, is on sale for just 39.99

The brand's Golden Nectar CBD Oil, which was once 105, is also available for 39.99

The fashion icon swept away her golden locks, revealing a purple-stone pinky ring

Kate Moss proved she was still at the top of her game as she walked down the street

Kate Moss kept her shoes simple wearing ballet flats with criss cross details

Her pampered pooch appeared to be enjoying the bustling streets of Notting Hill

Lovers Lane London is iconic vintage store on Portobello Road

As soon as she left, the blinds were opened and the shop was back open for regular customers

Kate more a denim miniskirt and a black t-shirt with a black cardigan for the trip out

Kate Moss' assistant Fiona Young was laughing away as the pair walked the dogs in Notting Hill

The iconic vintage store where Moss shopped for almost two hours, shut its blinds while she browsed

Kate Moss proved quite the animal lover as she held two dogs

Moss styled her casual outfit with a giant wicker bag
Olivia Attwood turned heads on Saturday night as she arrived at Bacchanalia in Mayfair, London, to celebrate her 34th birthday in style.

The former Love Island star pulled out all the stops for her big night, joining her celebrity friends in the capital for a glamorous evening.

Olivia wowed in a red sequin halter-neck mini dress that showed off her incredible figure, complete with a rose at the neckline and a striking backless design.

She paired the bold look with red pointed heels and carried a chic white Chanel mini bag as she pulled out all the stops for her big night.

Her blonde hair was swept up into an elegant half up-do, and she finished the look with a swipe of soft pink lipstick.

Olivia appeared in high spirits as she posed up a storm for the cameras, with her celebrity pals following closely behind.

Olivia Attwood turned heads on Saturday night as she arrived at Bacchanalia in Mayfair, London, to celebrate her 34th birthday in style

The former Love Island star pulled out all the stops for her big night, joining her celebrity friends in the capital for a glamorous evening

Among the stylish guests were Pete Wicks and Sam Thompson, both dressed to impress in sleek black outfits.

Olivia also gave her Instagram followers a behind-the-scenes look at her lavish birthday bash, sharing clips from inside the decorated venue to Instagram.

Known for her love of Labubu bag charms, the party theme was perfectly tailored to Olivia - as a signboard at the venue featured her face place onto one of the iconic charms.

Her celebrations comes shortly after she revealed she gave TOWIE star Ella, 24, the heads up about her ex Chris Hughes' behaviour before Celebrity Big Brother.

Prior to the show, Ella voiced her excitement to meet Chris and even hinted that the pair could get into 'trouble' if they fancied each other.

But Ella soon went against the idea of any relationship with Chris as she branded him a 'game player' after he sparked backlash for his 'creepy' friendship with JoJo Siwa, 21.

The former Love Island star and American dancer set tongues wagging with their close bond , with Chris branding her his 'girlfriend' before continued to hang out after the show.

At the Celebrity Big Brother afterparty, JoJo dumped her partner Kath Ebbs and Chris has since turned down an appearance on Celebs Go Dating.

Olivia wowed in a red sequin halter-neck mini dress that showed off her incredible figure, complete with a rose at the neckline and a striking backless design

She paired the bold look with red pointed heels and carried a chic white Chanel mini bag

Her blonde hair was swept up into an elegant half updo, and she finished the look with a swipe of soft pink lipstick

Her husband Bradley Dack also joined the festivities and he cut a suave figure in a smart suit

Among the stylish guests were Pete Wicks and Sam Thompson, both dressed to impress in sleek black outfits

Pete look handsome as he arrived at the event in west London

Olivia also gave her Instagram followers a behind-the-scenes look at her lavish birthday bash, sharing clips from inside the decorated venue

Known for her love of Labubu bag charms, the party theme was perfectly tailored to Olivia - as a signboard at the venue featured her face place onto one of the iconic charms

Throughout the series, Olivia, who dated Chris after they met on Love Island in 2017, admitted she had seen a mixed reaction to his behaviour online.

Speaking in a video on TikTok, she said: 'The therapy was expensive, it was time consuming, and now I'm going to have to go back for another round, because I'm not watching anymore, but I'm getting trolled on this app.

'Because every weird, creepy thing that happens, I'm getting tagged in it. I haven't opened TikTok for two days for this reason.'

Earlier in the series, Ella nominated Chris after admitting she had been told by an outsider that he 'likes to play a massive game' and that he 'comes into things with a game plan'.

While Olivia didn't go into specific comments, the documentary-maker admitted she did previously speak to Ella.

She added: 'There is two sides to every story but I guess my side, I told Ella when I was on TOWIE, just to give some context of the situation of what she knows.

Her celebrations comes shortly after she revealed she gave TOWIE star Ella, 24, the heads up about Chris's behaviour, before admitting in a new TikTok video on Thursday 'the therapy dealing with him was expensive'

'Some people, very few people, go on reality TV and they are 100 per cent themselves - the good, the bad, the ugly - they are the same on or off camera.

'Other people, they go on reality TV, they are one person and when you experience them off camera, you literally, it's like shapeshifters, you just...'

Olivia later revealed she deleted the end of her video because she worried about getting 'in trouble'

She added: 'There's nothing I need to say that has to be said now. It can be said another time. When I'm ready.

'I just can't wait to enjoy TikTok again, I've missed coming on here and not getting violated.'
Anna Nicole Smiths daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, was the spitting image of her late mom as she rocked the stars jewelry at the Kentucky Derby on Sunday.

The 18-year-old beauty arrived with her dad, Larry Birkhead, continuing their beloved annual tradition at the famous horse race.

Dannielynn wowed in a pale green strapless tulle dress by Mac Duggal, accessorized with a gold pendant necklace, gold watch, stacked bangles, and a feather-trimmed fascinator  all pulled straight from Anna Nicoles personal collection.

In his Instagram post, Larry revealed the sentimental connection, writing, 'Jewelry: Anna Nicole archive.'

He also joked about his Derby-day makeover, adding, 'She made me cut my hair because she said I looked like a low-rent Keith Urban! Ouch Betting on a great time and good weather for a special family tradition.'

The touching tribute came just houss after Dannielynn turned heads at the Barnstable Brown Gala, where she dazzled in one of her moms iconic backless, floor-length dresses.

Anna Nicole Smith s daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, was the spitting image of her late mom as she rocked the stars jewelry at the Kentucky Derby on Sunday

The 18-year-old beauty arrived with her dad, Larry Birkhead, continuing their beloved annual tradition at the famous horse race

Dannielynn wowed in a pale green strapless tulle dress by Mac Duggal, accessorized with a gold pendant necklace

The fitted ensemble also contains a plunging neckline as well as a small slit on the front. Sparkling silver embellishments offer a flashy flare to the look on both the front and the back of the dress.

Dannielynn pulled her blonde locks up into a messy up do, allowing her side bangs to border the sides of her face - which was similar to Anna's hairstyle when she made an appearance at the gala in 2004.

While posing with the teenager as she wore her late mother's gown, the photographer called the moment 'full circle.'

In the caption of the post, he penned: 'Kicking off @kentuckyderby weekend with Dannielynn. First up, The Barnstable-Brown Gala.

'Dannielynn is wearing Anna Nicole's dress that she wore 21 years ago to this same event. Life full circle. She said she chose the dress because it was her Mom's and "super cool."'

He added, 'Next up the Kentucky Derby races. We are glad to spend time with my niece Chloe (pictured). I am going to try not an embarrass them with my dance moves.'

And while walking the red carpet, Dannielynn revealed why she opted to wear her mother's iconic dress for the night and expressed to reporters: 'This is the closest to a hug I can get from her.'

In his Instagram post, Larry revealed the sentimental connection, writing, 'Jewelry: Anna Nicole archive.'

Anna Nicole Smith's lookalike daughter Dannielynn Birkhead, 18, was the epitome of her late mother as she wore the star's iconic dress this week

Her father Larry Birkhead accompanied his daughter to the festivities on Friday in Kentucky - and uploaded photos to his Instagram page

Before attending the gala on Friday, Larry told People that it was 'emotional' to see his daughter wearing her late mother's gown.

Anna Nicole passed away at the age of 39 in February 2007 - and her death was later ruled as an accidental drug overdose.

'It was emotional because the last time I saw that dress was on Anna,' Birkhead explained to the outlet, before recalling how Dannielynn 'walked over and she put her hand on the dress' when she was younger.

'And now that she's actually old enough to wear it, it just seems surreal that we're at this moment.'

Dannielynn pulled her blonde locks up into a messy up do, allowing her side bangs to border the sides of her face - which was similar to Anna's hairstyle when she made an appearance at the gala in 2004

'It was emotional because the last time I saw that dress was on Anna,' Birkhead explained to the outlet, before recalling how Dannielynn 'walked over and she put her hand on the dress' when she was younger

Anna Nicole passed away at the age of 39 in February 2007 - and her death was later ruled as an accidental drug overdose; Smith seen in 1993 in Beverly Hills

The teen picked out her mother's dress to wear to the event and her father believes that 'she's doing a fashion experiment for herself. Also, I think it's really meaningful for her to wear.'

Larry continued, 'I'm just glad she's going through and starting to wear some of [Smith's clothes] because she could literally pick out an outfit a day for the rest of her life and never wear the same thing twice with everything.'

He currently is storing clothes that belonged to Anna in case his daughter wants them in the future.

'She's just now starting to get into the curiosity of some of the fashion and things in her mom's world.'

Dannielynn has attended the Barnstable Brown Gala with her father since she was a little girl.

Last year, the pair flashed cheerful smiles while stopping by the event - and the teen donned a stylish Gianfranco Ferre dress which had previously been worn by Janet Jackson.

And in 2023, Anna's daughter sweetly paid homage to the model by wearing a Guess shirt that had black and white images of the late star.

She additionally wore a black, layered tulle skirt as well as a thick belt with a shimmering silver bow embellishment on the front.

During a past interview with DailyMail.com in 2019, Larry opened up about raising his daughter after Anna lived a life in the spotlight.

Last year, the pair flashed cheerful smiles while stopping by the event - and the teen donned a stylish Gianfranco Ferre dress which had previously been worn by Janet Jackson

Smith welcomed her daughter to the world in September 2006 - less than one year before her tragic passing.

After her death, multiple individuals stepped forward to claim that they were Dannielynn's father - including Larry. Following DNA tests, it was revealed that Birkhead was the biological father.

'People always say, "Is she going to be an actress? Is she going to be a model?" And I never push her in a certain direction,' he stated.

'Actually, I get calls all the time and I say "no she's not interested in doing that kind of stuff." Right now she's just being a kid.'

Larry - who resides in the state of Kentucky with his daughter - also shared at the time, 'She surprised me because last year she took an acting class.

'I got an email from a teacher and she said Dannielynn gave one of the most believable performances of the whole, whole entire school. So, if she wants to do something like that when she's older...we'll see when we get there.'

Anna also welcomed a son named Daniel in 1986 with ex-husband Billy Wayne Smith.

'People always say, "Is she going to be an actress? Is she going to be a model?" And I never push her in a certain direction,' he stated

'We try to talk about him and I shared a birthday with him, so we always celebrated together,' Larry said; Anna seen with son Daniel in 1994 in L.A.

However, at the age of 20 in September 2006 - Daniel passed away in Anna's hospital room due to an accidental drug overdose. Days earlier, Smith had given birth to daughter Dannielynn.

Larry explained, '[Dannielynn] knows just really that her mom was famous and she knows about Daniel. I try to incorporate both of them because sometimes Daniel gets forgotten.

'We try to talk about him and I shared a birthday with him, so we always celebrated together.'

He added, 'You know, I tell her stories about them and I try to not make it heavy, because she's just now becoming a teenager and I think some of that stuff will come...'

And while also speaking with DailyMail.com in 2023, Birkhead was asked if his daughter did anything that reminded him of Anna - whom he first met in 2003.

And while also speaking with DailyMail.com in 2023, Birkhead was asked if his daughter did anything that reminded him of Anna - whom he first met in 2003; the pair seen in 2023 in Kentucky

'Yeah she can spend my money like her mom. And she loves to do that,' he humorously stated.

He later expressed, 'I've created such a foundation for that I've given the tools to say, look, this. Life is normal now.

'I'm very picky and selective. She's very grounded and very humble. She is not one of these entitled celebrity kids. She's gone to a public school all her life. That's what she chose. She said I want to go to public school and not to private.'

Birkhead further gushed, 'Dannielynn is on the honor roll and she makes great grades. She is taking college level classes. Anna would be very, very proud of her. I know I am.'
Tom Cruise made a low-key arrival at his close friend David Beckham's 50th birthday celebration, held at the upscale eatery Core in central London on Saturday night.

The actor, 62, was reportedly planning to bring his rumoured girlfriend, Ana de Armas, 37, to the star-studded event - but she was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, Tom appeared to arrive solo, spotted sitting in the back of a black cab as he pulled up to the exclusive venue.

It is not known whether Anna made an appearance at the glitzy party, but the Top Gun star was seen entering the luxury restaurant by himself.

She had joined Tom in London earlier this week as they both jetted into the capital earlier this week ahead of Ana's own birthday on April 30.

For the Beckham party, Tom looked dapper in a crisp white tuxedo jacket, paired with black trousers and a classic black bow tie.

Tom Cruise made a low-key arrival at his close friend David Beckham 's 50th birthday celebration, held at the upscale Core by Clare Smyth in central London on Saturday night

The actor, 62, was reportedly planning to bring his rumoured girlfriend, Ana de Armas (pictured) , 37, to the star-studded event - but she was nowhere to be seen

The Hollywood legend briefly chatted with security before being ushered inside, as staff attempted to shield the entrance of the event with large black umbrellas.

Top Gun actor Tom forged a close friendship with power couple David and Victoria in the early 2000s.

He made an appearance at Victoria's milestone 50th birthday last year.

MailOnline has contacted Ana's representatives for comment.

Tom and Ana have been linked together since Valentine's Day this year.

They 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 looked giddy as he piloted a helicopter into the UK capital with the brunette actress by his side.

According to The Sun, the pair were planning to make a VIP appearance at the Beckham party.

Instead, Tom arrived solo, spotted sitting in the back of a black cab as he pulled up to the exclusive venue

The Hollywood star was seen briefly chatting with security before being ushered inside, as staff attempted to shield the entrance of the event with large black umbrellas

A source told the publication: 'Tom and Ana's path crossed years back but they've grown closer in recent months.

'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.'

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.

MailOnline contacted representatives for Ana and Tom for comment at the time.

As for A-list approval, it is understood Spanish actress Penelope Cruz - who dated Tom from 2001 to 2004 - is 'happy' that her ex-boyfriend has found new love.

'Tom 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 and Ana have been linked together since Valentine's Day this year (Ana pictured at CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards on April 3)

Tom made an appearance at Victoria's milestone 50th birthday last year (pictured departing)

'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.
Target is quietly pulling self-checkout stations from more stores as backlash grows and concerns over theft mount.

Last March, the retailer  Americas sixth-largest by sales  committed to self-checkouts in nearly all its 2,000 US locations.

But since then, Target has walked back that plan through a series of quiet U-turns.

Shoppers and employees are reporting kiosks being removed, item limits imposed, and self-checkout lanes frequently left closed  all signs that the chain is rethinking its approach amid a spike in theft.

Still, the company doubled down on its commitment to self-checkout registers in a comment to DailyMail.com.

'Target is not removing self-checkout,' a Target spokesperson said. 'We offer it in the vast majority of our stores and have no plans to change this.'

Other major retailers have also shifted course. Last year, Walmart removed self-checkouts and replaced them with traditional manned lanes.

This week, a customer said their local Target had abruptly removed all self-checkouts overnight. A photo showed roped-off kiosks and scuff marks left on the floor where the machines had been.

Target is cutting self-checkouts from stores

A Redditor shared pictures of their Target's now empty self-checkout section

'The Target I live near completely got rid of self checkout,' the customer said on Reddit. '[I'm] expressing shock at how sudden and extreme this was.'

'Target's self-checkout policy has been through a lot of changes and has caused frustration for customers,' Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData told DailyMail.com.

'The problem with Target is a lot of decisions are being taken centrally without proper thought about what they mean on the ground.'

Other Target stores have axed self-checkouts. Last May, they were closed at the Target in Emeryville, California. The move was to combat shoplifting

In recent years, Target has complained of high theft levels and even cited it as a reason for closing stores.

Experts say many retailers are scaling back self-checkout because the machines are especially vulnerable to theft  a growing problem that has forced some stores to close altogether.

The Reddit thread on the latest closure prompted a barrage of replies.

Employees and shoppers say more stores are scaling back  or scrapping  the kiosks entirely.

Some of the largest retailers have taken steps this year to reverse the failed self-checkout experiment. The machines were designed to cut labor costs but caused increased theft

Target has been changing its store policies to keep up with advancing retail theft schemes

Brian Cornell, the company's CEO, said Target is feeling 'so much better' about its law enforcement partnerships

'Our self checkout has been closed for months,' one commenter wrote.

'It seems like theft from our store has gone way down because there is always armed security you have to get past at the front door.'

Another person, who said they were a Target worker, posted: 'High theft means the self checkout wasn't being used anyway.'

It is not known if the store's self-checkout change is temporary. DailyMail.com reached out to the original Redditor for comment on this story and didn't hear back. Meanwhile, Target didn't respond to a request for comment.

The latest axing of self-checkouts comes after a string of changes over the past year  all linked to fears that the machines lead t higher shoplifting.

In March 2024, Target capped transactions at 10 items.

Shoppers with bigger hauls were directed toward staffed lanes, a move designed to reduce errors and speed up checkout lines.

A month later, it emerged that local stores had been given the power to open kiosks late or shut them early - or even during the day.

The company has reported millions of dollars worth of losses in its shrink

Customers said it lead to long waits since stores do not open extra traditional manned registers to make up for the closed self-checkouts.

Target also introduced new surveillance measures at its self-checkout kiosks in 2024. AI-powered cameras were deployed to monitor transactions more closely and catch missed or skipped scans.

Viral videos have shown customers reporting that the tech advancements were 'snitching' on shoppers by setting off an alarm when they scanned more than 10 items at the service registers. Target has denied this.

For years, Target's CEO, Brian Cornell, had raised the alarm about theft at his stores.

In 2023, the company had reported millions of dollars worth of products were lost via sticky-fingered guests.

The company decided to put thousands of beauty products behind locked, plexiglass doors to slow down potential thieves.

Some shoppers have reported wait times up to 40 minutes for Target employees to respond to their beauty product inquiries.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett has announced he will be stepping down from his role as Chief Executive at Berkshire Hathaway after six decades at the helm.

The 94-year-old had been speaking at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, when he made the announcement.

The shock announcement came only hours after he had warned about the dire global consequences of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Buffett, commonly referred to as The Oracle of Omaha, received a standing ovation by the thousands who had gathered at the meet after making the announcement.

He said he will recommend to Berkshire Hathaway's board that chairperson Greg Abel become CEO at the end of the year.

'I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the Chief Executive Officer of the company at year end', he told the gathering.

His announcement was a complete shock, he said that only those who knew were his two children, Howard and Susie Buffett, who sit on the board.

Abel, who was sitting beside Buffett on the stage, had no warning to the announcement.

He said he will recommend to Berkshire Hathaway's board that Greg Abel become CEO at the end of the year

He said he will recommend to Berkshire Hathaway's board that Greg Abel, seen here on Friday, become CEO at the end of the year

Buffett has routinely said that he had no plans to retire. After changing his tune on Saturday, he added he would still be 'hang around' to help, but the final say would be with Abel.

Buffett, who is currently the CEO and chairman of the conglomerate, and Abel told CNBC after the meeting that they would discuss on Sunday what his formal role at the firm would be.

Many investors have said they believe Abel will do a good job running Berkshire, but it remains to be seen how good he will be at investing Berkshire's cash.

Buffett also endorsed him on Saturday by pledging to keep his fortune invested in the company.

He added: 'I have no intention - zero - of selling one share of Berkshire Hathaway. I will give it away eventually.

'The decision to keep every share is an economic decision because I think the prospects of Berkshire will be better under Greg's management than mine.'

Abel has been Buffett's designated successor for years, and he already manages all of Berkshire's noninsurance businesses.

But it was always assumed he wouldn't take over until after Buffett's death.

Prior to the announcement, Buffett had warned those that gathered that Trump policies had raised the risk of global instability.

Buffett poses for a portrait in Omaha, Nebraska, circa 1984

President Obama awards the 2010 Medal of Freedom to Buffett during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 15, 2011

He told the meeting that 'trade should not be a weapon', and 'there's no question that trade can be an act of war'.

Buffett said: 'It's a big mistake in my view when you have 7.5 billion people who dont like you very well, and you have 300 million who are crowing about how they have done.'

While Buffett said it is best for trade to be balanced between countries, he doesn't think Trump is going about it the right way with his widespread tariffs.

'We should be looking to trade with the rest of the world. We should do what we do best and they should do what they do best,' he said.

Buffett, a father of three, is one of the richest men in the world with a personal fortune estimated at around $168 billion, according to Forbes.

Despite his huge wealth, he has always said that he would not be leaving his large fortune to his children but instead will give away 99 percent of the money.

He had previously said: 'I've never wished to create a dynasty or pursue any plan that extended beyond the children.

'I know the three well and trust them completely. Future generations are another matter.

'Who can foresee the priorities, intelligence and fidelity of successive generations to deal with the distribution of extraordinary wealth amid what may be a far different philanthropic landscape?'

The investor has long promoted a straightforward metric known as the Buffett Indicator

Buffett is seen here alongside his kids, from left to right, Howard, Susie and Peter at the annual meeting in 2011

Buffett and Abel told CNBC after the meeting that they would discuss on Sunday what his formal role at the firm would be

The investor has long promoted a straightforward metric known as the Buffett Indicator.

The indicator measures the total value of the US stock market against the country's gross domestic product, or GDP.

In other words, it compares what investors are willing to pay for companies to the actual amount of money sloshing through the US economy.

When the ratio rises well above 1, it can signal that investors are getting overly greedy. When it falls closer to or below 1, it can suggest that fear is running the show.

Last week, the Buffett Indicator was sitting at more than 1.6  a level that suggests markets are extremely overheated relative to the economy underneath them.

Buffett's own moves appear to reflect that wariness. Rather than diving headfirst into the market, he has been steadily building a mountain of cash.

At the end of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway reported $334 billion in cash on hand  more than triple what it held just two years earlier.

Buffett is one of the richest men in the world with a personal fortune estimated at around $168 billion

He has not stopped investing altogether, but the moves he has made show a cautious eye on global opportunities.

Buffett invested in a trading house of Japanese manufacturers, put $1.2 billion into a Mexican beer and liquor brand, and even snapped up stocks of a satellite radio technology company.

Back in 2009, when the market bottomed out and the Buffett Indicator plunged to under 0.6, he scooped up stocks in industries that looked boring but were built to endure.

As well as his knowledge of the markets, Buffett is also known for his incessant consumption of Coca-Cola, previously admitting a quarter of his calorie consumption comes from the drink.

He is partial to both the regular and cherry coke varieties, which give him the necessary energy boosts as he doesn't drink coffee.

Buffett is well known for his decadent diet. As well as junk food, he says he is partial to Dairy Queen ice cream for dessert.

After studying at the Columbia Business School in New York he began purchasing shares in the textile firm Berkshire Hathaway in 1962

Buffett, left, is seen here alongside his longtime business associate Charlie Munger who died in 2023

Buffett is seen here alongside his wife Astrid as they arrive for a state dinner at The White House hosted by President Obama in 2012

His meals include so much salt that Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf told Bloomberg in 2014 that, 'When the food comes, Warren grabs a salt shaker in his left hand and one in his right, and it's a snowstorm.'

Despite his high-sugar, high-salt diet, he has never touched alcohol.

Buffett was born in Nebraska in August of 1930 and previously said that he filed his first tax return at the age of 13, claiming a $35 deduction for his bicycle.

He purchased his first shares, in an Oklahoma oil company, at the age of 11.

After studying at the Columbia Business School in New York he began purchasing shares in the textile firm Berkshire Hathaway in 1962.

He assumed control of the company in 1965 and phased out its manufacturing interests before buying interests in the Washington Post, insurance firm Geico and oil company Exxon.

He, along with longtime associate Charlie Munger, would take the company and make it the trillion dollar powerhouse it is today.

Munger died in 2023 at the age of 99, he had served as Buffett's sounding board on investments and business decisions and helped lead Berkshire as its vice chairman since 1978.

In 1952, he married his first wife Susan Thompson and the couple had three children - Susan, Howard and Peter - all before 1960.

Susan Buffett died in 2004 from a cerebral hemorrhage after suffering from cancer and Buffett went on to marry his second wife Astrid in 2006.
Experts warned that hiking fast food wages to $20-an-hour in California would lead to job losses  and a year on the scale of cuts are becoming clear.

Roughly 22,600 positions have been lost across chains like Pizza Hut and Burger King since the law took effect on April 1 last year. Many remaining staff have also seen their hours reduced.

On top of that, restaurants are closing. Mexican chain Rubio's Coastal Grill, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed 48 locations in the state.

It is cruel irony for workers and unions who fought for years for higher wages  a move critics warned could trigger job losses.

The controversial wage hike  $4 more than the state's standard minimum  was introduced by Governor Gavin Newsom at chains with more than 60 locations in the US.

One year later, questions remain over whether it has caused more harm than good.

A McDonald's worker said his hours were cut and his paycheck with the chain hasn't grown  since his hours are now limited. He has to pick up shifts at rivals.

'Now I can no longer get over 20 hours of work at my place. Have to end up working at another fast-food place to fill another 20 hours. Most fast food places will no longer give you full time hours now,' he said.

California's $20-an-hour fast food law came into effect a year ago. Roughly 22,600 positions have been slashed across chains like Pizza Hut and Burger King since then

Kerri Harper-Howie dipped into personal savings after all 24 McDonald's restaurants she owned dropped in sales

Meanwhile, Edgar Recinos, a Wingstop worker, told CNN he is 'in the same situation [as] before the [wage] increase.'

'It makes no sense,' he said. 'If you are cutting hours to your current workers, why are you hiring new people and blaming the wage increase?'

Franchise owners are also feeling the pinch. Kerri Harper-Howie, who runs 24 McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles County, said she was forced to cut 170,000 work hours, streamline roles, and raise prices.

She even dipped into personal savings to offset losses but avoided layoffs and ended a hiring freeze.

'I do firmly believe in our brand. I love our brand, and so I'm just hopeful that something is going to get better,' she said.

Others haven't been as lucky. Scott Rodrick closed a McDonald's he ran for over 30 years.

That same month, Arby's iconic Hollywood location shut down after 55 years  its owner partly blamed the wage law.

Restaurants that remain open are finding new ways to cut costs - for example by replacing their employees with kiosks.

Burger King franchisee Harsh Ghai installed digital kiosks in all his 140 restaurants on the West Coast

As of March, California's limited-service restaurants employment dropped 3.1 percent compared to last year

The 48 Rubio's Coastal Grill shuttered restaurants were featured in a fake ad to mock 'obituaries' of popular brands last year

Burger King franchisee Harsh Ghai fast-tracked digital kiosks at all 140 of his West Coast stores  a rollout he had originally planned over the next decade.

Still, some workers say the raise has improved their lives Weinerschnitze worker Selvin Martinez is grateful for the change despite his shortened hours.

'Before the wage increase, I struggled to keep up with expenses. I limited my purchases. I limited what I ate,' he said.

'I have been able to cover all of my bills, help my family financially, my savings have grown, and I'm thankful to God, because life feels easier now that I'm not as worried financially.'

Economists are divided over whether the $20 minimum wage is really at fault.

Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics said it is a significant factor in job losses in a report he wrote in March.

'There is no such thing as a costless policy. Every part, every policy must, by definition, have some cost,' Thornberg said.

'And it's up to society to figure out if that trade-off is worth it, right?'

But others, like UC Berkeley's Michael Reich, disagree. He argues California's shrinking population and sluggish economic growth are more to blame.

'If there are more people, there is going to be more demand for fast food. The different population growth is not because of minimum wage,' he said.

'So, if you don't control for that, you're looking at a correlation. That's not a causation.'
Vice President JD Vance has said that US hopes that India will respond to the Pahalgam terrorist attack in a way that does not lead to a abroader regional conflicta and expects Pakistan to acooperatea with New Delhi to ahunt downa militants sometimes operating from their soil.

Vance made these remarks on Thursday in an interview with Fox News. Vance and his family were in India on a four-day visit when the attack - the worst since the Pulwama strike in 2019 - took place.

aOur hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesnat lead to a broader regional conflict,a Vance said on Fox Newsas aSpecial Reporta.

After being asked, aYou worried about India and Pakistan?aaWell, sure, Iam worried about any time you see a hot spot breaking out, especially between two nuclear powers,a Vance said.aWeave obviously been in close contact with our friends in India and Pakistan.

Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that does not lead to a broader regional conflict,a the Vice-President said.

aAnd we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that theyare responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with. Thatas how we hope this unfolds, weare obviously in close contact. Weall see what happens,a Vance said.

Remarks by Vance assume significance amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed.

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 terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, drew swift and widespread condemnation from global leaders, who expressed solidarity with India and denounced terrorism.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.

Following the Pahalgam attack, the deadliest in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019, India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and announced a raft of measures, including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post.
British students contest 2025 "Chinese Bridge" Mandarin regional finals

Xinhua) 10:34, May 03, 2025

LONDON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 individual contestants and 18 group teams from across Britain gathered in London on Friday for the regional finals of the global "Chinese Bridge" Mandarin Speaking Competition for secondary school students.

The participants took the contest as a vibrant platform for showcasing their Chinese language proficiency and cultural understanding. Representing 35 schools from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, contestants impressed the judges and audience with personal stories and characteristic reflections on Chinese literature, poetry, history, cuisine, and traditional customs.

After the competition, Rueban Dulai from Queen Mary's Grammar School told Xinhua that his team did extensive research to create an innovative storytelling video inspired by the famous Chinese handscroll painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival."

"We wanted to make sure we embedded elements of Chinese culture," Dulai said, adding that the experience of observing other performances was also enriching. His team won second prize in the intermediate group category.

The group contest was divided into beginner and intermediate tiers, while the individual competition spanned five categories, from beginner to advanced.

Individual contestants were required to complete a two-minute prepared speech, an English-to-Chinese sentence translation, a live quiz, and an impromptu speech. Group participants presented storytelling video presentations, answered live questions, and tackled real-time translation tasks.

Judge Lu Yifei said he was impressed by the students' enthusiasm and effort, noting that every participant gave their best.

In his concluding speech, Zheng Wangquan from China's People's Education Press, a guest at the event, highlighted the competition's role in promoting cultural exchange between China and Britain. He expressed hope that the students would continue fostering mutual understanding through the power of language and culture.

This year's regional finals followed an online preliminary round held in March, which drew around 250 students from nearly 59 schools across the country.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
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The official launch of the NW DEPTH initiative took place at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) campus in Letterkenny on Wednesday.

This project  supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)  will be led by Atlantic Technological University in partnership with Ulster University, North West Regional College, and Donegal Education and Training Board via their well-established strategic collaboration, the North West Tertiary Education Cluster (NWTEC).

NW DEPTH will run for four years, with the first cohort of learners being recruited for September 2025, and will see an investment of nearly 10 million in digital skills in the North West region. An innovative portfolio of upskilling and reskilling training courses in digital and cybersecurity skills will be delivered to over 2,000 individuals.

The overall objective of NW DEPTH is to develop a learner-centred Digital Skills framework that encourages individuals to progress along flexible but structured learning pathways.

This framework will support participants in advancing up the relevant qualification framework, helping them to re-enter, remain or progress in their roles within the North West digital workforce. Additionally, a digital strategy will be developed to complement other major investment plans, such as the Derry and Strabane City Deal, ensuring a vibrant future digital ecosystem of international significance.

READ NEXT: Dedicated retailers mark 40 years of service at their Claudy community store

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD said: This is the first time that the EU PEACEPLUS has made a substantial allocation to addressing skills on a cross-border basis. Following my recent visit to Northern Ireland, it was clear that the appetite for institutions, North and South, to collaborate is huge. Harnessing the collective expertise and resources in key skills areas including digital is key to positioning people on this island to respond to the demands of re-skilling and upskilling."

Addressing those attending the launch, Minister of State Marian Harkin TD added: "I have always been acutely aware of the unique economic and social context of the North West, particularly as the nature of employment and industry changed. The North West has now got a strong reputation in technology-driven industry, including fintech. This project hub builds on this reputation, but importantly is intended to ensure that people living in the North West are skilled to get jobs in these industries. This will also strengthen regional balance."

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: The NW DEPTH project will enable over 2,000 individuals to access targeted digital and cyber security training within the key regional area of the North West. By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, and focusing on this strategically important sector, the NW DEPTH project will play a vital role in reducing our skills gap and promoting regional balance.

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: I would like to congratulate everyone involved on the launch of the NW DEPTH project.

The Area Based Regional Skills Development Investment Area of the PEACEPLUS programme will address skills gaps, which will in turn result in increased productivity and employment and higher levels of cross-border labour mobility.

Economic development in post-conflict regions is vital in underpinning peace. Investment in the economy, providing support for SMEs, research, and innovation in specific areas of need are among the key focus areas for this theme of the PEACEPLUS Programme.

The NW DEPTH project represents more than just investment in education  it is an investment in the long-term peace and prosperity of our communities. Through its focus on inclusive training, cross-border collaboration, and regional empowerment, NW DEPTH is helping to create a society in which individuals are not only better skilled but more connected  to opportunity, to each other, and to a shared future.

PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

The NWTEC partners recognise the strong support that this investment signifies for the North West, as well as the responsibility it confers on NWTEC to deliver the projects transformative potential.

The project's focus on digital skills, which are critical to this regions development, reflects a region-centred approach. By tailoring programmes to meet the specific upskilling and reskilling needs of both individuals and enterprises, the initiative demonstrates a commitment to addressing the diverse educational requirements of the North West City Region.

This approach will raise awareness of the importance of digital and cybersecurity skills for the regions future economic growth. Furthermore, this region-focused strategy ensures that education and training offerings are relevant, accessible, and impactful, promoting greater engagement and participation from stakeholders across this cross-border region.

Leveraging the established networks and connections of the partner institutions  which have strong ties with local communities, enterprises, and policymakers - will enable effective collaboration and outreach. This will facilitate the adoption of digital literacy programmes by community groups and the uptake of targeted skills training for individuals in employment seeking to upskill or reskill in digital and cybersecurity fields, ensuring the project's impact extends across the entire region.

The launch event included an engaging panel discussion moderated by Mr Paul Hannigan ATUs Vice President for Cross-border Engagement. Panellists included Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU; Professor Malachy O Neill, Director for Regional Engagement, Mr Leo Murphy, Principal and Chief Executive of the North West Regional College; and Ms Anne McHugh, Chief Executive of Donegal Education and Training Board.
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Louth Volunteer Centre is celebrating a heart-warming milestone in its social inclusion initiative, Blankets of Care. Since its launch in late September 2024, this unique project has brought together volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, uniting them through the shared craft of knitting and crocheting. Their mission? To create handmade beautiful and cosy blankets for local non-profit organisations that support people in need across Louth.

Under the compassionate leadership of Emma Walker, of Louth Volunteer Centre, who initiated and manages the project, Blankets of Care has become more than just a craft groupit is a space where friendships are forged over cups of tea and coffee, where skills are shared, and kindness is woven into every stitch.

To date, volunteers originally from nine different countries, including Ireland, have contributed to this project. Some attend the in-person group in Dundalk, while others knit or crochet from home, making participation as accessible as possible. The generosity of these volunteers has resulted in 100 blankets being created and donated to six Louth-based non-profit organisations, ensuring that those who may be facing isolation or loneliness or simply would appreciate such a personal gift, receive a handmade symbol of care and warmth.

These included buggy blankets for young parents, lap blankets for older individuals living alone and comfort blankets for those receiving cancer treatment.

To mark the creation of the 100th Blanket of Care, Louth Volunteer Centre hosted a special appreciation morning of celebratory tea and scones in April, where all volunteers gathered to hear words of gratitude from the organisations that have benefited from their work.

Every volunteer was personally thanked and received a Certificate of Appreciation for their contribution. All volunteers were welcomed to this project, from experienced knitters and crocheters to newcomers to wool crafts. Two volunteers in particular gave generously of their time and skills, Brenda in crochet and Gabrielle in knitting, in tutoring some of the less experienced volunteers.

Kayleigh Mulligan, Manager of Louth Volunteer Centre who initiated and led the project over the last six months, expressed her admiration for the volunteers, saying: "Every stitch in these blankets represents kindness, compassion, and a sense of belonging.

"Whether volunteers knit at home or join us in person, their contributions are making a real difference to peoples lives and creating genuine connections. Alone are one of the voluntary organisations who receive our blankets and deliver them personally to older people in Louth.

"When we received this gorgeous thank you from Alone, we were extremely touched. It shows how, as Alone says, It feels amazing to make someone feel amazing

Other organisations also voiced their appreciation. The Northeast branch of Alone sent in very moving words. The Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre said: We would like to thank all the volunteers for their beautiful handmade blankets that were kindly donated to our Centre. Many of our clients would have a long road ahead of them with hospital appointments, treatments and recovery. The blankets were lovely gifts expressing kindness and care, when our clients needed it the most.

Read next: Almost 1 million paid out to bring homes in Louth back to use

The Ardee Day Care Centre also had kind words to thank the volunteers: May I on behalf of all involved with Ardee Day Care Centre express our sincere gratitude to all the volunteers, who produced the beautiful Blankets of Care for our attendees. This lovely gesture is greatly appreciated by all of us, and we wish you all every success and happiness in your future lives here in Ireland.

Other recipients of the donated hand-crafted blankets included the Drogheda branch of Youth Work Ireland (Young Carer's), Drogheda and District Support for Older People, and Lifestyle Development in Drogheda.

The group is seeking a Volunteer Coordinator for the Blankets of Care, this would likely involve a few hours a week e.g. attending the group to help set up the room, liaising in relation to wool donations and blanket drop-offs to the recipient charities and helping create a welcoming atmosphere. So they say a warm, friendly and organised person would be ideal, you dont even have to know how to knit!

Non-profit organisations in Louth can request Blankets of Care for their service users by contacting Louth Volunteer Centre. Meanwhile, the project is greatly in need of wool donations to continue its workany contributions can be dropped off at the Louth Volunteer Centre offices either in Drogheda and Dundalk.

If youd like to get involvedwhether as the Volunteer Coordinator, or by knitting, crocheting, donating wool  reach out to Louth Volunteer Centre and become part of this meaningful initiative. Because, Louth Volunteer Centre says: when we knit together, we create more than just blankets we create community.

To find out more, give Louth Volunteer Centre a call or drop into their offices: Drogheda Office: Bolton Street  041 9809008 Dundalk Office: 042 9392934 or email on info@volunteerlouth.ie You can also visit their website www.volunteerlouth.ie where you can also search for other volunteer opportunities like this.
Above: Supporting Gaisce at the 40th anniversary 'Be The Arrow' launch were (L-R): Maria Walsh MEP, Majella Killeen, First Ever Gaisce Gold Awardee, Bernard Jackman, Former Ireland Rugby International, Marissa Carter, Aine Kerr, Chairperson of Gaisce & RTE Presenter, Avril Ryan, CEO of Gaisce, Sonya Lennon, TV Presenter & Designer, Entrepreneur, Aine Ni Gallachoir, Gaeilge Influencer.

President Michael D. Higgins is inviting the people of Louth to join a national celebration of Gaisce  The Presidents Award, which has empowered 649 young people in the past year alone.

Louth people of all ages are being encouraged to join the Be The Arrow: Gaisce 40th Anniversary Challenge, and take on a personal or group challenge during May. An Post has also unveiled a special Gaisce 40 postmark, which will feature on all standard letters from An Post between 12th and 25th May.

Over half a million young people have participated in Gaisce since its inception in 1985, a sign of its lasting impact, with almost 27,000 Gaisce recipients awarded in 2024 alone, the highest number since the programme began.

Be The Arrow is inspired by President Higgins inaugural speech in 2011, where he urged young people to "be the arrow, not the target." Gaisce is calling on individuals, schools, workplaces, and communities to set a challenge, push themselves, and make a difference, just as thousands of young people across Ireland have done over the past four decades.

As Patron of Gaisce, may I offer my best wishes to all those who will be participating in Be the Arrow this May, said President Higgins.

Read also: Shock as young Louth woman dies suddenly in Australia

Avril Ryan, CEO of Gaisce  The Presidents Award, says that for four decades, Gaisce has been dedicated to inspiring young people aged 14 to 25 to find purpose, set ambitious personal goals, push their limits, give back to their communities, and embrace adventure.

We regularly hear from past Gaisce Awardees, and their message is clear  Gaisce guided me at a time in my life when I needed it most. Our Be The Arrow challenge invites people of all ages to embrace that same spirit of adventure and achievement, not only to celebrate the impact of the past 40 years, but to help build momentum for the next 40 to ensure young people have every opportunity to fulfil their potential.

President Higgins added: Society is strengthened when it supports a diversity of experiences and perspectives. The promotion of an inclusive society is one to which every person can make a valuable contribution. Achieving equality is not simply about opportunities for the individual; it is also about how we change our spaces and our systems to ensure they actively drive and encourage inclusion.

Whether you missed out on doing Gaisce in school, or simply want to challenge yourself with purpose, Be The Arrow is the perfect fit. Participants can choose from:

A Volunteering Challenge  Give back to a cause, support your community with a clean-up, or volunteer your time or expertise to a local charity. A Physical Challenge  Walk, cycle, hike, swim or take on a fitness goal. A Skills Challenge  Learn something new, from painting to public speaking, sign language to improving your Irish.

Everyone who takes part and completes their challenge will receive a commemorative digital Gaisce Challenge Certificate from President Higgins, celebrating their achievement as part of the 40th anniversary.

How to Get Involved
Professor Colette Henry, Head of Department of Business Studies at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) in north Louth, has been awarded two major book contracts from international academic publishers.

World-renowned publisher, Oxford University Press has appointed Colette to curate and edit their prestigious international research text  The Oxford Handbook of Entrepreneurship & Gender. Colette will commission and compile a set of detailed, extensive reviews of the field by the worlds top scholars across a range of sub-topics within the area of entrepreneurship and gender research. Entries will be authored by established scholars who are specialist researchers in their discipline area.

In addition, the award-winning, global publisher Edward Elgar has appointed Colette to lead a small team of editors to compile the Elgar Encyclopaedia of Gender & Entrepreneurship. This text will focus on short, encyclopaedic-style entries highlighting both established and emerging research areas in the field.

Read also: Louth CE wants to enhance quality of life of citizens in the county

The book will especially seek to platform early career academics or PhD students who, supported by their supervisors, are conducting international research at the vanguard of the field.

Both books will be managed in parallel and will act as major reference texts for academics and researchers worldwide.

Colette commented: I am thrilled to be awarded these two complementary contracts from such internationally renowned publishers. I see these projects as legacy texts that will serve as valuable reference points for future scholars for years to come.

"I am particularly excited to have an opportunity to work globally across international borders to learn about and highlight the excellent scholarship that is being built by research colleagues, some of whom I am yet to meet. What an honour to be part of these exciting developments.
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A man in his mid-50s who denies raping a young woman who was working for him more than 16 years ago has been put on trial twice for the same offence and the jury in each trial was unable to reach a verdict of guilty or not guilty.

The trial in January ended with a disagreement. A retrial took place this week and on Friday the jury told Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford that they could not reach a verdict on which at least ten of them agreed.

They recorded their disagreement shortly before 5 p.m. on Friday and the judge thanked them for the attention they had given the matter at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. Now that the man has been put on trial twice without any verdict being reached it will be a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide on what attitude is to be taken to the charge.

ARREST

Sergeant Hilary Lynch originally arrested the accused man for the purpose of charging him with the single count of rape on January 25 2009.

The complainant who was 24 at the time and is now 39, testified that she and the accused drank together and had a joint on that night after work.

She said that they were sitting in the kitchen of his home and he said he was feeling dizzy and that he was going to go to bed and lie down.

Asked by prosecution senior counsel Ray Boland if she had been in the defendants home other than on this night she said she was there a few times but could not remember if that was before or after the disputed events of January 25 2009.

The witness said she lay down on the bed herself and fell asleep and remembered wearing a nice dress her mother had bought for her for her birthday.

The next thing I remember is waking up. He was on top of me. He was  I dont know what way to say it  he was raping me.

I remember waking up half in a dream thinking it was my boyfriend One leg of my tights had been taken off, and my underwear. I kind of said (boyfriends name) and he (defendant) said, dont call me that  kind of laughing.

I realised who it was and what was happening. I said, stop, get away from me. He did stop and he left the room.

I kind of froze. I rolled myself up in the blanket like a sausage-roll and fell back to sleep. I woke up next morning, saw my tights, one leg off, and realised what happened.

I went to South Doc. They gave me the morning-after pill.

DEFENDANT WAS COMPLAINANT'S BOSS

She told a friend and told her mother what happened but decided that she would not make a complaint to the gardai. One of the factors in her mind at the time was that the defendant was her boss and she was still working in that place.

The defendant did not give evidence but his senior counsel Donal OSullivan reminded the jury of the interview he gave with gardai where he said that he and the complainant were in the bed and that during the night he was lying behind her and put his hand on to her vagina outside her clothing, believing that it was his wife who was in bed with him.

Mr OSullivan said that the defendant found himself on trial for rape 16 years after the disputed incident and that he was seriously disadvantaged by the delay in bringing the complaint.

He said that if the young woman had gone to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit to be examined there would have been the possibility of DNA evidence. He said this would have been particularly important in the context of the defendants assertion that there was no sexual intercourse.

She said it happened. He said it didnt, Mr OSullivan said. Regarding surrounding details from earlier that day and earlier that night, I dont want to say she cannot remember anything but she cannot remember a whole lot, he said.

He compared the prosecution to a financial person urging you to invest in a scheme to get a large return on your investment but not answering any of the surrounding questions on how one could hope to get the high percentage return. He suggested that one would not invest on such terms. He added that it was not a matter of saying that probably the complainant was right but that the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said his message is to drive on with the building of 10,000 new homes on the Cork Docklands site, adding that a substantial amount of those homes will be affordable, social, and cost-rental.

Accompanied by housing minister James Browne and minister of state Jerry Buttimer, Mr Martin was inspecting progress on more than 600 new State-owned affordable homes at two housing schemes at Marina Depot on the Cork Docklands site, and at Horgans Quay.

The projects at Marina Depot and at Horgans Quay involve a total of 639 new homes being built under the Land Development Agency (LDA)s Project Tosaigh.

At Horgans Quay, the LDA is working with HQ Developments to deliver 302 new cost-rental apartments.

The Marina Depot project is a collaboration between Glenveagh Properties and the LDA, and will contain 337 new homes, including 260 cost-rental and 77 social apartments which will be part of a wider Glenveagh development that will include 1,178 apartments.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, pictured visiting Marina Depot, Cork, to see progress on more than 600 new affordable homes being delivered in the Cork Docklands, by the LDA, in partnership with Cork City Council, and Glenveagh Properties

The biggest regeneration site in the State, Cork Docklands covers 360 acres, with 10,000 new homes planned.

Mr Martin said it was too early to say how many would be social housing, but he indicated that it would be a significant number, saying: A lot of what is happening already is affordable and social, so a substantial amount will be social and affordable, cost-rental as well, a lot will depend on how this will evolve over the next two to three years, but theres fairly rapid progress.

Instancing the Marina Promenade, Mr Martin added that, in the past, new housing developments had not always been accompanied by amenities.

He said: Here we have the amenities provided, and theres more to come, in advance of a lot of the housing, and so well be looking at school sites and other amenity sites as well  playing pitches and so on  to make this a really thriving community where people can live  yes, in density  but with really first-class amenities and services, and Im really looking forward to the Atlantic Pond being reopened as well.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has condemned the actions of some onlookers who stood filming on their phones and did not intervene as a man drowned in the River Lee on Wednesday evening.

The body of the man, who has since been named as 33-year-old Luke Hyde, was recovered from the river after a search and recovery operation was launched.

The alarm had been raised at around 7pm on Wednesday after two men went swimming in the northern channel of the river at Popes Quay. Both got into difficulty, with one managing to get to safety and raise the alarm, but his friend sank and was carried downstream.

Victor Shine, second officer at Cork City Fire Brigade, described the incident as a terrible tragedy.

He told The Echo that a large number of people were recording Mr Hyde in difficulty and the rescue operation. Some people had live-streamed the tragic incident online.

Mr Shine said: People were recording, photographing, and videoing the whole event  during the operation, crowds were encroaching into the area of rescue and had to be literally pushed back.

People were lifting the cordon and coming under it to get a better look  this type of thing is getting worse lately. In the past, people would have appreciated the cordon was there for a reason.

The mother of the man ran down to the scene, and she saw what was going on with the crowds all gathered and recording  it was awful.

Condemning this behaviour, Mr Martin said incidences of people filming tragedies was a very regrettable feature of modern life.

It is horrendous what happened, he said. I read what the fire officer said, that they found it very difficult to comprehend, that there was no lifebuoys thrown in to help, that people were taking photographs, or videoing, and for family members thats very traumatic, and its very, very sad.

Mr Martin said it was important to remember that many people are often very brave and do the right thing, but notwithstanding the modern era, I think that dignity and decorum are essential values we should retain, particularly when people are in distressful situation, and in that situation where a person is actually drowning.

Speaking on The Neil Prendeville Show on Corks RedFM yesterday, Elizabeth Hyde, mother of the deceased man, said this was the second son she had lost in five years, and that the memory of people livestreaming his death will never leave me.

When she heard the news, she said she ran down the street screaming, and saw the amount of people with their phones out recording as he was pulled from the water.

She asked why those who filmed didnt try and get something to save him, a life buoy or something, adding: I dont know if Ill ever come through this, my son drowning and all those people watching on  I hope theyre listening to this broken-hearted mother.
A 33-year-old man accused of being in possession of child sexual abuse material at a house in Cork city more than six years ago has pleaded guilty to the crime.

Detective Garda Eimear Brennan charged 33-year-old Atikur Rahman of Upper Road, Midleton, Co Cork, with a count stating that on February 2, 2019, at College Square, College Rd, Cork, he knowingly had in his possession child pornography, namely child abuse material (1,013 videos and 33 images) stored in electronic devices at that address.

Mr Rahman was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, where he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Sentencing in the case was adjourned by Judge Helen Boyle until July 3, on the application of defence barrister Emmet Boyle.
The Mexican Community group in Cork are among the nominees for the Lord Mayors Community and Voluntary Awards in the Arts, Culture, Recreation and Heritage category.

The group aims to support the integration of its members in Cork while promoting Mexican culture and traditions.

The Mexican Community in Cork have become a common feature of Cork social and cultural life, being present in different festivals and parades such as the St Patricks Day Parade and Shandon Family Festival.

They have also supported multicultural festivals, refugee and International Womens Day celebrations, attend schools to share Mexican traditions, and regularly guest at UCC and MTU classes discussing Mexico, its art, diversity, and social dilemmas.

The Mexican Community in Cork have raised funds for Penny Dinners and Cork Simon Community, and also for disaster relief back in Mexico.

On a national level, the group also supports Latina Women Against Violence and Latin American Solidarity Centre initiatives.

Speaking to The Echo on being nominated for a Community and Voluntary Award, Mexican Community in Cork chairperson Cecilia Gamez said it was a huge honour to all involved in the group.

When we heard about it, we were thrilled, she said. It was a surprise. Normally we do things, but we never really look for reward.

We never thought we would be nominated for this one. So it was a surprise, but we were thrilled.

At the same time, it is a recognition for people who are doing all of this work on a volunteer basis.

I was talking to someone and they were really surprised that we were volunteers. We dont get any money from anywhere. So I think being nominated is a good recognition of the time and all of the effort that a lot of people put into working for not only our Mexican Community in Cork, but also with other projects within the community.

The Mexican Community in Cork aims to motivate members to make a positive impact on Cork life. The group look to bring positive attention to the other international communities on Leeside, and also engage with those groups positively.
High Court reporters

The Court of Appeal has upheld that a serving Garda and his wife leave a house in Co Cavan they were occupying after their bid to remain there failed.

The court had been told that businesswoman Sylvia Fox bought two houses in March last year at a housing estate after the developer, who was also the landlord, went bust.

She also claimed in the High Court last October that she had been threatened by the defendant, serving Garda Martin Reilly, who refused to yield up vacant possession of the property to her.

In February, Ms Fox, from Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny, secured a High Court injunction preventing Mr Reilly and Donna Heslin from continuing to occupy the house at Lock Eala, Loch Gowna, Co Cavan. The couple appealed that decision regarding the property, which they submitted had been their principal residence for over 12 years.

Lawyers for the couple had submitted that an agreement between the former developer and the couple should remain in place because Ms Fox had allegedly not been the registered owner when seeking the injunction, and they did not have proof of whom she purchased the property.

At the Court of Appeal this week, Ruaidhri Giblin BL, for Ms Fox, successfully argued that the interlocutory injunction removing the couple remain in place as she was now recorded as the registered owner of the property with "clean title", allowing her to discontinue previous arrangements.

The couple had claimed that they had a lease agreement with the previous landlord that saw them pay the landlord 20K as a purchase-option and had been paying 100 a year in rent since 2016 as part of the agreement.

Mr Giblin said the property was sold at auction by a receiver appointed by Everyday Finance DAC to Ms Fox.

Counsel for Mr Reilly and Ms Heslin had said that ownership of the property was unclear as her name was not on the registrar despite her assertion that she bought the house at the auction in March 2024.

Mr Giblin had said there was a "very strong case" for Ms Fox's title to the house, but that the property register had yet to record her as the owner due to a delay. Counsel said documents proved she paid 130K to Everyday for the home and that she was in possession of a deed of transfer and that the register was now updated.

On March 31st, 2025, Ms Fox was informed by Tailte Eireann that her "absolute ownership" of the property had now been recorded in the new folio, said Mr Giblin.

Mr Justice Donald Binchy said he would dismiss the appeal and deliver his reasons for doing so at a later date.

Mr Justice Binchy said he would put a stay on the order for four weeks.

Ronnie Hudson BL, for the couple, said he would seek to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision to the Supreme Court.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Tanaiste Simon Harris has said he doesnt believe that weapons are been flown through Irelands airspace to Israel.

But he said it was a real challenge to know what is being carried through Irish skies and said more work was needed in this area.

The Tanaiste was speaking on RTEs The Late Late Show, where he was asked about his leadership of Fine Gael, neutrality and Donald Trumps 100 days in office.

Tanaiste Simon Harris (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

He said he had spoken to officials in his department on Friday about the Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban trade between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements.

The bill had been stalled until after Novembers general election, after which the Government suggested that new legislation was now required.

Were going to have to do more (on Palestine), Mr Harris said.

I meant it when I said I think we should legislate in relation to the Occupied Territories.

I will fulfil the commitment of the programme for government to bring forward legislation in relation to the occupied territories, we have to do everything humanly possible here, use every lever at our disposal, he said.

He said that delays in passing legislation were about ensuring it is legally robust.

Ive been talking to officials in my Department on it as recently as today, and we will bring forward legislation, and Ill have a further update on what I hope is the timeline for that next week.

Asked if weapons were being flown through Irish skies to Israel, Mr Harris said: I dont believe it is.

But he admitted more international co-operation was needed to find out what is being flown through Irish skies.

I think we obviously need to see if theres more that needs to be done in relation to that, he said.

The information available to me is that people need to seek consent before any such flights take place, and there is no information available to me in relation to that happening.

I think this is a fair point you ask. I also have to be very conscious that when planes fly well above our skies, the ability of Ireland on its own to know exactly what goes through Irish airspace is a real challenge.

I do think we need to work at an international level in terms of the treaties that govern those issues.

I accept theres more that needs to be done in relation to that.

Mr Harris, who is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, said that children in Gaza are being starved and there are reports of basic pain-killing medication being unavailable.

Hamas, let me be clear, is a despicable terrorist organisation, they offer the people of Palestine no future, he said.

What happened in Israel on October 7 is a disgusting terrorist attack. All the hostages should be released, of course.

What is happening to the people of Gaza is despicable, disgusting, unconscionable and a humanitarian catastrophe. And weve got to continue to do everything we can, (use) every lever in Ireland and at a European level to help bring about a ceasefire.
Prince Harry said Friday that some members of his family may never forgive him, following his revelations about a physical altercation with his brother, Prince William, and ongoing disputes over his security in the U.K.

In a rare interview with BBC News, the 40-year-old Duke of Sussex spoke hours after losing a court appeal to regain state-funded police protection during his visits to Britain. Harry described the court's decision as "gutting" and expressed hope for reconciliation but acknowledged it might not happen with everyone.

"There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," Harry 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."

Harry's memoir, Spare, unveiled in 2023, provided a candid account of his everyday life, like his upbringing within the royal family, the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, his partnership with wife Meghan Markle, and tensions within the royal household.

In the book, Harry described a 2019 argument with William that escalated into a physical confrontation. According to Harry, the dispute began when William called Meghan "difficult," "rude," and "abrasive," leading to an exchange of insults.

Harry wrote that William grabbed him by the collar, knocking him to the floor and causing injury when he fell onto a dog's bowl.

Harry also said the fight further strained his relationship with William and other family members.

The security dispute has also taken a toll on Harry's connection with King Charles III. Harry claimed that the matter of police protection caused the king to stop speaking to him.

Harry lives in California with Meghan and their two children, and he says he does not believe it is safe for them to return to the U.K. He urged authorities to consider the risks and responsibilities if harm were to come to his family.

The Duke of Sussex traveled to London earlier this month to attend the appeal hearing, but was unsuccessful in restoring his security status.

The royal family has not publicly responded to Harry's recent comments.
Prince Harry has revealed that his relationship with his father, King Charles III, remains deeply strained, stating that the monarch "won't speak" to him amid an ongoing dispute over personal security during visits to the United Kingdom.

In a candid interview aired Friday, Harry expressed his wish for reconciliation but acknowledged the challenges that continue to keep him apart from his family. The 40-year-old royal, who stepped back from his duties in 2020 and relocated to California with his wife Meghan Markle, explained that the main source of tension with his father is the issue of police protection. After losing his court appeal to reinstate taxpayer-funded security for himself and his family, Harry said the matter has left him feeling devastated and unable to return to the UK with his wife and children.

"I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff," Harry said of the 76-year-old king, who had undergone cancer treatment and a recent hospitalization.

The Duke of Sussex also addressed the wider rift within the royal family, admitting that his decision to publish his 2023 memoir, Spare, has caused lasting hurt. In one part of the memoir, Harry described a 2019 altercation with his brother Prince William that turned physical. He also shared intimate details about family disputes, his upbringing, and his feelings of being treated as the "spare" within the royal family.

"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.

Despite the setbacks and ongoing silence from King Charles, Harry said he remains hopeful for reconciliation, adding that he wants to move beyond the conflict for the sake of his family and his children's connection to their heritage.
Blake Lively is at the center of a new controversy after rumors surfaced that she allegedly tried to have an affair with her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, before she filed a high-profile sexual harassment lawsuit against him.

The claim, which remains unproven, reportedly emerged during a private girls' getaway and was allegedly shared by Brittany Mahomes, a friend of both Lively and Taylor Swift. According to reports, Mahomes told others that Lively attempted to hook up with Baldoni during the film's production.

The rumor was later shared online by Instagram user Katie Paulson, who said she heard it from a source.

"I just got back from a dinner with my girlfriend. She and her sister went to high school with Blake [...] in Burbank. My friend's sister was celebrating a friend's birthday and Brittany Mahomes had a private jet for all of them. On the private jet, Brittany said that Blake tried to have an affair with Justin but he wasn't interested and shut it down. I think Taylor told Brittany. Or Blake told Brittany. Either way, Taylor was in the know," she wrote.

The timing of the rumor is significant, as it comes amid a heated legal battle between Lively and Baldoni. In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment on the set of "It Ends With Us." She alleged inappropriate comments, unwanted physical advances, and boundary violations.

In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, claiming they orchestrated a campaign to damage his reputation and career. Baldoni's legal team has argued that Lively's allegations were part of an effort to gain control over the film and distract from her own actions, though the actress' representatives have called these claims false and retaliatory. The lawsuits have drawn in other high-profile figures, including Taylor Swift, who was reportedly present at a key meeting where the accusations were discussed.

At this time, there is no concrete evidence supporting the affair allegation, and all parties involved have either denied the claims or declined to comment directly.
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Saturday, May 3, 2025

The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.  Christopher Hitchens

We live in a time of unprecedented access to information. With a few taps, we can find answers, opinions, and advice on virtually any topic. Yet paradoxically, younger generations are struggling with the very skills that matter most: deep thinking, effective communication, and independent decision-making. As reliance on screens, algorithms, and instant feedback grows, so does concern about how this will impact their ability to lead, innovate, and live fulfilling lives.

A2023 Common Sense Media report revealed that teens spend an average of over eight hours a day on screens, often communicating through images, emojis, and rapid-fire texts. This shift has reduced face-to-face communication, stifled complex dialogue, and, in many cases, left young people uncomfortable with real-world interpersonal dynamics.

Meanwhile, theStanford History Education Group found that nearly 70% of high school students struggle to distinguish between news articles and sponsored contentraising serious concerns about their ability to think critically and filter reliable information.

The Risks of Lost Skills

When communication becomes fragmented and surface-level, and thinking is outsourced to algorithms, the long-term consequences are profound:

Difficulty forming deep relationships

Poor collaboration and conflict resolution skills

Lower resilience in the face of uncertainty

Reduced creativity and leadership potential

Increased mental health struggles linked to isolation and information overload

The younger generation isnt lacking intelligencetheyre lacking intentional spaces and habits to practice thinking and communicating deeply.

As educator and author Parker J. Palmer wrote, Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher. The same is true for good living: it comes from beingfrom reflection, dialogue, and connection.

Action Steps: Helping the Next Generation Reclaim These Skills

1. Create Tech Boundaries, Not Tech Bans

Technology isnt the enemymindless consumption is. Encourage tech-free zones or hours in your home, and model them yourself. Use tools likeFreedom orForest to help young people develop mindful screen habits.

2. Prioritize Real Conversation

Make meaningful conversation a daily practice. Ask open-ended questions like Whats something youre wrestling with this week? or Whats a belief youve started to question? Apps likeTableTopics orBig Talk offer prompts to deepen family or peer discussions.

3. Cultivate Critical Thinking With Media Literacy Tools

Teach young people how to analyze sources, question assumptions, and consider multiple perspectives.News Literacy Project andCrashCourses Media Literacy series are excellent tools for building these skills.

4. Journal to Think Things Through

Reflection is a muscle. Journaling helps process emotions, clarify beliefs, and practice coherent thinking. Tools likeDay One or even physical notebooks offer young people a private space to explore ideas beyond performance or peer pressure.

5. Encourage Debate, Disagreement, and Dialogue

Create safe environments where young people can disagree respectfully. Let them explore nuance. Sites likeKialo foster structured, respectful debates that encourage reasoning and empathy.

6. Teach Decision-Making Frameworks

Instead of giving advice, guide them through decision-making tools like pros and cons lists, values clarification, or theSix Thinking Hats. This builds the habit of thoughtful, self-aware choices.

Leading by Example

One of the best ways to inspire communication and critical thinking is to model them. Share your own stories of changing your mind, asking tough questions, or making hard decisions. Admit when you dont know something. Demonstrate how you reflect, learn, and grow.

You can also engage together in structured learning experiences that build these skills. Try courses fromThe Great Courses orCoursera on philosophy, public speaking, or problem-solving. Use podcasts likeHidden Brain orThe Art of Manliness to spark deeper discussions.

Designing a Thoughtful 100-Year Life

The Age Brilliantly mindset is all about conscious, intentional living across the full span of a long life. That kind of living requires strong communication and thinking skillsbecause they form the foundation of meaningful relationships, smart financial choices, fulfilling careers, and personal growth.

The question isnt whether the next generation is capable. They are. The question is whether were giving them the space, tools, and role models they need to reclaim their ability to think deeply and speak meaningfully.

Time to Reflect

What conversations are you having with the younger people in your life? How are you encouraging curiosity, clarity, and courage in how they speak and think?

Whats one way you can help the next generation build a stronger, more thoughtful future?

Join the conversation and share your ideas in theforum.
UPDATE: May 2, 2025 at 9:15 a.m

According to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, Helen Ayotte has been found and safe following a traffic stop in Bozeman.

BOZEMAN, Mont.  The Gallatin County Sheriffs Office is reaching out to the public to help locate 15-year-old Helen Ayotte, who has been reported as a runaway.

Helen was last seen on April 24, 2025, in Bozeman. She is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds, with green eyes and medium-length dark brown hair. She was wearing black pants, white Nike shoes, a sweatshirt that may be tan, and a black-and-white checkered Vans ballcap.

Authorities suspect Helen might be traveling in a 2022 silver Nissan Kicks with Montana license plates.

The Gallatin County Sheriffs Office urges anyone with information about Helens whereabouts or who sees the described vehicle to call 406-582-2100 or dial 911 immediately.

Your assistance could be crucial in ensuring Helen's safe return home.

Article originally published April 29, 2025 at 8:51 a.m.
Despite a high casualty rate, Tim Sheehy is on team humanity when it comes to the debate over whether 100 men could take on a single gorilla.

The freshman senator from Montana weighed in on the viral Internet debate via social media Wednesday, providing his take on the hypothetical situation while drawing on his close combat experience as a former Navy SEAL.

What grew out of a social media post has made its way across the Internet with Elon Musk and Mr. Beast weighing in to debate whether 100 unarmed men could take down a gorilla.

In his video, Sheehy, who recently returned from a two-week recess, says his constituents have asked him to weigh in on the matter.

Ultimately, he believes the men's superior intellect and speed would overwhelm the brute strength of the gorilla.

Weve had some serious questions lately about the likelihood of a fight between 100 men and a gorilla, he said. Anyone whos been involved with close combat would understand that the 100 men would clearly win.

Still, Sheehy said there would likely be casualties along the way.

The first guys would get their skulls crushed, got to be honest with you, but eventually wed overtake him, Sheehy said. It would be tiring, itd be exhausting, wed probably have a high causality rate between 20 and 35%."

But in the end, he said. Man would win.
Farmers are facing a fresh wave of anxiety as new Met Office figures confirm April was the sunniest on record and the third warmest, but once again drier than averageexacerbating fears of another poor harvest.

According to the data, parts of the Midlands and the North received less than 20% of normal rainfall, while the South experienced less than half the typical levels.

This comes on the heels of an equally dry March and follows the deluge of last autumn, when unprecedented rainfall in September and October made it impossible for many farmers to drill crops.

Leicestershire arable farmer Joe Stanley captured the mounting frustration, saying: Weather and climate related risks are becoming unsustainable for annual cropping.

"Weve gone from far too wet across much of England in the autumn, to far too dry now. We got 10mm of rain in April, but otherwise weve had no rain for more than two months and a heatwave this week.

If we dont get some rain soon, well be in a very difficult situation in another week. As a business, we just cant plan for this sort of volatility, particularly following a shocking harvest last year.

The long-range forecast offers little comfort, with dry conditions expected to persist in the South of England into mid-May.

This raises the spectre of another failed harvest, following what was already the second worst on record in England last year.

That season was marred by extreme rainfall during the winter, conditions experts say are made more likely by climate change.

The situation is further complicated by policy uncertainty. In March, the government abruptly paused the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)a key pillar of Defras green farm reform agendaleaving farmers unsure about future support.

Tom Edmondson, a mixed farmer from Milton Keynes, said some of his neighbours are already seeing spring crop failures.

Some farmers are really struggling around us with this very dry spring and some spring crops have completely failed," he added.

It's the unpredictability of it all that is really challenging - you just don't know what the weather is going to do from year to year.

"We need the government to re-open the SFI and fund it properly if more farmers are to be able to build their resilience as climate change takes hold.

Earlier this week, the Climate Change Committee warned that the UK is unprepared for the impacts of climate change, rating progress on both food security and environmental protection as insufficient.

Tom Lancaster, analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said climate change was having a devastating impact on UK farming and food security.

"For farmers, its becoming increasingly hard to farm given increasingly severe impacts we are now seeing," he warned.

"Last years harvest was one of the worst on record after 18 months of relentless rain, following a drought and extreme heat in 2022 that left crops baked into the ground.

"Governments response to this scale of risk is clearly not aligned to the jeopardy it poses, yet we have solutions available now, including the green farming schemes that were unexpectedly pulled.

"Investing in these schemes at the spending review in June will be needed to build the resilience of UK food production."
Egypts readymade garments (RMG) exports rose by 27 per cent year on year (YoY) to $262 million in March this year, according to the Apparel Export Council of Egypt, which aims at doubling exports by 2031 to $12 billion by expanding to African and Asian markets, leveraging Egypts trade agreements, enhancing value-added production and modernising manufacturing lines.

The council has raised its annual export target to $3.8 billion, reflecting a minimum growth expectation of 35 per cent, according to domestic media reports.

February posted the highest growth rate, with exports jumping by 35 per cent YoY, while January saw a more modest YoY increase of 11 per cent.

Egypt's apparel exports rose by 27 per cent YoY to $262 million in March, the Apparel Export Council of Egypt said. It aims at doubling exports by 2031 to $12 billion by expanding to African and Asian markets, leveraging Egypt's trade agreements, enhancing value-added production and modernising manufacturing lines. Two dedicated textile-garment cities will be launched in Fayoum and Minya.

The United States remained the leading importer of Egyptian garments in March, accounting for $102 million in exports. Europe was next, with $66 million, followed by Arab countries ($40 million), and other international markets ($53 million). Exports to African countries (excluding Arab nations) reached approximately $1.2 million.

The plan also includes launching two dedicated textile and garment cities in Fayoum and Minya.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2025) - Castlebar Capital Corp. (TSXV: CBAR.P) ("Castlebar" or the "Company"), a capital pool company under Policy 2.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") announces the resignation of Mr. Gary Economo from his roles as director and officer with the Company. The Company thanks Mr. Economo for his contributions. The Company appointed Mr. Robert Meister as CEO and reappointed Kosta Tsoutsis as director, effective immediately.

About Castlebar

Castlebar is a capital pool company in accordance with Exchange Policy 2.4 and its principal business is the identification and evaluation of assets or businesses with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction.

Cautionary Statements and Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including the Company's goal of completing a Qualifying Transaction, are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include, without limitation: receipt of applicable director, shareholder and regulatory approval of a Qualifying Transaction; changes in law; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; state of the capital markets; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in disclosure documents filed by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

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.

Not for Distribution to United States Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/250688

SOURCE: Castlebar Capital Corp.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Energy Corp. (CSE: MEC, OTC:MECPF, FRA:92T) (the "Company" or "Mustang") is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing geophysical reprocessing, reinterpretation and targeting work in collaboration with leading geophysical consultants Resource Potentials Ltd. ("ResPot") of Perth, Australia. This initiative reflects Mustang's commitment to advancing exploration across its Athabasca Basin uranium projects through cost-effective, technically sound data integration.

Geophysical Reinterpretation Methodology

Following a detailed historical data compilation, ResPot has reprocessed and interpreted a suite of high-resolution airborne magnetic, radiometric, gravity, and electromagnetic ("EM") datasets over Mustang's properties. These datasets were sourced from open-file surveys by provincial and federal agencies and integrated with digital elevation models, geological maps, mineral occurrence records, drilling and geochemical data, and satellite imagery in GIS software.

Magnetic datasets were utilized to infer the depth and architecture of the Athabasca Basin unconformity-a critical control for high-grade uranium mineralization. EM datasets, including VTEM, MegaTEM, GeoTEM, ZTEM, and VLF surveys, were processed to identify conductive anomalies potentially related to graphitic pelite units and clay alteration zones.

Ratios and products of radioelement concentrations (K, Th, U) were computed to enhance subtle radiometric anomalies, despite their susceptibility to attenuation by surface cover. The integrated interpretation has revealed multiple areas of interest coincident EM-magnetic-low anomalies characteristic of basement-hosted unconformity-related uranium deposits.

A key component of this work has involved the continuous interpretation of geophysical data to guide targeted mineral claim staking, alongside the review of internal and public datasets, as Mustang evaluates potential project acquisitions and joint venture opportunities.

In addition to the reprocessing, reinterpretation, and targeting of historical datasets, ongoing interpretation is also underway on newly acquired airborne geophysical surveys. These include a MobileMT survey recently completed over the Yellowstone Project and an Xcite TDEM survey over the Dutton Project. Further analysis will also be conducted on the upcoming Xcite TDEM survey with radiometric data acquisition planned for the Spur Project in May. These contemporary datasets are expected to complement the historical compilation work and enhance Mustang's ability to prioritize drill-ready targets across its portfolio.

Targeting:

The work conducted thus far, has resulted in targeting based off of the open source geophysical datasets over Mustang's Athabasca Basin Uranium portfolio. Areas of interest have been identified based on this reinterpretation:

914W Project:

Positioned approximately 45 km south of the Athabasca Basin edge, this project hosts an EM conductor anomaly coinciding with a magnetic low and subtle radiometric uranium signature (Figure 1). Furthermore, the project lies along trend with known uranium and REE occurrences. The company plans to initiate a field-based prospecting program this spring to further assess these priority targets.

Figure 1: 914W Project claim and mineral occurrences over a mosaic EM decay colour image from 3 adjacent airborne EM surveys where hot colours indicate electrical conductors, all overlying greyscale magnetic derivative background image. An EM conductor of interest is coincident with a magnetic-low anomaly and is considered to be a priority target area. (map layers retrieved from: Government of Saskatchewan Mining and Petroleum GeoAtlas and Natural Resources Canada)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2be644cd-6cf3-43ad-a5db-6285951dd567

Spur Project:

Located about 30 km south of the Basin, Spur is intersected by regional magnetic-low and EM conductor trends (Figure 2). Radiometric anomalies are evident, though muted by surface cover. Mustang has engaged Axiom Exploration to deploy the Xcite TDEM system with co-collection of radiometrics to in-fill areas not covered by modern day EM survey techniques. This project, like 914W, is also considered prospective for REE mineralization based on regional occurrence trends.

Figure 2: Spur project claims, mineral occurrences and select interpretation lines over a ternary radiometric image (left) where K is red, Th is green and U is blue, and late EM decay time images from 3 adjacent airborne EM surveys (right) where hot colours indicate electrical conductors, all overlying greyscale magnetic derivative background images. Note that this are no available EM datasets over the main part of the Spur claim. (map layers retrieved from: Government of Saskatchewan Mining and Petroleum GeoAtlas and Natural Resources Canada)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/554ad7e4-df56-4e6a-8069-96d1c0f51ba6

Ford Lake:

Comprised of 3 non-contiguous claim blocks and located within the Basin near the southern edge, with interpreted depths to the unconformity at ~400 meters or less. Ford Lake features a strong, untested EM conductor anomaly coincident with a magnetic-low trend. This anomaly is spatially associated with a known uranium occurrence to the northeast2 and a subtle U-Th radiometric trend. Follow-up mapping and sampling are recommended (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Ford Lake project claims and mineral occurrences over a mosaic VTEM EM decay colour image from 3 separate airborne EM surveys where hot colours indicate electrical conductors, all overlying greyscale magnetic derivative background image. An EM conductor of interest is coincident with a magnetic-low anomaly and located along an interpreted fold axis from a known U occurrence. (map layers retrieved from: Government of Saskatchewan Mining and Petroleum GeoAtlas and Natural Resources Canada)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/53a63b94-b215-4e3a-82db-40810ac3be19

Cigar Lake East:

Comprised of 2 non-contiguous claim blocks and located within the Basin near the eastern edge, with interpreted depths to the unconformity at ~200 meters or less. Cigar Lake East features multiple parallel NE-SW trending magnetic-low trends, some of which have been historically drill tested and host U mineralisation, including the Rabbit Lake Uranium Mine located approximately 40km to the NE. A magnetic-low anomaly trend within Mustang claims is coincident with EM conductor anomalies and remains untested by drilling.

Figure 4: Cigar Lake East project claims, historic drillhole collars and mineral occurrences over a mosaic VTEM EM decay colour image from 2 separate airborne EM surveys where hot colours indicate electrical conductors, all overlying a greyscale magnetic derivative background image. An EM conductor of interest is coincident with a magnetic-low anomaly trend that has not been historically drill tested, along trend from the Rabbit Lake U Mine and adjacent to known mineralised trends. (map layers retrieved from: Government of Saskatchewan Mining and Petroleum GeoAtlas and Natural Resources Canada)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/93bc8e68-1359-4e0a-b339-788ca018424a

"Our partnership with ResPot has yielded valuable insights that advance Mustang's uranium exploration strategy," said Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director of Mustang Energy. "By leveraging existing datasets and high-end geophysical modelling, we are refining drill targets while optimizing exploration spend. These interpretations form the basis of our 2025 field program and inform our ongoing project evaluation efforts."

All geophysical data contained in this news release is not definitive, and the results are still at an early stage of interpretation, with no guarantee of a mineral discovery.

About Resource Potentials:

Resource Potentials Ltd. is a consulting and contracting business specialising in geophysical survey design, acquisition, processing, modelling, inversion, data integration, interpretation and drill hole targeting. Based in Perth, Western Australia and established in 2001, ResPot provide their clients with expertise and products that fit their requirements and budgets for exploration, drilling and mining operations. ResPot is highly experienced in processing, interpreting and modelling potential field (magnetic and gravity) and other geophysical surveys such as radiometrics, EM, IP, GPR and seismic data in a variety of geological settings for commodities including; gold, iron, base metals, uranium, REE, manganese, coal, diamonds, oil and gas, groundwater, etc.

Qualifying Statement:

The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo., Technical Advisor for Mustang Energy, and a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. Ms. Guillaume is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Mustang Energy Corp.:

Mustang Energy is a resource exploration company focused on acquiring and developing high-potential uranium and critical mineral assets. The Company is actively exploring its properties in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada and holds 92,211 hectares in around the Athabasca Basin. Mustang's Ford Lake project covers 7,743 hectares in the prolific eastern Athabasca Basin, while its Cigar Lake East and Roughrider South projects span 3,442 hectares, and the south-east region with the Spur Project (17,929 hectares). Mustang has also established a footprint in the Cluff Lake region of the Athabasca Basin with the Yellowstone Project (21,820 hectares) and further expanded its presence in the south-central region of the Athabasca Basin with the Dutton Project (7,633 hectares).

For further information, please contact:

Mustang Energy Corp.

Attention: Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director

Phone: (604) 838-0184

Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news 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", "believes" 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 future potential of the minerals claims held by the Company, the successful commencement and completion of the MobileMT survey, and the timely delivery of the results from the MobileMT survey. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to: continue exploring its properties given various environmental and economic factors outside of its control and complete the MobileMT survey as planned. 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.
From 6-8 May, 25,000+ cybersecurity experts will gather at the Middle East and Africa's largest cybersecurity event to secure the region's digital future against deepfake scams and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / ACCESS Newswire / May 3, 2025 / With AI-driven cybercrime and ransomware attacks surging globally, GISEC Global 2025 returns to Dubai from May 6 - 8, bringing together the world's foremost leaders, innovators, and visionaries in a high-stakes effort to secure our digital future.

GISEC Global transforms Dubai World Trade Centre into the epicentre of cybersecurity, uniting 450+ CISOs, 25,000 professionals from 160 countries, and 750+ brands-from tech giants like AWS, Huawei, and Microsoft to innovative startups-for MEA's most pivotal cyber event under the theme 'Securing an AI-Powered Future.' The year 2025 has been declared as the 'Year of Community' by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, calling for collective action in building a connected and empowered society through AI and entrepreneurship. GISEC Global is strengthening the global cybersecurity community by fostering collaboration between governments, enterprises, and experts to secure our digital tomorrow.

The 14th edition brings together critical focus areas from some of the leading players in the industry, including Huawei, AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud Security, CISCO, Deloitte, Kaspersky, Check Point, Cloudflare and Honeywell, alongside groundbreaking cybersecurity companies such as Spire Solutions, CPX, CyberKnight, LinkShadow, OPSWAT, Qualys, CrowdStrike, StrikeReady, and Dream Group.

The three-day event will reinforce the UAE's position as a world leader in AI innovation and responsible AI deployment in the face of threat actors, blending global expertise with regional priorities, and with a strong emphasis on public-private collaboration, innovation, and talent development.

These priorities come at a critical juncture. The World Economic Forum's Global Security Outlook 2025 report, published ahead of GISEC Global 2025, has shown that:

66% of organisations view AI as a game-changer in cybersecurity.

Nearly half (47%) warn that generative AI is simultaneously arming hackers with scalable new attack vectors

However, only 14% of organisations feel confidently equipped to respond

These key insights highlight how fast the global cybersecurity market is changing - an ever-growing economic sector that is expected to reach $298.5 billion by 2028, according to Markets and Markets - a significant jump from the $190.4 billion in 2023.

Nowhere is this urgency more apparent than in the Middle East, where 45% of organisations rank cyber risk mitigation as their top operational priority ( PWC's 2024 Global Digital Trust Insights survey ). As the region accelerates its digital transformation, GISEC Global 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment to shape its secure future.

The 2025 edition introduces groundbreaking new features:

Next-Gen Cyber Warriors Competition: The Student Hackathon transforms classrooms into cyber defence labs, where young talent tackles real-world scenarios in network security, threat analysis, and incident response.

Critical Infrastructure Programme: The launch of OT Security Conference Track addresses the growing convergence of IT and operational technology, offering actionable strategies to protect vital systems from emerging vulnerabilities.

Africa Cyber Resilience Initiative: As the continent's digital economy expands, GISEC launches dedicated roundtables with CISOs and national authorities to build continent-wide defences.

GISEC AI: Explore polymorphic malware, adversarial AI, and deepfake scams.This year's largest AI in cybersecurity showcase will feature pressing topics including polymorphic malware, adverbial AI, deepfake scams and Gen AI tech.

Launch of GISEC North Star: Cyber71, in strategic partnership with GISEC GLOBAL, will launch a series of high-impact initiatives at the region's largest platform for innovative cybersecurity startups. It will provide a dynamic space for cybersecurity startups to network, attract investment and scale their businesses.

Dubai Cyber Challenge: Premiering at GISEC Global,Organised by DESC, an exclusive 'Capture the Flag' competition will be held for Dubai government entities as teams go head to head across two days, focusing on different trends such as web security, reverse engineering and digital forensics through various challenges.

Dubai's hosting of GISEC Global 2025 cements the UAE's position as the world's cybersecurity leader, recently crowned #1 in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024. The event serves as both a showcase of the nation's security achievements and a call to action for international collaboration in our interconnected digital future.

H.E. Dr Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, said: "GISEC Global comes at a critical time as cyber threats grow more prevalent and sophisticated," says HE Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council. "In this 'Year of Community,' our partnership with GISEC underscores the UAE's commitment to uniting global stakeholders in addressing urgent cybersecurity challenges-from safeguarding data privacy and securing critical networks to countering advanced threats through AI-powered solutions. Through initiatives like the world's largest Global Cyber Drill and strategic collaborations at GISEC, we are turning the UAE's cybersecurity vision into action, ensuring a resilient digital future for all."

H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General of Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), said: "Dubai's rapid digital transformation is redefining the way we live, work, and connect, making cybersecurity more critical than ever. GISEC Global 2025 stands as a pivotal gathering where global experts converge to address emerging threats and pioneer the next generation of cyber resilience. At DESC, we are steadfast in our mission to safeguard Dubai's digital ecosystem by fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and implementing robust cyber defences. Our participation in GISEC reflects our commitment to shaping global cybersecurity discourse, sharing expertise, and ensuring that Dubai remains at the forefront of secure and intelligent digital progress."

Trixie LohMirmand, EVP of Dubai World Trade Centre, GISEC Global organiser, said: "Every year, the cybersecurity industry is dealing with new threats and opportunities with GISEC Global at the heart of driving impactful discussions and action from the worldwide ecosystem. This year will be no different as we bring the best minds together once again to Dubai World Trade Centre to explore ways to not only manage cyber risks effectively, which can have far-reaching implications if not dealt with adequately, but also build a safe future that will not impact our economies."

Sean Yang, Global Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection Officer of Huawei, Lead Strategic Partner of GISEC Global, said: "We are delighted to be extending our long-term partnership with GISEC Global by becoming its Lead Strategic Partner for the 2025 edition. Huawei is committed to securing our shared digital future with governments, industry organisations, standardisation bodies, and enterprise stakeholders. Through such partnerships, we aim to be a reliable partner in the digital and intelligent world and provide our customers with competitive and secure product solutions. GISEC Global is a leading platform to exchange ideas and expertise, as well as collaborate in building a trustworthy digital environment of various partners that can address the challenges of today and tomorrow."

GISEC Global 2025 is hosted by the UAE Cybersecurity Council, and supported by Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), UAE Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police.

To learn more about GISEC Global 2025, visit www.gisec.ae .

About GISEC Global

GISEC Global , Middle East & Africa's largest and most impactful cybersecurity event, will return to Dubai World Trade Centre for its 14th edition taking place from 6th to 8th May 2025, under the overarching theme of "Securing an AI-Powered Future." Following the monumental success of 2024, the super-connector event for the region's cybersecurity industry will bring together over 25,000 attendees, 750 exhibiting brands and 350-plus speakers hailing from over 160 countries. GISEC Global stands as the unrivalled platform for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. More information: www.gisec.ae

About Dubai World Trade Centre

With a vision to make Dubai the world's leading destination for all major exhibitions, conferences and events, DWTC has evolved from being the regional forerunner of the fast-growing MICE industry into a multi-dimensional business catalyst, focusing on Venues, Events and Real Estate Management. Complementary to the primary service offerings are a range of value-added services from media/advertising, engineering and technical consultation and wedding planning, security, and hospitality.

Press Registration: https://event.gisec.ae/2025-media-registration

Press information and photographic material: click here

Media Contact:

Jane Oneill - PR Manager

Jane.oneill@dwtc.com



Ahmad Khalloudi - PR Manager

Ahmadkhalloudi@sevenmedia.ae

For PR Related gisec@zexprwire.com

Follow GISEC Global on social media: Facebook | X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube

Hashtag: GISECGlobal

SOURCE: Gisec

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/gisec-global-2025-dubai-mobilises-global-cyber-defence-leaders-t-1023224
ATLANTA, GA / ACCESS Newswire / May 3, 2025 / World-renowned ultra-distance runner Stan Cottrell will set out on an extraordinary 1,000-mile journey starting at the GEORGIA STATE CAPITOL across the state of Georgia. Beginning in the northern region, Cottrell will travel southward, reaching both the Florida and Alabama borders, before making his way back north, where his run will finish in the same place he starts in Atlanta, GA, on June 15, 2025. This monumental run is dedicated to honouring veterans and first responders worldwide.

As he makes his way across Georgia, Cottrell will stop in multiple cities across Georgia, where he will meet with local mayors for special photo opportunities, celebrating the power of community, resilience, and unwavering support for veterans. These key moments will shine a spotlight on the collective effort to honor those who have served. He receives the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Chamber of Commerce, and is also a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.

For 40 days, audiences around the world can follow Cottrell's extraordinary journey in real time, with live coverage on social media, major networks, and multiple digital streaming platforms. Known as the real life "Forrest Gump". Fans and supporters are invited to tune in, cheer him on, and be part of this historic run, as he pushes the limits of human endurance in tribute to veterans everywhere.

FOLLOW:

IG: @runstanrun2021

FB: @stancottrell

Special thank you to: Birdwell Foundation/ Graham Family films Foundation

The Amazing Friendship Run Georgia 2024

Donation Link

Media Contact:

Antoinette Love Ransom antoinette@exhibitambush.com SOURCE: Stan Cottrell

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/publishing-and-media/guinness-world-record-holder-and-ultra-distance-legend-stan-cottrell-embarks-o-1023140
Soon after igniting the screens with Retro, Pooja Hegde is already onto her next Bollywood rom-com, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, with Varun Dhawan read more

Pooja Hegde and Varun Dhawan are shooting together for their upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai in the United Kingdom. Recently, the duo enjoyed a special screening of Pooja and Suriya starrer Retro in London, and they were also joined by Mrunal Thakur. Now, Varun Dhawan took to his social media handle to heap praise on Pooja Hegde, and also applauded her role as Rukmani.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Varun Dhawan wrote, Saw Retro last night, loved Rukmani. @hegdepooja you were soo good and @actorsuriya always loved your work sir but enjoyed u in this avatar more. @ksubbaraj laughter is the best medicine.

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Well, its not Varun Dhawan who is impressed by Poojas performance in Retro. Its been a day since the film made its theatrical debut, and Pooja has left the audience and critics amazed as the fierce and grounded Rukmani. The actress brings a soft touch of romance to the gangster trope and adds weight to the plot with her emotional range. Besides adding momentum to the narrative, Pooja also left the theatrical audience dancing to the viral hokstep of Kanimaa song, and cemented herself as the hookstep queen all over again. While the rave reviews continue to pour in, the audiences have declared Poojas act in Retro as her career-best performance!

Soon after igniting the screens with Retro, Pooja Hegde is already onto her next Bollywood rom-com, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, with Varun Dhawan. Directed by David Dhawan, the film is expected to be released soon.
The Australian federal elections are a double whammy for opposition leader Peter Dutton. His party has not only been handed an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Anthony Albanese-led Labor Party but he also lost his parliamentary seat  one he held for the past 24 years read more

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton speaks at the function centre for the 2025 Federal Election in Brisbane. The opposition was thumped by the Albanese-led Labor Party. Reuters

Theres the famous adage  you win some, you lose some. However, for Peter Dutton, the Liberal Party leader and head of the opposition in Australia, its been all loss and no win at the Australian federal elections.

Not only has his party lost the election to the Anthony Albanese-led Labor Party, but the 54-year-old cop-turned-politician has lost his own seat of Dickson in suburban Brisbane become the first federal opposition leader to suffer such a loss.

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We take a closer look.

Dutton loses Dickson seat

Opposition leader Peter Dutton was handed an embarrassing defeat in his seat of Dickson at the hands of Labors Ali France. A disability advocate, former journalist, and world champion para-athlete, France did the impossible by defeating Dutton in a seat, which he has held for the past 24 years.

France also ran against Dutton in 2019 and 2022 and gradually chipped away at his lead. It became the states most marginal conservative electorate at the 2022 election, with just 3,360 votes separating the two.

The loss at Frances hands makes Dutton the first sitting party leader to lose their seat at an election since then-Prime Minister John Howard was beaten in Bennelong on the same night he lost government in 2007.

Australias Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is hugged by his wife Kirilly Dutton beside their sons Tom and Harry after he conceded defeat in the general election at the Liberal Party election night event in Brisbane. Australias right-leaning opposition leader Peter Dutton conceded defeat in a general election, saying he had spoken to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. AFP

Conceding defeat in Dickson, Dutton told his supporters in Brisbane that he had called France to congratulate her on her victory, saying: She will do a good job as a local member I wish her all the best.

He added that he was proud of breaking the one-term curse in Dickson in which the seat had regularly changed hands between major parties before his victory in 2001.

Dickson had a one-term curse, it was only ever held for one term at a time and we have held it for 24 years, Dutton said in his concession speech.

I do want to say thank you to the people of Dickson who have placed faith in me over a long period of time.

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A Labor landslide at the polls

For Dutton, it wasnt just the loss of his seat. His party, the Liberals, who are part of the Coalition, have suffered a bruising defeat in the Australian elections.

While votes are still being tallied, ABC News, the local media, has reported that the Labor will form a majority government after recording strong swings in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia and a small swing in Victoria.

The ABC has called 86 seats for Labor, but it is leading in several more, and ABC election analyst Antony Green has said it could end the count with a thumping majority. It will make Anthony Albanese the first prime minister elected twice since John Howard.

Speaking on the loss, Dutton said, We didnt do well enough in this campaign, that much is obvious tonight. It is a historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that. I congratulated the prime minister and wished him, Jodie (Albaneses fiance) and Nathan (son) all the very best and I said to the prime minister that his mother would be incredibly proud of his achievement tonight and he should be proud of what he has achieved.

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Dutton also apologised to Liberal candidates who have lost their seats [and] their ambition We have an amazing party, and we will rebuild.

Supporters watch the count on big screens at the function centre for the 2025 Federal Election, at the Federal Liberal Reception at the W Hotel, Brisbane. Reuters

A poll reversal Dutton didnt expect

Saturdays election results are a complete reversal from the beginning of the campaign. Dutton entered the race on a strong footing. But analysts say his chances were badly damaged by policy misses and reversals, and weighed down by US President Donald Trumps wrecking-ball approach to the global order.

Moreover, Dutton struggled to shake off comparisons between him and the US president. During the campaign, one of his candidates declared that she wanted to Make Australia Great Again  a reference to Trumps tagline of Make America Great Again.

He was also accused of stoking division, trying to turn Australians against each other, trying to start culture wars.

As Henry Maher, a politics lecturer at the University of Sydney, noted in an AFP report that Duttons perceived Trump-lite policies had turned some voters off.

For now, the future looks uncertain for Dutton. He has lost his seat in parliament and it is being speculated that his role as head of The Coalition will also come to an end. In fact, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that even before the votes had been cast, senior Coalition figures had held meetings weighing up leadership options in the event of a bad result for Dutton.

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Only time will tell what awaits Dutton.

With inputs from agencies
A stampede broke out at Goas Shri Lairai Devi temple in Shirgaon village, leaving at least seven dead and several others injured. Thousands of devotees had assembled for the popular annual jatra celebration when panic triggered chaos. What happened? read more

An injured being taken to a hospital after a stampede during a temple festival, in Panaji, Goa, Saturday, May 3, 2025. At least seven persons were killed and 30 sustained injuries after a stampede broke out at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in North Goa. PTI

A festive gathering turned into a heartbreaking tragedy at Goas Shri Lairai Devi temple in Shirgaon village on Friday, when a stampede broke out during the temples annual jatra. The chaos left at least seven people dead and over 30 injured, with the tally expected to rise.

The stampede took place in the early hours of the morning as thousands of devotees had assembled at the temple for the popular annual celebration. Many had travelled from across Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka to take part in the ritual, which draws massive crowds each year.

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Eyewitnesses said there were chaotic scenes as people struggled to escape the dense crowd.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant both expressed their grief over the loss of lives, and Sawant visited the North Goa District Hospital to take stock of the unfolding situation.

But what exactly led to the stampede? Heres what we know so far.

What happened?

The stampede took place around 3 am at the Shri Lairai Devi temple in Bicholim, where thousands had gathered to take part in the temples annual jatra, which began on Friday.

Held in the north Goa village of Shirgaon, the Lairai Devi jatra is a major religious event that honours Goddess Lairai, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati and one of the seven sister deities in Goan folklore.

The festival is famous for its powerful rituals and massive turnout of devotees.

As midnight approaches, the devotees perform a circular stick dance, synchronised with rhythmic drum beats.

The ritual reaches its peak when a designated person lights a massive bonfire near the temple. This marks one of the most awaited moments of the celebration.

Once the flames subside in the early morning hours, comes the most intense ritual of allAgnidivyawhere devotees known as Dhonds walk barefoot over a bed of burning embers to seek blessings.

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People walk around a bonfire during a temple festival in Panaji, Goa, Saturday, May 3, 2025. At least seven persons were killed and 30 sustained injuries after a stampede broke out at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in North Goa. PTI

But this year, something went terribly wrong.

Eyewitnesses said the crowd began to lose control at one point during the early morning rush. A sudden push near a sloped section of the route caused people to surge forward all at once, creating panic and triggering a stampede.

Initial reports suggest that the combination of a massive turnout and insufficient crowd control measures led to the deadly rush.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant later stated that a sudden electric shock may have triggered the panic among the crowd, according to NDTV. However, the exact cause is still being investigated.

People around a bonfire during a temple festival, in Panaji, Goa, Saturday, May 3, 2025. Initial reports suggest that the combination of a massive turnout and insufficient crowd control measures led to the deadly rush. PTI

Despite the scale of the event, the festival wasnt short on security. Over 1,000 police personnel were deployed for crowd management and overall safety, as reported by The Indian Express. The forces included the North Goa district police, India Reserve Battalion, and Goa Reserve Police.

Yet, even with such a large security presence, the situation slipped out of control, raising questions over crowd control and management.

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Ambulances deployed, health dept on high alert

Following the stampede, the emergency services were put on alert.

Police rushed to the scene and immediately launched rescue operations, while locals and volunteers joined efforts to pull people to safety from the chaos.

The state government initiated an emergency response immediately after the incident. Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said they have taken immediate and comprehensive steps to manage the situation.

An ambulance carries injured after a stampede broke out during a temple festival, in Panaji, Goa, Saturday, May 3, 2025. Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said they have taken immediate and comprehensive steps to manage the situation. PTI

He said coordination was established with 108the national emergency ambulance serviceto dispatch five ambulances to the site. Three more were positioned at Asilo Hospital, with an additional three kept on standby until the situation could be brought under control. A 24/7 helpline has also been started for medical emergencies.

In view of the unfortunate stampede at the Lairai Zatra, we have taken immediate and comprehensive steps to manage the situation. We have coordinated with 108, ensuring that five ambulances were dispatched to the site, with three stationed at Asilo and an additional three kept on  Vishwajit Rane (@visrane) May 3, 2025

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According to NDTV, at least seven people, including a 17-year-old boy, lost their lives in the tragedy. As per The Times of India, the six victims have been identified as Surya Mayekar from Sakhali in Bicholim; Pratibha Kalangutkar of Kumbharjua; Yeshwant Kerkar from Thivim; Sagar Nandarge of Mathwada, Piligao; and Aditya Kauthankar and Tanuja Kauthankar from Auchit Wada, Thivim.

Over 30 others were seriously injured in the stampede. Among them, at least 10 are in critical condition and are currently being monitored at the Goa Medical College.

Chief Minister Sawant confirmed that medical teams have also been deployed to the Primary Health Centre in Bicholim, the North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa, and Goa Medical College in Bambolim to ensure that all injured receive prompt and proper care.

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PM Modi dials Sawant, expresses grief

In the wake of the tragic stampede, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally called Goa CM Pramod Sawant to get an update on the situation and offer his condolences.

Expressing his sorrow over the loss of lives, PM Modi wrote on X, Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.

Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 3, 2025

CM Sawant, who visited the hospital to meet the injured victims, assured them of full support from the state government. He later shared an update on X as well.

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Goa: A stampede during the Shirgaon Temple procession in Goa resulted in 6 deaths and 30 serious injuries. Panic spread in the crowded area, and emergency services quickly responded. Preliminary reports suggest overcrowding and lack of proper arrangements as possible causes. Goa pic.twitter.com/dPlVYlIns2  IANS (@ians_india) May 3, 2025

Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken. Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji spoke with me and took detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time, he posted.

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Goa Congress reacts

The Goa Congress also expressed its condolences to those affected by the stampede.

Goa Congress is deeply saddened by the stampede at Jatrotsav of Shree Lairai Devi,Shirgao. We condemn this tragic incident and offer heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured. @DrAnjaliTai @ViriatoFern pic.twitter.com/Ut0Db1RZzs  Goa Congress (@INCGoa) May 3, 2025

Sharing a message on X, the party said, Goa Congress is deeply saddened by the stampede at Jatrotsav of Shree Lairai Devi, Shirgao. We condemn this tragic incident and offer heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured.

With input from agencies
As tensions rise between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, New Delhi this week has taken a series of new retaliatory measures. From barring Pakistani ships at its ports, to closing its airspace and restricting all imports, heres a look at whats unfolded so far read more

The tension between India and Pakistan has spilled over into the shipping lanes and trade routes, as New Delhi ramps up its response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

In a sharp escalation, India has barred Pakistan-flagged merchant vessels from docking at any Indian port. Alongside this, it has also announced a complete ban on all goods imported directly or indirectly from Pakistan. Moreover, India has also banned all postal services from the country.

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These three moves are the latest in a string of firm actions taken by the Indian government following the

terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists with families and children.

Described as one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent memory, the incident has sparked nationwide grief and outrage. PM Modi also vowed retribution, saying, India will identify and punish every terrorist, and those behind them. We will pursue them to the ends of the world.

Since day one, Indias response has grown increasingly assertive against Pakistan, sending a clear message of zero tolerance for harbouring terrorism. Heres a closer look at whats unfolded so far.

No entry for Pakistani ships in India

India has officially barred Pakistani-flagged ships from entering Indian ports and also restricted Indian vessels from entering ports of the neighbouring country, an order issued by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), states.

This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping," the DGS said on Saturday, adding that the order shall be enforced with immediate effect and will stay in place until further notice.

India has officially barred Pakistani-flagged ships from entering Indian ports and also restricted Indian vessels from entering ports of the neighbouring country. Representative image/Reuters

The restriction has been imposed under Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. This section authorises the DGS to issue directives to safeguard national interests and protect Indian shipping. It applies to Indian-flagged ships across the globe and to foreign-flagged ships operating in Indian waters, primarily to ensure the safety of life at sea and the vessels themselves.

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Interestingly, the order is specific to ships bearing Indian and Pakistani flags. This means vessels registered under third-country flags may still be permitted to operate between the two nations ports.

The DGS also clarified that any exemption or dispensation from the ban would be reviewed and decided on a case-by-case basis, leaving room for potential exceptions under certain circumstances.

Ban on all imports from Pakistan

In another significant escalation, India has imposed a blanket ban on all direct and indirect imports from Pakistan.

According to a fresh notification issued by the Commerce Ministry, a new provision has been added to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) that prohibits the direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders". The ministry clarified that the move is being enforced in the interest of national security and public policy.

This comes on the heels of Indias decision to close trade operations through the Attari-Wagah border  the only land-based trading route between the two countries. In a retaliatory move, Pakistan too has suspended all trade with India. The shutdown is expected to bring an end to cross-border trade worth approximately Rs 3,886 crore.

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India has imposed a blanket ban on all direct and indirect imports from Pakistan. File image/ Reuters

Though Pakistans direct exports to India have remained minuscule in recent years, some goods continued to enter Indian markets through indirect routes via ports in the UAE, Singapore and Sri Lanka. These typically included commodities like dry fruits, dates, gypsum, cement, glass, rock salt and herbs. In 202324, Indias imports from Pakistan stood at just $3 million (Rs 25.37 crore).

However, the latest ban could severely affect Pakistan as its pharmaceutical sector is heavily dependent on Indian supplies for several key raw materials.

Ban on Pakistani postal services & websites

The days third measure by India was to a ban all physical mail and parcels from Pakistan.

Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, the Centre said in an order.

Alongside this, India is also exploring the possibility of blocking access to Pakistani IP addresses, which could affect digital communication and internet-based services between the two countries.

No-fly zone for Pakistani airlines

Last week, India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), effectively closing its airspace to all aircraft registered, operated, or leased by Pakistan, including commercial airlines and military flights.

The airspace ban came into effect on April 30 and will remain in place until May 23, 2025.

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India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), effectively closing its

This restriction will force Pakistani carriers, such as Pakistan International Airlines, to reroute their flights via longer paths through China and Sri Lanka, significantly increasing flight durations and operational costs.

In retaliation, Islamabad has also closed its airspace to Indian airlines.

Indias twin financial strikes

According to reports citing sources, New Delhi is likely to push for Pakistans reinstatement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

If successful, this would subject Pakistan to heightened global scrutiny over its financial transactions, making it harder to attract foreign investment and access international capital markets.

The second move targets the $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid package that Pakistan secured in July 2024. India is expected to formally raise concerns over the deal, alleging that the funds could be misused to support terror-linked activities.

If pursued aggressively, these steps could deepen Pakistans economic challenges at a time when its financial recovery remains fragile.

Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty

A day after the Pahalgam attack, New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with immediate effect.

The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, governs the sharing of the Indus River system between the two countries and is vital for Pakistans agriculture, which depends heavily on these waters.

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The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960, after nine years of negotiations to determine the distribution of the waters of the Indus and its tributaries. File image/PTI

Reacting to Indias suspension of the pact, Pakistan warned that any interference with the water flow would be treated as an act of war.

Declare all Pakistani diplomats as persona non grata

India has also downgraded diplomatic ties with its neighbour  defence/military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi have been declared persona non grata, and were given a week to leave the country.

It also announced it would withdraw its defence staff from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and bring down the overall strength of the High Commissions to 30 from the existing 55 through further reductions, done by May 1.

Ban on all Pakistani visas

India announced that all existing visas to Pakistani nationals were to be cancelled with effect from April 27 and suspend visa services for them.

India also issued a Leave India notice to all Pakistani nationals, except those on long-term permits and Pakistani Hindus, residing in the country. They were directed to leave by April 30, following which the Attari Wagah boder was shut.

Border Security Force (BSF) personnel inspects Pakistani citizens as they cross at the Attari-Wagah border crossing near Amritsar, India, May 2, 2025. India has suspended visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect following the Pahalgam attack in south Kashmir. Reuters

Ban on YouTube channels and personalities

Last week, India banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including Dawn News, Geo News, and Samaa TV, for allegedly spreading false and misleading narratives against India.

It also banned Instagram accounts of Pakistani artists such as Hania Amir, Atif Aslam, Mahira Khan, among others, while also refusing to release  Abir Gulal movie starring actor Fawad Khan.

Pakistan has also retaliated by pulling off an Indian song from its radio stations.

With input from agencies
It has been more than a week since 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam. Indian agencies have identified three terrorists, including two Pakistani nationals, and suspect a fourth was also involved in the April 22 massacre. But why are they still at large? All this and more in our weekly roundup from India read more

People attend a protest and solidarity march after tourists were killed near Pahalgam in Kashmir, northern state of Uttar Pradesh, April 26, 2025. AP

India is reeling from the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. The hunt is on for the terrorists  three of whom have been identified by the security forces  involved in the April 22 massacre. They are believed to be still hiding in south Kashmir.

The Pahalgam terror attack has sparked fresh tensions between India and Pakistan. After tit-for-tat diplomatic measures, New Delhi is now mulling to pushing for Pakistans return to the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

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In other news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally commissioned Indias first deep-sea transshipment port at Vizhinjam in Kerala. The seaport can change the face of Indias maritime trade.

Heres all this and more in our weekly wrap from India.

1. Security forces are on the hunt for the terrorists of the Pahalgam massacre. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have released the sketches of three perpetrators  two Pakistan nationals and one resident of south Kashmir. Indian agencies suspect there was a fourth terrorist who remained hidden nearby to provide backup.

Several reports, citing National Investigation Agency (NIA) sources, say the Pahalgam attackers remain in the dense forests in south Kashmir and have provisions to sustain themselves. The terrorists remain at large even more than a week after the attack, as the terrain of the region adds to their advantage. Read more in our story about how terrorists continue to be hidden in south Kashmir.

2. India is taking measures to expose and choke Pakistans support of terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for the terror attack, a charge that the neighbouring country denies.

Now, India is considering pushing Pakistans re-entry into the grey list of FATF, the global money laundering and terror financing watchdog. Islamabad has been included in the FATF list several times. It was ultimately removed in October 2022. If India succeeds in its efforts, it would severely hurt cash-strapped Pakistan. But how? We explain in this report.

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3. The Vizhinjam port in Kerala is Indias first deepwater container transshipment port. Built at a whopping cost of about Rs 8,900 crore, it commenced commercial operations last December.

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

The seaport has since hosted 285 ships and 5.48 lakh Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU), including MSC Turkiye  one of the largest cargo ships in the world. PM Modi formally inaugurated the port this week, saying in a post on X that it will boost trade, commerce and will be particularly beneficial for Keralas economy.

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Once the port is completed, it could be a game-changer for Indias maritime history. Read our story to find out more.

4. In a big step, the Narendra Modi-led government has decided to carry out a caste enumeration as part of the upcoming regular census, which could be held next year. Caste census has been a divisive issue in Indian politics for decades.

A pedestrian walks past a population clock board displayed outside the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in Mumbai on June 2, 2023. File Photo/AFP

The opposition parties, including the Congress, have been demanding that all castes be counted in the country. However, the Centre remained ambiguous until now. Caste census was carried out during British rule, but was done away with in independent India. We take a look at the history and debate on the caste census in this report.

5. It was a teary goodbye for many at the Attari border in Punjabs Amritsar district as hundreds of Pakistanis on visas in India rushed to leave the country by the April 27 deadline. In a raft of punitive steps against Islamabad after the Pahalgam terror attack, New Delhi revoked several categories of visas for Pakistani nationals and closed the Attari border.

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Border Security Force (BSF) personnel inspects Pakistani citizens as they cross at the Attari-Wagah border crossing near Amritsar, May 2, 2025. India has suspended visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect following the Pahalgam attack in south Kashmir. Reuters

Similarly, Pakistan announced the closure of the Wagah border with India. This led to Indian and Pakistani nationals scrambling to get back to their countries. The pain of Indians and their Pakistani relatives was evident as they bid their goodbyes at the land route between the two countries in Punjab. Heres our report on how civilians have been impacted.

6. In a grim incident, an Indian tech entrepreneur in the United States is believed to have shot dead his wife and one of his sons before taking his own life. Harshavardhana S Kikkeri, the CEO of HoloWorld, a robotics firm headquartered in Karnatakas Mysuru, was found dead at his residence in Washington State, along with Shwetha Panyam, 44, his wife and co-founder of HoloWorld, and their 14-year-old son. The couples younger child, a seven-year-old boy, was the only survivor in the family.

The police are yet to reveal the motive behind the act. According to the neighbours, the family was friendly but kept to themselves. Read the tragic tale of the Kikkeris.

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This is all we have for you this week. If you like reading our explainers and want to stay updated, you can bookmark this page.
In response to these warnings, security measures were increased in and around Srinagar. This included enhanced security at several hotels popular with tourists read more

Indian intelligence agencies had alerted security officials about a potential terrorist attack targeting tourists in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the deadly attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed. According to officials, this alert specifically mentioned Srinagar and was timed around Prime Minister Narendra Modis planned visit to the region on April 19th.

The intelligence bureau and other agencies indicated that the attack could occur in or near Srinagar. However, they also noted that the intelligence information did not specifically mention Pahalgam.

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In response to these warnings, security measures were increased in and around Srinagar. This included enhanced security at several hotels popular with tourists and at tourist destinations like Dachigam National Park, located about 22 kilometres from Srinagar.

Ultimately, the PMs visit was cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions in the area. It was on April 22nd that terrorists successfully carried out their attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which is situated 90 kilometres away from Srinagar. Tragically, 26 people, all of whom were men, were killed in what officials described as an attack carried out along religious lines.

Nine out of ten times they dont come to anything, but this one proved correct about tourists. The interpretation, which is the trickiest part, got the location wrong," a senior police officer said.

An official also revealed that the Indian Army and other security forces in Jammu and Kashmir had been instructed to prepare for a potential attack near a tourist spot in Srinagar around the time of PM Modis intended visit.

Prime Minister Modi was supposed to travel by helicopter to approximately three different locations. However, the poor weather conditions disrupted these plans. Despite the cancellation of his visit, security forces remained vigilant and did not reduce their level of alertness.

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The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Nalin Prabhat, was present in Srinagar for four days, closely monitoring all areas surrounding the city. When the terrorist attack occurred in Pahalgam on April 22nd, he had just arrived in Jammu and had to return to Srinagar immediately.

All officials have confirmed that there was no specific intelligence indicating a possible terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Officials believe that after the PMs visit to the Union Territory was cancelled, the terrorists remained in hiding and waited for another opportunity to strike. Just one day after the cancellation, on April 16th, it was officially announced that US Vice President JD Vance would be undertaking a 4-day visit to India, a trip that had been planned for some time.

According to the officials, the oversight was the failure to anticipate an attack in the Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam. This area remains open to visitors throughout the year, with the exception of the period when the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage takes place.

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The IAFs historic land and go on the Ganga Expressway marks a milestone, but also reveals key challenges in highway-based operations read more

A fighter plane takes off after touching down as Indian Air Force conducts trial on the airstrip of the under-construction Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur on May 2, 2025. PTI

In a groundbreaking military manoeuvre, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday successfully executed a high-profile land and go operation on a section of the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The 3.5-kilometre stretch served as the makeshift runway for this landmark event, which, for the first time in Indias defence aviation history, enabled fighter jet landings during both daylight and nighttime conditions.

The exercise showcased an impressive array of IAF aircraft. These included top-of-the-line fighter jets like the Rafale, SU-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and Jaguar. In addition, transport and support aircraft such as the C-130J Super Hercules, AN-32 and the MI-17 V5 helicopter were also part of the operation.

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According to PTI, the temporary airstrip had been outfitted with a Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS). This advanced technology allows for low-visibility landings, effectively ensuring the strips availability for continuous, 24-hour operations.

Prior to this, such operations were confined to the Agra-Lucknow and Purvanchal expressways and were limited strictly to daytime execution with no precedent for conducting them after dark. The Shahjahanpur drill marks a significant leap forward in Indias readiness for flexible air operations in varied conditions.

The Ganga Expressway changes that paradigm by introducing night-landing capability expanding Indias military readiness. The airstrip is part of a broader strategy to develop Emergency Landing Facilities (ELFs) on national highways to serve as contingency bases during conflict or disaster.

Rise of dual-use infrastructure in modern warfare

As war becomes more unbalanced and high-tech, it is very important for a country to keep its air operations going, even if regular airbases are damaged. India has recently made progress in turning parts of its highways into ELFs for fighter planes. This shows a big change in strategy. Uttar Pradesh now has four working highway airstrips.

Now, the focus has shifted from asking whether fighter jets can land on roads to how well this infrastructure can be part of the national defence system.

Military airbases and highway runways are built for different reasons and have very different designs. Knowing these differences is not just about theoryit matters in real-life military use. This is especially true for India, which shares borders with two nuclear-armed countries that have strong air and missile forces.

Surface quality and strength

Military airfields are made using strong concrete or specially treated asphalt. These surfaces are built to handle the heavy weight and strong pressure of fighter jets taking off and landing again and again. They have grooves to help drain water, special coatings to stop rubber from building up from aircraft tyres and are regularly maintained to meet strict military standards.

On the other hand, highwayseven modern ones like the Ganga Expresswayare mainly built for vehicles. Although the airstrip in Shahjahanpur has been strengthened to support aircraft, it still does not have the special surface layers that regular military runways have. According to a News18 report, this makes it risky for jets as there is a higher chance of skidding, hydroplaning (sliding on water) or tyre damage during high-speed landings or takeoffs.

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Runway dimensions

Another big difference is the size of the runway. Military runways are carefully planned to match the needs of aircraft like the Rafale or Mirage-2000. This includes space for speeding up, slowing down and keeping enough distance for the wings.

Even though this airstrip is good for Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) aircraft like the Rafale or Mirage-2000, the limited space on highways can be challenging. This is especially true during emergency situations. Fighter pilots will have to adjust to working in trying conditions, which do not have the wide safety margins that normal airbases offer.

Obstruction management

Handling obstacles is another area where highway airstrips are not as good as regular military airbases. Military airbases are built in protected areas where there are strict rules about how tall nearby buildings or structures can be and how close they can be to the runway. But highways are located in regular civilian areas may often be surrounded by power lines, trees and buildings. These can make it harder for aircraft to take off or land safely.

For example, the Shahjahanpur airstrip on the Ganga Expressway needs constant and careful coordination with local authorities to manage the nearby infrastructure. Because of these issues, pilots may face more challenges and intense and careful practice is paramount.

Operational support infrastructure

Military airbases are like mini cities for aircraft. They have everything in placeair traffic control (ATC) towers, navigation equipment, fuel storage, repair hangars and emergency services. In contrast, highway airstrips rely on mobile or temporary setups.

To run even one fighter jet mission from a highway, mobile ATC units, portable lights, fuel trucks and maintenance crews must be brought in ahead of time. This makes things more complicated and takes more time to prepare.

Fortified bases vs open roads

Security is a very important difference between military airbases and highway airstrips. Military airfields are heavily protected with limited access, round-the-clock surveillance and quick-response teams. Highways, however, are public roads. Turning them into airstrips means stopping regular traffic, blocking entry points and setting up strong security measureswhich takes a lot of planning and effort.

Even during planned exercises, like in 2017 when six IAF jets including Mirage-2000s and Sukhoi-30MKIs landed on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, the entire area had to be carefully secured and cleared of all civilians. These extra steps make highway-based air operations slower to start and more open to possible security risks.

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To improve safety, the designated area for such IAF operations on the Ganga Expressway has been fitted with over 250 CCTV cameras to provide constant monitoring and strong security, a PTI report said.

Why these differences matter

The difference between highway airstrips and full military airbases is not just about technical featuresit has major strategic importance. In peacetime, these differences affect how often and how widely training can happen. In wartime, they can decide whether air operations can continue or whether they come to a stop.

Highway-based ELFs are vital backups during war or natural disasters. Given that striking at airbases at the start of a war is a known military strategy, spreading out aircraft operations becomes strategically important. ELFs can be used to refuel, rearm and launch fighter jets helping India maintain control in the air even if main bases are damaged.

Ganga Expressway redefines highway landings

Uttar Pradeshs Ganga Expressway has set a new national benchmark by enabling night landings on a highway airstripa feat never before achieved in India. With a CAT II ILS system and reinforced pavement, the Shahjahanpur airstrip not only enables 24/7 operations but also expands the IAFs capacity for rapid response in both wartime and humanitarian crises.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised that this expressway is a runway for national security, encapsulating the dual-use philosophy that modern defence planning demands. With expressways like Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and Agra-Lucknow already featuring operational strips, Uttar Pradeshs four-runway model stands as a template for national replication.

Strategic redundancy

The importance of these alternate landing sites becomes stark in light of the threat environment. Chinas terrain-hugging cruise missiles and Pakistans precision-strike artillery could neutralise traditional airbases in early combat phases. In such scenarios, highway airstrips allow dispersed aerial assets to regroup, refuel and counterattack. By placing these ELFs near existing airbases, logistical response times are reduced and the operational loop remains intact.

The integration of road-runways into Indias military doctrine reflects the countrys adaptation to the military realities of the time, especially when its principal rivals China and Pakistan have displayed highway landing capabilities. China began its highway landing drills as early as 1989 and executed one in Henan province in 2014, while Pakistan utilised its M-2 Motorway for such operations in 2000 and again in 2010 and 2019.

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Civil-military synergy

Beyond military use, these dual-use infrastructures enhance civil resilience. During natural disastersfloods, earthquakes or pandemicsthese airstrips can facilitate the movement of supplies, medical personnel and evacuation flights.

With 29 additional highway stretches identified for ELF development including those in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Leh-Nyoma, the strategy is evidently being scaled nationally. Coordination between the IAF and the National Highway Authority of India ensures that the militarys evolving needs are being embedded into civilian projects from the planning stage.

Toward a resilient, mobile air power doctrine

The operational and structural differences between highway and military airfields are substantialranging from surface treatment and airspace control to security and infrastructure.

However, in an era where agility, survivability and adaptability define military success, highway-based airstrips offer a viable, albeit complex contingency platform. Indias model, spearheaded by the developments in Uttar Pradesh, illustrates how civilian infrastructure can be woven into a national defence strategy.

Why Ganga Expressway drill matters

The timing of this IAF exercise assumes immense significance against the backdrop of heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to identify, track and punish perpetrators of the Pahalgam massacre and their backers.

PM Modis remarks set off a wave of speculation about Indias response to the terrorist attack. Indian forces had carried out cross-LoC (Line of Control) surgical strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2016 after terrorists targeted a military base in Uri. Again, after the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, India conducted an aerial strike in Pakistans Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

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The days after the Pahalgam terror attack has seen a series of punitive measures by India against Pakistan as preliminary probe by Indian security agencies uncovered links of the Pakistan Armys Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) with the terrorists who targeted tourists, singling out them on the basis of their religious identities, in the popular meadows of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan, rattled with Indias response that included putting the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, has resorted to suspension of all bilateral treaties including the key Simla Agreement and repeated violation of ceasefire at the LoC as well as live-fire drills in the Arabian Sea. The Pakistani provocations have received proportionate response from the Indian forces, officials have said.

The two sides have closed their respective airspaces to one-anothers flights. Several officials of the Pakistan government, including federal ministers, have given statements betraying their nervousness and anxiety over what they anticipate a military strike from the Indian side, targeting terror launchpads in the same fashion as seen after the Uri and Pulwama terror attacks. The IAF exercise on the Ganga Expressway under the prevailing circumstances is not clearly not just a show of strength.

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The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army is in a serious process of modernisation of its capabilities and improvement of its proficiencies across all warfare domains to become a joint force capable of the full range of land, air, and maritime as well as nuclear, space, counter-space, electronic warfare, and cyberspace operations read more

China is growing significantly in military strength. India needs to be conscious of the growing capability gap and needs to build its conventional military strength and find game-changing combat solutions. Image: AP

As China seeks to achieve national rejuvenation by its centenary in 2049, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders view a modern, capable, and world-class military as essential to achieving its revisionist aims (changing the current status quo) and overcoming what Beijing sees as an increasingly turbulent international environment.

This is the guiding principle charting Chinas national, economic, and military strategy. It is thus important to understand the Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) strategic thinking, current capabilities, and activities as well as its future modernisation goals.

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China continues its efforts to transform the PLA into an increasingly capable instrument of national power. The PLA is adopting more coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere while accelerating its development of capabilities and concepts to strengthen Chinas ability to fight and win wars against a stronger enemy, counter an intervention by a third party in a conflict along Chinas periphery, and project power globally.

Understanding Chinas Strategy

Chinas longstanding national strategy determinedly pursues political, social, economic, technological, and military development to increase Chinas national power and revise the international order in support of Chinas system of governance and national interests.

Chinas stated foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order into what it calls a community of common destiny. Chinese leaders claim their power to shape world events continues to grow, presenting new strategic opportunities to create an environment favourable for Chinas interests.

China acknowledges that internal and external challenges have complicated its economic recovery and growth post-Covid. It is trying to recover its long-term growth trajectory. Chinas ongoing military modernisation objectives are commensurate with and part of its broader national development aspirations to invest heavily in technological self-sufficiency and concentrate on advanced manufacturing.

Chinas stated defence policy remains oriented toward advancing its sovereignty, security, and development interests while emphasising a greater global role for itself. Beijing has demonstrated an increasing willingness to use military coercion and inducements to achieve these aims. But the senior military leadership is mired in corruption, and Xi Jinping is pushing through an unending purge. It includes the sacking of two defence ministers while the third is under investigation. Similarly, many loyal generals had to be shown the door.

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PLA Capabilities

The PLA is in a serious process of modernisation of its capabilities and improvement of its proficiencies across all warfare domains to become a joint force capable of the full range of land, air, and maritime as well as nuclear, space, counter-space, electronic warfare, and cyberspace operations.

Despite its progress, the force still has significant deficiencies, including in commander proficiency, long-distance logistics, and urban warfare. PLA continued to adjust its military structures, field modern indigenous systems, build readiness, and strengthen its competency to conduct joint operations. While it is pulling way ahead of neighbours India, Japan, and South Korea, there is some distance to cover to reach the capabilities of the US.

PLA Ground Force (PLAGF)

The PLAGF, with one million active personnel, continues its decades-long effort to modernise equipment and focus on combined arms and joint training. The PLAGF is undergoing significant reform, experimentation, modernisation, and restructuring to deal with potential threats and enhance their capabilities. Divisions are downsized into combined arms brigades, which reorganise into high-readiness army groups.

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While the size of the PLAGF has been reduced over the past few decades, technology-intensive elements such as special operations forces (SOF), army aviation (helicopters), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and electronic warfare units have all been significantly expanded. The latest operational doctrine of the PLAGF highlights the importance of information technology, electronic and information warfare, and long-range precision strikes.

The older generation command, control, and communications systems are being replaced by integrated battlefield information networks featuring local/wide-area networks, satellite communications, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based surveillance and reconnaissance systems, and mobile command and control centres for network-centric warfare capability. The PLAGF has 4,700 main battle tanks, 1,250 light tanks, and a huge force of self-propelled artillery.

It has been demonstrating long-range joint fires capabilities during exercises. The Joint Sword-2024 was a military exercise organised by the Eastern Theatre Command (ETC) to train and test the land, sea, air, and rocket forces of the theatre of operations in the vicinity of Taiwan. The weapons and equipment, including the fifth-generation Chengdu J-20, Shenyang J-16, Type 052C destroyer, Type 071 amphibious transport dock, Dongfeng series missiles, and box-type long-range rockets, were exercised.

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PLA Navy (PLAN)

Numerically, PLAN is the largest navy in the world. It has 384,000 active personnel, over 370 combatant ships (including 79 submarines), and 600 aircraft. It is the second-largest navy in the world by total displacement tonnage, at 2 million tonnes, behind only the United States Navy (USN). China is projected to have 475 battle force ships by 2035, while the USN will have 305 to 317. This would put the United States in a numerical and operational disadvantage, especially in the West Pacific. Chinas shipbuilding capacity is also many times more than the US.

The PLAN has grown the ability to perform missions beyond the First Island Chain (FIC) and is already working towards dominating the 2nd Island Chain. Three aircraft carriers are at sea, and three much more, much larger ones are planned in the coming decade.

The PLANs combat units are deployed among three theatre command fleets, namely the North Sea, East Sea and South Sea Fleets, which serve the Northern, Eastern and Southern Theatre Commands, respectively. Chinas closeness with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and ports in Hambantota, Gwadar, and Djibouti, among others, makes it easier for PLAN to operate in the Indian Ocean. Their forays are also increasing, to the detriment of India.

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PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and Aviation Industry

The PLAAF has 403,000 active personnel and controls most of the PLAs air assets, including tactical aircraft, large airlifters, and strategic bombers. PLAAF operates a fleet of nearly 4,000 aircraft, of which around 2,566 are combat aircraft (fighters, attack, and bombers). PLAAF includes ground-based air defence assets, including national early-warning radars, and controls the Airborne Corps. PLAAF is backed by a very modern aircraft industry.

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is the state-owned, publicly traded aerospace and defence conglomerate. In 2024, AVIC was ranked second among the worlds top defence companies. It has over 100 subsidiaries, 27 listed companies and 500,000 employees across the globe. It had a total revenue of $119 billion, including non-defence services. Chinas hypersonic missile technologies have greatly advanced during the past 20 years. Many Chinese missile programmes are comparable to other international top-tier producers.

The PLAAF made substantial progress in transitioning to more modern airpower with the acquisition and development of advanced aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-27 variants and their domestic models and indigenous J-10 fighters. China has two fifth-generation fighters, the J-20 and the J-35. Over 300 J-20s have been built, and the PLAAF plans to have 1,000 by 2030 and 1,500 by 2035. On December 26, 2024, China carried out the test flights of its two sixth-generation J-36 and J-XX fighter jets.

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The strategic orientation of the PLAAF continued to evolve with a focus on expanding its operational capabilities, including the development of long-range stealth bombers (H-20) and enhancing joint operational capacity with other branches of the Chinese military.

China is modernising and indigenising its aircraft and unmanned aerial systems rapidly, matching US standards. The PLA recently transferred significant portions of PLAN shore-based, fixed-wing combat aviation units, facilities, air defence, and radar units to the PLAAF. This will enable better command and control over Chinas integrated air defence system.

PLA Rocket Force (PLARF)

The PLARF is the 4th branch of the PLA. It controls Chinas strategic and tactical missile arsenal of land-based ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, both nuclear and conventional. The PLARF is under the direct command of the CMC. It has approximately 300,000 personnel and six ballistic missile bases (units at roughly corps level), plus 3 support bases in charge of storage, engineering, and training, respectively. The six operational bases are independently deployed in the five theatres throughout China, and each controls a number of brigades.

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China has the largest land-based missile arsenal in the world. According to US Department of Defence (DoD) estimates, this includes 400 ground-launched cruise missiles, 900 conventionally armed short-range ballistic missiles, 1,300 conventional medium-range ballistic missiles, 500 conventional intermediate-range ballistic missiles, as well as 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). Many of these are extremely accurate, which would allow them to destroy targets even without nuclear warheads.

The PLARF is advancing its long-term modernisation plans to enhance its strategic deterrence capabilities. China is developing new ICBMs that will significantly improve its nuclear-capable missile forces and will require increased nuclear warhead production. China may also be exploring the development of conventionally armed, intercontinental-range missile systems. If developed and fielded, such capabilities would enable China to threaten conventional strikes against targets in the continental US. China can already make conventional strikes anywhere in India.

Nuclear Capabilities

The PLA seeks a larger and more diverse nuclear force, comprising systems ranging from low-yield precision strike missiles to ICBMs with multi-megaton yields to provide it multiple options on the escalation ladder. Beijing continued its rapid nuclear expansion. In 2025, the Federation of American Scientists has estimated the Chinese nuclear stockpile at around 600 warheads, while the Pentagon estimates that China will have around 1,000 warheads by 2030 and 1,500 by 2035. Much of which will be deployed at higher readiness levels.

The Former Strategic Support Force (SSF)

The SSF was meant to support the PLAs ability to fight what China terms informationised conflicts and enhance the PLAs power projection capabilities in space and cyberspace. In April 2024, Beijing dissolved the SSF and positioned its subordinate forces, the Aerospace Force (ASF) and the Cyberspace Force (CSF), directly under the CMC. Beijing also established a new Information Support Force (ISF), under the CMC, to coordinate the management of the militarys networks and communications systems.

The updated PLA organisational structure now features four theatre-grade services, the PLAGF, PLAN, PLAAF, and PLARF, and four deputy-theatre-grade forces or service arms, the ASF, CSF, ISF, and the Joint Logistic Support Force (JLSF).

The Joint Logistic Support Force

The JLSF is the rear echelon and logistics arm of the PLA. It was established in September 2016 and was recognised as an arm of the PLA in April 2024. It is structured around a central Logistics Base in Wuhan, a major transport hub. Five joint logistics support centres are assigned to each of the five theatre commands.

The JLSF is working on improving joint strategic and campaign-level logistic efficiencies through training and integrating civilian products and services. The JLSF supports multimodal transportation methods to facilitate the movement of PLA forces and equipment.

PLA Reserves, Paramilitary, and Militia Forces

Interoperability and integration between the PLA, its reserve components, and Chinas paramilitary forces continue to grow in scale and sophistication, including the coordination between the PLAN, the China Coast Guard (CCG), and the China Maritime Militia (CMM).

China primarily relies on its CCG and CMM for maritime coercion while selectively using the PLAN to provide overwatch to deter rival claimants and quickly respond with force, if necessary. The Peoples Armed Police (PAP) is an additional paramilitary component of Chinas armed forces. Its primary missions include internal security, maritime security, and augmentation to the PLA during conflict.

Special Operations Forces (SOF)

The special operations forces of the PLA are units that conduct direct action and reconnaissance, including in enemy rear areas, to prepare the advance of friendly forces. They also perform counter-terrorism operations, although that task is formally assigned to PAP. Each theatre command controls their own SOF units. Most ground SOF are organised like conventional light infantry units. The PLA SOF consisted of 15 PLAGF brigades, one PLAN Marine Corps brigade, one PLAAF Airborne Corps brigade, and a PLARF Reconnaissance Regiment.

Chinese SOF units lack real-world combat experience. SOF does not have a national-level special operations command to oversee all SOF activities. Despite an emphasis on joint training, theatre commanders have no authority over PAP units, making it difficult to incorporate PAP and SOF into PLA training exercises.

Advancements in Informatized and Intelligentised Military

Chinas military strategy is to integrate technology into warfare. It involves using artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and other technologies. Informatisation involves integrating networks, information systems, and data into military operations. These include command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and cyber operations.

Intelligentisation involves incorporating emerging technologies such as AI, quantum, virtual and augmented reality, cloud computing, autonomous systems, and the internet of things (IoT). It includes the concept of hybrid intelligence, which blends human and machine intelligence. China envisions a Metaverse War, and is emphasising improving the PLAs human resources to meet the requirements of modern warfare.

The PLA considers information operations (IO) important for achieving information superiority early in a conflict, which it considers a critical requirement for the success of any military campaign, and is being exercised regularly. China has significant persistent cyber-enabled espionage and attack capability. It can be a threat to an adversarys military and critical infrastructure systems. Also, China has the second largest number of military satellites in the world, after the US. It has demonstrated the ability to shoot down a satellite in orbit.

Theatre Commands

China continues to refine the establishment of the Theatre Commands. The Eastern Theatre Command (ETC) is oriented toward Taiwan and the East China Sea and would likely oversee a Taiwan campaign. The ETC continues to execute exercises aimed at pressuring Taiwan.

The Southern Theatre Command (STC) is oriented toward the South China Sea (SCS) and Southeast Asia border security. It responds to US freedom of navigation operations in the SCS and can assume command, as needed, over all CCG and CMM ships enforcing Chinas claimed sovereignty. STC units conduct multiple live-fire drills and amphibious training events near Chinas occupied features in the SCS, including the deployment of howitzers and counter-battery radars at the China-Myanmar border.

The Western Theatre Command (WTC) is oriented toward India and counterterrorism missions along Chinas Central Asia borders. Its geographic coverage area is more than the size of India. The WTC focuses on Xinjiang and Tibet Autonomous Regions, where the CCP perceives a high threat of what it defines as the three evils of separatism, terrorism, and extremism.

WTC continues to blow hot and cold in both Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh of India. The Northern Theatre Command (NTC) is oriented toward the Korean Peninsula and Russian border security, and the Central Theatre Commands (CTC) mission is the defence of Beijing while providing support to other Theatre commands.

Evolving PLA Capabilities for Power Projection

The PLA remains focused on developing capabilities to provide options for China to dissuade, deter, or, if ordered, defeat third-party intervention in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. The PLA has undertaken important structural reforms and introduced new military doctrine to strengthen joint operations and is testing joint capabilities in and beyond the FIC. It has primarily emphasised power projection capabilities in the maritime domain, and improvements in air and naval systems enable the PLA to operate further from the Chinese mainland for longer.

PLA Preparations across the Himalayas

The PLA has enhanced its capabilities in the Himalayas by improving infrastructure, building airbases, and developing new weapons. Advanced infrastructure includes an integrated road and rail network. PLA military camps close to the border areas help their forces acclimatise to the high-altitude conditions.

The PLA has extended power to border outposts in the Himalayas, which helps troops stay warm and safe in the winter. They have micro-pressure chambers and improved air supply that help soldiers recover after patrols or strenuous activities. They have built a bridge across the Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh, which helps troops and tanks mobilise faster.

The PLA has built new airbases in Tingri and Shannan-Lhunze and has strengthened existing airbases like Lhasa-Gonggar and Shigatse. PLA has improved weapon stocking. They have armed UAVs that can penetrate Indian airspace, perform ISR operations, and obtain coordinates for missile targets. All these capabilities are of particular concern to India.

To Summarise

Global think tank analysis indicates that Beijing spends 40 per cent to 90 per cent more than it formally announces in its defence budget, which equates to approximately $330 billion to $450 billion in total defence spending for 2024.

Chinas main concentration remains towards annexing Taiwan. It also means challenging the US military in the Western Pacific. China continues to engage with many groups that oppose the US, such as Iranian proxies, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, or Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq. China has been trying to engage with Afghanistan through Pakistan to discuss stability, regional peace, counterterrorism, security for Chinese nationals, institutions, and projects in the region. But to not much avail.

In recent years, China has employed a more coercive approach to deal with disputes over maritime features, rights to potentially rich offshore oil and gas deposits, and border areas, including India. Its desire for a bi-polar world and unipolar Asia makes it turn towards India, mostly to try to put it in place and prevent it from being a challenge to its hegemony.

Approaches across the Himalayas and in SCS remain coercive. Tensions with India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) sparked a standoff between China and Indian forces and skirmishes in mid-2020 in the Galwan Valley. In late 2022, PLA and Indian forces engaged in an unarmed clash near Tawang along the Eastern Sector of the LAC separating Tibet and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. China also continues to arm-twist Bhutan for territorial gains.

China continues to build overseas military bases and logistics facilities to allow the PLA to project and sustain military power at greater distances. China is the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five UN Security Council permanent members, having deployed about 50,000 personnel over the last 31 years. China uses international outreach to garner the assistance of partner governments.

Of late China has increased bilateral and multilateral exercises to normalise its overseas presence and deepen defence ties. These include the Shaheen air exercises with Pakistan, the Falcon Strike air exercise with Thailand, the Maritime Security Belt naval exercise with Russia and Iran (2019), and Blue Sword with Saudi Arabia. Beijing first participated in Russias VOSTOK capstone exercise in 2018.

China remains the fourth-largest arms supplier in the world and sells nearly every category of conventional military equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles, man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS), submarines, naval surface vessels, surface-to-air missile systems, and fighter aircraft to customers worldwide. Chinas share of international arms exports was 5.9 per cent between 2020 and 2024.

The PLA remains mired in corruption, and many senior leaders had to be removed. This has demoralised the forces and caused confusion in command structure. This is bound to affect the PLAs progress toward stated 2027 modernisation goals. It is also affecting combat readiness. The political work system and the political training features within it have been central parts of the PLA since its founding as the party army of the CCP. Any military that has to owe allegiance first to a political party and only thereafter to a nation can never be a real combatant force.

Nevertheless, China is growing significantly in military strength. India needs to be conscious of the growing capability gap and needs to build its conventional military strength and find game-changing combat solutions.

The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The Vietnam Wars aftermath still impacts the US, Vietnam, and the wider world, and despite the hard lessons, violent conflicts continue to eruptmany unnecessary, some partly justified, but all costly read more

Vietnamese troops march during a parade to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, April 30, 2025. REUTERS/Minh Nguyen

At 7:53 am on April 30, 1975, a Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter evacuated the last Marine security guards from the roof of the US Embassy in Saigon. Master Sergeant Juan Valdez was the last Marine to board. Valdez had previously served a long tour of duty in Vietnam from 1965 to 1975.

A CIA officer helps evacuees up a ladder onto an Air America helicopter at 22 Gia Long Street on April 29, 1975. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Later that day, around 10:00 am, Saigon fell to the communist armies of North Vietnamjust two years after the Paris Peace Accords and the withdrawal of American forces from South Vietnam.

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Operation Frequent Wind

This final evacuation flight was part of Operation Frequent Windarguably the worlds largest helicopter evacuationwhich airlifted 1,373 Americans and 5,595 Vietnamese and third-country nationals out of Saigon on April 29 and 30, 1975.

The evacuation marked the final retreat of the US from Saigon, 20 years after the arrival of the first US advisors in South Vietnam and nearly three years after the last US combat troops had exited the country.

This final, chaotic, and terrifying scene represented a deeply humiliating moment for the USa nation that had never previously lost a war.

Story in This Piece

This article traces the history of the Vietnam War, the damage it inflicted on the perception of US invincibility, and the massive loss of life on both sides. It concludes with reflections relevant to todays ongoing conflicts in Europe (RussiaUkraine war), the Middle East (IsraelHamas war), and across Africa.

A War Reporter Reports

Among the foreign journalists who witnessed the collapse of Saigon was Loren Jenkins, a Newsweek reporter at the time (later with NPRs foreign desk), who documented the final hours of the US presence in Vietnam. In a recent NPR interview, Jenkins stated:

It was a stupid war. Never should have been waged. It was vicious, nasty to everybodyto the Americans who were sent to fight it and to the poor Vietnamese who were bombed.

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Futility of Invasion

As Jenkins rightly noted, it was an unwanted and futile war with no true victors. It became a permanent stain on the image of the worlds greatest superpower. Though America considered Operation Frequent Wind a logistical success, it was, in essence, a colossal failure. The chaotic evacuationwith people scrambling for flights to safetyevoked haunting parallels to the Kabul airport crisis in August 2021, following the Talibans rapid takeover of Afghanistan.

In both Saigon (April 30, 1975) and Kabul (August 15, 2021), many eligible evacuees were left behind.

But the clearest lesson from the disordered evacuation was the fundamental futility of Americas initial involvement in Vietnam.

Vietnam Celebrates

Wednesday, April 30, marked fifty years since Americas ignominious final retreat in what the world remembers as the Fall of Saigon and what Vietnam celebrates as the end of the American War. The anniversary was marked in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), now a thriving metropolis of nine million, with a grand parade featuring soldiers, dancers, and leaders speeches praising what the countrys communist leadership called the triumph of justice.

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From Friends to Foes

After World War II, many Vietnamese admired the US for helping to repel the Japanese. Even Ho Chi Minh, the nationalist and communist revolutionary, initially leaned pro-American. But through the tenures of five US presidents, that relationship soured, eventually culminating in a brutal war between the two nations.

Prelude to the War

Why did the war begin at all?

Vietnam was thousands of miles from American shores, and many Americans couldnt even locate it on a map. Yet, driven by fears over the spread of communism, the US got involved. In 1947, President Harry S Truman declared that American foreign policy would assist any country whose stability was threatened by communism. Soon after, fearing Vietnam would follow a similar path, Truman sent military advisors, transport planes, and jeeps as part of a multimillion-dollar aid package.

That marked the beginning of Americas deepening involvement in Vietnam.

The War Begins

In 1954, the French suffered a catastrophic defeat at Dien Bien Phu, ending their colonial rule in Vietnam. President Eisenhower, Trumans successor, was initially hesitant about involvement, especially after the Korean War. He noted in his diary, I am convinced no military victory is possible in that kind of theatre. Yet, he persisted due to his belief in the domino theorythat if one country fell to communism, its neighbours would follow.

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Vietnam was partitioned: Ho Chi Minh controlled the North, while US-backed Ngo Dinh Diem ruled the South. Eisenhower strongly supported the authoritarian Diem, and before the end of his presidency, open conflict broke out between Diems forces and the Viet CongSouth Vietnamese communist insurgents supported by the North. Both sides engaged in brutal tactics, including torture and political assassinations.

Thus, the Vietnam War escalated, and the US was drawn deeper into the conflict.

Escalation

Until President Kennedys assassination, US involvement remained relatively limited. But that changed drastically in August 1964, when the Gulf of Tonkin incident prompted Congress to grant President Lyndon B Johnson sweeping war powers.

With the South Vietnamese government on the brink of collapse, Johnson deployed US combat troops in early 1965 and launched a relentless bombing campaignOperation Rolling Thunderthat would continue for years. The draft call surged, and by 1967, nearly 500,000 American troops were deployed in Vietnam. That same year, anti-war protests erupted across US cities.

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A Tale of Five Presidents

Its striking that five American presidentsTruman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixonoversaw the Vietnam War. Privately, each expressed doubts about the wars purpose and viability. Yet none wanted to be remembered as the one who lost Vietnam to the communists.

Collateral Damage

The Vietnam War ended in early 1973, after nearly eight years of combat and the deaths of almost 60,000 American soldiers. It also claimed the lives of over three million Vietnamese civilians and soldiers. Beyond the human toll, America suffered a staggering loss of credibility, capped by the humiliating images of evacuation from the US Embassy rooftop.

Unwarranted

Fifty years later, public opinion still reflects the wars unpopularity. A recent Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll found the Vietnam War to be the least-supported major American conflict of the past century. Among Vietnam veterans, 46 per cent said it wasnt justified, while 41 per cent believed it was. Among the general public, 44 per cent said it wasnt justified, 29 per cent said it was, and about 27 per cent were unsure.

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The Stubborn Wound

While Americans mourn the fall of Saigon, few believe staying longer would have changed the outcome. The Vietnam War lasted nearly 15 years, cost $140 billion, and claimed 58,220 American livesyet ended in defeat. As The New York Times observed on the 50th anniversary, The Vietnam War became a stubborn wound in American life.

Vietnam Today

While the war remains a lingering wound in America, Vietnam has rebuilt. Despite losing over three million people, the country has moved on. With a 6 per cent GDP growth rate and nearly $5,000 per capita income, Vietnam is now a top-10 US trading partner, with $49 billion in two-way tradethough the US faces a $23 billion trade deficit.

Fifty years after unification, Vietnam remains a one-party communist state, yet it is relatively prosperous. Ironically, Vietnam is again being courtedby both America and China. But it cannot choose just one; it needs both.

Time to Learn the Hard Lessons

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War has been part of human civilisation since the beginning. But it inflicts immense suffering on nations and innocent civilians. Every year, Vietnam remembers its dead and celebrates how it defeated the French, the Americans, and ultimately the South Vietnamese.

For America, the fall of Saigon triggered a period of soul-searching that redefined how the nation viewed its global role. Still, that reflection did not stop America from entering more warssome overt, some covert.

The Vietnam Wars aftermath still impacts the US, Vietnam, and the wider world. And despite the hard lessons, violent conflicts continue to eruptmany unnecessary, some partly justified, but all costly.

Make no mistake: in todays world, where conflict is widespread, humanity remains the ultimate loser. The only winners are the arms manufacturers. It is time to reject war and embrace peace and harmony.

The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Every household these days has multiple devices that need to be charged almost on a daily basis. That often translates into multiple chargers occupying multiple power sockets in the house. Several people do not prefer carrying a phone charger or a power bank along due to the bulk and weight associated with them. UltraProlink seems to have a solution for most of these issues. Lets take a look at some of their products that let you charge multiple devices at a go or those you can slip in your bag without making it heavy.

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UltraProlink Boost Blade 67

Price: Rs 2,799

UltraProlink Boost Blade 67 can easily be mistaken for a compact power bank due to its appearance

The UltraProlink Boost Blade 67 can easily be mistaken for a compact power bank due to its appearance, but it is a travel charger. It happens to be the slimmest and one of the lightest 67W fast chargers I have ever used. It measures less than 15 mm in thickness and is super-convenient to carry around due to its size. Our unit came with retractable US power pins (two flat pins) and a detachable Indian power connector that smoothly plugs into it.

Boost Blade 67 is a travel charger

A fairly long 67W USB-C to C nylon braided cable is also bundled along; something we like to see in the bundle rather than searching for a right one after purchasing a fast charger. Speaking of fast charging, you can either charge a single device that supports up to 67W USB-PD fast charging or two devices simultaneously at up to 45W and 20W speeds through its two USB-C ports.

We tried charging multiple compatible devices with the UltraProlink Boost Blade 67 - some solo and also two at a time, and the performance was satisfactory. For instance, it managed to charge the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL that supports 37W USB-PD charging in 82 minutes, when we charged it individually. The speed did not drop when we also plugged in a Pixel 8a that supports 18W charging in the other port. The supposed 45W + 20W output worked well in this case.

The Boost Blade 67 could charge 54% of the Apple iPhone 14 Pros battery in 30 minutes, which is par for the course. Given its 67W output, it can even be used to charge certain laptops at a fair clip. But make sure you do not simultaneously charge another device with this charger when doing so, else the output will drop and so will the charging speed. All said and done, the UltraProlink Boost Blade 67 is a unique, convenient and capable travel charger thats worth its asking price of Rs 2,799 with a one year warranty.

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The UltraProlink Boost Blade 67 is a unique, convenient and capable travel charger

UltraProlink Juice-up Mag 4 Power Bank

Price: Rs 2,104

UltraProlink Juice-up Mag 4 Power Bank

If you do not like thick and heavy power banks or wish to eliminate the cable too, this is the product for you. The UltraProlink Juice-up Mag 4 is a compact and wireless 5000 mAh magnetic powerbank that can be used to charge compatible phones wirelessly. The power bank is fairly lightweight despite a metal housing and measures just 9.5 mm in thickness. So one can simply magnetically attach this product at the back of a compatible phone and keep using it or even indulge in calling while it is charging. It doesnt feel odd or cumbersome.

UltraProlink Juice-up Mag 4 is a compact and wireless 5000 mAh magnetic powerbank

The Juice-up Mag 4 supports 15W wireless charging and is compliant with Mag-Safe precision charging for Apple devices. Given its 5000 mAh capacity, it can charge almost all iPhones from the past few generations fully, barring the Plus and Pro Max models. Just because it has a 5000 mAh battery doesnt mean it can change a similar capacity battery fully. Typically, good power banks will do 75 to 80% of their peak capacity before running out of juice.

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Juice-up Mag 4 supports 15W wireless charging and is compliant with Mag-Safe precision charging for Apple devices

15W fast charging speed is not too fast but perfectly acceptable. In case you wish to charge the phone faster or if you have another device that doesnt support wireless charging, the Juice-up Mag 4 has a USB-C port that can do 22.5W of USB-PD charging. Also, never forget that a powerbank is a backup charging option and not the primary charger itself. It is only meant to be used if your devices battery is running low with no access to a power outlet.

Juice-up Mag 4 is a handy device that can easily slip into your bag without making it noticeably heavier

Even in such a case, dont look to charge the phone to full capacity. Just charge it enough so that it lasts till you have access to a charging point. Every power bank battery, however good, has limited charging cycles, and its charge holding capacity starts to deplete the more it is used. Hence, always use it judiciously. The Juice-up Mag 4 can be purchased for Rs 2,104 with six months warranty. It is a handy device that can easily slip into your bag without making it noticeably heavier.

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UltraProlink Boost Unity 100 Charging Station

Price: Rs 4,559

UltraProlink Boost Unity 100

If you want to do away with the hassle of using multiple chargers in the house, the UltraProlink Boost Unity 100 charging station is the product for you. You can think of it as multiple chargers rolled into one fairly compact device that sits on your desk on a neat stand bundled along. The stand has a rubberised base that makes it resistant to slipping or sliding. The overall build quality of the product is quite good and so is the finish.

Boost Unity 100 can provide 100 Watts of USB-PD output from its topmost USB-C port (C1)

As you can gauge from the images, this charging station can charge six devices simultaneously through its four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. But mind you, if you choose to use all six ports at a go, not all devices may charge at their full speed. Let me explain. The Boost Unity 100 can provide 100 Watts of USB-PD output from its topmost USB-C port (C1), as long as none of the other ports are engaged. If you plug in another USB-C device for charging, the output drops to 65W, which is still pretty good.

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Even better, it stays at 65W even if you charge three more USB-C devices using the other three ports (C2, C3, C4) that can deliver 20W output irrespective of whether you charge one or three devices at a go. Thus, if you need the full 100W for charging one device, just use C1. Else, you can draw up to 125 Watts out of the setup by engaging all four USB-C ports to charge compliant devices simultaneously. The two USB-A ports can deliver up to 18 Watts each.

I tried using multiple combinations on the Boost Unity 100, and the charging speeds were on expected lines. Unfortunately, I did not have any device that could draw more than 65W of power, and hence, I could not test its 100W output. Another thing to note is this charging station supports USB-PD/PPS protocols, so the fast charging will work fine with Apple, Google, Samsung phones and a few more, but not with devices that support proprietary charging standards like VOOC that you get on OnePlus, Realme and Oppo phones. This charging station can charge them too but not fast.

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The UltraProlink Boost Unity 100 charging station is priced at Rs 4,559

The UltraProlink Boost Unity 100 charging station is priced at Rs 4,559 and is covered by a one year warranty. A USB-C charging cable is also bundled along. The pricing of the product is on the higher side compared to a standard fast charger, but if you are seeking the flexibility of charging most of your devices at a go at one place, and using just one power socket in the wall, it seems like a fair price to pay.
As US President Donald Trump claims China occupies the Bagram Airbase, an assertion rejected by both Beijing and the Taliban, here are 9 things to know about Afghanistans largest airfield read more

A hangar can be seen behind barbed wire fencing at Bagram Air Base after the U.S. military left the facility, in Parwan province, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, July 5, 2021. File Image: AP

While slamming his predecessor, Joe Biden, US President Donald Trump claimed that China now occupies the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, which was vacated by the American troops in 2021. The US had to leave its biggest airbase in the country in light of the Taliban reclaiming Kabul.

But we were going to keep Bagram, the big Air Force base, which is one hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. Thats what they do. They make their nuclear missiles and are one hour away from Bagram, and I said you cant give up Bagram, Trump said while addressing the 2025 National Day of Prayer at the White House Thursday.

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They gave up Bagram, and right now, China occupies Bagram. So sad, so crazy. One of the biggest air bases in the world, among the strongest and longest runways anywhere in the world, one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles, he added.

The president blamed Biden and his administration for the Afghanistan debacle. You wouldnt have had the horror show at Afghanistan, which I think is what gave (Russian President Vladimir) Putin the resolve to go in and do what he did because he looked at how badly we got out, Trump claimed.

We lost 13 soldiers, and 42 were injured. Nobody ever talks about them, the legs, the arms, the arms, the face. Horribly injured, that would have never happened. Not even possible to have happened, and we would have been out before he was out, he furthered.

Trump made similar remarks in March this year, following which the Taliban issued a statement denying Chinese involvement. Bagram is controlled by the Islamic Emirate (Taliban), not China. Chinese troops are not present here, nor do we have any such pact with any country, it had said.

As Trump continues to lament about the airfield. Here are nine things you need to know about the Bagram Air Base.

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9 things about Afghanistans Bagram airbase

Bagram Airfield is the largest air base in Afghanistan, which lies about 60 km north of Kabul in the Parwan province. In the past, experts called the province extremely strategic, claiming that the keys to controlling much of Afghanistan lie in Parwan. Interestingly, the airbase was originally built by the Soviet Union in 1950 and the USSR had control over it during the early days of the Cold War. During the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979-89, Bagram served as a vital Soviet base. The base was eventually fortified and began housing military personnel from the USSR. US first laid its eyes on the airfield in 1959, when then-US President Dwight Eisenhower conducted a landmark visit to Afghanistan and landed in Bagram. After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in the 1990s, the Bagram air base was abandoned and became the frontline between the Taliban, who held Kabul to the south, and the Northern Alliance fighters based in mountain gorges to its north. The air base was heavily damaged during the conflict. After the 9/11 terror attack in 2001, the US and its Western allies took over the Afghan airfield, and for the next two decades, they controlled the airbase in the name of Americas war on terrorism. Under US control, the base grew to over 77 sq km, with a new runway, medical facilities and fast food joints for US personnel. There have been several reports that US soldiers also used the air base facilities to conduct abuse and torture of dissidents in the country. In 2020, Trumps first administration signed a deal with the Taliban in which they assured the pullout of all NATO troops from Afghanistan soil. With this deal, the Taliban used the next year to gain control over Afghanistan, with the US pulling out of the country. The final American aircraft took off from the Kabul airport on August 30, 2021. US forces vacated Bagram on July 2, and the base formally fell into the hands of the Taliban on August 15. While the base is under Taliban control today, the US has long raised concerns about China making inroads into Afghanistan after its exit. While most countries around the world were hesitant to recognise the Taliban rule, China gave the Taliban representative in Beijing ambassador credentials last year.
Stating that China has noticed the US 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 read more

The US-China trade war only seems to be deepening over tariffs. AP

Chinas Ministry of Commerce on Friday said that the country is currently evaluating the situation after the United States made multiple recent attempts to initiate dialogue over tariffs through various official channels, according to a report by Xinhua.

In a statement, a ministry spokesperson said that 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.

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Stating that China has noticed the US 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, Xinhua reported.

Earlier on April 28, the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected US President Donald Trumps claim that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had called him, reiterating that no talks were held between the two nations to resolve the tariff war, CNN reported.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakuns statement came after Trump, in an interview with Time magazine last week, said that Xi had called him.
The almost universal consensus across a slew of opinion polls leading up to election day was that Albaneses governing Labour Party would win a second term read more

A woman walks past electoral placards outside a pre-polling place in the seat of Bennelong, Sydney, Australia. Reuters

Most of Australia has voted for its next government after polling stations closed at 6 pm AET(1:30 pm IST) in the eastern states. Now, all eyes are on the results, which will be displayed soon by the Australian Election Commission in real-time after the counting begins later today.

This years elections were swayed by issues like cost of living, climate anxiety and US President Donald Trumps tariffs. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken a tough stance against Trumps trade measures, his main contender, Peter Dutton went soft on the US president and has been heavily criticised for it.

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Later today, both leaders will address their respective parties in Sydney and Brisbane as the Australian Electoral Commission tallies votes.

The almost universal consensus across a slew of opinion polls leading up to election day was that Albaneses governing Labour Party would win a second term.

The holy grail is back-to-back wins that were aiming for today, Albanese told Channel Seven.

Ill leave nothing on the field over the next three years if Im re-elected as Australias prime minister.

Some polls have shown Dutton losing support to Albanese because of Trump, whom he praised this year as a big thinker with gravitas on the global stage.

The ruling centre-left Labour Party has branded the opposition leader DOGE-y Dutton and accused his party of mimicking Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency.

Not just the US, but China has also emerged as a key point of contention between the two parties with Albanese claiming that his government had improved relations with Beijing, which removed a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that had cost Australian exporters 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year since Labor came to power in 2022.

The election is taking place against a backdrop of what both sides of politics describe as a cost-of-living crisis.

Foodbank Australia, the nations largest food relief charity, reported that 3.4 million households in the country of 27 million people experienced food insecurity last year.

The Australian House of Representatives is made up of 150 members, each representing a specific region of the country. Members serve a term of three years. To form a majority government and choose a prime minister, a party or coalition must win at least 76 seats.

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With inputs from agencies
Thousands of supporters of an Islamist group rallied in Bangladeshs capital on Saturday to denounce proposed recommendations for ensuring equal rights, including ones related to property, for mainly Muslim women. read more

Thousands of activists of Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam denounce proposed recommendations for equal rights for Muslim women, at a protest rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, May 3, 2025. Photo- AP

Thousands of supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam, a powerful Islamist group in Bangladesh, rallied in Dhaka on Saturday, demanding the government scrap the Womens Affairs Reform Commission, accusing it of promoting recommendations that conflict with Islamic principles.

Leaders of the Hefazat-e-Islam group said the proposed legal reforms are contradictory to Sharia law. More than 20,000 followers of the group rallied near the Dhaka University, some carrying banners and placards reading Say no to Western laws on our women, rise up Bangladesh.

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The protest held at Suhrawardy Udyan drew a massive crowd primarily composed of teachers and students from kawmi madrassas, non-government religious seminaries that form the core of Hefazats support base.

The commission was formed under the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus following the ousting of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government last year. Hefazat leaders argued that the suggested reforms undermined Islamic tenets and threatened traditional family structures.

In one of its largest demonstrations in recent years, Hefazats senior leader, Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Mahfuzul Huq, unveiled a 12-point list of demands. Chief among them was the immediate dissolution of the current commission and the formation of a new body staffed by Islamic scholars and female representatives aligned with religious values.

Another influential Hefazat leader Mamunul Haque demanded punishment for the women reform commission members as they hurt the sentiments of the majority of the people of this country by labelling the religious laws of inheritance as the main cause of inequality between men and women.

Men and women can never be equal, a womens madrassa teacher Mohammad Shihab Uddin told the rally, adding that the Quran outlined specific codes of life for both genders and there is no way we can go beyond that.

The Hefazat called for reinstating complete faith and trust in almighty Allah in the constitution and asked the government to abandon the suicidal concept of pluralism and to protect what they said the Muslims faith and practices.

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The group also opposed the inclusion of terms such as gender identity, gender diversity, gender equality, gender discrimination, third gender, and other genders.

It argued that these are used to promote LGBT and transgender inclusion under ambiguous slogans such as Leave no one behind and inclusive and feared that these ideas could lead to a destructive, anti-religious pro-homosexual society.

The Womens Affairs Reform Commission is one of the several commissions instituted by the interim government to carry out reform. It had recently submitted its recommendations to the government.

With inputs from agencies
Security was beefed up at Chennai Airport after authorities received an email claiming that the Lashkar operatives were on board a SriLankan Airlines flight read more

Authorities at Sri Lankas Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) thoroughly screened a Sri Lankan Airlines Chennai- Colombo flight following an intelligence input from India regarding the potential presence of five to six suspected terrorists.

Earlier, security was beefed up at Chennai Airport after authorities received an email claiming that the Lashkar operatives were on board a SriLankan Airlines flight.

This email was received when the flight had already departed for Colombo.

The aircraft was thoroughly checked and no suspicious individual was found. It was later cleared for further operations.

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In an official statement, Sri Lankan Airlines said that Flight UL 122, operated by aircraft 4R-ALS, was thoroughly checked by security officials upon landing in Sri Lankas Colombo.

SriLankan Airlines wishes to inform the public that Flight UL 122, operated by aircraft 4R-ALS, which arrived in Colombo from Chennai at 11:59 hrs today (3 May), was subjected to a comprehensive security search upon arrival," the statement read.

This was carried out in coordination with local authorities following an alert from the Chennai Area Control Centre regarding a suspect wanted in India who was believed to be on board," it added.

The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority, and we strive to ensure that the highest standards of safety are consistently maintained," it read.

On April 22nd, terrorists opened fire in the Pahalgam region of Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of 26 people. Most of the victims were tourists, making it the deadliest attack in the area since Article 370 was removed in 2019. A group called The Resistance Front (TRF), which is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a banned organisation based in Pakistan, said they were responsible for the attack. However, days later, the group said it had nothing to do with the attack and one of its digital platforms was hacked earlier.

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The attack has led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with New Delhi having taken several punitive measures to impose cost on Islamabad. There are also fears that India may take a military action against its arch-rival neighbour.
In the past two days, some flights, like Lufthansas routes to India and Bangkok, Polish Airlines Warsaw-Delhi, and ITA airlines Rome-Delhi, chose to avoid flying over Pakistan despite not receiving any official notice from NOTAM read more

Pakistans decision to shut its airspace to India has not only rerouted its carriers but also forced planes from Europe to choose a different route. Commercial airlines like Air France and Lufthansa have been avoiding Pakistani airspace since earlier this week.

Airplane tracking site Flightradar24 has said that carriers like Air France, British Airways, and Swiss have changed their flight routes since April 30 to bypass the Pakistani airspace. And according to NOTAM, a notice for pilots to alert them about potential hazards, some flight paths in northern Pakistan are officially closed till May, and hence flights are adjusting their routes accordingly.

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In the past two days, some flights, like Lufthansas routes to India and Bangkok, Polish Airlines Warsaw-Delhi, and ITA airlines Rome-Delhi, chose to avoid flying over Pakistan despite not receiving any official notice from NOTAM. This has caused flights to operate by an extra hour.

While NOTAMs are sent out to pilots to let them know about the dangers of some airspace, countries do their own risk assessments and alert airlines to avoid certain routes that they deem are not safe.

India closes airspace for Pak planes

Meanwhile, earlier this week, India closed its airspace for flights operated by Pakistan airlines in a fresh retaliatory move amid escalating tensions with the neighbouring country following the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Indian airspace will not be available for the aircraft registered in Pakistan, as well as for planes operated, owned or leased by Pakistan airlines and operators. Also, the ban will be applicable to the military aircraft of Pakistan.

The latest move, part of various measures taken by the government against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, comes a week after Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian carriers.

There are no direct flights between India and Pakistan.

Pakistani carriers use the Indian airspace for their flights to Singapore, Malaysia and other East Asian countries.

With inputs from agencies
Multiple reports indicate that Kash Patel, a close associate of Donald Trump, has been spending a significant amount of time away from Washington DC read more

A former high-ranking FBI official has claimed that Director Kash Patel is nowadays spending more time in nightclubs than in the office, leading to chaos within the department.

Speaking to MSNBC on Friday (May 2), Frank Figliuzzi, who served as the FBIs Assistant Director for Counterintelligence under Robert Mueller, raised serious questions on Patels commitment to his role.

Reportedly, hes been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building, Figliuzzi said. He further claimed that Patel was no longer receiving briefings daily.

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And there are reports that daily briefings to him have been changed from every day to maybe twice weekly, the former official claimed.

Multiple reports indicate that Kash Patel, a close associate of Donald Trump, has been spending a significant amount of time away from Washington DC. Hes reportedly been dividing his time between his office at the Hoover Building and his residence in Las Vegas.

So this is both a blessing and a curse, Figliuzzi said. Because if hes really trying to run things without his experience, without any experience level, things could be bad. If hes not plugged in, things could be bad. But hes allowing agents to run things so we dont know where this is going.

But the one word that keeps coming back at me from inside is that the building is chaos. People dont know whats happening from day to day, he told MSNBC host.

Recently, Democratic members of the Senate called for an official investigation into Patels use of FBI resources, specifically the agencys private aircraft.

CBS News has reported that the US Government Accountability Office might soon conduct an inquiry into the details and expenses of Patels travels, and whether any personal trips were wrongly charged to taxpayers.

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Additionally, The Washington Post reported that in response to these news reports, Patel has allegedly directed that polygraph tests be administered within the FBI. This action is believed to be an attempt to identify individuals suspected of leaking information to the media.

One FBI spokesperson recently said, The seriousness of the specific leaks in question precipitated the polygraphs, as they involved potential damage to security protocols at the bureau.
In yet another strategic move, India has banned all direct and indirect imports of goods from Pakistan as the two nations clash over the Pahalgam terror attack read more

In yet another strategic move following the Pahalgam terror attack, India has announced that it has banned all direct or indirect imports of goods from Pakistan. Tensions between the two nations skyrocketed after terrorists infiltrated a tourist spot in Pahalgam, Kashmir, killing 26 people and sending shockwaves across India.

On Saturday, the Commerce Ministry announced the import ban and said that it would be effective immediately. It is pertinent to note that the direct imports from Pakistan have been minuscule, and some of the goods that enter the country from Pakistan arrive through indirect channels via third countries.

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In the Commerce Ministry notification, there is a newly added provision in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) that mentions the prohibition of direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders.

The reason behind the move

The notification from the ministry said that the measures are being taken in the interest of national security and public policy. Apart from this, another order by the Directorate General of Shipping said any ship bearing the flag of Pakistan wouldnt be allowed to visit any Indian port.

This order is issued to ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in the public interest and for the interest of Indian shipping, the order said. It is important to note that for the longest time, trade between India and Pakistan has suffered significantly due to the animosities between the two nations.

Shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack, New Delhi announced the closure of trade through the Attari-Wagah border - the only land border crossing between the two countries. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan has also suspended all trade with India.

Before this, direct trade between the two nations came down sharply after India withdrew Pakistan from the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, shortly after the Pulwama attack in 2019.

According to India Today, the Attari-Wagah border saw trade worth Rs 3,886.53 crore in 2023-24. India is considering undertaking several strategic moves that are expected to have a severe impact on small traders and manufacturers in Pakistan. As per data, in 2023-24, India imported goods, mainly agricultural commodities, worth USD 3 million from Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan depends on India for pharmaceutical supplies. Hence, it will be interesting to see how Pakistan would react to the move.

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Pakistani side refused to release the BSF constable and would give same response over and over again: We are waiting for directions from the higher-ups" read more

Indian security forces have reportedly captured a Pakistani ranger in Rajasthan state, days after a constable of Indias Border Security Forces (BSF) was held by Pakistani forces after he inadvertently crossed the border while patrolling.

The BSF soldier remains in Pakistani custody for over a week now, sources said Saturday (May 3).

The constable was identified as Purnam Kumar Shaw, who mistakenly crossed the border. According to sources, several rounds of talks have taken place between Indian and Pakistani forces to secure the safe release of Shaw. However, the Pakistani side had refused to release him amid increased tensions following the deadly terrorist attack in Indias Kashmir, which resulted in 26 deaths.

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The Pakistani side reportedly gave India the same response over and over again: We are waiting for directions from the higher-ups".

Its not uncommon for soldiers or civilians to accidentally cross the border, and these situations are usually resolved through established military protocols. Typically, the individuals involved are returned to their respective countries after formal discussions between military officers.

The wife of the constable, Rajani, travelled from her home in Rishra, West Bengal, to Pathankot on Monday to find out about her husbands well-being. Officials from the BSF assured her that the force was making every effort to ensure his safe return. Following this assurance, she flew back to Kolkata from Amritsar. The BSF facilitated her travel from Firozpur to Amritsar.
In yet another provocative move, Pakistan on Saturday confirmed the testing of a ballistic missile and claimed that the launch was part of Exercise INDUS read more

Amid the brewing tensions between India and Pakistan following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad has claimed that it has successfully tested a surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has the potential to hit targets that are at 450 km. Pakistan confirmed the testing of the missile on Saturday and claimed that the launch was part of Exercise INDUS.

Tensions between India and Pakistan reached their peak after terrorists with links to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror group, infiltrated a tourist destination in Pahalgam, Kashmir and killed 26 people. The incident sent shockwaves across India, with New Delhi ramping up its security measures against Pakistan.

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The recent launch marks a provocative act from Islamabad that also introduced several other moves, calling them a tit-for-tat for Indias action. The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features, the Pakistani government said in a statement regarding the missile launch.

Pak PM boasts about military might

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other military chiefs boasted about their complete confidence in the operational readiness and technical proficiency of the forces to safeguard the countrys national security, the statement reads.

It is pertinent to note that Pakistan has been regularly violating the Line of Control (LoC), the ceasefire, to provoke India. Besides this, in the past few weeks, several Pakistani leaders have made several provocative statements and indulged in warmongering.

Pakistans Information Minister Ataullah Tara had claimed India was planning an attack on the country within 36 hours. However, it has been over 72 hours since he made the claim. In the statement, the Pakistan government noted that it tested the Abdali Weapon System.

The test was conducted at the Sonmiani Ranges and was likely to be part of an operational user trial conducted under the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), which is responsible for handling Pakistans nuclear-capable missiles. According to the ISPR statement on the matter, the launch was administered by the President, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Services Chiefs extended their congratulations to the participating troops, scientists, and engineers.

They expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness and technical proficiency of Pakistans Strategic Forces to ensure credible minimum deterrence and safeguard national security against any aggression, the statement concluded. India is yet to respond to the launch.
With tensions between India and Pakistan rising over the Pahalgam terror attack, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar and called for settlement of the disagreements between the two neighbours under the framework of the Simla agreement and the Lahore declaration. read more

As tensions mount between India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has urged both countries to resolve their differences through political and diplomatic means, within the framework of the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration.

In a phone conversation with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday, Lavrov discussed the aggravation of Indian-Pakistani relations in the aftermath of the attack, according to a statement issued by the Russian embassy.

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They discussed topical issues of Russian-Indian cooperation, as well as the aggravation of Indian-Pakistani relations following the terrorist attack near Pahalgam, the embassy said.

Lavrov emphasised the need for bilateral engagement, stating that disagreements should be settled in accordance with the provisions of the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999, both of which underline peaceful dialogue as the preferred path to conflict resolution between the two South Asian neighbours.

The ministers also discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts at the highest and high levels, the mission said.

There is no comment from the Indian side on the phone conversation.

The talks between the two foreign ministers came against the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan over the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

Citing cross-border linkages to the horrific attack, India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike.

Many global powers including the US and European Union have called on both sides to de-escalate tensions while unequivocally condemning the terror strike.

India has already asserted that the perpetrators, backers and planners of the terror attack must be brought to justice.

In a high-level meeting with the top defence brass, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the armed forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of Indias response to the terror attack.

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The prime minister affirmed that it is a national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism.

India on April 23 announced a raft of punitive measures against Pakistan including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the only operational land border crossing at Attari and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of the cross-border links to the attack.

In response, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian airliners and suspended all trade with India, including through third countries.

With inputs from agencies
As many as three major terror launchpads in PoK, where members of outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad were ready to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir, have been empty after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam read more

Pakistan is anticipating a military strike from India, much like the one carried out in 2019 in response to the Pulwama attack, and so a large number of terrorists taking cover in launchpads located in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) are being vacated and their inhabitants are being shifted deeper into Pakistan.

According to a report by the Times of India, intelligence sources say that as many as three major terror launchpads in PoK, where members of outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad were ready to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir, have been empty after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam.

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A senior intel officer told the news outlet, Pakistan is spooked by memories of the 2019 surgical strikes by India on terror camps in Balakot, etc. It is clear that in the wake of the outrage over the Pahalgam carnage, shared by countries across the world, the terrorists have been directed to vacate the launchpads and return to bases deeper in Pakistan, lest their terror hideouts are once again hit in retaliatory strikes by the Indian forces.

Even the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers, who are usually stationed at terror launchpads to assist foreign terrorists in infiltrating across the LoC and IB, have now vacated their positions in PoK, sources told TOI.

How is Pak connected to Pahalgam?

A preliminary report on the Pahalgam terror attack by the National Investigation Agency has pointed toward an operational nexus between Pakistans intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and LeT.

A report by NDTV says the NIA has found that the April 22 attack plan was formulated within LeT and was carried out on the directives of ISI.

The two key terrorists involved in the attack, identified as Hashmi Musa (alias Suleman) and Ali Bhai (alias Talha Bhai), have been confirmed as Pakistani nationals. Interrogations of detained operatives reveal that both attackers remained in regular contact with handlers based in Pakistan, receiving detailed instructions regarding timing, logistics, and execution.
PM Modi held wide-ranging talks with Angolan President Laurenco that focused on ramping up overall bilateral ties, including in areas of digital public infrastructure read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held extensive talks with the Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco during his four-day visit to India.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X, Both sides deliberated on a wide range of areas, including trade & investment, defence, energy, skilling, railways development partnership, health & pharmaceuticals, cultural cooperation and people to people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

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PM @narendramodi held extensive discussions with President Mr. Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco @jlprdeangola at Hyderabad House today. President of Angola strongly condemned the terror attack on Indian soil and expressed solidarity with the people of India.



Both sides deliberated pic.twitter.com/xS6as9vtVI  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) May 3, 2025

Earlier today, Lourenco received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan from President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi. The Indian prime minister announced a $200 million defence credit line for Angola and expressed commitment to act firmly and decisively against terrorists and their backers.

PM Modi made the remarks after holding wide-ranging talks with Angolan President Laurenco that focused on ramping up overall bilateral ties, including in areas of digital public infrastructure.

In his media statement, the prime minister said Laurencos visit to India not only gives a new direction to the bilateral relations but also strengthens the India-Africa partnership.

I am pleased to announce Indias $200 million defence credit line to support modernisation of Angolas defence forces, he said.

The prime minister also said that there was a discussion on repair, overhaul and supply of defence platforms as well.

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India will also share its capabilities with Angola in the areas of digital public infrastructure, space technology and capacity building, Modi said. We have also decided to further strengthen our relations in areas of healthcare, diamond processing, fertiliser and critical minerals. The prime minister also said, We are committed to taking firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them. Highlighting the importance of ties between India and the African Union, he said, We are partners in progress, We are pillars of the Global South.

With inputs from agencies
Samples of voting in nine of the 32 constituencies being contested showed the PAP had won in all of the aces. The vote count was ongoing and more sample counts were being released by the election commission. read more

People register to vote in the general election at a polling station in Singapore on May 3, 2025. Polling stations opened on May 3 across Singapore as voters began casting their ballots in an election seen as the first real test for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his long-ruling People's Action Party. Image- AP

Prime Minister Lawrence Wongs Peoples Action Party (PAP) won the Singapore general election Saturday by a landslide, securing 87 of the 97 parliamentary seats, local media reported.

Wong and the PAP sought a new mandate from the general election in the face of uncertainties in the global economy caused by US trade tariffs.

The PAP, Singapores oldest and largest political party has ruled the city-state since independence in 1965.

About 2.6 million Singaporeans were eligible to vote on Saturday for 92 contested seats as the PAPs Group Representation Constituency for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights had a walkover on nomination day on April 23.

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This was Wongs first election as prime minister of the global-business focused Singapore, which now faces navigating through strong headwinds caused by tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Can opposition make inroads into PAPs dominance?

The overwhelming PAP majority in Singapores unicameral legislature has become a norm in the wealthy islands political landscape.

But in the run-up to the latest polls, the PAP has faced a series of controversies.

Former premier Lee Hsien Loong is locked in a bitter feud with his brother Lee Hsien Yang who vehemently supports the opposition and who has sought political asylum in Britain.

The long-running family row centres on allegations made by Lee Hsien Yang that his brother is seeking to block the demolition of a family bungalow to capitalise on Lee Kuan Yews legacy  something he has denied.

Last year former transport minister S. Iswaran was thrown in jail for graft and in 2023, the parliament speaker and an MP resigned over an inappropriate affair.

At the same time, younger voters showed increasing receptive to alternative political voices.

One voter told AFP she had been impressed by refreshing and exciting new candidates from across the political spectrum.

Whether or not they get elected, I hope we see and hear more of them, and get to know them better, said 40-year-old Shiai Liang.

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Cost of living key issue as Singapores opposition

In 2020, the countrys largest opposition group, the Workers Party (WP), made historic gains, winning 10 of the 93 seats at stake  a significant jump from its previously held four seats.

The WP  which has become politically slicker  has been hoping to build on that momentum with a slate of charismatic candidates, including a top lawyer.

The party pulled in massive crowds at its rallies during the campaign, just like in previous elections, but those big numbers have seldom translated into electoral wins in the past.

Campaigning on cost of living issues, WP candidates said more opposition MPs were needed in parliament so that the PAP does not have a blank cheque and can be held accountable.

The PAP, however, pointed to the billions of Singapore dollars it has spent in helping citizens cope with rising costs, including via cash handouts and grocery vouchers.

Every election is important because it serves as a reminder to the first estate that the third still has a voice in shaping the future of our country, 45-year-old Wong Jun Heng told AFP after voting.

With inputs from agencies
US President Donald Trump shared an AI image of himself in a Papal attire, days after jokingly saying that hed like to be a Pope read more

Looks like US President Donald Trump is holding onto the dream of becoming the next Pope after he and the White House shared an artificially generated photo of the American leader dressed as the Vatican City sovereign. Trump first shared the photograph on TruthSocial on Friday, with many claiming that the president is mocking the death of Pope Francis, who passed away shortly after Easter Sunday.

Trump shared the image with no caption, leaving many wondering what the context of the image was. Earlier this week, Trump jokingly said that he would like to be his own number one choice to be the next leader of the Catholic Church.

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Id like to be pope, he told a reporter on Tuesday, before sharing his views on who should take the role. However, even if Trump wants to be a Pope, he is unlikely to be one since he is a billionaire who has married three times.

The god complex within the Trump administration

Soon after, the POTUS expressed his intention to be the next Pope, prominent Republican Senator Lindsey Graham appeared to throw his weight behind Trumps long-shot bid for the papacy, saying on social media that he was excited to hear about it.

This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility! Graham said. The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke. Trump MMXXVIII!

It is pertinent to note that there has never been a pope from the United States. However, there are a few cardinals currently in the race to be the next Pope. Trump is not the only one in his team with a god complex.

While sitting down with three top Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team members at the West Wings Roosevelt Room and answering journalists, Tesla CEO Elon Musk compared himself to Gautam Buddha. Is Buddha needed for Buddhism? the billionaire said when asked about who would lead DOGE in his absence, The Washington Post reported. Musk has indicated he intends to step back from his DOGE role this month. Was it not stronger after he passed away? he remarked.

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While Trump is not a Pope and Musks comparison of himself to Buddha is far-fetched, the comments by these two personalities are leaving the netizens bewildered.
US President Donald Trump raised eyebrows after his administration filed an emergency application to the US Supreme Court demanding that Elon Musks DOGE get access to social security data read more

US President Donald Trump continued to strengthen the power of his First Buddy, Elon Musk, and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as he pushed for them to access Social Security Data of ordinary people. On Friday, Trump asked the US Supreme Court to give DOGE access to sensitive records of the Social Security Administration.

D. John Sauer, the solicitor general, described the petition as an emergency application, the court docket states. The application presents a now-familiar theme: a district court has issued sweeping injunctive relief without legal authority to do so, in ways that inflict ongoing, irreparable harm on urgent federal priorities and stymie the executive branchs functions.

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In recent weeks, the administration has filed a barrage of such applications. Some of these applications defend Trumps crackdown on immigration and his efforts to remove birthright citizenship. Several of them await decisions from the justices, who are also set to hear arguments on May 15 on the scope of permissible injunctions in challenges to President Trumps efforts to do away with birthright citizenship.

Trumps disdain for lower courts

Trump and his supporters often complain bitterly about lower court judges, who have blocked many of his initiatives. Last month, Judge Ellen L. Hollander, of the US District Court for the District of Maryland, imposed strict restrictions on access to the records in light of the agencys abiding commitment to the privacy and confidentiality of the personal information entrusted to it by the American people.

Judge Hollander argued that the agency could provide the DOGE team with access to redacted or anonymised data and records, but only after they receive training on privacy laws and policies. She maintained that the members will be subjected to background investigations and will only gain access after they satisfy other requirements.

Meanwhile, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rejected the administrations request to pause the judges injunction. The Supreme Court later ordered the challengers, two labour unions and an advocacy group, to respond to the administrations application by May 12.

What are the two sides saying?

In the court docket, Sauer wrote that Judge Hollander, who was appointed by former US President Barack Obama, had exceeded her authority. The district court is forcing the executive branch, he wrote, to stop employees charged with modernising government information systems from accessing the data in those systems because, in the courts judgment, those employees do not need such access.

The government cannot eliminate waste and fraud if district courts bar the very agency personnel with expertise and the designated mission of curtailing such waste and fraud from performing their jobs, he added. However, it is important to note that some other judges issued similar rulings in lawsuits challenging Musks incursions into government records.

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Some lawyers argued that the Social Security Administrations data system could be used as an aid for the Trump administrations broader crackdown on immigration. Intrusion into the personal affairs of millions of Americans  absent an adequate explanation for the need to do so  is not in the public interest, especially because the agency has long communicated to the public its commitment to privacy, Judge Hollander wrote in her ruling.

To be sure, intrusion into the personal affairs of millions of Americans  absent an adequate explanation for the need to do so  is not in the public interest, especially because the agency has long communicated to the public its commitment to privacy, she added.

Meanwhile, Sauer told the Supreme Court that Judge Hollander should not be allowed to interfere in the executive branchs operations. The district courts flawed injunction, Sauer wrote, forecloses the executive branch from carrying out the pressing priorities of modernizing government information systems and ferreting out fraud, waste, and abuse  all at the behest of plaintiffs who gave their information to the agencies with the knowledge that other government employees may access their data.

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Hence, it will be interesting to see which way the apex court will tilt.

With inputs from agencies.
Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, the prime minister of Yemens internationally recognised government, said on Saturday he had submitted his resignation. read more

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Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Prime Minister of Yemens internationally recognised government, announced his resignation on Saturday, citing persistent challenges during his tenure.

In a statement, Mubarak said he had faced lots of difficulties, including being unable to reshuffle the government.
Turkish students shine in Chinese poetry, song contest in Istanbul

Xinhua) 10:44, May 03, 2025

ISTANBUL, May 2 (Xinhua) -- University students from across Turkiye gathered in Istanbul on Friday to showcase their Chinese language skills at the 4th Chinese poetry recitation and karaoke competition.

Held at Yeditepe University, the event brought together around 40 students from nine universities.

Participants demonstrated their proficiency in Chinese through poetry recitations and lively karaoke performances, reflecting both their dedication to the Chinese language and their appreciation of Chinese culture.

Eren Berk Karabulut from Middle East Technical University in Ankara won the first prize with a rendition of the classic Chinese poem "Snow -- to the Tune of Chin Yuan Chun," earning high praise from the judges for his fluency and heartfelt expression.

Murat Salih Karabulut, a Turkish language and literature major at Yeditepe University, has been self-studying Chinese for over a year. During the competition, he recited the poem "A Moonlit Night on the Spring River," drawing cheers from the audience.

"Many elements in classical Chinese poetry resonate with those in ancient Turkish literature -- similar themes, similar writing styles. That's what fascinates me," he said, highlighting the connection between Chinese and Turkish literary traditions.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, said on Saturday that nobody could guarantee that the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv would survive to see May 10 if Ukraine attacked Moscow during World War Two victory celebrations on May 9. read more

Participants take part in a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade on Dvortsovaya Square in Saint Petersburg on April 30, 2025. Russia will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. AFP Photo

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, issued a stark warning to Ukraine on Saturday, saying that nobody could guarantee that the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv would survive to see May 10 if Ukraine were to launch an attack on Moscow during Russias Victory Day commemorations on May 9.

His remarks followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys comments holding Moscow accountable for the safety of foreign dignitaries expected to attend the commemorative events in Russia next week.

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Our stance is clear with regard to all nations whose representatives are visiting Russia on May 9  we cannot guarantee what happens within the territory of the Russian Federation. Russia bears full responsibility for ensuring their safety, Zelenskyy said.

In an effort to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Unions victory in World War Two, Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week announced a temporary truce in the ongoing war with Ukraine. The Kremlin stated that the ceasefire would span three days  from May 8 to May 10  to allow for commemorations to proceed.

Putin is set to host several international leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, during the Victory Day ceremonies on May 9, which mark the defeat of Nazi Germany and remain a central element of Russias national identity and military legacy.

Responding to Moscows offer of the three-day ceasefire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was ready as long as the ceasefire would be 30 days in length, something Putin had already ruled out in the near term, saying he wants a long-term settlement not a brief pause.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine, given the continued war with Russia, could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries who came to Moscow for the traditional May 9 victory parade.

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We cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore we will not give you any guarantees, he said.

Medvedev, a former Russian president who has emerged as one of Moscows most outspoken anti-Western hawks since the start of Russias war in Ukraine, called Zelenskiys statement a verbal provocation and said nobody had asked for Kyivs security guarantees for the May 9 events.

(Zelenskyy) understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10, Medvedev said on his official Telegram channel.

With inputs from agencies
Both the White House and Ukraine described the one-on-one meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump as very productive. The two leaders, leaning in close to each other with no aides around them while seated in St. Peters Basilica, spoke for about 15 minutes read more

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and President Donald Trump, talk as they attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that his American counterpart Donald Trumps views on the war have altered a bit after the duos last conversation at the White House in February.

Trump met Zelenskyy last month on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral at the Vatican. The Ukrainian president said, I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently. Well see. Thats his vision, his choice in any case.

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Both the White House and Ukraine described the one-on-one meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump as very productive. The two leaders, leaning in close to each other with no aides around them while seated in St. Peters Basilica, spoke for about 15 minutes, according to Zelenskyys office and images of the meeting released by Kyiv and Washington.

What did the two leaders discuss?

According to a readout by Zelenskyys office, the two leaders covered a wide range of topics during their brief meeting. Zelenskyy said he discussed air defence systems and sanctions on Russia with Trump.

He also said that the US president agrees that a 30-day-long ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards ending the war in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy further said the critical minerals deal signed by the two countries on Wednesday was mutually beneficial, and that it would allow Ukraine to defend future U.S. investments, as well as its own territory and people.

US withdraws from peace negotiations

Zelenskyys comments come hours after US announced its withdrawal 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.

Attack in Kharkiv

Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes on Ukraines second city of Kharkiv wounded 47 people late Friday, police said, while Russian officials reported a massive attack by Ukraine on the Krasnodar region.

Hostile attacks on Kharkiv resulted in 47 injured civilians, police in the Kharkiv region wrote on Telegram.

Kharkiv governor Oleg Synegubov previously said that around 50 people had been wounded in the strikes, including an 11-year-old girl.

Fires have broken out. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and cars have been damaged in the drone strikes, he added.

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The attacks came hours after Russian strikes on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia wounded more than 20 people.

With inputs from agencies
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Mon Monday

97 /67

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 90s and lows in the upper 60s.
Kim Raff saw constant turmoil growing up in an abusive, addiction-laden family.

She was moved between at least seven states, attended five middle schools, spent the 10th grade unhoused and went through the foster care system twice.

We  came here to Grand Junction, in Orchard Mesa, where that campground is by the fairgrounds, Raff said. We lived there for a while, and when we couldnt afford to stay there anymore, we went and lived in a tent

We lived in a tent out there along the stream, and it was just life. Lots of bologna sandwiches.

Eventually, Raff went back into foster care, but she had to move out within a week of graduating high school  when she was still 17.

She moved from the Minnesota foster home to Grand Junction, but with little assistance or support, Raffs plights only continued.

FINDING FAMILY AFTER FOSTER CARE

She wound up homeless for a second time and failed out of college before entering the military. Raff had to end her service early after being injured from the waist down in boot camp, so she returned to the Grand Valley, attempted college again, got married and had a child.

Her marriage ended soon after it began, which contributed to Raffs second time failing out of college. But, the misfortune spurred a change in Raff.

My big fear was that I didnt want to become like my parents, Raff said. That was a driving motivator for me  looking at where I was in my life and going, Im 22, and I have a child now. My mom was 22 when she had me.

I was looking at these little pieces in my life and (wondering), Am I heading down that same road? So, I really had to evaluate what I wanted in life and figure it out.

Raff reversed her lifes trajectory, re-enrolling at Colorado Mesa University, making the Deans List four semesters in a row and graduating with a degree in counseling psychology  12 years after she initially enrolled.

She secured a job at Hilltop, working with families to prevent them from entering the foster care system, remarried and had a second child.

According to Raff, none of that progress would have been possible without the support of mentors and cheerleaders she met along the way.

I was working at the Dairy Queen up in Orchard Mesa, and the owners, Tony and Marie Martinez, had asked me if I was interested in going to college, Raff said. When youre in foster care, youre told what you can and cant do, and then youre not in foster care anymore, and you dont have anybody guiding you to what the possibilities are.

Tony and Marie asking me if I wanted to go to college set the trajectory for me to ultimately graduate. Had they not asked, I probably never would have gone; or, it may have been years before I even attempted.

A PERSONAL MISSION

Having seen the life-changing impacts of reliable guidance and encouragement, Raff had another revelation: more than 20,000 kids age out of the U.S. foster care system each year, and very few have the support necessary to thrive.

In fact, the National Foster Youth Institute reported that one in five foster youth become immediately homeless after reaching the age of 18; meanwhile, about 70% of women aged out of the foster care system will become pregnant before they turn 21.

At the same time, Raff said few programs and initiatives existed to aid those who age out of foster care. Those that do exist, she added, take an approach she found generally ineffective.

There are programs out there that provide financial assistance and stuff like that, but how do we take it back to the heart of a relationship? Raff said. When we look at these negative statistics that arent improving, (we dont consider) how are we helping them to grow as a human?

Why are we still calling it case management? Thats a child welfare term, were beyond child welfare now. Theyre not a case, and were not here to manage them. We (should instead) provide the tools and support for them to be successful and walk alongside them.

So, in 2017, Raff founded the nonprofit Foster Alumni Mentors (FAM) to carry out that exact mission.

The organization started small, with Raff being the only member.

She handled the barrage of financial, legal and operational tasks that starting a nonprofit entails. Since that work was without pay until 2020, Raff worked a second job at the Mesa County District Attorneys Crime Victim Compensation Program.

Despite its limited resources, FAM launched with the ability to offer mentorship, community, social events (dubbed FAM Time) and limited financial support for things like a bus pass, costs to obtain a drivers license and groceries.

This is a forgotten population, Raff said. People are just out there trying to make it on their own and prove to the world that they can do it without the tools and resources or guidance or support.

Initially, Raff recruited volunteers to provide mentorship, but participants expressed that they didnt want to invite another person into their life who would leave shortly thereafter.

Raff realized she had to employ full-time, dedicated mentors to ensure consistency and long-term benefits, but the funds simply didnt exist. So, she stepped into the role, serving as FAMs sole advocate, mentor and leader until mid-2022.

(Mentorship spans) different levels of support, Raff said. We have some who are high intensity, where its one or two times a week that were meeting because theyre homeless or theyre expecting a new baby and they dont know what theyre doing.

It may be every other week, it may be once a month, it may be a quarterly check-in, or it may be that were there to talk things through a couple times a year. Its the whole gamut of where people are at in their life  the one thing they all have in common, though, is that they experienced foster or kinship care.

FOSTERING RAPID GROWTH, IMPACT

Since 2022, Raff has hired two alumni advocates, one part-time and the other full-time. She said the impact of those advocates is evident, especially considering how FAMs newest advocate was once a member of the program.

The nonprofit has also expanded its offerings: scholarships for continued education, workshops on adulting skills, parenting groups, a food pantry, annual retreats and more.

In the eight years since FAMs launch, Raff said that several participants have already earned their bachelors degrees; at least five members have bought their first home; and at least two have obtained a Masters in Social Work.

Looking forward, Raff hopes to further expand FAM with programs that develop entrepreneurial skills and provide housing. In the meantime, Raff is organizing FAMs second annual fundraiser, the Starfish Gala.

The May 10 event will feature several inspirational stories from FAM mentors, accompanied by a dinner, wine pull and silent auction.

The gala also highlights a community member who positively impacted the (former) foster youth residents of Mesa County with the Tony and Marie Martinez Award, named after the very people who put Raff on the path she walks today.

The Martinezes were the inaugural award recipients during last years gala.

(At) the gala last year, I got to honor Tony and Marie Martinez with an award for all that theyve done in this community  Im gonna cry thinking about it, Raff said. I dont think a lot of people get that opportunity. People do what they can to make a difference, and they dont do it for the recognition, but I got to recognize and honor them. It makes me really happy.

To learn more about FAM, visit https://fosteralumnimentors.org/.
ODNI Releases September 2024 FISC Opinion on FISA 702 Certification Amendments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ODNI News Release No. 09-25

May 2, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ), is publicly releasing a September 2024 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) opinion with redactions.

The September 2024 FISC Opinion is the first FISC opinion issued after the re-authorization of Section 702 on April 20, 2024, and discusses many of the changes implemented under the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) and how the U.S. Government (USG) ensured the associated procedures conform to the new legislation.

RISAA required the USG to seek, within 90 days of reauthorization, an order from the FISC approving modifications to any existing Section 702 certifications that incorporated the new requirements introduced by RISAA. Accordingly, on July 19, 2024, the USG submitted amended certifications, along with updated targeting, minimization, and querying procedures, to the FISC.

On July 23, 2024, the FISC determined that the USG's amended certifications and accompanying legal procedure submissions involved one or more novel or significant interpretations of law, and therefore appointed amici curiae to address the following questions:

(1) does Section 702(f) of FISA, as amended by RISAA, including but not limited to section 3(a) (which generally prohibits FBI from conducting evidence-of-crime-only (EOCO) queries), apply to querying or accessing information acquired under authorizations pursuant to Section 702(a) that were documented in certifications submitted to the FISC under Section 702(h) before January 1, 2024? If so, what effect should section 18(d)(2) of RISAA be understood to have; and (2) with respect to travel vetting, do NSA's revised querying procedures and minimization procedures comport with the definition of "minimization procedures" at 50 U.S.C.  1801(h) and 1821(4) and the requirements of the Fourth Amendment?

Pursuant to the FISC's direction, amici curiae and the USG briefed these two issues for the Court. As to the first question, the FBI's revised query procedures, as submitted, prohibited evidence-of-crime-only queries irrespective of the certification under which the collection was acquired. The FISC ultimately found that RISAA's amendments to Section 702(f) that pertain to requirements for querying procedures, including the general prohibition on FBI conducting evidence-of-crime-only queries, apply only to information acquired under certifications submitted in 2024 and thereafter. The FISC, nevertheless, approved the revised querying procedures because they comply with the requirements for both pre- and post-2024 certifications and noted that, in some circumstances, the evidence-of-crime-only query prohibition will apply "by force of the revised procedures rather than direct operation of the statute."

On the second question, the FISC held that NSA's revised travel vetting procedures complied with FISA and the Fourth Amendment.

The remainder of the September 2024 opinion primarily addresses updates to compliance issues already discussed in the FISC's April 2024 opinion. Of note, the FISC stated that "FBI seems to be continuing to improve its implementation of the querying standard." The FISC also credited RISAA's requirement that DOJ audit every single U.S. person query conducted by FBI as contributing to FBI's improved compliance. With respect to NSA, the FISC indicated that it was satisfied with the remedial measures NSA had taken to address certain incidents involving NSA's travel-vetting process.

This opinion contained a significant or novel construction of law. As a result, DOJ produced a classified version of this opinion to the appropriate congressional committees within 45 days of its issuance. ODNI also produced the classified versions of the opinion, certifications, and procedures to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB).

Consistent with Executive Order 13526, when developing the redacted copies of the FISC opinion, ODNI consults with DOJ, NSA, CIA, and FBI to identify what information must remain redacted because it will cause exceptionally grave or serious damage to national security. This review is also conducted to ensure that information is not redacted to conceal violations of law, inefficiency, or administrative error or to prevent embarrassment to a person, organization or agency.

The information is redacted because it will reveal sources and methods that can cause exceptionally grave or serious damage to national security. Revealing such information would provide means for adversaries to change their behaviors and avoid detection. Many of the redactions relate to detailed factual descriptions of specific targets, techniques, and technology that support the FISC's finding that the certifications and procedures meet statutory requirements and are consistent with the Fourth Amendment. While the specific sensitive facts must remain classified, the legal analysis leading to the Court's finding are unclassified and being released.

Additionally, to protect the integrity of ongoing law enforcement investigation of intentional violations of FISA, certain redactions were made.

The document is posted in full-text searchable format on intel.gov.

This FISC opinion is being released pursuant to 50 U.S.C.  1872. This opinion, along with previous FISC opinions and additional public information on national security authorities, is available on www.dni.gov and intel.gov.

###

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Hegseth tasks Army to transform to leaner, more lethal force

By Shannon Collins, Army News Service May 1, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent out a memo to senior Pentagon leadership addressing Army transformation and acquisition reform April 30.

"The President gave us a clear mission: achieve Peace through Strength," he said. "To achieve this, the United States Army must prioritize defending our homeland and deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region. Deterring war, and if required, winning on the rapidly evolving battlefield requires Soldiers who are physically and mentally resilient, rigorously trained, and equipped with the best technology available."

To build a leaner, more lethal force, Hegseth said the Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems.

He said the Army must prioritize investments in accordance with the Administration's strategy, ensuring existing resources are prioritized to improve long-range precision fires, air and missile defense including through the Golden Dome for America, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities.

"I am directing the Secretary of the Army to implement a comprehensive transformation strategy, streamline its force structure, eliminate wasteful spending, reform the acquisition process, modernize inefficient defense contracts, and overcome parochial interests to rebuild our Army, restore the warrior ethos, and re-establish deterrence," he said.

Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll said the Army has learned during the conflict in Ukraine that the old way of doing war will no longer suffice during a Fox News interview today.

"President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have empowered the Army to make the hard decisions and hard changes to reallocate our dollars to best position our Soldiers to be the most lethal they can be," he said. "These are hard decisions. These are legacy systems that have been around a long time."

As the Army transforms to make a leaner more lethal force, it's meeting its recruiting goals, said Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George.

"We're up in every category, and we still have our biggest recruiting months ahead of us this summer," George said. "We're more than 90 percent right now. We want to fill our formations. We're getting the people we need. People want to be a part of the Army, and we're looking forward to filling our formations."

"We hit our 12-month retention goal six months into the year because that's how strong our leadership has been so far," Driscoll said. "Soldiers are signing back up to stay in the Army."

Future Warfare

Hegseth directed Driscoll to field long-range missiles capable of striking moving land and maritime targets and to achieve electromagnetic and air-littoral dominance by 2027.

He tasked the Army to field Unmanned Systems (UMS) and Ground/Air launched effects in every division by the end of 2026; and to improve counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) mobility and affordability, integrating capabilities into maneuver platoons by 2026, and maneuver companies by 2027.

"We recently had an exercise with more than 200 drones in a brigade combat team. We're watching what's happening," Driscoll said. "We know we need to change. The American Soldier is innovative. They are smart. They are hungry for change."

The Secretary wants the Army to enable AI-driven command and control at theater, corps, and division headquarters by 2027. The Army needs to extend advanced manufacturing, including 3D printing and additive manufacturing, to operational units by 2026.

The Army will modernize the organic industrial base to generate the ammunition stockpiles necessary to sustain national defense during wartime by implementing 21st-century production capabilities, with full operational capability by 2028.

The Army will 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.

Eliminating Waste

To maximize efficiency, accelerate modernization, and pay for the Army transformation within existing resources, Hegseth said Driscoll will end the procurement of obsolete systems and cancel or scale back ineffective or redundant programs, including manned aircraft, excess ground vehicles and outdated Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The Army will reduce spending on legacy sustainment, including outdated weapons systems and unnecessary climate-related initiatives, Hegseth said.

It will eliminate wasteful contracts and excess travel funding and reassess and optimize Army prepositioned stocks to align with strategic requirements. The Army will modernize language training programs to improve mission effectiveness.

Force Structure

To ensure strategic readiness, efficiency, and modernization, Hegseth said the Army will restructure at echelon. It will merge headquarters to generate combat power capable of synchronizing kinetic and non-kinetic fires, space-based capabilities, and unmanned systems.

The Army will downsize, consolidate, or close redundant headquarters. It will merge Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command into one command.

"We're cutting headquarters; we're cutting some of the bloat and going after inefficiencies," Driscoll said. "We're completely focused on buying warfighting technologies."

The Army will reduce and restructure manned attack helicopter formations and augment with inexpensive drone swarms capable of overwhelming adversaries.

The Army will divest outdated formations, including select armor and aviation units across the Total Army (active, Reserve, National Guard). It will realign forces strategically to optimize deterrence and rapid deployment, above all to defend the American homeland and deter China in the Indo-Pacific.

As part of workforce modernization and reduction, the Army will prioritize merit and skills needed for today's battlefield across the civilian workforce, Hegseth said.

He revised the civilian hiring and firing policies to enable the Army's ability to manage the civilian workforce. The Army will reduce general officer positions to streamline command structures for the warfighter.

Acquisition Reform

To accelerate modernization and acquisition efficiency, Hegseth said Driscoll will identify and propose contract modifications for right to repair provisions where intellectual property constraints limit the Army's ability to conduct maintenance and access to appropriate maintenance tools, software, and technical data while preserving the intellectual capital of the American industry. It will seek to include right to repair provisions in all existing and new contracts.

The Army will reform contracting processes to improve efficiency such as implementing performance-based contracting to reduce waste and expand multi-year procurement agreements when cost-effective.

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Statement by the Spokesperson in Response to Media Queries about the Availability of the Wagha Border Crossing for Pakistani Citizens Returning from India

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Responding to media queries about the availability of the Wagha border crossing for Pakistani citizens returning from India, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated:

The Indian decision to revoke visas of Pakistani citizens is creating serious humanitarian challenges. Many patients, with fragile health, had to return to Pakistan without completing their treatment. Furthermore, there are reports of families being split and children being separated from one of their parents.

The last date to cross over through the Wagah-Attari border was April 30, 2025. In that context, we are aware of the media reports indicating that some Pakistani nationals are stranded at Attari. We are open to receiving our citizens in case the Indian authorities allow them to cross the border from their side.

The Wagha border will remain open for Pakistani citizens in the future as well.

Islamabad

1 May 2025



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Pakistan Expresses Unwavering Solidarity with Palestine at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan's Ambassador to the Netherlands, Syed Haider Shah, made an oral statement before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), in The Hague today, in the public hearing on the request for an advisory opinion on the Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

In his statement, Ambassador Shah highlighted the atrocities being committed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), particularly in Gaza.

He emphasized that Israel's conduct towards the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reflected one of the most egregious breaches of the privileges and immunities of an international organisation in the history of the UN.

He condemned in the strongest possible terms Israel's attempt to dismantle the operations of UNRWA in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, terming it a blatant violation of international law and part of Israel's systematic campaign to deny much-needed humanitarian aid to millions of Palestinians in dire need.

He underscored the need for providing unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and to hold Israel accountable for the imposition of collective punishment through the denial of humanitarian aid to millions of civilians.

Pakistan had submitted its detailed written statement to the ICJ in the case earlier this year. The oral proceedings of the case are being held at the ICJ from 28 April to 02 May 2025, in which more than 40 states and organizations are expected to participate.

Pakistan has always and shall continue to stand by the Palestinians in their just struggle for self-determination, as well as for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Islamabad

01 May 2025

121/2025





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Vietnam leader's conciliatory tone on 50th war anniversary fuels hope but skepticism

Former boat people welcome To Lam's unusually soft remarks on South Vietnam but say action is needed to end animosity.

By Truong Son for RFA Vietnamese 2025.05.01 -- Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War this week, the chief of the ruling communist party To Lam struck a reconciliatory tone toward people from former South Vietnam.

His lengthy commentary, published in state media two days ahead of the anniversary, won praise at home and some cautious hope, mixed with skepticism, among those who fled the country after 1975.

The April 30 anniversary is most commonly celebrated domestically as the reunification of the communist North and the U.S.-allied South Vietnam, and this was the first time that the head of the Communist Party had used the occasion to acknowledge political differences and call for reconciliation. He dispensed with the usual glorification of the party's achievements and harsh criticism of enemies.

"Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one," To Lam, the party's general secretary, wrote, quoting founding communist leader Ho Chi Minh.

He referred to those originating from the former Republic of Vietnam - the formal name of South Vietnam - as "people on the other side." He said that "despite differences in political views" they were "all Vietnamese people." He also called for "no reason for Vietnamese people - sharing the same bloodline, the same mother Au Co, always yearning for a unified, prosperous country - to continue to carry hatred, division and separation in their hearts."

Au Co refers to a goddess in a Vietnamese creation myth who symbolizes the mother of its civilization.

To Lam pulled back on the use of terms like "American imperialism," "hostile forces," "invasion," and "puppet government" that are a stock-in-trade of party language referring to the war. He also dialed back their use in a speech he gave on the April 30 anniversary, which was marked with a grand military parade in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon.

By comparison, on the 40th anniversary of the war's end in 2015, his predecessor Nguyen Phu Trong used the term "anti-American" 14 times.

The change in tone drew praise on social media.

"I BELIEVE MR. TO LAM SPEAKS FROM HIS HEART," Huynh Ngoc Chenh, former Secretary of Thanh Nien newspaper and a political-social commentator, wrote on his Facebook account with 124,000 followers. Tran Thanh Canh, who regularly expresses his views on other political and social issues, wrote, "I am truly happy and hopeful for a bright future for our country!"

Facing historical truth

Not everyone shares his optimism that a change is in the air in Vietnam, which is under one-party rule. Political dissent is often punished with harsh prison terms.

Dr. Nguyen Quang A, one of Vietnam's leading critics, expressed skepticism, saying: "Has anyone inside Vietnam been convinced?"

He said the government needed to change its treatment of followers of Thich Minh Tue - a popular Vietnamese monk whose popularity has made him an object of official suspicion - and others in the country before "speaking pretty words."

Lawyer Vu Duc Khanh, currently living in Canada, said that as one of the legions of 'boat people' who escaped Vietnam after the communist takeover, he read To Lam's article "with a sense of calm, mixed with a cautious hope."

In a departure from past official rhetoric, To Lam wrote in the article that he had met "many people from the 'other side'" and he admitted that he felt that these people "although they may have different political views, historical experiences, or living conditions ... all carry national pride in their hearts."

But Khanh observed that true reconciliation requires "facing the entire historical truth." Among those truths, he said, are the "pains which millions of compatriots endured after April 30, 1975."

In addition to the millions of boat people who fled the country, many from the former Republic of Vietnam had property confiscated and were put into re-education camps. More 165,000 people are estimated to have died in the camps.

Cemetery for soldiers from the South

One matter of enduring concern to those who were on the losing side in the war is the government's treatment of the Bien Hoa Military Cemetery, outside Ho Chi Minh City, where Republic of Vietnam soldiers who died during the war are buried.

Many Vietnamese organizations in the United States have made efforts over the years to find ways to restore this cemetery, but have encountered many difficulties from the Vietnamese government.

More than 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers are estimated to have died during the war, and about 1 million from the North.

Phillip Nguyen is president of Viet Benevolence, an organization with the mission of finding the remains of soldiers of the Republic of Vietnam and restoring the Bien Hoa cemetery, with the hope of "healing the past and reconciling the future."

He questioned To Lam proposed reconciliation, saying that "it's easier said than done."

"The Bien Hoa Military Cemetery is still prohibited from being renovated. Thousands of disabled veterans of the Republic of Vietnam are now old, around 80 or 90 years old, sick, but are still oppressed and do not receive help from friends, relatives, or former comrades," Nguyen told RFA.

Still, he remains hopeful.

"I hope that under To Lam, there will be a difference. I have high hopes. It is very easy for them to prove that they really want reconciliation. If they want it, they can do it," he said.

To Lam has made positive statements about the Republic of Vietnam in recent months.

On Jan. 9, he said, "In the 60s, Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City was a bright spot, the Pearl of the Far East, Singapore was not as good." Then, on Feb. 13, he said, "Looking at Singapore, in the past, they said that going to Cho Ray Hospital for medical treatment was a dream." Cho Ray hospital in Saigon was built by the government of Republic of Vietnam.

These statements from To Lam were also received positively, but so far, little has happened to build on the general secretary's conciliatory words.

"Reconciliation cannot stop at statements; it needs to be demonstrated by concrete actions, especially from the authorities, to restore the trust of those who were victims of history," said lawyer Vu Duc Khanh who urged To Lam to prove his goodwill.

Edited by Mat Pennington.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Stevedores, Soldiers set stage for successful African Lion 2025

By Maj. Joe Legros May 2, 2025

GABES, Tunisia -- A stevedore shouted over the diesel hum of cranes as the first storage container was lifted out of the cargo ship and onto Tunisian soil. For the untrained eye, it may have looked like just another port delivery. But for the Soldiers and civilians waiting at the port of Gabes, it marked the start of something much bigger.

This was the opening move in setting the theater for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25).

Without the shipment of 95 pieces of cargo, including vehicles, equipment and weapon systems, the exercise would be dead in the Mediterranean water.

"We're not just moving cargo; we're enabling the entire exercise to happen," said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin VanFleet, a mobility officer assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command.

Along with setting the theater, VanFleet also set the record straight. A stevedore, he clarified, is a longshoreman who works at a port and is responsible for moving goods on and off ships.

"We're the first ones in," VanFleet explained. "Before troops land or vehicles roll, we're on the ground establishing the logistical foundation that allows the rest of the force to operate. That's how we set the theater."

This does not happen overnight.

Setting the theater is a strategic concept that goes beyond logistics. It means having an adaptable and agile military with the infrastructure, agreements and relationships in place to shape conditions for successful Army, joint and combined operations. The combined force in Gabes validated those capabilities in a real-world environment.

"This is my first time participating in African Lion and working with the Tunisians. It's been a seamless process allowing for the clearance of cargo at a rapid pace," said VanFleet.

The Portuguese-flagged vessel, BBC Bergen, arrived to a welcome-party of Italians, Americans and Tunisians, highlighting the multinational effort involved. The Bergen's journey took two and a half days across the Mediterranean from Livorno, Italy, and all 95 pieces - including shipping containers filled with equipment, trailers, water purification systems, air defense vehicles and M119 howitzers - were offloaded in less than a day and a half.

Multiple units joined the 839th Transportation Battalion's offloading effort, including Soldiers assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-57 ADAR) and the 240th Composite Supply Company (240th CSC) - all there to ensure a successful offloading process.

Two members of the 1-57 ADAR accompanied the crew of the Bergen on its voyage from Italy. The escort is a requirement anytime sensitive U.S. military equipment, dubbed 'super cargo,' is transported on a foreign-flagged vessel.

"Without the port operation, nothing downstream moves forward," said VanFleet.

This first port operation in Tunisia set the foundation for the broader SETAF-AF-led African Lion exercise, showcasing the U.S. Army's ability to operate in complex environments. Gabes was simply the first stop.

Immediately after offloading, equipment was loaded onto Tunisian Armed Forces vehicles and transported to exercise locations throughout the country.

The 839th Transportation Battalion is unique compared to most Army units. Along with Soldiers, it also employs two U.S. Army civilians and up to 10 local nationals per detachment. During port operations, the assigned detachment leads contract responsibilities, documentation and cargo handling, while the battalion sends military leadership to provide command oversight.

"Utilizing our local nationals is a huge asset," said VanFleet. "Some individuals have been doing this for more than 30 years. Their knowledge of the area of operations and relationships with host-nation authorities are critical to mission success."

In the first months of 2025 alone, the battalion supported missions in Poland, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Italy and Croatia, with additional deployments planned throughout the year.

"It's vital we keep exercising these ports and working with our partners," said VanFleet. "It allows everyone to create that muscle memory that only makes our relationships stronger."

AL25, U.S. Africa Command's largest annual exercise, brings together more than 10,000 troops from over 40 nations to enhance interoperability and strengthen multinational readiness. But before the first formation steps into the training area, port operations like the one in Gabes must succeed.

Every stevedore handshake and each offloaded vehicle contributes to the larger picture: the ability to quickly and efficiently project lethality anywhere, anytime.

About the 839th Transportation Battalion

The 839th supports both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, functioning as the single port manager for U.S. military cargo entering and exiting strategic seaports in both theaters. Its responsibilities include staging, reception, onward movement, customs clearance, agricultural inspections and overall integration of DoD assets at ports of embarkation and debarkation.

About African Lion

African Lion 25 (AL25) is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together 41 nations, including seven NATO allies, and about 10,000 troops. Led by U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the exercise will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.

AL25 is designed to restore the warrior ethos, sharpen lethality and strengthen military readiness alongside our African partners and allies. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operationspreparing forces to deploy, fight and win when it matters most.

African Lion provides an opportunity to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative readiness training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands including U.S. Africa Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Central Command; as well as strategic maritime choke points and global shipping lanes.

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

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Norway - AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missiles

NEWS | May 2, 2025

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-14

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway of AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $370.9 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Norway has requested to buy three hundred (300) AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles; two (2) AIM 9X Block II special air training missiles (NATM); twenty-four (24) AIM 9X Block II captive air training missiles (CATM); twenty (20) AIM 9X Block II Tactical Guidance Units; and twenty (20) AIM 9X Block II CATM Guidance Units. The following non-MDE items will also be included: dummy air training missiles; missile containers; software; training; support equipment; spare and repair parts; publications

and technical documentation; transportation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total program cost is $370.9 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

The proposed sale will improve Norway's capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring aviation forces' interoperability with the United States and other NATO members. Norway will have no difficulty absorbing these weapons 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 RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, AZ. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of the proposed sale will require the assignment of three U.S. Government and three contractor representatives to Norway on a temporary basis in conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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EU Statement - Third Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT): Cluster II

European External Action Service (EEAS)

02.05.2025

New York

Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in New York

2 May 2025, New York - European Union Statement on Cluster II (nuclear non-proliferation) at the Third Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) 28 April - 9 May 2025

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The multilateral non-proliferation and disarmament framework remains under unprecedented pressure due to current geopolitical challenges, including Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and multiple crises in the Middle East. At this critical time, we must strengthen our collective efforts to uphold and preserve the NPT, the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Chair,

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine is a gross violation of the UN Charter and international law and poses multiple grave threats to global security. Russia's actions are a serious threat to the safety and security of Ukraine's nuclear facilities including through continued reckless attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The situation remains precarious at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), illegally seized and militarised by Russia. We support the ongoing efforts of the IAEA Director General and Secretariat to address the nuclear safety, security and safeguards implications of the current situation in Ukraine. We welcome that the IAEA was able to continue to implement safeguards and undertake in-field verification activities in Ukraine in accordance with Article III of the NPT and Ukraine's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol.

Under these unprecedented circumstances, the work of the IAEA and its continued presence at all of Ukraine's nuclear sites is of utmost importance. We expect that the next rotation of the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission at the ZNPP takes place through the usual route and insist that the IAEA has access to all requested locations, information and personnel. All ZNPP reactors must remain in cold shutdown, as ordered by the Ukrainian regulator. We urge Russia to withdraw from the ZNPP, to respect Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and comply with all relevant UN General Assembly and IAEA resolutions.

Chair,

Ensuring Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon is a key security priority for the EU. We recall Iran's legally binding obligations under the NPT, and its commitments, all of which are essential to the global non-proliferation regime. The EU remains committed to a diplomatic solution to address the Iran nuclear issue. We call on all countries to ensure the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).

The risk of a nuclear proliferation crisis in the region is increasing as a result of Iran's escalating nuclear trajectory. Iran's unabated nuclear advances over the last five years are of utmost concern. Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon State to systematically produce and accumulate highly enriched uranium. Iran has already accumulated more than 6 significant quantities of 60% enriched material [which the Agency defines as the approximate amount of nuclear material for which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded]. Iran's actions carry very significant proliferation-related risks and have no credible civilian justification. In this context, we remain concerned by statements made by Iranian officials about Iran's capacity to assemble a nuclear weapon. We urge Iran to return to the provisional implementation and work towards ratification of the Additional Protocol and to resume implementation of all JCPOA-related monitoring and verification measures.

The EU urges Iran to reverse its alarming nuclear trajectory, return to its nuclear non-proliferation commitments and co-operate with the Agency swiftly and substantially, towards full compliance with its obligations under the NPT-required Safeguards Agreement. We look forward to the distribution, as soon as possible, of the IAEA DG's comprehensive and updated assessment. We also condemn Iran's military support to Russia, including the delivery of ballistic missiles, which is a major threat to European and international peace and security.

Chair,

The DPRK must cease all unlawful and destabilising actions that undermine regional and international peace and security, and comply with its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions.The DPRK must take concrete steps in dismantling its weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile and existing nuclear programmes, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. The DPRK will never be accepted as a nuclear weapon state under the NPT or have any other special status in that regard. We are alarmed about the disturbing shift of Russia's position on the denuclearisation of the DPRK.

We urge the DPRK to return to full compliance with the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon State and the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and to bring into force the Additional Protocol. We also urge the DPRK to refrain from testing nuclear weapons, to reaffirm the moratorium on long-range ballistic missile testing and nuclear tests and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty without further delay or preconditions. The EU is ready to work with all relevant parties in promoting a meaningful diplomatic process aimed at building the basis for sustainable peace and security and to take steps aimed at pursuing the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

We stress that UN sanctions remain fully in place, despite Russia's veto that prevented the Panel of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to the UN Security Council Resolution 1718 from continuing its work. Russia's decision severely impacts all UN Member States' ability to implement UN Security Council resolutions and address the DPRK's destabilising actions. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the expanding military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including the DPRK's deployment of troops and transfer of arms to Russia, in particular ballistic missiles, in flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. We call on the DPRK and Russia to immediately cease these activities and abide by relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The EU supports the IAEA Director General's engagement with Syria. We welcome the process of clarification of the outstanding safeguards issues that was launched last year. The EU calls upon the transitional Syrian authorities to engage constructively with the IAEA on the outstanding issues related to the Assad regime's nuclear activities, notably by providing it with the necessary information and cooperation. Moreover, we would strongly encourage Syria to conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol without further delay, so as to rebuild confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.

Chair,

Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements, together with the Additional Protocol, represent the current IAEA verification standard under Article III of the NPT. The EU continues to promote their universalisation and calls upon States, which have not yet done so, to conclude and bring into force these indispensable instruments before the next NPT Review Conference.

We call on concerned States to amend or rescind their Small Quantities Protocols without delay, especially those countries that are already in the process of building a nuclear power plant or research reactor. We note with concern that the Agency will no longer be able to draw safeguards conclusions for States with the outdated protocol.

Chair,

The IAEA safeguards system remains a fundamental component of the NPT. The EU attaches great importance to the IAEA's mandate and its impartial, independent and objective role. The close cooperation between EURATOM and the IAEA contributes to the effective and efficient implementation of safeguards in EURATOM Member States.

The EU recalls the importance of effective export controls, in accordance with Article III of the NPT, and in compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1540, 1887 and 2325. We invite all States to adhere to the guidelines of the Zangger Committee, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the Missile Technology Control Regime. We reiterate that export control regimes provide impartial guidelines that allow States to ensure that proliferation concerns are addressed and thus contribute to facilitating transfers of nuclear technology and scientific knowledge for peaceful uses, and to maintaining a predictable and transparent framework for international nuclear trade. It is in this spirit that the EU has organised in this Preparatory Committee session a side event on the benefits of export controls. We support the participation of all EU Member States the abovementioned export control regimes.

The proliferation of WMD-capable ballistic missiles and missile technology is a destabilising factor and remains a matter of grave concern to the EU. The EU calls on all States that have not yet done so, to subscribe to The Hague Code of Conduct, the only multilateral transparency and confidence-building instrument aimed at bolstering efforts to curb ballistic missile proliferation. The EU has been a tireless advocate for its universalisation and effective implementation.

Thank you, Chair.



* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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EU Statement - Third Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT): Cluster I

European External Action Service (EEAS)

01.05.2025

New York

Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in New York

1 May 2025, New York - European Union Statement at the Third Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) on Cluster I (28 April - 09 May 2025)

Mr. Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

The EU strongly supports all three pillars of the NPT and will continue to promote a comprehensive, balanced, and substantive full implementation of the 2010 Review Conference Action Plan. We stress the need to implement all obligations under the NPT and commitments from previous Review Conferences, including the need for concrete progress towards the full implementation of Article VI, with the ultimate goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons. We are resolved to seek a safer and more secure world for all in accordance with the goals of the Treaty in a way that promotes international stability, peace and security.

The EU notes the very severe consequences associated with nuclear weapons use, and emphasises that all States share the responsibility to prevent such an occurrence from happening.

The EU condemns in the strongest possible way Russia's actions, irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and threats to use nuclear force in its illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, which are provocative, dangerous and escalatory. This further demonstrates how Russia'sactionsrepeatedlyundermine international peace and security and erode arms control mechanisms, security assurances, and underscores the urgent need to strengthen ourdefence in order to protect our societies. We urge Russia to abide by the principles enshrined in the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races that it co-authored in January 2022.

We are deeply concerned by Russia's announced deployment of nuclear weapons on Belarussian territory. We recall the commitment Belarus made in the Budapest Memorandum 'to eliminate all nuclear weapons from [its] territory'. We call on Russia and Belarus to reverse this decision and to abide by all their commitments. We also call on Belarus, DPRK, and Iran to put an immediate stop to their direct military assistance, and on China and other countries to refrain from providing material support to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and to reverse any decision that would contribute to heightening existing tensions in the region.

Mr. Chair,

EU Member States remain committed to the pursuit of nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article VI of the NPT. We stress the need for concrete progress towards the full implementation of Article VI, especially through the overall reduction in the global stockpile of nuclear weapons, taking into account the special responsibility of the States that possess the largest nuclear arsenals.

Less than a year from now, the New START Treaty will expire. The world could be for the first time in decades without an agreed framework for nuclear arms control between the US and Russia. Recalling the obligations for all nuclear weapon States arising from Article VI of the NPT, we underline that the two nuclear weapon States with the largest arsenals hold a special responsibility in the area of nuclear disarmament and arms control. The EU strongly encourages seeking further reductions to their arsenals, including strategic and non-strategic, deployed and non-deployed nuclear weapons, and to pursue further discussions on confidence-building, transparency, risk reduction, and verification activities, laying the ground for even more robust and ambitious future arms control agreements and reporting. We underscore the importance of a successor agreement to New START in the interest of international peace and security and for the prevention of a new nuclear arms race.We welcome the repeated offers for dialogue by the US. Wecall on Chinato actively contribute to these processes.

Indeed, we remain deeply concerned about the rapid and opaque expansion of China's nuclear arsenal, which casts serious doubt about its strategic objectives and is inconsistent with its disarmament commitments under the NPT. China's lack of transparency over its nuclear doctrine, policies, and expanding arsenal raises questions about the credibility of its declared 'No First Use' policy and fuels mistrust. Concrete actions and meaningful engagement need to underpin doctrinal statements to build confidence. We therefore urge for clarity and meaningful engagement from China regarding its nuclear capabilities, as well as the role and significance of nuclear weapons in its doctrines and policies, including in relation to its stated No-First Use policy and nuclear posture. As the holder of the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal and a nuclear-weapon state under the NPT, China must enhance transparency and establish necessary communication lines to prevent misperceptions and clarify its strategic objectives. We urge China to engage in arms control dialogue, improve information-sharing, and halt further expansion of its nuclear arsenal.

The EU recalls Action 5 of the NPT 2010 Action Plan, which inter alia calls upon nuclear-weapons States to further enhance transparency and increase mutual confidence. The EU acknowledges the efforts by some nuclear-weapon States, including France, to demonstrate increased transparency on their doctrines and the nuclear weapons they possess, and calls on others to do likewise, noting the proposals in the EU's working paper on the subject (NPT.CONF.2026/PC.III/WP.1).

Mr. Chair,

Moreover, we call for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament of a Treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other explosive devices in accordance with document CD/1299 and the mandate contained therein. Pending a future FMCT in force, the EU calls on China - as the only nuclear-weapon State that has not yet done so - and all other States concerned to declare and uphold an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear devices, as elaborated in the Working Paper entitled 'Towards an FMCT: Advancing the objective of stopping fissile material production for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices in this NPT Review Cycle' (NPT.CONF.2026/PC.III/WP.6) submitted on behalf of the EU and a number of NPT States Parties.

As we highlight in the Working Paper on The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (NPT/CONF.2026/PCIII/WP.3) submitted jointly with a number of NPT States Parties, the EU stresses the need to promote universal adherence to and the entry into force of the CTBT, and that to this end all States that have not yet done so, in particular those listed in Annex 2, need to sign and ratify the CTBT without any preconditions or further delay. In the meantime, we call on all States to abide by the moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosion and to refrain from any action that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty. In this regard, we deeply deplore Russia's unprecedented decision to revoke its ratification of the CTBT and expect Russia to respect the object and purpose of the Treaty and maintain its contribution to the International Monitoring System (IMS).

We would like to highlight the benefits of concrete work on risk reduction and therefore the urgent need for all States concerned to discuss, agree and implement practical measures to that end, as inter alia outlined in Action 5 of the 2010 NPT Action Plan.

Multilateral cooperation is of great value in advancing nuclear disarmament verification. We will continue to support the actions taken by a number of States, including EU Member States, to consider the role of verification in advancing nuclear disarmament and support further efforts in all relevant fora, including the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV), the Quad nuclear verification partnership and the NuDiVe exercise. While verification is not an end in itself, further development of nuclear disarmament verification capabilities would facilitate progress on nuclear disarmament. The EU looks forward to constructive engagement in the discussions on the establishment of a UN Group of Scientific and Technical Experts on Nuclear Disarmament Verification.

The EU recognises the legitimate interest of non-nuclear-weapon States in receiving unequivocal security assurances from nuclear-weapon States as part of binding and agreed security arrangements. We stress the importance of continued reaffirmation by nuclear-weapon States of their existing security assurances noted by relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Finally, the EU supports disarmament and non-proliferation education, to which the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium is contributing with various activities.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.





* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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Statement by Foreign Minister Eide and Minister of International Development Aukrust on Humanitarian Access to Gaza

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 02/05/2025

- After 18 months of war, the situation in Gaza is catastrophic. It is unacceptable that Israel has blocked humanitarian aid and supplies for two months. Under international law, Israel is obliged to facilitate aid to the Palestinian population. I want to emphasise that the use of starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited under international humanitarian law, said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

According to local authorities in Gaza, more than 52,400 people have been killed and 118,000 injured in Gaza 7 October 2023. Over 90 per cent of the population is internally displaced, and 92 per cent of the buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged.

Israeli blockade and restrictions on humanitarian aid

In recent months, Israel has increasingly restricted the operations of humanitarian organisations in Gaza. The number of children suffering from acute malnutrition has nearly doubled since the blockade began on 2 March. The World Food Programme stated last week that it has depleted all its food stocks. Medicine supplies and medical equipment are critically low and are expected to be completely exhausted soon. Additionally, Gaza is running out of fuel. The UN and AIDA, which represents international non-governmental organisations in Palestine, have conveyed to Israeli authorities that they cannot accept guidelines that violate fundamental humanitarian principles.

- After two months of blockade, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is critical. We are deeply concerned that humanitarian assistance to Palestine is under increasing pressure and that Israel is introducing new demands and control measures. A system that gives full Israeli control over the delivery of aid to Gaza, while at the same time depriving UN agencies and other humanitarian actors of the ability to independently manage their operations, is unacceptable, said Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust.

Case before the UN's highest court

Last autumn, Norway initiated a UN General Assembly resolution that requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on Israel's obligations under international law. 137 countries voted in favour of the resolution. This week, public hearings are being held at the Court. In Norway's statement to the ICJ yesterday, and in the UN Security Council on Tuesday, it was emphasised that Israel is obliged to provide the UN and other humanitarian organisations with full access, and that humanitarian principles must be upheld. This includes ensuring that aid is needs-based, impartial, neutral, and reaches people in need.

- The key message in Norway's statement to the International Court of Justice is that Israel has clear legal obligations under international law to ensure full access for international assistance to Palestinians in need. That the UN's highest court is addressing this issue is crucialnot only to protect Palestinians, but also to safeguard the UN's ability to operate in Palestine, to uphold fundamental humanitarian principles, and to defend international law. No country is above international law. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is man-made, and it can be resolved if the parties are willing to prioritise the needs of the civilian population, said Eide.

Humanitarian principles must be respected

- Norway strongly opposes any plans that would facilitate forced displacement of the population in Gaza. Humanitarian aid must also not be used to achieve political or military objectives. At a time when international cooperation and the rule of law are under pressure, it is more important than ever to support the UN and humanitarian organisations, who demand that Israeli guidelines for humanitarian assistance must be in line with humanitarian principles, said Asmund Aukrust.



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TERRORISM POSES A PROFOUND GLOBAL CHALLENGE AND ALL DEMOCRATIC NATIONS WILL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO ELIMINATE IT: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF JAPAN H.E. MR. NUKAGA FUKUSHIRO STRONGLY CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK IN PAHALGAM, ASSURES JAPAN'S FULL SUPPORT TO INDIA IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

IN THE CURRENT GLOBAL SCENARIO, FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN INDIA AND JAPAN IS ESSENTIAL FOR GLOBAL PEACE, PROSPERITY AND STABILITY: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

INDIA AND JAPAN ARE CLOSE ALLIES ON MULTILATERAL FORUMS LIKE QUAD, G20 AND INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE: LOK SABHA SPEAKER

SHRI BIRLA WELCOMES PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 50,000 SKILLED MANPOWER OF INDIA IN VARIOUS SECTORS IN JAPAN

JAPANESE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION CALLS ON LOK SABHA SPEAKER AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE COMPLEX

Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 5:29PM by PIB Delhi

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla today asserted that all democratic nationsbound by a shared commitment to peace, security, and the rule of law - will have to come together to eradicate the menace of terrorism. He stressed that terrorism poses a profound global challenge that transcends national borders and threatens the very fabric of peaceful societies. He called for a collective and resolute response, grounded in mutual trust and respect for international norms, to effectively combat terrorism and uphold the values that define democratic societies.

Shri Birla made these observations during his meeting with Japanese Parliamentary Delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan H.E. Mr. Nukaga Fukushiro at Parliament House complex today.

H.E. Mr. Nukaga Fukushiro strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed Japan's steadfast support for India's fight against terrorism. Shri Birla appreciated the leadership of Japan for expressing solidarity with India on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and emphasised that in the current global scenario, friendship between India and Japan is essential for global peace, prosperity and stability.

Referring to partnership between India and Japan in multilateral forums like QUAD, G20 and International Solar Alliance, Shri Birla said that we have common concerns and thoughts on regional and global issues. Our relations based on mutual understanding are extremely important for co-beneficial progress as well as for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, he further said. In the changing context, the friendship has now taken the form of strategic and global cooperation, he added.

Shri Birla noted that the friendship between India and Japan is based on civilisational contacts, shared heritage of Buddhism and shared commitment to democratic values. He also expressed happiness that every year a large number of Japanese tourists and pilgrims visit India to go to places related to Buddhism which promotes People to People Connect between the two countries.

Shri Birla also welcomed the Japanese proposal to provide opportunities to more than 50,000 skilled human resources of India in various sectors in Japan. He appreciated Japan for providing more opportunities to Indian students in the country. He also thanked Japan for its assurance of support in infrastructure development of India's North East region.

Noting that last year, India completed the golden journey of 75 years of Constitution, Shri Birla mentioned that constitution has played an important role in India's journey of progress and development. Under the guidance of the Constitution, the country has made large scale socio-economic changes after independence and has kept public welfare at top priority, he added.

Referring to legislations like 'Disability Rights Act-2016' and 'The Transgender Persons Act, 2019', Shri Birla opined that these laws have made a significant contribution in connecting the last person of the society to the mainstream. To increase the participation of women in our legislative process to build a modern, balanced and progressive society, 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' has been passed which provides for reservation of seats for women in the Union and State Legislatures, he informed the Delegation. He also informed that the Indian Parliament has increased the use of Digital Technology and AI to bring transparency in its functioning and make it accessible to the public and more efficient, which has yielded positive results. He expressed eagerness to share these experiences with the Parliament of Japan.

On this occasion, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh; Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sanjay Jha, Lok Sabha MPs Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Deepender Singh Hooda and Ms. Kamaljeet Sehrawat were present.

***

AM

(Release ID: 2126209)

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Yemen launches missile attack on Israel for second time in hours

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 2, 2025

The Yemeni forces have conducted a "successful" missile attack on Israel, the second of its kind in the past hours, in defiance of the US strikes.

In a statement on Friday, Yemen's Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that "the missile unit of the Yemeni Armed Forces conducted a military operation against a vital target of the Israeli enemy in the occupied Haifa area, using a hypersonic ballistic missile" in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The missile, "the second in hours," hit its target "successfully," forcing settlers to run to shelters, the statement added.

Earlier on Friday, General Saree said the Yemeni forces "carried out a military operation targeting the Israeli enemy's Ramat David Airbase", near the occupied Haifa area, using a "Palestine-2" hypersonic ballistic missile.

"The missile successfully reached its target, thanks to God, and the interceptor systems failed to intercept it," the statement added.

The Yemeni attacks took place hours after the U.S. launched a strike on Yemen in an attempt to stop the country's pro-Gaza operations, leaving three people injured.

Yemeni forces, since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, have carried out scores of operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in the occupied territories.

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Israeli attacks on Gaza kill 22 Palestinians

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 2, 2025

Medical sources have announced that at least 22 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza.

According to Al Jazeera, nine members of the same family in Bureij were killed in the attacks on Friday.

Additionally a Gaza Freedom Flotilla ship carrying 30 pro-Palestinian activists was targeted by the Israeli military, but there were no casualties.

Al Jazeera cited humanitarian coordinator Amjad Shawa in Gaza, who warned that more children are likely to die from malnutrition as "the whole Strip is starving" due to Israel's 60-day blockade.

The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to over 52,400 as Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the besieged enclave continues unabated.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, 2,308 people have been killed and 5,973 others injured since March 18, when Israel resumed its military assault in violation of a ceasefire.

The ministry also stated that a total of 118,014 people have been injured in Israeli attacks since the war began on October 7, 2023.

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Yemeni army hits Israeli airbase with hypersonic missile

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 2, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni army has launched fresh missile strikes against the Israeli regime, triggering missile sirens across northern occupied Palestine.

In a statement on Friday morning, the Yemeni Armed Forces said its missile force had carried out a military operation targeting Israel's Ramat David Airbase, which is located in the southeast of Haifa.

It said that the operation was carried out with a "Palestine-2" hypersonic ballistic missile as part of Yemen's support for the Palestinian people.

"The missile successfully reached its target, thanks to Allah, while the interception systems failed to intercept it," the statement added.

Israeli media reported that missile threat sirens were activated in around 250 cities, towns, and industrial zones in northern occupied Palestine.

Sirens also reportedly blared in Haifa and its bay, and the area surrounding the Ramat David Airbase in the Jezreel Valley in the north.

The Israeli army confirmed the airstrike, claiming that it intercepted a missile coming from Yemen.

According to Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, departures and landings were suspended at Ben Gurion Airport after the missile operation.

Since mid-November 2023, The Yemeni Armed Forces have fired a large number of ballistic missiles and drones at various targets both inside the occupied territories and in the Red Sea in support of the Palestinian people amid Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

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NATO AWACS land in Lithuania, to support enhanced Vigilance Activities in the Baltic region

NATO Allied Air Command

May 2 2025

RAMSTEIN, Germany -- On April 23, 2025, the first E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) landed at Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania to support enhanced Vigilance Activities in the Baltic region.

The NATO AWACS detachment will operate with three E-3A aircraft from Lithuania, for a number of weeks, executing enhanced Vigilance Activities. The detachment will also monitor the Baltic Sea region, strengthening NATO's presence on the eastern flank.

This deployment also enhances NATO's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, improving resilience and operational flexibility across dispersed locations. Training from Lithuania enables NATO AWACS to react swiftly to evolving scenarios and reinforces cooperation with the host nation's air base.

The E-3A is NATO's 'eyes in the sky' and plays an important and unique role for the Alliance by protecting Allied airspace with air and maritime surveillance capability. They conduct a wide range of missions from peacetime air policing, support to counterterrorism, evacuation operations, embargo, initial entry and crisis response to the full spectrum of wartime missions.

The presence of AWACS in Siauliai ensures continuity of operations and demonstrates Allied readiness. Siauliai Air Base plays a key role in supporting Allied forces and rotational Air Policing capabilities. Its infrastructure boosts NATO's air power, interoperability, and deterrence in response to the evolving geopolitical environment.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office and NATO AWACS Public Affairs

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Italian Eurofighters scramble from Romania during NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission

NATO Allied Air Command

May 2 2025

RAMSTEIN, Germany -- On April 29, 2025, Italian Eurofighters were scrambled from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base for the first time since their Air Policing deployment to Romania commenced.

Eurofighter from the Italian Air Force's Task Force Air 51st Wing, currently deployed to Romania on NATO's enhanced Air policing mission, scrambled alongside the Romanian Air Force F16s in response to a potential threat in the north-eastern sector of the country.

The Alpha-Scramble order was issued by the NATO Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in Torrejon, following the detection of a potential threat to NATO airspace. The NATO fighters, under direction of Control and Reporting Center (CRC) in Balotesti, conducted aerial patrols along Romania's northern border. The Italian and Romanian jets both on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) took off to conduct Combat Air Patrol mission.

NATO Air Policing is a peacetime mission that aims to preserve the security of Allied skies. It is a collective task and involves the continuous presence - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - of fighter aircraft and crews, which are ready to react quickly to possible airspace violations. The NATO Air Policing mission is carried out using the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS).

Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), headquartered in Ramstein, Germany, oversees the NATO Air Policing mission with 24/7 command and control from two Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs): one in Torrejon, Spain, which covers airspace south of the Alps, and one in Uedem, Germany covering the north. When an interception is required - in the case of airspace violations, suspicious air activity close to the Alliance's borders or other kinds of unsafe air traffic that does not adhere to international air safety norms - the relevant CAOC decides which aircraft will be used, according to the location of the incident.

As a part of the broad set of assurance measures introduced following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Allies are providing additional assets to enhance air policing along NATO's eastern borders. To that end, Allies supplement the existing NATO Air Policing forces in the Baltic States, deploy additional aircraft to Poland, and augment the national air policing capabilities of the Bulgarian and Romanian air forces.

In the current rotation in Romania the Italian Air Force contributes with 4 Eurofighter Typhoon aircrafts, deployed in an advanced configuration which, among other capabilities, includes the ability to detect, follow, and track small and slow aircraft and identify beyond visual range threats. The jets operate under the national coordination and guidance of Italy's Joint Operations Headquarters and are placed under the operational control of NATO's CAOC Torrejon for the duration of the deployment.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office with information provided by the Italian Air Force detachment

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The OIC General Secretariat Calls for De-escalation of the Situation in South Asia

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

02-05-2025

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the South Asian region and called for restraint and the urgent resumption of dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of India. It stressed the need to resolve differences through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter, to safeguard peace, security, and stability in South Asia.

The General Secretariat reiterated the OIC's principled and consistent position condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

It also recalled the decisions of the Islamic Summit and the resolutions adopted by the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers reaffirming the Organisation's unwavering support for the Jammu and Kashmir question. The General Secretariat urged the international community to intensify efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in line with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Noting that this unresolved issue remains the core challenge to lasting peace and stability in the region, the OIC underscored the importance of sustained commitment to a peaceful settlement.

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PH, NZ visiting forces pact highlights commitment to peace, stability

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

May 2, 2025, 12:25 pm

MANILA -- National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano on Friday hailed the Philippines' signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with New Zealand on April 30, calling it an "important milestone" in the country's growing strategic and defense partnership.

"This landmark agreement demonstrates our shared commitment to a rules-based international order, regional peace and stability, and enhanced cooperation in both security and humanitarian domains," he said.

Ano, also director general of the National Security Council (NSC), said the SOVFA reflects the mutual resolve of the Philippines and New Zealand in bolstering interoperability between their respective Armed Forces through joint training, capacity building, and collaboration on disaster response.

He said this is an important factor considering that the two countries are vulnerable to natural disasters as both are located within the Pacific Ring of Fire.

"The NSC commends the continuing efforts to strengthen our bilateral defense ties with New Zealand. This agreement is not directed against any one state, but rather stands as a clear affirmation that the Philippines and New Zealand are committed to international law, freedom of navigation, and the peaceful resolution of disputes," Ano said.

He said the partnership is a step forward in strengthening the ability to respond to common challenges, whether natural disasters, transnational threats, or encroachments that undermine sovereign rights.

"By deepening our security cooperation with like-minded nations, such as New Zealand, the Philippines reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding national interests while promoting regional stability, resilience, and mutual respect among nations," he said.

The first round of talks for the Philippines and New Zealand SOVFA took place in Manila on Jan. 23.

"The first round of negotiations marked an important step in strengthening bilateral defense ties between the Philippines and New Zealand. A commitment to conclude a SOVFA was among the key outcomes agreed between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the latter's visit to Manila in April 2024," the Department of National Defense (DND) earlier said.

The SOVFA will reinforce the memorandum of agreement between the DND and the AFP with the defense ministry of New Zealand concerning the defense cooperation, signed in 2017.

The DND said the successful conclusion of this agreement would be a significant milestone for the overall bilateral relationship between the Philippines and New Zealand, which will mark 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2026. (PNA)

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Ireland says Israel's Gaza aid blockade 'unconscionable' as children starving

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 6:15 PM

Ireland has slammed as "unconscionable" Israel's ban on humanitarian aid into Gaza, as Palestinian children there are "starving", calling on the occupying regime to allow goods and supplies into the besieged territory.

In a statement on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland (Tanaiste), Simon Harris, said, "Children are starving. Hospitals are running out of basic painkillers," as no humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza in more than eight weeks as a result of the Israeli blockade.

Noting that the World Food Programme has said that its food stocks are now depleted, the Tanaiste stressed, "life-saving aid is available and urgently needed, but trucks cannot cross into Gaza."

"It is unconscionable that the current suffering is continuing. This is the longest ban on aid entering Gaza since the start of the war," Harris said.

He also decried the situation as "unacceptable", urging Israel to "immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid."

The statement called for the resumption of ceasefire talks, emphasizing that "the international community must act now to avert further disaster."

Israel launched the war of genocide in Gaza and imposed a complete siege on the strip on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in retaliation for Israel's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Last January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

However, Israel cut off food and medical supplies and other aid to the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip on March 2, just two weeks before breaking the two-month ceasefire and prisoner-captive exchange agreement.

In total, 52,418 Palestinians have been killed and 118,091 others injured since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Earlier on Friday, Israel carried out a drone attack on a ship of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition bound for Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and activists off the coast of Malta in international waters.



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Yemen launches missile attack on Israel for second time in hours

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 3:35 PM

Yemeni forces have conducted a "successful" missile attack on Israel, the second of its kind in the past hours, in defiance of the US strikes.

In a statement on Friday, Yemen's Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that "the missile unit of the Yemeni Armed Forces conducted a military operation against a vital target of the Israeli enemy in the occupied Haifa area, using a hypersonic ballistic missile" in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The missile, "the second in hours," hit its target "successfully," forcing settlers to run to shelters, the statement added.

The Yemeni Armed Forces also urged the Arab and Muslim nations to "fulfill their religious, moral and humanitarian duties towards the oppressed Palestinian people and to take urgent action in all countries to stop the war of extermination and end the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip."

The statement stressed that Yemen will continue to conduct pro-Gaza operations and prevent Israeli ships from navigating in the Red and Arabian Seas until the end of the war and the siege, noting that the US aggression has "failed" to lift the Yemeni ban.

Saree made the remarks in a weekly pro-Gaza protest in the capital, Sana'a.

Earlier on Friday, Saree said the Yemeni forces "carried out a military operation targeting the Israeli enemy's Ramat David Airbase", near the occupied Haifa area, using a "Palestine-2" hypersonic ballistic missile.

"The missile successfully reached its target, thanks to God, and the interceptor systems failed to intercept it," the statement added.

The Yemeni attacks took place hours after the US launched a strike on Yemen in an attempt to stop the country's pro-Gaza operations, leaving three people injured.

Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, Yemeni forces have carried out scores of operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in the occupied territories.

In support of Israel, the US announced the formation of a maritime task force in the Red Sea in December 2023 to protect the passage of vessels bound for the Israeli-occupied territories.

The Yemeni forces responded by ramping up their strikes against strategic and sensitive Israeli and American targets, including the US warships and aircraft carriers that are deployed off Yemen's coastline.





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Signalgate fallout: Ousted US security advisor gets UN nomination despite scandal

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 11:45 AM

The 'Signalgate' security scandal has claimed its first high-profile victim, as President Trump removed National Security Advisor Mike Waltzonly to immediately nominate him as UN ambassador, ensuring the controversy will follow him to Senate confirmation hearings.

Trump confirmed Waltz's dismissal on Truth Social, stating the advisor would be nominated as ambassador to the United Nations while Secretary of State Marco Rubio temporarily assumes his duties.

"I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations," he wrote.

While the administration portrays Waltz's UN nomination as a lateral move, the decision contradicts the gravity of Signalgatea major security breach exposed by The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg in March.

Classified discussions between Vice President JD Vance, Waltz, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, and others were inadvertently leaked after Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat containing operational details.

Reports indicate Waltz and deputy Alex Wong were dismissed over the scandal.

To assume the UN ambassador role, Waltz will need to undergo a Senate confirmation hearing, which Democratic opponents of the administration could use to raise questions about Waltz's competence following the Signalgate.

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Gaza humanitarian work on 'verge of total collapse': Red Cross

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 11:00 AM

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip is on the "verge of total collapse" as Israel continues a genocidal war and maintains its criminal siege on the Palestinian territory.

In a statement released on Friday, the ICRC said it will not have access to the food, medicines, and life-saving supplies needed to sustain many of its programs in Gaza without an immediate resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to the besieged territory.

Israel launched its brutal Gaza onslaught on October 7, 2023, but it has failed to achieve its declared objectives despite killing at least 52,418 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring more than 118,091 others.

The usurping entity accepted longstanding negotiation terms by the Hamas resistance group under a Gaza ceasefire, which began on January 19.

However, Israel unilaterally abandoned the truce on March 2, cutting off all humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. It also resumed its deadly bombing campaign and redeployed troops to the territory.

Pascal Hundt, ICRC Deputy Director of Operations, cautioned that without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos.

"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," he said. "This situation must notand cannotbe allowed to escalate further."

22 killed in fresh Israeli strikes on Gaza

On Friday, Israeli warplanes conducted fresh aerial assaults across Gaza, killing at least 22 Palestinians, latest reports said.

One of the Israeli strikes hit a house in Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and claimed the lives of eight members of a family.

Two other Palestinians were killed and several were injured in another Israeli air raid that targeted Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.

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Israel attacks Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 9:39 AM

Israel has carried out a drone attack on a Gaza-bound ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists off the coast of Malta in international waters, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) says.

"At 00:23 Maltese time, the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship came under direct attack in international waters," the international NGO said in a statement on Friday.

"Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice, causing a fire and a substantial breach in the hull," it added, blaming Israel.

The coalition called for the summoning of Israeli ambassadors, saying they must "answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters."

According to the statement, 21 activists, including prominent figures, from different countries were on board "on a nonviolent humanitarian mission to challenge Israel's illegal and deadly siege of Gaza, and to deliver desperately needed, life-saving aid."

The attack came while the group had been organizing the action "under a media black out to avoid any potential sabotage."

The group noted that the ship's generator was deliberately targeted in the drone attack, adding that the boat was left without power and at risk of sinking.

The FFC urged the international community to "condemn this aggression against an unarmed humanitarian aid vessel" and called on all states providing aid for Israel to "end political, financial and military support for Israel's illegal siege, blockade, occupation, and apartheid."

The Maltese government said everyone aboard the aid flotilla were "safe", adding that a nearby tug had been directed to aid the vessel.

Israel launched the war of genocide in Gaza and imposed a complete siege on the strip on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in retaliation for Israel's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Last January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives. However, Israel cut off food and medical supplies and other aid to the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip on March 2, just two weeks before breaking the two-month ceasefire and prisoner-captive exchange agreement.

In total, 52,418 Palestinians have been killed and 118,091 others injured since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

In 2010, Israel stormed a similar vessel, "Mavi Marmara", which was launched from southern Turkey, killing 10 and injuring 28 others.

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Pakistan-administered Kashmir prepares food reserves amid India tensions

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 9:12 AM

Pakistani-administered Kashmir has issued an order for stockpiling food supplies amid an escalation of tensions with India.

"Instructions have been issued to stock food supplies for two months," the prime minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq, told lawmakers at the local assembly on Thursday as senior officials warned of an imminent Indian military strike.

Tensions between the two nuclear power neighbors escalated following a deadly terror attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of more than two dozen Indians.

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of being involved in the attack, with the latter denying any involvement and calling for an international investigation into the incident.

Haq said that if conflict breaks out between the two countries, the cabinet has the ultimate authority to declare a state of emergency in the region. "We are monitoring the situation closely, round the clock."

In the meantime, Indian troops have been reportedly amassing behind the Line of Control (LoC) separating the two neighboring countries, indicating an imminent attack.

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.

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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Yemen targets Israeli airbase with hypersonic missile after US airstrike

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 6:43 AM

Yemen's Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree has announced that his country conducted a missile attack against an Israeli airbase in retaliation for the regime's genocidal war on Gaza.

In a statement on Friday, Yahya Saree said the Yemeni forces "carried out a military operation targeting the Israeli enemy's Ramat David Airbase, east of the occupied Haifa area, using a 'Palestine-2' hypersonic ballistic missile."

"The missile successfully reached its target, thanks to God, and the interceptor systems failed to intercept it," the statement added.

According to the statement, the attack took place in support of the oppressed Palestinian people against the US-backed Israeli war on Gaza.

Saree vowed that the retaliatory operations would continue until the Israeli war ends and the siege imposed on Gaza is lifted.

His statement came as the Israeli military reported that it had identified the launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen, but didn't report its interception.

The regime's military only said missile systems were "working to intercept the threat".

Sirens were set off across large swathes of the northern part of the occupied territories, including the city of Haifa, in the early hours of Friday.

Israeli media reports said an Israeli man was injured as he ran to shelters after air raid sirens sounded, adding that missile fragments fell near the Gadish settlement. According to the reports, the missile systems failed to intercept the missile.

Citing Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Yemen's al-Masirah also reported that a number of arrivals and departures at Ben Gurion International Airport were suspended because of the attack.

The Yemeni attack took place hours after the US launched a strike on Yemen in an attempt to stop the country's pro-Gaza operations, leaving three people injured.

Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, Yemeni forces have carried out scores of operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in the occupied territories.

In support of Israel, the US announced the formation of a maritime task force in the Red Sea in December 2023 to protect the passage of vessels bound for the Israeli-occupied territories.

The Yemeni forces responded by ramping up their strikes against strategic and sensitive Israeli and American targets, including the US warships and aircraft carriers that are deployed off Yemen's coastline.

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Global press freedom ebbs to a new low

Financial challenges, authoritarian governments are sources of unrelenting pressure on independent reporting.

By Tenzin Pema and Stephen Wright for RFA

2025.05.02

BANGKOK and WASHINGTON -- Press freedom is at its lowest ebb globally in more than two decades, Reporters Without Borders said Friday, as economic pressures shake the foundations of journalism.

The advocacy group, also known as Reporters sans frontieres or RSF, said it classified the global state of press freedom as "difficult" for the first time since it began compiling its media index in 2002.

"Without economic independence, there can be no free press," RSF said in a statement announcing the 2025 iteration of the press freedom index.

"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," it said.

News outlets are shutting down in nearly a third of the 180 countries included in the index, RSF said. Media in even relatively highly ranked nations such as New Zealand and South Africa are grappling with challenges of financial viability.

Tech companies such as Google, Meta and Apple are absorbing an ever growing share of advertising revenue at the same time as they contribute to the spread of manipulated and misleading content, according to RSF.

President Donald Trump's second term has delivered an additional blow, the group said, by ending funding for U.S. public media including Voice of America and Radio Free Asia that reported on countries where authoritarian governments suppress independent voices.

The bottom three spots in the 2025 press freedom index were occupied by China, North Korea and Eritrea. The top three countries, from first to third respectively, were Norway, Estonia and the Netherlands.

China dropped six places from the previous year to 178th in a worsening of an already dire picture.

"China right now is the biggest jailor of journalists in the world," said Aleksandra Bielakowska, RSF's Asia Pacific advocacy manager.

"They really managed to arrest all the people that were courageous enough and who still wanted to report on issues in the ground," she told RFA.

The erosion of what was limited press freedom in China began more than a decade ago and accelerated under President Xi Jinping, Bielakowska said, as he and loyalists concentrated state power in his person.

The media freedom situation in China is now almost akin to the total control over information exercised by North Korea's dynastic government, she said.

The ability of foreign media to operate in China has also become heavily circumscribed.

Some 15 years ago foreign reporters could go to regions that chafed against Beijing's rule such as Xinjiang and Tibet, but it is now impossible unless as part of a government-supervised propaganda trip, Bielakowska said.

"Not just an authoritarian country, but a really totalitarian system where nobody can speak up, nobody can report on any issues," she said. "And reporters can only work as the party's propaganda."

China's aggressive suppression of independent media is increasingly emulated in Southeast Asia and elsewhere.

Cambodia, a Beijing ally in Southeast Asia, dropped 10 places in the index to 161st.

In Phnom Penh on Friday, civil society groups organized a gathering to mark World Press Freedom Day joined by the French ambassador and diplomats from the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Japan, and the head of UNESCO, alongside human rights officials and independent journalists.

Speakers raised concerns over the continuous decline of press freedom in Cambodia since 2017, including the shutdown of independent media outlets, and the harassment of journalists through online attacks, legal actions, and physical violence.

Cambodia's Ministry of Information claims that the media situation in Cambodia is improving, but the RSF report said the continued slide in press freedom reflected persecution and violence against reporters including the fatal December 2024 shooting of environmental journalist Chhoeung Chheung, who was investigating illegal logging.

A prominent Cambodian journalist, Mech Dara, who drew attention to corruption and human rights abuses, left the profession after being detained for several weeks last year.

"There's been many journalists like this," said Bielakowska. "For Mech Dara, he decided to give up on journalistic work despite being one of the most valued journalists inside of Cambodia because he could not continue working under this type of pressure."

RFA Khmer contributed reporting. Edited by Mike Firn, Taejun Kang and Mat Pennington.

Updated with press freedom gathering in Cambodia.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration To Temporarily Halt Funding To Radio Free Europe, Other Broadcasters

By RFE/RL May 02, 2025

A federal appeals court has granted a temporary stay of the court rulings requiring the Trump administration to cease blocking the flow of Congressionally approved money to several publicly-funded broadcasters -- including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty -- that provide news and information to countries that have little to no independent press.

In the latest round of a funding battle with the Trump administration, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit late on May 1 issued what is known as an "administrative stay" to give "sufficient opportunity" to hear emergency motions presented by the Justice Department on behalf of USAGM.

Those emergency motions argue that the appeals court should suspend for the duration of the appeals process the earlier lower-court rulings that stopped USAGM from cutting off funds from the outlets as part of its cost-cutting measures.

The three-judge panel, two of whom were appointed by Trump while the third was appointed by former President Barack Obama, added the halt "should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of those motions."

The USAGM is an independent government agency that oversees RFE/RL, Voice of America, and several other US-funded broadcasters, which together distribute news and information in almost 50 languages to some 361 million people each week.

Hours after an executive order signed by Trump on March 14 called for the reduction of seven agencies -- including USAGM -- to "the maximum extent consistent with applicable law," the agency claimed to terminate RFE/RL's congressionally appropriated funding for the 2025 budget year that ends on September 30.

Similar moves have affected Voice of America, as well as Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN).

The court left in place a lower court ruling requiring journalists from Voice of America to be reinstated -- they were put on administrative leave the day of the executive order -- and be allowed to resume the broadcaster's news programming.

Unlike Voice of America, which is a federal entity, RFE/RL, RFA, and MBN are private non-profit organizations, funded through grants approved by Congress.

The three non-profit organizations have been forced to make staff cuts in order to continue operating as they await funds from their grants that the USAGM has held up.

RFA announced on May 2 that furloughed and the majority of its additional staff would be laid off, effective May 9. This means that by the end of May, half of RFA's language services will no longer produce or publish new content, it said.

US District Judge Royce Lamberth granted RFE/RL a temporary restraining order (TRO) on April 29, writing that it was Congress that "ordained that the monies at issue should be allocated to RFE/RL," and that President Donald Trump signed the budget resolution appropriating those funds.

On March 25, the same US court had granted an RFE/RL request for an earlier TRO, ruling that USAGM likely acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" in terminating RFE/RL's grant.

The next day, the USAGM wrote to RFE/RL saying it was reversing the announcement but that this was "without prejudice to USAGM's authority to terminate the grant at a later date."

RFE/RL was forced to seek another TRO in April after funds for that month were not disbursed. It also continues to seek an injunction to ensure the release of the rest of the money due from congressional appropriations for the 2025 budget year.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/court-allows-trump-temporarily-halt- funding-to-radio-free-europe-voa/33403256.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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Trump Requests Record $1.01 Trillion for National Defense for FY2026

Sputnik News

20250502

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has proposed a historic $1.01 trillion budget for national defense for fiscal year 2026, representing a 13% increase from the current year's $878.4 billion, according to a document released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Friday.

"For Defense spending, the President proposes an increase of 13 percent to $1.01 trillion for FY 2026," OMB director Russell Vought said in a letter to Senate Committee on Appropriations chair Susan Collins.

Trump also proposed to cut non-defense discretionary budget spending by $163 billion or 22.6%, according to the letter.

The defense budget request includes $113 billion in mandatory funding and emphasizes investments aimed at revitalizing the US defense industrial base, deterring potential Chinese aggression, and modernizing the US nuclear deterrent, the letter said.

Trump's budget proposal supports US space dominance to strengthen US national security and strategic advantage, the letter added.

Donald Trump's budget request for the fiscal year 2026 pauses most contributions to the United Nations and other international organizations, according to the document.

"The Budget pauses most assessed and all voluntary contributions to UN and other international organizations, including for the UN Regular Budget, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the World Health Organization," OMD director Russell Vought said in a letter to Senate Committee on Appropriations chair Susan Collins.

Trump's budget also does not allocate funds for "wasteful" United Nations (UN) and other peacekeeping missions, citing recent failures and high assessment costs, according to the letter.

The Trump administration requested on Friday in its 2026 budget proposal to refocus NASA funding on flying to the Moon and sending humans to Mars.

"The Budget refocuses National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funding on beating China back to the Moon and on putting the first human on Mars. By allocating over $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs, the Budget ensures that America's human space exploration efforts remain unparalleled, innovative, and efficient," the budget request said.

The budget request also included the reduction in the International Space Station's (ISS) crew size, onboard research, and preparation for decommissioning by 2030.

"The Budget reduces the space station's crew size and onboard research, preparing for a safe decommissioning of the station by 2030 and replacement by commercial space stations," the White House said.

Trump has requested a record $175 billion investment to fully secure the US border, according to the document.

"For Homeland Security, the Budget commits a historic $175 billion investment to, at long last, fully secure our border," OMB director Russell Vought said in a letter to Senate Committee on Appropriations chair Susan Collins.

The request reflects an almost 65% increase compared to the fiscal year 2025, when $107.9 billion was allocated for Homeland Security.

The Trump administration's 2026 budget request included funding for the F-47 fighter jet program and a down-payment for the Golden Dome missile defense shield deployment in the United States, the White House said on Friday.

"Specifically, the Budget... makes a down-payment on the development and deployment of a Golden Dome for America, a next-generation missile defense shield that would protect the U.S. from missile threats coming from any adversary," the White House said.

The budget proposal also funds the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance platform, :the world's first crewed sixth-generation fighter aircraft", it added.

The request included funding for the F-47 fighter jet program and a down-payment for the Golden Dome missile defense shield deployment in the United States, the White House said on Friday.

"Specifically, the Budget... makes a down-payment on the development and deployment of a Golden Dome for America, a next-generation missile defense shield that would protect the U.S. from missile threats coming from any adversary," the White House said.

The budget proposal also funds the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance platform, :the world's first crewed sixth-generation fighter aircraft", it added.

Trump's budget proposal eliminates funding for the National Endowment for Democracy program as it was used "to blacklist conservative media" and label figures like JD Vance as "foreign propagandists of the Russian Federation" under the Biden administration, the document said.

"National Endowment for Democracy (NED) - The Budget defunds this program that under the Biden Administration was used to dox journalists, push propaganda, and blacklist conservative media outlets, saving $315 million. In March 2025, it was uncovered that the Ukraine disinformation organization that doxxed U.S. journalists, called for prosecutions of Trump world, and smeared the likes of Vice President Vance and others as 'foreign propogandists of the Russian Federation,' were funded by NED. NED also funded the now-infamous State Department Disinformation Index Foundation that targeted and blacklisted conservative media outlets such as Federalist, Newsmax, TAC, the Blaze, NYP, etc," the document said.

The budget request also proposes the closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and transfer of the remaining programs under the umbrella of the State Department.

Besides, it proposes the closure of the United States Institute of Peace.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 2, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to congratulate her on being elected. They discussed strengthening our partnership to advance regional security and mutual priorities. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States' strong and enduring partnership with Trinidad and Tobago, grounded in deep historic ties and shared goals for regional security and prosperity. We commend the people of Trinidad and Tobago for their continued commitment to democratic values and institutions, demonstrated through their free and fair national elections. The Secretary and PM Persad-Bissessar discussed opportunities to enhance cooperation on mutual priorities, regional security, and defense cooperation.

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Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Foreign Affairs Day Opening Plenary Session

US Department of State

Remarks

Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State

Washington, DC

May 2, 2025

DEPUTY SECRETARY LANDAU: Thank you. Wow. Thank you for that introduction, and this is actually very emotional for me to be here speaking to all of you. I see some friends out here in the crowd. I see folks, I'm sure, who knew my dad. So, it is true that I do feel like this is a homecoming of sorts for me. I used to run down these hallways on Saturday mornings when my dad would come into work. They haven't changed at all, the same bright floors and the white fluorescent lights. It's a little bit like an out-of-body experience.

It's also a little bit scary for me to realize that I am older than Foreign Service Day, which is celebrating 60 years today, so I guess I'm getting up there, but it's interesting - I guess I grew up a McCoy and now I come back a Hatfield, as a Foreign Service kid and now I'm here as a political appointee. I like to think I try to bridge those two tribes, and I like to think that the differences between those tribes are not irreconcilable.

Frankly, it's very sad to me to see that we're in a day and age when, at a commemorative event like this, tensions rise to the point when people are getting - storming out of the room. That hurts me. I want to try to recognize the value of the Foreign Service, to honor and respect the Foreign Service, because for me the Foreign Service is part of my own origin story. Again, as you know, I come from the Foreign Service. I wouldn't - my family has basically had a place on the map because of the Foreign Service.

My father was an immigrant, as those of you who knew him knew he spoke English with an accent. He wouldn't have found a place in this country had he not been received with open arms by the Foreign Service and promoted by people like Ambassador Bob Woodward, who took a young Foreign Service officer at that time who hadn't gone to college, spoke English with an accent, and recognized this is a person of merit and hard work who really believed in the values of this country, and promoted him.

And so, I feel very, very grateful to the Foreign Service, and I want you to know that I am your friend. And again, I hope we can get through these challenging times with that attitude of mutual respect and openness that all of us are trained to do as diplomats, right? I mean, you recognize sometimes you have differences with other people, and we learn to make our positions understood respectfully, and that the respect is a two-way street, right? And so, I hope we can tone down and cool some of the tempers. I know they run high on both sides.

And again, I respect the views of the professional Foreign Service, and I think - people have strong views about what is going on. I think it's fine to bring those out. And I certainly am committed to listening respectfully to that and hopefully working towards ways that we can work together to improve the Foreign Service and make it more effective. One of the things - it was very interesting for me serving as ambassador to Mexico recently and really bringing my life full circle, having grown up in the Foreign Service and knowing the ways - this was back in the '70s and '80s - and then coming back 30 years later and seeing the Foreign Service again. And I think in a lot of ways the Foreign Service could do a better job in adjusting to the realities of the world. I mean, the world has changed a lot, technology has changed a lot, and I think we need to be asking ourselves serious questions about what is the role of an embassy in the 21st century. Do you need the reporting functions that you might have needed in an earlier day? Now Washington knows - Washington knew what was going on in Mexico, frankly, as quickly as I did, sitting in Mexico City. And so that has implications for what is the function of the men and women who are on the ground in that post. What are you looking to them for?

And I think there are very serious, legitimate questions that we should all be working together to answer. And I very much value the perspective of those of you in this room. I think that you can provide valuable insights into how do we make the Foreign Service more effective. Nobody wants to be writing cables that nobody in Washington winds up reading. I feel like 

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Well, that brings up the question why are we alienating our allies. You can't talk about the role of the (inaudible) diplomatic relations 

DEPUTY SECRETARY LANDAU: Ma'am, I respect your point of view, and again, I think there are substantive policy questions. Obviously the President is - is obviously setting the tone of foreign policy for United States. He is the chief executive of our government. Under our constitution, we have an Executive Branch. We are an organ of the Executive Branch. In fact, we're the first organ of the Executive Branch going back to the Washington administration when Thomas Jefferson was the secretary of state, right?

So even though those of you in this building - and my father knew this very well. He did not always agree with the administration in power, and he actually disagreed sometimes, but I didn't know who my father voted for the entire time I was growing up until after he retired. And so, I hope we can come back to a Foreign Service that understands that it is part of the Executive Branch, that people have ways to express their disagreement or their own views within the system, but ultimately - unless it's something that is unlawful - the wisdom of this kind of things is for the political leadership.

Ultimately, we can't all - the President was duly elected by the American people. So - but again - look, I think these are valuable questions. And particularly now - let me just say a word about some of the reorganization plans. I mean, back in the day, this was the organization chart of the Department of State. This is 1966, right? Obviously, it was a different time, but this was still the height of the Cold War. This is the organization chart for Washington that is the current one, right?

So, I think - again, those of us who have followed the Foreign Service understand that it has ossified over time and become sclerotic with a proliferation of different boxes on this organizations chart that made the clearance process very difficult, that just made coordination very difficult even within the building. I don't think we're going back to this, but I do think there are ways to streamline and improve this so that it works better and is more effective and actually means that Foreign Service officers can have a meaningful voice in actually being relevant in the formulation of U.S. foreign policy. (Applause.)

That means a lot to me to get at least one little bit of applause. Like I appreciate that, because I mean, at least we're talking to each other and - again, I hope we can find this kind of common ground that - the current system is not optimal, and I hope we don't find a situation where the professional Foreign Service kind of digs in its heels and says we are going to defend the status quo at all costs and everything that is any change is - is bad, bad, bad. I don't think that's in the interest of the Foreign Service. I think there are some things that those of you who have seen it out there realize, yes, this could be changed for the better. And I certainly am all ears in looking for other perspectives. I don't - I have the humility to understand that I didn't spend my career doing this, but I - and I respect the views of those of you who are there.

But I want a - again, a place where the men and women who are out there, if you're going to a meeting in a foreign country, the leader, that you have views - like let's have a system where these get reported up and valuable information gets reported, that Foreign Service officers get recognized for their contributions. I think now it just seems like we're kind of on hamster wheels, where people are doing things, and it doesn't actually lead to anything. So, let's try to figure out a way - and I am reaching out my hand in friendship and cooperation. It's really up to, I think, the Foreign Service more generally to decide whether they want to accept that hand.

And I just can tell you, as a human being, I am very interested in the views of the Foreign Service. Again, I have enormous respect for the Foreign Service. I wouldn't be here but for the Foreign Service. So I guess this is just a way of saying that I look forward to continued discussion with each of you. I thank each of you for what you have done for our country. And I hope we can build a relationship of mutual respect and hopefully friendship because we 

AUDIENCE MEMBER: What about USAID (inaudible) mutual respect? (Inaudible) nonsense.

DEPUTY SECRETARY LANDAU: Well, again, the President has decided - USAID - when I was growing up - USAID started in the 1960s, 1961 to be exact, as an instrument to advance U.S. national policy interests at the height of the Cold War. And the policies were very much aligned. The view was that some countries are so severely underdeveloped that they were ripe for communism and takeovers by elements that are hostile to the U.S. So, when I was growing up in Paraguay in the mid-70s, more than half our mission was USAID. Most of my friends at the American School of Asuncion had parents working for USAID. I believe in that development mission. Listen - you may not want to listen. That's fine.

Again, I can't - I'm just giving you my perspective. You asked a question; I'm trying to give you a respectful answer. And so, the problem is, I think, USAID got separated from the State Department in terms of alignment with U.S. interests, and some of the - particularly in the last few years, the mission - what USAID was funding is far from the international development, the kind of things they were funding back in the '70s - basic development initiatives. They started to get into all kinds of things that deviated from the mission. Now, the idea is that USAID is within the State Department.

So, the point is, USAID - anything we're doing for promoting - using our soft power around the world, promoting these projects should be coordinated with foreign policy. I would think as the State Department we would recognize the value of having that. We can all describe - we can discuss individual programs, but I think the idea of having USAID as part of the State Department I don't think should be all that controversial. Again - so anyway, that's my answer on USAID. Look, let's talk about these things. Again, I value that. I am here today to - again, to try to extend a respectful hand. If you don't want to accept it, that's your prerogative. It's a free country. But again, this is Foreign Service Day. I am here to celebrate the Foreign Service, to express my personal gratitude to the Foreign Service, and express my personal desire to work with each and every one of you. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

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UNHCR: Funding crunch increases risks of violence, danger and death for refugees

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

This is a summary of what was said by Elizabeth Tan, UNHCR's Director of International Protection - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

2 May 2025

GENEVA - 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, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned today.

Two thirds of refugees find safety in countries neighbouring their own, most of which are resource-poor. Reduced funding is hitting hardest these refugees and their host communities, which are already stretched to the limits. UNHCR can already see the impact as efforts to stabilize and support populations in fragile host countries are scaled back or terminated. The prospect of long-term solutions is also receding, complicating border management, adding to risks of trafficking and abuse, and encouraging onward movement; more may drown at sea.

Chronic underfunding was already an issue - responses for refugees from Sudan, South Sudan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were struggling even before the current cuts. Programmes to prevent gender-based violence were only 38 per cent funded in 2024 under the six Regional Refugee Response Plans. That has left refugees more vulnerable to harm, exploitation and abuse without access to legal assistance, health care and economic support.

There are over 17.4 million refugee children at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, trafficking or separation from their families. Without timely and quality child protection responses, this will have long-term consequences for their well-being and development. Children are also left at heightened risk of abuse, child marriage and recruitment by armed groups.

Some examples:

In South Sudan , 75 per cent 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.

, 75 per cent 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 the Eastern Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region , 1 million vulnerable children, some unaccompanied, face increased risk of abuse and exploitation.

, 1 million vulnerable children, some unaccompanied, face increased risk of abuse and exploitation. 200,000 vulnerable women and children are without help in Jordan as 63 humanitarian programmes providing specialist support have closed.

as 63 humanitarian programmes providing specialist support have closed. Programmes to prevent violence against women have closed in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Mali, and Nigeria affecting survivors of violence and rape.

affecting survivors of violence and rape. In Angola, Mozambique and Zambia , programmes for survivors of gender-based violence have been reduced or halted, leaving vulnerable women and children without psychosocial support, legal assistance or safe spaces. Cuts to services in Malawi have limited the ability to identify and assist unaccompanied children.

, programmes for survivors of gender-based violence have been reduced or halted, leaving vulnerable women and children without psychosocial support, legal assistance or safe spaces. Cuts to services in Malawi have limited the ability to identify and assist unaccompanied children. In Mali, biometric registration for 19,800 asylum-seekers has been suspended, denying them legal recognition and access to work or public services.

Reduced investment in community-based programmes and local partners will affect UNHCR's local networks, impacting our capacity to conduct protection work, particularly in emergencies. In Bangladesh, programmes focusing on women's leadership and security have been partially suspended; 10 women-led community centres have halted activities affecting 109,000 refugees and 32,000 nationals.

UNHCR's support for birth registration in remote refugee-hosting areas in the DRC has been sharply reduced, leaving over 85 per cent of 14,000 Central African and South Sudanese refugee children under the age of four at risk of statelessness. Across Southern Africa, UNHCR's ability to maintain access to asylum, ensure documentation and deliver protection is being compromised.

In the East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region, 850,000 displaced people will no longer receive crucial legal assistance. In Colombia, the documentation of over 500,000 Venezuelans is at risk. Without identification, they face challenges settling down, accessing health care, education and employment, increasing their vulnerability.

Meanwhile, some refugees may be forced to return home to dangerous conditions, while others who are ready to return voluntarily may be denied the opportunity. For example, 12,000 Central African refugees in Chad and Cameroon who are keen to head home have been left without support to do so. In Syria, over half a million refugees have returned despite ongoing instability, but their sustainable reintegration depends on better funding. Support for 20,000 Syrians a month to return home from Turkiye has been affected by cuts.

For 75 years, UNHCR has been a vital actor in enabling refugee protection and finding solutions, fostering stability and hope. UNHCR's expertise has helped navigate complex political, security and socio-economic challenges, helping to save the lives of millions of refugees and protecting rights. Rights protection helps reduce displacement, address its root causes and enable solutions.

We must come together internationally and recognize our shared responsibility to support those in need and ensure that no one is left behind. Your support can make a difference. It can save lives, restore dignity, and offer hope to those who have lost everything. Let us unite in our commitment to protect and assist refugees. Together, we can ensure that UNHCR continues its vital work and that every refugee receives the care and support they deserve. Millions of lives depend on it.

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Gaza: 'Worst-case scenario' unfolds as brutal aid blockade threatens mass starvation

2 May 2025 - Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN's humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.

Speaking from Gaza City OCHA spokesperson Olga Cherevko told journalists in Geneva that a friend of hers "saw people burning a few days ago from the explosions - and there was no water to save them."

Since all entry points into the war-torn enclave were "sealed by the Israeli authorities for the entry of cargo" in March, the "worst-case scenario" was triggered, Ms. Cherevko said: supplies are depleting while the conflict rages on.

"Food stocks have now mainly run out, water access has become impossible," she told journalists in Geneva.

As the veteran aid worker spoke, she noted that a "very violent fight" for access to water was taking place downstairs from her, with people throwing rocks and firing shots at a water truck which was pulling away.

No childhood

The OCHA spokesperson said that every day she was seeing children "who have been deprived of their childhood for many months," and elderly people "rummaging through piles of trash" in search of food and combustible material for cooking, in the absence of fuel.

During a visit on Thursday to Patient Friends Hospital, a paediatric hospital in Gaza City which had been attacked several times during the war, she heard reports of rising malnutrition rates.

"Hospitals report running out of blood units, as mass casualties continue to arrive," Ms. Cherevko stressed, while precious fuel is being rationed.

Running on empty

"Gaza is inching closer to running on empty," she added.

Ms. Cherevko said that UN humanitarians are "in constant contact" with the Israeli authorities and are advocating for border crossings to reopen. "We have mechanisms that mitigate diversion [and] ensure that aid reaches the people it's intended to reach," she said.

"We are ready to resume delivery at scale as soon as the crossings reopen, Ms. Cherevko insisted. "We stand by our pledge to remain principled and continue relieving people's suffering, wherever they may be."

In an appeal to the Israeli authorities on Thursday, the UN's top humanitarian official and OCHA chief Tom Fletcher said, "Lift this brutal blockade. Let humanitarians save lives".

Mr. Fletcher reaffirmed the urgent need for the release of hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October 2023, who "should never have been taken from their families" and stressed that "aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip".

Generational horror

Ms. Cherevko said that over the past one and a half months, 420,000 people have been "once again forced to flee, many of them with only the clothes on their backs, shot at along the way, arriving in overcrowded shelters, as tents and other facilities where people seek safety, are being bombed".

"I worry that five, 10, 20 years from now, we will look at our children and grandchildren in shame and we will not be able to explain to them why we could not stop this horror," she concluded.

"How much more blood must be spilled before enough becomes enough?"

UN rights chief urges international action

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights appealed on Friday for the world to prevent the total collapse of life-saving support in Gaza.

"As the complete blockade of assistance essential for survival enters its ninth week, there must be concerted international efforts to stop this humanitarian catastrophe from reaching a new unseen level," said Volker Turk.

Since 2 March, Israel has blocked the entry of food, fuel and other life-saving assistance to the Gaza Strip, home to over two million people.

War crimes warning

Bakeries have ceased operations as flour and fuel have run out, and remaining food stocks are being rapidly depleted.

"Any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime, and so do all forms of collective punishment," he warned.

Against proposed Rafah 'humanitarian zone'

The High Commissioner and head of human rights office OHCHR denounced a reported Israeli plan to declare Rafah governorate in southern Gaza as a new "humanitarian zone."

Palestinians would be required to move there to receive food and other aid.

"Such a plan will almost certainly mean large parts of Gaza and those who cannot easily move, including people with disabilities, those who are sick or injured, and women supporting entire families, will be forced to go without food," he said.

Strikes on shelters

Meanwhile, Israel continues to strike locations in Gaza where Palestinian civilians are sheltering. Between 18 March and 27 April, OHCHR recorded 259 attacks on residential buildings and 99 on tents of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Most attacks resulted in fatalities, including of women and children. Among the strikes on IDP tents, 40 reportedly took place in Al-Mawasi area, where the Israeli army repeatedly directed civilians to seek refuge.

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Funding crisis increases danger and risks for refugees

2 May 2025 - 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.

With humanitarian resources running dry, critical support for millions of forcibly displaced people is under threat.

UNHCR said that two-thirds of countries hosting refugees are already severely overstretched and urgently need support to continue providing education, healthcare and shelter.

Global solidarity with those fleeing conflict and violence is weakening, the agency added.

'No one wants to be a refugee for life'

"The safety that refugees seek in neighbouring countries is at risk," said Elizabeth Tan, Director of International Protection at UNHCR.

"Without international solidarity and burden-sharing, the institution of asylum is under threat."

Ms Tan noted that some 12,000 Central African refugees in Chad and Cameroon have expressed a desire to return home but cannot do so safely without transport and reintegration assistance.

"No one wants to be a refugee for life," she said.

Lifesaving services

Marking the agency's 75th anniversary, Ms Tan reminded journalists that refugees - unlike migrants - have lost the protection of their home countries.

"They arrive across borders traumatised, often after experiencing torture or persecution, and they need specialised support - including mental health care," she said.

Children separated from their families face especially grave risks, including recruitment by armed groups, exploitation and trafficking.

Protecting them, Ms Tan stressed, "is not a luxury - it is lifesaving."

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UNRWA Commissioner-General on Gaza: Today marks two months of siege on the people of Gaza

UNRWA

2 May 2025

From Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General as posted on his official X account (previously known as Twitter)

It is a siege on children, women, older people and ordinary men.

They are collectively punished for being born and living in Gaza, something not of their making.

The State of Israel must lift the siege and allow a flow of basic supplies.

The hostages must be released.

With every additional day, the siege will silently kill more children and women in addition to those killed by bombardements.

It's time to show we haven't completely lost our humanity.

Background Information:

UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency's area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.

UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.

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Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby Speaks at Modern Day Marine 2025

US Navy - Press Release

02 May 2025

Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby delivered an address at Modern Day Marine 2025 on May 1.

In his speech, Kilby emphasized the importance of advancing Naval integration with the Marine Corps, focusing on the synchronization and alignment of warfighting efforts. He also underscored the significance of a strong amphibious fleet in maintaining peace through strength across the maritime domain.

"The Navy is thinking, acting, and operating differently to increase amphibious readiness," said Kilby. "We are tackling this problem from all angles - including our maintenance procedures, material readiness, manning, and industry partnerships."

He further highlighted that this effort is part of a broader initiative to reinvigorate the maritime industrial base, ensuring the United States remains a global leader in both defense capabilities and maritime strength.

"With 250 years of history as the world's greatest fighting force, there is no substitute for the Blue-Green team," said Kilby. "We owe it to the Nation to work side by side."

The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, echoed the importance of a robust amphibious fleet to the joint force, stressing its critical role in supporting operations across the full spectrum of military engagements.

"A Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked on a three-ship Amphibious Ready Group, is the most versatile, flexible, and lethal global response force the United States has to offer," said Smith. "It doesn't require access, basing and overflight; it gives the Nation's leaders options."

Modern Day Marine 2025 is the premier Marine Corps expo and symposium, bringing together over 400 industry displays. It features senior leader and subject matter expert talks across four stages, offering a collaborative forum that fosters interaction among Marines, experts, and industry professionals. The event serves as a platform to explore and advance solutions for accelerating innovation within the Marine Corps.

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The White House Office of Management and Budget Releases the President's Fiscal Year 2026 Skinny Budget

Briefings & Statements

The White House

May 2, 2025

Washington, D.C.-Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent President Trump's topline discretionary Budget request for fiscal year 2026 to the U.S. Congress.

The Budget, which reduces non-defense discretionary by $163 billion or 23 percent from the 2025 enacted level, guts a weaponized deep state while providing historic increases for defense and border security. The Budget also provides support for air and rail safety as well as key infrastructure and our Nation's veterans and law enforcement.

This is the lowest non-defense spending level since 2017. Savings come from eliminating radical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory programs, Green New Scam funding, large swaths of the Federal Government weaponized against the American people, and moving programs that are better suited for States and localities to provide.

Defense spending would increase by 13 percent, and appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security would increase by nearly 65 percent, to ensure that our military and other agencies repelling the invasion of our border have the resources they need to complete the mission. These increases will be made possible through the passage of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, which will be enacted with a simple majority in the Congress, and not be held hostage by Democrats for wasteful spending increases that have been the status quo in Washington.

"For decades, the biggest complaint about the Federal Budget was wasteful spending and bloated bureaucracy. But over the last four years, Government spending aggressively turned against the American people and trillions of our dollars were used to fund cultural Marxism, radical Green New Scams, and even our own invasion. No agency was spared in the Left's taxpayer-funded cultural revolution. At this critical moment, we need a historic Budgetone that ends the funding of our decline, puts Americans first, and delivers unprecedented support to our military and homeland security. The President's Budget does all of that," said Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Highlights of the President's key priorities include the following:

End Weaponization and Reduce Violent Crime. The Budget ends the previous Administration's weaponization of the Government by eliminating programs like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's disinformation offices that targeted and censored Americans, eliminating so-called Fair Housing programs that waged war on America's suburbs, ending the Environmental Protection Agency's unfair harassment of citizens over "environmental justice" directives, and halting the ATF's criminalizing of gun-owning Americans and instead, focusing on stopping illegal firearms traffickers and violent gang members.

The Budget prioritizes Department of Justice (DOJ) key functionsrestoring law and order to America's communities, fighting crime, and supporting America's men and women in Blue. To that end, the Budget proposes to eliminate more than 40 DOJ grant programs that fund things like a "feminist, culturally specific nonprofit" to address "structural racism and toxic masculinities" and training Fa'afafine advocatesan organization of biological men that describes themselves as a "third-gender" in Samoa. The Budget also reflects the President's priority of reducing violent crime in American cities and protecting national security by getting Federal Bureau of Investigation agents into the field.

Defund the Harmful Woke, Marxist Agenda. Every single agency across the Federal Government was engaged in funding and advancing DEI and other radical, harmful ideologies such as: $315 million for grant programs to push "intersectionality," "racial equity," and LGBTQIA+ programming for preschoolers; housing grants that funded activities such as an "Equity Audit" to reverse "land use patterns that have roots in systemically racist policies in L.A. County; and "addressing White Supremacy in the STEM profession." The Budget ends all of that.

Secure the Border. The Budget request empowers the Department of Homeland Security to implement the President's mass removal campaign and secure the border. This funding is in addition to historic investments in border security the Administration proposes to provide through mandatory funding, as part of the congressional Budget reconciliation process. The discretionary request includes an additional $500 million for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expedite the removal of illegal aliens through the support of 50,000 detention beds, $766 million to procure cutting-edge border security technology funding, and funding to maintain 22,000 Border Patrol Agents and hire additional Customs and Border Protection officers for a total of 26,383 officers. The Budget also cuts off the flow of taxpayer funds that have been abused to facilitate migrant caravan invasions. Departments whose task it was to prevent those invasions allocated billions in funding to non-governmental organizations running "border aid stations" and legal services to criminal aliensall of which will be eliminated under this new budget.

Realign Foreign Aid. The Budget ensures that foreign aid spending is efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda. The Budget reorganizes the U.S. Agency for International Development into the Department of State to meet current needs and eliminates non-essential staff that were hired based on DEI and preferencing practices. The Budget also expands the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to support U.S. national security and American interestsgenerating returns to the taxpayer and reducing reliance on foreign aid. This includes $3 billion for a new revolving fund to allow DFC to recycle any realized returns from its initial investments.

Rebuild our Nation's Military. The Budget request for the Department of Defense 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. In combination with $119 billion in mandatory funding, the Budget increases Defense spending by 13 percent, and prioritizes investments to strengthen the safety, security, and sovereignty of the homeland, deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, and revitalize our defense industrial base.

Achieve American Energy Dominance. The Budget supports the President's commitment to unleash America's affordable and reliable energy and natural resources. The Budget cancels over $15 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Green New Scam funds provided to the Department of Energy for unreliable renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and other costly technologies that burden ratepayers and consumers. The Budget reorients Department of Energy funding toward research and development of technologies that could produce an abundance of domestic fossil energy and critical minerals, innovative concepts for nuclear reactors and advanced nuclear fuels, and technologies that promote firm baseload power. The Budget also cancels an additional $5.7 billion in IIJA funding provided to the Department of Transportation for failed electric vehicle charger grant programs.

Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). The Budget request builds on the President's MAHA Commission. The Budget provides resources to the Department of Health and Human Services that would allow the Secretary to tackle issues related to nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, over-reliance on medication and treatments, the effects of new technological habits, environmental impacts, and food and drug quality and safety. The Budget also supports the creation of MAHA food boxes, that would be filled with commodities sourced from domestic farmers and given directly to American households. The Budget includes resources to ensure food safety nationwide, including support for increased production and demand for services.

Support Our Veterans. The Budget provides increased funding for healthcare services tailored to U.S. veterans' needs, both at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and in the community. Combined with $50 billion in mandatory funding from the Toxic Exposures Fund, the Budget ensures that the Nation's veterans are provided with the world-class healthcare that they deserve. In addition, veterans who qualify for access to care with local community providers would be empowered to make the choice to see them, rather than having to drive in some cases hours to access the nearest VA facility. The Budget includes $1.1 billion in new VA funding to make a down payment on President Trump's commitment to eradicate veterans' homelessness, the largest funding increase in the last decade.

Preserve Social Security. The Budget supports the President's promise to not touch Social Security benefits. It also includes sufficient resources for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to improve customer service by expanding and improving online services, and reducing customer wait times in field offices and on the phone. The Budget also includes investments in program integrity, to reduce fraud and abuse in Social Security programs, and in investments in artificial intelligence to increase employee productivity and automate routine workloads. These efforts would help ensure that SSA delivers timely and accurate Social Security services to the public.

Streamline K-12 Education Funding and Promote Parental Choice. The Budget continues the process of shutting down the Department of Education. The Budget maintains full funding for Title I, that provides Federal financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families, and special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). To limit the Federal role in education, and provide States with more flexibility, the Budget creates a new K-12 Simplified Funding Program that consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a new formula grant, and a Special Education Simplified Funding Program that consolidates seven IDEA programs into a single grant. The Budget also invests $500 million, a $60 million increase, to expand the number of high-quality charter schools, that have a proven track record of improving students' academic achievement and giving parents more choice in the education of their children.

Make America Skilled Again (MASA). The Budget proposes to give States and localities the flexibility to spend Federal workforce dollars to best support their workers and economies, instead of funneling taxpayer dollars to progressive non-profits finding work for illegal immigrants or focusing on DEI. Under this proposal, States would now have more control and flexibility to coordinate with employers and would have to spend at least 10 percent of their MASA grant on apprenticeship, a proven model that trains workers while they earn a paycheck and offers a valuable alternative to college.

Support Space Flight. The Budget refocuses the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funding on beating China back to the Moon and on putting the first human on Mars. By allocating over $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs, it ensures that America's human space exploration efforts remain unparalleled, innovative, and efficient. To achieve these objectives, the Budget would streamline the NASA workforce, IT services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, and construction and environmental compliance activities. The Budget also eliminates "green aviation" and other climate scam programs as well as failing space propulsion projects.

Maintain Support for Tribal Nations. The Budget preserves Federal funding for the Indian Health Service and supports core programs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, sustaining the Federal Government's support for core programs that benefit tribal communities. The Budget also weeds out radical woke grants and programs and streamlines other programs for tribal communities that were ineffective.

Address Drug Abuse. The Administration is committed to combatting the scourge of deadly drugs that have ravaged American communities. The Budget prioritizes Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) resources on traffickers of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs that are driving America's overdose crisis. This includes redirecting DEA's foreign spending to regions with criminal organizations that traffic significant quantities of deadly drugs into the United StatesMexico, Central America, South America, and China.

Support Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Research. The Budget amply funds research in artificial intelligence and quantum information science at key agencies to ensure the United States remains on the cutting edge of these critical technologies' development and responsible use.

Improve Wildland Firefighting. Federal wildfire responsibilities currently are split across five agencies in two departments. The Budget would consolidate firefighting responsibilities into a new Federal Wildland Fire Service at the Department of the Interior that would coordinate with non-Federal partners to combat the wildfire crisis.

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Colorado Army National Guard Conducts Aviation Training for Wildfire Season

By Capt. Remington Henderson, Colorado Army National Guard May 1, 2025

BUCKLEY SPACE AIR FORCE BASE, Aurora, Colo. -- For the past 10 years, the Colorado Army National Guard has partnered with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control and other key partners to host an annual wildland fire training exercise called the Colorado Fire Aviation Summit.

"The Colorado Fire Aviation Summit is an important annual interagency wildland fire training exercise," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Bren D. Rogers, commanding general of the Colorado Army National Guard and retired fire captain from the Poudre Fire Authority. "We have multiple state and local agencies participating with an end state of improving coordination and interoperability. The Colorado Army National Guard continuously works to ensure we are always ready and always there when we are needed during a natural disaster, such as a wildland fire, to save lives and protect property. This training not only keeps our aviation community prepared and ready to respond to wildland fires, it builds their warfighting skills and readiness."

During April 16-17, the COFAS conducted helicopter-based aerial fire suppression and classroom training in partnership with CDFPC, Boulder Fire-Rescue, the City of Longmont, the Longmont Fire Department, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Members of the Nebraska Army National Guard and the South Dakota Army National Guard also participated in the conference and training.

The training exercises included targeted aerial water delivery practices at Chatfield State Park, Littleton, Colo., Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Commerce City, Colo., and Ralph Price Reservoir at Button Rock Preserve, Longmont, Colo. The helicopters first took off from Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colo., and then flew north to Vance Brand Municipal Airport in Longmont, where they received a final briefing before taking off for their planned training scenarios.

"A significant portion of the Colorado Army National Guard's mission is to support the citizens of Colorado," said Colorado Army Guard Director of Aviation and Safety U.S. Army Lt. Col. Scott Tucker. "Aerial firefighting training with our civilian counterparts and neighboring state partners provides opportunities for our aircrews and ground personnel to be ready when called upon to protect our communities when threatened by wildland fires. This training is tough and realistic, which enables us to safely execute aerial firefighting in the dynamic environments found in Colorado. The training also translates into our combat missions by enhancing our aviation skills and aviation planning acumen."

The Colorado National Guard is the first military responder during domestic emergencies, supporting the state of Colorado and local jurisdictions to help save lives, reduce suffering and mitigate property damage.

Some attendees have participated in the conference for years, including personnel who served in the Colorado Army National Guard before transitioning to flying for civilian firefighting agencies. Pilot U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Marc Kudlac flies for the Colorado Army Guard as a UH-72 Lakota pilot-in-command on the weekends and serves as chief pilot for the CDFPC during the week.

"I've been involved in the training for many years," Kudlac said. "It's great to see it grow from just National Guard aircraft to training ground personnel, logistics and airspace coordination. It's more complex, more real and more valuable. Because of the interagency cooperation and support from land managers, our crews on the ground and in the air are better trained, more effective and much safer. The value of this event cannot be understated."

"As a National Guard pilot, I received realistic training and experience for water buckets and air attack, setting me up for successful and, more importantly, safe fire suppression," Kudlac said. "It prepared me well as the chief pilot for DFPC."

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Terrorist Designations of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif

US Department of State

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

May 2, 2025

Today, I am announcing the State Department's designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over.

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 (MSS) mission personnel, and are committed to overthrowing the government of Haiti. Their ultimate goal is creating a gang-controlled state where illicit trafficking and other criminal activities operate freely and terrorize Haitian citizens. Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against these vicious groups and are an effective way to curtail support for their terrorist activities. 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. 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.

We commend the extraordinary bravery of the Haitian National Police and all international partners supporting the MSS mission for their ongoing efforts 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. The United States stands with the Haitian people as they seek a secure, stable future for their country and citizens.

Today's actions taken by the State Department demonstrate the Trump Administration's commitment to protecting our national security interests and countering these dangerous gangs.

For more information about today's announcement, see the Department of State's fact sheet.

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Designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif

US Department of State

Fact Sheet

Office of the Spokesperson

May 2, 2025

The United States remains committed to protecting our national security interests and dismantling violent criminal gangs terrorizing the Haitian people.

Today, the Department of State announces the designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).

Viv Ansanm is a group 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.

The groups provide a unified platform for criminal groups to use violence to destabilize Haiti and quash actions aimed at restoring state control. Viv Ansanm has launched coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure in Haiti, including prisons, government buildings, and Haiti's main airport in Port-au-Prince as part of a campaign that, among other things, forced the resignation of former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Gran Grif is the largest gang in Haiti's Artibonite department, a region that is home to much of the country's rice fields. Since 2022, Gran Grif has been responsible for 80 percent of civilian death reports in Artibonite. Gran Grif has attacked Haitian National Police and the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, including in the February 2025 attack that killed a Kenyan MSS mission officer.

Terrorist designations expose and isolate entities and individuals, denying them access to the U.S. financial system and the resources they need to carry out attacks.

All property and interests in property of those designated today that are in the United States or that are in possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting business with sanctioned persons.

Persons, including American citizens, that engage in certain transactions or activities with these entities, or these individuals may expose themselves to sanctions risk. Notably, engaging in certain transactions with the organizations designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to counterterrorism authorities.It is a crime to knowingly provide material support or resources to these organizations, or to attempt or conspire to do so. Moreover, terrorist designations can assist law enforcement actions of other U.S. agencies and governments.

Today's actions are taken pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224, as amended. FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register.

Petitioners requesting removal of those designated today from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List should refer to the Department of State's Delisting Guidance page.

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China says US wants trade talks, Beijing open to discussions

China's commerce ministry says President Trump must cancel tariffs.

By Mike Firn for RFA

2025.05.01

BANGKOK -- The United States has approached Beijing for talks to defuse an escalating trade war, the Chinese commerce ministry said Friday, in a possible sign of progress toward ending a tit-for-tat tariff battle that threatens global economic growth.

The ministry said China is open to talks, in comments posted on its website, and urged Washington to correct its "erroneous" practices and cancel tariffs.

"We will fight, if fight we must," a commerce ministry spokesperson said, according to the report. "Our doors are open, if the U.S. wants to talk."

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods, demanding the country buy more American products. China responded with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods.

Trump said last month that Washington and Beijing were in talks on the tariffs and expressed confidence that the world's two largest economies would reach a deal over three to four weeks. China's commerce ministry had only said it was maintaining working-level communication with its U.S. counterparts.

Friday's announcement from the commerce ministry confirms a report the day before on Chinese social media platform Weibo by Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account linked to state broadcaster CCTV.

It said the U.S. had reached out "through multiple channels" without giving details.

China had no need to engage in talks, the post said. "China needs to observe closely, even force out the U.S.' true intentions, to maintain the initiative in both negotiation and confrontation," it said.

Trump said Wednesday there was a "very good chance" of a deal with China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that high tariffs on both sides needed to be addressed in order for talks to progress.

"I am confident that the Chinese will want to reach a deal. And as I said, this is going to be a multi-step process," Bessent said. "First, we need to de-escalate, and then over time, we will start focusing on a larger trade deal."

Edited by Stephen Wright and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China 'evaluating' tariff talks with US, warns against 'extortion'

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 7:05 PM

China says it is "evaluating" an offer to engage in negotiations with the United States over US President Donald Trump's 145% tariffs, but warned that it is not going to entertain "extortion and coercion."

China's Commerce Ministry announced on Friday that "the US has recently taken the initiative on many occasions to convey information to China through relevant parties, saying it hopes to talk with China," adding that Beijing was "evaluating this."

China denied claims made by US officials that talks were already underway or that China had initiated them.

Trump said last week that China's President Xi Jinping had called him. China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement afterwards, warning the US against "misleading the public" on the status of negotiations.

While emphasizing the necessity for the US administration to take action in "correcting erroneous practices" and cancel unilateral tariffs, the Chinese ministry said that Washington needed to show "sincerity" in negotiations, and that Beijing's door was open for discussions.

"Attempting to use talks as a pretext to engage in coercion and extortion would not work," the ministry added.

Beijing has repeatedly expressed its anger at the tariffs, saying they are tantamount to bullying and cannot stop the rise of the world's second-largest economy.

US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett, have expressed hope for progress in de-escalating the trade war.

"I am confident that the Chinese will want to reach a deal. And as I said, this is going to be a multi-step process. First, we need to de-escalate, and then ... we will start focusing on a larger trade deal," Bessent said in an interview.

On Wednesday, Donald Trump said he believed there was a "very good chance" his administration could do a deal with China, hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping called on officials to take action to adjust to changes in the international environment.

In April, China responded to the US tariffs on many Chinese products by issuing levies on imports of US goods of 125%, calling Trump's extremist tariff strategy "a joke."

US officials expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with China, while Trump's administration on Friday ended an exemption for goods from China.

The policy, known as "de minimis," allowed goods below $800 to enter the US without tariffs.

As a result, many Chinese e-commerce companies and exporters can no longer ship low-value products to US buyers without paying tariffs.

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U.S. Arms Buildup Will Be Unwise Option Bolstering up Uncertainty of Its Mainland Security

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, May 3 (KCNA) -- Following is the full text of an article "The U.S. arms buildup will be an unwise option to further increase uncertainty of its mainland security " issued by a military commentator of the DPRK on Saturday:

Recently, the fact that an interceptor drill simulating the so-called ICBM attack of an enemy state was conducted under the inspection of the U.S. Secretary of the Army at the Fort Greely military base in Alaska State of the U.S. was disclosed.

The drill, which was conducted under the signboard of "defense of the mainland", is, in essence, a military action of an offensive nature that made a nuclear war with the DPRK a fait accompli.

If the U.S. does not seek a nuclear war with the DPRK, it will not happen that the strategic nuclear force of the DPRK targets the U.S. mainland and there is no need to talk about the so-called "interception".

The fact that the DPRK's ICBM was designated as an intercepting target proves that the U.S. is making preemptive nuclear attack on the DPRK a fait accompli and mastering counteraction to retaliatory strike.

The U.S. arms buildup for attack to secure military edge in the region is being recently conducted more intensively and openly on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

The U.S. 7th Air Force announced a plan to move 31 F-16 fighters from the Kunsan Air Force Base in the ROK to the Osan Air Force Base to form the second "super-powerful wing" and is examining the plan of constantly deploying 20 F-35A stealth fighters in Kunsan. This proves that the appearance of the ultra-modern attack means of the U.S. Air Force specializing in preemptive strike has entered the stage of countdown near the southern border of the DPRK.

Earlier, the U.S. additionally deployed F-35A stealth fighters at the Kadena Air Force Base in January and F-35B stealth fighters at the Iwakuni Air Force Base in March. Shortly ago, two B-1B strategic bombers were stationed for a long time at the Misawa Air Force Base under the pretext of rotational deployment.

As a result, the surrounding area of the Korean peninsula turned into a huge sortie base where the strategic assets of the U.S. Air Force, including B-1B strategic bombers, F-22 stealth fighters and three kinds of stealth fighters of F-35 series, were massively assembled.

The U.S. air combat power buildup is a revelation of its extremely dangerous military intention both in name and reality to ensure the superiority of the command of the air in contingency and raise the promptness and efficiency of the nuclear preemptive attack capability on the DPRK through the operational combination of strategic bombers and main fighters.

All the circumstances prove that the U.S. arms buildup to raise the level of war preparations in all aspects of attack and defense has entered the stage of mastering practical action, far beyond the level of demonstration.

The building of the strongest offensive and defensive power capable of overwhelmingly suppressing any form of military threat posed by the U.S. arms buildup directly aiming at the DPRK is the best option for deterring the danger of the outbreak of a nuclear war and ensuring the balance of strength on the Korean peninsula.

The U.S. arms buildup which made military attack on the DPRK a fait accompli will be an unwise option bolstering up the uncertainty of its mainland security. -0-

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IOS SAGAR IN PORT VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 9:40AM by PIB Delhi

Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles on 01 May 25, marking another important milestone in her ongoing operational deployment across the South-West Indian Ocean Region. The ship's arrival follows the successful completion of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance mission of Mauritius, undertaken in coordination with National Coast Guard Mauritius.

The ship was accorded a warm welcome and received by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles, and the Defence Adviser. The port call will feature a host of professional and cultural exchanges, including cross-deck visits involving multinational crew, and interactions with the CDF and senior officers of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and a joint Yoga session.

These engagements aim to reinforce longstanding defence ties and mutual trust between India and Seychelles while deepening the spirit of cooperation among regional maritime partners.

INS Sunayna, designated as IOS Sagar, has embarked a multinational crew comprising 44 naval personnel from 09 friendly foreign nations of the South-West Indian Ocean Region. The deployment exemplifies India's commitment to fostering regional maritime cooperation and capacity-building in the spirit of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Earlier, the ship made port calls at Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Nacala (Mozambique), and Port Louis (Mauritius), engaging with local navies and maritime security stakeholders to train together, exchange best practices, and enhance interoperability and mutual understanding.

The ship is scheduled to depart Port Victoria on 02 May 25 for her final port of call, Male, Maldives, where she will continue her collaborative maritime security and regional outreach mission.

INS Sunayna, a state-of-the-art Saryu class NOPV is equipped with medium and close-range gunnery weapons and modern electronic warfare suites, including missile defence measures. She can also carry a helicopter, which enhances her operational and surveillance capability.

___________________

VM/SKS 97/25

(Release ID: 2126198)

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Foreign Ministry spokesperson refutes France's 'baseless' claim on Iran's nuclear program

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 2, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has rejected the baseless claims made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

"French Foreign Minister's claim that Iran is on the 'cusp of developing' a nuclear weapon is simply absurd," Baqaei wrote on his X account on Friday.

"This false statement, coupled with the Minister's open threats to reimpose sanctions, reinforces the suspicion that France's nagging posture risks evolving into a spoiling role," he added.

"That won't add any credit to France and its status in Europe and globally," he noted.

Earlier on April 30, Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir-Saeid Iravani had rejected French foreign minister's accusation that the Islamic Republic is "on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons," characterizing these allegations as unfounded and politically irresponsible.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its commitment to diplomacy and constructive engagement. However, genuine diplomacy cannot proceed under threats or pressure," he noted.

"If France and its partners are truly interested in a diplomatic resolution, they must abandon coercion and respect the sovereign rights of States under international law," he stated.

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Iran rejects France's 'absurd' claims on nuclear weapons, sanctions

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 6:15 PM

The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry has dismissed as "simply absurd" France's claims about Tehran being on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.

In a post on his X account on Friday, Esmaeil Baghaei said the French foreign minister's claim that Iran is on the "cusp of developing" a nuclear weapon is simply absurd.

"This false statement, coupled with the Minister's open threats to reimpose sanctions, reinforces the suspicion that France's nagging posture risks evolving into a spoiling role," he added.

The Iranian spokesperson warned that France's spoiling role would add no credit to the European country and its status in Europe and across the world.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that Paris, along with Germany and Britain, "will not hesitate for a single second to reapply all the sanctions" lifted a decade ago if European security is threatened by Iran's nuclear activities.

He accused Tehran of being on the cusp of covertly developing a nuclear weapon.

In letters to UN chief General Antonio Guterres and Security Council head Jerome Bonnafont, Iran's Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani lambasted the French foreign minister's open threat to reimpose sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"Resorting to threats and economic blackmail is entirely unacceptable and represents a clear breach of the principles enshrined in the UN Charter," Iravani said.

France's allegations came as Iran and the US have held three rounds of talks in the Omani capital of Muscat and the Italian capital of 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 way the negotiations proceed, praising the talks as "positive" and "moving forward."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran and the European troika - the UK, France and Germany, the three European signatories to the JCPOA - will hold a meeting before a fourth round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States.

The top Iranian negotiator on Thursday said Tehran, together with Omani and US interlocutors, decided to postpone the fourth round of talks for logistical and technical reasons.

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Iran will never accept threats, pressure in talks with US: Foreign Ministry

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 1:56 PM

Iran's Foreign Ministry says the country will never accept approaches based on threats and pressure in the indirect talks with the United States, as Washington imposed new sanctions on Tehran.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry once again affirmed Iran's commitment to the path of diplomacy and its readiness to continue the negotiations with the United States.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran... will never tolerate, under any circumstances, the approaches based on threats and pressure, which are all in breach of the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law," it said.

Such approaches have been designed to harm Iran's national interests and violate the human rights of the Iranian people, it added.

The warning came after the US State Department sanctioned seven entities in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Iran for trading Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.

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.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned continued unlawful sanctions and pressure on Iran's trade and economic partners, which exposed that the Iranian people are right to be deeply suspicious of the US's seriousness in the path of diplomacy.

It said the continuation of such illegal behavior would make no change in Iran's logical and legitimate positions which are based on international law.

"Undoubtedly, retesting unsuccessful methods and tactics will lead to no outcome but a repetition of the same costly failures," the statement warned.

Following Trump's letter to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the announcement of readiness to pursue the path of diplomacy in order to resolve the unnecessary and artificial crisis over Iran's peaceful nuclear program, Tehran engaged in indirect dialogue with Washington based on goodwill backed by national power and confidence, it explained.

It noted that during three rounds of talks, the Iranian negotiators outlined the country's positions and legitimate demands and made serious efforts to reach a fair, reasonable, and sustainable agreement.

According to the ministry, the Iranian negotiating team has been pursuing a specific framework based on Iran's principled approaches under international law regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the termination of unjust sanctions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Thursday warned of the consequences of the US's contradictory behavior and provocative positions.

"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.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump threatened to slap secondary sanctions and cut off business with the countries that purchase Iranian oil or petrochemicals.

"All purchases of Iranian Oil or Petrochemical products must stop, NOW!" Trump said.

During his first term in office, Trump withdrew the United States in 2018 from the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and launched a maximum pressure campaign against the country.

Trump restored that policy after returning to the White House for a second term in January, but he has since signaled a willingness to make a new deal to replace the deal.

On March 12, Trump sent a letter to Iran's leadership, asking for negotiations to reach a new deal.

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Trump threatens sanctions against buyers of Iranian oil

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 9:47 AM

US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap secondary sanctions and cut off business with the countries that purchase Iranian oil or petrochemicals.

"All purchases of Iranian Oil, or Petrochemical products, must stop, NOW!" Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday.

"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 threat came after the fourth round of indirect talks between Iran and the US on Tehran's nuclear program and the removal of US sanctions were postponed.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "logistical and technical reasons" were behind the postponement of the Oman-mediated negotiations.

Tehran and Washington have already held three rounds of indirect talks over the past few weeks. In the meantime, however, the US has imposed anti-Iran sanctions as part of Trump's so-called maximum pressure campaign against the nation.

The Islamic Republic denounced the sanctions as clear evidence of the contradictory approach of American decision-makers and their lack of goodwill and seriousness in advancing the path of diplomacy.

In addition to imposing sanctions, the US officials have threatened military action against Iran.

In an X post early on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran over what he called "lethal support" for Yemenis.

"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," he said.

The US has repeatedly accused Iran of supplying arms to Yemen, a claim categorically rejected by Tehran, as Sana'a is producing its own weapons and defense equipment.

Last month, Trump acknowledged that the Yemenis are "experts" on making missiles, saying, "Nobody thought that, but they make missiles. It's highly sophisticated."

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Chinese solar technology shines at Myanmar's energy expo

Xinhua) 10:45, May 03, 2025

YANGON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese solar manufacturers were under the spotlight at the second Myanmar Power and Solar Energy Storage Lighting Expo 2025, held in the commercial capital of Yangon.

Over 80 companies across the globe showcased hundreds of brands at the four-day event, which began Thursday and runs until Sunday.

Exhibitors displayed a range of products, including solar panels, batteries, inverters, generators, power stations, lights, fans, pumps, as well as energy solutions.

The expo highlighted the latest advancements in solar and power technology, said Wang Zhang Cheng, general manager of Myanmar DPES Exhibition.

Sherly Du, country manager of Hangzhou Vestwoods Technology Co., Ltd., said "Our exhibits here include commercial and industrial batteries."

She said that they also exhibited appliances such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, and TVs, emphasizing the brand's aim to expand influence in Myanmar's market.

"Myanmar's solar market is unique and has low electricity access, so it is strongly interested in solar solutions," Sherly said, adding that Myanmar customers have good solar knowledge.

Sherly added that their main customers in Myanmar include hospitals, data centers, and small restaurants, as demand for industrial solar systems grows across the country.

At the expo, Myo Zaw Oo, sales manager at SCT Power Solar Myanmar, showcased solar inverters, batteries, turbines, and home appliances, noting strong customer interest in power stations and lightings.

SCT has showrooms in Yangon, Mandalay, Tachileik, Myawaddy, and Taunggyi, with over 100 dealers nationwide distributing their mostly China-made products, he said.

"Chinese solar products dominate here because of spare parts and solid after-sale service," he said. "That's crucial in Myanmar where repair support is essential."

He said the solar sector's future in Myanmar is bright, with increasing adoption, growing numbers of solar shops, and the government's backing to expand clean energy use.

Khant Thu Swe, marketing executive of Green Wave Power Technology company, said their showroom in Yangon and outlets in Mawlamyine and Mandalay are seeing a higher demand for residential solar systems.

"Power outages are pushing people toward solar products," he said. "Most solar products sold in Myanmar are from China, which offers a variety of solutions."

Exhibitors at the expo said that the display at the expo could put their brands in front of a targeted and large audience, including buyers and industry professionals, significantly promoting their products.

U Yin Toe, 70, a Yangon resident, said this was his second visit to the solar expo after installing eight solar panels at home two years ago.

"I use the system for lighting and air-conditioning," he said. "Today, I came here to buy light bulbs. I use Growatt products. They're reliable and service is essential in Myanmar," he said.

He believed solar use will increase in Myanmar and praised China's leadership in the global solar market, citing affordability and product range.

Ko Gorge, 50, another visitor, came here to buy a power station for his business. He already ran three air-conditioners using Chinese inverters and batteries.

"I bought inverters from Growatt and batteries from Felicity during the first expo," he said. "Everything I use is from China, and it's the top in batteries. Their electric cars are leading in the global market."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Iraq bans anti-Iran groups from operating on its territory

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 2, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Iraq has issued an official order banning all activities of anti-Iran militant groups on its soil, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, in a move aimed at strengthening bilateral ties with the Islamic Republic.

According to documents released by Iraq's al-Maalomah news agency, the decision was made by the Iraqi National Security Adviser and approved by the Prime Minister's Office.

The order includes the closure of the offices of these groups and the prohibition of their military, political, or media activities.

It instructed Iraqi security and military agencies, as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government and border authorities, to take the necessary measures to fully implement the order.

Border surveillance, especially in mountainous regions previously used by such groups, will also be intensified.

The order stresses the need for enhanced security coordination between Baghdad and Erbil to ensure full enforcement.

According to Iraqi media, the decision aims to preserve Iraq's national security, avoid entanglement in regional tensions, and boost cooperation with Iran.

It follows a joint security agreement signed in 2023 by Iran's then-top security official Ali Shamkhani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's national security adviser, Qasim al-Araji.

4354

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Japan-France Foreign Ministers' Luncheon Meeting

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

May 2, 2025

On May 2nd, commencing at 0:45 p.m. in local time (May 2nd, 7:45 p.m. JST) for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, during his visit to France, held a luncheon meeting with H.E. Mr. Jean-Noel BARROT, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic. The overview is as follows.

At the outset, Minister Iwaya stated that, through this visit to France, he would like to further strengthen Japan-France relations including in the field of security and economy. Minister Iwaya also stated that the international community is facing various challenges, and that he would like to strengthen cooperation between Japan and France to maintain and strengthen free and open international order based on the rule of law. In response, Minister Barrot stated that he is pleased to welcome Minister Iwaya to France, and that he hopes to work more closely together with Japan , an "exceptional partner" which shares the values and principles with France. The two Ministers highly appreciated the Japan-France cooperation in the field of security in the Indo-Pacific region and they also welcomed the progress being made in cooperation to secure stable supplies of important minerals such as rare earths in the field of economic security. Additionally, the two Ministers confirmed that both countries will work together to prepare for milestones such as the 30th anniversary of the Japan Cultural Institute in Paris in 2027, the 170th anniversary of Japan-France friendship in 2028, and the 100th anniversary of the Maison du Japon of the Cite internationale universitaire de Paris in 2029. The two Ministers reaffirmed the shared recognition that the security of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is inseparable and confirmed that Japan and France will work closely together on the situation in Ukraine, and the situation in East Asia including the policies towards North Korea such as the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue. They also discussed various issues in the international community, such as the situation in the Middle East, including the situation in Gaza and Palestine. The two Ministers further discussed a wide range of economic issues including the impact of the U.S. tariff measures on the global economy and the multilateral free trade system. The two Ministers concurred to continue to cooperate closely both bilaterally and in the framework of the G7, which France will chair next year.

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Japan-Canada Summit Telephone Talk

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

May 2, 2025

On May 2, commencing at 08:00 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone talk with the Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada. The overview of the talk is as follows.

Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his congratulations to Prime Minister Carney on the victory in Canada's federal election. Prime Minister Ishiba stated that, amidst continuing severe international environment, he would like to cooperate with Prime Minister Carney, who is the chair of the G7 Summit this year, for partnering between Japan and Canada as well as within the G7. Prime Minister Ishiba further stated that he would like to strengthen the strategic partnership between Japan and Canada in the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders exchanged their views on the situation in the East Asia.. Prime Minister Ishiba also stated that the LNG Canada is an important project for the energy security of the Indo-Pacific region including Japan, whose production of LNG will commence this year. He then asked for Canada's continued support for the project. The two leaders discussed a wide range of economic issues, taking into account the impact of the U.S. tariff measures on the global economy and multilateral trade system. Finally, Prime Minister Ishiba stated his expectation to expand exchanges between Japan and Canada through Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

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Japan-U.S. Consultation on U.S. Tariff Measures

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

May 2, 2025

On May 1, commencing at 4:40 p.m. (local time, on May 2, 5:40 a.m. Japan time), for approximately 130 minutes, H.E. AKAZAWA Ryosei, Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization of Japan, visiting Washington D.C., United States, held a Japan-U.S. Consultation on U.S. Tariff Measures with the Honorable Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury of the U.S., the Honorable Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce of the U.S., and the Honorable Ambassador Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative. The overview is stated in the attached Cabinet Secretariat press release.

(Reference)

Cabinet Secretariat Press Release (English (PDF)

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Turk warns of unremitting violence against civilians in Myanmar

UNOHCHR

Press releases

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

02 May 2025

Location

Geneva

Amidst so many crises around the world, the unbearable suffering of the people in Myanmar cannot be forgotten.

The unremitting violence inflicted on civilians, despite a ceasefire nominally declared in the wake of the devastating earthquake on 28 March, underscores the need for the parties to commit to - and implement - a genuine and permanent nationwide halt to hostilities and return to civilian rule.

It is imperative that the military immediately stop all attacks on civilians and civilian objects.

Since the earthquake and as of 29 April, the military has reportedly launched at least 243 attacks, including 171 air strikes, with over 200 civilians reportedly killed. The vast majority of attacks happened after 2 April when the Myanmar military and the National Unity Government announced unilateral ceasefires. The military subsequently renewed its largely unobserved ceasefire which then expired on 30 April.

The relentless attacks affect a population already heavily beleaguered and exhausted by years of conflict. This is compounded by the recent terrible earthquake that left 3,800 people dead and 6.3 million in urgent need of support, adding to the nearly 20 million already relying on assistance. International law is clear that humanitarian aid must be able to reach those in need without impediment.

People in Myanmar need food, water, and shelter. They need - and must have - peace and protection. This is the time to put people first, to prioritise their human rights and humanitarian needs, and to achieve a peaceful resolution to this crisis. Instead of further futile investment in military force, the focus must be on the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar.

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Health workers say disease on rise in Myanmar as aid cuts bite

Programs targeting diseases like HIV and tuberculosis have been hit.

By Kiana Duncan for RFA 2025.05.02 -- In conflict-hit zones on the eastern and western border regions of Myanmar, health workers are reporting rising cases of tuberculosis and other diseases amid global aid cuts from the U.S and other international donors.

Myanmar had meager investment in the health sector, even before the military seized power in a coup four years ago, triggering widespread fighting. Strain on the system has intensified with a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28 that killed more than 3,800 people.

Drastic cutbacks by the Trump administration at the Agency for International Development, or USAID, are impacting local health organizations that vulnerable populations rely on, particularly in border regions.

The Mon State Federal Council of Humanitarian and Rescue Department does public health reporting and provides medication and malaria testing kits to parts of eastern Myanmar's Mon and Kayin states. They say their capacity has been slashed to a fraction of what it once was.

"I think thousands of people may have a lack of access in this area out of our 300,000 [population] before," said department head Mi Soa Ta Jo, adding that they can only provide 30% of the malaria testing kits and medication they previously could to communities requesting it. Delayed testing and medication for malaria can have serious consequences like brain damage, impacting already overburdened caregivers, she said.

The group, one of many receiving USAID funding through intermediary organizations, says the cuts coincide with a rise in diseases like tuberculosis and HIV.

It's not just the U.S. that is scaling back its aid. The United Kingdom and France have also announced decreases in global development spending, with France cutting its overseas development assistance by 35% in February and launching a commission to investigate the funding's impact.

"If there are consequences of the funding cuts from the U.S, from Europe, from everywhere -- it's not only the U.S., it's everybody who's cutting funding - we will see them first on things like tuberculosis and vaccine-preventable diseases," said Dr. Francois Nosten, director of the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit working on the Thai-Myanmar border. "That's what we are concerned about."

The four years of fighting, which has displaced 3 million people and killed thousands, has already disrupted vaccinations. From 2021 to 2023 in Myanmar, the World Health Organization reported an increase in cases of diphtheria, measles, Japanese encephalitis and a significant rise in acute flaccid paralysis, an indicator for polio.

Cuts to programming

In Myanmar's northwestern region of Chin state, conflict between ethnic armed groups and junta forces has led to mass displacement.

Dr. Biak Cung Lian, the program manager for health and protection at the Chin Human Rights Organization, said that medical supply chains from cities have been disrupted. Health problems are being exacerbated by malnutrition and poor immunity.

The cuts in USAID funding have affected his group's efforts to treat tuberculosis, or TB, which spreads easily in crowded conditions. It has two mobile health programs focusing on TB screening, gender-based violence and psycho-social support. They have already laid off 60 staff.

The doctor also worries that HIV may spread more easily than before. Recently, many young people tested positive in a camp for displaced people on the border between the region of Sagaing and Chin state.

"Recently we heard that anti-retroviral therapy [for HIV] would be withheld because of the funding disruption. I'm not sure whether we will be able to procure (anti-retroviral therapy) drugs with our network," he said, referencing medication taken by HIV patients to reduce the risk of transmission and slow the progression of the virus into AIDS.

"So we are in a state where we can't do anything yet, but hopefully there will be something we can figure out," Biak Cung Lian said.

Lack of support for those displaced will also make it harder for other groups to treat illnesses compounded by malnutrition and poor immunity, health workers say.

"There is a certain level of difficulty in providing nutritional services to children under five years of age," said Thitsar, a doctor from the Karenni Loyalty Mobile team, a nonprofit medical group in northeastern Myanmar's Kayah state.

The group is helping to treat common illnesses like malaria and tuberculosis with limited medicine. The mobile clinic, set up by medical personnel participating in the protest for civil servants against Myanmar's military, the Civil Disobedience Movement, is one of the few groups providing regular healthcare to internally displaced people in the region for communicable and non-communicable diseases.

"There is malaria, and it's expected to increase during the upcoming monsoon season. There is a limited amount of medicine available. We could not tell the exact numbers, the situation on the ground is quite challenging," Thitsar, who goes by one name, said.

The U.S. State Department responded to RFA's request for information about its ongoing commitment to public health funding in Myanmar by emphasizing its continued support for Myanmar following the recent earthquake.

But it made no mention of any ongoing commitments to assist public health programs in Myanmar.

RFA Burmese journalist Khin Khin Ei contributed reporting. Edited by Ginny Stein and Mat Pennington.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles

NEWS | May 2, 2025

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-33

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $3.5 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy one thousand (1,000) AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and fifty (50) AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections. The following non-MDE items will also be included: AMRAAM control section spares, missile containers, and support equipment; spare parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return support; weapon system support; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $3.50 billion.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, AZ. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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Germany Federal Foreign Office

02.05.2025 - Press release

A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (2 May 2025):

The reports of violent clashes in Syria in recent days, particularly in Damascus and southern parts of the country, are deeply worrying. The Federal Government condemns these outbreaks of violence and calls on all sides to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the conflicts. Any form of incitement or hate speech must cease. The government in Damascus must bring an end to the violence and protect the civilian population.

Moreover, we call on the Syrian Government to hold talks with the individual population groups on their future role in Syria. Progress must be made in this area as quickly as possible in order to guarantee the full participation of all population groups in the political process.

The investigation of crimes committed and reconciliation between the population groups in Syria is indispensable. It is clear that decades of dictatorship and civil war have left deep wounds that must be healed through a transparent process and with the help of transitional justice. Germany stands ready to support the prosecution of past crimes and reconciliation.

Syria must not fall victim to regional tensions. We therefore urge all actors - domestic and foreign - to exercise maximum restraint. The protection and integration of Syrian minorities remains the central task of the Syrian Government.
UN Syria Commission: Fresh clashes and Israeli intervention threaten fragile peace

Press releases

Independent investigation

02 May 2025

GENEVA -- The recent surge in violence and deadly clashes with sectarian dimensions in Damascus countryside, which also spread to Suweyda governorate, is deeply troubling for Syria's path toward sustainable and rights-respecting peace, the UN Syria Commission warned today.

More than 100 people have reportedly been killed, including a number of civilians. The risk of greater fragmentation and harm to civilians is increased by continued Israeli airstrikes across the Syrian territory.

The spread of discriminatory incitement and hate speech, including through social media, is fuelling violence and risks threating Syria's fragile social cohesion. The Commission urges all parties involved in the current escalation to immediately cease hostilities and pursue all available avenues for de-escalation and dialogue. The protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and the prevention of further displacement must be prioritised.

Israeli airstrikes and threats of further military intervention as it continues to expand its occupation of the Syrian Golan, as well as its attempts to divide various Syrian communities, risk further destabilising Syria. Syria's recent history should serve as a reminder that external interventions have often led to increased violence, displacement, and fragmentation.

While the situation remains fluid and an agreement has reportedly been reached between prominent leaders in Suweyda and the authorities in Damascus, the Commission underscores that the interim government remains responsible for ensuring the protection of all civilians in areas under its control.

Impunity for grave violations has in the past been a consistent driver of Syria's conflict and must not be allowed to persist. Only by upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice, accountability and reparations for victims and their families can Syria begin to rebuild trust across its fractured communities.

The interim government must ensure prompt, impartial, transparent and independent investigations into these violations of international law and that perpetrators are held accountable through credible processes under Syrian law.

The recent clashes following on the violence in Syria's coastal areas in early March underscores the country's fragile security situation and the urgent need for de-escalation. The Commission's investigations continue.

ENDS

Background: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was established on 22 August 2011 by the Human Rights Council through resolution S-17/1.The mandate of the Commission is to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Human Rights Council also tasked the Commission with establishing the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view of ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable. The Human Rights Council has repeatedly extended the Commission's mandate since then, most recently until 31 March 2025.

The commissioners were appointed by the President of the UN Human Rights Council; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights Office provides support to the Commission of Inquiry, the commissioners serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including the UN. Views presented herein are solely those of the mandated commissioners.

Current Commissioners:

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (Brazil), Chair

(Brazil), Chair Hanny Megally (Egypt)

(Egypt) Lynn Welchman (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

For media requests, please contact: Johan Eriksson, UN Syria Commission of Inquiry Media Adviser, at +41 76 691 0411 / johan.eriksson@un.org; or Todd Pitman, Media Adviser, Investigative Missions, at todd.pitman@un.org; Pascal Sim, Human Rights Council Media Officer at simp@un.org.

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Israel strikes near presidential palace in Syria amid HTS silence

Iran Press TV

Friday, 02 May 2025 8:48 AM

Israeli warplanes have conducted airstrikes adjacent to the presidential palace in the Syrian capital of Damascus, marking the regime's second attack in the Arab country this week amid the silence of the ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham-led (HTS) administration.

Since Bashar 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.

Israeli authorities have tried to paint the Friday attack as a support for the Druze community, which is clashing with the HTS-backed militants near Damascus in a new wave of sectarian violence under the rule of the HTS administration. The violence has left dozens of people dead or wounded.

This is while the Druze minority had a history of supporting the Assad government and standing against Israeli occupation and expansionist policies, including in the occupied Golan Heights.

Back in early March, veteran Druze leader Walid Jumblatt had warned of an Israeli plot to divide Syria along sectarian lines.

"The free Syrians must be cautious of the plots of Israel," Jumblatt said. "In Syria, there is a plot for sabotage. There is a plot for sabotage in the region and for the Arabs' national security."

The Friday attack came a day after the Israeli regime's interior minister Moshe Arbel called for immediate Israeli intervention in Syria on the pretext of defending the Druze community.

This week's sectarian violence began in the predominantly Druze city of Jaramana on Tuesday, sparked by a voice recording allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and which the regime's militants suspected was made by a Druze.

However, the spiritual authority for the Jaramana Druze community said the audio clip was fabricated "to incite sedition and sow division among the people of the same nation."

The deadly clashes in Druze areas followed a wave of massacres in March in Syria's Mediterranean coast, during which the HTS-aligned militants killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly from the Alawite community.

The Israeli military operations in Syria come as 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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Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Airstrike Near Damascus Presidential Palace

Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, May 02, 2025, SPA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation in the strongest terms of the Israeli airstrike that targeted the vicinity of the presidential palace in Damascus. The Kingdom reiterated its firm rejection of the Israeli attacks that violate the sovereignty, security, and stability of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The Kingdom stressed the urgent need to put an end to Israel's blatant violations of international law in Syria and the region, warning that the continuation of these violations and Israel's extremist policies heighten the risks of violence, extremism, and regional instability.

-- SPA

17:57 Local Time 14:57 GMT

0020

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The Ministry of National Defense released a press statement explaining "The P.R.C. carries out joint combat readiness alert patrols."

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/04/30

Ministry of National Defense Press Release

Date: April 30, 2025, 19:00

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today that starting from 14:50, a total of 27 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, including J-16 fighters, KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), were detected operating around Taiwan as part of a joint combat readiness patrol. Among them, 20 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and its extension, entering the northern, central, and southwestern airspace of Taiwan in coordination with PLA naval vessels.

The Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces have closely monitored the situation through integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, and responded appropriately by deploying aircraft, naval vessels, and shore-based missile systems.



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Over 40% of Taiwanese doubt U.S. security support under Trump: Survey

ROC Central News Agency

05/02/2025 10:04 PM

Taipei, May 2 (CNA) More than 40 percent of Taiwanese people believe the United States' commitment to protect Taiwan will decrease during U.S. President Donald Trump's second term in office, compared to that of his predecessor, according to a survey by Academia Sinica, Taiwan's top research institution.

In the "American Portrait Survey" conducted in mid-March, 1,249 Taiwanese adults answered questions about their thoughts on U.S.-Taiwan-China relations.

Among the respondents, 21.1 percent and 23.3 percent said they believed the United States would offer "much less" and "somewhat less" commitment, respectively, for Taiwan's national security during Trump's second term, compared to the past few years under his predecessor Joe Biden.

While 5.7 percent of respondents said they believed the U.S. would offer "somewhat more" commitment and 4.6 percent said "much more," the largest group -- 38.5 percent -- expected the level of protection to "remain the same" as in the past few years before Trump returned to the White House on Jan. 20.

When asked whether they were concerned that the U.S. and China might reach agreements that would undermine Taiwan's national interests, 59 percent of respondents said they were.

The results of the survey -- an annual Taiwan-based look at public perceptions of the U.S. and China -- were released on Friday by Wu Wen-chin (), a research fellow at Academia Sinica's Institute of Political Science, during a seminar in Taipei.

Wu commented that the survey results reflected how Trump's approach has heightened anxiety among Taiwanese over Taiwan-U.S. relations.

In the 2024 edition of the survey, when Biden was still president, Taiwanese people were asked whether the U.S. would send troops if China launched an invasion of Taiwan, and 15.3 percent said the U.S. "definitely would not," while 16.4 percent said it was "unlikely."

One year later, the 2025 survey showed a notable 10-percent increase in doubt over potential U.S. military support, with 18.7 percent saying the U.S. "definitely would not" intervene and 23.7 percent saying it was "unlikely" when asked the same question.

In addition, when respondents were asked in 2024 whether they agreed that the U.S. was a trustworthy country, 50 percent expressed disagreement. In 2025, that number rose by nearly 10 percentage points, with 59.6 percent saying they did not agree that the U.S. was trustworthy.

Funded by Academia Sinica's Institute of European and American Studies, the survey is a research program that began in 2021 and is expected to run for 10 years.

This year's edition was conducted by National Chengchi University's Election Study Center via telephone interviews from March 18 to 23, with 1,249 valid responses collected from individuals aged 20 or older who had household registration in Taiwan.

The survey had a confidence level of 95 percent and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.77 percentage points.

(By Wu Hsin-yun and Sunny Lai)

Enditem/cs

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Taiwan-Japan cooperation necessary amid global challenges: Nakasone

ROC Central News Agency

05/02/2025 08:45 PM

Taipei, May 2 (CNA) Collaboration between Taiwan and Japan on economic and maritime security is necessary, visiting Japanese House of Representatives member Yasutaka Nakasone said Friday.

Speaking with reporters in Taipei, Nakasone, who also heads the Youth Division of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), described the global circumstances as complex and challenging, saying that strengthened cooperation between Taiwan and Japan is therefore imperative.

Nakasone is leading a delegation from the LDP Youth Division to Taiwan on a five-day visit until Saturday, and the group has met with President Lai Ching-te (), National Security Council chief Joseph Wu () and Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu () since its arrival on April 29.

During the delegation's meetings with Taiwanese officials, both sides have discussed how Taiwan and Japan can enhance their cooperation and include allies such as the United States and South Korea in that effort, Nakasone said.

However, he declined to provide specifics of the discussions, saying only that economic and maritime security remain crucial for both Taiwan and Japan as both are island nations.

The two sides also discussed broader security concerns, including information and cognitive warfare, as well as demographic challenges, notably declining birthrates and aging populations, the division director said.

According to Nakasone, the LDP Youth Division has maintained a good relationship with the Taiwanese government over the past few decades by regularly sending delegations to visit Taiwan.

Under his leadership, the division, which serves as a channel for dialogue, aims to pass on to the next generation a stronger political, economic and cultural bond between Taiwan and Japan, he added.

Nakasone's delegation also includes House of Representatives members Shojiro Hiranuma, Taku Nemoto and Kaoru Fukuda, and House of Councillors member Masayuki Kamiya.

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/AW

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No industry will be sacrificed in U.S. tariff talks: President Lai

ROC Central News Agency

05/02/2025 06:52 PM

Taipei, May 2 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te () on Friday assured Taiwanese industries that no sector would be sacrificed in ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States, pledging to safeguard national interests and preserve space for industrial development.

Speaking at a meeting with business leaders in New Taipei, Lai emphasized that his administration is taking a rigorous approach to addressing the issue.

He said that the interests of Taiwan's 1.5 to 1.6 million small and micro enterprises -- which employ over 9 million people -- remain a top priority, given their vital role in national development.

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (), also present at the meeting, called for increased government transparency, a stable power supply, and more direct dialogue between policymakers and industry representatives.

In response, Lai guaranteed that Taiwan's power supply will remain stable through 2032, even amid growing demand from AI and data centers.

He also pointed to the government's continued expansion of renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal power.

Lai noted that the first round of tariff talks with the U.S. has already taken place and that preparations for further negotiations are underway, adding that the government has increased its export supply chain relief package from NT$88 billion to NT$93 billion (US$2.87 billion-US$3 billion).

Despite downward revisions of global economic forecasts by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), partly due to changes in U.S. policy, Lai highlighted that Taiwan's own outlook has improved -- from 2.7 percent to 2.9 percent -- reflecting confidence in the country's economic resilience.

He was referring to the IMF's prediction in an April report that Taiwan's economy would grow by 2.9 percent this year -- a figure 0.2 percentage points higher than its previous forecast in October last year.

The IMF's 2025 World Economic Outlook report, published on April 22, noted that the imposition of sweeping tariffs by the U.S. was "resetting the global trade system and giving rise to uncertainty" that is testing the resilience of the global economy.

Given that uncertainty, the IMF said it was forecasting global economic growth of 2.8 percent in 2025 and 3.0 percent in 2026, down 0.5 and 0.3 percentage points, respectively, from its last forecast in January.

(By Chao Ya-min and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/AW

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Taiwan legislators talk chips at U.S. Commerce Department

ROC Central News Agency

05/02/2025 01:09 PM

Washington, May 2 (CNA) A delegation of Taiwanese lawmakers met with American officials in Washington, D.C. on Thursday to discuss several issues, including the flow of chips made in Taiwan, according to Wang Ting-yu (), one of the lawmakers.

The delegation met with officials of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, accompanied by Ingrid Larson, the managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) Washington office.

Wang, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said after the meeting that the bureau voiced concern about possible "origin washing" of Chinese products and Taiwan's high-end chips reaching third parties restricted by the United States through illicit means.

Wang said his group proposed law enforcement cooperation to tackle that problem, contending that Taiwan's exclusion from Interpol put it at a disadvantage and made it hard to track users who acquire their chips through indirect means.

He acknowledged the need to prevent Taiwanese chips from reaching China, saying that while it may be a business issue for the U.S., Taiwan does not want its chips ending up with "a third party aiming missiles at our country."

An example of such a case is the possible violation of U.S. export controls by leading Taiwanese chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) after a chip it made ended up in an artificial intelligence processor produced by Chinese company Huawei Technologies Co., according to a Reuters report on April 8.

The report said TSMC could face a penalty of US$1 billion or more to settle the case.

The delegation also met with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier in the day.

"As Beijing's threats grow louder, our support for Taiwan's security, economy and democracy is unwavering," Pelosi said in a post on social media after the meeting.

Their visit to D.C. coincided with the stepping down of China hawk Mike Waltz as national security advisor. Waltz was later nominated as the ambassador to the United Nations by Trump.

The delegation's leader, Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang () of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), said Taiwan-U.S. ties would remain stable despite the changes, noting that the U.S. Congress maintained a unanimous stance on Taiwan.

While the Biden and Trump administrations may differ in their approaches, their overall position toward Taiwan remained consistent, he said.

He pointed out that Waltz will still be able to deal with issues involving Taiwan if he does take on the role as the U.N. ambassador.

The delegation also includes lawmakers Chang Chih-lun () and Huang Chien-hao () of the KMT, Lin Yi-chun () of the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party, and Wang, Chiu Yi-ying () and Ngalim Tiunn () of the DPP.

They have visited the Department of Commerce, the intelligence, foreign affairs and armed services committees of the Congress, the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, the think tank Heritage Foundation and former AIT Chair Laura Rosenberger.

(By Chung Yu-chen and Wu Kuan-hsien)

Enditem/ls

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/05/02

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. May. 1 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. May. 2 (Fri.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

5 sorties of PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 5 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140502_PLA activities [Open a new window]

1140502_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window]

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Ukraine - F-16 Training and Sustainment

NEWS | May 2, 2025

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No. 25-32

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of F-16 Training and Sustainment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $310.5 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.

The Government of Ukraine requests to buy equipment and services in support of its F-16 aircraft. The following non-MDE items will be included: aircraft modifications and upgrades; personnel training related to operation, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; ground handling equipment; classified and unclassified software delivery and support; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and

contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $310.5 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

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 through comprehensive training with the U.S. Air Force. This proposed sale aligns with international coalition contributions for the establishment of Ukraine's F-16 program and the overall modernization of Ukraine's air force. Ukraine 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 contractors will be Valiant Integrated Services, located in Herndon, VA; Top Aces Corporation, located in Mesa, AZ; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, located in Fort Worth, TX; Pratt and Whitney, located in East Hartford, CT; Snap-on, Inc., located in Kenosha, WI; BAE Systems, Inc., located in Falls Church, VA; AAR Corporation, located in Wood Dale, IL; and Comsetra, LLC, located in Grove, OK. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset

agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Ukraine.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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Government has submitted for ratification the Agreement with the United States to establish the Reconstruction Investment Fund: Denys Shmyhal

Ukraine Government

Communications Department of the Secretariat of the CMU, posted 02 May 2025 12:07

The Cabinet of Ministers has submitted for ratification to the Verkhovna Rada the Agreement with the United States to Establish the Reconstruction Investment Fund and expects a quick decision. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal during the Questions Time with the Government.

He informed the MPs about the main provisions of the agreement. According to Denys Shmyhal, the Reconstruction Investment Fund will be managed by Ukraine and the United States on equal terms and all decisions will be made jointly.

"The Fund is a tool for investing in Ukraine, not a mechanism for transferring assets. All Ukrainian natural resources remain the property of Ukraine. The Fund will be filled by the United States and Ukraine in a 50-50 ratio. The U.S. will make cash contributions or provide new military assistance," the Prime Minister stressed.

The Head of Government also added that in the first 10 years, profits would not be withdrawn from Ukraine, but reinvested in our country. The newly created institution will guarantee commercial purchases of products on a take-or-pay basis. In addition, the Fund, through the U.S. agency DFC, will attract American and European state-of-the-art technologies, which will in turn accelerate Ukraine's recovery and modernisation.

"The Agreement does not mention any debt obligations of Ukraine. The Fund's income is taxed neither by the United States nor by Ukraine. Critical minerals exported to the United States are not subject to customs duties, which in the current circumstances provides unique opportunities for trade development," Denys Shmyhal said and stressed that the document was consistent with Ukraine's other international obligations.

The Prime Minister noted the importance and scale of the Agreement signed by Ukraine and the United States and stressed that additional technical measures were required for its implementation, as the Fund was founded for decades, and its creation was a long-term process that required analysis and consistent decisions.

"The Agreement is fully compliant with the Constitution of Ukraine and does not contradict national legislation. These are mutually beneficial arrangements that create positive dynamics of our reconstruction and our development for decades," Denys Shmyhal stressed and added that it would form the basis for new relations with the United States.

"I am grateful to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the United States Donald Trump for their leadership and resolve, which allowed us to constructively conclude the negotiations and sign this landmark agreement," the Prime Minister underscored.

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Vice-Minister Pranevicius in Kyiv: the partnership between Lithuania and Ukraine makes both countries - and the entire Europe - safer and stronger

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Updated 2025-05-02

On 29-30 April, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Julius Pranevicius, paid a working visit to Kyiv, where he participated in bilateral political consultations between the Foreign Ministries, met with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities, spoke at a conference co-organised by Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine to commemorate the Constitution of 3 May and discuss the continuity of Russian imperial policy, as well as attended other meetings.

Bilateral political consultations with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Olexandr Mischenko focused on the bilateral and international agenda: Russia's aggression against Ukraine, mobilisation of international partners for increased support, security guarantees and initiatives to strengthen Ukraine, cooperation in international organisations and regional formats, and how to isolate and deter Russia. Important attention was paid to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of defence and security.

"Lithuania strongly supports Ukraine's path to the European Union, its fight for freedom and adherence to international law. We must increase the international isolation of the aggressor Russia and limit its ability to continue its aggression, while consistently increasing all kinds of support for Ukraine to achieve victory and long-term, sustainable peace," Vice-Minister Pranevicius said.

Pranevicius and Mishchenko also paid tribute to the fallen Ukrainian soldiers.

During the visit, the Vice-Minister also met with the Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva, and discussed efforts to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire that would lead to a just and sustainable peace. Regional formats of cooperation and progress in Ukraine's EU integration process were also discussed. Pranevicius stressed that we urgently need Ukraine as a strong EU ally.

The meeting with the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for European integration Serhiy Boyev and Aloyan David, Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine, addressed the situation on the front line, the most urgent needs for support, and the development of bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and security, including investments in Ukraine's defence industry and co-production. "As Ukraine tirelessly defends our common security, Lithuania learns valuable lessons and thus strengthens its resilience. Our partnership makes both countries - and the entire Europe - safer and stronger," stressed the Vice-Minister.

The meeting with the Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Roman Andarak focused on the situation in the Ukrainian energy sector, its most important needs and Lithuania's contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

A meeting was also held with Oleksandr Merezko, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Policy of the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada), to discuss further strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy relations, Lithuania's support for Ukraine's EU integration, and joint actions to strengthen regional security.

Vice-Minister Pranevicius also delivered an opening speech at a conference co-organised by the Embassies of Lithuania, Poland and the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine titled "Imperial Handbook of Aggression against Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. Lessons from the Policy of Catherine II and Putin the Warmonger".

"Since the times of Catherine II until the times of Putin, a pattern of aggression remains the same: as the nations in our region embark on the path of democracy, sovereignty, and reform, they become the target of imperial aggression. Today, Ukraine's path is similar: the same courage, the same will to reform, the same will to defend freedom, the same hope for a European future - and the same reaction from Moscow: denial, terror, and destruction. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is not only a war against one nation, it is an attack on the very idea that free nations have the right to choose their destiny. This is a modern continuation of a centuries-old imperial doctrine," Pranevicius stressed in his speech. According to the Vice-Minister, "Ukraine is not only fighting for its territories - it is defending the democratic future of all of us, a future without terror. Past empires have written textbooks of aggression - but our people are today creating a textbook of resilience, courage, hope, and freedom".

In Kyiv, the Foreign Vice-Minister also met with Daniele Bell, Head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, representatives of Ukrainian civil society and Ukrainian soldiers.

This is the first working visit of Pranevicius to Ukraine since he officially assumed the position of Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs.

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Inside The (New) Ukraine-US Minerals Deal: Who Got The Better End?

By Mike Eckel and Serhiy Stetsenko May 02, 2025

Three months ago, Ukraine's president was sitting in the White House's Oval Office, berated by U.S. President Donald Trump and his vice president for balking at a major deal giving Washington privileged access to Kyiv's lucrative mineral wealth.

The blow-up threatened a decisive, and possibly catastrophic, disruption in U.S. support for Ukraine's 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 Ukraine's 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 deal's 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 what's 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.

Ukraine's 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."

That's 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 country's 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 it's all well and good for the economy, it won't stop the war for now," he said.

Ukraine's parliament could vote on ratifying the deal as early as May 8.

What About Those Rare Earth

The fund's investments center on Ukraine's 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 country's 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/RL's 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, that's 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 Trump's foreign policy ethos, which has favored a transactional approach to deal-making."

What's 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 Trump's 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 Russia's 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 Kyiv's 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 Ukraine's 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 Zelenskyy's 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.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-us-minerals- deal-rare-earths-russia-trump-putin/33403131.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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Ukraine War 'Not Ending Soon': Vance, Rubio Cast Doubt On Quick Peace Deal With Russia

By RFE/RL May 02, 2025

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 Ukraine's 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 Ukraine's 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 Francis's 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 Ukraine's 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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-vance- rubio-trump-minerals-negotiations-war/33402691.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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Russian Drone Strike Hits Kharkiv, Wounding Dozens

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 02, 2025

Russian drone strikes on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv wounded dozens of people, local officials said on the evening of May 2, one day after at least 31 people were injured in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya.

Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said the number of wounded in the massive drone attack on Kharkiv increased to 35 people.

A private house, a high-rise building, a shop, and a parking lot were damaged in the drone strikes, he said on Telegram.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the strikes occurred at 12 locations in four districts of the city. He put the number of people injured at 46 and said eight of the victims had been hospitalized.

Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas have killed dozens of people in recent weeks despite the United States efforts to get the two sides to the negotiating table to end Moscow's full-scale invasion.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the drone strikes and issued a fresh appeal to beef up Ukraine's air defense capability.

"There were no military targets, nor could there be any. Russia strikes dwellings when Ukrainians are in their homes, when they are putting their children to bed," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.

"Ukraine needs stronger air defenses. Stronger and real decisions from our partners: the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace."

The Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhya occurred late on May 1, local authorities said.

"Two children are among the injured. Hospitals in Zaporizhzhya continue to receive patients affected by yesterday's attack," regional Governor IvanFedorov saidon May 2 on Telegram.

Pictures posted online showed a fire burning at a collapsed apartment building.

Russian forces made at least 10 strikes on the city, targeting private homes, high-rise apartment buildings, educational institutions, and infrastructure sites, Fedorov added.

Ukraine's state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsya, said its locomotive repair plant located in the city was also attacked.

"This is a purely civilian facility specializing in the repair of electric passenger locomotives," Ukrzaliznytsya's poston Telegram said.

The attack followed a widescale onslaught of Russian drones on several regions of Ukraine on April 30. At least two people were killed in Odesa after air alerts were activated in 11 regions of Ukraine.

The "large-scale" attack on the Black Sea port of Odesa, as described by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service in a Telegram post, killed two people and injured 15 others.

Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram that the Russian attack on Odesa damaged high-rise buildings, houses, a supermarket, and a school.

Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, responded to the Russian attack on Odesa by calling for a "complete cease-fire" in a Telegram post.

"We must push for it together with the United States and Europe," he wrote, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin "will always have the desire to kill."

"But diplomacy, force, and economic pressure will compel Russia to end the war," he added.

The United States and Ukraine on April 30 signed a minerals deal that US President Donald Trump's administration said was an economic partnership in recognition of the "significant financial and material support that the people of the United States have provided to the defense of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion."

After initial hesitation, Ukraine accepted the agreement as a way to secure long-term investment by Washington amid moves by Trump and his administration to curtail US security commitments around the world.

Meanwhile, a group of 72 US senators has thrown its support behind a bill threatening Russia with severe new sanctions if it refuses to engage in serious negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

The announcement was made by Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina), one of the bill's sponsors, Bloomberg reports.

According to a draft obtained by Bloomberg News, the proposed measures include a sweeping 500 percent tariff on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas, petroleum products, or uranium.

Graham said he has enough support in the House to bring the sanctions bill to the floor there as well, according to Bloomberg.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, Bloomberg, and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-odesa- drone-attack/33401858.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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Russian Forces Repel Most Massive Group Attack on Sevastopol in 2025

Sputnik News

20250502

SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik) - The Russian air defense forces and the navy repelled over the night the most massive group attack on Sevastopol in this year, Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Friday.

"I thank the air defense forces and our fleet, which repelled the most massive combined attack on Sevastopol this year last night," Razvozhayev said on Telegram.

More than 50 drones were destroyed approaching to Sevastopol, as well as several marine drones in the water area, the governor said, adding that no facilities in the city or in the water area were damaged.

 Sputnik

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Russian Forces Establishing 'Buffer Zone' in Border Areas of Sumy Region - MoD

Sputnik News

20250502

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces are creating a "buffer zone" on the territory of the border areas of the Sumy region of Ukraine after the complete liberation of the Kursk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"Units of the North group of forces have completed the defeat of the armed forces of Ukraine formations in the Kursk Region. In the course of active offensive operations, the Gornal settlement of the Kursk Region, the last settlement under the control of Ukrainian militants, was liberated. The creation of a 'buffer zone' on the territory of the border areas of the Sumy region of Ukraine continues," the ministry said.

Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated over 2,970 Ukrainian soldiers over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The enemy has lost up to 2,970 servicepeople, 20 armored combat vehicles, including a US-made HMMWV armored vehicle and a M113 armored personnel carrier. A total of 36 vehicles and 20 field artillery guns were destroyed," the statement read.

Russia's Battlegroup Yug has eliminated over 1,790 Ukrainian soldiers over the past week, the ministry said.

Russia's Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated up to 1,630 Ukrainian servicepeople, while Russia's Battlegroup Vostok has eliminated over 1,220 Ukrainian soldiers over the past week, the ministry said.

Over the past week, Kiev has lost over 600 soldiers in clashes with Russia's Battlegroup Dnepr, the statement read.

Russia's Battlegroup Sever vhas eliminated over 1,530 Ukrainian fighters over the past week, the ministry said.

Russian air defense forces have destroyed 1,306 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles, 36 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs, five US-made HIMARS projectiles and two S-200 surface-to-air guided missiles converted to hit ground targets over the past week, the ministry said.

The Russian army has conducted seven group strikes with high-precision weapons and attack drones on the infrastructure of the Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, military airfields, ammunition depots, electronic reconnaissance systems, drone depots and production sites, and deployment areas of Ukrainian troops and mercenaries, the statement read.

"The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down one Su-27 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force," the ministry also said.

Over the past seven days, the Russian Black Sea Fleet's naval aviation has destroyed one US-made Willard speedboat, three uncrewed surface vehicles and damaged one vehicle, the ministry said.

 Sputnik

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Ukraine, West Understand Very Well That Crimea is Russian - Moscow

Sputnik News

20250502

SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik) - Crimea is Russia's sovereign territory, the West and Ukraine understand this perfectly well, and the sooner they recognize this fact, the better it will be for them, Russian Foreign Ministry envoy in Simferopol, Artem Berezovsky, told Sputnik.

"The West, as well as Ukraine, understands perfectly well that Crimea is a sovereign territory of the Russian Federation not because Russia wants it that way, but because the Crimeans themselves wanted it that way. And the sooner they recognize this fact, the better it will be for them," Berezovsky said.

Crimea became a Russian region in March 2014 following a referendum after a coup in Ukraine. In the referendum, 96.77% of voters in Crimea and 95.6% in Sevastopol voted to join Russia. Ukraine still considers Crimea to be its temporarily occupied territory, and many Western countries support Kiev on the issue. For its part, the Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the residents of Crimea voted to reunite with Russia democratically, in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Crimea issue is "closed."

 Sputnik

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Ukraine Conflict 'Not Going to End Any Time Soon' - Vance

Sputnik News

20250502

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Vice President JD Vance said Russia and Ukraine know each other's terms for peace, and it is up to Moscow and Kiev to reach a deal.

"For three years, these sides have fought, and each of them has said, no peace, we're going to fight until the other guys are basically knocked out. What we've seen now in the last couple of weeks is each side has put down. This is our peace proposal. The Ukrainians did it. The Russians did it. And now 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 boasted about a 'deal' that doesn't exist.

He said it would be up to Russia and Ukraine to decide.

"It's not going anywhere. It's not going to end any time soon," Vance emphasized.

"When I say this deal, I mean getting these guys to actually propose a peace settlement," Vance said  blissfully unaware that Ukraine ditched the 2015 Minsk Agreements and the 2022 Istanbul peace deal, and has repeatedly ignored Russia's calls for talks  including President Vladimir Putin's 2024 peace proposal.

Russia has been conducting its special military operation since February 24, 2022. President Vladimir Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime." According to the president, the ultimate goal of the operation is to completely liberate Donbass and create conditions that guarantee Russia's security: Ukraine must undergo demilitarization and denazification.

Moscow says arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the settlement and directly involve NATO countries in the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stressed that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will be a legitimate target for Russia. The top diplomat has called the US and NATO out for not only supplying weapons to Kiev, but also training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy and other countries. The Kremlin has stated that Western arms supplies to Ukraine hinder peace talks.

 Sputnik

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The Task Is to Accelerate the Creation of Ukrainian Ballistic Systems as Much as Possible - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

2 May 2025 - 21:05

Dear Ukrainians!

A brief update for today. I held a meeting of the Staff. Reports were made on supplies for our brigades and the staffing of our units. And also, in great detail, on Ukraine's missile program, our missile developments, and our production capabilities. The task is to accelerate the creation of our Ukrainian ballistic systems as much as possible. Our long-range capabilities are a clear and effective guarantee of Ukraine's security.

I also held a meeting today regarding the development of our military aviation, focusing primarily on Ukrainian F-16s. The aircraft that are already in Ukraine. The aircraft that will arrive in Ukraine shortly. The long-term supply plans. Personnel decisions were made to strengthen the management of military aviation. These were decisions for both the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff. And we see now that there are some good results, and I want to thank everyone contributing to the development of our military aviation.

The Commander-in-Chief reported several times today, with particular focus on the situation in the Donetsk region, especially the Pokrovsk direction and several other areas. We continue to operate in the territory of the Kursk and Belgorod regions as well. Russia continues to reject a full and lasting ceasefire - all our partners are already tired of these Russian manipulations. We are defending our positions and will act accordingly, both on the frontlines and in our actions on Russian territory. The war must be felt where it came from.

Today, I held two conversations with our partners. I spoke with the Prime Minister of Denmark. As always, my discussion with Mette was very meaningful and friendly. I informed her about the situation on the frontlines and our contacts with key partners. We discussed our joint steps, our joint work in Europe - diplomatic efforts, as well as efforts to increase investment in arms production here in Ukraine. The Danish model works effectively. I also spoke with the President of Ecuador - I congratulated him on his re-election. I thanked him for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We greatly value the support from Latin America and other parts of the world, where people may have less access to accurate information about Russia's war and Russia's refusal to even cease fire. Every leader and every country that takes principled and value-based stances in their regions represents the real foundation of the international order based on rules. We also discussed with the President of Ecuador the economic relations between our countries. We are very interested in increasing our trade, and this will happen. Ukrainian diplomacy is working in all directions for the benefit of our state, for our independence. I thank everyone who stands with us, who stands with Ukraine!

And today, I would like to express particular gratitude to Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine, who are handling the case of embezzlement of assets from the Ukrainian state company "Motor Sich" and the sale of Ukrainian weapons to Russia. One of the suspects has been detained in Monaco, and it is important to note that this is a signal: they will not hide abroad. Everyone must be held accountable for their actions. I have also instructed the heads of law enforcement agencies to pay special attention to such cases and to the search for misappropriated Ukrainian funds that have been transferred abroad. This is a matter of principle.

Glory to Ukraine!

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The President of Ukraine Holds a Conversation with the President of Ecuador

President of Ukraine

2 May 2025 - 19:34

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Daniel Noboa on his re-election and thanked him for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ukrainian leader noted that he values the level of dialogue already established between Ukraine and Ecuador and looks forward to further strengthening cooperation, as it will contribute to the success of both nations.

The President of Ukraine emphasized that one of the steps toward closer relations between the countries is the opening of the Embassy of Ukraine in Ecuador. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it will be operational by the end of this year.

Daniel Noboa mentioned that Ecuador is interested in developing economic partnership with Ukraine and importing a range of agricultural products. The leaders discussed the possibility of concluding a free trade agreement and agreed that their teams would work on this matter.

The cooperation within the Ukraine-Latin America format was also discussed.

Daniel Noboa invited Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Ecuador, and in turn, Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Daniel Noboa to visit Ukraine. The Presidents also agreed to continue their contacts.

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Andriy Yermak Holds a Phone Conversation with the National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

President of Ukraine

2 May 2025 - 18:07

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a phone conversation with National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Jonathan Powell.

Andriy Yermak provided an update on the battlefield situation and the needs of Ukrainian warriors.

Special attention was given to joint diplomatic efforts with partner countries aimed at achieving a just and sustainable peace. The Head of the Presidential Office emphasized the importance of the meeting between representatives of Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France regarding the establishment of a full and unconditional ceasefire as the first step towards peace, which was held on April 23 in London.

Andriy Yermak also spoke about the agreement signed between Ukraine and the United States on the establishment of the Reconstruction Investment Fund.

The parties agreed to coordinate efforts for strengthening sanctions pressure against Russia.

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Strengthening Unity for Ukraine and Continuing Support: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Holds Conversation with Mette Frederiksen

President of Ukraine

2 May 2025 - 16:59

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen.

The Head of State thanked Denmark and personally Mette Frederiksen for the support and assistance provided to Ukraine.

The leaders discussed the steps necessary to strengthen support and unity for Ukraine.

The President shared the results of the diplomatic efforts of Ukrainian, U.S., and European teams aimed at achieving a full and unconditional ceasefire as the first step toward a just and sustainable peace. The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine immediately supported the American proposal, and it is now important to intensify sanctions pressure on Russia to force it to move toward peace.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mette Frederiksen also discussed the continuation of direct investments in Ukraine's defense industry and current military needs, including additional air defense systems.

The conversation also touched on cooperation in various multilateral formats, primarily within the Coalition of the Willing.

The Prime Minister of Denmark reaffirmed full support and readiness to put in maximum effort to achieve peace in Ukraine.

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Office of the President Hosts Briefing for Ambassadors of the Nordic-Baltic Eight

President of Ukraine

2 May 2025 - 16:53

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held a briefing for the ambassadors of the Nordic-Baltic Eight countries.

He informed them about the efforts of Ukraine and its partners to achieve a just and sustainable peace, including contacts at the level of national security advisors. Ihor Zhovkva emphasized that the support of European partners is crucial for advancing Ukraine's position.

Special attention was paid to the development of the Coalition of the Willing as a practical mechanism for long-term security assistance to Ukraine. The ambassadors of the Nordic-Baltic countries expressed their support for this initiative.

The meeting also addressed Ukraine's European integration. The Deputy Head of the Office of the President noted the need to open the first negotiation cluster on EU membership as soon as possible and to prevent any artificial delays in this process.

In addition, the participants discussed the key provisions of the agreement on the establishment of the Reconstruction Investment Fund, signed by Ukraine and the United States the day before. The agreement aims to deepen the strategic, equal economic partnership between the two states, while respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and its European integration path.

The parties also coordinated their positions ahead of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Summit, which will take place on May 9 in Oslo.

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US Approves F-16 Maintenance Deal For Jets Already Transferred To Ukraine

By RFE/RL May 03, 2025

The US State Department on May 2 approved a deal to provide training and equipment for F-16 fighter jets already in Ukraine.

The State Department said it notified Congress that it has given the nod for a $310.5 million sale to Ukraine that will include services to maintain the aircraft in addition to training and equipment.

"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.

Ukraine has previously received F-16 jets from US allies under a transfer authorized by former President Joe Biden's administration. Ukraine received its first deliveries of F-16s in mid-2024 after two years of pushing Biden to approve their transfer.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year announced the delivery of a fresh batch of jets but did not say how many were delivered.

The deal announced on May 2 -- which Ukraine will pay for -- comes after US President Donald Trump criticized the billions of dollars in military and economic support provided to Kyiv under the Biden administration.

Zelenskyy said F-16s were discussed on May 2 during a meeting on the development Ukraine's fleet of military aircraft.

"All the key issues were discussed: the F-16s that are already in Ukraine, the F-16s we expect in the near future, and the systemic solutions that will help us prepare and use our military aviation more effectively," he said on X. "I thank everyone who is strengthening our actions in the skies."

The weapons and equipment pledged to Ukraine under Biden were mostly approved under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the president to approve rapid transfers to foreign countries from US military stockpiles.

These weapons and others purchased with US funds on behalf of Ukraine continue to flow.

The sale approved by the State Department on May 2 is separate and represents an actual weapons deal whose principal contractors include US defense contractors Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and BAE Systems, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The sale could include aircraft modifications and upgrades, flight training, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts, repair, ground handling equipment, classified software, classified publications and support, the statement said.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-jets-trump- state-department-pentagon-training-equipment/33403301.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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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/

Contact

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
Cooling vest situation a bit unfair says Bearman

The new rules surrounding cooling vests in Formula 1 are "a bit unfair," according to rookie Oliver Bearman.

Oliver Bearman, Saudi Arabian GP 2024

 Haas

To protect driver health and safety in extreme heat conditions, the sport began to develop a system involving constantly-cooled water flowing into an integrated racing top.

Italian brand Sparco's edition - called Cooling Top RB86 - is being launched in Miami this weekend, and used by five teams including McLaren, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Earlier prototypes were rejected by some drivers because of discomfort, but the latest complaint is that only the lightest drivers can afford to wear it because of the extra weight.

Use only becomes mandatory once temperatures rise above 31 degrees and the race director declares a heat hazard.

I tested it in Jeddah, Haas rookie Bearman said in Miami, "and was very happy with it.

Unfortunately, we can't use it because we're too close to the weight limit.

Bearman thinks the rules therefore need to be tweaked. The temperature limit is set quite high, he said. "If it's not officially declared that the race is a heat race, only half the drivers can benefit from them.

I think that's a bit unfair.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc added: "I tried it once, and it was really helpful.

You really cool down which makes a real difference.

However, he confirmed that Ferrari is among the teams that will not allow the cooling vests to be worn unless it is declared mandatory.

Leclerc has another issue: If the system stops working properly mid-race, the fluid gets warm. I'm not sure I'd even use it if I could.

(GMM)
Previous article: New post for Togo President Gnassingbe could see him rule for life

UN judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for keeping housekeeper as slave

bbc.com International News May - 03 - 2025 , 16:24 3 minutes read

A United Nations judge has been jailed for six years and four months for forcing a woman to work as a domestic slave.

Lydia Mugambe, 50, was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when police discovered she had a young Ugandan woman at her home carrying out unpaid work as a maid and nanny.

Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after she was found guilty of modern day slavery offences in March.

In sentencing, Judge David Foxton told the defendant she "showed absolutely no remorse" for her actions and she had looked to "forcibly blame" the victim for what happened.

Mugambe fraudulently arranged a visa for the woman but it stipulated she would be paid to work as a private servant at the diplomatic residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda's former deputy high commissioner based at the country's embassy in London.

Prosecutors said Mr Mugerwa sponsored the victim's visa knowing she would actually work in servitude for Mugambe.

In return, Mugambe would provide him assistance in relation to a separate court case in Uganda in which he was a defendant, the court was told.

The trial heard Mugambe paid for the victim's flight and picked her up from the airport - but the young woman then became a slave at the judge's home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

Mr Foxton described it as a "very sad case" as he outlined Mugambe's legal accomplishments, including her work in the protection of human rights.

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 woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she "can't go back to Uganda" due to fear of what may happen to her and added that she may never see her mother again.

Ms Haughey said 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 there was a "clear and significant imbalance of power within the relationship" between Mugambe and her victim.

'Treated as worthless'

The Crown Prosecution Service authorised police to charge Mr Mugerwa with conspiracy but he had diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan Government did not waive.

Mugambe had denied forcing the young Ugandan woman to do household chores and said she "always" treated her with love, care and patience.

Ch Supt Ben Clark, of Thames Valley Police, said there was "no doubt" that Mugambe had known she was committing offences.

"Modern slavery is an under reported crime and I hope that the bravery of the victim in this case encourages other victims of modern slavery to come forward," he said.

A University of Oxford spokesperson said the institution was "appalled" by its student's crimes.

"The university is now commencing its own disciplinary process, which has the power to remove students convicted of serious criminal offences," the spokesperson added.
Tetteh Quarshie Hospital gets GH5.8m dialysis centre to tackle kidney disease

Kwame Larweh Health May - 03 - 2025 , 14:44 3 minutes read

To help curb the rising tide of chronic kidney disease deaths in Ghana, a kidney dialysis centre valued at GH5.8 million has been opened at the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in Mampong in the Eastern Region.

The facility, a collaborative effort by the Sustainable Health Education and Interventions (SHEILD), a non governmental organisation (NGO), some corporate institutions, and individuals is help transform end-stage renal failure management in the Eastern Region and beyond.

The dialysis centre, was unveiled at a ceremony on Friday with dignitaries including the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin in attendance.

The project, spearheaded by SHEILD in partnership with Enterprise Group PLC, Volta River Authority (VRA), National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Kalmoni Foundation, Revna Biosciences, and individual donors, also includes a new out-house and waiting area provided by Enterprise Group PLC.

Recognising the high cost of dialysis, the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital Dialysis Fund was launched to subsidise treatment for vulnerable and marginalised patients, ensuring equitable access to life-saving care.

Speaking at the ceremony. Mr Alban Bagbin underscored the universal right to health, stating: The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. His words resonated with the gathering, which included traditional leaders, health professionals, and community members, all united in their resolve to combat CKDa silent killer claiming over 4,000 lives annually in Ghana.

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, in a goodwill message sent ahead of the unveiling, hailed the initiative as a critical step towards addressing the CKD crisis. He emphasised the need for sustainable financing mechanisms to support such interventions and pledged the Ministrys unwavering support to ensure the facility operates efficiently. SHEILDs recognition of this urgent need and their swift action deserve commendation, he said, assuring stakeholders of government backing to save lives.

The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, described the centre as a game-changer for kidney care in the region. This is a major first step for Akuapem North, he said, expressing gratitude to SHEILD, hospital officials, corporate sponsors, traditional leaders, and local indigenes who rallied to make the project a reality.

The Chairman of SHEILD, Mr Godfried Nyante highlighted the power of collaboration in achieving the milestone. This journey would not have been possible without the support of key stakeholders, particularly the private sector, whose social responsibility was evident, he said.

Dr Sylvia Anie, a SHEILD Board Member and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, echoed this sentiment, noting: Our vision is to promote equity and access to efficient healthcare for all. This indigenous initiative makes us particularly proud.

For Dr Kofi Ablorh, Medical Superintendent of Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, the centre is a lifeline for patients. No longer will our people have to travel long distances for dialysis. This will improve their well-being and reduce the financial strain on families, he said, his voice brimming with optimism.
President Mahama in Libreville for inauguration of new Gabon president

Gertrude Ankah Politics May - 03 - 2025 , 12:32 2 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama is in the Gabonese capital, Libreville, to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Gabons President-elect, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

President Mahama is leading a Ghanaian delegation including National Security Advisor Prosper Douglas Bani, Secretary to the President Dr. Callistus Mahama, Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Stan Xoese Dogbe.

His attendance underscores Ghanas longstanding diplomatic ties with Gabon and its ongoing commitment to promoting peace, democratic governance, and regional integration across Africa.

General Oligui Nguema won Gabons presidential election.

Profile: General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema  President-Elect of Gabon

Born on March 3, 1975, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is a career military officer and prominent political figure who emerged as the leader of Gabons post-coup transition. A member of the influential Bongo family, he previously served as aide-de-camp to the late President Omar Bongo and later commanded the Republican Guard from 2020a position that placed him at the heart of Gabons power structure.

Nguema gained prominence in August 2023 after leading the coup that removed President Ali Bongo Ondimba, citing institutional dysfunction and electoral irregularities. Following the coup, he was appointed transitional president and head of the CTRI, overseeing key anti-corruption efforts and administrative reforms.

Despite his military roots, General Nguema has projected an image of civilian-minded leadership, emphasizing institutional rebuilding and electoral transparency. Under his stewardship, Gabon conducted its most competitive and widely observed elections in decades.

With his presidency now entering a new democratic phase, General Nguema faces the challenge of fulfilling promises of governance reform, economic diversificationparticularly in agriculture, tourism, and industryand the drafting of a new constitution aimed at reinforcing checks and balances.
Next article: President Mahama in Libreville for inauguration of new Gabon president

Sammy Gyamfi accuses GBA of double standards over Chief Justice's suspension

Gertrude Ankah Politics May - 03 - 2025 , 13:40 2 minutes read

The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, says the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), was being hypocritical and politically biased over its opposition to President John Dramani Mahama's suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Speaking on Joy News Newsfile programme on Saturday [May 3, 2025] Sammy Gyamfi described the GBAs stance as ridiculous, mischievous, and disgraceful, insisting that the Presidents action was lawful and grounded in Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for the removal and suspension of superior court judges following a formal petition.

The claim by the GBA that the President violated Article 296(c) is legally unfounded and clearly politically motivated, Mr Gyamfi said. Their demand for a reversal of the suspension lacks merit and only exposes their partisan leanings.

The GBA, in a resolution passed at its mid-year conference, argued that the Presidents decision to suspend the Chief Justice infringes on constitutional provisions and warned that legal steps would be taken if the directive is not rescinded.

But Sammy Gyamfi speaking on the weekend television programme questioned the associations consistency, citing its silence during similar actions under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

Where was the GBA when President Akufo-Addo suspended Justice Paul Uuter Dery and three other High Court judges under Article 146(10)? he asked. They lose their voice when the NPP is in power but suddenly find it when the NDC governs.

Background

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has been suspended by President Mahama following the establishment of a prima facie case in three petitions asking that she should be removed from office for stated misbehaviour and incompetence.

A five-member committee has been formed by President Mahama to do handle the inquiry in camera.

But the GBA in the resolution argued that the process bypassed necessary constitutional safeguards, specifically citing Article 296(c), which requires fairness and non-arbitrariness in the exercise of discretionary power.
The Office of the Attorney Generals appeal over a now-frozen, contested project to feed and house homeless and drug addicted residents should be tossed out, attorneys for the Office of the Governor argue.

Legal counsel for Adelup on Friday filed a motion to dismiss the AGs office appeal to the Supreme Court of Guam over a 10-day restraining order freezing the $1.1 million contract for the Dignity Project.

Funding for the project was frozen by a lower court judge Monday after the governors office sued, alleging the AGs office broke the law when it secured a contract with Tropical Palm Hotel to feed and house clients of the program.

Some 20 clients were scheduled to roll into the hotel on Monday. Attorney General Douglas Moylan appealed the case to the islands high court Tuesday.

The AGs office wants justices to decide whether the lower court erred in issuing the restraining order and failed to consider the irreparable harm to the homeless and drug addicted who would have benefitted from the program, court filings show.

But the AGs office cant appeal a temporary restraining order, argues Adelup legal counsel Leslie Travis in the motion to dismiss filed Friday.

Temporary restraining orders are not typically appealable, Travis argues, pointing to rulings in past cases.

She states the order only preserves the status quo until parties in the case are due back before Superior Court of Guam Judge John Terlaje on May 8.

Travis also opposes an emergency motion for expedited hearing on the appeal.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero does not take issue with the Dignity Projects aim, she states, but a single night meal and stay do not constitute an emergency for those who are not able to get those services.

She called a stay on the contract the ordinary consequences of failed procurement, not irreparable harm.

Any urgency was caused by the AGs office when it failed to send a contract for Tropical Palm Hotel without getting the governors signature, she states.

The contract was only presented to Leon Guerrero after it was illegally procured, and could not be signed, Travis argues.

Travis in a sworn declaration also notes that Chief Deputy Attorney General Joseph Guthrie called the lawsuit trash and rejected it when Travis tried to serve it to him personally on April 25, the same day it was filed.

A copy of the suit was left with a reception clerk at the AGs office in the ITC building, and an attempt to serve the suit was made through certified mail, Travis argued.

Moylan in arguments earlier this week contended that his office was not given adequate notice or time to respond to the lawsuit.

Adelups lawsuit alleges the AGs office violated the law when it secured the contract with Tropical Palm without the governors signature, and that the AGs office threatened to prosecute an employee who questioned the project.

It also alleges the AGs office did not follow procurement law procedure when it secured the deal with the hotel on a sole-source basis.

Moylan has defended the procurement process. Legal opinions produced by his office found that the governors signature was not needed for the contract, which was secured using funds under the supervision of the Guam Opioid Recovery Advisory Council from pharmaceutical company settlements.

The Dignity Project lawsuit is one of a series of legal disputes that the AGs office and Adelup are now entangled in, with both sides alleging the other has violated Guam law in various ways.

Notably, Moylan is suing Leon Guerrero and the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority over alleged illegalities in the Mangilao hospital project.

The governor is seeking a special prosecutor to probe Moylan and his office over alleged hiring, promotion and contract violations.
Rental payments for Section 8 landlords were not deposited into their respective banking institutions on May 1 as regularly scheduled, the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority said.

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Housing Assistance Payment rental payments for May will be made no later than Thursday, May 8, GHURA said in a release.

At this time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is unable to transmit Section 8 funds in advance as routinely scheduled, GHURA said.

All other monthly rental payments going forward will resume as scheduled, GHURA said.

GHURA apologizes for the inconvenience and thanks everyone for their patience. If you should have any questions regarding HAP rental payments, please do not hesitate to contact Nicole Alejandro, Section 8 administrator, at (671) 475-1375 or email at nalejandro@ghura.org, GHURA said.
Merizo Martyrs Memorial School passed its annual sanitation inspection with 18 demerits or the equivalent grade of B, the Guam Department of Education announced.

GDOE said the school was inspected on April 1 by the Department of Public Health and Social Services and its B grade demonstrates its proactive measures in health and safety protocols.

With great pleasure, I can report that this success was based on our one-team approach with our GDOE F&M employees. Although we were not able to address and correct previously cited demerits, the team will continue to work together to strive for a letter grade of A for next school year, Principal Erica S. Cepeda said in a statement.

She thanked everyone who helped in the All Hands approach to getting the school ready for inspection and support from community partners.

She thanked GDOE Facilities and Maintenance Haya Team led by Ray Meno and Sean Aguon, Malesso Mayor Franklin Champaco and his staff, Sodexo, Jimmy Pangelinan, Ed Brown, Sasha Flores, Nik Cruz, and the faculty and staff of MMMS and their families who have all stepped up to ensure the successful outcome of ensuring a safe, clean, and sanitary learning environment.

The grade validates the commitment of the departments aim for cleanliness, well-maintained facilities, and adherence to safety regulations, GDOE said.

We will continue to prioritize these safety practices and work collaboratively to foster a nurturing environment that supports the physical well-being of everyone in the school community, Education Superintendent Erik Swanson said.
The Port Authority of Guam on Friday announced a four-year lease valued at $10.5 million to Black Construction Corp. for Port property that will serve as a staging area for critical repairs to the Glass Breakwater.

News of the deal came less than 24 hours after the Supreme Court of Guam sided with the Port in the eviction of a prior tenant on one of the properties leased.

Encircling Apra Harbor, the Glass Breakwater is a 3-mile-long structure protecting ships that deliver 90% of Guams goods while they are in port.

The breakwater was damaged by Typhoon Mawar and is in danger of breach. Black Constructions parent company is involved in a consortium that bagged a $571 million federal contract to fix the structure.

Announcement of the Black Construction lease for Hotel Wharf and the old Hawaiian Rock site comes two days after Port General Manager Rory Respicio updated the Port board about the matter.

This lease agreement is a win on every front  for the Port, for the people of Guam, and for our islands role in national security, Respicio said in a statement Friday. We are generating substantial revenue, enhancing Port security, and preparing our facilities for future growth."

According to a news release from the Port, the lease is expected to start June 1, with total rent set at $220,152.92 a month.

Black Construction will invest in vital infrastructure improvements, including road paving from the 76/Circle K gas station to Family Beach, resurfacing of Hotel Wharf, and installation of security lighting and fencing, the release stated.

The lease covers more than 374,000 square feet of Port property and marks a major milestone in the Ports ongoing mission to modernize infrastructure, enhance security, and support both current and future operations critical to Guam and the broader region, the Port release stated.

But the announcement also comes a day after the May 1 deadline for former Hotel Wharf leaseholder Guam Industrial Services to vacate the property after the Port filed an eviction case in the Superior Court of Guam.

The Port filed for eviction on Feb. 12, alleging the company had been on month-to-month lease since 2017, behind on rent and had committed other lease violations.

Appeal

Guam Industrial Services, which does business as Guam Shipyard, has disputed the Port allegations and appealed the order to vacate Hotel Wharf and other Port properties to the Supreme Court of Guam.

But Supreme Court of Guam Chief Justice Robert Torres denied a stay on the eviction proceedings on Thursday, the same day that Guam Shipyard was ordered to vacate Hotel Wharf and other properties.

Attorneys for Guam Shipyard have argued that the Port used the eviction to shortcut complex issues over Hotel Wharf that must be resolved in a lawsuit, including thousands of dollars worth of advanced lease payments from the company, the Pacific Daily News reported last month.

Moreover, the company has contended it needs use of the Hotel Wharf property to stage heavy equipment for critical U.S. Navy contracts.

Guam Shipyard has a deal with the Navy to construct heavy equipment used to berth aircraft carriers, company compliance administrator Selina Ashland told the court in signed declarations.

Declarations filed by Ashland in the past week also assert that Black Construction does not have an imminent need for Hotel Wharf, due to other delays in the Glass Breakwater project.

She has argued that Hotel Wharf is big enough for both Black Construction and Guam Shipyard to operate on.

But the arguments were not persuasive enough for the Supreme Court of Guam.

The May 1 order agrees that the Port would suffer substantial injury if Guam Shipyard stayed at Hotel Wharf as a holdover tenant.

Existing breakwater damage and the ongoing threat of the next major storm create a risk of serious damage to Guams sole harbor, the order states.

Guam Shipyard's argument over the imperiled Navy project rests on unsubstantiated employee and counsel declarations, the order found.

Prompt repair

The public interest strongly favors prompt repair of Guams Glass Breakwater to preserve harbor operability, support national security and maintain the flow of 90% of the islands essential goods, it stated.

Potential consequences would be severe affecting Guams critical military and civilian supply lines, the court found.

A motion to stay the eviction order was denied.

Port Authority legal counsel James Canto, in filings before the court, called the failure of the Glass Breakwater an existential threat to Guam.

It remains unclear what the next step for Guam Shipyard will be.

The Pacific Daily News left a message with the companys legal counsel, the Law Office of Louie J. Yanza, on Friday. A call back was pending as of press time.
With Guam's once-delayed paper bag ban taking effect July 1, luxury retailers on Friday testified in support of a bill that would exempt branded bags from the ban.

But lawmakers also got to talking about other tweaks to Guams broad disposable bag ban, during a hearing on Sen. Jesse Lujans Bill 121-38 at the Guam Congress Building.

Guams Choose to reuse: Mungna Ma Ayek I Plastek Act of 2018 banned plastic bags effective Jan. 1, 2021 over environmental concerns.

The law was updated in 2020 to also ban paper bags, but senators pushed the start date of the paper bag ban back from 2022 to July 1, 2025.

Now, Lujans Bill 121-38 seeks to exempt retail bags from the ban if they display the name, logo, trademark, or other marks of distinction of the manufacturer sold.

Lujan on Friday said the measure was introduced with the tourism industry in mind, aiming to reclaim Guam's place as a world class shopping destination.

Retailers have remarked that branded bags were part of a products identity, he said.

Without these exemptions, we risk discouraging retail sales, diminishing our competitiveness and ultimately hurting the very industries that contribute significantly to our business revenues and job creation, Lujan said.

He said he was shooting to get the bill up for a vote as early as the May legislative session.

Luxury retailers are challenged by the state of Guams tourism industry, said Angie Saad, general manager of Gemkell Group, who supported the bill.

The company operates shopping boutiques for high-end brands Balenciaga, Chloe, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and LeSportsac around Tumon, and has been on Guam for 20 years, Saad said.

She said walking out of a shop with a branded shopping bag is part of the experience of a luxury purchase. Besides impacting client perceptions, there will also be additional costs if the ban takes effect, Saad told senators.

The impact of the impending ban on paper bags, on luxury retail industry will undeniably add to the challenges that we are already facing, she said.

Gina Bamba Artero, general manager of DFS Guam, likewise supported the exemption. She said DFS paper bags use responsibly-sourced paper.

DFS, like other retailers, is still impacted by the slow tourism recovery for the island, she said, and banning paper bags will make the financial burden worse.

The cost of our DFS reusable bags is more than 60% higher than that of the paper shopping bags which we are currently deploying by DFS. This requirement places an even greater strain on our already limited resources, particularly in the face of declining revenue, she said.

Likewise, luxury retailer guidelines may be compromised by reusable bags, which could be resold and jeopardize brand image, she said.

Artero said several luxury brands may even withdraw from the Guam market entirely due to the mandate.

Representatives from other retailers, including Tommy Hilfiger, also appeared in support of the measure, but did not provide oral testimony, Lujan said during the hearing.

Sen. Chris Duenas said he supports the bill in light of the value luxury retailers brought to the tourism industry.

Hold on for dear life

In terms of the challenging times of tourism, this really is the last thing we need right now. You know, were trying to hold on for dear life, Duenas said.

Sen. Shelly Calvo likewise remarked that high-end retailers aren't the only businesses using branded paper bags, with middle- or lower-end stores also carrying them, along with restaurants.

Vice Speaker Tony Ada went further, suggesting lawmakers reexamine the entire disposable bag ban.

We see a lot of these reusable bags that they call reusable, and you see it on the side of the roads now, he said.

Despite being billed as better for the environment, reusable bags took longer to break down than biodegradable plastics, Ada said.

So did we actually help improve our environment, or are we really hurting our environment even more? So thats something that we will take on for another session, he said.
Ye Fang, also known as Batu, a Chinese national and convicted drug dealer, was sentenced to 25 years federal prison by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands on Thursday.

United States Attorney for the districts of Guam and the NMI, Shawn N. Anderson, announced the news in a release from his office on Friday.

Fang was convicted of conspiracy to possess over 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

The court also ordered five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee. He was also ordered to report to immigration officials for deportation proceedings upon release from prison.

Law enforcement has brought Ye Fangs Indo-Pacific crime spree to an end, said Anderson. He will now serve many years in a United States prison with other high-risk offenders. Every day of his sentence is day made safer for the people of the CNMI. We will continue to use our resources to combat transnational criminals and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime.

According to the release, Ye Fang arrived in the CNMI from China in 2016 under a tourist visa waiver program. After his waiver term elapsed, he remained on Saipan where he ran a birth tourism business for three years. Ye Fang hosted at least 200 women and their families from China so that pregnant women could give birth on island. He later began trafficking methamphetamine.

In November 2022, CNMI police executed a search warrant at Ye Fangs home. They seized more than one kilogram of methamphetamine. A CNMI arrest warrant was issued, but Ye Fang remained a fugitive, escaping from Saipan by boat and traveling to Guam in the summer of 2023. From Guam, Ye Fang continued to organize methamphetamine trafficking in the CNMI.

In September 2023, he arranged the shipment of methamphetamine hidden inside lava lamps, which were sent to Saipan from California. The packages were intercepted by CNMI Customs, who coordinated with the Drug Enforcement Administration to conduct a controlled delivery. That resulted in the arrest of co-conspirator Liang Yang, another out of status PRC national. A total of eight pounds of liquid methamphetamine was seized.

Ye Fang eventually fled Guam in November 2023 via commercial airline using the identification of another person. He then traveled to Palau, where he organized the murder of another PRC citizen. In January 2024, Ye Fang and three others were arrested in Palau for that crime. Ye Fang pled guilty to manslaughter in March 2024 and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. In May 2024, he was extradited to the CNMI where he pled guilty to the lava lamp drug scheme.

Methamphetamine is potent and highly addictive. This synthetic stimulant that has contributed to the overdose crisis facing America. DEA, along with federal and international partners, are in lockstep in our commitment to combat drug networks, said Anthony Chrysanthis, deputy special agent in charge of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Saipan. We will vehemently pursue all criminals who flood our communities with this poison.

This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshal Service for extradition, CNMI Customs, CNMI Department of Public Safety, Republic of Palau Bureau of Public Safety, and in collaboration with the CNMI Attorney Generals Office, the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, and the Republic of Palau.

Todays sentencing is the direct result of sustained commitment and collaboration between the FBI and our law enforcement partners, said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. Mr. Fang led a violent, transnational narcotics trafficking organization; his crimes significantly contributed to the ongoing drug epidemic facing America and plaguing our island communities. The FBIstanding in resolve with our local, state, and federal partnersis prepared to confront and disrupt these dangerous criminal organizations, wherever they may operate.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Departments Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

The conviction of Mr. Fang is a testament to HSIs enduring commitment to keep harmful substances out of Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Island, said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. Understanding the damage that illegal narcotics do to our communities, we will stop at nothing to hold those accountable for their contributions to drug trafficking within our islands.

As the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the safety of postal employees and the public is our top priority, said Inspector in Charge Stephen Sherwood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Anyone who misuses the U.S. Postal Service will be held accountable for their actions. I would like to thank our federal and local law enforcement partners, including our task force partners from the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, Guam Police Department, and Army National Guard Counterdrug Program.

Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Flores, Jr., and former Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Kost prosecuted this case in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The dispute over the trademark and marketing of the widely used NATS server software is entering the next round. After Synadia, the former owner of NATS, reclaimed the software from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), the organization is now trying to have the US Patent Office delete the NATS trademark and logo. The organization, which is part of the Linux Foundation, argues in the dispute that Synadia relinquished all rights to NATS when it handed it over to the CNCF in 2018 and must now comply with the agreements.

Anzeige

There is much to suggest that Derek Collison, the main maintainer, CEO and founder of NATS and Synadia, made a mistake with the donation to the CNCF and wants to limit the damage. He is now seeking a confrontation, but risks causing even more damage to his company.

The dispute began with a lawyer's letter dated 27 March on behalf of Synadia to CNCF, demanding that the open source organization return the NATS repository and the nats.io domain to Synadia. The letter also provides information about Synadia's intention to hand over NATS to CNCF in August 2018, namely the hope for "growth in contributors and community". However: "It is clear that the NATS.io project has failed as a thriving CNCF project, as virtually all growth to date has come from Synadia's efforts and expenditures." The lawyer sets a deadline of April 10.

Open source or not?

In a non-legally formulated proposal submitted by CEO Collison on April 9, he goes into a little more detail: 97 percent of the contributions come from Synadia employees and the company has invested 30 million dollars. Synadia now wants to transfer the NATS server to the Business Source License (BSL or BUSL), which HashiCorp, among others, already uses for Terraform. This means that NATS remains open at its core, but certain use cases are commercial. The proposal to offer NATS as a managed service  is a typical business model in the open source sector. However, the BSL is highly controversial in the open source community, and protest against it led to the spin-off of OpenTofu from Terraform.

In contrast to the lawyer's letter, Collison avoids accusations against the CNCF and offers compensation for the costs of the changeover.

On 24 April, with an update on 28 April, the CNCF responds in the blog, insisting on its rights and complaining about Synadia's non-transparent approach, as the organization and community were not made aware of the plans at an early stage. The CNCF emphasizes its position as a protective force for the values of the open source community in order to "ensure that no legal entity can control, relicense or reclaim anything that has been given to the community." The blog entry rejects the BSL as a non-open source license. It also points out that Synadia could fork NATS in order to market the fork under a new name, as was the case with Grafana Cortex and Mimir.

The CNCF also disagrees with the lack of commitment, mentioning 90,000 US dollars it paid for security audits and 10,000 US dollars in a trademark dispute. To improve the one-sided situation in community support, it offers to recruit new maintainers and contributors. However, in the seven years since NATS was handed over to the CNCF, the organization has not succeeded in getting the community to become more involved in the project  NATS is still languishing in "Incubating" status.

Anzeige

The unresolved trademark dispute

The dispute is complicated by a further dimension: while Synadia is demanding the release of the repository and domain, the CNCF conversely wants Synadia's brand and trademark, as these have remained with the company. The CNCF's statutes clearly state that handing over projects to the organization also includes the brand.

Synadia has also signed this  according to the blog entry  and the organization is insisting on compliance with this agreement. However, the lawyer's letter had already rejected this demand in advance: "too vague to be legally enforceable."

The fact that the trademark was not immediately transferred in 2018 was due to the aforementioned trademark dispute for which the CNCF paid the 10,000 dollars. So the Linux Foundation now , as the parent company of CNCF , decided on April 23 to apply to the US Patent and Trademark Office to cancel NATS as a trademark and logo.

On April 25, Collison made his first public statement on the matter in a blog and emphasized his commitment to open source. The clients and a server version will continue to be available under the Apache 2 license and the BSL license will also expire after two to four years. He also contradicts the CNCF's claim that the withdrawal was not transparent: "Synadia has actively initiated internal discussions with the CNCF about a joint announcement of the withdrawal."

Is the fork coming like Open Tofu?

It is difficult to predict which party will win this legal dispute on several levels and to what extent. Despite all understanding for a CEO's desire to ensure the health and growth of his company, he must abide by the contracts and agreements. Collison has obviously made a mistake with the gift to the open source community and has not achieved the hoped-for result in terms of contributions from the community. To reclaim the gift now, despite all the disappointment about the lack of performance of the CNCF, is a unique step that will not make Synadia any friends in the long run.

Ultimately, Collison is risking a fork a la OpenTofu, which will later become his competitor  a fork that he could have carried out himself with little loss. Because if he had pulled his 97 percent NATS developers and put them into a new project forked away by the CNCF, there probably wouldn't have been much left of the original in the long run.

(who)

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.
Several companies told the bank that the new tariffs are squeezing profit margins and weakening sales volumes.

Many Finnish exporters see only modest short-term effects from new US tariffs, but concerns are growing as the situation evolves. A survey by Danske Bank found that most mid-sized companies trading with the United States expect manageable consequences from the 10 percent tariffs currently in place, but warn of serious disruption if duties rise to 20 percent in July as planned.

Some firms have passed on higher costs to customers, while others are unable to do so due to competitive pricing pressure.

The survey, conducted among Danske Banks corporate clients, focused on Finnish firms affected by recent trade policy changes under US President Donald Trump. New import duties on EU goods took effect in early April and are part of a broader escalation in transatlantic trade tensions.

Elina Fogelholm, Head of Corporate Banking at Danske Bank Finland, said companies are in a stronger position than in past trade shocks, particularly after adapting to the pandemics supply chain disruptions.

Many firms have diversified their export markets and supply chains. They've also built up financial buffers such as credit facilities and cash reserves. This means they are better prepared for sudden changes in their operating environment, Fogelholm said.

Some companies have already shifted strategy to mitigate the tariff effects. This includes redirecting exports toward Europe and Asia or increasing US inventory to reduce tariff exposure. One example is specialty board producer Pankaboard Oyj, based in Lieksa, whose CEO Pasi Piiparinen said the company is working to limit its dependency on the US market.

Weve managed under the 10 percent tariff because our customers have been understanding, Piiparinen said. But if tariffs increase to 20 percent or more, it will seriously impact our business. Fortunately, most of our exports go to Europe.

Pankaboard exports niche carton products to the US market.

Despite the current resilience, Fogelholm stressed the importance of preparation.

I recommend using scenario planning as part of business strategy. Companies should know how and when to react, and whether they have the contracts, inventory, or supplier flexibility to adapt quickly, she said.

She also advised companies to consider hedging against risks that are easy to manage, such as foreign exchange volatility, to ensure stability during unpredictable shifts in global trade.

HT
A Finnish court has delivered suspended prison sentences, hunting bans, and fines to 26 men in the countrys largest poaching trial.

The North Savo district court ruled on Monday that the crimes, which included the killing of protected wolves, lynxes, and birds, primarily took place in Lapinlahti, North Savo, between 2019 and 2023.

The trial involved 31 defendants facing a range of charges including serious hunting offences, environmental protection violations, and weapons offences.
The poll, conducted in April 2025 with 1,016 respondents, found that 68 percent of Finns view nuclear energy positively. Only 9 percent expressed a negative view, while 21 percent said they had mixed feelings.

Support for nuclear energy in Finland has surged to its highest level in years, according to a new survey commissioned by Energy Industry Finland (Energiateollisuus ry) and conducted by Verian.

The last time support reached similar levels was during the 2023 energy crisis. Of those surveyed, 32 percent said they were fully supportive of nuclear power, with another 36 percent mostly positive. Just 2 percent were entirely opposed.

Jari Kostama, Director of Production at Energy Industry Finland, said the figures reflect a growing public recognition of nuclear energys role in ensuring a stable supply of low-emission electricity.

"Citizens understand the crucial part nuclear energy plays in providing dependable, low-carbon power that keeps Finnish electricity supplies secure under all conditions," Kostama said.

He added that nuclear technology has also been increasingly discussed as a developing and enabling field, including for smaller-scale electricity and district heating production.

The survey showed that 69 percent of Finns accept nuclear energy as a tool for combating climate change. Nuclear plants provide predictable energy output, helping to stabilise electricity prices.

Meanwhile, a full overhaul of Finlands Nuclear Energy Act is progressing. Planned reforms aim to streamline licensing procedures and support the creation of a common European nuclear market. A draft law is expected to be circulated for comments this summer, with parliamentary handling set for the autumn.

Kostama emphasised the importance of national regulations enabling serial production of reactors and contributing to a unified European market.

"Clean electricity is a key national strength in competing for international industrial investments," he said.

Kostama also pointed to Finlands world-first launch of safe, permanent nuclear waste storage by Posiva, noting that it further boosts public trust in the sector.

HT
The survey, conducted in February among 1,120 employed residents, highlights growing demand for flexible work supported by mobility incentives.

More than half of working-age residents in the Helsinki region would consider returning to the office more often if employers covered part of their commute costs, according to a survey published by Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL).

Seventy-six percent of respondents said they would prefer receiving a commuter benefit from their employer, typically in the form of subsidised public transport.

Employers looking to increase in-office attendance might find travel support a key incentive, said Mari Flink, Director of HSL's Market Division.

While 75% of respondents work from the office weekly, only half do so daily. Commuting patterns have shifted since the pandemic, with many avoiding peak-hour travel or working remotely. Of those surveyed, 63% use public transport to get to work.

Flink noted that the findings align with wider urban mobility trends and illustrate how cost and convenience now shape daily travel choices.

Younger employees in particular want flexible working options, but also expect practical support. Commuter benefits could be a decisive factor for both retention and recruitment, she said.

Among respondents under 30, 73% said they favour hybrid work. Of these, 43% preferred working mostly from the office, while nearly a third leaned toward remote work. Importantly, nearly 90% of younger respondents said they valued employers who offer commuting support.

The data suggests that as hybrid arrangements become the norm, financial assistance with travel could influence how often employees choose to show up in person.

Two-thirds of all respondents believed that if employers mandate a minimum number of office days, they should also help cover commuting costs.

Although HSL has long studied urban mobility, this latest research focused specifically on travel habits in the context of hybrid work. The study was carried out by nSight with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

Roughly 750,000 people are employed within the HSL service area, according to Statistics Finland. The survey results may inform future collaboration between employers and transport planners as cities adjust to post-pandemic commuting behaviours.

HT
In 2024, only 1,072 overnight stays were recorded from Liechtenstein , 1,732 from Albania , and 1,942 from Belarus , according to tourism figures published by Business Finland.

Finland receives hundreds of thousands of visitors annually from countries such as Germany, the UK, Sweden and France. But data from Visit Finland shows that several European nations contribute only a minimal number of overnight stays.

Liechtenstein, despite being one of Europes smallest nations and lacking its own airport, still shows an unexpectedly high rate of travel to Finland when adjusted for population. With around 40,000 residents, Liechtenstein outpaces both Albania, with 2.8 million inhabitants, and Belarus, with approximately 10 million, in terms of proportional travel.

This could be explained by Liechtensteins high income level and the presence of a small but dedicated group with a particular interest in Finland, said Katarina Wakonen, senior advisor at Visit Finland. In a country that size, just a few enthusiastic travel organisers, Finland fans, or travelling families can make a visible statistical impact.

Beyond the least represented nations, the data also pointed to unexpected growth. The number of overnight stays from Cyprus and Greece increased by over 45 percent compared to the previous year. However, absolute figures remain low, with visits still numbering in the low thousands.

The rise in percentages from Cyprus and Greece is statistically interesting but small in volume, Wakonen noted. The increase from Cyprus may also be influenced by Russian-background travellers.

Visit Finland does not run active marketing campaigns in all European countries. Instead, it targets countries with higher potential and accessibility. Current focus markets include Germany, the UK, France, and Spain, where demand for Finnish travel experiences is consistently strong.

Last year, Finland recorded over 700,000 overnight stays from Germany, more than 600,000 from the UK, and nearly 400,000 from France. These figures represent a significantly larger share of Finlands tourism economy.

These are markets where tourism has clear economic impact, Wakonen said. Thats why they continue to receive strategic marketing attention.

The Finnish tourism agency bases its marketing choices on data analysis, including travel potential and route availability. While large source countries continue to dominate, niche interest from smaller nations like Liechtenstein still plays a role in shaping the diversity of Finlands inbound tourism.

HT
Food, medicine, and life-saving supplies have run dangerously low across the territory. The ICRC stated it would soon be unable to sustain critical operations, including its field hospital and communal kitchens, without immediate access to incoming aid.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that Gaza's humanitarian response is nearing complete collapse following two months of blocked aid and six weeks of intensified hostilities.

Pascal Hundt, Deputy Director of Operations at the ICRC, said civilians are enduring relentless displacement, hostilities, and worsening deprivation.

"This situation must not, and cannot, be allowed to escalate further," Hundt said in the statement released Friday.

Under international humanitarian law, Israel is obligated to ensure that the basic needs of the population under its control are met. The current blockade, however, has prevented vital aid from reaching Gaza, where conditions are now described as catastrophic.

The ICRCs field hospital is nearly out of essential medical supplies. Key medications and consumables are already exhausted. Hospitals across Gaza are reportedly prioritising patients and reorganising remaining stockpiles to extend their capacity to deliver critical care.

Public kitchens operated by the ICRC, which provide daily meals to many residents, are also at risk of shutting down within weeks. These services are often the only food source for thousands of displaced people.

The health crisis is exacerbated by failures in the water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. Water pipelines have been shut down and essential sewage trucks destroyed, significantly raising the risk of waterborne diseases in already overcrowded shelters.

Repeated attacks on medical workers and infrastructure have further crippled emergency response efforts. The ICRC confirmed that 15 humanitarian personnel, including eight staff from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, were killed last month. Facilities such as the Kuwait Field Hospital and Al Ahli Hospital have sustained significant damage in recent weeks.

The ICRC said security risks are now severely restricting the movement and operations of its teams on the ground. It reiterated that under international humanitarian law, medical personnel, facilities, and transports must be protected and respected at all times.

The organisation called on all parties to allow the immediate entry of humanitarian aid, ensure the protection of civilians, and secure the release of hostages.

"Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate," the ICRC said.

HT
Europeans praise memorable China visits as May holiday travel booms

Xinhua) 11:25, May 03, 2025

BRUSSELS, May 1 (Xinhua) -- For Dutch traveler Sebastian Behringer, China opened up with a click -- no visa lines, no paperwork, just a last-minute decision and a flight. What he found was a country where ancient temples meet cashless cafes, and tradition walks hand in hand with tech.

With the arrival of Europe's May holiday season, growing numbers of European tourists are eyeing China as a preferred long-haul destination, driven by positive experiences shared by recent visitors, streamlined visa policies, and China's well-developed travel infrastructure.

China's enhanced visa facilitation, including extended visa-free stays of up to 30 days for many European nationals and a 240-hour transit exemption policy, has greatly boosted this rising interest.

"We now have 12 tour groups travelling in China," said Ewa Gajewska, a project manager with CT Poland, a Polish travel agency specializing in China tours for 25 years. To accommodate heightened demand during Poland's peak travel period in May, the agency has added extra departures.

Returning travelers increasingly seek to explore beyond China's renowned attractions, venturing into lesser-known but captivating regions such as Yunnan and Guizhou. "Clients didn't expect China to be so big, so beautiful, so modern, colorful and interesting," she told Xinhua on Wednesday.

This enthusiasm resonates among European travel agencies. Vera Nebel, Asia product manager of Germany's Ikarus Tours travel agency, noted many first-time visitors initially target iconic sites like Beijing and Xi'an's Terracotta Army but quickly expand their itineraries to include such places as Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, and Guilin's picturesque rice terraces.

"Our returning customers' feedback is that China is quite a friendly and efficient country," Nebel said, highlighting the positive impression left by China's reliable transport infrastructure and hospitality.

Former Croatian deputy speaker Davorko Vidovic, who has visited China six times, highlighted the country's rapid modernization as a defining feature of his travels. He pointed to the experience of riding a high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai -- nearly 400 kilometers per hour -- as a striking symbol of China's technological advancement. "You cannot see all that speed, that progress anywhere else in the world," he said.

Veteran Dutch tour guide Tom Lops, who has been to China over 30 times, highlighted digital payments, shared bikes, and high-speed trains as transformative conveniences for new visitors.

"For a new traveler to China, I would advise everything on zero," he said. "Think basically, and let yourself be surprised by all the new impressions you will have in this country."

While infrastructure enhances the travel experience, many Europeans value China's deep cultural heritage even more.

Romanian tour guide Paula Toma, who visited China twice in 2024, described it as a country "where traditional culture harmoniously coexists with rapid modernization," pointing to the visible ecological commitment and technological innovation in daily life.

Latvian agency manager Alesya Plyavina observed that clients returning from other Asian destinations consistently found China's tour offerings "more engaging and diverse."

Individual travelers echo this appreciation for storytelling and nuance. Romanian tourist Raluca Costica said she was "surprised that you can take a small thing and turn it into a big story," highlighting the power of Chinese handcrafts and costumes to reveal deeper cultural meaning.

Nature also leaves lasting impressions on travelers. Marketing director Adam Lamberd of Austrian travel company Austro Inter said: "With its visa-free policies, China is becoming a destination that more and more tourists yearn for -- a place with profound historical heritage and magnificent natural scenery."

As tour operators gear up for a packed summer season, many are already seeing early bookings for autumn and even year-end trips.

"Almost every group this year has been full, with 26 tourists plus a tour leader," Gajewska told Xinhua.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Prime Minister Mark Carney promised Friday to oversee the biggest transformation of Canada's economy since the end of the Second World War to enable it to "stand up" to Donald Trump.

Carney led the Liberal Party to a dramatic fourth mandate in elections on Monday after a campaign focused on the US president's threats to Canada's economy and sovereignty.

Liberals fell just short of the 172 seats needed for majority control of parliament, but with 169 confirmed wins they will be in a strong position to pass legislation. Recounts in two closely contested electoral districts saw the party lose a seat in Quebec province but gain another in Ontario.

At his first press conference since his victory, Carney struck a determined note.

Known for weighing his words carefully, he said that he was "in politics to do great things, not to be something."

"And now that Canadians have honored me with a mandate to bring about big changes quickly, I will work relentlessly to fulfill that trust," he said.

Canada's strained relations with the United States -- historically, its close ally and biggest trading partner -- was among his "immediate priorities," he said, announcing a trip to Washington next Tuesday to meet with Trump on trade and security issues.

Canadians elected him "to stand up to President Trump," he said, adding that he will act "with focus and determination."

"Our focus will be on both immediate trade pressures and the broader future economic and security relationship between our two sovereign nations," said Carney.

But he warned also not to expect any "white smoke" from their first meeting signaling a sudden breakthrough.

Carney reiterated his message from the campaign that he believes the old relationship between the two North American neighbors "based on steadily increasing integration is over."

"The questions now are how our nations will cooperate in the future," he said.

Trump "respects strength," he added, explaining that this was why he was preparing the country for major changes including a massive build-up of infrastructure and new housing.

The Conservatives, the main opposition party, as well as the Bloc Quebecois, the third-largest party in Parliament, both called for unity after the elections to fight US levies including on the automotive and steel sectors.

Carney, who previously headed the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, promised to maintain counter-tariffs on American products as long as Washington's measures were in place.

"This will be an incredibly exciting time as we take control of our economic destiny to create a new Canadian economy," Carney said.

To this end, he promised to abolish existing trade barriers between Canadian provinces by July 1 to expand the economy, and to strengthen trade with "reliable allies."

"Canada has what the world needs, and we uphold the values the world respects," he said.

He announced also that he would unveil his new Liberal government in the week of May 12 and that parliament would return on May 26.

King Charles III -- Canada's head of state, as it is a British Commonwealth country -- will deliver the opening speech, Carney said.

"This is a historic honor which matches the weight of our times," he emphasized.

"It clearly demonstrates the sovereignty of our country," he said in a pointed reference to Trump's ambitions to make Canada the 51st American state.

The ceremonial speech, which marks the opening of a new session of the Canadian Parliament and outlines the government's goals, is usually delivered by the governor general, who is the King's representative in the country.
Pakistan's military said it carried out a "training launch" of a surface-to-surface missile weapons system on Saturday, further heightening tensions with India after last month's deadly attack in disputed Kashmir.

New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for backing an attack on tourists last month in Indian-administered Kashmir, sparking a fresh stand-off between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan's military said Saturday it conducted a "successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System", a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres (279 miles).

"The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features," Pakistan's military said in a statement.

It did not say where the test took place.

The missile training launch comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has given his military "full operational freedom" to respond to the attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists.

Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack and called for an independent probe.

This week Islamabad warned of an imminent air strike from its neighbour, and has repeatedly made clear it will respond with force to any aggression by India.

International pressure has been piled on both New Delhi and Islamabad -- who have fought several wars over the disputed Kashmir region -- to de-escalate.

Neighbouring China has urged "restraint", with the European Union warning Friday that the situation was "alarming.

In an interview with Fox News, US Vice President JD Vance called on India to respond to the attack in a way "that doesn't lead to a broader regional conflict".

He also urged Pakistan to "make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with".

Analysts in Pakistan told AFP the missile launch was a warning shot.

"It clearly indicates that we have resources to counter India. This is not a message only for India but the rest of the world that we are well-prepared," said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a military analyst.

On Friday, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir presided over a meeting of his top commanders about the "current Pakistan-India standoff", a military statement said.

Munir "underscored the critical importance of heightened vigilance and proactive readiness across all fronts".

Since the attack -- the deadliest in Kashmir on civilians in years -- India and Pakistan have exchanged tit-for-tat diplomatic barbs and expulsions, and shut border crossings.

The two sides have exchanged gunfire for nine consecutive nights along the militarised Line of Control, the de facto border, according to Indian defence sources.

Muslim-majority Kashmir, a region of around 15 million people, is divided but claimed in full between Pakistan and India.

Rebels on the Indian side have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan.

India regularly blames its neighbour for backing gunmen behind the insurgency.

Islamabad denies the allegation, saying it only supports Kashmir's struggle for self-determination and regularly denounces rights abuses in the region.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has secured a second term in a dramatic election that delivered a crushing blow to the Liberal Party, with early results pointing to a landslide shift in voter sentiment.

The outcome signals a preference for stability over disruption, as global tensions rise in the wake of Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency.

According to projections by national broadcaster ABC and CNN affiliate Sky News, Albanese's center-left Labor Party is on track to secure a parliamentary majority. Though votes are still being counted, early returns indicate a significant swing toward Labor across key electorates.

Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton suffered a stunning personal defeat, losing his Brisbane seat of Dicksona district he has represented for over two decades. His ousting capped a devastating night for the former senior minister in the last Coalition government and dashed his hopes of becoming Australia's next prime minister.

In a concession speech, Dutton accepted full responsibility for the party's loss. "He said he had phoned Albanese to congratulate him, and had also spoken with Ali France, the Labor candidate who succeeds him in the electorate of Dickson."

The election result marks a historic milestone for Albanese, who becomes the first Australian Prime Minister to win re-election since John Howard's victory in 2004.

Addressing supporters shortly before 10 p.m. local time, Albanese expressed gratitude to voters for returning a majority Labor government.

"In this time of global uncertainty, Australians have chosen optimism and determination," he said, receiving a warm ovation from a jubilant crowd.

Australia's renewed tilt toward a left-leaning government reflects broader international shifts, mirroring recent developments in Canada where Mark Carney's Liberal Party won power. While Australia hasn't faced the same direct threats to sovereignty as Canada, recent polls suggest Trump's erratic foreign policies and tariff impositions have eroded trust in the U.S. among Australian voters.

Despite entering the five-week campaign in a strong position, Dutton's campaign faltered amid policy reversals and mounting criticism of his proximityboth rhetorical and ideologicalto Trump. Analysts point to Labor's steady leadership and diplomatic response to Trump's imposition of a 10% tariff on Australian goodslater pausedas a key moment that helped sway voters.

Following Trump's April 2 "Liberation Day" speech, Albanese convened a press conference alongside his foreign and trade ministers, declaring: "This is not the act of a friend."

Dutton, meanwhile, was unable to distance himself from the former U.S. president in the eyes of many voters. One flashpoint came when Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, the senator Dutton chose as shadow minister for government efficiency, declared during the campaign that she wanted to "make Australia great again"a phrase strongly associated with Trump. Price later claimed she hadn't realized what she'd said. Asked whether the Trump comparisons had harmed Dutton's campaign, Price remarked, "If you sling enough mud, it will stick."

With Labor poised to form government with a clear mandate, the result reinforces Albanese's image as a steady hand amid global unpredictability and sets the stage for further consolidation of his leadership at home and abroad.
Graduates of the adult Manufacturing Technology Program received their certifications and gift bags at McCann Technical School on Thursday. Superintendent James Brosnan congratulates Aryanna Hall. Timothy Hill John Kozak Jason Lane Tristan Scholl Donald Schumacher Phillip Vivori Edmund Young PreviousNext

McCann Graduates First Adult Manufacturing Technology Class



The 200-hour course was the first under the state's Career Technical Initiative grants. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  One by one the eight graduates of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program were called up on Thursday to receive a folio containing all the certifications they had earned since February.

The free 200-hour course was funded through state Career Technical Initiative implementation grants. McCann Technical School was awarded funding last year for advanced manufacturing, welding and automotive technology courses. The manufacturing is the first one in adult education program.

"I wanted to better myself," said Jason Lane. "I didn't have any opportunity to go to school with career and schedule and cost, and this being a free course, and what I was able to learn, I mean, who wouldn't want to take advantage of it?

"The amount of stuff I learned in 200 hours to be able to pretty much make anything from nothing, from metal. I mean, it's just very valuable."

The students had attended classes every Monday through Thursday to earn certifications including OSHA 10 General Industry, SolidWorks Associate, CNC Expert CAM, MACWIC Levels 1 and 2, and CNC Expert CNC.

Earning certifications were Aryanna Hall, Timothy Hill, John Kozak, Jason Lane, Tristan Scholl, Donald Schumacher, Phillip Vivori and Edmund Young.

"It is a commitment, and it's amazing that these people did what they did. I mean, the amount of work that they completed, the fashion that they did it in, it's incredible," said instructor Thomas Matuszak. "They exceeded anything that I would ever imagine that people could do. They did a great job."

He said all the students certified in the Manufacturing Advancement Center Workforce Innovation Collaborative through the state and in the general Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

"The Solid Works certification was difficult. A couple of them got that. But inside of what we did here in AMT, they have what's called CNC expert, where they complete projects and they can submit them, and they get certified for each one of the separate projects, up to 40 different projects," he said.

Matuszak is figuring the next course will start some time in the late fall.

The students also have an online portfolio so they can post a QR code to their resume and employers can look at all their certifications and accomplishments. And they received a gift bag containing a digital scale, safety glasses, a flash drive, and a calculator.

The course was a collaboration with the MassHire Berkshire Career Center and the Commonwealth Corporation.

"So this will give them the skills that they need to be able to apply for jobs in in-demand industries within Berkshire County," said Melanie Herzig of MassHire, who encouraged the graduates to attend the manufacturing and welding job fair on May 9 at the Career Center. "We have compiled a few local employers that are going to be meeting with them, and they get early access so they can meet with the employers before the rest of the public.

"This will be a great opportunity for them to transition immediately from training to employment."

Superintendent James Brosnan reminded them how they've worked closely with instructors and administrators at McCann and urged them to stay in touch.

"You can use us as references to build your resume," he said. "Have them connect with me, and we can make sure all the documents go through and they can talk to me about the quality and how hard you worked at it."

The superintendent said courses like this have been run for several years across the state but it took awhile for McCann and its partners to bring it to fruition here.

"We had to do an awful lot of promotional work, reaching out, and tremendous work," he said, crediting Herzig and Bryana Malloy of the Berkshire Workforce Board. "And then all of the applicants that come in have to be screened for applicability to meet the criteria of the grant funding."

McCann's team did the technical training but then the students also had about a dozen hours training in job writing skills, interviewing techniques, and resume and cover letters.

"It was really fun. I learned a lot," said graduate Phillip Vivori. "I was here 20 years ago and to see how all the machines are all automated now, more than they used to be. But yeah, it was really fun. I learned a lot, and hopefully it'll pay off."
Digital growth powering China's future

Xinhua) 11:46, May 03, 2025

FUZHOU, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Hooves echo along a winding trail between mist-shrouded cliffs of Wuyi Mountain, where the scent of freshly picked rock tea lingers in the air and sunlight filters through bamboo groves, awakening every sense in the saddle of a strolling steed.

While it may come as a surprise, this immersive journey unfolds not in the wilds of east China's Fujian Province, but on the floor of a tech summit.

At the eighth Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, the crowd-favorite VR experience "Riding through Wuyi," developed by tech firm NetDragon Websoft, uses high-precision 3D modeling and sensory feedback to immerse visitors in a vivid, multi-sensory world powered by digital innovation.

"Cutting-edge and engaging digital technologies transform static cultural symbols into dynamic storytelling, helping younger generations connect with tradition through interactive experiences," said Yu Biao, senior vice president of the company.

From a VR travel simulator to an AI-powered calligraphy robot, the exhibits at the summit offer a glimpse into the rapidly evolving landscape of a digital China.

Since the unveiling of this vision, China has built the world's second-largest digital economy and emerged as a global leader in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and blockchain to smart manufacturing.

Driven by a rapidly expanding digital infrastructure and a thriving data ecosystem, the country's digital economy has become a powerful engine of growth. At the annual summit, themed around China's digital transformation, an impressive digital report card was released showcasing the country's progress in this area.

In 2024, China's total data output surged by 25 percent year on year, reaching 41.06 zettabytes, enough to fill more than 13 million copies of the high-definition "Ne Zha 2," a 144-minute animated blockbuster that has made history in the Chinese film industry.

The added value of core digital industries now accounts for around 10 percent of China's national GDP, while the country's computing power has reached 280 EFLOPS. With over 4.25 million 5G base stations -- representing 60 percent of the global total -- China continues to cement its position at the forefront of the digital revolution.

But beyond factories and fiber optics, the digital boom is also reshaping traditional manufacturing sectors.

China is now home to over 30,000 smart factories nationwide, with advanced facilities increasing production efficiency by more than 22 percent.

China's "lighthouse factories" now account for over 40 percent of the global total. Lighthouse factories are plants recognized by the World Economic Forum for their leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

This digital momentum isn't confined to city tech hubs, but is reaching deep into fields and farms.

New Hope Group, one of China's leading agricultural conglomerates, is a standout player in this shift, embracing digital transformation from the ground up.

"More than a year ago, we launched a six-month digital training program for over 240 mid and senior-level managers," said Liu Yonghao, chairman of the agribusiness giant. "It helped us build consensus that even traditional industries must go digital."

That realization led to the rollout of the company's "lighthouse" project, which is driving modernization across dairy, pig farming, cold-chain logistics and processing.

One notable innovation is a digital feed formula system that has reduced soybean meal usage in pig feed by approximately one percentage point annually, driving both cost savings and sustainability.

New Hope has also partnered with 21 entities in an innovation alliance focusing on conserving grain through digital solutions. In just over two years, this effort has saved more than 2 million tonnes of grain.

The company's big-data breeding system is another notable digitalization achievement, having developed pig breeds that consume less, grow faster and produce more by integrating genetic assessment, intelligent selection and smart cultivation across the full breeding chain.

"Traditional enterprises are playing a vital role in China's agricultural digitalization," Liu said. "And in this new wave of transformation, the future lies in AI."

Many industry insiders share the sentiment with Liu. They believe that China's advantages, such as abundant industrial applications, rich data resources and strong R&D capabilities, continue to make it a fertile ground for AI development.

In 2024 alone, the country accounted for more than 60 percent of newly published global patents related to generative AI.

Cultivating and strengthening the AI industry has been included in China's 14th Five-Year Plan and its development vision for 2035, aiming to advance the sector toward a beneficial, safe and equitable direction.

China's AI market is projected to experience substantial growth in the coming years, according to International Data Corporation. U.S. companies, including Tesla and Microsoft, have set their sights on the commercial prospects of China's AI market.

"To accelerate the development of digital China, it is crucial to seize the unprecedented opportunities brought about by artificial intelligence," said Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration, pledging to further advance the market-oriented reform of data elements and the AI Plus initiative.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Neal to Host 2025 Military Service Academy Day

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.  U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal will host his 2025 Academy Day information session this Sunday, May 4.

The event will take place at noon in the Davis Auditorium at the Springfield D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, 21 Edwards St.

This session will allow interested students to learn more about each of the service academies and determine whether a military service academy or a similar education path is a suitable choice for their future.

Nominations by members of Congress or the vice president are required to attend the Military Academy at West Point and the Naval, Air Force and Merchant Marine academies. Candidates must also meet specific eligibility requirements and apply directly to the academies.

During the presentation, Neal will recognize students who received a nomination and were accepted to one of the service academies beginning this summer. Representatives from the congressman's office will also share information about the application process for congressional nominations.
sabato 3 maggio 2025, 05:20

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This article is automatically translated

A fixed point. As every year with summer approaching, the migrant emergency returns to the spotlight of Palazzo Chigi. Giorgia Meloni personally follows the dossier. Determined to tackle a problem called Libya. On Monday, the premier picked up the phone and dialed the number of Abdul Dbeibeh, the leader of the fragile UN-recognized Libyan government in Tripoli. A cordial call, made from Rome on the eve of the Italian-Turkish summit, whose essence can be summed up as: "Let's help each other." The government promises support to the Libyan Coast Guard for patrolling the coasts: eleven inflatable boats will be delivered in the coming months. But in return, it asks to curb departures. Lately, they have become a concern again. In April, almost two thousand more than last year. A good part comes from the neighboring African country. On which Italy is pressing to promote returns managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the only truly functioning legal channel for returning home. Hence the appeal not to touch the Geneva organization and the request, put in writing by a letter co-signed by our country, to stop the Tripoli government's crackdown on humanitarian organizations. It is an intricate web. Last week, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi landed in Benghazi to meet Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the elderly leader of Cyrenaica, in the East. A mission to ensure Italian collaboration on that Libyan shore as well in various fields. Energy, security. Agriculture: Bonifiche Ferraresi will take care of making the sun-scorched Saharan lands cultivable. In return, however, Italy asks for guarantees. Above all, to tighten controls on the Asian route. They depart by plane with false visas, almost all from Bangladesh, which is by far the first country of origin of migrants landing in Italy: 5,952 arrivals since January according to Interior Ministry data. A route that passes through the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, then through Cyrenaica. To land on the Libyan coasts in the West, where Bangladeshi migrants attempt the Mediterranean crossing. This weekend, Piantedosi will head towards Bangladesh. And before stopping in Pakistan and the Emirates, he will propose an agreement to the authorities in Dhaka in coordination with Meloni and Foreign Minister Tajani: economic collaboration in exchange for a resounding stop to departures. Reaching the halfway point of the legislature, Meloni closely marks the anti-landing battle dear to her voters. At the end of her first year at Palazzo Chigi, she was forced to acknowledge that the problem of departures had not been solved: 158,000 migrants, a monstrous figure. Then, a U-turn. The Mattei Plan agreements with the countries of origin that begin to bear fruit, the vertical collapse of departures, now the plan in Albania that after months of stalemate (and controversy) takes shape. The Libyan puzzle remains. Which begins to return to the radar of the United States after years of disengagement, aided by the growing and worrying Russian influence in the East. In mid-May, UN Commissioner Hanna Serwaa Tetteh will be in Rome. Elections in Libya will also be discussed, but today the polls are still a mirage.
venerdi 2 maggio 2025, 23:59 - Last updated: 4 maggio, 00:05

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This article is automatically translated

When called by Pope Francis to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Mario Grech faced an unknown challenge for him: living alone. And so, suddenly, he had to learn to cook, and later confessed that he kept calling his mother and sister for instructions on how to prepare his favorite dishes. 'At first, I ended up burning them. On the second attempt, something at least edible came out.' However, his parents have been living with him for some time, as well as his brother, and the challenge of solitude, as well as that of cooking, seems to have been overcome. Mario Grech, born in 1957, Maltese from Qala, a village of 2,000 inhabitants on the island of Gozo, Malta, was at the consistory of 2020 the first on the list of new cardinals indicated by Pope Francis, and therefore the one called to deliver a greeting address. It was the first post-pandemic period and, after outlining the challenges of the Church, he also spoke of the Synod, indicating his projects and the desire to implement the indication of making the Synod not an event but a process. Something he continued to do, obtaining the next synodal path approved by Pope Francis while he was in the hospital. Between the difficulty of living in Rome and the desire to carry forward the mission given to him by the Pope, Cardinal Grech stands out as an interesting profile for the 133 cardinals who are called to vote in the Sistine. He appeals to those defined as progressives, to the champions of synodality and radical inclusivity, a platform that ranges from Cardinal Hollerich to Cardinal McElroy. But he also attracts the interest of those involved in the synodal process and who, in a situation of uncertainty, prefer to bet on a familiar face. Grech is first and foremost an indefatigable worker, who recounted dedicating himself to household chores early in the morning before going to work, and who allows himself only a small rest break in the middle of the day, then continues to work until late. He likes to repeat that 'one must not live on past achievements, but seek new paths.' And, in this sense, he was the ideal person to defend the synodality desired by Pope Francis, to stand as a champion against the 'backwardness' against which the Argentine pontiff railed, to allow the Synod to embark on the open sea of novelties with the cry of Todos, todos, todos. In the Vatican, Grech presents himself as a down-to-earth cardinal, who welcomes visitors in the office where he works and not in a sitting room, as is customary in the Vatican. In the days following the death of Pope Francis, he was nonetheless seen leaving his residence accompanied by his father George, who is 91, and his mother Stella, who is 87, with whom he loves to walk in his spare time. He reads and travels a lot, and this has been the strength of his synodal journey, as he has never failed to move and go where there was a need to establish networks and contacts. He was ordained a priest in 1984 in Rome, completed his studies in canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University, and then held various pastoral positions upon returning to his native island. From 2006 to 2019, he was bishop of the diocese of Gozo, one of the two dioceses of Malta. His rise under the pontificate of Pope Francis had two key moments. The first, in 2014, when he emphasized that it was 'unacceptable' that the Church had needed eight years to investigate allegations of sexual abuse against Dominican friar Charles Fenech, who had been the leader of the Maltese evangelization movement. The second in 2017, when he co-signed, along with the other Maltese archbishop Charles Scicluna, a letter with guidelines on welcoming divorced and remarried Catholics to communion  a letter that was appreciated by the Osservatore Romano but earned him various criticisms at home, so much so that he was labeled 'a Ratzingerian under Ratzinger and a Bergoglian under Bergoglio.' Indeed, Grech had held ultra-conservative positions against the legalization of divorce expressed in the pre-Francis era, and then defended Pope Francis' approval of civil unions between same-sex couples, describing the controversy surrounding it as 'a storm in a teacup.' But there is no contradiction for Grech, but rather a willingness to listen that ranges from principles to pastoral lines. Grech continues on his path and did so also in the general congregations, when in an intervention on April 30 lasting  according to witnesses  about twenty minutes, he defended the synodal path from all kinds of criticism, arousing both attention from some and disapproval from others. But the speech also testifies to a particular devotion to the assignment Pope Francis gave him in 2019, calling him to Rome as Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, to carry forward the great project of a synodal Church. It was an assignment that lent itself to various criticisms, and to being very much in the spotlight. He responded resolutely, approaching the press sometimes with affability, other times with harshness, also lamenting some attitudes of the media. For example, he said that 'reducing the Synod to the always-debated issues' to seek only news or scoops  referring to the central nodes of the debate such as women's diaconate, celibacy, homosexuality, and democracy  would be a way to deviate from the path and pose obstacles to the Church's goal of listening to the Holy Spirit, ignoring however that international media certainly do not follow theological, ecclesial, or pastoral logics. In these years, he has strongly defended the synodal path, opposing all criticisms (which in 2022 he defined as 'useless and polarizing') while also trying to bridge with those who saw the innovations of the Synod as a betrayal of its function as a consultation tool primarily intended for bishops. Will Grech be the profile of the Church of the future? He would answer with a smile. But who knows what he would really think.
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Police in Hong Kong have arrested the father and brother of a US-based pro-democracy activist for allegedly helping with her finances, according to reports.

This is the first time the citys national security law has been used to prosecute the family member of an absconder  in this case Anna Kwok  reports said. The offence is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Ms Kwok, the executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, is one of 19 activists wanted by Hong Kongs national security police. She is on self-imposed exile in the US after she was accused of national security offences including foreign collusion and incitement to secession, and a bounty of HK$1m (97,241) is offered on her arrest.

According to Reuters, police said in a press release on Friday that two men aged 35 and 68 were arrested on 30 April on suspicion of handling funds or other financial assets that belonged to Ms Kwok.

open image in gallery Kwok is accused of national security offences including foreign collusion and incitement to secession ( AP )

Local media then identified the men as Ms Kwoks brother and father, citing unnamed sources.

According to a report in the South China Morning Post, Merchant Kwok Yin-sang, 68, appeared before West Kowloon Court on Friday after being charged by Hong Kongs national security police with attempting to handle assets belonging to Ms Kwok. Her brother was released on bail pending further investigation.

Court documents seen by the Morning Post reveal that the case involves the alleged withdrawal of around HK$110,000 (10,700) cash from a life and personal accident insurance policy with AIA International registered under Ms Kwoks name.

The case has been adjourned to 13 June.

open image in gallery Democracy campaigner Anna Kwok ( Reuters )

In August 2023, Ms Kwoks parents were brought in for questioning by national security police, a month after an arrest warrant was issued for their daughter, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. At the time, authorities said they were suspected of assisting persons wanted by police to continue to commit acts and engage in activities that endanger national security.

After this, she posted an apology to her family on X, formerly Twitter: Until yesterday, my parents were questioned, harassed, and intimidated. While I feel a sense of guilt, I must also say that this was a price I had anticipated. Here, I must apologise to my family.

China imposed a new national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. Critics have accused the government of throttling dissent with the help of the law, which makes it easier to arrest and detain protesters.
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At least six people were killed and more than 50 injured when a stampede broke out early on Saturday at a temple in the western Indian state of Goa.

The stampede took place around 3am at the Shri Lairai Devi temple in Goas Bicholim, located around 40km from the state capital Panaji, where thousands of devotees were gathered for the annual Lairai Devi jatra or procession.

It is unclear what led to the stampede but local media reported eye witnesses saying there was a sudden rush among devotees, which led to panic and chaos.

The incident happened around 3.30am on 3 May. The annual Lairai Jatra was on 2 May, people had started coming since early morning from across Goa and neighbouring States. It was so overwhelming for the police staff to handle the crowd as it increased as the day progressed, assistant sub-inspector Arun Desai from the Bicholim Police Station told The Hindu.

By late night, we could not understand how it had happened. We are assuming a person must have fallen down and tripped, and some people started walking over them, and possibly that is how the stampede broke out. We are still investigating the matter.

At least six people were killed and more than 50 injured when a stampede broke out early on Saturday at a temple in the western Indian state of Goa. ( X/PTI )

Over 65 people are injured, and the number could be more. Six have died.

The injured are being treated at nearby hospitals and authorities have reportedly said at least 10 injured remain in critical condition.

Goas chief minister Pramod Sawant visited two of the hospitals to assess the situation. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he expressed his condolences, writing: Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken.

Prime minister Narendra Modi posted on X: Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.

Indian media reported that over 1,000 police personnel had been deployed for the festival to ensure crowd control, ensure safe passage for everyone attending, and oversee the event.

The Lairai Devi jatra is a major religious festival dedicated to Goddess Lairai, believed to be an incarnation of Parvati and one of seven sister deities in Goan folklore.

State health minister Vishwajit Rane said that immediate and comprehensive steps had been taken to manage the crisis.

In a post on X, Mr Rane said emergency services were activated swiftly, with five ambulances dispatched to the site through coordination with 108, the national emergency ambulance service.
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Pakistan test-fired on Saturday a ballistic missile as tensions with India spiked over last week's deadly terror attack on tourists in Kashmir.

The surface-to-surface missile has a range of 450km (about 280 miles), the Pakistani military said.

The launch of the Abdali Weapon System was aimed at ensuring the "operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters", including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features, according to a statement from the military.

Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the scientists, engineers and those behind the successful missile test.

open image in gallery Pakistan Kashmir India ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The country's information minister Attaullah Tarar said days before Pakistan had "credible intelligence" that India was planning to attack it within days. Mr Tarar vowed in a statement to respond "very strongly" if Pakistan comes under attack by its nuclear rival.

Pakistan asked Gulf allies on Friday to help ease tensions with India after the 22 April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 people, mostly Hindus, were killed. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad strongly rejects.The disputed region is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety.

India said it has banned the import of goods originating from or transiting via Pakistan.

India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade in a notification said the ban will take effect immediately.

open image in gallery Supporters of All Parties Hurriyat Conference chant slogans during an anti India rally, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan's controlled Kashmir, Friday, 2 May 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

"This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy," it said.

Pakistan also announced retaliatory measures that have included halting all border trade, closing its airspace to Indian carriers and expelling Indian diplomats. It has also warned that any attempt to prevent the flow of river water promised under a decades-old treaty between the two nations would be considered an act of war.

Trade between the two nations has dwindled over the last few years.

(Additional reporting by Reuters)
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Singaporeans voted on Saturday in a general election that is seen as the first key test of support for prime minister Lawrence Wong, who took office last year.

His Peoples Action Party is widely expected to comfortably extend its 66-year dominance in the city-state. But the election is being closely watched on whether the opposition can make further gains as people express unhappiness over tight government control and a high cost of living.

Mr Wong, a US-trained economist who is also finance minister, has appealed for a resounding mandate to steer trade-reliant Singapore through economic turbulence following US President Donald Trumps tariff hikes. The government has lowered its trade forecast and warned of a possible recession.

This election is couched as a test of the support for the leadership of PM Lawrence Wong but it also will reflect how politics in Singapore are changing, namely an embrace of alternative voices and a younger generation seeing the PAP under a younger leader, Southeast Asia political expert Bridget Welsh said.

open image in gallery Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his wife arrive at a polling station on Saturday ( REUTERS )

Mr Wong, 52, succeeded Lee Hsien Loong to become the city-state's fourth leader. Mr Lee stepped down in May 2024 after two decades at the helm but remained in the Cabinet as a senior minister. His retirement as premier ended a family dynasty started by his father, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first leader, who built the former colonial backwater into one of the world's richest nations during 31 years in office.

Voters queued in schools and other designated polling stations to cast their ballots amid a brief early downpour. Polling in Singapore is compulsory, with nearly 2.76 million eligible voters. The PAP has secured five of the 97 parliamentary seats because they were unopposed.

The Election Department said turnout at more than 1,200 voting stations was about 48% at midday. Voting ends at 8pm., with the outcome to be known in the early hours of Sunday.

The PAP is seen as a beacon of stability and prosperity, but its government-knows-best stance and the rising cost of living in one of the world's most expensive cities also has led to growing unhappiness, especially among younger voters. Widening income disparity, increasingly unaffordable housing, overcrowding and restrictions on free speech have loosened the PAP's grip on power.

The PAPs share of the popular vote slipped to a near-record low of 61 per cent in 2020 elections, down from nearly 70 per cent in 2015. Although it kept 83 out of 93 parliamentary sets, the opposition gained grounds with a record 10 seats.

open image in gallery Voters queue to cast their ballots at a polling station in Singapore ( EPA )

Eugene Tan, law professor with the Singapore Management University, said young voters  estimated to be about a quarter of the electorate  are more receptive to appeals for greater political diversity and competition in Singapore. Young people flocked to the Workers Party's rallies during the nine-day campaign period.

The opposition says giving it a stronger presence in Parliament will allow a more balanced political system and greater accountability. But they face an uphill task, often hamstrung by a lack of resources and fragmented support. Critics said gerrymandering also gives the PAP an advantage. The biggest opposition contender, the Workers Party, is fielding only 26 seats with smaller parties contesting others.

Lawyer Akesh Abhilash, 37, said he believes the PAP would retain a strong mandate but Singapore would benefit from greater diversity of voices in Parliament.

I think that the Workers Party will make some gains in these elections, and that ultimately can only be good for the country, he said after voting.

Wong has sought to refresh the PAP, which fielded 32 new faces as several veterans bowed out. He has engaged younger voters through social media and promised to develop a more balanced and inclusive Singapore. With some of his ministers in close fights with the WP, Wong has warned more votes for the opposition would weaken the PAP team in navigating economic troubles ahead.

A further dip in the PAP's popular support or ceding more seats to the opposition would be a blow for Mr Wong.

Expectations are to not reach below 60% popular vote. This is the threshold. If there are improvements, this will empower PM Wong and his broad changes within the PAP. If PM Wong does badly... there might be a challenge to his leadership, Welsh said.
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A recent surge in cyberattacks targeting prominent UK businesses should serve as a stark warning to companies nationwide, a senior government official has declared.

Following a ransomware attack on Marks & Spencer that disrupted online orders and recruitment, Harrods has become the latest major retailer to be targeted by hackers.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is working closely with affected organisations to fully understand the nature of the attacks, the Government said.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the CyberUK conference in Manchester next week, emphasising the critical need for businesses to prioritise cybersecurity. He will urge companies to treat cyber security "as an absolute priority".

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.

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.

A view of empty shelves inside an Marks & Spencer shop in Paddington, London, as Marks and Spencer has told agency staff at a key logistics site to stay at home as disruption from a cyber attack against the retailer entered a second week ( Holly Williams/PA Wire )

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.
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A Hampshire man has lost his appeal against a conviction for allowing his cockerel to disturb his neighbours.

Harold Brown, the owner of Brutus the cockerel, argued that his bird doesn't crow, but merely "croaks".

The defence, however, failed to persuade the court.

The saga began in October 2022 when New Forest District Council (NFDC) received complaints from eight households near Mr Brown's Friars Croft home in Calmore.

These complaints centred around Brutus early morning calls, reportedly starting as early as 5am. NFDC issued an abatement notice in December 2022, requiring Mr Brown to address the noise issue.

Despite the notice, complaints continued into 2023, this time from 12 households. This led to Mr Brown's prosecution and subsequent conviction in November 2024 for failing to comply with the abatement notice.

Mr Brown then appealed the conviction, but Southampton Crown Court dismissed his case.

The court upheld the original conviction, resulting in a 200 fine for Mr Brown. He was also ordered to pay an 80 victim surcharge and cover legal costs amounting to 3,651.95.

open image in gallery The crowing regularly affected neighbours sleep, NFDC says ( AFP/Getty Images )

A NFDC spokesman said: The diary evidence kept by local residents highlighted that the crowing regularly affected their sleep from as early as 5am each day.

Councillor Dan Poole, portfolio holder for community, safety and wellbeing, said: We are committed to protecting our residents from unacceptable levels of noise and supporting them when issues arise.

Everyone has the right to the peaceful enjoyment of their home, and when informal approaches fail, we will not hesitate to take legal action where necessary.

Speaking outside court, Mr Brown disputed the complaints made by the neighbours against Brutus.

The 82-year-old said: My cockerel does not make a lot of noise, he wears a neck collar which restricts the wind pipe and he cant suck in that amount of air to crow, he croaks, its a croak.

They say he crowed 90 and 113 times in an hour. Now Ive recorded him, the maximum was 27 and that was from 6am to 7.30am, the average was 22.

But he doesnt crow, he croaks, but they dont take any notice of that. Ive given up, fine and costs but its just money, I dont give a song about the neighbours.

Mr Brown, who said he had kept chickens and cockerels since the early 1970s, added: It all started with one neighbour who was about 70 yards away complaining to the council about my cockerel.

Now, when I first got him, I put a neck collar on him but it wasnt tight enough. He did crow, it was a bit loud, but only occasionally, so I tightened up the neck collar.

Theyre all saying they cant sleep, but I dont even bloody hear it and I sleep five yards away from him.

If Im awake, at 5 oclock or half past five. I may, may, hear it, just a croak and thats it.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: When he first got the blessed thing it was waking us up really early, it was really annoying then, before it even got light sometimes.

Those who back on to the house nearest to him, they were very annoyed, it was keeping them awake and suffering tiredness.
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The royal family is hoping to put on a united front without distractions for the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Monday, after a bombshell interview in which Prince Harry claimed his father refuses to speak to him.

A tumultuous bank holiday weekend for the royals will end with a grand parade and a flypast as they are joined by veterans and large crowds to commemorate the victory of the UK and its allies in World War 2.

The interview by the Duke of Sussex, which came out after he lost a court ruling related to security arrangements in the UK on Friday, sparked fury from royal circles after he said he doesnt know how much longer King Charles has left to live.

But in a warning which appears directed towards the estranged royal, Buckingham Palace officials hope that nothing will detract or distract from celebrating with full cheer and proud hearts that precious victory and those brave souls, on this most special and poignant of anniversaries, the Times reported.

open image in gallery Charles and Camilla will attend a series of engagements for VE Day (Chris Jackson/PA) ( PA Wire )

According to the outlet, the King is determined not to let Prince Harry and Prince Andrew overshadow the monarchy.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to central London on Bank Holiday Monday to hear the words of Sir Winston Churchills 1945 victory speech performed by actor Timothy Spall - which will open the commemorations.

It will be followed by displays by the Red Arrows, appearances by senior royals, a military procession, and street parties across the UK.

The King will be joined by the Queen and other members of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony, with Harry set to be a notable absence. Prince Andrew, who stepped down from royal duties over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, will also not be on the balcony.

A Palace aide said that Charles looks forward to thanking a wartime generation whose selfless devotion, duty and service should stand as an enduring example to us all.

But the event is likely to be overshadowed by talk of Harrys emotional interview. The duke told the BBC: I would love a reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don't know how much longer my father has.

open image in gallery Prince Harry says his father King Charles no longer speaks to him ( BBC )

He was heavily criticised for the comment, including by a close friend of King Charles, who told the Times: Its not that the King wont speak to him  its that he cant. How can you have a private and delicate conversation when you know it is going to end up on a news special within hours?

Perhaps if he tried to earn rather than demand a reconciliation, things might go a little better for him. Its just very tragic.

They added: He is like a gambler in a casino who cant walk away  he just doubles down. Even when he speaks of reconciliation, it is laced with threats and anger.

Former press secretary to the late Queen Ailsa Anderson also told Sky News: "Prince Harry is saying 'I don't know how long my father has' - that's going to cause real concern and more speculation in the media and the wider public about what his diagnosis is, which is incredibly unhelpful going forward.
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Ukrainian troops will join UK forces in London on Monday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

The procession, involving roughly 1,000 UK service personnel from across the armed forces, will also include Ukrainian personnel currently training in Britain as part of Operation Interflex.

This act of solidarity highlights the global support for Ukraines ongoing defence against Russias invasion, the MoD said.

VE Day, observed annually on 8 May, marks the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

The Ukrainian contingent will be drawn from those participating in Operation Interflex, a UK-led training programme supported by 12 partner nations.

Since its launch last summer, the programme has trained over 54,000 Ukrainian recruits in crucial combat skills.

The operation has been extended to at least the end of 2025, with an enhanced training programme to ensure the Ukrainian forces are equipped with vital battlefield skills.

open image in gallery Members of the Ukrainian armed forces taking part in a procession rehearsal at Army Training Centre Pirbright in Woking, Surrey, on Friday ( Aaron Chown/PA Wire )

The Ukrainian armed forces representatives will join around 1,000 UK armed forces personnel, including soldiers on horseback and seven military bands.

The MoD said Second World War veterans will be at the heart of the celebrations, watching the procession from the royal box at the Queen Victoria Memorial.

One of them, D-Day veteran Jack Mortimer, 101, said: People from all over the world joined forces 80 years ago to defend freedom  we must remember all of their sacrifices.

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.

Mr Mortimer will join Second World War veterans at the Royal British Legions tea party and service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The VE Day 80 commemorations will begin on Monday with the military procession, expected to be viewed by thousands of people along The Mall.

The procession will conclude with The Mall being filled by members of the public, and a flypast featuring the Red Arrows and 23 current and historic military aircraft.

open image in gallery Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK service personnel in London on Monday ( Aaron Chown/PA Wire )

Defence secretary John Healey said: Eighty years after VE Day, we will celebrate our wartime veterans, our greatest generation.

We will ensure their spirit lives on, not just in our armed forces but also in our values and commitment to strength through unity.

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 front line of freedom are represented in Mondays event.

Major Pavlo, an officer of the Ukrainian marching contingent, said: The participation of Ukrainian service personnel in the VE Day parade in London symbolises our strength, courage and resilience.

It is a recognition that Ukraine and its heroes stand at the forefront of the fight for freedom and peace in the world. We are grateful to our allies for their support and solidarity.

A variety of events are scheduled to take place around the UK to mark the 80th anniversary.

The King and Queen will host a tea party for veterans as part of the celebrations.

Historic landmarks across the country will be lit up on the evening of 6 May, while a VE Day anniversary concert will be held by the Parliament Choir at the Palace of Westminster the following day.
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Andrea Jenkyns vow to get rid of council diversity officers as one of her first acts as the new Reform mayor for Lincolnshire has fallen flat after it emerged that the county council doesnt employ any.

Nigel Farage and Dame Andrea put getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officers at the top of their agenda as they impose their own version of Elon Musks cost-cutting Doge on the county.

They doubled down on the promise at a rally in Kent last night where Ms Jenkyns and Mr Farage were among a line of leading speakers as part of Reforms war on woke.

open image in gallery Reform UK leader Nigel Farage attends a post-election event at the Staffordshire County Showground in Stafford ( EPA )

Ms Jenkyns said: We are going to have a Lincolnshire Doge. We are going to ensure that we get rid of diversity officers because amazingly Lincolnshire County Council is now Reform controlled. That is a historic moment.

However, The Independent has seen a freedom of information answer from Lincolnshire County Council, where Reform now has a majority, stating: Lincolnshire County Council does not employ any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officers.

The council had been asked how many DEI officers it employed and what their salaries were. The answer was issued in March just before the local election campaign began in the county.

But in response, Ms Jenkyns told The Independent that another one of the three councils under her remit as the combined authority in the county, North Lincolnshire Council, does have diversity officers.

She said: I have been told by their employees that the leadership pressure staff to wear rainbow lanyards too. They also have diversity officers, named as outreach officers.

Ms Jenkyns claimed that the county council has all the awful [DEI] training though.

open image in gallery Former Tory minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns won the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty for Reform UK (Joe Giddens/PA) ( PA Wire )

Sharing documents on the breakdown of a 15,190 cost for diversity training between 2021 and 2023, she added: Not a lot but still can save a bit of money.

There were also no diversity officers in Northamptonshire where Reform has swept to power.

The Tories, who still feel bruised after losing badly in Lincolnshire and elsewhere, linked the failure to know there were no DEI officers in the county with claims they made that Ms Jenkyns lives in Leeds.

A Tory source said: Someone who lives in Lincolnshire would know that there arent any DEI roles going in Lincolnshire Council.

Catchy slogans arent always the answer to complex problems. It the latest proof that Reform is a one-man band without the answers needed to tackle the problems facing hardworking families across Britain.

The revelations in The Independent spilled over into the Sunday morning broadcast round.

Reform chairman Zia Yusuf also claimed DEI officers are being hidden under different titles on Laura Kuenssbegs show on the BBC.

"If you take Lincolnshire County Council, yes, they do not currently have somebody with the job title 'DEI officer' (but) they do spend considerable money on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives", he said.

"And they have other people who have basically that same job, but under a different title, partly in response to the fact that they've been inundated by think tanks and activists putting in FOIs (freedom of information requests),"

He said Reform would send "teams" into councils, adding: "We'll be opening up application shortly. We want the brightest and the best.

"If you've got experience in audit, if you've got experience in fixing potholes, if you're a software engineer.

"We're going to bring taskforces in. We're now going to have access to the contract, access to the numbers, access to payroll, and we're going to make these changes."

However, union officials have issued warnings about the plans by Reform to sack DEI and net zero officers in most of the other councils they took control of.

DEI employees exist in Kent, Durham, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire.

Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: This is not the US. Thankfully workers in the UK have laws to protect them from bad employers. And soon employees will get even more protection from unscrupulous bosses when the governments new employment rights come in.

Reform has consistently voted against these new measures that will make work more secure. So much for being on the side of ordinary working people.

Rather than attacking hard-working council staff, Mr Farage should be focusing on his own job representing the people of Clacton. But judging by his voting and speaking record in the House of Commons, hed clearly rather be making big bucks elsewhere.

She added: Unions are there to ensure no one can play fast and loose with the law. Any staff working for councils now controlled by Reform, and who arent yet members, should sign up so they can be protected too.

Nigel Farage and his party's new councillors have much to learn about local government. Theyll quickly discover there's nothing left to cut and many authorities are balancing on the edge of the financial precipice.

Ms McAnea was responding to Mr Farage telling DEI officers or those working on climate change via Sky News: I think you all better really be seeking alternative careers, very, very quick.
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The 2025 local elections have seen unprecedented success for Nigel Farages Reform party, which won 677 council seats across England.

The Liberal Democrats nearly doubled their seats up to 370 overall, and winning majority control of three councils.

But the third-party players success came at a price for the Conservatives and Labour, both of which lost two-thirds of the seats they had in 2021.

This spells trouble for Sir Keir Starmer, whose newly-formed government are already facing protest votes.

Yet most at risk is Kemi Badenoch, who failed to secure success for the floundering Conservative party in the face of its right-wing challenger.

Here, the Independent looks at where Labour and the Conservatives received the least amount of votes in this years local elections.

open image in gallery Reform UK is now in control of eight councils, while the Tories lost all 15 local authorities it controlled going into Thursdays local elections. (Jacob King/PA) ( PA Wire )

Labour

Though Labour received far fewer seats than the Tories - at just 98 overall - it is important to note that most councils up for election this year were historically Conservative strongholds, so it is difficult to compare the two parties results.

Nonetheless, Labours poor performance pushed it behind Reform, Lib Dems and Conservatives; and barely won the party more votes than Green or Independent candidates.

The Independents analysis of initial figures found that Labour received no votes at all in 81 electoral wards.

Sir Starmers party won no majority in any council, losing control of Doncaster which it held in 2021. It also won no seats in Devon council.

But even in some councils where Labour won seats, its vote share was strikingly low.

Our analysis found that Labour candidates scraped less than 15 per cent of the vote in half of councils; and over 20 per cent in just five.

In Wiltshire, initial estimates show that just 3.6 per cent of voters chose Labour candidates at the ballot box - around 5,000 out of 135,000 people who voted in the area.

Despite this, Labour candidate Ricky Rogers won his seat in Fisherton and Bemerton Village, which he has held for over three decades; marking one seat for Labour out of 98 on the council.

Labours strongest support was in Doncaster, where it won 31 per cent of the vote. But this didnt stop Reform from taking majority control of the council with 37 seats, to Labours 12.

Critics have argued that the division of support between four, five or even more parties in each council meant that votes are even more fragmented, and a lower threshold is needed to secure a council majority.

On Friday, Sir Keir acknowledged his partys poor council and by-election results, which are likely a protest vote to the partys governance at a national level.

We were elected in last year to bring about change, he told reporters in Bedfordshire.

I am determined that we will go further and faster on the change that people want to see.

Conservatives

Success was no better for the Conservatives, however, who lost majority control of the 15 councils they previously held.

As previously right-leaning areas, the Tories had the most to lose, winning 996 seats in the 2021 elections and just 317 seats this time around.

But for this same reason, hundreds of Tory councillors lost their seats to Reform candidates, who for some represent a new right-wing alternative.

Nonetheless, as the elections were in more conservative areas to begin with, the Tories performed better overall than Labour.

In most councils, the Conservatives won more than a fifth of the vote, performing best in Wiltshire (32 per cent), Buckinghamshire (30 per cent), and Northumberland (29 per cent).

In no council did the Conservatives gain a third of the vote overall.

The worst turnout for Ms Badenochs party was in Durham, where Tories saw just 8 per cent support across the council.

Just one Tory councillor was elected in Durham, down from 21 in the last election.

open image in gallery Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch apologised to Conservative candidates for the poor results. ( PA/PA Wire )

Ahead of the elections, Conservative leader Ms Badenoch was already bracing her party for disappointment, warning that Reform would sweep up their support.

In a speech in Peterborough on Friday, Ms Badenoch apologised for the disappointing results.

I have a message for all of those Conservative councillors who lost their seats, how sincerely sorry I am for your loss, because I know how hard you worked, but we are going to win those seats back.

We have a big job to do to rebuild trust with the public, she added.

Senior Tories are already scheming ways to replace the leader of the opposition, who was only made head of the party in November last year, according to rKemi Badenoch as leader after local elections disaster">eports from the Independents political editor David Maddox.
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Nigel Farages Reform UK made huge gains in this years local elections across England, in a series of stunning victories that have redrawn the political map with all council results finally in.

The populist right-wing party won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in dramatic circumstances with a majority of just six votes following a recount, overturning a Labour majority of 14,000.

Meanwhile Conservative-turned-Reform candidate Dame Andrea Jenkyn won the race for mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, while the party secured another mayoralty with former boxer Luke Campbell in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Overall, Reform won the most seats of any party  677 out of some 1,650  cinching majority control in ten councils, but gaining representation across all 23 councils.

Polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice declared that the result showed British politics is no longer a two-party system  with the Liberal Democrats and Greens also making significant gains.

Follow our live updates on the local elections here

The Liberal Democrats took 370 seats, winning majorities in Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Shropshire, while the two major parties suffered defeat after defeat. Neither Labour or the Conservatives won a majority in any council, with the Tories losing all 15 councils it previously held.

Both Labour and the Conservatives lost two thirds of their seats from the last election in 2021, winning just 99 and 317 seats respectively.

The results have raised serious questions over Kemi Badenochs leadership if the Conservative Party is left with no real heartlands in the UK, with senior Tories already plotting to oust her.

A rare silver lining for the party came as Paul Bristow was declared the narrow winner of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoralty, taking 28 per cent of the vote and beating the Reform candidate Ryan Coogan, who took 23 per cent, into second place.

Labour, meanwhile, won three mayoral contests in Doncaster, North Tyneside, and the West of England.

The results also unleashed almost 10 months worth of pent-up frustration among senior Labour figures with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has been blamed for the partys disastrous showing in local councils.

With turnouts often at less than 30 per cent, opponents of Reform were able to cling on to hope that disillusionment and apathy had opened the door for Mr Farages party and that the outcome would be different in a general election.

Nevertheless, a jubilant Mr Farage said: For the movement, for the party, its a very, very big moment indeed, absolutely, no question, and its happening right across England.

He said it was a sign that Sir Keir had alienated so much of his traditional base, its just extraordinary. However, Labour said that by-elections are always difficult for the party in government. They said the events surrounding the Runcorn and Helsby vote  the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury after his conviction for assaulting a constituent  had made it even harder.

Asked about the results by Sky News, the Prime Minister said: The message I take away from these results is we must deliver change even more quickly, we must go even further. Ive believed for some time thats the case, and [its been] reinforced in these results that thats what weve got to do.

Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves acknowledged that voters are impatient, but insisted that change takes time. She suggested Reform would face greater scrutiny after its electoral gains. Weve had to stabilise the economy, but were starting that work. Weve got our Plan for Change, were beginning to see the results of this, but we know we need to go further and faster, she told Times Radio.

But Doncasters victorious Labour mayor Ros Jones  who was re-elected with a majority of 698 after a battle with Reform  hit out at the prime ministers administration. She criticised decisions to means-test the winter fuel allowance, hike employers national insurance contributions and squeeze welfare.

Ms Jones told the BBC: 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.

Anger over taking the winter fuel payment from 10 million pensioners, slashing benefits for the disabled and hiking taxes on businesses was blamed for the catastrophic results for Labour.

Former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell  now an independent MP after he was forced out for opposing the two-child benefit cap  described the partys response to the results so far as tin-eared.

Mr McDonnell said on social media: Labour supporters feel Labour, their party, has turned its back on them citing Winter Fuel Allowance, NI tax on jobs & threat of disability cuts. Message to ministers is drop the plans to attack [the] disabled.

In her speech after winning Runcorn, Sarah Pochin, a former Conservative councillor, said voters had made clear that enough is enough.

The Tories, meanwhile, were trying to limit the damage, and made it clear they would not be forced into a deal with Reform.

Previously, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who some believe is angling to be leader, had been recorded saying that a deal was inevitable.

But as the results came in, Tory co-chair Nigel Huddleston insisted there could be no deal with a party whose aim is to destroy the Conservative Party.

He went on: Kemis position is certainly solid. Shes only been leader for six months, and she was out and about right across the country, and I can tell you this: everywhere we went, people wanted to see her more and hear more from her.

Meanwhile, Ms Badenoch has tried to play down the electoral catastrophe for her party as it lost hundreds of seats and now faces the onward march of Reform.

In a statement, she said: These were always going to be a very difficult set of elections, coming off the high of 2021 and our historic defeat last year  and so its proving. The renewal of our party has only just begun, and Im determined to win back the trust of the public and the seats weve lost, in the years to come.

The Lib Dems made gains but failed in their bid to win Devon County Council, although they displaced the Tories there as the biggest party.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey 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.

Maps and results with input from Election Maps UK
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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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One story dominates the elections held on May 1 in England: the dramatic Reform surge. The Runcorn and Helsby by-election was a stunning win for Nigel Farages party.

Labours 49th safest seat  supposedly safer than the prime ministers  was hardly natural Farage territory. The town of Runcorn  Liverpool overspill mainly  makes up 60 per cent of the constituency.

Labour won more votes than all other parties combined in the general election of July 2024. Yet less than a year later, Reform has captured the seat, overturning a majority of 14,700  albeit with the smallest ever by-election majority, beating Labour by just six votes.

This has delivered Reform its first woman MP, former Conservative councillor Sarah Pochin. Her arrival brings the party up to five MPs (a sixth having been suspended from the party earlier this year).

Do early by-elections matter, with the general election so distant? They can be a signal of what is to come.

Since the second world war, Labour has only once retained office at the next general election after losing a seat at a by-election less than one year after forming a government. A narrow loss to the Conservatives in Leyton in 1965 was sandwiched between 1964 and 1966 general election triumphs, but that was the exception to the rule.

Reform UKs Sarah Pochin and party leader Nigel Farage talk to the media after the party won the seat in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election ( PA Wire )

The norm is for new governments to enjoy a honeymoon. No such joy for Keir Starmers Labour.

Farage has made what is being called an economic left turn in a bid to attract Labour voters. He continues to push for tougher immigration policies but is now also backing greater nationalisation, including for British steel.

Starmer benefited from intra-right tussling between the Conservatives and Reform in July  the split vote on the right contributed to his loveless landslide. But things look different now Reform has shown it can take on Labour and win.

And while the Conservatives were never in the running in this by-election, theyve been damaged in their own way. Farages assessment was that after tonight, theres no question, in most of the country we are now the main opposition party to this government.

Given that the Conservatives have 20 times the number of MPs as Reform, thats a bold claim from Farage. But Reform has more members and is well funded.

Kemi Badenoch apologises after Conservatives suffer heavy local election defeat

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has compared her position to that of William Hague when he took over a Conservative party battered by Labours landslide win in 1997.

Its a dismal vista. Hague was similarly crushed at the next general election. Yet for the Conservatives there remained the prospect of an eventual swing back of the pendulum. As the fragmentation of politics gathers pace under the Reform surge, there are now no such guarantees.

Badenochs closest leadership rival, Robert Jenrick, has made clear that the right of British politics, the Conservatives and Reform, will be obliged to unite or both will fail. They believe Reform has yet to be properly scrutinised and could fade.

Yet Reform may continue to upend the old certainties of the Conservative-Labour duopoly. British electoral politics have never been more fragmented and, in that context, Farage is the bookmakers favourite to be the next prime minister.

Jonathan Tonge is a Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool

This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article
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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.

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.

open image in gallery 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.

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.

open image in gallery 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.

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.

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.

open image in gallery 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.
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Investing juggernaut Berkshire Hathaways annual shareholder meeting began this weekend with CEO Warren Buffett revealing that he will step down this year.

The billionaire investor, who will turn 95 in August, announced Greg Abel as the man to take over back in May 2021, though a specific timeline for when the reins will officially be handed over has yet to be announced.

Buffett said earlier this year that it wont be long before 62-year-old Abel, vice-chairman at Berkshire, replaces him as chief executive. Buffetts long-term business partner, Charlie Munger, died a little over a year ago at the age of 99.

So, who is Greg Abel, the man who will soon be in charge of investing juggernaut Berkshire Hathaway?

open image in gallery Berkshire Vice Chairman Greg Abel speaks with shareholders during the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. annual shareholders' meeting. Abel is due to take over as CEO of the company from Warren Buffett ( REUTERS )

Canadian-born Abel grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Edmonton, Alberta. He attended the University of Alberta, where he studied accounting and graduated with distinction in 1984.

He joined consultancy firm PwC in Edmonton as a chartered accountant, later moving to the company's San Francisco office, where one of his clients was CalEnergy, which he moved to shortly after.

Abel served as a senior executive for the company from 1992 to 2008, becoming president in 1999 when it became MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. In 2014, MidAmerican became Berkshire Hathaway Energy  a subsidiary of Buffetts multinational conglomerate.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy has assets in excess of $90 billion and owns subsidiaries in energy businesses in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Philippines.

open image in gallery Billionaire investor Warren Buffett  who will turn 95 in August  announced Abel as the man to take over his investing juggernaut back in May 2021 ( REUTERS )

In January 2018, while remaining executive chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Abel was appointed vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. He has since been a key figure in managing the companys portfolio of non-insurance businesses.

Abel serves as a director and vice chairman of Edison Electric Institute, an association of U.S. investor-owned electric companies, and Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited, a mutual insurance company, as well as serving on the board of directors for Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, a mutual insurance company of nuclear power facilities, and The Kraft Heinz Company.

In a May 2021 interview, Warren Buffett confirmed Abel as his future successor as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, saying he was 100 percent comfortable with Abel as the man to take over his company.

Investors and analysts expect that Abel will preserve Buffetts conservative approach to the business and uphold the $865 billion conglomerate's track record of investing in companies for the long haul and eschewing dividend payments to shareholders.

open image in gallery Canadian-born Abel grew up in a working class neighborhood in Edmonton, Alberta, and attended the University of Alberta where he studied accounting and graduated with distinction in 1984. He joined consultancy firm PwC in Edmonton as a chartered accountant ( REUTERS )

"We have a very special company in Berkshire, but it's that culture that makes it special, and that's not going to change," Abel said at a recent shareholder meeting.

However, Abel has reportedly already begun taking on core leadership responsibilities at Berkshire.

"In the last year, the board, really Greg and Warren, have moved from sort of preparing for success to actually practicing it," Sue Decker, lead director of Berkshire Hathaway's board, said in an interview on Friday.

"Greg has gotten much more involved in capital allocation decisions, and I know he's earned the trust of the board and Warren in that, Decker said.

Abel is no longer viewed internally as a "CEO-in-waiting, Decker added.
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The rift between Prince Harry and his family has burst into the open again with the princes raw television interview after losing a court case over his security.

In a long and at times emotional talk, the 40-year-old prince said he wants reconciliation, while re-airing grievances against the royal family, the U.K. government and the media.

Here are key takeaways from Fridays BBC interview:

A security feud has deepened the royal rift

Harry said his father, King Charles III, wont speak to him because of this security stuff  a legal wrangle over protection for the prince when he is in Britain.

This, at the heart of it, is a family dispute, he said.

Harry has been estranged from his family since he and his wife Meghan quit royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States, alleging hostility and racist attitudes by the press and royal establishment. Harrys tell-all 2023 memoir Spare, stuffed with private details and embarrassing revelations, made things worse.

But Harry said whats souring the relationship now is a decision to remove his police protection detail after he stopped being a working royal. On Friday the Court of Appeal in London rejected Harrys bid to restore the protection, saying a government committee was justified in deciding that security arrangements should be decided on a case-by-case basis whenever Harry visits the U.K.

Harry blamed the palace, alleging that the decision to withdraw his security had been made at the direction of royal officials, who sit on the committee alongside representatives from the police and government. He said they were knowingly putting me and my family in harms way, hoping that the sense of threat would force us to come back.

He suggested his father was part of the problem, saying hed asked the king to step out of the way and let the experts do their job.

Harry highlighted health concerns about the king

King Charles, 76, has been treated for an undisclosed cancer for more than a year. Buckingham Palace has given infrequent updates, and has not disclosed what form of cancer the king has.

Harry, who has met his father only once, briefly, since his diagnosis early last year, said I dont know how much longer my father has.

He held out little hope of another meeting soon.

The only time I come back to the U.K., is, sadly, for funerals or court cases, he said.

After taking several months off last year, Charles has returned to a full slate of public duties. This week he told a reception for cancer charities that being diagnosed was a daunting and at times frightening experience. He added: I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.

Harry fears for his life and safety

Harry has well-founded concerns for the safety of himself and his family.

He is fifth in line to the throne, behind his brother William and Williams three children. He spent 10 years in the British army, serving two tours of duty in Afghanistan in the war against the Taliban. Harrys lawyer said in court papers that al-Qaida had published a document that said Harrys assassination would please Muslims.

Harry said that before 2020 he was placed in the highest tier of risk for royals, alongside his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

Since then, he has been stripped of government-funded police protection, and also denied permission to pay for it himself, leaving private security his only option  something he says leaves him at risk.

Whether I have an official role or not is irrelevant to the threat risk, Harry said.

He claimed that some people want history to repeat itself, an apparent reference to the death of his mother Princess Diana. She was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.

He worries his children will lose part of their heritage

Harry, Meghan and their children Archie, 5, and 3-year-old Lilibet, currently live in California, and Harry said he cant see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K.

The prince said he loves Britain and its really quite sad that I wont be able to show my children my homeland.

Harry claimed that he and his family are endangered when visiting Britain because of hostility aimed at him and Meghan on social media and through relentless hounding by news media.

Harry wants reconciliation with his family  but it may not be imminent

Harrys explosive memoir Spare scattered bitterness and blame at Charles, Queen Camilla  Harrys stepmother  and his elder brother William.

In the interview, he said he could forgive his family, and even the British press that he reviles and has repeatedly sued, for their role in events of recent years.

I would love reconciliation with my family. Theres no point in continuing to fight anymore, Harry said.

Historian Anthony Seldon said Harry had chosen his words deliberately to signal he wants to make a new start.

From this point on, from this speech, there will not be a significant turn back again. There will be no more spiteful books, Seldon told Sky News. He has signaled he wants to be back in a way that needs to be worked out.
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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.
Too many column inches have been wasted on inaccurate descriptions of the so-called minerals deal between the US and Ukraine. Much of the commentary was almost Trumpian in its hyperbole: historic, momentous, and a 180-degree change in Americas stances toward Ukraine and therefore toward Russia as well.

Not so fast. Many have cheered that there was mention  an admission  of Russias invasion of Ukraine from the American side, and an apparent commitment to a future Ukraine that is, at least by implication, sovereign and independent.

It is true that we seem to have recovered, somewhat, from the infamous Oval Office meeting in February, between the Ukrainian and American presidents. And the terms appear less blatantly extortionate than the ones thrust upon (and then rejected by) Ukraine in February.

There is, however, less here than meets the eye. We should be clear that there are no security guarantees for Ukraine of any sort  no US presence (beyond a commercial one) to back it up. In fact, this document confirms the cessation of US military aid to Ukraine that America has provided so far, and confirms that from now on, Ukraine will be accruing debt for any US weaponry it may receive. (And it is not guaranteeing that either.)

The benefits for Ukraine  aside from the optics of signing any agreement with the US  are dubious too, and what there are would not come until after the war has ended.

In fact, depending on how you interpret the text, the agreement implies a possible US say in Ukraine holding elections (which the Kremlin wants) through its rather hypocritical insistence on Ukraine upholding democratic values; and a potential say on whether it should join the EU (which the Kremlin doesnt want). It would be foolish to assume that Trump and his inner circle wouldnt push the Kremlins requirements on these two issues.

But the overall reason not to place faith in the deal is because it is subordinate to the USs ambition to have rapprochement with Russia. Whether it is out of misplaced economic ambition vis-a-vis Russia or a Cold War mentality of great and peer power carve-ups, the current incarnation of US decision makers take a Russia first principle.

However, counter-intuitively, the USs attempts to normalise relations with Russia are the main source of optimism. Not because they will work, but because they wont. That might seem perverse. Who wouldnt want better relations between the worlds two largest nuclear powers?

For some, Ukraine isnt worth it. Not worth the risk of falling into war. That argument might make sense if this were only about Ukraine (though I am not conceding that point). But it isnt. If Russia is allowed to continue unopposed  untroubled by western support, or lack thereof  then almost everything is at risk, from wider European security to global trade (including sanctions relief) to fundamental legal principles to perhaps even the fate of Taiwan and the ability to meet climate change goals.

Zelenskyy and Trump pictured talking at Pope Franciss last Saturday ( Ukrainian Presidential Press Office )

For the US negotiating team, however, its just about real estate  physical territory and in the economic sense too. What Russia and most European powers have in common is that they understand that it is not.

These differences in understanding are why Donald Trumps plans for Russia will fail as they did with North Korea in his first term: the inability to understand that Russia is just not that into you.

Depending how closely the Kremlin reads the agreement, they may be perturbed by it. Clearly Moscow has overplayed its hand, incurring mild US irritation.

Russias intransigence, shown by its inability to make concessions and its city-bombing campaign, means the war will continue, regardless of the minerals deal. But although the war is an ongoing tragedy, its continuance and the increased pressure that puts on Russia also gives both Ukraine and the global order the best chance of surviving.

James Nixey leads the Russia-Eurasia programme at the Chatham House thinktank
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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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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.

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.

open image in gallery 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?

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.

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.

open image in gallery 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.
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The Trump administration reportedly plans to reduce the workforce at the CIA by about 1,200 people in the coming years, part of a larger set of cuts to the nations intelligence services.

The reductions at the CIA will reportedly be made through a combination of existing employees seeking retirement and reduced future hiring, insiders told The Washington Post, avoiding firings.

The agency doesnt disclose its exact workforce, but such cuts are thought to represent about 5 percent of its total personnel.

Thousands more cuts are expected across the National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and other U.S. spy outfits, according to the paper.

Director Ratcliffe is moving swiftly to ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the Administrations national security priorities, an agency spokesperson said in response to the Posts reporting. These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position CIA to deliver on its mission.

The reductions are reportedly unrelated to Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency initiative, which has pushed to lay off thousands of federal workers elsewhere.

( AP )

The administration previously tried to fire 19 intelligence officers who worked on diversity, equality, inclusion and accessibility programs, but a federal judge blocked the attempt in March.

The reported shake-ups in the intelligence community come at a complicated moment for U.S. espionage.

In April, the National Counterintelligence Security Center warned that foreign intelligence agencies, particularly those of China, were actively targeting disaffected current and former government employees, a growing population given the administrations slash-and-burn strategies to reduce the federal workforce.

Russia is also pursuing such recruitment, CNN reported in February, citing government documents and U.S. intelligence.

These challenges from foreign nations come as the U.S. grows increasingly concerned over Chinese influence, according to a March document obtained by The New York Post.

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 (CCP), CIA Director John Ratclife reportedly wrote in the document. 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.

The administration has had a somewhat adversarial relationship with many of its intelligence-related agencies.

Leaders have reportedly begun using polygraph lie-detector tests at the Department of Homeland Security and Pentagon to ferret out leakers,.

In April, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said she referred two leaking cases to the Department of Justice, accusing individuals of being deep-state criminals that leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine [the presidents] agenda."
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President Donald Trump has posted an AI-generated image of himself in papal regalia, just 11 days after Pope Francis death.

The image, posted on Truth Social, shows President Trump dressed in white wearing a papal hat, known as a mitre, with a large crucifix hanging around his neck. His hand is raised with the index finger extended as if giving a belssing.

Days earlier the president quipped that hed like to be the pontiff when asked who he would like to succeed Pope Francis. He told reporters at the White House: Id like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.

Trump went on to say that he actually didnt have a preference, but that the cardinal in New York was very good, likely referring to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York.

Donald Trump appears as a pope in an AI generated image of himself he posted on his Truth Social account ( Donald J. Trump/Truth Social )

The conclave to select a new pontiff is now underway after the death of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 due to a stroke and heart failure.

The post has been met with scathing criticism, with many describing it as startlingly insensitive, disrespectful and sacrilegious, as well as hailed by some staunch MAGA supporters. Some Trump backers called the image hilarious, and hailed Trump for infuriating the left, though clearly the religiously devout appeared to be the most offended.

From Donald Trump Truth Social 05/02/25 10:29 PM pic.twitter.com/6BmCkSY1Q8  Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 3, 2025

Please take this down, pleaded one social media user. Many Catholics, myself included, find this as a great disrespect to the past and future leader of our church.

Another responded: Trump, as someone outside the U.S., I find your post utterly disrespectful to the Catholic community worldwide. The papacy is a sacred institution for millions, and this mockery is an affront to their beliefs.

Is anyone else surprised that Trump would be so brazenly sacrilegious?



Me either.



Classless.  Trump Tracker (@trackingdonald) May 3, 2025

Completely disrespectful. The Catholic community is mourning and you post this? one critic posted.

The president was criticized over his appearance at Pope Francis funeral last month, after he attended wearing a non-traditional blue suit, and was seen chewing gum during the ceremony.

@grok Does this technically constitute a blasphemy, buddy? Also, how do you think devoted Catholics are going to react to this?  penguins_against_trump (@FlippersUpNow) May 3, 2025

Some critics also suggested his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines at the funeral was inappropriate.
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The Australian opposition leader likened to Donald Trump for apeing his policies has lost his seat as the incumbent Labor government secures a landslide win.

Peter Dutton has suffered more than a 10 per cent swing against him to Labor rival Ali France, who has so far claimed nearly 59 per cent of the vote under Australias two-party preferred system, with election analysts projecting the conservative leaders ousting.

It comes as Australias centre-left prime minister Anthony Albanese secures a second term just days after Canadas centrist Liberal Party, led by Mark Carney, retained government, in what will be seen as part of an international backlash against the Trump administration.

Earlier on Saturday, Coalition senator and campaign spokesman James Paterson conceded Trumps unpopularity in Australia had definitely played a part.

One factor I think we can all acknowledge and recognise is the Trump factor. It was devastating in Canada for the conservatives, where the conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost 20 points over the course of a few months, Mr Paterson, seen as a rising star in the Liberal and National party coalition, told the ABC.

I think it has been a factor here, just how big a factor will be determined in a few hours time, but I think its been significant.

Mr Dutton, who took the reins of the Coalition after the former conservative prime minister Scott Morrisons 2022 defeat, is known for his projected hardman persona, aggressive stance on immigration, and attacks on what he describes as left-wing media bias as well as woke school teachers and university lecturers.

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, he said in his concession speech.

Mr Dutton had been considered the countrys likely next prime minister early in the campaign as Labor was besieged by a negative media cycle dominated by high living costs.

However, voter sentiment noticeably shifted in recent weeks as Labor accused Mr Dutton of following Trumps playbook, with April polling showing Trump was turning Australian voters away from the Coalition.

In March, Mr Albanese accused Mr Dutton of copying Trumps attack on working from home arrangements after the opposition leader vowed to stop public servants ability to work remotely, following Trumps clampdown on the Covid-era practice.

We dont have to adopt all of Americas policies, the prime minister told ABC radio.

Mr Dutton also came under fire after Northern Territory Coalition senator and conservative firebrand Jacinta Nampijinpa Price vowed to make Australia great again in a direct mimic of the Trump catchphrase.

Ahead of Mr Albaneses victory address, foreign minister Penny Wong described Australia as a nation of courage and kindness in a dig at the United States, and described the prime minister as a man of courage, and a man of compassion.

Some might want to mimic the worst of other countries. Albo always backs whats best for our country, Senator Wong said.

Celebrating Labors return to office, Mr Albanese said the Australian way was looking after each other and shut down those in the crowd who tried to disparage Mr Dutton.

What we do in Australia is we treat people with respect, he said.
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In the jasmine-scented, tourist-thronged streets of Rome, a quiet drama unfolds behind closed doors.

Cardinals, gathered to elect Pope Francis's successor, engage in a discreet dance of dinner parties, coffee meet-ups, and private conversations, all aimed at discerning who possesses the qualities to lead the Catholic Church.

This pre-conclave manoeuvring echoes the events of March 2013, when Cardinal Cormac Murphy-OConnor, then retired archbishop of Westminster, and other European reformers championed the candidacy of an Argentine Jesuit, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who ultimately became Pope Francis. Their behind-the-scenes advocacy proved decisive.

While Cardinal Vincent Nichols now holds Murphy-OConnors former position, he has adopted a different approach to the pre-conclave period. "Were of quite different styles," Cardinal Nichols admitted during an interview at the Venerable English College in Rome.

"Cardinal Cormac would love to be at the centre of the party. Im a little more reserved than that and a little bit more introverted."

Despite his more reserved demeanor, Cardinal Nichols, 79, offered a glimpse into the current dynamics among the cardinal-electors. Between meals of Roman carbonara, these figures are engaging in a process of mutual assessment, getting to know one another after bidding farewell to the pope who appointed the majority of them.

Cardinal Nichols says he is spending these days before his first conclave listening, as cardinals meet each morning in a Vatican auditorium to discuss the needs of the Catholic Church and the type of person who can lead it. These meetings are open to all cardinals, including those over 80, while the conclave itself in the Sistine Chapel is limited to cardinals who have not yet reached 80.

open image in gallery Cardinals arrive to attend the sixth Novemdiales mass held for the late Pope Francis in St. Peters Basilica, on May 1 ( Getty )

Not a boys brigade that marches in step

Cardinal Nichols said a picture of the future pope is beginning to form, at least in his mind, as cardinals look back at Francis 12-year pontificate and see where to go from here when they begin voting on Wednesday.

I suppose were looking for somebody who even in their manner not only expresses the depth of the faith, but also its openness as well, Cardinal Nichols said.

Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Nichols archbishop of Westminster in 2009 but he didn't become a cardinal until 2014, when Francis tapped him in his first batch of cardinals. Francis went on to name Cardinal Nichols as a member of several important Vatican offices, including the powerful dicastery for bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world.

My experience so far, to be quite honest with you, is theres a lot of attentive listening, Cardinal Nichols said. Thats listening to the people who might have an idea today of who they think is the best candidate, and I wouldnt be surprised if by Monday they might have changed their mind.

Cardinal Nichols said the picture that is emerging is of seeing Francis pontificate in continuity with the more doctrinaire papacies of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and of appreciating the multicultural reality of the Catholic Church today.

Francis greatly expanded the College of Cardinals to include cardinals from far-flung places like Tonga and Mongolia, rather than just the traditional centres of European Catholicism.

open image in gallery Cardinal Vincent Nichols at the Venerable English College, in Rome ( AP )

Yes, divisions and disagreements have been aired. But I can never remember a time when Catholics all agreed about everything, Cardinal Nichols said.

Were not a boys brigade that marches in step.

But he said he sensed that cardinals believe Francis reforming papacy and radical call to prioritise the poor and marginalised, to care for the planet and all its people, needed further consolidating with another papacy.

Theres a sense that the initiatives that this man of such originality took, they probably do need rooting a bit more to give them that stability and evident continuity, he said.

So that these arent just the ideas of one person, one charismatic person, but they are actually consistently part of how the church reflects on humanity, our own humanity and our world.

open image in gallery A street screen dedicated to Pope Francis reads "Rome hugs Francis with Love" in downtown Rome ( AP )

Team Bergoglio

In his book The Great Reformer, Francis' biographer Austen Ivereigh described the 2013 election of Francis and how Cardinal Nichols' predecessor, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor and other reform-minded Europeans within the College of Cardinals seized the opportunity to push Bergoglio after it was clear the Italians were fighting among themselves over the Italian candidate, splitting their vote.

Team Bergoglio, as these reform-minded cardinals came to be known, had tried to talk up Bergoglio in the 2005 conclave, but failed to get their man through after Cardinal Joseph Ratzingers momentum grew and Bergoglio bowed out.

In 2013, with many too old to vote in the conclave itself, Team Bergoglio talked up the Argentine at dinner parties around Rome in the days before the conclave to try to ensure the Argentine could secure at least 25 votes on the first ballot to establish himself as a serious candidate, the book said.

It recounts a dinner party at the North American College, the US seminary in Rome, on March 5, 2013 to which Cardinal Murphy-OConnor and Australian Cardinal George Pell were invited and where the British cardinal talked up Bergoglios name.

He held a number of these dinners, and I think there were a few of them involved, a few who had grown convinced that Bergoglio was what the church needed, Mr Ivereigh said Friday.

Cardinal Nichols doesnt have any such calculations or candidate, at least that he is willing to divulge.

For me, its no good going into a conclave thinking its like a political election and I want my side to win. Im not going to do that, he said. Im going to go in certainly with my own thoughts but ready to change them, to listen and maybe try and persuade others to change theirs too.
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A Russian drone barrage targeting Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, has left 47 people injured, according to local authorities.

The attack, which came late on Friday, saw drones strike 12 locations across the city, impacting residential buildings and vehicles, as confirmed by Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that the locations included civilian infrastructure.

In the wake of the assault, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to the countrys international allies for increased and more decisive support.

Taking to X in the early hours of Saturday, Zelenskyy stressed the urgent need for strengthened air defences.

"While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives," he wrote.

open image in gallery Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv ( Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP )

He emphasised the necessity of "strong and real decisions" from partners, including the United States, Europe, and all nations striving for peace.

The Ukrainian Air Force said on Saturday that Russia had fired 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight.

Of those, 77 were intercepted by Ukrainian defenses, while a further 73 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

The Air Force also reported that Russia launched two ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile, Russias Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight.

open image in gallery Firefighter work at the site of a Russian strike in Kharkiv ( Reuters )

The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.

In southern Russia, four people were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to Krasnodar Region Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev.

The latest wave of attacks comes after the US and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraines vast mineral resources, finalising a deal months in the making.

The deal could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the news in a press release, 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.
A serial offender has been fined 1,300 after a court heard he was caught behind the wheel of a van with no licence, tax or insurance and later failed to produce any documents or turn up to his court date.

Jamie Birmingham (34), of Drumfinn Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, was not present when his case was dealt with at Tallaght District Court on Tuesday, April 29.

Garda Michael Gleeson told the court that Birmingham was stopped in the early hours of April 4, 2020, at around 3.30am on the N81 in Tallaght. He was driving a van and had no tax, insurance or valid driving licence. He was instructed to produce the documents at a nominated Garda station but failed to do so.

The court heard Birmingham has 39 previous convictions, including three for driving without insurance. He also has convictions for violent behaviour at a Garda station and for failing to comply with Garda direction.

On January 29 of this year, he was given a four-month suspended prison sentence and a four-year driving ban for driving drunk and without insurance, as well as related public order offences. On January 9, he had appeared before Blanchardstown District Court where he was convicted of three counts of having no insurance.

Earlier convictions for road traffic matters were also recorded in 2021 and 2015.

Judge John OLeary convicted Birmingham in his absence and imposed a 1,000 fine with six months to pay. He also handed down a 100 fine for driving without a licence and a 200 fine for no car tax - both payable within six months.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
A van driver who struck a pedestrian five days before Christmas and fled the scene in a "full-blown panic attack" has been fined 1,000 and disqualified from driving for three months.

The incident occurred at around 5:30pm on December 20, 2024, on Old Bawn Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Tallaght District Court heard that the victim sustained serious injuries including four broken ribs, a broken nose, 12 stitches and a broken wrist which required surgery.

Christopher Armstrong (39), who lives at Allenton Drive, Ballycragh, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to failing to remain at the scene. CCTV footage showed him stopping the van and getting out to check on the injured man before leaving the scene without providing any details.

His solicitor, Padraig ODonovan, told the court that the defendant had entered his estate and stopped to wait for a right turn when he said a man dressed in black walked out from behind a parked car. By the time he saw him, the pedestrian was already halfway across the van. He slammed on the brakes, but the van collided with the pedestrian, Mr ODonovan said.

The court heard that the defendant got out immediately to check on the mans condition and had asked if he was okay. A woman from another vehicle called 999. The defendant then returned to his van and experienced what his solicitor described as a full-blown panic attack.

The van was later identified on CCTV and Gardai called to Armstrong's home. The court heard the driver admitted what had happened and fully cooperated with the investigation. He has no previous convictions and was fully insured.

Mr ODonovan said his client was extremely remorseful, had written a letter of apology to the injured man and has since struggled with anxiety and depression. The court heard Armstrong supports his family and works full-time.

Judge John OLeary said that while there were strong mitigating factors, the seriousness of the injuries and failure to remain at the scene warranted a conviction. I would have thought disqualification was less of a concern than imprisonment, he remarked.

Armstrong was convicted, fined 1,000, and disqualified from driving for three months. Judge OLeary expressed hope that the defendant's employer would be able to accommodate the driving ban.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Why making a will is one of the most important jobs you will ever do
This photo of a homeless boy named Sam went viral in 2019 when published online by Dublin volunteer group The Homeless Street Cafe

The number of families in homeless accommodation has surged in the last 10 years. Photo: PA

More children are using emergency homeless accommodation than ever before, potentially having a lasting impact on their lives. But how has the crisis evolved, and what needs to change?

There were 749 children in such housing across Ireland in July 2014, but this figure surged to reach 3,778 children within five years.

Despite a brief respite during the Covid-19 pandemic, there were 4,404 children living in homeless accommodation in July 2024.

Less than a year later, yet another record has been broken. In March, there were 15,418 people relying on emergency homeless accommodation, including 4,675 children.

There are many reasons why figures have continued to climb over the last 11 years, including a lagging impact of the recession in the early 2010s, issues in the private rental market and the lack of social and affordable housing.

It has felt as if there have also been watershed moments over the years that had the potential to turn things around, breaking points that somehow failed to inspire policy that would buck the trend of rising homelessness.

A poignant image of a five-year-old boy in a woolly hat, kneeling on the street as he ate his dinner from a piece of cardboard in Dublin, went viral in 2019.

Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty told the Dail at the time that child homelessness had become a national shame.

This photo of a homeless boy named Sam went viral in 2019 when published online by Dublin volunteer group The Homeless Street Cafe

The annual spend on homelessness services has almost doubled since 2019, rising to 303m following the last Budget.

When the pandemic struck, overall homelessness figures dropped just months after another milestone of 10,000 people living in emergency homeless accommodation had been surpassed.

There were 7,991 people accessing emergency homeless accommodation in 2021, the lowest in four years. These figures do not include the number of people rough sleeping or living in hidden homelessness, such as couch surfing.

The number of children living in emergency homeless accommodation decreased to 2,129, the lowest since 2016. There was hope among many working in the sector that it marked a turning point in tackling family homelessness.

"We had a couple of years of falling family homelessness and people working very closely together during Covid-19, said Focus Ireland advocacy director Mike Allen, who blamed evictions by private landlords as one of the driving forces of family homelessness.

The number of families in homeless accommodation has surged in the last 10 years. Photo: PA

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

He said the introduction of the no-fault eviction ban and accelerated exits from emergency accommodation during the pandemic allowed for a remarkable fall in figures between 2020 and 2021.

"There was very definitely a sense of optimism, that we now knew what worked  a mixture between prevention, making sure people are less likely to become homeless, and targeting people for routes out of homelessness. [We thought], If we can continue those in some way, we will actually continue this downward graph.

But, it did not last. By last May, figures had doubled and hit more than 4,000 children for the first time  significantly higher than it was at the highest point before the pandemic.

More families were now homeless than ever before and more of them would be homeless for longer periods of time, said Mr Allen.

For staff and people working in the area to see family homelessness fall  and all the hope and the possibility there was  and then to watch it rise inexorably after thatits hard to keep the morale. Its crucial our staff can convey a sense of hope to the families themselves, and its very hard when theyre looking at the way the Government has handled this.

Its a fear that some of the children were working with now, who are homeless with their families, we might be seeing them in years to come

He said successive governments had underestimated the scale of the problem and what needed to be done to resolve it, which he said should include higher social housing targets and measures that would address long-term homelessness.

"The fear that is in the back of peoples minds who work in these areas is that we know from international  mostly American  work, that experiencing homelessness when youre a child increases your risk of experiencing homelessness as an adult.

"Its a fear that some of the children were working with now, who are homeless with their families, we might be seeing them in years to come  homeless because of the disruption that happens to their lives and the trauma thats been caused.

Childrens charity Barnardos has also seen a huge increase in the number of families who need support in relation to housing and homelessness, with policy manager Stephen Moffatt saying some children spend a chunk of their childhood in emergency accommodation, which can have a lasting effect.

Children may have to give up their bedroom or their pets, give up most of their possessions because theres not enough space when they are moved, perhaps somewhere quite a distance from their previous home. While parents do their utmost to shield them from the stress, anxiety and uncertainty, it can have a knock-on impact.

Telling them that in five years time, hopefully, well have more social housing  their childhood will be over at that stage and the damage will have been done

Mr Moffatt said there must be a greater focus on preventative services, while addressing long-term goals such as increasing the number of homes.

The children living in emergency accommodation right at this moment, telling them that in five years time, hopefully, well have more social housing  their childhood will be over at that stage and the damage will have been done, he said.

In response to queries, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing said resolving the current homelessness crisis remains a top priority and key to addressing homelessness is increasing the supply of housing.

The Budget allocation of 303 million would provide homeless prevention services, emergency accommodation and other services for households experiencing homelessness, including funding for 36 family hubs.

"While hubs are emergency accommodation, they provide a greater level of stability than is possible in emergency hotel accommodation, with the capacity to provide appropriate play-space, cooking and laundry facilities, and communal recreation space, while move-on options to homes are identified and secured. More intensive assistance in terms of welfare, health and housing services are also supplied through family hubs.

The spokesperson said the Programme for Government 2025 had set out a number of commitments in addressing family homelessness, while a pilot to provide accommodation to families with complex needs and experiencing long-term homelessness in Galway had begun under Housing for All last year.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, call Focus Ireland on 01 881 5900, email help@focusireland.ie or see focusireland.ie; or call Peter McVerry Trust on 01 823 0776, email info@pmvtrust.ie or see pmvtrust.ie
Reflecting on Donald Trumps first 100 days back in the Oval Office, former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has insisted he does not think the US is singling out Ireland, even as concern grows here over pharma and tech jobs.

It just so happens theres American pharmaceutical operations in Ireland and the Trump team would like those back in the US. Wed have the same attitude if they were in Canada or Vietnam or Australia, he said.
Its not about the money, its just having to do it all again  home that had 600,000 Room to Improve makeover is damaged in blaze
Coalition leaders are trying to smooth over rift that has opened around potential appointment of Brendan McDonagh

The proposed appointment of Brendan McDonagh as the Governments housing tsar was discussed between Housing Minister James Browne and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe during Easter week.

Its understood that while no specific salary was discussed, Mr Donohoe believed that Mr McDonaghs current salary of 430,000 as the boss of Nama, would be too high if he was seconded to head up the Strategic Housing Activation Unit.

Earlier this week, Fine Gael ministers privately expressed fury over the planned appointment after it was reported that Mr McDonagh would hold on to his salary. The Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, said appointments of that scale should be discussed between the two Coalition party leaders before being made public.

While the appointment was not discussed at the highest level, it has emerged talks did take place at senior ministerial level between both parties.

As the party leaders try to soothe tensions after Mr McDonagh withdrew his name for consideration, options for an alternative are being considered.

One solution could be the appointment of a temporary chief executive of the office to allow time to find the right person to lead it. There are concerns that going through the official process  the Top Level Appointments Committee  for senior roles would take too long and could mean another year before a new housing tsar is in place.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin rejected reports that the Tanaiste blocked Mr McDonaghs appointment.

No, thats not correct, he said, speaking at the opening of a new development on Corks docklands alongside Mr Browne.

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.

Mr Martin said no salary was ever discussed.

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, were going to press ahead with this and get this established, he said.

Mr Martin also said he rejected criticism from opposition parties that the process in appointing the housing tsar had been a shambles.

I do not accept that at all, because the opposition cant 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 dudgeon saying, Oh, its a job share  its exactly what Mary Lou proposed during the election.

Mr Browne defended his first 100 days in office, and said there is still public confidence in the Department of Housing.

I was appointed with a very strong remit: to go out, make decisions and get things moving for 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 thats why the Housing Activation Office is so important: to be able to operationalise on the ground to get those homes moving.
The public will be surveyed as part of Irelands Covid-19 inquiry  but more than three months after it was set up, the team tasked with judging Irelands pandemic performance is still incomplete, it emerged yesterday.

The Covid-19 evaluation team was appointed by the Government earlier this year, chaired by former academic Professor Anne Scott.

However, just one person has been appointed to the panel, supposed to comprise various experts in rating how Ireland fought the virus and protected the public, imposed lockdowns and took care of people in nursing homes.

A spokeswoman for the inquiry, which is held behind closed doors, said the evaluation team is in the process of finalising additional members of the panel.

Their names and background information will be announced in the coming weeks, she said.

Its understood it has been difficult to get people who were not involved in some way in the pandemic effort in Ireland, or who do not have a conflict of interest, to join the panel.

The only member so far appointed is David Heymann, a medical epidemiologist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Seeking input: Majella Beattie

Majella Beattie of Care Champions, the advocacy group which represents many people bereaved during the pandemic, said it recently held its first meeting with Prof Scott. She said the group found her friendly and forthcoming and very transparent.

However, Ms Beattie stressed that the examination had no powers to compel documents, or anyone to give evidence, saying a statutory inquiry was needed  a demand repeated in a letter to Taoiseach Micheal Martin this week. The group was told the inquiry plans to carry out an initial survey of the public with the option to tick a box to say whether they want to be contacted to elaborate on their experience.

They will be inviting submissions from people, organisations, family groups and others, Ms Beattie said. They are very open to hearing from people.

The group was reassured there would be safeguarding expertise among the panel.

I questioned what would happen when a health facility or government body does not give documents or refuses to participate.

Ms Beattie said Care Champions will participate in the evaluation but believes the only way to get the truth is through an inquiry with full powers.

The evaluation has been allocated a budget of 1m for 2025, including staffing costs, and the team is based in a building at Parnell Square East in Dublin city.

The terms of reference cover January 2020 to February 28, 2022, and include the whole-of-government response and how we might do better if another health emergency arises.

Professor Anne Scott

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

It will look at how the health service delivered around hospitals and nursing homes, while also analysing the impact on society, education and businesses.

The hope is that the fact-finding exercise will shed light on the decisions made and whether the pandemic could have been managed better.

Issues to be explored include the dominance of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) or war cabinet which met behind closed doors in deciding the direction taken around lockdowns and restrictions.
Kneecaps self-inflicted wound: Its depressing that our biggest musical export is so divisive

The West Belfast rappers were on the defensive this week over on-stage comments about Hamas and killing Tory MPs. Amid calls for their gigs to be cancelled, John Meagher asks how much of the groups rabble-rousing image is for real

Early controversy: Kneecaps first single CEARTA, which was banned by RTE Raidio Na Gaeltachta, was released just for the craic

John Meagher Sat 3 May 2025 at 03:30

Anyone who reckoned musicians had lost their power to cause outrage will have had second thoughts this week. Forty-eight years since the Sex Pistols provoked heated debate in the Houses of Parliament, Britains leading politicians were up in arms about the actions of another provocative, uncompromising band.
If there is one thing for which the Housing Minister James Browne cannot be faulted, its the scale of his ambition. Faced with arguably the hardest job in Irish politics  tackling the biggest policy challenge of our time, and doing so as a cabinet novice  he decided to go all out.
Rap trio Kneecap are known for their edgy and political performances, infused with a side of satire and sometimes some choice words

Kneecap are back in the news. The group have dominated the headlines since their concerts at the Coachella music festival  one of which finished with F**k Israel, free Palestine on a big screen behind them.

Since then, all hell has broken loose. Sharon Osbourne called for the groups US visas to be revoked. The bands American booking agent no longer represents them, while the UKs security minister Dan Jarvis has urged the Glastonbury Festival to think very carefully about who is to perform there this year.
Senator Aubrey McCarthy raise his concerns regarding his own personal experience with a friend wanting to be discharged to die at home. Photo: Leigh Anderson

End-of-life care is not just about those last days, but the last months as well. Photo: Getty Stock image.

Not dying enough. That was the response I received when trying to get care for my mom, who was at end of life. Her wish was to die at home following a long illness.

The term was used to explain why we werent able to get the homecare and other supports we required to bring my mom home from hospital. This was said very apologetically to me by a healthcare professional who had gone the extra mile for us.

This was just one of the challenges we had faced in those last three months of my mothers life. Instead of being her daughter, I felt like a project manager. My focus was on trying to overcome obstacles and inform ourselves as a family as to how we could honour her wish to be cared for at home.

We had navigated our way through organising our own carer, sourcing a hospital bed and finding support for medication management  all due to services not being able to respond in a timely and co-ordinated way. This created a constant level of stress about whether we could manage it ourselves.

There were times we seriously debated whether we needed to go to A&E, simply because there were no out-of-hours supports available. These challenges, I would find out, are all too familiar to families and loved ones supporting someone with a life limiting illness.

Last year, the National End of Life survey (NELs) reported that the care in the final two days of life was good or very good  which was our experience. In those final days, my mom received night nursing and community palliative care and the support was excellent.

The NELs also reported that as people move out to the last months of life, the experience becomes much less positive. Care in the community  where most people wish to spend their final months  was rated the lowest across all settings, despite being the preferred option for so many. In fact, NELs responses indicated that fewer than half of those surveyed (45pc) felt there was good co-ordination of care across different settings in the last three months of life. However, in the last two days of life, that percentage rose to 74pc.

When it came to communication at end of life, all those surveyed indicated that a discussion about what to expect when dying would have been helpful, but there were very different outcomes depending on the setting in which a persons loved one was based.

In home-based settings, 24pc of people said healthcare staff did not speak to them about what to expect when their loved one was dying. In nursing homes, 64pc of bereaved relatives said healthcare staff spoke to them about what to expect, and 28pc reported not having this discussion.

Paula O'Reilly

In a hospice setting, 83pc of bereaved relatives indicated that staff spoke to them about what to expect when their loved one was dying. Conversely, for those in a hospital setting, 76pc of participants said a discussion about what to expect when their relative was dying would have been helpful.

The challenges faced by families were highlighted to me again this month when I heard Senator Aubrey McCarthy raise his concerns regarding his own personal experience with a friend wanting to be discharged to die at home, but the supports werent available.

I also learnt recently that A&E deaths account for 20pc of all deaths in acute settings. I couldnt help but wonder what that end-of-life journey might look like for the person if communities could support them better earlier on.

This is similar to what the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) is hearing through our recently launched information and support line, where a recurring theme relates to loved ones reporting that they are being left to case-manage the person who is dying.

Senator Aubrey McCarthy raise his concerns regarding his own personal experience with a friend wanting to be discharged to die at home. Photo: Leigh Anderson

The care at the end of life is not just those last couple of days, which we know we can do well, but the challenge is accessing the right supports at the right time in a co-ordinated manner in those last months of life.

Family and loved ones will always play an important role in supporting the person in their end-of-life journey. However, in order for communities to support a good death, it includes having the right information, timely supports and training for families and carers.

The IHF can offer support to families. We are adding a range of new resources to support people who are caring for a loved one at end of life, with accessible online training and information resources including booklets available in different languages at hospicefoundation.ie.

The freephone information and support line is also available to offer valuable and relevant one-to-one support and advice every weekday morning from 9am to 1pm at 1800 60 70 66.

The IHF advocates that every death matters and how we are cared for matters in those last months as well as those final days.

Paula OReilly is CEO of the Irish Hospice Foundation
He who does not weep does not see, wrote Victor Hugo. Today, World Press Freedom Day, is a chance to think about all those who are forced to keep silent where the truth about injustice is suppressed and concealed from the worlds gaze.

According to the Global Conflict Index, in the past five years, levels of conflict have almost doubled. In 2020, it recorded 104,371 conflict events; last year, it logged nearly 200,000. The suffering endured by the people represented in those figures would never be known about were it not for the work of journalists who bear witness to it.

Highlighting the crucial role of media in championing democracy, transparency and human rights matters, not merely in terms of recognition, but for their protection. Bringing dark truths to the surface, which autocratic regimes want to bury, has taken a grievous toll. It can be thankless and dangerous work.

Unsurprisingly, the war in Gaza has been the deadliest conflict for journalists in the 21st century. More were killed last year than in any other since the Committee to Protect Journalists began collecting data more than three decades ago. At least 124 journalists and media workers have died, nearly two-thirds of them Palestinians killed by Israel. Maintaining a spotlight on such deaths needs to be constant so those responsible are held to account.

It is also the medias job to explain the causes for these conflicts. As war correspondent John Pilger said: It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas of the message and the myths that surround it.

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech

The challenges facing journalists have never been greater. We have seen what happens to those who dare to speak against Vladimir Putin in Russia.

But all over the world, journalists must battle censorship, violence, imprisonment and mass disinformation. Even in the Home of the Free, the White House announced plans to determine which news outlets may have access to Donald Trump. It was the first time in more than a century that any US administration had exercised such control.

Benjamin Franklin once warned: Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.

This year, the focus is on the impact of AI on press freedom and the media. The National Union of Journalists has appealed for greater protections for journalists. Their hope is that the use of AI will be ethical and solely as an assistive tool with human oversight.

The fight against misinformation and the need to defend authentic journalism  aiming to inform, not mislead  has never been more critical. The value of trust remains priceless. But the liberty to work without intimidation must also be held as sacrosanct.

An independent media is vital for any society to function fairly. As Albert Camus wrote: A free press can, of course, be good or bad, but, most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad.
Denis OMahony set to climb Carrauntoohil more than 15 times and clock-up Everest-scale elevation over the June Bank Holiday weekend

Denis O'Mahony plans to climb Carrauntoohil peak on fifteen occasions over the June weekend.

Denis O'Mahony (front, centre) and friends at the summit of Carrauntoohil Mountain during their 2024 fundraising climb.

Irelands tallest peak will provide the focus for an epic charity challenge for Millstreet fundraiser Denis OMahony over the June Bank Holiday weekend when he sets out to climb Carrauntoohil more than 15 times.

That equates to reaching the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world.

Sturdy boots, decent weather and plenty of energy will be required for the massive challenge, in what is being undertaken to raise funds for Breakthrough Cancer Research.

Denis undertook a similar venture last year on a lesser scale, climbing Carraauntoohill three times on the same day.

Over the June Bank Holiday weekend, from Saturday - Monday, Im taking on the biggest challenge of my life  Ill be climbing Carrauntoohil 15 and a third times over the course of three days, which adds up to the height of Mount Everest measuring 29,031 feet.

That means Ill be going up and down Irelands highest peak again and again until Ive matched the worlds tallest mountain, said Denis.

I was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and I came up with an idea to support research. I am on active surveillance, its working and I wanted to give something back to Breakthrough Cancer Research, he said.

Denis is no stranger to climbs, the keen hiker living close to Clara that overlooks Millstreet makes mountaineering a popular hobby.

As someone affected by cancer, I know how important research is in improving treatments and outcomes. Thats why I want to support the work being done by Breakthrough Cancer Research, he says.

I climbed Carrauntoohil previously to support Breakthrough Cancer Research, but this year I wanted to push myself further and raise even more vital funds for the cause. The charity focuses their work on finding new and better treatments for poor prognosis cancers, so every donation will go directly towards life-saving research, said Denis.

No stranger to hikes, Denis has upped the preparation for the June bank holiday weekend, embarking on the local Clara loop in addition to savouring the climbs to all the well known Kerry such as Carrauntoohil and Mangleton.

The public can support Denis OMahonys latest trek via www.idonate.ie and Deniss Everest in Eire for Breakthrough Cancer Research

Id be so grateful for support, every donation will help fund groundbreaking research and bring hope to people affected by cancer and their families across Ireland, said Denis.
Tattoo artists from all over the world are set to descend on Bundoran later this month for the towns first ever tattoo convention.

Danny McKay from Strabane has been a tattoo artist for 15 years.

His love of art and tattoos has continued to grow over the years and has prompted him to host the first ever Bundoran Tattoo Convention at The Great Northern Hotel on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday May 25 from 10am to 9pm.

The convention will host up to 100 talented artists, some of whom are travelling from all over Ireland and other parts of the world.

Danny said he is looking forward to bringing likeminded people to Bundoran later this month.

There is some people travelling great distances to be there from different parts of America, Italy, France, Spain and all over Ireland.

It is very cool that people are making such an effort to come to the convention.

There will also be live music, live entertainers, face painting and temporary tattoos for the kids and each night there will be an after party.

There will also be competitions for different categories of tattoos too with prizes for first, second and third place, said Danny.

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Danny said his love of art and being creative began at a young age.

He went to university in Liverpool and had a number of tattoos himself when he suddenly had a light bulb moment that being a tattoo artist could be his passion.

I absolutely fell in love with the industry.

Back then it was like one big family and everyone was so welcoming and cool.

I was just mesmerised.

I really just love everything about being a tattoo artist.

No matter what else is going on, as soon as that needle hits the skin for the first time, thats me in the zone.

I am in my happy place, said Danny.

Tattoo artists from all over the world are set to descend on Bundoran later this month for the towns first ever tattoo convention.

Danny explained the Bundoran Tattoo Convention has been in the pipeline for a very long time, but the death of two important people spurred him on to finally host it.

The idea started off with me and some other artists who were going to come together to put it on but it kept getting put off.

Two very important people in my life passed away. They were responsible for a lot of great memories in Bundoran. So after my granny Sheila passed away, I went straight the Great Northern Hotel and set up a meeting.

Since then I have just been organising it all myself, said Danny.

Danny has been travelling to tattoo conventions for years in places all over the world and has met many fantastic artists along the way.

He said it is an honour to have these artists travel to Ireland to help him with his event.

With less than a month to go to the convention, Danny is putting the finishing touches to the weekend.

He said since its launch, there has been a good buzz surrounding the convention.

People are very excited about it.

I have other artists come to me and said everyone is looking forward to it which is great.

I really hope it all goes well and it is a good weekend for the artists and those coming along to the convention, said Danny.

For more information and tickets, visit Bundoran Tattoo Convention on Facebook or Instagram.
Pictured with the Byrne family from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, who won the Tirlan Milk Supplier of the Year award, were Tirlan CEO Sean Molloy, Johns mother Mary Byrne, Mary and John Byrne, Johns father Eamon Byrne, Tirlan Chair John Murphy and Molly Byrne

A Waterford farming family is celebrating this week after being crowned Tirlans Milk Supplier of the Year.

Tirlan, a farmer-owned dairy and grain co-operative, celebrated excellence, innovation, and commitment among its family farm milk suppliers at its Dairy and Sustainability Awards.

John and Mary Byrne from Coolnasmear, Dungarvan, County Waterford were presented with the Milk Supplier of the Year award. John is the fifth generation of his family to farm there and says the family farm is very special to him.

We put huge emphasis on animal health, whether it be the calves or the cows. We try to keep their nutrition right at all times, said John. Grass is number one and we try to get as much quality grass into them as we can. If we dont look after this country and this earth, nobody else is going to. We have to keep things right on farm. The vast majority of farmers are doing that and doing it very well.

A total of sixteen awards were presented across a variety of categories at the awards, from exceptional milk quality and milk solids to environmental stewardship and innovation. The highlight of the event was the announcement of the Byrne family from near Dungarvan in Waterford as Tirlan Milk Supplier of the Year.

Tirlan Milk Supplier of the Year winners John and Mary Byrne, from Dungarvan, Co Waterford

John Murphy, chairperson of Tirlan, congratulated all recipients, saying: 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.

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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 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 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 99pc of Tirlan milk suppliers are signed up to the cooperatives Sustainability Action Payments initiative.
The Consul General of the Embassy of Argentina in Ireland, Mr Juan Taccetti, and Leas Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council. Cllr Ger Carthy, cut the ribbons at the stone during the Kilrane Boys Commemorative on Friday in Kilrane. Pic: Jim Campbell

The dignatories pictured at the stone during the Kilrane Boys Commemorative on Friday in Kilrane. Pic: Jim Campbell

The descendents of the Kilrane Boys pictured at the stone during the Kilrane Boys Commemorative on Friday in Kilrane. Pic: Jim Campbell

Mary Anglim, a direct descendent of JJ's brother Martin, laid a wreath at the stone during the Kilrane Boys Commemorative on Friday in Kilrane. Pic: Jim Campbell

The Consular General from the Argentinian Embassy to Ireland was among those in attendance at a ceremony in Kilrane which remembered 12 men who emigrated from the village in the mid-nineteenth century. Commonly referred to as The Kilrane Boys, their number included John James Murphy, a man who went on to have an Argentinian town named in his honour in the 1960s.

In recognition of those men, and all those who emigrated from the area to Argentina at the time, a special memorial stone has been unveiled in Kilrane. Joined by local representatives, Consular General Mr Juan Taccett attended the ceremony on behalf of the Argentinian Embassy. Flanked by the leas cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council (WCC) Councillor Ger Carthy, he cut the ribbon to officially declare the memorial open to the public.

John Redmond, who has worked in the Irish Embassy in Argentina, addressed the assembled crowd before Paddy Berry recited the Kilrane Boys balled and local historian Micheal Fortune told the story of the brave young men who local families remember with pride.

The cathaoirleach of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) Counsellor Jim Codd congratulated the organising committee on their work before Fr Colm Murphy led the prayers; a wreath was then laid at the stone on behalf of the descendants by Mary Anglim.

"This event was four years coming to fruition but we are confident that the Pathway, as the memorial stone was named by its sculptor, Niall Deacon, will be a memorial to the Kilrane boys for many generations to come, said the organising committee.
Presenter Eamonn Holmes has thanked healthcare staff after revealing he suffered an unexpected fall at his home on Friday.

The GB News broadcaster posted photographs of himself in the back of an ambulance to his Instagram account, alongside a caption thanking the staff for their help following the incident.

"An unexpected journey this morning bit of a fall on the bathroom floor. Gosh it hurts. Thank you ambulance crew, he said.

"Not how I wanted to be spending the holiday weekend, but lifes not easy these days. Thanks to everybody who is looking after me.

In another post on his Instagram account in March this year, Mr Holmes said he was determined to have a life despite the pain associated with a disc immobility issue in his back.

The broadcaster has previously undergone spinal surgery and a double hip replacement. He now struggles walking and uses a mobility scooter.

In the post, the Belfast man hit out at social media haters.

"Even when the sun shines theres pain. Sometimes I feel Ill never beat this disc immobility but Im determined to have a life .. so pray for me, he added.

After the presenters latest fall, he was inundated with support from friends and fans on social media.

It comes after the latest announcement about his new venture alongside co-presenter Paul Coyte.

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The first edition of Things We Like! with Eamonn and Paul was due to take place on March 11 but was axed after last-minute disagreements around logistics.

Last year, the pair originally announced they were going to host a live tour under the same name.

However, the duo dusted themselves off and are set to launch their new project instead; a podcast where they interview high-profile guests.

Earlier this week it was revealed their first guest will be British actor, Sir David Jason.

Speaking about the first episode, Eamonn said: We couldnt be more thrilled to welcome Sir David Jason as our very first guest.

His legacy in British television is unmatched, and his warmth and humour set the perfect tone for what we hope will be a long and exciting journey.

A story on an Instagram page reportedly set up for the podcast (called Things We Like too) revealed that other stars who will join the pair for a chat include Im A Celebrity contestant Barry McGuigan.

The first episode of the podcast is due to drop on May 8. with Holmes continuing to present on GB News from Monday to Wednesday.

The Belfast-born broadcaster and Ruth Langsford shocked fans by announcing their surprise split in May last year after 14 years of marriage.

A joint statement issued at the time by a spokesperson for the former couple - who share one grown-up son - said: "Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing."

Holmes and Langsford worked together for years on ITV's This Morning show and were well known for their affectionate bickering, which often happened right in front of the cameras.
Reform is now the UKs real opposition, claims Nigel Farage after success in local elections

Populist leader said Tories were now toast after his party won a by-election, a mayoralty and control of three councils

Reform UK's Sarah Pochin and party leader Nigel Farage after the party won the seat in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in Cheshire. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Andrew Macaskill Reuters Sat 3 May 2025 at 03:30







Britains right-wing Reform UK party won a vacant parliamentary seat, a mayoralty and control of three councils yesterday in early results from elections its leader Nigel Farage said proved it was now the real opposition.
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.
The internet can be chaotic, but sometimes it goes completely rogue. And Apoorva Mukhija, known to her 20-something fanbase as The Rebel Kid, learned that the hard way after the Indias Got Latent (IGL) fiasco lit social media on fire.

The Indias Got Latent controversy

While most fingers initially pointed at YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia for that problematic remark on the

thats herstory right there.The rebel kid aka apoorva

Could not stop myself frm crying when she said how her parents were harassed her mom's health deteriorated cause of it

All of this just because she answered back a vile man in his own language? What is happening to our country pic.twitter.com/53kvtA2KGS  AgustD || unfiltered version (@insomnia_0201) April 9, 2025

show, a clip featuring Apoorva went viral too, unleashing a level of trolling that would make even the most hardened influencer want to log off forever. But this wasnt just online hate. It was real, raw, and ugly.

Apoorva Makhija aka The Rebel Kid reveals her mom received rape threats

In a recent conversation with Yuvaa, Apoorva pulled back the curtain on just how dark things got. She confessed that while she was busy bracing herself for impact, she had no idea the internet had already found its way to her family. Her mothers public Instagram account became a battleground of venom. Rape threats. Slut shaming. Disgusting DMs.

Apoorva shared that for the first few days, she was just trying to process the hate herself, completely unaware that the storm had reached her own home. When she finally checked in, her brother dropped the bomb: their mums blood pressure had spiked to 180/120, and the comment section? A war zone.

And what did her mum post that triggered the hate brigade? Just a simple comment: Im very proud of my daughter. That was it. No rants, no defences, just love. She then quietly turned off her comments.

Apoorva Makhijas journey post the controversy

Her father, who had always preached the value of keeping dignity intact in society, now had to witness his worst fears come true. Apoorva admitted that she felt like she had shattered her parents trust in one cruel swoop.

But here is the plot twist: she survived. Thanks to a solid inner circle of three ride-or-die friends and a family that refused to let the trolls win, Apoorva bounced back.

Because even when the internet gets toxic, there is still strength in silence, resilience in support, and yes, light at the end of that pitch-black tunnel
The internet is wild, but sometimes it crosses all lines of decencyand this time, Pakistani TikTok sensation Sajal Malik is at the epicentre of the chaos. After an alleged MMS featuring her in an explicit situation went viral, trolls came crawling out of every dark corner of the internet with hate, memes, and moral policing. But guess what? Sajal has finally spoken up, and shes not here for the drama.

Pakistani TikToker Sajal Malik finally reacts to the viral leaked MMS scandal

Calling the video a complete fake, Sajal said the explicit clip is not hers and that the whole scandal has left her mentally haunted. The social media star, known for her bold reels and unapologetic vibe, is now begging the public to stop attaching her name to the leaked footage. In a heartfelt appeal to the media, she said she has had enough of people spreading lies without doing even the bare minimum of fact-checking.

Sajal Maliks statement

This is not just online trollingits character assassination, insiders close to her reported. She believes this is a calculated move to ruin her reputation and silence her voice in the digital world.

Not one to stay silent, Sajal has now taken the legal route and filed a formal complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), demanding a deep-dive into the scandal and the source behind the leak. She is standing firm, saying that she has done nothing wrong and refuses to apologise for a crime she did not commit.

Sajal Malik clarifies it is not a publicity stunt

And for those whispering that its a publicity stunt? Sajal straight-up dismissed that too, making it clear she does not need a fake scandal to gain followersher vibe already has the masses hooked.

This is not the first time a Pakistani influencer has been dragged into a fake MMS drama. Remember Imsha Rehman and Minahil Malik? Yeah, they were also targeted in what some are now calling a deepfake epidemic sweeping through South Asias digital scene.

Sajal Maliks fans react

Sajal's fans are rallying behind her, demanding justice and calling out the culture of shaming women online. One things for surethe internet may be quick to cancel, but this Rebel Queen is not backing down without a fight.
Braun Strowman, one of the popular names in the world of professional wrestling, was released from the WWE a few hours ago much to the shock of his ardent fans. This brought his second stint with the promotion, which started in 2022, to an end. He had previously worked with the company from 2015 to 2021. The Monster of Monsters earned the love and respect of the WWE Universe with his strong in-ring and willingness to put over other wrestlers. Here is a look at why he will be missed.

Braun Strowman made a menacing heel

Strowman made his WWE debut nearly a decade ago as The Black Sheep of the Wyatt Family and soon emerged as a monster heel. He initially squashed local talent in short matches and proved his mettle as a monster heel. His imposing physique and intense body language made these beatdowns look believable, which is the hallmark of good pro-wrestling. He in particular shared good chemistry with James Ellsworth during this time.

Strowman could hang with the big guys

Strowman accomplished what few have when he feuded with Roman Reigns during 2017 and scored a win over him. The big guy also put on brutal matches with the likes of Big Show and Brock Lesnar, proving that he could hang with A-list stars.

Interestingly, he was cheered during his rivalry with the then Big Dog despite being the villain. Strowman also added another feather to his cap when he beat the legendary Goldberg at WrestleMania 36 in 2020. He replaced Reigns in the match after due to medical reasons.

He gave back to the company

Braun Strowman was a true company guy who played an instrumental role in helping a couple of fast-rising superstars find a foothold in the industry. The Last Monster Standing match with Bronson Reed is a shining example of his commitment to fostering young talent. Strowman sold his offence with conviction, making him look like a legitimate threat.

Strowman also did the same for Jacob Fatu. This feud established The Samoan Werewolf as a freak of nature and eventually paved the way for him to beat LA Knight for the US title at WrestleMania 41.

Interestingly, apart from Braun Strowman the likes of Dakota Kai and Eddy Thorpe too were released as part of these cuts.

For all the latest coverage on WWE, track updates here
In a year heavy with throwbacks, few are hitting as hardor as euphoricallyas the 25th anniversary celebration of Kevin & Perry Go Large. On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Londons Ministry of Sound transforms into an all-out trance temple to honor the cult comedy that defined a generations introduction to club culture. Running from 2pm to []

Hit Channel
Greek Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates airline on Friday, aiming to strengthen ties in the tourism sector between Greece and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The signing took place during the Arabian Travel Market

The agreement, co-signed by Thierry Aucoc, Emirates Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for Europe and the Americas, introduces a new development pillar centered on sustainability and the extension of the tourist season.

It seeks to bolster the strategic partnership between Greece and the UAE in the vital field of tourism.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, Ms. Kefalogianni also met with Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, marking a step toward deepening bilateral collaboration and unlocking new opportunities for tourism development.

   iefimerida.gr
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has convened a closed-door meeting at the Maximos Mansion for Saturday following a violent raid by masked individuals at the Athens Law School earlier this week.

Government sources confirmed that the meeting will focus on

reviewing campus security measures nationwide.

Participants will include key government officials such as Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki, Deputy Minister for Higher Education Nikos Papaioannou, and Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, along with close aides to the prime minister.

Government officials have condemned the attack as beyond unacceptable, expressing full confidence in the Hellenic Police (ELAS) to identify and swiftly arrest the perpetrators.

We trust ELAS to once again bring those responsible to justice under the strict legal framework already in place, a senior official said.

The government highlighted steps taken since 2019 to combat lawlessness on university campuses, including the abolition of the so-called asylum for illegality, which had previously restricted police access to university grounds.

Since then, dozens of squat clearances and interventions have taken place, with no active campus occupations currently reported.

However, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis acknowledged shortcomings in the implementation of the university police force, admitting in a Saturday morning interview that the initiative did not succeed and was flawed in its design. Lets be honest  it wasnt the right model. Regular police need to handle such cases, Mr. Marinakis said.

He also proposed stricter disciplinary measures for students involved in violent acts.

A student actively participating in criminal activity should not be allowed to continue studying. Beyond criminal charges, there must be academic consequences as well, he stated.

As part of this new approach, the government is urging university administrations to take greater responsibility by implementing formal safety protocols in coordination with the police.

   iefimerida.gr
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan have met informally in Istanbul, in a surprise diplomatic contact that was not publicly disclosed beforehand, Greek diplomatic sources confirmed.

The dinner took place at Mr. Fidans invitation and represents the latest effort to maintain open communication between Athens

and Ankara amid renewed strains in their bilateral relations.

While no official agenda was released, the meeting occurred at a sensitive time.

Tensions have recently risen following Greeces announcement of new maritime spatial planning initiatives, a move Turkey has condemned as unilateral and provocative.

Mr. Fidan had previously warned against any fait accompli in Cyprus, the Aegean Sea, or the Eastern Mediterranean.

Another point of contention is the delayed GreeceCyprusIsrael electricity interconnection project. This undersea cable initiative, once considered a strategic energy link in the region, has recently stalled due to geopolitical complications.

Despite the informal nature of the dinner, its timing underscores the persistent fragility in Greek-Turkish relations and the importance both countries place on maintaining channels for dialogue.

   iefimerida.gr
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias held his first telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Friday.

During my first phone call with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, we discussed strategic defense relations, as well as our mutual

regional and international security challenges, Mr. Dendias wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter

According to reports, the conversation took place in a positive atmosphere, with the two defense ministers focusing on bilateral relations, global developments, and ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

A key focus of the discussion was the deepening of the strategic partnership between Greece and the United States. The Greece-US Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2021, is officially set to expire in 2027, but both sides appear interested in renewing the pact.

Meanwhile, Athens has also placed additional bilateral issues on the agenda, including matters related to defense procurement.

   iefimerida.gr
Greeces Competition Commission conducted a surprise raid on April 30 at a private education company as part of an ongoing investigation into possible price-fixing practices within the tutoring sector, the authority announced.

The unannounced inspection was part of a broader inquiry into potential vertical agreements  arrangements between companies

at different levels of the supply chain that could restrict competition.

In a statement, the commission clarified that such inspections do not imply any wrongdoing has occurred or that the company involved has engaged in anti-competitive behavior.

The findings of the investigation are pending.

The tutoring services market represents a significant portion of household spending in Greece. A recent study cited by the authority revealed that in 2023, spending on general education tutoring accounted for 16.2% of household education-related expenses and 0.7% of total private consumption.

These expenditures surged by approximately 35% between 2021 and 2023, indicating a sharp rise in cost pressures on Greek families.

The Competition Commission, established under Law 3959/2011, is tasked with safeguarding free market operations and enforcing competition rules, including those under Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

The inspection occurs amid increased political focus on the cost of education, with Syriza and Pasok accusing the government of failing to regulate private tutoring centers, which many consider essential due to shortcomings in public education.

   iefimerida.gr
The case of the alleged spy arrested in Alexandroupoli has taken a significant turn, with new intelligence suggesting ties to Russias military intelligence agency, the GRU, and possible sabotage operations in the Balkans.

The 59-year-old ethnic Greek from Georgia, who was apprehended near a military

zone by the Evros border fence while allegedly filming military cargo movements, has been formally remanded in custody.

Greek authorities report that he was working under the direction of a Russian handler codenamed Vicentios, also of Georgian origin, who was tracked and detained in Lithuania.

Greek intelligence (EYP) had reportedly been monitoring the handler since last summer.

According to officials, Vicentios had been involved in covert GRU sabotage missions across Balkan states over the past three years, indicating he was not only a recruiter but also an active operative.

Initially, the suspect reportedly admitted during police questioning that he was working for Russian intelligence.

However, during his formal testimony before the examining magistrate, he reversed his statement, denying all charges.

He claimed he never referred to Mother Russia and denied ever confessing to espionage.

Legal proceedings are now underway to determine the specific charges he will face. According to local media, the most likely scenario is prosecution for peacetime espionage, a charge that carries a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years under Greek law.

The case unfolds at a time of heightened regional security concerns and increased scrutiny of foreign intelligence activity in Greece.

   iefimerida.gr
One of the most notable revisions involves reducing the mandatory fill level for gas storage from 90% to 83%, to be achieved annually between October 1 and December 1.

The European Parliament is poised to support a proposal aimed at injecting greater flexibility into the European

Unions natural gas storage rules , a move designed to curb price volatility and market speculation ahead of the coming winter. The initiative set to be voted on during the plenary session in Strasbourg from May 5 to 8, stems from a legislative draft already endorsed by the Parliaments Industry, Research and Energy Committee.

At its core, the proposal seeks to extend and revise the existing EU regulation on gas storage, which was introduced in 2022 in response to the energy crisis triggered by Russias invasion of Ukraine. The regulation mandates member states to ensure minimum levels of gas storage as a safeguard against supply shocks. Without further action, the current framework will expire at the end of 2025. The new plan proposes a two-year extension, through December 31, 2027, as part of a broader strategy to reinforce the EUs energy security and stabilize the gas market across member states.

One of the most notable revisions involves reducing the mandatory fill level for gas storage from 90% to 83%, to be achieved annually between October 1 and December 1. The aim is to avoid artificial market pressure and speculative price hikes caused by rushed efforts to fill storage facilities by a fixed deadline. Lawmakers believe this more relaxed target will offer a better balance between energy preparedness and economic efficiency, helping to protect consumers and industries from unnecessary cost spikes.

The proposed changes also introduce mechanisms for flexibility in times of crisis. EU countries could be permitted to fall short of the target by up to four percentage points during periods of exceptional demand or supply disruption. Under special circumstances, the European Commission would have the authority to approve an additional deviation of up to four points, provided that storage levels do not fall below the critical threshold of 75%.

For Greece, a country with limited underground storage capacity, the implications are particularly significant. Unlike countries with large domestic storage infrastructure, Greece depends on interconnected systems, such as the Revithoussa LNG terminal near Athens and gas storage facilities in neighboring states. These regional arrangements allow Greece to meet its EU storage obligations, but often at a higher logistical and financial cost. The added flexibility proposed by the European Parliament would enable Greece to fulfill its responsibilities more efficiently and at a lower burden, especially in a high-price environment.

Moreover, by easing the urgency to rapidly fill storage facilities, the proposal could help reduce the price pressure that typically arises during peak summer refill periods. This could lead to more stable or even lower gas prices heading into winteran outcome that would benefit both Greek households and the countrys energy-intensive industries, for which fuel costs are a central factor in competitiveness.

Importantly, the flexibility to deviate from strict storage targets would also enhance Greeces ability to respond to sudden disruptions in supply, whether from LNG-exporting countries or via pipeline. With winter demand spikes and geopolitical uncertainty continuing to pose risks, this capability could prove crucial.

#GREECE
The timing of Greeces long-overdue move is particularly striking given that the European Union is already preparing to go a step further.

As the European Union sharpens its tools to protect member states from potential security

threats posed by foreign investments, Greece remains the last to implement the blocs regulatory frameworkfive years after it was introduced. While most EU countries have already adopted mechanisms to screen foreign direct investments (FDI) in sensitive sectors, Greece is only now beginning to align itself with Regulation (EU) 2019/452, placing it at the institutional tail end of the Union in this critical area of economic security

The regulation, in force since October 2020, encourages member states to monitor foreign investments that may threaten public order or national security, particularly in sectors such as energy, transport, technology, and defense. It also fosters cooperation between EU governments, allowing them to share intelligence and flag concerns over suspicious transactions. Yet, until recently, Greece had no national mechanism to assess such risks, leaving its strategic infrastructure and assets more vulnerable to potentially non-transparent or state-backed foreign investment activity.

Now, after years of delay, the Greek government has submitted a draft law for public consultation to finally put the 2019 EU rules into national legislation. The consultation period ended on April 17, but it remains unclear when the bill will be brought before Parliament for a vote. Once enacted, the law will establish a national screening body responsible for evaluating foreign investments on grounds of national security and public interest. Although the EU regulation does not require each member state to establish such a mechanism, it strongly recommends doing so to ensure a coordinated defense across the bloc.

The timing of Greeces long-overdue move is particularly striking given that the European Union is already preparing to go a step further. Next week, the European Parliament is expected to vote on a new proposal that would significantly strengthen the existing FDI screening system. The revised framework would make checks mandatory in key sectors such as media, critical raw materials, and transport infrastructure, where outside influence could compromise public trust or disrupt essential services. If passed, this proposal will expand the European Commissions role, giving it authority to intervene in cases where a foreign investment raises cross-border concerns or when member states disagree on the security implications of a specific deal.

In effect, the EU is debating how to future-proof its defenses, while Greece is only beginning to build its basic safeguards. This legislative gap has raised concerns among policy analysts and EU officials alike, who view the lack of a Greek screening mechanism as a structural weakness in Europes collective resilience. As other EU nations coordinate more closely and develop unified protocols for vetting foreign capital, Greeces absence from that framework risks creating a backdoor for investments that may otherwise face scrutiny elsewhere in the Union.

The planned Greek screening mechanism will apply to both individual and institutional investors and will involve public bodies that oversee investment approvals and monitoring. By aligning itself with EU standards, Greece hopes to close a regulatory loophole that has left key sectors exposed. However, the broader context is shifting quickly. With the upcoming vote in Strasbourg on May 8, the European Parliament is likely to endorse stricter, binding rules that raise the bar for all member states. This means that even before Greece completes its delayed compliance with the 2019 regulation, it may soon need to adjust again to meet a new, more rigorous EU-wide standard.

#GREECE
The Predator case, now unfolding at the Athens Court of First Instance, involves executives from the companies Intellexa and Krikel, which are accused of facilitating the use of the illegal spyware.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is closely monitoring the ongoing judicial proceedings in Greece related to the use of the Predator spyware, expressing serious concerns about the limited scope of the investigation and its implications for press freedom.

In its 2025 World Press Freedom Index, RSF ranks Greece 89th globally and last in the European Union, citing systemic issues in media independence, unresolved attacks against journalists, and a judiciary that has largely focused on private companies rather than state accountability.

The Predator case, now unfolding at the Athens Court of First Instance, involves executives from the companies Intellexa and Krikel, which are accused of facilitating the use of the illegal spyware. However, RSF and other press freedom organizations have pointed out that the investigation has conspicuously excluded the National Intelligence Service (EYP)  the agency that reportedly deployed Predator against journalists, politicians, and civil society members.

"New laws passed by Parliament in response to the Predatorgate wiretapping scandal are meant to better protect citizens against arbitrary surveillance but fall short of European standards, and the Supreme Court cleared the National Intelligence Service (EYP) of its involvement in the scandal," RSF stated in its annual report published on Friday.

Greeces press freedom has been in systemic crisis since 2021, RSF notes, referencing both the spyware scandal and the still-unsolved murder of investigative journalist Giorgos Karaivaz. SLAPP lawsuits, censorship pressures, and violence against reporters continue to erode media integrity and public trust.

The high-profile trial concerning the illegal use of the Predator spyware in Greece is set to resume on May 19, following a court-ordered suspension to allow the translation of key legal documents for non-Greek-speaking defendants.

The major question is whether Tal Dilian, the owner of Intellexa, and his wife Sara Hamou  both of whom have been placed under international sanctions by the United States  will acknowledge that they sold Predator to the Greek government. This would align with a strategy increasingly adopted by spyware vendors such as Paragon and NSO, who claim that they are not responsible for the misuse of their software by state clients that have targeted journalists and members of civil society.

#GREECE
Prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights advocate Deji Adeyanju has declared his intention to take legal action against Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).

He accused the financial institution of being complicit in the recent arrest and alleged mistreatment of social media activist VeryDarkMan and his associate, C-Park.

In a post shared via his Facebook page on Saturday, Adeyanju expressed outrage over the banks alleged role in the incident and announced plans to end his banking relationship with GTBank.

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Once I get back to Nigeria on Tuesday, I will transfer all my money from GTB to another bank and close the account. Both in my Naira and Domiciliary accounts, he stated. There must be consequence for bad behavior. And we will still sue the bank for the role they played in the arrest & inhumane treatment of VDM and his friend, C-Park.

READ MORE: EFCC Accused Of Withholding Medical Aid For Nabbed VeryDarkMan

While details about the banks specific involvement have yet to be clarified, Adeyanjus remarks suggest he believes GTBank played a facilitating role in what he describes as a rights violation.

VeryDarkMan, known for his controversial commentary and digital activism, was recently detained in a case that has drawn public attention and sparked a fresh wave of online discourse around freedom of expression and due process in Nigeria.

As of press time, GTBank has not publicly responded to the allegations or the planned lawsuit.

SEE POST:
Some angry women at a venue of the Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment programme, organized by First Lady of Nigeria, Remi Tinubu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, staged a walkout while the event was ongoing.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the event, which held on Friday, was aimed at distributing empowerment items to 500 women across the state in partnership with the office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals.

The angry women insisted that wife of Governor Sim Fubara, should address them rather than the wife of the states administrator, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

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Expecting the physical presence of the First Lady, the women, many dressed in traditional double wrapper, gathered in anticipation.

READ MORE: Abuja Lawyers Protest Emergency Rule In Rivers, Seek Donald Trumps Intervention

However, tension rose when Dr Theresa Ibas, wife of the State Sole Administrator, was invited to address the crowd in place of Tinubu.

The women began chanting, saying: We want SIM! and We want Valerie Fubara. We dont know Ibas. Tinunu is our President, and our governor is Sim Fubara.

While the protest continued outside the venue, the programme proceeded peacefully indoors, with the administrators wife delivering the speech on behalf of the Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

She said: These tools are designed to help our women establish and grow successful businesses, contributing to the nations prosperity.

This program reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable developmentparticularly for women.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has quashed rumors that former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and other prominent members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) may leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing the speculation in Lafia on Friday, Sule firmly denied claims that the CPC bloc was being sidelined by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He asserted that those attempting to create division within the party have failed. Sule emphasised the loyalty of key figures like Buhari, stating that the former president remains integral to the party.

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READ MORE: https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/dont-seek-re-election-mentor-successor-instead-baba-ahmed-to-tinubu.html

He also reassured party members about the commitment of influential figures, including Malami, to APC, despite recent rumors suggesting otherwise.

There is nothing like taking CPC away. Our father, former President Muhammadu Buhari is CPC, no other person, Sule remarked. 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 further explained that Buhari, with his large base of 12 million voters, would not leave the party.

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, Sule added.

The governor also highlighted a recent visit to Buhari in Kaduna, reassuring the former president that his place in the APC is secure.
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of dishonesty over rumours surrounding his alleged move to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

The party claimed that Adeleke did make attempts to switch allegiance but was rejected after being told he would not be handed an automatic ticket for the governorship race.

Kola Olabisi, Director of Media and Information for the Osun APC, said Adeleke misled top PDP stakeholders at a recent meeting where he denied ever considering a defection.

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READ MORE: https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/well-secure-forests-restore-peace-to-north-west-tinubu-vows.html

The party, however, maintains that his efforts were serious and supported by some prominent individuals from the South-West region and wealthy allies.

A notable visit to Chief Bisi Akande in Ibadan was referenced as a sign of Adelekes desperation to secure entry into the ruling party.

The APC suggested that Adeleke was eyeing a more stable platform due to internal challenges in the PDP and the need to secure his political future.

In a statement released on Saturday, the party said, We congratulate the forward-looking members and supporters of our party that God Almighty was magnanimous enough to have divinely blocked the aspired defection of Governor Adeleke into our party which could have caused untold friction, lack of cohesion, disunity and schisms of an unimaginable dimension.

They further challenged Adelekes claims of popularity, describing his administration as underwhelming and incapable of inspiring confidence, as seen in the growing number of defections from the PDP to the opposition.

The APC concluded by warning the governor to retract his false claims or risk further exposure of the details surrounding his failed defection plans.
American music mogul and entrepreneur Sean Diddy Combs has declined a plea offer from U.S. federal prosecutors, choosing instead to face trial on serious criminal charges.

During a court hearing on Thursday, Combsalso widely recognized as P. Diddyconfirmed to Judge Arun Subramanian that he was turning down the proposed deal that could have significantly reduced his potential prison sentence. When asked directly by the judge if he was rejecting the plea, Combs replied, Yes, I do, Your Honour.

His trial is set to begin Monday, starting with jury selection. He is facing multiple felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and prostitution. Prosecutors allege that Combs organized coercive sexual encounters, which he allegedly called freak-offs.

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READ MORE: Afrobeats Started With Us In Nigeria  Akon Asserts

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey noted that the plea deal would have spared Combs a lengthy prison term. A full conviction on all charges, however, may carry a sentence equivalent to life imprisonment.

Dressed in a beige jail outfit, Combs appeared composed in courtsharing smiles, embracing his defense attorneys, and giving a fist bump to one of his lawyers, Teny Geragos.

During the hearing, Geragos raised an objection to public remarks made by attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents at least two of Combs civil accusers and recently spoke in a documentary.

Were concerned with her behaviour here, Geragos said.

In response, Judge Subramanian assured the courtroom that he would remind all attorneys and witnesses involved to follow professional conduct and avoid public commentary that could compromise the fairness of the proceedings.
Operatives of Edo State Police Command have arrested 95 suspected cult members during some operations across various parts of the state.

It was gathered that the suspects were members of the notorious Maphites, Eiye, and Aye confraternities, disturbing the peace of the state.

In a statement on Friday by the Commands Spokesman, Moses Yamu, disclosed that 64 of the suspects have already been charged to court and remanded in custody.

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He added that the arrested individuals were arrested in sustained intelligence-driven raids of their enclaves in Benin City and environs for the past week.

READ MORE: Vigilante Killed As Edo Police Rescue Six From Kidnappers Dens

Moses said: For the past week, Edo Police Nigeria Police arrested 95 suspected cultists. 64 of the suspects were charged to court today and remanded, while investigation is ongoing.

1 single barrel shotgun, 2 locally made pistols, and 24 cartridges were recovered. These groups destroy futures and end lives, both of members and innocent citizens.
The brother of popular social media personality, VeryDarkMan (VDM), has spoken out following his recent arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

VDM was reportedly picked up at a GTBank branch after accompanying his mother to file a complaint about suspicious deductions from her bank account. His sudden detention has drawn widespread attention online.

Providing an update through Instagram on Friday, VDMs brother claimed that the activist and one of his associates were injured during the arrest and have since been denied medical attention while in custody.

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READ MORE: VeryDarkMan Arrested At GTBank Branch After Exposing Unauthorized Deductions From Mothers Account

Weve gone through the necessary channels. They have refused to let VDM and the other go or get treated because information reaching us was that they were badly injured, he said in the clip.

He went on to question the intentions behind the EFCCs actions, expressing frustration over the ongoing situation.

I dont know the agenda EFCC has against VDM. But whatever this is, GTBank and the EFCC know how this will end, he added.

As of press time, no official response has been issued by either GTBank or the EFCC regarding the arrest or the allegations made by VDMs family.
President Bola Tinubu has issued warning to individuals or groups seeking to destabilise Nigeria, saying that the country will not bow to fear, terror, or treachery.

Tinubu led this out on Friday, during a morale-boosting visit to frontline troops in Katsina State.

The Former governor of Lagos State emphasised that those who threaten Nigeria whether internal collaborators or external adversaries will not succeed in undermining the nations resolve.

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He added that any attempt by any terror group to set the country on fire will be resisted by security agencies.

He said: 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.

READ MORE: Hunters Seek FGs Physical, Spiritual Support Against Insecurity

You are 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.

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.

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.

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.

You, the Nigerian military, are the spearhead of this fight. With your valour and discipline, peace shall prevail.President Bola Tinubu has issued warning to individuals or groups seeking to destabilise Nigeria, saying that the country will not bow to fear, terror, or treachery.
Operatives of Niger State Police Command have arrested two suspected thieves for allegedly stealing a 35 inches plasma TV, one remote control, and two aluminum pots.

In a statement on Friday by the Commands Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that the arrested individuals were apprehended on the 30th of April, 2025, in the Brighter area of Minna.

According to him, the suspects allegedly broke into a house through a window and stole the TV, with remote control, and two aluminium pots, which they concealed in sack bags.

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The statement reads: In furtherance to the Commands efforts to reduce crime and criminality, on 30th April, 2025 at about 1145hrs, Police operatives attached to Chanchaga Div arrested Musa Audu 43yrs, Abdullahi Garba 45yrs, both of Kwangila area of Minna.

READ MORE: Niger Police Apprehend Two Suspects For Conspiracy, Theft

The suspects reportedly broke into a residence within Brighter area when the occupants were not around. They broke into the house through the window burglary and stole one 35 Plasma TV and a remote, and two aluminium pots.

The items were concealed in sack bags, and suspects were later arrested with the help of the community members. They are under investigation in Chanchaga Div and will be arraigned in court for prosecution as soon as possible.
The Ondo State Police Command has rescued 20 individuals who were held hostage by a Ponzi scheme syndicate in Oba-Ile, located in Akure North Local Government Area.

While parading the suspects on Friday in Akure, the state capital, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, announced that officers had also arrested a suspect, Sakariya Sadiq, in connection with the crime.

Afolabi stated that the victims were deceived into joining a Ponzi scheme known as Quest International Company with false promises of earning profits.

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READ MORE: Ondo Hotel Engulfed In Fire, Properties Worth Millions Of Naira Lost

He explained that the victims were later asked to pay N1.5 million each and were required to refer two other individuals to the scheme as a condition for membership. After meeting these demands, they were cut off from contact with their families.

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, the statement reads.

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 Rafiu Kehinde; Adebayo Nafisat; Mohammed Aishat; Jesujuwon Osuntoki; Mustapha Gbolahan; ibukun Samuel; Gbolahan Wasiu; Aminu Ifasina; Mohammed Sheifff; Adebayo Rohemat; Saheed Ibrahim; Ibrahim Adebayo; Adebayo Sukurat; Olawoyi Wasilat; Sholagberu Shakirat; Adeyemi Skukurat; Basari Saadiqq; Raji Taofeek.

Afolabi also revealed that the command arrested one Oyebode Oluwakemi for allegedly defrauding victims of N250 million under the pretense of offering them government employment.

The commissioner of police added that operatives had arrested two suspected armed robbers accused of stealing building materials and home appliances in various parts of the state.

He further disclosed that a suspect, Ayodele Temitope, was also arrested for allegedly stealing a vehicle in the state.

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, 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).

On the 15th of April, 2025, at about 0400hrs, operatives of the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) of the Command on a tip off arrested two (2) suspected armed robbers, namely, Dele Jacob M aged 38yrs and Idowu Dada M aged 35yrs, that specialized in stealing building materials and home appliances across the state.

The notable achievements recorded within the past monthsranging from the recovery of stolen vehicles, dismantling of armed robbery and burglary syndicates, busting of transnational fraud operations, arrests of cultists and kidnappers, to the rescue of victims held against their willare a testament to our robust security strategies, intelligence-driven operations, and the dedication of our gallant officers and men.
Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee, has declared that Labour Party, will not be part of any opposition groups, coming together to form coalition against President Bola Tinubu in 2027 general election.

Speaking in a communique after the partys NEC meeting in Abuja on Friday, Abure said that LP would rather focus on rebuilding and reconciling aggrieved members.

There are claims that Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, was willing to work with former LPs presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

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Reacting to the development on Friday, Mr. Abure noted that disciplinary committee will be set up to investigate complaints of anti-party activities in LP.

READ MORE: Labour Party Has Been Retrieved from Abures Control  Gov Otti

He said: NEC declared that the party is not and will not be part of any coalition towards the 2027 General Election.

The party will rather continue to rebuild, reposition, re-strategise, reconcile, strengthen, drive its programs and policies, win more members towards winning the 2027 General Elections.

NEC expressed its commitment to continue to seek peace and reconciliation within the ranks of the Party and again extends an olive branch to all aggrieved members of the party to sheath their swords in the overall interest of the Party and our dear Nation.

NEC reiterated its belief in the Nations Democracy and the partys commitment to its growth and deepening as the only means to national development.
Operatives of Nigeria Police Force have rescued two kidnapped Ghanaian nationals and arrested some suspects, operating across international borders.

It was gathered that the development is coming, following a report filed with the National Central Bureau in Abuja on April 27, 2025, over the kidnap of one Anastasia Arthur aka Baidoo, a 48-year-old Ghanaian national.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Force Spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday, revealing that initial investigations revealed that Baidoos abduction stemmed from a sophisticated Facebook love scam.

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Adejobi added that advanced technical analysis provided a lead to a key location connected to the perpetrators, and operatives were deployed for immediate action.

He said that working in close collaboration with the Ghanaian police service, the IRT operatives identified a criminal syndicate with members operating in both Ghana and Nigeria.

READ MORE: Police Arrest Two Suspected Kidnappers, Recover Weapons, Stolen Motorcycle In Anambra

Adejobi said: Key breakthroughs in the investigation included the arrest of one Emeka Christian, a 27-year-old Nigerian residing in Bolgatanga, Upper Eastern Ghana, who confessed to receiving GH10,000 cedis as ransom money for the victim through his Ghanaian mobile account.

He further admitted to transferring the naira equivalent to a Nigerian bank account belonging to one Peter Okoye.

The suspect was apprehended along with members of his syndicate: Paulinus Chidokwe, 35, and Chinonso Okafor, 35. Two Ghanaian women, Ms. Anastasia Arthur aka Baidoo and Amaseerwaa Konadu, who were victims of these abductors, were rescued in the process.
At least four persons have been killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen in Apkete community, Apa Local Government Area, of Benue State.

It was gathered that the criminal elements also injured several villagers, while many have been declared missing.

Addressing newsmen on Friday, Apa Local Government Council Chairman, Adams Ochega, said that the attack which happened on Thursday, was unprovoked.

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Ochega said: We never had a problem with Fulanis; they just attacked the village and killed four people.

Some people were wounded, and some have not been found. From my findings, the Akpete people had no problems with them at all.

READ MORE: Unknown Gunmen Kidnap 14 Travellers In Benue

The sad event started around 5 pm and 6 pm when I left a meeting and started hearing that there were gunshots in the community.

I began to call the area, but the network was bad; it was around 7 pm that I got through. But I got across to the soldiers stationed at Ikobi.

Before I could even reach them, they were already in the community, but the people had attacked and run away when they got there.
A major incident was narrowly avoided on Friday when a passenger train derailed along the AbeokutaOdedaIbadan Highway, nearly colliding with several traders and customers in the vicinity.

The derailment caused the closure of the busy road, leading to significant traffic disruptions.

Eyewitnesses, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH, reported that the train went off track at Kila, just inches away from hitting the crowded roadside stalls.

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READ MORE: Police Arrest Two Suspected Kidnappers, Recover Weapons, Stolen Motorcycle In Anambra

It was a close call. If the train had veered slightly more, many of us would have been crushed, one of the traders shared.

As of press time, the cause of the derailment remains unclear, but authorities stepped in to manage the resulting traffic congestion.

The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) advised motorists, especially those traveling through the area, to avoid the affected route and use alternative routes such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In a statement from TRACE spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, the agency confirmed it is working with the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to clear the obstruction and restore normal traffic flow.

Akinbiyi said, In view of the blockage of the Abeokuta-Odeda-Ibadan Highway caused by a train at Kila, motorists are advised to take alternative routes. TRACE, the Police, and FRSC are in liaison with the NRC to resolve the situation.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has shared an artificial intelligence-generated image showing him dressed as Pope.

Trump shared the image on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday.

The image, which has received more than 12,000 reactions, was also reshared by the White Houses official X account.

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READ MORE: Diddy Opts For Trial After Rejecting Plea Deal In Racketeering, Sex Trafficking Case

Francis Bergoglio, who served as the last Pope of the Catholic Church, died on April 21, 2025, after battling a long-term illness.

The conclave to choose a new Pope is set to commence on May 7. Only cardinals below the age of 80 are permitted to vote, with 135 eligible electors drawn from a total of more than 252 cardinals.

During a recent interaction with reporters, Trump jokingly mentioned that he would be interested in becoming the new leader of the Catholic Church.

I would like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice, he said.

When asked for more details, Trump stated that he had no preference, but suggested that a New York cardinal from the U.S. could be a strong candidate for the position.

SEE BELOW:
Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, on Friday responded to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, accusing him of betrayal and misrepresenting the partys leadership.

Speaking to newsmen after an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, Abure reminded Otti that his rise to power was only possible because of the Labour Partys support and sacrifices.

Otti had earlier claimed, Weve taken back control of the Labour Party. Abure is just holding onto leadership.

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Abure hit back, saying, We made Otti governor. We made sacrifices to support him. Now he distorts the truth.

Abure also condemned Ottis language, calling it disrespectful. Its not just the lies, but his choice of words. Great men are known for their wisdom, not vulgarity.

He explained that the Supreme Court ruling referenced by Otti reaffirmed that leadership matters within political parties are governed by their constitutions.

The ruling made it clear: the partys constitution is supreme, Abure said.

He further criticized Otti for presenting the court ruling to INEC, calling it an unnecessary move to intimidate the commission.

Otti reducing himself to carrying court papers to INEC is shameful, Abure added.

Abure concluded by distancing the party from Ottis actions, saying, Otti no longer represents the values we stand for. This isnt the leadership we promised Nigerians.
BalletX journeyed toward enlightenment in the world premiere of Jennifer Archibalds Maslows Peak Friday night at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, opening the Manns season.

The company also reached a new peak with this Lord of the Flies-inspired ballet. It looked like a different troupe, ready for much bigger stages than the intimate Suzanne Roberts Theater it performs in most of the year.

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Not only did it captivate the large space at the Mann (which seats 13,000, including the lawn), but it seamlessly took on many layers of dance and presentation.

The company has been preparing for this piece for 18 months (while still rehearsing for and performing other work). But it also displays new skills not previously unveiled. For example, BalletX is up to 16 dancers (from last years 14) and most did not have experience with aerial work. Yet it is featured throughout the evening-length ballet.

There are many risks taken throughout the piece. The dancers climb up and jump off a large rock. They work on an airplane wing turned slide. They perform fast, difficult partnering.

 READ MORE: BalletXs Maslows Peak promises a ballet of ropes, rocks, and birdsong

There are elements of a Broadway show or Cirque du Soleil, but the piece is fully grounded in BalletXs genre, and the dancers move constantly. Most of the steps are ballet and contemporary dance-based, although there are also backspins and other elements of hip-hop dance as well as cartwheels and handsprings.

There is a battle scene that had a whiff of the one in The Nutcracker. In Maslows Peak, the dancers each wield a long spear and perform in synchronized formation (presumably because their characters went to military school) before fighting each other.

Emily Morgans costumes are also based on their school. They represent pieces of the uniform that get torn and stripped down over time. The dancers also perform in socks and kneepads, which are both functional and part of the look.

If youre expecting a retelling of Lord of the Flies, Maslows Peak was never planned as a full-out story ballet. But the narrative is even looser than I expected, especially considering a dramaturge (Kate Mattingly) was involved. If you didnt know the novel, you probably will not tease out the plot, which is about a group of British schoolboys stranded on a desert island after a plane crash.

But the themes were what Archibald was after, and they are strong: fear, conflict, domination, and trying to find a way to coexist despite all that. (These themes still resonate strongly today, Archibald says in the program notes.)

The staging is as impressive as the dance. Set against a soundscape Archibald assembled of nature sounds, cello music, and percussion, the stage featured the aforementioned large rock and airplane wing, as well as nearly 200 ropes hanging from the rafters that gave it a jungle ambience (all designed by Guy de Lancey and built by Proof Productions in Sewall, N.J.). Sometimes the dancers swung on the apparatus. Sometimes the vines dance along on their own.

 READ MORE: BalletXs Maslows Peak promises a spectacular Lord of the Flies ballet

De Lancey also designed the projections, which play throughout the piece. The light changes as the days pass, and there are jungle scenes, a large eye watching the characters every move, and a naval officer. (William Golding was in the British Navy during World War II, and his novel reflects his experiences.)

Two of the dancers represent the main characters, Jack and Ralph (Jared Kelly and Jerard Palazzo, respectively), but all of the dancers become the lord of the flies in the second act, donning masks. Indeed, while there are solos and duets, it is almost entirely a group piece.

Maslows Peak was planned for only a two-day run at the Mann. It needs a large stage and a big commitment. But it deserves to be seen again.

BalletX in Maslows Peak. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, $25, 215-225-5389 x250 or boxoffice@balletx.org
Coauthors Molly Lester and Michael Bixler outside a building ghost at 830 N. Fourth St. in Philadelphia that's one of those included in their new book Building Ghosts  Past Lives and Lost Places in a Changing City." Read more

All thats left of 2716 N. 12th St. in North Philadelphia are sun-bleached rectangles of plaster clinging to the party wall of an adjacent house that still stands.

Traces of stairways, shelving, joists, and tilework overlook demolition sites in the citys older neighborhoods  like illustrations for a story about depopulation, disinvestment, mass demolition, and loss.

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The story of a tenant named Elizabeth Cornog at 2716 N. 12th also had been lost until the 2024 publication of Building Ghosts by Temple University Press. Cornogs is among several dozen vignettes in the book about some of the people who lived in what are now empty spaces.

The authors will speak May 12 at the Philadelphia City Institute at 19th and Locust on Rittenhouse Square.

Written by Molly Lester, featuring photographs by Michael Bixler and subtitled Past Lives and Lost Places in a Changing City, the book suggests new ways to look at the stubbornly durable artifacts displayed on party walls across Philly.

Theyre slices of life, said Lester, associate director of the Urban Heritage Project at the University of Pennsylvanias Weitzman School of Design. These places arent there any more, but they arent blank slates.

Building ghosts, she added, attest to centuries of human life in Philadelphia.

Said Bixler, editorial director and chief photographer of Hidden City Philadelphia: I sought to dignify the buildings and dignify the people who lived in them. I wanted to take a humanist, more compassionate approach when photographing these remains of peoples homes.

During an April interview on North Fourth Street in Northern Liberties at a double ghost  their term for a mid-block demolition site with party walls on either side  Lester and Bixler said their book aims to spark public conversations about demolition in Philadelphia.

People need to ask why there are so many ghosts in North Philadelphia, and why are so many of them the results of [mass] demolition programs, Lester said. We need to not treat demolition as the only option.

State Sen. Nikil Saval (D., Philadelphia), the main sponsor of Pennsylvanias 2022 Whole Home Repairs legislation, welcomed publication of Building Ghosts.

He said one of Whole Homes goals is to stave off housing abandonment by helping property owners pay for essential repairs.

We need to reflect on the historic loss of housing stock, particularly where it is most prominent, Saval said. North Philadelphia and other neighborhoods have seen high levels of disinvestment and, I would say, intentional neglect. We need to think about what we can do differently."

Avoiding ruin porn cliches

Bixler said he chose to take most of his photographs on sunny days to better capture the fossil-like traces on the party walls and to provide context by showing their surroundings.

Many of his images also suggest the resilience of the rowhouses and other structures whose companions have been amputated, leaving wound-like emptiness in between.

Bixler and Lester also said they were determined to avoid the voyeurism and melodrama associated with the ruin porn genre of urban photography that became a cliche in the late 1990s.

The book isnt a study of decay, Lester said. Its about the homes people created for themselves and their families in these places.

Becoming ghost hunters

Urbanists both, Bixler and Lester separately became interested in what they chose to call building ghosts (also known as ghost buildings). They became acquainted after Lester wrote a piece for Hidden City and they decided to do a joint project on the subject.

Lester received a seed grant for research from the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation at Penn, and they began to survey the city for building ghosts on what turned out to be the eve of the pandemic.

They spent five months hunting for ghosts in Center City, as well as North, South, West, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast Philadelphia. They found 194 and opted to include 81 in the book.

Of those, half include material about the owners, residents, or evolving uses of the structures. Deeds, other public records, and what Lester described as registration cards issued during World War II helped assemble the narratives, Lester said.

The traces of these lives require a different kind of investigation than buildings with famous names and famous architects, Lester said. This kind of detective work is what I love the most. Its the fun part.

Elizabeth Cornog was living in a rented room at 2716 N. 12th St. when a three-alarm fire broke out at the nearby Cookman United Methodist Church on the night of Aug. 7, 1926. A secretary at the church, Cornog ran inside the burning church and rescued as many records as possible, Lester wrote.

A rowhouse at 701 S. 19th St. in South Philadelphia that was constructed in 1866 housed a family-owned bakery for decades before becoming the headquarters of the National Baptist Conventions international missionary operation for 105 years until it was demolished in 2019.

And 7127 Woodland Ave. in Southwest Philadelphia, a three-story rowhouse built in 1897, gradually evolved from being the residence of an undertaker and his wife into a funeral parlor, remaining so until 1949. It was demolished in 2019.

The book offers a unique window into our citys past through the lives of everyday people, using tangible and very visible remnants of the buildings in which they were born, lived, worked, and died, said Aaron Javsicas, the editor-in-chief of Temple University Press.

No more ghosts?

Some of the building ghosts documented in the book have disappeared since the authors did their field research five years ago due to new development, Bixler said.

In other parts of the city, building ghosts seem likely to linger for decades.

Whatever the case, when these walls arent covered, they can hasten the demise of an adjacent house and affect the quality of life in the neighborhood, he said. They should be covered over with stucco to protect them.

Building Ghosts  Past Lives and Lost Places in a Changing City

 Mon. May 12, 2025, 5:30 p.m.  Philadelphia City Institute, 1905 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pa.  freelibrary.org
David C. Johnson, an Art and Design graduate, hugs Monica Hahn after walking across the stage during the Community College of Philadelphia commencement ceremony at the Liacouras Center on Saturday. Read more

Saturday was a birthday to remember for Fatoumata Sacko.

The Community College of Philadelphia mathematics major rang in her 22nd trip around the sun on the stage of Temple Universitys Liacouras Center, where she delivered the colleges commencement address to 1,800 fellow members of the schools 2025 graduating class.

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Sacko, who moved to Philadelphia  and the United States  from the West African nation of Mali in November 2022 when she was 19 years old, spoke of the community she found at the college as an immigrant and a new mother.

This is what CCP gave us: the power to rise no matter where we started, Sacko said. Each of us has overcome something and each of us is proof that, with community, we can push through anything, Sacko said.

At the moment, the schools leadership finds itself pushing through a mushrooming controversy over the dismissal of its former president, Donald Guy Generals Jr.

The colleges board of trustees removed Generals from his position in April, voting not to renew his contract and placing him on paid administrative leave until his term ends in June.

Generals, 69 and a former vice president for academic affairs at New Jerseys Mercer County Community College, had led the school since 2014.

In a lawsuit filed last week, Generals alleged he was fired as retaliation for refusing to direct college contracts to individuals and businesses with personal connections to board chair Harold T. Epps.

In a statement, the board of trustees called the allegations frivolous and without merit, and said it intends to vigorously defend against them.

None of the commencements speakers addressed the swirling controversy on Saturday.

In introductory remarks, Alycia Marshall, a former provost and vice president for academic and student success whom the board had appointed interim president less than a week earlier, relayed her story of overcoming challenges to become first a mathematics professor and, eventually, department head at Marylands Anne Arundel Community College.

Lauding those graduates who had faced down challenges of their own  such as financial struggles or raising children  while attending classes, Marshall referenced Maya Angelous poem And Still I Rise.

If you are proud of yourself today  and I want you to say it with me  and still, I rise, Marshall said.

Speaking after Marshall, Epps similarly avoided any mention of the dispute in which he figures prominently, instead urging graduates to trust in their abilities as they go forth into the world of work and life.

Let this ceremony be just the beginning  not the end  of occasions to celebrate your accomplishments, Epps said.

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, the first Black lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania history and, at 35, the youngest lieutenant governor in the country, delivered the commencement address.

Davis, a first-generation college graduate and former state representative, spoke of his working-class roots growing up in southwestern Pennsylvania and urged graduates to appreciate the trailblazers who came before them as he recalled his own familys journey from the South as part of the Great Migration.

I dont think in my grandparents wildest dreams would they think their grandson would someday occupy the second highest office in this commonwealth, he said.

And he exhorted the assembled graduates to embrace service to their communities, whatever their chosen fields.

First and foremost, work to serve the people in your life and in your community. Help those who are less fortunate, he said. Fight injustice wherever and whenever you see it.

Just the day before the commencement, a judge denied Generals request for an injunction to reinstate him as president.

The ruling came after Generals had expanded upon his allegations in a court filing that claimed Epps and other board members pressured him and other administrators to approve a contract from a workforce development firm headed by Epps daughter, among other individuals and businesses with whom (Epps) had personal and professional ties.

Kyle D. Anderson, a spokesperson for the board, called the claims in the new filing patently false and characterized them as an effort to discredit and defame Epps and the board after they refused Generals demand for an excessive severance package.

This is a blatant and unscrupulous attempt to shake down the board and a publicly funded institution, Anderson said.

The controversy burst into public view just a couple weeks after what was a triumph for the schools administration: the settlement of a new contract with the colleges faculty and staff union.

The agreement was reached just hours before workers were set to strike, potentially disrupting final exams and the commencement.

Instead, in a nearly full Liacouras Center, beaming graduates walked the stage, waving to cheering classmates, family, and friends in the stands, their futures bright even as the path forward for the university and its leadership is decidedly less clear.
U.S. GDP shrinks in Q1, fueling recession fears

Xinhua) 11:51, May 03, 2025

WASHINGTON, May 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. GDP shrank 0.3 percent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

It marked the first quarter of negative growth in three years, raising concerns of a looming recession.

"I expect sour consumer sentiment and business uncertainty to drag down Q2," said Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Many economists have expressed concern over sweeping tariffs of President Donald Trump's administration, warning they could slow global economic growth.

"The economy is likely to fall into a recession by the standard measure of two negative quarters," said Barry Bosworth, economist and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

He added that domestic demand could weaken further in Q2 "unless Trump does more to reverse his trade measures."

Bosworth called it "truly bizarre" that the administration seems intent on policies that could lead to stagflation, driven by a misunderstanding of what causes trade deficits.

Dean Baker, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, told Xinhua that there are reasons to expect "slower growth," especially in investment.

The decrease in GDP also reflected an uptick in imports, which are subtracted from GDP calculations. Bosworth said the "domestic demand was actually quite strong" due to an import surge in anticipation of Trump tariffs.

The current administration campaigned on reviving U.S. manufacturing, appealing largely to its working-class voter base. But critics said revamping the global trade system is a tall order.

"Trump wants to remake the global trade system, but he overestimates American power. In such a big and complicated world, no single country can impose its will on all the other countries," said Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West.

Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, said the administration lacks "a coherent economic plan."

He noted that while the administration protects heavy industries, it under-prioritizes high-tech and light manufacturing, and leaves services and financial sectors exposed to retaliatory tariffs.

Moreover, the sweeping tariffs could backfire.

"If the second quarter number comes in negative, it will be known as the Trump recession," West said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Katharine Esty, now 90, has never been afraid of new challenges. The psychologist earned her PhD in her 50s and retired just three years ago in Concord, Mass., just before this 2023 photo was taken. (Maile Hulihan/TNS) Read more

As a social worker for older adults, Robyn Golden, 67, preached the importance of staying active as you age. In her early career, Golden was often inspired by the way her clients tackled new challenges.

I found it very enriching, she said, to see that they can change, and they can grow.

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As she has gotten older, she has tried to embrace that openness to new experiences. But she didnt realize how hard it could be for an older person. Last year, for example, she took up pickleball. She wasnt expecting to play professionally, but she assumed she would improve alongside the younger students in the class she joined.

When she didnt, she started to think about quitting. Im in this class and all these people are progressing and Im not, she said.

A conversation with a friend changed her mind. I realized, theyre all thirty-some years younger, she said. I hadnt even thought of that. Golden, now associate vice president of social work and community health at Chicagos Rush University, stuck out the class, and she still plays every week.

That is an experience echoed by other social workers, professors, and researchers who study aging in America. Many have spent decades working with seniors, but they found that getting older themselves shifted their thinking and what they tell their clients.

Some are surprised by how much fun they are having. Others have had to adjust their expectations of themselves and their bodies. And all acknowledge that some of the biggest obstacles facing seniors include the rising cost of health care, the dearth of affordable housing, and the astronomical fees for nursing homes or assisted living.

We spoke with more than a dozen experts to gather their thoughts on aging, and what they would tell their younger selves. Here are some of the most common lessons:

Find a project you care about  even after retirement

Katharine Esty, 90, has never been afraid of new challenges. The psychologist earned her PhD in her 50s and retired just three years ago in Concord, Mass.

Even so, she feared slowing down. Were sold a bill of goods about loss and decline as an expected part of aging, Esty said. I started to believe it myself. To combat her dread, Esty interviewed 120 octogenarians about their lives. What brought them joy, even as they lost partners and suffered physical setbacks?

Her conclusion: People with a project or a passion they were pursuing were in much better mental and physical shape.

They were climbing huge mountains, doing things theyd never done before, she said. One book-loving friend had always wanted to try teaching. After retirement, he worked up the courage to lead English classes at an institute for retirement learning. Hes still at it years later.

Research has shown that learning cognitively demanding skills as we age, such as quilting or digital photography, can improve memory, brain health, and well-being. Older adults engaged in activities they enjoy live longer, happier lives and develop fewer diseases, according to the National Institutes for Health.

Estys conversations  which eventually became the book Eightysomethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected Happiness  made her realize that she needed to rethink her assumptions about her own old age. Though she had pictured a restful retirement, she realized she would be happier pursuing creative projects and speaking engagements  and it would probably be better for her mental and physical health.

I enjoyed work and had lots of energy, she said. It completely revolutionized what I expected in my old age.

Leanna Clark-Shirley, 44, president and CEO of the American Society on Aging, said she hears often from older adults who say they have shed their inhibitions as they have aged, diving into a new hobby or business.

In every conversation I have with someone in their 70s or 80s, the fear or hesitancy has gone away, she said. Rather than viewing aging as a time where you lose things, [they see] aging as something that can happen concurrently with new interests and new adventures.

Focus on adaptability, not just resilience

Bruce Leff, 63, has built his medical career around treating  and studying  aging. So its not surprising that he gets asked one question over and over: Whats the best way to grow old?

When he was younger, the Baltimore-based doctor had a set of standard health recommendations for older people: exercise and eat well, though no need to avoid the occasional glass of wine or dessert.

But as he has eased into senior citizenship, Leff saw greater nuance. As you get older, you understand different aspects of life, Leff said. Youve had your own experiences, youre more empathetic.

Resilience, Leff said, is a popular term among doctors, who urge their patients to stay tough through discomfort or unpleasantness until things return to normal. Now hes come to see adaptation  adjusting and accepting what life throws your way  as equally important.

Many of his patients are struggling with life-changing events, such as the death of a spouse, a cancer diagnosis, or even retirement. Though many go through a period of feeling a bit lost, he said, the vast, vast, vast majority of people find their way to seeking happiness and purpose and meaning.

Ellen Langer, a 78-year-old Harvard University psychology professor, who studies the connection between mind and body, says that viewing aging positively  and focusing on what you are able to do, not what you cant  can improve your health and mental state.

Much of the research she does has focused on how to stay happy through old age. In one well-known experiment, eight septuagenarians were briefly moved into a facility that had been meticulously styled to resemble the world as the subjects knew it 20 years ago. They were all encouraged to live as if they were their younger selves. After the experiment ended, Langer found that many of the subjects had improved vision and overall health.

As Langer has gotten older, she hasnt suffered the same discontents as many of her peers because she said she avoids the negative thinking about aging that traps other people. I dont walk around experiencing my age, she said. Age is not a relevant dimension to me.

Dont get discouraged  and dont be too hard on yourself

Michael Schuchert, a 54-year-old personal trainer who primarily works with older clients at DeHenzel Training Systems in Northern Virginia and D.C., always knew the importance of being fit, but he only became interested in training after a running injury pushed him into physical therapy.

Schuchert realized that he needed to adjust his routine to his changing body. His clients, who range in age from their 40s to 80s, do as well. Some are interested in building upper-body strength so that they can pick up their grandchildren. Another wanted to improve her balance after a bicycle accident caused some neurological issues. One recent milestone: She was able to put on her pants while balancing on one leg.

As Ive aged, Ive started to feel more aches and pains, Schuchert said. He finds his body is a little more delicate now, and it takes longer to recover from injuries. I need that core [muscle]  because I still have 25, 30-plus years ahead of me.

Golden said that as a younger social worker, she didnt always see the appeal of shared senior living, with its exercise classes and group activities. But now she finds the idea of a comfortable living space much more attractive.

This taught her to focus closely on the interests of her patients, even if she didnt connect to their desires. We cant put people in boxes, she said. I think thats what Ive learned. Shes trying to do the same for herself, even as she continues to think about new hobbies, such as mastering a musical instrument, and traveling more.

I always assumed I have to learn to play cards, at some point, she said, because thats what the older people she knew did. And while researchers have also found that playing cards or other games regularly can improve brain health, Golden now realizes it may not be for her. Maybe Ill try it, she said. But maybe not.
Pamphlets about sexually transmitted infections and preventing pregnancy on display at nonprofit in Dallas, Texas, to advocate for sexual health and education. Read more

Parents Ive interviewed tell me that they just wouldnt know where to start having a conversation about sexual health and safety with their children.

Many parents assume, often incorrectly, that their children are getting sexual health information at school. Most parents overestimate what their children learn in school, and divorced parents may assume the other parent is handling The Talk.

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In reality, the shrinking availability of sex education in schools has left many children at risk of learning about sex from the internet, or even pornography, and not from qualified educators. But there is a cost-free, apolitical fix: supporting parents to be the primary sex educators of their children.

Decades of research support the benefits of parent-led sex ed:

Kids value parents opinions more than parents think; Kids who can talk to parents about sex make better decisions about sexual activity, sexual health, and sexual safety; Having accurate knowledge and language about sexuality can help protect a child from victimization and victimizing others; Parents should start long before puberty to share information and values about sexuality with their children.

Why dont parents talk?

Many parents just dont want to think of sex and their child in any way at all.

Some parents dont want their child to be telling tales to others in their circle. And the current public environment may not feel conducive to open conversations meeting the gold standard of medically accurate, age-appropriate information about sexuality. Long-respected books are being pulled from public libraries, opposing the policies of The American Library Association. A presidential proclamation acknowledging April as child abuse prevention month calls gender affirming medical care child abuse, exactly the opposite view of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

All of these are reasons to engage with your children on the topic of sex. Think of these factors as motivation to raise a child who understands that sexual health and safety is a natural part of life. Parents can choose what information and values they want shared in their home.

Key things all kids need to know

The American Academy of Pediatrics promotes the concept of anticipatory guidance  preparing for whats coming next. When it comes to sex ed, parents can provide this for their children by ensuring they understand the basics, for instance:

The names of all body parts; Knowing that genitals can feel aroused at any age, that responding to that feeling is private, and our responses change as we mature; Arousal gets stronger as kids reach adolescence and means their body is maturing on schedule; Menstrual periods and nocturnal emissions mean their bodies are getting ready for reproduction.

Parents must feel empowered to go beyond medical facts and share their values. Here are some phrases that may be helpful to explain concepts like consent, and abstinence until marriage: In our family we dont lie to someone to get what we want, like sex; or In our family, we believe that sexual activity with someone else should not happen until were married/in love (fill in the family value). I offer resources to complement my book online at sexwiseparent.com, including a worksheet that parents can use together to help establish values for their family so they can provide consistent messages.

Parents can also share a value I learned from the son of a minister, whose family started discussing sexuality when he was young. They told him that speaking to children about sex was a parents special privilege, and conversations about sex ought to be kept within the family.

Your faith community can also be a great resource for having this talk with your child. Major religions promote the sanctity of the family unit, acknowledging that loving sexual relations among adults is a part of family life. Many national organizations offer resources that combine medically accurate information with specific religious values. Try an online search with the name of your religion along with the phrase, sexuality education materials. You could also consider starting a parents group in your faith institution, where parents can read these materials together and support each other with activities like role playing to answer childrens questions.

My advice: Start now to tell your children what you want them to know and believe  before misinformation and values that dont match yours get there first. Families are more important than ever in ensuring that kids are raised with accurate information and strong ethics and values.

Want to learn more? I have compiled a list of online resources designed specifically for parents.

Janet Rosenzweig MS, PhD, MPA is author of the book, The Sex-Wise Parent, a Senior Policy Analyst at The Institute for Human Services, and a member of the Board of Directors of The National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.
Jungohk Cho, who restored Betsy Ross' family Bible, flips through its pages in the lab at the Conservation Center for Arts and Historic Artifacts in the Rittenhouse neighborhood of Philadelphia. Read more

Leaders of Historic Germantown and the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University received late-night emails on Wednesday from the Institute of Museum and Library Services stating that grants awarded but rescinded as part of cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency would be paid after all.

The latest developments in the IMLS funding saga, however, along with deep cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities, have left the cultural community feeling anything but assured.

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Kafkaesque is the word I am using to describe things, said Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts executive director Michelle Eisenberg, whose group lost federal grants and was not among those that received an IMLS reinstatement notice.

 READ MORE: DOGE cuts threaten funding to Philadelphia museums, libraries, and more

This letter provides notice that the Institute of Museum and Library Services is reinstating your federal grant, said one of the emails. This action supersedes any previous notices you might have received related to grant termination. Based on additional internal review, IMLS has determined that your grant is consistent with the agencys priorities in furtherance of the Presidents agenda.

Other groups with canceled grants, such as the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Chester County History Center, and Penn Museum, have not received reinstatement notices.

IMLS did not respond to messages requesting information about how many grants were being restored.

Leaders of museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions this week assessed who had received rescissions of their rescissions, who had not, and whether the reinstatements would stick  or get canceled yet again.

Its not the email I expected at 9:51 p.m., I can tell you that, said Tuomi Joshua Forrest, executive director of Historic Germantown, which last week was scrambling for replacement funding after being told that a $108,812 grant for its Science Sleuths program had been canceled.

 READ MORE: A science program was poised to reach kids across Philly. Then DOGE killed the funding.

Forrest says he will now submit a request for the next payment toward the remaining $46,999 of the grant yet to be paid  and hope for the best.

Since an Inquirer article on Sunday reporting that the group needed to raise at least $30,000 in new donations or shut down the new science program for middle schoolers, the group has received a dozen pledges of between $20 and $5,000. Forrest will work with the new funders to use that money to meet the matching component of the grants terms, which require raising an additional $108,812 from other sources.

We have to raise a dollar for every dollar we get from IMLS, and we have to raise and spend the full costs before we receive a reimbursement from IMLS, he said. So these gifts are critical in helping us complete the pilot this school year.

The restored grant to the Atwater Kent Collection is for $138,547 to conserve Civil War battlefield drawings, painted works by Philadelphia artist David Bustill Bowser, and a historic American flag from the Perry Expedition.

Leveraging funds is one way in which IMLS has provided a key piece in the funding puzzle since its founding in 1996. The U.S. government agency has distributed $54.4 million across Pennsylvania in the past five years, according to the IMLS database.

The IMLS grants were canceled after President Trump signed a March 14 executive order directing the shrinking of seven federal agencies to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law. The American Library Association and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO filed a suit on April 7 against the Trump administration after it gutted the agencys staff and grants and fired its board of directors.

Congress is the only entity that may lawfully dismantle the agency, not the President and certainly not DOGE, states the lawsuit, which asked for a preliminary injunction directing the administration to reverse these unlawful actions and to halt any further steps to dissolve the agency while the court considered the matter.

The administration filed a motion urging the judge in the case to reject the request for a preliminary injunction, arguing, among other things, that the court lacked jurisdiction in the matter.

On Thursday  one day after local organizations received emails reinstating funding  the judge issued a temporary restraining order, saying that the wholesale termination of grants and services and mass layoff appeared to violate the terms of the legislation that established IMLS.

The court order, in force as the case proceeds, said the agency shall not further pause, cancel, or otherwise terminate IMLS grants or contracts or fail to fund them for reasons other than not complying with grant terms.
Swarthmore College protesters set up an encampment Wednesday, calling on the school to divest from the tech company Cisco because of its contracts with the Israeli government. Read more

Nine people  including one student  were arrested early Saturday morning on the campus of Swarthmore College as police disbanded a recently formed pro-Palestinian encampment.

Shortly before 8 a.m., Stephanie Ives, vice president of student affairs, entered Trotter Lawn with police officers, warning the Swarthmore chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine to peacefully end the encampment they had set up on Wednesday or face consequences.

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On a video posted on Instagram by Swarthmore SJP, Ives tells protesters with covered faces that the inability to identify whether they are Swarthmore students poses a community risk.

After stressing the school had issued multiple disbandment orders, she warns the crowd that staying can lead to a citation for trespassing or an arrest.

For Swarthmore students, consequences could involve interim suspension and worse, she says.

Failing to [leave] will lead to arrest and being placed in interim suspension, that jeopardizes your standing at the college, your ability to return in the fall and you may face expulsion, Ives says in the video.

As police officers walked around her, she told protesters that they will be restrained for [their] safety and the safety of the officers involved.

Swarthmore Borough Police Chief Raymond Stufflet then gave students 10 minutes to vacate.

A second video shows more than 30 police officers entering the encampment, right before 8 a.m. Officers can be seen throwing lawn chairs and pulling down tents and signs, as a small circle of masked protesters sat on the ground, their arms interlocked.

At one point, the video shows four officers pulling a protester from the circle and laying the person down on their stomach. Three officers pinned the protesters arms to the sides, as another officer held their ankles down. They then carried the encampment member away in a horizontal position.

Another protester was lying on the ground, surrounded by 11 officers, when one officer put a knee on their back. Another protester yelled Get the [expletive] off him, while the crowd chanted, Who do you protect? Who do you serve?

In total nine protesters were arrested, according to a Swarthmore SJP Instagram post.

In a statement issued later, Swarthmore College said: Many, if not all, of the protestors  both students and nonstudents  were fully masked and tried to remain unidentifiable."

Neither the police department nor Swarthmore SJP had responded to requests for comment from The Inquirer at the time of publication.

Before the arrests, Ives warned protesters that participants who fail to provide identification documents at the police station may face additional charges and be held overnight.

Swarthmore officials told The Inquirer that just one of the arrested is currently a student and that all nine taken into custody are facing misdemeanor trespassing charges.

The student will be placed on immediate interim suspension and will not be allowed on campus until the completion of a student conduct process.

Last year, Swarthmore became the last standing college protest encampment in the Philadelphia region. Participants ultimately voluntarily ended the encampment.

Just after noon Wednesday, Swarthmore students set up an enclosure of signs and tents on Trotter Lawn to protest the ongoing war in Gaza, what they contend is the colleges unwillingness to commit to divesting from entities profiting off the war, and what they say is the colleges lukewarm support for students who are vulnerable to the Trump administrations aggressive deportations, revoked student visas, and sudden abductions.

According to the school statement, the new encampment drew the attention of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, who urged [Swarthmore College] to bring the encampment to an end as quickly as possible.
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill has embraced influencers as part of her candidacy for New Jersey governor. She now has her own campaign TikTok despite legislating against the app. Read more

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill sponsored the TikTok ban bill. Now shes on the app for her campaign for New Jersey governor.

Sherrill has stood out among the candidates in the crowded Democratic primary for teaming up with influencers and content creators on Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, and even Substack. She also hosted an Ask me anything session on Reddit. But it wasnt until recently that she got on TikTok herself.

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Our campaign has been resisting getting on TikTok for a long time  we need to do more to regulate the powerful algorithms that feed off our attention and fuel a loneliness epidemic, she said in a post on X on Wednesday.

But its important to me to meet people where they are and share updates from the campaign trail and more about our plans for New Jersey (including online safety!), so please follow along, she added.

Sherrill was one of the original cosponsors of the bill known as the TikTok ban, which led to the law requiring ByteDance to sell the app or for it to be banned. Sherrills campaign uses her TikTok on a separate device than those with other campaign accounts, according to her campaign, and her government office does not have a TikTok.

 READ MORE: Why the Democratic nominee for N.J. governor might only get 20% of the vote

I think she needs to be there

John Walsh, chair of the Belmar Democrats who supports Sherrill, happens to be TikTok famous for his impersonations of President Donald Trump. Walsh posted a TikTok with Sherrill back in February where the two joked about renaming bodies of water in New Jersey after Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Sherrill joked about adding sharks to Shark River, calling it a fun, sexy idea, before speaking about protecting flood-prone areas of the state.

Walsh has more than 1 million followers on TikTok. His video with Sherrill garnered 9,500 views. He said he gets more views when hes dressed up as Trump, but he expects people to find the video as the June 10 primary date nears.

None of my friends know who any of these candidates are, so theyre going to be looking into these candidates in the next couple of weeks, he said. And if my video pops up on their page when theyre searching in the TikTok bar, you know, hopefully  it would show her in a positive, fun light.

Walsh said he encouraged Sherrills campaign to get on the app despite her reputation trying to ban the app, which he said was not my favorite.

I think she needs to be there, Walsh said. I think they all need to be there.

Sherrill has also appeared with New Jersey influencers on Instagram. She did a bagel tasting and answered New Jersey pop-culture questions with You Dont Know Jersey, an account with almost 37,000 followers.

Her campaign website has an option to sign up to become an online ambassador, which is a program that trains Sherrill supporters to talk about her campaign. The campaign regularly updates these ambassadors with highlights from the trail and social media posts to share.

Some creators have posted about attending a Sherrill campaign event or spoke about her campaign, like kaelynandveronica, which has 63,500 TikTok followers; bobbyzworld90, who has almost 60,000 TikTok followers, and Sakoyah, who has close to 17,000 Instagram followers.

Hellicity_Merriman, who has 194,000 Instagram followers, posted screenshots of a text thread with Sherrill in which they chatted about politics and also which American Girl doll she is.

Chris Geth, a comedian and podcaster who lives in her district, hosted Sherrill on a 20-minute Instagram live in January. She also went on camera for 20 minutes for Strict Scrutiny podcaster Leah Litmans Instagram live in February, and Jennifer Rubins The Contrarian Substack in March.

I like how you named this show after my youngest daughter, Sherrill quipped on Rubins show.

Sherrill has also been on several podcasts, a medium other candidates have embraced, like those of YouTubers Jesse Dollemore, who has more than 1 million subscribers, and Ive Had It, which has 837,000 subscribers.

Sherrills new TikTok has 815 followers and 2,315 likes across five videos as of Friday, when her account was two days old.

How other candidates are using TikTok

Two other candidates in the Democratic primary are on TikTok, albeit in different ways.

Newark Mayor Ras Barakas campaign first started posting on TikTok in December, but he has not worked with influencers. His intern Safa Mostafa, a senior at New Jersey City University, makes appearances on the account speaking into a microphone attached to a hair pick.

The account has 568 followers and 6,045 likes across several videos, which is a smaller reach than the campaigns other social media.

Sean Spiller, the president of the New Jersey Education Association public school teachers union, can also be found on TikTok. Thats largely because of Working New Jersey, the multimillion-dollar super PAC supporting his campaign with public school teachers union dues. Working New Jersey has been posting videos on TikTok since late October and only has 70 followers. The super PAC also pays influencers to post content to promote Spiller in videos on Instagram that are labeled as sponsored.

A spokesperson for the PAC called the paid influencers digital doorknockers in a statement to Politico.

The other candidates in the gubernatorial Democratic primary  Josh Gottheimer, who was also an original sponsor on the TikTok ban bill, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, and former State Sen. Steve Sweeney  are all not on TikTok.
Pedestrians in Center City battle the winds in February, the heart of a very windy period in Philly. Read more

It probably would not come as a shock to runners, bikers, firefighters, or anyone else who has been paying attention, that Philadelphia set a wind record during the six-month period that ended on April 30.

The National Weather Service reported Friday that on 73 of those days  thats 40%  wind gusts reached 30 mph, the most in the era of official recordkeeping at Philadelphia International Airport, dating to 1940.

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The previous record was 66 days, set in the 2018-19 period.

Meteorologists say the winds likely have contributed to a stubborn dryness and persistent drought conditions, even as rains have been fairly close to normal the last two months.

In tandem with a strengthening sun, winds can speed up the evaporation of water exponentially, said Dave Dombek, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc., drying out soils.

Winds also have been the mortal enemy of firefighters battling wildfire blazes.

And we will spare our readers what bikers and runners have to say about the atmospheric bluster.

Whats behind the wind-fest?

During much of the period that the weather service studied, systems were moving briskly across the country, with a steady procession of fronts.

Those fronts form at the boundaries of warm and cold air and air of different pressures, or weights. As the atmosphere attempts to maintain a pressure balance, the heavier air naturally moves toward that which is lighter, generating winds.

A separate Inquirer analysis of the period from Jan. 1 to March 20 found that gusts reached 35 mph or higher on 26 of those days  including four with gusts of 50 mph or more. That was more than in any Jan. 1-March 20 period in at least the last 20 years.

In a social media post announcing its findings, the weather services Mount Holly office didnt shy away from the obvious.

So if you have been thinking it was windier than normal, it said, youd be correct!
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In London's Chinatown, on a street packed with restaurants, no one pays any attention to Jay Rayner. We stride down Gerrard Street in the midday sun, and enter a lively little Chinese joint called Four Seasons, which majors in duck.

Rayner may be a regular, but no one seems to know who he is  neither staff nor diners  and, if they do, they dont care. His review may be stuck on the wall, but the restaurant critic of the Observer for 25 years, and newly of the Financial Times, barely receives a second glance.

The hilarious thing is I come here quite a lot, he explains.

Theres one [staff member] who occasionally [recognises me]. My review is by the door on the way in, and they couldnt give a toss. I think what they did was that, weirdly, rather than go and buy a copy of the paper, they printed it out from the net and laminated it without [my] picture.

I finally reviewed it in February of 2020, when all the stuff out of Wuhan was causing a backlash against Chinese restaurants, and Chinatown was suffering. And so I said, well, as a mark of solidarity Im going to go to the one I really like, I mean, in reality, all of the restaurants then closed.

Four Seasons is close to the studio where Jay records his award-winning BBC Radio 4 show, The Kitchen Cabinet, and he has picked it for our interview. Id suggested we meet over lunch, because, frankly, who would choose Zoom over the chance to break bread with a professional eater of this stature?

Jay comes here often to dine alone, fuelling up for an evenings show.

They are complicated records, so you dont want to do them hungry, he insists.

And youre not going to get to eat dinner properly. Im about to manage a panel and an audience of about 700 people, and there are a lot of things going on in my head, so an hour by myself with some Cantonese duck, and then a copy of the New Yorker, and its good.

I ask him to order for us, and he falters. Its a very interesting thing because I normally come here alone. Im trying to work out whats an appropriate amount of food for two. Are you hungry?

Always, I reassure him, before he asks if Im happy to ignore starters. Decisively, he chooses a half duck, boneless, half char siu, king prawns in salted egg yolk, deep-fried crispy beef (just for a nostalgic thing), stir-fried morning glory, and sweet and sour eggplant. We agree to skip rice and happily tuck into jasmine tea.

I confess that my chopstick skills are below par. Youll get no judgment from this side of the table if you drop your food down your front, you know that? he offers helpfully as I self-consciously wrangle slippery morning glory into my mouth.

After 25 years with the Observer, restaurant critic and broadcaster Jay Rayner is now working for the Financial Times. He also recently released his first cookbook: Nights Out at Home. Picture: Andrew Dunsmore

Before our meeting, Ive been devouring his new book, Nights Out at Home, his first cookbook, and one that sees him recreate 60 recipes inspired by restaurant dishes hes eaten out professionally. Im unlikely to cook anything from it  even the memorable flatbread that I scoffed in the edgy winebar Erst in Manchester, last year  but this is a storybook, too, and doesnt need to be cooked from to be of value.

How far have you gotten? he asks, before I whip out the dog-eared hardback from my bag. Youve done all right! he exclaims, clearly pleased that Ive been doing my homework.

Im really enjoying it, I confess, which prompts a sincere thank you. Its been like a primer on having lunch with Jay. Like a guide on how to eat with you before meeting you.

Sitting across the table from me, the man I know from his TV appearances as a judge on MasterChef, from his radio show, and from his columns, is exactly as Id imagined him: earnest, sharp, witty. But is this real Jay or showbiz Jay?

I have this thing that [my book] is me but it is a version of me. You play up to the cameras a little bit.

Because you cant be half-hearted in print, you know, a lot of it really is me but there are bits of it which are slightly exaggerated. But you can decide by the end of lunch  cant you.

He surprises me by admitting his delight that the Irish Examiner has dispatched someone to interview him.

I go to the North a lot. An awful lot. So Ive been twice this month, weirdly.

I mean Ive been to Ireland loads of times but Ive never really engaged with the food world over there like I should, which is a confession.

Its one of the reasons Im going to Ballymaloe because Ive never been, I kind of thought thats a gap, yeah, you should go. Plus, it sounds like a laugh.

I recall reading somewhere that the duck we are eating is from Silverhill Farm in Cavan. Is that right, I ask? I dont think anybody necessarily comes to Chinatown and asks about the sourcing of ingredients, he grins.

Hes never been to China and isnt really interested in visiting. I mean, probably when I was a younger man. That kind of intrepid travel doesnt interest me now.

Jay Rayner recently released his first cookbook: Nights Out at Home. Picture: Andrew Dunsmore

At one point in his early career as a general features writer, an editor was going to send him to Rwanda. And then he wanted to send me to the Vietnamese Lao border to chase down a mythical missing antelope or something. Well, I refused to do Rwanda. I refused Kurdistan, too, because they were both in the middle of wars and my partner had not signed up for [a relationship with] a war correspondent.

But I didnt really have the hunger to travel the way some people do, and I dont know if thats a character failing on my part.

His reflectiveness is unexpected, and at one point, he interrupts himself to apologise for not speaking in quotable sentences.

One of the great things about restaurants, and I said this in the book, is that you travel the world. Youre going to get a different version [of a dish], and maybe its not as you would find at point of origin. But its interesting.

I remark that he is carefully side-stepping the word authentic.

How does authentic help us? Take the British Chinese takeaway tradition. They are a thing in themselves. So, if all youre trying to do is benchmark food against some notion of truth and honesty, youre not going to get very far.

This [pointing to the crispy chilli beef] is the one thing Ive ordered which is pretty much out of the British take-away playbook. It is delicious, I note.

Delicious, he chimes. I have no idea where theres anything like it. Or maybe there is. Id need to ask [Chinese food expert] Fuchsia Dunlop.

Two things can be true at the same time: one which is the food youre eating in a particular restaurant is great, and that there is another version of it, which is fundamentally different, at the point of origin at the place that inspired it.

Food writer Simon Hopkinson is the person who alerted Jay to Four Seasons excellence.

He swears that the Chinese are the best at roasting duck and this is the best in London. I do not know whether thats true. Because I havent eaten in them all.

Theres a culture of sort of stamp collecting now. Wheres the best? Whats the best? Well, that sounds exhausting. Just find something thats good and you like.

Despite 25 years of restaurant reviews, hes ambivalent about Michelin stars. I always found it slightly weird that the people of Manchester have been so upset, as if [not] having a Michelin starred restaurant said something about them. It doesnt.

And I stick to one particular line, which is the quality of a city is not marked by the number of gastro palaces it has, but by the number of bistros there. And I want to visit the city with lots of nice bistros I can eat in every night, not the place with a number of Michelin starred restaurants I could eat in once a year.

I ask him about his 2009 book, The Man Who Ate the World, which saw him dine at the worlds finest restaurants.

It was a weird idea. I sometimes wonder where the idea came from. There was a point to it journalistically, which was that it was slightly ahead of its time.

It identified the globalisation of luxury, which has become a massive, massive thing. But it only works if you find the right tone. Tone is everything. You know, people will say, well, Id love your job, all that eating. Its not an eating job  its a writing job. And if you get the tone wrong ...

I can think of various bloggers and whatever online. You read their writing, and you think, I never want to meet you and I never want to eat with you. I never want to spend time with you. This is miserable. And those Instagram reels? Ive got nothing against it. I mean, Im all over Instagram.

Theres a lot of really good stuff, but theres a particular kind of luxe restaurant reel. Come with me as we nah nah nah nah. The voiceover. Aagh! I agree, lamenting the dearth of knowledge.

I dont really have a problem with that because if you start having a problem with people who arent experts on social media, then youve got a problem with the weather. Its a fact of life.

What matters is how its presented. I mean, there are some good people who are sources of great information and there are some that arent. Thats all I care about. Is this interesting? Does it work? Despite what you dont know.

He believes that theres been a knee-jerk reaction to content creators.

I think two things. One: a lot of it may be rubbish, but then a lot of stuff put out by mainstream media is rubbish. The other point that follows  the idea that people who work for newspapers and magazines are all universally informed and know their stuff  is not true.

I remember one moment. It was a paper I was working for, and I came downstairs and I said to my wife, I read the newspaper so that the people who are cleverer than me and better informed than me can tell me whats going on in the world. The problem is I know all these people and theyre neither.

He is quick to add he is very happy at the Financial Times, while admitting that it sounds like pandering.

I am somewhat besotted with my new home because Ive been reading the FT for a good few years before I joined it. And the seriousness of the reporting and the journalism, and the informed opinion is beguiling. Its top class.

When you look at it, theres a kind of discord dialogue at the moment, with people going. Oh, food media is dying. Nobodys taking it seriously. And Im always a bit suspicious of those things because it suggests there was a golden age. And Im not sure when that golden age is meant to have been.

There have only been restaurant critics in the British press since 1986, its not something with massive longevity.

[People say] nobody takes it seriously anymore. When was the point it was really taken seriously?

Or is it just that there were certain writers that you loved? So, obviously, Marina OLoughlin and Matthew Fort wrote brilliant reviews, but I wonder whether they were that more serious than the rest of us.

Hes already working on a follow-up to Nights Out at Home, and one of the essays is about how you write about food.

Ive been pointing out that really the language that we have  crispy, sour, salty, sweet, chewy, whatever  doesnt get us very far. It doesnt get us very far in describing the experience youve had, and, really, its the least useful part of your armoury.

Jay seems to enjoy the fact that no one in Four Seasons restaurant cares a hoot about who he is  funnily, when we walk to the Trafalgar St James hotel for his photo shoot, theres a marked difference in the publics reaction and several couples in the hotel spot him and surreptitiously snap photos  though he clearly cares about his reputation.

Competition is an important thing. People ask, are you in competition [with other restaurant critics]?

On the one hand, no, I do my own thing, but on the other hand, I absolutely want people to think Ive written a better review that week than whoever else is writing. And if you lose that, you should quit, and I dont think Ive lost it.

Jay Rayner is taking part in the Ballymaloe Festival of Food, May 16-18. He hosts a cookery demo on Saturday May 17, and is in conversation on Sunday May 18. For tickets: ballymaloegrainstore.com.

Special thanks to The Trafalgar St James London, Curio Collection by Hilton, where Jay was photographed. trafalgarstjames.com.
Hidden up a narrow laneway in Ballinskelligs, just off the Cahirsiveen Rd, it would be just another standard Irish rural bungalow were it not for the exceptionally lush planting bringing a tropical feel to this remote part of South Kerry. Formerly Stephen OConnells childhood residence, it is now home to him, Alexis Bowman, and their three children.

But six years ago, it also become home to Fermoyle Pottery, where the young couple produce the sublime clay creations that are colonising the tables of some of Irelands finest Michelin-starred restaurants.

When Stephen was a child, another family moved into the area. Bob Hollis, Emma Elmer, says Stephen, and their son Tecumseh  a touch of the hippie about them. The two eight-year-olds were soon bosom buddies  and his new friends parents were potters.

And thats where my interest in pottery started, says Stephen, Id be curious about what was happening in the studio and, when I started secondary school, they gave me a summer job.

In the 80s and 90s, erstwhile magazine publisher Noelle Campbell-Sharp was an often controversial figure, but there is no gainsaying her establishment of Dublins Origin Gallery and, in 1995, Cill Rialaig, an artists retreat in a former famine village in Ballinskelligs, less than 5km from Stephens childhood home. Stephens father, a carpenter/handyman, began working there almost immediately. It was the nine-year-olds first introduction to the art world.

Fermoyle Pottery is located in Stephen OConnells childhood residence

Art was one of his best subjects, so studying painting in art college in Galway seemed a natural progression until a ceramics module proved revelatory. I realised, Oh, that wasnt just a [summer] job [in the pottery]. I actually really liked ceramics and I was good with the material. So I left after that first year and went on a proper apprenticeship with Bob and Emma.

Though he learned the craft, he struggled to make a living and began working as a tiler, while also helping out in Cill Rialaig. Late one night, while framing pictures, he heard two artists in the print studio next door.

They were effing and blinding, trying to work their way through the first prints, problem solving. I came in and said, Do you lads want a hand?

Stephens tiling days were over. He began assisting [Dublin-born artist] Niall [Naessens] in the print studio, working with visiting artists from all over the world and, after three years, assumed control of the workshop for the next decade.

Alexis grew up in Sydney, in a suburb near the bush, a delightful playground throughout her very happy upbringing. She said: Art was always my best subject. I went straight into art college. Photography was my major. After she graduated, Alexis fetched up in Ireland in 2005 with an Irish boyfriend after several years of backpacking.

I wanted to work in the arts, so I printed a list of every gallery in Dublin. Origin Gallery was second and Noelle was there. She said, Are you available right now? I need some paintings wrapped up. Go downstairs and start wrapping. And so I had just got the job.

Alexis grew up in Sydney, in a suburb near the bush

Alexis became Campbell-Sharps PA and, upon splitting with her boyfriend, took up her offer of time in Cill Rialaig to figure out whether to stay in Ireland or return to Australia.

It was the middle of a big winter storm and I met Steve in the gallery and  um, just fell in love straight away. He was like this finely cut, softly spoken gentleman from another era, in this wild, crazy place down in Kerry. He completely charmed me. We just straight away fell into a very intense love affair. I got pregnant very soon. We were like, Lets just do it. Lets get married. Lets have babies.

We had no doubt, says Stephen. Its nice to have no doubt.

When the couple bought Stephens former family home, they began an intensive planting campaign and restored an outbuilding to be used as a creative space.

I had an old pottery wheel in storage and we started experimenting, dabbling on weekends, making things again. There was no real focus on selling.

Both are keen cooks, very interested in food.

In the back of my mind, says Stephen, Id picture the nicer pieces being used for food, or somebody creatively arranging food on it, an artwork in itself, a beautiful collaboration.

I specifically remember watching Chefs Table, says Alexis, and saying, That would be a really cool thing to do.

When the couple bought Stephens former family home, they restored an outbuilding to be used as a creative space.

But thats as far as it went, says Stephen. We presumed chefs bought plates from catering companies or whatever. But we started making things with that aesthetic which we like in mind  earthy, rustic finishes, not your usual slick, smooth, shiny pottery. Alexis started taking photographs of our experiments for fun and putting it up on Instagram.

In 2018, Jordan Bailey, head chef of three Michelin-starred Maaemo in Oslo, came to Ireland with his wife Majken Bech-Bailey to lay the groundwork for a new restaurant, Aimsir, first discovering Irish produce and suppliers. He was also seeking potters to create tableware. Though the talent was there, none suited his requirements.

He said: I happened to be heading to Kerry and a guy who forages seaweed told me about a couple who made pots and plates. I couldnt find anything online, but I was desperate and eventually found them on the 32nd search page very late at night.

We had a name, Fermoyle Pottery, on the account, says Stephen, but still didnt have a business and were still doing our other jobs. There were only about 10 pictures of weird, funny pots. One day we got a phone call and this guy says, Im looking for a potter in Ireland because were working on this restaurant.

We googled him, says Alexis, and found out he was a renowned chef  and he was asking us to make pottery? We were like, This is perfect.

I went down the following week-end, says Bailey. Literally in the middle of nowhere, completely un-signposted. They just sold locally. We got to work that night and, by the time we opened [a year later], wed created almost 35 bespoke pieces for Aimsir.

'Alexis started taking photographs of our experiments for fun and putting it up on Instagram.'

Within five months of opening, Aimsir was the fastest debut at two stars in the Michelin Guides history. Bailey had arrived in Ireland  and so had Fermoyle Pottery.

Aimsir got recognition pretty fast, says Bailey, and everyone wanted to know about the pottery. A couple of months later, they had both quit their jobs and bought another kiln. I like them as people  they are very easy to connect with and are perfectionists, as passionate about their pottery as I am about food. They deliver the best product, but also have their own input, which I found very helpful at times.

If we hadnt met Jordan and Majken, says Stephen, I dont know that we would ever have gone into dealing with restaurants. Everybody paid attention to what he was doing and we were getting calls and emails almost as soon as he opened.

Niall Davidsons allta, Takashi Miyazakis Ichigo Ichie, and JP McMahons Aniar followed suit and they now have over 40 Irish and international restaurants as clients.

There is unquestionably a Fermoyle Pottery sensibility that links what at first glance might appear to be random and varied works, perhaps related to the fluidity of their working partnership.

We want it to be identifiable as us, says Stephen, even though we make many different things. When Alexis makes something, its different to mine. Forms, finishes are different. Shell paint on them, carve them, and put on patterning work, whereas Im really sticking to just the form.

Often Ill hand it over to Alexis to do the finishes, but she will often treat that differently to the finishes on her own work. So youre always cross-collaborating, passing the baton over to the other person to finish it off because you know theyll do a good job.

'Aimsir got recognition pretty fast and everyone wanted to know about the pottery.'

The pottery is imbued with the terroir of their hinterland, with a raw, rugged, elemental appeal, glazes suggesting vegetal greens, earthy minerals and rocks.

When I make something with confidence, and a bit of looseness, fluidity, raw, naturalistic, says Stephen, Im happy. We like being challenged to do something, but we also require that little bit of freedom to make it our own to some degree.

Almost all of their private sales are online to buyers around the world, and their initial hobbyists dalliance with Instagram is crucial to their business model.

We sustain a family of five on pottery, says Alexis. I never thought that would be possible. It is because of that direct sales line with social media, youre definitely better off selling direct.

The couple are especially excited about their wood-fired kiln coming online.

Fermoyle Pottery's recent works for Terre Restaurant

You cant have people eating off the same plates or bowls in each restaurant we make for, says Stephen, so we are constantly developing new forms and finishes. And the new wood-fired soda kiln will create a whole new palette. It is changing the way the work is produced and, ultimately, will change the work.

The soda-firing process will add an element of the unknown, a surrender of control that both wholeheartedly embrace for the potential outcomes, starbursts of pattern and texture that even suggest kaleidoscopic snapshots of the cosmos to this writer.

Electric kilns are a flat environment, says Alexis, so we spend a huge amount of time on the chemistry of the glazes, but with the wood-fired soda kiln, its less time on the chemistry, and leaving more up to happenstance and chance.

Potters often say, Fire has the final say, says Stephen, but you have to have expertise  and loads of failures. Then success is worth all the more.

The essence of Fermoyle, says Alexis, is us relinquishing control over parts of the process to allow magic to happen.
Friday night's Late Late Show saw Tanaistre Simon Harris, broadcaster Lottie Ryan, and Boyzlife members Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden join Patrick Kielty.

Simon Harris on 'housing tsar' and Palestine

Kieltys first guest of the night Tanaiste Simon Harris discussed the delay appointing a housing tsar, saying he doesnt believe 430,000 is a fair salary for the role.

Speaking about the delayed appointment of the housing tsar, he emphasised the need to break down silos and ensure the right skill sets and defended the decision to pause the appointment to avoid controversy.

What we're trying to do is important, because there'll be people around the country watching this programme. They'll be looking at the television, and they'll be wondering, when are my adult son or daughter living in the house ever going to be able to get out and buy their own home?

And we've heard from lots of people, and we've heard from the housing commission that we have to break down the silos, lots of sites around Ireland where you can build houses If only there was water, if only there was wastewater, if it's only there was electricity, if only the local authority was playing its part.

So we wanted to set up, not as already this sort of stuff, a housing activation office. And being honest, I'm very supportive of that. I think it makes a lot of sense.

When asked why he made the decision to block the appointment of Brendan McDonagh to the position this week, Harris responded: Now, to be honest, I don't like the word block. I just didn't think it was a good idea, being honest, to go straight ahead with the appointment of any kind of individual person on a set salary, without just taking a little bit of time to think this through. And when I talk that through being truthful, I think the Taoiseach agreed with me. We made a good decision this week.

When asked by Kielty if he believes 430,000 is a fair wage for the post, he replied: I don't, but I think it is most important that we get the skill set right.

Harris also reflected on his tenure as Taoiseach, and reflects on a busy year and the challenges faced, including backlash from an encounter with a disability worker during his election campaign trail, admitting that he made a mistake and emphasising his commitment to disability issues.

Harris discussed the decision to increase defence spending amid economic challenges, arguing that it is necessary for national security in order to monitor activities in the seas and skies.

He reiterated Ireland's commitment to supporting Palestine and the importance of passing the occupied territories bill and when asked by Kielty what the delay was in passing that bill, Harris said there are ongoing efforts to ensure the legislation is really robust.

When asked if weapons for Israel are being flown through Irish airspace, he replied: We have very strict rules in relation to sending weapons through. I don't believe it is [happening].

Touching on Trumps time in office and US-Ireland trade and relations, Harris highlighted the importance of Ireland and its skilled workforce and said he remains optimistic about the future of trade relations.

Lottie Ryan on the life and legacy of her father Gerry Ryan

Kieltys second guest of the night was Gerry Ryans daughter Lottie Ryan who appeared on the show to talk publicly about her father for the first time.

The beloved broadcaster passed away on April 30, 2010 at the age of 53.

On the 15th anniversary of her father's death, she reflected on family traditions, her fathers humour, his love for his family and radio.

She shared that her father was her best friend and counselor and described him as a fun and playful person who was always involved in her childhood, attending school plays, and recording everything on video.

She explained her initial reluctance to talk publicly about him publicly due to media attention but now feels comfortable doing so.

She mentioned that becoming a mother has changed her perception of her father as a dad and has made her feel more comfortable talking about him.

Ryan recalled her father's fun-loving nature, the impact of his fame, the media scrutiny the family endured after his death, the inquest findings, and the importance of remembering him for his positive contributions and as a devoted father.

Both Kielty and Ryan shed tears toward the end of the interview when they discussed Ryans legacy.

Becoming teary, Kielty said: "You're talking about legacy and people talk about what people did in their career; for me, his legacy is you and your brothers and sisters, and your wee fella. How proud would he be of you guys, what you've come through, and where you all are?"

"I hope he'd be proud," said Ryan, before taking a moment to hold in her own tears.

"I'd love for him to have met my son. I think he would have been an unbelievable granddad. He would have been way better at babysitting than my mum, because she never does it.

My brother is an actor, and I think he would have been at every play. All my siblings are so happy and in love and enjoying life, and I think, I hope, he would be very proud of us and how we handled everything, and where we are today. I hope he would be."

Kielty wrapped the interview by reassuring Ryan: "I don't think you need to hope, because I know he would. On behalf of all of us, I just want to say how much so many people in this country loved and admired him."

Boyzlife on second chance at a career in music

The final guests of the night were Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden, who discussed their journey from Boyzone and Westlife to Boyzlife, highlighting their 10-year collaboration.

They recounted the initial idea for an autobiographical show, which evolved into touring and releasing new music.

The pair spoke about differences between Boyzone and Westlife compared to Boyzlife, with Duffy and McFadden discussing their maturity and appreciation for their current success.

Reminiscing on when they were both touring with Boyzone and Westlife respectively, they said that they appreciate touring and the opportunities that come their way a lot more now in later life as they didnt take it all in when they were younger.

They highlighted how they treat each performance as if it could be their last, given their past experiences and reflected on uncertainties within the industry.

Talking about the release of the Boyzone documentary No Matter What and the response they received, McFadden said: What I loved about the documentary, whenever you watch documentaries, or we watch any interview with a boy band, they're normally all together and you'll have said answers and and the experience of what's going on with the boy band is normally, you'll have a thing you say.

But I love the fact that they were all taken individually at different times, and they were able to give their own individual experience of what being in a boy band was.

And I thought it was great, because there was even things that some of the boys said I didn't even know happened, and I know all the boys for 25 years, but you don't know what goes on mentally with people when they're in a band and the stuff that they go through.

And for me, it was very therapeutic for me to watch it as well, because I was able to relate to it because obviously, you know, with Westlife, we went through a lot of the same stuff that the boys did, and the news stories and kind of having to give up your life. We were only kids when we started this, you know, we went straight from school into being in a famous boy band, and your whole life is there for everybody to see.

The pair spoke about the release of their new song Save the Day and expressed gratitude for their second chance in the music industry.
One of Irelands most recognisable hoteliers, TV presenter and all-round national treasure, Francis Brennan has been everywhere from the foothills of the Himalayas to the streets of San Francisco. As co-host of long-running RTE series At Your Service (hes currently filming season 14) and former proprietor of the famed Park Hotel Kenmare, Francis brings a seasoned travellers eye to the world. Here, he shares his favourite escapes, most surprising trips, and why a world cruise is still on his wish list.

My favourite childhood holiday memory

My father was a grocer working seven days a week, so holidays were very scarce. Wed take a half-day on a Monday and go to the seaside. But the one I always remember was going down to Courtown and staying in a caravan with my cousins. I think we were about seven or eight, and it was the first time we were properly away from mam and dad. There were seven of us in the bed. Health and safety wouldnt allow it now! Ill never forget the chips we used to get from the chipper in Courtown with the salt and vinegar. Ive never had chips that tasted like that since.

My most memorable trip

India. Ive been there three times over the years and its just a shake for the senses. The colour, the style, the sheer number of people. I first went over 30 years ago, and then again about five years ago filming At Your Service.

The economic transformation in that time was incredible. The first time I went, the Taj Mahal was quiet  a few Indian families and mostly foreign tourists. When I went back, it looked like Croke Park on All-Ireland day. It was very encouraging to see so many Indian people now able to holiday. It was brilliant to see the economic life of India rising. They say it will be the biggest market for all of us in time.

Most surprising destination

All I ever heard about was how beautiful Bali was. But when I went there on the way back from Australia, I was really disappointed! It was filthy, the beaches werent nice, and the towns were all shacks. The big hotels  Accor, Meridien and others  went in 35 years ago and built luxury resorts. People go there and think everything is magnificent because the hotels keep their beachfront pristine. But when you leave the hotel, its a poor show. The sand is the same everywhere, its what surrounds you that matters. For me, Bali was way below expectations.

My favourite hotel

Chewton Glen

My favourite hotel is Chewton Glen in the New Forest.

It was run by a couple called the Skinners, and they were the first people to have a proper country house hotel in England. They had 104 staff  with four painters on staff full-time just to fix scuffs from suitcases! The gardens were magnificent, with huge displays of flowers and a beautiful driveway. The weather in that part of southern England is lovely, and everything about the place was just perfect.

My favourite city to visit

I love Venice. Its mystical. The canals, the streets, the shops, the food, the opera  everything. Its brilliant for three or four days, and theres plenty to see. You can take the vaporetto out to Murano and watch them make glass, and maybe bring some home in 77 different colours.

I was there once for a small luxury hotel conference, and we had the most magnificent dinner in a noble house along the canal. The whole city is like a dream. If you go in March or April, you miss the crowds and have a great time.

Most beautiful country

Honolulu is my favourite place for a holiday. Its very far from Ireland, which makes it feel even more special when you get there. Theres a great atmosphere, always 85 degrees and a breeze.

The beach is beautiful, and they keep it that way. Everything is compact, the hotels, shops, restaurants, and everything works well together. Ive been twice. Once, I even went scuba diving in a cave and saw fin sharks and electric eels. I still remember feeling a tail flick against my toes!

Favourite thing to do while travelling

I always do a walking tour. I think its the best way to orient yourself in a new place. I use companies like GuruWalk or Travel by Locals, and Ive had some brilliant experiences, like walking tours of the tiled steps in San Francisco or Grand Central Station in New York. You learn so much. I always do the hop-on and hop-off bus to see everything and decide where to go back to.

And I love the theatre. If Im in London or New York, Ill go to a show every night if I can.

My bucket list trip

I want to do a world cruise. Ive always wanted to, but I can never get the time.

The cruises are long 180 days or more  and I cant commit because At Your Service might need me, or one of the shops might. But someday Ill do it. I usually get to eventually.
A new therapy likely to change the face of prostate cancer treatment for men should be funded for public patients, according to almost 40 cancer consultants.

The doctors wrote to HSE CEO Bernard Gloster this week asking for negotiations with the makers of Pluvicto to continue. It benefits men with advanced metastatic prostate cancer. It was approved in France earlier this week and is used across eight EU countries and elsewhere.

The letter, seen by the Irish Examiner, states they understand the complexities involved in decisions of this nature on funding.

Clinicians worldwide involved in caring for these patients regard (Pluvicto) as a significant breakthrough therapy for patients with advanced disease, the letter states.

It offers the potential to prolong life, delay disease progression, and improve or maintain quality of life even in patients with very advanced disease. In many countries, it is already considered standard of care treatment in these patients.

It was developed for prostate cancer which has spread or metastasised and for men resistant to other treatment. The doctors said: Radioligand therapy is likely to change the face of prostate cancer treatment and that of many other cancer types also.

They raised concerns about inequitable access and "a two-tiered system" as patients with the funds can pay for it here. They said this goes against many of the key principles set out in the Slaintecare programme.

The group includes members of a National Cancer Control Programme working group.

They are Dr Martin Higgins, Cork University Hospital /University College Cork Cancer Centre; Professor Michaela Higgins, Irish Society of Medical Oncology president; Prof John Armstong, Irish Society of Radiation Oncology chairman; and Dr Mathilde Colombie, St Vincents University Hospital.

Other signatories work at CUH, the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork, University Hospital Limerick, University Hospital Galway, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, and Royal College of Surgeons Ireland.

HSE response

In response a HSE spokeswoman said: The application remains under consideration with the HSE. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.

The application is now with HSE Senior Leadership. In August last year the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics advised against funding when they compared its effects and value against existing treatments.

The HSE Drugs Group assessed it last month, and unanimously did not recommend favour of reimbursement the spokeswoman added.

The HSE robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.

A list of nine criteria are taken into account when making these decisions. These include the public health, benefits of this drug compared to existing care, cost effectiveness, the need for any new drug and the HSEs resources.
An executive director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the world is breaking the bodies and minds of the children of Gaza.

Irishman Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said people are complicit in what is happening in Gaza if they fail to act.

It comes as aid workers warn of an escalating humanitarian crisis following two months of an aid and food blockade.

Speaking this week, Dr Ryan described what is happening to the people of Gaza as an abomination.

We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza, Dr Ryan said.

The children of Gaza should not have to pay the price, as all children have done in the past, for the sins of anyone around them. This just has to stop

We are starving the children of Gaza, because if we dont do something about it, we are complicit in what is happening before our very eyes.

We are complicit. We are causing this, you, us and everyone who does nothing about it, its horrific.

The children of Gaza should not have to pay the price, as all children have done in the past, for the sins of anyone around them. This just has to stop.

Any right-thinking human being will stand up and say, this just must stop. As a doctor, as a physician, as someone watching more than 1,000 children without limbs, thousands of children with spinal cord injuries and severe head injuries from which theyll never recover, thousands and thousands of children with severe psychological distress that they may never recover from.

We are watching this unfold before our very eyes and were not doing anything about it. As a physician, Im angry. Im angry with myself that Im not doing enough.

Im angry with everyone here. Im angry with you. Im angry with the world.

This should not be happening. It cannot continue. We have to stop.

No aid has entered Gaza in over 8 weeks. Children are starving. Hospitals are lacking basic medicine.

This is the longest blockade since the war began and is completely unacceptable.

Ireland calls on Israel to lift the blockade & allow humanitarian aid in immediately. pic.twitter.com/Mx3c1YDUUe  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 2, 2025

This is an abomination. Its an abomination. We have to ask ourselves the question, how much blood is enough to satisfy whatever the political objectives are of any regime.

It comes after Tanaiste Simon Harris called on the international community to act now to avert further disaster.

No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza in over eight weeks as a result of the Israeli blockade. Children are starving. Hospitals are running out of basic painkillers, he said in a statement.

The World Food Programme has said that its food stocks are now depleted. Life-saving aid is available and urgently needed, but trucks cannot cross into Gaza.

It is unconscionable that the current suffering is continuing. This is the longest ban on aid entering Gaza since the start of the war.

The situation is unacceptable. In the circumstances, obstructing life-saving aid is a violation of Israels international obligations.

Ireland calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid.
Gardai have made two arrests after a massive heroin seizure in Dublin.

Officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau intercepted and searched a vehicle in Coolock on Friday.

During this search approximately 21 kilos of suspected heroin was seized, worth approximately 3m.

The drugs have been submitted to the Forensic Science Ireland for examination.

A man, aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene and another man, aged in his 40s, was arrested at a different location following additional enquiries.

Both men are currently detained at a Garda station in north Dublin.

The seizure is understood to be linked to 'The Family', Irelands most prominent drug trafficking gang, based in Ballyfermot, which has been repeatedly targeted by Gardai over the past year.

The heroin shipment is believed to be a joint operation between The Family and another major cartel led by the long-time north Dublin crime figure known as Mr Big.

Commenting on the operation Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime, Angela Willis said, "The sale and supply of heroin has an especially harmful impact, and not only destroys peoples own lives but leaves a lasting affect on entire communities in Ireland and elsewhere.

Disrupting heroin trafficking remains a central focus of our work.

"We will continue to target the criminal organisations that operate at a global level with the intention of impacting the lives of ordinary people all over this country.
A woman has been left shaken following an arson attack on a house in Derry, police have said.

Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses following a report of a fire at a house in the city in the early hours of Saturday.

Shortly after 3am, police and emergency services were called to the house in the Gweebara Park area.

Police said it is believed that a man approached the property and poured some form of accelerant onto the front porch and front door before setting it alight and then making off on foot.

He was described as wearing a dark-coloured hooded top, with the hood up and his face covered, and dark tracksuit bottoms.

Damage was caused to both the internal and external front door areas of the house.

The woman, who was in the property at the time, was not physically injured, but has been left shaken by the ordeal, police said.

Police are treating it as arson with intent to endanger life.

Anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything, or who may have CCTV or other video footage, is asked to contact police.

Alternatively, the public can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form at psni.police.uk/makeareport/
During a week of Kneecap living dangerously, it was another artist with Irish connections who came to mind. Back in 1989, Elvis Costello released his album Spike, including a song that was a powerful attack on Margaret Thatcher.

Costello snarled out the six minute Tramp The Dirt Down, which included the lines: When England was the whore of the world, Margaret was her madam. And the future looked as bright and as clear as the black tarmacadam.

The excoriating thrust of the song was to declare that the singer will be so happy when Thatcher dies, he will tramp the dirt down by dancing on her grave. It was released when Thatcher was still in her pomp as Britains prime minister.

To that extent, it was an example of snarling to power. In a society which had starkly divided views on Thatcher, Costello was voicing the pure hatred from those who fervently believed she had destroyed society as it was known.

Tramp the Dirt Down is an undervalued gem in the canon of protest songs, bristling as both a plaintive requiem and a venom-filled denunciation.

Some 36 years later, Thatcher features in Kneecap gigs. At Coachella a few weeks ago, Kneecap led the audience in a chant of Maggies in a box  a clear reference to Thatcher, who died in 2013.

This is a common feature of the bands set. The chant was spat out, but the vast bulk of the audience most likely hadnt a bulls notion who this Maggie was.

They certainly wouldnt have associated her  as Elvis Costello did  with trickle-down economics, the evisceration of the public sector in the name of private enterprise, and the economic division of England.

All they know is that Kneecap is happy shes in a box, and thats good enough for them

The Maggie in a box routine fits into Kneecaps veneration of so-called republican mythology.

Through deploying satire and irony, it remains unclear whether the band unequivocally subscribes to the retro republican chic that deigns there was no alternative to the Provisional IRAs violence. But Kneecap certainly like to give the impression of doing so.

Thatcher, through the lens of retro republican chic, was an evil person who cared nothing about human beings  particularly Irish people. Her role in the 1981 hunger strikes  nearly two decades before the Kneecap members were born  ensures that she has retained a place at the gates of hell in republican circles.

Hence, Kneecap  a contemporary hip-hop band speaking to and often for a generation of twentysomethings  manage to find a place of derision for her.

As a piece of political activism, it is akin to dancing on a grave rather than snarling to power. Its a similar story in one of the matters that this week landed Kneecap in the foul stuff.

Following the furore kicked up after the band displayed a screen saying Fuck Israel. Free Palestine at Coachella, footage from a London gig in 2023 surfaced.

One of the groups members is recorded telling the audience: The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP. Again, the reference appears designed for retro republican chic.

Margaret Thatcher, through the lens of retro republican chic, was an evil person who cared nothing about human beings  particularly Irish people. File Picture: PA

For a twentysomething audience, the Tories do not represent anything like they did in Thatchers Britain. The Tories, the Labour Party, and latterly Reform, all occupy much the same positions of indifference or contempt from a youthful British audience.

For Kneecap, the Gospel according to republican mythology is that the Tories were the Provoss primary enemies. As for killing them, that was attempted to spectacular effect at the Tory conference in Brighton in 1984  with a bomb designed to murder Thatcher and as many other Tories as possible. Five people lost their lives in that attack.

So much for nods to the past by accident or design. Unfortunately for Kneecap, Tory MP David Amess was murdered by an extremist in 2021 and MP Jo Cox  albeit from the Labour Party  was murdered 2016.

When youre rooting around in the past for some political affirmation, it would be a good idea to check whether the present is ok with that

Last year, Kneecap achieved a major breakthrough as a band. The eponymous biopic movie was a critical and commercial success  a rare achievement.

Usually, a band is long over the hill  and all its secrets and lies washed in public  before there is a ghost of a chance of such success.

Kneecaps origin in an Irish-speaking enclave of West Belfast, the bands bilingual and highly articulate rap, and an actual talent for acting provided the rare success.

The ability of the threepiece, Mo Chara (Liam Og O hAnnaidh), Moglai Bap (Naoise O Caireallain), and DJ Provai (JJ O Dochartaigh), as performers and songwriters began to flourish.

Having served an apprenticeship of around six years, the band was armed and ready to take on the world. And the world welcomed Kneecap with open arms.

The eponymous biopic movie was a critical and commercial success  a rare achievement.

It was, and still is, a refreshing presence, funny, and anarchic. The activism Kneecap espouse, whether it be highlighting the slaughter in Gaza, hitting out at racism in the North, or emphatically rejecting sectarianism sounds genuine but not preachy.

Kneecap manage to simultaneously appear as if it is out of its tree on success, yet retaining feet firmly on the ground and perspective always within reach.

Along with Fontaines DC, the band is at the forefront of a new wave of Irish talent.

In February 2024, Kneecap appeared on The Late Late Show.

Contrary to an earlier agreement, the band members displayed pro-Palestinian shirts in the middle of the interview  demonstrating their resolve not to be silenced.

Elsewhere, Kneecap were vocal in hitting out at rioters in Belfast last year who were targeting immigrants and throwing missiles at the police.

Theyre turning their anger at the wrong people, O Dochartaigh told The Observer.

A state that starved communities of funding should be the target. They should be aiming up  and not at these immigrants. Its not long ago that the Irish were treated the exact same way whenever we went to England and other places around the world.

People have a short memory

Its also the case that, up until last week, the band was indulged.

Nobody, bar a few unionists, paid much attention to Kneecaps brand of retro republican chic  irrespective of how off-key some of it was.

Any issue raised was dismissed and failed to get traction. And, to be fair, the three lads made an effort to emphasise they had no time for sectarianism, irrespective of what some unionist politicians attempted to portray. All of that may explain, to some degree, what befell the trio at Coachella.

As with all Kneecap concerts, there was a shout-out in solidarity with the nightmare being experienced in Gaza. Except, the US is not Ireland as far as the Middle East is concerned.

Sinn Fein's Caoimhe Archibald had said it is a matter for Kneecap whether the band apologises after a member of the group allegedly called for the death of Tory MPs.

What is viewed here as savage war crimes at the least, and quite probably an example of genocide, is considered through a different lens in America.

A recent poll in the US, conducted by the Brookings Institute, showed that just 9% of respondents believe a genocide is taking place, 27% opine that a major war crime is at issue, while 31% think Israels actions are justified as self-defence. Nearly a quarter replied they didnt know whether Israels actions were acceptable.

For people under 30, the numbers differed  with 17% classifying the actions as genocide, 37% as a major war crime, and just 14% as Israels actions being justified. What emerges is a country deeply divided on the issue  and not just on demographic lines.

That is in contrast to Ireland, where a significant majority believe that the Palestinian people are being murdered at a frightening and indiscriminate rate however the killing is classified.

Into that milieu, Kneecap offered an opinion that was stark and unvarnished

Fuck Israel. Free Palestine is a term that leaves open to partisan opinion an interpretation that it advocates for the annihilation of Israel with all the territory to be handed back to Palestinians.

At the very least, it provides ammunition for the entirely bogus claim that being opposed to Israels actions amounts to antisemitism.

Perhaps if Kneecaps distasteful references to Thatcher and other symbols of the Troubles had not been tolerated up to this point, a little more care might have been taken with the Yanks.

Others have tread this path. Sinead OConnor tore up a picture of the pope on SNL in 1992.

She got savaged for a gesture that, back home at that point in history, might have prompted offers to buy her a pint.

Much earlier than that, Bob Geldof landed in the US with the Boomtown Rats. He boiled with punk sensibility, giving two fingers to the various power centres in the US music business, as he had up until then on the other side of the Atlantic. The response was: Thanks, but no thanks Mr Geldof, get the hell out of here.

By contrast, U2 have always been cognisant of how things work stateside. Bono, through his activism in fighting Aids, opted for the quiet ear, putting up with politicians with whom he had little in common in pursuit of his bigger goal.

He has been criticised, particularly for his vocal timidity on Gaza, but a case can be made that his approach has a better chance of impacting on power centres stateside and across the world.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson had said that the Belfast bands balaclava has slipped when referring to the footage of Kneecaps London gig.

Kneecap don't do quiet or diplomacy. All it took after the display at Coachella was for Sharon Osbourne to kick up, and suddenly Kneecap was in the doghouse.

A retrospective view of the bands statements and declarations back in Britain took flight.

Apart from the Kill Tories quip at a 2023 gig, another from 2024 when one of the band shouted out Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah was hauled out.

Now, they were being cast as apologists for the kind of terrorists who raped Israeli women on October 7

A raft of their sold-out shows in the US were cancelled, as was a scheduled appearance at a festival in Cornwall and more gigs in Germany.

The British anti-terrorism police are investigating the comments. It would appear that where once Kneecap were indulged in whatever the band said, now the trio are getting hammered way beyond what might be considered reasonable.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Kneecap made plain that the band doesnt support any terrorist organisation: Let us be unequivocal: We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always.

They also apologised directly to the Amess and Cox families, but the response to that has been lukewarm at best.

The bands manager, Daniel Lambert, told RTE he believes Kneecap is being held to a higher standard than politicians, adding that much of the outrage is orchestrated to divert attention from the systemic slaughter in Gaza.

He has a point, but it will be a while before the fallout and the capacity for the band to recover becomes apparent.

Long before he set his pen on Thatcher, Elvis Costello had an episode that could have ended his career stateside. On an early US tour, he got into an argument with members of another band in a motel, where he referenced Ray Charles as a blind n******.

He was drunk at the time but, when it got out, he came under severe criticism. He was young and bolshie, but nobody really believed he was a racist and he survived.

Its a moot point as to whether he would have survived in todays less forgiving environment. However, there is always a way back and from the work so far, Kneecap is too good to fail.
Richard Satchwell sat almost motionless for much of this weeks murder trial as bizarre details about trying to buy monkeys, missing money, and a parrot autopsy were read to the court.

His head was bent so deeply forward, resting in his hand, that his expression was largely inscrutable as hours of media interviews were played in which he had appealed to his wife Tina to come home, sometimes through tears, all the time knowing that she was wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave under a stairwell in their Youghal, Co Cork, home.
Even with the sentencing this week of a juvenile for an Islamist-motivated attack, Garda inquiries in the case are still not finished.

While the court heard about jihadist material that the now 17-year-old had consumed online and downloaded on his digital devices, one piece of the jigsaw in explaining why he carried out such a horrific attack remains missing.

When he was arrested after the savage assault on military chaplain Fr Paul Murphy, at Renmore Barracks in Galway City, on August 15, 2024, the teenager had a mobile phone on him.

The Central Criminal Court was told that the teenager refused to give gardai access to his phone.

The detectives at Galway City Garda Station who led the prosecution were assisted in their investigations by the special detective unit  the forces dedicated anti-terrorism bureau.

However, neither were able to break into the phone. It was a problem that has bedevilled other police services, including the FBI.

We dont have a full picture, one source familiar with the matter told the Irish Examiner.

It might give a better idea of how he was radicalised and how he planned the attack. But a big unknown is: Was he in contact with anyone who might have been guiding him?

Even if that isnt the case, it is possible the phone might reveal communication with other like-minded people who could conduct similar violence  including in Ireland.

The teenager went on to plead guilty to the charge of the attempted murder of Fr Murphy. But still gardai could not access the phone.

The Irish Examiner understands gardai are continuing their efforts to access the phone, with some suggestions that it may be a matter of time.

The attack on Fr Murphy shows that considerable planning went into it, and it reveals the incredible determination on the part of the teenager to sustain a stabbing onslaught.

Considerable planning went into the teen's attack on Fr Paul Murphy. Picture: Collins Courts

The teenager, then 16, cycled across the city that night, locking his bike down a side road, before walking up towards the barracks.

At this stage, he had strapped a long scabbard inside his tracksuit trousers. It held an eight-inch serrated hunting knife, which he had ordered online.

The boy planned it, he parked his bike, walked up, and waited  he had plenty of time to pull out of it, a source said. But he didnt.

When Fr Murphy, dressed in civilian clothes, drove up to the gate, the boy approached the driver window and asked politely to speak to him.

Fr Murphy pulled his window about halfway and, immediately, the boy lunged at him and started stabbing.

In his victim impact statement, Fr Murphy said if he had fully opened his window he would be dead.

A combination of the car being an automatic and a flimsy gate saved him, and the jeep drove slowly through.

The teenager hung on to the car and continued stabbing. CCTV footage showed him. again and again, raising his arm high and driving it down.

One of his blows struck the top of the car with such force that the tip of the knife went through the roof.

Armed soldiers responded, calling on him to stop, and firing a total of five warning shots, before eventually tackling him to the ground.

Fr Murphy suffered seven deep wounds to both his arms, but luckily none to his neck or heart.

Fr Paul Murphy suffered seven deep wounds to both his arms. Picture: Collins Courts

The attack lasted almost 90 seconds, over a distance of more than 20m.

The judge described as disturbing the persistence of the teenager.

He told gardai his attack was in protest at the work of the Defence Forces in Mali, West Africa, and all the stuff in Islam.

The court heard that, when they searched his bedroom, they found an Islamic State flag and sketches of graphic beheadings in a notebook.

These, and an examination of his devices seized in the bedroom and his posts on various social media platforms, all formed a picture of a radicalised Islamist mindset.

The court heard that the teenager had undiagnosed autism at the time, with his defence barrister Sean Gillane SC citing its rigidity of thinking, fixated thinking, and impulsive actions. He said this did not excuse his actions.

The teenager had converted to Islam aged 15. He was also struggling to deal with the break-up of his parentss marriage, had found school difficult, and was isolated.

Mr Gillane said the teenager sought refuge online in a radical community, with a poisonous belief system.

Security sources have told the Irish Examiner there have been warnings about the possibility of such an attack in Ireland for years.

This was flagged for long enough; it was inevitable it was going to happen, one source said.

It [this case] should be a wake-up call for a whole-of-government response to radicalisation  from political extremism to religiously-inspired terrorism.

Inquiries reveal that while this is the first documented, publicly known incident of an Islamist-inspired attack in Ireland  there are others.

A second involves a murder, but is currently before the courts. In addition, there was a stabbing in Belfast last month.

A man was attacked by an 18-year-old in a case the PSNI said is a possible terrorist incident. Gardai are assisting the PSNI with their inquiries as the teenager lived in Dublin for more than a year.

Specialist detectives are trying to piece together details of his activities and associates in Ireland.

Extremist websites

In his sentencing, the judge raised the issue of the danger that violent and extremist websites pose to young people.

The judge warned of enormous consequences if this is not addressed.

Ciaran OConnor, a senior analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said online radicalisation content and extremist networks were designed to recruit vulnerable young people.

He said these were often young people who may be socially isolated, angry, and searching for their own identity.

He said: Online platforms, networks, and chats can offer people a sense of community and create pathways from disaffection or resentment into ideological echo chambers  where radicalisation takes place, extreme ideas are the norm, and violence is glorified and encouraged.

Extremist movements have been grooming young people like this online for years, be it Islamist or far right.

Former Defence Forces officer and security analyst Declan Power said the Fr Murphy case showed how a combination of mental health issues mixed with an irrational and radical reaction to events can be fatal.

He urged the State to take action and learn from other countries.

Radicalisation is not the preserve of Islamists. The Government should learn the lessons, good and bad, from our neighbours and partners. An ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure.

A fusion approach to training and information-sharing between education, health, and law enforcement professionals on the ground can be a step towards better protecting our society from the catastrophe of a combination of untreated mental health issues and unchallenged radical disinformation.

Britains counter-terrorism strategy, Contest, was established in 2003 and a fourth iteration of it was produced last July.

This includes its Prevent strategy, which works with frontline professionals  such as teachers, healthcare and social workers, police, community leaders, charities, psychologists, and religious groups  to identify and assist young people susceptible to radicalisation.

Ireland has no such strategy.

This incident, and other instances of violent extremism documented over the last few years, certainly raise questions over whether Irelands counterterrorism and wider security infrastructure is sufficiently resourced to respond to such threats, Mr OConnor said.

This is especially the case as we are now in an era of largely post-organisational extremism where, more and more, people become self-radicalised through a mix of factors like online networks, violent material, and disinformation, outside of formal group structures.
Britain's Prince Harry has claimed that King Charles will not speak to him because of his legal fight over his UK security, but that he does he want a reconciliation with his family.

In a BBC television interview after losing the latest round in his court battle, Harry, 40, said this, at the heart of it, is a family dispute.

When asked if King Charles had been approached to use his influence in Harrys legal problems, the prince appeared to imply the King was a hindrance, a comment likely to deepen the rift with his father and his brother, Prince William.

He said: Ive never asked him to intervene, Ive asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their job.

Harry said his father will not speak to him because of his legal dispute (Steve Parsons/PA)

The health of King Charles, who is being treated for cancer, was highlighted by his son, who said: And I said, life is precious. I dont know how much longer my father has, he, he wont speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.

Harry, who appeared emotional and close to tears through much of the interview, offered an olive branch, saying he could forgive my familys involvement, naming Charles, William and his stepmother Camilla, in events since he began dating his wife Meghan in 2016.

The rift between the Sussexes and the royal family opened significantly following their interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which they alleged a member of the family was concerned about their son Archies skin tone before he was born.

Then prince claimed in his controversial memoir, Spare, that William had physically attacked him, that Charles put his own interests above Harrys and was jealous of Meghan.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to California in 2020 (Yaroslav Sabitov/PA)

In a series of interviews to promote the book, Harry attacked the reputation of Camilla, saying her willingness to forge relationships with the British press made her dangerous, and he said she tried to rehabilitate her image at his cost.

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, said Harry.

He added But you know, I would love reconciliation with my family, and said there was no point in continuing to fight anymore.

Harrys level of security changed in 2020 when he and Meghan stepped down as working royals and moved to California for financial and personal freedom, and he suggested the royal family and officials hoped his realisation of the increased safety risk would force us to come back.

The prince lost a Court of Appeal challenge over his security arrangements while in the UK and said in the TV interview he cant see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK.

He failed in his appeal against 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 UK.

Harry has been fighting to challenge his level of security protection in the UK (Lucy North/PA)

But 2020, when that decision happened, I couldnt believe it. I actually couldnt believe it, said Harry.

He added: I thought, with all the disagreements and all of the chaos thats 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.

He also told the BBC: 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.

The prince said the protection given members of the monarchy was a form of control, saying: I think what really worries me more than anything else about todays decision, depending on what happens next, it set a new precedent that security can be used to control members of the family.

And effectively what it does is imprison other members of the family from being able to choose a different life.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Pakistan has test-fired a ballistic missile after tensions with India spiked following last weeks deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region.

The surface-to-surface missile has a range of 450 kilometres (about 280 miles), the Pakistani military said.

India blames Pakistan for the April 22 gun massacre in the resort town of Pahalgam, a charge Pakistan denies.

Pakistans military said the launch of the Abdali Weapon System was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features.

A Kashmiri woman walks near her home in Tilawari village (Dar Yasin/AP)

Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated those behind the successful test.

Missiles are not fired toward the border area with India. They are normally fired into the Arabian Sea or the deserts of south-west Balochistan province.

Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali said Saturdays missile was named after a prominent Muslim conqueror of India, underlining its symbolic significance.

The timing of this launch is critical in the current geopolitical context, Mr Ali told The Associated Press. He said the test was intended as a strategic signal to India after it threatened to suspend a crucial water-sharing treaty.

Indias navy said on April 27 that its vessels had successfully undertaken anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long-range precision offensive strike.

Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in Indias Foreign Ministry, said there was anger across the country following the gun attack. The 26 victims came from 13 different states.

Internationally, there is enormous sympathy for India and little patience with Pakistan, said Mr Malik. I dont believe anybody in India wants a full-fledged war. Even so, there is domestic pressure and diplomatic space for a sharp, targeted, and limited response.

The ongoing muscle flexing by both countries troops was reflective of the tense mood and also apparent in the unremitting hostilities on the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Kashmir, he said.

Kashmir is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety.

Kashmiri villagers stand outside their home (Dar Yasin/AP)

They have fought two of their three wars over the stunning Himalayan region and their ties have been shaped by conflict, aggressive diplomacy and mutual suspicion, mostly due to their competing claims over Kashmir.

The latest flare-up led the two countries to expel each others diplomats and nationals, as well as the closing of airspace.

On Saturday, India suspended the exchange of all mail from Pakistan through air and surface routes and slapped an immediate ban on the direct and indirect import of all goods from its neighbour.

India has also banned Pakistani-flagged ships from entering its ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from visiting Pakistani ports.

Indias military said on Saturday that Pakistani troops had fired at positions across the border for a ninth consecutive night. The statement called the firing unprovoked and said Indian troops responded promptly and proportionately.

Pakistan did not confirm the exchange of fire at the Line of Control.

The incident could not be independently verified. In the past, each side has accused the other of starting border skirmishes.
US president Donald Trump has shared an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as the pope on social media.

Mr Trumps post drew rebuke among Italians from a group representing Catholic bishops in New York.

It comes as the mourning of Pope Francis continues and just days before the papal conclave is set to begin.

The image, shared Friday night on Mr Trumps Truth Social profile and Instagram account and later reposted by the White House on its official X account, raised eyebrows on social media and at the Vatican, which is still in the period of nine days of official mourning following Franciss death on April 21.

Catholic cardinals have been celebrating daily Masses in his memory and are due to open the conclave to elect his successor on Wednesday.

The death of a pope and the election of another is a matter of utmost solemnity for Catholics, for whom the pope is Christs vicar on Earth.

That is all the more true in Italy, where the papacy is held in high esteem even by non-religious Italians.

The image, which features Mr Trump in a white cassock and pointed mitre, or bishops hat, was the topic of several questions during the Vaticans daily conclave briefing on Saturday.

Italian and Spanish news reports lamented its poor taste and said it was offensive, given that the period of official mourning is still underway.

Left-leaning former premier Matteo Renzi said the image was shameful.

This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around, Mr Renzi wrote on X.

Meanwhile, the US economy risks recession and the dollar loses value. The sovereigntists are doing damage, everywhere.

The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, declined to comment.

In the United States, the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops of the state in working with government, accused Mr Trump of mockery.

There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President, they wrote.

We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St Peter. Do not mock us.

Italys left-leaning La Repubblica also featured the image on its homepage on Saturday with a commentary accusing Mr Trump of pathological megalomania.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the backlash to the image or why the president had shared the image.

The mourning of the late Pope Francis is still ongoing in the Vatican, with the conclave to replace him beginning on Wednesday (Andrew Medichini/AP)

The episode comes after Mr Trump joked last week about his interest in the vacancy.

Id like to be pope. That would be my number one choice, the thrice-married president, who is not Catholic, told reporters.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Mr Trump, piled on.

I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility! Mr Graham wrote on X. The first Pope-US President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke. Trump MMXXVIII!

Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic and was one of the last foreign officials to meet with Francis before the pope died, also joked about secretary of state Marco Rubio becoming pope, suggesting Mr Rubio could add it to the long list of titles he holds, including national security adviser and acting archivist.

Beyond floating himself for the job, Mr Trump also has put in a plug for Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York.

I have no preference. I must say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out a place called New York whos very good. So well see what happens, he said.

Cardinal Dolan, 75, is one of 10 American cardinals who will be voting in the conclave, but Mr Trumps pitch might have cost the cardinal support.

The reason conclaves are held in secrecy, with cardinals sequestered for the duration, is to prevent outside secular powers from influencing their choice, as occurred in centuries past.

Cardinals will convene in the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave on Wednesday (Andrew Medichini/AP)

There is an old saying about campaigning for the job of pope or of being promoted excessively, especially by outsiders: If you enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal.

While Mr Trump attended Franciss funeral, he and Mr Vance have clashed with US bishops in general and Francis in particular over the administrations hard-line stance on immigration and its efforts to deport migrants en masse.

Right before he was admitted to hospital in February for pneumonia, Francis issued a strong rebuke of the administrations mass deportation plans and Mr Vances theological justification of it.

Over 12 years as pope, Francis tried to remake the US Catholic hierarchy more in his image, elevating pastors who prioritised social justice and migration issues over culture warriors who were more favoured by his more doctrinaire predecessors St John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

A new pope who is more conservative could reverse that effort.

For his ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Trump has nominated Brian Burch, whose Catholicvote.org has been aggressively covering the pre-conclave days at the Vatican.

It was one of the main disseminators in English-speaking media of a report, flatly and officially denied by the Vatican, that Cardinal Pietro Parolin had a health scare this past week that required medical attention.

Cardinal Parolin was the secretary of state under Francis and is seen as a leading contender to be pope.

He is also the main architect of the Vaticans China policy and its controversial 2018 deal with Beijing over bishop nominations  a deal that was sharply criticised by the first Trump administration.
Prince Harry of Britain has failed in his legal attempt to reinstate his UK police protection, which was scaled back by the government when he stepped away from royal duties and relocated abroad.

The Duke of Sussex was absent during the ruling at Londons Court of Appeal, where Judge Geoffrey Vos noted he could not conclude that the Dukes feelings of grievance formed a valid legal basis to contest the decision regarding the reduction of his security measures.

The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) had determined that he would receive a different level of protection while in the UK.

In delivering a summary of the judgment that denied the dukes appeal, the judge remarked that the arguments made by his barrister, Shaheed Fatima KC, were compelling and heartfelt, adding that it was clear that the Duke of Sussex felt unjustly treated by the system.

He further stated: The duke was essentially alternating between being part of the protection cohort established by Ravec.

When outside the UK, he was not included in the cohort, but during his time in the UK, his security would be deemed appropriate.

Judge Vos concluded: It was impossible to assert that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate; in fact, it appeared quite sensible.

He also mentioned that Ravecs decision was understandable and perhaps anticipated.
Im RFE/RL correspondent Kian Sharifi. In this edition, Im looking at the potential economic impact of a massive explosion at Irans Shahid Rajaei port and whether it will impact Iranian trade and hopes for foreign investment.

What You Need To Know

( RFE/ RL )   Trade Braces For Shock After Port Explosion: The massive explosion at Irans Shahid Rajaei port on April 26 is unlikely to cripple Irans economy, but it poses a big shock to the countrys 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 countrys 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/RLs Radio Farda that while the explosion was unlikely to cripple Irans 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 Irans 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 Irans 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 worlds oil trade passes.

Commonly dubbed Irans golden gateway to international commerce by Iranian media, Shahid Rajaei port manages about 85 percent of the nations container throughput, over half of its overall trade, and 70 percent of its transit shipments.

Whats Being Said: Hossein Zafari, a spokesman for Irans crisis management agency, suggested the explosion may have resulted from improperly stored chemical materials within containers at the port.



Bandar Abbas cleanup. Photo by Meysam Mirzadeh. Via Tasnim News . Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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.

Thats all from me for now.

Until next time,

Kian Sharifi
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  The massive wildfires that broke out near Jerusalem and which threatened residents of the city appear to have been largely extinguished, though some embers have reportedly blazed back up.

The fires have provoked a vicious blame game inside Israel. The Jerusalem Post argued that the current extremist government cut funding for the firefighting service in order to give more money to Ultra-Orthodox Jews, one of its constituencies. Haaretz blamed Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir for not following through on the order of fire-fighting helicopters initiated in 2022 before the present government came to power, characterizing his leadership as clownish. Ben-Gvir is the Israel equivalent of a Neo-Nazi, however, so that accusation is an insult to clowns.

The son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair, attempted to blame the Israeli left for sabotage in setting the fires. But the prime minister himself appears to want to fix the blame on Palestinian-Israelis, though there is no proof they were involved. Ironically, some Palestinians themselves intimated on social media that Israeli squatters conducting sabotage against Palestinians set fires that spiraled out of control.

Whatever the proximate cause of these wildfires, the actual villain of the piece is climate breakdown, caused by human beings spewing billions of metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, by burning gasoline, coal and fossil gas. The average temperature of the earths surface is heating up twice as fast in the Middle East as the global average, producing extra aridity and heat that are conducive to wildfires.

A few years ago an Israeli commission report leaked to the press concluded that the climate crisis will lead to an increase in unstoppable massive wildfires in Israel. The Commission warned, A significant increase in wildfires is expected throughout the Mediterranean basin. Therefore, reliance on international assistance may prove to be impractical. That is, ordinarily Greece or Italy might help in such situations, but they are facing their own wildfire menace.

The Commission warned that Israeli firefighting capacity could be overwhelmed by the climate breakdown. Commission head Nissim Twito told Haaretz, The great danger we will have to face in coming years is an increase in the intensity and number of massive wildfires. We are on borrowed time and the question is not will it come, but when.

Another problem is the planting of pine forests, mostly for recreation and tourism rather than for lumber, pursued by Israeli immigrants from Europe who did not appreciate the local ecology.



Wildfire, Digital, ChatGPt, 2025

Political Scientist Ghada Sasa argues in her Oppressive pines: Uprooting Israeli green colonialism and implanting Palestinian Awna, Political Studies, Volume 43, Issue 2 (2022) that Israeli colonialists planted pine forests, which are especially vulnerable to wildfires, displacing the olive and fruit trees that had been cultivated by indigenous Palestinian farmers. Olive and citrus trees and grape vines are fire resistant, since they store water and are leafy. They also act as firebreaks to wildfires.

Israeli squatters in the Palestinian West Bank are estimated to have destroyed as many as one million olive trees, in a bid to deprive indigenous Palestinians of their livelihoods. Sometimes they have managed to burn the orchards. Olives are resistant to wildfires, but they will burn if people throw accelerants on them and specifically set fire to them.

Professor Sasa writes,

So part of the problem here is that European settler-colonialists in Palestine favored the pine forests of their homelands in Europe, and planted en masse precisely the wrong kind of tree for an increasingly arid Middle East that is prone to wildfires. Israelis need to listen to indigenous Palestinians about the need instead for olive, orange, grape and other cultivation that combats the wildfires. They need to listen and make use of this indigenous knowledge instead of setting fire to orchards and trying to ethnically cleanse another seven million people.
Written by Walid El Houri

( Global Voices )  Since the start of the war on Gaza, the world has witnessed the deadliest period for journalists in modern history. The number of journalists killed by Israel during this war vary drastically depending on the source: while often local organizations in Gaza report the highest numbers, international watchdogs often cite lower figures. This disparity is rooted in contested definitions  who is considered a journalist, and who is not?

On April 7, 2025 Euro-Med Monitor reported that the number of journalists killed by Israel in Gaza has risen to at least 211, a number that predates the killing of journalist Fatima Hassouna and her family days after the report. Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) puts the number at 210 in addition to 398 injured and 48 detained, and 88 institutions destroyed by Israeli strikes, most of them in Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports 176 journalists and media workers killed: 168 Palestinian, two Israeli, and six Lebanese, making this war the deadliest ever recorded by the organization. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) cite similar, though not identical, numbers.

The discrepancy in numbers often comes down to definition. While some count anyone engaged in gathering or disseminating news  including freelancers, fixers, camera operators, and social media reporters, many of whom may lack formal press credentials but are nonetheless essential in chronicling life under siege  some international organizations, tend to require formal accreditation or a certain level of professional activity to classify someone as a journalist, excluding many who are actively reporting from the ground in a besieged warzone where international journalists are barred by Israel from access unless embedded with the Israeli army.

But one fact remains indisputable: since October 7, the largest number of people covering the reality of war have been killed in a single conflict.

Killed with their families

The tragedy is compounded by the circumstances of many deaths: dozens of journalists were killed alongside their families, often as their homes were bombed without warning. The CPJ, PJS, and RSF have documented numerous cases where entire families perished. For example, veteran journalist Mohammed Abu Hatab, a correspondent for Palestine TV, was killed along with at least 11 members of his family in Khan Younis in early November 2023, after his home was hit by an Israeli airstrike. The image of his bloodied press vest became emblematic of the risks faced by Gazas reporters.

Haneen Mima, whose sister, journalist Salam Mima was killed by Israel in October 2023, speaks of surviving attacks that killed her loved ones leaving her to take care of her sisters son, the only surviving member of the family. Such narratives, like the one of iconic journalist Wael al-Dahdouh who lost most of his family in Israeli airstrikes and was wounded himself, reflect the double trauma of personal loss and continued professional danger.

In one of the most recent and poignant cases, young Palestinian journalist and filmmaker Fatima Hassouna was killed alongside her entire family in Rafah on April 16, 2024, just one day after the film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk by Iranian director Sepideh Farsi featuring conversations between Farsi and Hassouna was selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival. A video of Hassouna, radiating joy as she learned of the Cannes selection, circulated widely on social media, turning her into a symbol of Gazas lost promise and creativity. The film, which depicts daily life under blockade, will now serve as a posthumous testament to her talent and the heavy cost of silencing Gazas storytellers.

Before her death, Hassouna wrote on social media: If I die, I want a loud death. I dont want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group.

Her message echoes that of other colleagues who left messages to the world posthumously or before their killing. This was the case with Al Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat who wrote:

No justice, no accountability

Local journalists in Gaza have repeatedly raised their voices against this unprecedented level of targeting. At vigils and in broadcasts, they recounted the trauma of reporting on the deaths of friends, colleagues, and family members. Despite such appeals, the targeting has continued unabated. Press freedom organizations have called for independent investigations, but few have materialized and none inside Gaza.

Agence France Presse photojournalist Christina Assi nearly died during the deliberate Israeli attack on a group of journalists reporting in southern Lebanon on October 13, 2023 which killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah. During a public talk at the Perugia International Journalism Festival, she said that The cameras are turning us into targets and the press vest is basically a death sentence right now.

Assi added, [A] few days ago I woke up to the horrific image of Palestinian journalist Ahmad Mansour who was burning alive and the entire world watched that. Its horrific. When will it ever stop?

During the same festival, many participants held a minute of silence, each holding the name of one of the 220 journalists reported killed since October 7. The somber act was a rare moment of collective recognition in a global media landscape often accused of downplaying Palestinian suffering.

If it wasnt for modern medicine and for my amazing medical team I wouldnt be sitting here today, Assi explained, a statement that reflects the added risks for people in Gaza where healthcare has been nearly obliterated.

We still did not have our justice and there were no details or investigations from the Israeli side, Assi added. We were only met by silence and the normalization of violence against journalists. I want to know who did this to us and I want to see whoever did this, in court.

Western media bias

As these crimes against the press continue, they compound longstanding concerns about the silencing of Palestinian narratives and bias in Western media, and in some cases, complicity with Israels framing of the conflict. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has called Israels actions in Gaza a plausible case of genocide, and other reports have concluded that a genocide is indeed taking place.

Meanwhile, After more than a year and a half no major Western media outlet has managed to send independent reporters into Gaza. Barred by Israel from reporting independently from inside Gaza, foreign journalists are only allowed access if embedded with the Israeli army.

At the same time, little international pressure has been brought to bear on Israel regarding press targeting. Statements of condemnation occasionally issue from rights and press freedom organizations, but meaningful accountability has remained elusive. The United Nations and several NGOs have called for independent investigations, yet, as of April 2024, no such inquiry has led to consequences.

As the toll mounts, so too does the sense of abandonment felt by Gazas journalists who continue to witness and report in the most difficult conditions.
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.
South Africa's government handed to his family Saturday the exhumed remains of a political activist whose execution by the apartheid regime 40 years ago caused an international outcry.

The ceremony for Benjamin Moloise came amid new scrutiny of politically motivated atrocities committed during white-minority rule, which ended in 1994, with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing last week an inquiry into delays in prosecutions.

Apartheid authorities hanged Moloise in 1985 when he was 30 years old for the killing of a security policeman, which he denied.

His execution sparked riots in South Africa and protests from several international capitals.

The United Nations passed a resolution calling for the death sentence to be commuted and Pope John Paul II condemned the execution as adding "anguish to a persistent situation of objective injustice".

The remains of another ANC activist executed by the apartheid government, Abraham Mngomezulu, were given to his family at the same ceremony in Johannesburg's Soweto.

Mngomezulu was hanged in 1989 aged 23 after taking part in protests against evictions in which a person was killed, the government said.

Both men were buried in unmarked graves without the presence of their families.

Their reburial "marks an important milestone in South Africa's ongoing journey towards healing, justice, and reconciliation," the ministry said.

The remains of 74 other people executed by the previous regime had already been handed to their relatives for reburial, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said in a speech for the ceremony.

The government was "determined to ensure that the heroes of our people receive the recognition befitting their contribution to the liberation of black people," she said.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) created in 1996 to expose crimes such as murder and torture during apartheid held 2,500 hearings over two years with the possibility of offering amnesty.

It has resulted in few trials and Ramaphosa announced Wednesday a judicial inquiry into claims of deliberate delays in prosecutions.

Inquests into deaths of some political activists have meanwhile been reopened this year, including that of ANC leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Luthuli, who died in 1967.

An inquest that year said Luthuli was killed when he was struck by a train.






Saturday, May 3, 2025 - A Nigerian man, Christian Baledi Kadima alias Erick Kambaye Katalayi, has been sentenced to forty years imprisonment for the brutal murder of his fiancee, Advocate Elizabeth Koki Musyoki.

Hon. Justice Francis Rayola Olel of the Machakos High Court found Kadima guilty of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code (Cap 63) of the Laws of Kenya and sentenced him accordingly.

The court heard that on the evening of January 7th, 2021, at Ferndale Court in Syokimau, Athi River Sub-County, Machakos County, Kadima visited Elizabeth, who had reportedly been feeling unwell.

What began as a seemingly routine visit quickly turned fatal. According to testimony from the house help, loud noises erupted from the couples bedroom, followed by Kadima leaving in a hurry, breathing heavily and looking troubled.

The next morning, Elizabeths lifeless body was discovered, her face covered with blood-stained pillows.

A post-mortem conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Odour concluded that Elizabeth died from asphyxia due to suffocation.

The autopsy further revealed bruises on her neck and internal injuries, consistent with a vicious struggle. Kadima had initially pleaded not guilty when arraigned in court on February 9th, 2021.

The prosecution team, led by Mr. Dennis Mangare and Ms. Mary Otulo, built a compelling case, presenting fourteen witnesses who helped establish Kadimas culpability beyond reasonable doubt.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, May 3, 2025 - The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has issued a statement distancing itself from four Kenyan filmmakers arrested in connection with the controversial Blood Parliament documentary.

The filmmakers, Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, MarkDenver Karubiu, and Chris Wamae, were released on free bond on Saturday, May 3rd, after spending the night in police custody at Pangani and Muthaiga police stations.

Their arrest on Friday followed a police raid on their Karen-based studio, during which their filming equipment and hard drives were seized.

Initially, the four were not formally charged, raising questions about the legality of their detention.

However, fresh reports later indicated they had been charged with false publication and were allegedly compelled to give statements without access to legal counsel.

Their lawyer, Ian Mutiso, confirmed their release and raised concerns about the handling of the case.

When I spoke to the DCIO in Pangani, he told me this case is being handled from DCI headquarters.

That is deeply concerning, and I intend to follow up, he said.

Blood Parliament, produced by BBC Africa Eye, showed the involvement of Kenyas National Police Service and the Kenya Defence Forces in fatal shootings during the June 25, 2024 Gen Z-led protests.

The BBC has clarified that the four arrested individuals were not involved in producing the documentary.

We have been made aware of the arrest of four journalists in Kenya. To confirm, they were not involved in any way in the making of BBC Africa Eyes Blood Parliament documentary. Statement read.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, May 3, 2025 - Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, were among the notable guests who attended the wedding of David James Kimoi, son of KANU Chairman and former Baringo Senator, Gideon Moi.

The elegant, private ceremony brought together close family, political allies, and friends to celebrate the union of James and his bride.

While delivering brief remarks during the event, Uhuru appeared to take a veiled jab at President William Rutos administration, particularly over its recent handling of Gen Z-led protests and criticism on social media.

I had a biological father and a political father who mentored me when I was young.

Mzee Moi was not afraid of young people, unlike those in Government today, Uhuru said, drawing applause from the crowd.

His remarks were widely interpreted as criticism of the current administrations crackdown on youth and online dissent, particularly following recent protests demanding Government accountability and action against corruption.

The former Presidents comments, delivered in a relaxed yet pointed manner, have since sparked conversation online, with many praising his show of solidarity with the younger generation.

Uhuru Kenyatta: I had a biological father and a political father who mentored me when I was young. Mzee Moi was not afraid of young people like the ones in government today. pic.twitter.com/kz25yhIDBl  Cornelius K. Ronoh (@itskipronoh) May 3, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, May 3, 2025 - The U.S Government has strongly condemned attempts by senior Government officials to intimidate or silence journalists in Kenya.

In a statement issued on Saturday, May 3rd, World Press Freedom Day, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Marc Dillard emphasized the crucial role journalists play in safeguarding democracy.

He noted that although media scrutiny can make public officials uncomfortable, the press remains essential in ensuring transparency and accountability.

By asking questions and holding those in power accountable, journalists play a vital role in protecting democracy, said Dillard.

Sometimes the media's work makes officials, including me, uncomfortable, but even with that, I know their work is invaluable.

Dillard stressed the U.S Governments opposition to any efforts aimed at censoring or threatening journalists.

This World Press Freedom Day, as journalists face censorship and threats, the U.S. Embassy celebrates the value of a free press that tells the truth boldly, he added.

His remarks come at a time when Kenyan journalists are grappling with increasing cases of harassment, including physical attacks, legal intimidation, and online threats - often from rogue security officers.

On April 10th, at least six journalists were reportedly assaulted by police while covering the arrest of former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala in Nakuru County.

More recently, four filmmakers linked to the BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood Parliament were arrested on May 2nd in Nairobi under controversial circumstances.
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Three ambitious software engineers living in Kildare have pleaded guilty to stealing more than 3,500 worth of goods during a series of thefts from Ikea in Dublin.

Monnisha Nimma, 27, Ms Sai Radhika Kavuri, 32, and 34-year-old Sri Ravikiran Garimella, each with an address at Station Walk, Newbridge pleaded guilty on Friday to stealing from the furniture chains Ballymun outlet on three dates in January.

Detective Garda Anthony Galbraith told Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court that on 11, 18 and 25 January, the two female defendants and Mr Garimella, and two others, who have not been identified, took a large quantity of materials and failed to pay for same.

They left the store twice with 1,350 worth of property and goods valued at 852 the next time.

Following enquiries, the detective went to their shared home on 16 February and searched the property, recovering a significant portion of the loot. One person was arrested and made full admissions.

Detective Garda Galbraith said the other two later came to Ballymun station with more stolen goods.

The detective said most of the property, valued in total 3,526, was recovered and in a saleable condition. He added that they were cooperative, held their hands up and made admissions, and he said that was unusual.

Judge Cronin noted that the three defendants, who did not address the court, had no prior convictions and had never come to Garda attention before.

The court heard that, but for the quantity, the three housemates could have been eligible for an adult caution instead of a court prosecution.

Their solicitor, Carol Slattery, said that her well-educated clients were from India and came to Ireland about five years ago. The court heard the defendants, who are on bail, had work visas and were full-time software engineers.

Ms Slattery described them as young and ambitious with good future job prospects who wished to become Irish citizens, and this case could have a severe impact on that.

The solicitor said they realised the seriousness of their situation and the consequences they faced, were apologetic and would take any opportunity to rectify this wrong.

Ms Slattery said that they had no reasonable explanation other than "foolishness of the highest order".

However, the solicitor submitted that they were unlikely to reoffend and pleaded with Judge Cronin to consider a restorative justice approach given their lack of previous convictions, the guilty pleas and their cooperation.

The detective confirmed he had already discussed that with Ikea; the firm was agreeable to participate, having previously engaged in the restorative justice process in similar prosecutions. Detective Garda Galbraith said Ikea was more than happy to do so again in this case.

Judge Cronin remarked that that was helpful because few victims wish to be involved.

She adjourned the case until July for a probation report on their suitability for inclusion in the programme, which, if completed, can spare first-time offenders a criminal conviction.
Kilkenny has long had a reputation as a centre of creativity, craft and culturebut in recent years, it has also become something else: the beating heart of Irelands renowned animation industry.

Nominations for the 2025 Irish Animation Awards were released this week, and the presence of local studios looms large, driving home that fact. Homegrown studios Cartoon Saloon and Lighthouse Studios are once again flying the black and amber flag high, getting a jury nod in more than a dozen areas.

For years, we have celebrated our well-earned reputation as a festival capital, a tourism hub, for craft excellence  and of course  some of the mightiest hurlers ever to grace a pitch. These are what people think of when they think of Kilkenny.

We can now add to that in saying that Kilkenny has become a leading light in animation. The city attracts international collaborations, tourism tied to animation, and young creatives looking to build careers.

We salute Cartoon Saloon and Lighthouse Studios for their achievements, and for the pride they help bring to Kilkenny. As the awards approach at the end of May, we wish them every success.

IPAS CENTRES

The ongoing debate over suitable accommodation for International Protection applicants has been causing a stir again this week, with rumours rife of plans to convert a variety of different disused buildings to that purpose.

On Monday, three local sites mooted as such were ruled out. It has left some local people feeling anxious and confused as they  and even Kilkenny County Council are left in the dark.

The Department of Integration needs to provide more transparency and engage with local communities and council.

Some of these locations already suffer from lack of infrastructure and investment. We should also heed Cllr Sean O hArgains warning that some of the debate is being hijacked by bad faith actors who are trying to stir things up.

READ MORE: WHAT'S ON IN KILKENNY
Kilkenny Arts Festival has announced some early highlights for its 2025 classical music programme.

Irelands premier performance ensembles will take centre stage alongside the highly-anticipated Irish premiere concert theatre staging of Secret Byrd with the Gesualdo Six and Fretwork. The beautiful venues will include St Canices Cathedral and a welcome return to the Black Abbey.

Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, and the festivals orchestra in residence, Irish Chamber Orchestra, led by Katherine Hunka, all return to the Marble City in a celebration of a chamber music, while the festival provides a stage for some of Irelands finest young voices, welcoming back the Irish Youth Choir under the baton of Kilkenny native Patrick Barrett.

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of this years festival will be Bill Barclays critically acclaimed Secret Byrd in a special immersive presentation. Part promenade, part concert, and part immersive theatre, Secret Byrd celebrates the father of English music in the glorious acoustic of the Black Abbey. That takes place at the Black Abbey, Wednesday and Thursday, August 12 and 13.

READ MORE: WHAT'S ON IN KILKENNY

Paul Hillier helms a celebration of Arvo Part at 90 with Chamber Choir Ireland at St Canices Cathedral on Tuesday, August 12.

New artistic partner to ICO Henning Kraggerud directs a special programme for his Kilkenny debut including works by Barber, JS Bach, Lili Boulanger, Amy Beach and Mahler at St Canices Cathedral on Friday, August 15; while Peter Whelans Irish Baroque Orchestra perform Handels Alexanders Feast in advance of their BBC Proms debut with the same programme.

Featuring Aisling Kenny, Hugh Cutting and Stuart Jackson at St Canices Cathedral on Thursday, August, 14.

The Irish Youth Choir was a regular feature of the festival in years gone by, and KAF is particularly pleased to welcome them back with a programme chosen by the members of the choir, including new work by Rhona Clarke  whose work was rapturously received by Kilkenny audiences in 2023. Thats set for St Canices Cathedral on Tuesday, August 13.

DELIGHTED

Were delighted to announce headline events from the classical music programme at St Canices Cathedral with the finest Irish ensembles alongside the Irish premiere of Secret Byrd with Gesualdo Six and Fretwork at the Black Abbey, said Kilkenny Arts Festival Director Olga Barry.
Kilkenny farmers are being uged to be SunSmart, this summer, in a new campaign.

Bord Bia, in partnership with the HSEs National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and Healthy Ireland, has launched a collaborative campaign to raise awareness among Irish farmers of the importance of being SunSmart.

The initiative will run throughout the summer to encourage Bord Bias farmer members to protect their skin while working outdoors.

From May 1 to August 31, Bord Bia auditors will distribute SunSmart for Farmers leaflets to all beef, dairy, and sheep farmers during their Bord Bia audit. With approximately 780 farms visited weekly by Bord Bia auditors, the campaign will reach over 12,000 farmers during the peak UV exposure season.

Read next: 'A Bully' - Public slam 'aggressive' 'so called' Kilkenny hurling supporter

Over the summer months, Bord Bia auditors will encourage farmers to take and read the SunSmart for Farmers leaflet, Eoghan Geraghty, Agricultural Sustainability Co-ordinator with Bord Bia commented.

Through this simple step, we hope to prompt farmers to better protect their skin from the sun every day, whether out in the field, inside the tractor cab, or on a cloudy day.

Ann-Marie Lawlor, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer with the HSE added: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with those working outdoors particularly at risk. Farmers and other outdoor workers receive two to three times more UV radiation than those working indoors, making them more vulnerable to skin cancer.

Through this joint initiative with Bord Bia, were placing life-saving advice directly in farmers hands. Small protective habits today can make a big difference for long-term health.



ABCDE Checks

The SunSmart for Farmers leaflet outlines clear, actionable steps that farmers can take to protect themselves from sun damage, including checking their skin and moles regularly for changes. The leaflet features the ABCDE checklist to help farmers know when a mole or patch of skin might be melanoma skin cancer:

A = Asymmetry  when one half of the mole is not the same as the other.

B = Border. The edges of the mole are irregular, blurry or jagged.

C = Colour. The mole is uneven in colour. It might have different shades of black, brown and pink in it.

D = Diameter. This refers to the size of the mole. Melanomas may grow more than 6mm, which is the width of a pencil.

E = Evolution. This means that the mole is changing. The mole may change in size, shape, or colour. It may also start to itch or bleed. Normal moles usually stay the same size, shape and colour.

This campaign forms part of the HSE and Healthy Irelands wider SunSmart awareness efforts, encouraging people across Ireland to enjoy the sun safely and reduce their risk of skin cancer.
Two men are being questioned by gardai following a significant heroin seizure during a pre-planned operation in Dublin targeting organised crime.

Gardai say as part of ongoing investigations targeting transnational and Dublin based organised crime gangs, they seized approximately 3 million worth of heroin during an operation on Friday.

"Garda members from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau intercepted and searched a vehicle in the Coolock area. During this search approximately 21 kilos of suspected heroin was seized," said a garda spokesperson who added that the drugs have been submitted to the Forensic Science Ireland for examination and analysis.

One man, aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene and another man, aged in his 40s, was arrested at a different location following additional enquiries.

Gardai say both men are currently detained at a garda station in north Dublin under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

READ NEXT: ALERT: Gardai appeal for help in locating Dublin man who vanished more than a month ago

Commenting on the operation Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime, Angela Willis said: "The sale and supply of heroin has an especially harmful impact, and not only destroys peoples own lives but leaves a lasting affect on entire communities in Ireland and elsewhere.

"Disrupting heroin trafficking remains a central focus of our work and we will continue to target the criminal organisations that operate at a global level with the intention of impacting the lives of ordinary people all over this country.

Subject to court orders, the men who are currently in custody can be detained without charge for up to seven days.
A Kilkenny student has been named national winner of the third annual Oireachtas Essay Competition

Patrick Galvin, Abbey Community College, Ferrybank, was presented with his award last week. He was praised for writing a "thoughtful and balanced reflection on the significance of individual and political liberty in the context of nineteenth and twentieth century Irish history.

Patrick is no stranger to top essay-writing achievements. He also previously won the Grainne ONeill Memorial Legal Essay Competition for TY students.

Students from Counties Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Louth and Mayo, accompanied by their parents/guardians and teachers, attended the awards ceremony in Leinster House where they received cash prizes and certificates. A further 12 students, from Counties Dublin, Wexford, Mayo, Galway, Antrim, Cork, and Kerry will receive Highly Commended Awards in their schools in the coming weeks.



The event was attended by 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.



Presenting the prizes, the Competition Founding Patron, Sean O Fearghail TD, 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.~

READ NEXT: Kilkenny school wins top prize at the AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards

We are delighted with the growing support for Aiste an Oireachtais  with a significant increase this year in the number of entries received, says Competition Convenor, Senator Ronan Mullen. 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.



The Oireachtas Essay Competition was devised by Senator Mullen with the support of the Ceann Comhairles Office and the Oireachtas Education Unit.



Senior Cycle students and AS/A Level students across the island of Ireland are invited to submit essays in Irish or English and to compete for a prize fund of 6,000.



Hundreds of students registered for this years Competition which invited essays on the theme Parliamentary Politics Liberates / An tSaoirse agus an Pholaitiocht Pharlaiminteach  reflecting the 250th Anniversary of the birth of The Liberator, Daniel OConnell.

Winners were determined by an expert panel of judges which included 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 the Competition.



Eimear Nic Dhonnchadha was Buaiteoir Naisiunta don Aiste Ghaeilge. Aiste chomair deascriofa a thugann aghaidh go direach, go leannta is go macanta ar an abhar ata le ple, said Professor Titley, a member of the Competition Judging Panel.

READ NEXT: Students from across South Kilkenny celebrated at Abbey Community College awards night
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China's Canton Fair cuts booth fees to support exporters

Xinhua) 11:52, May 03, 2025

GUANGZHOU, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The 137th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, will reduce booth fees by 50 percent for export exhibitors, a move aimed at helping exporters navigate global trade challenges.

Booths in rural revitalization and other special zones will remain rent-free, the China Foreign Trade Center, organizer of the Canton Fair, announced on Thursday as the third phase of the fair opened.

The adjusted booth fees have been published on the fair's official website, with a 9-square-meter booth now generally priced at just over 10,000 yuan (about 1,375 U.S. dollars). The waived portion of the previously collected fees will be refunded, according to the organizer.

The third phase features over 12,000 exhibitors in 21 sections, showcasing products such as toys and maternity goods, fashion, home textiles, stationery, and health and recreation items.

This edition of the fair, held in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou from April 15 to May 5, is organized into three themed phases. The first one focused on advanced manufacturing, the second on quality home furnishings, and the third on products that promote a better quality of life.

More than 220,000 overseas buyers from 219 countries and regions attended the first two phases, setting a record. The fair has seen packed venues with vibrant buyer-seller engagement since opening, indicating the resilience of China's foreign trade.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
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Tom Tuite

Three ambitious software engineers have pleaded guilty to stealing more than 3,500 worth of goods during a series of thefts from Ikea in Dublin.

Monnisha Nimma, 27, Ms Sai Radhika Kavuri, 32, and 34-year-old Sri Ravikiran Garimella, each with an address at Station Walk, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty on Friday to stealing from the furniture chains Ballymun outlet on three dates in January.

Detective Garda Anthony Galbraith told Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court that on January 11th, 18th and 25th, the two female defendants and Mr Garimella, and two others, who have not been identified, took a large quantity of materials and failed to pay for same.

They left the store twice with 1,350 worth of property and goods valued at 852 the next time.

Following enquiries, the detective went to their shared home on February 16 and searched the property, recovering a significant portion of the loot. One person was arrested and made full admissions.

Detective Garda Galbraith said the other two later came to Ballymun station with more stolen goods.

They stole the good from Ikea. Photo: PA Wire/PA Images

The detective said most of the property, valued in total 3,526, was recovered and in a saleable condition. He added that they were cooperative, held their hands up and made admissions, and he said that was unusual.

Judge Cronin noted that the three defendants, who did not address the court, had no prior convictions and had never come to Garda attention before.

The court heard that, but for the quantity, the three housemates could have been eligible for an adult caution instead of a court prosecution.

Their solicitor, Carol Slattery, said that her well-educated clients were from India and came to Ireland about five years ago. The court heard the defendants, who are on bail, had work visas and were full-time software engineers.

Ms Slattery described them as young and ambitious with good future job prospects who wished to become Irish citizens, and this case could have a severe impact on that.

The solicitor said they realised the seriousness of their situation and the consequences they faced, were apologetic and would take any opportunity to rectify this wrong.

Ms Slattery said that they had no reasonable explanation other than "foolishness of the highest order".

However, the solicitor submitted that they were unlikely to reoffend and pleaded with Judge Cronin to consider a restorative justice approach given their lack of previous convictions, the guilty pleas and their cooperation.

The detective confirmed he had already discussed that with Ikea; the firm was agreeable to participate, having previously engaged in the restorative justice process in similar prosecutions. Detective Garda Galbraith said Ikea was more than happy to do so again in this case.

Judge Cronin remarked that that was helpful because few victims wish to be involved.

She adjourned the case until July for a probation report on their suitability for inclusion in the programme, which, if completed, can spare first-time offenders a criminal conviction.
Lunar Cattitude

The road to righteousness isnt paved in gold; its rocky, dusty and broken if its even paved at all. But you know who doesnt care about pavement? Cats. They can handle any terrain because theyre so light on their feet. Under the auspicious Leo moon, take on the hard stuff by softening your approach. Is there a way to compromise without losing integrity? Is there a softer way to pounce?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Youre that risk-taker who is beloved because youre not afraid to be yourself. If they laugh, even better. You welcome levity whether you come by it accidentally or on purpose. All will be raised by you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Its essential to recognize and validate your emotions today. However you are feeling, its natural because you are, quite literally, nature... so how could your internal information system (which is essentially what your emotions are) be anything but natural?

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Generic advice and an overload of resources is overwhelming and unhelpful. Youre already self-aware and in tune with your needs. Before you express a want or insecurity, check in with your own deep understanding of yourself and what works for you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Youre right to be mindful of your relationship with people, habits and other things that dont feel exactly good for you. But you also dont need to shame yourself for being involved with what you havent quite grown out of yet.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Inside you a powerful compassion wells up, ready to flow through the care you give, through your art, your methods of leadership and, most importantly, the way you regard yourself. You dont need to be perfect to move forward.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Though you may not currently have all the tools you need to make what you want to make, start anyway. While youre already moving, youll learn what you need and who has it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). As complicated creatures, we can act out of habit, fear, ego, love... without knowing which one is driving us in the moment. The unknown motive is just part of being human. But you do know this: You aim to create unity, not discord.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your feelings wont lie. If you dont feel like doing a thing, theres a good reason, though it may be hiding in the subconscious, refusing to make itself known. Thats OK, it doesnt have to. Just kindly pass... and move on.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Behaviors you want to adopt will become more automatic with the implementation of an if-then planning approach. Create a predetermined response to a particular cue or situation. For example: If you feel unmotivated, then you will remind yourself of your past successes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The way you relate to yourself in your own mind is more of a habit than an identity. Anything you dont like about it can be changed. Your inner weather tends toward the light and lively -- a playground of ideas and some excellent private jokes between you and you, worthy of taking to a wider audience.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Even the best thought loops offer an unhealthy redundancy. To avoid thinking about something in the same way over and over, share whats on your mind. Different people will offer fresh perspectives, but only if you let them in.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). When the environment supports the habit, the person doesnt have to rely on willpower alone. Take the pressure off by placing yourself somewhere that does the heavy lifting -- a space already structured for the task you want to do.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (May 3). Your artistry and spirit awaken through the odd and the untamed. What youve been trying to perfect will open to you only because you surrender and let yourself make a beautiful mistake. More highlights: Your personal life brings comfort and connection and yet still tingles with the excitement of the unpredictable. Youll be given a key role in an important project, and youll meet with top minds on a fascinating subject of shared interest. Sagittarius and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 4, 44, 19 and 20.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: From Mad Men to Good Girls Christina Hendricks brings power, wry humor and dazzling glamour to every role. From her love of retro fashion to her rich red hair and vintage silhouettes, her aesthetic is deeply Venusian, turning softness into power -- a Taurus specialty. Hendricks stars in the new series Small Town, Big Story about a big Hollywood production in a small Irish town.

Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and ebook. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

COPYRIGHT 2025 CREATORS.COM
Editors Note: Lehighvalleylive.com is offering a benefit to subscribers: Click the photo gallery to see if we photographed your favorite prom-goer and get free, print-quality downloads as well as the option to purchase keepsakes at half the price.

Bangor Area High School students celebrated their prom at the Palace Center on Friday. Freelance photographer Kyle Hanisak was at the high school to capture a few of the students before they departed for the prom.

Lehighvalleylive.com will be sending photographers to proms throughout the Lehigh Valley and Warren County this season. Our full coverage of proms across the region can be found at lehighvalleylive.com/prom.

Check out the gallery above to see everyone dressed up for a night to celebrate.

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Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.
A Laois court heard of an extraordinary" situation regarding the recording of penalty points on foreign driving licences.

Alexandru Epurean(28) of 21 Higgins Park, Portlaose, appeared before accused of drunk driving in Portlaoise on February 18, 2024.

Garda Sergeant Mick OConnell said the Romanian national had been approached because he had pulled into a disabled parking spot without a disc in the Portlaoise Plaza at Junction 17, Portlaoise at 8.20pm on the date in question.

On speaking to the driver, Sgt OConnell got a strong smell of alcohol off his breath. The man was arrested and taken to a garda station where he provided a sample with a reading of 28mgs per 100mls of breath.

Sgt OConnell explained that such a low reading would mean the defendant was eligible for a fine. However, enquiries revealed the man should have been disqualified" as he had amassed 15 penalty points.

Sgt OConnell explained that a dummy licence is created when a foreign licence holder gets penalty points. In this case three separate dummy licences had been created and the points were spread across all three, he said. He would never have been notified, said Sgt OConnell. As a result, Sgt OConnell said gardai didnt prosecute the driver for being disqualified. He said the man had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was pleading guilty. He said there seemed to be an extraordinary situation with regard to the way the RSA dealt with foreign licences. They would produce duplicates to record penalty points, he said.

It seems like a crazy system that was in place at the time, said Mr Meagher.

Judge Susan Fay said he did have 15 points though.

Mr Meagher said his client works in construction and travels between Dublin and Limerick.

He picked up 15 penalty points unbeknownst to himself, he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

Mr Meagher said on the date in question his client had a drink with his dinner earlier in the day. He said the legal limit is 22mgs and he recorded 28mgs.

In relation to recording points on foreign licences, Mr Meagher said, I think the system has now been changed."

However, Sgt OConnell said it is an issue that is ongoing.

Judge Fay disqualified the man from driving for six months and imposed a 100 fine.
Have you ever wondered what life is like for prisoner officers and inmates behind the high walls of Laois jails?

Well, the Irish Prison Service believes it is going to be able to satisfy that curiosity with a new prison project which it says will give the public a virtual insight into prisons in Portlaoise and other parts of Ireland.

The Service also wants to use the technology to help to prepare criminals who are jailed for the first time for life behind bars.

"The Irish Prison Service will be launching a 360 3D virtual prison tour where the public, for the first time, will be able to see and travel within a live operational prison.

"This new initiative follows the Criminal Justice Sectoral Strategy 2022  2024 commitment to increase public awareness and understanding of the criminal justice system, develop a structured form of engagement with our key stakeholders to support the development of services and the formulation of policy," says the Service.

It adds that this initiative builds on the commitment to join-up the criminal justice system that "protects human rights, builds public confidence and trust, and works together to improve efficiency and the experience of stakeholders to support a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland".

The Service explains that it will also have a practical application for criminals or others being sent to jail for the first time. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Inside the Midlands Prison.

"With the ability to see a prison in advance, it will help address issues for vulnerable people, people coming into custody for the first time, people visiting prisons with a disabilities, educating young people and the various people that interact with the prison service on a day to day basis," it said.

READ ALSO: Pepper spray use to be permitted in overcrowded Laois jails

The Irish Prison Service runs two jails in Laois - the high-security Portlaoise Prison and the Midlands Prison.
A grassroots campaign in County Kildare has been suggested in relation to the issue of school places in Kildare for children with special education needs (SEN).

Explaining how the call came about, Deputy Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh, who is aligned with Sinn Fein, asserted that she had recently met with parents of children with SEN who are struggling to secure appropriate school places across Kildare.

She explained that during the meeting, which was held last week, she heard "deeply personal stories from parents describing their frustration with the current system".

According to the Kildare town-based politician, who also has a background in teaching and is her party's spokesperson on matters relating to special education, many of these parents highlighted a "lack of transparency, the overwhelming paperwork, and the constant uncertainty families are forced to endure".

She elaborated: "A consistent theme among parents was the pressure to accept unsuitable placements in mainstream schools, simply due to a lack of appropriate options.

"The government is trying to push these children into mainstream schools with inappropriate school places. This is simply not good enough."

POTENTIAL PROTEST

Deputy Ni Raghallaigh also said that future actions discussed at the meeting included the possibility of a protest at the Department of Education in Dublin or a potential local demonstration in Kildare.

"These children deserve quality education, which they are currently not receiving," she said. "Their parents are out fighting the government and their departments daily to ensure their child gets an appropriate education."

In addition, she also voiced her belief that a grassroots campaign was needed: "We need a campaign driven by parents, for parents  so that the government understands that their system of allocating SEN places and classes is simply not working."

Deputy Ni Raghallaigh also told the attendees that she was committed to submitting Parliamentary Questions on behalf of the group and inviting them to Leinster House to continue their advocacy.

Concluding her points, she said: "I stand with these families in their call for urgent reform  no family should have to fight to access what should be guaranteed."

Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh TD (Sinn Fein). File photograph

READ NEXT: Table quiz and raffle in aid of Irish Cancer Society to take place in Kildare
A jaw-dropping new two-part documentary unravelling the astonishing true story of Samantha Cookes - serial scammer, master manipulator, and at one point, a trusted nanny  comes to RTE One and RTE Player this month.

Bad Nanny tells the story of Samantha Cookes who, for over a decade across Ireland and the UK, used a revolving door of aliases including Carrie Jade Williams and Sadie Harris to weave an intricate web of lies, deceiving everyone from vulnerable families to online communities. Her story was the subject of RTE podcast series The Real Carrie Jade.

This two-part film, Bad Nanny, is a co-production between RTE and BBC Northern Ireland from Alleycats TV, directed by Alan Bradley. It debuts on Monday 12th May at 9.35pm on RTE One and RTE Player.

With gripping first-hand accounts, chilling insight into psychological manipulation, shocking revelations, and raw emotion, the TV documentary series is a must-watch expose on one womans decade-long con and the strength of those who brought her down. It features exclusive interviews with victims of Samanthas scams who have never spoken publicly and includes unseen archive footage of Samantha.

READ NEXT: Parents and commuters rail against recent hikes to train fares in Kildare, Dublin and Wicklow

Episode one of Bad Nanny introduces the audience to one of Samantha Cookes' most brazen personas - Carrie Jade Williams, a supposedly terminally ill, award-winning author.

From this shocking disguise, the documentary traces back through the years to uncover how Samanthas cons became increasingly audacious, building up to her role as a nanny who was hiding a troubling secret. The documentary shows how she gained the trust of families, only to betray them in devastating ways.

In the second part of the series, airing on Monday 19th May at 9.35pm on RTE One, the spotlight turns to the vulnerable families left emotionally shattered by Samantha's deceit.

With the help of relentless TikTok sleuths and first-time interviews with those closest to her story, these women come together and turn detective to expose the truth, ultimately leading to Samantha's dramatic downfall and conviction in 2025.

Head of Documentaries and Series at RTE, Grainne McAleer said:

The shocking story of Samantha Cookes and her long list of scams and aliases is an intriguing story that needs to be told on screen. The two-part documentary series lays out this timeline of deceit brilliantly and captures the collective power of ordinary people.

"From the Tik Tok sleuths to the victims of Samanthas scams that came together to expose her story, Bad Nanny is a story of the power of ordinary people working together. It is also cautionary tale for anyone hiring someone to look after their nearest and dearest."

Bad Nannyis co-production between RTE and BBC Northern Ireland produced by Alleycats TV. It will be available on RTE Player and BBC iPlayer from Monday May 12.

Samantha Cookes story was first told in great detail on RTE in the podcast series The Real Carrie Jade from the award-winning Documentary on One team. Documentary maker Ronan Kelly from the podcast features in this TV series and an update to the podcast series has been published today (Thursday 1st May) wherever you get your podcasts.
An executive director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the world is breaking the bodies and minds of the children of Gaza.

Irishman Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies programme, said people are complicit in what is happening in Gaza if they fail to act.

It comes as aid workers warn of an escalating humanitarian crisis following two months of an aid and food blockade.

Speaking this week, Dr Ryan described what is happening to the people of Gaza as an abomination.

We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza, Dr Ryan said.

We are starving the children of Gaza, because if we dont do something about it, we are complicit in what is happening before our very eyes.

We are complicit. We are causing this, you, us and everyone who does nothing about it, its horrific.

The children of Gaza should not have to pay the price, as all children have done in the past, for the sins of anyone around them. This just has to stop.

Any right-thinking human being will stand up and say, this just must stop. As a doctor, as a physician, as someone watching more than 1,000 children without limbs, thousands of children with spinal cord injuries and severe head injuries from which theyll never recover, thousands and thousands of children with severe psychological distress that they may never recover from.

We are watching this unfold before our very eyes and were not doing anything about it. As a physician, Im angry. Im angry with myself that Im not doing enough.

Im angry with everyone here. Im angry with you. Im angry with the world.

This should not be happening. It cannot continue. We have to stop.

No aid has entered Gaza in over 8 weeks. Children are starving. Hospitals are lacking basic medicine. This is the longest blockade since the war began and is completely unacceptable. Ireland calls on Israel to lift the blockade & allow humanitarian aid in immediately. pic.twitter.com/Mx3c1YDUUe  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 2, 2025

This is an abomination. Its an abomination. We have to ask ourselves the question, how much blood is enough to satisfy whatever the political objectives are of any regime.

It comes after Tanaiste Simon Harris called on the international community to act now to avert further disaster.

No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza in over eight weeks as a result of the Israeli blockade. Children are starving. Hospitals are running out of basic painkillers, he said in a statement.

The World Food Programme has said that its food stocks are now depleted. Life-saving aid is available and urgently needed, but trucks cannot cross into Gaza.

It is unconscionable that the current suffering is continuing. This is the longest ban on aid entering Gaza since the start of the war.

The situation is unacceptable. In the circumstances, obstructing life-saving aid is a violation of Israels international obligations.

Ireland calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid.
People have been asked to not share and to delete videos of a drowning that took place in Cork city this week.

Emergency service workers have criticised those who filmed the incident that took place at the River Lee on Wednesday evening, and have asked them to delete any footage and not to share it.

The mother of the man who drowned, named as Luke Hyde, 34, said the scene was like a circus and asked whether people understood the heartache her family was going through.

Elizabeth Hyde, 76, said she was disgusted at the idea of people filming and watching my son drown instead of trying to help him.

In an emotional interview, she told RedFMs Neil Prendeville Show that this was the second time in five years she had lost a son.

She said that that the image of her youngest sons body being recovered will never leave me and asked what have people in this world come to.

I was disgusted when I heard you talking this morning about all those people down 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 today.

Gardai and emergency services carried out a search and rescue operation at the scene of the tragedy and have asked people not to share and to delete any footage.

An Garda Siochana are aware of videos on social media and would encourage that no videos relating to this are circulated, Gardai said in a statement.

Victor Shine, second officer with Cork Fire Brigade, asked that people delete any footage of the incident they had.

This is not a piece of footage that should be up on a public system, he told RTEs Drivetime.

That family may come across it or it may be shared with them, and how that on a file that they are looking at a family member in the final stages of life, its not a good thing.

Asked if social media had made problems such as this worse, he said it was horrendously worse.

I listened to the mother of this poor deceased male this morning who was distressed by the whole event and ran down in her bare feet and witnessed this spectacle of the amount of people standing by watching her son being recovered from the water, it was a horrendous scene.

He said moving the crowd of people who were standing by took up time and resources and should not be needed.

Gardai had to push people (back), force them to clear the area, and we had to put up additional privacy screens, screens to block off the area so that when the casualty was recovered to the shoreline or to the roadway, rescue attempts to check for signs of life and so on could carry on.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin condemned the filming of the tragedy and said it was a very sad and regrettable feature of modern life while speaking in Cork on Friday.

The Cork South-Central TD said what happened was horrendous and people needed to maintain dignity in distressful circumstances.

Its a very sad and regrettable feature of modern life.

We have the mobile phones and devices.

It was horrendous what happened.

My understanding is two people had gone through a swim, both gone into difficulty, one was able to get out and raise the alarm.

I read what the fire officers said that they found it very difficult to comprehend that there was no life buoys thrown in to help, but people were taking photographs or videoing and for family members, thats very traumatic, and its very, very sad.

He added: I am very well aware of other incidents that happen where people are very brave, where people do the right thing and every year we award bravery, we award good actions by citizens and that happens too, and that needs to be said.

Not withstanding the modern era we live in, I think decorum and dignity is essential values that we should retain, particularly when people are in distressful circumstances, and in that situation where a person is actually drowning.
ArcelorMittal is essentially trying to renew its same old lopsided Mineral Development Agreement, with a Third Amendment, which they have now submitted with a new laundry list of demands.
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YOUNG climate activists from County Limerick are among the finalists selected for this years ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA).

The announcement of YEA 2025 finalists, which included students from Scoil Pol, Kilfinane, and Colaiste Ioasef, Kilmallock, coincided with Earth Day, which takes place every year on April 22, as part of Earth Month.

The YEA ceremony will take place on May 8, in the Convention Centre Dublin, where three groups from both Limerick schools are among the 102 national finalists to have succeeded at the semi-final ECO-Dens stages of the YEAs in March.

They will all now go on to showcase their shortlisted eco-projects at the awards ceremony.

READ ALSO: Community groups make a splash with 50k grant

Commenting on this years YEA finalists, Elaine Nevin, national director of ECO-UNESCO said: The projects that have made it through to this years Young Environmentalist Awards reflect the mission of Earth Day, the theme of which this year is Our Power, Our Planet  a call to action highlighting the transformative power of renewable energy and its role in creating a more sustainable and equitable future.

Earth Day 2025 encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take action by adopting renewable energy solutions, advocating for supportive policies, and participating in local and global initiatives.

Through their projects, young people have taken the lead in raising awareness of critical environmental issues, inspiring change in their communities, and championing more sustainable lifestyles.

I would like to wish our finalists from Limerick the best of luck for the awards, congratulate those who took part in our regional semi-final ECO-Dens, and thank all our supporters who make this all possible every year.

Each and every project that enters the awards deserves to be celebrated!

Limerick projects include: City Greens, a project from Scoil Pol, Kilfinane, nominated in the ECO-Community Development Category of the awards.

The group of young people focused on transforming urban living by bringing sustainable farming to cities.

This project uses hydroponic and aquaponic systems to help people living in cities grow fresh, healthy food in small spaces.

Projects from Colaiste Ioasef, Kilmallock, include Wild Ireland Card Game + Digital Link, in the ECO-Entrepreneurship Category of the awards.

This project is an educational card game to teach people about native Irish animals in a fun and interactive way. Each card featured facts about different animals, with QR codes that linked to websites for more information.

A second project from the school is We've got Worms!, in the Food Category of the awards.

This project focused on reducing the amount food waste going to landfills, cutting greenhouse gases and using castings to reduce soil degradation.

The group raised awareness about the benefits of vermiculture through social media posts and workshops.

They plan to expand by training other schools to build their own worm composters, transforming how waste is managed in schools.
More than half of young people prefer being referred to by a nickname.

We Prefer Nicknames

Modern Brits have an average of three pet names and 56% of Gen Z admitted they prefer them to their real name, with 42% saying nicknames make them feel happy and 39% more loved when they are called by a different moniker.

And a huge 93% of those surveyed believe nicknames are a way of showing affection.

But the study of under 30s from Coca-Cola found pet name usage has changed over time, with Gen Z insisting they would never use the likes of treacle (38%), snookums (37%) , chick (35%) , sugar (31%), old man (30%), or hon (29%).

Instead, bro (53%), mate (44%), and bestie (35%) are the most popular terms of endearment with the younger generation, while other modern nicknames in the top 20 include "bae" (28%), king (12%0, and shawty (11%).

Charlotte Butt, Senior Marketing Manager from Coca-Cola, said: Nicknames are more than just labels; theyre a shorthand for shared history, inside jokes and personal connections.

"They reflect the unique relationships between individuals and the evolution of language within friendship groups, thats why we made sure to include terms of affection in our 'Share a Coke' range.

To mark the findings, Coca-Cola have brought back 'Share a Coke', with the option for customers to create a can with any name of their choice by simply scanning the QR code on pack or instore from May 15th, to create a truly unique Coca-Cola pack.

And for the first time, Brits will be able to choose from a range of other nicknames and phrases around friendship, such as My Bestie, My Bae, My Mate, My Fam and My Day One.

Look for personalised Coca-Cola packs in store now.

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


NEW FIGURES showing a 37% increase in the number of learner drivers caught driving unaccompanied in Limerick has been branded as a scandal.

Figures released to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) under FOI by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show over 32,742 drivers in Limerick are on a provisional license.

In Limerick, there were 89 unaccompanied drivers caught by gardai in the final three months of 2024 compared to 65 in the same period in 2023, approximately a 37% increase.

Irish Hauliers are now saying the RSA is mismanaging the driving test system and IRHA president Ger Hyland has described it as a scandal. He is calling for a root and branch review of the RSA and its operation of the Irish driving test system.

READ ALSO: Limerick Skills Fair to showcase potential employers and education opportunities

Calling for a radical overhaul of the system, Mr Hyland said: The current 40-minute driving test allows for an approximate driving time of between 15 and 20 minutes, often in heavy urban slow-moving traffic.

This would be a great test of ones ability to sit in a traffic jam, but if we are honestly testing driving skills and driver preparedness, the test as it stands is a shambolic exercise in raising funds for the RSA.

The increases in the numbers of learner drivers caught driving unaccompanied is only the ones gardai are catching, and we feel this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Additionally, the IRHA claims that an inadequate and backlogged test system is forcing young learner drivers out on roads without a full license and an accompanying fully licensed driver.

According to the IRHA, young drivers, in particular in rural Ireland, need their car to get to work or college and significant delays in the driver testing system are forcing young learner drivers to make difficult choices.

The association has called for driver education to be a part of the school curriculum and has suggested that each student would be tested in their ability to drive before they leave secondary school.
QATAR Racing, headed up by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani (pictured above) of the Qatari royal family, is selling its stud farm in County Limerick, the Leader has learned.

The global operation has put its 100-acre breeding complex - Spring Lodge in Manister - up for auction. It takes place on Thursday, June 5 at 3pm in the Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare. The advised minimum value is 2 million.

Qatar Racing purchased the wonderful limestone holding with a proven track record of producing world-class racehorses, according to promotional material, in 2013, for 1,050,000.

Significant investment has been pumped into the breeding operation and into a property thereon in the intervening years.

When contacted by the Limerick Leader, a spokesperson for Qatar Racing said they wont be making any comment on the sale of Spring Lodge.

READ MORE: Sheikh Fahad dreams of Limerick Classic winners as he visits foals

The Leader understands Qatar Racings Limerick enterprise has proved very successful but they are reducing their breeding operation in Ireland.

They continue to have horses in training with Joseph O Brien, Gavin Cromwell and Johnny Murtagh and now have a lot more horses in America, Australia and James.

Goffs Property, who are handling the sale of Spring Lodge, say it is situated within the Golden Vale of Ireland.

It has been identified as one of the hot spots of Irelands thoroughbred breeding sector being adjacent to Group One producing stud farms  Rathmore, Croom, Manister, Ballyphilip and Caherass Stud to name but a few.

The stud benefits from a superb infrastructure with a high standard of equipment installed throughout and has an enviable record as a breeding ground for exceptional racehorses, they say.

Peter Molony, Irish representative of Qatar Racing, owner of neighbouring Rathmore Stud and manager of Spring Lodge, said there has been a lot of success over the 12 years.

Two yearlings that were born and raised there last year - St Marks Basilica filly topped the Arqana sale in Deauville last August at 1.7 million for a filly, and a nice Kameko colt made 2 million at Tattersalls in Newmarket

The facilities are fabulous. The yards are all very practical, the paddocks are all serviced by an internal road network and it's all beautifully fenced.

They spent a lot of money on the house - it is beautifully done. It's a lovely property for someone, said Mr Molony, who adds that it would be a pity if it didnt continue as a stud farm after all the effort, work and thought that went into Spring Lodge.

We have to see who buys it I suppose, said Mr Molony, who added that he is happy to help the new owner with their purchase.

Sheikh Fahad gave an interview to the Leader in 2014 after flying in by helicopter to Manister to inspect his recent purchase at the time.

READ ALSO: Qatar Racings Sheikh Fahad makes flying visit to view his Limerick land

It is very impressive. The land looks great, the spot looks nice. It is nice and quiet, it is good for the mares here so I am very happy, said Sheikh Fahad.

I bought the farm to keep a few mares and foals down here, Irish ones. It looks like a perfect spot to be honest.

We are going to build a few stables here and barns. I believe this part of the world, the land is one of the best lands to raise race horses, that is why we bought the place and we are going to raise a few of our race horses down here, said Sheikh Fahad, who described the land as some of the best in Ireland.

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Buffett to give up CEO role at year end

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Abel was designated the CEO successor in 2021

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Buffett says has "zero" intention to sell Berkshire stock

By Jonathan Stempel and Suzanne McGee

OMAHA, Nebraska, May 3 (Reuters) -

Warren Buffett said on Saturday he will step down as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year, and hand over the reins to Vice Chairman Greg Abel.

"I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive of the company at year end," Buffett, 94, said at Berkshire's annual meeting.

He said Abel hadn't been aware of his plans prior to the announcement, though Buffett had told his children.

Abel, 62, has been a Berkshire vice chairman since 2018, and was named Buffett's expected successor as chief executive in 2021.

Buffett also said he had "zero" intention of selling any of his Berkshire stock, nearly all of which will be donated after his death.

The decision to step down caps a remarkable 60-year run where Buffett transformed Berkshire from a failing textile company into an enormous conglomerate with businesses across the U.S. economy.

Buffett took over Berkshire in 1965 and with his longtime friend and business partner Charlie Munger, who died in November 2023, built it into an American success story.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, where Buffett and Munger grew up, Berkshire today is a more than $1 trillion conglomerate with close to 200 businesses including Geico car insurance, the BNSF railroad, industrial and chemical companies, utilities, Dairy Queen ice cream, Fruit of the Loom underwear and See's Candies.

Buffett became known as the "Oracle of Omaha," both for his investing success as well as his folksy wisdom and modest lifestyle.

While Berkshire stock rose 5,502,284% from 1965 to 2024, Buffett never moved from a home he paid $31,500 for in 1958.

Buffett was a disciple of Benjamin Graham, the economist and his former professor, stressing the importance of company fundamentals and not overpaying for assets.

That approach often made it hard to deploy Berkshire's ever-growing cash hoard, which reached $347.7 billion at the end of March.

Abel joined the former MidAmerican Energy, now known as Berkshire Hathaway Energy, in 1992, eight years before Berkshire took it over. He later led that business for a decade.

"He does all the work, and I take the bows," Buffett joked in an April 2023 television interview.

Buffett's fortune is worth $168.2 billion according to Forbes magazine, and would have been much higher had he not since 2006 given away more than half his Berkshire shares to charity.

Nearly all of the rest is expected to go into a

new charitable trust

overseen by his daughter Susie and sons Howard and Peter.

Abel will face challenges including how to help Berkshire grow meaningfully without overpaying for acquisitions, whether to pay a dividend and how to deploy the cash.

Size will likely weigh on Berkshire's growth prospects, with Buffett acknowledging in 2024 that "eye-popping performance" was not in the company's future.

In addition to owning its many businesses, Berkshire owns multi-billion-dollar stakes in many stocks including Apple , American Express and Bank of America.

Howard Buffett, 70, is expected to succeed his father as Berkshire's non-executive chairman, to help preserve the company's culture.
(Bloomberg) -- Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has $3 million in options to a shoestring nuclear startup that he failed to disclose to an ethics board as he mounts a comeback bid to be the mayor of New York City.

The options are with Nano Nuclear Energy Inc., which aspires to build portable nuclear reactors that could be deployed to data centers and disaster zones, according to securities filings. The companys founder Jiang Jay Yu met Cuomo at a networking function last year.

Within weeks of their meeting, according to federal filings and an interview with Yu, the two men were in business. Cuomo joined Nanos executive advisory board in March, just before the firm, still without revenue and not owning any patents, launched its initial public offering.

The company contracted with a consulting firm, Innovation Strategies LLC, that Cuomo founded after he left office, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Cuomo received 125,000 in stock options  a stake that, if exercised, would be worth roughly $3 million at Nanos current market price.

Cuomos net worth is at least $3.4 million, according to disclosures he filed with New York Citys Conflicts of Interest Board.

Cuomos spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, confirmed that the former governor holds the options through his consulting firm, and that the options havent yet been exercised. But the options are not listed on Cuomos required financial disclosures.

While the disclosures were made in good faith and based on our reading of the law, we will work with the Conflict of Interest Board and make any amendment deemed appropriate, Azzopardi said. If elected, Governor Cuomo wouldnt have any other position other than to serve as mayor of New York City, and would work with the COIB to navigate any perceived issues that may arise, and disclose the remedies.

A spokesperson for the Conflicts of Interest Board declined to comment citing a policy against commenting on specific individuals filings.

Cuomo, who was elected to three terms as governor, stepped down in 2021 under a cloud of sexual harassment allegations that he has denied, announced in March that he was running for mayor.

In an interview, Yu praised Cuomo, who famously shut down New Yorks Indian Point nuclear power station  as an active member of the companys advisory board, which also includes retired Army General Wesley Clark.

He took a leap of faith on us, Yu said, and as a consultant offered connections to officials in New York State that could benefit the company in the future.

Stock market analysts and investors are more skeptical. Hunterbrook Media published a critical report of Nano last July, citing its leaders dearth of industry experience and technology, while the outlets affiliated investment arm Hunterbrook Capital LP shorted the stock.

Earlier: Cuomo Advised Crypto Exchange OKX on Its Response to US Probe

Cuomo has refused to disclose the names of his consulting clients, while pledging to avoid conflicts of interest if elected. Bloomberg has reported that he advised a Seychelles-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange, OKX, as that firm navigated an investigation by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. The company ultimately paid more than $500 million to settle the probe.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
New Delhi: Credit rating agency Icra Ltd has downgraded the debt of Ola Electric Technologies Ltda key subsidiary of listed Ola Electric Mobility Ltdafter the companys electric scooter sales dropped sharply in April, raising concerns about continued cash burn and delayed profitability.

The downgrade comes as Indias largest electric two-wheeler maker struggles to defend market share amid rising competition, operational hiccups, and regulatory scrutiny. Icra flagged the companys slower-than-expected scale-up, elongated cash burn period, and the likelihood of additional fund-raising over the next 1224 months.

Sharp slowdown triggers concern Ola Electrics vehicle registrations nearly halved in April 2025 to 19,709 units, compared to over 34,000 units a year ago. The Gurgaon-based ratings agency downgraded four credit facilities worth 1,887 crore from A (Negative) to BBB+ (Negative).

The downgrade of ratings and continuation of the Negative outlook are due to slower-than-expected scale-up in OETs (Ola Electric Mobility) electric two-wheeler (e2W) sales volumes, which has resulted in a longer-than-expected period of cash burn and has elongated the road to the company's profitability," Icra said in a note dated 1 May.

The agency estimates Ola Electrics full-year losses for FY25 could widen to 1,9002,000 crore, up from 1,600 crore in FY24. In the December 2024 quarter alone, the company posted a net loss of 564 crore, compared with 376 crore a year earlier.

Founded by Bhavish Aggarwal in 2017, Ola Electric began rolling out its scooters in December 2021. Backed by investors such as SoftBank, Edelweiss, and Tiger Global, the company sells and registers vehicles primarily through Ola Electric Technologies, its most crucial subsidiary among ten group entities.

Despite its early successcapturing 52% of the e-scooter market by April 2024Ola has faced headwinds in recent months. Icra highlighted that intense competition from rivals such as Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor, and Ather Energy would require higher investments, potentially straining its credit profile further.

The companys operating margins have continued to be negative, with operating margin (OPM) for 9MFY25 at -26.7% compared to -22.7% in FY24. The ability of the company to reduce operational losses and eventually turn profitable would remain a key monitorable, the note said.

Ola Electric sold 344,009 units in FY25, a modest increase from 329,947 units in the previous year.

Read this | Maharashtra orders shutting down of 121 unauthorized Ola Electric stores

Since the start of the year, Ola Electrics share price has fallen by 44% as against a 4% fall in Nifty Auto.

Regulatory heat and customer complaints In February, the company terminated contracts with two registration agencies, disrupting scooter registrations. Although Ola claimed it sold 25,000 vehicles that month, only about 8,500 were registered, prompting scrutiny from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, and the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Read this | Inside Ola Electrics showdown with registration agencies

In a clarification to the road ministry, the company explained that around 1,400 confirmed orders for its yet-to-be-delivered e-bike Roadster X were included in Februarys sales tally. Deliveries for this model are scheduled to begin in May.
Mumbai: Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus is looking to sell its 10% stake in SBI General Insurance in a deal expected to fetch it more than double the value of its six-year-old investment, two people with knowledge of the development said.

The sale is likely to fetch the US-based Warburg Pincus about $350 million, they said.

Warburg Pincus and Premji Invest, the family office of Wipro Ltds founder Azim Premji, bought a 26% stake in SBI General Insurance for $432.38 million in 2019, valuing the insurer at $1.66 billion. They had acquired the stake from Insurance Australia Group Ltd, which had formed SBI General Insurance as a joint venture with State Bank of India (SBI) in 2010.

Also read: How is packing for the road less travelled

The investor has been around for more than six years and now they are looking to exit," said one of the persons cited above. (SBI General Insurance) plans an IPO later next year and Warburg is looking to exit via a stake sale before that."

SBI owns about 69% of SBI General Insurance, while Napean Opportunities Llp, an entity owned by Premji Invest, holds around 15.8%, and Honey Wheat Investment Ltd, a Warburg Pincus vehicle, about 9.9%.

Warburg Pincus is expecting around $350 million for its 10% stake, valuing (SBI General Insurance) at $3.5 billion, more than doubling its investment in the last six years," the second person added.

Warburg Pincus, which has been active in India for more than two-and-a-half decades, has invested about $10 billion into the country so far. India accounts for over 10% of the US private equity firms global investments.

Over the past 18 months, Warburg has sold entire or partial stakes in portfolio companies CarTrade, Kalyan Jewellers and MedPlus Health Services.

Warburg Pincus and SBI General Insurance did not reply to queries emailed on Thursday.

Key Takeaways Warburg Pincus is set to sell its nearly 10% stake in SBI General Insurance for around $350 million, more than doubling its investment from 2019, and exiting ahead of the insurers planned IPO next year.

SBI General Insurance has seen solid growth, with gross direct premiums rising 16% year-on-year and profit after tax increasing significantly in the first half of FY25.

The Indian non-life insurance sector's combination of strong growth, low penetration, and regulatory openness is attracting sustained private equity interest.

SBI Generals strong run

SBI General Insurance is Indias 11th largest general insurer overall, with a 4.3% market share based on gross direct premiums written in the first half of 2024-25, Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency said in a report in December. Among private insurers, it ranks 7th with a 4.4% market share.

According to Crisil, SBI General Insurance has maintained a relatively diverse mix when compared with the domestic insurance industrys reliance on traditional segments such as motor and health.

During fiscal 2024, (SBI General Insurances) motor insurance portfolio clocked a healthy growth rate of 31% thereby retaining its share in the gross premium. The health insurance segment, outpaced by motor in the past few quarters, is the second largest segment for the company based on the gross premium written in fiscal 2024," Crisil said in a December report.

For the first half of fiscal 2025, motor formed 30% of the overall premiums, whereas crop accounted for 24%, followed by health insurance at 19% and fire insurance at 14%," it added.

SBI General Insurances gross direct premiums stood at 6,586 crore at the end of September 2024, up from 5,691 crore a year earlier, according to the Crisil report. Profit after tax in the first half of 2024-25 improved to 414 crore from 60 crore in the corresponding year-earlier period.

Combined ratio, a key metric reflecting an insurers underwriting profitability, stood at 110.8% as on 30 September 2024, and the solvency margin at 2.26 times, Crisil added.

All insurance companies are required to maintain a solvency ratiowhich reflects an insurers ability to meet its debt obligationsof 1.5. The combined ratio is calculated by adding the loss ratio and expense ratio.

Also read | Global investors see India as key market for PE investments: Coller Capital

For PEs, a high-growth lure

Indias non-life insurance sector, despite its low market penetration, saw premium income increase by 19.5% year-on-year to 1,14,972 crore ($13.8 billion) in 2023-24 on strong demand for health and motor policies.

This high growth and low market penetration makes the domestic insurance segment attractive for long-term investors such as private equity firms.

Globally, private equity investments in the insurance sector have been rising," said Sudip Mahapatra, partner at law firm S&R Associates. Funds see an opportunity in value accretion through operational enhancements, such as use of AI and expansion of distribution. For insurers, private capital allows them to expand products and distribution."

Among recent high-profile deals in Indias insurance sector is Bajaj Finservs decision to acquire German insurer Allianz SEs 26% stake in its insurance businessBajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltdfor 24,180 crore, breaking a 24-year partnership.

Also, Piramal Enterprises Ltd plans to sell its stake in Shriram Groups insurance ventures for 4,000-5,000 crore. Last year, Central Bank of India bought a 24.91% stake in Future Generali India Insurance.

Also read | Heath insurance in India ought to cover preventive care as well
Shell Plc is working with advisers to evaluate a potential acquisition of BP Plc, though its waiting for further stock and oil price declines before deciding whether to pursue a bid, according to people familiar with the matter.

The oil major has been more seriously discussing the feasibility and merits of a BP takeover with its advisers in recent weeks, the people said, asking not be identified because the information is private.

Any final decision will likely depend on whether BP stock continues to slide, the people said. Shares of BP have already lost nearly a third of their value in the last 12 months as a turnaround plan has fallen flat with investors and oil prices tumbled. Shell may also wait for BP to reach out or for another suitor to make a first move, and its current work could help it get prepared for such a scenario, some of the people said.

Deliberations are in the early stages and Shell may opt to focus on share buybacks and bolt-on acquisitions rather than a megamerger, they said. Other large energy companies have also been analyzing whether they would want to bid for BP, the people said.

As we have said many times before, we are sharply focused on capturing the value in Shell through continuing to focus on performance, discipline and simplification, a spokesperson for Shell said in an emailed statement. A representative for BP declined to comment.

A successful combination of Shell and BP would be one of the oil industrys largest-ever takeovers, bringing together the iconic British majors in a deal thats been discussed on and off for decades. The companies were once close rivals  with a similar size, reach and global clout  but their paths have diverged in recent years.

Shells stock is down about 13% in London trading over the last 12 months, giving the company a market value of 149 billion . Thats more than double the 56 billion market capitalization of BP.

BP has been battling prolonged underperformance stemming in large part from a net-zero strategy embraced by its former Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney. His successor, Murray Auchincloss, announced a reset in February that included a pivot back to oil, cuts to quarterly share buybacks and promises to sell assets.

US President Donald Trumps trade war and a surprise acceleration in supply by OPEC has since pushed Brent crude well below $70 a barrel  the price assumption for BPs financial targets  and investors are growing impatient. Activist firm Elliott Investment Management has gone public with a 5% holding in BP and is calling on the company to consider more transformative measures.

Elliott views BPs plan as lacking ambition and urgency, and believes it could potentially expose the company to a takeover, Bloomberg News reported in April.

Under CEO Wael Sawan, Shell has also been cutting costs, shedding poorly performing renewables units and refocusing on fossil fuels. While Shells stock has outpaced that of Chevron Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. in recent years, the companys valuation has yet to match those of its big oil rivals in the US.

Sawan told analysts Friday that Shell will of course keep looking at inorganic opportunities but will be prudent and the bar is high. Any deal would need to add to free cash flow per share in a relatively short period, he said.

I have said in the past that we want to be value hunters. Today, value hunting  in my view  is buying back more Shell stock, Sawan said on the conference call.

He added that we have to have our own house in order before looking at sizable acquisitions, and that the company has more work to do to reach its full potential despite the progress its made over the past couple years. Shell is doing deals where it has the capability to create value, such as with its purchase of liquefied natural gas trader Pavilion Energy Pte, Sawan said.

A successful takeover of BP could bolster Shells output growth by allowing the company to regain exposure to the US, after it sold its Permian Basin shale assets to ConocoPhillips in 2021.

With assistance from Mitchell Ferman, Liezel Hill, Ruth David and David Carnevali.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Warren Buffett, speaking to thousands of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders at the companys annual meeting on Saturday, issued a stark warning against using trade as a weapon. The 94-year-old investors remarks seemed to be a veiled criticism of US President Donald Trumps tariffs, which have sparked global economic unrest.

Its a big mistake in my view when you have 7.5 billion people who dont like you very well, and you have 300 million who are crowing about how they have done, Buffett said.

He emphasised the need for balanced trade and stressed that trade should not be weaponised in the way the Trump administration has done with widespread tariffs.

You can make some very good arguments for the fact that balanced trade is good for the world, Buffett said when asked about trade barriers. There is no question that trade can be an act of war.

Buffett's perspective on global trade Buffett made it clear that the United States should engage in trade with the rest of the world rather than adopting a confrontational approach. "We should be looking to trade with the rest of the world. We should do what we do best and they should do what they do best," he stated.

Buffetts comments came as tariffs dominated the shareholder questions for the day, with many attendees eager to hear his views on the economic consequences of the trade wars.

Berkshires cash reserves and investment strategy Another major topic of discussion was Buffetts massive cash reserves. Berkshire Hathaway currently holds $347.7 billion in cash, and many shareholders were eager to understand why this large amount remains idle. Buffett admitted that he has not found many attractively priced investments in recent times but forecasted that Berkshire would soon be flooded with opportunities.

One day, well be bombarded with opportunities that we will be glad we have the cash for, he said, explaining the companys cautious approach to investments.

Lower profits for first quarter Berkshire Hathaway reported a significant drop in profits for the first quarter of 2025. The company earned $4.6 billion, or $3,200 per Class A share, which is a sharp decline from $12.7 billion, or $8,825 per Class A share, during the same period last year. The decrease was attributed to a sharp drop in the value of its investments and $860 million in insurance losses tied to policies written before the devastating Southern California wildfires.

However, Berkshires operating earnings, which exclude the volatility of investment values, still experienced a 14% decline, totaling $9.6 billion, or $6,703 per Class A share, down from $11.2 billion, or $7,796 per share last year.
May 2 (Reuters) - The Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America trade group (FDRA) urged U.S. President Donald Trump to exempt shoes from reciprocal tariffs in a letter signed by makers including Nike, Adidas America and Skechers.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The FDRA letter, dated April 29, was signed by 76 footwear companies such as Deckers Brands , Capri Holdings, Under Armour, and VF Corp.

The trade group said that the industry already faces significant levies, including children's shoes, which often have rates of 20%, 37.5%, or higher, before accounting for the new tariffs.

CONTEXT President Trump had imposed broad-based tariffs on goods from major U.S. trading partners, potentially leading to a rise in prices.

Trump had instituted sweeping tariffs in early April, including 145% tariffs to imports from China.

China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday that Beijing was "evaluating" an offer from Washington to hold talks over Trump's crippling tariffs.

Adidas, on Tuesday, held back from raising its 2025 financial forecasts despite strong first-quarter results, citing the uncertainty around U.S. import tariffs.

Similarly, Skechers also withdrew its annual forecasts, citing the Trump administration's erratic trade policy.

Also Read | Bond Traders Bet on Tariff-Led Jobs Slowdown Before Payrolls

"Given the nature of the U.S. footwear industry, American footwear businesses and families face an existential threat from such substantial cost increases. Hundreds of businesses face the prospect of closure," said the letter.
Berkshire Hathaway's CEO, Warren Buffett, in the shareholder meeting on Saturday, May 3, 2025, directed the question on artificial intelligence (AI) investments to Ajit Jain, a trusted senior executive at the conglomerate. While taking questions from shareholders, Buffett seemed to completely trust Indian-origin Jain about his conglomerate's ventures into AI.

Ajit Jain, the Vice Chairman of Insurance Operations at Berkshire Hathaway, said that artificial intelligence (AI) has the ability to transform the insurance industry at the company's first shareholder meeting for 2025.

The executive also admitted that AI technology can be a real game changer in the insurance business, helping to assess, price, and sell risk and pay claims.

I certainly also feel that people end up spending enormous amounts of money trying to chase the next new fashionable thing, said Jain in the meeting. We are not very good in terms of being the fastest or the first mover. Our approach is more to wait and see until the opportunity crystallises, and we have a better point of view in terms of risk of failure, upside, downside, he said, highlighting Berkshire's cautious approach towards AI as an investment.

However, Ajit Jain also highlighted that Berkshire Hathaway will not hesitate to invest once the right opportunity presents itself for investment.

Right now, the individual insurance operations do dabble in AI and try and figure out what is the best way to exploit it, but we have not yet made a conscious big-time effort in terms of pouring a lot of money into this opportunity, said Jain.

My guess is we will be in a state of readiness and should that opportunity pop up, well be in a state where well jump in promptly, said Berkshire's Vice Chairman.

Who is Ajit Jain? Ajit Jain was born in the year 1950 in India. Looking at Jain's early career milestones, he holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur.

He also worked briefly with IBM as an engineer and salesman in 1972 and later completed an MBA from Harvard University. Eventually, he joined McKinsey & Co. and worked as an Executive between 1978 and 1986.

In 1986, Ajit Jain joined Berkshire's National Indemnity Co., thereby entering the Warren Buffett-led conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway.

Jain proved himself to be a brilliant strategist by 2007, and this led to Warren Buffett recognising him as an expert in large, complex deals. In 2009, Jain was appointed as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway's reinsurance business. Since then, Jain has been an important figure behind Berkshire Hathaway's success.
South Korea's military said Thursday that it is investigating the possibility that Russia may have helped North Korea build its newly unveiled 5,000-ton warship, named Choe Hyon.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns over deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.

North Korea officially presented the destroyer-class vessel this week during a high-profile weapons test overseen by Kim Jong Un, who described the ship as being outfitted with the country's "most powerful weapons."

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the vessel is expected to enter into operation early next year.

The ship's unveiling is notable not just for its size, but for its potential firepower. Some analysts suggest the Choe Hyon could eventually be equipped with short-range tactical nuclear missiles, marking a significant escalation in North Korea's naval capabilities.

Speaking at a briefing in Seoul, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) spokesperson Lee Sung-jun raised concerns about potential external assistance.

"Looking at the weapons and equipment that were revealed, we believe that there is a possibility that they received technology, funds or assistance from Russia," Lee said.

"We are conducting a more detailed analysis."

Lee also noted that although the vessel has been showcased publicly, it may not be combat-ready for some time.

"In the case of warships it takes several years to build and even after completion it takes additional time for them to become operational," he explained. "So although the Choe Hyon has been unveiled it seems likely that considerably more time will be needed for its (operational) deployment."

This possible collaboration comes as the two countries visibly strengthen their ties. Earlier this week, North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow in its war in Ukraine. In addition, Pyongyang and Moscow announced that they had begun building the first road bridge connecting the two nations.

During the weapons test, Kim Jong Un reportedly instructed officials to work on "accelerating the nuclear armament of the navy." KCNA said that the ship's firepower was "effectively combined" with various missile capabilities, including "supersonic cruise missile, strategic cruise missile and tactical ballistic missile."

Although Pyongyang has not revealed all technical specifications of the Choe Hyon, the vessel's display is seen as a strategic move to demonstrate progress in its weapons programs and reaffirm its alliance with Russia.

South Korea's military continues to assess the capabilities of the warship and the potential implications of Russia's involvement. The investigation is ongoing, and officials expect to release more information following further analysis.
When Gibril Ali talks of black gold", he does not mean oil. He buys it in sacks, not barrels. He sells it to his customers in Nairobi, Kenyas capital, from a metal shack. But in Kenya there is enough money in charcoal to make big, big people" get rich by transporting it, he says.

Charcoal has fuelled Africas urbanisation. It is dense in energy and hard to regulate, much like cities themselves. Despite concerns about pollution, lost trees and illicit money flows, it refuses to go away. Nearly 200m Africans cook mostly with charcoal, including 27% of urbanites (see chart). The share has grown since 1990, offsetting the falling use of firewood. If there has been an African energy transition, it is from one kind of wood fuel to another.

View Full Image (The Economist)

The appeal of charcoal is its convenience. By weight it contains nearly twice as much energy as the wood from which it is made. That makes it easier to transport, helping megacities to outgrow their sketchy infrastructure. In Kinshasa, a Congolese metropolis of 18m people, almost everyone cooks with it. Never before, writes Jean-Baptiste Fressoz, a French historian, have cities reached such a size while relying so much on wood.

In the African countryside, tens of millions of people use earth kilns to make charcoal, outnumbering all the worlds coal miners. The process involves heating wood under low-oxygen conditions to remove moisture and volatile gases. Logs and branches are stacked into a pile, covered with grass and soil and burned for several days. This process yields between one and two tonnes of charcoal for every ten of dry wood. It emits much more carbon than transporting or burning it.

The wood often comes free, because producers harvest from their own land or from forests. Many are farmers who sell charcoal to traders when they need a bit of cash. Others are businessmen who bring in work teams from afar, dish out chainsaws, then pay off a landowner or chief. Locals often complain that outsiders take their trees. Vigilantes have attacked charcoal trucks in Kenya and Uganda.

The value of Africas charcoal trade is thought to be in the tens of billions of dollars, maybe more than Africans make from cocoa or coffee. The money trail often leads to soldiers or officials. The UN Security Council banned charcoal exports from Somalia because jihadists were making millions selling it to the Gulf, where shisha smokers prize the aroma of acacia wood.

Charcoal production leaves destruction in its wake. In Mabalane district in Mozambique, two-thirds of woodland was affected by it in the decade to 2018, estimates a study by Fernando Sedano, then at the University of Maryland, and others. But in some places agriculture is the bigger culprit. Farmers might clear land mainly to grow crops, making kilns as they go.

In Kitui county, about 200km east of Nairobi, Joseph Kisovi Martha describes a dilemma. In ten years all the trees will be gone, he says, sitting near a stump. But he felled the tree himself. How else, he asks, is he to pay school fees for his children?

To address the downsides of the charcoal trade, governments oscillate between trying to make it legal, through licensing and forest management, and outlawing it. Abrupt bans create an illicit market, says Tuyeni Mwampamba, a Tanzanian researcher. Enforcement is a messy negotiation between traders, officials, police, soldiers and local residents. Lorry drivers move at night and pay bribes at checkpoints. In Uganda, where production is banned, charcoal is smuggled across the border before being reimported with a seal from South Sudan.

Other policies encourage clean cooking". Liquid petroleum gas is cleaner than charcoal and in Kenya is exempted from VAT. Firms are putting meters on gas canisters so consumers can pay as they go, rather than facing a big cost upfront. More than half of urban Kenyans now use LPG as their main fuel. Burn Manufacturing, which makes efficient stoves, has stopped selling its charcoal model there and is promoting electric ones instead, subsidised by carbon credits. Its boss, Peter Scott, argues that charcoal is dying out" in Kenya, though not in countries like Madagascar or Zambia, where alternatives are scarce.

Ending the use of charcoal would have economic consequences. The trade is informal and decentralised; gas flows through big firms, without creating as many jobs. Charcoal provides roughly 275 days of work for each terajoule consumed, compared with 95 for electricity and 15 for LPG. Gas imports eat up foreign currency.

For now, consumers mix and match energy sources. Charcoal production in Africa is still growing by 2% a year. Mr Alis neighbours use it for slow cooking, like boiling beans. Nearby shops sell gas and ethanol fuel. He is not worried about competition. As long as there is the ghetto, they will always use [charcoal]," he says.

 2025, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
India won the emerging market race for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25 despite hiccups, shows Mint EM tracker. Meanwhile, India has signed a mega deal with France to purchase Rafale fighter jets.

India tops

India retained its top spot among emerging economies in 2024-25 for the fourth consecutive year despite facing headwinds in the second half, such as weak exports, a depreciating rupee, and falling market capitalization, showed Mints emerging markets tracker. India saw slippages in its rankings in the second half of 2024-25, but a strong start to the year helped it outperform peers. Stock markets, which have been struggling since late September 2024, saw a quick rebound in recent weeks after a brief shock from US tariffs, bringing some optimism.

Streamlining FDI

India aims to attract more foreign direct investment by empowering its trade missions abroad to grant in-principle FDI approvals, Mint reported. The move seeks to bypass bureaucratic delays amidst global supply chain shifts and aid businesses seeking alternatives to China due to high US tariffs. It also intends to reverse the recent decline in FDI inflows. After peaking at $84.8 billion in 2021-22, inflows were down to $71.3 billion in 2023-24. Currently, FDI proposals undergo a multi-stage approval process, often taking months.

Dividend bonanza

80,000 crore: That is the amount the government could earn as dividends from central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) in 2025-26, Mint reported. The record-high figure is on the back of strong earnings in the oil and gas, power, and mining sectors. In 2024-25, CPSEs paid 74,017 crore in dividends, exceeding the revised estimate of 55,000 crore. Increased demand for petroleum products is expected to boost dividends from oil and gas CPSEs. The petroleum ministry has projected a 4.65% year-on-year increase in oil demand for 2025-26.

Coal rules

Amid soaring electricity demand and increased coal production, the Centre now aims to add 100GW of coal-fired power in the next seven years, up from the previous 80GW target set in 2024, Mint reported. This expansion will require an estimated investment of 1 trillion, with each MW costing around 5 crore. Coal-powered thermal plants (51.9%) dominate Indias electricity landscape despite an increase in solar and wind energy in recent years. This is coming on the back of 1 billion tonnes of coal production in 2024-25, which is projected to rise to 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030.

Earnings check

Early March quarter earnings hint that companies are recovering from demand contraction, though the rebound appears modest. Revenues rose 1.4% in Q4 as against a contraction of 0.3%, showed a Mint analysis of 184 companies that reported their results. Net profits, on the other hand, grew 12% year-on-year and continued to surpass revenue growth by a huge margin. Improved profitability was driven by cost-cutting and lower raw material prices. While demand shows signs of recovery, it is yet to pick up meaningfully, and hopes are hinged on higher spending after the tax relief.

Added firepower

63,000 crore: That is the value of the deal India signed with France for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets, made by Dassault Aviation, earlier this week. The agreement includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater trainer aircraft that will be deployed on India's aircraft carriers, primarily INS Vikrant and will replace the ageing Russian MiG-29Ks. Deliveries are expected to commence in about four years, with the entire fleet arriving by 2030. French companies involved in the deal are likely to source components from their Indian partners.

Contrarian calls

Despite the sharp market swings, the March quarter saw individual investors with holdings up to 2 lakh increase their stakes in 45% of BSE-listed stocks compared to the previous quarter. These stocks saw a steep median price fall of 25.4%, far sharper than the 14% decline in mutual funds-backed stocks and 21% decline in foreign portfolio investor-backed stocks, according to a Mint analysis. These include Gensol Engineering, VL E-Governance, and Noida Toll Bridge, among others, suggesting a contrarian buying approach by smaller individual investors amidst market turbulence.

Chart of the week: Crude fall

Amid global uncertainties, crude oil prices have declined sharply in recent months and are now hovering around $60 per barrel. While the impact of tariffs and the possibility of a recession in the US hit the outlook for fuel demand, signals of higher production from Saudi Arabia also impacted prices.

Follow our data stories on theIn Charts" andPlain Facts" pages on the Mint website.
NEET UG 2025: After flagging around 1,500 suspicious NEET-UG paper leak claims, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday, advised exam takers to remain cautious against rumours and misleading information regarding the medical entrance exam.

Citing the Prevention of Unfair Means Act, the NTA warned that anyone found guilty of adopting or facilitating unfair means, will face stringent penalties. NTA's advisory comes a day before the NEET UG 2025 exam, which will be held on Sunday, May 4, from 2PM to 5PM.

Over 22.7 lakh students have registered for the NEET UG 2025 examination, which will be held across 5,453 centres in India and 13 cities abroad.

NTA cracks down on fake Telegram, Instagram channels On Thursday, May 1, the NTA flagged over 165 Telegram channels and over 32 Instagram accounts for allegedly spreading misinformation about the NEET UG exam. The agency initiated action on the channels claiming to have access to the NEET (UG) 2025 question paper, reported PTI.

Acting on inputs received through its recently-launched Suspicious Claims Reporting Portal, the NTA has identified 106 Telegram and 16 Instagram channels engaged in spreading misinformation and attempting to mislead students, PTI quoted a source as saying.

Also Read | NEET 2025: NTA announces dedicated website to report suspicious claims

The NTA also requested Telegram and Instagram to immediately take down the flagged channels to prevent the spread of falsehood and unnecessary panic among the aspirants.

NTA's advisory The NTA urged all NEET (UG) candidates and their guardians to remain vigilant and not fall prey to individuals or groups who seek to manipulate or mislead them.

Also Read | Shepherd's son in Karnataka cracks Civil Services Exam
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (May 3) congratulated Anthony Albanese on securing a historic second term as Australias Prime Minister, calling his victory a sign of enduring faith in his leadership.

PM Modi posted the message on X (formerly Twitter), shortly after Albanese declared victory following a high-stakes national election.

Congratulations @AlboMP on your resounding victory and re-election as Prime Minister of Australia! This emphatic mandate indicates the enduring faith of the Australian people in your leadership, PM Modi wrote.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the growing partnership between the two Indo-Pacific democracies, saying he looked forward to working closely with the Albanese government to boost regional cooperation.

I look forward to working together to further deepen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance our shared vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, PM Modi said.

Albanese visited India in March 2023, where he and PM Modi agreed to expand cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework.

Australia is home to a large Indian diaspora, and both leaders have regularly highlighted people-to-people links as a cornerstone of bilateral relations.

During a 2023 visit to Australia, Albanese courted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even calling him the "boss" at a large rally attended by Indian-Australians.

Earlier that year, PM Modi had hosted Albanese in India, where the two leaders shared a symbolic lap of honour in a cricket-themed golf cart before a Test match, highlighting their nations' mutual passion for the sport.

Albanese secures historic second term Albaneses re-electionmarking the first time in 21 years that an Australian Prime Minister has won back-to-back three-year termswas seen as a mandate for continuity in Australias foreign policy, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

Also Read | Australia Election Result 2025: 5 things to know as Albanese clinches 2nd term

Anthony Albanese's win defies the typical pattern of Australian governments losing seats in their second term.

Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way, looking after each other while building for the future, Albanese told supporters during a celebratory speech in Sydney.

A rejection of Trump-inspired Conservatism In a pointed contrast to his opponents, Albanese distanced his government from the ideological style of US President Donald Trump.

We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people, he said.

Labor had branded opposition leader Peter Dutton DOGE-y Dutton, accusing his conservative Liberal Party of mimicking Trump and his now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency.

Dutton concedes, loses long-held seat Dutton conceded defeat on election night, confirming that his alliance of conservative parties had lost  including his own parliamentary seat, which he had held for 24 years. His political downfall drew comparisons with Canadas Pierre Poilievre, another opposition leader who lost his seat after aligning with Trump-era economic positions.

Also Read | Anthony Albanese set to return as Australian PM as oppn leader concedes defeat
Days after prominent Telugu film actor Vijay Deverakonda sparked a controversy for allegedly likening the horrifying Pahalgam attack to tribal clash, the Kalki actor issued a clarification on his comments.

I wish to sincerely clarify: there was absolutely no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, who I deeply respect, and consider an integral part of our country, Vijay Deverakonda posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Also Read | Vijay Deverakonda likens Pahalgam attack to tribal clash, lands in trouble

Deverakonda's previous comments had attracted objections from the tribal associations, who reportedly said the actor's statements demeaned them.

What led to the controversy? A Hyderabad-based lawyer, Lal Chauhan, had filed a police complaint against Vijay Deverakonda over a comment he made during the pre-release event of Suriyas film Retro, reported Telangana Today.

According to Chauhan, Deverakonda made a comparison between the recent Pahalgam terror attack and ancient tribal clashes, which he found inappropriate and insensitive. The complaint was registered at SR Nagar police station on Thursday, April 30.

Police said theyre currently reviewing the complaint and will decide on further action after taking legal advice.

What did Vijay Deverakonda say about Pahalgam terror attack? Recently, during the Retro event, 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)."

The actor also said that the neighbouring country struggles to provide its citizens with basic necessities.
The newly introduced UPI Circle feature expands the reach of UPI to those without a bank account, such as minors, allowing inter-connected payments within trusted groups. The National Payments Corporation of India ( NPCI ) rolled out UPI Circle on its BHIM app a few months ago and opened it up for private payments platforms such as PhonePe and Google Pay last month. Mint gives a lowdown on UPI Circle and what it means for users.

What is UPI Circle?

This new feature allows users to create a circle on a UPI platform and authorise payments on behalf of family, friends or other people. It also enables such people in the primary users circle to generate their own UPI ID even without a linked bank account.

A primary UPI user can add up to five dependent users to their circle, authorising them to transact from the primary users UPI account within specified limits. The primary user will have real-time oversight of these transactions.

UPI Circle enhances the way we share and manage our money and supports a more interconnected society," said Lalitha Nataraj, managing director and chief executive officer, NPCI BHIM Services Ltd, adding that the feature makes digital payments more useful, accessible and inclusive.

Who is involved in a UPI Circle transaction?

A UPI Circle transaction mainly involves three parties.

One is the primary user or UPI account holder who delegates the UPI authentication for another user to make payments. The secondary user is a person added to the primary users UPI Circle so they can make UPI payments through the primary users UPI-linked bank account. The third party is the recipient individual or merchant that initiates a payment with the secondary user and receives the payment from the account of the primary user.

What is the objective of UPI Circle?

Cash is still predominantly used for payments in India, especially for small value transactions. While UPI has enhanced the usability of and access to digital payments, it requires a user to link a bank account with their UPI ID to make transactions. UPI Circle addresses users who are still dependent on cash for their daily payment needs as they may not be managing money through their own bank account. According to NPCI, around 6% of UPI users make a large number of transactions because they also make transactions on behalf of other users.

Also read | How India pays online: UPI leads with 65% share, EMIs make up 20%in charts

How does UPI Circle work?

UPI Circle allows a primary user to authorize payments for secondary users from anywhere, while retaining control over the transactions. A primary user can choose full delegation to allow secondary users to make payments themselves within a specified limit, or choose the partial delegation option to authorise every UPI transaction initiated by a secondary user in real time. It offers a simplified use case for shared expenses and allows users to create payment circles, which streamlines day-to-day financial transactions. Currently, only partial delegation has been launched under UPI Circle whereas full delegation is in the works.

How will this feature benefit users?

Without the need for an individual bank account, UPI Circle is seen opening up secure online payment solutions for those with limited access to digital financial services. It is seen extending the ease and convenience of digital payments to those who are underbanked and new to the ecosystem by enabling a secondary user to make transactions from a primary users account with minimum intervention while ensuring risk mitigation.

How safe is UPI Circle?

The feature allows a primary user to review payment requests, track the expenses of a secondary user, get secure access to detailed payment records within each circle, and unlink access from their UPI Circle. Enhanced security protocols, seamless integration with UPI platforms, and clearly defined responsibilities and permissions for primary and secondary users are meant to ensure that transactions are secure and reliable.

Also read | Get set for UPI access to ones provident fund

What are the potential use cases of UPI Circle?

Banking technology company Zeta, in a post, said UPI Circle addresses a major gap in digital payments by providing the ability to delegate transactions securely and seamlesslysomething that was only possible through cash till now.

Use cases of the new feature could include a parent providing expenses to their minor kids, authorising payments on behalf of older parents or senior family members who may be wary of digital payments, or individuals who may want to delegate household chores and expenses. It can also be used by business owners, especially small business owners, to delegate payments to staff, or for corporate expenses such as for fuel, tolls, or vendor payments.

How will UPI Circle benefit payment platforms?

UPI Circle opens avenues for financial platforms to increase volumes by capturing transactions that would otherwise be cash-based. It could also drive innovation as payments platforms look to develop new products and services tailored to delegated payment scenarios.

Also read | What is UPI Meta? NPCI may plan new feature to streamline online payments
Luxury goods will be getting even more expensive as brands try to offset tariffs. The question now is, by how much will prices increase?

That is something not even luxury brands themselves have been able to answer. They say what uncertainty over happens next in trade policy makes it impossible to predict.

The Trump administration has imposed a 10% baseline tariff on nearly all imports to the U.S., and has threatened to impose additional levies on many top producers of luxury goods, including the European Union and Switzerland.

French luxury brand Hermes and Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli were some of the first companies to decisively announce they would be hiking prices. Since then, other luxury brands have confirmed theyre following suit, as Barrons predicted.

But most are still struggling to work out just how much they can raise prices without alienating consumers.

Italian luxury conglomerate Prada Group said on Wednesday it plans to raise prices in the summer. While it hasnt yet decided what the increases will be, executives hope they will have a better understanding of the tariff environment by June, which will let them move forward.

We will have to do certain things on pricing, for sure, but I do not know exactly the amount today," said Prada CEO Andrea Guerra.

If the tariff rate remains at around 10%, Prada executives expect price increases will likely be in line with their periodic raises, which often range from 2% to 4% every six months or so.

The maintenance type of increases of which Andrea [Guerra] spoke earlier about would be enough to compensate, but the point is, the impact that matters the most and is harder to quantify is the one on consumer confidence and mid- long-term on the economy," said Andrea Bonini, Pradas chief financial officer.

Kering executives made similar comments about needing more clarity on trade policy when the company reported earnings last week. They added that they will be tracking consumer confidence in the U.S. and globally to determine how much they can increase prices.

We are, of course, monitoring the situation, and well reassess our action in around May with the delivery of the new collection," said Francesca Bellettini, Kerings deputy CEO.

Kering may have a harder time raising prices than peers like Hermes or Prada. Sales and demand for goods from the other two have been stronger in the past couple of years.

Gucci, Kerings biggest brand, is in the midst of an ambitious turnaround that has yet to take hold. Foot traffic at its stores was weak in the first quarter and executives expect sales will remain soft throughout the first half of the year.

Write to Sabrina Escobar at sabrina.escobar@barrons.com
Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting 2025: Billionaire investor Warren Buffett presided over his 60th Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting on Saturday, May 3, and spoke on a range of topics, including the US economy and investments eyed by the multinational conglomerate. Buffett was joined on stage by Berkshire's top management executives, Greg Abel and Ajit Jain.

The chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, also known as the Oracle of Omaha,' made the comments after the conglomerate posted a lower operating profit in the first quarter, dented by insurance losses from wildfires and foreign currency changes. Meanwhile, its cash stake grew to a record $347.7 billion.

Operating profit for the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate dropped 14 per cent to $9.64 billion, or about $6,703 per Class A share, from $11.22 billion a year earlier. Net income was down 64 per cent to $4.6 billion, or $3,200 per Class A share, from $12.7 billion, reflecting losses on common stock holdings, including Apple. Let's catch Buffett's top 10 quotes from the annual meeting.

Warren Buffett's top 10 quotes from Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting:

1."Apple CEO Tim Cook made more money for Berkshire Hathaway than I ever did"



-Buffett initially took a lighthearted tone as he thanked Apple CEO Tim Cook. He said that following Apples latest earnings release, he tuned into Cooks call, the only investment quarterly call that he listened to. Im somewhat embarrassed to say that Tim Cook has made Berkshire a lot more money than Ive ever made Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett joked. Credit should be given to him.

2."Trade should not be a weapon"



-Buffett criticised the idea of tariffs and trade protectionism, saying that trade should not be a weapon. In the US, we should be looking to trade with the rest of the world. We should do what we do best, and they should do what they do best, Buffett said. US President Donald Trump was not directly referenced.

"I don't think it's a good idea to design a world where a few countries say, ha ha ha, we've won," Buffett added. "I do think that the more prosperous the rest of the world becomes ... the more prosperous we'll become."





3."The luckiest day of my life was being born in the US"

-Buffett seemed confident about US exceptionalism. Weve gone through great recessions, world wars, the development of an atomic bomb that we never dreamt of at the time I was born, so I would not get discouraged about the fact that it doesnt look like weve solved every problem thats come along, he said

If I were being born today, I would just keep negotiating in the womb until they said you can be in the US. Were all pretty lucky, he stressed. This is despite his criticisms of the current trade policy earlier in the session."

4."We're running a business which is very, very, very opportunistic."



-Buffett revealed that Berkshire almost put $10 billion at work recently, but ultimately didnt execute it. "We came pretty close to spending $10 billion not that long ago. We'd spend $100 billion. The one problem with the investment business is that things don't come along in an orderly fashion and they never will. We're running a business which is very, very, very opportunistic."

5."US stock market volatility in the last 30, 45 days is really nothing"

-What has happened in the last 30, 45 days  is really nothing, said Buffett, noting Berkshire Hathaways stock was cut in half three times during his 60 years running the company. Given that, he said the US stock markets recent action should not be considered a huge move.

This has not been a dramatic bear market or anything of the sort, said Buffett. The S&P 500 nearly closed in a 20 per cent bear market at its low in April before Trump paused his tariffs on countries, causing a rebound. At the last check, the S&P 500 was down about eight per cent from its record high.

6."A happy person lives longerwork at something you enjoy"

-When giving advice to a young investor, Buffett said that finding a way to be fulfilled and happy helps people have long lives. I think a happy person lives longer than somebody whos doing some things they dont really admire much in life, Buffett said.

When answering a question about the plan for successor Greg Abel, Buffett gave advice about choosing a job and launching a career. You really want to work at something you enjoy, Buffett said during Saturdays gathering.

7."If you find wonderful people to work with"

-Buffett cautioned that employees can take on the habits of their colleagues, so its important to be discerning about where one works. He recommended that while people should be careful about who they are employed by, its less important to fret about factors like starting salaries. If you find people who are wonderful to work with, thats the place to go, he said.

8."Real estate not the most interesting thing "

-In the US, there's so much more opportunity that presents itself in the security market than... in real estate. And in real estate you're dealing with ... usually ... a single owner or a family that owns maybe a large property. They've had a long time, maybe they've borrowed too much ... money against it.



Maybe the population trends are against them. But to them, it's an enormous decision... For a guy of 94, it's not the most interesting thing to get involved in something where the negotiations could take years, said Buffett.

9."Fiscal policy scares me"

-When asked about currency, Buffett said he is concerned about the tendency of governments to make decisions that make weaker currencies. Fiscal policy is what scares me in the US, because its made the way it is. All motivations are to do things that can cause trouble with moneyThe value of currency is a scary thing, and we dont have any great system for beating that, he said.

10."We are not in the business of trying solve unsolvable problems"

-"There are certain major investment situations where we have capital like nobody else has in the private system. We have particular know-how.. In the whole generation and transmission arena. It is important that the US have an intelligent energy policy, just as it was important during World War 2 that we learned how to make ships instead of cars extremely fast. We figured out the answer. We combined private enterprise with the power of government."
Berkshire Hathaway Q1 Results: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. announced its first quarter results on Saturday, May 3, 2025, reporting a lower operating profit dragged by weaker results from its key insurance operations over wildfire losses, while its cash pile continued to grow.

Operating profit for the Omaha, Nebraska-based multinational conglomerate dropped 14.1 per cent to $9.64 billion, just over one-third of last year's profit from $11.22 billion a year earlier. Ahead of the meeting, Berkshire reported its first-quarter results that indicated Buffett is still cautious.

Profit was weighed down by a major drop in the value of its investments and $860 million in insurance losses related to policies that Geico and its other insurance companies wrote before the devastating Southern California wildfires.

Berkshire said it earned $4.6 billion, or $3,200 per Class A share, in the first quarter, down from $12.7 billion, or $8,825 per Class A share, last year. Berkshire is now sitting on $347.7 billion in cash as of the end of the first quarter, up from $334.2 billion at the end of the year. The growing cash pile is a reminder that Buffett has not found any investments at attractive prices.

Berkshire Hathaway's share price Berkshire's share price has experienced a turbulent stock market period, rising 18.9 per cent this year while the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 was down 3.3 per cent. Berkshire's stock price has zoomed over 6,400,000 per cent since 1965. Berkshire shares have far outperformed the broader market in 2025, with many investors viewing the stock as a safe haven from potential disruptions to the economy, including from tariffs.

Berkshire Hathaway's biggest shareholdings The company was a net seller of stocks for a 10th straight quarter, as it bought $3.18 billion and sold $4.68 billion. The fair value of the five largest holdings on March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, represented 69 per cent and 71 per cent, respectively, of the aggregate fair value of our equity securities shown in the preceding tables.

The five largest holdings at each date were American Express Company, Apple Inc., Bank of America Corporation, The Coca-Cola Company and Chevron Corporation. In March, Berkshire raised its stakes in Japanese trading houses Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Sumitomo to as high as 9.8 per cent.

Berkshire Hathaway's businesses In other businesses, tariffs may have temporarily helped the BNSF railroad, where profit rose six per cent. BNSF reported higher volumes for consumer products, including west coast imports and automotive vehicles, which suggests higher demand for shipments before tariffs kicked in.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy also fared better, increasing profit 53 per cent through broad-based gains and a lower loss at the HomeServices real estate brokerage unit. Profit fell one per cent at manufacturing, service and retailing businesses.

Berkshire's collection of car dealerships benefited from higher sales of new and used vehicles. But home furnishings and other retailing businesses struggled with what Berkshire called increased competition, sluggish demand and impacts of higher economic uncertainty.
Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO Warren Buffet endorsed the five main Japanese trading houses in which his conglomerate has invested at his 60th annual shareholding meeting 2025 on Saturday, May 3. The billionaire investor spoke at the annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, over a month after Berkshire raised its stakes in Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi , Mitsui and Sumitomo to 9.8 per cent.

Berkshire's investments in the Japanese companies had totaled $23.5 billion at the end of 2024. "In the next 50 years, we won't give a thought to selling those," Buffett told shareholders during the meeting. We have been treated extremely well by the five companiesOur main activity is just to cheer and clap.

Berkshire Hathway's Japanese stock holdings Greg Abel, Berkshire vice chairman who is expected to succeed Buffett as chief executive officer (CEO), added that he envisioned Berkshire owning the trading houses for 50 years or forever. We're building relationships," he said, "and we really hope to do big things with them."

Known as "sogo shosha," Japanese trading houses trade in a variety of materials, products and food, often serving as intermediaries, and provide logistical support. They are also deeply involved in the real economy in areas such as commodities, shipping and steel.

Berkshire began investing in the trading houses in 2019, and revealed five per cent ownership stakes on Buffett's 90th birthday the following August 2025. The Oracle of Omaha prefers to avoid businesses he says he does not understand, and has likened the trading houses to his own conglomerate.

Berkshire Hathaway Q1 results 2025 The multinational conglomerate reported a lower operating profit in the first quarter, hurt by weaker results from its insurance operations, while its cash pile continued to grow. The operating profit for the conglomerate dropped 14.1 per cent to $9.64 billion, just over one-third of last year's profit from $11.22 billion a year earlier.

Ahead of the shareholder meeting, Berkshire reported its first-quarter results that indicated Buffett is still cautious. The company was a net seller of stocks for a 10th straight quarter, as it bought $3.18 billion and sold $4.68 billion.

The profit numbers were weighed down by a drop in the value of its investments and $860 million in insurance losses related to policies that Geico and its other insurance companies wrote before the Southern California wildfires. Berkshire earned $4.6 billion, or $3,200 per Class A share, in the first quarter, down from $12.7 billion, or $8,825 per Class A share, last year.
Five people have been rescued from a swamp teeming with alligators nearly two days after their small aircraft crashed in the Bolivian Amazon, according to a statement from the country's Defense Ministry.

The crash occurred on Wednesday as the plane, carrying the pilot, three women, and a child, was en route from Baures in northern Bolivia to the city of Trinidad. The group was not located until Friday morning.

An hour after take-off, the pilot reported technical difficulties before all communication with the aircraft was lost, the ministry said. Despite the emergency, none of the occupants sustained serious injuries. The survivors endured the ordeal by rationing chocolate and cassava flour salvaged from the partially submerged plane.

The pilot, identified by local media as 27-year-old Pablo Andres Velarde, managed to perform an emergency landingbut dangerously close to a nest of alligators.

"We fell into a swamp, and right next to it, there was an alligator nest. But thanks to the fuel that spilled from the aircraft, it contaminated the water and the strong smell of that scared them off, not completely, but they didn't approach us to attack us," he told Unitel from his hospital bed on Friday.

One of the survivors, Mirtha Fuentes, described the group's emotional relief following the crash. "We all cried with happiness because we were alive, with bruises, but alive and very lucky, thanks to God and the pilot's quick thinking and intelligence," she told Unitel.

The Bolivian Defense Ministry and Civil Defense authorities launched a search and rescue mission, though the first 48 hours were hampered by poor weather conditions. Local media reported that several aircraft flew over the area without spotting the downed plane.

According to Velarde, the group relied on rationed food recovered from the aircraft until they were finally discovered by local fishermen early Friday.

The survivors were later airlifted to Trinidad by helicopter from the Bolivian Air Force.

"Thanks to the work of our specialized personnel, at this time the five rescued individuals, including a child, are alive and we are making every effort to take them to safe areas and provide them with the medical attention they need," Bolivian President Luis Arce said in a statement.
Shares of several defence companies surged up to 20% earlier this week after Pakistans defence minister hinted at the possibility of war with India, following tensions after the deadly terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam.

Paras Defence and PSU shipbuilders GRSE, Cochin Shipyard and Mazagon Dock rose 9-12% on Tuesday. Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics also gained 4%.

These are the usual suspects when it comes to Indias defence sector. However, one standout performer that has been flying high due to its growing role in Indias military ambitions is Solar Industries India Ltd.

Shares of the company have been on a steep upward trajectory, rising around 16% over the last month on defence-related tailwinds, and 46% over the last year on the back of record revenues and a robust order book. The stock is also up a whopping 1,300% over the last five years.

For the uninitiated, Solar Industries is one of India's largest manufacturers and exporters of explosives and initiating systems, with around a 24% market share.

It is also India's first private sector company to set up an integrated facility for defence products such as high energy materials and propellants for rockets, and warheads.

However, such a rally hasnt come cheap. At a price-to-earnings ratio of 105x, valuations are rich, reflecting investor optimism and pricing in significant growth.

That said, the defence business, where the company is rapidly expanding its scale and scope, is what makes the story compelling.

Lets find out why this lesser-known stock deserves a closer look.

Also Read: Can this battered defence stock forge a new path? Only if it cleans house first.

Defence business set for substantial earnings growth

Solar Industries began as an explosives business, but over the last decade, the company has diversified its business by foraying into the defence sector.

The share of defence in its overall revenue has steadily gone up, from a mere 6% in FY23 to 17% in the first nine months of FY25. The companys order book has grown in tandem from 2,600 crores at the end of FY24 to nearly 13,000 crores by the end of FY25.

CEO Manish Satyanarayan Nuwal anticipates the number to hit 30-35% over the next four-five years. The rest (about two-thirds) will be equally split between the companys international and domestic businesses.

Several tailwinds are expected to support this momentum, including rising government spending and escalating geopolitical tensions.

Given the current geopolitical situation, the government is expected to lean more heavily on domestic defence manufacturing, should the country enter a period of heightened military preparedness.

Notably, Solar Industries is the only private company to manufacture warheads, a critical capability in the country's defence ecosystem.

The stock also stands to gain from government spending under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.

Last month, the Indian Defence Acquisition Council approved procurement proposals worth 54,000 crores, adding to a total of 2.2 trillion worth of approvals in FY25, underscoring the governments strong push for a self-reliant defence sector

Apart from this, it is also expected to get a boost from global tailwinds such as ammunition shortages and from ReArm Europe, the European Union's strategic initiative, aimed at bolstering the EU's defence capabilities.

Rheinmetall AG, the German automotive and arms manufacturer, in its latest commentary, has indicated that the EU defence budget is expected to be 1,000 billion by CY30, of which 40% would be towards equipment procurement.

ICICI Securities expects significant benefits for Solar Industries, as its products dovetail into the key tenets of Europes enhanced spending plan.

Also Read: Indian defence stocks: Amid slump, an opportunity under Trump 2.0

Diversifying product portfolio beyond Pinaka

In January this year, Solar Industries secured a 6,084 crore defence contract for the production of the Pinaka Rocket System, a sophisticated long-range artillery weapon.

The deal was a milestone for the company, marking the first time a private company was awarded a contract for the latest artillery system.

Several countries, including Nigeria and Indonesia, have already expressed interest in the Pinaka, and for good reason. The Pinaka is said to be one of the best rocket systems in the world, that can launch a rapid series of 12 rockets in just 44 seconds.

However, according to ICICI Securities, Pinaka is only the beginning of Solar's bigger plans. The company recently executed an MoU with the government of Maharashtra to establish an Anchor Mega Defence and Aerospace project in Nagpur at an investment of 12,700 crores.

The proposed project will focus on expanding production capabilities in critical defence products such as drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), counter-drone systems, energetic materials, and next-generation explosives, each having the potential similar to or higher than Pinaka.

As part of this initiative, the company plans to expand its defence portfolio beyond Pinaka. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd, has announced its entry into the development of advanced UAVs.

The company also recently unveiled the Bhargavastra Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS), designed to address the increasing threat of drones in modern warfare.

Apart from this, the company is preparing to compete in the 155 mm shells market, supporting India's aim to become the prime manufacturing hub for advanced 155 mm artillery ammunition.

Additionally, it has also ventured into the space sector, entering the propulsion system business through a partnership with Isro, and investing in Skyroot Aerospace to manufacture space launch vehicles.

Diversifying the product portfolio beyond Pinaka not only strengthens Solars strategic relevance but also helps it tap into multiple high-growth segments.

In the long term, this should help stabilise the companys revenue streams and enhance its positioning in Indias evolving defence ecosystem.

Healthy balance sheet to support robust growth

Solar Industries revenue and net profit have shown robust growth over the last five years, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% and 28%, respectively, on the back of a growing order book.

Margins have also steadily increased from 19% in 2020 to 24% in FY24 due to improved operational efficiency. Analysts expect this momentum to continue. ICICI Securities expects this to expand further, as the share of the relatively lower margin India business recedes to 30% by FY30 from 60% in FY18.

However, with heavy capex plans on the horizon, the companys balance sheet could be put to the test.

As the company invests heavily in building capabilities both in defence and non-defence domains over the next five years, it may need to rely on a mix of internal accruals and external funding to finance its expansion.

For now, it has plenty of cash on its books to support this growth. Crisil expects cash accruals of 900-1000 crores in FY25 to comfortably cover the companys annual debt obligation of 330 crores.

Its debt metrics are also comfortabledebt to equity ratio of the company stands at 0.3x as of 31 December 2024 and interest coverage ratio at 15.5x signaling headroom for additional leverage if required.

Both operating and net profit margins are likely to improve from their historical levels, which will help in aiding the capex.

Conclusion

Solar Industries may not be a new name in India's industrial landscape, but its evolution into a defence powerhouse is rewriting its growth narrative.

While the company has already delivered phenomenal returns in the past five years, its strategic expansion into high-impact defence verticals points to a multi-year growth runway.

That said, the stock is not risk-free. A slowdown in exports or global defence demand could weigh on performance. Volatility in raw material prices could also squeeze margins if not managed carefully.

Also, with the stock trading at a lofty valuation of 105x earnings, any misstep in execution, delay in order inflows, or macroeconomic setback could lead to steep market corrections.

Yet for long-term investors willing to accept near-term volatility, Solar Industries presents a compelling proposition. It may not be a secret anymore, but its trajectory is still far from fully realized.

For more such analyses, read Profit Pulse.

Ayesha Shetty is a research analyst registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India. She is a certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and is working toward the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Disclosure: The author does not hold shares in any of the companies discussed. The views expressed are for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult a financial professional before making investment decisions.
Top News The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has extended the deadline for Qualified Stock Brokers (QSBs) to implement the optional T+0 rolling settlement cycle in Equity Cash Markets from May 1, 2025, to November 1, 2025. This extension follows feedback from QSBs and discussions with market participants to ensure smooth implementation. All other provisions of the December 10, 2024 circular remain unchanged. Market Infrastructure Institutions must update systems, amend regulations as needed, and inform market participants accordingly. This initiative is part of SEBIs broader efforts to enhance market efficiency, reduce settlement timelines, and align operational processes with international standards.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has expanded the automated trading window closure system under the Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT) Regulations to include immediate relatives of designated persons (DPs) in listed companies. Effective from July 2025 for the top 500 listed companies and from October 2025 for all others, this move aims to enhance compliance and transparency by preventing insider trading during restricted periods. Companies must ensure system-driven monitoring of trading restrictions for both DPs and their immediate relatives. The initiative reflects SEBIs continuous focus on strengthening governance, ensuring accountability, and building investor trust in capital markets.

Ather Energys initial public offering (IPO) was oversubscribed by 1.50 times, indicating strong investor interest and demand exceeding the number of shares offered. This means that for every share available, investors applied for 1.5 shares. The oversubscription reflects positive market sentiment and confidence in Ather Energys growth prospects, likely driven by its position in the growing electric vehicle sector. Such a response can also lead to a higher listing price or allotment on a pro-rata basis to investors. Analysts attribute this demand to the companys innovative products, expanding distribution network, and increasing demand for sustainable mobility solutions.

Several major asset management companies including HDFC, Bajaj, Groww, Motilal Oswal, Edelweiss, DSP, and UTI have introduced new fund offerings. These NFOs span diverse investment categories including debt index, Nifty indices (Next 50 and Nifty 50), gilt funds, infrastructure, internet economy index, silver ETF fund of funds, and multi-cap growth plans. All offerings are direct growth plans, providing investors with a wide range of options across various sectors, asset classes, and investment strategies to diversify their portfolios. Investors can access these offerings through multiple channels, enabling flexibility, transparency, and ease of participation in different market segments.

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Meanwhile, the current US government wants AI to carry its biases to further its own anti-woke agenda

Interpreting AI In a recent blog post, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said we need to understand how AI works urgently in order to steer it towards outcomes that are in humanitys best interests. Over the last few months, I have become increasingly focused on...the tantalizing possibility, opened up by some recent advances, that we could succeed at interpretabilitythat is, in understanding the inner workings of AI systemsbefore models reach an overwhelming level of power, wrote Amodei, noting that modern generative AI systems are opaque in a way that fundamentally differs from traditional software. Many of the risks and worries associated with generative AI are ultimately consequences of this opacity, and would be much easier to address if the models were interpretable.

Trump admin wants AI to keep its biases And yet, the Donald Trump administration in the US, which has leaned heavily on tech companies to end their workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, is now going after DEI work in AI products, AP reported. Past efforts to advance equity in AI development and curb the production of harmful and biased outputs are a target of investigation by the current administration. The shift has raised concerns among experts in the field, such as Harvard University sociologist Ellis Monk, who has done notable work in the field of colourism. Google adopted a colour scale invented by Monk that improved how its AI image tools portray the diversity of human skin tones. People like Monk are now wondering whether such efforts will continue in the future.
A six-year-old South African girl who went missing last year was allegedly sold to a traditional healer by her mother, who wanted the young girl for her "eyes and skin colour." Kelly Smith was convicted on Friday, May 2, of trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith - who went missing in February 2024, Reuters reported. Smith's boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and the couples friend, Steveno van Rhyn, were also found guilty on kidnapping and trafficking charges.

Joshlin - who has a fair complexion and blue-green eyes disappeared from her home near Cape Town, sending shockwaves across South Africa.

During the trial, Smiths neighbour, Lourentia Lombaard, testified that the mother admitted she had done something silly and had sold my child to a sangoma. Lombaard also told the court that Smith allegedly offered money to her and others who were aware of the plan to sell Joshlin, in an attempt to buy their silence, according to the BBC.

According to the outlet, Joshlins teacher also testified in court, stating that when she asked about Joshlins whereabouts, Smith claimed the child was on a ship, inside a container, headed to West Africa.
Suhas Shetty news: Amid prohibitory orders in Karnataka's Mangaluru after protests against the murder of Suhas Shetty, chilling details have emerged about the known rowdy sheeter's death.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Saturday that eight people have been arrested in connection with Suhas Shetty's murder, and that an anti-communal task force will be constituted permanently, reported PTI.

Suhas Shetty murder case details The rowdy sheeter and Hindu activist Shetty was murdered by an unidentified group late on Thursday within the Bajpe police station limits in Mangaluru city. Suhas Shetty was travelling with five others.

Suhas Shetty was hacked to death by a gang using machetes and swords, reported The News Minute.

Suhas Shetty was hacked to death

Six unidentified men, reportedly arrived in a Swift car and another vehicle, ambushed Shettys car around 8:30 pm that night. Armed with sharp weapons, the attackers launched a brutal assault on Suhas Shetty, who fell on the spot.

8 arrested in Suhas Shetty murder case Following the gruesome murder, eight people have been arrested in connection with it. They have been identified as Abdul Safwan, Niyaz Ahmed, Mohammad Muzzammil, Khalandar Shafi, Adil Mehrooz Mohammad Rizwan, Ranjit and Nagaraj.

Anti-communal task force to be set up for Udupi and Dakshina Kannada Addressing a press conference after a meeting with top police officials, Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara said an anti-communal task force will be constituted specially for Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district on the lines of the Anti-Naxal force.

"It will be headed by a Inspector General of Police (IGP). It will be set up as a permanent feature," he told PTI.

Following Suhas Shetty's murder, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a bandh on Friday, May 2 and shops were shut in Mangaluru city.

Parameshwara and District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao rushed to Mangaluru on Friday and held high-level discussions with Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal and Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan to assess the law and order situation in Mangaluru.
PM Narendra Modi emphasised India's commitment to decisive action against terrorism and those who support it. He expressed gratitude to Angola for its support in combating cross-border terrorism.

PM Modi wrote on X,We are committed to take firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for their support in our fight against cross-border terrorism."

Terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity. I am thankful to President Lourenco and Angola for paying their respects to victims of Pahalgam terror attack. We are committed to take firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for their support in our fight against cross-border terrorism, PM Modi said.

Pahalgam terror attack PM Modi's statement comes amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Following the attack, India undertook several diplomatic actions against Pakistan and banned the social media accounts of popular Pakistani personalities.

Also Read | Angolan president to arrive in India tomorrow on first state visit in 38 years

Angola President's visit to India On Saturday, PM Modi met the President of Angola Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, at Hyderabad House, marking his first state visit to India in 38 years.

PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a bilateral meeting with President Lourenco at Hyderabad House.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X, "Fostering India-Angola special relationship. PM @narendramodi warmly received President Mr. Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola at Hyderabad House ahead of their bilateral talks."

Also Read | Pakistani hackers again target Indian websites

Strengthening India-Africa ties Foreign Minister Jaishankar previously met President Lourenco. Jaishankar said the meeting between PM Modi and the Angolan President is expected to boost India-Africa relations.
Delhi rains: After an intense thunderstorm along with heavy rainfall battered the national capital, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Yellow Alert predicting thunderstorms and rain with lightning in Delhi on Saturday.

The IMD said this was the second-highest 24-hour spell of rain witnessed by the national capital in May since 1901. According to data from the IMD, Safdarjung, Delhi's main weather station, recorded 77 mm of rain in just six hours, between 2:30 am and 8:30 am, the second highest in four years, PTI reported.

Also Read: Delhi Airport issues fresh advisory as rains lash north India

According to IMD, moisture and wind convergence over the area from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, assisted by a persistent highly favourable synoptic pattern at both lower and middle tropospheric levels, resulted in heavy rainfall.

Here's what IMD predicted: May 3: IMD has issued a yellow alert for Delhi on Saturday, May 3. On Saturday, generally a cloudy sky with very light to light rain. Thunderstorms and lightning are expected, accompanied by strong surface winds in Delhi, said IMD in an official release.

May 4: Generally cloudy sky with very light to light rain. Thunderstorms and lightning are expected, along with strong surface winds of 30-40 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h.

May 5: Generally cloudy sky with very light to light rain. Thunderstorms and lightning expected, with strong surface winds of 20-30 km/h, gusting to 40 km/h.

Moreover, the IMD has forecasted thunderstorms with rain from May 4 to May 6. Additionally, the following weather conditions are expected across various regions.

Thunderstorm and gusty winds: Winds are likely to reach speeds of 50-60 km/h, gusting up to 70 km/h, at isolated locations in Rajasthan on May 2 and 4; Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on May 4 and 5; and West Uttar Pradesh on May 2, 4, and 5. East Uttar Pradesh will also experience thundersqualls on May 5.

Duststorms: Duststorms are very likely at isolated locations over Rajasthan from May 2 to May 5.

Residents are advised to stay alert and take necessary precautions during these weather conditions.

On Friday, the minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 18.5C, which is 6.5C below the normal. The relative humidity ranged between 100% and 60%.

Residents are advised to stay alert and take necessary precautions during these weather conditions.

The weather office has forecast a cloudy sky with the possibility of rain or thunderstorms throughout the coming week. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to range between 34C and 21C.
At least six persons were killed, and 30 sustained injuries after a stampede broke out during a temple festival at a village in North Goa in the wee hours of Saturday, PTI reported citing officials.

The tragedy took place in the early hours at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, according to a senior police official, PTI reported.

Thousands of devotees from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka had gathered at the temple for the festival, he said, adding that the exact cause of the stampede would be ascertained after a probe.

At least six persons were killed in the stampede, and several devotees have sustained injuries, officials from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

Thousands of devotees from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka had assembled at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village for the annual festival when a stampede broke out, officials said. The exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined and will be clarified following an investigation.

PMO said in a post on X,  Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X, The news of the death of several devotees and injuries to many others in a stampede during the annual yatra to the Lerai Devi temple in Shirgaon, Goa is very sad. I express my heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families. I also hope for the speedy recovery of all the injured.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also visited the injured at the North Goa district hospital.

Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said in a post on X, Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with me and took detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time.

On the stampede at the Lairai Jatra in Shirgao, Goa CM Pramod Sawant said, The unfortunate stampede incident took place today at around 4-5 AM. This is the first time a stampede incident has taken place in Goa. I have reached the spot right now. I met the injured at different hospitals. Six people died in the incident. I have asked the State administration to conduct an inquiry into the incident... PM Modi called me and enquired about the incident

According to the Chief Ministers Office (CMO), at least six people lost their lives, and many others were injured in the chaos. State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that around 30 people were hurt, with eight in critical condition.

Two of the critically injured have been referred to Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim for advanced treatment.

Eight injured persons were admitted at the district hospital, while 10 were treated for minor injuries, he added.

Rane said the health department has taken immediate and comprehensive steps to manage the situation.

We coordinated with the 108 ambulance service, ensuring that five ambulances were dispatched to the site immediately after the incident, while three more are stationed at the North Goa district hospital, he said.

Rane said additional doctors were roped in, and a dedicated ICU with ventilators was set up to provide consolidated care. "All necessary arrangements have been made, and we are closely monitoring each patient," he said.

What to do if you find yourself in a stampede-like situation? 1. Stay calm and aware: Stay calm and aware of the crowds movements to avoid panic and react quickly.

2. Position yourself on the outskirts: Stay away from the centre of the crowd, and try to position yourself near walls or barriers to avoid the most dangerous areas.

3. Move with the crowd: If youre being pushed, go with the flow of the crowd rather than fighting it, which can help you maintain balance.

4. Protect your vital areas: Use your arms to shield your chest and head, and curl into a ball if you fall to protect your vital organs.

5. Look for exits or open spaces: Always be aware of nearby exits or open areas where you can move to reduce pressure and avoid being trapped.
Goa Temple Stampede Highlights: In the early hours of Saturday, a stampede broke out during a temple festival at a village in North Goa, killing six while several others were injured, PTI reported citing officials.

The incident occurred at the Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgaon village, according to a senior police official.

Thousands of devotees from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka had gathered at the temple for the festival.

Stay tuned for Goa Temple Stampede Live Updates

Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and spoke to Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.

PMO wrote on X,  Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.

Check all the Goa Temple Stampede Live Updates here on LiveMint!
Goa temple incident: Goa CM Pramod Sawant spoke about the temple festival stampede that took place in North Goa village in the wee hours of Saturday, killing at least six persons and 30 injured. He has declared the cancellation of all government programmes for the next 3 days and met injured at the hospital.

He stated that the injured are being treated at the hospital with care and SP North and the Collector and have begun the investigation into the incident.

Six people died in the stampede and over 50 people have been injured. After getting the information, I went to the spot. The injured are being treated in the hospital...More than 50,000 people participate in the Jatra every year. This is an unfortunate incident, ANI quoted Sawant as saying.

Also Read | Meet the modern boilermakers of Goa

Goa temple stampede: PM Modi assures Centre's assistance He said PM Modi called him and enquired about the incident, assuring Centre's assistance. The injured are being treated with care and SP North and the Collector are conducting an investigation of the incident, Sawant mentioned, further declaring that all governments programs have been cancelled for the next 3 days in the state.

6 people had died before being shifted to hospital. I went to the community health centre where the bodies of 2 have been kept. I visited the district hospital as well, where 10 people are admitted... the rest are being treated at Goa Medical College...one person is in serious condition among them, he added, according to ANI.

"Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected," PM Modi said as per his office.

Also Read | All about the Vizhinjam seaport that PM Modi commissioned today

30,000 to 40,000 people had gathered "At least 30,000 to 40,000 people had gathered for the festival, and some were standing on a slope. A few persons fell on the slope, causing others to fall on each other," PTI quoted the police official as saying. He stated 40 to 50 people fell on the slope, leading to the stampede, which was confined to that spot.
A Guatemalan mother who gave birth at a Texas hospital this week is now facing "expedited" deportation, with an attorney warning about the health risk such an outcome could pose both to the woman and her child.

The Arizona Daily Star reported that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have been posted outside the woman's room and are preventing her from speaking to an attorney.

Attorney Luis Campos told the outlet that the woman was apprehended by Border Patrol earlier this week after unlawfully entering the United States. She was placed under detention but agents took her to the hospital to give birth on Wednesday.

Campos was contacted by an advocate who told him the woman wanted to speak to a lawyer, but he has been prevented from entering the room after being told he needs a signed document identifying him as her lawyer. He said he had the firm but neither he nor a hospital worker wouldn't be let inside the room so the woman could sign it.

"I'm 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 the case proceeds, Campos told the outlet.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesman John Mennell told the outlet that the woman is subjected to expedited removal, a process that does not include her seeing an immigration judge. She will be given the choice to take the baby with her or not.

Trump officials have stood by the policy, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio defending the removal of two U.S. citizen children last Sunday, saying that their mother made the decision to take them along when being deported rather than leaving them in the country.

"The children went with their mother. Those children are U.S. citizens. They can come back into the United States if there's their father or someone here who wants to assume them," he said in an interview with Meet The Press.

The children in question taken to Honduras with their mother, with press reporting that they didn't get the chance to speak with attorneys. One of them has Stage 4 cancer and is unable to access medication, the National Immigration Project (NIP) said.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty has ordered a hearing regarding the case, saying it looked like the government deported the children with "no meaningful due process."

Rubio, however, stood by the decision, saying: "If someone is in this country unlawfully, illegally, that person gets deported. If that person is with a 2-year-old child or has a 2-year-old child and says, I want to take my child with me, well, then what? You have two choices."

"You can say yes, of course you can take your child, whether they're a citizen or not, because it's your child; or you can say yes, you can go, but your child must stay behind. And then your headlines would read: 'U.S. holding hostage 2-year-old, 4-year-old, 7-year-old, while mother deported," Rubio added.

Originally published on Latin Times
A woman who was molested by a man on a two-wheeler in Bengaluru said she shouted for help, and stopped people, but no one came forward.

Recalling her ordeal, the woman, in an interview with NDTV, said that she was in a crowded IT park in Bengaluru when she felt a huge hit on her back. I was walking in Ecoworld in the Marathahalli area around 11.30 pm on Wednesday, when I felt a huge hit on my back, she said.

No one came to my help "I was perplexed. I thought maybe someone was riding a vehicle recklessly. The same thing happened again, though, and with greater intensity. Then I was sure someone was doing this deliberately," she said.

"The third time... I could see the guy taking a U-turn and coming for me. I shouted for help, there were so many people, it is always a bustling area... I asked people for help, I stopped auto drivers, I stopped others... but no one came to my help, that's the most surprising thing," she told NDTV.

Molestation caught on CCTV In a horrifying incident, a woman in Bengaluru was sexually harassed on April 5 by an unidentified man, which was caught on a CCTV camera installed at the location.

The video of the incident had gone viral on social media, sparking massive outrage online. The incident had reportedly taken place in the BTM layout of the Suddaguntepalya area in Bengaluru. The CCTV footage shows that the molester ran away from the scene immediately.

Also Read | Uttarakhand HC asks Nainital police to curb tension after minors rape

The video shows two women walking in a narrow and a deserted alleyway. A man approached the women from behind and appeared to have groped one of the women before fleeing from the scene.

Delhi Police detains over 6,500 for eve-teasing, molestation in 38 days In a span of 38 days, the Delhi Police's Shistachar Squad has detained over 6,500 people for offences such as eve-teasing, molestation and harassment, a PTI report said on Thursday.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to foster a safer public environment and build confidence among women and vulnerable groups, the official said.

"Between March 17 and April 24, we conducted 1,055 enforcement drives and detained 6,584 people, the Delhi Police said in a statement.

Additionally, 275 vehicles were seized as part of the operation, the police said.
In a single day, India took three bold steps against Pakistan in the continued aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. New Delhi in a series of action imposed a complete ban on all imports from Pakistan, suspended all postal services from the country and barred its ships from entering Indian ports.

The move comes almost two weeks after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which has shocked the whole nation. India's action on May 3 is the continuation of the steps it has taken against Pakistan after the attack.

Here are the three bold steps that India took against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack:

India bans all imports from Pakistan In a notification, India imposed an immediate ban on the direct or indirect import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, regardless of their import status, effectively halting bilateral trade flows.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in an order said that a provision has been added in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders.

The import ban on Pakistan has been imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition will require approval of Government of India, it said.

No Pakistani ships allowed in Indian ports Hours after imposing the ban, India also barred all ships bearing the Pakistani flag from entering any of its ports in the Pahalgam attack aftermath.

India also barred Indian ships from visiting Pakistani ports, according to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS).

The restriction has come into place with immediate effect, according to an order.

A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian port. An Indian flag ship shall not visit any ports of Pakistan, the DGS said in its order, exercising power under section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act.

As per the DGS order, the restriction has been put in place for the safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure and any exemption or dispensation from this order shall be examined and decided on case-to-case.

India suspends all mails from Pakistan As the third and final step of the day till now, India also suspended all postal services from Pakistan.

(The) government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, an order issued by the Department of Posts that operates under the Ministry of Communication said.

Also Read | India suspends exchange of all mail, parcel services from Pakistan

India's fresh punitive measures against Islamabad come in view of the cross border linkages to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack.

On April 22, terrorists opened fire at the Baisaran valley in Pahalgam and killed 26 civilians, 25 of whom were tourists.

India has promised severe punishment to those involved in the strike, citing cross-border linkages to the attack.
The central government decided to suspend exchanges of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, a notice issued by the Ministry of Communications said on Saturday.

The decision comes in the wake of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam district that killed 26 civilians on April 22.

The government has taken a slew of measures against Pakistan, including halting the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling all special visas issued to Pakistani nationals, shutting its airspace for Pakistani airlines, and also shutting the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar.

Also Read | Sunil Gavaskar says Pakistan could be pushed out of Asia Cup a

On April 23, just a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, the government also declared Pakistan's top military attaches in India as persona non grata, directing them to leave the country. India also withdrew its own military attaches from Pakistan and reduced the number of staff at its High Commission in Islamabad.

India bans direct, indirect imports from Pakistan India has banned direct or indirect import of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect in the interest of national security and public policy, according to a government order.

The decision will completely halt all inbound shipments of goods from Pakistan to India. India's exports to Pakistan in April-January 2024-25 stood at $447.65 million, while imports were meagre $0.42 million, a PTI report said.

Also Read | How social media posts overshadowed the Pahalgam tragedy

A Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification, dated May 2, said that a provision in this regard has been added in Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders.

It added this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition will require approval of Government of India, the order said.

Pakistani ships banned from entering Indian port The Centre on Saturday banned all ships bearing the flag of Pakistan from entering any Indian port amid escalating tensions between the two countries after the horrifying Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

In a notification dated May 3, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways also said an Indian ship will also not visit any Pakistani port.

This comes hours after India banned all imports from Pakistan.

A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian Port, said the order.

Pakistani hackers target Indian websites The decision to suspend mail exchange from Islamabad comes a day after Pakistan-based hacking groups, such as "Cyber Group HOAX1337" and "National Cyber Crew", targetted the websites of Army Public School in Nagrota and Sunjuwan. The hackers attempted to deface them with messages mocking the victims of the 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, an ANI report said.

Earlier on April 29, Pakistan 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 sought to deface pages, disrupt online services and harvest personal information, the report added.
The Centre on Saturday banned all ships bearing the flag of Pakistan from entering any Indian port amid escalating tensions between the two countries after the horrifying Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

In a notification dated May 3, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways also said an Indian ship will also not visit any Pakistani port.

This comes hours after India banned all imports from Pakistan.

A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian Port, said the order.

An Indian flag ship shall not visit any Ports of Pakistan.

The order will be implemented will immediate effect and will be valid until further notice, the government said.

Why did India ban Pakistani ships? India's decision to ban all Pakistani ships from visiting its ports has been made in order to ensure safety, the ministry said in the notification.

This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping, it said.

Any exemption or dispensation from this order shall be examined and decided on case-to-case basis, the order added.

Also Read | India suspends exchange of all mail, parcel services from Pakistan

India bans Pakistani imports India has banned direct or indirect import of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect in the interest of national security and public policy, as per a government order.

A provision in this regard has been added in Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification dated May 2.

Inserting the provision under the heading "Prohibition on Import from Pakistan" in the FTP, it said: Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.

It added this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition will require approval of Government of India.
Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 2, and discussed the India-Pakistan relations following the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians on April 22.

According to an ANI report, the Russian leader urged India and Pakistan to settle their disagreements bilaterally through political and diplomatic means.

They discussed issues of Russian-Indian cooperation and the aggravation of Indian-Pakistani relations following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Sergey Lavrov called for settling disagreements between New Delhi and Islamabad on a bilateral basis by political and diplomatic means per the provisions of the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999, the report said, quoting Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The ministers also discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts at the highest levels, it added.

Reiterating the call for justice, Jaishankar wrote in a post on X, Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with FM Lavrov of Russia yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice.

Also spoke about our bilateral cooperation activities, he added in his post.

India suspends mail exchange from Pakistan The central government decided to suspend exchanges of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, a notice issued by the Ministry of Communications said on Saturday.

The government has taken a slew of measures against Pakistan, including halting the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling all special visas issued to Pakistani nationals, shutting its airspace for Pakistani airlines, and also shutting the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar.

On April 23, just a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, the government also declared Pakistan's top military attaches in India as persona non grata, directing them to leave the country. India also withdrew its own military attaches from Pakistan and reduced the number of staff at its High Commission in Islamabad.

No direct, indirect imports from Pakistan India has banned direct or indirect import of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect in the interest of national security and public policy, according to a government order.

Also Read | India's 3 BOLD moves against Pakistan after Pahalgam attack

A Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification, dated May 2, said that a provision in this regard has been added in Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders.

It added this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition will require approval of Government of India, the order said.

Pakistani ships banned from entering Indian port The Centre on Saturday banned all ships bearing the flag of Pakistan from entering any Indian port amid escalating tensions between the two countries after the horrifying Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

In a notification dated May 3, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways also said an Indian ship will also not visit any Pakistani port.

A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian Port, said the order.
The Indian government has prematurely ended the tenure of Krishnamurthy Subramanian as the countrys Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to an order from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) dated April 30, 2025.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved termination of services of Dr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian as Executive Director (India) at the International Monetary Fund with immediate effect, the order stated.

Subramanians term, which began on November 1, 2022, was originally slated to run for three years.

Position marked vacant on IMF website As of May 3, the IMFs official website listed the Executive Directors position representing India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan as vacant. Subramanians name was listed until May 2, confirming the abrupt nature of his recall.

No official reason disclosed The government has not offered an explanation for Subramanians early exit. The timing, however, has raised eyebrows, as it comes just ahead of a crucial IMF Executive Board meeting scheduled for May 9.

India to oppose IMF funding to Pakistan At the upcoming board meeting, India is expected to voice opposition to any new IMF financing facilities for Pakistan, citing concerns over terror financing. The move follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, that killed 26 tourists.

The IMF Executive Board plays a central role in shaping the Funds policy, economic assessments, and financing decisions.

Last-minute cancellation of US conference appearance Subramanian was due to speak at a conference titled Investing Opportunities in India in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 2, organised by DoorDarshi Advisors. However, on May 1, the organisers posted on social media platform X that he had a last-minute exigency and would not be able to attend.

From CEA to IMF ED Subramanian had served as Indias Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) from 2018 to 2021 before being appointed to the IMF post in August 2022. He succeeded economist Surjit Bhalla, who held the position from 2019 to 2022.

Stepped down as CEA in 2021, strong academic background Subramanian stepped down as Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) in 2021 after completing a three-year term, stating that he intended to return to academia.

He was appointed as CEA by the government in December 2018, while serving as a professor at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. He succeeded Arvind Subramanian in the role.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, while asserting that India is not as cruel as Pakistan is, said that we may stop the water, "but we will not kill them.

Abdullah was referring to India halting the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with Pakistan in the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam district, which killed 26 civilians on April 22.

While talking to ANI, Abdullah said, India is the nation of Gandhi, we have threatened them (Pakistan) that we will stop the water, but we will not kill them. We are not as cruel as they are.

When the Indus Waters Treaty was signed, the people of J&K were not taken into confidence. Due to its treaty, J&K has suffered the biggest loss. I appeal to the government of India to work on a scheme to bring that water to the people of Jammu, the NC chief said.

Farooq Abdullah meets tourists in Pahalgam He also met tourists in Pahalgam and asserted Kashmir was and will always be a part of India. He said that the biggest message after Pahalgam terror attack is that the tourists are not scared, an ANI report said.

"The people who wanted to spread fear have lost. They (terrorists) have lost. It has been proven today that we are not going to get scared. Kashmir was and will always be a part of India. People want terrorism to finish. It has been 35 years since we have seen terrorism; we want progress. We want to move forward. We will become a superpower one day," Abdullah said.

The JKNC chief also met Hyder Shah, the father of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a local who died in the Pahalgam terror attack while trying to save the tourists.

"Farooq Abdullah shared our grief and gave us courage in our sorrow, which is helping us move forward," Hyder Shah told ANI.

India bans Pakistani ships The Centre on Saturday banned all ships bearing the flag of Pakistan from entering any Indian port amid escalating tensions between the two countries after the horrifying Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

In a notification dated May 3, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways also said an Indian ship will also not visit any Pakistani port.

This comes hours after India banned all imports from Pakistan.

A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian Port, said the order. An Indian flag ship shall not visit any Ports of Pakistan.

The order will be implemented will immediate effect and will be valid until further notice, the government said.

India suspends exchange of all mail from Pakistan The central government decided to suspend exchanges of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, a notice issued by the Ministry of Communications said on Saturday.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss various issues, including the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, officials said.

The J&K CM reached PM Modi's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence in afternoon to meet him.

The meeting between the two leaders lasted for around 30 minutes, officials quoted by news agency PTI said.

Notably, this is the first time that Omar Abdullah and Narendra Modi met following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, most of whom were tourists.

Chief Minister J&K Omar Abdullah called on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discussed various issues, including last weeks Pahalgam Terror Attack, Omar Abdullah's party National Conference posted on X.

Omar Abdullah on Pahalgam terror attack On April 28, Omar Abdullah said the spontaneous public outrage after the Pahalgam attack is an indication that terrorism may end soon in Jammu and Kashmir and made it clear that he will not cite the massacre to push for statehood restoration.

In his 27-minute speech during a special session of the J&K Assembly, the chief minister, with his voice heavy with emotion, said this assembly understands the pain of victim families more than any other.

The day-long session of the assembly was called to condemn the killing of 26 people, mainly tourists, at Baisaran in Pahalgam.

I did not have the words to apologise to these families though the security of Jammu and Kashmir is not the responsibility of the elected government. As the Tourism Minister, I invited these people to come here. Being the host, it was my responsibility to send them back safely. I could not send them back, he said.

PM Modi vows retaliation Meanwhile, on April 24, Narendra Modi promised to identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers and said killers of Pahalgam will be pursued to the ends of the earth.

In his first public speech after the attack, the Prime Minister said Indias spirit will never be broken by terrorism.

In a rare speech in English, he sent the world a strong message.
As part of the ongoing crackdown on terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack, police on Saturday carried out searches at five locations in Srinagar, a PTI report said.

A spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Police said they have intensified searches across multiple locations in the city, with the aim to dismantle the terror-supporting infrastructure in the district.

The searches, according to the spokesperson, were part of the continuing action against terrorists associates of proscribed outfits and in furtherance of the investigation into cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The searches were conducted to seize arms, documents, digital devices etc., with the objective of evidence collection and intelligence gathering to detect and deter any conspiratorial or terrorist activity against the country's security, the PTI report added.

Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed and several injured when terrorists opened fire at Baisaran, a meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 22.

IC-814 hijack accused terrorist's house searched Two days ago, police had carried out searches at 21 locations, including the residence of IC-814 hijack accused terrorist Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar alias Latrum, across Srinagar.

Also Read | India's 3 BOLD moves against Pakistan after Pahalgam attack

A team of police investigators carried out the searches early in the morning at the residence of Latrum, the self-styled chief of the Al-Umar terror outfit, and houses of 20 other terror accused, news agency PTI reported.

Latrum was released from prison, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, in exchange for the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight 814 in 1999.

In March 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) attached Latrum's house under the UAPA. The fugitive terrorist is believed to be operating from Pakistan after his release in 1999, the report said.
The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately to the Pakistan Army's unprovoked smallarms firing across the Line of Control opposite the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on intervening night of May 2-3. This marks ceasefire violation for the 9th day, ANI reported.

The Pakistan Army have now escalated the situation by violating ceasefire along the international borders", ANI had cited a defence source.

Also Read | Post-Pahalgam belligerence will help the Pakistan Army rebuild its image

The renewed ceasefire violations follows despite a recent hotline discussion between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, during which the Indian side is learnt to have warned Pakistan. Since the night of April 24, just hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty after Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani troops have been resorting to unprovoked firing at various places along the LoC in J&K, beginning from the Kashmir Valley.

Recent ceasefire violations along LoC after Pahalgam attack 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, PTI quoted a defence spokesperson in Jammu as saying.

The Indian Army said, During the night of 30 April-01 May 2025, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small-arms fire across the Line of Control opposite Kupwara, Uri and Akhnoor in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. These were responded proportionately by the Indian Army."

During the night of 29-30 April, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small-arms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor sectors in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, security forces in J&K's Rajouri district have increased their alertness after the terrorist attack. Joint search operations are underway in different forest areas, comprising forests and border regions, to track down terrorists. Vehicle check posts have been established with security forces holding thorough checks of suspected vehicles on highways and roads, ANI reported.
Goods like dry fruits and chemicals worth $500 million are believed to be entering India through third countries including the UAE, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, an official said.

According to the official, it is said that a substantial proportion of $500 million exports from Pakistan which were earlier directly exported to India are now being rerouted through other countries.

Pakistani commodities routed via third countries While Pakistani fruits, dry dates, leather, and textiles are repackaged and relabeled in the UAE for exports to India, chemicals are likely to be routed through Singapore.

Similarly, Indonesia is being used as a transit route for Pakistani cement, soda ash, and textile raw materials. From Sri Lanka, it is expected that Pakistani dried fruits, salt, and leather goods were being shipped to India.

"This comprehensive ban imposed by India including a ban on indirect exports would enable the customs authorities to prevent Pakistan exports from entering India through circumvention," an official said.

India bans imports from Pakistan India on Saturday imposed a ban on import of goods coming from or transiting through Pakistan and also entry of Pakistani ships into its ports even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country is committed to take "firm and decisive" action against terrorists and their backers.

Also Read | India's 3 BOLD moves against Pakistan after Pahalgam attack

In fresh punitive measures against Pakistan that came into effect immediately amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, India also suspended exchange of mails, parcels from the neighbouring country via air and surface routes.

All postal services with Pakistan suspended India on Saturday suspended all postal services from Pakistan and banned entry of Pakistani-flagged ships at Indian ports, in fresh punitive measures against Islamabad in view of the cross border linkages to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack.

New Delhi's new measures came amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the deadly terror attack last week that killed 26 people.

Besides banning entry of Pakistani ships into Indian ports, India also barred Indian ships from visiting Pakistani ports, according to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS).
A SriLankan Airlines flight arriving from Chennai reportedly underwent a thorough search after receiving intel from India about potential suspects linked to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

As per a report by News18, the flight arriving from Chennai underwent a comprehensive search at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). The report, citing a police spokesperson, said that an alert from Indian intelligence agencies alerted about six suspected terrorists being on the flight, prompting Sri Lankan authorities to conduct the search.

LiveMint could not independently verify the authenticity of the report.

A press release from SriLankan Airlines also seems to confirm the reports.

SriLankan Airlines wishes to inform the public that Flight UL 122, operated by aircraft 4R-ALS, which arrived in Colombo from Chennai at 11:59 hrs today (3 May), was subjected to a comprehensive security search upon arrival, the press release said.

The search was carried out in coordination with local authorities following an alert from the Chennai Area Control Centre regarding a suspect wanted in India who was believed to be on board.

Also Read | How social media posts overshadowed the Pahalgam tragedy

After being searched thoroughly, the aircraft was cleared for further operations, the press release said.

However, another flight to Singapore was delayed due to the mandatory search operation, the airline said.

The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority, and we strive to ensure that the highest standards of safety are consistently maintained," it added.

Hunt for Pahalgam terrorists on The Indian Army has been on a high alert since April 22, launching several search operations to neutralise the terrorists following the attack in Pahalgam , in which 26 people were killed.

Indian authorities have identified five terrorists  including three Pakistani nationals  behind the massacre in Pahalgam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 24 vowed to punish the terrorists behind the Pahalgam terror attack and those part of the conspiracy beyond their imagination, asserting that the country's enemies targeted not merely unarmed tourists but dared to attack India's soul.
Krishnamurthy V Subramanian, a seasoned economist and former Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to the Government of India, has been abruptly recalled from his role as Indias Executive Director (ED) at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), six months before the completion of his three-year term. The move, approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), was announced via an official order dated April 30, 2025, and took effect immediately.

Subramanian had been appointed to the IMF post in August 2022 and took charge on November 1 that year, representing India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan on the Funds Executive Board. Prior to this, he served as Indias CEA from 2018 to 2021, a role he left to return to academia.

Profile: Dr Krishnamurthy Subramanian Dr Krishnamurthy Venkata Subramanian is an Indian economist renowned for his contributions to economic policy, banking, and corporate governance. Born on May 5, 1971, in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, he has held significant roles in academia and public service, including serving as the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to the Government of India and as India's Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Subramanian's academic journey began at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. He then pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, graduating with honors.

Also Read | India asks IMF to review loans disbursed to Pakistan: Report

Furthering his studies, he obtained a PhD in financial economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, under the mentorship of former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and Luigi Zingales. His doctoral research earned him the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Dissertation Fellowship in 2005.

Professional career Academic roles:

Subramanian commenced his academic career at Emory University's Goizueta Business School in the United States, serving from 2005 to 2010. Subsequently, he joined the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad, where he held various positions, including Associate Professor, Professor, and Executive Director of the Centre for Analytical Finance. His teaching excellence was recognized when he was awarded the "Professor of the Year" title for the Class of 2019.

Public service:

In December 2018, Subramanian was appointed as the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, becoming the youngest individual to hold this position. During his tenure, he authored several Economic Surveys, notably focusing on ethical wealth creation and strategies for transforming India into a trillion-dollar economy. His innovative concepts, such as "Thalinomics," gained public attention for their unique approach to economic analysis.

Why was he removed early? The government has not officially disclosed any reason for Subramanians premature exit. However, sources cited by many media reports, including the Business Standard and The Indian Express, suggest two possible factors behind the decision:

Tensions with IMF over data issues: Subramanian is said to have raised concerns about the quality and credibility of IMF datasets. These objections reportedly did not sit well with officials at the Washington-based multilateral agency.

Alleged Book-related impropriety: Another concern allegedly involved the promotion and publicity surrounding Subramanians recent book India @ 100, which some viewed as a potential impropriety in his position at the IMF.

What is Subramanian's book about? In the 2024 book, India@100: Envisioning Tomorrows Economic Powerhouse, published by Rupa Publications, Subramanian explores how India can become a $55 trillion economy by 2047.

The author argues that India is at an inflection point that cannot be ignored. The country can grow at 8 per cent annually by reforming the economy zealously and doubling down on the sound policies implemented post 2014, he says in the book.

India@100 effortlessly ignites the readers imagination and inspires a collective drive towards a future where India emerges as a dominant economic force. This is an invaluable book for anyone interested in the rise of the Indian economy, read the details about the book on the e-commerce platform Amazon.

The situation gained further attention when Subramanian abruptly canceled a scheduled appearance at a US investment conference on May 2, citing an "exigency." His name remained on the IMF website until that date, before the position was marked "vacant" as of May 3.

Timing raises questions The recall comes just days ahead of a crucial IMF Board meeting on May 9, where India is expected to oppose new financing to Pakistan. Indias objection is based on terror-financing concerns in the aftermath of a deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, that killed 26 tourists. Given the IMF Boards role in approving funding and policy measures, the timing of Subramanians exitso close to a strategically important votehas drawn attention.

Unusual departure Its uncommon for Indian nominees at the IMF to be recalled mid-term. Subramanians predecessor, economist Surjit Bhalla, served a full term and was re-elected for a second cycle. Most Indian EDs in the past have either completed or extended their terms at the Fund.
Pakistan claimed on Saturday that it has conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometers as part of Ex INDUS.

The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features, a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the Global Firepower ranking, India is fourth, while Pakistan is ranked 12th among 145 countries considered for the annual GFP review.

The training launch was witnessed by the Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistans strategic organisations, it said.

The statement was quoted by leading Pakistan media houses including the state broadcaster PTV.

Meanwhile, according to Military Watch Magazine, India falls among Tier 2 military powers, while Pakistan falls among Tier 3 military powers.

India's military expenditure in 2024 was nearly nine times higher than Pakistan's, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as cited by news agency PTI.

The report highlighted that India, the worlds fifth-largest military spender, increased its defence budget by 1.6%, reaching $86.1 billion, while Pakistan's military spending stood at $10.2 billion for the same period.

In response to Indias series of diplomatic countermeasures following the recent terror attackincluding the suspension of visas for Pakistani nationals, orders to reduce diplomatic staff at the Pakistani High Commission, and the closure of the Attari borderPakistan has been regularly issuing NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), signalling potential missile test launches in the region. These notices are being interpreted as a deliberate show of force amid escalating tensions between the two nations.

Since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan has issued multiple NOTAMs signalling missile test activity, though none have materialised. The first NOTAM was issued on the night of April 23, giving less than 24 hours' notice for a missile test, but no ballistic launch was observed.

Notices on April 2627 indicated planned naval firings off Karachis coast, which also did not occur.

A third attempt between April 30 and May 2 signalled possible firings near Indias Exclusive Economic Zone, but again, no activity took place.

Amid ongoing cross-border gunfire in Jammu and Kashmir and inflammatory rhetoric from Pakistani leaders, this fourth provocation, involving a proposed surface-to-surface missile test, poses a serious risk of escalating already heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
In an age where social media influencers flaunt passports and paychecks, Ankita Rajendarans journey is refreshingly different. A solo traveller, author, and cultural enthusiast, she has visited 108 countries - and counting- without ever quitting her full-time corporate job.

Ankita has turned long weekends and public holidays into opportunities for exploration, proving that travel and a demanding job can go hand in hand. The trick is treating travel like a priority, not a reward, she saysa mindset that has taken her from the deserts of Jordan to the rainforests of Uganda, all while maintaining a high-performing career.

Her love for travel was kindled during her childhood in Muscat and grew through budget family trips to temple towns across Tamil Nadu. A modest holiday to Peru in 2014 with her husband rekindled that early spark, setting her on a path of relentless wanderlust.

What sets Ankita apart from most long-term travellers is her refusal to take a sabbatical. Instead, she relies on meticulous planning- synchronising annual leaves with public holidays and allocating nearly 30% of her income toward travel. By leveraging flight alerts, travel loyalty programs, and efficient visa processes, she maximises both her money and her time.

Crucially, her professional life has not been compromised. Ankita attributes her sustained career success to consistent performance and open communication with her employers. Travel made me a better professionalmore empathetic, calm, and broad-minded, she notes.

While most travellers highlight popular destinations, Ankita prefers the unconventional. She speaks most passionately about places like Sudan, Guatemala, and Taiwan, and about her solo travels that built resilience and self-reliance. Now, she curates group trips to lesser-known destinations such as Iraq and Madagascar, with a focus on offering Indian travellers more meaningful experiences.
Once dubbed the fab four, the young royals had to put up a show of unity after Queen Elizabeth II's death. However, Kate Middleton clearly described this show as one of the hardest things she has ever had to do, and Meghan Markle hasn't set foot on UK soil since.

During the national mourning period, Prince Harry and Prince William observed the tributes and spoke to members of the public outside Windsor Castle, each walking beside their spouse.

Estranged after the Sussexes had a dramatic exit in January 2020, the September 2022 walkabout marked two-and-a-half years since the couple had last been seen together in public. This too was for a brief moment  the start and end of the engagement.

However, after so many years, what has caught the eye of the experts is Kate Middleton's icy stare at Meghan Markle moments before she changed her expression into a big smile for the crowd.

Body language expert Katia Loisal said that Kate's glare had knocked Meghan's confidence out.

Quite unlike the confident Meghan we know, Meghan appeared ill at ease during this encounter, which is not surprising given the recent criticism that she has faced, Katia told Seven News.

The walkabout was all the more uncomfortable because it had been just a year since the Sussexes had spilt details about the rumoured royal rifts in their documentary.

Prince Harry and Meghan's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey also added to the heat they were receiving from Prince William and Kate.

The body language expert claimed Kate's actions made it look as though she was trying to freeze out Meghan.

On numerous occasions Meghan looked over at Kate, however, the gaze wasn't reciprocated, Loisal said.

The expert noted Kate chose to look through Meghan instead.

However, Meghan, who was hoping for some reassurance from Kate, felt uncertain and uncomfortable because of this lack of warmth, said Loisal, adding that this can be seen in the way she stooped her head, side-stepped and faced away from Kate.

Meghan's hand lifted hesitantly as if to wavebut stopped mid-air, rather than pausing to adjust her hair. Her head and gaze lowered, before she looked up and gave a quick wave, her arm coming back to rest in front of her body in a partial arm barrier, Loisal said.

According to the expert, Meghan's body language did not go unnoticed by Harry, who touched her arm gently and came to her side to protect her.

Communication and body language expert Judi James spoke to MailOnline about the Fab Four's surprise public appearance.
A luxurious Boeing 747 once owned by the Qatari government  boasting gold-colored walls, plush carpeting, leather couches, and ornate fixtures  is being prepared to serve as a temporary Air Force One for US President Donald Trump, according to The Wall Street Journal. The aircrafts opulent interiors were created by the famed French design house Alberto Pinto Cabinet and echo the aesthetic of Trump Tower.

Trump orders jet as Boeing lags on $3.9 billion upgrade Trump's decision to acquire the jet comes amid mounting frustration with Boeing, which has fallen significantly behind on a $3.9 billion project to replace the existing presidential aircraft. The former commander-in-chief has turned to Florida-based defense contractor L3Harris Technologies to retrofit the private Boeing 747 with the communications and security systems required for presidential use.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the aircraft  which once carried a price tag of $400 million  is expected to be in Trumps possession by early fall.

Im not happy with Boeing Trumps pivot to the Qatari-owned aircraft followed a February tour of the jet in West Palm Beach. Afterward, he reportedly told aides: Im not happy with Boeing. Sources told The Journal that Trump has been regularly checking in with L3Harris for updates on the retrofitting process.

Boeing project faces years of delay The Boeing contract was originally awarded by Trump during his first term in 2017 to replace two aging VC-25A aircraft, known as Air Force One when the president is aboard. Those aircraft, first introduced during the George H.W. Bush administration, have required increasingly heavy maintenance.

Although the project was initially scheduled for completion in 2024, Boeing now estimates that delivery wont occur until at least 2035. The company has reportedly encountered multiple supplier, engineering, and manufacturing setbacks, pushing the project over budget by billions of dollars.
Kash Patel, the Indian origin director of the FBI, has been accused of spending more of his time in nightclubs than at his workplace  raising the amount of unanswered questions about his absence from the headquarters of the investgative agency.

Frank Figliuzzi, who was FBIs Assistant Director for Counterintelligence under Robert Mueller, claimed that US President Donald Trump's high-ranking officer is seldom spotted at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's office.

However, Kash Patel has often been spotted spending his time elsewhere, the former FBI officer claimed.

Reportedly, hes been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building, Figliuzzi told Morning Joe co-host Jonathan Lemaire.

Patel allegedly does not receive his briefings daily anymore.

And there are reports that daily briefings to him have been changed from every day to maybe twice weekly, Figliuzzi claimed.

Kash Patel spending more time at home? Speaking further at the American talk show, Frank Figliuzzi claimed that Kash Patel has been dividing his time between Washington DC and his home in Las Vegas.

He accused the FBI director of working remotely for the past week.

Theres also been reporting, I believe, from the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, that Patel spent a lot of his time at his home in Las Vegashes been sort of working remotely for at least part of the week, he said.

Chaos inside FBI headquarters? According to the former FBI boss, the headquarters in Washington is chaos behind the scenes.

Figluizzi warned that if Kash Patel kept spending more time at his home than in office, it will be bad.

So this is both a blessing and a curse, because if hes really trying to run things without his experience, without any experience level, things could be bad. If hes not plugged in, things could be bad. But hes allowing agents to run things so we dont know where this is going, he said.

The former FBI officer further claimed of hearing reports of chaos inside the FBI headquarters.

But the one word that keeps coming back at me from inside is that the building is chaos, he said during the talk show.
Michelle Obama once again spoke out about the persistent rumors regarding her marriage to former President Barack Obama. She addressed speculation that their relationship might be facing difficulties, emphasising that if there were any issues, they wouldn't be kept secret.

"If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it," Obama told host on The Diary of a CEO podcast. She added that her family, including her brother Craig Robinson, co-host of the IMO podcast, would also be aware if there were any marital problems. "I would be problem-solving in public," she noted, underscoring that she is not one to hide personal struggles. "I'm not a martyr," she clarified.

Her brother, Robinson, who has appeared on several of her podcasts, jokingly said that if Michelle and Barack were having marital problems, he would be hosting a podcast with the former president (Barack Obama)." The lighthearted comment added a personal touch to the discussion.

Rumors of divorce amid inauguration absence This isnt the first time Michelle Obama has addressed speculation about her marriage. The rumors resurfaced after she opted to skip President Donald Trumps second inauguration in January. In a previous episode of "IMO" with Robinson and actress Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Obama explained why she made that decision. "My decision to skip the inauguration  or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me  were met with such ridicule and criticism," she shared.

Michelle Obama elaborated on how people assumed her marriage to Barack Obama was on the rocks due to her absence at the inauguration. "People couldn't believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart," she explained.

Prioritizing herself and making personal choices Reflecting on her decision, Michelle Obama emphasised that it was a moment of personal growth. "I'm here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me," she said. "It took everything in my power to not do the thing that 'was right,' or was perceived as right, but do the things that were right for me."

She also spoke about how she has changed her approach to meeting others' expectations. "You know, as a box-checking person who has been checking her whole life, doing the right thing, trying to always be an example, always going high  I think I just told myself, 'I think I've done enough of that,'" she reflected. "So let me start now."

Barack Obamas personality complements Michelles While discussing their relationship dynamics, Michelle Obama revealed that her and Barack's differences make them stronger as a couple. "When I met Barack Obama, he showed up in my life as the opposite of a box checker, but somebody that I describe in my book as an 'ultimate swerver.' He did nothing by the book," she said. "He was brilliant and interesting." She highlighted that their contrasting personalities actually contribute to their compatibility.
(Bloomberg) -- Swarthmore College said it called in police to break up a pro-Palestinian protest camp on its grounds after federal law enforcement pressed for an end to the demonstration.

Police arrested nine people on Saturday, including one of the private liberal arts schools students and a former student, Swarthmore President Val Smith said in a statement.

In addition to placing the community at risk, the promotion of the protest on social media drew the attention of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, who urged us to bring the encampment to an end as quickly as possible, Smith said.

Its the latest campus incident to draw scrutiny from President Donald Trumps administration, which has frozen or threatened federal funding for universities, including Harvard, Columbia and Cornell, that it views as promoting antisemitism and other policies it disagrees with. This week, Trump stepped up the pressure by threatening to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status.

At Swarthmore, a 161-year-old institution in the Philadelphia suburbs, the camp was organized by a pro-Palestinian student group that was suspended by the college and also attracted outside protesters, Smith said.

She said her decision to call in police, which she called terribly difficult, was necessary to ensure safety on campus.

Swarthmore Borough police and the Delaware County Sheriffs Office didnt respond to requests for comment.

Two federal grants have been cut at Swarthmore, which is far less reliant on federal funding than large research universities, the colleges campus newspaper reported in April. Federal funding makes up a small fraction of Swarthmores $220 million operating budget for 2024-25, according to the report.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
WTTC head optimistic about China's tourism prospects

Xinhua) 12:14, May 03, 2025

GENEVA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- China's tourism sector has a positive outlook and is anticipated to contribute further to the global travel and tourism market, Julia Simpson, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), has said.

In a recent virtual interview with Xinhua, Simpson said she is "very optimistic about China because the country is making all the right moves."

"We've seen the Chinese government launching a new visa regime to better welcome foreign visitors. That is going to help a lot. China has done so well after the pandemic," she said.

The WTTC predicts strong growth for global travel and tourism this year, driven by China's rebound.

According to the WTTC's 2025 Economic Impact Research report, international visitor spending is expected to reach a record 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2025, up by 164 billion dollars from the previous high of 1.9 trillion dollars in 2019.

In 2025, travel and tourism are projected to contribute an all-time high of 11.7 trillion dollars to the global economy, accounting for 10.3 percent of global GDP, the report said, adding that international spending by visitors to China surpassed the pre-pandemic level last year.

"I'm very confident that the Chinese market, after a period of a little bit of calm, is going to find its feet again," said Simpson.

"The reason I'm quite confident about the 2025 numbers is they're already baked in. Most people have already planned and even paid for their big annual holidays. There are a lot of business conferences taking place. We need to just wait and see, rather than start making predictions," she said.

Looking ahead, the WTTC forecasts that by 2035, travel and tourism will inject 16.5 trillion dollars into the global economy, accounting for 11.5 percent of global GDP. Simpson said that this outlook has taken into account the partial impact of U.S. tariff measures on global tourism.

"When we did these numbers with Oxford Economics, we already took into account a degree of the impact of tariffs," she said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
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.
Prince Harry criticised his family after losing a legal battle over UK security. in a TV interview, he has said King Charles wont speak to me. At the same time, he still seeks reconciliation.

Insiders felt that peace would depend on Harrys reaction to the court loss. But, minutes later, Harry strongly criticised the Royal Family, including his father, brother William and stepmother Camilla.

Before the interview was aired, a friend of Charles explained it would have been wrong for the King to interfere in legal matters.

What has frustrated and upset him on a more personal level is the Dukes failure to respect this principle. And, for his supporters to suggest that somehow his father doesnt care about his family, or should step in, the insider told The Sun before Harrys interview.

The King is at heart a loving and generous man, the source told the publication.

Also Read | Prince Harry seeks family reconciliation after losing a court case that caused a split with his dad

The Duke of Sussex felt let down by the system because he couldnt safely bring his wife and children to Britain. He said he felt sad that he would not be able to show his homeland to his kids.

The Palace responded that the matter had been reviewed thoroughly and fairly by the courts. It was the same outcome each time.

Prince Harry gave the 30-minute interview to the BBC from California. His response came as a surprise for Buckingham Palace and his father.

The interview came just after the court had rejected Harrys request for taxpayer-funded security. The Duke lost it after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.

Also Read | Check Meghan Markles gesture to rebuild bridges between Harry and King Charles

My family will never forgive me Harry called the ruling an establishment stitch-up and blamed the Royal Household.

Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. They will never forgive me for lots of things, Harry said while referring to his memoir, Spare.

Theres no point in continuing to fight any more. 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 told the BBC.

Palace sources told The Sun said Harrys recent actions and the security case worsened things. The King believes its for the Government and courts, not him, to handle.

Harry, however, claimed in his interview that he did not want King Charles to intervene in the legal case.
Prince Harry on Friday told the BBC he "would love a reconciliation" with the Royal Family, in an emotional interview after losing a legal battle regarding his security arrangements in the UK.

He tol BBC News in California, the King "won't speak to me because of this security stuff", but that he did not want to fight anymore and did "not know how much longer my father has".

"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," he added, but had now "forgiven" them.



"I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious," said Prince Harry, who said the dispute over his security had "always been the sticking point".

Expressing that he felt "let down," the Duke described his court loss as a "classic establishment stitch-up" and accused the Royal Household of playing a role in the decision to scale back his security.

On whether he asked the King to intervene, 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."



Read | My worst fears have been confirmed: Prince Harry faces emotional toll. Here's why

What the Palace said in response? Following the interview, the Buckingham Palace has issued a rare statement.

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 of the decision to strip Harry of his security detail.

The legal team behind the decision argued that providing publicly funded security for Harry was inappropriate, given that he had stepped back from his royal responsibilities.



Court upholds ruling on Harry's security dispute

In 2020, Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped back from their royal duties.

Earlier today, the Court of Appeal in London rejected Prince Harry's legal challenge against the British government's decision to alter his security arrangements following his departure from royal duties.

According to Reuters, the High Court in London ruled last year that the decision was lawful, a judgment that was later upheld by three senior judges in the Court of Appeal. While they acknowledged that Prince Harrys sense of grievance was understandable, they concluded it did not constitute a legal error.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putins offer of a three-day ceasefire to coincide with Russias May 9 World War II victory celebrations, calling it a theatrical performance rather than a serious move toward peace.

This is more of a theatrical performance on his part, Zelensky told a small group of journalists. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war.

Kyiv proposed 30-day ceasefire Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine is prepared for a complete and lasting ceasefire, not a temporary pause that would serve Moscows symbolic events.

Lets be honest  you cant agree on anything serious in three, five, or seven days, he said. It looks unserious. So that Putins guests on Red Square feel comfortable and safe.

The Kremlin had earlier rejected a joint proposal from Kyiv and Washington for an unconditional 30-day truce made in March. Since then, Putin has offered little movement toward ending the war, now in its third year.

Russia accuses Ukraine of threatening May 9 celebrations Zelenskys remarks drew sharp rebukes from Moscow. Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused him of endangering civilians attending May 9 commemorations.

He is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and celebrations on the holy day, Zakharova said. His statement... is, of course, a direct threat.

Zelensky dismissed the idea that Ukraine would guarantee the safety of foreign dignitaries visiting Russia for the parade. Our position is very simple towards all countries that have travelled or are travelling to Russia on May 9  we cannot take responsibility for what is happening on the territory of the Russian Federation, he said.

They are ensuring your safety, he added, warning that Russia may take various steps on its part, such as arson, explosions, and so on and then blame us.

Fighting continues despite truce talk Despite talk of a ceasefire, fighting has continued on multiple fronts. Russian shelling killed two people in Ukraine's Donetsk region on Saturday, and a drone strike on Kherson left one person dead. Russia, in turn, accused Ukraine of striking Novorossiysk, injuring five.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed the three-day ceasefire offer was a test of Kyivs commitment to peace. This is a test to assess Kyivs readiness for a long-term, sustainable peace, he said.

Zelensky says Trump is seeing things differently Zelensky also revealed new details about his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Franciss funeral at the Vatican. It was their first encounter since a tense on-camera exchange at the White House in February.

We had the best conversation out of all those that preceded it, Zelensky said. I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently.
A woman was killed early Saturday in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki when a bomb she was carrying exploded in her hands, police said.

The 38-year-old woman apparently was carrying the bomb to place outside a nearby bank around 5 am, police said.

Several storefronts and vehicles were damaged by the explosion.

Police said the woman, whom they did not publicly identify, had a criminal record related to drugs and prostitution and had been involved in at least one robbery and thefts in the past.

The Greek police's division for organised crime was investigating the incident, while authorities were also investigating whether the woman might have had ties to extreme leftist groups.

Greece has seen occasional bombings, as well as targeted killings, attributed to various organised crime groups. The country also has a long history of politically motivated violence dating back to the 1970s, with domestic extremist groups carrying out small-scale bombings that usually cause some damage but rarely lead to injuries.

While the groups most active in the 1980s and 1990s, whose preferred targets tended to be politicians, foreign businesses and diplomats, have been dismantled, new small groups have emerged.

Last year, a man believed to have been trying to assemble a bomb was killed when the device he was making exploded in a central Athens apartment. A woman inside the apartment was severely injured. It was unclear what their intended target might have been.

The blast had prompted Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrisochoidis to warn of an emerging new generation of domestic extremists.

In April, a new group calling itself Revolutionary Class Struggle claimed responsibility for a bomb that exploded in central Athens near the offices of Hellenic Train, Greece's main railway services operator, and the planting of another bomb near the Labour Ministry in early February.

The explosion near the train offices resulted in limited damage to the building and no injuries. It had been preceded by an anonymous call to local media 40 minutes before the blast warning about the device, leading police to evacuate and cordon off the area.

The group that claimed responsibility said the bombing was part of an armed struggle against the state.

The bombing at the train offices came shortly after the second anniversary of Greece's worst railway disaster, in which 57 people were killed and dozens more injured when a freight train and a passenger train heading in opposite directions were accidentally put on the same track.
Anthony Albanese claimed victory on Saturday (May 3), becoming the first Australian prime minister in 21 years to win a second consecutive term. His center-left Labor Party is projected to expand its narrow majority in the 151-seat House of Representatives.

Albanese used his moment of triumph to share a deeply personal message, thanking his son, Nathan, and delivering a heartfelt tribute to his fiancee, Jodie Haydon.

To my son, Nathan, who has grown into a fine young man who I am just so proud of. Thank you, he said.

Nathan, born to Albanese and ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt, holds a business degree from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Addressing Jodie Haydon, Albanese said: Probably wasnt expecting this to be in your life half a dozen years ago. I am so grateful for your support, your friendship and your love. You make me so happy, which matters, you have my heart, I love you and I look forward to living our lives together.

A wedding while in office Albanese, 61, is set to become the first Australian prime minister to get married while in office. The couple has been engaged since February 2024 and had once considered eloping on Valentines Day to escape intense public interest in their wedding plans.

We just wanted to keep something for ourselves, amid everything else, Albanese hinted in a recent interview.

While the exact wedding date remains under wraps, the result of the federal election will help finalise long-standing logistical details  including the venue.

In a speech delivered to supporters in Sydney, Albanese highlighted a defining message of independence from foreign influence, in what appeared to be a subtle criticism of US President Donald Trumps political style.

Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way, looking after each other while building for the future, Albanese said.

We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people.
India has stepped up the security of its national power grid as heightened tensions with Pakistan revive memories of cyberattacks in recent years, three people aware of the development said.

The power ministry has tightened security protocols at the load despatch centres which manage the demand and supply of power. The goal is to repel potential cyber and physical attacks that could bring down the grid, a calamity for any transmission utility.

The National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) and other regional and state load despatch centres are highly secure and safe. However, the security of these load despatch centres is usually enhanced in the light of the national security situation," one of the three people said on the condition of anonymity.

Also read: Major discovery likely from blocks offered in OALP rounds, says OIL CMD

The load despatch system has three levels, with the NLDC serving as the nerve centre. Below it are five regional load despatch centres (RLDCs) that supervise the five regional grids that form the national grid. Lower down are 33 state load dispatch centres (SLDCs) that manage power for the states and Union territories.

Queries sent to the ministries of power and home affairs and the Grid Controller of India, which operates NLDC and supervises the operations of regional load despatch centres, remained unanswered.

A second person said both cyber and physical security at all load despatch centres are being monitored.

The security concerns stem from high-profile cyberattacks on Indias power sector in recent years. These attacks caused outages in Mumbai in 2020, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in 2019, THDC India Ltds Tehri dam in 2017, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd in 2017, and at Rajasthan and Haryana discoms in 2018. The National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), which oversees Indias cybersecurity operations in critical sectors, has also earlier reported several vulnerabilities in states power utilities.

Also read: Gensols West Asia operations look to separate from parent

Security concerns grew after a 2021 cyberattack on the northern grid, allegedly by Chinese hackers. In April 2022, erstwhile Union power minister R.K. Singh said three attacks were carried out on the power grid in strategically located Ladakh since December 2021, but the hackers did not succeed because safeguards were in place to thwart such intrusions.

There have been continuous attacks on the Indian critical information infrastructure and this would continue," said Pavan Duggal, advocate at the Supreme Court and an expert in cyber and artificial intelligence (AI) laws. With the coming in of AI, a new vector of attacks and cyberthreats have opened up. The power grid is a critical infrastructure and recently, we saw the grid outage in Spain leading to halt across sectors including internet and aviation. India can be prone to such a threat. In 2024, the world witnessed an economic loss of around $8 trillion due to cyber attacks and a large part of it was from India. The projected loss for 2025 is about $10.5 trillion and India again may contribute a large share," Duggal cautioned.

He added that there is a need for a futuristic, holistic and inclusive legal framework for the protection of critical information and India should also look at repelling and countering such attacks, besides building cyber resilience.

Also read: BHELs revenue grows 19% in FY25 on power sector demand

More than physical security, cybersecurity has more significance as a cyberattack may halt the whole system," said Alok Kumar, former power secretary. A physical impact on a transmission line can be mitigated as the grid has alternate routes for power supply and security including the process of islanding. In the past few years, the government has taken several steps to ensure cyber security including the creation of the position of cyber security officers in concerned organizations and setting up a dedicated computer emergency response team for the power sector which institutionalizes cyber security aspect in grid management," he said.

In August last year, the government had outlined measures taken to ensure cybersecurity of the power grid. The Computer Security Incident Response Team Power (CSIRTPower) was established in April 2023 exclusively for the power sector. Additionally, sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) have been setup for thermal, hydro, transmission, distribution, grid operation and renewable energy sectors.

Outlining the steps, junior power minister for power Shripad Yesso Naik said the Grid Controller of India has established a security operation centre (SOC) to monitor security events and incidents across the NLDC and RLDCs. An SOC has also been set up at Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd for 24x7 monitoring of critical assets.

As of March 2024, 30 out of the 33 SLDCs managing the grid operations had conducted vulnerability assessment and penetration testing cybersecurity audits in the past five years, he added.
Should you say 'please' and 'thank you' to an AI chatbot, even though these essentially feel like redundancies when talking to a machine? This is the question that most users of AI chatbots have been grappling with, especially since OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that these mere pleasantries were costing the company millions of dollars. However, Google DeepMind principal scientist Murray Shanahan has a slightly different take on the matter, claiming that saying 'please' or 'thank you' to an AI can actually make it more productive.

Speaking in the Google DeepMind podcast, Murray said, You can say thank you. yeah, there's a good reason, good scientific reason, why that might get better performance. say it's role playing a very smart intern, right?then it's going to just role play, maybe being a bit more stroppy if they're not being treated politely. 

It's just mimicking what humans will do that scenario. The mimicry might extend to kind of being a bit more, you know, not being as responsive if their boss is sloppy, you know, bossy boss. I have they love that do you say. he added.

However, Murray is not the first to point out the need to be polite to a chatbot. Earlier this month, Kurtis Beavers, director of the Microsoft Copilot design team, said in a Microsoft WorkLab memo that saying please and thank you to an AI helps to produce respectful and more collaborative results.

Generative AI also mirrors the levels of professionalism, clarity, and detail in the prompts you provide. Beavers said, adding that it is on the user to set the tone for the conversation.

What's the cost of saying Please and Thank You to AI? Sam Altman has previously clarified that using niceties at ChatGPT costs the company an extra 'tens of millions of dollars' in electricity bills. Given that most of ChatGPT's electricity needs are met by fossil fuels, it may not make much environmental or economic sense to repeat these niceties, but as Murray explains, there is a deeper logic to saying please or thank you to ChatGPT or any other AI after or before the task.
Bhutan

Known as the "Land of the Thunder Dragon", Bhutan welcomes Indians without a visa. A permit is required, but no visa is needed. Dive into the serene landscapes and traditional heritage of this mystical kingdom.

Credit : PEXELS
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.
Luxembourgs asset servicing sector still has a long road of digital transformation ahead, according to an industry survey published this week.

Just one in five (21%) asset service firms claim to have most or all of their operational processes digitalised while four in ten (41%) respondents indicate that only a few of their processes are automated, primarily relying on manual workflows, EY said in the report, released on Tuesday.

According to separate research, asset servicing firms employ more than 25,000 staff in the Grand Duchy. The companies provide administrative, banking and specialised services to investment fund firms, which in turn collectively manage 5.7 trillion in assets.

Luxembourgs asset servicing sector had an overall digital maturity score of 2.3 points (out of 5), the same score as last year. EY commented in its report that despite advancements in strategic alignment and technology, companies continue to face critical challenges in fully realising their digital transformation ambitions, particularly in embedding customer-centric practices and leveraging technology to drive innovation.

The survey found that despite the widespread recognition of digitalisations importance, funding remains a significant hurdle. Only 33% of respondents said their digital initiatives were fully funded.

The number of Luxembourg asset service providers that had introduced digital products and services fell between 2024 and 2025. This, EY wrote, suggests execution challenges, possibly due to resource constraints or reassessing product viability.

Four in ten asset servicers use a centralised approach to develop digital projects, while nearly a third partner with fintech firms, EY found. While in-house development offers control and customisation, it requires significant investment and resources, especially in advanced technologies like AI.

The mixed approach to digital implementation suggests asset servicers struggle to find the right operational structure.

Four in ten providers considered themselves customer-centric in 2025, a down from nearly half in 2024. EY speculated that that as digital capabilities evolve, firms become more self-aware.

Asset services are counting most on data platforms, artificial intelligence and automation to boost productivity and added value.

The survey was completed by 48 asset servicing industry players in Luxembourg between December 2024 and March 2025, EY stated. Respondents comprised company C-suite  including CEOs, COOs, CTOs and CIOs  of companies serving funds mostly in private equity, real estate, private debt, infrastructure and Ucits retail funds.

This was the third edition of the study produced by the consultancy, with the first edition published in 2022.
Prince Harry's recent BBC interview has ignited controversy and further strained his relationship with King Charles III.

The Duke of Sussex, 40, expressed a desire for reconciliation with his father, who is undergoing cancer treatment at 76. However, his comments about the King's health and the ongoing security dispute have drawn sharp criticism from royal experts and insiders.

In the interview, Prince Harry stated, "Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," referring to King Charles's battle with cancer. He lamented the lack of communication from his father, attributing it to the unresolved security issues. "He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile," Harry added.

Despite expressing a willingness to mend fences, Harry's remarks have been perceived by many as counterproductive. Former press secretary to the late Queen, Alisa Anderson, criticized the Duke's comments as "unhelpful," suggesting they could lead to increased media speculation about the King's health.

The security dispute: A constitutional dilemma

The root of the current tension lies in a legal battle over Prince Harry's security arrangements in the UK. In 2020, following his decision to step back from royal duties, Harry lost his taxpayer-funded police protection. He challenged this decision in court, arguing that he still faced significant security threats.

However, the High Court upheld the government's decision, stating that the bespoke security arrangements were legally sound.

Harry's legal team sought to appeal the ruling, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the case, citing no legal grounds for intervention. A source close to King Charles emphasized that it would have been "constitutionally improper" for him to intervene in the matter, as it was a decision for the government and courts to resolve .

The King's Perspective: Frustration and Constitutional Boundaries

King Charles's frustration with his son's actions has been evident. A royal insider revealed that the King felt disrespected by Harry's failure to recognize the constitutional limitations on his role.

The insider noted that Charles had hoped for reconciliation but was upset by the pressure Harry's legal actions placed on taxpayers and the suggestion that he did not care about his son's safety.

Public opinion on the matter is divided. While some sympathize with Harry's concerns over his family's safety, others believe that his public comments have only deepened the rift with the royal family. Royal expert Jennie Bond remarked that the Duke's "loudspeaker of a diatribe" against the family is unlikely to foster trust or facilitate reconciliation.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Prince Harry's desire for reconciliation will be realized or if the ongoing disputes will continue to overshadow any potential for healing within the royal family.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper was injured after a drunk driver struck their cruiser early Saturday morning, according to a statement from the department.

The two-car crash was reported on Interstate 93 south in Milton at around 3 a.m., when a Dodge Durango crashed into the cruiser.

Drunk driver in Dodge Durango struck Massachusetts State Police cruiser on May 3, 2025 at around 3 a.m. on Interstate 93 south in Milton. Massachusetts State Police

The Durango continued on the road until another trooper stopped it south of exit 3, police said. Troopers arrested the driver, Charles Keeton, 31 of Dedham for OUI alcohol. He is expected to be arraigned on May 5 in Quincy District Court.

The trooper working in the cruiser that was struck sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Drunk driver in Dodge Durango struck Massachusetts State Police cruiser on May 3, 2025 at around 3 a.m. on Interstate 93 south in Milton. Massachusetts State Police

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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 companion House and Senate bills bill this session 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, he continued. And the reality is, not every single case of animal cruelty amounts to a felony.

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 bills, 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.

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.

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 proposal to enforce a so-called possession ban.

The companion House and Senate bills 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.

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 Legislatures joint 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.
President Donald Trump waded into a historical minefield this week with a plan to rename a beloved holiday that rips a page from Russias authoritarian playbook, according to published reports.

In a post to his Truth Social site on Thursday, the Republican president proclaimed that hat 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.

The problem? World War II only ended in Europe on May 8, 1945. The U.S. globe-spanning war didnt formally come to an end until Aug. 14, 1945, when Japan finally surrendered.

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.

Critics were quick to point out that marking the May 8 holiday would disregard the contributions of tens of thousands of the American Greatest Generation who continued to fight and die in the Pacific against Japan.

They also argued that eliminating the Veterans Day holiday would disregard the contributions of American servicepeople who fought in the nations other military conflicts, from the Korean War through the most recent wars in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and elsewhere.

The Atlantics David Frum noted that Trump is following Russias practice in celebrating the end of the war on May 8.

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 in a post to 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.

If he carries through on the move, Trump would be "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 [expletive] 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, D-Minn., wrote on X.
Residents across Massachusetts can look forward to summer-like warmth on Saturday with a potential for scattered thunderstorms developing in the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

For the Cape and Islands, the day will be partly sunny with a high near 67 degrees. Temperatures will drop to around 55 degrees in the evening with a 20% chance of showers.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop after 2 p.m. in Boston, the National Weather Service reports. Theres a 30% chance of rain but the day could be mostly sunny with a high near 83 degrees and a low of 59 degrees overnight.

Worcesters weather includes a 60% chance of rain followed by showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Temperatures will peak near 82 degrees during the day falling to 59 degrees by Saturday evening.

For Springfield, showers and thunderstorms are possible throughout the day, with a 60% chance of rain. The high temperature is expected to be near 82 degrees, with an overnight low of approximately 58 degrees.

Greenfield residents can anticipate showers and thunderstorms as some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall throughout the day, with a high near 80 degrees and an 80% chance of rain. Temperatures Saturday evening could drop to around 55 degrees.

For the Berkshires, showers and thunderstorms are also in the forecast, with an 80% chance of rain. The region may experience a high near 76 degrees, with an overnight low of around 54 degrees.
While cramming for finals, one Western Massachusetts teenager offered her classmate Adderall  a pill she got from a mutual connection on social media. She said she trusted him.

This really helps, the teen told her friend. Trust me.

But the pill wasnt Adderall. It was a fake pill laced with fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid. And she was later found unconscious.
FrontLine Service Inc. tailored the Partnering For Family Success program for caregivers who had experienced homelessness or housing instability and whose children were in foster care. The painting, called 'Color of Dreams' was created by a FrontLine client served by a different program but represents the hope workers try to instill in families the agency serves. FrontLine Service Inc.

BOSTON  Dr. Megan Sandel was treating a 2-year-old. The main symptom? The toddler was still the size of a baby.

He had not outgrown his 12-month-old clothing, he wasnt sleeping well, and nothing was working, she said.
Starting in April 2026, boaters on the Great Ponds of the Congamond Lakes will be required to take a boating safety course and pass an examination to operate. (FILE) FILE

SOUTHWICK  With the new state law requiring all boaters to eventually earn a safety certificate to operate any powered craft on the states waterways, the Massachusetts Environmental Police will hold a free boating safety course starting Tuesday, May 6, at Town Hall.

This course will take you from what you might consider common sense when boating to why you should be safe on the water, said Richard Grannells, the chair of the towns Lake Management Committee, which manages the three Great Ponds of the Congamond Lakes.
WESTFIELD  The Westfield High School Drama Club presents All Shook Up, a new musical screenplay by Joe DiPietro, inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley on Thursday and Friday, May 8 and 9. Tickets, which are sold at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m.

The play is directed by Owen Snyder and choreographed by Hannah Bruno. Music directors are Korey Bruno and Patrick Kennedy, and costumes are by Gwen Newton.
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Video News: [Video News] Tee Off du Tamarina Mauritius Amateur Open 2025[Video news] E-meeting du 1er Mai 2025 du Reform Party[Video News] Depot de gerbes de la GSEA a St Jean[Video News] Gheerishsing Gopaul :  Combat continue [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 30 avril 2025[Video News] Reprise des activites economiques[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 29 avril 2025[Video news] Pravind Rughoo a dit[Video news]Municipales 2025 : Rencontre avec Ruben Grenade[Video news] La NIC epaule les petits entrepreneurs[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 26 avril 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 avril 2025[Photos/Video] Etat davancement des travaux de nettoyage et de ramassage de debris sur lIle aux Benitiers[Photos/Video] Grays, fier partenaire de Plastic Odyssey a travers la marque LOccitane en Provence[Video news] La NIC a lance deux nouveaux services pour les femmes entrepreneurs.[Video news] Conference de presse dEn Avant Moris du 24 avril 2025[Video News] Abiolabs celebre 10 ans dinnovation en sante preventive a loccasion de la Journee mondiale de lADN[Video News] Presentation de la 6e edition du Festival du Film Europeen[Video news] Presentation du HUAWEI MatePad 11.5[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 22 avril 2025[Video news] 10 ans dAbiolabs Ltd[Video news] Muncipales 2025: Rencontre avec Wersley Lachoumanan[Video news] Adil Ameer Meea a dit[Video news] 30e Assemblee Generale Annuelle de lAssociation of Mauritian Manufacturers[Video news]Le Professeur Serge Riviere et Dr Amaresh Ramlugan racontent la contribution des Colleges Royal[Video news] Lancement de  Veni, Vidi, Vici [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 19 avril 2025[Video news] Foundation Day pour les Nouveaux Democrates[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 18 avril 2025[Video News] Premieres Assises de levenementiel a Maurice : Exercice porteur despoir pour le secteur[Video New]Conference de presse du MSM du 17 aril 2025Parlons de :Leveque Murphy[Video News] Lancement de  Les mains invisibles [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 16 avril 2025[Video News] Municipales 2025 : Rencontre avec Giovanni Lacle[Video News] Maurice accueille la revolution capillaire signee LOreal Paris[Video news] Presentation dAvriLivre 2025[Video News] Voyage de Plastic Odyssey dans les eaux mauriciennes[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 15 avril 2025[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 15 avril 2025 en Live[Video News] World Expo 2025 Osaka[Video News] Lancement dElseve Glycolic Gloss[Video News] Presentation des candidats pour les Municipales 2025 du Reform Party[Video News] Status quo pour les prix des carburants[Vido News] Les investisseurs institutionnels, les innovations reglementaires et les investissements alternatifs au cur des discussions[Video news] Conference de presse de Platform Citoyen[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 9 avril 2025[Video News] Dans les coulisses de Devdas  Le Musical[Video News] Ceremonie douverture de PIAfrica 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 8 avril 2025[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 8 avril 2025 en Live[Video News] Table ronde autour de lEducation[Video News] 12 candidats se sont enregistre pour le Ward 1 de Port-Louis[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 avril 2025[Video news] 407 candidats pour les municipales[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 avril 2025[Video News] Conference de presse dAtif AslamDerniere ligne droite pour les inscriptions pour lAnahita Trail 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 2 avril 2025[Video News] La GSEA satisfiat des nominations[Video News] Made in Moris accueille 40 nouveaux adherents et renforce son reseauDeces de Val Krimer[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 1er avril 2025[Video news]  FinTech in Africa : Vision 2030 , un evenement dAMCHAM (Mauritius) en partenariat avec le Groupe MINDEX[Video News] Bryan Adams a dit[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 29 mars 2025[Video news] De la poubelle a Mare Chicose[Video news] Les 80 ans de Paul Berenger[Video news] Fintech in Africa  Vision 2030[Video News] Plusieurs Top 5 et Top 10 mondiaux parmi les meilleurs etudiants ACCA mauriciens de lannee 2024[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 mars 2025[Video news]Les entreprises mauriciennes unissent leurs forces lors du Responsible Business Summit 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 26 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 mars 2025[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 25 mars en Live[Video News] Soiree litteraire a lICJM[Video News] Gokan Japan @ Grand Baie La Croisette[Video news] Fam pe zwen[Video news] Plus de 60 etudiants recompenses lors de lACCA High Achievers Celebration[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du mars 2025[Video News] Casela Nature Parks fete ses 45 ans dans une ambiance entre heritage et avenir.[Video News] Brand Within 2025 : Faconner lavenir du travail a MauriceRegus Grand Baie, la solution ideale pour les entreprises et startups souhaitant simplanter dans le nord ![Video News] Casela Nature Parks a fete ses 45 ans[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 19 mars 2025[Video news] Conference de presse du Commissaire Electorale[Video news] Conference de presse de Bruneau Laurette[Video News] Rajesh Bhagwan et Joanna Berenger ont dit[Video news] PIM Limited celebre la Journee Mondiale du Recyclage[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 18 mars 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 18 mars en Live[Video News] Shakeel Mohamed:  Livraison de provisions par le navire indien INS Imphal a Agalega [Video News] Reconnaissance pour 200 nouveaux experts-comptables face aux defis de la technologie et du developpement durable[Video news] LACCA Mauritius accueille 180 nouveaux membres[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 15 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 14 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 12 mars 2025[Video News] Message de Navin Ramgoolam pour le 12 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 11 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 8 mars 2025
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by Tanya Gazdik , May 1, 2025

Kohls has fired CEP Ashley Buchanan for cause just four months after he stepped into the role.

The investigation found that Buchanan violated company policies by directing Kohls to engage in vendor transactions that involved undisclosed conflicts of interest, according to Chain Store Age.

His termination is unrelated to the company's performance, financial reporting or operations results, and did not involve any other company personnel, Kohls said in a statement.

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Buchanan tried to funnel business to a romantic partner and lost his job, sources told The Wall Street Journal. It wasnt the first time their personal and professional lives had crossed. Buchanan met the woman, Chandra Holt, when they were both working at Walmart several years ago, the people said. His divorce proceedings show the two had a romantic relationship while he was the CEO of Michaels. The arts-and-crafts chain also tried to hire Holt during his tenure.

The nature of Buchanan's and Holt's relationship was not disclosed, in violation of Kohl's code of ethics, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Holt listed Boston Consulting Group on her LinkedIn page as an employer. But a spokesperson said the firm was "shocked to learn of the relationship between Chandra Holt and Ashley Buchanan, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We have strict guidelines for our senior advisors to disclose any conflicts of interest," the firm said in a statement. "As a result of this non-disclosure, we have terminated Chandra Holts contract.

During Buchanans brief tenure, Kohls carried out some cost-cutting measures, including layoffs at its corporate headquarters and the closure of 27 stores, according to The Washington Post, which reported that he will be required to reimburse part of his $2.5 million signing bonus.

Buchanans exit is a blow upon a bruise for the beleaguered department store chain and a distraction that the company does not need and can ill afford, says Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, in a note.

While the sacking is not related to performance, it gives the impression that Kohls is in perpetual state of chaos and it raises some questions about the due diligence over his appointment, Saunders said.

Kohls has appointed Michael Bender as interim chief. Bender has served as a director of the board since July 2019 and was appointed board chair in May 2024. Kohls said it will initiate a search to identify a permanent CEO.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 2, 2025

A federal appellate court on Friday rejected Meta users' request to immediately appeal a ruling that denied them class-action status in a lawsuit over alleged antitrust violations.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals didn't give a detailed reason for turning away the users.

The court's move allows the users to continue with their antitrust lawsuit against Meta, but only on behalf of themselves as individuals.

The new ruling comes in a battle dating to 2020, when Vermont resident Maximilian Klein and Illinois resident Sarah Grabert sued the platform. The duo -- later joined by Minnesota resident Rachel Banks Kupcho -- alleged that Facebook grew in popularity after deceiving consumers about its privacy policy, then weaponized consumer data in order to acquire potential rivals like social media service Instagram (acquired for $1 billion in 2012) and messaging service WhatsApp (bought for $19 billion in 2014).

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They sought to represent a class of people in the U.S. who used Facebook December 2016 and December 2020, and argued that class-action status was appropriate because all Facebook users were equally overcharged by Meta.

That argument centered on a claim that Meta would have had to pay each user $5 per month for his or her personal data, had it not obtained a monopoly. The $5 figure came from a witness presented by the plaintiffs -- economist Nichola Economides.

Donato rejected the plaintiffs' theory earlier this year, ruling that Economides' opinion was not supported by the record.

There is no doubt, as he says, that Meta makes a lot of money from user data, but [Economides] did not demonstrate that Meta would be compelled to retain users by paying them, rather than through innovations in services and product quality. Donato wrote.

Counsel for the plaintiffs asked the 9th Circuit for permission to immediately appeal, arguing that Donato wrongly rejected Economides' opinion.

It was for the jury, not the court, to weigh that conflicting evidence to decide what Facebook would have done to compete if it had not employed misrepresentations of its data and privacy practices to monopolize the market, the plaintiffs' lawyers argue.

Earlier this week -- while the plaintiffs' request for appellate intervention was still pending -- Meta asked Donato to rule in its favor on the antitrust claims.

This court should grant summary judgment for the same reason it denied class certification, Meta argues.

The company contends that the users' case relies on Economides' theory that, absent a monopoly, Meta would have had to pay users $5 per month.

As the court already concluded, Economidess injury opinion is unreliable and unsupported, Meta wrote.

The company added that the plaintiffs' case relies on a long, speculative chain of causation that starts with the baseless assumption that people choose online platforms based on representations about data collection and use, reimagines vague statements about 'privacy' as critical to Facebooks popularity, and ends with the (again, baseless) assumption that if Meta had faced stronger competition from some unknown firm, it would have been forced to pay people five dollars a month to keep them on Facebook.

Donato is expected to hold a hearing in the matter in July.

The Federal Trade Commission separately is suing Meta over its acquisitions of Instagram and Whatsapp. A trial in that matter is currently underway in federal court in Washington, D.C.
World Hand Hygiene Day 2025 urges global action on proper glove use and handwashing to protect health and the environment.

Highlights: Handwashing is essential, as gloves do not replace proper hygiene before and after use

Hand hygiene is the foundation of safe healthcare, as highlighted in the 2025 theme

Eco-friendly hygiene supports both health and sustainability

It might be gloves. Its always hand hygiene.

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World Hand Hygiene Day 2025



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Did You Know?

Gloves alone can spread infection if hand hygiene is skipped. #handhygiene #handhygieneday #gloves #infectioncontrol #medindia #2025

Gloves alone can spread infection if hand hygiene is skipped. #handhygiene #handhygieneday #gloves #infectioncontrol #medindia #2025

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Campaign Objectives

Highlighting the Importance of Hand Hygiene: Hand hygiene stands as a basic preventive measure against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) together with antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Hand hygiene stands as a basic preventive measure against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) together with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Promoting Compliance Monitoring: The objective promotes nations to establish both hand hygiene monitoring systems and to present facility feedback through nationwide healthcare measure reporting.

The objective promotes nations to establish both hand hygiene monitoring systems and to present facility feedback through nationwide healthcare measure reporting. Educational Outreach: The WHO offers educational tools aimed at healthcare staff members, institutions, and citizens to increase hand hygiene awareness (   Trusted Source

WHO SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign



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Gloves Protect, But Clean Hands Save Lives

Gloves Are Just Part of the Equation; Hand Hygiene Completes the Protection!

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The Use of Single-Use Medical Gloves in Doctors' Practices and Hospitals



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Eco-Friendly Protection Starts at the Sink

Clean Hands, Healthy Planet!

Its the New Sustainable Approach to Infection Control!

WHO 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene

Before touching a patient  To protect the patient from harmful germs carried on your hands.

 To protect the patient from harmful germs carried on your hands. Before a clean or aseptic procedure  To prevent introducing harmful germs into the patients body during procedures like catheter insertion or wound care.

 To prevent introducing harmful germs into the patients body during procedures like catheter insertion or wound care. After body fluid exposure risk  To protect yourself and the healthcare environment from potentially infectious material.

 To protect yourself and the healthcare environment from potentially infectious material. After touching a patient  To prevent transferring germs from one patient to another or to yourself.

 To prevent transferring germs from one patient to another or to yourself. After touching patient surroundings  Even if the patient wasnt directly touched, hand hygiene is needed after contact with their environment (e.g., bed rails, medical equipment).

Clean Hands, Clear Conscience; Protect Health, Preserve Earth!

World Hand Hygiene Day 2025 - (https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hand-hygiene-day/2025) WHO SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35364021/) The Use of Single-Use Medical Gloves in Doctors' Practices and Hospitals - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39262118/)

Every year, thehostsas a worldwide campaign to promote proper hygiene practices within healthcare environments. In 2025, WHO marks 17 years of the World Hand Hygiene Day global campaign. The World Hand Hygiene Day scheduled for 2025 will take place onunder the campaign theme: Medical gloves play an important role yet they cannot take the place of following standard hand hygiene protocols according to this slogan ().The primary mission of WHHD 2025 includes the following targets:Proper hand hygiene is, even though medical gloves perform as an effective infection control tool. By 2026, monitoring and feedback on hand hygiene compliance should be implemented as a core national indicator, at minimum in all referral hospitals.The use of gloves leads to pathogen transfer due to contamination. Overuse of gloves adds substantially to healthcare waste. A typical university hospital produces around 1,634 tons of waste annually, with a 23% yearly increaseespecially post-COVID. High-income countries tend to generate even more.that occurs before putting them on and after removing them. Establishing a cultural practice that values the use of gloves jointly with proper hand hygiene protects healthcare facilities from infections. The combination of properly washed hands and glove utilization provides complete protection against infections ).Hand hygiene beyond public health protection takes into account factors affecting the environment. Healthcare sustainability improves by implementing hand hygiene methods , which combine eco-friendly sanitizer use and water efficiency reduction strategies.Environmental pollution is reduced when gloves are disposed of properly and with hand hygiene supplies. The use of green alternatives together with responsible resource management allows healthcare institutions to protect public health while minimizing their impact on the environment.To prevent healthcare-associated infections and ensure patient safety, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends five key moments when healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene:The upcomingstands as a vital occasion to strengthen the fundamental position of hand hygiene practice in disease prevention and public wellness advancement.Individuals and organizations who follow the campaign material and join its activities will support a worldwide initiative to enhance healthcare both in its methods and targeted outcomes.Source-Medindia
To prevent long-term extinction, populations need a fertility rate of at least 2.7 children per womanmuch higher than the standard replacement rate.

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Threshold fertility for the avoidance of extinction under critical conditions



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Did You Know?

Human populations need at least 2.7 children per woman to avoid long-term extinction due to random shifts in birth rates, mortality, and childlessness. #medindia #populationdecline #fertilityrate

Human populations need at least 2.7 children per woman to avoid long-term extinction due to random shifts in birth rates, mortality, and childlessness. #medindia #populationdecline #fertilityrate

Impact of Birth Ratios and Population Size

Fertility Targets for Sustainability

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Threshold fertility for the avoidance of extinction under critical conditions - (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0322174)

Human populations require an average fertility rate of at leastto avoid eventualover time, a threshold significantly higher than the widely accepted replacement level of 2.1, according to a new study published in the open-access journalby Takuya Okabe of Shizuoka University, Japan, and colleagues ().While a fertility rate ofis often considered theneeded to sustain a population, this figurein how many children people have  as well as mortality rates, sex ratios, and the probability that some adults never have children.In small populations, these chance variations can wipe out entire family lineages. In the new study, researchers used mathematical models to examine how this demographic variability affects the survival of populations over many generations.The study found that, due to random fluctuations in birth numbers, a fertility rate of at least 2.7 children per woman is needed to reliably avoid eventual extinction  especially in small populations. However, a, with more females than males born, reduces the extinction risk, helping more lineages survive over time.This insight may help explain a long-observed evolutionary phenomenon: under severe conditions  such as war, famine, or environmental disruption  more females tend to be born than males. It also suggests that, while extinction isnt imminent in large developed populations, most family lineages will eventually fade out.The authors conclude that true population sustainability  as well as the sustainability of languages, cultural traditions, and diverse family lineages  requires rethinking conventional fertility targets. The findings also have implications for conservation efforts of endangered species in which target fertility rates are set, they point out.Diane Carmeliza N. Cuaresma adds, "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."Source-Eurekalert
Neuroestrogens are brain-synthesized estrogens that influence behavior, mood, and appetite regulation.

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Estrogen synthesized in the central nervous system enhances MC4R expression and reduces food intake



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Could the key to conquering cravings lie within our brains? Fascinated by the potential of #neuroestrogen as a game-changer in #appetite control and the fight against #obesity

MC4R: A Key Brain Receptor in Food Intake

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Estrogen synthesized in the central nervous system enhances MC4R expression and reduces food intake - (https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/febs.17426)

For a long time, estrogens were primarily recognized as reproductive hormones produced by the ovaries. However, emerging research has uncovered that the brain can also produce these hormones using an enzyme known as aromatase ().This brain-generated form, referred to asthough its exact role remained a mysteryuntil recently. Scientists at Fujita Health University have now made a significant breakthrough, revealing that neuroestrogen may play a direct part inIt is well known that MC4R (melanocortin-4 receptor) is an important receptor in the brain that regulates food intake, explains lead author Takanori Hayashi, Associate Professor at Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Japan.The study was led by Dr. Hayashi and Dr. Eiji Nishio from the Fujita Health University School of Medicine, in collaboration with Chiba University of Graduate School of Medicine and Fukuoka University, Japan. The findings of the study were published online inTo investigate the role of neuroestrogens, the team employed several mouse models, comparing animals lacking estrogen production to those exhibiting active neuroestrogen synthesis. The mice without ovaries (OVX) and without aromatase (ArKO) showed a notable increase in body weight and food consumption when compared with normal mice.However, when the aromatase gene was selectively reactivated in the brains of ArKO mice (BrTG-ArKO strain), the animals exhibited significantly lower food intake as compared to the former group. They also showed a marked increase in the expression of MC4R in the hypothalamus. This highlights that theFurthermore, the study also revealed that neuroestrogen could enhance the brains responsiveness to leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells that helps regulate hunger.We observed that the mice with restored neuroestrogen responded more effectively to leptin treatment, explains Dr. Hayashi. This may be because neuroestrogen enhances the bodys natural appetite-suppressing mechanisms.Additionally, the researchers conducted cell culture experiments to confirm how neuroestrogen could directly increase MC4R levels in hypothalamic neurons. This provides further evidence that its effects are localized and not dependent on estrogen from the ovaries.Hailing the success of their discovery, Dr. Hayashi remarks, With its newly discovered role, neuroestrogen could be a game-changer in controlling appetite and tackling obesity !Asthis ability to influence appetite via the brains own hormone opens an exciting new frontier for clinical research and drug development.Emphasizing the significance of their research, the researchers note that as we gain a clearer understanding of neuroestrogens physiological role, it may become possible to regulate estrogen activity more precisely within the body. This could have far-reaching implications for womens health, especially in managing life-stage hormonal challenges such as menopause or postpartum weight gain.The study marks a major step forward in understanding how our brains regulate hunger and energy balance. By unlocking how neuroestrogen interacts with other hormones, researchers hope to develop innovative treatments that target appetite at its sourceinside the brain.Source-Eurekalert
Another stretch of federal land along the border has been transferred to the U.S. military, this time in Texas, expanding the territory in which troops can be used to apprehend migrants and the government can pursue trespassing charges.

U.S. Northern Command announced on Thursday that the new area will be an extension of Fort Bliss in El Paso. It follows the military taking control of the Roosevelt Reservation, a narrow stretch of land in New Mexico that has been deemed part of Fort Huachuca. Troops in Texas can now also detain trespassers, conduct searches, use crowd control measures and install barriers and signs.

The latest transfer of public border land is part of President Donald Trump's expanding and unprecedented national crackdown on immigration and deepens the military's role in the effort, far beyond past deployments to aid border security.

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"This is the second area in which Joint Task Force-Southern Border service members who are already detecting and monitoring through stationary positions and mobile patrols nearby can now temporarily detain trespassers until they are transferred to an appropriate law enforcement entity," Gen. Gregory Guillot, the head of U.S. Northern Command, said in a brief news release.

The announcement of a second area follows in-depth Military.com reporting on the Roosevelt Reservation transfer, which included human rights activists as well as legal and defense policy experts raising alarm about transferring federal land to the military to avoid violating the Posse Comitatus Act, a law that bars service members from performing certain law enforcement activities.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been making arrests for those who trespass onto the defense-owned land.

A defense official told Military.com that the new area stretches a non-contigious 63 miles between El Paso and the nearby census designated place of Fort Hancock, Texas. The official added the preponderance of the forces would be from a Stryker brigade that was deployed to the area in March.

Additional details about the new defense area were not immediately available.

Military.com reported this week that migrants who have crossed into the national defense area in New Mexico have not only been charged with a misdemeanor for unlawful entry but also with a misdemeanor for trespassing onto military property, which, if convicted, could mean a year in prison and a hefty $100,000 fine.

Migrants charged for crossing into the New Mexico defense area were identified by troops with aircraft that were working with CBP agents, the defense official told Military.com.

"Joint Task Force-Southern Border air assets supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as well as transporting a partnered U.S. Border Patrol agent, surveilled trespassers from the sky," the official said. "Communication occurred between the agent on board the aircraft and U.S. Border Patrol agents on [the] ground, who executed the final apprehension of the alleged trespassers."

Military.com reported that 152 signs had been placed throughout the stretch of New Mexico land as of the middle of this week. It is not clear whether signs warning about trespassing into the area had already been placed across the new Texas military zone.

The military has played an increasing role in Trump's immigration crackdown since January, with thousands of troops deployed to the southern border, troops flying deportation flights to other countries and service members managing detained migrants at the Guantanamo Navy base in Cuba.

Related: Military Zone Along Border Means New -- Potentially Harsher -- Penalties for Newly Detained Migrants
The Navy has relieved the commanding officer of its Navy Reserve Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, according to a statement released Friday.

Cmdr. Joseph Dearing was relieved from leadership of the reserve center by Capt. Christian Parilla, the commander of the Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command in Norfolk, Virginia.

The Navy maintains 122 reserve centers around the country. They typically act as the first and primary point of contact between reservist sailors and the Navy for anything from administrative tasks to drill days.

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Dearing is the second reserve center commander to be relieved in the last six months. In December, the Navy also relieved the commanding officer of its reserve center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, over his personal conduct.

Dearing's relief, which was officially over a "loss of confidence in his ability to command," appears to be the Navy's fourth firing of a commanding officer this year.

Loss of confidence is a boilerplate reason provided by the military services that can encompass anything from consistent poor performance by a commander on key evaluations to personal actions like drunken driving.

A Navy official told Military.com on condition of anonymity that the reason for the firing was over performance-based issues and not any misconduct on the part of Dearing. The official added he was not under investigation.

Based on public announcements, it appears that the Navy fired 14 commanding officers in 2024. In 2023, the official relief total was 15. There are currently around 1,600 commanding officers in the active-duty Navy across all communities.

According to Dearings service record that was provided to Military.com by the Navy, he began his Navy career as an enlisted sailor in 2000 when he reported to boot camp and then went on to work in the Navys aviation community, taking jobs at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9 in China Lake, California, and then Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 2 at Whidbey Island, Washington.

In 2008, Dearing was accepted into the Navys Seaman to Admiral-21 commissioning program, got his degree at Jacksonville University in Florida and became a reserve surface warfare officer in 2010.

As an officer, he was stationed on the destroyer USS Stethem for four years before attending the Naval War College and finally becoming the commander of the reserve center in Manchester in September.

According to records, Dearing was awarded the Surface Warfare Officer Insignia as well as the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist qualification.

His awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medals and five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals as well as a Meritorious Unit Commendation, among other unit and campaign awards.

According to the Navy's statement, Cmdr. Christopher Worthy will temporarily serve as the reserve center's commanding officer until a permanent replacement is designated. Dearing has been temporarily reassigned to Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command in Norfolk.

Related: Commander, Command Master Chief Fired from Navy Expeditionary Security Squadron
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The United States has given initial approval to sell $3.5 billion worth of air-to-air missiles for Saudi Arabia's fighter jets, the latest proposed arms deal for the region ahead of President Donald Trump 's planned trip to the region later this month.

The sale, announced early Saturday, likely will be one of several heralded by Trump on his visit to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has already said it wants to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years, likely as a way to woo Trump to again pick the kingdom for his first formal trip as president. Trump traveled to Italy briefly for Pope Francis' funeral.

Trumps 2017 trip to Saudi Arabia upended a tradition of modern U.S. presidents typically first heading to Canada, Mexico or the United Kingdom for their first trip abroad. It also underscored his administrations close ties to the rulers of the oil-rich Gulf states as his eponymous real estate company has pursued deals across the region.

The arms sale involves 1,000 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles, guidance sections and other technical support. The missiles will be built by RTX Corp of Tucson, Arizona.

The Royal Saudi Air Force has the world's second-largest fleet of F-15 fighter jets after the U.S.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

The proposed sale now goes to the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers typically weigh in on such sales and, in some cases, can block them.

Saudi Arabia has faced intense Congressional scrutiny for years, first for launching a war on Yemen's Houthi rebels back in 2015 that saw the kingdom's airstrikes kill civilians. Then a Saudi assassination team killed Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

The U.S. intelligence community concluded the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who likely will meet Trump on his visit this month and met with President Joe Biden in his term, ordered the operation against Khashoggi. The kingdom insists the prince was not involved in the killing.

Trump maintained close ties to the Gulf states after leaving office. His second administration has already given initial approval for the energy-rich Mideast nation of Qatar to buy eight armed MQ-9B Reaper drones for its military, a purchase estimated to be worth nearly $2 billion.
Today: The Blue Jays officially announced Turnbulls one-year major league contract on Monday and optioned the veteran pitcher to the Florida Complex League to allow him time to build up his arm. To make room for Turnbull and fellow free agent signing Jose Urena on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays transferred Max Scherzer and Erik Swanson to the 60-day injured list. This pushes back Scherzers and Swansons return timelines to late May at the earliest.

Jon Heyman of The New York Post provides the financials of the Turnbull deal. Its technically a salary of $1,265,306 but prorated to an even $1MM due some of the season having already transpired. The righty can also unlock bonuses worth $500K based on innings pitched, $100K each at 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90. He will also get $125K for spending 60 days on the active roster, $250K for 80 and 100 days, and $375K for 120 days.

May 3: The Blue Jays and Spencer Turnbull have agreed to a major league contract, as reported by Sportsnets Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi. The right-hander went unsigned over the offseason after spending the 2024 campaign with the Phillies. His deal is pending a physical. Further details, including financial terms, have not yet been revealed.

Turnbull, 32, got off to a terrific start last season after signing a one-year, $2MM contract with Philadelphia. Through six April starts filling in for an injured Taijuan Walker, he pitched to a 1.67 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings of work. While no one would have expected Turnbull to maintain a sub-2.00 ERA, all of his underlying numbers were promising, including a 49.4% groundball rate, a 20.5% K-BB%, and a 3.37 SIERA. Nonetheless, in May, he moved into the bullpen, where he didnt look quite as sharp. He gave up nine runs in 19 innings over his next 10 appearances. His strikeout and groundball rates declined, and his walk rate rose. His ERA jumped to 4.26, while his SIERA climbed to 3.80. Of course, those were still perfectly respectable numbers for a long reliever, and indeed, Turnbull pitched well enough to be reinstated in the starting rotation when Ranger Suarez suffered an injury. Unfortunately, his next stint as a starter would be short-lived. Turnbull exited early from his first start back in the Phillies rotation, never to return. He went on the injured list with a lat strain that ultimately ended his season.

All told, Turnbull finished the 2024 season with a 2.65 ERA and a 3.67 SIERA in 54 1/3 innings. That performance, along with his overall solid career numbers when healthy (4.28 ERA, 3.81 FIP in 67 career starts), was enough to earn him the final spot on MLBTRs Top 50 Free Agents list this past offseason. Be that as it may, his checkered injury history, and therefore his limited MLB track record, were evidently enough to scare off teams from pursuing him. He was not credibly linked to any suitors this winter.

Yet, as pitcher injuries began to pile up almost immediately, teams that werent interested in Turnbull over the offseason may have changed their minds. The right-hander reportedly threw for teams in mid-March, according to Nicholson-Smith, but no deal materialized at that time. Several weeks later, he has finally landed a contract. While he may have to consent to an optional assignment so he can ramp up in the minor leagues, this is not a minor league pact. Barring another serious injury, he will pitch in the majors in 2025.

Just yesterday, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told reporters (including Mitch Bannon of The Athletic) that the team had a couple of things in the works to shore up the teams rotation depth via free agency. Its easy to understand why Toronto was seeking outside help. Ever since Max Scherzer suffered a thumb injury during his first start of the season, the Blue Jays have struggled to fill the fifth spot in their rotation. Easton Lucas was surprisingly effective in his first two MLB starts before falling apart in his third and fourth. He has since been optioned back to Triple-A. Paxton Schultz seemed like a possible rotation option after his terrific big league debut; he threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief with eight strikeouts. Yet, he wasnt nearly as effective in his next relief outing. He, too, has since been sent down to Triple-A Buffalo.

Meanwhile, Yariel Rodriguez, who has moved into a bullpen role this season, gave up two runs in a mediocre inning of work in his first outing as an opener on Tuesday. Eric Lauer got the job done in his Blue Jays debut, tossing four innings to follow Rodriguez while giving up two earned runs on three hits. Still, considering that Lauer has not thrown more than 50 MLB innings in a season since 2022, its not hard to see why the Blue Jays wouldnt want to rely on him too heavily. Jose Urena, with whom the Blue Jays also agreed to a major league deal this morning, fills a similar niche to Turnbull as a veteran right-handed pitcher with experience both starting and relieving. Yet, he doesnt offer nearly the same upside. Lastly, top prospect Jake Bloss has looked better in his last two starts, but his overall Triple-A numbers are poor (6.42 ERA and 5.53 FIP in 13 starts since joining the Blue Jays organization), and it wouldnt be in anyones best interest to rush him to the majors simply because Toronto is out of other options.

Thus, Turnbull will provide the Blue Jays some much-needed starting pitching depth. If and when Scherzer makes his return to the rotation, Turnbull could also slide into a long-man role in the bullpen. Once his deal is official, the Jays will presumably offer more details about his eventual role and how long it will be until hes ready to take the mound in the majors.
After missing out on the top available free agent for the second consecutive offseason when they fell short in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Blue Jays remained in the hunt to find a slugger who could complement Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a hopefully resurgent Bo Bichette. Toronto had already brought Andres Gimenez into the fold as a glove-first regular, but his defensive-minded profile was never expected to be a huge boost to the lineup. After being connected to slugger Pete Alonso, third baseman Alex Bregman, and even a possible reunion with Teoscar Hernandez, the Blue Jays finally landed Anthony Santander on a five-year, $92.5MM contract that comes with enough deferred money to lower the net present value of the deal to around $70MM.

The switch-hitting Santander swatted 44 home runs for Baltimore last year while hitting .235/.308/.506 with a 129 wRC+. That power-driven profile had proven to be fairly consistent for the slugger in recent years despite his generally low on-base numbers; Santander slashed .244/.317/.478 with a wRC+ of 124 since the start of the 2022 season. That was a long enough track record to give the Jays reasonable confidence in his ability to perform as a middle-of-the-order bat for them entering his age-30 season.

Its a bet that hasnt paid off so far. In Santanders first 132 trips to the plate as a Blue Jay, hes hit just .178/.258/.314 with a wRC+ of just 65. Thats 35% worse than league average and, in conjunction with his lackluster defense, has left him tied for the eighth-lowest fWAR total among qualified major leaguers. His overall production has been similar to that of another low on-base, defensively limited corner bat in Jake Burger, whom the Rangers just optioned to Triple-A last night due to his own struggles.

A look under the hood does suggest that Santander shouldnt be expected to be quite this bad. While his strikeout rate has jumped four percentage points from last year, that 23.5% figure is not very different than the 23.2% he posted in 2023, when he turned in a perfectly respectable 119 wRC+. Whats more, Santander is actually walking more than ever this year. Hes garnered free passes at a solid 9.8% clip, more than two percentage points higher than his career norm. While his swinging-strike rate and contact rate are both down relative to last year, both numbers are more or less in line with his 2023 season. Between a strikeout rate within his ordinary range and the highest walk rate of his career, that .258 on-base mark seems likely to improve alongside his BABIP, which sits at an extremely low .202.

Where there is a more significant negative change in Santanders numbers is the power department. A look at Santanders batted-ball metrics reveals some troubling signs. His 5.7% barrel rate so far this year is his lowest since 2018, and his 39.8% hard-hit rate is also the lowest hes posted since the shortened 2020 season. His exit velocities appear to still be more or less in line with where they have been in recent years, but Santanders launch angle is down several points. Thats resulted in a ten-point drop in Santanders fly ball rate and a seven-point jump in his ground-ball rate. Hitting the ball into the dirt is hardly a recipe for success for a power hitter like Santander, whose sprint speed is in the 23rd percentile of big league position players, per Statcast.

Even if Santander will need to make some changes in order to get back to being that consistent 30-to-40 homer threat he was over the past two years, the deflated BABIP and strong walk rate do suggest that he should see at least some improvements, leaving him with an xwOBA 35 points higher than his actual wOBA. Even that .293 expected figure would be Santanders worst in a full season of plate appearances, however. Its a troubling trend and one that the Blue Jays and Santander will need to work to correct in the coming weeks in order to get his season back on track.

How do MLBTR readers think the rest of Santanders first season as a Blue Jay will shake out? Will he manage to get things back on track well enough to post numbers similar to the expectations hes created in recent years, or will he fall short? Have your say in the poll below:
5:40pm: The Red Sox have now made it official. Buehler goes on the IL with right shoulder bursitis, while Dobbins has been recalled.

4:35pm: The Red Sox are placing right-hander Walker Buehler on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his right shoulder, manager Alex Cora announced (link via MLB.coms Ian Browne). The club is hopeful that itll only be a minimum stint for the right-hander, whod been slated to start tomorrow. MassLive.coms Chris Cotillo reported earlier in the day that righty Hunter Dobbins is expected to get tomorrows start. He made his big league debut last month and has looked sharp through two MLB starts.

Buehler signed a one-year, $21.05MM deal with the Red Sox in the offseason, matching the value of the qualifying offer which the Dodgers neglected to put forth when he reached the open market. It was a relatively sizable bet on a pitcher who looked lost for much of the 2024 season  his first full year back from Tommy John surgery  before some short but memorable postseason heroics for Los Angeles.

So far, Buehlers tenure with the Red Sox has produced pedestrian results. Hes sitting on a 4.28 ERA with better strikeout and walk rates than he had in 2024 but also a career-low 93.5 mph average fastball. And while his 20.7% strikeout rate and 6.4% walk rate are indeed improvements on last years marks (18.6 K%, 8.1 BB%), that strikeout rate is a far cry from his peak 29.2% when he was pitching like a bona fide ace and Cy Young contender.

Buehler heads to the injured list just days after Boston finally got right-hander Lucas Giolito healthy and into a regular season game. Giolito required UCL surgery last spring and missed all of the 2024 season and the first month of 2025 as a result. The Sox have also been without Kutter Crawford (knee) all year and have only received two starts from Brayan Bello.

Even with all the injuries, Red Sox starters rank 14th in the majors with a solid 3.91 ERA. Ideally, Buehler will rejoin the starting staff in a couple weeks, but if he requires a bit of a lengthier stay, Dobbins has looked up to the task of filling in. The 2021 eighth-rounder pitched 125 2/3 innings of 2.61 ERA ball between Double-A and Triple-A last year. In 11 major league frames this season, hes held opponents to three earned runs (2.45 ERA) on 11 hits and a pair of walks with 11 strikeouts. In Dobbins most recent Triple-A start, he held the Mets top affiliate to a run four hits and two walks with three punchouts across six innings.
Photo used with permission.

NMU Interim President Gavin Leach. Photo used with permission Photo used with permission.

MARQUETTE, MI  A long-time Northern Michigan University administrator and alumnus has been tapped as the Marquette-based institutions interim president.

The NMU Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Gavin Leach on Friday, May 2.
Robert Allen DeClercq, 72, of Grosse Pointe, was found guilty by a jury Friday in Oscoda County Circuit Court on two counts first-degree criminal sexual conduct of a person under age 13 and by a person over 17. Hell be sentenced in August. (File photo | MLive.com) MLive file photo

OSCODA COUNTY, MI  A 72-year-old man from Grosse Pointe faces a potential life sentence after being convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct of a person under age 13 on Friday.

Robert Allen DeClercq was found guilty by a jury in Oscoda County Circuit Court on two counts of CSC by a person over 17 in connection to an assault of a young girl in the bathroom of his secondary residence in Fairview Township in 2020.
Michelle Olszewski and her three children were last seen in Indiana on Thursday, May 1. Ottawa County Sheriff's Office

UPDATE: Police find missing Michigan mother, three children safe in Missouri

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  The Ottawa County Sheriffs Office is asking the public to help locate Michelle Olszewski, 50, and her three children.

The Park Township woman removed the children, ages 14, 10 and 8, from school on Wednesday, April 30, according to a sheriffs office press release.

The family is also traveling with Lambchop, a medium-sized and golden brown Shiba Inu.

Her rental car and belongings were found in an Indiana hotel, police said. She nor her children have been seen at there since Thursday, May 1.

Ottawa investigators are working with the Mishawaka Police Department to locate them, per the release.

Olszewski has a history of mental illness, police said. Evidence suggests she may be unstable at this time.

Anyone with information can call Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or Ottawa County Dispatch at 1-800-249-0911.
President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order during an event in the Rose Garden of the White House. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

A team historically tasked with upholding voting rights has been ordered to shift its focus to preventing voter fraud.

President Donald Trumps executive order on elections has resulted in a new mission statement for the Justice Departments unit on voting, The Associated Press reports.

Previously, the unit was tasked with protecting the right to vote and people from being disenfranchised by gerrymandering, Nicholas Riccardi reports for The AP. Under the order, it will combat fraud and ensure that only U.S. citizens vote.

Voting by noncitizens is already illegal and has been shown to be extremely rare, The AP reports.

An audit by the Michigan Department of State identified 15 probable non-U.S. citizens cast ballots in the November 2024 presidential election. They represent just 0.00028% of the more than 5.7 million total ballots cast in the state. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson called it very rare.

RELATED: Michigan audit finds 15 probable non-U.S. citizens voted in 2024 election

However, Trump has continued to insist that widespread fraud cost him the 2020 presidential election, The AP reports. Repeated audits, investigations and court cases show otherwise.
Federal agents with ICE entered the 14A-2 District Court, 415 W. Michigan Ave., in Ypsilanti, between 9 and 9:30 a.m. May 1. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, FILE) AP

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it notified the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office before making arrest outside an Ypsilanti court, contrary to claims from that office.

An ICE deportation officer notified Washtenaw County dispatch as well as courthouse deputies that he was in the area and looking for a suspect, according to an ICE spokesperson. The officer also told deputies he would not act until the suspect was clear of the courthouse, the spokesperson said.
ANN ARBOR, MI  A man accused of killing his wife took the stand in his own defense Friday, alleging the attack came from two men who had been blackmailing her.

Luke Edwards, 74, contends two men had been threatening his wife over alleged crimes committed by her father, blackmailing her into giving them $50,000 in cash on two separate occasions. When she told them she would no longer give them money, they attacked, he testified May 2.
ANN ARBOR, MI  There were no major disruptions  and just a few signs of protest  during Saturdays University of Michigan commencement ceremony in Ann Arbor.

Student protests against the Israel-Hamas war have occurred over the last year and a half, and some more recently in other demonstrations after the university axed diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Ally Jackson, 29, a rising star from Davison, is making her mark on the national stage as one of just seven vocalists selected to perform in the world premiere of Dolly Partons groundbreaking symphonic concert, Threads: My Songs in Symphony. | Britt and Alex Hall, with permission to use. Britt + Alex Hall

DAVISON, MI - Michigan native Ally Jackson is making her mark on the national stage as one of just seven vocalists selected to perform in the world premiere of Dolly Partons groundbreaking symphonic concert, "Threads: My Songs in Symphony.

The performance, which took place on March 20 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tenn., is a multimedia experience featuring Partons timeless hits, innovative orchestrations, and the stories behind her legendary songs.

For Jackson, a 2014 Davison High graduate who moved to Tennessee to pursue her musical dreams, the opportunity to sing in front of Parton herself was nothing short of surreal.

The most surreal moment was getting to perform for Dolly and sing her songs in front of her, she said. It was such an honor to do that.

After the show, Parton invited the performers into her dressing room for individual photos, where Jackson experienced a moment shell never forget.

I walked up to her to take a picture, and she said to me, Hey, little Dolly! I died inside. It was the coolest thing ever, Jackson said.

Her musical journey began long before this momentous performance.

Growing up in Davison, Jackson was immersed in music from a young age.

Her mother, Julie Jackson, is a violinist with the Flint Symphony Orchestra, and her father, Jeff Jackson, is also musically inclined.

Its a passion of mine since the beginning of my life, Ally Jackson said, reflecting on the influence her parents had on her career.

Though she didnt perform with the Flint Symphony as a child, Jackson often attended its shows, drawing inspiration from the exceptional talent in her community.

She also built her fortitude as a young musician through her five years with the Lapeer-based classic rock band 3rd Degree Burns.

That gave me a boost in my confidence. I owe a lot to that program, she said.

Jacksons educational journey took her to Tennessee, where she studied commercial voice at Belmont University in Nashville.

It was there that her musical career truly began to take shape.

Jackson has since performed as a soloist for various prestigious events, including being featured three times as the soloist for the Flint Symphony Orchestras Holiday Pops concert, most recently in December.

While Jacksons big break with Threads: My Songs in Symphony is a major milestone, her long-term goal is rooted in her faith.

My intent is to be a Christian artist, she said. Thats where my heart is at.

She currently sings at local churches, where she continues to blend her love for music with her deep spiritual connection.

Although Jackson doesnt yet know which performances she will take part in as the Threads" production tours, shes appreciative of the opportunity shes already had.

Im just grateful to have been part of the world premiere, she said. Its an experience Ill never forget.
17 1 / 17 Popular stand at Flint Farmers Market expands with new kitchen, more flavorful menu

FLINT, MI  Never underestimate the power of a good salad.

Nutrient rich. Low in calories.

And at Tees Plentiful Salads, there is flavor jam-packed in every bite.

Tammie Mathis, owner of Tees Plentiful Salads, will reopen her space bigger and better than ever on Saturday, May 3, inside the Flint Farmers Market, located at 300 E. 1st St.

She has procured the now vacant space once occupied by Heartwood and Flint Social Club, expanding her business to a full service kitchen space thatll allow flavorful new menu items while providing its classic offerings.

Tees Plentiful Salads features more than 65 salads, and the opportunity for customers to get whatever toppings of their liking.

If you think about it, nobody wants to make their own salad, Mathis, 44, said. If you go out and you want a salad, you have to go to the grocery store and buy every single ingredient. You just couldnt find a salad place anywhere.

Its gonna be a whole different look" she said excitedly. The new Tees is modernized. With this remodel, I can do what my vision was seven years ago. I am so grateful.

The business features what Mathis calls the main salads -- Tees turkey Cobb, Santa Fe, Italian turkey, Tees turkey, cranberry walnut and veggie -- while many others are rotated and featured on the menu as daily specials in order to get each one on the menu.

A Flint Northern alum, Mathiss passion for making food for others is rooted in a family connection.

She wanted to be a cook, having watched her grandfather and mother growing up.

Working in every aspect of the food industry, the only thing left for Mathis was to become an owner, which she did in June 2017.

Mathis was inspired to start making salads because she realized there werent a lot of options for people to buy salads.

She started her business by crafting the different salads and delivering them door-to-door, while still working a full-time job.

Tammie Mathis, owner of Tees Plentiful Salads, is excited to reopen her space after expanding both the physical location and the menu, Tees Plentiful Salads will reopen on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Jake May | MLive.com

Whats new?

Mathis said she will now have fresh Romaine lettuce available, which hasnt been used in the past.

Spinach mix with iceberg carrots and cabbage were the only items used previously.

Other additions to salads Mathis said to expect include chickpeas, mushrooms, avocado, pickles and, of course, salmon, which can be prepared glazed or sauteed.

A new special that Mathis is excited to have on the menu daily is the crispy chicken salad, thanks to the addition of a fryer in the procured kitchen.

I didnt have the space for it before, and now that we have it, we can do so much more, she said. Now we have our fryer. We got crispy chicken salads going up. Crispy chicken wrap too  another fan favorite. And now I have a huge grill.

Now I can do four or five salad wraps at a time instead of one at a time. It just makes us more expedient, and we can get those orders out a lot faster. I love it. Im excited. So its just gonna be a whole lot better.

Mathis said she will also provide more fresh items, more healthy items and a lot more recipes for vegans.

Tees has crafted a salad for almost every meal and can make nearly any dish into a salad. The business also offers event catering.

My salads are different because you can see them before you buy them, Mathis said. A lot of salads, you have to have them made. Once you see one, youre going to want to buy one.

There are also two new sandwiches named for previous employees as well who have passed away.

The first sandwich will be called the Aunt Barb, and will be a turkey, bacon, ranch sandwich.

The other sandwich will be named for a former employee, Mason, consisting of ground beef, lettuce, tomato and onion and served in a pita.

It means a lot because I appreciate them, and that lets us know they still here with us, Mathis said. That just lets everybody know that were a family place. I dont even call them employees; theyre our family workers. Thats what we call each other, you know, and I try to make sure that they are taken care of first.

We do take care of our customers as number one. But my workers, were family. That is the extreme number one because when theyre happy, we can make our customers happy.

Small beginnings, big challenges

Tees Plentiful Salads opened in June 2017 with a small nine-foot by nine-foot space with a single cooler.

Mathis said she had to make the salads in her prep kitchen and sold out every day.

After figuring out how to survive COVID-19, and reconfiguring some new items to deliver quality food quickly, Mathis began offering a variety of wraps, which she continues to offer today.

The most popular items quickly became the chicken fajita wrap, chicken fajita salad and the taco salad wrap, she said.

Every year her business grew until 2023.

Thats when Mathis said downtown construction on Saginaw Street and in the markets parking lot became factors in less foot traffic and customers.

For a couple of years, Mathis said financially it became tough to even break even and she contemplated closing for good but stuck it out.

Loyalty and gratitude

The influx of customers, both new and loyal, is who Mathis credits with being able to keep her dream alive.

Thank God for some of my loyal customers that said, No, we need you here, Mathis said. And so I started doing salad wraps and pitas, trying to make things easier. And then, I tell you, the people started to resurface.

I want to thank the farmers market because they kept their promise of gaining this extra space. For awhile there, I thought, Its never gonna happen. But they didnt forget, and I am so grateful for that. ... And thank you to Flint. Thank you to all my customers. And lets keep on riding this wave. I appreciate all of you.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr claimed self-defense in testifying on his own behalf during his murder trial Friday.

Jurors listened to Schurr, 34, say he feared for his life when he struggled with 26-year-old Black motorist Patrick Lyoya and ended up shooting him in the head.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The world finally heard from Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who is on trial for killing Patrick Lyoya, about what he was thinking during the traffic stop that drew national attention.

Schurr told jurors he was running on fumes midway through a scuffle with Lyoya during the fifth day of testimony.

The first week of Schurrs murder trial wrapped up on Friday, May 2, with testimony from Schurr and two experts hired by the defense.

RELATED: Police officer who killed Patrick Lyoya testifies he feared for his life

Schurrs court testimony was the first time hes discussed the killing. Defense attorneys and Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker questioned Schurr on the stand for about three hours on Friday.

The encounter between the White officer and Black motorist unfolded on April 4, 2022, and was followed by protests in downtown Grand Rapids.

RELATED: Patrick Lyoya stopped for driving while Black, civil-rights attorney Ben Crump says

Schurr, 34, stopped Lyoya, a 26-year-old Congolese immigrant, in a neighborhood on Nelson Avenue SE, north of Griggs Street, for a license plate violation.

Lyoya tried to flee on foot, but Schurr caught him. The two later struggled over control of Schurrs Taser.

Schurr was eventually on top of Lyoya when he drew his handgun and shot Lyoya in the back of the head.

RELATED: Police officer on trial says if he didnt shoot Patrick Lyoya he wasnt going to go home

Here are some key moments from Day 5 testimony:

Schurr started off his testimony by telling the jury it was important to get my side of the story out. He said he became a police officer because he wanted a fulfilling job. Schurr was questioned by his attorneys and the prosecution about his recollection from the morning of the shooting. Schurr told jurors he feared for his life during the altercation and if he didnt shoot Lyoya, he wasnt going to go home.

One juror questioned why Schurr shot Lyoya in the back of the head.

I wouldnt say I was necessarily aiming (there) per say, Schurr answered. I only had a viewpoint of his upper back and head area. I pulled out my handgun and fired it in that direction.RELATED: Prosecutor grills police officer on stand in murder trial for shooting Patrick Lyoya

You can watch Schurrs full testimony here.

David Blake , an expert in police practices and human factors in officer-involved shootings, testified on how a police officers auditory response can be impacted during highly-intense situations. Blake said it was possible for Schurr to experience auditory exclusion during the scuffle and didnt hear the second probe deploy from his Taser.

Lewis Von Kliem, director of community relations for Force Science Institute, which provides research and training to help police officers. He analyzes officer-involved shootings. Kliem testified that Schurr acted reasonably when he used deadly force against Lyoya. He said it was reasonable for Schurr to believe that Lyoya was trying to take Schurrs Taser and use it against him.

Proceedings will resume Monday, May 5, in Judge Christina Mims courtroom.

For more of MLives coverage on the case, visit here.
The interior at SOAR Cafe, inside the former Annas Gifts & Home Decor, 401 N. Mechanic St. in Jackson. Chloe Miller | MLive.com

JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Mothers Day is right around the corner on May 11, meaning its time to show your appreciation for the mothers in your life.

The perfect way to do that is to take her to brunch. Here are some of great restaurant options in Jackson County.

The exterior of SOAR Cafe and Farms, 401 N. Mechanic Street in Jackson. Chloe Miller | MLive.com

SOAR Cafe

SOAR Cafe and Farms, which stands for She Overcomes And Rises, serves salads and sandwiches, all while helping women gain work experience and build their resumes.

The nonprofit supports women through employment and mentorship. Proceeds from the business go toward the nonprofit.

Related: Missing Annas Porch Cafe? You can find some of its menu items at this new Jackson restaurant

The restaurant features a dine-in cafe, with some outdoor seating. A range of breakfast and lunch items, including pancakes, omelets, salads, sandwiches and power bowls, are on the menu.

If people dont want a full meal, theres also a coffeeshop/market, featuring grab-and-go items, coffee drinks and merchandise.

SOAR Cafe, 401 N. Mechanic St., is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. More information can be found on its Facebook page.

Eagles Nest Bar & Grill

Eagles Nest Bar & Grill is hosting a Mothers Day brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 11 at the restaurant, 1200 Eagle Point Road in Clarklake.

The buffet-only event will be filled with a delicious spread, a scenic view of the lake and an opportunity to hang out with mom.

Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the restaurant at 517-529-7116.

Eagles Nest is open 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. More information can be found on its Facebook page.

Rows of grapevines photographed at Cherry Creek Cellars, 11500 Silver Lake Hwy, in Brooklyn. Alyte Katilius | MLive.com

Cherry Creek Cellars

Cherry Creek Cellars in Brooklyn is offering a chance to celebrate with mom from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 11 at 11500 Silver Lake Highway.

The winery will host live music from Mike Lee at 1 to 4 p.m. Mimosa pitchers, food from Bens Island Grindz and non-alcoholic beverages from Zero Bar & Lounge will be offered.

There will also be beer, wine and cider.

Cherry Creek Cellars is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. More information can be found on Cherry Creek Cellars Facebook page.

River Raisin Distillery, 480 W. Main St. in Manchester. Jacob Hamilton

River Raisin Distillery

Distilling started as a hobby for Joe and Krista Jarvis before they opened River Raisin Distillery in 2020 in an old welding shop. They specialize in making unique cocktails.

Specifically, they are known for their Fully Loaded Bloody Mary available on Sunday. The drink starts with River Raisin Distillerys Cane & Grain, which comes from an old family recipe.

It is then loaded with a variety of toppings. These range depending on the day, such as, meatballs, soft pretzels, crab legs and nacho cheese.

Local food trucks also pop up often, and the distillery hosts events sometimes.

River Raisin Distillery, 480 W. Main St. in Manchester, is open 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

More information can be found on its Facebook page.

The interior at One North Kitchen and Bar, 2115 Bondsteel Drive in Jackson. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com

One North Kitchen & Bar

One North Kitchen & Bar offers brunch every Sunday on top of their everyday menu. The buffet-style meal is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Food can range from fruit, baked goods and breakfast and lunch fare. People can also order mimosa and bloody Mary pitchers.

One North, 2115 Bondsteel Dr. in Jackson, is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

More information about One North can be found on its website.

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PORTAGE, MI -- Repairs to the FedEx shipping center on Portage Road are still underway, one year after a tornado ripped through the building.

The building at 6701 Portage Road sustained a direct hit from the EF2 tornado with wind speeds of 135 mph. A large chunk of the buildings exterior wall and roof were ripped away, mangling machinery inside.

The partially destroyed building was one of the most publicly visible signs of the May 7, 2024, tornado.

Some operations have returned to the Portage facility. But it wont return to full operational capacity in late summer, per FedEx officials.

Outdoor walls of the facility have gone up, but some repairs are still being done internally, said Shannon Davis, a FedEx media relations representative.

Destruction at FedEx Ground, 6701 Portage Rd. The building partially collapsed in a May 7 tornado. The damage photos are captured on Wednesday, May 8. (Courtesy | City of Portage) (Courtesy | City of Portage)

We are utilizing a temporary facility in Battle Creek and a portion of the safe, usable space inside the Portage facility to process volume for the area, Davis said.

Davis did not disclose how much repairs have cost.

The tornado struck the building at roughly 5:45 p.m. on May 7, 2024. Initial reports from Kalamazoo County officials said there were 50 people trapped inside the building, but those reports were later corrected.

MORE: False report of 50 trapped at FedEx building after tornado came from officials error

Multiple FedEx trucks and employee vehicles were hit with debris. Some employees could be seen walking around the building looking at the collapsed section after the skies cleared.

The partially collapsed FedEx building in Portage after the reported tornado and thunderstorms from Tuesday, May 7. Bradley Devereaux

The Portage Road facility opened in July 2021 to increase capacity for shipping in Southwest Michigan. The opening signaled the Portage area was on the rise, officials said at the ribbon cutting.

A damage assessment found the tornado destroyed 60 buildings and damaged hundreds of others.

In the months since, some buildings have seen repairs, but others are in the same condition they were after the tornado struck.

Along Romence Road Parkway, near the FedEx building, dozens of trees are still lying in the direction the winds pushed them down.

The tornado was the strongest to hit Kalamazoo County in the past 40 years. In 1980, an EF3 tornado hit downtown Kalamazoo and was just 5 mph stronger than the 2024 Portage tornado.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rejected Gov. Gretchen Whitmers request for a federal emergency disaster declaration to aid residents and businesses affected by the tornado.

The city of Portage, Texas Township and Pavilion Township received $3 million in state allocated disaster relief.

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Slappys Slaw Dog and Sandwich is a new eatery in Muskegon. Pictured is the 231 Coney Dog for $7. It comes with a quarter-pound all-beef hot dog topped with homemade sauce, sauteed onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and creamy craft beer cheese in a toasted brioche bun. (Photo provided by Jerome Johnson) Jerome Johnson

MUSKEGON, MI - The mission at Slappys Slaw Dog and Sandwich is simple: serve the local community with a great attitude.

Owner Jerome Johnson, 47, knows how hard life can get, and if a hot dog or hello can bring a smile or two, hes for it.

He opened the eatery at 1845 Lakeshore Dr. on his birthday on March 15, 2025, after doing pop-up events at businesses around town.

Schultz Haus bar in the summer of 2020 was a very pivotal moment for Slappys, Johnson said. I started to sell Italian beef sandwiches and it slowly snowballed into what it is now.

He told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle that as the Lakeshore neighborhoods and surrounding areas have already given great reviews, hes looking forward to a busy summer.

The top orders off the menu feature a filling sandwich and hot dog: Lakeshore Philly cheesesteak and Empire Dog.

The Lakeshore Philly cheesesteak consists of slow-roasted, thin-sliced prime ribeye, craft beer cheese and grilled onions on a turano roll. Its available as a half sandwich for $9 or $17 for a whole.

The Empire Dog ($8.50) comes with a bacon-wrapped, quarter-pound all-beef dog generously topped with Slappys sauce, grilled onions, craft beer cheese and crispy bacon bits, all served on a deep-fried pretzel bun.

Other items that seem to be gaining steam is the $10 veggie wrap and the $7 Slappys breaded chicken sandwich.

Johnson said that his favorite off the menu is the whole Italian beef sandwich ordered wet for $16. It comes with slow-roasted prime rib and hot giardiniera and sweet peppers on a turano roll.

Its a recipe thats been passed down from family in Mississippi and Illinois, he said. I remember going to Cubs games, different things like that, and we would get hot Italian beefs. I remember trying to reinvent these sandwiches years ago.

The years of finding a good recipe and sticking with it is what prompted Johnson to name his first business Slappys.

He was inspired by the slang reference, It slaps, which means something is exceptionally pleasing, after hearing the younger people always refer to it when trying food.

I said to myself, Man, itd be cool to have a place where everything on the menu slaps, even the soda, he said.

Johnson boasts that hes bringing a different feel on a traditional item to the Muskegon area, with one day hoping to expand into a chain.

We believe in our commitment to the community and the friendliness to our customers, because we wouldnt be anything without them, he said. We try to do everything with a smiling face and give back when we can.

The hours of operation for Slappys Slaw Dogs and Sandwich will change on May 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Place a carryout order by calling (231) 557-7757 or visit hungry4slappys.com/.

Would you like MLive to consider featuring your favorite restaurant in Michigans Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Skyla Jewell-Hammie at sjewell-hammie@mlive.com.

Want more Muskegon area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Muskegon daily newsletter.
Michigan House Republicans proposed constitutional amendment requiring new voter registrants to show proof of U.S. citizenship was defeated Thursday. (MLive file photo) Charlie Nick | MLive.com

Michigan House Republicans proposed constitutional amendment requiring new voter registrants to show proof of U.S. citizenship was defeated Thursday.

House Republicans have a simple majority in the House, but they needed a two-thirds majority vote to pass the joint resolution Thursday, May 1.

All 58 Republicans voted in favor of the measure, with all 48 present Democrats voting against it.

The resolution was unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate. If it had passed both chambers, the proposed constitutional amendment wouldve been placed on the ballot for voters to decide.

Generally, the measure wouldve required people to provide documented proof of citizenship when registering to vote. It also wouldve rejected votes cast without photo ID and tasked the secretary of state with verifying the citizenship of everyone on the voter rolls.

A similar proposal could still end up on the 2026 ballot. State officials recently gave the go-ahead to begin signature collection on a proposed constitutional amendment that mirrors the one in the House.

Related: Michigan voter citizenship amendment cleared to collect signatures for 2026 ballot

Democrats said the proposal risks disenfranchising legal voters and citizens, as some dont have ready access to or cant afford proof of citizenship documents, like a passport or birth certificate.

Under the proposal, people would need to re-verify their citizenship if they change their registration, like when moving to a new address or changing their name.

This legislation will disproportionately burden our senior citizens, many of whom have voted for more than half of their life and will now be burdened with unnecessary obstacles of providing proof of documentations that they may not even have, said State Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren. This legislation will impact those that are disabled and may lack access to transportation and cant get to the clerks office.

It will make it harder for our military service members serving overseas and who may have issues with timely accessing documents required under this legislation. It would especially disenfranchise more than two million married women in Michigan.

The proposal wouldve let people obtain proof of citizenship documents at no cost if they qualified for a financial hardship.

Speaker Pro Tem Rachelle Smit, R-Martin, criticized the Democrats for killing the resolution, saying proof of citizenship is needed for a variety of uncontroversial tasks.

Yet, fear-mongering Democrats want us to believe that requiring proof of citizenship to vote will shut out millions, Smit said. The requirement sure didnt stop these Democrats from seeking elected office. Their presence in this chamber proves that providing these documents cant possibly be that hard.

Related: Should new Michigan voters provide proof of citizenship? House Republicans think so.

The debate follows a Michigan Department of State audit that identified 15 probable non-U.S. citizens who cast ballots in the states November 2024 presidential election. Separately, a Chinese national is facing criminal charges related to allegedly voting in the same election.

The 16 alleged instances of noncitizen voting represented 0.00028% of the over 5.7 million ballots cast in Michigans 2024 general election.

While Michigan doesnt currently require proof of citizenship for voter registration, new registrants must attest under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens and that their registration information is accurate.

People can and have lied during this process, allowing them to vote and having that vote count, said Majority Floor Leader Bryan Posthumus, R-Rockford. Our elections should be more secure than the honor system.

State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-East Lansing, told her Republican colleagues that there are other solutions that dont inconvenience Americans but address concerns about noncitizen voting.

How about having our Department of State do more audits before the elections and not after? Tsernoglou asked. What about using existing records to check new registrations on a rolling basis? How about adding bold, not to be missed signage at every polling place, laying out the consequences of voting as a non-citizen?

Tsernoglou, along with Stephen Wooden, D-Grand Rapids, and Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, introduced new legislation Thursday that they say would strengthen election security.

One of these proposed measures entails having the Secretary of States Office check that a noncitizen who presents a green card or other documentation for a drivers license isnt on the voter rolls.
The Trump administration stripped dozens of international students studying at Michigan universities of their legal residency last month. It did the same to thousands of others around the country.

Then, after pushback from judges in dozens of court cases around the county, it did an about face, restoring most of those students permission to remain in the country, to continue their education and, in some cases, to work.
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I used to tell her 23 is the right age: Kriti Sanons mother talks marriage expectations

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Sanjay Dutt remembers mother Nargis Dutt with unseen family pics on her death anniversary : 'Miss you everyday Maa'

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Buffett Says Berkshire sitting on $335 billion in cash, waiting for fat pitches

Lovisha Darad

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Will Warren Buffett break his silence on Trump's tariffs and market turmoil?

Lovisha Darad

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Before Pahalgam attack, intel agencies had flagged potential targeting of tourists in Srinagar's outskirts: Report

Yeeshu Yadav

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May 3, 2025: This is a short article to explain a simple solution to a big problem. In the Pacific the U.S. Navy and its ten aircraft carriers face the growing Chinese navy. The Russian naval threat, as least the ones requiring carrier aviation, have diminished to near zero. Any Russian threats that do show up can be handled by land-based aircraft and ground forces supplied largely by local NATO nations.

To deal with China, send all ten American carriers and their escorts to the Pacific. This is important because modern aircraft carriers are too large to use the Panama Canal. All the carriers have to be in the Pacific at once to achieve peak effectiveness against Chinese forces.

Each U.S. carrier carries up to 90 aircraft including several dozen F-18E fighter bombers, which are being replaced with the new F-35C. In addition there are some surveillance aircraft, helicopters and a growing number of drones. China currently has one small carrier that carries nothing but drones.

Another advantage of all the carriers in the Pacific is the availability of U.S. and allied shipyards that can maintain such a large force of ships. Japan, South Korea and Vietnam are all willing to lend the services of their ports and shipyards to assist the American carrier fleet and their escorts. China is a threat to all three of these countries. Together, along with the U.S. carrier fleet, this coalition causes China to reconsider any offensive plans in the Pacific. The coalition makes success unlikely.

And there you have it. Ten carriers in the Pacific restrains Chinese naval ambitions.
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Jammu Kashmir News Live: Rajnath Singh to skip Russia's victory day parade; junior defence minister to represent India

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to skip Russias Victory Day parade and his deputy Sanjay Seth is likely to represent India at the event in Moscow this week, official sources said on Saturday.

The move to send the Minister of State for Defence to the May 9 ceremony comes amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.

Russia had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Victory Day parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War, but it was decided that Singh would attend the event.

The sources said Seth will represent India at the parade
Pahalgam terror attack: India bans all imports from Pakistan with immediate effect

Sonalee Borgohain

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Tejashwi Yadav writes to PM Modi: Use caste census data for real reforms, not archives

Deblina Halder

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'Visit Pakistan with ...': BJP tears into Cong MP Charanjit Channi after he questions surgical strikes

Sonalee Borgohain

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Shubhi Mishra

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Chinese scientists discover heat-resistant rice gene

Xinhua) 12:39, May 03, 2025

This illustration shows the mechanism of QT12 interacting with the protein complex NF-Y to alter heat-tolerance of rice. (Huazhong Agricultural University/Handout via Xinhua)

WUHAN, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have identified a key gene that enhances rice's heat tolerance while maintaining grain quality and yield, which addresses growing threats to rice production under extreme heat.

The discovery, made by a team from Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, was published on the website of the journal Cell on Wednesday.

Under high temperatures, the gene, QT12, interacts with the protein complex NF-Y to protect rice grains like a firewall inside the grains, deterring extreme heat while also stabilizing starch and protein synthesis, said Li Yibo, the corresponding author.

Li noted that, during last year's high temperatures, the team conducted large-scale field trials in the Yangtze River basin. The results showed that inserting QT12 into the hybrid rice breed "Huazhan" increased yields by 49.1 percent, 77.9 percent and 31.2 percent in the cities of Wuhan, Hangzhou and Changsha and improved quality.

Li said the Yangtze River basin produces around two-thirds of China's rice, but extreme heat in recent years has threatened rice farming.

The discovery provides a novel molecular mechanism and breeding solution to achieve both high yield and quality in rice under a high-temperature environment, he said, adding that the team has partnered with domestic companies to accelerate breeding applications.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Junior banker at US investment firm collapses after 110-hour workweeks, diagnosed with pancreatic failure

Shubhi Mishra

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MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Aabhas Sharma

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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

Ankita Chakravarti

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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

Sonalee Borgohain

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Australia Election 2025 Live: When does polling end today?

Polling in Australias federal election officially ends at 6pm local timebut with the country spread across three time zones, voting wraps up at different times around the nation.

In the eastern states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, which follow Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), polls will close at 08:00 GMT.

Voting in South Australia and the Northern Territory will end at 08:30 GMT, while the final ballots will be cast in Western Australia, where polls close at 10:00 GMT.
Door knocks and DNA tests: How the Trump administration plans to keep tabs on 450,000 migrant kids

Sonalee Borgohain

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'It's what they deserve': Trump announces move to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status

Chhabi Kala

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101Reporters

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US approves up to $350 million in Ukraine F-16 training, support

Sonalee Borgohain

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US Justice Department demands Google break up its ad business over monopoly ruling

Chhabi Kala

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Chhabi Kala

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Counterterrorism strikes against jihadists are on the rise

The Economist reports a rise in strikes against jihadist groups, prompting questions about whether the current situation mirrors the post-2001 era. This increase occurs amidst a backdrop of shifting U.S. foreign policy priorities, including the withdrawal from Afghanistan and an increased focus on competition with China and Russia. Despite the defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, affiliated groups have expanded in Africa and Asia, necessitating ongoing counterterrorism measures, as reported by The Economist.

The potential implications of these increased strikes are far-reaching, with the Economist noting that they could affect the Biden administration's approval ratings, particularly among moderate voters, while potentially alienating progressives. Republicans are likely to criticize the administration for not being aggressive enough, while progressives may express concerns about civilian casualties and the continuation of a 'forever war' approach, The Economist reports.
California Department of Finance logo View Photo

Sacramento, CA  In 2024, Californias population surpassed 39.5 million, the second year of increase after three years of drops during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a study issued Thursday by the Department of Finance, the population increased by an anticipated 108,000, or 1%, during 2024. The rise in the number of persons 65 and older and the fact that births are outperforming mortality are two factors contributing to the increase. Additionally, the state claimed to have improved data to account for increases in legal immigration.

The population growth, hailed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom as evidence of the states expanding economy. Just last week, the states GDP surpassed Japan, placing it just behind the United States, China, and Germany.

People from across the nation and the globe are coming to the Golden State to pursue the California Dream, where rights are protected and people are respected, Newsom said in a statement. Regions throughout California are growing, strengthening local communities and boosting our states future.

Tuolumne Countys population held relatively steady, while the City of Sonora saw a dip of -0.7 percent. Mariposa and Calaveras counties had a -0.2 percent decrease, and Angels Camp had a slight decrease of -0.2 and -0.4 percent, respectively. Mariposa County followed suit at -0.2. Out of the Mother Lode counties, Amador, including the City of Jackson, saw the largest drop at -1.0 and -1.7 percent, respectively.

Tuolumne Countys population on January 1st of 2024 was 54,376, declining by just 19 residents to 54,357 on January 1st of this year.

Calaveras County was at 44,824 last year and fell to 44,722 this year.

Mariposa County went from 16,958 a year ago to 16,917 this year.

Amador County was at 39,972 last year, falling to 39,563 this year.

These counties also saw a slight increase in housing, with Tuolumne at 0.1 percent from 2,524 last year to 2,528 this year. Calaveras at 0.3 percent from 27,839 in 2024 to 27,925 in 2025, and the City of Angels Camp at 0.1 from 1,918 to 1920, respectively. To view the entire report, click here.

Republicans have targeted Californias population declines and its residents migration to Texas, which formerly made up the largest state-to-state movement in the nation, according to U.S. Census data. Critics have connected past population losses to the states current homelessness problem and rising cost of living, with some of the highest housing, gas, and utility costs in the country. The exodus was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the states population decrease by around half a million between April 2020 and July 2022.

Californians are still leaving because of high costs, bad policies, and a government that punishes work and rewards dysfunction, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher said. If the Governor thinks a one-year bump means the states doing fine, hes ignoring the reality most families are living in.

About one in nine people living in the United States resides in California.
My name is David, and I need to tell this story. I dont know who needs to hear it, but I cant keep it bottled up anymore. It happened five years ago, and it still haunts me. I dont sleep well, and I cant look at mountains the same way. This is about Mount Nyangani, and how it took my brother, Mark.

We grew up hearing the stories, of course. Everyone in Zimbabwe knows about Nyangani. The disappearances, the strange weather, the local legends about angry spirits. We dismissed them as old wives tales. We were young, adventurous, and thought we knew better.

Mark was always the bolder one. He loved hiking, climbing, anything that pushed him to his limits. When he suggested we hike Nyangani during our holiday, I was hesitant, but he was so excited. Hed read about the views from the summit, the unique flora and fauna, and he was determined to conquer it.

We did some research, but nothing prepared us for the reality of that place. We knew it was the highest mountain in Zimbabwe, standing at 2,592 meters (8,504 feet). We packed appropriately, or so we thought.

We arrived in Nyanga in early November. The weather was pleasant, sunny with a slight breeze. We found a local guide, a middle-aged man named Joseph, who seemed knowledgeable and respectful of the mountain. He warned us about the unpredictable weather and the importance of sticking to the trails. He also mentioned the local beliefs, the need to respect the spirits, and to avoid certain things.

Dont pick up anything you find, he said, his voice low. Especially if its gold, or a strange snake, or a pot. Just leave it. Pretend you didnt see it.

We chuckled, thinking he was just being superstitious, but he was serious. He kept looking at us with worry in his eyes.

The first day of the hike was uneventful. The scenery was stunning, with waterfalls cascading down the slopes and lush vegetation everywhere. Joseph was a good guide, pointing out interesting plants and animals, and sharing stories about the area. We saw baboons, zebras, and kudus.

As we climbed higher, the weather started to change. The sky became overcast, and a thick mist began to roll in. It was eerie, but also beautiful in a way. Joseph seemed uneasy.

We need to keep moving, he said, quickening his pace. The mountain doesnt like it when the mist comes.

We pushed on, but the mist grew thicker, reducing visibility to just a few meters. It felt like we were walking through a cloud. The temperature dropped, and a damp chill settled in.

Thats when things started to go wrong.

We reached a fork in the trail. Joseph paused, looking confused. I dont remember this, he said, scratching his head. This trail wasnt here before.

He consulted his map, but it was no use. The map didnt show the new trail. We were lost.

We tried to backtrack, but the mist had disoriented us. Every direction looked the same. Panic started to set in.

Stay calm, Joseph said, trying to reassure us. Well figure this out. We just need to stay together.

We huddled together, trying to keep warm and maintain our bearings. The mist swirled around us, playing tricks on our eyes. We could hear strange sounds  whispers, rustling in the bushes, and something that sounded like laughter, but distant and distorted.

Mark, ever the adventurer, decided to scout ahead. Ill just go a little way, he said. See if I can find the trail.

I protested, but he wouldnt listen. Dont worry, he said with a grin. Ill be back in a few minutes.

That was the last time I saw him.

He walked into the mist, and vanished. We called out his name, but there was no response. We waited, hoping he would reappear, but he never did.

Joseph was frantic. He blew his whistle, shouted Marks name, but nothing. The mist seemed to swallow the sound.

We searched for hours, but it was hopeless. The mist was too thick, the terrain too treacherous. We were completely lost, and now Mark was gone too.

Finally, Joseph made the decision to go back down the mountain to get help. He left me with a small amount of food and water, and instructions to stay put.

Dont move, he said, his eyes filled with fear. Just stay here. They dont like it when you move.

Who? I asked, but he didnt answer. He just turned and disappeared into the mist.

I was alone, terrified, and completely helpless. The hours that followed were the longest of my life. The mist pressed in on me, suffocating me. The strange sounds continued, growing louder and more menacing. I felt like I was being watched, like something was circling me, waiting for me to make a mistake.

I tried to stay calm, but my imagination was running wild. I remembered the stories wed heard about Nyangani, the people who had disappeared without a trace, the vengeful spirits. I started to believe them.

As darkness fell, the temperature plummeted. I huddled under a tree, shivering and praying for morning to come. The sounds intensified. I heard footsteps, close by, but I couldnt see anything in the mist. I heard whispers, calling my name, beckoning me to come closer.

I closed my eyes, covered my ears, and tried to block it all out. I must have drifted off to sleep, because the next thing I remember is waking up to the sound of voices.

It was dawn, and the mist had cleared slightly. I could see Joseph and a group of rescuers approaching. They looked relieved to find me.

They took me down the mountain, and I told them what had happened. They launched a search for Mark, but it was futile. They searched for days, using helicopters and tracking dogs, but they found nothing. No sign of him, no trace of his presence. It was as if he had simply vanished into thin air.

They never found him.

The authorities questioned me, but I couldnt tell them anything they didnt already know. They considered the possibility that he had fallen, or been attacked by a wild animal, but there was no evidence to support either theory.

The local community had their own explanation. They believed that Mark had been taken by the spirits of the mountain, that he had offended them in some way, and that he would never be seen again.

I dont know what to believe. All I know is that my brother is gone, and that Mount Nyangani is a cursed place. Ive tried to move on, but I cant. The memory of that day, the fear, the helplessness, the sound of his voice as he walked into the mist  its all still there, haunting me.

Im sharing this story now because I want people to know the truth about Nyangani. Its not just a beautiful mountain; its a dangerous place, a place where people disappear, a place where the line between the natural and the supernatural blurs.

If you ever consider hiking Nyangani, please, think twice. Respect the mountain, respect the local beliefs, and be careful. Because if youre not, the mountain might just take you too.

Im still haunted by the what ifs. What if we hadnt gone hiking that day? What if we had listened to Josephs warnings? What if I had stopped Mark from scouting ahead?

I will never know. All I have left are the memories, the regret, and the chilling certainty that Mount Nyangani holds a dark secret, a secret that claimed my brothers life.

Ive heard stories since then, whispers from locals, tales of others who have vanished on that mountain. In 1981, two young girls who were daughters of a former government minister, vanished without a trace. Five years later, an eight-year-old tourist also disappeared. And just before Mark, there was a tourist of Indian descent who went hiking alone and was never seen again. And today here I am, telling a story about my own brother who also mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

The stories are always the same. People venture onto the mountain, and they disappear. Sometimes there are searches, sometimes not. But the mountain never gives them back.

Ive tried to find answers, to understand what happened to Mark. Ive spoken to traditional healers, visited the local villages, and read everything I can find about Nyangani.

Some say the mountain is a portal to another world, a place where the veil between the living and the dead is thin. Others believe that the spirits of the ancestors guard the mountain, punishing those who disrespect it. Some even believe that there are creatures living on the mountain, creatures that are not of this world.

I dont know which explanation is true, but I do know that there is something strange about Nyangani, something that defies logic and reason.

Ive never gone back to Nyanga, and I never will. The mountain took my brother, and I dont want it to take anything else from me.

I hope that by sharing my story, I can warn others about the dangers of Nyangani, and perhaps, in some small way, honor Marks memory.

He was a good man, a loving brother, and a passionate adventurer. He didnt deserve to die on that mountain.

So please, if you ever hear the call of Nyangani, remember my story. Remember Mark. And think twice before you answer. The mountain is beautiful, but its also deadly. And sometimes, the things you cant see are the most dangerous of all.

I still dream of him sometimes. Hes standing on the trail, beckoning me to join him. The mist is swirling around him, and his face is obscured. I want to go to him, but I know I cant. I know that if I follow him into the mist, Ill never come back.

And so, I stay here, haunted by the memory of my brother, and the mountain that took him away.

Thats my story. Mount Nyangani is not a place to be trifled with. Its a place of beauty, but also a place of darkness. A place where the line between the real and the unreal blurs, and where the spirits of the mountain still roam free.

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Harare  As political tensions escalate, the prospect of President Emmerson Mnangagwa seeking a third term in office has ignited fierce debate, with opposition leaders warning of a potential US$40 million cost to the fiscus should the government pursue constitutional amendments to facilitate the move. Meanwhile, reports have emerged of cabinet discussions regarding the possibility of altering the constitution to either delay the next general elections or remove presidential term limits altogether.

The Zimbabwean constitution, adopted in 2013, explicitly limits the presidency to two five-year terms. President Mnangagwa is currently serving his final term, which is set to conclude in 2028. However, sections of the ruling ZANU-PF party have been advocating for an extension of his tenure, sparking concerns about the erosion of democratic principles.

MDC leader Douglas Mwonzora has strongly criticised these efforts, speaking out against any attempt to circumvent the constitutional term limits. We are totally opposed to the issue of the third term, Mwonzora told New Zimbabwe on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) organised Workers Day Commemorations Thursday. We must stick to the Constitution, which says the President must serve for a maximum of 10 years.

Mwonzora also highlighted President Mnangagwas extensive tenure in government, having served in the Cabinet since 1980. President Mnangagwa must be even more grateful for the fact that he has been in the Cabinet since 1980, he said. Apart from that, on expiry of his current term, he would have served in office for a good 11 years, because he completed one year that was left by the former late president.

The MDC leader further warned of the significant financial implications of pursuing a third term through constitutional amendments. In the event that he faces no resistance to amending the constitution for a third term, it means we have to conduct two referendums, and a referendum is an election that will cost US$20 million each. There is no need for that, he said.

Amidst the ongoing debate, Zimbabwean journalist and activist Jealousy Mawarire has alleged that cabinet discussions have taken place regarding potential constitutional changes that could pave the way for President Mnangagwa to remain in office beyond 2028. According to Mawarire, these discussions have centred on either delaying the next general elections or creating a legal path for a third presidential term, a move that critics argue would undermine the countrys democratic framework.

Mawarire claims that the alleged proposal is part of a broader effort to consolidate power. This is not about pushing elections to 2030 for development reasons, its a backdoor route to a third term, he said. Mawarire also accused Mnangagwa of enabling these discussions behind the scenes, hosting meetings with supporters at his farm and incentivising them to promote the plan.

While President Mnangagwa has repeatedly stated his commitment to upholding the constitution and serving only two terms, Mawarire has dismissed these claims as insincere, citing past violations of constitutional provisions and the suppression of civil liberties. He also raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary, pointing to instances where top judges received term extensions from the president himself. Expecting the courts to stop this would be naive, he said.

The succession question appears to be a key factor in the unfolding political drama. Mawarire alleged that the term extension aims to block Vice President Constantino Chiwengas path to the Presidency and clear the way for an ally more loyal to Mnangagwas inner circle.

At the height of the calls for a third term, another faction resisting the proposal, fronted by war veteran Blessed Geza, is backing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga as the favourite to take over from Mnangagwa. Geza has since called for demonstrations and an indefinite stay-away, which was recently ignored by citizens hard-hit by poverty and cannot afford to stay at home in a highly informal Zimbabwe.

Asked whether he was considering backing Gezas demonstrations to align with the anti-third term agenda, Mwonzora rubbished the war veterans efforts, saying supporting such an initiative will only perpetuate ZANU-PFs hold on power.

He said MDCs agenda has nothing to do with changing the leader of ZANU-PF midway.

Added Mwonzora, That is not for us to say, because we are wiser to know that if we are to change the president of ZANU-PF today, he will be replaced by a president of ZANU-PF. So there will not be any change of government, which is what we want as the opposition.

If pursued, the proposed constitutional amendments are likely to face strong opposition from within the ruling party, the opposition, and civil society. Observers warn that tampering with term limits could trigger political instability and set a dangerous precedent for governance in the region.

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Yves here. When I was in Oz, Sydney had a great three-day film festival during its winter. I assume that came back after Covid. Can readers point to other important film festivals that dont get the same level of attention that Cannes and Sundance do, despite being important gatherings?

By Damon Orion, a writer, journalist, musician, artist, and teacher whose work has appeared in Revolver, Guitar World, Spirituality + Health, Classic Rock, and other publications. Read more of his work at DamonOrion.com. Produced by Local Peace Economy

A 2020 study by the Institute of Psychology, Russian Academy of Sciences researcher Tina Kubrak is one of many reports showing that movies can powerfully influence attitudes on factors like sexual orientation, transgenderism, gender roles, ethnicity, and mental illness.

Cinemas capacity to broaden awareness can lead to social change. For example, according to the Korean pop culture website Soompi, the film Dogani, released in 2011, directly inspired the National Assembly of South Korea to impose stricter penalties for sexual abuse and led to the closure of a school where minors were being abused.

Meanwhile, in 2016, the Guardian pointed out that one year after the 2013 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Blackfisha documentary that brought SeaWorlds problematic orca breeding program into public awarenessattendance at the theme parks San Diego branch plummeted by 17 percent, the companys shares dropped by more than 50 percent, and CEO Jim Atchison stepped down. The films effect on the park was staggering: profits dropped 84 percent between 2014 and 2015 as sales and attendance collapsed, the Guardian stated. Slightly more than three years after the films premiere, SeaWorld discontinued its breeding program.

Other filmmakers have, however, used their influence for destructive means. Loyola University of Chicagos Mary F. Brown has cited the 1935 pro-Nazi film Triumph of the Will as an example of the powerful effect media can have in creating and reinforcing attitudes and belief systems. Meanwhile, the global education network Facing History and Ourselves has noted that the 1915 movie The Birth of a Nation did incalculable harm to Black Americans by creating a justification for prejudice, racism, and discrimination for decades to follow, adding that during the year of the films release, the Ku Klux Klan, inactive since the trials of 1872, reemerged across the country to terrorize African Americans and immigrants.

Given this mediums ability to disseminate information, shape consciousness, sway opinions, and lead the populace, its hard to overstate the importance of filmmakers whose intent is unclouded by outside influences and commercial interests.

True freedom in filmmaking is still rare, says Bryan Wendorf, co-founder and artistic director of the worlds longest-running underground film festival, the Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF). Founded in 1993, this Chicago, Illinois, nonprofit showcases films that arent chasing algorithms, prestige platforms, or distributor-approved aesthetics, but that exist because someone needed to make them, Wendorf says.

Because it is not affiliated with any other organization, the festival is free to set its own criteria for programming. In a culture of relentless branding and cinematic sandpapering, CUFF is a place where films can still be weird, handmade, personal, loud, broken, hilarious, and heartbreaking, all in the same reel, Wendorf says. Were not here to calm audiences down. Were here to wake them up.

Wendorf defines underground as work made without asking permissionoften with whatever tools are on hand and driven by personal urgency, political resistance, or artistic obsession. Its rough-edged, hybrid, [and] genre-fluid. It rejects polish for its own sake. These are films that break rulesor, better yet, ignore them entirelyand they often come from communities that exist outside of dominant narratives, told from within, not as tourists. The underground has always been a haven for the unheard, the unruly, and the uncategorizable. Thats where the most urgent, exciting work comes from.

Wendorf attributes CUFFs longevity to its staffs stubbornness and clarity of purpose. He says the festivals programming voice has been consistent throughout changes in venues, partnerships, and nonprofit status. Were not trying to grow for the sake of growth. Were not pivoting to industry panels and red carpets. CUFF exists for filmmakers and audiences who care about film as an art form and a cultural irritant. That keeps us going.

CUFF is part of an extensive list of independent film festivals in the United States. Besides big-name festivals like Tribeca, Sundance, Telluride, the Austin Film Festival, the SXSW Film and TV Festival, the Santa Fe International Film Festival, and the Chicago International Film Festival, the U.S. is home to events such as San Francisco IndieFest, Bushwick Film Festival, Citizen Jane Film Festival, and Twin Cities Film Fest.

Slamdance is a festival founded in 1995 in Park City, Utah, by filmmakers whose works were rejected for inclusion in that citys most prestigious film festival, Sundance. At Slamdance, weve recognized an inherent need for a viable platform for these fiercely independent filmmakers who might not have the connections to get coveted spots in industry labs and financing along the more traditional development roads, the festivals website states.

In a 2022 interview for Backstage, Slamdance president and co-founder Peter Baxter said the festival has proven that when it comes to discovering talent and launching careers, independent and grassroots communities can do it themselves.

A 2020 blog from the content creation platform Tongal contrasted Slamdance with Sundance. Sundance remains the king of the American film festivals, and for good reason, the piece noted. But in a year when HBO, Hulu, Disney+, and Searchlight all premiered films under that prized Sundance glow and Netflix alone owned 11 Sundance films before the festival even began, one begins to suspect that we cannot simply call the festival indie.

Describing Slamdance as a worthy antidote to the ambivalence of Sundance, the blog explained that the former festival invites its filmmakers to program the festival the following year (a tradition which contributes enormously to the programs indie integrity).

In 2025, Slamdance moved to Hollywood. The same year, Sundance announced that Boulder, Colorado, would be its new home beginning in 2027. Sundance and Slamdance have both issued statements that these relocations will expand their ability to support independent filmmakers.

According to a study by Tallinn University researchers, published in PLOS One journal in 2024, a growing gender equity is taking place in festivals worldwide. [F]estival programming has become more thematically diverse, and the inclusion of films by women creatives has increased between 20122021, stated a Phys.org article about the study. The research further pointed to the importance of these independent festivals in fostering cultural exchange and representation [and] aligning with the public interest in supporting a diverse cultural sphere.

Like the U.S., Canada is rich with indie film showcases. Besides the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which Wikipedia has cited as North Americas most popular festival, there are events like the Victoria Film Festival, Reelworld, Calgary Underground Film Festival, ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (the worlds largest presenter of Indigenous screen content), St. Johns International Womens Film Festival, the Canadian Independent Film Festival (CIFF), and the Montreal Independent Film Festival (MIFF).

Another independent film festival held in Montreal, Quebec, is the Festival du Nouveau Cinema(FNC). Seventh Row, a platform for movie lovers and filmmakers, calls FNC a great ground zero if youre looking for off-the-beaten-path films that might have been overlooked by more populist film festivals.

Unlike other star-driven film festivals like Torontos TIFF, the FNC is more director-driven, the Montreal Gazette noted in 2023. With movie theaters struggling for survival in the wake of the pandemic, emphasis has been placed on stocking cinemas with commercial fare to get bums back into seats. Not to take away from the merits of Paw Patrol or the latest Indiana Jones escapade, but cinephiles would be left in the lurch without the FNC, not to mention the citys myriad other film fests.
CT scans linked to 100,000 future cancers as doctors warn of overuse

CT scans may cause 5% of future U.S. cancer cases, with 103,000 cancers projected from 2023 scans alone.

A single abdominal CT delivers radiation equal to 1,000 chest X-rays, with children facing 10 times higher cancer risks than adults.

Experts warn of profit-driven overuse, with 93 million scans performed annually and many offering little medical benefit.

Infants and children are at highest risk, yet parents are rarely informed about long-term cancer dangers.

Patients should question unnecessary scans, seek radiation-free alternatives, and demand lower-dose options for children.

Millions of Americans undergo CT scans each year, trusting these high-tech imaging tests to diagnose injuries or illnesses. But shocking new research reveals a dark side to this routine procedure: CT scans may be responsible for 5% of all future cancer cases in the U.S.  equivalent to roughly 103,000 cancers from scans performed in 2023 alone. Experts warn that overuse, profit motives, and lax regulations are exposing patients to dangerous radiation with little benefit.

A landmark study published in JAMA Internal Medicine estimates that CT scans now rival alcohol consumption and obesity as a leading preventable cancer risk. The scans use ionizing radiation, a known carcinogen, with doses varying wildly between machines. For example, an abdominal CT delivers radiation equivalent to 1,000 chest X-rays, while a childs head CT may carry a 10-fold higher cancer risk than the same scan for an adult.

Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman, a radiologist at UC San Francisco and lead study author, bluntly states: "Its unfathomable. We keep doing more and more CTs, and the doses keep going up." Her research found that doses for identical scans can vary tenfold between hospitals, with no standardized safety checks.

Profit over patients?

With 93 million CT scans performed annually in the U.S.a 30% increase since 2007critics accuse healthcare providers of prioritizing revenue over safety. Each scan costs up to $6,800, creating a lucrative incentive for overuse. Dr. David Johnson, a gastroenterologist at Eastern Virginia Medical School, urges doctors to "hit the pause button on ordering CT scans just because its easy and convenient."

The parallels to other medical controversies are striking. Like COVID-19 vaccines and statins, which critics argue are overprescribed despite risks, CT scans are often deployed as a "default" diagnostic tool.

Infants subjected to CT scans face the highest lifetime cancer risk, with thyroid, lung, and breast cancers most likely to develop later in life. Yet parents are rarely warned. "Few patients and their families are counseled about the risk," admits UCSF pediatrician Dr. Malini Mahendra. The study projects 9,700 future cancers in children scanned in 2023 alone.

The U.S. healthcare systems reliance on CT scans mirrors its broader dysfunction. Medicares new rules requiring hospitals to report radiation doses by 2027 are a belated response, but critics say real change requires rejecting medicines "mechanistic" approach.

What you can do

If your doctor is recommending a CT scan, it is important to make sure it is necessary. While these tests are justified in some cases, there are a few points you should keep in mind.

First, question every scan. Ask: "Is this absolutely necessary? Are there radiation-free alternatives like MRI or ultrasound?" In some cases, it may be possible to choose a diagnostic tool with a lower risk. Reject "defensive medicine." Up to 90% of scans offer "little to no medical value," according to studies. Ask your doctor if the benefits outweigh the risks.

Be particularly cautious when it comes to children. Demand lower-dose protocols or non-radiation options for young patients given their higher risk.

CT scans save lives when used judiciously, but their rampant overusedriven by profit, fear of lawsuits, and outdated medical dogmahas created a silent epidemic. As Dr. Smith-Bindman warns, "These future cancers can be reduced by avoiding unnecessary scans." Until the healthcare system prioritizes prevention over profit, patients must arm themselves with knowledge and push back when needed.

Follow CancerCauses.news for more related stories.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

ICR.ac.uk

UCSF.edu

ScienceAlert.com
HHS faces fire as Kennedy spells out 300,000 missing children crisis, accuses Biden of enabling exploitation

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an urgent effort to locate 300,000500,000 migrant children who vanished from federal custody under Biden-era policies, calling it a humanitarian and trafficking crisis.

Under prior leadership, HHSs Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) failed to conduct proper background checks on sponsors, including address verification or criminal history reviews, enabling exploitation by trafficking networks.

Critics (including former DHS officials) blame Bidens "open-border" policies for overwhelming ORR, while Republicans frame the crisis as a "crime against humanity." Democrats push for transparency via congressional oversight.

New measures include stricter sponsor vetting and partnerships with law enforcement, but advocates argue progress (e.g., 5,000 children reunited) is insufficient. Rights groups warn stricter rules may deter legitimate sponsors.

Missing children are linked to forced labor, sex trafficking and criminal networks, per DOJ reports. The crisis fuels 2026 election debates, with calls for accountability and systemic overhauls beyond partisan divides.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed Wednesday that his agency is launching an aggressive operation to locate approximately 300,000 migrant children who vanished from federal custody under the Biden administration. Kennedy accused predecessors of prioritizing border openness over child safety, enabling human trafficking networks to exploit minors funneled through HHSs Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). At a cabinet meeting, Kennedy declared, During the Biden administration, HHS became a collaborator in child trafficking and for sex, and for slaveryWe have ended that. His statements underscore a deepening political and humanitarian crisis, amplified by reports that hundreds more minors slip from government oversight daily.

The urgent recovery effort follows a damning legacy of systemic failures in sponsor screening and follow-up, as highlighted by a 2023 New York Times investigation and internal studies. Critics argue the prior administrations lax protocols  failing to verify sponsor addresses or run criminal background checks  created conditions for minors to vanish into trafficking or forced-labor networks. With no comprehensive tracking system, estimates of missing children range from 300,000 to 500,000, a figure Kennedy calls a stark reminder of what happens when vetting policies collapse.

A toxic legacy: How border policies unfolded

The numbers stem from a period when the Biden administration relaxed enforcement at the U.S.-Mexico border, admitting historic numbers of unaccompanied minors. By law, U.S. Customs and Border Protection must transfer such children to ORR within 72 hours. Under Biden, ORRs approach prioritized quick placement with U.S. sponsorsoften family membersover rigorous checks.

Former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended the transition, declaring in December 2023, We turn children over to HHSwhat happens after is outside our authority. But critics like immigration official Tom Homan argue oversight gaps turned ORR into a trafficking pipeline. Were delivering kids on a platter to criminals, Homan told reporters in 2022, noting sponsors were sometimes linked to gangs or abusers.

The last major child-migration crisis under the Trump administration, including 2018s controversial family-separation policy, led to bipartisan backlash. Yet Trumps current team positions its efforts as a corrective. This isnt about party  its about the law and human decency, said White House adviser Steve Bannon at a press briefing Thursday.

Kennedys reforms: A new playbook under fire

Kennedys crackdown aims to counteract what he calls HHSs bureaucratic negligence. Since taking office, his team has tightened sponsor vetting and partnered with state police to track minors. In a Tuesday statement, Kennedy stated, Were no longer going to allow this agency to be used for criminal enterprise.

The Department of Homeland Security claims success in reintegrating 5,000 children with relatives and guardians under the new policy. But advocates question the pace and transparency. Five thousand does not solve 500,000, said Maria Corina, director of the nonprofit Family Reunification Advocates. This isnt a sprint; its a generational fix.

The administrations strategy faces resistance from rights groups, who worry strict sponsorship requirements could deter truthful volunteers. However, Kennedy remains defiant: Safety trumps bureaucracyWere prepared to take on the critics.

Why this matters: Beyond the numbers

The crisis has national security implications. Missing minors are increasingly recruited as drug mules or cybercriminals, according to Department of Justice findings. Meanwhile, 2024 reports revealed over 200 minors identified in human trafficking networks nationwide.

Politically, the issue elevates the stakes for the 2026 elections. With Bidens policies under scrutiny, Republicans have seized the issue to frame Democrats as indifferent to border security and child welfare. This isnt a border issueits a crime against humanity, thundered Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the floor Thursday.

For Democrats, the crisis reignites debates over immigration ethics. A congressional working group led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren aims to force HHS to release more data, questioning whether any children could still be alive or retrieved.

The road ahead

As Kennedys team scrambles to locate missing children, the nation confronts a unresolved puzzle: How did we get here? Policy choices matter, and the interplay of border strategies, bureaucratic inertia and political expediency created a vacuum for exploitation.

The 300,000 figure is more than a headline  its a human rights reckoning. Whether Trumps teams reforms can quell critics or merely justify crackdowns remains to be seen. Yet, as Kennedy put it, This is about atonementnot politics. Until every child is found, the moral reckoning lingers.

With days passing and minuscule progress, the nation braces for another chapter in an endless immigration saga, where safety and security remain as elusive as the missing children.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

ShoreNewsNetwork.com

Platform.Twitter.com
Trumps tax cut ambitions clash with Ukraine deadlock amid economic optimism

President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping tax reform plan, slashing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, increasing median household take-home pay by $5,000, and exempting Social Security benefits, overtime and tips from taxation. The White House claims it will boost GDP by 3.33.8% and save 4.1 million jobs.

While Republicans tout the plan as a Reagan-style economic revival, Democrats criticize it as favoring the wealthy. Former Speaker Paul Ryan warns of legislative hurdles, and Senate Democrats dismiss it as a "boondoggle."

Diplomatic efforts in Ukraine have stalled, with Vice President Vance suggesting the U.S. may "walk away" after failing to broker a ceasefire. Kyiv and Moscow have rejected Trumps peace plan, raising concerns about U.S. foreign policy credibility.

The administration relies on "dynamic scoring" to justify deficit-neutral claims, but economists warn that unresolved military aid to Ukraine could strain budgets. A proposed $10 billion levy on repatriated corporate profits aims to fund infrastructure but faces Democratic opposition.

With unemployment at 3%, the White House bets that tax cuts will drive growth, but critics fear fiscal instability. The plans success hinges on balancing domestic economic gains with global geopolitical challenges ahead of the 2026 election.

President Donald Trump returned to the economic podium Wednesday, rolling out what his administration calls the largest tax cut in history as job numbers tick upward and Ukraine diplomacy remains stalled. With unemployment at a 15-year low, the White House aims to cement its economic legacy by slashing corporate rates and easing individual burdens, even as critics question its fiscal sustainability and the failure to secure peace in Eastern Europe. The twin challenges of delivering on tax promises and addressing a war-defying foreign policy underscore the administrations high-stakes agenda just three months into its final push.

The tax blueprint: A 21st century economic overhaul

The Trump administrations tax reform package, unveiled April 30, 2025, seeks to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, bolster take-home pay for median families, and exempt Social Security benefits, overtime pay and tips from taxation. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin framed the plan as the biggest tax cut in American history, echoing claims made eight years earlier during the presidents first term.

Key provisions include real-wage increases of up to 3,300 annually and a median household tax cut of 5,000. Projections cite an immediate 3.33.8% GDP boost and 4.1 million jobs saved  figures contrasting sharply with a sluggish 2024 global economy. Gary Cohn, National Economic Director under Trumps first presidency, likened the plan to the Reagan-era tax reforms of 1986, though he acknowledged bipartisan hurdles.

Critics, however, caution against misplaced euphoria. Former Speaker Paul Ryan, now a tax advocate, warned the debate would hinge on 80% alignment with House priorities, while Senate Democrats dismissed it as a boondoggle for the wealthy, referencing proposed cuts to top individual rates. Republicans will need votes  and time  to make this a reality, Ryan noted.

Ukraine doldrums: A foreign policy crossroads

While taxes dominated domestic headlines, the administrations Ukraine policy faces mounting skepticism. Vice President J.D. Vance openly stated on April 23 that Trumps team may walk away after failing to broker a ceasefire within the first 100 days, despite months of protracted talks. A peace planunveiled months ago but ignored by Kyiv and Moscowhas drawn ridicule abroad as Moscows annexations grow entrenched.

President Volodymyr Zelenskys government called the U.S. proposal hypothetical, while Kremlin officials dismissed it as Obama-era tactics. Pentagon-exercised force in the region shows little sign of decline, framing the administrations pivot toward domestic policy as a retreat on principle.

Economists argue the stalled diplomacy could strain fiscal resources diverted to military aid, complicating tax reforms deficit-neutral goals. You cant print growth while waging war absent revenue, said Senate Budget Committee member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Partisan and fiscal crossfires: Deficits, dynamic scoring and political reality

The plans path to passage hinges on contentious tactics. Republican strategists plan to use dynamic scoring  a method arguing tax cuts grow the economy sufficiently to offset costs  to sidestep balanced budget restraints. However, this requires buy-in from Democratic negotiators wary of expanding the $31.4 trillion deficit.

The White Houses $10 billion one-time levy on repatriated corporate profits  inspired by Trumps 2017 proposal  could fund infrastructure, a nod to bipartisan priorities. Yet Democrats bristle at cuts to higher income brackets. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused the GOP of rigging tax brackets to reward losers and exploit loopholes.

Historical parallels highlight the fragility of the strategy. Ronald Reagans 1986 reforms succeeded only through bipartisan compromise and simplification  a contrast to the Trump plans sprawling exemptions. His team is playing economic roulette, said veteran economist Alice Rivlin, who advised the Clinton administration. If growth doesnt materialize, this could redefine fiscal extremism.

Growth or mirage? The unanswered Economy First equation

As the president rallies support, the administrations tax gambit faces a dual test: delivering on economic optimism while countering distrust over its world order pivot. With unemployment at 3%, the stakes are higher than ever. Yet, the divergence between corporate relief and middle-class benefits  paired with Ukraines unresolved crisis  leaves voters weighing whether making America great requires a departure from global obligations.

As Mnuchin framed it, history will judge whether boldness outweighs risk. For now, the White House is staking its 2026 election hopes on an answer  one that economic headlines, and voters, will evaluate on their own terms.

Sources for this article include:

NationalPulse.com

WhiteHouse.gov

Economist.com

TheEpochTimes.com
William F. Jaspers Global Tyranny Step By Step explores the UNs role in advancing a centralized world government

William F. Jasper's book, "Global Tyranny Step by Step," argues that the United Nations is not a force for global peace but a mechanism for eroding national sovereignty and advancing a centralized world government, exploiting the concept of global interdependence.

Jasper highlights the UN's controversial history, including corruption, anti-American sentiment, and espionage in the 1970s and '80s, as well as its rehabilitation in the late 1980s under Mikhail Gorbachev's "new thinking." He also cites former President George H.W. Bush's 1990 "new world order" speech as evidence of efforts to strengthen the UN's global influence.

The book traces the UN's roots to organizations like the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and figures like Alger Hiss, suggesting it was designed as a stepping stone toward global governance. Jasper criticizes the UN's growing military role, including peacekeeping forces and proposals for a permanent UN army, as threats to national sovereignty.

Jasper warns that global environmental initiatives, such as the 1992 Earth Summit, are tools for consolidating international power. He references the controversial "Iron Mountain Report," which allegedly proposed using environmental crises to promote global governance.

In the aftermath of the Cold War, the world anticipated a new era of peace and cooperation, with the United Nations poised to play a pivotal role in fostering global harmony. However, a dissenting voice emerged in the form of William F. Jasper's book, "Global Tyranny Step by Step: The United Nations and the Emerging New World Order," which argues that the UN is not a beacon of hope but a catalyst for a centralized world government that threatens national sovereignty.

Jasper's central thesis is that the concept of global interdependence is being exploited to erode the autonomy of nation-states and transfer power to a global authority. He contends that this process is not a distant possibility but a current reality. One of his key pieces of evidence is a 1990 speech by former President George H.W. Bush, who spoke of a "new world order" emerging from the Gulf War. Jasper interprets Bush's emphasis on the UN's role as a clear indication of the administration's intention to strengthen the organization's influence in global affairs.

The UN's track record, according to Jasper, is far from reassuring. During the 1970s and '80s, the organization faced criticism for corruption, anti-American propaganda and espionage. Its popularity among the American public reached an all-time low. However, the late 1980s saw a shift with Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of "new thinking," which rehabilitated the UN's image and led to a surge in pro-UN sentiment, fueled by what Jasper describes as an "avalanche of fawning editorials" from major media outlets.

Jasper delves into the historical roots of the UN, tracing its origins back to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and other influential organizations. He argues that the UN was designed to be a stepping stone towards a world government, supported by a detailed account of the CFR's involvement in the UN's creation and the backgrounds of key figures like Alger Hiss, who played a significant role in the UN's early years.

The expansion of the UN's military role is another point of contention for Jasper. He criticizes the establishment of UN peacekeeping forces and the push for a permanent UN army as direct threats to national sovereignty. He cites the UN's intervention in the Congo in the 1960s as a brutal and misguided attempt to suppress a legitimate independence movement.

Perhaps the most chilling aspect of Jasper's argument is his discussion of the "Iron Mountain Report," a controversial document allegedly produced by a secret study group in the 1960s. The report suggests that environmental catastrophe could be used as a tool to promote global governance. Jasper argues that this report, whether authentic or not, reflects a mindset that views global crises as opportunities to advance the agenda of world government.

Jasper's analysis of the environmental movement is equally provocative. He claims that the push for global environmental regulation is not just about protecting the planet but about consolidating power at the international level. He cites the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 as a prime example, where he sees the convergence of corporate interests and radical environmentalism as a deliberate strategy to promote a "New Green World Order."

In conclusion, "Global Tyranny Step by Step" is a provocative and thought-provoking work that challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions about the United Nations and the emerging global order. Whether one agrees with Jasper's conclusions or not, his book is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about the future of the world. It serves as a reminder that the path to global governance is fraught with complex challenges and that the preservation of national sovereignty remains a critical issue in the 21st century.

Watch this video about William F. Jasper's book, "Global Tyranny Step by Step: The United Nations and the Emerging New World Order."

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Vance warns Ukraine war not ending soon as Trump team pushes 100-day peace bid

The Trump administration is intensifying ceasefire efforts, but Vice President J.D. Vance admits Ukraine and Russia remain "very far apart" in negotiations.

Despite securing initial peace proposals, the gap between Russian demands for territorial concessions and Ukraines refusal to surrender sovereignty remains unresolved.

President Trump has walked back his claim of ending the war quickly, though his administration secured a minerals deal with Ukraine, which is seen as potential leverage.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warns of stalled diplomacy, with Russia demanding Ukraine abandon NATO ambitions and recognize occupied territories in conditions Kyiv rejects.

With no breakthrough in sight, Vance acknowledges the war will continue, as both sides refuse to back down despite heavy casualties and escalating rhetoric.

As the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year with no end in sight, the Trump administration is doubling down on efforts to broker a ceasefire, but Vice President J.D. Vance admits the two sides remain "very far apart." In an exclusive interview with Fox News, Vance revealed the White House is preparing for another 100 days of intense diplomacy, despite acknowledging the conflict "is not going anywhere" soon. The administrations push comes as Ukraine and Russia remain entrenched in their demands, with Moscow insisting on territorial concessions and Kyiv refusing to cede sovereignty.

The 100-day gamble

Vance emphasized that while the Trump team has succeeded in getting both sides to present peace proposals in a move he called "the first and necessary step", the gulf between Russia and Ukraine remains vast. "[They] werent even talking  not to each other, not to anybody. They were just fighting," Vance said.

"The Ukrainians have said, This is what we want. The Russians have said, This is what we want, and now the work of diplomacy is to try to sort of bring these two sides closer together," he added. "Because there's a very big gulf between what the Russians want and what the Ukrainians want."

President Trump, who once boasted he could end the war "within 24 hours," has since tempered expectations, calling the claim an "exaggeration." Still, his administration has prioritized negotiations, recently securing a minerals deal with Ukraine that grants the U.S. preferential access to critical resources in a move some analysts see as leverage in talks with Russia.

No easy solutions

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that without "concrete proposals" from both sides, the U.S. may scale back mediation efforts. "They're closer, but they're still far apart," Rubio told Fox News, underscoring the diplomatic stalemate. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has doubled down on its demands, insisting Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions and recognize Russian control over Crimea and four other occupied regions  conditions Kyiv flatly rejects as tantamount to surrender.

The human cost continues to mount, with Senator J.D. Vance lamenting the "thousands and thousands of soldiers" dying over "a few miles of territory." Yet neither side shows signs of backing down. Russia, emboldened by recent gains in the Donbas, insists foreign weapons shipments to Ukraine must cease, framing them as escalatory. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials vow to fight until all occupied land is reclaimed, dismissing any notion of territorial concessions as a betrayal of national sovereignty. Moscows rhetoric has been growing more defiant, with state media framing the war as an existential struggle against NATO expansion.

With billions in U.S. aid flowing to Ukraine and no resolution in sight, Vances admission that the war wont end soon underscores the grim reality: diplomacy has so far failed to bridge irreconcilable differences. The minerals deal, while a symbolic win for Trump, does little to address core disputes over borders and security guarantees.

As the administration enters its next 100-day push, hopes for peace remain fragile. "Im optimistic," Vance said, "but its hard to say confident[ly]" given the entrenched positions. For now, the war grinds on  and Americas wallet and global stability are paying the price.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

CNBC.com

FoxNews.com

Reuters.com
FDA reconsiders COVID-19 booster approvals, with Makary emphasizing the need for good data

The FDA is reconsidering its approach to COVID-19 vaccine approvals for the upcoming season, citing insufficient data on booster effectiveness and declining public trust in vaccination recommendations.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary emphasizes the need for robust clinical data before endorsing new boosters, marking a shift from earlier rapid approvals. He highlights low booster uptake among healthcare workers (85 percent declined the latest shot) and skepticism about vaccinating low-risk children.

The CDC may narrow its vaccine guidelines, moving from universal recommendations to a risk-based approach, potentially limiting boosters to high-risk groups  a significant reversal from previous policies.

Pharmaceutical companies and former FDA officials criticize the agency's stricter data requirements, arguing it could delay approvals and stifle innovation. Makary defends the caution  citing past failures like Merck's Vioxx, which was linked to deaths after rushed approval.

The FDA's stance reflects tensions between evidence-based policymaking and concerns that inconsistent messaging may worsen vaccine hesitancy. The outcome could reshape COVID-19 strategies and set a precedent for future health crises.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reevaluating its approach to approving Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for the upcoming winter season, citing a lack of data on booster effectiveness and declining public confidence in vaccination recommendations.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, in interviews with CBS News and MedPage Today, emphasized the need for robust clinical evidence before endorsing new boosters. His stance is a notable shift from the rapid approvals seen during the Biden administration.

"I think there's a void of data," Makary told CBS News on Tuesday, April 29. "Rather than allow that void to be filled with opinions, Id like to see some good data."

In a separate interview with MedPage Today Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jeremy Faust also published on Tuesday, Makary acknowledged that public trust toward vaccines has eroded. He pointed to low uptake among healthcare workers and skepticism about vaccinating low-risk children.

"Look, 85 percent of healthcare workers declined the latest COVID-19 booster vaccine last fall," Makary told Faust. "Should we accept that and just keep pounding on parents to get their healthy 12-year-old daughter a seventh COVID-19 jab this fall?" (Related: Growing number of physicians now refusing to get COVID-19 booster shots.)

The high-stakes debate over vaccine approvals

The regulator's hesitation comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers narrowing its vaccine guidelines, potentially moving from universal recommendations to a risk-based approach. The CDC's advisory committee is now debating whether to limit recommendations to high-risk groups, a move that could mark a significant policy reversal.

Makary's stance reflects growing scrutiny of past approval processes, such as the FDAs 2022 authorization of Omicron-targeted boosters for children as young as five without direct safety or efficacy data. But the FDA's demand for new trials has drawn criticism from pharmaceutical companies and former officials.

Novavax, which expected full approval by April 1, now faces delays and millions in costs for additional research. Former FDA leaders Phil Krause and Luciana Borio argued in a commentary that the agency should "stick to its normal processes," warning that shifting standards could deter innovation.

But Makary defended the decision  citing lessons from past failures like Merck's Vioxx, a painkiller linked to thousands of deaths after its rushed approval. "I'd rather have a sound decision a few days after the target date than have another Vioxx," he said.

The debate underscores broader tensions in public health policy. While Makary and CDC advisors push for evidence-based adjustments, critics fear inconsistent messaging will deepen vaccine hesitancy. The outcome could reshape COVID-19 strategies ahead of the winter season  and set a precedent for how regulators balance speed, science and public trust in future health crises. As the FDA weighs its next steps, the spotlight remains on whether stricter data requirements will restore confidence or further polarize the nations approach to pandemic preparedness.

For now, Makary's mantra is clear: "Upholding gold standard science" comes before corporate or political pressures. The question is whether that standard will be enough to mend a fractured public health landscape.

Visit FDA.news for more similar stories.

Watch Dr. Marty Makary disclosing to Tucker Carlson that public health officials are proposing annual COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations for all people in this clip from Fox News.

This video is from the In Search Of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FDA has "gone rogue" by approving new COVID booster shots without clinical trials, warns Dr. Robert Malone.

Vaccine advocate Paul Offit declares healthy Americans do NOT need a COVID "booster" shot.

EU, WHO both warn that covid 'booster" shots are dangerous.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

CBSNews.com

InsideMedicine.Substack.com

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
Local authorities say boggings have already been reported, with some travellers needing to be towed out.

Underground springs have surfaced under the unsealed road along parts of the Hann Highway in Far North Queensland, bogging vehicles. Source: Robbie Katter/Facebook

Caravanning enthusiasts travelling around parts of the country's northeast have been warned to beware of dangerous conditions that are leaving motorhomes bogged.

Queensland MP Robbie Katter took to social media to urge caravanners and tourists visiting the Gulf Savannah region in the state's Far North to avoid Kennedy Development Road, locally known as the Hann Highway, after a combination of recent wet weather and natural underground springs caused the surface to lift.

"Were urging all caravanners and tourists visiting our great region to avoid the Hann Highway until further notice," Katter said, adding that large stretches of the unsealed road had been turned "into a deep, boggy mess".

"[It's] impassable by any vehicle. Road works crews have not been able to access the site safely, and it doesn't seem that the underground springs are letting up soon, which unfortunately means the road is likely to remain in poor condition for the foreseeable future."

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The warning comes as inland roads across northern Australia remain vulnerable to ongoing seasonal rains and underground water flows, which can linger long after weather systems move on.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokesperson for Etheridge Shire Council confirmed the road remains closed. The spokesperson said it's likely to stay that way until Thursday, when crews will asses it again. "Alternate route is Hughenden via Flinders Highway," the spokesperson said.

Caravanners in North Queensland warned

Stretching more than 500 kilometres, the Hann Highway is a crucial inland link between North Queensland and the southern parts of the state, often used as a shortcut between Hughenden and the Gulf region. It serves as a lifeline for local communities, graziers and outback travellers during the dry season, particularly those embarking on the iconic "Big Lap".

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But conditions affecting the road can quickly turn treacherous, particularly for caravanners towing heavy rigs who may not realise just how easily their vehicles can become stranded.

Local authorities say boggings have already been reported, with some travellers needing to be towed out  at a cost of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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California lawmakers weaken bill targeting child sex buyers

The California State Assembly's Public Safety Committee weakened AB 379, removing a provision that would have made it a felony to pay for sex with 16- and 17-year-olds. Prosecutors must now prove the minor was trafficked before imposing stricter penalties.

The bill aimed to close gaps in SB 1414 (which targets buyers of minors under 16) by extending felony penalties to solicitation of all minors under 18 and creating a loitering crime to curb demand. It also proposed a $1,000 fine to fund survivor support services.

Sponsor Assemblymember Maggy Krell (a former trafficking prosecutor) and Republicans condemned the amendments, calling them a failure to protect teens. Krell vowed to reintroduce the measure, stating the changes prioritize offenders over victims.

California Republicans accused Democrats of shielding predators, with Assemblyman David Tangipa arguing the amendments effectively normalize the exploitation of older minors.

The revised bill raises the burden of proof for prosecutors, requiring evidence of trafficking for 16- and 17-year-olds, a standard critics argue will hinder accountability for buyers.

California lawmakers have blocked a bill that would strengthen penalties for those who pay for sex with 16- and 17-year-olds.

AB 379, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Maggy Krell, seeks to increase penalties for offenders while expanding support for survivors. The bill builds on the recent passage of Senate Bill 1414, a law that toughened punishments for soliciting minors under 16 for sex. (Related: 122 Individuals arrested, 2 minors rescued in Sacramento County anti-sex trafficking sting operation.)

The bill would make two major changes to existing legislation  enhancing criminal penalties and establishing a survivor support fund.

First, AB 379 would make it a felony to solicit sex with anyone under 18, closing a gap in SB 1414, which currently only applies to minors 15 and younger. It also creates a new crime for loitering with the intent to solicit prostitution, allowing law enforcement to target those driving the demand. Then, a $1,000 mandatory fine for offenders would fund community-based organizations that assist trafficking survivors, prioritizing long-term rehabilitation over incarceration for those exploited in the trade.

But on Tuesday, April 29, the California State Assembly's Public Safety Committee stripped the bill of charging a felony for those who pay for sex with 16- and 17-year-olds, requiring prosecutors to instead prove that the minors were victims of human trafficking before imposing tougher penalties on their buyers.

Krell and state Republicans criticize the decision

The decision has immediately drawn sharp criticism from Krell and state Republicans.

Krell, a former prosecutor who spent two decades handling human trafficking cases, blasted the decision as a "disgrace," vowing to reintroduce the measure in future sessions.

"In order to get a hearing on the bill, we were forced to remove the piece of the bill that ensures the crime of purchasing a minor for sex applies in all cases where the victim is under the age of 18," Krell said. "I wholeheartedly disagree with that amendment. This has been my life's work and I will continue to partner with sex trafficking survivors and law enforcement to ensure all minors are protected from the horrors of sex trafficking."

Meanwhile, California Republicans accused Democrats of prioritizing the interests of sex buyers over child victims.

"Why are some @AssemblyDems planning to cut felony charges for adults who buy 16- and 17-year-olds for sex?" California Assembly Republicans posted on their official account on X. "There are no excuses. Protect the kids. Not the predators."

State Assemblyman David Tangipa, a Republican, whose family has been personally affected by trafficking, blasted the amendment as effectively enabling exploitation. "Apparently, what they want to do is remove the 16 and 17-year-old portion of the bill and then just increase penalties and fines," Tangipa said. "What that actually sounds like is just California participating in the prostitution and the trafficking themselves."

Visit Trafficking.news for more stories like this.

Watch this clip of a sheriff disclosing that 100,000 children are either with child traffickers or stuck in child abuse situations.

This video is from the Be Children of Light channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries ARRESTED on sex trafficking and prostitution charges.

Trump says Kamala is "facilitating the largest wave of child sex trafficking in history."

Twitter defends its child sex trafficking users, cites Section 230 immunity protection for pedophiles.

Massive child sex trafficking ring busted, ran for decades, protected by police in exchange for sex.

Former Disney animator sentenced to 25 years behind bars for sex trafficking and child sex abuse.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

KCRA.com

MSN.com

Bighteon.com
Prominent climate scientists challenge catastrophic warming claims, argue net zero policies are unjustified

Physics shows CO2's warming effect diminishes as concentrations increase, making current levels (420 ppm) nearly saturated. Net Zero policies would lower temperatures by just 0.06F to 0.5F  far less than exaggerated model projections.

Extreme weather events, like 1930s U.S. heatwaves, occurred long before rising CO2 levels. Climate models inflate warming predictions by 30-50 percent, undermining their policy relevance.

Banning fossil fuels would devastate fertilizer production, triggering food crises. Higher CO2 levels (e.g., 800 ppm) could increase crop yields by 60 percent, but policies ignore this benefit.

Trump should enforce scientific rigor, rejecting flawed climate models like those the EPA excluded. "Net Zero is a suicide pact"  energy policy should follow markets, not political agendas.

On April 28, atmospheric physicist Dr. Richard Lindzen (MIT) and physicist Dr. William Happer (Princeton) released a groundbreaking paper dismantling the foundational premise of global climate policy: that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary driver of catastrophic warming. Their findings, supported by decades of radiation physics research, conclude that current CO2 levels have minimal remaining capacity to trap heat and that efforts to eliminate fossil fuels  central to the Net Zero agenda  are scientifically unfounded and economically perilous. The research arrives amid growing scrutiny of climate policies, as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration moves to repeal regulations based on flawed models.

The science of CO2 saturation: Debunking the greenhouse gas threat

Lindzen and Happer's analysis hinges on a fundamental physical principle: CO2's heat-trapping capacity diminishes as its atmospheric concentration rises  a concept known as saturation. At todays level of approximately 420 parts per million (ppm), they argue, additional CO2 contributes negligible warming. Applied to climate models, this means even achieving Net Zero emissions globally by 2050 would suppress temperature rises by just 0.06F to 0.5F at most. "The data shows that CO2 is now a weak greenhouse gas. The notion that it's 'the main driver of climate change' is scientifically indefensible," said Happer, an emeritus Princeton professor.

The pair also reject claims linking CO2 to extreme weather, emphasizing that natural climate variability and other factors dominate weather patterns. Historical temperature records from the EPA itself, they note, reveal that U.S. heatwaves in the 1930s exceeded todays trends, yet CO2 levels were far lower. Lindzen criticized climate models for consistently overestimating warming by 30  50 percent, concluding, "They're not just wrong  they're dangerously misleading."

Net zero policies: Economic and agricultural concerns

Happer and Lindzen warn that Net Zero mandates could devastate economies and food security. Eliminating fossil fuels would disrupt critical infrastructure, including nitrogen-based fertilizers, which rely on natural gas and nourish half the global population. "More CO2 means more food, said Lindzen. Doubling atmospheric CO2 to 800 ppm could boost global crop yields by 60 percent, particularly in drought-prone regions  yet such growth would be stifled by policies demonizing emissions.

The economists' cost-benefit analyses further underscore their critique: Virtually no measurable climate benefit justifies the trillion-dollar subsidies for wind and solar farms. "This isn't science; it's a wealth transfer scam," Happer asserted, citing the $500 billion U.S. climate spending program. Meanwhile, the poorest populations  reliant on affordable energy  face drastic consequences as fossil fuels vanish.

The consensus myth and pressure on climate dissenters

The pair challenge the oft-cited "97 percent consensus" on climate change as a political tool. "Science isn't determined by majority vote," Happer said. Citing physicist Richard Feynman's dictum that "it only takes one experiment to prove a theory wrong," he noted climate models consistent failure to match real-world temperatures.

Scientists who dare question orthodoxy often face professional exile. Climate scientist Judith Curry, former chair at Georgia Tech, lost funding and credibility after retracting a study linking hurricanes to warming. Similarly, Nobel laureate John Clauser had a 2023 IMF speech canceled after denouncing climate alarmism. "Academic pressure to conform is extraordinary," Lindzen said. "In 1990, no MIT faculty called themselves climate scientists  now it's a lucrative career path for anyone eager to ride the grant money."

A call for scientific integrity: Rejecting "fake consensus" in policy

Lindzen and Happer urge President Trump to issue an executive order mandating federal agencies adopt strict evidence-based policies, free from consensus-driven spin. They highlight the U.S. Supreme Courts State Farm ruling, which invalidates regulations ignoring critical data or cherry-picking results. "The IPCC and EPA have excluded vital studies showing climate models are irredeemably flawed," Lindzen said. "This isn't skepticism  it's basic rigor."

For the scientists, the stakes are existential. "Net Zero is a global suicide pact," Happer warned, pointing to rising energy poverty and stymied development. "CO2 isn't an enemy  it's life's elixir. Let markets, not politicians, choose our future."

A crossroads for climate policy  evidence over alarm

As governments race to fulfill Paris Agreement pledges, Lindzen and Happer's critique exposes a paradigm in crisis. Their focus on CO2 saturation and economic impacts challenges the very framework of environmental regulation. Whether policymakers heed their call for rigor or cling to consensus will shape not only climate action but the futures of billions relying on affordable energy. "The scientific method survives," Lindzen concluded. "Truth always does."

Sources include:

ClimateDepot.com

Clintel.org

TheEpochTimes.com
Spanish authorities ignored grid operators warnings before historic blackout exposed green energy risks

Spains power grid collapse left 60 million in darkness, exposing the dangers of aggressive renewable energy adoption without backup systems.

Engineers had warned for years about grid instability from unchecked renewable expansion, but their concerns were ignored.

The blackout caused at least four deaths, billions in economic losses, and widespread chaos, including grounded flights and stalled trains.

Spains grid operator admitted risks from high renewable reliance, yet critical stability measures were delayed or dismissed.

Experts argue renewables alone lack the reliability of traditional power sources, proving ideology cannot replace grid resilience.

When Spains national power grid collapsed on Monday, plunging 60 million people into darkness, it wasnt just a technical failure; it was a preventable disaster. For years, engineers and grid operators warned that the countrys aggressive shift to renewable energy, without adequate backup systems, would destabilize the electrical system. Those warnings were ignored. Now, the Iberian Peninsula faces billions in losses, deadly consequences, and a tough lesson for nations blindly racing toward "net-zero" fantasies.

The blackout that shouldnt have happened

The crisis began when two solar power plants in southwestern Spain malfunctioned, triggering a cascading failure that severed Spains grid connection to France. Within hours, airports grounded flights, hospitals lost critical power, and trains stalled mid-journey. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez claimed 95% of power was restored by Tuesday, but the damage was done: At least four deaths were linked to the outage, including a family who succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning after relying on a generator to power a medical ventilator.

The economic toll? Between $2.5 and $5 billion, according to RBC Capital Markets. But the human cost is incalculable. Passengers slept on train station floors, pharmacies scrambled to preserve vaccines, and businesses shuttered. "Were nothing without the power grid," wrote one stranded traveler on social media. "My head explodes just thinking about it."

Warnings buried, risks ignored

This catastrophe was foreseen  repeatedly. In February 2024, Spains grid operator, Red Electrica de Espana (REE), explicitly warned in its annual report of "disconnections due to the high penetration of renewables without the technical capacities necessary for an adequate response." Earlier, in September 2020, REE technicians proposed "essential" measures to prevent grid instability, but implementation lagged as renewables expanded.

Even the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) flagged risks, noting that closing nuclear and gas plants, like Spains planned 2035 nuclear phaseout, would erode grid resilience. Yet REE dismissed concerns, insisting the system was secure. Days before the blackout, two reactors at the Almaraz nuclear plant were idled due to "excess" wind energy in a decision that may have exacerbated the grids fragility.

The green energy delusion

Spains grid was 53% solar-powered when it failed. Proponents like REE chair and former Socialist minister Beatriz Corredor insist renewables are "stable," but experts disagree. Antonio Turiel of Spains National Research Council blamed "unplanned and haphazard" renewable integration, while energy consultant Carlos Cagigal described the grid as on a knife's edge for days before the collapse.

The core issue? Solar and wind lack the inertia of traditional power sources. When generation drops, grids need instant backup  something fossil fuels or nuclear provide. Without it, voltage fluctuations spiral into blackouts.

Prime Minister Sanchez absurdly claimed nuclear power wouldnt have prevented the outage, despite evidence that reactors stabilize grids. Opposition leaders accused his government of negligence, while engineers like Alfredo Garcia, a nuclear operator, called Sanchezs statements "a lie."

As Spanish officials scramble to investigate, the world watches a cautionary tale: Renewables alone cannot power a modern civilization. Spains blackout is a dire preview of what awaits nations sacrificing reliability for climate dogma. The "energy transition" demands honesty: Without baseload power from nuclear or fossil fuels, grids will fail  and people will die. As REEs own warnings prove, ideology cannot override physics. The question is: Will other nations learn before their lights go out?

Sources for this article include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

DailyMail.co.uk

DailyMail.co.uk

Reuters.com
Trump administration dismisses all authors of National Climate Assessment

Hundreds of scientists contributing to the National Climate Assessment (NCA), a congressionally mandated climate report, were abruptly dismissed.

The NCA's findings (including warnings on extreme weather, sea-level rise, and health risks) contradict Trump's dismissal of climate science as a "hoax." Past reports have informed critical policy decisions, but the administration's actions threaten their continuity.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), which oversees the NCA and coordinates climate research across 13 agencies (NASA, NOAA, EPA), had its funding canceled.

NASA also terminated its contract with a key consulting firm managing inter-agency cooperation, jeopardizing the NCA's legal mandate for updates every four years.

With experts dismissed, funding slashed and inter-agency collaboration disrupted, the scientific independence and completion of future climate assessments are in doubt, despite legal requirements.

The Trump administration has abruptly dismissed hundreds of scientists and experts contributing to the U.S. government's flagship report on climate change.

Since 2000, the National Climate Assessment (NCA) has provided a peer-reviewed, congressionally mandated analysis of how climate change affects the U.S., covering impacts on health, agriculture, infrastructure and more. The NCA relies on volunteer experts from universities, federal agencies and research institutions, with drafts reviewed by 14 federal agencies and the public. Past reports have driven policy at state and municipal levels, guiding infrastructure projects, disaster planning and public health initiatives.

The most recent report, released in 2023, warned of worsening heat waves, extreme weather and rising sea levels  conclusions that starkly contradicted statements from President Donald Trump and his Cabinet, who have frequently dismissed climate science as a "hoax." (Related: ABSURD: National Climate Assessment report attempts to link climate change to PANDEMICS and PATHOGENS.)

Now, work on the sixth assessment, set for release in 2028, has been stalled following the mass dismissal of experts who were key to its development.

According to an email from the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) sent to nearly 400 contributors to the sixth edition of the report on April 28, the administration will be terminating their participation after reevaluation of the scope of the study under the Global Change Research Act of 1990.

"We are now releasing all current assessment participants from their roles," the email said. "As plans develop for the assessment, there may be future opportunities to contribute or engage. Thank you for your service."

The USGCRP, which falls under the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has not clarified whether the report will proceed under revised terms or if its scientific independence will be preserved.

Trump cancels funding for the USGCRP

The move comes just weeks after the Trump administration canceled the funding for the USGCRP, which had overseen the climate assessments since their inception under Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1990.

USGCRP coordinates climate research across 13 federal agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and produces the NCA. Under the Global Change Research Act of 1990, the report is supposed to be updated every four years, with the next edition due by 2027.

However, NASA has terminated its contract with ICF International, the consulting firm tasked with managing inter-agency cooperation for the USGCRP.

One federal official deeply involved in the program said the decision has "forever severed" cross-agency climate work. Another warned that without funding, the NCA will not move forward, despite the legal requirement. NASA has not confirmed the contract termination but stated it is "streamlining" support for the USGCRP.

"NASA is working with OSTP on how to best support the congressionally-mandated program while also increasing efficiencies across the 14 agencies and advisory committee supporting this effort," the spokesperson said.

Visit Climate.news for more stories like this.

Watch the video below to learn about the truth behind climate change.

This video is from the Deprogram your Mind channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ending the hoax: Team Trump removes all references to 'climate change' on Whitehouse.gov web site.

UK government deploys "Behavioral Insight Team" to manipulate and "nudge" people to support climate change goals.

Aussie's ABC TV forms 'National Climate Team' of reporters to hype global warming  Critics slam as 'battalion of bedwetters.'

The Great Reset is actually a DEPOPULATION agenda making use of VACCINES and the CLIMATE HOAX to achieve One World Government.

BMJ publishes shocking editorial citing doctors who place "climate change" above patients' interest.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

NYTimes.com

Politico.com

Brighteon.com
BitChute CEO warns U.K. heading toward China-style internet censorship

BitChute CEO Ray Vahey likened the U.K.'s growing internet censorship to China's "Great Firewall," warning of mass surveillance, eroded encryption and thought-policing under the new Online Safety Act.

Vahey criticized U.K. authorities for targeting individuals over social media posts, citing cases like police visiting pensioners' homes for "offensive" Facebook comments, calling it a betrayal of free speech traditions.

He highlighted the shutdown of niche online communities (e.g., a hamster forum) due to the burdensome regulations, arguing it disproportionately harms independent websites.

Due to unsustainable censorship rules and financial risks, BitChute is partially withdrawing from the U.K., blocking local viewers from accessing U.K.-creator content while keeping it available internationally.

The platform denounced the vague definitions of "harmful" speech in U.K./EU law, calling compliance impossible. Its exit creates a split where U.K. users can upload but not view each other's content domestically.

BitChute CEO Ray Vahey has compared the growing embrace of authoritarian internet controls of the United Kingdom to the notorious "Great Firewall" of China.

In a recent interview with Ickonic, Vahey lashed out at government efforts to monitor private messages, warning of eroding encryption and mass surveillance. Vahey cited alarming cases of U.K. authorities targeting individuals for social media posts, including police visiting pensioners' homes over Facebook comments.

"There's videos coming out about six coppers turning up to pensioners' homes because they put something on Facebook that the government doesn't like. I mean, this is crazy. This is a country that, you know, came up with the concept of free speech and pushed it out to most of the world. And now it's one that those philosophers wouldn't even recognize. It's going completely the opposite way," he said.

Vahey used the shutdown of a hamster forum as proof that the Online Safety Act is harming small communities and independent websites, saying the law is destroying niche online spaces. (Related: Britain's new Online Safety Act is forcing small websites to shut down.)

He then called the sweeping surveillance and speech restrictions of the U.K. under the new Online Safety Act a step toward a "very dark future." Vahey argued that the push for broad control over online expression mirrors the restrictive internet policies of Beijing.

"I absolutely do think that we're heading toward a system similar to what we've seen in China, which is the great firewall of China, if they don't approve of something in their centralized government, then it doesn't get through. No one has access to it," Vahey said. "They want to know everything happening on the internet. Very frighteningly, they want to police thought  they want to decide what's true and what isn't. It's like Orwell's 1984 Ministry of Truth."

BitChute: U.K.'s censorship regime is untenable

BitChute is leaving the U.K. due to its strict censorship rules, excessive costs and government overreach under the new Online Safety Act.

The exit strategy of BitChute involves a partial shutdown. For instance, U.K. creators can still upload content, but their videos will not be viewable by other U.K.-based users. Their content remains accessible internationally, effectively creating a "digital partition" where Britons can only be heard abroad.

BitChute, a platform known for its free-speech-centric policies, declared the censorship regime of the U.K. "untenable," confirming that compliance with the broad definitions of "harmful" and "extremist" speech under U.K. and EU law had become unsustainable.

Under the Online Safety Act, Ofcom, the communications regulator of the U.K., can impose fines of up to 10 percent of a company's global revenue if it deems a platform insufficiently compliant with content moderation rules. BitChute argued that the vague and subjective nature of these regulations left it vulnerable to arbitrary enforcement, making continued U.K. operations impossible.

"After careful review and ongoing evaluation of the regulatory landscape in the United Kingdom, we regret to inform you that BitChute will be discontinuing its video-sharing service for U.K. residents.

The BitChute platform has always operated on principles of freedom of speech, expression and association. However, the evolving regulatory pressures, including strict enforcement mechanisms and potential liabilities, have created an operational landscape in which continuing to serve the U.K. market exposes our company to unacceptable legal and compliance risks.

This decision was not taken lightly. It reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of compliance, protecting our community and ensuring that our platform remains a safe and sustainable space for creative expression globally," the company said in its official statement.

The latest news coverage about the criminalization of speech can be found at Censorship.news.

Watch this video discussing how Canada is watching how the U.K. is implementing the Online Safety Act as it prepares its own anti-online content law.

This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

UK's "Online Safety Act" OFFICIALLY grants MSM permission to publish LIES.

TYRANNY: Online Safety ACT explicitly allows media to publish LIES as facts.

U.K.'s Online Safety Act: A death knell for small websites and free expression.

UK's Online Safety Act comes into effect: The dangerous, slippery slope of censorship laws.

Dissenting views CRIMINALIZED in the U.K. under new Online Safety Act, which gets you ARRESTED if government doesn't like what you say.

Sources include:

Reclaimthenet.org 1

Reclaimthenet.org 2

Brighteon.com
The Mangrove Boardwalk in Darwin is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

Incredible photos of a popular Aussie tourist destination almost entirely under water has prompted a warning to travellers. For years, people have been flocking to the Mangrove Boardwalk  a raised aluminium walkway in East Point  about a 10 minute drive from Darwin.

Even locals love to stop by to take a gander at the lush scenery and perhaps catch site of one of the various native creatures swimming in the rising tide, including new resident Sonam Wangmo.

The young woman told Yahoo News Australia she visited the boardwalk for the first time this week, but couldnt complete the return track because the water was the same level as the railing.

Locals, tourists visiting Mangrove Boardwalk urged to be careful

Although she admitted she didnt see much except for some tiny little fish, Wangmo posted several stunning images of the inundated walkway online to warn others to be mindful of the tides when visiting and go at your own risk.

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Its the jellyfish season right now  deadly ones at that so please be careful, she said. The Northern Territorys stinger season runs from October to June, with venomous box jellyfish often seen on beaches.

Another local claimed they had also seen 'lots of snakes' in the area. Source: Noor Deep Dhoj Khadka/Sonam Wangmo

Another local claimed they had also seen lots of snakes in the well-known crocodile habitat. You wouldnt catch me dead on that path with the water this high! one person said, while another described the scene as a little dice with death.

Others said Wangmos images of the boardwalk brought back happy memories. Been on that boardwalk many times over the time we spent in Darwin. A lovely place to visit, they wrote.

Traveller Luke Mead, who documents his adventures on YouTube, described it last year as one of the citys best attractions. It is an extremely eerie feeling as the tide laps around you, he said.

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This is not a place you can swim! There are crocodiles in these waters, so please be safe and use caution when doing this.

Popular walkway remains open during high tides

A City of Darwin spokesperson told Yahoo the Mangrove Boardwalk is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, and is an ideal walking destination due to the course being short, flat, sealed and easily accessible to people of all abilities.

It is also a fantastic place to view Darwins unique tropical mangrove ecosystem, which is home to a variety of bird species as well as a range of crabs, fish, snails and mudskippers, they added.

While the boardwalk is closed when it is undergoing repairs or maintenance, it is not gated off due to tides, as they fluctuate and change consistently at any given time of the year.

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The boardwalk has been designed using a raised metal walkway built above the mangroves which can accommodate water flow in and out, and there are signs in place warning users that the water level can vary, the spokesperson said.

Any body of water in the Top End, including Darwin Harbour, may contain large and potentially dangerous crocodiles and people are advised to Be Crocwise and adhere to crocwise warnings at all times.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
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The massive national effort to return the Medicaid enrollment process to its pre-pandemic rules starting in April 2023 may have disrupted the care of people receiving treatment for opioid addiction, a new University of Michigan study suggests.

The researchers call this finding concerning, because the disruption may increase the risk of overdose or other negative impacts from opioid use disorder in states that were most aggressive in removing people from Medicaid coverage during the "unwinding" process in 2023.

The study has implications for the current debate over the future of Medicaid funding, which may result in further changes in eligibility in some or all states. Although opioid overdose deaths have declined somewhat, they are still as high as they were early in the pandemic, with around 80,000 Americans a year dying from this cause.

The new analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, looks at prescriptions for buprenorphine, a medicine that can help someone with opioid use disorder achieve and maintain recovery. It includes data from more than 569,000 adults across the country who had Medicaid coverage and received buprenorphine during the pre-unwinding period.

The researchers, led by U-M postdoctoral fellow Joanne Constantin, Ph.D., compared what happened with buprenorphine prescriptions, and how patients paid to fill them, in two groups of states.

The first group included the states where the percentage of people with Medicaid dropped the most from the month before unwinding began to the end of 2023: Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The second group was states with the smallest percentage drops: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Virginia and Wisconsin.

A few states that expanded their Medicaid programs in other ways during 2023, or delayed the unwinding process, were not analyzed. Neither were data from people age 65, who also have access to Medicare drug coverage.

Key findings

The researchers found that patients were less likely to continue to fill buprenorphine prescriptions and more likely to pay for buprenorphine with cash or private insurance if they lived in states with the biggest versus smallest Medicaid enrollment drops.

Constantin and the paper's senior author, Kao-Ping Chua, M.D., Ph.D., note that the majority of disenrollments during the unwinding were due to administrative issues, such as individuals not providing information about their income to their state by a deadline.

They also remark that their analysis includes buprenorphine prescription information from all individuals in each state who received the medication through Medicaid during the years leading up to the pandemic and during its early years -- not just those who lost Medicaid coverage during the unwinding.

That means the actual drops in prescriptions may be much larger among those who were disenrolled from coverage, which has been seen with other studies of care and prescription access among people who lost Medicaid coverage.

It's important to study the effects of unwinding because it offers a natural experiment to look at how changes in Medicaid coverage affect use of potentially life-saving medications such as buprenorphine, which patients may need to take for months or years to achieve and maintain recovery." Joanne Constantin, Ph.D., U-M postdoctoral fellow

Adds Chua, "This study is highly relevant to the ongoing debates about whether to cut federal Medicaid funding. If this funding is cut, many people will be disenrolled from Medicaid  just as they were during the unwinding process. Some of those people will be patients using buprenorphine and will be in jeopardy of having their access to buprenorphine blocked."

The unwinding process focused on returning to the rules for determining eligibility for Medicaid in each state that were in effect before the pandemic  such as annual verification that a person's income was near, at or below the federal poverty level or that they met other eligibility requirements.

The future of Medicaid may change those eligibility criteria further if states receive less from the federal government or experience changes in their ability to fund the state's share of the program from tax revenues.

Nearly 72 million Americans are currently enrolled in Medicaid after the end of the unwinding, and an additional 7.2 million children are enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Plan or CHIP which also relies on Medicaid funding.

Ten states have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, but those that have done so offer coverage to all individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $21,000 for an individual and $36,000 for a family of three.

Chua is the director of, and Constantin a fellow at, the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, or CHEAR. Both are members of the Department of Pediatrics at the U-M Medical School. Chua is also a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and serves on the leadership of the U-M Opioid Research Institute.

In addition to Constantin and Chua, the study's authors are Genevieve M. Kenney, Ph.D., of the Urban Institute and Kosali Simon, Ph.D. of the University of Indiana, Bloomington. The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health (R01DA056438).
Mitochondrial diseases affect approximately 1 in 5,000 people worldwide, causing debilitating symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to stroke-like episodes. Some of these conditions result from mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the genetic material housed in these organelles. For patients with the common m.3243A>G mutation, which can cause MELAS syndrome (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) and diabetes mellitus, treatments remain limited. A fundamental challenge in mitochondrial disease research is that patients typically have a mix of both normal and mutated mtDNA within their cells. This condition, known as heteroplasmy, makes targeted therapies difficult to develop, as the normal-to-mutated mtDNA ratios can vary greatly from tissue to tissue.

Additionally, current basic research into mtDNA mutations faces significant obstacles that stem from a lack of disease models. The complex relationship between mutation load (the percentage of mutated mtDNA) and disease severity remains poorly understood, in part because there are no tools to precisely manipulate heteroplasmy levels in either direction. Without the ability to create cellular models with different mutation loads, scientists cannot effectively study how varying percentages of mutated mtDNA relate to disease manifestation.

Against this backdrop, a research team led by Senior Assistant Professor Naoki Yahata from the Department of Developmental Biology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Japan, has developed a technology that can modify heteroplasmy levels in cultured cells carrying the m.3243A>G mutation. Their paper was made available online on March 20, 2025, and will be published in Volume 36, Issue 2 of the journal Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids on June 10, 2025. It was co-authored by Dr. Yu-ichi Goto from the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry and Dr. Ryuji Hata from Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization. In it, they detail the engineering and use of optimized mtDNA-targeted platinum transcription activator-like effector nucleases (mpTALENs)-specialized enzymes that can selectively target and cleave specific DNA sequences.

The researchers first established cultures of patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) containing the m.3243A>G mutation and then designed two versions of their mpTALEN systems: one that targets mutant mtDNA for destruction and another that targets normal mtDNA. This bi-directional approach allowed them to generate cells with mutation loads ranging from as low as 11% to as high as 97%, while still maintaining the cells' ability to differentiate into various tissue types. "Our study is the first to demonstrate an increase in the proportion of pathogenic mutant mtDNA by programmable nuclease," notes Dr. Yahata.

Key innovations in their approach included the use of novel non-conventional repeat-variable di-residues and obligate heterodimeric FokI nuclease domains, which enhanced the technology's specificity and reduced unwanted degradation of off-target mtDNA. The team also employed additional techniques, such as uridine supplementation, to establish stable cell lines with different mutation loads, even those that might typically have a growth disadvantage. "Our results demonstrate that our mpTALEN optimization process created a useful tool for altering heteroplasmy levels in m.3243A>G-iPSCs, improving their potential for studying mutation pathology. This enhanced efficiency also holds promise for using mpTALENs in therapeutic strategies for treating patients suffering from m.3243A>G mitochondrial diseases," says Dr. Yahata.

Overall, the study represents a significant advancement in mitochondrial medicine for several reasons. First, it provides researchers with multiple isogenic-otherwise genetically identical -cell lines that differ only in their level of heteroplasmy. This allows for a precise study of how mutation load affects disease manifestation. Second, it suggests that mpTALEN technology may become therapeutically valuable for reducing mutant mtDNA load in patients.

"Our proposed method could be adapted for other mutant mtDNAs and may contribute to understanding their associated pathologies and developing new treatments, potentially benefiting patients with various forms of mitochondrial disease," concludes Dr. Yahata.
A growing resistance to antibiotics is complicating the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Malawi, with new research revealing that nearly half of women presenting with symptoms at a major referral hospital had infections resistant to multiple drugs.

The study, conducted by researchers at Mzuzu University and published in the National Library of Medicine, found a UTI prevalence of 48.5 per cent among women assessed at Malawis Zomba Central Hospital.

The data signals a public health concern that extends beyond expected physiological susceptibility in pregnancy. It points toward broader social, behavioural, or systemic issues such as poor hygiene, limited access to healthcare, or the overuse of antibiotics without proper diagnostic testing. Pizga Kumwenda, studys lead investigator and senior lecturer in microbiology and immunology at Mzuzu University

The figure, Kumwenda says, is far higher than the global and regional average of 1430 per cent typically reported among pregnant women.

UTIs are among the most common infections in women globally, with an estimated 150 million cases occurring each year.

But in Malawi and other Sub-Saharan African countries, treatment is becoming increasingly difficult due to widespread antimicrobial resistance.

According to the study, first-line antibiotics such as ampicillin and ceftriaxone showed alarming resistance rates87 per cent and 77 per cent respectively.

Particularly concerning was the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains such as Serratia marcescens, which exhibited complete resistance to several antibiotics and showed only moderate susceptibility to last-resort drugs like meropenem and amikacin.

It showed 100 per cent resistance to several antibiotics, said Kumwenda.

Even drugs considered last-resort, such as meropenem and amikacin, showed only moderate effectiveness, which is a warning signal for future therapeutic difficulties, he said.

Serious threat

Kumwenda says these findings reveal a serious threat to treatment outcomes, especially if even reserve antibiotics are becoming ineffective.

The retrospective study reviewed 340 patient records, focusing on women aged 1545, who accounted for over half of the UTI cases.

The high burden in this reproductive-age group, coupled with elevated resistance rates, calls for more targeted diagnostic and treatment guidelines, the researchers say.

We need to rethink how we manage UTIs in this demographic, Kumwenda added.

This includes incorporating hygiene and sexual health education, reviewing contraceptive use, and strengthening screening during antenatal and reproductive health visits.

Malawi is already grappling with a broader AMR crisis.

The Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Programme estimates that 27.3 deaths per 100,000 people in the region are attributable to antibiotic resistance. National data suggest up to 15,700 deaths in Malawi have been linked to drug-resistant infections.

The country has initiated surveillance efforts in human and animal health laboratories, but experts say more is needed.

Victor Mithi, president of the Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi, said self-prescription is a key driver of resistance in the country.

Most patients in Malawi can just walk into a pharmacy and buy antibiotics without a prescription, Mithi told SciDev.Net.

As such, they are more likely to under-medicate themselves, resulting in the development of increasing antimicrobial resistance burden.

He warned that untreated or poorly managed UTIs can escalate into life-threatening complications such as sepsis, particularly in young women.

To address this, Mithi says, there must be enforcement of prescription-only antibiotic sales.

At the policy level, I think we need to strengthen the enforcement of people having a prescription before they go to any kind of pharmacy and procure prescriptive drugs, he says.

A related study, published last year in BMC Infectious Diseases, also flagged the overuse of watch antibiotics and a high rate of multi-drug resistant infections in northern Malawi.

Kumwenda and his team recommend the implementation of antibiotic stewardship programmes in health facilities.

Health authorities should enforce strict prescription guidelines, promote culture and sensitivity testing before antibiotic initiation and prohibit over-the-counter sales of antibiotics without prescription, he said.
India Bans Entry Of Pakistan-Flagged Merchant Ships In Pahalgam Attack Aftermath

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 14:24 IST

This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, said the Directorate General of Shipping.

India has banned Pakistan-flag merchant vessels at its ports amid rising tensions post Pahalgam terror attack. (Representational Image: Vesseltracker.com)

The escalating tension between India and Pakistan has now hit the shipping industry, with New Delhi banning Pakistan-flag merchant vessels at Indian ports. The ordered also mentions that Indian ships too will not be allowed to go to any port in the neighbouring country.

This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping," the Directorate General of Shipping said on Saturday, adding that the order shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force till further order.

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The ministry of ports, shipping and waterways stated that the impositions have been placed under Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The objective of the Act is to foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine, in a manner best suited to serve national interests," it said.

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The order came minutes after the central government banned all imports from Pakistan. The Centre said it has taken the decision in the interest of national security and public policy. The order also applies to all products in transit from Pakistan.

Direct or indirect Import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders. This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India," said a notification by the Commerce Ministry.

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, 14:02 IST
6 Killed, Over 70 Injured In Shirgao Jatra Stampede; PM Modi Dials Goa CM Sawant

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 15:00 IST

Shirgao Jatra Stampede: Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared condolences on the demise of the victims and took stock of the situation post stampede.

Visuals show the chaotic scene after the stampede (Credits: IANS)

Shirgao Jatra Stampede: At least six people were killed and over 70 injured after a stampede took place during the annual Devi Lairai Jatra in Shirgaon village in Goa. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday.

The stampede took place as thousands of devotees participated in the procession to witness and take part in the centuries-old ritual at the temple, where barefoot dhonds walk across a bed of burning embers.

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According to the eyewitnesses, the situation escalated after a part of the crowd lost control. Locals and the volunteers at the spot to pull people to safety.

The stampede occurred when, at one point along the route, due to a downward slope, the crowd began moving rapidly all at once.

Goa: Visuals show the chaotic scene after the stampede, with thousands in the crowd and panic setting in as ambulances arrived at the incident site pic.twitter.com/pbgfxvsMWF IANS (@ians_india) May 3, 2025

Shirgao Jatra Stampede: PM Modi Expresses Grief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on the demise of the victims and wrote on X, Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected."

He also spoke to Goa CM Pramod Sawant and took stock of the situation.

Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 3, 2025

ALSO READ | Goa Stampede: What Is Devi Lairai Jatra? Why Thousands Walk Barefoot Across Burning Embers In Shirgao

CM Pramod Sawant Visits Hospital

Goa CM Pramod Sawant visited the hospital, met victims, and assured help from the government. Taking to X, he wrote, Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken. Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji spoke with me and took detailed stock of the situation, offering his full support during this difficult time."

Goa: A stampede during the Shirgaon Temple procession in Goa resulted in 7 deaths and 30 serious injuries. Panic spread in the crowded area, and emergency services quickly responded. Preliminary reports suggest overcrowding and lack of proper arrangements as possible causes. Goa pic.twitter.com/gOPhcB0d5D IANS (@ians_india) May 3, 2025

Shirgao Jatra Stampede: CM Sawant Orders Probe, Report To Be Made Public

Hours after the stampede, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed that a probe will be conducted into the incident, also adding that the report of the inquiry will be made public.

I have asked for a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will make the report public," he said.

CM Sawant also stated that precautions would be taken in the future for all temple festivals in the state to prevent such incidents.

Shirgao Jatra Stampede: Goa Congress Shares Condolences

Sharing condolences on the demise of the participants of the procession, Goa Congress wrote on X, Goa Congress is deeply saddened by the stampede at Jatrotsav of Shree Lairai Devi,Shirgao. We condemn this tragic incident and offer heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured."

top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

Goa Congress is deeply saddened by the stampede at Jatrotsav of Shree Lairai Devi,Shirgao. We condemn this tragic incident and offer heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. Wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured. @DrAnjaliTai @ViriatoFern pic.twitter.com/Ut0Db1RZzs Goa Congress (@INCGoa) May 3, 2025

The Shri Lairai Yatra is held in North Goa every year, attracting more than 50,000 devotees.

Location : Panaji (Panjim, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 07:37 IST
'Knowingly Harbouring...': CRPF Dismisses Jawan For 'Concealing' Marriage With Pakistani Woman

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 22:26 IST

The jawan was last posted with the 41st battalion of paramilitary CRPF, the lead internal security force of the country.

According to the report, several lapses were observed in the constables conduct, including failure to inform the department about his wife's continued stay in India. (News18 Hindi)

The Central Reserve Police Force has dismissed from service its jawan Munir Ahmed for concealing" his marriage with a Pakistani woman, as his action was found to be detrimental to national security, official sources said Saturday.

The jawan was last posted with the 41st battalion of paramilitary CRPF, the lead internal security force of the country.

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He was dismissed from service" under the rules that do not require conducting an enquiry, official sources told PTI.

Munir Ahmed has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national and knowingly harbouring her beyond the validity of her visa.

His actions were found to be in violation of service conduct and detrimental to national security," CRPF spokesperson Deputy Inspector General (DIG) M Dhinakaran said.

Ahmeds marriage to Menal Khan came to light after India asked Pakistani nationals to leave the country as part of diplomatic measures taken in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 persons were killed.

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The two got married over a video call on May 24 last year.

A CRPF probe found the jawan had not intimated" his wedding and her overstaying in India to the authorities concerned.

First Published: May 03, 2025, 19:58 IST
CWC Meet: Congress Targets Centre Over Pahalgam Inaction, Questions Caste Census Timeline

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain



Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 08:06 IST

In twin resolutions, the Congress demanded accountability for the Pahalgam attack and questioned both the timing and the lack of a clear roadmap for the caste census

Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Saptagiri Ulaka, Bhupesh Baghel, Sachin Pilot and Charanjit Singh Channi address a press conference after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, in New Delhi, Friday, May 2, 2025. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)

Citing the lack of action from the Centre more than a week after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Friday passed a resolution demanding accountability for what it called serious lapses" in one of the most heavily guarded regions in the country.

The CWC also passed a second resolution pressing the government to provide a clear timeline, budget, and plan for implementing the caste census, with Rahul Gandhi questioning both the timing of the announcement and the absence of a concrete roadmap.

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While reaffirming its support for the nation in the aftermath of the April 22 strike that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, the party said the entire country awaits accountability, answers and justice". It urged the government to act with firmness, strategic clarity, and international coordination to isolate and penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror.

Sources said the party leadership, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Bhupesh Baghel, expressed concern over the lack of communication from the government to the Opposition since the April 22 attack. They pointed out that no action had been planned, nor was any information shared with Opposition parties in the days that followed. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was said to have insisted that the word accountability" be included in the final resolution.

But its a double-edged sword. The Congress doesnt want to be seen as being too critical of the government on terror, yet it doesnt want to lose out on the nationalism narrative either  especially since its been on the back foot before, with repeated demands for proof of surgical strikes. The past has come back to haunt the party once again, as former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi recently raised doubts over the surgical strikes. Sources say the top leadership, wary of such political slip-ups, once again reiterated that no off-the-cuff remarks should be made.

While maintaining a balance between national unity and political responsibility, the Congress stressed that this was not a time for politics but a moment that calls for unity, strength, and national resolve".

At the same meeting, the Congress also trained its focus on the governments recent announcement to include caste enumeration in the next decadal census. The CWC claimed that the move was a direct outcome of its sustained campaign, led by Rahul Gandhi.

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," the resolution stated.

However, the party raised concerns about the lack of financial allocation, methodology, and timeline for the exercise. Rahul Gandhi reportedly flagged this during the meeting, warning that the announcement could go the way of the womens reservation bill  passed, but not implemented. He also said there were doubts over the timing of the announcement itself, and stressed that people must be informed about the proposed deadline and budgetary allocation for the exercise.

The CWC strongly urged the government to:

Announce a clear timeline for every stage of the caste survey  from questionnaire design to publication of data.

Remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations, calling it an arbitrary ceiling that must be re-evaluated.

Implement Article 15(5) of the Constitution to extend reservation in private educational institutions to SCs, STs, and OBCs.

Emulate the Telangana model, which involved civil society, community leaders, and social scientists in a consultative process.

The Congress also plans to launch a series of nationwide campaigns to build public pressure on breaching the 50 per cent reservation cap, which it views as central to the fight for social justice.

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Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy welcomed the CWCs recognition of his governments approach, saying it was a matter of pride" that the states caste survey was held up as a model. In a post in Telugu on X, he said, I feel proud that Telangana stood as a role model in a process that will initiate a great social revolution." He thanked all those involved in conducting the survey transparently and scientifically.

The Congress reaffirmed its position that caste-based data is essential for shaping inclusive and evidence-based public policy in areas such as welfare, education, and employment. This demand was clearly articulated in our manifesto and is essential for deepening social justice," the resolution stated, crediting Rahul Gandhi as the partys strongest and most consistent" voice on the issue.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 08:06 IST
Dilip Ghosh Breaks Silence On Jagannath Temple Visit: I Did Nothing Wrong | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain



Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 09:42 IST

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh, now at the centre of a political storm in Bengal, has defended his temple visit and taken sharp aim at critics both inside and outside the party

During their visit to Jagannath Temple in Digha, Ghosh met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Image: X)

BJP leader and former West Bengal party president Dilip Ghosh has once again found himself at the centre of a political stormthis time, over his visit to the newly inaugurated Jagannath Dham temple in Digha. No other senior BJP leader attended the temples inauguration, which was overseen by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. But Ghosh visited the site shortly after the official ceremony, accompanied by his newly-wed wife. During the visit, Ghosh met Banerjee, who welcomed the couple warmly in a brief, cordial exchange.

Photos of the interaction quickly went viral, triggering unease within the BJPs Bengal unit. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar distanced the party from the move, calling it Ghoshs personal decision" and hinting that it was inappropriate given recent violence against Hindus in parts of the state.

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Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Ghosh doubled down, defending his visit and hitting back at critics, both within and outside the party. There is no problem from my side. I dont know who has a problem with it. I have always worked according to the party line. If someone has an issue, I am unaware of it," Ghosh said.

When asked about the state party presidents statement that the visit was not endorsed, Ghosh retorted: Did anyone say not to go? Was there any instruction not to visit the temple? Has the BJP officially boycotted it? Thats not possible. The party has always embraced temple politics  its part of our journey. We began the Ram Navami rallies. Mamata Banerjee had to follow us. This is our victory."

Ghosh also pushed back against criticism that the visit ignored recent attacks on Hindus in Murshidabad. They killed 250 of our workers. So what should we doabandon society? Persecution of Hindus is nothing new. Ive held public meetings in Malda and Murshidabad where others didnt have the courage to go."

Asked whether the visit was justified, Ghosh said: Yes. During the Ram Mandir inauguration, everyone went. Mamata Banerjee didnt. I criticised that. Why should we not visit temples? Everyone has the right to seek blessings. The Chief Minister called me, and I went  why should I say no to God?"

He insisted that the BJPs ideological pressure had shaped the TMCs recent public gestures. We started Ram Navami rallies, and now the TMC is doing the same. Isnt that our win?"

Asked how he reacts to TMC leaders giving him advice on Hindutva, Ghosh was blunt: I dont need lectures on Hindutva. I come from the Sangh Parivar background. What have they done? Just put on a tilak and a pagdi and claim to know Hindutva? Ive always been a Hindu  not a part-time one. Hindutva is not about drama."

On whether the BJPs central leadership had communicated displeasure, Ghosh said: No. Im a loyal soldierI follow their instructions. If Ive done anything wrong, theyll take action. I wont answer to anyone else.

Speculation over his political future has swirled since the Digha incident, with some social media users claiming he may leave the party. Ghosh dismissed such rumours: Some think if I leave, theyll be happy. But where will I go? Time will answer that."

He admitted feeling disappointed by internal reactions but added: When a party grows big, many people come in. Its the responsibility of the head of the family to manage everyone."

Looking ahead to the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, Ghosh sounded confident: In 2026, BJP will change the government. We only need a 5 per cent swing in votes. The Hindu vote from TMC will come to us."

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Meanwhile, the TMC has seized on the BJP infighting. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh quipped, Today in Digha, Dilip Ghoshs roar overshadowed even the roar of the sea. He launched a scathing attack on a section of the BJP."

With the controversy far from over, one thing is clearDilip Ghosh isnt backing down, and the Bengal BJP has a storm of its own to weather.

About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More

Location : West Bengal, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 09:42 IST
Fake Information Derailing Pahalgam Probe, Over 200 False Alarms Raised: Intel Sources | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 23:59 IST

The NIA investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack is facing hurdles due to various fake inputs and disinformation campaign run by Pakistan, sources said.

NIA facing disinformation hurdles in Pahalgam terror attack probe (AP photo)

As the National Investigation Agency conducts its probe into the Pahalgam terror attack, the agency is having to battle Pakistan-linked fake information, which is derailing the investigations, intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Saturday.

More than 200 fake alarms have been raised so far, forcing the NIA and the police to divert resources to verify false leads.

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These false alarms are delaying progress on genuine evidence like ballistic reports and eyewitness testimonies," sources said.

The NIAs forensic teams, tasked with analysing 40 cartridges and 3D crime-scene mapping of the Baisaran Valley where the killings took place, are under pressure due to hoax calls and verifying hoaxes.

Social media influencers are also playing a part in spoiling the atmosphere in the region, sources said, adding that two people from Bihar reached Lal Chowk in Srinagar and abused their community to create tension and gain followers.

One social media influencer did a sting of a taxi driver and used cut and paste method to defame him. One social media influencer used the Sonemarg video in the name of Pahalgam to gain media attention," sources said.

A fake information network is also being run by Pakistan to shake peoples faith in the Indian system.

Top intelligence sources said that the investigating agencies are flooded with false leads, and not checking them will be inappropriate at this time, when every tip-off is important.

People are sending hoax claims, such as fake sightings of suspects, baseless links to individuals, and doctored evidence. Deepfake videos, like one showing a grieving widow dancing to mock the victims, were shared to incite communal tensions and distract investigators," they said.

Pro-Pakistan social media handles circulated fabricated leaked Indian Army documents, falsely alleging operational lapses. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has to fact-check these as part of a coordinated campaign to undermine trust in Indias security apparatus.

Pakistani media have falsely claimed senior Indian military officials, including Lt. Gen. MV Suchindra Kumar, were dismissed post-attack.

These lies aimed to portray India as unprepared, despite Kumars pre-scheduled retirement," sources said.

A viral WhatsApp message urged citizens to donate Rs 1 daily for Army modernisation, exploiting public sentiment. Later, it was found that this fund exists for martyrs families, not weapon procurement.

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Old videos of shelling, wildfires, and political protests were falsely linked to the attack. For instance, a 2023 clip of Pakistani security forces clashing with Imran Khan supporters was mislabeled as Indian checkpoints being destroyed. A staged video in Agra falsely linked a Muslim waiters murder to revenge for Pahalgam, and this triggered threats against Kashmiri students across India and traders," sources said.

On the other hand, Pakistani media like Dawn News and ARY News amplified false claims, including labeling the attack a false flag operation by India. APT36, a Pakistan-linked hacking group, launched phishing attacks using fake domains like jkpolice.gov.in.kashmirattack.exposed.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 23:59 IST
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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Goa Stampede: CM Sawant Orders Magisterial Inquiry After 6 People Killed At Temple Festival

Published By :

PTI

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 17:40 IST

The incident occurred around 3 am on Saturday at Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, about 40 km from Panaji.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant | File Image

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said a magisterial inquiry will be conducted into the stampede at a temple festival in North Goa, in which at least six persons were killed and more than 70 others injured.

The incident occurred around 3 am on Saturday at Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, about 40 km from Panaji. The stampede broke out as thousands of devotees thronged the narrow lanes to the temple for the annual festival.

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Sawant visited the state-run North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa, where some of the injured were admitted. Later, he also visited the site of the stampede.

In a message posted on X in the afternoon, the CM said, "A magisterial inquiry will be instituted to thoroughly investigate the incident at the Shirgaon Jatra. I will shortly be chairing a high-level meeting to review the entire situation and ensure appropriate action is taken." Talking to reporters at the site earlier in the day, Sawant said he has asked for a detailed inquiry into the incident.

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"We will make the report public," he said.

He said precautions would be taken for all temple festivals in the state to prevent such incidents.

Location : Goa, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 17:40 IST
What Is Devi Lairai Jatra? Why Goans Walk Barefoot Across Burning Embers In Shirgao

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 11:11 IST

Shirgao Jatra, also known as Lairai Zatra, is one of Goas most prominent festivals, held in honour of Goddess Lairai in the village of Shirgao, Bicholim.

A highlighting feature of the jatra is the famous fire-walking ritual, where devotees, known as 'dhonds,' walk barefoot across a bed of burning embers (File)

Shirgao Jatra: In a tragic incident, at least seven people were killed and over 50 were injured after a stampede took place during the annual Devi Lairai Jatra in Goas Shirgao village in the early hours of Saturday.

The stampede took place when thousands of devotees thronged the temple to witness and participate in the centuries-old ritual at the temple, where barefoot dhonds" walk across a bed of burning embers.

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The jatra commenced on Friday with thousands of dhonds (devotees) amid the chants of Har Har Mahadev and Lairai Mata Ki Jai. Dhonds fast during the five days of the festival and travel not just from across Goa but also from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka.

What Is Shirgao Jatra?

Shirgao Jatra, also known as Lairai Zatra, is one of Goas most prominent festivals, held in honour of Goddess Lairai in the village of Shirgao, Bicholim. This grand event usually occurs in April or May, with dates determined by the Hindu lunar calendar. Held annually, it attracts more than 50,000 devotees.

Lairai Devi is a revered Hindu goddess worshipped primarily in Goa. The temple dedicated to the goddess is an important spiritual centre for locals and devotees from neighbouring regions as she is considered a protector and a symbol of strength and fertility.

A highlighting feature of the jatra is the famous fire-walking ritual, where devotees, known as dhonds, walk barefoot across a bed of burning embers as a testament to devotion and spiritual purity.

Dinanath Gaonkar, president of Lairai Devasthan told Times of India that new dhonds are required to fast for five days of the festival, while the old ones fast for three days. He added that some fast for almost a month before the festival. During the jatra, dhonds have to be pious and consume meals only after a holy dip.

On the first day of the festival, after performing all rituals, including Garhane (appeal to the goddess for protection and blessing), the dhonds take a dip into the holy Devichi Tali.

On the way to the pond that same evening, a priest holds a kalash (pitcher). Devotees set up firewood in a pyramid form. The firewood thats already set-up in pyramid form is lit by the priest. This process is known as Homkhan (sacred fire), he told the news outlet.

After bathing in the pond, dhonds dance around Homkhan until dawn. The dancing ends only after the firewood is reduced to ashes. Thereafter, the dhonds walk barefoot on a flaming coal bed

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That act of piety is the prime attraction of the jatra.

The celebration also includes a grand procession of the deity, accompanied by chanting, drumming, and offerings. Thousands of devotees and visitors gather to witness the rituals and seek blessings from the goddess.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : Goa, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 08:15 IST
'Give Me Suicide Bomb, I Will Go To Pakistan': Karnataka Minister's Remark Goes Viral

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 07:42 IST

Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said "we are all Indians," offered to fight Pakistan himself, and urged PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to give him a suicide bomb.

Karnataka Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan speaking at a press conference. (Photo: X)

As tensions between India and Pakistan remain high in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Karnataka Housing and Minorities Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan went viral for volunteering to go to Pakistan himself, armed with a suicide bomb, to wage war against the neighbouring country.

In a press conference on Friday, Khan said Pakistan had always been Indias enemy, and he was ready to go to battle" if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah allowed him to.

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We are Indians, we are Hindustanis. Pakistan never had any relations with us. Pakistan has always been our enemyIf Modi, Amit Shah and the Central government let me, I am ready to go to Pakistan for war," he said.

I will go to Pakistan for war.. Let Modi, Shah give me suicide bomb, I will tie to my body and go to Pakistan and attack them"  Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Anna.. pic.twitter.com/ULby9t7qz1 Shilpa (@shilpa_cn) May 2, 2025

He also called on PM Modi and Amit Shah to give him a suicide bomb. I will go to Pakistan for war. Let Modi, Shah give me a suicide bomb, I will tie it to my body and go to Pakistan and attack them," he said.

Earlier, Khan strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, calling it a heinous and inhuman act" against innocent civilians. He said every Indian must stand united and called on the Centre to take stringent measures concerning national security.

In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack.

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The terrorists recced Pahalgam hotels in the first week of April. On April 22, they waited for the tourists at the site, then asked them to recite the Kalima and made them pull down their trousers to ascertain their religion, and shot dead Hindu men point-blank. One local pony operator who tried to stop them was also killed.

After the attack, India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan with a series of punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines, and expulsion of its military attaches. In response, Pakistan suspended trade with India and closed its airspace for Indian flights.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 07:37 IST
In Panic Mode, PoK Administration Cancels All Employee Leaves Amid Soaring India-Pakistan Tensions

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 16:37 IST

The development comes amid strong vows of military retaliation against Pakistan by top Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the Pahalgam attack

Indian security forces have stepped up their anti-terror operations in Valley following the Pahalgam attack | File Image/PTI

Amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) administration has gone into panic mode, placing all departments on high alert and cancelling all previously approved employee leaves.

It comes after Chief Secretary Khushal Khan chaired a high-level meeting with heads and representatives of key departments on Friday to review preparedness measures amid the possibility of Indian aggression across the Line of Control.

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The Chief Secretary instructed all key departments and institutions to stay on high alert and ensure that all necessary equipment, machinery, and personnel were prepared for immediate deployment.

The developments unfolded amid strong vows of military retaliation by top Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. The attack was considered one of the deadliest in recent years.

Residents Asked To Stockpile Food

In a separate order issued by PoK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, after an all-party meeting, residents living near the Line of Control (LoC) have been asked to stockpile food and essential items.

Further, the movement of tourists into the Neelum Valley and other LoC-adjacent areas has been suspended with immediate effect, according to the order.

The Health Department was also directed to maintain sufficient availability of medicines and medical staff, with all ambulances kept in functional condition.

Among the series of measures announced were the closure of religious seminaries in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the creation of a Rs 1 billion Emergency Response Fund to support potential relief efforts in the event of military conflict.

The Pahalgam terror attack sparked massive outrage in India, with demands coming from all across the country for strong retaliation against Pakistan.

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The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the terror attack. In diplomatic action against the neighbouring country, India announced a raft of measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 16:27 IST
Pahalgam Terror Attack: India Bans All Imports From Pakistan In Latest Diplomatic Strike

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 13:47 IST

India's big step to ban all imports from Pakistan comes after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, where 26 tourists were killed. Pakistan had suspended trade with India.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack. (PTI)

In another significant move against Pakistan, India has banned the direct or indirect import of all Pakistani goods with immediate effect, according to a notification from the Ministry of Commerce. This step followed the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders," read the notification from the Ministry of Commerce dated May 2. A provision in this regard has been added to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.

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The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated in the notification that this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition will require the approval of the Government of India.

Notably, India had already closed the Wagah-Attari border, the sole trade route between India and Pakistan, in the aftermath of the barbaric attack in J&Ks Pahalgam on April 22 that led to a further deterioration in ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Main imports from the neighbouring country during April-January 2024-25 included fruits and nuts ($0.08 million), certain oil seeds and medicinal plants ($0.26 million), and organic chemicals. Exports and imports from Pakistan in 2023-24 were $1.18 billion and $2.88 million, respectively.

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India Bans Pakistani-Flagged Ships From Ports

Furthermore, India has also banned Pakistani-flagged ships from entering Indian ports, according to an order from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian port," it read.

Moreover, Indian-flagged ships have also been forbidden to visit any ports in Pakistan. This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping," it said.

The latest order will remain in effect until further notice, as part of efforts to bolster security and ensure the smooth functioning of Indias maritime interests amid escalating tensions with Pakistan.

Pahalgam Terror Attack

In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, although it later backtracked after massive global outrage.

After the attack, India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan with a series of punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines, and expulsion of its military attaches. India also cancelled all visas of Pakistani nationals and gave a deadline to all those living in India to return home, including Pakistanis with medical visas.

In response, Pakistan suspended trade with India, which was already negligible since the abrogation of Article 370, and closed its airspace for Indian flights.

On Thursday, India also closed its airspace to all flights operated by Pakistan-based airlines. As per the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), Indian airspace is not available for Pakistan-registered aircraft and any aircraft operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines or operators-including military flights. Restrictions will remain in place till May 23.

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Flights of Pakistan International Airlines, the national carrier, are being rerouted via China for destinations like Kuala Lumpur, leading to added time and costs.

(with agency inputs)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 11:46 IST
India Suspends All Postal Services With Pakistan As Tensions Remain High Over Pahalgam

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 15:27 IST

India's decision to suspend all postal services came after it banned the import of all Pakistani goods as part of its latest diplomatic action following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers patrol the fenced border with Pakistan. (Image: Reuters)

After closing the doors for any imports from Pakistan, India has now decided to suspend all postal services from Pakistan in its latest diplomatic strike following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.

In a public notice, the Ministry of Communications said, Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes."

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This step came hours after India banned the direct and indirect import of all goods from Pakistan, according to a notification from the Ministry of Commerce. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated in the notification that this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy.

Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders. This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy," said the DGFT.

India also banned the entry of Pakistani-flagged ships in Indian ports and prohibited all Indian ships from entering Pakistani ports. India has also closed its airspace for Pakistani airlines.

ALSO READ: Decisive Action Against Terrorists, Their Backers: PM Modi Doubles Down On Pahalgam Response

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated to new heights after Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, although it later backtracked after massive global outrage. India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan after the attack with a series of punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines, and expulsion of its military attaches.

India also cancelled all visas of Pakistani nationals and gave a deadline to all those living in India to return home, including Pakistanis with medical visas. Pakistan responded by suspending trade with India.

Tensions High After Pakistan Provocation

Meanwhile, Pakistan today conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres as part of Ex INDUS. The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters.

India sees Pakistans preparations to test fire surface-to-surface ballistic missiles amid mounting tensions as a reckless act of provocation" and a dangerous escalation" of the situation, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.

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The planned missile test by Pakistan, under such volatile conditions" is nothing short of a blatant provocation" and a desperate attempt to whip up tensions" with India, they said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi again vowed to take firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them in wake of the Pahalgam carnage. While addressing a joint press statement with Angola President Joao Lourenco in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said, We are unanimous that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity."

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 15:16 IST
S Jaishankar Discusses Pahalgam With Russia's Lavrov, Says Culprits Must Be Brought To Justice

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 22:10 IST

Jaishankar and Lavrov discussed the escalation between India and Pakistan over a telephonic conversation in wake of Pahalgam terror attack.

S Jaishankar speaks with Sergey Lavrov (Reuters Image)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has spoken with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and discussed the recent escalation in tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalagam attack, which claimed 26 lives.

The EAM said that the perpetrators of the attack must be brought to justice.

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The two leaders also discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts at the highest and high levels.

Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with FM Lavrov of Russia yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice. Also spoke about our bilateral coooeration activities," Jaishankar posted on X.

The latest conversation between Jaishankar and Lavrov comes amid a series of phone calls by India to several nations since the terror attack on April 22, exposing Pakistans role in the barbaric attack and seeking global support.

They discussed topical issues of the Russian-Indian cooperation, as well as the aggravation of Indian-Pakistan relations following the terrorist attack near Pahalgam," a statement said.

As many as 26 people were killed by terrorists at Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam last week, drawing global condemnation and sparking outrage across India.

The government effected immediate non-military measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the Attari border, and revocation of all visas to Pakistani nationals living in India.

In turn, Pakistan suspended all trade with India and put all pacts on hold. Islamabad also suspended the 1972 Simla Agreement.

Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has threatened India to destroy any structure built to divert Indus waters meant for Pakistan.

That will be aggression against Pakistan even if they made an architectural attempt of this kind, then Pakistan will destroy that structure," the Pakistan minister said when asked what Islamabads reaction would be if New Delhi constructs dams on the Indus basin.

Tensions have been on the rise on the border with repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

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In the latest escalation, Pakistan on Saturday conducted a training launch of the Abdali Weapon System  a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometers.

According to sources, the move by Islamabad marks a dangerous escalation and a provocative step in its ongoing hostility towards New Delhi.

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

First Published: May 03, 2025, 20:50 IST
J&K CM Omar Abdullah Meets PM Modi For First Time After Pahalgam Terror Attack

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 21:46 IST

CM Omar Abdullah informed PM Modi about the widespread protests by Kashmiris across the region, expressing their disapproval of the Pahalgam terror attack

J&K CM Omar Abdullah meets PM Modi at latter's official residence in New Delhi | Image/PMO

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, during which both leaders discussed various issues, including the terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, officials said.

The meeting, the first after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, was organised at the Prime Ministers official residence in New Delhi. It lasted around 30 minutes, they said.

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The officials said Abdullah briefed the prime minister about the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, especially the outrage among the people over the deadly attack.

He also informed Prime Minister Modi about the widespread protests by Kashmiris across the region, expressing their disapproval of the violencean unprecedented occurrence since the onset of terrorism in 1989.

During the meeting, CM Abdullah highlighted the sacrifice of pony ride operator Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who had tried to snatch a weapon from one of the terrorists in a courageous attempt to protect the tourists.

On April 28, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, underscoring the unified stance of the peoples representatives against terrorism and their commitment to preserving peace and harmony in the region.

Chief Minister Abdullah conveyed to the Prime Minister the profound sense of unity and resolve among the people of Jammu and Kashmir in rejecting violence.

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The fallout of the attack on the booming tourism industry and the upcoming Amarnath Yatra also came up for discussion, the officials said.

The 38-day annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to start on July 3 from the twin routes  the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam in Anantnag district and the 14-kilometre shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

First Published: May 03, 2025, 21:46 IST
'Jo Darr Gaya...': Farooq Abdullah Urges Tourists Not To Reject Kashmir After Pahalgam Attack

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 19:09 IST

Farooq Abdullah, who was also seen taking selfies with tourists in Pahalgam, further urged them not to be afraid of such attacks.

Former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah | File Image/PTI

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah visited Pahalgam on Saturday, where he interacted with tourists and urged them not to abandon Kashmir, as the Valley has seen a sharp drop in tourist numbers following the recent terror attack.

Abdullah, who was also seen taking selfies with tourists, further urged them not to be afraid of such attacks. In the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Valleywhose economy largely depends on tourismwitnessed a wave of trip cancellations.

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Things are normal. More and more tourists should come here. They should not be scared. Jo darr gaya who mar gaya. I appeal to people to come to Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Srinagar and also to Katra to have a darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi," the National Conference chief said.

#WATCH | Pahalgam, J&K: JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah says Things are normal. More and more tourists should come here. They should not be scared. Jo darr gaya who mar gaya. I appeal to people to come to Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Srinagar and also to Katra to have a darshan of Mata pic.twitter.com/gWSI9BXHFw ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025

The Former J&K CM said that terrorism should be uprooted immediately and strongly backed Prime Minister Narendra Modis retaliatory action against Pakistan.

We are tired of terrorism. It is important to finish terrorism and for this, whatever action the Prime Minister takes, we are with him and we are waiting for it," Abdullah said.

The attack by the Pakistan-based Lashkar group killed 26, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam.

Earlier in the day, Abdullah also met the family of Adil Shah, a Kashmiri pony ride operator who was shot dead while trying to protect tourists in the scenic Baisaran meadow.

Those who lost their lives here, I want to tell that bride, who was married just 6 days ago, to the child who saw his father soaked in blood that we also cried. We also didnt eat. Such demons are still there who murder humanity. They call themselves Muslims, but I think they are not Muslims," Abdullah said.

I want to assure them that these sacrifices will not go in vain, all will be avenged ab ghada bhar gaya hai (the pot of sin is now full). We now need to uproot it (terrorism). We have been witnessing it for 35 years. But, they have never won, theyll never win," he added.

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Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India announced a raft of measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

New Delhi also announced the shutting down of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, the suspension of visas for Pakistani nationals and the scaling down of top officials at the High Commission.

About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More

Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 17:15 IST
Days Before Pahalgam, Intel Had Warned Of Srinagar Attack On Tourists: Officials

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 19:53 IST

Officials indicated that Srinagar may have been an initial target of the terrorists during PM Modi's scheduled visit to J&K on April 19. However, his trip was later cancelled.

Pahalgam terror attack: Intel had warned of terror attack in Srinagar (Reuters Image)

The intelligence agencies had sounded an alert to the security officials about a possible terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, but in Srinagar, timed at Prime Minister Narendra Modis trip to the Union Territory on April 19, according to officials.

The intelligence bureau and other agencies had mentioned the attack could take place in or near Srinagar, however, the intelligence inputs had no specific mention of Pahalgam, they indicated.

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Security Was Boosted In Srinagar After Inputs Of Terror Attack

In response to the inputs, security was boosted in and around Srinagar, including several hotels popular among tourists, and also at tourist hotspots like Dachigam National Park, which is situated 22 km from the capital city.

However, the Prime Ministers visit was called off due to bad weather in the region. It was on April 22 that terrorists succeeded in carrying out an attack on tourists in Pahalgam, 90 km away from Srinagar. 26 people, all men, were killed in the attack on religious lines.

Nine out of ten times they dont come to anything, but this one proved correct about tourists. The interpretation, which is the trickiest part, got the location wrong," a senior police officer said.

The official also revealed that both the Indian Army and other security officials in J&K were ordered to prepare for an attack around PM Modis visit, at a tourist spot near Srinagar.

It was four days before the Prime Ministers trip to J&K, the PMO cancelled his visit after taking note of the meteorological departments warning of bad weather in the region around April 18-19.

PM Modi was supposed to travel by helicopter to about three areas, but bad weather would have disrupted the plan. Even though his visit was cancelled, security forces stayed alert and didnt lower their guard.

The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Nalin Prabhat, had his foot on the ground in Srinagar for four days, keeping a track of all areas around the city. When the terrorists carried out the attack on April 22, he had just landed in Jammu and had to head back right away.

All officials confirmed that there were no specific intelligence inputs of any possible terror attack in Pahalgam.

Terrorists Waited For Next Opportunity, They Got One During JD Vances India Visit: Officials

Officials believe that after the cancellation of the Prime Ministers visit to the UT, the terrorists stayed hidden and waited for the next opportunity to strike. Just a day after the cancellation, it was officially announced on April 16 that US Vice President JD Vance would embark on a 4-day visit to India, something that had been in the works for quite some time.

According to the officials, the lapse was the inability to anticipate an attack in Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, which remains open for visitors throughout the year, except for the period when the Amarnath Yatra is held.

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The two local men among the terrorists were the ones who corralled the tourists to one side. The shots were fired by the two foreign men. Because there was only one entry and exit controlled by the tickets, that made it difficult for the tourists to escape the attackers," they said.

The biggest lapse was of local intelligence, as it is now known that the terrorists were hiding in the area and continued to do so, the officials said.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 18:34 IST
The Liberal party has offered their own theory about the signs, enraging one state Labor MP.

A war of words has broken out between Labor and the Liberal party after election corflutes were stuck on a war memorial in the key Melbourne electorate of Dunkley.

State Labor MP for Frankston Paul Edbrooke shared vision of Liberal signs promoting candidate Nathan Conroy attached to the top of the war memorial inside the grounds of Frankston Primary School on Saturday morning. A Liberal volunteer could be seen pulling down the signs before Edbrooke stepped in to help.

He branded the move "so disrespectful". "I will not tolerate anyone disrespecting soldiers who died for this country," Edbrooke said.

But Conroy was quick to respond, and suggested it could well have been a "desperate" move from Labor.

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LIVE: Follow along for all of the latest news this election day

He told Yahoo News the Liberal party suspected stolen Liberal signs had been used.

"Without our knowledge, Liberal signs have appeared on a war memorial (not put there by us), but Labor just happened to be close by to pull them down, before we were even aware that some mischievous person had put them there," he said.

This all seems too good to be true  and very possibly the lowest of lows from a desperate Labor campaign.

MP blasts theory as 'ridiculous'

Edbrooke categorically rejected such a theory, telling Yahoo News to suggest that 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.

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Edbrooke said there had been growing concern in the community surrounding not just Liberal promotional material, and not just involving corflutes. He said campaigning for Conroy had allegedly led to ads being placed in a disabled parking bay.

Yahoo has contacted Conroy for comment on the matter.

Labor has held the seat since 2019, however its lead has slipped in recent years. The Liberal party is hoping voters in Melbourne are influenced by the struggles of Labor's Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.

The increasing use of corflutes has been a talking point again during this election. Teal MP Monique Ryan's husband was forced to apologise after he was filmed pulling down a rival candidate's sign earlier in the campaign.

Eighty-four per cent of 700 readers to respond to a Yahoo poll said the number of corflutes used at this election has been too much.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Last Updated: May 04, 2025, 06:59 IST

Pahalgam Terror Attack Highlights: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday spoke to his counterpart from European Union Kaja Kallas and discussed the Pahalgam terror attack. Following the phone conversation, Jaishankar welcomed European Unions strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

The European Union called on New Delhi and Islamabad to show restraint and pursue dialogue to defuse tensions amid speculation about Indias possible retaliation against Pakistan in view of the cross-border linkages to the terror attack. The EUs call for restraint to India and Pakistan came two days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the two countries to work together to de-escalate tensions over 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. 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.

In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed the responsibility for the attack.

After the attack, the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan downgraded with New Delhi announcing several punitive measures, including suspension of Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines and expulsion of its military attaches. In response, Pakistan undertook tit-for-tat measures and suspended the Shimla Agreement.
Pakistani Trooper Detained In Rajasthan Days After BSF Jawan Held Across Border

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 21:44 IST

This comes as standoff continues over the detention of a BSF jawan by Pakistan.

BSF detains Pakistan ranger (Image for representational purposes only)

A Pakistani Ranger was detained in Rajasthan, days after a BSF constable was taken into Pakistans custody for inadvertently crossing the border into Pakistan, where he has now remained for over a week, sources said on Saturday.

Last week, Purnam Kumar Shaw, the BSF constable who mistakenly crossed over the border into Pakistan last Wednesday, was taken into custody. Several rounds of talks have been held for over eight days regarding his safe release, however, they have yielded no results for now.

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The BSF officials have been given the same reply from Pakistan time and again: We are waiting for directions from the higher-ups".

The development comes as India and Pakistan have witnessed a rise in tensions on the borders since the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives and left several others injured.

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Accidental crossings of the border by soldiers or civilians are not unusual, and they are usually settled through agreed military procedures. The people involved are typically sent back after formal meetings between officers.

The constables wife, Rajani, had travelled from her residence in West Bengals Rishra to Pathankot on Monday, seeking information about his condition. The BSF officers assured her that the force was doing everything possible to secure his safe release. After the assurance, she flew back to Kolkata from Amritsar. The BSF arranged for her journey from Firozpur to Amritsar.

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 : Rajasthan, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 20:26 IST
Screams, Deadly Fall: Camera Captures Moment When Goa Stampede Broke Out

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 15:08 IST

Goa Stampede Video: A commotion breaks out as people fall on a downward slope along the route. The video shows people screaming as the procession turns into chaos.

Screengrab of video showing moments when Goa stampede happened (Credits: PTI)

Goa Stampede Video: A stampede during the annual Devi Lairai Jatra in Goas Shirgaon village left at least six dead and over 70 injured. A video of the incident that took place on Saturday morning shows the moments the stampede broke out.

Shared by PTI, the clip shows devotees pushing each other as a commotion erupts. In the video, the crowd can be seen screaming as people fall down on the ground, and others begin toppling over them. The commotion broke out when the crowd started moving rapidly due to a downward slope on the route.

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Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra dialled Goa CM Pramod Sawant hours after the incident and took stock of the situation. He also shared condolences on the demise of the devotees.

CM Sawant also visited the hospital where the victims were admitted and assured all possible help. He also ordered an inquiry into the incident and stated that its report would be made public.

VIDEO | Visuals from Sree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village where a stampede broke out during a temple festival in North Goa in the wee hours of Saturday.(Source: Third Party)#Goa #GoaStampede pic.twitter.com/qtCn4ReIMb  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 3, 2025

Meanwhile, speaking about the incident, DGP Goa Alok Kumar said that as people fell during the stampede, the police and volunteers conducted a rescue operation and shifted the injured to the hospital. He also mentioned that nearly 1,000 police officials were deployed in the area on Friday.

ALSO READ | What Is Devi Lairai Jatra? Why Goans Walk Barefoot Across Burning Embers In Shirgao

The stampede broke out here around a quarter to four in the early morning, maybe because of a rumour. The cause is being investigated Around 150 people fell down during the stampede. Immediately, the Police and volunteers conducted a rescue operation and shifted the injured to the hospital. We contained the incident to a small area; otherwise, it could have led to more casualties Around 1000 police personnel were deployed here yesterday," he told ANI.

#WATCH | Goa | On the Shirgaon stampede, DGP Goa Alok Kumar says,  The stampede broke out here around a quarter to four in the early morning, maybe because of a rumour. The cause is being investigated Around 150 people fell down during the stampede. Immediately, the Police pic.twitter.com/JWhI9jQS3l ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025

Goa Health Minister Says Focus Is To Save Lives Of Critically Injured

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the government was doing its best to save the lives of the victims injured in the stampede.

This is the most unfortunate incident. My whole team has been active the whole night; they have been working. 80 people have been injured and brought to the hospital. The focus of the Health Department is to save the lives of the critically injured, who are about 10. More than 6 to 7 people have lost their lives. Government is doing the best to save the lives," he said.

Goa Govt Cancels All Functions For Coming Three Days

The Goa government on Saturday announced the cancellation of all the functions supported by it for the next three days in the aftermath of the stampede.

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In view of the tragic stampede incident that occurred during the Shree Devi Lairai Zatra at Shirgao, and as an expression of condolences to the departed and their families, the Government of Goa directs that all Government- supported festive programmes and public celebrations scheduled over the next three days be cancelled or postponed," a circular issued by Shreyas DSilva, Under Secretary of General Administration Department, stated.

All Heads of Departments, Government Corporations and Autonomous Bodies are hereby instructed to ensure strict compliance with this directive," it adds.

Location : Goa, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 14:58 IST
'Decisive Action Against Terrorists, Their Backers': PM Modi Doubles Down On Pahalgam Response

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 16:10 IST

While addressing a joint press statement with Angola President Joao Lourenco, the Prime Minister said, "We are unanimous that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Image: PTI/File)

Pahalgam Attack: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to take firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them in wake of the Pahalgam carnage last week that claimed at least 26 lives and left several others injured.

While addressing a joint press statement with Angola President Joao Lourenco in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said, We are unanimous that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity."

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He further expressed gratitude to President Lourenco for condoling the loss of lives and for their support in the fight against terrorism.

I expressed my gratitude to President Lourenco and Angola for their condolences for the loss of lives in the terror attack in Pahalgam," he added.

Earlier in an event in Bihar, PM Modi had issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack as he said that India will relentlessly pursue every terrorist and their backers.

He said, Today, on the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world  India will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth."

Reaffirming the governments zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and assured that the perpetrators will face the full might of Indias response, PM Modi had said, No one will be sparedneither the ones who pulled the trigger nor the ones who plotted in the shadows."

Earlier today, in another significant move against Pakistan, India banned the direct or indirect import of all Pakistani goods with immediate effect, according to a notification from the Ministry of Commerce. Furthermore, India has also banned Pakistani-flagged ships from entering Indian ports, according to an order from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders," read the notification from the Ministry of Commerce dated May 2. A provision in this regard has been added to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.

Pahalgam Terror Attack

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In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack, although it later backtracked after massive global outrage.

After the attack, India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan with a series of punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength, closing its airspace for Pakistani airlines, and expulsion of its military attaches. India also cancelled all visas of Pakistani nationals and gave a deadline to all those living in India to return home, including Pakistanis with medical visas.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 13:29 IST
UP Advocate Shot By Two Bike-Borne Assailants In Prayagraj

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 23:51 IST

With their timely contribution, the advocate's condition is now said to be out of danger, police sources said.

Representative Image (Photo: ANI)

An advocate suffered bullet injuries after he was shot by two unidentified individuals riding a motorcycle in UPs Prayagraj on Saturday, police said.

The incident is suspected to have occurred over a dispute on the lease of a pond for fish farming, they said.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ganga Nagar) Kuldeep Gunawat said that the bike-borne assailants had covered their faces when they shot at the victim, advocate Man Singh Yadav.

Yadav was shot and fell at the scene. He was rushed to the hospital, where the bullet was removed from his stomach and chest following an operation," Gunawat said.

The injured advocate has identified two relatives as the likely perpetrators, citing a long-standing disagreement regarding the lease of a pond for fish farming as the motive behind the attack," the DCP said.

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Meanwhile, four policemen from the police line rushed to the hospital to donate blood to Yadav as he was in urgent need. With their timely contribution, the advocates condition is now said to be out of danger, police sources said.

Police have registered a case based on Yadavs complaint and have initiated further investigations into the incident.

Location : Prayagraj, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 23:51 IST
Samantha Ruth Prabhu Opens Up About Perimenopause: 'We Go Through Changes'

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 14:19 IST

During a recent conversation, Samantha Ruth Prabhu opened up about perimenopause, a transitional period before menopause.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu discusses perimenopause on Rashi Chowdhary's podcast.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu sparked an honest conversation around period health with nutritionist Rashi Chowdhary. The actress appeared in a recent episode of Rashis podcast, where she opened up about perimenopause, a transitional period before menopause. Perimenopause is marked by hormonal changes, irregular menstrual cycles, and potential menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.

Samantha revealed that perimenopause is a natural transition phase that all women go through and encouraged understanding and acceptance of this period. She has also shared her own journey and struggles with her menstrual cycle.

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The actress emphasised that perimenopause is a natural phase of life and not a disease. She stated, We go through changes while we dont know what is really happening inside our bodies, and no one is talking about it. Sudden weight gain, fluctuations, being wired but exhausted and sleep disturbance, and so many problems."

She further added, Perimenopause is not some kind of disease or disorder. Its the most natural phase that each one of us is going to go through."

Take a look at her conversation here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samantha (@samantharuthprabhuoffl)

Samantha also asked Rashi about the concept of cycle syncing, to which she replies, Cycle syncing is basically syncing your lifestyle, your workout, your food, your supplements, the activities you do  all of that based on the four different phases of a cycle."

She added, Our periods, if its a 30-day cycle, for example, have four different phases based on which hormone is higher at which time. So, to simplify it, the first phase is the menstrual phase, then comes your follicular phase, then there is ovulation, and then we have the luteal phase, which is the last."

What Is Perimenopause?

The period before and surrounding menopause is known as the perimenopause. It is linked to a wide range of psychological and physical problems. Many women feel unprepared for this stage and menopause itself, and feel their employers and healthcare institutions do not provide them with adequate assistance at this time.

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Signs Of Perimenopause

Irregular menstrual cycles,

Hot flashes, or feeling uncomfortably warm,

Trouble sleeping, often waking up in the middle of the night with night sweats or anxiety,

Mood swings, depression and anxiety.

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 03, 2025, 14:19 IST
International Astronomy Day 2025: History, Significance, Quotes And 5 Indian Space Movies

Published By :

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 08:32 IST

International Astronomy Day 2025: The day serves as a global platform to ignite public interest and expand educational opportunities in astronomy.

International Astronomy Day 2025: The day is marked twice each year, once during the spring, and once again in the fall. (AI generated image)

International Astronomy Day 2025: The wonders of outer space and the field of astronomy have captivated human curiosity for centuries. With a universe so vast and filled with unanswered questions, it continues to inspire awe and amazement. To celebrate and recognise the importance of this boundless frontier, the world observes International Astronomy Day  a special occasion where astronomy enthusiasts and experts come together to share their passion and knowledge of the cosmos with the public.

International Astronomy Day is marked twice each year: once during the spring, typically on a Saturday near the first quarter moon between mid-April and mid-May, and once again in the fall, around the same lunar phase between mid-September and mid-October. The day serves as a global platform to ignite public interest and expand educational opportunities in astronomy. As of now, the official date for the 2025 celebration has yet to be announced.

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International Astronomy Day 2025: History

The origins of International Astronomy Day trace back to 1973, when Doug Berger, then president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, founded the event. His goal was to bring astronomy to the heart of urban areas by setting up telescopes in busy locations, giving city dwellers easier access to the wonders of space.

Over time, the initiative expanded across the globe, embraced by numerous organisations and communities. In 2006, it was decided to celebrate the occasion twice a year  once in the spring and once in the autumn  to reach even more people worldwide.

International Astronomy Day 2025: Significance

International Astronomy Day provides a platform for space enthusiasts and professionals to spread their enthusiasm and expertise to a broader audience. It also offers an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in the cosmos to deepen their understanding, nurture their passion for space exploration, and foster a greater appreciation for the mysteries of the universe.

International Astronomy Day 2025: Quotes

Space isnt remote at all. Its only an hours drive away if your car could go straight upwards."  Sir Fred Hoyle, Astronomer .

. Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day, but when I follow the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth; I ascend to Zeus himself to feast me on ambrosia, the food of the gods."  Ptolemy, Astronomer .

. Man must rise above the Earth  to the top of the atmosphere and beyond  for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives."  Socrates, Philosopher .

. Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy the mad daughter of a wise mother. These daughters have too long dominated the earth  Voltaire, Philosopher .

. Astronomy is useful because it raises us above ourselves; it is useful because it is grand; It shows us how small is mans body, how great his mind is since his intelligence can embrace the whole of this dazzling immensity, where his body is only an obscure point, and enjoy its silent harmony."  Henri Poincare, Physicist.

International Astronomy Day 2025: 5 Indian Space Movies

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Everyone loves a gripping space adventure, and while Hollywood has long dominated the genre, Indian cinema has been making impressive strides with its cosmic tales. From real-life stories to imaginative sci-fi adventures, here are five Indian space-themed films that are worth watching:

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022): Directed by and starring R. Madhavan, Rocketry tells the inspiring true story of Nambi Narayanan, a brilliant Indian aerospace engineer who made groundbreaking contributions to the countrys space program. Despite facing betrayal and immense challenges, Narayanans relentless pursuit of innovation reshaped Indias space capabilities. The film not only celebrates his achievements but also features cameo appearances by the real Nambi Narayanan, Suriya, and Shah Rukh Khan.

Directed by and starring R. Madhavan, Rocketry tells the inspiring true story of Nambi Narayanan, a brilliant Indian aerospace engineer who made groundbreaking contributions to the countrys space program. Despite facing betrayal and immense challenges, Narayanans relentless pursuit of innovation reshaped Indias space capabilities. The film not only celebrates his achievements but also features cameo appearances by the real Nambi Narayanan, Suriya, and Shah Rukh Khan. Mission Mangal (2019): With an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Sharman Joshi, and Nithya Menen, Mission Mangal brings to life Indias remarkable Mars Orbiter Mission. The film portrays the story of a dedicated team of scientists who overcame numerous hurdles to make Indias first interplanetary mission a reality  a proud moment that put the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the global map.

With an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, Sharman Joshi, and Nithya Menen, Mission Mangal brings to life Indias remarkable Mars Orbiter Mission. The film portrays the story of a dedicated team of scientists who overcame numerous hurdles to make Indias first interplanetary mission a reality  a proud moment that put the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the global map. Chand Par Chadayee (1967): Produced and directed by T. P. Sundaram, Chand Par Chadayee is often compared to Georges Melies iconic A Trip to the Moon. This early Indian sci-fi film follows a group of astronauts who journey to the moon, only to encounter alien warriors and bizarre creatures. Its a nostalgic look at Indias initial forays into the world of science fiction.

Produced and directed by T. P. Sundaram, Chand Par Chadayee is often compared to Georges Melies iconic A Trip to the Moon. This early Indian sci-fi film follows a group of astronauts who journey to the moon, only to encounter alien warriors and bizarre creatures. Its a nostalgic look at Indias initial forays into the world of science fiction. Kalai Arasi (1963): Kalai Arasi, directed by A. Kasilingam, holds the distinction of being Indias first space-themed movie. Featuring M.G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, the film combined elements of sci-fi with fantasy. Although it enjoyed success, it didnt immediately spark a wave of space films in India, perhaps due to limited public awareness about scientific advancements at the time and budgetary constraints in the film industry.

Kalai Arasi, directed by A. Kasilingam, holds the distinction of being Indias first space-themed movie. Featuring M.G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, the film combined elements of sci-fi with fantasy. Although it enjoyed success, it didnt immediately spark a wave of space films in India, perhaps due to limited public awareness about scientific advancements at the time and budgetary constraints in the film industry. Koi Mil Gaya (2003): A beloved classic, Koi Mil Gaya stars Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta, and Rekha. The story follows Rohit, a young man who accidentally establishes contact with extraterrestrials using his late fathers invention. The film takes a heartwarming turn when an alien named Jaadu befriends Rohit, granting him extraordinary abilities. Koi Mil Gaya struck an emotional chord with audiences and remains one of Indias most cherished sci-fi tales.

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 03, 2025, 07:10 IST
Ajaz Khan, Producer Of House Arrest Booked Amid Row Over 'Sex Positions' Clip

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News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 07:09 IST

A clip of actor Ajaz Khan asking the contestants of House Arrest, including women, to act out sex positions went viral erupting a controversy. NCW also took cognisance of video.

Screengrab of viral clip featuring actor Ajaz Khan

The Mumbai Police on Friday booked actor Ajaz Khan, producer Rajkumar Pandey and others for alleged obscene content in the reality show House Arrest streamed on Ullu App. The FIR was filed based on a complaint by a Bajrang Dal activist, Gautam Ravriya.

Based on a complaint lodged by Gautam Ravriya, an activist of Bajrang Dal, the police registered a case against actor Ajaz Khan, producer Rajkumar Pandey of the House Arrest web show and other persons from Ullu app," said an official of Amboli police station.

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The complaint comes after a clip of actor Ajaz Khan went viral online. In the video, he was seen asking the contestants of House Arrest, including women, to act out sex positions.

A row erupted after the clip went viral, and political party leaders too reacted to it. Several netizens also criticised the show by sharing a clip online.

Meanwhile, according to the official, in the complaint, the Bajrang Dal activist stated that he received several complaints about the vulgar content of the show and that many people sent personal messages to him to complain about it.

Ajaz Khan, the host of the show, along with Rajkumar, the producer of House Arrest, have been charged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

Ullu App Pulls Down House Arrest Show

Amid the controversy, Ullu App pulled down the show from Ullu App, as per a PTI report on Friday. Your search for House Arrest did not find any matches", states the message that appears on the site after searching for the show.

NCW Summons Ajaz Khan, CEO Of Ullu App

The complaint came hours after the National Commission for Women (NCW) issued summons to actor Ajaz Khan and Vibhu Agarwal, CEO of the Ullu App, over the viral clip. NCW also slammed the platform for promoting vulgarity and violating consent.

Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra BJP MLC Chitra Wagh demanded an immediate ban on House Arrest. She alleged that the content of the show is obscene and harmful to society, especially to children.

Ajaz Khan, who calls himself an actor, has created a show called House Arrest, which is nothing but the epitome of obscenity. Clips from this show, streamed on the Ullu app, are now circulating freely on social media, and they are extremely vulgar," she said.

First Published: May 03, 2025, 07:09 IST
Apoorva Mukhija Spoke To Rhea Chakraborty After IGL Row: Not Seen Media Trial

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 15:53 IST

Apoorva Mukhija, aka The Rebel Kid, talked about the Indias Got Latent row, and said that a media trial of this magnitude was not seen before in the creator industry.

Apoorva Mukhija revealed that she talked to Rhea Chakraborty for an hour after the India's Got Latent controversy

Social media content creator Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid recently opened up about the Indias Got Latent controversy, and revealed receiving death threats for her comments on Samay Raina hosted show. She addressed the controversy, and pointed out that such a large-scale media trial hasnt been seen before in the creator industry, even though similar instances have occurred in Bollywood. She gave a shoutout to Rhea Chakraborty, and revealed that she talked to the Bollywood actress for an hour about the controversy. For the unversed, Rhea also faced a media trial after Sushant Singh Rajputs death in 2020.

While speaking with Yuvaa, Apoorva Mukhija said, We have not seen a media trial at this scale. Creator industry mein. We have seen Bollywood industry mein. Shoutout Rhea Chakraborty. I spoke to her also for an hour. My initial response was I want to talk about it, because Apoorva talks about everything. But everyone around me said, You cannot open your mouth, itll start another media cycle for five more days. Theyll take just one line from what you said, run it on the news, and use it against you. You cant do it. The only option I had was to stay silent."

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She also revealed that she lost a lot of business, and all the brands wrote to her saying that its not the right time to be associated with her.

A few months ago, Ranveer Allahabadias alleged crude comments on Samay Rainas comedy show Indias Got Latent led to massive outrage on social media. His remarks triggered a massive backlash, leading to legal action and multiple FIRs against him and other content creators associated with the show. Apoorva was also accused of making an objectionable comment on Indias Got Latent.

The Rebel Kid recently made her comeback on Instagram when she revealed that she even faced sleep paralysis after the controversy because she was being threatened.

First Published: May 03, 2025, 15:53 IST
Apoorva Mukhija's Mother Got Rape Threats After IGL Controversy: 'It Was A Lot'

Curated By :

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 10:18 IST

Apoorva Mukhija broke down into tears as she recalled how the controversy made her parents' worst nightmares come true.

Apoorva Mukhija has also been facing legal troubles for Ranveer Allahbadias comments on Indias Got Latent.

Apoorva Mukhija has opened up about the Indias Got Latent controversy in a new interview. The content creator, who faced backlash for her comments on Samay Rainas show earlier this year, appeared on Yuvaas recent podcast when he admitted that she was never used to such an extent of hate. Apoorva shared that it was not just her who was brutally slammed and abused after the controversy, but her parents too.

The Rebel Kid revealed that since her mothers Instagram account was public, she also received a lot of rape threats. It took a toll on her, and due to which her blood pressure increased drastically.

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It was a lot. People found out my parents account. My moms account was public. When all of this was happening, for the initial two days, I was thinking about myself. I did not think about my parents. I did not know what was happening at home. My mom got a lot of R words and rape threats, slut shaming. I did not know till three days later, I called my brother and asked, Ghar pe sab theek hai? He told me, Mummy ka BP 180 X 120 hai. He told me everything about the comments," Apoorva said.

The content creator broke down into tears as she recalled how the controversy made her parents worst nightmares come true. My dad always said Samaj mein izzat rehni chahiye. I just felt like he lost all of that in a second and I put them through all of that." She then added, There is light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to fight for it," she shared and then added, Everything that he was scared of came true. I put them through all of that."

However, Apoorva shared that despite everything, her parents never complained about anything. She says she is fine. My parents have not complained even once. I went home for 15 days, I cried for 15 days. They always told me that it would pass. Nothing will happen," she said.

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 03, 2025, 10:18 IST
Crystal Hefner Announces Engagement With Boyfriend Days After Her 39th Birthday

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 16:43 IST

Crystal Hefner revealed that her new partner proposed to her with a stunning six carat vintage mine cut ring.

Crystal Hefner started dating James Ward in 2024. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Crystal Hefner has officially moved on from her past at the Playboy Mansion. She recently got engaged to her boyfriend, James Ward, in Hawaii. Hefner, who was married to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner from 2012 to 2017, revealed that James proposed to her with a stunning six carat vintage mine cut ring. The proposal took place days after the couple returned from Africa and Hefners 39th birthday on April 29. Hefner claims she was completely surprised by the setup, as James had created a hidden staircase and a path that led to a beautiful deck overlooking the ocean. When the model saw the flowers, notes and the view, she knew something unforgettable was about to happen.

Speaking with US Weekly, Hefner recalled, It truly feels like a full circle moment. James completely surprised me. He had a hidden staircase and a winding trail cleared to reveal a handcrafted deck perched above a dramatic cliffside overlooking the ocean. It was the exact spot where wed had a quiet picnic together a year ago, a place that became ours. I had no idea he was secretly turning it into something permanent and symbolic. I thought we were just going for a walk, but when I saw the flowers, the handwritten notes and the sea stretching endlessly in front of us, I knew something extraordinary was about to happen."

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As we started down the path, I was puzzled to see a brand new staircase and then I began to notice the notes, one after another, each one handwritten and deeply heartfelt. I was already tearing up when I reached the final card, which was waiting for me on the deck, overlooking the waves. At first, I thought it was an early birthday surprise. But the words in the notes gently hinted at something more and when I realised he had built an entire deck just to create a space for this moment, I was overwhelmed. It was one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me," she explained.

In one of the love letters scattered along the way, James Ward wrote, I love you when youre silly, I love you when you love, I love the way you make me feel about myself and the space you make for both of us to nurture the child inside."

In another, he mentioned, Lets continue to build a life together. A home in this magical place (or wherever life takes us next). Lets fill all of the time we have left with memories like the ones weve started with already and continue to dream of an even better world."

Before James proposed, Crystal Hefner had no idea what was coming. She thought they were just enjoying a simple, relaxing vacation in Africa, but behind the scenes, her partner was secretly planning a meaningful proposal at home. The model had told James in the past that she had never received a surprise before and he took that as a challenge. Now that the couple are engaged, Hefner and James have started talking about getting married in 2026. They both want a small, outdoor wedding.

Hefner started living in the Playboy Mansion in 2009 and married Hugh Hefner in 2012. Their marriage ended after five years when Hugh passed away in 2017 at the age of 91. After his death, she decided to move to Hawaii, where she crossed paths with James Ward through mutual friends.

About the Author Yatamanyu Narain Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 16:42 IST
Shah Rukh Khans Vintage College Pictures Go Viral, Fans React With Nostalgia | See Here

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 02, 2025, 22:02 IST

Before he was Bollywood royalty, Shah Rukh Khan was just a theatre kid from Delhi. Actor Amar Talwar has now shared rare, unseen monochrome photos of SRK from 1990.

Rare college-day photos of Shah Rukh Khan shared by actor Amar Talwar go viral, offering fans a nostalgic look at SRKs theatre roots before Bollywood stardom.

Long before he became the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan was just another passionate young man with dreams in his eyes and theatre in his heart. And now, a rare glimpse into that chapter of his life has surfaced online, thanks to actor Amar Talwar  his former co-star and fellow theatre companion.

Talwar, best known for his roles in Shanti and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, recently took to Facebook to share never-before-seen monochrome photographs of Shah Rukh Khan from the early 1990s, just before the latter took the leap into Bollywood. The heartfelt post has since gone viral, delighting SRK fans with a dose of nostalgia and humility.

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Going through my old pics, came across these Id clicked of Shah Rukh Khan with my son, Manoj  Tally to the world  sometime around 1990, before Shah Rukhs departure for Bollywood," wrote Talwar in the caption. He recalled their days performing together in Barry Johns iconic Theatre Action Group (TAG), featuring in plays like Rough Crossing and Whos Life Is It Anyway.

He even shared an anecdote about a third production, Lend Me A Tenor, where Barry John had initially envisioned SRK for a role. But by then Shah Rukh had left for Mumbai, Bollywood and the rest is history  I guess," Talwar added with a sense of wistful pride.

The three black-and-white photos exude a raw charm  one captures a young SRK flashing his iconic smile straight at the camera, another shows him handling a Pentax Spotmatic camera with ease, and the third is a tender moment where he holds Talwars son in his arms. These images, stripped of stardom and spectacle, offer a rare window into the grounded and affable young man behind the megastar persona.

Fans across social media platforms have been quick to celebrate the photographs, with many commenting on how SRKs charisma was evident even back then. The post has sparked a flurry of shared memories and theatre anecdotes from those who knew Khan during his early Delhi days.

For the uninitiated, Amar Talwar played Rani Mukerjis father in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and has been a familiar face in both films and television. His unexpected photo drop has not only given fans a treasure trove of memories but also reminded them of Shah Rukh Khans grounded beginnings in the world of theatre and art.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Shah Rukh Khan is gearing up for King, directed by Sujoy Ghosh, and starring his daughter Suhana Khan. The action-packed thriller is slated for a mid-2026 release and marks yet another milestone in SRKs ever-evolving journey  from a Delhi theatre enthusiast to a global icon.

About the Author Yatamanyu Narain Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More

First Published: May 02, 2025, 22:02 IST
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale Bats For Phule, Demands Tax Exemption

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Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 16:42 IST

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale praised the film Phule at a Mumbai screening, urging tax-free status and recommending it for lawmakers and President Droupadi Murmu.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has expressed his support for Phule.

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has voiced strong support for the biographical film Phule at a special screening held in Mumbai on May 1, 2025. Directed by Ananth Mahadevan, the film chronicles the transformative lives of social reformers Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, pioneers in the fight against caste and gender discrimination in India.

Commending the films cultural and social impact, Athawale called it an essential watch, particularly for lawmakers, adding that its message of equality and justice deserves a nationwide audience.

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Ramdas Athawale urged that Phule be granted tax-free status across the country, emphasizing its educational and societal value. He further recommended that the film be screened for all Members of Parliament and even suggested a special viewing for President Droupadi Murmu.

This movie is a good attempt to highlight the contributions of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule. It should be watched by everyone, especially our lawmakers, to understand the social issues it addresses. I recommend this film even to the President of India," said Athawale in a press note.

Athawale underscored the historical importance of the social reforms led by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and his wife, Savitribai Phule, emphasizing how their fight against caste and gender discrimination continues to resonate in modern-day India.

The film Phule, starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa, was released on April 25, 2025, following a wave of controversy and objections from certain groups regarding its depiction of caste-based discrimination.

Director Ananth Mahadevan, who was also present at the screening, expressed his gratitude for Union Minister Ramdas Athawales support. He thanked Athawale for recognising the importance of the film and its message.

The film is a true to history and we have made it with all our heart. I am glad AthawaleJi has endorsed the film today. Today, I am as happy as I am grateful to him for his wholehearted support for the film," Mahadevan said.

The films core narrative is deeply rooted in the struggles faced by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, who dedicated their lives to battling caste discrimination, illiteracy, and gender biases in 19th-century India.

Phule" is produced by Dancing Shiva Films and Kingsmen Productions, with Zee Studios taking charge of its distribution. The film also boasts a stellar supporting cast, including Vinay Pathak, Suresh Vishwakarma, and Darsheel Safary.

(With inputs from ANI)

First Published: May 03, 2025, 16:42 IST
Watch: Vijay Greets Fans In Kodaikanal Ahead Of Jana Nayagan Shoot

Published By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 17:56 IST

The film, produced by KVN Productions and is reportedly Vijay's final film before entering politics

Jana Nayagan to release in 2026. (Photo Credits: X)

Thalapathy Vijays Jana Nayagan has grabbed the interest and excitement of fans like no other. The actor is now in Kodaikanal, where a large section of the film directed by H Vinoth will be shot. In a few videos that have surfaced on social media, the actor is seen being approached by fans as he heads to the shooting location. As they approached his car, Vijay greeted everyone politely.

What also caught everyones attention was Thalapathy Vijays clean-shaven, slender appearance. It appears to be one of his more recent looks for Jana Nayagan, and fans are already excited to see what it will look like on screen.

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Meanwhile, Indian rapper Sooraj Cherukat, also known as Hanumankind, is creating waves by joining the team of Jana Nayagan. The artist stated that he will sing a song in Thalapathy Vijays highly anticipated final film. Hanumankind will be collaborating with famed composer Anirudh Ravichander on the song Chatting with Ananda Vikatan, he expressed his delight saying I have rendered a great rap song for Thalapathy Vijay in Jana Nayagan, composed by Anirudh."

The film, Jana Nayagan, will be released in theaters on January 9, 2026. The film, produced by KVN Productions and is meant to be Vijays final film before entering politics, as well as KVNs debut Tamil-language production. Vijay will co-star with Pooja Hegde as the lead, and Bobby Deol will portray the villain. The film also stars Mamita Baiju, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, and others.

The film was first announced in September 2024 under the working title Thalapathy 69, and it marks Vijays 69th appearance as a lead actor. The actual title, Jana Nayagan, was announced in January 2025. Shooting began a month later, with important schedules in Chennai and Payanoor. Anirudh Ravichander composed the music for the film, which was shot by Sathyan Sooryan and edited by Pradeep E. Ragav.

About the Author Yatamanyu Narain Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More Yatamanyu Narain is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for all things entertainment. Whether he's breaking the latest Bollywood news or chatting with rising stars in the OTT world, hes always on the hun... Read More

First Published: May 03, 2025, 17:56 IST
Opinion | Pakistans New Ruse: Call For A Neutral And Transparent Probe Into Pahalgam

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 18:19 IST

Pakistan keeps devising new ruses to nurture its pathologies: revenge for 1971 loss; a 1,000-year war with India; tryst with radical Islam; and craving for 'jugular vein' Kashmir

Pakistan is a nation that, according to its leaders and public figures, is itself a victim of terrorism. (Representational image/Pixabay)

Pakistans call for a neutral and transparent" probe into the Pahalgam massacre is just a ruse to fool the world. For a straightforward reason: the earlier investigations of similar attacks failed to bring the guilty to book because Islamabad did not allow that to happen; this time it will be no different, but the investigation will give the powers that be time till the issue fizzles out.

Addressing the army-cadets passing-out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwas Kakul, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, The recent tragedy in Pahalgam is yet another example of this perpetual blame game, which must come to a grinding halt. Continuing with its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent, and credible investigation."

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On the face of it, Sharifs words sound very sensible, even statesmanlike. Here is a country whose head of government is not afraid of a neutral and transparent inquiry. Pakistan is a nation that, according to its leaders and public figures, is itself a victim of terrorism. See what is happening in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa; see how terror groups are slaughtering the security personnel and citizens of Pakistan. Islamabad wants a peaceful resolution of all issues, including the Pahalgam outrage. An impartial probe will help punish the guilty and clear the air.

On the other hand is bellicose India, whose government, people, and media are clamouring for war. A closer examination, however, will tell a different story.

There was a confession by former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in a German publication, Spiegel, on April 4, 2010, admitting his countrys role in setting up the terror groups. Asked if he formed militant underground groups to fight India in Kashmir, he said, They were indeed formed. The [Pakistan] government turned a blind eye because they wanted India to discuss Kashmir."

There is also a detailed revelation of Pakistans role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives, many of them foreign nationals, by Tariq Khosa. A former director general of the Federal Investigation Agency, Pakistans premier law enforcement agency, Khosa wrote in Dawn on August 3, 2015, Pakistan has to deal with the Mumbai mayhem [November 26, 2008], planned and launched from its soil. This requires facing the truth and admitting mistakes. The entire state security apparatus must ensure that the perpetrators and masterminds of the ghastly terror attacks are brought to justice. The case has lingered on for far too long. Dilatory tactics by the defendants, frequent change of trial judges, and assassination of the case prosecutor as well as retracting from original testimony by some key witnesses have been serious setbacks for the prosecutors. However, cognizance was taken by the Islamabad High Court which directed the trial to be concluded within two months."

He went on to highlight the pertinent" facts: First, Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani national Second, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were imparted training near Thatta, Sindh and launched by sea from there the ops room in Karachi"

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT], was responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The US offered a $10m bounty on his head in 2012. It offered another $2m bounty for Abdul Rehman Makki, Saeeds brother-in-law and co-founder of Lashkar.

A Pakistani court jailed Hafiz Saeed for 31 years in connection with terrorism financing in April 2022. A recent media report, however, said that Saeed lives in a fortified house, which is protected not only by his supporters but also by Pakistani security personnel.

Lesser terrorists freely roam in Pakistan. So much for Islamabad bringing terrorists to justice.

Yet, the Pakistani establishment has the cheek to ask India to agree to a neutral and transparent probe into the Pahalgam atrocity. It also continues to ask for evidence of the involvement of any Pakistani state and non-state actors in the outrage.

Worse, many international mainstream publications have fallen prey to the Pakistani propaganda. Consider the self-explanatory headline of the prominent British publication, The Economist"India must prove Pakistans complicity in the attack in Kashmir". To be fair to The Economist, it did call the perpetrators the terrorists [who] brutally killed 26 men in Jammu & Kashmir on April 22nd". BBC, which keeps moving Leftwards, infamously called the murderers militants." After the unspeakable attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, too, the BBC refused to call the culprits terrorists.

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Pakistan will keep conjuring up new ruses to nurture its pathologies: revenge for its humiliating defeat in 1971; a thousand-year war with India; its tryst with the most regressive forms of Islam; and, of course, attempts to possess its jugular vein", Kashmir. Sadly, many liberals, including some in Pakistan, are supporting the unholy mullah-military nexus. Thankfully, the world is not paying much heed to Pakistans bunkum and bombast.

The author is a freelance journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: May 03, 2025, 18:19 IST
Opinion | Resilience & Reach: PM Modi's Meeting With Angola's President Signals Unwavering Africa Focus Post-Pahalgam Attack

Written By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 23:21 IST

India and Angola are celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring a consistent foreign policy

The visit shows that even in the face of tremendous fear and stress from domestic instability, New Delhi's diplomatic outreach is steady and resilient, especially towards Africa. Image: ANI

The current visit of Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco to India holds significant weight. His discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 3 focused on strengthening bilateral ties; however, the visits timing is crucial. It is the first state visit hosted by India after the Pahalgam attack, where 26 tourists in Kashmir were gunned down by Islamic terrorists on April 22.

The visit shows that even in the face of tremendous fear and stress from domestic instability, New Delhis diplomatic outreach is steady and resilient, especially towards Africa. India and Angola are celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring a consistent foreign policy. Indias focus on Africa is deeply tied to its broader ambitions as a leader of the Global South, and it significantly bolstered this role recently by facilitating the African Unions entry into the G20.

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Standing strong

It is the first Angolan presidential visit in 38 years, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Its timing underscores a crucial aspect of Indias foreign policy: diplomatic resilience and an unwavering, strategic commitment to Africa.

Since 2014, Prime Minister Modis government has clearly prioritised India-Africa relations. Ties have consistently strengthened. This commitment is shown through tangible actions, not just words. India significantly expanded its diplomatic presence across Africa; 18 of the 25 new embassies and consulates opened globally in the last nine years are in Africa. Platforms like the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) have been institutionalised. Furthermore, consistent high-level engagements continue, such as the recent visit to Nigeriathe first by an Indian PM in 17 yearsreflecting sustained outreach.

Lourencos visit slots neatly into Indias carefully cultivated role as a leading voice and partner for the Global South. This consistent engagement also emphasises Indias role as a Vishwa Mitra championing the concerns of the developing world. Facilitating the African Unions (AU) G20 membership was a key achievement. Hosting Lourenco reinforces Indias commitment. It aims to translate that G20 inclusion into tangible, deeper partnerships, both bilaterally and continent-wide.

Deepening India-Angola ties

The visit marks a 40th-anniversary milestone. Lourenco has arrived with a high-level delegation, including ministers and business leaders. Several agreements are expected, aiming to boost bilateral cooperation across various fields.

According to official diplomatic readings, a vibrant energy partnership" is central to India-Angola ties. India relies heavily on imported energy. Approximately 85% of its crude oil and 55% of its natural gas arrive via vulnerable sea lines of communication (SLOCs). Securing reliable energy partners like Angola is therefore paramount. It is essential for Indias economic ambitions, including the goal of reaching a $5 trillion economy, and Angola can help India do just that.

The economic relationship also shows potential beyond energy. Bilateral trade surpassed four billion dollars in 2023-2024. Growth and diversification have been objectives driving trade. India seeks to diversify export markets, finding new opportunities in Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere, reducing dependency and enhancing economic resilience.

Discussions will also cover expanding the development partnership, capacity-building cooperation, and the defence relationship. It has been Indias go-to approach across Africa. India emphasises empowerment through training, like the ITEC programme, which has benefited thousands in Nigeria. Continent-wide concessional lines of credit (LOCs) fund development projects, avoiding predatory conditions, unlike China. Angolas support for Indias candidature in multilateral fora, including the United Nations, further solidifies its importance as a reliable partner.

Africa in Indias broader geostrategic calculus

The engagement with Angola is not an isolated event but rather a reflection of Indias consistent, continent-wide Africa strategy under Prime Minister Modi. This strategy is comprehensive, multi-layered, and increasingly visible.

Africa figures prominently in Indias strategic thinking for several reasons. The continent holds vast mineral and energy resources. It represents a significant, growing market driven by favourable demographics. It carries increasing diplomatic weight in multilateral forums and is crucial for Indias own aspirations, such as gaining a permanent UN Security Council seat.

Indias engagement model deliberately offers an alternative to other global powers, notably China. New Delhi stresses partnerships built on sovereign equality and mutual respect". It explicitly rejects client-state dynamics. It also counters the debt-trapping" practices sometimes associated with initiatives like Chinas Belt and Road. Indias approach is backed by substantial development assistance. This includes over $12 billion in LOCs to 42 African nations in the last decade. Support extends to digital public infrastructure via initiatives like the Pan-African e-Network and broad capacity building.

Diplomatically, India has significantly expanded its presence, opening 18 new embassies and consulates in Africa over the past nine years, facilitating more robust engagement. High-level interactions, including numerous visits by the Prime Minister and the hosting of over 100 African leaders between 2015 and 2022, have maintained political momentum.

Defence and security cooperation form another vital pillar. Initiatives like the AIKEYME naval exercise tackle African maritime security challenges, including piracy and smuggling. Support for Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through radar networks helps secure sea lanes. These actions directly contribute to Indias SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

Securing the vital SLOCs through the Indian Ocean Region, touching African shores, is fundamental. Engaging partners like Angola, alongside developing strategic access points like Duqm and Agalega, will help maintain regional stability and protect Indias economic lifelines. India is also emerging as a significant defence exporter, and its burgeoning defence industry views Africa as a key market.

Conclusion: An enduring partnership

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The meeting between Modi and Lourenco shows Africas indispensable role in Indian foreign policy. It symbolises the consistency and stability needed during such unstable and turbulent domestic times. The relationship itself is driven by multiple factors: securing energy and economic interests; fostering respectful development partnerships; building security alliances for shared maritime challenges; and counterbalancing rival powers. But, in addition and most importantly, it is driven by mutual respect and a shared history, a commitment to South-South cooperation, and a vision for a multipolar world where Africa takes its rightful place.

Yes, India pursues its national interests while also solidifying its role. However, it also stands as a steadfast and indispensable partner in Africas journey towards stability and prosperity. The course remains set: Indias destiny is intimately linked with Africas.

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 03, 2025, 23:21 IST
'Hua To Hua': Farooq Abdullah's Remark On Kashmiri Hindu Killings Draws BJP Ire

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 14:32 IST

Farooq Abdullah said the killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s did not happen under his tenure as J&K CM, but his "hua to hua" remark was sharply criticised by the BJP.

Former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah sparked a row on Kashmir genocide.

National Conference chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah stoked a row on Friday, after he said that the gruesome killings and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 did not happen under his tenure, but if it did, so be it".

I resigned in protest against Jagmohan being appointed as Governor. Had I known what was going to happen on the 19th (January), I would have informed the Government of India. I resigned after warning the government about the violence. Youre putting all the blame on me. You want to hold me responsible for the genocide. Even we lost 1,500 people in that massacre," he said in an interview with News18 India.

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When @AmanChopra_ asked Farooq Abdullah about Kashmiri Pandit exodus during his time..Listen in to what he had to say.@Elizasherine | #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/nwvb473j3z  News18 (@CNNnews18) May 3, 2025

When questioned over his governance ahead of the killings of Kashmiri Hindus, Abdullah said, If you want to hold me accountable, take me to court. Youre one-sided. You want to hang me. If the massacre happened during my tenure, then so be it  what can I do?"

His remarks were reminiscent of Congress leader Sam Pitrodas hua to hua" remark on the 1984 communal violence in 2019 as the country was gearing up for the general elections, sparking massive backlash.

Taking to X, BJP IT department in-charge Amit Malviya slammed the former CM, saying, Genocide of Hindus in Kashmir  It happened, so what": Farooq Abdullah. Till yesterday they were shedding tears over the deportation of Pakistanis, now they are showing insensitivity towards the tragedy of Kashmiri Hindus."

        ":            ,           pic.twitter.com/3IvOk4BrUt Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 2, 2025

Farooqs statement is a shameless one. The terrorists responsible for the massacre of Hindus will be hunted down one by one. India will not bear the burden of such traitors  they should go to Pakistan," BJP spokesperson Prem Shukla said.

During a period of high militancy in the region, a large population of Kashmiri Hindus were killed and compelled to leave the valley from January 19, one day after Farooq Abdullah resigned as J&K CM in protest against the appointment of Jagmohan as Governor, raising questions on whether Abdullah was aware of the plan.

More than 500,000 Kashmiri Pandits were driven from their homeland, abandoning their homes, livelihoods, and ancestral roots. Countless properties were looted, destroyed, or taken over, hundreds of temples vandalized, and nearly 1,500 community members lost their lives in brutal attack. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all

During the interview, Abdullah questioned the failure of the security agencies and the Indian Army in capturing the terrorists who gunned down 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22, which drew global condemnation. He also opposed the Centres decision to evict Pakistani nationals.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Srinagar, India, India

First Published: May 03, 2025, 10:20 IST
Army Veteran Calls Pahalgam Terror Attack A Tactic To Divide Indians

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 14:51 IST

Brigadier Deep Bhagat, a former Special Forces officer, called the Pahalgam attack a communal division strategy and called for unity among Indians.

The video was shared by his son, a content creator on Instagram.

A retired army officer and recipient of the Gallantry Award has urged unity as the nation grieves the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. He warns people not to fall into the trap of communal divide, which he claims is precisely what the terrorists want. In an Instagram video posted by his son, content creator Anish Bhagat, Brigadier Deep Bhagat (Retd), a gallantry award-winning Indian Army veteran with over 30 years of service, voiced his opinions.

Its a tactic. To divide us on communal lines," Brigadier Bhagat said in the video when questioned if he thought the Pahalgam attack was intended for Hindus.

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No, it was against Indians," he explained, adding that the massacres perpetrators aimed to incite religious tensions and psychological instability throughout the nation.

In the face of such tactics, the former officer underlined the need to stay unified. They are playing a psychological game to create fights in our country on religious grounds. And thats the real aim," he added towards the end of the video.

Brigadier Bhagat took credit for his faith when Anish Bhagat questioned him about what gave him the courage to go on operations against terrorists in his early years. He said plainly, My faith in Hanuman ji."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anish Bhagat (@anishbhagatt)

The video was shared on April 29, and it has collected over 4.5 million views so far. As the video gained traction, the Army veteran received a lot of praise on the internet for his wisdom.

A user wrote, You are a true patriot."

Another commented, Totally agreed, as an Indian, we should stand united."

Thank you for making this video so well. We need this right now more than ever," a user said on Instagram.

Answered everything very clearly and aptly," another remarked.

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Pahalgam, a famous destination in Kashmir famed for its stunning valleys and trekking routes, was the scene of the April 22 terror attack. A group of tourists in the Baisaran Valley, which is only reachable on foot or horseback, were shot at by terrorists.

In what witnesses called a horrific massacre, at least 25 Indian visitors and one Nepali national were killed. Some survivors said that the men were intentionally targeted, while others recalled being fired at from a close distance.

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 03, 2025, 14:51 IST
Bengaluru Entrepreneur Sponsors Girls Education After Accidental Fund Transfer

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 18:08 IST

A mistaken bank transfer of Rs 50,000 from Saudi Arabia in Chinmay Hegdes account led him to meet with a stranger's family and a chance to change a young girls life.

The very next day, the duo visited Rizwans family again. (Representative Image)

Bengaluru-based entrepreneur and athlete Chinmay Hegde recently went viral for sharing an unusual incident that led him to change a young girls life. Taking to X, Hegde shared the details about the unexpected encounter with the girls family two years ago. It happened due to a banking error when Hegde once received Rs 50,000 from an international account. Since he was not expecting any money, he took the issue to the bank and found that it had been sent mistakenly.

The money was sent by a man named Rizwan from Saudi Arabia. When Hegde contacted him about the issue, a crying Rizwan pleaded with him to return the money, which was meant for his family back home.

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I assured him I would," Hegde recalled in a post on X.

This led the entrepreneur to visit Rizwans family. Upon meeting them, he realised the family was not financially well. The house was in terrible shape  looked like it could collapse any day. His father, in a wheelchair, told me he used to be a construction worker but had fallen from the third floor, losing the use of his legs," he shared.

Subsequently, the financial responsibilities fell on Rizwans shoulders. A B.Com graduate with 92% marks, he went to Saudi to support his family. Hegde mentioned that Rizwans younger sister was also forced to move from a private school to a government school because of the familys financial difficulties.

I handed over the Rs 50,000 and added Rs 5,000 from my pocket," he said, adding that then he shared the familys struggles with his own father.

The very next day, the duo visited Rizwans family again and Hegdes father told them: Well sponsor your daughters full education. Let her study where she belongs."

They paid the girls full years education fees and decided to remain in touch with the family.

This year, the girl achieved an outstanding 97% in her Class 10 board exams, scoring 606 out of a possible 625 marks.

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Following her results, she called Hegde to inform him about the outcome. She said, Before even my real brother, I called you. Youre like a real brother to me", Hegdes post further read.

Thats how a mistake became a blessing, Hegde said, concluding his post.

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 03, 2025, 18:08 IST
Florida Teacher Accused Of Isolating Student And Writing Disturbing Letter

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 14:36 IST

According to a report, the accused resigned from his post on April 23, weeks after the alleged letter was first discovered by the parent.

The letter was first reported to the school officials on March 9.

Jarrett Williams, a fifth-grade teacher in Florida, has been accused of writing an inappropriate letter to an 11-year-old student, leading to outrage from the childs mother and his subsequent resignation. The handwritten note was discovered by the childs mother, following which an investigation was launched into the incident.

Williams, who taught at BD Gullett Elementary in Bradenton, is accused of expressing affection and urging secrecy towards the kid. The alleged letter is said to have contained references to Valentines Day.

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According to a report by News Channel 8, the accused resigned from his post on April 23, weeks after the alleged letter was first discovered by the parent. The two-page note reportedly included an apology from Williams for his inappropriate behaviour on Valentines Day and repeatedly expressed affection for the child.

You know I truly love you and no matter what, that will never change," the note read. I really love being your teacher and more importantly, I love how close we have gotten this year." He signed the letter Your favourite teacher only because I have to be," and encouraged the young girl to keep their exchange secret.

At the time when the accuseds resignation letter was being accepted by the school, the girls mother, Ann Mitchell, voiced her outrage against the incident. She called it serious and egregious misconduct" and shared the details of what transpired on Valentines Day.

According to Mitchell, the teacher allegedly isolated her 11-year-old daughter for 45 minutes alone on Valentines Day. This happened when the rest of the students went to the library, the report added.

During the school board meeting, the mother emotionally questioned the lack of accountability. She said that her daughter suffers from nightmares and emotional distress and that the teacher took away part of her innocence.

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The report further added that the letter was first reported to the school officials on March 9. An internal investigation was initiated after the incident, leading to Williams being moved to a non-teaching role, away from children.

The Florida Department of Education has also been made aware of the incident. The Manatee County Sheriffs Office investigation remains open, and the district will continue to fully cooperate," school officials said. While the investigation into the incident continues, officials noted that a harassment charge related to bullying is expected against the accused.

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 03, 2025, 14:36 IST
Feature: German entrepreneur singing upbeat tune in Hong Kong

Xinhua) 14:49, May 01, 2025

BEIJING/HONG KONG, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Florian Simmendinger runs a music technology company and has been living in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in the south of China for a decade. Having developed a musical smartwatch that enables musicians to feel the beat, the German expat is in a good position to explore the dynamic rhythm of China and feels positive about it.

Simmendinger is from a musical family and learnt to play piano when he was growing up. He still remembers the "pain point" of using a traditional metronome during piano practice, saying that it proved very annoying. "My piano teacher would tap me on the shoulder to give me the beats. It was torture," he laughed.

In 2014, fresh out of university, Simmendinger had a smart idea, asking himself -- why not make a vibrating metronome that enables musicians to feel the beat of music, just like the vibrating smartwatch used for fitness purposes?

"Every single musician in the world from beginners to professionals, from drummers and pianists to guitarists, every single one has to practice from time to time. I wanted to make music practice easy and addictive," Simmendinger said in an interview with Xinhua.

Inspired by this idea, Simmendinger decided to start up a music tech company in his home country. "When I started, I just had the idea for a smartwatch, without any background or funding or anything," he recalled.

Simmendinger quickly found himself running into issues, as all the components for his future products were manufactured in Asia, requiring about a month to be transported to Germany.

Then he met an investor from the HKSAR by chance, who suggested Simmendinger go to the city of Shenzhen, a tech hub in south China's Guangdong Province, located close to the HKSAR. "You will find the full ecosystem of manufacturing there," the investor told him.

Simmendinger embraced the investor's advice and flew to Shenzhen, where he found that Huaqiangbei, one of the world's largest wholesale electronic products markets, contained almost all the components he needed.

In 2015, he decided to move to the HKSAR and established his company there, because "it would be much easier for both product development and mass manufacturing."

Simmendinger's company, Soundbrenner, has since developed five major products, and its corresponding mobile application has recorded 15 million downloads. "There are over 1,000 musicians practicing with our products every minute of each day," Simmendinger revealed.

The company's products are available on Chinese online shopping platforms like Taobao and JD.com -- at prices ranging from roughly 600 yuan (about 83.3 U.S. dollars) to 1,500 yuan. Soundbrenner achieved sales amounting to 3 million U.S. dollars last year.

Simmendinger attributes his success to choosing the HKSAR as base. A major advantage in terms of starting up businesses in the HKSAR lies in its proximity to technology powerhouse Shenzhen, which means securing easy access to a strong supply chain, he said.

During the initial stages of establishing his business, Simmendinger regularly took high-speed train trips to the cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou in Guangdong Province to visit factories and look for good business connections -- a process he found "super convenient and efficient."

Simmendinger's story underlines the appeal of the HKSAR as a startup hub. With China advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the HKSAR beat is demonstrating even more vigor and vitality.

Fang Zhou, director of a HKSAR-based think tank, said that while the Tokyo Bay Area and San Francisco Bay Area are both impressive, there is no place that has as many sectors, ranging from trade and finance to manufacturing and technology, as the GBA -- illustrating its unique advantage for global entrepreneurs.

In reviewing both his decade-long stay in the HKSAR and travels to different Chinese cities, Simmendinger said that what he saw and experienced had smashed the stereotypes of China with which he had previously been presented.

One of these stereotypes concerns Chinese workers, who were portrayed as a poorly paid labor force grinding along in undesirable working conditions. However, Simmendinger came across a very different scenario at the many factories he visited. "I would be happy to send my children there for the summer to work on the assembly line, so that they can get some basic skills."

Now the German entrepreneur is targeting the broader Chinese market. "I recently discovered something really interesting -- Chinese children learning to play piano outnumber the total number of pianists in the rest of the world. I see a vast market in that," he said.

"I'm looking forward to building a Chinese marketing team, setting up our own e-commerce presence, and running our own stores, thereby enabling us to introduce our products to all Chinese customers," Simmendinger added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
China revises regulations on protection of new plant varieties

Xinhua) 12:40, May 03, 2025

BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday unveiled revised regulations to strengthen the protection of rights to new plant varieties and to encourage innovation in the seed industry.

Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree to promulgate the new regulations, which are set to take effect on June 1.

New plant varieties refer to those that are artificially bred or developed from discovered wild plants, characterized by novelty, distinctness, uniformity and stability, and assigned an appropriate denomination, according to the regulations.

Like patents, copyrights and trademarks, rights to new plant varieties fall under the category of intellectual property rights.

The new regulations include stipulations on implementing the Essentially Derived Variety (EDV) system, specifying that authorities will release the EDV implementation scope and assessment guidelines and clarify the conditions required for testing bodies.

The protection period for woody and vine plants has been extended from 20 to 25 years, and for other plants from 15 to 20 years.

China implemented regulations on the protection of new varieties of plants in 1997. This marks the third revision of the regulations.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Kolkata UPSC Aspirant Sells Years Of Notes As Raddi, Internet Can Relate

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 18:05 IST

The picture showed the dealer weighing her UPSC materials and eventually giving her just Rs 230 in return.

The user stated that the material was worth more than Rs 1 lakh. (Photo Credits:X)

Many youngsters in India dream of getting into civil service. Cracking the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam is not an easy feat. Lakhs of aspirants try their luck and appear for the exam annually, making the competition fierce and incredibly challenging. While many taste successes after several attempts, there are still a large number of aspirants who face failure. Speaking of which, a Kolkata-based aspirant recently shared her gruelling decision to sell her study materials as scrap after an unsuccessful attempt in the prestigious examination.

Sharing the heart-breaking moment, Aditi Jaiswal took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted a series of pictures. The snippets showed the dealer weighing her meticulously prepared notes and books, eventually giving her just Rs 230 in return. In her post, which quickly went viral, Jaiswal revealed that the estimated value of the materials is over Rs 1 lakh.

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Her tweet read, Finally my closure: Notes and books sold to raddi wala To all those saying kisi ko de deti yes, its easy to say, but no one would want to have such notes if they know iska toh nai hua." Anyway, I still have the books if anyone wants them and stays in Kolkata. I would be happy to give it to them. #upscnotes #upscaspirants."

To all those saying.. kisi ko de deti.. yes its easy to say but no one would want to have such notes if they know " iska toh nai hua" ..Anyways I still have the books if anyone wants it and stays in kolkata . I would be happy to give it to them https://t.co/YLETSMzL65  Aditi Jaiswal (@jaiswal_adt) May 3, 2025

The post struck a chord with the internet community. Within a day of being shared, it garnered significant attention, with many users finding her experience relatable. The comments section was flooded with varied reactions. Some lauded her decision, suggesting that letting go of painful memories can be a healthy step forward. Many cheered her, expressing that destiny has something better planned for her future.

Heart-wrenching moments", expressed a user.

Another commented, Sometimes feelings of freedom also come from letting it go but deep down I also ponder, Is this also a feeling of defeat?"

I can relate to this buddy  I did the same thing after 6 attempts. Its good that you did it early," a user shared.

Hailing Aditis decision, an X user said, Thats good to see. If one dream ends, another begins. I once failed an SIMC interview. Had no idea about journalism. But then pulled up myself and got through @OfficialPU!"

I did same for my NEET study material. I just sold it and moved on from exam rather people r saying ki its your mehnat so keep as memories and all. but what about us when we see these notes and feel bad for ourselvesso always better to sell bad memories," an account remarked.

An individual posted, This is an emotional ending didi."

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Dont be sad, cheer up  destiny has something better in store for you," wrote another.

As of now, the emotional post has mustered more than 8 lakh views.

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 03, 2025, 18:05 IST
Pope Trump? US Presidents Papal Avatar Goes Viral, Netizens Say Make Vatican Great Again

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 09:32 IST

The POTUS new avatar broke the internet with several social media users dubbing the post humorous while some criticised it as insensitive.

US President Donald Trump in papal attire. (X)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed in papal attire days after jokingly declaring his choice for the new Vatican leader.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by President Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump)

Netizens Share Mixed Reactions

The POTUS new avatar broke the internet with several social media users dubbing the post humorous, calling to Make Vatican Great Again" while some criticised it as insensitive, accusing Trump of mocking Pope Francis death.

Funniest man alive and its not even close," a user commented.

Make Vatican Great Again," commented another.

I just dont understand how you can hate on this guy," another user commented.

Several social media users also accused him of mocking Francis death.

This is disrespectful to the church and God himself hes literally the antichrist," one person commented.

Another wrote, This is disgusting and entirely offensive."

A third person posted, This is extremely disrespectful and narcissistic. republicans really voted for that."

Id like to be Pope," Says Trump

Amidst ongoing discussions about the selection of the next Pope, he recently jokingly said that he would like to be Pope.

When the US President was asked about who should lead Vatican City, he responded with a playful remark.

Id like to be Pope," he quipped, adding, That would be my number one choice."

While acknowledging he holds no official preference for the successor to Pope Francis, the US President did single out one prominent American figure.

I might say we have a Cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who is very good. So well see what happens," he stated, referring to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York.

Pope Francis Dies At 88

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Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vaticans Casa Santa Marta. The news was officially announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo. Pope Francis had served as the head of the Catholic Church for twelve years since his election in March 2013.

The nearly-2,000-year-old organisation is looking for a new spiritual head following the passing of Pope Francis. About 135 Catholic cardinals will soon be tasked with entering a secret conclave to choose the next pope, with no clear frontrunner in sight.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 03, 2025, 09:32 IST
Australian PM Anthony Albanese Wins Second Term; PM Modi Congratulates

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 19:03 IST

Anthony Albanese was re-elected for a historic second term in Australia's Federal election 2025 on Saturday.

Australian election results: Anthony Albanese wins second term (Reuters Image)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won the countrys federal election and is all set to retain his majority government as his centre-left Labour Party swept the polls, local media reported.

The Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, lost his home seat of Dickson in Brisbane to the Labour Partys Ali France moments after Australias national broadcaster, the ABC, declared his Liberal-National coalition had lost the election in a disastrous result for the coalition. That hasnt happened to a party leader since 2007, when John Howard  who happened to be Duttons mentor  lost his own seat in Sydney.

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Albaneses return to office is historic as this made him the first Australian prime minister to win a second term since 2004.

The incumbent prime minister walked into the election day, expressing confidence in his partys return to power with a majority, having performed better than Dutton during the five-week campaign.

A few months ago, the Coalition had been ahead in the polls, however, it lost support due to its unclear policies, criticism over similarities to US President Donald Trump, and Labours strong attacks on its nuclear reactor plans and alleged threat to Medicare.

At 62, Dutton attempted to present himself as a calm and experienced leader to steer Australia through a time of global uncertainty, made worse by Trumps trade war.

PM Modi Congratulates Albanese

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his Australian counterpart on the victory and said that the mandate indicates the peoples faith in his leadership.

Congratulations @AlboMP on your resounding victory and re-election as Prime Minister of Australia! This emphatic mandate indicates the enduring faith of the Australian people in your leadership. I look forward to working together to further deepen the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance our shared vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," PM Modi posted on X.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Australia

First Published: May 03, 2025, 16:26 IST
Australia Election 2025: Five Things To Know In Anthony Albanese Vs Peter Dutton Contest

Published By :

AFP

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 08:13 IST

Australians are voting in a general election between Albanese and Dutton. Key issues include nuclear energy, Trump tariffs, and the role of independents.

Australian politics has long been dominated by Albanese's left-leaning Labor Party and Dutton's Liberal Party on the right of the spectrum. (Photos: AP file)

Australians are voting in a general election Saturday, a hard-fought contest between party leaders with sharply contrasting visions for the country.

Here are five things you need to know about the poll Down Under.

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 Blue collar boys 

The election pits left-leaning incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese against staunchly conservative rival Peter Dutton.

Both have blue-collar backgrounds  setting them apart from former leaders more typically equipped with Oxbridge degrees and high-flying careers in banking or law.

Albanese, 62, was raised by a single mother in a small government-subsidised flat in Sydneys inner city.

He spent his teenage years caring for his mum Maryanne as she battled the onset of debilitating rheumatoid arthritis.

Dutton, 54, is a bricklayers son, raised in the suburbs of Brisbane in eastern Australia.

He joined the state police after dropping out of university, and briefly worked at a butchers shop.

Dutton was a drugs squad detective before running for parliament  an experience he says has coloured his hard-nosed approach to law and order.

 Going nuclear 

Despite sitting on some of the worlds largest uranium deposits, Australia has had an almost complete ban on nuclear energy since 1998.

Dutton wants to reverse this ban and build a nuclear power industry from scratch.

Sceptical of renewables, Dutton has said nuclear power is the only reliable way Australia can reduce emissions over the long term.

Albanese, by contrast, has poured public money into solar power, wind turbines and green manufacturing  pledging to make the nation a renewable energy superpower.

 Trump card 

US President Donald Trumps decision to slap tariffs on Australia may have helped centre-left Albanese to inch ahead in the latest opinion polls.

Some polls showed Dutton leaking support because of Trump, who he praised earlier this year as a big thinker" with gravitas" on the global stage.

Both Dutton and Albanese have since taken a tougher stance.

If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump, or any other world leader, to advance our nations interest, Id do it in a heartbeat," Dutton said in April.

Albanese has condemned Trumps tariffs as an act of economic self-harm" and not the act of a friend".

He has different views, different values," the prime minister said in a televised debate.

I support free and fair trade. He doesnt."

 Independents day 

Australian politics has long been dominated by Albaneses left-leaning Labor Party and Duttons Liberal Party on the right of the spectrum.

But growing disenchantment among voters has emboldened independents pushing for greater transparency and climate progress.

Labor had a slight lead in the polls heading into the election.

But if the vote is close, 10 or more unaligned crossbenchers could hold the balance of power when the dust settles  forcing the formation of a rare minority government.

 Vote, or else 

Australia has enforced compulsory voting since 1924, with turnout never dipping below 90 percent since then.

Registered voters who do not cast their ballot are slapped with an administrative penalty" of around Aus$20 (US$13).

Voters are also enticed by sizzling snags (sausages) on offer at more than 1,000 polling sites to support local causes. They can be tracked at democracysausage.org.

There are 18.1 million voters aged 18 and up  and more than a third of them voted before election day.

Polls are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm local time.

Voters choose all 150 seats in parliaments lower chamber, the House of Representatives. The term is three years.

In the outgoing parliament, Labor held 77 seats and the opposition ruling Liberal-National coalition 54.

Also up for election are 40 of the 76 seats in the upper chamber, the Senate. The term is six years.

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For the House, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no one gets a majority, votes for the least-popular candidates are redistributed until someone gets more than 50 percent.

For the Senate, a proportional representation system aims to give each party the number of seats that reflects their share of the vote.

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 : Canberra, Australia

First Published: May 03, 2025, 07:06 IST
Sri Lankan Flight From Chennai Searched In Colombo Over Intel On 'Wanted' Pahalgam Terror Suspects

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 17:42 IST

A Sri Lankan Airlines flight arriving from Chennai underwent a special security operation at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Saturday

Security check at a Sri Lankan airport | Representative Image

A Sri Lankan Airlines flight arriving from Chennai underwent a special security operation at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Saturday after a specific intelligence flagged the presence of potential suspects linked to the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

A Police Spokesperson said that an alert from India about six suspected terrorists on a flight from Chennai prompted Sri Lankan officials to conduct a search upon the aircrafts arrival.

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The search was carried out in coordination with local authorities following an alert from the Chennai Area Control Centre regarding a suspect wanted in India who was believed to be on board", the Sri Lankan Police said.

In an official statement, Sri Lankan Airlines said that Flight UL 122, operated by aircraft 4R-ALS, was thoroughly checked by security officials upon its arrival in Colombo from Chennai.

SriLankan Airlines wishes to inform the public that Flight UL 122, operated by aircraft 4R-ALS, which arrived in Colombo from Chennai at 11:59 hrs today (3 May), was subjected to a comprehensive security search upon arrival," the statement read.

This was carried out in coordination with local authorities following an alert from the Chennai Area Control Centre regarding a suspect wanted in India who was believed to be on board," it added.

The airlines further stated that the aircraft was inspected and subsequently cleared for further operations. However, due to the mandatory security procedure, the next scheduled serviceFlight UL308 to Singaporewas delayed.

The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority, and we strive to ensure that the highest standards of safety are consistently maintained," it added.

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Terrorists unleashed gunfire in Pahalgam on April 22, killing at least 26 people  mostly tourists  in the deadliest attack in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the terror attack, prompting India to downgrade its diplomatic ties with Pakistan on all fronts.

Location : Sri Lanka

First Published: May 03, 2025, 15:58 IST
'Hated Me First, Now Kissing My A**': Trump Takes Swipe At BFF Elon Musk

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 12:39 IST

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have a fluctuating relationship, as both have been often seen taking swipes at each other publicly.

US President Donald Trump with Elon Musk | File Image/AP

US President Donald Trump recently said at an event that internet people like Elon Musk hated him during his first term but are now kissing his a**. His remark came while he was addressing the University of Alabama on May 1, 2025.

Trump at first appreciated Musk and referred to him as terrific." He then highlighted the shift of sentiment of Silicon Valley elites towards him from the time he became the president for the first time to him being the current president.

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Elon is so terrific. They all hated me in my first term, and now they are kissing my a**. You knowits true. All of them. Its true."

Trumps remark comes as Elon Musk is set to step down as special government at DOGE. His term will end at May 30. While the Tesla owner will no longer be officially holding the position, he has said that he would continue to help on a part-time basis.

Trump-Musk Relationship

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have a fluctuating relationship, as both have been often seen taking swipes at each other publicly. In 2022, the Tesla owner had said that Trump was too old for another term as president, suggesting he hang up his hat and sail into sunset".

I dont hate the man, but its time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset. Dems should also call off the attack dont make it so that Trumps only way to survive is to regain the Presidency," Musk had said.

Sure! Heres a clearer and more polished version of that sentence:

Trump responded to Musks remarks by claiming that when Musk first visited the White House seeking his help, he would have gotten on his knees and begged."

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When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects, whether its electric cars that dont drive long enough, driverless cars that crash, or rocketships to nowhere, without which subsidies hed be worthless and tell me how he was a big Trump fan and Republican, I could have said, drop to your knees and beg, and he would have done it," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 03, 2025, 12:30 IST
Pakistan Provokes Again, Tests Surface-To-Surface Abdali Missile With A Range Of 450 Km

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 14:03 IST

Tensions between the two countries have escalated after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam left 25 tourists and one local resident dead.

Pakistan conducted a training launch of the Abdali Weapon System (Credits: News 18)

Amid souring ties between India and Pakistan, the latter on Saturday conducted a training launch of the Abdali Weapon System  a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometers.

This comes just days after India downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan following the terror attack in Pahalgam. Pakistan Army, in an official statement, said that the missile launch was part of Exercise INDUS".

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The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features," the army said in a statement.

Senior officials, including the Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division of the Army Strategic Forces Command, and the scientists and engineers from Pakistans strategic organisations were also present during the test, reported PTI.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and services chiefs also congratulated the troops, scientists, and engineers after the training launch.

According to News 18 sources, the move marks a dangerous escalation and a provocative step in its ongoing hostility towards India.

Pakistan has intensified its activities by issuing frequent naval advisories, conducting aggressive drills in the Arabian Sea, and repeatedly violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The missile test by Islamabad appears as a deliberate provocation and a reckless attempt to heighten tensions with India.

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India recently took several strong measures against Pakistan, including the cancellation of visas of Pakistani nationals and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

India has also imposed a ban on ships flying the Pakistani flag from entering its ports, with Pakistan enacting a reciprocal restriction on Indian ships.

Location : Pakistan

First Published: May 03, 2025, 13:38 IST
'Is Buddha Needed For Buddhism?': Elon Musk On Exit From DOGE

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 11:16 IST

While Musk's tenure as a special government employee at DOGE is set to end on May 30, he will continue to contribute to the department on a part-time basis.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (Photo Credits: X)

Elon Musks tenure in the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is set to end in May. As he is stepping down from his role, a reporter asked Musk what would happen to the department after that. Responding to the question asked to him at the White House, the Tesla owner compared himself and Buddha and asked if Buddha was needed for Buddhism.

Is Buddha needed for Buddhism? Was it not stronger after he passed away?" Musk replied, as per the Washington Post. DOGE is kind of a way of life we make converts all the time," he added.

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Musks tenure as a special government employee at DOGE will end on May 30. He further told the reporters that despite his official tenure coming to an end, he will still help the department on a part-time basis, with his involvement also depending on the wishes of President Donald Trump.

Im willing to contribute on average one to two days a week, which, you know, probably means coming to DC every other week for three days type of thing. As indefinitely as long as the president wants me to do it," Musk said.

Obviously, if the president or the cabinet has an emergency that they want me to respond to, then Ill do that. But otherwise, its justI think its pretty manageable with one to two days on average," he added.

While hell now spend less time in Washington, hell keep his office on the White House grounds, Musk told reporters. That office, he said, according to Axios, has a window, but all you see is the HVAC unit, which is fine. It makes it harder to shoot me, I guess."

This comes on the same day when a report from the Wall Street Journal claimed that Tesla and its board were searching for a new CEO.

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Musk, however, called it a deliberately false article."

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!," Musk said, responding to the report on X.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 03, 2025, 11:16 IST
Darling, It's Not Presidential: Trump Mocks Trans Athlete, Jokes Wife Melania Will Be Upset

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 22:28 IST

Donald Trump mocked transgender athlete while also criticising laws that let them take part in womens sports. He also said that his remarks may make his wife Melania "very upset".

Trump mocks transgender athlete (Reuters File Image)

US President Donald Trump, while recalling how his act could upset" his wife, Melania, impersonated a transgender athlete and criticised rules that let them take part in womens sports.

Trump was speaking at the University of Alabama on Thursday night, where he mocked the inclusion of transgender women in womens competitions and joked that his comments often land him in trouble" with the First Lady.

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The greatest is like weightlifting, you ever see weightlifting? Where they have a record that wasnt broken in 18 years," Trump said, describing a situation with a female athlete competing against a transgender athlete. Before doing his impression, he asked the crowd if he should continue, even though Melania doesnt approve.

Should I imitate him? My wife gets very upset when I do this. She says, Darling, its not presidential, I say, Yeah, but people like it," Trump said.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Asian News International (@ani_trending)

All right, Im in trouble when I get home, but thats OK, what the hell. Ive been in lots of trouble before," the President added.

Trump acted out a scene where a female weightlifter struggles to lift a small amount of weight, and then a transitioned person" easily outperforms her. Mom, Im gonna do it," he said in a high-pitched voice while pretending to lift weights on stage. He added, Then a guy shows upor a girl, or whatever," referring to a transgender person. He couldnt win as a male weightlifter, but now lifts 206 pounds easilyjust boom, boom, boom."

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He ended by stating that the transgender athlete would shatter the record by 119 pounds" and added, Thats not right".

Trumps speech came just a few days after his administration said that the University of Pennsylvania broke federal civil rights laws by allowing transgender athletes to compete in womens sports. The Department of Education said the university went against Title IX rules by not giving women equal chances in sports.

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 : United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 03, 2025, 22:23 IST
Maldives President Muizzu Says 'No Serious Concerns' In Ties With India, Faces Backlash At Home

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 23:09 IST

Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid accused President Mohamed Muizzu of political double standards and misleading the public during his election campaign

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu | File Image

Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on Saturday criticised President Mohamed Muizzu for claiming there are no serious concerns" with India-related agreements, accusing him of political double standards and misleading the public during his election campaign.

Shahid said that Muizzu, who now downplays tensions with India, had campaigned in the 2023 Presidential Elections on the premise that such agreements posed a threat to the nations sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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After years of false claims, President Muizzu has now confirmed there are no serious concerns with the bilateral agreements between Maldives and India," Shahid said in an X post, targeting Muizzu over his stand.

He won the 2023 presidential election on the back of a campaign that claimed these agreements threatened our sovereignty and territorial integrity. That narrative has now collapsed under his own words," he added.

After years of false claims, President Muizzu has now confirmed there are no serious concerns" with the bilateral agreements between Maldives and India.He won the 2023 presidential election on the back of a campaign that claimed these agreements threatened our sovereignty and pic.twitter.com/PLRkjRrQfi  Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) May 3, 2025

The ex-foreign Minister accused Muizzu of spreading fear, breaking trust and damaging the reputation of Maldives globally. He also demanded an apology from the President.

During the 2023 presidential election in the Maldives, Muizzu adopted a markedly critical stance toward India, positioning himself as a defender of national sovereignty.

Running as the candidate of the opposition coalition, Muizzu repeatedly raised concerns over what he described as undue Indian influence in the countrys internal affairs."

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His campaign prominently featured the India Out" slogan, alleging that certain bilateral agreements, particularly those involving Indian military presence and infrastructure projects, compromised the Maldives sovereignty and territorial integrity.

However, since taking office, Muizzu has softened his public tone, recently stating that there are no serious concerns" in relations with Indiaa shift that has drawn criticism from political opponents.

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 : Maldives

First Published: May 03, 2025, 23:09 IST
AUBURN  Susan Weisand isnt a stranger to political demonstrations.

I'm 74 years old," she said, "and I didn't think Id have to be demonstrating again to save my country."

Wiping a tear from beneath her eye, she continued: "We might lose our democracy.

Thats why Weisand, alongside more than 150 others, participated in a pro-democracy rally Friday at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center in downtown Auburn.

I'm thankful for people that are standing up, Weisand told The Citizen. I'm thankful for these kinds of things where people just get out and protest.

The rally was organized by Indivisible Cayuga, a local nonpartisan volunteer organization that, according to its mission statement, is committed to pushing back on attacks on the services and freedoms we hold dear here in Cayuga County.

Rebecca Ruggles, who helped organize the demonstration in Auburn with Indivisible Cayuga, said it was one of about 1,000 May Day rallies across the nation and was meant to push back against what she called the federal governments war on the worker.

It's up to the people to say, 'Enough is enough,' Ruggles told The Citizen.

This isn't what we've signed up for. Even the people who voted for Trump are not happy with the amount of threats to workers and jobs.

'Trump wants to be a king'

Brian Teucke, a representative for Service Employees International Union Local 200, expressed concern about how Trumps executive orders will affect labor unions.

Just like Hitler did on this day, May 2, 1933, Trump has tried to cancel and outlaw federal unions, Teucke told The Citizen.

Specifically, Teucke mentioned a March executive order limiting certain federal employees' rights to collective bargaining.

I know he's coming for our public sector unions and eventually our private sector unions, added Teucke.

Protesters brandishing political signs and posters lined the sidewalk of South Street facing Memorial City Hall and waved at cars as they passed by.

Ed Randolph, whose sign read, We are better than this, believes that Trump threatens the American way of life.

There's no United States right now, Randolph told The Citizen. Trump wants to be a king now, not a president of the people.

Some motorists responded to the signs with honks and waves, and others echoed the protesters.

At one point two women stuck their torsos out of their vehicles windows, flashed their middle fingers and yelled, F--k Donald Trump!" as they passed through the intersection of South and Lincoln streets.

But others voiced their objections to the rally, such as one man who rolled down the window of his black Chevrolet as he drove by and yelled, Democrats arent Americans.

Another man, wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat in the passenger seat of a sedan, shouted MAGA bitch, and MAGA motherf--ker, before holding a fist beneath his eye and making crying noises as he was driven away.

'Declaring war on information'

Janet Reohr, a member of Indivisible Cayuga, said Trump's proposed cuts to Medicaid ($880 billion) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ($230 billion) have made her question the future of other social service programs, like Social Security.

I paid into it for 40 years and I would like to see the ability to keep using it over the years, Reohr told The Citizen.

I have family members who I'm concerned about, one is in a nursing home. I can't afford to pay for him if he's not being covered by Medicare.

The Rev. Ben Fitzgerald-Fye, minister of Scipioville Presbyterian Church and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, told The Citizen he was protesting because he worries how Trumps rhetoric and policy might affect immigrants and others in his community.

If we believe Jesus meant what he said, then we have to care about marginalized people, Fitzgerald-Fye said. I'm not thrilled about the way that we're demonizing transgender folks right now and I just think it's time for the church to say, 'Enough is enough.'

Fitzgerald-Fye also brought up Trumps budget proposal to completely defund Head Start, a program that provides more than 300 Cayuga County children with early education opportunities.

I believe what we're doing is declaring war on information, Fitzgerald-Fye said. More importantly though, we're robbing our children and our citizens of just the basic skills to live as a human.

Auburn City Councilor Terry Cuddy, who attended the rally, said the Thursday executive order cutting federal aid to National Public Radio and PBS threatens free speech.

I'm here to exercise free speech and support everyday people, Cuddy told The Citizen. There's so many things that make America what it is, and freedom of speech is the most important.

Ruggles said Indivisible Cayuga and its 220-plus members across Cayuga County will continue to push back against the Trump administration through such public demonstrations.

We're in the heart of New York, where people have fought for centuries for their rights, she said. "So we're on the right side of history, and we're going to win.
Pakistan Defence Minister Threatens India Over Indus Treaty: 'Will Destroy Structure Built To...'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 16:10 IST

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has threatened India amid heightened tensions on the border, and said that suspension of Indus Waters Treaty will be seen as "aggression".

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif threatens India (Reuters Image)

Adding to a series of brazen threats, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the country would destroy" any structure built by India to divert water meant for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty.

India had suspended the decades-long treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Under the treaty, 80% of the Indus waters went to Pakistan, and India used 20%.

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Asif continued his warmonger tactics as border tensions remain high amid buzz of a possible military retaliation by India, and said that any diversion of water would be viewed as aggression against Pakistan".

That will be aggression against Pakistan even if they made an architectural attempt of this kind, then Pakistan will destroy that structure," the Pakistan minister said when asked what Islamabads reaction would be if New Delhi constructs dams on the Indus basin.

Earlier, Asif had threatened an all-out war" between India and Pakistan over the issue of Kashmir.

His threat was sharply reacted to by the BJP in India, which said that the Pakistanis are living in constant fear.

Khawaja Asif is visibly shaken. Though he is Pakistans Defence Minister, he hardly has any control. Hes merely a statement minister, constantly issuing hollow threats. The fear among Pakistanis is evident. They are losing sleep at night," BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

The Pakistani ministers remarks came as Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil vowed that India would make sure not even a drop of water" of the Indus Waters flows to Pakistan.

The decision to put the IWT in abeyance was taken in the first Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed by terrorists.

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For now, India cant stop the water from flowing because it doesnt have big enough storage systems on the rivers that go to Pakistan.

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also threatened that any move to block or change the flow of water meant for Pakistan would be seen as an act of war."

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: May 03, 2025, 15:59 IST
India Gave No Proof: Under Pressure, Shehbaz Sharif Parrots Pakistani Officials On Pahalgam

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 21:15 IST

The Pakistani PM said that despite Indias provocative actions, Islamabad's response was responsible and measured,

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif | REUTERS Image

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday claimed that India had failed to provide any concrete evidence and accused New Delhi of falsely" attempting to link Islamabad to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people.

The Pakistan-based Lashkar terrorists claimed responsibility for the attack on tourists in the scenic Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam on April 22. Following the incident, India announced a series of punitive measures against Islamabad.

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The Pakistani PM said that despite Indias provocative actions, Islamabads response was responsible and measured, ARY News reported, citing PMO Media Department.

Sharif further condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye Dr Irfan Neziroglu.

Sharif Calls For Neutral Probe

Echoing the voice of other Pakistani leaders, Sharif too demanded New Delhi to accept Islamabads offer of conducting a neutral probe into the Pahalgam terror incident.

India had yet to respond to Pakistans offer to have a credible, transparent and neutral international investigation to ascertain the facts behind the Pahalgam incident," he said.

Pakistan would cooperate with such a probe and would welcome it if Turkiye joined, he added.

Meanwhile, well-placed sources told CNN-News18 that during the last instance when India agreed to a similar probe, Pakistan neither submitted a final report nor issued any formal communication. The statement signals that India may be reluctant to agree to a probe into the Pahalgam incident.

The prime minister further highlighted Pakistans sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, citing 90,000 casualties and economic losses exceeding USD 152 billion over the years.

He added that Indias actions risk diverting Pakistans focus from its ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.

Pakistani Narrative: Probe Into Pahalgam

Earlier to Sharifs demand, a list of top Pakistani officials demanded a neutral" probe into the Pahalgam terror attack, whose responsibility was claimed by the Pakistan-based LeT group.

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.

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.

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.

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Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India announced a raft of measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

New Delhi also announced the shutting down of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, the suspension of visas for Pakistani nationals and the scaling down of top officials at the High Commission.

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 03, 2025, 19:27 IST
Pakistans Persistent Provocations After Urging World To Ask India To Defuse Tensions

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 16:49 IST

Saturdays Abdali missile test appears to be the latest provocation and a reckless attempt by Pakistan to goad India since the Pahalgam terror attack

Pakistan conducted a training launch of the Abdali weapon system. (Image: News 18)

Pakistan on Saturday test-fired the Abdali weapon system, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km, in an action that marks a dangerous escalation and a provocative step in its ongoing hostility towards India.

As tensions between the two countries flared following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged brotherly countries", including Saudi Arabia, to impress upon India the need to de-escalate and defuse hostilities. The United States and the European Union have also appealed to the nations to exercise restraint.

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However, in this already volatile environment, the missile test appears to be a deliberate provocation and reckless attempt by Pakistan to goad India. Amid expectations of potential Indian military action following the Pahalgam attack, Pakistans armed forces are conducting several exercises near the Line of Control and in the Arabian Sea.

Pakistan has closed several air traffic routes between Lahore and Islamabad and issued multiple navy area warnings along its coastline.

The Pakistani air force is holding three distinct exercises, the army is conducting Exercise Hammer Strike near the LoC, and the navy is engaged in a series of drills in the Arabian Sea.

The air force exercises conducted over the last few days include Zarb-e-haidari, Fiza e Badr, and Lalkar e Momin. These involved fighter jets like the F-16, J-10, and JF-17.

Army chief Asim Munir visited the Tilla Field Firing Ranges near Jhelum to witness exercises by the Mangla Strike Corps.

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Following the terror attack, Pakistan has intensified its activities by issuing frequent naval advisories, conducting aggressive drills in the Arabian Sea, and repeatedly violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control.

These exercises are taking place against a backdrop of heavy mobilisation of military equipment, including artillery, tanks, and other assets. Pakistans recently acquired SH-15 155mm, 52-calibre self-propelled howitzer from China has also reportedly been deployed.

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 03, 2025, 16:49 IST
'Tyranny In Disguise': Marco Rubio, Germany Spar Over Designation Of AfD As 'Extremist Party'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 08:26 IST

The exchange between Rubio and Germany's foreign ministry took place after the German spy agency designated the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an "extremist" party.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Germany's Chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz. (Reuters/File)

A heated exchange took place between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the German foreign ministry on X after the former accused the German government of tyranny in disguise" for designating the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist entity.

In a post on Friday, the top US diplomat lashed out at Germany after its domestic intelligence agency BfV declared the far-right, neo-Nazi AfD as an extremist" entity, allowing it to increase surveillance of the political party. AfD leaders have condemned the move.

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Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. Thats not democracyits tyranny in disguise," said Rubio on X. What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD  which took second in the recent election  but rather the establishments deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes. Germany should reverse course."

In response to Rubios remarks, the German Foreign Ministry hit back by saying, 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," it added.

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. GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) May 2, 2025

US Vice President JD Vance also echoed Rubios remarks. 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.

The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuiltnot by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment."

Notably, AfD has a history of anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, and xenophobic rhetoric by its leaders, who have also called for the mass expulsion of immigrants. In the German federal elections held earlier this year, the party came second with 20.8 per cent vote and 152 of 630 seats, having risen in popularity over the last few weeks owing to Germanys economic and security crises.

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. 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," it was quoted as saying in a statement.

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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 met AfD leader Alice Weidel in the weeks leading up to the elections. The party is associated with the revival of Nazism in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

Meanwhile, Germanys centre-left Social Democrats have approved a deal to join a new coalition government, paving the way for parliament to elect conservative leader Friedrich Merz as the countrys new chancellor.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Berlin, Germany

First Published: May 03, 2025, 08:26 IST
Why Pakistans Abdali-II Missile Test Signals Desperation, Not Deterrence | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain



Last Updated: May 03, 2025, 14:42 IST

Islamabad claims the upgraded missile can target Indian assets, but technical flaws, internal risks, and foreign dependence reveal it as a psychological ploy, not a credible threat

Pakistan conducted a training launch of the Abdali Weapon System (Credits: News 18)

Pakistans recent Abdali-II missile tests aim to offset Indias conventional military advantages, but the move appears more about optics than operational edge. The tactical missilenow upgraded with a 450-km range from its original 180 kmis, according to Pakistan, capable of targeting Indian military installations, airfields, and logistics hubs near the border.

This comes just days after India downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan following the terror attack in Pahalgam. The Pakistan Army, in an official statement, said the missile launch was part of Exercise INDUS."

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The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features," the army said in a statement.

However, the test is not just about military capabilityit is nuclear signalling aimed at sparking diplomatic dialogue and launching a psychological operations (psyops) campaign to divert attention from Pakistans deepening internal crises. With widening internal security gaps and the alarming presence of jihadi elements in control of arms and ammunition, such deployments raise serious risks of unauthorised launches.

Technically, the Abdali-II remains flawed. Its estimated Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 100150 metres makes it unsuitable for precision strikes against hardened targets. Despite the increased range, accuracy remains a major concern, especially in the absence of advanced guidance systems like terminal homingcapabilities Pakistan does not currently possess. The missiles extended range likely came at the cost of payload capacity or increased reliance on foreign-supplied components, potentially compromising its overall reliability.

Pakistans tactical missile upgrades continue to be rooted in foreign expertisefrom Chinese M-11 and DF-11 inputs for the Ghaznavi, to North Korean Nodong-1 tech for the Ghauri. The Abdali-IIs development may face similar dependency risks, exposing Pakistan to potential sanctions and supply-chain vulnerabilities.

India, meanwhile, is well-positioned to counter such threats. With robust missile defence systems like the Russian-made S-400 and indigenous interception platforms, shorter-range systems like the Abdali could be neutralised effectively. Moreover, Pakistans practice of deploying these systems close to the border for rapid response makes them more vulnerable to pre-emptive strikes or sabotage.

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Pakistan has intensified its activities by issuing frequent naval advisories, conducting aggressive drills in the Arabian Sea, and repeatedly violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

In sum, Pakistans Abdali-II test appears to be more about optics than operational edgeunderscoring desperation rather than deterrence.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: May 03, 2025, 14:42 IST
When most people have a question about, well, anything, they turn to their phone or laptop and type it in. But as the Oxford American explains, some still call the James E. Foy Information Desk at Auburn University. There, students still answer landlines pretty much the same way they have since 1953. Even the number is the same: 334-844-4244. The service initially began for Auburn students, then was made available to the public. More than 70 years later, it endures even in the age of Google. Writer Emily McCrary spent a night on the desk and writes about the experience:

And the calls. Oh, the calls. Some are minor trivia queriesthe name of an actress on White Lotus, for example. But McCrary also has this example:

"If you died on the operating table and they declared you legally dead and wrote out a death certificate and everything, but then you came back to life, what are the legal ramifications? Do you technically no longer exist? Do you have to be declared undead by a judge?"

The students never ask why a caller needs the info or can't get it any other way. A big focus of the piece is on the anonymous callers themselves and the connections they make with the students. Sometimes, it's an older person, obviously lonely, who calls night after night (like the "Care Home Lady" did). Sometimes it's a younger person, similarly lonely. Another student spent hours on the phone with a woman planning a trip from Arizona to Canada. And on and on. (Read the full story, in which one of the desk's supervisors explains how one caller's career advice continues to resonate with her as she prepares to graduate.)
It's a story about two incredible crimesthe $243 million theft of cryptocurrency from a single person, and the brazen kidnapping of a wealthy couple in Connecticut. And as Mitch Moxley explains in a New York Times Magazine story, the crimes last year were connected, though it took awhile for authorities to figure that out. The cybertheft came first. Moxley explains how a group of young criminals conned a resident of DChe was an early adopter of bitcoin into surrendering his fortune by convincing him he was actually protecting it. But just as there are cyberthieves adept at this kind of thing, there are cyberdetectives adept at following the trail. One such sleuth obtained video said to be of the scammers celebrating their massive haul.
In the spring of 1996, David Kaczynski picked up a pencil and started drafting a letter to his older brotherthe brother he'd just outed as the Unabomber, the domestic terrorist responsible for nearly 20 years of deadly bombings. David wanted to explain, in person if possible, that he'd acted to stop the violence. Ted, however, responded with venom: "You will go to hell because, for you, seeing yourself as you really are will truly be hell," he wrote. David was undeterred. In a lengthy piece for the New York Times , Serge F. Kovaleski shares excerpts of the one-sided correspondence David kept up in an attempt to get the chance "to look into each other's eyes and share the truth of our principles and feelings." He never got it.

Through years of letters, David recounted memoriesplaying softball as kids, their adventures in the Yukonand gave life updates. The holiday letter David mailed in December 2021 was returned from the Colorado federal supermax prison address he'd used for more than 20 years. It was only then that he learned his brother had been moved to the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, and was dying of cancer. David doubled down on his writing until Ted's death by suicide in June 2023. "All those years of letterseven without an answer, they had kept a door wedged open," Kovaleski writes. The closing of it smarted. And one final point of pain: Ted's handwritten will specified no relative should have any ownership or control over his estate; despite his efforts, David has been unable to learn what became of his brother's remains. ( Read the full article.)
One of Harvey Weinstein's accusers broke down in tears and cursed on the witness stand on 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, per the AP . "That is for the jury to decide," Weinstein lawyer Jennifer Bonjean responded. "No, it's not for the jury to decide. It's my experience. And he did that to me," Haley said, using expletives as tears began streaming down her face. At that point, Judge Curtis Farber halted questioning and sent jurors on a break. Haley, her eyes red and face glistening, didn't look at Weinstein as she left the witness stand.

Haley, 48, was testifying for a fourth day at Weinstein's rape retrial. 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, "Let's behave, both of you." Farber later said it was the first time in 13 years that he'd used the gavel. 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 the then-powerful movie producer.

Haley, who has also gone by the name Mimi Haleyi, is the first accuser to testify at the retrial, which is taking place 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, testifying 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, noit's not going to happen." Weinstein, 73, listened on Friday with his hands pressed against his chin as Haley reiterated she never had romantic feelings for him and never wanted any sexual contact with him. The AP generally doesn't name people who allege they've been sexually assaulted, unless they give permission to be IDed. Haley, Mann, and Sokola have done so. More here.
A Russian drone strike on Ukraine's second-largest city wounded 47 people, officials said, and prompted another appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for more decisive support from the country's allies. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations across Kharkiv late Friday. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, and vehicles were damaged, according to regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. The Kharkiv prosecutor's office said Saturday that Russian forces used drones with thermobaric warheads, the AP reports. It posted a statement on Telegram saying the weapons create a powerful blast wave and a hot cloud of smoke, causing large-scale destruction. The prosecutor said their use may indicate a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law.

"While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives," Zelensky wrote on X early Saturday. "Ukraine needs strengthened air defense. Strong and real decisions are needed from our partnersthe United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace." Russia fired a total of 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine's air force said. Of those, 77 were intercepted and another 73 lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles, per the AP.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted. In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, said Mayor Andrey Kravchenko. The attacks took place just ahead of Russia's three-day ceasefire to observe its World War II holiday, per ABC News. Ukraine maintains the ceasefire isn't real, and Zelensky pointed out that the drones hit homes and not military targets. "Russia attacks when people are in their homes, putting their children to bed," he said.




Germany's foreign ministry is hitting back at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after he criticized the decision to classify the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party as a "right-wing extremist" organization. The spat occurred at a complicated time for Germany, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Nazi Germany's capitulation.

Rubio's tweet: In his Friday post, Rubio called on Germany to undo the classification. "Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That's not democracyit's tyranny in disguise," he wrote. "What is truly extremist is not the popular AfDwhich took second in the recent electionbut rather the establishment's deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes. Germany should reverse course."

In his Friday post, Rubio called on Germany to undo the classification. "Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That's not democracyit's tyranny in disguise," he wrote. "What is truly extremist is not the popular AfDwhich took second in the recent electionbut rather the establishment's deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes. Germany should reverse course." Vance: The vice president referenced the Cold War in his own post. "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," Vance wrote.

The vice president referenced the Cold War in his own post. "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," Vance wrote. Musk: The X owner reposted Vance's comments, adding, "Fate loves irony." Musk has supported the AfD for months and said before the German elections that he was "strongly recommending that people vote for AfD."

The X owner reposted Vance's comments, adding, "Fate loves irony." Musk has supported the AfD for months and said before the German elections that he was "strongly recommending that people vote for AfD." German foreign ministry's response: The ministry wrote that "this is democracy" in a post that replied directly to Rubio. "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 ministry wrote that "this is democracy" in a post that replied directly to Rubio. "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." AfD: The party has long faced criticism for Russia-friendly positions, including opposing Germany's stance toward the war in Ukraine. Berlin is Ukraine's second-biggest weapons supplier after the United States. Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution described the party as a threat to the country's democratic order, saying it "disregards human dignity," in particular by what it called "ongoing agitation" against refugees and migrants.

The party has long faced criticism for Russia-friendly positions, including opposing Germany's stance toward the war in Ukraine. Berlin is Ukraine's second-biggest weapons supplier after the United States. Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution described the party as a threat to the country's democratic order, saying it "disregards human dignity," in particular by what it called "ongoing agitation" against refugees and migrants. Extremist designation: The German domestic intelligence service's move to classify the AfD as a right-wing extremist group means its officials can now use informants and other tools such as audio and video recordings to monitor its activities nationwide. It risks, however, fueling the party's claims of political persecution. Far-right parties have been gaining ground across Europe, and the AfD attracts international attention, including support from Musk, who's a close ally of US President Trump.
Lady Gaga will give a free concert on Copacabana Beach Saturday night, the second such show in as many years organized by Rio de Janeiro's City Hall. The show will be the biggest of the pop star's career, as it was for Madonna , who also turned the expansive stretch of sand into a massive dance floor last year, per the AP . City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people are expected to attend and that the show should inject at least $106 million into Rio's economynearly 30% more than Madonna's show. Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028.

The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Year's Eve festivities and the upcoming monthlong St. John's Day celebrations in June. "It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low seasonfilling hotels and increasing spending in bars, restaurants, and retail, generating jobs and income for the population," said Osmar Lima, the city's secretary of economic development, in a statement released by Rio City Hall's tourism department last month. Rio state's security plan for the show includes the presence of 3,300 military and 1,500 police officers, as well as 400 military firefighters.

While the vast majority of attendees will be from Rio, the event is expected to attract Brazilians from across the country and international visitors. Ingrid Serrano, a 30-year-old engineer, made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show. "I've been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life," said Serrano. For her, the megastar represents "total freedom of expressionbeing who one wants without shame."

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Lady Gaga's two-hour-plus performance is scheduled to start at 9:45pm. local time. Sixteen sound towers have been spread along the beach to ensure the hits resonate across the vast space. Madonna's show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year, while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a New Year's Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994. According to Guinness World Records, that was the biggest free rock concert in history.
The first question posed to Warren Buffett during Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders meeting Saturday was about President Trump's tariffs. The investor was critical, Yahoo Finance reports. "We should be looking to trade with the rest of the world, and we should do what we do best, and they should do what they do best," Buffett said, "Trade should not be a weapon." The final topic, 5 hours later, included an announcement that stunned the Omaha gathering. The 94-year-old, who always said he didn't intend to retire, told the crowd that he plans to step down as CEO at the end of 2025.

The chairman and CEO said he'll recommend to the board that Vice Chairman Greg Abel take over. "I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year end," Buffett said, per the Washington Post. The announcement apparently was news not only to the shareholders, but to Abel. "Greg doesn't know anything about this until what he's hearing right now," Buffett said. Abel already manages Berkshire's noninsurance businesses, per the AP, and had been the designated successor. But the implication had been that he wouldn't take over everything until Buffett died.

"I would still hang around and could conceivably be useful in a few cases," Buffett elaborated. "But the final word would be Greg's." He said he'll give his Berkshire shares away eventually but doesn't plan to sell any in the meantime. "The decision to keep every share is an economic decision because I think the prospects of Berkshire will be better under Greg's management than mine," he said. Over 60 years, Buffett built the conglomerate into "a $1.1 trillion colossus," per the New York Times. He took no questions about his announcement, which was followed by a lengthy standing ovation from the thousands of shareholders in the Omaha arena.
The prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognized government said Saturday he was resigning due to political struggles, underscoring the fragility of an alliance fighting Houthi rebels in the Arab world's most impoverished country. Prime Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak announced the decision in a post on social media, attaching a resignation letter directed to Rashad al-Alimi, head of the ruling presidential council, the AP reports. The internationally recognized government is based in the southern city of Aden.

Bin Mubarak, named prime minister in February 2024, said he was resigning because he was unable to take "necessary decisions to reform the state institution, and execute the necessary Cabinet reshuffle." Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, said Bin Mubarak's resignation caps months of simmering tensions between the prime minister and the ruling council over the mandate of each party. He said Bin Bubarak was in part a scapegoat for the government's failure to address the towering economic challenges in the government-held areas, including soaring prices and repeated power outages, per the AP.

Yemen has been embroiled in civil war since 2014, when Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital of Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile in Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition intervened months later and has been battling the rebels since 2015 to restore the government. Bin Mubarak's resignation comes during increased US attacks on the Houthis in Yemen. The US military has launched nearly daily strikes since March 15, when President Trump ordered a new, expanded campaign against the rebels. The war has devastated Yemen and created one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters. More than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have been killed.
President Trump already had eliminated most grants by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities this term, after trying to shut them down in his first term. He returned to that goal in the budget proposal for the next fiscal year released Friday, the New York Times reports. The two agencies are mentioned in the plan, under "small agency eliminations." Hours later, the NEA began to cancel grants to arts organizations around the country, per the Times . The notices were sent from an email address that doesn't accept replies.

The actions are "a systematic effort to undermine the nation's cultural fabric," said Erin Harkey of Americans for the Arts, which advocates for federal funding, per Yahoo News. The budget proposal says the eliminations are "consistent with the president's efforts to decrease the size of the federal government to enhance accountability, reduce waste, and reduce unnecessary governmental entities." The administration had already laid off much of the agencies' staffs and canceled grants, though the NEA had not announced any major cuts yet.

More than a dozen arts nonprofits in the San Francisco area alone were told by email Friday afternoon that their grants had been eliminated, per KQED. Rep. Chellie Pingree, the top Democrat on the House panel that oversees the NEA, told the Times that the president is "making a broad-based attack on the arts, both for funding and content"noting his takeover of the Kennedy Center and attempts to make changes at the Smithsonian Institution.
NASA is asked to take a 25 percent cut in its budget, from about $25 billion to $18.8 billion. The budget would cancel the Lunar Gateway that NASA has started developing and end the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft after two more flights, Artemis II and Artemis III.

The Space Launch System and Lunar Gateway were long ago known to be waste and failed programs. Nextbigfuture has pointed out the flaws and failures for many years.

In 2019, Senator Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, said NASA Administrator Bridenstine said Artemis (SLS  Space Launch System  Moon by 2024 program) could cost $20 (billion) to $30 billion over the next five years. This would mean $4 billion to $6 billion in extra funding each year. In 2019, in Senate testimony NASA Admin Bridensine admitted that the first SLS launch might now be in 2021 instead of 2020. The first (and so far only) SLS launch was the uncrewed Artemis I, which took place on 16 November 2022.

SLS 2011-2019 plus Constellation had been $28 billion.

SLS 2011-2024 plus Constellation and with Artemis was projected to be $59 to $69 billion.

This does not include the costs for the Orion manned capsule.

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.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy, built from three Falcon 9 boosters, first flew in 2018. Falcon Heavy has had 11 successful launches and missions. A fully expendable SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch costs approximately $150 million. A reusable Falcon Heavy launch costs about $95 million. SLS costs over $2 billion per launch.

The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket used for the Artemis II mission, specifically the Block 1 configuration, can lift a payload of over 27 metric tons to the trans-lunar injection (TLI) point. The SpaceX Falcon Heavys Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) capacity is estimated to be between 18 and 22 metric tons.

The SpaceX version 3 of the Super Heavy Starship could be ready for missions starting in early 2026.
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.
Two men from Bergen County have been accused of sexually assaulting a teenager under the age of 16 over the course of 11 months, officials with the Bergen County Prosecutors Office said.

Josue E. Catalan, 19, of Cliffside Park was charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Luis Rosas, 20, of Ridgefield was charged with sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child.

Authorities began an investigation Sunday after learning that a teenager under the age of 16 years had been sexually assaulted on multiple occasions in several different towns, officials said.

Catalan sexually assaulted the juvenile on three occasions in Cliffside Park over the last 11 months, officials said.

Rosas is accused of sexually assaulting the juvenile last month in Ridgefield, and one other time in late 2024, officials said.

Authorities did not release additional details about the incidents or the investigation.

Rosas was arrested Monday and released pending further court proceedings, officials said.

Catalan was arrested Tuesday and released pending further court proceedings, authorities said.

Rosas and Catalan did not have attorneys listed in court records Friday.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
A longtime Bergen County attorney has been disbarred after state ethics officials found he knowingly misappropriated estate funds, practiced law while suspended, and repeatedly ignored investigators demands for information.

In court papers filed April 15, the New Jersey Supreme Court ordered the disbarment of Neal E. Brunson, a Rutherford-based attorney admitted to the bar in 1988.

The order followed findings by the states Disciplinary Review Board that Brunson committed a wide range of serious ethics violations.

Brunson, who had previously been suspended and reprimanded for various violations, was already under a temporary suspension when he took on two new matters in 2021, the board said in its order.

While suspended, Brunson represented an alleged victim of abuse at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility  without disclosing his suspension to the person, the board found.

When questioned, he falsely told her the case was nearing resolution, according to the boards findings.

Another attorney eventually alerted the states Office of Attorney Ethics that Brunson was misrepresenting himself as a licensed attorney.

Brunson had also given the woman more than $2,000 in cash while her claim was pending, in violation of ethics rules prohibiting lawyers from providing financial assistance to clients, according to the board.

In a separate matter, Brunson failed to disclose his suspension status to a client who had earlier hired him to represent the estate of a woman who had died without a will.

After receiving $235,000 in insurance funds, Brunson withdrew $6,000 for himself without authorization or a written fee agreement, according to the board.

Investigators said he also commingled funds, kept poor financial records, and failed to return phone calls and emails from the estates representative.

The board said Brunson failed to respond to multiple notices, certified letters, emails, and hearing notices from disciplinary authorities. It was his fourth default in a disciplinary matter in just three years.

Seven review board members voted in favor of disbarment, while one voted for a two-year suspension and another was absent.

Disbarment is the only appropriate sanction, the board wrote, noting a precedent from decades ago in Wilson v. Hollendonner.

In that case, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled attorneys who knowingly misappropriate client funds must be disbarred, regardless of mitigating circumstances.

Phone numbers listed in Brunsons name have been disconnected. Attorney information for Brunson could not be found in court records.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A veteran firefighter is suing Ocean City, claiming officials passed him over for a promotion to fire chief in retaliation for whistleblowing, prior lawsuits, and his plans to develop a controversial piece of local property.

Deputy Fire Chief Vito DiMarco filed the lawsuit March 20 in Cape May County Superior Court. He alleges he was the most qualified candidate for fire chief in 2024 but was denied the promotion in favor of a lower-ranking employee.

DiMarco says he scored highest on the civil service exam, had the most seniority, and received strong interview feedback from top officials.

But now-retired Fire Chief Jim Smith told him the lower-ranking employee was picked due to stronger public speaking skills, the suit states.

The real reason, DiMarco claims, was retaliation.

The deputy chief had previously sued Ocean City in 2022 over sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims  a suit that was settled.

DiMarco also took legal action against the city over a property he owns that the city allegedly tried to take via eminent domain.

DiMarco says he faced repeated resistance while trying to develop the property and believes city officials, including Mayor Jay Gillian, showed bias because the city wanted to acquire the land.

Bernard F. Walker, who is Ocean Citys current fire chief, declined to comment. Gillian did not respond to a request for comment.

Doug Bergen, spokesman for Ocean City, also declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

The complaint accuses Ocean City of violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and the states whistleblower law, the Conscientious Employee Protection Act.

DiMarco is seeking monetary damages and promotion to fire chief.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Kirk Medas, who starred in MTV's "Floribama Shore," is fighting for his life in the ICU after being diagnosed with a severe illness.

UPDATE: Kirk Medas, popular reality TV star, dies hours after pleas for help

A former MTV reality show star is currently fighting for his life in the after being diagnosed with a severe illness.

Kirk Medas, who appeared on the networks Floribama Shore, has been in the hospital for two weeks battling a severe case of necrotizing pancreatitis, former co-star Aimee Elizabeth Hall shared on Instagram on Thursday.

Our friend Kirk has been in the ICU for over two weeks now, battling a severe case of necrotizing pancreatitis, the post read. Hes currently on a ventilator, and the situation is incredibly serious.

Necrotizing pancreatitis occurs when sever pancreatitis inflammation causes tissue death.

Hall also shared that Medas does not have medical insurance and that his mother has created a GoFundMe to help with the expenses.

It is unclear if Medas dealt with any major health issues before this case.

Halls post also stated that fellow former cast member Nilsa Prowant has been visiting Medas in the hospital as his friends and roommates have been keeping other cast members updated on the situation.

Medas, 33, appeared on the Florida Panhandle-based reality show for 25 episodes from 2017 through 2020. The show, which was inspired by MTVs reality hit Jersey Shore, followed eight cast members through a summer of fun in Panama City Beach, Fla.

More entertainment news:

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Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.comon Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
Former Possessed guitarist Brian Montana was shot and killed after a shootout with San Francisco police on Monday (April 28) Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com

Former Possessed guitarist Brian Montana was shot and killed by South San Francisco police on Monday, the San Mateo Daily Journal reports.

The incident occurred after Montana pulled out a firearm on a neighbor in the South San Franciscos Rancho Buri Buri neighborhood during an argument over tree branches and clippings, according to the report. He was 60.

When officers responded to a call, it was said that Montana had already shot rounds toward the neighbors house. Once the officers arrived, Montana allegedly began firing at the cops in a shootout that lasted over half an hour.

The armed suspect repositioned into a neighboring driveway and fired multiple times at officers using a handgun, shotgun, and rifle, the South San Francisco Police Department said in a statement. Officers used patrol cars as cover and returned fire. The suspect was struck and ultimately pronounced deceased at the scene.

Montana joined Possessed in 1983 and only played on the metal groups 1984 Death Metal demo. The guitarist left the band before they released their 1985 debut album, Seven Churches.

Related coverage:

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Murjani Rawls may be reached at mrawls@njadvancemedia.com, marking a break from touring
Louis Manna, middle, is led of out Newark federal court in 1989 after being found guilty of plotting to kill John Gotti and a number of other crimes related to his work in the Genovese crime family. (Star-Ledger file photo)

He was known as one of the nations most powerful and experienced mafia leaders with intimate knowledge of whos who of notorious gangsters.

As the consigliere, or third-in-command, he ran the New Jersey arm of the infamous Genovese crime family.

But that was a long time ago.

Louis Bobby Manna has been serving an 80-year prison sentence for a series of crimes, including plotting to assassinate New York mob boss John Gotti and his brother Gene, and orchestrating the murder of Irwin The Fat Man Schiff. But this week, the 95-year-old was granted compassionate release from a federal medical prison in Minnesota where he had spent the past 36 years.

U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch, who granted Mannas release, acknowledged the severity of his offenses, calling them egregious and not in dispute. But he also described Manna as indisputably frail, noting that in recent years he has suffered from lung cancer, Parkinsons disease, chronic kidney disease, a bacterial infection, hypertension, and several other serious medical conditions.

Given the gravity of his crimes, Kirsch emphasized that Manna will not be given free range to do as he pleases and leave behind the consequences of his crimes. Manna will remain under 24-hour house arrest with GPS monitoring, supervised by federal probation officers.

According to Jeremy Iandolo, a Brooklyn lawyer representing Manna, he will spend the remainder of his days under the care of his stepson in Bayonne, Hudson County.

Mr. Manna is looking forward to focusing on his health and his family, Iandolo said in a phone interview.

Mannas criminal history dates back to the 1950s, when as a young longshoreman he and several associates assaulted a man who was trying to recruit members for a rival union, court records show. Over the following few decades, he rose up the ranks of the Genovese crime family  one of the five syndicates that dominated organized crime in New York and New Jersey at the time.

Eventually, Manna assumed one of the top positions, or consigliere, overseeing the New Jersey faction of the operation.

Louis Manna, the third-in-command of the Genovese crime family in the 1980s, is led into Newark federal court. (Star-Ledger)

In 1989, Manna was found guilty under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, better known as RICO, for a range of crimes, including murder, extortion, loansharking, and illegal gambling.

The trial used an anonymous jury due to concerns over possible retaliation. Central to the prosecutions case were secret recordings made at Casellas, an Italian restaurant in Hoboken where the crime family regularly conducted business. On those tapes, prosecutors said, Manna could be heard ordering the 1987 murder of Irwin Schiff and discussing plans to assassinate John Gotti and his brother Gene, both members of the Gambino crime family. After the convictions, prosecutors called the outcome a tremendous blow to organized crime in New Jersey.

Over the years, Mannas lawyer repeatedly filed motions seeking his relocation or release.

In 2021, Iandolo filed a motion alleging that the case that led to Mannas imprisonment was rife with prosecutorial misconduct. Iandolo argued that Manna was denied due process of law, alleging that the government actively concealed exculpatory evidence available to them at the time of trial in a successful effort to defraud the court and wrongfully imprison him.

He also contended the recorded conversation central to the 1989 trial was actually about the weekend union shifts of two other individuals, who could have confirmed this but were never called to testify. The motion was dismissed.

Every attempt had been denied. Until now.

Although Mannas release was based on his frail health and time served, Iandolo said Manna continues to maintain his innocence.

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Jana Cholakovska may be reached at jcholakovska@njadvancemedia.com.
East Amwell, New Jersey, 1932. Charles A. Lindbergh, the famed aviator, bursts into the nursery to find his baby missing.

Somewhere in Iraq, 2008. Kurt Perhach, a soldier, hits send on an inquisitive email to the archivist in charge of the evidence from the 76-year-old case.

Both men had just taken the first step in what they didnt yet know would become a years-long saga that would land them in the news and see them in court.

In Lindberghs case, it was as witness for the prosecution, testifying against the German immigrant and carpenter arrested for his 20-month-old sons kidnapping and murder.

In Perhachs, it was as trial counsel, arguing that the state should be forced to permit DNA testing of evidence from the case.

In his view, and the view of others like him, the crime of the century was never truly solved, and Bruno Richard Hauptmann was telling the truth  or at least part of it  as he went to his death protesting his innocence.

Theres still too many questions, Perhach said. Its so unlikely that one single person was involved in this.

Some even believe that Lindbergh, who would go on to become a Nazi sympathizer and eugenics advocate, might have had a hand in the kidnapping.

The way to prove it, Perhach and his allies insist, is to test the ransom notes envelopes preserved at the New Jersey State Police Museum in Ewing, where all the Lindbergh kidnapping case materials are held.

Unless somebody in 1932 had the prophetic foresight to dab water on those stamps and envelope flaps to seal them, Perhach explained, theres a very high probability that somebodys saliva is still there.

The only problem is that the state has proved resolutely resistant to the plan. The New Jersey State Police have denied Perhachs requests, fought his legal efforts and, as of last spring, sealed off the archive.

The most frustrating thing is that they wont even tell me why, he said.

Reached by phone, a press officer for the New Jersey State Police said it was policy not to comment on pending litigation. An agency spokesperson did not immediately respond to a follow-up request for comment over email.

Perhach is suing the state police, filing a lawsuit last week in Mercer County Superior Court that accuses them of violating New Jerseys open public records law.

The complaint, filed on behalf of three plaintiffs, consists of a 29-page brief and more than 175 pages of exhibits. These include supportive letters from retired government agents, the great-grandnephew of a former New Jersey governor, the mayor of Hauptmanns hometown in Germany and a 7-year-old Texan fascinated by science.

One of the plaintiffs, Jonathan Hagel, is a historian at the University of Kansas and a high school buddy of Perhachs. He signed on when he realized the significance of his friends crusade.

In the world were living in, it sounds naive, but a commitment to the truth is important, Hagel said. Theres a potential for a historic injustice to be righted here.

This isnt Perhachs first attempt to compel the state to stand down.

He became fascinated by the Lindbergh kidnapping case as a teenager. After returning from active duty with the Army, he went to law school and passed the bar in New Jersey and New York. He also began making regular trips to the New Jersey State Police Museum.

Like other amateur obsessives, he was allowed to spend hours going through the archives in Ewing, supervised by what he characterized as an encouraging eye.

Before this became combative, all the cops liked us, he said of the troopers stationed at the museum. All the cops wanted to know whose DNA was on those envelopes.

Things first became combative in early 2022, when Perhach formally requested bringing in forensic experts to perform testing. He was told no. After a few months of back and forth, he sued in September.

The case was dismissed the next January. The court found that the states open public records law did not allow for a citizen to march up to a museum and demand that historical artifacts be surrendered for analysis, alteration and destruction.

An appeals court eventually upheld the decision.

As a forensic tool, DNA testing has been around in the United States since 1986. Experts say the technology has since evolved in sophistication to the point that testing can be performed with minimal impact on evidence.

Its so advanced, said Colleen Fitzpatrick, a forensic genealogist involved in Perhachs new case. A colleague of mine worked on letters dating back to 1865 and got human DNA off of them, with no damage to their integrity.

Or as Michele Downie, another plaintiff in the new lawsuit and a retired New Jersey public school teacher, put it: Its not me and a package of Q-tips I picked up at CVS. Its people who know how to do this.

That said, Perhach now admits his case was littered with procedural errors. His day job is as counsel to a pharmaceutical company, and he was more familiar with federal court than state court.

Case number two is far stronger, he said.

The new lawsuit also takes issue with the fact that the museums entire Lindbergh archive, which encompasses some 225,000 records, is not currently accessible to the public.

The suit alleges that state police shuttered the archive shortly after The New York Times reported on Perhachs appeal, claiming that the museum was creating a new standard operating procedure.

When a reporter for NJ Advance Media called the museum on Friday, archivist Greg Ferrara confirmed the archive had been closed since April 2024.

Our research policy is being revisited and updated, Ferrara said.

How long does it take to write a 3- or 4-page-long standard operating procedure? Perhach asked.

Ferrara  whose predecessor corresponded with Perhach while he was in Iraq  said he was unable to provide a timeline on the archives reopening.

To someone in tinfoil hats, the states opposition to DNA testing could start to look like evidence of a conspiracy. What are they hiding from us?

Perhach doesnt buy that. He believes its simple bureaucratic inertia.

I dont think it benefits them to know the truth, he said.

He may not be a conspiracist, but he has the dedication and righteous conviction of one, according to those who know him.

One thing I know about Kurt, Hagel said, is that he will keep looking for the lever he needs to pull to make these material accessible again.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

AJ McDougall may be reached at amcdougall@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X at @oldmcdougall.
UPDATE: Off-duty cop was watching pornography on phone while following 11-year-old around store, officials say

A Piscataway police officer was arrested Thursday after he was accused of following a young woman and a child around a store in South Plainfield while aroused, authorities said.

Wesley Kliwinski, 37, of Hamilton, was charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct, fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, and harassment, a petty disorderly persons offense, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office and the South Plainfield Police Department announced Friday.

The investigation began on Wednesday when it was reported to police that a man, identified Friday as Kliwinski, was following the woman and child around the unidentified store while clearly aroused, according to a statement from the agencies.

Some of the conduct was captured on video surveillance, the office said.

The investigation also revealed that Kliwinski engaged in the same behavior in another store in the borough, police said.

The agencies did not say when the alleged incidents occurred.

Kliwinski was released from the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center after his initial court appearance, the office said.

Once the town learned about the allegations, Kliwinski was suspended from the department pending the outcome of the investigation, a spokesman for Piscataway told NJ Advance Media.

The arrest of Officer Wesley Kliwinski on serious charges is deeply concerning and does not reflect the values and standards of the Piscataway Police Department, the spokesman said. We hold our officers to a high standard and any allegations of criminal conduct are taken extremely seriously.

The incidents are under investigation and anyone with information was asked to call South Plainfield Police Department Detective Thomas Rutter at 908-226-7663 or Detective Haley Hlavka of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-3287.

xxx
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm has a high-grade oblique strain that is expected to have him on the injured list for 4-to-6 weeks. AP

NEW YORK  Jazz Chisholm was optimistic that hed been back in the Yankees lineup playing second baseman Friday night at Yankee Stadium.

Hes been feeling good after being forced out of Tuesday nights game in Baltimore in the first inning with right oblique discomfort. He figured sitting out Wednesday nights game and resting up during Thursdays off day was all the time that he needed to flush out whatever was wrong.
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Despite some dark clouds in the distance, the rain held off during the second Friday of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The crowds were a little lighter than they had been in previous days, but country musician Luke Combs still brought out a large, younger audience for his crowd-pleasing Festival Stage set.

Over on the Fais Do-Do stage, though, there was a celebration of one of Louisianas iconic musicians, Clifton Chenier. And from the first notes, people were bouncing and a few couples were dancing along the edge of the crowd. Zydeco is dance music, after all, and Chenier was the king of zydeco.

June 25 marks 100 years since Chenier was born in Opelousas, and several releases and events this year are celebrating the pioneering Louisiana musician. Chenier died in 1987 at the age of 62.

Led by Cliftons son, accordionist and vocalist C.J. Chenier playing one of his fathers accordions, the tribute set rolled through a number of songs recorded by the zydeco great, like My Baby Shes Gone to Stay and You Used to Call Me. And several guest musicians got the spotlight, including blues pianist Marcia Ball, zydeco musician Curley Taylor and Roddie Romero, who pulled double duty on guitar and accordion.

Backing Chenier and the guest musicians was an all-star band that included Sherelle Chenier Mouton (Cliftons grand-niece) on washboard and Los Lobos guitarist David Hidalgo as well as pianist Eric Adcock, saxophonist Derek Huston, bassist Lee Allen Zeno and drummer Jermaine Prejean. This was a rock-solid band of players deeply ensconced in zydeco and the music of Acadiana.

Along with a celebration of Cheniers music, the show also served as a kind of teaser for an upcoming album, A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, being released June 27 on Joel Savoys Valcour Records. The musicians on the Fais Do-Do Stage played on the album  along with The Rolling Stones, who lead off the album by covering Zydeco Son Pas Sale. Sadly, Mick Jagger wasnt spotted on the Fair Grounds Friday.

If youre at Jazz Fest this weekend, pop into the Grandstand for an exhibit about Chenier organized by the New Orleans Jazz Museum. There are rare photos, video from Les Blanks documentary Hot Pepper playing and Cheniers crown on display.

Over on the Lagniappe Stage earlier Friday, It felt more like a festival from the late 80s or 90s during 007s set  which makes sense given the fact that the band and pretty much everybody in the paddock were squarely in the target audience for those silly I DRANK FROM A HOSE memes.

All your classic Gen X fest archetypes were there: the wobble dancer, the shaggy shuffler, the mom hand dancers and of course the I just hit somebodys joint and Im high left-to-right weight shifter.

The brainchild of G. Love and Special Sauce drummer Jeffrey Houseman Clemens, 007 also boasts Joe Cabral, Jonathan Freilich and Alex McMurray, so basically some of the citys musical heavy hitters playing rocksteady  the perfect soundtrack for a lovely afternoon. The band played a number of Jamaican classics, like Take It Easy, as well as rocksteady covers, including an excellent take on Summer Breeze.

The Gen X reunion vibes also were strong at the Gentilly Stage when Joan Jett & the Blackhearts came out.

For more than 40 years, Jett has been proving not only is she the one true queen of rock n roll  but also the very best her very problematic generation has to offer.

Jett played some of the classics like The Runaways Cherry Bomb, of course, but she also played songs from her four-plus decade catalogue, including Fake friends, Light of Day which Bruce Springsteen wrote for Jett to perform in the 1987 movie and Make the Music Go Boom from her 2023 record Mindset.

She also played an excellent  and topical  cover of The Replacements Androgynous, a celebration of trans and gender-nonconforming people.

Alexey Marti is an accomplished percussionist, but in the Jazz Tent Friday, Marti spent more time showing off his skills as a bandleader. The Cuban-born Marti roamed the stage and directed his nine-person band through a set that ranged from Latin genres to jazz, funk and soul.

Marti still demonstrated his abilities behind the conga, particularly on his original, Carnival, but he turned the show over to celebrated percussionist Weedie Braimah for a couple of songs. He also put the spotlight more on the members of his band, including Cuban trumpet player David Navarro and pianist Ronald Rodriguez.

Benin International Musical, or BIM, is one of those bands youre glad play again the next day. The Benin-born group rocked the Congo Square Stage and the Jazz & Heritage Stage, and it wasnt enough time. BIM plays West African-rooted music thats been supercharged through rock and hip-hop with a little dance-punk thrown in for good measure.

Their vocalists rap in Fon, Yoruba and a little bit of English with a style that calls back to The Fugees, and the guitarist wasnt afraid to let loose. While its a unique style, in BIMs hands, it isnt hard to see the root relationships between West Africa and American-born rock and hip-hop  with New Orleans planted in the middle. The band, which is influenced by vodoun ceremony, also nodded to their spiritual connections to New Orleans.

Four shows may not be enough. They play again Saturday at 2:35 p.m. on the Jazz & Heritage Stage and at 5:30 p.m. in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion.

Son Rompe Pera is another band playing four sets during Jazz Fest, and again: See them any chance you can. The young Mexico City bands ethos (and the name of one of their songs) is cumbia is the new punk, and that was easy to see on the Jazz & Heritage Stage. The five-piece bands set fused cumbia with psychedelia, garage rock and a little hardcore punk for an energetic and fascinating show. There may have never been a harder working marimba maniac than Kacho Gama, who started the band with his brothers Mongo and Kilos. It was a sweaty, fun show casting cumbia in a new light.

Son Rompe Pera plays again Saturday at 11:20 a.m. on the Festival Stage and at 2:40 p.m. in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion.
Spring is in the air, outdoor patios are opening back up again: Its not hard to find fervor for fiesta.

But you might want to start at Fuerte Meat Market in East Chicago, one of the Regions authentic Mexican grocery stores.

When I visited last week, their display was being loaded up with marinated meat: chicken, flank steak, with the most popular item for the coming holiday being arrachera.

Most of the meats are a bright orange, mixed in among bell peppers and onions. The coloring comes from Mexican spices like guajillo peppers, explained store owner Bartolo Fuerte.

This is what sells for Cinco de Mayo, Fuerte said. Chicken, beef, chicharron (pork rinds), salsa, hot stuff. Its exciting. Neighbors will come together like a family.

Indeed, as Fuerte suggests, the holiday is more than just an opportunity to drink Corona and fire up the grill. For many store and restaurant owners, particularly of Mexican descent, it's an opportunity to showcase their heritage via culinary cultural touchstones.

Here are some fun options around the Region for celebrating Cinco de Mayo with comida y bebida gastronomo:

Mole Poblano, Veleros

255 Indiana Avenue, Valparaiso

Although Cinco de Mayo often has a Tex-Mex feel  the true Mexican Independence Day is on September 16  if anyone can lay claim to its authenticity, its the owners of Veleros Mexican, who hail from Puebla, where the history of Cinco de Mayo occurred. An outnumbered Mexican army defeated French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

The Mexican people won in our state, said Veleros manager Luis Valle. Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican tradition. But its also about drinking, eating food. Were excited.

Although Veleros originally had a location off of Calumet in Valpo, this is their first year in a new spot, one block off Lincolnway, with a patio and full bar.

One traditional Mexican cuisine Veleros has that not all places carry, native to Puebla, is Mole Poblano, a classic Mexican chicken stew whose sauce is made with cocoa.

A good mole, which Veleros has, should not taste like (only) chocolate; its a sweet but fruity, peppery mix. Its a darker, more flavorful sauce for your chicken enchiladas than your typical red or green salsa.

If youre just looking to knock down some beers, Veleros also has an ace in the hole: their own signature Mexican lager.

The Veleros beer, a partnership with Crown Points Off Square Brewing, is an amber ale that has a darker, caramel color, slightly maltier, than your classic Mexican variety like Corona or Pacifico.

That also makes it, in my opinion, a better option to drink by itself, as opposed to incorporating it into a michelada. Valle himself said he prefers a classic lager in a cold glass with a lime.

Veleros is promising to offer drink buckets, margaritas and a mix of items.

If you want something fancy we have something like barbacoa, Valle said. But basically a lot of people are going to go for the tacos.

Carne Asada, El Salto

9611 Calumet Ave, Munster, Misc. Locations Throughout Region

If youre a purist and demand Cinco de Mayo tacos, then you cant go wrong with carne asada (skirt steak).

Im a simple, traditional guy, boasts the owner of El Salto, Jose Mendoza. If Im at El Salto, or really anywhere, for me, carne asada and tacos are the staple of any Mexican restaurant.

El Saltos Region locations  there are six of them  have been preparing lots of tacos for special taco platters this weekend, and Monday, along with $5 tequila shots and $3 Mexican beers.

Cinco de Mayo is a huge holiday for the industry as a whole, Mendoza said, adding that he loves the NWI communitys support and appreciation for Mexican cuisine and culture.

We try to keep it a positive, festive environment, Mendoza said. Porter and Lake County, these are very diverse areas, and were lucky to have a diverse customer group.

(They also have birria tacos, which is a beef stew served with aus jus, like a Mexican Italian Beef. Or is Italian Beef the Italian version of Birria? Dont ask your server this question on Monday.)

Margaritas, Cinco de Mayo,

3380 Willowcreek Rd #5052, Portage

Why limit Cinco de Mayo to only one day?

At least one Region restaurant was savvy enough to offer Cinco de Mayo every day by putting it in its name.

Everybody thinks of us when the holiday comes up, said manager Sarahi Alvarado. The owner wanted a name that would catch customers. And its easy to remember. So they flock here and ask us about the history (of the holiday).

And they will come. Alvarado expects a line out the door come Monday.

Alvarado, who insisted that they have the best carne asada, said the staff was busy decorating and getting ready for a fun lineup of drinks.

That includes margaritas on the rocks prepared in a traditional style (and in a huge glass rimmed with tajin). All the drinks are made from scratch and with syrups made in-house, Alvarado said.

They also boast a paradise flight: a lineup of a traditional lime margarita, a tequila sunrise and a paloma (like a margarita but with grapefruit).

The bar is going to be full, Alvarado predicted. People are always surprised by how busy it is. But its going to be worth it!

As they say, when life gives you limes, throw in for some tequila and triple sec.

5 taco and other Cinco de Mayo-inspired recipes to try this week Food & Cooking Spotlight What tequila makes the best margarita? Experts offer tips, recipes Forget those premade mixes with their gooey sweetness, unnatural acidity and glow-in-the-dark fluorescent color. The best margaritas come freshly squeezed juices, agave syrup and your favorite tequila.
GARY  City leadership on Friday welcomed Bernice King, the youngest daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., for Gary Mayor Eddie Melton to present her with a Key to the City  an honor bestowed upon her father 65 years prior in the very same room.

"This is a very special day for the City of Gary," mayor Eddie Melton said at City Hall, "to have this opportunity and celebrate someone that means so much to the City of Gary."

Several Gary city councilmembers were present, along with state Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary, to witness the historic occasion.

Bernice King, 62, is the CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, commonly known as the King Center. Her work is focused on continuing to promote her parents' legacy of nonviolent social change through policy, advocacy, research, education and training.

Melton said he's known Bernice King for a few years and has built a personal relationship with her that has helped him develop leadership skills and a new angle to approach his mayorship.

Bernice King said Friday that while she believes social justice advocates have done well at what she called the "hard work" of organizing and mobilizing, they've frequently failed to consistently do the "heart work."

"There's a lot of things that need to be transformed inside of people," Bernice King said, "not just people that we are opposed to, but it starts with each and every one of us."

She likened the outward thinking versus inward thinking to the differences between windows and mirrors.

"When I look out that window, it gives me insight and perspective on what's happening, you know, out there," Bernice King said. "But when I look in the mirror, it's back at me, and it causes me to have to look at myself... So for all of those who ever told you, or if you believe that (nonviolence) doesn't work, if it doesn't work it means that you didn't allow it to work with you first. Because it was never designed to first change the other person. It was designed to change you."

A little over four years after the civil rights leader organized the Montgomery bus boycott, Martin Luther King Jr. first visited Gary in April 1959, where former mayor George Chacharis presented him with a Key to the City.

"During that time, in his era, and even now, his words were that moral compass to the nation," Melton said. "And I think we're at a point in time in history where we need that same type of moral character and integrity to help us navigate through challenging moments."

Martin Luther King Jr. would return to Gary in 1962 and again in 1966 to deliver speeches. He was assassinated in Memphis less than two years later. Bernice King was only 5 years old when he passed away.

"It's always an honor to be able to kind of trace the footsteps of my father," Bernice King said, "going to some of the places that he went and perhaps even receiving some of the honors that he received."

The King daughter said she's lost track of the number of keys and other recognitions she's received from cities across the country. She began speaking publicly about continuing her father's mission when she was 17.

"It's an opportunity for me to continue that legacy, to help new generations understand who (Martin Luther King Jr.) was and the work that he did," Bernice King said of Friday's event. "Because we have to move beyond the man and really understand the mission and the work."

Bernice King's humility about it all was palpable on Friday. Her black suit jacket, engraved with the phrase "impact over fame," further drove home her meekness.

But Bernice King also emphasized the work her mother, Coretta Scott King, did to allow Martin Luther King Jr.'s message to spread far and wide.

"People don't realize that the 'Iconic King' (Martin Luther King Jr.) is an icon because of her (Coretta Scott King's) work," she said. "Had she not made the sacrifices she made and had she not created the real blueprint for remembering his work, I don't think we would be having these kinds of celebrations and events like we had here tonight."

In 1973, Illinois became the first state to observe a holiday in King's memory. A decade later, federal legislation sponsored by former Democratic Indiana Rep. Katie Hall passed Congress and was signed into law by former Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday.

Bernice King interned in Hall's office in the summer of 1983, she said.

Melton said it was important for the city to bring in someone like Bernice King to "continue to lift up the spirits of residents, to let them know that government can't do it all by itself."

"A city that has endured so much over the last 50 years or more, in terms of economic downturn, poverty (and) social issues, I think we're still overcoming those issues today," Melton said. "But I think we're on the right track, on the right path... We need the residents and the citizens to be a part of that transformation."
New Delhi: A former Bangladesh army officer and close associate of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has reportedly suggested that Dhaka should consider collaborating with China to take control of India's northeastern states in the event of an Indian military response to the Pahalgam terror attack on Pakistan.

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.

The Yunus-led interim government appointed Rahman 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 said in a media release on Friday, "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 Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported that the government urged all concerned to refrain from associating the state with Rahman's personal views.

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, Chief Adviser 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 also drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines, reported PTI.
A Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Chennai was subjected to a thorough security inspection upon landing in Colombo on Saturday, following an alert regarding a possible suspect linked to the Pahalgam terror attack, according to Sri Lankan police officials.

Flight UL 122, which arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport at 11:59 am, was searched in coordination with local security agencies after the Chennai Area Control Centre issued an alert about a suspect wanted in India who was believed to be onboard.

SriLankan Airlines confirmed the search and stated that the aircraft was cleared for further operations after a comprehensive inspection.

The public that Flight UL 122, operated by aircraft 4r-ALS, which arrived in Colombo from Chennai at 11:59 hrs today (3 May), was subjected to a comprehensive security search upon arrival. This was carried out in coordination with local authorities following an alert from the pic.twitter.com/bpvT7hKNLd  ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025

The inspection comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Four terrorists, including two from Pakistan, reportedly targeted victims based on their religion, sparking national and international condemnation.

Reacting strongly to the attack, India on Saturday announced a suspension of inbound mail and parcel exchanges with Pakistan via air and surface routes. Earlier in the day, the government had also banned all imports from Pakistan and barred Pakistani-flagged vessels from docking at Indian ports.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's tough stance on terrorism.

(With inputs from agencies)
Healing hands: Chinese medical team launches island-wide free clinics in Vanuatu

13:08, May 03, 2025 By Guo Xinhui ( Xinhua

SUVA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- "This is the first time we have received such professional medical care right at our doorstep. Thank you, Chinese doctors!" said a resident in Santo, the largest island of Vanuatu.

The elderly just received acupuncture treatment from a doctor of the third batch of the Chinese medical team in Vanuatu and was amazed by this magical traditional Chinese Medicine, which provided immediate relief for his joint pain.

The Chinese medical team recently conducted a week-long island-wide free clinic program in Santo, providing locals with blood pressure and blood sugar tests, chronic disease screenings, oral health checks, and traditional Chinese medicine treatments, all vital services that many had not previously accessed.

During their stay, the Chinese team was based at the only medical facility in the area, the Northern Province Hospital, where they helped provide daily consultations, treatments and surgeries to local patients, besides donating much-needed medical supplies.

The hospital is facing a shortage of medical supplies and outdated equipment, which limits the ability to conduct many basic examinations, said team leader Chen Mulei.

"Our team members drew extensively on their clinical experience to address resource shortages, prioritizing urgent medical issues across surgical, internal medicine, dental, and traditional Chinese medicine specialties," Chen told Xinhua.

One significant case involved a patient with a severe inguinal hernia who had gone without effective treatment for years because of medical constraints. Following a collaborative evaluation by general surgeon Yang Yong and urologist Fan Bohan, the medical team successfully operated on the patient, who was able to recover and be discharged within two days.

Mark Akoe, head of the Northern Province Hospital, expressed his deep gratitude. "The efficiency and professionalism of the Chinese medical team have greatly assisted us, and we look forward to long-term cooperation!"

The third batch of medical personnel, comprising nine clinical staff members from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, was dispatched to Vanuatu in September 2024.

Since their arrival, the medical team has diagnosed and treated over 2,500 patients, performed more than 400 surgeries, and held nearly 40 training sessions along with dozens of free healthcare services, earning widespread acclaim from the local community.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Bulawayo City Council has appealed to residents to refrain from using sanitary lanes and shop alleyways in the central business district as makeshift toilets, warning that such behaviour could trigger serious public health risks.In a statement issued this week, council corporate communications manager Nesisa Mpofu said the city was concerned about increasing reports of unsanitary practices in public spaces, particularly in alleyways behind shops."The City of Bulawayo urges residents to help maintain a clean and healthy city by refraining from using shop lanes as makeshift toilets," Mpofu said.She emphasized that the council had made available free public toilets within reasonable walking distance in the city centre and encouraged residents to use them responsibly.Mpofu acknowledged challenges with access to ablution facilities in certain parts of the city, especially along Fourth Avenue following the relocation of long-distance bus operators from Gwanda Road."Appropriate measures will be implemented soon to address the issue and ensure that public health standards and human dignity are not compromised," she added.However, Mpofu said vandalism of public facilities remains a major setback in efforts to improve sanitation.Currently, Bulawayo has 41 free public toilets and an additional 26 that are leased. Of these, 30 are temporarily closed due to damage caused by vandals."Council is actively working on restoring these vandalised toilets and will progressively reopen them to improve access and increase the number of free public toilets available to the community," Mpofu said.She also revealed that the council recently constructed two new public toilets at Emganwini shopping centre and in Lobengula West (Konron) as part of broader efforts to improve urban sanitation infrastructure.Business owners in the city have expressed reluctance to allow public use of their restrooms due to repeated cases of vandalisma concern the council says it understands and is working to address."Council continues to work on solutions that balance public access with the need to maintain and protect these facilities," Mpofu noted.Meanwhile, housing and community services officer Thulani Magagula has also raised alarm over public parks being misused by touts and informal traders as open toilets, further degrading recreational spaces that were once the pride of the city.Once hailed as the cleanest city in Zimbabwe, Bulawayo is currently grappling with widespread littering and illegal dumping. Despite intensified cleanup campaigns, Mayor David Coltart recently conceded that the impact has been limited, with some areas still marred by uncollected waste.Council has pledged to step up efforts to restore the city's reputation for cleanliness and order, but stressed that it requires full cooperation from residents, business owners, and visitors alike.
It doesn't seem reasonable to keep kids out of day care or school for many weeks.

Questions are answered by experts at the Oregon Health Authority, other state agencies or community partners. Questions and answers are republished by permission.

Q: I own a day care and we have six children with Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease. One child had a doctors note confirming his condition and was told he can return to day care. All the other children were told by their doctors that they needed to stay home until blisters were scabbed. Why conflicting notes from doctors? Which is correct?  Darlene, Beaverton

A: Great question, and I suspect the confusion stems from the fact that there are no generally agreed-upon guidelines for this. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is not considered serious, but it is common in children under 5 and quite contagious. Although symptoms are usually mild (fever, sore throat and painful mouth blisters) and last around 7-10 days, children can shed the virus that causes it for a long time (weeks!)in poop, saliva and respiratory droplets. It doesnt seem reasonable to exclude them from school or childcare for weeks.

We would say that a child with the diagnosis should not attend school or childcare until theyre feeling better, with no fever for at least 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medicines such as Tylenol).

To prevent continued spread, however, we further recommend:

 Frequent hand washing with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, blowing the nose, coughing or sneezing.

 Covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.

 Avoiding close contact with others, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing cups or eating utensils

 Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and shared items.

Q: I am highly allergic to Thimerosal and/or the other names for the preservative that is in many shots. Is the COVID-19 booster still being preserved in the same fashion as it was in the beginning? In a really cold environment? Or has it changed to the way that the flu shot and/or other shots are stored? Since I have an extreme allergy to Thimerosal, I am worried that it will be changed at some point, and I wont be told. I (support vaccination), but Im also someone that has the potential of dying if I have any of the preservatives.  Anonymous, Sherwood

A: Rest assured the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine does not contain the preservative Thimerosal, nor has any previous COVID-19 vaccine. It is preserved by freezing or refrigeration, and the mRNA vaccines may be held at room temperature for no more than 12 hours.

You can search different excipients (other stuff in vaccines such as preservatives and stabilizers) at this website. Here are the results when you search for Thimerosal, and the vaccines that currently contain it:

 Afluria (An influenza vaccine)

 Flucelvax (An influenza vaccine)

 Fluvirin (An influenza vaccine)

 FluZone (An influenza vaccine)

 TDVax (Tetanus + diphtheria vaccine)

If you have questions about health topics for the Oregon Health Authority, submit your question here. Although the agency is unable to answer every question, it will try to address those of interest to a broad audience. Please understand that OHA is unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
Horses run around turn one at Churchill Downs during the sixth race before the running of the 139th Kentucky Oaks at Friday, May 3, 2013, in Louisville, Ky. AP

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An Albany woman apologized in Benton County court to the family of a woman she killed in a hit-and-run on U.S. 20 last year.

A man spraying for weeds in a field along the highway found the body of 29-year-old Deborah Rosemary Haikkila in a ditch surrounded by tall grass near Hyak Park in April 2024.

When police caught up to Brenda Lopez Lopez, now 25, as the likely suspect, she told investigators she thought she hit a pole, prosecutor Kenneth Park said, though it was pretty obvious that was not the case from the damage on the car.

Park said shortly after the accident Lopez Lopez went to a friends house and got help driving the car over to her parents house to hide it.

There were some indications that she might have been looking for somebody to do some body work on the vehicle that was not going to report anything to the police, Park said.

In addition, Lopez Lopez admitted to law enforcement that she was using her cellphone while driving when she fatally struck Haikkila.

Victims sister speaks

During the sentencing hearing, Haikkilas sister gave a victim impact statement to the court, saying there was no replacing what was taken away by Lopez Lopez.

Ive tried so hard this last year to, well to forgive you, and I still cannot manage that, she said. I hope that you take what has happened and the consequences for this, and I really hope that you use it to better your life and to make the changes that you see you need to make in your life.

Lopez Lopez was charged with felony counts of second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault, aggravated driving while suspended and failure to perform drivers duties to an injured person.

Last month, she pleaded guilty in Benton County court to aggravated driving while suspended and failure to perform drivers duties to an injured person. The remaining charges were dismissed under a plea deal.

The defendant responds

Lopez Lopez also addressed the court, offering her deepest condolences to Haikkilas family for their loss. She said she would continue to pray for Haikkilas eternal peace.

Her family is always in my prayers, Lopez Lopez said. Forgiveness is a really tricky thing, and its hard, and I couldnt ever expect or have an expectation of you ever. Just know that I am deeply sorry and youre in my prayers. Deborah is in my prayers.

Judge Matthew Donohue sentenced Lopez Lopez to 19 months in prison and a 10-year drivers license suspension. He also ordered her to pay $7,170 in restitution for funeral costs, and to serve three years of post-prison supervision.

Haikkilas body was found around 3 p.m. April 24, 2024. Dressed in dark clothing, she had been dead for several days. Apparently homeless when she died, she had not been reported missing.

The Benton County Sheriffs Office used fingerprints to identify her and put out a request for the public to help find the vehicle involved in her death  a black Toyota Corolla Cross with front-end damage, pieces of which were found near the body.

That prompted Lopez Lopez to turn herself over to authorities, according to prosecutor Park.

According to court records, Lopez Lopez pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in May 2022 in Marion County. Following a failed diversion program, she was sentenced in October 2023 to 18 months of bench probation with her license suspended for a year.

Those conditions were in place when she hit Haikkila.

Department of Corrections records show that as of Thursday, April 29, Lopez Lopez is being held at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville.

 2025 Albany Democrat-Herald, Ore.. Visit www.democratherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Police say a Vancouver, Washington, man sexually abused a child and shared sexually explicit material featuring children with the operator of an online chat room.

Vancouver police said they arrested Kaleb Mormance on suspicion of 17 charges Saturday, including two counts of rape of a child, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and several allegations of dealing in or possessing sexually explicit depictions of minors.

The Vancouver Police Department said it was contacted by the FBI after police in Utah served a warrant on the owner of an online chat room. Authorities alleged the site was geared toward people who sexually abused children no older than 9.

During the Utah search, investigators found what appeared to be recently produced content, according to Vancouver Police, and identified Mormance as a suspect.

Mormance remained lodged in Clark County Jail as of Satruday afternoon, according to jail records. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon.
President Donald Trump acknowledges Riley Gaines as he speaks before signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer known for her outspoken opposition to transgender athletes participation in womens sports, is scheduled to speak at Portland State University next week.

The event  sponsored by the Virginia-based Leadership Institute, a conservative group  is set for Monday at 6 p.m. at the Smith Memorial Student Union ballroom.

But the controversial speaker is already stirring rumbles of opposition on campus  with several student groups planning counter programming, according to a university spokesperson.

[RELATED: How will Trumps executive order about transgender athletes affect Oregon? Its unclear]

The Queer Resource Center and Womens Resource Center will host a drop-in game of Giant Pink Volleyball at the campus recreation center around the same time as Gaines event, according to social media posts and the PSU spokesperson, Katy Swordfisk.

Other flyers circulating online have called on PSU to stop promoting transphobia and kick Riley Gaines off campus.

In a statement, Swordfisk noted that the public university supports free speech, even when the views expressed run counter to the beliefs and values held by many individuals in our community.

She said a group of students had helped plan the event, but the reservation and $1,340 in rental fees were paid by the Leadership Institute.

President Donald Trumps Department of Education has launched investigations at Portland State and numerous other universities nationwide over claims of antisemitism on campus. The announcement in February came after pro-Palestinian demonstrators, many not enrolled at PSU, occupied the university library last year, leading to widespread vandalism and $1.2 million in repairs.

Gaines, 25, and the Leadership Institute didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe.
Seven candidates are vying for four seats on the Hillsboro school board. The Oregonian/OregonLive offers an in-depth look at their positions on key issues. Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian

Two incumbent members of the Hillsboro school board are stepping down at the end of their terms, creating an opening for a newcomer to more easily win a seat on the board that oversees Oregons fourth largest school district.

Two women are facing off for each of those open seats, while incumbent board chair Mark Watson, who founded a software company, is fending off a challenge from the former president of the Hillsboro teachers union, Mary Barnhart.

Incumbent Nancy Brown, a chief operations officer in a child welfare office, drew no opponent in her reelection race.

School board races are typically low budget affairs, and these races are no different.

Watson has raised about $5,000, with his biggest contributions coming from Stand for Children Oregon, at $1,000, and the Washington County Democrats, at $800. Barnhart has not reported raising any contributions.

The Oregonian/OregonLive asked each of the candidates to stake and explain their positions on many of the key issues facing the Hillsboro School District.

Here is what the candidate in each of the four races had to say:

Sidney Thompson, left and Yessica Hardin Mercado are both running for Position 1 on the Hillsboro school district board. Courtesy of the candidates

Hillsboro school board Position 1: Read where the candidates stand on the issues, in their own words

Maureen Barnhart, left, and Mark Watson are vying for the Position 2 seat on the board of the Hillsboro School District. Courtesy of the candidates

Hillsboro school board Position 2: Read what the candidates have to say

Nancy Thomas is running for reelection to Position 3 on the Hillsboro School Board. Courtesy of Nancy Thomas

Hillsboro school board position 3: Read what the candidate has to say

Hillsboro school board candidates Katie Rhyne, left, and Rebecca Descombes are vying to succeed Monique Ward in the Position 6 seat. Courtesy of the candidates

Hillsboro school board Position 6: Read where the candidates stand

Julia Silverman covers K-12 education. Reach her at jsilverman@oregonian.com
The exterior of Beverly Cleary K-8 School in Northeast Portland. Parents there have been pushing for dedicated funding in the 2025 Portland Public Schools bond to address seismic upgrades. Lizzy Acker

Three Portland Public Schools board members have drafted a resolution to earmark almost all unspecified spending from its proposed $1.83 billion bond for seismic upgrades at elementary and middle schools.

The eleventh-hour resolution, first disclosed by Willamette Week, comes amid a firestorm of questions about the specifics, or lack thereof, in the bond proposal, the bulk of which is dedicated to replacing or modernizing three high schools. Most of the districts voters already have ballots in hand and the deadline to vote is May 20.

The resolution, drafted by outgoing board members Julia Brim-Edwards and Gary Hollands along with Herman Greene, who is running for reelection, will be up for a vote at the school board meeting Tuesday. Hollands said he believes there is enough support from the other four board members to pass the plan.

[Update: The board did approve it Tuesday evening.]

The proposed bond commits $190 million for deferred maintenance improvements, like heating and cooling systems, leaky roofs and wiring and plumbing replacements. In addition, board members hope  though it is not guaranteed  is that costs for remaking the three high schools can be brought down enough to dedicate at least an additional $200 million to upgrading the districts under-maintained, aging elementary and middle schools.

But so far, the district has not committed to specifics about how that money might be allocated.

The resolution specifies that $100 million of the deferred maintenance funding would be set aside for emergencies, system end-of-life useful replacements and unplanned projects to respond to imminent risks to students or district personnel.

But the remainder  at least $90 million and possibly significantly more  would be available to address critical repairs and improvements at middle and elementary schools to mitigate the seismic deficiencies at the 8-10 schools assessed to pose the greatest risk of injury or death in a significant seismic event.

The resolution was drafted with help from parents, including a well-organized cohort from Beverly Cleary K-8 in the well-off Grant Park neighborhood of Northeast Portland. The school is one of 19 that is constructed largely of unreinforced brick masonry, likely to crumble in an earthquake.

Sixteen of those schools have gotten some seismic work done in the past decades, most via seismically strengthened roofs, a significant step to prevent full collapse, or interior upgrades. (The three that have gone thus far untouched: Capitol Hill Elementary in Southwest Portland, Rose City Park Elementary in Northeast Portland and George Middle School in North Portland.)

At a forum on Saturday morning that drew mostly Beverly Cleary parents with a smattering of families from other schools, some parents said that having the seismic earmark in the bond made them more likely to support the proposed bond.

We need to pass the school modernization fund. It is an imperative. If we do not pass it, it could be years before we get another chance, said Beverly Cleary parent Per Olstad, who has become the public face of the push for seismic safety.

A sign outside Beverly Cleary K-8 School in the Grant Park neighborhood in Portland in support of the upcoming Portland Public Schools construction bond. Lizzy Acker

Support for the districts proposed bond, by far the largest K-12 money measure in Oregon history, has softened amid questions about the costs of the three high schools, their size and the lack of funding for other critical repairs in elementary and middle schools, polling shows.

The resolution from the three board members does leave wiggle room for future boards. It would allow the districts superintendent and top staff members to recommend redirecting the money from seismic upgrades upon a writing showing of impracticality, demonstrable needs or reasonable evidence, that the funds are needed elsewhere to address health and safety concerns.

It also entertains the possibility that some of the schools at highest risk of collapse in an earthquake may wind up as candidates for closure as the districts enrollment shrinks and costs for complete seismic upgrades mount.

If voters approve the bond, property owners would keep paying the same tax rate of $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed value, or about $710 a year for an average home assessed at $284,000. Property owners would spend the next 32 years paying off the costs.

Should the bond be voted down, the tax rate for school construction will fall to about $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value for the next eight years, then continue to fall as previous bonds are retired.

 Julia Silverman covers K-12 schools for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com
Crowds gather for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Lincoln High School's grand unveiling of its new building in 2022. Three more neighborhood high schools in Portland would be modernized if voters pass a $1.83 billion construction bond this month, but questions remain about the specifics. Photo by Leif Sjoquist

Last summer, internal polling suggested that the $1.83 billion school construction bond that Portland Public Schools went on to place on the May 20 ballot  by far the largest K-12 money measure in state history  would sail to victory, with 72% of voters saying theyd OK the plan.

Nine months later, with pointed questions swirling over what exactly that $1.83 billion will  and wont  pay for, the outlook for the bonds passage is less rosy.

The results of a more recent round of polling paid for by Nike are under wraps. But Deborah Kafoury, chief of staff to Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong, confirmed this week that support has fallen off.

Insiders say the footwear giants survey still suggests voters will pass Measure 26-259, but by a narrow margin, a perilous perch in a town thats supported every school funding measure for the last 13 years, including by a 3-to-1 margin in 2020.

Among the factors that have some voters looking askance:

>> Hopes that the costs of revamping three high schools could be brought down to around $360 million apiece have dimmed, leaving their estimated price tags between $440 million and $466 million, and cutting into hopes that there would be nearly $500 million left over to address the districts neglected elementary and middle schools. That puts Portland in line to have three of the most expensive high schools ever built in the United States.

>> District officials insist that they are still seeking cost savings but say they wont be able to provide more specifics until post-election. There is also no guarantee that final costs wont blow past the current price tags, as several previous projects did, further whittling away any cushion for upgrades at other schools.

>> The plan would result in space for 15,300 high school students, while projections say the district will have about 10,700 by 2039, given both a declining birth rate and the lack of affordable housing in Portland.

>> Many of the districts aging elementary and middle schools have critical needs, including for modern heating and cooling systems. And 19 are built of unreinforced masonry, sure to crumble in an earthquake. Yet bond planners can only be certain of $190 million to meet all those maintenance needs and wont pledge which they will complete.

District leaders say the process has come too far to turn back now and that answers and solutions will come once the money is in hand.

If we keep changing our minds, that is going to cost us more than just going for it, said school board Chair Eddie Wang. We are not going to see the savings that we are hoping for and we would delay the builds for another year. The costs will go up, all those savings will get eaten up. People will be disappointed by how little it will return.

High schools, high prices

The centerpiece of the proposed bond is $1.15 billion earmarked to modernize school buildings. Right now, at least 84% of that, or about $942 million, is projected to go to just three projects: building brand new Jefferson and Cleveland high schools and updating Wells High, each designed for 1,700 students.

The price tags, which have been as slippery to pin down as wet fish, are driven up by the cost of materials, complicated site logistics, sustainability goals for mechanical and electrical systems, and contractor fees.

The costs far outpace those of new schools in Seattle, Beaverton, Kentucky and California. (The Portland price tags are, however, below the $662 million budget under consideration for a massive new high school in Lexington, Massachusetts, one of the countrys wealthiest suburbs where median home values are well over a million dollars.)

The high price projections come as enrollment projections suggest that by the time all three are open, Clevelands population will have dropped to about 900 students and Wellss to about 1,260. And Jefferson  barring redrawing of enrollment boundaries, which will draw down the student bodies at Roosevelt, McDaniel and Grant high schools  will still be around 500.

Wang argues vociferously that the enrollment projections from the Population Research Center at Portland State have underestimated Portland before and could do so again. (The districts own long-range facility plan, completed in 2021, tells a different story, noting that even the population estimates during the heady days of the 2010s in Portland had an error rate of less than 2% and often below 1%).

We can build small and just reflect what the projections are right now and potentially be part of the doom loop of Portland, Wang said. Or we can be aspirational and say Portland is trying to increase housing density and create affordable housing. So are we going to be part of that and build world-class schools that will help attract people to the city?

Portland States Population Research Center Director Ethan Sharygin, himself a Portland Public Schools parent, says hed love to be wrong. But he doesnt think its likely, particularly given a nationwide declining birth rate and in the absence of a booming economy. Of the affordable housing complexes recently finished or currently in development in Portland, Sharygin says that comparatively few apartments are the two- and three-bedroom units most suitable for families.

Nothing in the near term really seems like it will move the needle on birth rates for the next 30 years, Sharygin said. Future growth might be at most 1% to 2%. They [Portland Public Schools] need to navigate being a declining district for the next five years and then a smaller district than they have been.

The schools left behind

Completing work on the three Portland high schools would fulfill a promise that the district made to voters 14 years ago to rebuild or renovate all of its comprehensive high schools over a span of about 20 years. The idea was that when the initiative was complete, every student could be sure of attending at least one shiny new school over their 13 years in the school system.

But in the meantime  and for at least the next eight years, until a new bond could be issued without driving up property tax rates  almost all of the districts 70 or so aging middle and elementary schools, 38 of which were built before 1930, will continue to receive less maintenance than they need. The districts own estimates for how much it will cost to address backlogged repairs range between $617 million and $1 billion.

Parent Anne Cherrys first graders experience at Arleta Elementary in Southeast Portland is typical. The district did recently install an entry ramp, a long overdue accessibility improvement, she said. But her child reports that one room in the building is always too hot and another is always too cold, Cherry said.

Over the last six months, school board members and district staff alike have tied themselves into knots trying to reduce the costs of the high schools to free up money for the elementary and middle schools, to little avail. Steps theyve taken include reducing the size of each school to about 295,000 square feet, down from about 320,000.

Cutting even more space has diminishing returns, Wang said, since any new high school needs core components like a cafeteria, a gym, an auditorium, science labs and office space. Reducing classrooms forces teachers to vacate their home base during their prep periods so another teacher can use it, meaning that they cant get set up for incoming classes, he said, setting off a domino effect of eating into student learning time.

Other reductions have been mostly nickel-and-dime affairs  a few classrooms lost here, a smaller theater there, not paying for the imprimatur of a LEED certified building  that have added up to between $35 million and $67 million in savings.

Complicating matters: A clamor is growing among parents to dedicate any available funding to seismic upgrades, particularly in the 19 schools in the district that have unreinforced brick masonry, leaving them at the highest risk of crumbling in the event of an earthquake.

Sixteen of those schools have gotten some seismic work done in the past decades, most via seismically strengthened roofs or interior upgrades. (The three that have gone thus far untouched: Capitol Hill Elementary in Southwest Portland, Rose City Park Elementary in Northeast Portland and George Middle School in North Portland.)

Nowhere is there any specificity in the bond about how the board will deal with this before children die, Per Olstad, a parent at Beverly Cleary K-8, which is among those 19 schools, thundered during a recent school board budget hearing at Grant High School. We need specifics. We need commitments. We desperately want to support the bond. We believe in the projects at Cleveland, at Wells and at Jefferson. But you are putting us in an impossible position. We cant support the bond if you dont make a public commitment.

Last December, the district hired an engineering firm that will do a high level assessment to identify seismic deficiencies in each of the districts 81 schools, Armstrong told the crowd at Grant this week. The report is expected this summer, she said, and will be used to inform how bond funds  including the $190 million set aside for deferred maintenance and any money that can be saved from the high school projects  are spent.

But Armstrong warned that without that updated data in hand that takes the newest code requirements into account  and even though the district has already completed multiple similar assessments within the last decade  district staff cannot pinpoint how much will be available for seismic upgrades versus other pressing needs, from fixing leaky roofs and crumbling ceilings to adding accessibility upgrades for students with disabilities and improving HVAC systems. Armstrong has highlighted heating and cooling issues as a priority, but acknowledged the full scope of HVAC fixes wont be fully addressed with the 2025 bond.

We will deem any building that comes back as [seismically] unsafe as a high priority area, along with heating and cooling, Armstrong said. I would love to be able to sit here and say we are putting $200 million towards seismic, but that would be inappropriate without the data.

The bottom line

Outlining further specific cost-saving changes to the scope of the high school projects  or the third-rail suggestion that one or more of the projects should be shelved entirely  is politically perilous and risks alienating broad swaths of voters in the Cleveland, Wells and Jefferson neighborhoods, whove waited years for their turn at a modernized school.

I find it so crazy that Portland Public Schools had no problem rebuilding all the other schools with any complaints about their price tag and now that it comes time for Jefferson High School rebuild, now they are worried about the price tag of the rebuild, Jefferson parent Stacey Wallace told the The Oregonian/OregonLive. This community deserves better.

(For context, the most expensive rebuild or modernization of a neighborhood high school so far was the $245 million spent to build the new Lincoln High, which opened in 2022. Thats the equivalent of about $360 million in todays dollars.)

Departing school board member Gary Hollands suggested last fall that work on Cleveland and Wells could be deferred to free up funds for middle and elementary schools  presumably, as the district considers school consolidations and closures, a process Armstrong has said will launch in earnest in June.

Families at those schools were outraged and the rest of the board quickly distanced themselves. (Hollands is the only member of the school board whose name is not affixed to a statement in the Voters Pamphlet supporting the bond measure.)

In my school, ceiling tiles fall all the time, said Josh Pontefract, a senior at Cleveland High. I know students who have been hit by them, and a parent. And I dont think it is fair that when it is too hot, I dont get to go to school, but a kid in a remodeled school does.

If voters approve the bond, property owners would keep paying the same tax rate of $2.50 per $1,000 in assessed value, or about $710 a year for an average home assessed at $284,000. Property owners would spend the next 32 years paying off the costs.

Should the bond be voted down, the tax rate for school construction will fall to about $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value for the next eight years, then continue to fall as previous bonds are retired.

Ultimately, bottom line price estimates for the high schools  and how much will be freed up to spend on elementary and middle schools  wont be known until this summer, well after the election, Dan Jung, the districts director of school modernization, said this week.

That lack of clarity has troubled some voters, particularly against the backdrop of the planned $43 million in cuts to the districts day-to-day operations, impacting teachers, library aides, paraeducators and other key staff.

If we are penny pinching so hard in the general fund, shouldnt we bring a similar level of rigor to the way we are spending our bond? asked Cherry, the Arleta parent.

Clarification: This story was updated on May 4 to reflect that while 78% of voters polled last summer expressed support for addressing critical repair needs for school buildings across the district, updating or replacing aging, unsafe or compromised roofing, siding, wiring or plumbing, the overall bond proposal had support from 72% of voters, with 6% undecided.

 Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com.
Oregon Department of Transportation Director Kris Strickler, left in orange, talks with Gov. Tina Kotek, right, and others during a cleanup at Sullivans Gulch in Portland. Strickler has come under fire from lawmakers but Kotek has stuck by the agency head, even as shes shown others the door over headline-generating controversies. Courtesy of the governor's office

When Gov. Tina Kotek took office, she pledged to hold state agencies accountable. Just over two years into her tenure, shes proven shes not afraid to fire people to do so.

Since winning the states top office, Kotek has ousted at least five key agency leaders and encouraged the resignation of at least four other state agency leaders or top administrators. This year alone, Kotek has pushed out the leaders of the Oregon Youth Authority, the Oregon State Hospital and the Oregon Public Defense Commission.

In some cases, Kotek has publicly fired agency leaders, criticizing their performance and calling for quicker improvement. In others, she has quietly pushed for or accepted agency heads resignations, then strongly praised their replacements for their integrity and turn-around skills.

Some lawmakers and highly placed state employees say the firings are an extension of Koteks high expectations for her executive agencies. Several sources told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Kotek has been more hands-on with agency operations than her predecessor, Gov. Kate Brown, and quicker to fire leaders when they dont meet her standards.

Several agency heads confirmed they face high expectations and detailed scrutiny from the governors office, which they said represented a departure from the Brown administration.

But other state government players say some of the recent ousters point to Koteks struggle to run a massive state government. Two individuals who worked for past Oregon governors, both of whom spoke to The Oregonian/OregonLive on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about Koteks administration, said they view some of the removals as reactionary responses from a governor lacking the in-depth engagement with her agencies that would have helped her see those crises coming.

Brown declined to comment on her or her successors management styles.

Kotek, when asked this week what she would tell Oregonians concerned about dysfunction in state agencies that prompted the high-profile firings, said shes carrying out her campaign promises.

When running for governor, I said: Im going to sweat the details. Im going to look under the hood. Im going to ask hard questions. Im going to ask people to achieve certain goals, Kotek said. And thats what Im doing.

Governors have to walk a fine line between engaging with state agencies while not attempting to involve themselves in every decision, said Kristoffer Shields, director of the Rutgers University Eagleton Center on the American Governor. If you sort of overdo it, you can be seen as making decisions too quickly and then people start to lose trust in your decisions, he said.

Kotek acknowledged that she cant know everything in the state but said she is willing to make hard decisions when necessary. Im not looking to shake things up. Im just looking to make things work better.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek acknowledges she's fired or nudged out numerous agency leaders. Im not looking to shake things up," she said. "Im just looking to make things work better. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

There is little doubt that many of the agencies whose leaders she forced or nudged out were either marred by scandal or producing less than stellar results. Still, it is not clear that her hand-picked replacements will do better across the board  in part because Kotek has yet to install permanent leaders at half those agencies.

Shes sent signals that shes seeking top talent for some of the key roles shes made room to fill. At least four agency heads shes hired were selected after a national search, and four more national searches are underway, according to Kotek communications director Elisabeth Shepard.

Hands-on approach

On her third day as governor, Kotek sent a letter to heads of all state agencies telling them she was instituting a new focus on public administration. Kotek doubled down on improving how agencies function and wrote that she expected agency leaders to partner with her staff to solve problems and to deliver on her priority areas of housing, behavioral health and education.

Each agency director must now undergo a biennial performance review, which even Koteks frequent critics applaud. They include feedback from a directors peers, direct reports and labor leaders. That level of review hadnt been required in years, if ever, Kotek said.

Betsy Imholt, director of the Oregon Department of Revenue, said Kotek has provided clear expectations for agency heads to improve customer service and internal operations.

(Agency directors) provide her regular updates, and we all know that she reads them because she asks us very detailed questions at very random times, Imholt said. In a very big enterprise, she finds a way to be very hands-on.

Oregon's longtime higher education chief, Ben Cannon, shown in a photo from five years ago, said Kotek's high standards for agency heads are fair. She is impatient with inadequacy or impatient with average, Cannon said. She wants to get things done. I think that has characterized her whole political career. LC- The Oregonian

Multiple agency heads said they meet regularly with Koteks policy advisers and occasionally with the governor to get feedback on agency performance. Kotek sets high standards for agency leaders, as she should, said Ben Cannon, executive director of Oregons Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Directors have the responsibility to meet that bar or expect consequences, he added.

She is impatient with inadequacy or impatient with average, Cannon said. She wants to get things done. I think that has characterized her whole political career.

Kotek says that she doesnt govern in reaction to public controversy  but that she doesnt like to get caught off guard by agency missteps or worse. Those unpleasant surprises have preceded some firings or departures, she acknowledged.

Series of shakeups

Kotek ushered in several transitions when she entered office in 2023. She quickly replaced the heads of the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Lottery and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. She also announced the upcoming retirement of Oregons state schools chief and demanded the resignation of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission director. Not long afterward, she put her education policy adviser in charge of Oregons teacher licensing agency.

And since the start of 2025, Kotek has ousted three agency heads and the acting head of the state psychiatric hospital.

Some of the departures came amid poor agency outcomes. For example, the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission had come under fire for a huge backlog in processing applications and complaints of educator misconduct, and Kotek had made it clear she was unhappy with the agencys handling of reading instruction in colleges of education.

Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, faced non-stop scrutiny during the COVID pandemic, a fraught time in Oregon and other states. After Kotek was elected, he announced he'd depart by inauguration day. I did make some comments during the campaign that I think sent the message that I was looking for new leadership at the health agency, Kotek said. I wanted to see more flexibility to try some new things. The Oregonian

Similarly, Kotek followed through on her campaign promise to replace former Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen. Allen led Oregons public health response to the COVID pandemic, which sparked controversy including over his support for keeping schools closed longer than nearly all other states. Under his tenure, the department also drew criticism for failing to quickly distribute dollars for behavioral health programs. Allen resigned shortly after Kotek won election.

I did make some comments during the campaign that I think sent the message that I was looking for new leadership at the health agency, Kotek said. I wanted to see more flexibility to try some new things.

Other firings were tied to scandals or damaging reports revealing widespread failings.

Kotek asked the Liquor and Cannabis Commission Director Steve Marks to resign days before The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed an investigation that found agency leaders had reserved highly-sought bourbons for themselves. (Koteks office later said she asked for his resignation before learning of the investigation.)

State Forester Cal Mukumoto resigned in January in a cloud of controversy regarding the agencys culture, including an inappropriate supervisor-subordinate sexual relationship and criticisms about an inadequately acknowledged funding shortfall that required lawmakers to call a special legislative session. Mukumoto told The Oregonian/OregonLive this week that one of Koteks policy advisers asked for his resignation on behalf of the governor, citing an Oregonian/OregonLive story reporting the agency treated employees to a training at a luxury resort.

MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn appears peaceful under cloudy February skies. Kotek fired longtime youth corrections director Joe OLeary March 12 after learning that more than 3,000 reports of abuse and other complaints by incarcerated teens and young adults went uninvestigated on his watch. Beth Nakamura

Kotek fired Oregon Youth Authority Director Joe OLeary in March, one day before The Oregonian/OregonLive disclosed the scope of the agencys failure to investigate thousands of abuse complaints by incarcerated teens and young adults spanning years.

In cases where there has been significant public pushback because of a trigger event, I dont blame her, Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles said of the firings. She is a politician at the end of the day and she responds to political pressure.

Firing agency leaders is far from novel. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber replaced at least seven agency heads when he began his third term in 2011, after directing 24 agency heads to submit letters to him pledging their commitment to his agenda. Brown, who suddenly entered office in February 2015 following Kitzhabers resignation, was far less apt to push agency directors out, ousting the heads of only two major agencies in her first two years.

But several state government observers noted Kotek has been quicker to fire agency heads than her predecessor  and more transparent than several former governors about her motivation for doing so.

Other governors in the past may have been more subtle about changes where people may be stepping down, said Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem. I think this governor has been very upfront about her efforts to maintain accountability, so its noticed more. ... Whether one agrees with her actions or not, she has certainly been very open about it.

Mixed degrees of transparency

Not every ouster early in Koteks term had transparent motives, however. Kotek gave no public reason for jettisoning lottery chief Barry Pack, a longtime Brown ally, or emergency management director Andrew Phelps, who played a key role in Oregons response to the pandemic and record-breaking 2020 wildfires. Both announced after Kotek won the governors race that they would step down as she took over.

Kotek said this week she simply wanted a new leadership approach at those agencies. Was there anything specific? No, she said. I think its just a feeling (of wanting) someone new to try something new there.

Where other governors have hemmed and hawed about how to deal with agency leaders in the midst of a problem, Kotek seems more willing to just rip off the Band-Aid, said Joe Baessler, executive director of Oregon AFSCME, a union which represents state workers.

Its better to make a decision and move forward, as opposed to keeping folks in limbo, Baessler said.

Yet Kotek has not ousted directors of other agencies that have generated controversy during her time in office.

The state transportation agency has received heavy criticism from Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the past year for errantly registering noncitizens to vote, significant budget forecasting errors and major project overruns. Union members have called on Kotek to fire Department of Human Services Director Fariborz Pakseresht, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. He has led the department as it weathered huge controversies including a lawsuit over the states treatment of foster children which cost taxpayers more than $34 million.

But Kotek has stuck by leaders at those two agencies, saying that they have been forthright about problems and communicative about plans to address them. When DMV Administrator Amy Joyce considered resigning in September after it was revealed that the agency mistakenly helped hundreds of non-citizens register to vote, Koteks office said she saw no need for a leadership change, state transportation agency director Kris Strickler said this week.

Kotek said at an April press conference that Pakseresht also has her support. He keeps her apprised of the departments response to very difficult issues and its efforts to improve internally, Kotek said.

I would rather have someone from an agency tell me something difficult, and then we will work through whatever that is, Kotek said, than finding out about it in the press or finding out in some other form.

Fariborz Pakseresht heads the Department of Human Services, which has seen its share of missteps and controversies. But Kotek has kept him in place and says that's intentional. He keeps her apprised of the departments response to very difficult issues and its efforts to improve internally, she said.

Pakseresht has a direct line to Kotek and her chief of staff, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive this week. Whereas Brown was engaged with the department at a high level, Kotek wants to know details about department operations and how it plans to solve problems that arise, he said.

With this governor, if you give her a document, you better have read it, Pakseresht said. She reads everything that you give her.

External hires, internal promotions

Kotek said that finding new leaders requires a broad swath of candidates and noted that shes done national searches for many of her key appointees.

Oregon Health Authority Director Dr. Sejal Hathi previously worked as New Jerseys deputy health commissioner for public health services after a two-year stint as a senior health policy adviser for the Biden administration. Koteks pick to take over the emergency management agency, Erin McMahon, is a retired army officer and had more than 15 years of experience managing emergency responses at the national level.

But Kotek has also turned to in-state hires appointed by Brown to lead several high-profile agencies.

When state Department of Administrative Services Director Berri Leslie announced her upcoming retirement for personal reasons earlier this year, Kotek announced that Imholt, head of the Department of Revenue and longtime government insider, would step into the role. She named David Gerstenfeld, director of the Oregon Employment Department, as Imholts replacement. And she announced that Andrew Stolfi, head of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, would lead the employment agency.

Kotek said shes trying something new by moving those staffers around. She praised Imholts performance. And though she told reporters before taking office that she was possibly considering replacing Gerstenfeld, Kotek said he proved himself to be a clear leader navigating a difficult situation during the pandemic.

Most of Koteks early hires have not made many headlines, although Hathi received criticism from some employees last year for pushing out the agencys highly respected equity and inclusion director and also drew negative attention for taking an unpaid out-of-state weekend gig as a doctor treating patients.

Some new agency heads have notched notable progress. Phil Castle, whom Kotek named director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training early in her term, last year eliminated the agencys monthslong backlog to train officers at the states police academy.

Castle said that achievement was possible because of the governors support and engagement. If I did not believe in the governor as my leader, I would not be here, he said. Shes shown up for me and my team whenever weve needed her.

Agency leaders ousted by Gov. Tina Kotek

Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission: Director Steve Marks was terminated Feb. 15, 2023, after Kotek demanded that he resign. The resignation came as The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed top agency officials had set aside special bourbons for themselves, but Kotek said she decided to fire him before she learned of that scandal. Permanent replacement: Craig Prins, formerly inspector general for the Oregon Department of Corrections.

Oregon Department of Forestry : State Forester Cal Mukumoto resigned in January. He told The Oregonian/OregonLive that a key Kotek staffer acting at the governors behest pressured him to step down. Permanent replacement: Being sought in a national search.

Oregon Youth Authority: Kotek fired longtime director Joe OLeary March 12 after learning that more than 3,000 reports of abuse and other complaints by incarcerated teens and young adults had not been investigated on his watch. Permanent replacement: Being sought in a national search.

Oregon State Hospital: Kotek mandated the ouster of Dr. Sara Walker , the hospitals acting superintendent, in mid-April, less than 24 hours after learning more details of the death of a patient held in seclusion at the psychiatric institution. Permanent replacement: Being sought in a national search.

Oregon Public Defense Commission: Kotek fired Jessica Kampfe, the commissions executive director, on April 17. It is unacceptable that more than 4,000 defendants in Oregon do not have attorneys assigned, Kotek said in announcing : Kotek fired, the commissions executive director, on April 17. It is unacceptable that more than 4,000 defendants in Oregon do not have attorneys assigned, Kotek said in announcing the shakeup . Permanent replacement: Plans for replacing Kampfe will be determined after the legislative session ends in late June, a Kotek spokesperson said.

 Carlos Fuentes covers state politics and government. Reach him at 503-221-5386 or cfuentes@oregonian.com.

 Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. Reach her at (503) 260-3430 or sedge@oregonian.com.

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A voter places her ballot in an official drop box. Voters in every corner of Oregon have the opportunity to help choose members of their local school board this month. Dave Killen / The Oregonian

Voters have the chance to decide who is on their local school board and community college board in this years May 20 election.

Ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday or returned to an official dropbox by 8 p.m. that day.

Voters in much of Multnomah County will also get to decide the fate of two big money measures: A proposed $1.83 billion Portland Public Schools school modernization bond and what would be only the third the construction bond issued in Mt. Hood Community Colleges nearly 60-year history.

The Oregonian/OregonLive is bringing you ongoing coverage of key races and measures to help you make informed choices when filling out your ballot.

Portland Public Schools bond

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong and Benson High School Principal Curtis Wilson cut the ribbon at a ceremony for the newly opened Benson Tech, while members of the school board and other dignitaries look on. Beth Conyers/Portland Public Schools

Will unanswered questions, fuzzy details derail Portland Public Schools $1.83 billion construction plan?

Portland schools chief operating officer, who oversaw school rebuilds as costs spiraled, has resigned

Seismic upgrades to Portland schools at risk would take precedence under last-minute bond pledge proposed by 3 school board members

Portland Public Schools axes contract with firm managing delayed high school modernization

Plans emerge for pared-back high schools in Portland

Portland school board votes to refer $1.83 billion bond measure to May ballot

Portland school board

The Portland school board holds a public meeting in January 2025. Screenshot

There are contested races for all four seats on the board of Portland Public Schools on the May 20 ballot. The Oregonian/OregonLive surveyed all of the candidates to learn about their qualifications and their positions on key issues.

Portland area school board races, facing low turnout and low spending, turn to texting and door knocking

Portland school board Zone 1: Read where the candidates stand, in their own words

Portland school board Zone 4: Read what the candidates have to say, in their own words

Portland Public Schools board Zone 5: Read what the candidates have to say, in their own words

Portland Public School board, Zone 6: Read what the candidates have to say, in their own words

Former Portland school board chair says he wont seek reelection

Outspoken Portland school board member faces challenger who has support from 2 of his board peers

Beaverton school board

Meet the 7 candidates running for Beaverton school board

Beaverton School Board position 1: Read where the candidates stand

Beaverton School Board position 2: Read where the candidates stand

Beaverton School Board position 4: Hear from the candidate

Beaverton School Board position 5: Read where the candidates stand

After fraught contract negotiations, teachers union in Beaverton hopes to gain sway on school board

Hillsboro school board

Meet the 7 candidates running for Hillsboro school board

Hillsboro school board Position 1: Read where the candidates stand on the issues, in their own words

Hillsboro school board Position 2: Read what the candidates have to say

Hillsboro school board position 3: Read what the candidate has to say

Hillsboro school board Position 6: Read where the candidates stand

Mt. Hood Community College bond

Mt. Hood Community College asks voters to approve first bond in 50 years to shore up aging buildings

Other districts

Voters in 2 Portland suburbs will decide bond measures to upgrade aging schools

Voter registration and turnout

Official ballot return envelopes are stacked at the Multnomah County Elections Office. Elections in odd-numbered years are typically marked by low turnout. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

April 29 was the deadline to register to vote or update your address ahead of May election

Opinion

Editorial: With greater clarity from PPS, a strong yes for the school bond

Editorial endorsement: Under duress, a yes for PPS school bond

Editorial endorsement: Elect Splitt, Greene, La Forte and Engelsman to Portland Public Schools board

Editorial: Trim pricey high school designs to ensure PPS bond passage

This post was updated at 7:30 a.m. on May 8 to correct inaccuracies in the description of the proposed Mt. Hood Community College bond brought to our attention by student journalist Leo Fontneau.

 Betsy Hammond oversees coverage of state politics and government and education and helps direct coverage of Portland City Hall, Multnomah County and homelessness. Reach her at betsyhammond@oregonian.com
Northerners come together to honour victims of Vancouver Lapu Lapu Day festival attack

More than 100 people attended a Yellowknife vigil Friday for victims of last week's attack at a Filipino cultural festival in Vancouver. (Sarah Krymalowski/CBC - image credit)

Hundreds of people gathered in Whitehorse and Yellowknife on Friday to show solidarity with the victims of last week's attack at a Filipino cultural festival in Vancouver.

On April 26, a man drove through a crowd of people at the city's Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, killing 11 people and injuring more than 20 others.

The festival was a joyful event honouring Datu Lapu Lapu, an Indigenous Filipino freedom fighter who resisted Spanish and Portuguese colonization in the Philippines in the 16th century.

Since the attack, communities across Canada have organized vigils and donations for the victims of the tragedy. Friday was also designated a provincial day of mourning in British Columbia.

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Yellowknife vigil

The Yellowknife vigil was organized by the Philippines Cultural Association of Yellowknife (PCAY) and held at Somba K'e Civic Plaza outside of Yellowknife city hall. The event was called Luksang Bayan, meaning Community of mourning.

PCAY president Narlie Dapilos began the ceremony by speaking to the Filipino values of Kapwa  solidarity with others  and Bayanihan  coming together  that he saw embodied in the crowd of well over a hundred people, of all demographics.

Narlie Dapilos, president of the Philippines Cultural Association of Yellowknife, spoke at a vigil honouring victims of the Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy in Vancouver. (Sarah Krymalowski/CBC)

"The significance of this vigil is to show that support, show that Kapwa, that Bayanihan spirit, that we are there for them. Even though we are not there physically, we are there for those who are affected by the tragedy," Dapilos told the crowd.

Those remarks were followed by a prayer from Father Brando, a priest who travelled to the event from Norman Wells, N.W.T., a town about 685 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife. The crowd then took 11 minutes of silence to remember each of the victims who died in the attack.

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Before the event, Dapilos told CBC News that one of the organization's goals was to provide a communal space for members of Yellowknife's Filipino community to heal from the tragedy.

"There's strength in community, there's strength in solidarity," he said. "No one has to go through things alone."

The Luksang Bayan community vigil in Yellowknife included 11 minutes of silence for the people killed in the Vancouver attack. (Sarah Krymalowski/CBC)

Cheiyenne Fontanilla, who volunteered to make signs for the event, said it was good to see so many people come together in a time of such sadness.

"This Indigenous Filipino concept of Kapua, this shared sense of community, of self, of kindred, it just reflects what Yellowknife, as a community, is as a whole," Fontanilla said.

Whitehorse vigil

The Whitehorse vigil took place at the Healing Pole on Front Street in the city's downtown. The Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, the Community Cache and the Canadian Filipino Association Yukon (CFAY) organized the event.

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Leaders from various community groups spoke in solidarity with the Filipino community at the gathering.

Lianne Charlie, an organizer who is also a faculty member with the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, hoped the gathering would be an opportunity for different communities to learn from each other and heal together.

A crowd gathers around the Healing Pole on Front Street in downtown Whitehorse, to show support for the Yukon's Filipino community. (Tori Fitzpatrick/CBC)

"As a Northern Tutchone woman, I know that, for our people, we have ethics of caring and sharing. These ethics are embedded in other people's cultures as well," Charlie said. "I really like the idea of us learning that about each other."

Community leaders at the gathering spoke of the support the Yukon Filipino community has shown to others.

During the gathering, Saba Javed, a member of the Yukon Muslim Society, recalled how the Filipino community immediately welcomed his family  one of the only Pakistani families around.

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"We have to return that embrace," Javed said.

Members of the Filipino community stand together in the centre of a crowd of people in Whitehorse, who came together to show their support. (Tori Fitzpatrick/CBC)

James Antopina, speaking on behalf of the Canadian Filipino Association Yukon during the event, said the support from other communities this past week has meant a lot to him.

"As a member of the Filipino community, I can see now how I felt that we are not alone as a minority community," he said.

Antopina named the gathering 'I belong to community.' He hopes that message will resonate with each person who attended the gathering.

"I wanted the message to be personal," he said.

"Whatever happens, or you might be undergoing some problems right now, personally or [with] community or family, the message will say, 'You belong. We are here,'" he said.
Prince Harry waves as he leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) AP

LONDON  Prince Harry said that he wants to reconcile with his family after losing a court battle Friday over his publicly funded security that he said led his father, King Charles III, to stop talking to him.

I would love reconciliation with my family. Theres no point in continuing to fight anymore, Harry told the BBC. I dont know how much longer my father has.

But Harry took aim at Buckingham Palace officials after the court of appeal rejected a bid to restore his police protection detail that was stripped by a government committee when he stepped away from his royal duties and moved to the U.S.

The Duke of Sussex said that he was devastated to lose the case that was a source of friction with his 76-year-old father, who is being treated for an undisclosed cancer. Harry has met with him once briefly since his diagnosis early last year.

He wont speak to me because of this security stuff, Harry said in the interview that aired three hours after the ruling.

Harry, who is estranged from his family since departing the U.K. and writing a tell-all memoir with embarrassing details about the House of Windsor, said Fridays court verdict meant it would be impossible to safely bring his family back to the U.K.

Harry blames Buckingham Palace officials

Despite those comments, there was little indication of reconciliation in the near future as the palace signaled its support for the courts ruling.

Harry said repeatedly that the decision to withdraw his security had been made at the direction of palace officials in an effort to control him and his wife, even though it put their safety at risk.

What Im struggling to forgive, and what I will probably always struggle to forgive, is the decision that was made in 2020 that affects my every single day, and that is knowingly putting me and my family in harms way, Harry said.

A government committee decided in 2020 that Harrys security arrangements should be decided on a case-by-case basis whenever he visits the U.K.

Harry said that committee includes two representatives of Buckingham Palace who have blocked his security in the U.K. The king could resolve the security issue by stepping out of the way and letting experts make the decision, Harry added.

The prince called on U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to order a review of the process.

Whether youre the government, whether youre the royal household, whether youre my dad, my family, despite all of our differences, do you not want to just ensure our safety?

In response to the court ruling, Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying that issue had been meticulously examined by the courts with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.

Loss of security an unintended consequence of move

Harry said that he loves his country and would love to show his young children his homeland, but now he only returns for funerals and court cases.

He made a rare appearance for the two-day Court of Appeal hearing last month, where his lawyer argued that his life was in danger and the Royal and VIP Executive Committee had singled him out for inferior treatment.

Three judges on the appellate court ruled unanimously Friday that the committees decision to strip him of his publicly funded security wasnt unreasonable.

Justice Geoffrey Vos acknowledged in a 21-page judgment that the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated and his lawyer had made powerful and moving arguments on his behalf. But he said that Harrys grievance wasnt legal grounds to challenge the decision to deny him regular security.

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 U.K., Vos said. But that does not, of itself, give rise to a legal complaint.

The ruling is likely to leave the Duke of Sussex with a large bill to pay the U.K. governments legal fees  in addition to his own lawyers costs.

The judgment upheld a High Court judges decision last year that found that a bespoke plan for the Duke of Sussexs security wasnt unlawful, irrational or unjustified.

A lawyer for the government said that Harrys argument repeated his misconceived approach that failed in the lower court.

It 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, attorney James Eadie said.

Harry says family is endangered

Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had stepped back from their official roles in the family in 2020, because they didnt feel they were being protected by the institution, his lawyer said.

After doing so, a Home Office committee ruled that there was no basis for publicly funded security support for the duke and duchess within Great Britain.

Harry claimed that he and his family are endangered when visiting his homeland because of hostility aimed at him and Meghan on social media and through relentless hounding by news media.

Since he lost his government-sponsored protection, Harry faced at least two serious security threats, his lawyer said in court papers. Al-Qaida had published a document that said Harrys assassination would please Muslims. And nearly two years ago, he and his wife were involved in a dangerous pursuit by paparazzi in New York.

Harry, 40, the younger son of Charles and the late Princess Diana, has bucked royal family convention by taking the government and tabloid press to court, where he has a mixed record.

He lost a related court case in which he sought permission to privately pay for a police detail when in the U.K. A judge denied that offer after a government lawyer argued officers shouldnt be used as private bodyguards for the wealthy.

But he won a significant victory at trial in 2023 against the publisher of the Daily Mirror when a judge found that phone hacking at the tabloid was widespread and habitual. He claimed a monumental victory in January when Rupert Murdochs U.K. tabloids made an unprecedented apology for intruding in his life for years, and agreed to pay substantial damages to settle his privacy invasion lawsuit.

He has a similar case pending against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
The one-room Mark Prairie Schoolhouse, built 146 years ago south of Clackamas Countys city of Canby, had already suffered from weather, wear and tear. Then oak trees crashed through the roof during the February 2021 ice storm, and most people were ready to allow the modest clapboard structure  and its touchable history  to go away.

But not Canby resident Peggy Sigler and a small, dedicated group of volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to perform hands-on preservation work and make grass-root pitches for donations.

After four years, the disaster recovery and restoration project is complete and the building is ready for a new life as a wedding and event space. A free open house celebration is planned from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the Mark Prairie Schoolhouse, 7528 S. Mark Road (more information is at markprairiehistoricalsociety.org).

Sigler, who served as the volunteer restoration project manager, was drawn to save the former schoolhouse for heritage and environmental reasons. She has fond memories of bringing her children there for community potlucks.

Its better to reuse than to build new, said Sigler, who retired after 35 years working in historic preservation for Canby, Clackamas County and Oregon. And its heartbreaking when you lose the sound, the feel of walking on old wood floors. We need to understand where we have been.

The 1879 schoolhouse, used for the last eight decades as a small community center, is now a handsome, efficient meeting hall and event venue. The building meets ADA and modern code requirements while still retaining its ambiance and many original materials.

A new porch serves as a stage and gathering place for group photos. Inside, an energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning system replaced the wood-burning furnace, and the former makeshift kitchen, housed in an attached shed, has been updated with essentials, like hot water and a dishwasher.

The roof, ceiling and one wall were damaged beyond repair, and replacement pieces were crafted by local woodworkers.

The north, south and east walls made of tongue-and-groove Douglas fir survived the ice storm, and the refurbished Douglas fir floors have battle scars but a lovely patina, said Sigler, who received the 2024 Oregon Heritage Individual Excellence Award for her heritage advocacy work.

New double doors and counters were milled from the Oregon white oak trees that fell during the storm. The memory of the catastrophe is still here, she said.

Salvaged cabinets display old textbooks and the map case is filled with fragile documents. The blackboard and Wi-Fi wiring are new, but there are old cast iron-and-oak school desks.

Hanging near an exit door is the rope to ring the original school bell, once thought lost and replaced, but found. Now we have two bells, said Sigler.

Property insurance covered $425,000 of the costs, and grants and donations provided $500,000 to finish the project. We would do what we could afford, then pause to raise more funds, Sigler said. We were never in debt.

The Mark Prairie Schoolhouse, surrounded by two acres of oak trees, is available to rent for private parties, small weddings and rehearsal dinners, workshops, youth and adult meetings, and community events. Rental fee proceeds and donations collected by the nonprofit Mark Prairie Historical Society fund the historic propertys maintenance.

The goal is to rent the property to cover the overhead of insurance, electrical and other expenses, said Sigler.

The society also collects and preserves documents, photographs and items relating to local history, and makes them available to researchers and educators.

History of the schoolhouse

28 1 / 28 Mark Prairie Schoolhouse crushed by 2021 ice storm

In 1847, the John Mark family of Missouri took the Oregon Trail and settled on land of the non-nomadic Ahantchuyuk (or Pudding River) band of the Central Kalapuyan tribe. The land would become known as Mark Prairie.

In 1879, John Marks son Alexander deeded two acres for the construction of a one-room schoolhouse.

The school operated for 67 years before closing in 1946, when the Mark Prairie district joined Canby schools. Ownership of the property reverted to the Mark family, who donated it to establish the Marks Prairie Community Club.

The building was used for potlucks, 4-H meetings and other gatherings for more than seven decades at Mark Memorial Park.

In 1979, the Community Club, now the Mark Prairie Historical Society, celebrated the 100th birthday of the district.

In 1993, the building was straightened and strengthened on a new concrete foundation.

In 2021, the schoolhouse was severely damaged by the ice storm that uprooted oak trees that fell on the roof. Furnishings and artifacts were moved to storage and the buildings tilting walls were stabilized. The roof collapsed and standing water covered the fir floors.

In 2023, Emerick Construction installed new trusses and roof, and rebuilt walls. Original windows and siding were repaired, and replacements were custom-made to match existing materials. Remaining interior tongue-and-groove walls were stripped of lead paint.

Canby Rotary Club members painted the vestibule and built a new porch on the north side of the building with lumber donated by Pacific Timber Products.

Isaac Knowlden of Boy Scout Troop 46 made two bat houses as part of his Eagle Scout Project. Work parties refurbished antique appliances, cleaned the grounds and added native plants around the Oregon white oak trees.

In July, Mark family descendants, some who serve on the board of the Mark Prairie Historical Society, will gather to celebrate their 100th family reunion. Historic documents refer to the familys last name as Mark and Marks.

Preservation help

Sigler, who was also the project manager for the National Trust for Historic Preservations Willamette Falls Locks National Treasure Project and executive director of Canby Historical Society Depot Museum, recommends people interested in restoring a historic structure get information from these sources:

Preservation protection: Contact the city or county historic review board, historic resource planner or planning department to learn who owns the historic property and the prospect for receiving preservation protection.

Restore Oregon, the statewide nonprofit preservation organization, provides information at restoreoregon.org/get-help-with-preservation-together.

Research: Contact local, regional or state history museums and county heritage councils to learn about the structures history and significance. The Oregons state historic preservation office reviews nominations for the National Register of Historic Places and oversees the Oregon Heritage Commission, which hosts the annual Oregon Heritage Conference.

The Old House Journal magazine is a good source to learn period styles, details and techniques for historically accurate repairs.

Grants: Grants to fund planning, architectural projects, operations, programming or specific projects may be available to nonprofit or publicly owned historic sites, but rarely for private properties, from local or state agencies or private foundations.

Granting agencies include the Oregon Cultural Trust, county cultural commissions, county tourism and Travel Oregon. Rotary and Kiwanis clubs and local utilities may also have grants.

Private granting organizations and foundations include the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Kinsman Foundation, Roundhouse Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation and the Ford Family Foundation among others.

 Janet Eastman covers design and trends. Reach her at 503-294-4072, jeastman@oregonian.com and follow her on X @janeteastman.
Crimson Callers, an organization under the OU Foundation that facilitates financial gifts and support from OU alums, will be dissolved on June 21, leaving upward of 40 students out of work.

According to a current Crimson Callers employee who requested to remain anonymous due to fear of career repercussions, the call center is being dissolved after a strategic analysis was run on the call center that resulted in reallocating its funding to other areas of the OU Foundation.

In an April 30 email to OU Daily from Jana Moring, assistant vice president of communications and donor services, Guy Patton, president and CEO of OU Foundation, wrote that the call centers dissolution is part of a trend among universities across the nation.

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Like many universities and foundations across the country, we are shifting away from traditional fundraising tactics toward more relationship-based, donor-centered approaches that reflect the changing expectations of alumni and supporters, Patton wrote.

Patton wrote the OU Foundation is grateful for the work done by Crimson Callers and has provided support for student callers as they transition into new jobs.

We are deeply grateful to the students who contributed to the success of the program over the years, Patton wrote. Recognizing their important role, we provided current student callers with advance notice and support as they transitioned from the program.

Patton wrote that the OU Foundation thought itd be best to dissolve the center due to the toll of training new callers each fall to adjust for the yearly turnover of callers who graduate or go into internships.

The OU Foundation remains committed to fostering strong relationships with alumni, donors, and the broader OU community to advance the University of Oklahomas mission, Patton wrote.

According to the employee, the evaluation was led by Marty Wold, assistant vice president for annual giving and alumni engagement at the OU Foundation. Wolds involvement was further confirmed by Sam Bird, a first-year computer science doctoral student and student supervisor at Crimson Callers.

OU Daily reached out to Wold for comment three times over email and once over the phone on the dissolution. OU Daily has not heard back by the time of this articles publication.

The dissolution announcement came to call center staff on April 21, which, according to the employee, caught student leadership and employees off guard.

We were told by our manager that effective that day  (and) earlier, she found out on the spot, no conversations had  the call center would be dismantled, at which point she then told us  the call center was going to be dismantled, which then she immediately told callers that the call center was going to be dismantled, the employee told OU Daily on April 24.

According to the employee, the dissolution came after the sudden resignation of Bob Amico, former executive director of annual giving, in early March. The reason for Amicos resignation is unknown, but according to the employee, he is remembered by Crimson Callers staff as a major advocate and defender of Crimson Callers work.

According to Bird, Wold was the direct superior of Amico.

OU Daily reached out to Amico for comment on the dissolution and was directed to OU Foundations voicemail.

According to the employee, students in supervisor and other management roles are being reassigned within the OU Foundation. However, all students will be out of work by June 21.

Everyone that's losing a job is a student, the employee said. Every single person there that will not be employed is a student.

Luke Green, a creative media production and film and media studies junior and caller at the Crimson Callers, said the call centers dissolution has greatly impacted him and his future.

It definitely is a little world-shaking because I was going to work there during the summer,  Green said. I was going to apply to be a higher position in there. But, I think just at the end of the day, some doors close and some open.

When reflecting on his time at Crimson Callers, Green said his experiences connecting with alums have been some of his best memories there.

It was just reconnecting with alumni who probably just haven't heard from us in a long time, and even then, it was still really cool to hear about (where) their experiences with the university has led them (and) kind of get some advice, Green said.

I loved what I did.

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Brody Alexander, a management information systems senior and supervisor at Crimson Callers, said the call center gave him friends and stability.

I was able to support my entire living expenses  my rent payment, food, all that stuff  off of the call center, Alexander said. I was able to make a lot of friends there. A lot of the people I hang out with just in my free time now are the people I've met at the call center.

Alexander transferred to OU his sophomore year from the University of Central Oklahoma, where he studied criminology. Alexander said Crimson Callers helped him get connected with the OU community after transferring.

I liked being able to meet and get to know as many people as I could at OU, and it was good seeing people on campus, Alexander said. I really enjoyed the job, and while it was a college job, it did have some sort of significance to me.

According to Alexander, between 30 and 40 people will lose their jobs at the call center due to the dissolution  all of whom are students.

Alongside the dissolution, the university is rolling out the integration of an artificial intelligence bot named Rose. Rose is designed to, along with full-time staff, conduct the duties of student Crimson Callers following the dissolutions completion on June 21, according to the employee.

In an interview with OU Daily, Bird said the integration of AI into the call center could undermine the value of student interaction with alums.

The most impactful thing that we do at the call center is allow the people that we speak to to connect with a real OU student,  Bird said. That experience is being replaced with a chatbot,  and to suggest that having that chatbot reach out to others (is) going to provide the same level of connection, it's frankly ludicrous to me.

According to Bird, along with facilitating financial support from alums, Crimson Callers handles other extremely sensitive information from alums, such as alums writing the university into their wills and leaving their bodies to OU for scientific study. Regarding these sensitive matters, Bird said he struggles to understand the rationale of integrating AI into Crimson Callers.

There is a lot of value in the OU experience, and I think that's why we have been so successful in the past in reaching out to people like that, Bird said. So I struggle to see the rationale behind introducing this AI chatbot in lieu of actual students reaching out.

Alexander said he does not think integrating AI into Crimson Callers is a good idea.

It's a bad idea. What the call center does is we reach out to OU alumni,  and when we reach out to these alumni, we're forming connections with them, Alexander said. We're introducing a relationship between OU and the prospect that hopefully leads to a deeper relationship, 

I just don't think an AI can do that.

Alexander said alums often connect with student callers over sensitive matters in a therapeutic way, something he thinks students can handle better than AI.

Alexander said he thinks the call center will raise less money if AI interactions are prioritized over student interactions.

I honestly think the foundation is going to see a lot less gifts coming in through AI than they would see through the call, Alexander said. It's AI, it's not a person. They're not able to form that personal connection, and I don't think people are going to enjoy that.

Green said that despite the call center closing, he and other employees are all moving forward together.

As much as the overall situation is a bit sad, I think that's what life is like, Green said. These things happen.

Bird said he hopes his time at the call center has been as impactful as it was on him.

The call center has been such a big part of life the past nearly four years. I'm just sad to see it end, Bird said. But weve got some really great people there, and hopefully, we've made an impact on some alumni.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Gretchen Schultz and Avery Avery copy edited this story.
Around 20 protesters gathered in front of the National Weather Center Friday to advocate against a second round of layoffs and funding cuts to the weather center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The effort is a part of the Stand Up for Science movement, which prompted protesters to gather outside universities across the nation on the last day of classes.

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Alan Gerard  who worked with the National Weather Service and NOAA for almost 35 years, most recently as the National Severe Storms Laboratory director of analysis and understanding  attended the protest.

Gerard retired in March, among over a thousand agency staffers who took early retirement or buyout offers.

When it became apparent that this was the road we were heading down, if Im planning to retire anyway, theres no point in me taking a job that somebody else could potentially have, Gerard said.

The number of early retirees accounts for over 8% of the agencys roughly 12,000 employees.

Though his real passion is sharing science with others, Gerard said he also intends to share his perspectives on the agencys importance amid such adversity.

NOAA as a whole does incredibly important work, not just for weather but oceans (and) marine life, Gerard said. The current budget plans are pretty much going to gut a lot of what that is.

Gerard said the proposed budget would eliminate the National Severe Storms Laboratory, a NOAA research lab focused on studying severe weather and improving the accuracy and timing of severe weather warnings.

Norman is known worldwide for being a center of meteorology and severe weather research, and were in serious danger of losing that, Gerard said.

Amy McGovern is an OU meteorology and computer science professor who attended the protest. McGovern conducts research on machine learning for physical sciences with a focus on high-impact weather, and he receives research funding from the National Science Foundation.

Science matters, McGovern said. We need more funding for science and not to be cutting all the science, specifically at NOAA because we need to continue the research into better weather forecasts.

Former National Weather Service directors letter

Five of the most recent former National Weather Service directors sent a letter Friday condemning the mass layoffs and budget cuts facing the agencies.

We know firsthand what it takes to make accurate forecasts happen and we stand united against the loss of staff and resources at NWS and are deeply concerned about NOAA as a whole, they wrote.

The letter reads that the agencys staff has decreased by more than 10% since President Donald Trumps administration began its efforts. This comes after about 300 National Weather Service employees left this week and about 250 probationary employees were fired in February.

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According to the letter, it will be impossible for the agency to continue its current level of services.

Some forecast offices will be so short-staffed that they may be forced to go to part time services,  the letter reads. Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life.

The spring severe weather season is well underway, lasting from March until the end of May, per the National Weather Service website. The National Weather Service is tasked with issuing all tornado, hurricane and flood warnings and more during extreme events.

The National Weather Service works in part with NOAA. According to the letter, NOAA satellites significantly aid in forecasting.

Even if the National Weather Service remains level funded, the rest of NOAA will be severely impacted, the directors wrote. Given the interconnectedness of all of the parts of NOAA, there will be impacts to weather forecasting as well. We cannot let this happen.

Federal cuts across the nation

Amid scrutiny from the Trump administration, the National Science Foundation terminated over a thousand grants worth $739 million to researchers and their institutions over the past two weeks. The foundation has also stopped awarding new grants.

Whether they are funded by NSF, NOAA or other entities, McGovern said this round of budget cuts impacts all research collaborators.

Trump released a budget blueprint Friday morning that detailed a $163 billion budget cut for the 2026 fiscal year. The proposal would cut the NOAA budget by about a quarter, or $1.5 billion, and cut the NSF budget by over half, or $4.7 billion.

Trump has branded NOAA as a part of the green new scam, pledging to terminate climate research, data and grant programs within the proposal. The proposal reads that educational grant programs within NOAA have funded the radicalization of students and spread environmental alarm.

The proposal would also cut NOAA funding intended for the Geostationary Extended Observations satellite program, which would address environmental challenges regarding the weather, ocean and more upon its operation.

The budget empowers NOAA to directly negotiate contracts for satellites, eliminating unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and promoting innovation, while continuing to modernize core weather-monitoring capabilities and maintaining first launch in 2032, the budget description reads.

Olivia Elias, an OU environmental sustainability sophomore, organized the protest. Elias said she wanted to spread awareness about the funding cuts, especially in Norman, a city frequently impacted by severe weather.

Its really scary because its gonna get to a point if this continues the way its going, were not going to know if theres going to be a tornado (and) more lives will be lost, Elias said.

Elias grew to love weather at a young age and once even dressed as a tornado for Halloween. Brandishing a poster of childhood photos at the protest, Elias said the pictures serve as a reminder of why she cares deeply about this issue.

Im doing this so that she can live out her little dream and so students and kids like her can have a future, Elias said.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele.
OU Student Government Association's Superior Court ruled in favor of an appeal to clarify which SGA executive members can be impeached in a unanimous vote, marking the first time in over four years the court has heard oral argument.

The Superior Court, which is the judicial branch of SGA, ruled that Article III Section 9 of the SGA Constitution is a broad statute that permits any SGA member to be impeached by the legislature.

The hearing, held April 22 at the College of Law, centered on which executive officials SGAs legislative branch has the power to impeach.

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SGA Undergraduate Student Congress Rep. Ben Keupen, a political science junior, made the appeal and argued for a broader interpretation of Article III that would include all SGA members who hold an executive position  in the ruling, the court sided with him.

SGA General Counsel Maddie Taylor, a law student and president of the Student Bar Association, responded to the appeal and argued for an interpretation that would limit impeachment to only the roles mentioned in the constitution. In the executive office, that is the president and vice president.

Congress shall have the sole power to bring impeachment charges against the members of the Executive, Judicial, and Programming branches, Article III Section 9 reads.

The dispute began when Keupen requested an opinion from Taylor to reconcile conflicts between the SGA Constitution and Code Annotated about who can be impeached. Keupen disagreed with how Taylor interpreted the statute in her opinion, which is why he appealed to the Superior Court.

According to the ruling, the court recommends the Code Annotated be amended so it aligns with this interpretation of the constitution.

Prior to the hearing, Keupen told OU Daily his appeal was not related to the impeachment of former SGA President Carter Strickland in March, and is not targeted at any SGA member. The ruling does not impact Stricklands impeachment.

The appellant

Keupen addressed the justices first, and said that Article IIIs impeachment provision is deliberately broad to not limit impeachment to specific offices. The phrase members of the executive branch includes those both elected and appointed, because they exercise authority under the SGA Constitution, Keupen said.

It is about ensuring no official who wields executive power is insulated from accountability, Keupen said.

Keupen said there is no limiting language, for example only or some, on the word members, which means the drafters intended the check of impeachment to apply to a broad group. According to Keupen, that includes officials the president appoints to their staff who are not elected by a public vote.

Appointed officials in the presidents executive office have real authority because their decisions impact SGA operations, Keupen said. Congress votes to confirm officials each president selects, so Keupen said congress should have the power to impeach them, too.

These appointed officials do not exist in a vacuum, he said. They are part of the executive branch, they function as extensions of its power.

Chief Justice Claire Grace asked Keupen why more accountability is needed for appointed officials beyond the president, who they must answer to. Keupen said the president may be biased toward someone they appointed despite congress calling for that officials removal.

The president could basically prevent congress from holding that person accountable, he said.

Justice Randi Wright asked for Keupens response to Chapter II-1 Section 9 of the Code Annotated which states that presidential staff members are not impeachable because they simply help the president with their duties.

Keupen said that section of the code contradicts the constitution, and the drafters would have included limiting language on impeachment if they intended it. Presidential officials have authority delegated to them by the president and are considered impeachable by the constitution, he said.

Keupen said congress has the authority to confirm executive appointments, but that ability is incomplete without the power to remove them, too.

It's just necessary to maintain accountability. Without the impeachment the (Executive Office of the President) officers could engage in misconduct without a check on them, Keupen said.

Justice Chase Young presented a hypothetical situation to consider the appeal. He asked if a president refuses to remove an official on their staff committing misconduct, could that president be impeached for violating the constitution?

Keupen said it would be best to impeach the official in question because impeaching the president undermines the popular vote and is too far removed from the official.

Young said the pressure of impeachment on a president already reminds them to monitor their officials and holds them accountable. In response, Keupen said Young made a fair point, but it would be congress's responsibility to decide if that was an impeachable offense for the president.

By bringing this case to the SGA Superior Court, Keupen said he is asking the court to affirm this existing power of congress to impeach all executive officials.

Congress needs a constitutional mechanism to respond, and I believe that impeachment is that mechanism, Keupen said.

The respondent

Taylor said she supports a restricted interpretation of Article III Section 9 because Keupens interpretation gives the legislature more impeachment power than the constitution allows.

According to Taylor, the justices need to consider the entirety of the constitution, and Article IV Section 4 subsection 2 of the constitution places executive staff positions under the presidents control only.

The Student President shall have the power to establish Executive Staff Positions, to assist him or her in fulfilling his or her presidential duties, with the consent of the Legislative Branch, Article IV Section 4 reads. The Student President shall have the sole power to appoint personnel to fill these positions.

Taylor said that since the president alone appoints staff positions, its implied that the president alone can remove people from those positions. The accountability mechanism for executive staff is removal by the president, she said.

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While the existence of their positions might be subject to the advice and consent of the legislative branch, the appointment and filling of positions is entirely under the purview solely of the president, we need to believe that removal would also be solely under presidential authority, she said.

According to Taylor, in other sections, the constitution explicitly mentions impeachment for the president, vice president, legislative branch members, superior court members and the Campus Activities Council chair. These sections outline and limit the impeachment authority secured in Article III Section 9, she said.

Taylor said extending impeachment eligibility to all executive staff members would be an overreach of the legislative branch into the executive branchs internal affairs. Taylor said when she issued the opinion in March, she advised against Keupens interpretation because it would give congress too much power.

Young said Article IV makes provisions for the succession order when the president or vice president is impeached or resigns, but simply outlining what would occur after an impeachment doesnt limit it to those two offices only. Taylor said that section demonstrates which offices the drafters intended to be subject to impeachment.

Wright brought up how the president has the sole power to appoint staff, which implies the power to remove, and the legislature has a claim to this process too because it confirms appointments. Wright asked if the language of sole power when referring to the president trumps any supposed power of the legislature to impeach a staff member, and if the difference between appointing and confirming is a factor.

Taylor said the checks and balances outlined by the constitution are effective, and these issues of ambiguity are what the court will decide. According to Taylor, the absence of any clarifying language before the word members  like any or all  shows impeachment wasnt intended to apply to all members.

If the drafters wanted the legislative branch to be able to remove all SGA members, they should have said so, Taylor said.

Young mentioned the same hypothetical he brought up to Keupen, and asked Taylor if, under her interpretation, the only option the legislature would have to hold a staff member accountable would be to impeach the president.

Taylor said that if the situation was extreme enough to impeach a staff member, there would be reason to impeach the president for being complicit. She also said impeachment is an extreme resort, and SGA needs to determine another removal action that isnt as severe as impeachment.

Prior to the hearing, Taylor told OU Daily her loyalty is to SGA as a whole, not a particular side, and she trusts the justices to make the best decision.

I am arguing for a more narrow interpretation that doesn't, I believe, give the legislative branch an unlimited, broad impeachment power over every member of SGA, Taylor said. If they disagree, that's fine by me. There's reasonable debate here; it'll be well thought out. So I think it's an important issue that deserves some clarity.

The appellants response

In his concluding statement, Keupen said executive staff members are constitutionally significant because they exercise authority on behalf of the president. They oversee programs, resources and are public figures for the office of the president, he said.

Evaluating staff members for confirmation is the legislative branchs responsibility, so the power to remove them should be guaranteed, Keupen said.

If that power is misused, there must be a way to hold them accountable, Keupen said.

Keupen said he agrees with Taylor that impeachment is extreme and it should be reserved for violations of public trust. If the legislature cannot impeach executive staff members, their power of impeachment is severely restricted, he said.

It's meant to be difficult, but it must be available, Keupen said.

Keupen said recognizing the legislatures power to impeach staff members is a safeguard against a president refusing to remove a staff member.

Young, referencing Stricklands recent impeachment, asked how often impeachments happen. Keupen said he only knows of two attempted impeachments, and in both cases, the presidents resigned.

SGAs history of impeachment

On March 26, the Undergraduate Student Congress voted to impeach Strickland on five charges, making him the first president to be impeached in SGA history. According to the bill, authored by Congress Vice Chair Aaron Gilson-Bond and co-sponsored by 20 other SGA members, Strickland:

 Created a hostile workplace environment while serving as SGA president.

 Failed to act in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act and the SGA Code Annotated while serving as SGA president.

 Went against the chief justices advisement in electing members to search committees while serving as SGA president.

 Neglected his duties to the legislative branches while serving as SGA president.

 Hindered the duties and responsibilities of the chief of staff.

On April 5, Strickland told OU Daily he would resign from the presidency. Before resigning, Strickland was set to face a trial before the Graduate Student Senate.

Avery Dunlap, the vice president under Stricklands administration, was appointed president upon his resignation. She nominated Joseph Harroz III, OU President Joseph Harroz Jr.s son, to serve as vice president, which Congress approved in a unanimous vote on April 22.

In 2015, SGA President Kunal Naik faced potential impeachment charges after he was arrested for public intoxication. Naik was elected, similarly to the Strickland-Dunlap ticket, after running an uncontested campaign. A hearing was held for Naiks impeachment, but the charges were dismissed. Naik later resigned, saying he did not believe he could bring the dedication necessary to act as president.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure and Ismael Lele. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
My good and esteemed friend and apologist-colleague and fellow Michigander Steve Ray wrote in a public Facebook post (2 May 2025): We dont need a successor of Pope Francis; we need a successor [of] St. Peter. Then in the combox, he wrote, Oh, Im very clear. Theres a deeper meaning than the surface text. Think about it.

After thirteen hours, this post has received 706 likes and 34 shares (sadly, par for the course for this sort of thing).

So I did think about it, and this is my reply:

. . . which of course Pope Francis was, so its a bit of self-contradictory reasoning. For the point (at least if taken literally) to be successful, one must presuppose the falsehood that Pope Francis was not a successor of St. Peter, which is pseudo-sedevacantism, or a lousy pope who bound the faithful to false teaching (which would be contrary to the very high level Vatican I teaching of papal indefectibility).

If Pope Francis in fact did not bind the faithful to heresy or even non-heretical error, then it seems to me that the entire point is null and void. If he did, then I request that we all be shown where this occurred. Even pope-basher Phil Lawler, author of the hit piece, Lost Shepherd: How Pope Francis is Misleading His Flock (2018), which I eviscerated in many critical reviews, denied that anyone has demonstrated that Pope Francis was guilty of any heresy. He wrote on 3 May 2019:

Is the Pope a heretic? I am not qualified to address that question. . . . Who could make the authoritative judgment that the Pope had fallen into heresy and therefore lost his authority? Certainly not a handful of independent scholars. . . . Peter Kwasniewski, one of the principal authors of the letter, now says that the document lists instances of heresy that cannot be denied. This, Im afraid, is a demonstrably false statement. The instances of heresy mentioned in the letter have been denied, and repeatedly. The authors of the letter are convinced of their own arguments, but they have not convinced others. In fact they have not convinced me, and if they cannot persuade a sympathetic reader, they are very unlikely to convince a skeptical world. . . .

See my article on this view of Lawlers, with many links. In a follow-up letter of 16 May 2025, Lawler wrote: the authors of the open letter made a tactical mistake, because the charge of heresy is very difficult to prove . . . Now, he may have changed his mind in the meantime, and adopted the brain-dead schismatic or quasi-schismatic mindset of Taylor Marshall or the excommunicate Vigano et al, but thats what he thought then, at any rate. And he was correct.

So I respectfully dissent from my respected friend and fellow apologist and Michigander Steve. I simply couldnt let a statement like this pass by without comment.

The anti-papal rhetoric  generally speaking now  will continue with the next pope: I have predicted for several years now. And it will because in my opinion as an apologist and longtime observer of the Christian community, its a quasi-Protestant and Americanist attitude of hyper-individualism and nitpicking the pope whatever he does, which is highly reminiscent of both Martin Luther and theologically liberal dissident Catholics. It incorporates fundamental errors of both the far right and the far left of the ecclesiological spectrum. We either have a pope whom we respect and follow or not.

Thats not to say that we must agree with absolutely everything he said: up to what color socks to wear (as I have often joked about). I respectfully disagreed with Pope Francis on a few political issues, such as immigration, the use of nuclear energy, and climate change. But thats just it: those things arent faith and morals and not areas where the pope is infallible or even particularly an expert. The Holy Father himself drew this distinction in his great encyclical Laudato si (5-24-15), where he wrote, the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics [188].

Im not an ultramontanist in the sense that St. Cardinal Newman opposed. I am an orthodox Catholic, who follows the pope as the infallible and indefectible vicar of Christ on earth, and yes, the successor of St. Peter. What has happened in the last twelve years among his nattering nabob critics is an absolute disgrace and a scandal. I have done my best to counter these grave errors, with 241 articles defending the pope (now its 242) and proving that his critics were mistaken, and also a collection of 342 articles from others doing the same thing. But no one can be convinced by something that they refuse to read or seriously consider, even if they do read it.

You can lead the horse to water, but you cant make it drink, in other words . . . Jesus said several times, He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Lk 14:35). He was criticizing the refusal to hear, or obstinacy. Many Catholics today refuse to consider any defense of Pope Francis because they have bought all of the propaganda and the false narrative. The only winner here is the devil. He has divided and conquered once again and we have been stupid and blind enough to let him do it.

And the saddest thing of all is that it will continue in the next papacy, because nothing satisfies this sort of critical, unCatholic spirit . . .

Now, when I generalize about an error as I am doing here (putting on my Catholic sociologist hat) the danger is that some people may think that I am assuming low motives or bad faith in those who hold the position, and that I am engaging in personal attacks. THIS IS NOT TRUE AT ALL. A person can hold an erroneous position in completely good faith and sincerity, thinking they are doing good and on the side of the angels. I think this is true, for example, of Luther and Calvin. At the same time it can be in fact an objectively false and dangerous belief. The effect is the same. The well-intentioned person spreading what is a grave error produces the same bad fruit.

I know Steve (friends for 43 years) and I know his heart and his motivation for what he does. A person (like Steve) can do a tremendous amount of good work (as he has: which I immensely admire), but still simply be wrong on one point. In other words, its not a matter of overall character (a good or bad person) but (usually) of a good person who is simply wrong about a specific matter; has received erroneous teaching and accepted it. Its not a matter of good vs. evil but of right vs. wrong thinking (lacking facts, logic, internal cohesion and consistency, etc.).

So I say that the vast majority of folks who follow this line of thought have simply fallen victim to bad thinking and analysis and perhaps also in some cases the enticements of the bandwagon. If a lot of people are saying a particular thing, then its very difficult to dissent from it and to not be one of the crowd. The anti-Francis bandwagon became very large indeed and infiltrated many otherwise respectable and helpful institutions and Catholic circles. We all like to be accepted and we dont like controversy. I hate the latter myself. But my job requires me to be involved in it at times.

I try to always do so without any personal enmity whatever, as in this case.

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Photo Credit: cover of my self-published book from 2014 [see book and purchase information]

Summary: Was Pope Francis a legitimate or worthy successor of St. Peter? The title of a Facebook post from my good friend & fellow apologist Steve Ray suggested otherwise & I replied.
Its a challenging moment for a family when the traditional roles are reversed and the child becomes their parents caretaker.

Jason Eversole and his wife, Bridgid, faced this flipped and unfamiliar dynamic when their own parents were diagnosed with various ailments. It felt like a part-time job scheduling appointments and transportation, sorting through paperwork, updating family members and actually spending time with their parents  all the while balancing their full-time jobs and raising a daughter.

When you land here and youre completely overwhelmed, how do you pause for just a minute to understand: Whats the trajectory that Im on? What do I need to do now? What can wait a while and what does my road map need to look like? Eversole told The Daily Progress.

But amid all of this turmoil, the seed of innovation started to take root for the Eversoles.

The couple began to devise a platform that could serve as a hub for their familys evolving needs: manage all of the paperwork, calendars and logistics as well as keep their network of family, friends and caregivers connected.

The system would offset some of the burden as children learn how to navigate the chaos of aging parents, many of whom are dealing with emotionally taxing diagnoses such as Parkinsons disease and dementia.

After joining forces with another couple  Drs. Kathryn and Justin Mutter, a local emergency medicine doctor and geriatrician, respectively  the team created Alula, an online platform that Eversole likens to a blend of Facebook, Care.com and Taskrabbit.

Alula officially launched on Jan. 15, with already more than 400 people signed up for free subscriptions.

Families undergo an interview process that allows the program to determine their specific needs and objectives before uploading various medical and legal documents in order to streamline the process down the road when it comes to scheduling appointments or paying bills. All information is secured behind military-grade encryption and complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPPA.

Alula then generates a task-oriented action plan for each family, as described by Eversole. It also creates a bulletin board and other channels for caretakers  whether formal ones or involved family and friends  to notify one another and share updates.

We help people understand, like, this is where you are, right? he said. [These are] the kind of the things you need to do now, and we facilitate that.

At this moment in the U.S., there are more than 53 million unpaid caregivers, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, supporting about 45 million loved ones over the age of 65 who have chronic conditions or disabilities. Its estimated that this group provides the equivalent of $470 billion in free care each year.

Over the next decade, however, experts predict that these demographics will see a dramatic shift. By 2035, an estimated 78 million people will be over the age of 65. Projections generated by the Pew Research Center show a decline in the working-age population, ages 25 to 64, falling from 128.3 million in 2015 to 120.1 million by 2035.

At the time of the studys publication in 2019, Pew calculated that this deficit might be offset by an increase in the number of working-age U.S.-born adults with immigrant parents, who are projected to number 24.6 million in 2035, up from 11.1 million in 2015. (It should be noted that it is unclear if that will hold under the current mass deportation directive of the Trump administration.)

From the perspective of Alulas creators, such resources and tools are needed now more than ever to assist the millions of caregivers who are assuming significant financial, mental and, sometimes, physical stress to look after friends and family in need.

A prime example that Eversole uses to convey the effectiveness of the program he coded is a paid caretaker looking after an elderly person whose children dont live nearby.

Arriving at the house one day, the caregiver noticed the kitchen sink was leaking, so they sent a picture and description of the issue to the familys Alula bulletin board. The system, with Eversole at the controls, was able to track down a local plumber, send the children an estimate and have the plumber come fix the sink that afternoon.

Its during the sites free-trial stage when Eversole is able to test out different prototype settings, such as flagging issues like leaky sinks, and watch the metrics to see what aspects users are attracted to and what could be upgraded.

How can we use this type of technology to make it for good, he said. How can I actually make it useful for a family that needs some things right in real time?

Eversole, a former air traffic controller for the U.S. Marine Corps, is hoping to eventually install some additional features, including check-in calls for the person in need of care or reminders to take medication. Hed also like to establish partnerships with law firms, which would allow Alula to forward information and records directly to attorneys should registered clients be in need of legal assistance.

Having plenty of firsthand experience themselves, Alulas founders understand that its not always coordination thats a challenge for the elderly. Plenty of studies show the significant mental, emotional and even physical benefits that consistent social interaction can produce for older people.

Justin Mutter, who is also a dementia care expert, gave a talk on this subject  the importance of living as full of a life as possible with dementia  at a senior citizen center in the Charlottesville area a couple of years ago. The Eversoles were in attendance, and Mutters message resonated with them as they were developing Alula.

You might have Parkinsons disease or might have dementia or something else, but thats only one part of you right there; the whole rest of you that is fully capable of doing things, said Eversole. So how do you continue to do these things that bring you happiness and fulfillment in your life while still having a good understanding and a plan for how you mitigate the other things that are difficult.

Eversole envisions building out a component of Alula entirely dedicated to this philosophy. Hes currently in contact with various religious organizations in the Charlottesville area as well as support groups dedicated to those living with Parkinsons disease to develop more of a community-focused network.

Alula could connect individuals who may be isolated due to mobility issues or other ailments with like-minded peers and outside social engagements. Volunteers from the community or churches can also sign up to accompany someone to a nearby concert or theater production.

Theres so many people out there that have so many similar interests, Eversole said. How do we bring these people together to where it doesnt cost you an arm and a leg to go do the things that help you emotionally  help your mind and your body and your spirit all in one?

I shouldnt need to have to pay somebody to come and hang out with me, he added. That just seems absurd to me.

That idea of fellowship and social well-being partly inspired the sites name, according to Eversole. He and his collaborators were leaning toward something avian, and one day, he thought of seeing flocks of birds flying about in murmurations, or coordinated, swirling patterns.

Given murmurations is a bit of a mouthful for a company name, Justin Mutter proposed alula, the Latin word for a group of feathers on a birds wing that collectively control the animals ascension into the sky.

Thats a pretty good metaphor for us, said Eversole.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled to Steelton to tour the Cleveland Cliffs steel mill and meet with union workers in June 2024. The plant will close in June. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

A large plant in Steelton will close, and hundreds of workers are expected to be laid off.

Steel producer, Cleveland-Cliffs plans to close its facility at 215 S. Front St.

This temporary, indefinite idle is a necessary response to insufficient demand and pricing for the products produced at Steelton, Patricia Persico, a spokesperson for Cleveland-Cliffs, said in an e-mail.

Approximately 560 employees will be laid off.

We plan to idle the facility on or around June 30th. We remain committed to supporting our employees and communities while monitoring market conditions, Persico said.

The 151-year-old plant produces rails that carry freight and passengers along with steel for heavy machinery, power generation plants and military applications such as submarines.

Cleveland-Cliffs is based in Cleveland, Ohio, and has mining, steel and downstream manufacturing operations in the United States and Canada.

In June, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Gov. Josh Shapiro to tour the steel mill and meet with union workers. Buttigieg was there to highlight major infrastructure investments across Pennsylvania.

Cleveland-Cliffs is the 39th largest employer in Dauphin County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industrys Center for Workforce Information & Analysis as of the third quarter of 2024.
Big Lots is closing its store on Union Deposit Road in Susquehanna Township, near Harrisburg, Pa. Daniel Urie | durie@pennlive.com

As discount retailer Big Lots filed for bankruptcy and closed hundreds of stores, many of its leases were auctioned off.

And a number of well known retailers including Ollies Bargain Outlet, Tractor Supply and Burlington purchased the leases at auction.

Discount retailer Ocean State Job Lot was one of those retailers that purchased Big Lots leases.

Ocean State Job Lot purchased 15 former Big Lots stores including two in Pennsylvania. Those two stores are located at Dauphin Plaza at 3850 Union Deposit Road in Susquehanna Township and at 7150 Hamilton Blvd. in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, near Trexlertown.

The other leases are in Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Vermont. The lease on Union Deposit Road expires on Jan. 31, 2029 with the option to extend the lease, according to a bankruptcy filing.

Rhode Island-based Ocean State Job Lot is known for its crazy deals, Insider Club and closeouts.

The discount retail chain has more than 150 stores across the Northeast.

Ocean State Job Lot will hire up to 70 people in each store.

Former Big Lots employees will be offered positions, Ocean State Job Lot said.

Ocean State Job Lot sells an array of household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products, kitchen items, and gourmet and international specialty foods. The company was founded in 1977 and has stores in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Ocean State Job Lot previously opened stores in the Elizabethtown and Mechanicsburg areas.

Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September, and began closing most of its stores in December.
Undercover law enforcement at Wind Creek Bethlehem discovered a human trafficking operation and are accusing a city man of forcing 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.

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 meeting point at Wind Creek Bethlehem.

Officers set up surveillance observing Jarnagin being dropped off outside the casino by Birch, authorities said.

Police stopped Birch and searched his car, finding drug paraphernalia, authorities said. He was arrested.

Witnesses told police they were familiar with Jarnagin, who also went by the nickname, Kitty. The witnesses, all women, said their information was posted on 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.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
A man in Lancaster County was arrested earlier this week after police said he broke into a local church while nude and under the influence of a controlled substance.

Lancaster Township Police were sent to the 1000 block of East King Street around 11:36 a.m. April 29, where they found Cory Calderwood, 43, breaking into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to a police report.
A New Jersey 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, New Jersey, 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 and Buck roads, according to court documents.

The car traveled across Buck Road, went off the roadway, and hit a tree, police said. At the scene, Pierce reportedly 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 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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Bishop T.D. Jakes attends an anniversary celebration on June 8, 2012, in Dallas, Texas. Cooper Neill/Getty Images For The Potter's House

A month after announcing that the medical emergency he suffered during a sermon late last year nearly killed him, Bishop T.D. Jakes is stepping down from his position at his megachurch and handing over leadership to his daughter and son-in-law.

USA Today reported that Jakes, 67, announced that his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and son-in-law, Toure Roberts are taking over Potters House Church. Jakes founded the church in 1996.

USA Today reported that Jakes revealed the news during an emotional sermon.

This is legacy, he said. Not because theyre kind, but because theyre the kind. Theyve immersed themselves into the DNA of this church for years.

Jakes said he does continue to do with the community.

Im grateful, Im honored, his daughter said onstage. As you daughter, Im so happy youre going to get some rest.

Jakes health incident back on November 24. He went from preaching to suddenly slumping over his stool before some in attendance rushed the stage to help.

I didnt really realize what was happening to me onstage until I got to the hospital in an ambulance, Jakes told the Today show. And the doctor leaned in my ear and said, Youve had a massive heart attack.

Jakes said he just kind of drifted off to sleep.

I didnt know what it was, he said. (The doctor) said five minutes later Id have been dead on arrival.

Jakes said that the right side of my heart had completely stopped giving blood at all.

As long as I was up preaching I felt fine, he said. But when I sat down, the adrenaline dropped and it exposed the fact that I was preaching with half of my heart closed with a clot.

Jakes said he had to undergo surgery to remove the clot, and that he was kept awake for the procedure.

I was there in the chair, he said of the incident. I didnt experience like it looks like, its hard for me to look at that video because they had to claw the microphone out of my hand. They had to claw it out of my hand, but in my mind I was in a quiet, peaceful, serene, white-enveloped, cloud-enveloped space.

I was on my way out.
A harrowing encounter for a woman who recently traveled to Tokyo now has her warning others, especially women, to take extra caution when traveling.

Natali Khomenko always had a desire to travel to Japan, so in celebration of her 32nd birthday, she and her husband made plans to visit the countrys capital in the spring. However, due to her husband having to work, Khomenko opted to go alone.
Rescue workers arrive to the scene after a deadly collision between a pickup truck and tour van near Henrys Lake State Park in eastern Idaho on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Roger Merrill via AP) AP

By BEATRICE DUPUY and REBECCA BOONE, The Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho (AP)  A pickup truck collided with a tour van carrying a number of foreign travelers 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 U.S. 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.

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.

Rescue workers arrive to the scene after a deadly collision between a pickup truck and tour van near Henrys Lake State Park in eastern Idaho on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Roger Merrill via AP) AP

Fremont County coroner Brenda Dye told The New York Times that she was waiting for DNA test results to identify the six others because the bodies were unrecognizable.

She said all six were from outside the U.S. Two were from Italy.

Chinas Consulate General in San Francisco said that five Chinese citizens were killed in the crash and another eight were injured.

The consulate expressed deep condolences for the dead and sincere sympathy to the injured and the families of those affected, according to the Xinhua news agency. It was in contact with the family members and providing support, it said.

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.

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.

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.
President Donald Trump gives a commencement address at the University of Alabama, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) AP

Former first lady Michelle Obama has been in the headlines plenty of late, and that has a lot to do with the fact that she has a new podcast and has also been making the media rounds.

The latest headline comes from her Monday appearance on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty, podcast when she spoke about the one thing that frightens her about President Donald Trumps second term.

I dont know that we will have the advocates to protect everybody, and that makes me  that frightens me, it keeps me up at night, she said.

HuffPost reported Obama made the revelation after she and her brother, Craig Robinson, who appeared on the podcast alongside her, discussed racial discrimination. The site said Obama was asked about her hardest recent test.

Well, in this current climate, for me, its whats happening to immigrants, she said.

My fears are what I know is happening out there in streets all over the city, she added. And now that we have leadership that is sort of indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesnt, and we know that those decisions arent being made with courts and with due process.

Obama then talked about a story that her brother shared earlier in the podcast about being stopped as a child in Chicago by a Black police officer, per HuffPost.

(Theyre making decisions like,) You dont look like somebody that belongs, you know, I can determine just by looking at you that youre  a good person or youre not a good person, she said. Theres so much bias and so much racism and so much ignorance that fuels those kinds of choice, I worry for people of color all over this country.
Troy Bennett Bailey Sr. is contesting all 35 charges against him. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

WILLIAMSPORTThe accused shooter in a Williamsport double homicide is now challenging all 35 charges he is facing instead of just 14.

And the prosecution has dropped its effort to combine charges against Troy Bennett Bailey Sr., 58, of Williamsport, in the homicide case and one in which he is accused of sexual abuse of children.
Senator Bernie Sanders took the stage at the Farm Show Complex to the cheers of more than a thousand supporters for his Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go from Here tour.

The Vermont senator was introduced by U.S. Congressman Chris Deluzio, after Pennsylvania State Representative Nate Davidson and several officers from unions and labor organizations spoke.

And the repeated message was one of defiance against the massive influence of money in politics - influence that they claimed the Trump administration was fostering - as well as the growing wealth of the richest Americans, at the expense of the working class.

Just down the road from here, in Philadelphia, 250 years ago, a group of folks signed a document, said Davidson. Right at the top it read we the people.

Davidson went on to say that we find ourselves again in a we the people moment. Once again, it is all of us against the wealthy few.

Common refrains throughout the rally were in support of labor and union organizing, calls for legislation limiting or banning private money in elections, and more public funding for health care and education.

And the speakers railed against what they claimed were increasingly authoritarian moves from the Trump administration, claiming the presidents ties to extremely wealthy CEOs like Elon Musk and others were a threat to the success and safety of the working class.

Maurice Cobb, Secretary-Treasurer for the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, blasted President Trumps seemingly haphazard tariff policy.

While he admitted that tariffs can be used effectively to support American workers, Cobb said thats much different than what this administration is doing.

Instead, Cobb said, Trump was weaponizing tariffs, applying them indiscriminately so that he can line his pockets, him and his buddies, and manipulate the stock markets and our 401Ks and retirements. 

Jim Enders, President of the Central Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council, asked voters to call out every politician who puts corporate profits ahead of American families.

We must demand better, Enders said. And not just demand it, we need to fight for it."

The crowd, over a thousand gathered into the Equine Barn, was not shy about cheering in support for many of Sanders recurring political causes: reduced costs and increased access in health care, expanding benefits for Social Security and Medicare, and pushing for green energy alternatives.

Likewise, the loudest boos were reserved for President Trump, Elon Musk and other wealthy tech CEOs, and U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, a staunch Trump ally who represents Pennsylvanias 10th district.

Now, youve got a congressman right here, dont you? said Rep. Deluzio, to a chorus of boos. An insurrectionist, am I right? That tried to overthrow our election? Has anybody seen this guy? Anybody seen him at a town hall?

Last month, Perry held an online event instead of appearing at an in-person town hall, in a move some saw as an attempt to shield himself from constituents criticism.

These guys are afraid to hear from their voters, Deluzio said. Something tells me youll send this guy packing next year.

Sanders himself hit the stage around 6:40 p.m., and spoke a little less than an hour, taking shots at Trumps slashing of federal jobs and programs, his economic policies, and his crackdowns and deportations of immigrants and legal residents.

Sanders said Trump, in an unprecedented way, is undermining our Constitution and threatens our freedom of speech and assembly by sending ICE agents in unmarked vans to grab people off the streets.

That is what happens in dictatorships! Sanders said. Not democracies!

Sanders also noted Trump was cuddling up to a terrible dictator in Russia, Vladimir Putin, as well as with the [Benjamin] Netanyahu war machine, referring to Israels prime minister and the ongoing conflict with Palestine.

In both cases, Sanders said that Trump had no regard for the suffering of the innocent people in either Ukraine or Gaza.

Say no to authoritarianism, and say no to an economy in which the rich are getting richer while the working people are struggling! he said.

Sanders also gave Congressman Perry some special attention.

Now I am not in the habit of giving political advice to Republicans, Sanders said. But I will say this to Representative Perry. If you vote for tax breaks for billionaires, and cut Medicaid? You will not be returning to Washington.

And yet another local reference was made with Sanders noting that Harrisburg was one of many cities struggling with providing enough affordable housing for residents.

While the litany ranged across nearly all political causes, Sanders said that the solutions remained in reach.

What the system, the establishment, the media, the politicians tell you is that essentially, you are powerless, Sanders said. And they tell you theres nothing you can do about it. Im here tonight to tell you, there is a hell of a lot that you can do about it.

He ended his speech  before staying after to shake hands with members of the crowd  with a call to stand united and talk to other people.

Talk to your Republican friends, Sanders said. Let us stand together, let us defeat oligarchy, let us defeat authoritarianism, and create a government and economy that works for all of us, not just a few.
By Eileen Appelbaum

The imminent closing of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital, following the 2022 shuttering of two other Crozer Health System hospitals, is a tragic loss for the Delaware County communities they served.
The Pennsylvania State Police and the Marysville Borough Police Department joined forces April 16 to launch a statewide enforcement effort targeting aggressive driving, part of a broader initiative encompassing more than 300 municipal police departments and every state police station across the Commonwealth.

Held in Marysville, the event was part of a coordinated campaign aimed at curbing behaviors that dramatically increase the risk of crashes, injuries and fatalities. Law enforcement officials and traffic safety representatives from multiple jurisdictions attended, including representatives from Troop H, which covers Perry County, and law enforcement from East Pennsboro and Lower Paxton townships.

Jeff Bowman, Region 2 Law Enforcement Liaison for the Highway Safety Network, emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative and the urgent need for intervention. This enforcement wave is targeting aggressive driving. It boils down to a choice. Speeding, tailgating, running red lights all are preventable actions.
Three college students, all Charlottesville natives, appear headed for a dismissal of their assault and battery charges after participating in an autumn altercation that allegedly left a James Madison University student briefly unconscious.

Police said the trio conspired to lure 18-year-old Avi Shreves to an apartment where they punched and kicked him. All three recently received deferred dispositions.

A deferred disposition means that college students Kathleen Carson Davies, Edward Randolph Parrish and Charles Whitlow Parrish, the latter of whom are brothers, will see their cases dropped later this year  as long as they stay out of further trouble.

According to the investigating officers account, the Nov. 24 incident was a slug-filled ambush.

The two brothers, however, have described it as a mere shoving match.

I have viewed photos of Avis injuries sent to me on November 24 and November 26, and the injuries shown are not consistent with only shoving involved, investigating officer Dominique Essex wrote in his complaint.

Essex expressed particular concern about the way Shreves wound up in the apartment of Davies, a student at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Shreves was allegedly hanging out with two female friends on the night of Nov. 24 when Davies allegedly texted one of those friends on Snapchat. Davies allegedly urged one of the women to visit her at Grandmarc at the Corner, a large apartment complex facing 15th Street Northwest, and to bring Shreves.

As Shreves held the apartment door open for his friends to enter, he told investigators, a mans hand suddenly yanked him inside. Another man then sprang from hiding, he said, and the two men proceeded to beat him so severely that he briefly lost consciousness.

I knew they were going to beat Avi up, Davies allegedly later texted the young woman who unwittingly led her friend into the situation.

The trio was arrested in late November and each charged with misdemeanor assault and battery, but the investigating officer attempted to get them charged with the more serious crime of abduction conspiracy, a felony. The court record doesnt indicate why the Charlottesville police officer was unsuccessful in securing the more serious charge.

Shreves told Essex that he regained consciousness while on the apartment floor and getting kicked in the ribs by Charles Parrish, a University of Virginia student who goes by Whit, and by his older brother Edward, a student at the University of South Carolina.

The injuries sustained by Avi included bruising to the face and the outer portion of his upper back including the rib cage, wrote Essex.

All three suspects turned themselves in to police on Nov. 30, six days after the incident.

However, that wasnt the end of the matter. The next day, Davies paid a visit to the magistrates office and swore out a warrant against the wounded man. Davies alleged unwanted groping at Ellies Country Club, an Elliewood Avenue bar, formerly the site of the Biltmore Grill and popular with students.

He hugged me and then proceeded to run his hand down my back in a creepy way and grabbed my butt, Davies attested in her handwritten complaint. That sworn statement pointed to Nov. 23, the day before the alleged ambush, and resulted in the arrest of Shreves.

But when the sexual battery charge against Shreves came to court on March 31, prosecutor Will Tanner moved to drop it and focus on the Grandmarc attack. The Parrish brothers pleaded no contest to assault and battery and got their deferral approved that same day.

While Edward Parrish was ordered to pay $99 in court costs, his brother Whit was ordered to pay $4,034, most of which appears to be restitution for Shreves medical expenses. Davies also pleaded no contest to assault and battery and got her deferral approved in late April.

None of the trio had any prior criminal record, and Tanner said that all parties were consulted on the cases outcome, which he said included a provision for some volunteer work.

The victim was supportive of a resolution that involved restitution, community service, and the convictions being entered if the defendants were noncompliant or not of good behavior, Tanner told The Daily Progress via text message.

Each of the three who participated in the beating, none of whose attorney commented to The Daily Progress, must return to Charlottesville General District Court on Sept. 26 and convince a judge that they remain deserving of seeing their charges dropped.
Portomaso Casino in St Julian's was again packed to the rafters today, the sounds of chips riffling and laughter filtering through the air, as 258 players across Days 1d-1e sought to find a bag for Day 2 of the 550 Grand Event at the Malta Poker Festival.

Those figures resulted in the 300,000 guarantee being broken, with the prize pool currently standing at 324,615, and the final two starting flights still to come.

A total of 39 players progressed to Day 2, with Antonio Scala of Italy leading the way on 870,000. He is closely followed by Christoforos Chrysochoidis of Greece (816,000) and Aurelio Vallone (722,000), also of Italy.

Scala was the chip leader at the second break, and despite taking a hit when Alex Montgomery turned a flush, he managed to recover, in part helped by busting Ilze Zolte on the Day 1d bubble. Scala has recorded cashes of less than $5,000 - his biggest score being a 92nd place finish in the October 2023 Malta Poker Festival Grand Event, and he will no doubt be dreaming about a major European title tonight.

Chrysochoidis has recorded live results of close to $300,000, and is fresh off a career-best score of 25,500, after winning a PLO Bounty tournament at the Diamond Poker Series in Tallin in April.

Vallone was involved in the hand of the day, when James Paris showed him an epic bluff. He didn't let that setback derail him, and steadily rebuilt his stack, while Paris would not make the Day 2 cut.

James Paris

End of Day 1d-1e Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count 1 Antonio Scala Italy 870,000 2 Christoforos Chrysochoidis Greece 816,000 3 Aurelio Vallone Italy 722,000 4 Fidan Zahiti Sweden 614,000 5 Martyn Frey United Kingdom 567,000 6 Angelo Vietti Italy 546,000 7 Lukasz Korniluk Poland 535,000 8 Marco Patane Italy 484,000 9 Manoj Navani India 476,000 10 Jiri Novak Czechia 430,000

The final chances for players to have a shot at the title are on Saturday, May 4, with Day 1f kicking off at 1 p.m., while turbo flight Day 1g will get underway at 9 p.m.

Day 1f will feature 40-minute levels, with late registration open until the start of Level 11. Players will start with 50,000 chips at blind level 100/200, with a 200 big blind ante. Players are permitted two reentries per flight, with play concluding when 15% of the field remains, all of whom will be in the money.

Day 1g features 20-minute levels, but otherwise follows the same structure as previous flights. Players who qualify for Day 2 will return on Sunday, May 4, at 1.pm., where blind levels will be increased to 50 minutes. The final day takes place at 1 p.m. Monday, May 5, where play will continue until a champion is crowned.

Stick with PokerNews for all your coverage of what is guaranteed to be a frantic day of poker thrills and spills.
Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star reporter

Bianca Moorman is a reporter for the Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star with a focus on community focused stories, arts, businesses, non-profits, events and any story with a human element. The Roanoke, Virginia native has journalism degrees from James Madison and Syracuse universities. She has written for papers in Georgia, Mississippi, Upstate New York and Virginia. Follow her on X at @biancarmooman.

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editorial writer

Cindi Ross Scoppe is an editorial writer and columnist for The Post and Courier who has written about the S.C. Legislature, governor, state government and courts for nearly 40 years. She is a native of North Carolina and graduate of the University of North Carolina and lives in Columbia.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies with a few showers this afternoon. High 84F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Tropical storm conditions possible. Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 74F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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News Release Highlights:Battery X Rebalancing Technologies announces the delivery of Prototype 2.0, its second-generation, patent-pending lithium-ion battery rebalancing machine, representing a major advancement in its hardware and software platform.Prototype 2.0 features advanced diagnostics, next-generation rebalancing technology, a compact and efficient design, and expanded technical capabilities, positioning the Company for future commercialization.Prototype 2.0 marks the second major milestone for Battery X Rebalancing Technologies in 2025, following the submission of provisional patent applications to the USPTO for its next-generation rebalancing innovations.Battery X Rebalancing Technologies plans to host an exclusive live investor reveal event in May 2025, and report preliminary results from initial EV battery rebalancing trials.VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 /Battery X Metals Inc. (CSE:BATX)(OTCQB:BATXF)(FSE:5YW, WKN:A40X9W)("Battery X Metals" or the "Company"), an energy transition resource exploration and technology company, announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Battery X Rebalancing Technologies Inc. ("Battery X Rebalancing Technologies") has achieved a pivotal milestone with the delivery of its second-generation prototype ("Prototype 2.0") of its patent-pending lithium-ion battery rebalancing machine designed to extend the remaining useful lifespan of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and reduce the need for costly battery replacements for EV owners.To showcase this significant advancement, Battery X Rebalancing Technologies plans to unveil Prototype 2.0, its most advanced lithium-ion battery rebalancing system to date, during an exclusive live investor reveal event (the "Live Reveal Event"), anticipated to take place on a date to be determined in May 2025. The Live Reveal Event is intended to provide shareholders and stakeholders with a first look at Prototype 2.0, including a demonstration of core functions, behind-the-scenes development footage, and insights into Battery X Rebalancing's patent-pending battery rebalancing technology, development roadmap, anticipated commercialization readiness, and future go-to-market strategy.Visionary Technologies Aimed to Advance the Energy TransitionBattery X Rebalancing Technologies is a development-stage technology company, at the forefront of the energy transition, supporting the electric vehicle revolution and developing innovative technologies to extend the lifespan of lithium-ion and EV batteries. Its mission is to extend lithium-ion battery longevity.Further to the Company'snews releasedated September 27, 2024, the Company, in collaboration with its development partner Beijing Pengneng Science & Technology Ltd., has completed and received delivery of Prototype 2.0, a second-generation prototype of its patent-pending lithium-ion battery rebalancing machine, which incorporates significant refinements and updates to the original prototype, including updated dimensions, optimized weight, and additional related equipment.In addition to its patent-pending rebalancing software and hardware system, Prototype 2.0 is accompanied by a comprehensive set of supporting equipment, including a multi-function battery diagnostic device, tablets for system interfacing, a battery pack lift, and insulated tool kits.About Prototype 2.0Prototype 2.0 represents the culmination of several years of research and development and is designed to integrate advanced hardware and software capabilities that diagnose battery issues and optimize the performance of lithium-ion and EV batteries. The system is intended to deliver:Advanced State-of-Health Diagnostic Modules Designed to assess the maximum available capacity of EV battery cells and further enable the repurposing of used EV battery cells into second-life battery applications.Next-Generation Rebalancing Technology Aimed at restoring balance between individual cells, extending operational life, and optimizing energy output across the battery pack.Enhanced Design and User Interface Featuring a more compact and efficient footprint, improved aesthetics aligned with future brand guidelines, and upgraded user-friendliness for field operability.Expanded Technical Capabilities Incorporating deciphering tools, airtightness testing modules, connectivity ports, and other enhancements designed to meet future commercial readiness standards.Prototype 2.0 marks a significant milestone toward solidifying its position in the market as a leading authority in lithium-ion and EV battery rebalancing and lifespan extension. Battery X Rebalancing Technologies' patent-pending rebalancing technology-validated by the National Research Council of Canada ("NRC"), as further described below-reinforces the company's commitment to delivering real-world solutions that support battery longevity and sustainability.The delivery of Prototype 2.0 is the second significant milestone in Battery X Rebalancing Technologies' product development journey in 2025. Further to the Company'snews releasedated April 11, 2025, Battery X Rebalancing Technologies has submitted an application for provisional patent filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") for its next-generation battery rebalancing software and hardware technology innovations.Planned Next StepsBattery X Rebalancing Technologies' next steps include rigorous testing to validate optimal performance and compatibility across a variety of EV battery makes and models. Battery X Rebalancing Technologies plans to provide feedback to its development partner for ongoing refinements, with the goal of delivering a commercial-ready unit by Q4 2025. Further iterations may be necessary based on in-situ testing outcomes.Battery X Rebalancing Technologies intends to provide further updates on its testing initiatives, development progress, and strategic advancements in future announcements as it advances its patent-pending technologies to support the long-term growth of the EV industry.Battery X Rebalancing Technologies remains focused on advancing its patent-pending hardware and software technologies to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions that extend battery life, support the long-term growth of the EV industry, and meet the growing demand for battery rebalancing and lifespan extension.Live Reveal Event and Prototype 2.0 DemonstrationAt a date to be determined in May 2025, Battery X Rebalancing Technologies plans to host the Live Reveal Event, featuring the official unveiling of Prototype 2.0 and report preliminary results (the "Results") from initial rebalancing trials conducted on real-world, imbalanced EV battery packs. These trials are
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From 6-8 May, 25,000+ cybersecurity experts will gather at the Middle East and Africa's largest cybersecurity event to secure the region's digital future against deepfake scams and critical infrastructure vulnerabilitiesDUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / ACCESS Newswire / May 3, 2025 / With AI-driven cybercrime and ransomware attacks surging globally, GISEC Global 2025 returns to Dubai from May 6 - 8, bringing together the world's foremost leaders, innovators, and visionaries in a high-stakes effort to secure our digital future.GISEC Global transforms Dubai World Trade Centre into the epicentre of cybersecurity, uniting 450+ CISOs, 25,000 professionals from 160 countries, and 750+ brands-from tech giants like AWS, Huawei, and Microsoft to innovative startups-for MEA's most pivotal cyber event under the theme 'Securing an AI-Powered Future.' The year 2025 has been declared as the 'Year of Community' by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, calling for collective action in building a connected and empowered society through AI and entrepreneurship. GISEC Global is strengthening the global cybersecurity community by fostering collaboration between governments, enterprises, and experts to secure our digital tomorrow.The 14th edition brings together critical focus areas from some of the leading players in the industry, including Huawei, AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud Security, CISCO, Deloitte, Kaspersky, Check Point, Cloudflare and Honeywell, alongside groundbreaking cybersecurity companies such as Spire Solutions, CPX, CyberKnight, LinkShadow, OPSWAT, Qualys, CrowdStrike, StrikeReady, and Dream Group.The three-day event will reinforce the UAE's position as a world leader in AI innovation and responsible AI deployment in the face of threat actors, blending global expertise with regional priorities, and with a strong emphasis on public-private collaboration, innovation, and talent development.These priorities come at a critical juncture.The World Economic Forum's Global Security Outlook 2025 report,published ahead of GISEC Global 2025, has shown that:66% of organisations view AI as a game-changer in cybersecurity.Nearly half (47%) warn that generative AI is simultaneously arming hackers with scalable new attack vectorsHowever, only 14% of organisations feel confidently equipped to respondThese key insights highlight how fast the global cybersecurity market is changing - an ever-growing economic sector that is expected to reach $298.5 billion by 2028, according toMarkets and Markets- a significant jump from the $190.4 billion in 2023.Nowhere is this urgency more apparent than in the Middle East, where 45% of organisations rank cyber risk mitigation as their top operational priority ( PWC's 2024 Global Digital Trust Insights survey ). As the region accelerates its digital transformation, GISEC Global 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment to shape its secure future.The 2025 edition introduces groundbreaking new features:Next-Gen Cyber Warriors Competition: The Student Hackathon transforms classrooms into cyber defence labs, where young talent tackles real-world scenarios in network security, threat analysis, and incident response.Critical Infrastructure Programme: The launch of OT Security Conference Track addresses the growing convergence of IT and operational technology, offering actionable strategies to protect vital systems from emerging vulnerabilities.Africa Cyber Resilience Initiative: As the continent's digital economy expands, GISEC launches dedicated roundtables with CISOs and national authorities to build continent-wide defences.GISEC AI: Explore polymorphic malware, adversarial AI, and deepfake scams.This year's largest AI in cybersecurity showcase will feature pressing topics including polymorphic malware, adverbial AI, deepfake scams and Gen AI tech.Launch of GISEC North Star: Cyber71, in strategic partnership with GISEC GLOBAL, will launch a series of high-impact initiatives at the region's largest platform for innovative cybersecurity startups. It will provide a dynamic space for cybersecurity startups to network, attract investment and scale their businesses.Dubai Cyber Challenge: Premiering at GISEC Global,Organised by DESC, an exclusive Capture the Flag' competition will be held for Dubai government entities as teams go head to head across two days, focusing on different trends such as web security, reverse engineering and digital forensics through various challenges.Dubai's hosting of GISEC Global 2025 cements the UAE's position as the world's cybersecurity leader, recently crowned #1 in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024. The event serves as both a showcase of the nation's security achievements and a call to action for international collaboration in our interconnected digital future.H.E. Dr Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, said: "GISEC Global comes at a critical time as cyber threats grow more prevalent and sophisticated," says HE Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council. "In this 'Year of Community,' our partnership with GISEC underscores the UAE's commitment to uniting global stakeholders in addressing urgent cybersecurity challenges-from safeguarding data privacy and securing critical networks to countering advanced threats through AI-powered solutions. Through initiatives like the world's largest Global Cyber Drill and strategic collaborations at GISEC, we are turning the UAE's cybersecurity vision into action, ensuring a resilient digital future for all." H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General of Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), said: "Dubai's rapid digital transformation is redefining the way we live, work, and connect, making cybersecurity more critical than ever. GISEC Global 2025 stands as a pivotal gathering where global experts converge to address emerging threats and pioneer the next generation of cyber resilience. At DESC, we are steadfast in our mission to safeguard Dubai's digital ecosystem by fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and implementing robust cyber defences. Our participation in GISEC reflects our commitment to shaping global cybersecurity discourse, sharing expertise, and ensuring that Dubai remains at the forefront of secure and intelligent digital progress." Trixie LohMirmand, EVP of Dubai World Trade Centre, GISEC Global organiser, said: "Every year, the cybersecurity industry is dealing with new threats and opportunities with GISEC Global at the heart of driving impactful discussions and action from the worldwide ecosystem. This year will be no different as we bring the best minds together once
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 / In an era where healthcare is as much about timely access and personalized experience as it is about clinical excellence, one technology is transforming how providers attract, engage, and convert patients: AI chatbots.By 2025, 90% of hospitals are projected to use artificial intelligence for early diagnosis, remote monitoring, and patient engagement. At the heart of this digital evolution lies the AI chatbot-an always-on, hyper-intelligent assistant that is fast becoming the cornerstone of high-value patient conversion strategies.The Front Door to High-Value CareToday's high-value patients-those seeking advanced procedures, specialty care, or complex diagnostics-expect speed, clarity, and concierge-level service from their healthcare providers. AI chatbots serve as the ideal digital front door, instantly engaging website visitors, triaging inquiries, and guiding them toward the services that generate the greatest revenue impact.Consider a patient exploring cosmetic surgery, orthopedic care, or oncology second opinions. Rather than filling out a generic form and waiting hours (or days) for a callback, an AI chatbot can:Instantly answer questions about procedures, costs, and appointment availabilityTriage their needs and recommend consultations with relevant specialistsCapture contact information and seamlessly hand off qualified leads to staffBy reducing friction in the patient journey, chatbots dramatically increase the likelihood of converting inquiries into booked appointments-especially for high-revenue services.Personalization and Predictive Analytics: The Conversion EngineGone are the days of one-size-fits-all patient communications. Modern AI chatbots leverage natural language processing (NLP) and predictive analytics to deliver highly personalized experiences.These systems learn from every interaction, enabling:Tailored recommendations based on patient interests and health historyAutomated follow-ups with relevant content and booking linksSmart reminders aligned with patient behavior (e.g., "It's been 3 months since your consultation on spinal injections-would you like to schedule a follow-up?")Case Study: A dermatology practice integrating an AI chatbot saw a 42% increase in conversion rates for patients seeking high-ticket procedures like Mohs surgery and cosmetic laser treatments-driven by personalized engagement and timely follow-ups.Integrating Telemedicine and Wearables for Proactive OutreachThe synergy between AI chatbots, telehealth platforms, and wearable devices is redefining how providers identify and nurture high-value patients.Imagine a cardiology patient using a smartwatch that detects irregular heart rhythms. The integrated system could:Trigger an AI chatbot to reach out proactively, recommend a virtual consult, and facilitate appointment bookingNotify clinicians of potential high-risk cases needing urgent careThis level of real-time, data-driven outreach ensures that high-risk, high-value patients receive timely interventions-increasing both clinical outcomes and practice revenue.Boosting Operational Efficiency and Staff FocusHigh-value patient conversion doesn't just rely on acquiring new leads-it demands exceptional follow-through and support. AI chatbots excel at automating repetitive administrative tasks that often bog down healthcare staff:Appointment scheduling and reschedulingInsurance eligibility verificationPre-screening and intake questionnairesPayment processing and invoice remindersBy offloading these time-consuming tasks, chatbots free up front-desk and clinical teams to focus on complex cases and meaningful patient interactions. This not only enhances patient satisfaction but also optimizes staff productivity.Data Point: Healthcare organizations using AI-powered automation report up to 25% improvement in operational efficiency, translating to more time and resources dedicated to revenue-generating patient services.Trust, Security, and Compliance: The Bedrock of AdoptionFor any healthcare technology to succeed, it must prioritize trust, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Modern AI chatbots are built with HIPAA-compliant frameworks, employing advanced encryption, secure data storage, and strict access controls.Patients can confidently share sensitive information-knowing that:Conversations are encrypted end-to-endData is stored in compliance with healthcare regulationsChatbots only escalate sensitive interactions to human staff when appropriateThis trust is critical for engaging high-value patients, who often require discretion when discussing complex conditions or elective procedures.Why Your Practice Needs AI Chatbots NowHealthcare providers who integrate AI chatbots into their patient engagement strategies consistently report:Higher Conversion Rates - Faster responses and personalized journeys turn inquiries into appointmentsImproved Patient Retention - Ongoing communication and proactive outreach build loyaltyIncreased Revenue - By prioritizing high-value services and reducing no-showsOperational Streamlining - Less admin burden means more focus on delivering top-tier careConclusion: The AI Advantage for Healthcare GrowthThe future of healthcare isn't just digital-it's intelligently automated, deeply personalized, and patient-centric. AI chatbots represent the key to unlocking sustainable, scalable high-value patient acquisition.For healthcare organizations seeking to stand out in a crowded market, deliver concierge-like experiences, and maximize both patient outcomes and business growth, AI-powered chat is no longer optional-it's essential.Partner with experts who understand both AI technology and healthcare workflows.DAS Consultants offers a cutting-edge, HIPAA-compliant AI Chat system designed to help you attract, engage, and convert the patients who matter most.Contact: DAS Consultants347-220-8813SOURCE: DAS Consultants
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 3, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. ("Elf" or the "Company") (NYSE:ELF) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and docketed under 25-cv-02316, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Elf securities between November 1, 2023 and November 19, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Elf securities during the Class Period, you have until May 5, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Elf, together with its subsidiaries, provides cosmetic and skin care products under the e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. Skin, Well People, Naturium, and Keys Soulcare brand names. The Company employs an "omni-channel distribution strategy" and sells its products with retailers in the United States, as well as internationally. Elf also sells its products online through its own direct e-commerce channels, as well as through other e-commerce websites. According to the Company's "value proposition," "[e]ach of [its] brands has accessible pricing relative to its competitive set and furthers [the Company's] mission of making the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, face and skin concern. As an example, e.l.f. Cosmetics' average product price point is approximately $6, as compared to other leading mass cosmetics brands which have average product price points over $9 and prestige cosmetics brands which have average product price points over $20, according to Nielsen." The Company purports to have developed a "scalable, asset-light supply chain centered on the combination of speed to market, high-quality and low costs." Substantially all of the Company's products are sourced and manufactured in China through "close collaboration with a network of third-party manufacturers." Elf has also touted that it has "ample manufacturing capacity as well as redundant capabilities in the event that one or more suppliers cannot meet [its] needs" and that its "broad supply base gives [it] the ability to fulfill [its] product requirements and remain cost competitive." As a retail company, effective inventory management is critical to Elf's financial performance. Specifically, the Company derives revenue from "sales of [its] beauty products, net of provisions for sales discounts and allowances, product returns, markdowns and price adjustments." Accordingly, Elf's profitability depends, in largepart, on ensuring that it maintains a volume of inventory that will allow the Company to effectively sell its products at a level that will meet customer demand. Conversely, Elf maintaining a level of inventory that is excessive relative to customer demand will result in the Company holding products that cannot be effectively sold and must therefore be written down or sold at a loss, thereby negatively impacting its profitability.As its investors would eventually learn, Elf's inventory management was woefully ineffective. In fiscal Q2 2024, the Company began identifying growth concerns when inventory levels rose as a consequence of flagging sales. However, Elf concealed this issue from investors. Instead, the Company described itself at all relevant times as one of a "rarified group of high-growth companies" with "strong relationships with [its] retail customers such as Target, Walmart, Ulta Beauty and other leading retailers that have enabled [it] to expand distribution both domestically and internationally" and consistently maintained that "the combination of its value proposition, innovation engine, ability to attract and engage consumers, and its world-class team's ability to execute with speed, has positioned the Company well to navigate the competitive beauty market." The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) contrary to its representations to investors, the Company was experiencing rising inventory levels as a consequence of flagging sales; (ii) Elf falsely attributed the rising inventory levels to, among other things, changes in its sourcing practices; (iii) to maintain investor confidence, Elf reported inflated revenue, profits, and inventory over several quarters; (iv) accordingly. the Company's business and/or financial prospects were overstated; (v) all of the foregoing, once revealed, would likely have a material negative impact on the Company; and (vi) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On November 20, 2024, Muddy Waters Research ("Muddy Waters") published a report entitled "e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. A Revenue and Inventory Mystery", alleging that Elf had "materially overstated revenue over the past three quarters," and that in "Q2 FY24, ELF management realized its growth narrative was in trouble as its inventory built. It appears that ELF then began reporting inflated revenue and profits. Its reported inventory also appears materially inflated as a result - i.e., to account for cash that has not really come in." Further, Muddy Waters accused the Company of concealing its inventory challenges from investors by falsely attributing its rising inventory levels to supposed changes in its sourcing practices rather than the true cause-insufficient sales.On this news, Elf's stock price fell $2.71 per share, or 2.23%, to close at $119.00 per share on November 20, 2024.Elf's share price continued to fall. After the Class Period ended, on February 6, 2025, Elf released its fiscal Q3 2024 results and provided its fiscal 2025 outlook.
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PRAGUE, CZ / ACCESS Newswire / May 3, 2025 / The iconicMucha Museumis proud to announce in the historic building of the Kaunicky palac, Prague, has moved & reopened in its new grand venue in the Kaunicky palac, Prague offering a transformation in payed of history of the celebration of Alfons Mucha, one of the most influential of the Art Nouveau artists and a symbol of national identity to the Czech people.Originally opened to the public in 1998, the museum is the first in the world entirely dedicated to the works of the much-acclaimed Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha - the collection includes everything from canvases to photographs, illustrations, designs, living, invocative documents, and much more. Citizens of Prague are very proud of thismuseum , formerly housed in a small and quaint setting, now in its new and very impressive home, which offers a dramatically expanded and re-imagined experience." This new home for the Mucha Museum at Kaunicky palac, Prague, is more than a move - it is a bold redefinition of how we present Mucha's legacy to future generations ," said a museum spokesperson. " It reflects the scale and spirit of the man whose work shaped not only an artistic era but a national identity ."Located in the center of Prague, the Kaunicky palac offers a graceful and historic backdrop for the appreciation of Mucha's visionary work. Now, visitors can explore all new galleries with original works of art, personal artifacts, archival material, and engaging interactive exhibits showing the artist and the world he inhabited.New Museum Experience Highlights:World Premiere of Its Kind: The only one in the world dedicated solely to Alfons Mucha, now with improved facilities and curatorial capacities.Experience an Immersive Storytelling: Delve into Mucha's life from his Moravian childhood to becoming an international art nouveau sensation in Paris and return to the Czech lands as personification of the nation.Czech History in Focus: Mucha's art offers an inspiring visual story of the Czech nation's cultural awakening and quest for national identity - an intricate and inseparable part of his work.Digital Discovery: The museum's official website, Mucha.cz , you can visit as one of the first in a foreign language exhibition, book tickets, access educational materials, and the online gift shop with exclusive prints and collectible items.Alfons Mucha (1860-1939) is known for his masterful art nouveau iconic poster designs that capture the essence of beauty advertising products - it's probably some of the most exquisite examples of advertising art ever seen. His paintings were an expression of culture and national pride, as well as a medium of political sentiment; nowhere is this more apparent than in The Slav Epic, a collection of large canvases that document the spiritual development of the Slav race.With the introduction of this beautiful setting within the confines of the Kaunicky palac, Prague, visitors will be able to experience Mucha's work with greater intimacy and depth, and also experience the city of Prague through the eyes of an artist who helped give it a soul.About Mucha Museum - Mucha.czis the official online platform for the Alfons Mucha Museum and legacy. It offers access to exhibition details, tickets, digital archives, curated content, and exclusive merchandise, serving as the definitive source for Mucha enthusiasts worldwide.Media ContactOrganisation: Muchovo muzeum s.r.o. Contact Person: Daniel Tanner Website: mucha.cz/en/ office@ mucha.cz SOURCE: Muchovo muzeum
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 3, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. ("BigBear" or the "Company") (NYSE:BBAI) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia , and docketed under 25-cv-00623, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired BigBear securities between March 31, 2022 and March 25, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired BigBear securities during the Class Period, you have until June 10, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]BigBear is an artificial intelligence - driven technology solutions company. The Company purportedly offers national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions.In June 2021, BigBear.ai Holdings entered into a merger agreement (the "Merger Agreement") with GigCapital4, Inc. ("GigCapital4"), a special purpose acquisition company, GigCapital4 Merger Sub Corporation ("Merger Sub"), and BBAI Ultimate Holdings. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub first merged with and into BigBear.ai Holdings, with BigBear.ai Holdings being the surviving entity in the merger (the "First Merger"). Then, immediately following the First Merger, BigBear.ai Holdings merged with and into GigCapital4, with GigCapital4 being the surviving entity in the merger (the "Second Merger," and together with the First Merger, the "Mergers," and together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the "Business Combination"). On December 7, 2021, the Mergers were consummated and GigCapital4, Inc. was renamed as BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.Upon completion of the Business Combination, BigBear issued $200 million of unsecured convertible notes-debt instruments that can be converted into equity at a future date-due to mature on December 15, 2026 (the "2026 Convertible Notes" or "2026 Notes"). The 2026 Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.0% per annum, payable semi-annually, and not including any interest payments that are settled with the issuance of shares, and were convertible into 17,391,304 shares of the Company's common stock at an initial Conversion Price of $11.50. Convertible notes are often classified as long-term debt and as such, consistent with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), they must be accounted for in a company's quarterly and annual reports as liabilities until they reach maturity, at which point they either convert to equity or are repaid as principal and interest.BigBear uses the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC")-the single source of United States ("U.S") GAAP-to account "for all transactions and events in which it obtains control over one or more other businesses (even if less than 100% ownership is acquired), to recognize the fair value of all assets and liabilities assumed and to establish the acquisition date fair value as of the measurement date." Accordingly, because the Business Combination qualified as such a transaction, BigBear was required to account for it, and its issuance of the 2026 Convertible Notes therewith, in accordance with the ASC.Under ASC 815-15, an entity is required to bifurcate and separately account for a feature or derivative embedded within a host contract (such as the conversion option within the 2026 Convertible Notes) if: (1) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract; (2) the hybrid instrument is not remeasured at fair value under otherwise applicable GAAP with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur; and (3) a separate freestanding instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would meet the definition of a derivative and would not qualify for a "derivative scope exception." An embedded derivative may qualify for a scope exception if, for example, it meets the requirements of ASC 815-40, which covers contracts issued or held by an entity that are both indexed to its own stockand classified in stockholders' equity in its statement of financial position. If an embedded feature qualifies for a derivative scope exception, the entity does not separate it from the host contract and the entity accounts for the entire instrument (assuming no other embedded features require bifurcation) in accordance with other U.S. GAAP. Therefore, whether BigBear was required to bifurcate the conversion option within the 2026 Convertible Notes as a derivative was dependent, in part, upon the conversion option's qualification for a derivative scope exception.The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) BigBear maintained deficient accounting review policies related to the reporting and disclosure of certain non-routine, unusual, or complex transactions; (ii) as a result, the Company incorrectly determined that the conversion option within the 2026 Convertible Notes qualified for the derivative scope exception under ASC 815-40 and failed to bifurcate the conversion option as required by ASC 815-15; (iii) accordingly, BigBear had improperly accounted for the 2026 Convertible Notes; (iv) the foregoing error caused BigBear to misstate various items in several of the Company's previously issued financial statements; (v) as a result, these financial statements were inaccurate and would likely need to be restated; (vi) BigBear would require extra time and expense to correct the inaccurate financial statements, thereby increasing the risk that the Company would be
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WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO) resulting from allegations that Eldorado Gold may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.SO WHAT: If you purchased Eldorado Gold securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=37849 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On February 5, 2025, Eldorado Gold issued a press release in which it provided an update on the construction progress on its Skouries Project. In pertinent part, this announcement stated that "[a]s previously disclosed, labour market tightness in Greece, particularly pronounced in construction, has continued to limit the availability of key construction personnel at Skouries, resulting in a slower ramp-up of the workforce and delayed progress in certain areas of the Project." Further, Eldorado announced that "[f]irst production at Skouries is now expected in the first quarter of 2026, followed by commercial production expected in mid-2026." On this news, Eldorado Gold's stock fell 11.2% on February 6, 2025.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th 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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ORLANDO, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / May 2, 2025 / Unusual Machines, Inc. ("Unusual Machines" or the "Company"), a United States based manufacturer and distributor of drone parts today announced that it has commenced a public offering of Common Stock. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this proposed offering (the "Offering") to expand its U.S. drone parts manufacturing business and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the Offering.Dominari Securities LLC is acting as the sole placement agent for the OfferingThis Offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-286413), declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 21, 2025. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying shelf prospectus ("Shelf Prospectus") describing the terms of the Offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website located at http://www.sec.gov . Electronic copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement (together with the final prospectus supplement for this Offering, the "Prospectus Supplement") and the accompanying shelf prospectus may be obtained, when available, by contacting Dominari Securities LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, 725 5th Ave 23 Floor, New York, NY 10022, by email at info@ dominarisecurities.com , or by telephone at (212) 393-4500.Before investing in this Offering, interested parties should read, in their entirety, the prospectus supplement and the Shelf Prospectus and the other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC pertaining to the Offering and that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus Supplement and the Shelf Prospectus, which provide more information about the Company and such Offering.This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.About Unusual MachinesUnusual Machines manufactures and sells drone components and drones across a diversified brand portfolio, which includes Fat Shark, the leader in FPV (first-person view) ultra-low latency video goggles for drone pilots. Several of the company's products have been approved for and listed on the Defense Innovation Unit's (DIU) Blue Framework list. The Company also retails small, acrobatic FPV drones and equipment directly to consumers through the curated Rotor Riot ecommerce store. With a changing regulatory environment, Unusual Machines seeks to be a dominant component supplier to the fast-growing multi-billion-dollar US drone industry and the global defense business. According to Fact.MR , the global drone accessories market is currently valued at $17.5 billion and is set to top $115 billion by 2032. For more information visit Unusual Machines at https://www.unusualmachines.com/ Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements which involve substantial risks and uncertainties relating to closing the Offering and use of proceeds. Forward-looking statements are often identifiable by the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "objective," "ongoing," "plan," "predict," "project," "potential," "should," "will," or "would," or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that it has a reasonable basis for making each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, the Company cautions that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by the Company and its expectations of the future, about which the Company cannot be certain. Forward-looking statements are subject to considerable risks and uncertainties, as well as other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to whether or not the Company will be able to raise capital through the sale of shares of Common Stock or otherwise; the final terms of the proposed offering; market conditions; satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering; various risks related to the Company's business operations; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described within the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's 2024 Annual Report, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which risk factors are incorporated in the Shelf Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement by reference and that are included in the Prospectus Supplement. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to complete the public offering on the anticipated terms, or at all. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances, except as required by law.Investor Relations Contact:CS Investor Relations917-633-8980 investors@ unusualmachines.com SOURCE: Unusual Machines, Inc.
The Federal Ministry of Education has partnered with the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership on initiatives to track transparency and strengthen accountability across Nigerias tertiary institutions.

A statement by the ministrys spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, said the partnership involves launching a compliance-tracking platform that will publicly monitor whether institutions meet the ministrys directive to publish financial and institutional data by 31 May.

Another partnership component is the establishment of a University Transparency Index, a benchmarking tool that will assess institutions based on audit compliance, financial openness, and governance practices.

The statement quoted the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, as saying that strengthening transparency and promoting responsible financial conduct remains a priority in the ministrys National Education Sector Reform Initiative (NESRI).

Financial Transparency in Universities

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how a survey conducted by the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership in 64 Nigerian universities revealed the lack of financial transparency in the institutions.

The report found that none of the surveyed institutions had published their budgets, and many also ignored Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, noting it contributes to a culture of secrecy that undermines access to global research funding and damages international credibility.

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

Ministerial directive

Shortly after the survey was made public, the Minister of Education, Mr Alausa, directed all the tertiary institutions to publish their annual financial statements including revenue generated internally and allocations received as well as data on student population.

He directed that the information be published on the institutions websites by 31 May.

Mr Alausa emphasised that the information be presented in a clear, accessible, and user-friendly format for public visibility.

Following Mr Alausas directive, the centre announced plans to launch a compliance-tracking initiative of the ministers directive.

It also said it was working with stakeholders to establish an annual university transparency index to rate universities by audit compliance, financial disclosure, and governance effectiveness.

Centre welcomes partnership

In a statement by its Media Adviser, Aliyu Jalal, the centre welcomes the collaboration with the education ministry and commended the minister, Mr Alausa, for his commitment to institutional reforms.

The centre said it will also provide technical assistance to institutions, including support for bursars and ICT heads in implementing open financial portals and adopting international reporting frameworks such as the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

It added that training programmes are being developed to equip these officials with the tools necessary for transparent management and reporting.

This is a bold and much-needed move that signals that the Ministry is serious about restoring integrity to Nigerias higher education governance, the statement said.

READ ALSO: FG implements dual mandate policy for colleges of education

We are happy that our Athena Governance Insight report, which revealed widespread failures in university transparency, has informed and influenced this important national conversation and set pathways for reform.

According to the centre, the Index will reward credible leadership, stimulate healthy competition, and reposition Nigerian universities for global relevance.

Athena Centres founder and former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, described the initiative as a landmark opportunity to move from diagnosis to reform.

Mr Chidoka praised the Ministry for choosing collaboration over defensiveness and transparency over opacity, and pledged that the Centre would bring rigour and independence to the effort.

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Madu, a documentary by Nigerian filmmaker and virtual reality content creator Joel Kachi Benson, has been nominated for the 2025 Emmy Awards.

Co-directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Matt Ogens, the project received nominations for Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary and Outstanding Direction at the News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

The 46th annual edition of the award, which celebrates artistic and technical excellence in the American television industry, is organised and presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).

Madu tells the story of Anthony Madu, a young Nigerian ballet dancer who rose to global fame in 2020 after a video of him dancing barefoot in the rain went viral.

The film premiered on 29 March and is currently streaming worldwide on Disney+. It had its first Nigerian screening at the 2024 edition of the iREP International Documentary Film Festival.

News and Documentary

Peer review panels carry out voting for the News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

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NATAS invites individuals with significant experience in national news or documentary reporting and production to serve as judges.

Most categories undergo two rounds of voting, with separate judging panels convened for each stage.

The leading entries in each category are announced as the nominees, and the top entry is later revealed as the Emmy winner during the awards ceremony.

This year marks the 46th annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards. The awards will be presented over two ceremonies: the News categories on 25 June and the Documentary categories on 26 June, both held at the Palladium Times Square in New York City.

Hungry for stories

The producer of Daughters of Chibok, a virtual reality film centred on the Chibok schoolgirls abduction, said he became a filmmaker to create impactful stories like Madu.

The Creative Director of VR360 Stories, a virtual reality film studio based in Lagos, described his recognition by the National Academy of Television Arts as a victory for himself and the entire community of filmmakers.

The Abia-born said, Stories like Madu are why I became a filmmaker. They remind us that hope can come from the most unexpected places and that the world is hungry for stories from an authentic African perspective.

This recognition by the National Academy of Television Arts is a win for all of us who believe in the power of documentary to change minds and lives.

Kachi Benson

Benson founded JB Multimedia Studios, a pioneering force in impact storytelling.

He has consistently pushed the boundaries of narrative innovation, shedding light on everyday heroes, hidden struggles, and transformative journeys across the African continent.

In 2018, he produced In Bakassi, the first virtual reality documentary created by a Nigerian filmmaker.

The film follows the harrowing story of an orphaned boy living with post-traumatic stress disorder in one of the largest camps for internally displaced persons in Maiduguri, Borno State.

In Bakassi premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival in November 2018 and was subsequently screened at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.

In 2019, Benson produced Daughters of Chibok, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.

The documentary won the Venice Lion for Best Immersive Story (Linear), making Benson the first African filmmaker to receive the prestigious award in that category.

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Filmmaker Zeb Ejiro has responded to a lawsuit filed by actress Ann Njemanze at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the decision of the Federal Trade Marks Registry to revoke her ownership of the Domitilla trademark.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ms Njemanze is seeking an order to set aside the judgment of the Trade Marks Tribunal and to reinstate her as the registered owner of the Domitilla trademark.

The newspaper reported that Ms Njemanze sued Mr Ejiro and two others for infringing on her copyright.

Ms Njemanze, best known for portraying the titular character in the 1996 classic film Domitilla, took Mr Ejiro to court over the alleged unauthorised use of the name Domitilla, which she had trademarked.

Domitilla is a 1996 film that explores the life of a young woman navigating the harsh realities of sex work in Lagos.

The actress is demanding N50 million in damages from Mr Ejiro for the alleged infringement of her registered trademark.

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In a counteraction, Mr Ejiro also filed a lawsuit against Ms Njemanze for breach of confidence. The legal battle between the parties has since been ongoing.

However, the defendants have denied the allegations and challenged the competence of the suit.

Dead on arrival

In an interview with this newspaper, Mr Ejiros legal counsel, Rockson Igelige, confirmed that the actress instituted three separate cases against his client, all aimed at claiming ownership of the Domitilla name.

Mr Igelige stated that the first case has already been struck out, while the remaining two are still pending before the Federal High Courts in Abuja and Lagos, respectively.

Furthermore, he described Ms Njemanzes appeal as one with no prospect of success.

It is dead on arrival, he said, stressing that the copyright belongs to Mr Ejiro.

He said: The appellant has not complied with Order 53 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, which states: The notice shall be served, and the appeal entered within thirty days after the date of the order, determination or other decision against which the appeal is brought.

By the mandatory provisions of Order 53 Rule 2 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, the notice of appeal against the decision of the Trademarks Tribunal shall be filed and served within 30 days following the ruling of the Trademarks Tribunal. Additionally, the appeal shall be entered within 30 days after the decision of the Trademarks Tribunal.

Mr Igelige stated that the actresss appeal failed to comply with the courts order, describing it as incompetent.

He stated that the appellate court lacks the jurisdiction or competence to entertain it.

According to him, Ms Njemanzes appeal was not entered within the required 30-day period.

He explained that an appeal is deemed to have been entered only when all the relevant and complete documents of the proceedings have been compiled and transmitted to the appellate court.

For the facts and reasons presented above, we respectfully urge that this Honourable Court uphold the decision of the Trademark Tribunal reached on 4th May 2023 and to dismiss the Appellants appeal, said Mr Igelige.

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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed concern over the growing demand for medical doctors in the country as thousands continue to emigrate in search of better opportunities.

The NMA President, Bala Audu, raised the alarm while reading a communique at the end of its Annual Delegates Conference and General Meeting, 2025, held in Katsina State.

The conference is themed: The Universal Applicability of Care Standards for Patients and the Well-being of Health Care Providers.

Mr Audu said the countrys population is increasing and the demand on individual doctors is also increasing.

He said about 15,000 doctors had left the country for greener pastures abroad in the last five years.

According to him, the recommended doctor-to-patient ratio is 1:600 but due to the continuous exodus of medical doctors, the ratio has raised tremendously.

If you divide the estimated population of 240 million by the number of practicing doctors, which is 30,000, it will give you the doctor-patients ratio of 1:8000, he said.

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Mr Audu emphasised that Nigerian doctors are among the best trained in the world, attracting recruiters from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.

He identified poor working conditions and inadequate remuneration as major factors pushing doctors to leave the country.

There are difficulties pushing the doctors to leave the country, one of which is poor working condition and renumeration, he said.

Here we are calling for the payment of seven months outstanding arrears and the consequential adjustments to doctors working in federal tertiary health institutions.

The NMA is also advocating the universal implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) across all health sectors as a measure to curb the brain drain.

He also said the association rejected the new proposed National Prescription Policy because only doctors were trained to make prescription to patients.

The president said that NMA had conducted an outreach where 500 patients were treated, conducted eye surgeries on 100 patients and distributed nutritional supplements to orphanage homes in Katsina.

(NAN)

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Ride on Traore. But, just as Samora Machel said, [t]he day you hear the Whites speak of me in good terms I have betrayed you already. So Traore, please, know the day France and other Western powers speak good of you, that day, we, Africans in Africa and in the Diaspora, will know you have sold out to Western imperialist forces.

Africans and progressive activists in the continent and the diaspora, including the United States (US), Canada, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Russia, took to the streets on 30 April.

The marches were in support and solidarity with the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore, his government and the people. They were joined by democratic, anti-imperialist, and peace-loving peoples of other races.

The protest was triggered by the continuous destabilisation of Burkina Faso by Western powers, especially France, which has been financing and arming some extremely retrograde and deadly terrorist elements of the Boko Haram type.

But, why are France and Western powers so desperate to eliminate Traore and overthrow his government?

What are French military warships, carrying hundreds of troops, helicopters, and military vehicles doing in neighbouring but hostile Cote dIvoire, three months after the latter claim to have expelled French forces?

Why did the African-American General, Michael Langley, tell a US Senate Hearing that Burkina Fasos gold reserve goes for Traores personal security rather than the nations benefit? So the US said of Muammar Gaddafi before killing him and destroying Libya.

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The first reason is that Burkina Faso is a largely driven agriculture and mining country. It produces gold, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphate and limestone. And, it has significant reserves of diamonds, bauxite, vanadium and nickel, etc., which are presently unexploited.

These materials, hitherto exploited by Western multinationals, have been nationalised by Traores government; an act generally seen by the Western powers as dangerous to their interests.

Secondly, Traore is widely seen as the political reincarnation of a predecessor, Captain Thomas Sankara, assassinated by a French marionette, Blaise Compaore, in 1987. Like Sankara, he rode to power, as a Captain, through military coup detat, in his early thirties. Sankara at the age of thirty-three, Traore at thirty-four.

Both fought commendably against Western-backed terrorists operating and destabilising Burkina Faso. Like Sankara, Traore is a nationalist, patriot, and professional but politically conscious military officer. Both are people-oriented leaders, passionately committed to the defence of the homeland, and the all-round development of Burkina Faso.

To Western powers, a Sankara born-again must not be allowed to shine, flower and flourish, as it will fertilise the grounds for the reincarnation of African leaders like Patrice Lumumba of Congo, Sylvanus Olympio of Togo, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Amilcar Cabral of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, Augustino Neto of Angola, Samora Machel of Mozambique, Gadhafi of Libya, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and, Steve Biko, Robert Sobukwe, and Chris Hani of South Africa.

Thirdly, Western powers are opposed to Traore because he is a strong believer and practitioner of development. Like Cabral, Traore sees development as greatly involving but radically transcending modernisation. Development, to them, means improving their citizens material, spiritual, welfare, and security conditions; continuously ensuring peace and progress; increasingly humanising their citizens lives and conditions, and guaranteeing the future of their children.

From the Western powers perspective, such development will negatively affect their economic interests, and counter their political domination.

To Traore, pursuing development means simultaneously continuing the independence struggle to its logical conclusion. This informs his stand that, [w]e are not in a democracy, we are in a revolution, as the struggle involves breaking every tie that kept us in slavery.

Fourthly, the reality, however, is that Traore believes in democracy. But democracy, to him, is more than the principles, ingredients, and rituals of liberal democracy. By his words and actions, he is out to create the basis for practicing popular democracy.

After all, as Cabral said, the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyones head. They are fighting for material benefits, to live better and in peace  Fredrick Engels had earlier said the same thing, that, [m]ankind must first of all eat, have shelter and clothing before he can pursue politics

Popular democracy is one that involves the masses in the administration of the state, the society and the economy; meets their ever-expanding material, spiritual and cultural requirements and, addresses the contradictions within the people.

It is equally directed towards restricting the powers of the ruling and governing classes; confronting the dominance of Western imperialist forces in the country; consolidating national independence; transforming the neo-colonial economy; and enthroning the working people in the affairs of the political economy.

Popular democracy, therefore, is a democracy in which the masses of people are dominant, and in which their interests and well-being supersedes, and overrides, the powerful interests of externally forces. As Traore said, We have been receiving French aid for 63 years, yet our country has not developed, so cutting it off from us now will not kill us, but motivate us to work and rely on ourselves.

Fifthly, Traore is a Pan-Africanist. Like Nkrumah, he believes in the unity of Africans. But he is equally conscious that Pan-Africanism can never be attained if the African masses are relegated to the background. Therefore, the major task of Pan-Africanist leaders is to create the favourable conditions for the attainment of the ideals of Pan-Africanism.

Traore believes that while Burkina Faso comes first, its development and liberation is dialectically connected with Africas development and liberation.

Together with General Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger Republic, and General dArmee Goita of Mali, Traore established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), to counter the hostilities of the pro-West Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

AES is confronting Western sponsored terrorism and economic sanctions. Members have adopted concrete measures to neutralise French control over their natural resources, political and diplomatic affairs, as well as economic and trade relations. They have withdrawn from the International Organisations of Francophone States, and downgraded French language in their countries.

AES members have stopped French military operations in, and expelled French military forces from, their countries. They have renamed their streets after their national heroes and heroines, as against the names of racist and fascist colonial rulers.

Sixth, Traore embarked on projects that undermine the interests of French and Western forces in Burkina Faso. Within two years, local and foreign debts, including those of IMF and World Bank, have been paid. He has embarked on agricultural mechanisation, and the industrialisation of the country. All these, amongst others, are economically injurious to Western interests, as they drastically cut their monopolistic capital accumulation.

But these progressive actions equally endanger Traore. Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, Nigerias minister of Economic Planning, warned Africa as far back as November 1961, that: if we want to go very quickly in our economic changes, we cannot easily do it without creating a certain amount of trouble  The imperialists have got various means to defending their monopoly. They have got their newspapers and televisions and they can go to any extent to tell lies. If we want to set about improving the economy of our country in a particular way, they may say we are Communists. They can make our countrymen suspect our every move. If they do not succeed by false propaganda, by calling us all sorts of names, if they fail to make us unpopular in order to win their case, they can arrange assassination. They can go to any extent without discrimination.

Ride on Traore. But, just as Samora Machel said, [t]he day you hear the Whites speak of me in good terms I have betrayed you already. So Traore, please, know the day France and other Western powers speak good of you, that day, we, Africans in Africa and in the Diaspora, will know you have sold out to Western imperialist forces.

Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf worked as deputy director, Cabinet Affairs Office, The Presidency, and retired as General Manager (Administration), Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet). Email: [email protected]

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The Nigerian government has temporarily suspended the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the suspension will last for the next five years.

The suspension comes amid a dispute between the education ministry and the recipients of its BEA scholarship over unpaid stipends.

While the education ministry maintained that the stipends had been paid up until December 2024, the scholars maintained they are owed four-month stipends from 2023 and other differentials for 2024.

The scholars, under the Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education AGreement Scholars (UNBEAS), also said they havent received any stipend payment this year.

BEA suspension

The ministry of education said the decision to suspend the BEA scholarship for five years was reached after an extensive review of academic programmes abroad revealed that the courses are not accessible and often better enhanced within Nigerian institutions.

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It explained that while the five-year moratorium on the BEA scholarship encourages local education, it does not prevent parents from privately sponsoring their children to study overseas.

We are currently spending more to send students abroad covering tickets, stipends, and other expenses for an education they can now access better here, the statement quoted the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, as saying.

The government said it would only go ahead with the scholarship when partner countries offering scholarships to Nigerians agrees to provide a fully funded scholarship, covering tuition, accommodation, travel, living costs, healthcare, and a monthly allowance of at least $500 at no cost to the Nigerian government.

The statement added that the moratorium does not affect other scholarship programmes.

It added that existing beneficiaries of the BEA scholarship will continue to receive full government support until they complete their studies and return home.

We stand by the promises made to our students abroad, the minister said.

Ministry, Scholars differ on stipends payment

In a statement on 25 April, the ministry of education said the stipends due to the scholars have been paid up until December 2024.

In this same statement, the ministry acknowledged exchange rate-induced shortfalls in disbursements and promised to cover the differentials.

To address this, the honourable minister has formally requested additional funding to cover the differentials and ensure the full remittance of entitlement to all affected students, the statement reads.

But the students denied some of the ministrys claims on payments.

In a statement by UNBEAS president, Bilal Aliyu, the scholars maintained they are owed four-month stipends from 2023.

The statement said the scholars are owed stipends for September to December 2023. The scholars receive a monthly stipend of $500.

It added that they are owed $1,123 in exchange rate differential for six months March to August.

For 2024, the scholars said they received $220 stipends instead of $500 without prior notification or justification. The statement said the students were only informed of the reduction at the time of disbursement.

As of April 2025, no stipend payments have been made for the year. Scholars across multiple countries continue to face serious financial hardship, the statement said.

BEA Scholarship

The BEA scholarship is a diplomatic and mutual cooperation between Nigerian and some countries which enables Nigerian students to pursue academic studies in partner countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.

Through these agreements, host countries provide beneficiaries with free tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipends.

The Nigerian government also supports the scholars with take-off grants and monthly stipends throughout the study period and return passage upon successful completion of their programmes.

However, Nigerian scholars have always lamented the delay in the payment of their stipends due by the Nigerian government.

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At the instance of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Saturday, 3 May, depart Abuja for Libreville, Gabon, to represent Nigeria at the inauguration of the countrys President-elect, Brice Nguema.

Mr Nguema, who had served as Gabons interim leader since August 2023, secured a decisive victory in the countrys 12 April presidential election.

According to final results released by Gabons Constitutional Court, Mr Nguema garnered 58,074 votes  equivalent to 94.85 per cent of total votes cast.

Mr Nguema faced seven challengers in the race, including former Prime Minister Alain Bilie-By-Nze, who finished second with 3 per cent of the vote. Other candidates failed to surpass the 1 per cent threshold.

Nigeria remains supportive of the peaceful democratic transition in Gabon and reaffirms the governments broader strategic interest in promoting democratic governance and regional stability in Central Africa.

The vice president is expected to return to Nigeria after the inauguration.

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Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications

(Office of The Vice President)

3rd May, 2025

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TVC News will on Sunday broadcast the premiere of an investigative documentary on the $1.3 billion OPL 245 saga, also known as Malabugate.

The explanatory documentary, produced by TheCable newspaper and the Cable Foundation, will be aired at 9pm.

It authoritatively unravels the full scope of the OPL 245 controversy, one of the most complex and consequential oil scandals in Nigerias history, the management of the newspaper said in a press release.

Through compelling storytelling and original reporting, Malabugate reconstructs the scandal from the ground up, offering viewers an unprecedented narrative into the billion-dollar oil deal that has spanned administrations, borders, and courtrooms.

The release further stated: It explores questions like: Why did Obasanjo revoke OPL 245 in 2001? Why did he settle out of court with Malabu in 2006? Why did President Goodluck Jonathan return the oil block to Malabu in 2010? Why did Shell and Eni team up to acquire Malabus interest in the oil block for $1.1 billion in 2011?

The documentary also delves into other questions such as: What was the interest of the Abacha family in OPL 245? What was the interest of Chief Dan Etete, the former minister of petroleum resources under Abacha? Why did President Muhammadu Buhari file criminal charges against the principal actors? How did Mohammed Bello Adoke, the former attorney-general of the federation, become the central figure in the Malabu court cases? Why did Nigeria lose all the court cases in Italy, the UK and Nigeria?

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The documentary confronts the hard questions that have long demanded answers, tracks the origin and allocation of OPL 245 to Malabu, follows the global money trail, dissects legal documents, and breaks down how some of the worlds biggest oil companies became entangled in a scandal that continues to shape Nigerias energy and justice sectors.

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for the creation of ethical and legal frameworks to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), warning that unregulated use poses risks to press freedom and fundamental human rights.

A statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday by Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages of NHRC Fatimah Mohammed stated that the commission will release an advisory on the use and deployment of AI in the country.

Mrs Mohammed stated that NHRCs Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu called for AI to be developed and used in a way that aligns with human rights principles to prevent potential abuses.

Mr Ojukwu, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said AI has both the potential to enhance journalistic activities such as content development, investigative reporting, research and fact-checking.

But he said it could be undermined when it is manipulated for misinformation, cyber bullying, emotional abuse or inciting comments.

Mr Ojukwu described the 2025 commemoration, Reporting in the Brave New World  The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media as a timely.

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He noted the increasing influence of digital communications and utilisation of AI in virtually all aspects of life.

According to the Human Rights Advocate, AI tools have greatly impacted on the enjoyment of the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Media by eliminating barriers to timely and effective communication.

 AI tools have at the same time aided the breach of the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Media when applied unprofessionally without deference to ethical regulations, the statement stated.

Call on citizens to adopt AI

Mr Ojukwu urged the citizens and journalists to adopt AI responsibly to advance right to freedom of expression and the media, while avoiding inciting statements against constituted authorities and other members of the public.

He further called on government officials to cooperate with journalists as they carry out their constitutional duties of holding power to account, and cautioned against interference with law journalistic activities.

All stakeholders must recognise the press as a vital partner in the democratic process, he said, warning that harassment, intimidation, or destruction of journalists equipment would not be condoned.

Commendations

Mr Ojukwu commended Nigerian journalists for their resilience in the face of intimidation and occasional harassment by overzealous security personnel.

He said the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity not to cast blame, but to reflect on the state of press freedom globally, defend the medias independence, and honour journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

World Press Freedom Day, first declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, is marked every 3 May to raise awareness about the importance of a free press and to remind governments of their responsibility to protect media independence.

Nigeria was ranked 112 out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, indicating continued concerns about censorship, journalist safety, and government surveillance, which are challenges now further complicated by AI-enabled threats.

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Reaching every unvaccinated child and preventing the spread of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) remains a persistent challenge for Nigerias health system.

Despite years of interventions, gaps in routine immunisation coverage persist, especially among zero-dose children who have never received a single vaccine.

According to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria currently has the worlds highest number of unvaccinated children. An estimated 2.1 million Nigerian children under the age of one, representing 24 per cent of the countrys 8.7 million under-one population, have not received any routine vaccines.

Speaking with PT Health Watch, Christiana Fashola, a global digital health and vaccine expert with experience across Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America, said Nigeria must evolve its immunisation strategy to close coverage gaps and protect more children from preventable diseases.

Lessons from other regions

Ms Fashola explained that the most effective immunisation strategies are context-specific, tailored to a countrys disease burden, health infrastructure, and target groups.

She said that while mass campaigns, routine outreach, and scheduled immunisation days have helped Nigeria expand coverage, these tools are no longer enough.

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Theres a growing need to expand beyond these traditional strategies by leveraging community-based service delivery models, she said.

Globally, she noted that integrating community pharmacies and pharmacists into vaccine delivery has boosted access, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where they are often the first point of care.

She said their inclusion enhances accessibility and enables a life-course approach to vaccination, reaching not only children but also adolescents and adults.

Ms Fashola also highlighted the importance of intersectoral collaboration across health, education, and social services, an approach that proved effective during the COVID-19 and HPV vaccine rollouts.

Local influencers, mobile teams, and community health workers, she added, remain essential to reaching underserved populations.

She said that trust-building through culturally sensitive communication must remain a pillar. If people dont trust the system, they wont take the vaccines, she said.

Why cVDPV2 is spreading

Recent outbreaks of cVDPV2 reveal systemic weaknesses in Nigerias vaccine distribution, especially in conflict-affected and remote areas.

Ms Fashola cited low coverage, poor sanitation, limited health personnel, and vaccine hesitancy as key factors fueling the virus spread.

One of the biggest challenges, she said, is the countrys inadequate health workforce.

Nigerias health workforce density is critically low, with only 1.83 skilled health workers per 1,000 people, far below the WHO-recommended threshold of 4.45 per 1,000, she said.

To tackle this, there is a need to increase the health workforce through training and deploying more healthcare personnel, as well as utilising community health workers to strengthen local immunisation efforts.

She added that poor water and sanitation infrastructure also play a major role in cVDPV2 transmission.

Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure further complicate the situation. Improving these conditions, alongside vaccination efforts, is crucial to reducing the transmission risk of the virus, she noted.

Reaching zero-dose children

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) marks 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), experts are reflecting on both progress and the gaps that remain. In Nigeria, many children, especially in the North, still miss out due to insecurity, limited access, and misinformation.

Ms Fashola acknowledged efforts such as mobile outreach to nomadic populations and the engagement of traditional leaders to identify zero-dose children, but said more must be done.

Theres still a long way to go, Ms Fashola said. We need stronger data systems to track and reach these children, improved healthcare infrastructure, and prompt release of immunisation funds to sustain activities.

She pointed out that digital tools like geospatial mapping have proven effective in improving vaccine delivery precision, but these innovations must be scaled nationally.

What Nigeria must do next

To build a resilient immunisation system, Ms Fashola stressed the need for increased investment in health personnel, especially in hard-to-reach communities.

This includes recruiting, training, and equitably deploying workers to areas most in need.

Nigeria has successfully integrated global immunisation strategies through collaborative efforts with Gavi, WHO, UNICEF and other partners, adapting proven approaches to its local context, she said.

She added that to further strengthen progress, Nigeria must prioritise knowledge sharing, local adaptation of best practices, sustainable financing, domestic resource mobilisation, and improved monitoring and evaluation systems.

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Air Peace on Saturday said it had no regret cancelling or delaying flights to ensure the safety of human lives in adherence to air safety standards.

This is contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications at Air Peace, Ejike Ndiulo, in Lagos.

While empathising with passengers who experienced inconveniences from its flight cancellations and delays, Air Peace said the disruptions were due to safety considerations.

According to the airline, if weather conditions, technical parameters or operational standards fall short of safety standards, the flight will not be operated.

It is not our policy to delay or cancel flights without due cause, and when we do, we are often the greater loser financially. We will never sacrifice safety for convenience, comfort, speed or profit, it said.

It thanked the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for requesting improvement in its domestic operations.

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The airline praised the authoritys efforts in ensuring airline operators adherence to global safety standards.

Air Peace, however, said that it was also important to clarify that it had more aircraft than were being rostered for daily operations.

Therefore, any delays or cancellations we have experienced have absolutely nothing to do with fleet shortage.

For instance, on Friday, one of our aircraft experienced a bird strike, which damaged the engine while landing in Enugu.

The aircraft was immediately grounded and withdrawn from operation in accordance with safety protocol, it said.

Air Peace said that the aircraft was scheduled to service multiple routes, noting that its unavailability had had a ripple effect on flight operations for the routes.

READ ALSO: Air Peace announces flight resumption

This kind of situation is completely beyond the control of any airline, but again, our priority is the safety of our passengers.

It is to be stated that every decision Air Peace has taken since the inception of this airline, whether resulting in a delay, cancellation, or suspension of flight, has been taken in the best interest of safety.

If such situations occur again, we will do the same because we are not ready to compromise safety. We do not cancel any flights for the fun of it.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NCAA had, on Friday, held a meeting with the management of the airline on the number of complaints it received on its flight disruptions.

(NAN)

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Nigerias prisons continue to struggle with severe overcrowding, despite efforts at reform.

According to data from the Nigerian Correctional Service Portal as of 14 April, 52,893 out of Nigerias 79,474 total prison population are awaiting trial, accounting for about 67 per cent of all inmates. Of these, 51,407 are men, and 1,486 are women.

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Oluyemi Adetiba-Irija, a lawyer and Executive Director of Headfort Foundation, explains why these reforms are not yielding the expected results, citing the case of Godswill, a man who spent 11 years at Ikoyi Correctional Centre without ever facing trial.

Excerpts

PT: Could you introduce yourself?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: My name is Oluyemi Adetiba-Irija. Im a lawyer and founder of the Headfort Foundation for Justice, a non-profit organisation that provides legal representation for vulnerable persons and advocates for prison reform and criminal justice reform in Nigeria.

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PT: Your foundation has helped secure the release of many detainees. How bad is the situation in Lagos prisons today?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: I dont work directly in the prisons, so I might not be able to give you an accurate number of the people currently in prison. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that across the five prisons in the Lagos area, congestion is terrible.

For example, at Ikoyi Prison, built for 800 people, youll find between 3,000 and 3,500 inmates at any given time. Its the same at the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Security Prisons. Even the female facility, although slightly better, holds more than its 200-person capacity.

Over 70 per cent of inmates are usually awaiting trial. Its a massive problem, and while the government, civil society, and religious bodies are trying, the challenges are still enormous.

Youll see clamour for reforms, youll see different efforts aimed at improving the system. But the reality right now is that the challenges are still quite enormous.

PT: Lagos is often praised for adopting the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). Why do violations like delayed trials persist?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: The laws are there, but implementation is weak.

The judiciary is overwhelmed, and there arent enough judges. Election tribunals also pull judges away from regular cases, causing further delays.

Sometimes inmates arent brought to court because there are no vehicles or fuel. There have been calls for virtual hearings, but implementation is still pending.

When judges retire or are elevated to higher courts, their pending cases stall for months, sometimes restarting entirely. Thats how people end up spending more years awaiting trial than their actual sentence would have been.

Its a very disheartening situation when you see someone whose sentence, if found guilty, would be two, three, four, or five yearsbut theyve already spent six or seven years awaiting trial. And thats the reality of the Nigerian criminal justice system.

PT: Lagos has introduced reforms like digital case-tracking and virtual hearings. From your perspective, are these reforms real or cosmetic? Have you seen any measurable impact?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: So, when it is fully implemented, we will definitely see an impact. Issues like vehicles breaking down or not having fuel to transport inmates to courtthose will become things of the past because well be able to schedule virtual hearings and all of that.

So yes, were going to see the impact. But right now, even though the direction is clear and the policy is in place, it has not been fully implemented.

PT: Some say police and court officials deliberately delay cases for bribes. How real is this?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: At the police level, yes, delays happen. People are sometimes held for months without charge, even though the law allows only 48 hours without a court order.

But you still see police detaining people for months in Lagos, right? So all of that could be attributed to the police as part of the problem.

However, once a case gets to court, the police have little influence. But within the court system, delays are also common. Courts are often overbooked, and criminal cases that should move quickly end up waiting months for new dates.

Are these delays deliberate at the court level? I cant say for certain. But of course, we see them every daythe delays are obvious. Still, theres always a justification, and most of the time, its completely beyond the control of the defence counsel.

PT: Given the level of overcrowding and rights abuses in Lagos prisons, is it fair to say that the state has abdicated its responsibility to uphold basic human rights?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: Technically, prison management remains a federal responsibility.

Even though the National Assembly moved prisons to the Concurrent List in March 2023, which means that states could manage their prisons, no state in Nigeria has taken any steps to implement that policy.

So, what we have now is that all the prisons are still under the control of the federal government. When it comes to prisons, Lagos State currently has no direct authority over the management of prisons within its territory.

However, you sometimes see initiatives like prison decongestion programmes. Youll see the Attorney General visiting prisons to facilitate some releases, or the Chief Judge making some releases as well. These are efforts to reduce congestion in the facilities.

But in terms of full prison administration, its still not within the states purview for nowit remains a federal responsibility.

Now, when you talk about human rights in the context of Lagos State, thats why I say that upholding human rights within the prisons isnt strictly within the control of the state government.

PT: Can you share a story that highlights the human cost of this broken justice system?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: There are a lot of cases that come to mind. One that stands out is Godswills case.

He was arrested while visiting his parents. A plain-clothes police officer stopped the bike he was riding, tried to search him, and he resisted. That led to his arrest.

He was taken to the police station, where he was eventually charged with armed robbery, despite no evidence to support the accusation. Armed robbery is a non-bailable offence, so he was held in prison.

The case was transferred between several judges, but no trial ever took place. Over the years, it was adjourned numerous times, and the prosecution never brought forward a single witness. We got involved after he had been there for 10 years. When we met him, he had given up. People had abandoned him, and he no longer believed he would ever be released.

We applied for his bail, even though it was for a capital offence, as he had been incarcerated without trial or evidence. The court granted the bail, but the conditions were so strict that he couldnt meet them. However, we continued fighting. Finally, after 11 years, the court struck out the case.

The entire experience was harrowing for him. In those 11 years, Godswill had lost all hope, but when he was released in 2023, it marked a moment of renewed hope for him. We also helped him reintegrate by supporting his skill acquisition and relocation to Akwa Ibom, where he is now rebuilding his life.

This case was particularly impactful for me, but unfortunately, weve seen worse. Many others have died in prison while awaiting trial.

Since our work began in 2019, Headfort Foundation has helped over 800 people get out of prison for free. These stories highlight the deep flaws in Nigerias justice system, and while its concerning, well keep pushing for change.

PT: If Governor Sanwo-Olu and President Bola Tinubu truly care about justice, what actions must they take in the next six months to address this humanitarian crisis?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: First, police reform is critical. Arbitrary arrests are a major issue. If the police system improves, well see fewer people arrested and brought to court. Without police reform, no real change in the criminal justice system is possible.

The police must improve how they handle investigations and charge people. For example, cases like rape or defilement often lack evidence, but are still brought to court, overcrowding the system with frivolous cases. One time, I saw someone charged with hiding in a dark place and spent three months in prison.

Next, we need reforms in the judiciary, especially the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP advice often takes years, and many prisoners remain in jail simply because their DPP advice hasnt been processed. The Lagos office is understaffed and slow, which causes delays in filing cases.

Governor Sanwo-Olu should prioritise the Ministry of Justice, increase staffing at the DPP, and ensure that legal advice reaches the courts promptly. Currently, cases can be delayed for months because the advice hasnt been transmitted to the court. This is a major problem.

PT: What are three immediate steps the government can take to decongest prisons, speed up trials, and restore public trust?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: First, hire more judges, particularly in Lagos, and ensure that criminal judges arent distracted by political assignments like election tribunals. The focus should be on criminal justice.

Second, limit adjournments. They should not exceed two or three weeks. Long adjournments cause unnecessary delays, especially for those trying to perfect bail.

Third, review bail conditions. Many people with bailable offences remain in custody simply because they cant meet stringent conditions. We need a shift in how bail is viewedits not about exoneration but ensuring the person attends trial.

PT: How can NGOs support the system?

Mrs Adetiba-Irija: NGOs play a vital role in providing legal representation, especially for those who cannot afford it. About 60 per cent of people in prison are poor, so legal aid from organisations like ours is crucial.

Additionally, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) support decongestion exercises by the Chief Judge, helping identify prisoners who have been held for years without a trial. CSOs also recommend cases to speed up the process. Collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), churches, and other stakeholders is essential to ensure meaningful change.

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The suspended Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Adaeze Oreh, has reacted to the allegations linking her to the disruption of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) empowerment programme, organised by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

Ms Oreh was one of the political officeholders. Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, was suspended on 26 March after he was sworn in.

In viral videos obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, no fewer than one hundred women walked out of the event held at the EUI Event Centre in GRA, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The women left the event when Theresa Ibas, wife of the states sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, was called upon to address them.

The women, who anticipated the presence of Mrs Tinubu at the event, designed to benefit 500 women with various empowerment items, began chanting, We want Simi, and We want Valerie Fubara, in protest at Mrs Ibas appearance in place of Mrs Tinubu.

Unconfirmed reports alleged that Ms Oreh was involved and orchestrated the womens walkout, an allegation she said was levelled against her by the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation.

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In a statement sent to this newspaper on Saturday, Ms Oreh described the allegations against her as a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish her reputation and sow division.

Baseless allegations

She stated that the allegations were baseless and false and a product of the sick imagination of rumour-mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.

She said: I challenge the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation (assuming such a body exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions. It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.

I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday 18th March 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.

Furthermore, the suspended commissioner reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to working diligently for the states progress and development.

Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.

I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our state, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort, she noted.

Since Mr Tinubus emergency declaration, which resulted in the six-month suspension of Mr Fubara and all elected members of the State House of Assembly, some women have staged protests demanding the governors immediate reinstatement and rejecting the appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the states affairs.

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The suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has denied an allegation that she offered financial incentives to an activist to fabricate damaging stories against Nigerias Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In a statement released on Friday, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan debunked claims made by a United States-based activist, Sandra Duru, popularly known on social media as Professor Mgbeke, that she was paid to orchestrate a smear campaign against the senate president.

During a Facebook Live broadcast on Thursday night, Ms Duru alleged that the suspended senator offered her N200 million to falsely accuse Mr Akpabio of organ harvesting and link him to the death of a young girl two years ago.

The activist presented voice recordings and call logs allegedly from Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her claims during the live broadcast.

She also alleged that the senator confessed privately that Mr Akpabio had never sexually harassed her and that the accusations were fabricated solely to damage the Nigerian governments image.

Additionally, Ms Duru claimed that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan referred to a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili and other supporters who appeared at the Senate hearing on her sexual harassment allegations against Mr Akpabio as useful idiots, suggesting they had been financially induced.

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The activist also claimed that she did all within her power to persuade Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan from spreading the alleged false narratives, but the suspended senator refused, and that she has handed over all their communications to the appropriate security agencies for forensic investigation.

Responding to allegations

Responding, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan described the accusations as malicious fabrications and claimed that the audio presented by Ms Duru as manipulated.

She argued that the claims are part of a coordinated campaign designed to discredit her and undermine her credibility.

I have carefully watched a livestream which was done by one Sandra C Duru on Facebook, on May 1st, 2025. The content of the livestream including the voice effect credited to me are entirely untrue, and most manipulated to serve Sandra Durus ulterior motive of playing the script of Senator Godswill Akpabio, he said.

The senator also denied using derogatory terms against Mrs Ezekwesili and other personalities as listed by the activist.

To the best of my knowledge, those words used against Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Dr. Abiola, FIDA and fellow Nigerians as Gullible and Hungry are crazy falsehood and did not emanate from the natural cause of any contact involving me.

It was from recent research that I also found out that the person who now represents herself as Sandra Duru is the same person who operated as Prof. Mgbeke on Facebook. In the nearest of time, I will respond to the unfounded allegations made therein, she added.

Previous investigations on Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan

The allegations add another layer to the controversy surrounding Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghans suspension from the Senate and her sexual harassment allegations against the senate president.

Security agencies are yet to comment publicly on whether they have started investigation based on the materials submitted by Ms Duru.

READ ALSO: Appeal Court upholds conviction of professor jailed for rigging election for Akpabio

However, PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Nigerias internal and external intelligence agencies had launched a probe into how she gained access to the meeting without official nomination.

A high-ranking administration official and two top security officials involved in the inquiry confided in PREMIUM TIMES that the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), are working to determine how Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan attended the international meeting without approval, who facilitated her trip and accreditation, and whether her participation was orchestrated by interest groups to embarrass Nigeria, its government and its people.

Nigerian authorities believe Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan did not follow the required diplomatic protocols before gaining access to the IPU meeting on 11 March, where she addressed her suspension from the Nigerian Senate, alleging that it was politically-motivated to silence her for speaking out against misconduct in the legislative chamber.

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Dozens of Nigerian media leaders will gather in Ogun State next week to discuss how to turn the connections with their audiences and communities into resources in the AI age.

The leaders will gather at a summit, from 5-6 May, at the Academy Suites, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to a statement by the Founder/Director of The Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe, around 60 media leaders, including newspaper publishers, editors-in-chief, TV and radio chief executives, general managers, directors of programmes and editors, are expected at the Clinics 3rd Nigerian Media Leaders Summit.

The high-profile event is being held with the sponsorship, support and partnership of the NLNG, Lagos and Ogun state governments, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidelity Bank and Polaris Bank.

Others are: The Punch, The Nation, The Cable and Business Day newspapers.

The rest are: the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Innovation Media Consulting Group, Real Pharmaceuticals, Academy Suites and Penpushing Media.

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Besides the enriching intellectual engagements, Mr Obe said, A major outcome of last years edition was the formation, based on one of the speakers presentation titled, WHERES THE MONEY, of the Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multi-purpose Society (IMPCMS).

He added: A major highlight of the forthcoming edition will be the OWNERS FORUM where five media leaders -Frank Aigbogun, publisher of Business Day; Joseph Adeyeye, CEO/Editor-in-Chief, Punch Newspapers; Toun Okewale Sonaiya CEO WFM 91.7FM, Nigerias only womens radio; Betty Dibiah Akeredolu-Ale, CEO Branama TV, Nigerias first television station targeting children; and Mr Musikilu Mojeed, COO/Editor-in-Chief, Premium Times, will share insights and peculiarities on audience engagement. Tolu Ogunlesi, a former presidential aide, will moderate this segment.

It is an occasion for the leaders to square up to their markets for enduring prosperity, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence, Mr Obe said.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that many newsrooms all over the world, including Nigeria, are battling with sustainability with some shutting down and others downsizing.

Many advertisers are moving to global digital platforms and many media consumers are unwilling or unable to pay for news, forcing newsrooms to rethink their sustainability plans.

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There was a mild drama on Friday when some women walked out on Theresa Ibas, wife of Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas.

The women were seen in a video clip demanding the reinstatement of suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

The incident happened during an Empowerment Programme organised by the Nigerian First Lady, Remi Tinubu, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The presidents wife was billed to attend the event where about 500 women were to receive various empowerment items.

The clip, which showed when the women walked out of the programme, has been trending on social media.

President Tinubu, on 18 March, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all the House of Assembly members for an initial six months.

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He consequently appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of the state amidst opposition from various individuals and groups.

How it happened

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that an initial announcement had indicated that Mrs Tinubu would attend the event in person.

However, the drama started when Mrs Ibas, wife of the Rivers sole administrator, was introduced as a representative of Mrs Tinubu.

The women, in their numbers, flared up and demanded that Governor Fubaras wife should represent the first lady instead and address them.

We want Valerie Sim-Fubara or Remi Tinubu to address us, not the wife of Ibas! We want Sim! one of the women was heard saying.

Bring back Fubara, the women chanted repeatedly.

Another unidentified woman argued that Mrs Ibas had no right to address the Rivers women after they were informed that Mrs Tinubu would do so.

She (Mrs Ibas) is a stranger. She does not have the right to address us. Let Fubaras wife, Lady Valerie Fubara or President Tinubu come and address Rivers women. We need our governor back, she said.

Background

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, have been locked in a protracted fight over the control of the political structures in Rivers State, which initially split the state assembly into two factions.

The political crises finally resulted into the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola and suspension of all elected officials in the state.

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In the end, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is not just a childrens fantasy. It is a blueprint for what happens when imagination refuses to be caged. It is a parable of possibility. And for Africas youth, it is a mirror, a whimsical, musical reminder that no matter the odds, dreams still have wings.

Not long ago, while doomscrolling through Facebook, I stumbled upon the inspiring story of Tosin Eniolorunda, a young Nigerian tech entrepreneur. In 2015, alongside his friend, Felix Ike, Tosin co-founded Moniepoint, a Lagos-based fintech company that offers digital banking and lending services via a mobile app.

It wasnt a name I was familiar with at first. But over time, I noticed something curious. Whenever I had to pay a vendor in Nigeria, whether for a service rendered or a product delivered, they often shared a Moniepoint or Opay account number. Initially, this puzzled me. Why would anyone entrust their hard-earned money to these lesser-known platforms, instead of the big, traditional banks weve come to view as safer options?

My skepticism, in hindsight, was reflexive, a learnt caution shaped by the ghosts of financial scams past. Like many Nigerians, I had been conditioned by the corrosive memories of giant Ponzi schemes that exploited the desperation of an economically besieged populace, from the infamous Umanah E Umanahs Wonder Bank of the 90s to Sergey Mavrodis Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox (MMM).

But Moniepoint, Ive since learnt, is cut from an entirely different cloth. It is no fly-by-night operation, no pyramid built on promises. This is a legitimate, well-capitalised enterprise solving real-world problems, especially for the underbanked.

The backstory is even more compelling. Before launching Moniepoint, Tosin ran a software consulting firm, quietly building tools that powered the operations of traditional Nigerian banks. Business was steady, until it wasnt. One day, the same banks he supported abruptly terminated his services. Just like that. For many, it would have been a breaking point. But for Tosin, it was a catalyst.

Instead of succumbing to disappointment, he turned rejection into fuel. He saw the gap in the system, the inefficiencies, the underserved demographics and decided to build something better. With early seed funding from Oui Capital, an African venture capital firm, Tosin and his team launched Moniepoint. The rest is more than just history, its a revolution.

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Today, Moniepoint moves billions of naira, providing secure, user-friendly financial services to businesses and individuals across the country.

The companys ascent is not merely a tale of corporate success; it is a symbolic repudiation of a system that consistently fails its youth. It represents the latent potential of a generation that came of age in a Nigeria rife with political volatility, economic precarity, and institutional neglect.

Tosins journey is far from unique, and thats the beauty of it. His story mirrors the aspirations and struggles of a generation of Africans, particularly those in their 20s to late 30s, who came of age in a nation that too often failed them.

This generation grew up in a socio-political and economic terrain that was anything but nurturing. The Nigerian state, time and again, defaulted on its social contract, failing to provide not only the basics of education, infrastructure, and security, but also the cultural scaffolding of aspirational role models.

The late academic and author, Pius Adesanmi, once called them the Impala Generation. In the wild, the newborn impala is abandoned almost immediately after birth. It has mere seconds to figure things out, to rise and run, or else fall prey to the waiting jaws of predators. Nature is not kind to it. Survival is not gifted, it is earned, through instinct, grit, and speed.

Just like the impala, many young Africans are thrust into a world that offers little by way of protection. They must learn quickly, move fast, and adapt or be consumed by the harsh realities around them. Yet, in spite of it all, they continue to rise. They build, innovate, and find a way. They refuse to be broken. Their exploits remind me of a film of yesteryears.

At first glance, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the 1968 musical fantasy film based on Ian Flemings novel (yes, the same Ian Fleming who created James Bond), may appear to be just another whimsical childrens tale. With its flying car, sing-along numbers, and eccentric characters, it delights as pure escapism. But beneath the colourful veneer lies a story of imagination triumphing over adversity, of courage pushing back against tyranny, and of dreamers refusing to accept defeat. In many ways, it is a fitting metaphor for the lived reality of many young Africans today, creative, resilient, and undeterred by the heavy hand of a world that often seems to be working against them.

In the story, Caractacus Potts, a struggling inventor, transforms a broken-down car into Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a magical vehicle that flies, floats, and defies logic. He does so not in a plush lab with endless funding, but in a modest workshop, armed with little more than determination, ingenuity, and love for his children. This humble, transformative act of turning scrap into wonder is a narrative thread that resonates deeply with the African youth experience.

Across the continent, young people are building tech startups with little or no capital, creating globally recognised music in makeshift studios, and developing ingenious solutions to hyperlocal problems. From Lagos to Nairobi, Accra to Kigali, we see the spirit of Caractacus Potts replicated in young Africans who see possibility where others see impossibility. They are crafting their own Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs, dreams that can fly despite being born in spaces where flight seems unimaginable.

But the story doesnt stop with invention. In the film, Potts and his children, along with the strong-willed Truly Scrumptious, journey to Vulgaria, a fictional land ruled by a despotic Baron who has outlawed children and suffocated joy. This setting, while fantastical, draws uncomfortable parallels with systems that continue to stifle youth voices across Africa.

Whether its through institutional corruption, authoritarian regimes, lack of opportunities, or policies that suppress innovation and expression, many African countries have become Vulgarias in their own right. Places where the most imaginative minds are not celebrated, but constrained. Where youthful idealism is not harnessed, but harassed.

Yet, much like the children hidden in Vulgarias underground caves, the creativity of African youth is not extinguished. It may be driven underground, silenced temporarily, or denied platforms, but it persists. It grows in secret spaces: co-working hubs, WhatsApp groups, university corridors, underground art scenes, and now, increasingly, digital spaces where borders and bureaucracy cannot reach. It grows until, one day, it bursts forth, undeniable and uncontainable.

We saw this spirit during the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, where young people, tired of state-sponsored brutality, organised, fundraised, and communicated in ways that outpaced government machinery. We see it in the rise of Afrobeats, a genre that has taken the world by storm, not because it was handed legitimacy by traditional gatekeepers, but because it refused to be ignored. We see it in startups like Paystack and Flutterwave, in fashion brands that fuse heritage with modernity, and in spoken word artists who turn pain into poetry. Every act of creation, in a place designed to suppress it, is a revolutionary act.

In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the turning point comes not from magical powers or outside saviorus, but from collective courage. The children band together. The adults join forces. And together, they overthrow the tyrant. This too offers a lesson. The future of Africa does not lie solely in foreign aid or lofty promises from multilateral institutions. It lies in the collaborative power of its own people, particularly its youth, who are already writing new narratives and pushing boundaries. It lies in community, in support systems, and in a shared belief that something better is possible.

Truly Scrumptious, Potts companion and eventual partner, symbolises another crucial element in the story: belief. She believes in Potts even when others see him as a failure. She supports the children not out of obligation, but genuine care. In the African context, Truly represents the role of allies, mentors, elders, diaspora communities, and even institutions  that choose to invest in, rather than exploit, youth potential. Her presence reminds us that while youth are capable, they are not alone. The path to flight is easier when others help push the runway clear.

Of course, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ends with victory. The Baron is defeated. The children are freed. The family is whole. But the real triumph lies in how they got there, not through brute force, but through imagination, unity, and the refusal to give up. That is the essence of the African youth story.

To the young woman in Kinshasa turning plastic waste into eco-bricks. To the boy in Addis Ababa teaching himself to code through free online courses. To the fashion designer in Dakar blending tradition with trend. To the spoken word artist in Johannesburg making sense of trauma with rhythm and rhyme. You are the dreamers. The builders. The inventors of flight.

Your Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs may not fly in the literal sense, but they are powered by something just as potent  vision, grit, and hope. In the face of governments that silence, economies that fail, and societies that overlook, you keep dreaming. You keep building. You keep singing your song.

And for that, you deserve more than applause. You deserve space. You deserve policy that nurtures, leadership that listens, and platforms that elevate.

The impala is not the lion. It does not rule the savanna but it endures and outmanoeuvres. It thrives in spite of the odds. In a world where brute force often takes the spotlight, the impala tells a quieter, subtler story. Its the perfect metaphor for those navigating a complex, high-stakes world; those who are constantly learning how to stay a step ahead of forces beyond their control.

In the end, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is not just a childrens fantasy. It is a blueprint for what happens when imagination refuses to be caged. It is a parable of possibility. And for Africas youth, it is a mirror, a whimsical, musical reminder that no matter the odds, dreams still have wings.

Osmund Agbo is a US-based medical doctor and author. His works include Black Grit, White Knuckles: The Philosophy of Black Renaissance and a fiction work titled The Velvet Court: Courtesan Chronicles. His latest works, Pray, Let the Shaman Die and Maam, I Do Not Come to You for Love, have just been released.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday commissioned the Katsina State Agricultural Mechanisation Centre, where 400 brand new tractors and supporting implements have been assembled. At the ceremony, he stated that This isnt just about machinesits about food security, economic empowerment, and the future of our youth. Once we free ourselves from hunger, peace and prosperity will naturally follow.

On agricultural development, the President emphasised that agriculture must remain at the heart of Nigerias development strategy. The era of subsistence farming is overwe are investing in modern farming techniques, mechanisation, irrigation, and water management.

The President further announced that the Bank of Agriculture is being restructured and recapitalized to make funding accessible to farmers across all levels. Declaring that Nigeria must achieve food sovereignty.

On federal projects in Katsina, the President confirmed that the second phase of the Katsina-Kano Road project is underway following the resolution of technical and bureaucratic issues. He also announced that contracts have been awarded for full rehabilitation of MarabaKankaraZangoKatsina Road and SabuwaRimiDanjaDayiFuntuaDandume Road.

The KanoJigawaKatsinaMaradi Rail project is expected to be completed by 2026, which will ease the movement of goods and people, and reduce the burden on our roads, according to the President.

Let me assure you again: Katsina has not been forgotten. Many more federal projects are in the pipeline to support your growth and development, President Tinubu affirmed.

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Mr Tinubu paid tribute to past leaders from Katsina, saying, Let us take a moment to remember the great leaders Katsina has given to this nationlate President Umaru Musa YarAdua and others whose service helped shape our democracy. May Almighty Allah forgive their shortcomings and grant them eternal peace.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Governor Radda highlighted Agriculture, Infrastructure, Human Capital Development, Security, and Service Delivery as the pillars of his administration developmental objectives.

Katsina is an agrarian state, and most of our people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. We have over 450,000 smallholder farmers with an average land size of 2.5ha, most of whom rely on government support to produce profitably and sustainably, Governor Radda stated.

Speaking on the newly commissioned Agricultural Mechanisation Centre, Governor Radda explained that it would serve all 34 local government areas in the state.

We have 400 Lovol tractors, 10 multi-functional combine harvesters, 400 disc harrows and ridgers, 70 tractor trailers, and 1,000 multi-planters with us today. Mechanisation will help our farmers reduce the average cost of cultivation per hectare and open new land for cultivation, he said.

The Governor revealed that his administration conducted a comprehensive survey of 411,000 farms across the state, representing over 90% of farms.

Over 65% of farms reported high input cost and low soil fertility as significant challenges. To this end, the state spent over 20 billion to provide 400,000 bags of fertilzer (20,000 metric tonnes) in 2024, the Governor noted.

Governor Radda announced that the distribution of 400,000 bags of fertiliser for the 2025 wet season farming would begin the following Monday. He stated that the state has provided over 6,000 solar-powered water pumps to support irrigation and dry-season farming.

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Nigerias President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda as an honest and committed leader. Mr Tinubu was in the Northwest State of Katsina on a two-day working visit which he began on Friday by commissioning the Katsina Agricultural Mechanisation Centre.

While commending Governor Raddas administration for its achievements in diverse sectors in less than two years, President Tinubu said: The remarkable progress you have made in just two yearsespecially in agriculture, infrastructure, and social developmentis commendable. You are a governor of honesty, integrity, and commitment.

Mr Tinubu reassured Katsina residents of the federal governments support, stating, Your governor is not walking alonethe Federal Government is standing with him, side by side.

He urged governors across the 36 states to focus on delivering tangible results that directly impact citizens lives and ignore distractions by persons he termed arm-chair critics.

During the visit, the president inaugurated other key infrastructure projects completed by the Governor Radda administration in the state.

President Tinubu particularly commended the governor for completing the 24km Ajiwa-Ruwan Godiya road in just 18 months, calling it a testament to your effectiveness.

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Let the people be at the heart of your programmes, he said.Your hard work and concrete achievements will answer any criticism. Ignore distractions  your results will speak for you, Mr Tinubu advised.

He continued, We have decided for peace and stabilityI know you face terrorism and banditry attacks in the state, but you have shown determination and courage to move Katsina state forward. You will not walk alone. The federal government will be with you.

The president singled out hunger and poverty as the most pressing threats to peace in Nigeria. He stated, The economy is sailing in the right trajectory. Today, we are seeing an effort to banish hunger and a commitment to food security and the empowerment of our people.

Mr Tinubu praised Governor Raddas achievements in agriculture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure stressing:

I listened to your report card. It is a big task. In just half of your tenure, you have made remarkable progressThe commitment you have shown and the efforts you have put into government are highly commendable. You are a patriot, a son, and a progressive mind with honesty.

I want to congratulate the great people of Katsina for making the right choice by electing RaddaWe have been collaborating with him for the good of the state and the country, the president added.

Mr Tinubu called on governors to embrace agricultural reforms as a path to prosperity.

You have introduced a great, progressive movement in Katsina state by just tilling the land and putting the land to use, he said.

The president spoke further: Farming will be our source of prosperity and growth. We should remove ourselves from reliance on oil and commit to agriculture. It will bring prosperity. I commend you for the mechanisation programme. It is a great investment, and I hope others can learn from it.

The construction of the 24-km road speaks volumes about the effectiveness of the government. I say, Thank you.

He expressed appreciation to Governor Radda, his predecessors and traditional rulers in the state for their support in combating insecurity and general contributions to peace and unity in the country.

The governor had outlined key strides of his nearlyteo-year old administration chief of which was the construction of over 160 kilometres of roads, improved intra-state connectivity and provision of the people and businesses with efficient transportation.

Mr Radda also mentioned significant investments in water infrastructure, including our historys largest small-town and semi-urban water improvement project under the SURWASH programme, which will bring clean water to over one million people across the state.

The governor expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the federal governments support in fighting insecurity, including a 25 billion naira direct intervention.

Mr. President, thank you. Your leadership of our great nation in these trying times gives us the courage to persevere and remain committed to difficult decisions that are in the long-term best interests of our people, Mr Radda said.

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El-Tahdam Exploration Limited, a Nigerian lithium exploration firm, has denied claims that it acquired its mining licenses through fraudulent means and misrepresentation.

The company denied the allegations in a letter dated 30 April to PREMIUM TIMES.

The letter, signed by El-Tahdams legal consultant, Joyce Gani, described allegations of wrongdoing as false and defamatory.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported how Abdullahi Usman, secretary to the Village Head of Libata Community of Yauri Emirate of Kebbi State, claimed he was misled into signing a consent letter that enabled El-Tahdam Exploration Limited to access land in the community for lithium exploration.

In its letter, the mining company insisted that at no point was it accused, directly or indirectly, of any misconduct by any Nigerian regulatory authority, including the Mining Cadastre Office.

The publication falsely suggests that our client procured its lawful licences through fraud or misrepresentation, an allegation that is both false and defamatory. At no time has our client been found guilty of, or even formally accused of, wrongdoing by any competent regulatory body including the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), the letter said.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

Mining in Kebbi

Kebbi State, located in Nigerias North-west region, is rich in mineral resources including lithium, gold, copper, zinc, and lead. Non-metallic minerals such as marble, gypsum, quartz, fluorite, and tourmaline are also found in abundance.

In recent years, the state government has initiated the development of a lithium processing hub as part of its strategy to harness its mineral wealth. A modern lithium processing plant is already in the process of being established to support these efforts.

Meanwhile, Kebbi is also battling with challenges related to illegal mining, which has been linked to insecurity and conflicts in the area. Authorities are working to regulate the sector more tightly and support legitimate operators, including small-scale artisanal miners in places like Fakai, Bagudo, and Shanga.

About El-Tahdam

El-Tahdam Exploration is a Nigerian company with its headquarters in Abuja,. The company is a lithium mining and exploration firm with the sole purpose of supplying the world with the critical minerals for the development of renewable energy for a sustainable future.

The company plans to build processing plants to be located in Kebbi, Kwara and Kaduna states.

On 20 March, 2025, El-Tahdam Exploration secured a $500 million investment with its partners, TSG mining group, which is one of the reasons it is trying to expand operations into Kebbi and other states.

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The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed doubt about the genuity of a reconciliation effort recently made by the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Fubara recently visited his predecessor, Mr Wike, at his Abuja residence to beg for reconciliation amid the political feud between them.

The feud between them had culminated in the suspension of the governor, declaration of emergency rule and appointment of Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator in the oil-rich state.

Sources had told this newspaper that Mr Fubara was led to Mr Wikes residence by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Olusegun Osoba, a former governor of Ogun.

Fubara was brought to the ministers house on Friday, 18 April. He prostrated for Wike while holding his legs and calling him, My Oga, one of the sources had said.

Wike on women Protest in Rivers

On Friday, dozens of women, walked out on Theresa Ibas, wife of the Rivers Sole Administrator, Mr Ibas, during an Empowerment Programme organised by Nigerian First Lady, Remi Tinubu.

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The drama started when Mrs Ibas was introduced as a representative of Mrs Tinubu which caused the women to flare up and demanded that Governor Fubaras wife should represent the first lady instead.

Mr Wike, in a statement on Saturday by his spokesperson Lere Olayinka, condemned the incident, describing it as sponsored.

The FCT minister claimed those who took part in the walkout were a group of women loyal to Mr Fubara.

(An) insult on anyone representing the First Lady of Nigeria in an event is a direct insult to the office of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as a leader in Rivers State, I apologise, Mr Olayinka quoted Mr Wike as saying.

The FCT minister, according to the statement, asked Mr Fubara to demonstrate honesty by being bold enough to tell President Tinubu, what exactly he (Fubara) wanted, rather than saying something today, and doing another thing tomorrow.

It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace. Those who genuinely want peace work and act for it, Mr Wike said, apparently referring to Mr Fubaras visit to his Abuja residence for reconciliation.

Continuing, the FCT minister said: These are the same people pleading for peace, but at the same time doing things that are contrary to what they are pleading for.

How can you say you want peace and at the same time, you are sponsoring people to insult everyone, including the president and his wife?

All those shenanigans wont bring peace, and I am sure they know that, because they are not sincere with their up and down pleadings for peace.

As for me and those who subscribe to my leadership, we condemn in totality that yesterdays show of shame and we apologise to our First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not represent the characters and ideals of the people of Rivers State.

Background

The feud between Messrs Fubara and Wike began less than six months after Mr Fubara assumed office as governor.

The feud later split the states legislature into two factions, with 27 lawmakers loyal to Mr Wike and three to Mr Fubara.

The governor had recognised the three-member faction because he believed the others lost their seats in the assembly since they had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

However, the 28 February 2025 Supreme Court judgement tipped the balance of power in favour of Mr Wike and his allies.

The court reinstated the pro-Wike faction as the legitimate Rivers assembly, stopped federal allocations to the state, and nullified the local elections earlier conducted by Mr Fubaras administration.

On 14 March, the Rivers House of Assembly served a notice of alleged misconduct against Mr Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, as a preliminary step for their impeachment.

In a notice addressed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, the 26 lawmakers, among other things, accused Mr Fubara of spending Rivers funds without approval from the state assembly and appointing people to run the government without the required screening and confirmation.

The lawmakers also accused Mr Fubara of hindering or obstructing the assembly from its constitutional functions and seizing salaries, allowances, and funds belonging to lawmakers, the clerk, and the assembly.

They accused the Deputy Governor, Mrs Odu, of conniving and supporting the illegal appointment of persons to occupy offices/positions in the Rivers State Government without allowing for the requirement of screening and confirmation.

The impeachment plot began about the time Mr Fubara removed the elected chairpersons of the local councils in obedience to the Supreme Court rulings. The governor said he was willing to implement all the Supreme Courts decisions.

Nigerians have expressed outrage over the emergency rule in Rivers and the removal of Mr Fubara and other elected officials.

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A prosecution witness, identified as PW-AAA, on Friday, said Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, would soon be brought to Nigeria to face trial for supporting Nnamdi Kanu in the agitation for Republic of Biafra.

PW-AAA was one of the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) that arrested Mr Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in 2015 at a Lagos hotel.

He appeared as the first prosecution witness before trial judge James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja in the ongoing trial of Mr Kanu, who faces charges of terrorism and treasonable felony over his separatist campaign for the secession of the five south-eastern states and parts of some neighbouring states from Nigeria as a sovereign Biafra republic.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the prosecution opened its case against Mr Kanu with PW-AAA testifying on Tuesday. The trial phase of the case kicked off on Tuesday after nearly 10 years of delay.

The witness, whose real name was concealed in line with the judges earlier ruling granting prosecutions witnesses protection, disclosed the plan to extradite Mr Ekpa while being cross-examined by Mr Kanus counsel, Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Mr Ekpa heads Autopilot, a faction of the IPOB.

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The Finnish Central Criminal Police arrested Mr Ekpa, a controversial Biafra agitator, on 21 November 2024.

Forty-year-old Mr Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen, was arrested alongside four others on suspicion of terrorist activities.

The separatist group has been blamed for some deadly attacks in the two regions, although it has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.

Although Nnamdi Kanu founded IPOB in 2012, the separatist group now has various factions.

The Finnish police said Mr Ekpa has contributed to violence and crimes against civilians in South-eastern Nigeria.

The District Court of Paijat-Hame later ordered that the agitator be imprisoned with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

Meanwhile, hours after the arrest, the IPOB faction loyal to Mr Kanu disowned Mr Ekpa, explaining that the Biafra agitator was never its member.

Earlier, the federal government also tendered more items recovered from Mr Kanu. The court admitted them as exhibits.

These include one black laptop, two multi mix transmitters, one mini white Apple iPad with a pouch, one grey Apple iPad with a pouch, one grey MacBook with a pouch, one grey MacBook with case, one mini drone sound wave speaker, and two mini white speakers.

Others are one large computer mouse, one white adaptor, one laptop adaptor and one carton bag with laptop, two 3G modems, two Glo modems, one Glo Hawaii modem, one MTN modem, one Etisalat modem, one flash drive and one camcorder.

They also included one hand recorder in a black pouch, one MacBook Pro adapter, one Mic stand, one Phillips headphone, one radio sharp mic with cord, one pro sound mic with cord and one 4G LTE modem.

Others are a bunch of cards, one power adapter for mixer, one Easy Blaze white modem, one Samsung phone,1 black Motorola phone and one Nokia phone.

Also found on him are one black Samsung phone, one black phone, 1 D-Link black modem, one 8GB flash drive, one extension wire adaptor, one pair of shoes, one belt, one pair of ciderwood sneakers and one footwear.

One black Softech wristwatch, two singlets, one sealed Hermes perfume, one Trinket, one Pokham perfume, one Fredrick Peckham wristwatch, one Diesel wristwatch, one Alexander Christy collection wristwatch, one Club wristwatch.

Others are a bank MasterCards, copies of documents, one copy of IPOB complementary card, documents tagged IPOB, one white clipper, one bottle of medicine, one Oman perfume, one Mini scented oils, one empty black purse.

Others are one Nigerian passport bearing the names Okwu Kanu Nwannekaibeya Nnamdi Ngozichukwu and one British passport bearing the name Okwu Kanu Nwannekaibeya, one black purse, one passport holder, one card holder, one box of Rocarden wristwatch and four bundles of cords.

Under cross-examination, PW-AAA further said no weapon was recovered from the IPOB leader during his arrest in Lagos.

He also said that no arms were recovered from the lady arrested along with Mr Kanu.

He said though the recovered items might not be ordinarily offensive, the intention of the defendant might be otherwise.

PW-AAA also told the court that he did not analyse any of the items recovered because his mandate was to effect arrest and obtain a statement from Mr Kanu.

The judge, Mr Omotosho fixed 6, 7 and 8 May 8 for continuation of cross examination.

(NAN)

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The crisis rocking the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) took a dramatic turn on Saturday, as the university students union body wrote the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disowning a petition earlier written by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to the minister.

The NANS leadership had petitioned the Mr Alausa alleging a cover-up of official misconducts and other alleged infractions against the management and Governing Council of FUOYE.

It also asked the minister to sack the university Vice Chancellor, Abayomi Fasina, a professor, and the governing council members within 72 hours.

However, in the letter signed by its President, Abiodun Mary, and Secretary General, Lateef Ife, the FUOYE Students Union Government, accused the NANS leadership of acting under external influence.

The letter titled : RE: Formal Disclaimer and Refutation of the NANS Petition Against the Vice Chancellor and Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, the union said the allegations contained in the said petition neither reflect the realities within the university nor the collective sentiment of the student population.

We have the honour to write to you in our capacity as the duly elected leadership of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), representing the collective voice and interest of the student body across all campuses of our institution.

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It is with a profound sense of responsibility and commitment to truth that we hereby categorically dissociate ourselves from, and formally refute, the contents of the petition recently submitted to your esteemed office by one Comrade Olushola Oladoja, National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

We wish to state, unequivocally and without prejudice, that the allegations contained in the said petition neither reflect the lived realities within our university nor the collective sentiment of the student population. As the local union with firsthand experience of institutional engagements and administrative developments, we find the petition to be highly misleading, politically coloured, and grossly unrepresentative of actual events and dynamics within FUOYE.

ALSO READ: FUOYE constitutes reconciliation committee

It is apparent that the current leadership of NANS has, regrettably, allowed itself to become entangled in external manipulations, resulting in the dissemination of unfounded accusations targeting the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fasina, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, and the broader university administration.

We view this as a deliberate attempt to malign the leadership of our institution and to destabilise the ongoing progress achieved under their stewardship, the letter said.

The SUG maintained that allegation of sexual harassment involving one Folashade Adebayo and the vice chancellor has been thoroughly investigated by both the police and a duly constituted panel of the governing council.

In both cases, Professor Fasina was exonerated of all allegations, and the findings remain in the public domain. As student representatives, we have reviewed the reports and affirm our confidence in the integrity and transparency of the investigative processes, the SUG stated.

The union also dismissed other issues raised in the NANS petition and urged the minister to disregard the petition submitted by the NANS leadership, as it is devoid of credibility, factual merit, and legitimate representation.

The SUG urged Mr Alausa to recognise it (SUG) as the authentic and democratically elected voice of the student body of the institution and uphold the findings of the governing councils investigative panel as the legitimate basis for decision-making on all matters.

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China's 11th batch of emergency humanitarian aid handed over to Myanmar

Xinhua) 14:12, May 03, 2025

YANGON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar.

The aid supplies include 340 prefabricated houses, which were received by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein during a handover ceremony.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 2, the earthquake has claimed 3,839 lives and injured 5,105 people, with 101 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar's official data.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
The armored vehicle faces an ever-growing array of threats in the unforgiving calculus of modern warfare. Sophisticated anti-tank missiles, smart loitering munitions, Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), and even simple drones adapted for attack can disable or destroy heavily armored and costly tanks and infantry carriers. This reality, brought into sharp focus by the intense fighting and heavy vehicle losses seen in conflicts like the one in Ukraine, has propelled Active Protection Systems (APS) from a niche technology to a vital necessity.

Unlike passive armor, which absorbs or deflects an impact, and soft-kill APS that uses optical or electronic countermeasures effective primarily against guided missiles, hard-kill APS acts as an outer shield, detecting incoming threats and neutralizing them in mid-air at fractions of seconds before they strike. This article tells the story of several leading APS, exploring how they work, what makes them unique, and how they shape the battlefield defenses of today and tomorrow.

Developments of Hard Kill APS began as conceptual studies and technology demonstrations in the late 1990s in Russia, Germany, the US, and Israel. However, these systems did not mature due to their complexity, concerns of collateral damage risk, and the limited protection they could provide. These systems reached full-scale development in the first decade of the 21st century only in Israel, which selected APS to equip Israeli AFVs.

Trophy  The Combat-Hardened APS

Born from the hard lessons of the 2006 Lebanon War, where Israeli Merkava tanks faced unexpected vulnerability, Rafaels Trophy system emerged as a pioneering solution to protect Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFV) actively. Its first combat experience came in 2011, and since then, it has built an unmatched reputation through extensive operational use, proving its mettle in numerous engagements in the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and South Lebanon.

Trophy operates with four radar panels that constantly scan the surroundings. When a threatbe it an RPG or an Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)is detected and deemed hostile, the system reacts instantly. One of its two rotating interceptors snaps toward the threat and fires a volley of small, Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFP). This intercept is a focused countermeasure designed to hit the incoming warhead or its fuzing mechanism directly, neutralizing it safely away from the vehicle, with minimal risk to dismounted soldiers nearby. Recognizing the evolving battlefield, Rafael has adapted Trophy to counter drone threats and top-attack missiles, ensuring this Trophy remains relevant against the most modern threats.

Its success has led to widespread adoption beyond Israel; American Abrams tanks, in partnership with Leonardo DRS. British Challenger 3s, and Germanys newest Leopard 2A8s are all receiving its protection, with European needs handled by the EuroTrophy consortium formed by Rafael, GDELS and KNDS. Recent moves, like a 2025 agreement to explore production in India via L&T, show its continued global significance.

Iron Fist  The Flexible Defender

Elbit Systems Iron Fist offers a different approach to the active protection of AFVs. It is a family of systems originally developed by IMI in parallel to the Trophy. Iron Fist is adaptable to vehicles ranging from lighter troop carriers to heavy tanks. Like Trophy, it uses radar and optical sensors to perceive incoming threats. However, its primary defense mechanism differs. Instead of aiming for a direct hit, Iron Fists trainable launchers fire an explosive interceptor that detonates near the incoming missile or rocket. The resulting shockwave is designed to knock the projectile off course, damage its aerodynamics, or prematurely detonate its warhead, all while minimizing the spray of lethal fragments that could endanger nearby infantry  a crucial consideration in urban warfare or combined arms operations. This operational concept makes it effective against elevated threats, a capability that has been proven in numerous tests.

This makes it an attractive option for vehicles like the Netherlands CV90 IFVs and Israels own Eitan APC and D9 bulldozers. It has also been selected for the South Korean Redback IFV developed for Australia. For heavier threats, the Iron Fist tackles the formidable challenge of high-speed kinetic energy (KE) penetrators  the Armor armor-piercing fin-stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) or long rod darts fired by other tanks  by attempting to disrupt their stable flight path before the impact. After resolving some initial issues with power and integration, the US Army is fielding the system on its Bradley fighting vehicles in 2025, highlighting its counter-drone capabilities as well. A soft-kill laser jammer can also be integrated into the system.

Arena-M  Russias Answer to Direct and Top Attack

The brutal realities of the Ukraine conflict forced Russia to reassess its vehicle protection strategies. Older APS like Drozd or the new Afganit (seen on the T-14 Armata) proved inadequate against the top-attack missiles, which strike tanks where their armor is typically weakest. Enter Arena-M, developed by KBM. Selected in 2024 specifically to counter these modern threats, Arena-M takes a different architectural path as it primarily utilizes external modules that are easier to fit into different armored vehicles.

Instead of rotating launchers, it employs numerous containers arranged around the turret. These house directional fragmentation charges. When the systems radars detect an incoming threat coming horizontally or from above, one of the charges ejects from the optimally placed container, creating a precisely aimed curtain of high-velocity fragments about six meters from the tank. The goal is to shred the incoming missile or drone before it hits. Tested against captured Western weapons like Javelins and NLAWs, Russia is now actively deploying Arena-M, with systems appearing on T-72B3M tanks in Ukraine. Models of the system were showcased at the IDEX 2025 defense exhibition in the UAE. While its battlefield effectiveness is still being assessed, its design clearly reflects Moscows urgent need to counter the top-attack threat that has plagued its armored forces.

AKKOR  Turkeys APS Approach

Developed by Turkeys defense giant Aselsan, AKKOR reflects a national drive for self-sufficiency in critical defense technologies. Architecturally resembling systems like Iron Fist with its trainable launchers guided by Aselsan radar and IR sensors, AKKOR distinguishes itself through its choice of countermeasures that include soft and hard kill. This design choice prioritizes minimizing collateral damage  a key consideration for urban operations. AKKOR has undergone extensive testing against various threats (including Kornet ATGMs) and is slated for deployment on Turkeys indigenous Altay main battle tank starting in 2025, as well as being retrofitted onto upgraded Turkish Leopard 2A4s. Its current configuration offers some capability against shallow-angle aerial attacks and drones, reflecting an awareness of these growing threats.

PULAT  A Shield for Close-Quarters

Sometimes, operational needs demand immediate solutions. For Turkey, facing combat losses in Syria and while awaiting the full maturation of AKKOR, that solution came in the form of PULAT. Developed in cooperation with Ukrainian expertise and based on their Zaslon-L system, PULAT is a distinctly close-in defense.

It consists of several self-contained modules mounted around the vehicle. When activated, these modules, each containing a small radar and a cylindrical fragmentation warhead, stand ready for action, protruding slightly from the tanks passive armor outline. If a threat is detected as it gets dangerously close, the modules radar triggers its warhead, creating a localized sphere of fragments designed to neutralize the threat just meters from the hull.

Deployed since 2018 on upgraded Turkish M-60T tanks, PULAT has gained valuable combat experience in Syria and Iraq, proving itself as a robust, reactive layer of last-ditch defense. Its relative simplicity and proven effectiveness have led to wider deployment on Turkish M-60Ts (originally, the Israeli-modified Sabra) and Leopard 2A4s. Strangely, there were no reports of Ukrainian army tanks using the Zaslon system despite the extensive modifications performed on existing and imported tanks and the heavy losses suffered from Russian anti-tank missiles, artillery, mines, and drones.

GL-6  Chinas APS Choice

Chinas Norinco has also entered the APS arena with systems like the GL-6, an evolution of earlier designs. Like Iron Fist with its trainable launchers, the GL-6 uses a fragment-cloud kill mechanism. The system integrates four radar panels for detection and two interceptor launchers, each typically armed with two interceptors. These interceptors are designed to detonate about 10 meters from the vehicle, neutralizing threats like RPGs and ATGMs. A key feature of the GL-6 is the impressive elevation range of its launchers  capable of aiming up to 60-70 degrees. This suggests a strong inherent capability against top attack or diving threats and weaponized drones, surpassing the elevation limits of some other systems. Recent observations in 2025 show that the GL-6 is fitted not just to main battle tanks like the Type 99A but also significantly to lighter platforms like the ZBD-03 airborne infantry fighting vehicle. This indicates a concerted effort by the PLA to extend advanced protection across its forces, including rapid deployment units.

KAPS  South Koreas Indigenous APS

South Korea began developing its own hard-kill Active Protection System, known as KAPS, in the mid-2000s, led by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Hanwha Systems. Designed specifically for the K2 Black Panther main battle tank, KAPS utilizes radar and infrared trackers to identify incoming threats like RPGs and ATGMs out to 150 meters. When a threat closes to within 10-15 meters, one of the systems two trainable launchers fires a fragmentation grenade to intercept it. The system demonstrated successful tests against RPG-7 and Metis-M missiles back in 2012. However, KAPS wasnt integrated into the initial batches of K2 tanks entering service around 2014. Concerns about its high cost (estimated at $600,000 per unit then), potential danger to nearby infantry from its fragmentation interceptors, and possible interference with the K2s existing soft-kill systems led to its deferral. The plan now is to incorporate KAPS into the future K2 Product Improvement Program (PIP) variant. Development work continues, with efforts reported in 2023 to enhance KAPS for urban combat scenarios, including better defense against drones, potentially at a lower cost. While export versions of the K2 often feature other APS solutions (like variants of Trophy), the original KAPS technology remains a national development, recently seen integrated on a prototype N-WAV wheeled armored vehicle in late 2023.

StrikeShield  A Hybrid Defender

Germanys Rheinmetall offers a distinctly different approach with its StrikeShield APS, the third generation of its Active Defence System (ADS) technology. Rather than relying solely on standalone launchers, StrikeShield embodies a hybrid layered protection philosophy, integrating its components directly within modular armor tiles. This means the sensors and countermeasures are sandwiched between layers of passive armor, providing physical protection for the APS components while the APS elements themselves contribute to the overall ballistic integrity.

This distributed system uses low-power radar and optical sensors to detect threats like ATGMs and RPGs. When an engagement occurs, StrikeShield employs a directed energy blast countermeasure very close to the vehicle (within about 10 meters) to neutralize the incoming projectile before impact. A key advantage of this design is its extremely low electromagnetic signature due to the low-power radar, making the protected vehicle much harder for adversaries to detect electronically. Rheinmetall also stated StrikeShield addresses the challenge of defeating high-speed kinetic energy penetrators, having successfully demonstrated this concept in testing. This advanced system achieved a major success in 2021 when Hungary selected it to equip its entire fleet of 209 new Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles, integrating it into the vehicles innovative hybrid armor tiles. The US Army has also subjected StrikeShield to extensive testing, evaluating its potential for future American armored vehicles.

India  Charting its Own APS Course

India, with its vast armored fleet, is actively pursuing APS capabilities through a dual-track approach. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) lays the groundwork for an indigenous system. At the Aero India show in 2025, DRDO showcased developmental components, including advanced radar panels designed for long-range (4km) detection of small, stealthy targets like drones and ATGMs, aiming for near-hemispheric coverage with multiple panels. They also work on trainable launchers (4 interceptors each) for 20-50m intercepts. A full indigenous system is anticipated by the end of the decade. Simultaneously, recognizing immediate needs, India issued a formal request in early February 2025 seeking off-the-shelf APS solutions for its T-90S Bhishma tanks. This request specifically highlighted the need to counterattack drones and loitering munitions, reflecting global threat trends. This follows earlier stalled efforts to acquire Russias Arena-E.

Conclusion

These diverse Active Protection Systems illustrate the recent evolution in armored warfare. From the combat-proven reliability of Trophy to the flexible defense of Iron Fist, the top-attack focus of Arena-M, the integrated hybrid approach of StrikeShield, the low-collateral design of AKKOR, the close-in shield of PULAT, the high-elevation reach of GL-6, each system reflects different requirements, technological choices, and operational priorities. What unites them is the recognition that passive armor alone is no longer sufficient. As threats become faster, smarter, and attack from multiple vectors, sophisticated, multi-layered defenses incorporating APS are essential. The ongoing integration of artificial intelligence, improved sensors, and potentially new kill mechanisms like directed energy promises even more capable shields in the future, ensuring that armored vehicles can continue to play their decisive role on the battlefield.
GUANGZHOU, China, May 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From May 1 to 5, under the theme "Better Life," Phase 3 of the 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) offered more than just trade. It provided a multi-sensory journey into the heart of China's dynamic food culture. From pantry staples like rice, oils, sauces, and tea to an expansive range of snacks and sweets, the food zone buzzed with aromas, colors, and lively conversation, drawing global buyers eager to discover a world of flavors.

A long-standing exhibitor, Guangdong Sweet Sixteen Foods Co., Ltd once again captivated buyers this session with its innovative take on traditional confections. Its flagship bubble gum series, characterized by a tangy-sour coating that dissolves into sweetness, garnered significant attention for its playful sensory contrast. "Pure sweetness can become boring, so we add some playful flavor contrast," said Yang Rong, a representative from the company. With a product lineup that includes lollipops and cotton candy, the brand has expanded to over 20 countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Canada, while actively growing its presence in South America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Guangdong Ruima Qi Food Co., Ltd. attracted buyers with its vibrant candy offerings. As a specialized manufacturer of popping candy, bracelet and necklace candy, and liquid candy, the company is known for its high-quality popping candyremarkably stable at high temperatures, delivering a strong popping effect, and offering a long shelf life. Exporting its products to Europe, South America, and the Middle East, the company emphasizes bold packaging design as much as taste, recognizing the growing demand for visually engaging sweets, according to a company representative.

Beyond the colorful candy offerings, the Fair also presented traditional snacks, such as throat lozenges made with preserved citrus peel and Buddha's hand fruit, reflecting the Chinese philosophy of food as medicine. Meanwhile, spicy strips, or latiao, a popular Chinese snack known for its bold flavors and has created a strong presence on international social media, can also be found at the Fair.

From classic sweet treats and uniquely crafted specialty candies to soothing health-focused confections and irresistible Chinese snacks, the Canton Fair continues to captivate global buyers with its dynamic and ever-evolving flavors. As global curiosity about Chinese snacks rises, especially those going viral on international social platforms, the Fair emerges as a must-visit for flavor seekers.

SOURCE Canton Fair
Frank Gehry's Sole Major Project in East Asia Begins to Rise in Taichung

TAICHUNG, May 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 3, 2025, beneath the ever-shifting skies of Taichung's Shui-Nan campus, China Medical University (CMU) broke ground on what promises to be a transformative landmark for Taiwanthe CMU Museum of Fine Arts, designed by none other than Frank Gehry, laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize and one of the most revered architects of our time. This will be Gehry's only monumental creation in East Asia, and a defining moment in Taiwan's architectural and cultural evolution.

The China Medical University Museum of Fine Arts, Frank Gehrys only major project in East Asia, features folded stainless steel forms that capture light like a watercolora defining moment in Taiwans architectural and cultural evolution.

Showcasing Taiwan to the World: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the CMU Museum of Fine Arts

CMU and Healthcare System Chairman Dr. Chang-Hai Tsai expressed his ambition to extend the university's contributions beyond its achievements in education, medicine, and biotechnology:

"Through architecture and art, and through the hand of a master architect, we hope to offer the world a glimpse of Taiwan's spirit."

As early as 2014, Dr. Tsai entrusted New Yorkbased SOM, one of the world's largest architecture firms, with planning the Shui-Nan campus. At the heart of the blueprint was a museuma space not just for art, but for ideas, identity, and innovation. Among more than 30 living Pritzker laureates, Dr. Tsai sought only one: Frank Gehry, the father of deconstructivist architecture. Despite no longer participating in design competitions and working exclusively by invitation, Gehry was moved by Dr. Tsai's invitation and agreed to craft a museum tailor-made for Taiwan.

Pritzker Laureate Frank Gehry's Tailored Tribute to Taiwan: A New Chapter in Global Architecture

CMU and Healthcare System Chairman Dr. Chang-Hai Tsai envisioned extending the university's legacy beyond education, medicine, and biotechnology, aspiring to make contributions in architecture and the arts.

To realize this dream, in 2014, CMU invited New Yorkbased SOM to plan the Shui-Nan campus, including a dedicated museum space. Among more than 30 living Pritzker laureates, Dr. Tsai chose only oneFrank Gehry, the father of deconstructivist architecture.

Moved by Dr. Tsai's sincerity, Gehry agreed to create a museum uniquely designed for Taiwan, without participating in public competitionsan honor reserved for only the world's most distinguished clients.

Forging a New Urban Aesthetic with Cascading Steel and Sculpted Metal

The CMU Museum of Fine Arts will be sculpted from folded metal sheets and undulating stainless steel, capturing the endless play of light across the sky.

Gehry's design transforms the building's surface into a living canvas, radiating delicate hues like a watercolor painting that changes with the sun and weather.

In an interview with the New York Times (April 14, 2021), Gehry explained:

"The design is inspired by reflections of buildings, trees, and the sky on pools of water and mirrored steel. Using softer stainless steel, we crafted a fluid form through precise folds and curves. The building will shimmer gently, breathing with light, like a watercolor in motion."

This innovative approach not only showcases Gehry's profound mastery of material but also creates a poetic dialogue between architecture, nature, and the cityscapea vibrant new link between art and urban life.

Fusing Education and Art to Forge Global Connections

Chairman Tsai remarked:

"World-class cities are home to world-class universitiesinstitutions that not only excel in academic research, but also house world-renowned museums. Universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge exemplify the seamless integration of scholarship and the arts."

The CMU Museum of Fine Arts is thus envisioned as a new hub where Taiwan's university education and aesthetic education converge, connecting Taiwan to the global cultural circuit. In the future, it will join forces with the Asia Museum of Modern Art, as well as institutional allies such as Harvard's Fogg Museum, Stanford's Cantor Arts Center, Oxford's Ashmolean, and Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum. Together, they will elevate Taiwan's cultural voice on the world stageand with it, CMU's global reputation.

CONTACT: Carolyn Chen, [email protected]

SOURCE China Medical University Hospital
SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 29, 2025, United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins released additional funds through the MASC program to support specialty crop farmers. Blue Diamond released the following statement:

"Blue Diamond Growers thanks USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins for, once again, showing her unwavering support for U.S. farmers by releasing an additional $1.3 billion in funding through the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program. These dollars provide American farmers the ability to offset rising costs and further market their products, feeding the United States and the world. On behalf of Blue Diamond's nearly 3,000 almond farm families, we appreciate USDA prioritizing farmers."

About Blue Diamond

Blue Diamond Growers, a grower-owned cooperative representing approximately 3,000 of California's almond growers, is the world's leading almond marketer and processor. Established in 1910, it created the California almond industry and opened world markets for almonds. Blue Diamond is dedicated to delivering the benefits of almonds around the world and does so by providing high-quality almonds, almond ingredients, and branded products. Headquartered in Sacramento, the company employs more than 1,500 people throughout its processing plants, receiving stations and gift shops. To learn more about Blue Diamond Growers, visit www.BlueDiamond.com and follow the company on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Blue Diamond Growers
LOS ANGELES, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CASEKOO, the tech accessories brand redefining the space where function meets fashion, made a bold impact at the Hypebeast Flea Market in Beijing this past month. Fusing art, style, and urban culture, CASEKOO transformed its booth into a creative playground where technology became a canvas for personal expression. At the center of the activation was an interactive DIY customization station, where visitors became designers, creating their own art phone cases. Using the brand's signature Cushion series as a base, participants explored color palettes, textures, and visual elements to craft one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Each day, 10 standout designs were selected, and their creators received their customized phone cases as giftsmaking the experience not only fun, but also meaningful.

CASEKOO at the Hypebeast Flea Market

When Street Art Meets Tech Canvas

Elevating the event's artistic energy, renowned art collective ABS Crew hosted a live creation session, using CASEKOO's clear Magic Stand cases as their canvas. With bold, expressive designs, they transformed everyday cases into funky iPhone masterpiecesblurring the line between street art and functionality, and turning tech accessories into captivating, wearable art.

The excitement continued when well-known rapper Bridge made a surprise appearance at the CASEKOO booth. A major figure in China's music and streetwear scenes, Bridge mingled with fans and showed his support for the brand. His fearless fashion and authentic charisma perfectly matched CASEKOO's bold identity and cultural edge.

The New Era of Wearable Expression

More than just a tech accessories brand, CASEKOO is a creative movementredefining what a Magic Stand phone case can be. With a diverse range of cool phone cases and cool iPhone case designs, CASEKOO seamlessly blends functionality, protection, and style. The latest Pro version features full 360 rotation, offering unmatched flexibility to support your phone at any angle. Each product is a statement piece, empowering users to express their individuality with confidence.

CASEKOO's participation in the Hypebeast Flea was more than a product showcaseit was a celebration of community, creativity, and collaboration. Through partnerships with artists, musicians, and tastemakers, the brand continues to push boundaries and shape the future of fashion-tech culture.

To explore CASEKOO's latest collections and discover upcoming creative experiences, visit www.casekoo.com.

SOURCE CASEKOO
ST. LOUIS, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives, announced today that its subsidiary, Arizona Complete Health, the largest Medicaid health plan in Arizona, has joined the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)  Arizona's single state Medicaid agency  and three other health plans in reaching a settlement agreement to provide managed care for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS). The ALTCS program supports nearly 26,000 Arizonans who are elderly and/or have a physical disability (EPD) with physical and behavioral healthcare, as well as pharmacy benefits and home- and community-based services.

Beginning October 1, 2025, Arizona Complete Health will be available statewide, covering services for Arizonans enrolled with the Arizona Long Term Care System-Elderly and/or Physically Disabled (ALTCS-EPD) program. The settlement agreement awards Arizona Complete Health a three-year contract, with the option to extend each year thereafter for three years, for a total contract period of six years.

"We have proudly served AHCCCS members since 2006 and, today, provide health care coverage to more than 400,000 members statewide," said Centene Chief Executive Officer, Sarah M. London. "Reaching this agreement was an incredibly positive step forward and places the focus on the important work of improving the health of ALTCS-EPD members."

AHCCCS will send notices to members about relevant changes, as well as health plan assignment and member choice options, over the coming months.

"It is an honor to have been selected to lead ALTCS-EPD programs statewide," said Arizona Complete Health Plan President and CEO Martha Smith. "This settlement agreement reflects our shared interest in putting ALTCS members first. Now, we can focus our efforts on ensuring a smooth member transition and coordination of care for an October 1, 2025 launch."

For more information, AHCCCS has developed an FAQ document and will make additional information available on its website: www.azahcccs.gov.

ALTCS is one of the oldest Medicaid managed long-term services and supports programs in the country, providing integrated physical health, behavioral health and long-term services and supports to individuals in Arizona. The program places a special emphasis on home- and community-based services that support members' ability to live independently to the greatest extent.

###

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. The Company takes a local approach  with local brands and local teams  to provide fully integrated, high-quality and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Centene offers affordable and high-quality products to more than 1 in 15 individuals across the nation, including Medicaid and Medicare members (including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans) as well as individuals and families served by the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, http://investors.centene.com/.

About Arizona Complete Health

Arizona Complete Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, provides and administers health benefits through individual, Medicaid, Medicare and dual eligible programs. Arizona Complete Health-Complete Care Plan is the state's largest Medicaid plan serving members statewide. Arizona Complete Health also offers Medicare Advantage coverage through its Wellcare program and Marketplace coverage through Ambetter from Arizona Complete Health. For more information on Arizona Complete Health, please visit the company's website at www.azcompletehealth.com.

All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). Centene Corporation and its subsidiaries (Centene, the Company, our or we) intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe-harbor provisions. In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about expected contract start dates and terms, our expected future operating or financial performance, changes in laws and regulations (including but not limited to, renewal and modification of the enhanced advance premium tax credits associated with the Marketplace product), market opportunity, competition, expected activities in connection with completed and future acquisitions and dispositions, our investments and the adequacy of our available cash resources. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environments, future developments and other factors we believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are subject to change because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. Except as may be otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, after the date hereof. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from projections, estimates, or other forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, variables and events including, but not limited to: our ability to design and price products that are competitive and/or actuarially sound including but not limited to any impacts resulting from Medicaid redeterminations; our ability to maintain or achieve improvement in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings and maintain or achieve improvement in other quality scores in each case that could impact revenue and future growth; our ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves, including fluctuations in medical utilization rates; competition, including for providers, broker distribution networks, contract reprocurements and organic growth; our ability to adequately anticipate demand and timely provide for operational resources to maintain service level requirements in compliance with the terms of our contracts and state and federal regulations; our ability to manage our information systems effectively; disruption, unexpected costs, or similar risks from business transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, and changes in our relationships with third party vendors; impairments to real estate, investments, goodwill, and intangible assets; changes in senior management, loss of one or more key personnel or an inability to attract, hire, integrate and retain skilled personnel; membership and revenue declines or unexpected trends; rate cuts, insufficient rate changes or other payment reductions or delays by governmental payors and other risks and uncertainties affecting our government businesses; changes in healthcare practices, new technologies, and advances in medicine; our ability to effectively and ethically use artificial intelligence and machine learning in compliance with applicable laws; unanticipated increased healthcare costs, including due to inflation and tariffs; changes in macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, interest rates and volatility in the financial markets; the effect of social, economic, and political conditions,geopolitical events and state and U.S. policies, including the amount and terms of state and federal funding for government-sponsored healthcare programs, including as a result of changes in U.S. presidential administrations or Congress; changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs as well as changes with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act (collectively referred to as the ACA) and any regulations enacted thereunder, including the timing and terms of renewal or modification of the enhanced advance premium tax credits or program integrity initiatives that could have the effect of reducing membership or profitability of our products; negative public perception of the Company and the managed care industry; uncertainty concerning government shutdowns, debt ceilings or funding; tax matters; disasters, climate-related incidents, acts of war or aggression or major epidemics; changes in expected contract start dates and terms; changes in provider, broker, vendor, state, federal, and other contracts and delays in the timing of regulatory approval of contracts, including due to protests and our ability to timely comply with any such changes to our contractual requirements or manage any unexpected delays in regulatory approval of contracts; the expiration, suspension, or termination of our contracts with federal or state governments (including, but not limited to, Medicaid, Medicare or other customers); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of legal or regulatory audits, investigations, proceedings or matters, including, but not limited to, our ability to resolve claims and/or allegations made by states with regard to past practices on acceptable terms, or at all, or whether additional claims, reviews or investigations will be brought by states, the federal government or shareholder litigants, or government investigations; challenges to our contract awards; cyber-attacks or other data security incidents or our failure to comply with applicable privacy, data or security laws and regulations; the exertion of management's time and our resources, and other expenses incurred and business changes required in connection with complying with the terms of our contracts and the undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental, or third party consents or approvals for acquisitions or dispositions; any changes in expected closing dates, estimated purchase price, or accretion for acquisitions or dispositions; losses in our investment portfolio; restrictions and limitations in connection with our indebtedness; a downgrade of our corporate family rating, issuer rating or credit rating of our indebtedness; the availability of debt and equity financing on terms that are favorable to us and risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports that Centene has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain other factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition, and results of operations, in our filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Due to these important factors and risks, we cannot give assurances with respect to our future performance, including without limitation our ability to maintain adequate premium levels or our ability to control our future medical and selling, general and administrative costs.

SOURCE CENTENE CORPORATION
NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL).

Estee Lauder is a prestige beauty company with worldwide sales, part of which occur in China and South Korea through what are known as daigou - prohibited gray-market resellers that buy luxury goods at duty-free prices and sell them at a mark-up. In 2021, the Company's largest customer, China Duty Free Group, revealed a severe crack down on daigou, prohibiting sales into the gray market. Despite the Company attributing the resulting sales decline to anything but the crack down, in November 2023, it disclosed that "changes in government and retailer policies related to unstructured market activity" were among the primary causes of the decline in sales.

Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information, violating federal securities laws. Recently, the court presiding over the case denied the Company's motion to dismiss, allowing the case to continue.

KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Estee Lauder's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to its shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws.

If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Estee Lauder shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-833-938-0905 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-el/ to learn more.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, New Jersey, and a representative office in Luxembourg.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

[email protected]

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 960

New Orleans, LA 70163

SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
Join the worldwide expert in UV protection for a free skin check at Miami's Racing Fan Fest on May 3rd and May 4th.

NEW YORK, May 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ACCORDING TO THE SKIN CANCER FOUNDATION, 1 IN 5 AMERICANS WILL DEVELOP SKIN CANCER BY THE AGE OF 70 and 99% of skin cancers are curable if detected in time.

La Roche-Posay, the worldwide expert in advanced UV protection, is dedicated to raising awareness on the importance of sun safety and making sunscreen a matter of public health.

La Roche-Posay Kicks Off Skin Cancer Awareness Month with Free Public Skin Cancer Screenings in Partnership with Racing Fan Fest in Miami

La Roche-Posay will be on site at the Racing Fan Fest in Miami on May 3rd and 4th performing complimentary skin cancer screenings with dermatologists and distributing sunscreen samples of the new Anthelios UV Pro Sport Sunscreen in celebration of Melanoma Monday.

La Roche-Posay has made its mission for the last fifteen years to lead the fight against skin cancer with its annual public health awareness and educational campaign, SOS - Save Our Skin. SOS  Save Our Skin informs the public about the dangers of UV rays, educates on the importance of using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, and shows the importance of making "Every Day A Sunscreen Day" through annual skin cancer screenings. As the only type of cancer visible to the naked eye, skin cancer checks are a critical way of detecting suspicious moles that may be cancerous. Since 2010, La Roche-Posay has conducted over 540,000+ complimentary skin cancer screenings.

The brand will also be highlighting its partnership with professional online gamer, Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins, who shares a personal connection to La Roche-Posay's fight against skin cancer after facing his own struggle with melanoma and sharing his personal story with his audience of over 74M+.

As part of the brand's commitment to the cancer community and ongoing partnership with the American Cancer Society, La Roche-Posay will donate $5 to for every skin check completed over the course of the summer (up to $25,000)* to support Hope Lodge communities, a program that provides patients and their caregivers free lodging while undergoing treatment away from home.

Wynwood Marketplace - 2250 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, Florida 33127

Saturday, May 3rd + Sunday May 4th from 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM

https://racingfanfest.com/

La Roche-Posay products can be purchased at CVS, ULTA, Target, Walgreens/Duane Reade, Rite Aid and online at www.laroche-posay.us, Amazon, Dermstore, LovelySkin, SkinStore.

For additional information about La Roche-Posay, visit www.laroche-posay.us and follow La Roche-Posay USA on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter @LaRochePosayUSA

ABOUT LA ROCHE-POSAY

Recommended by 100,000 dermatologists worldwide[1], La Roche-Posay's mission is to offer life-changing dermatological skincare. La Roche-Posay offers a unique range of daily skincare developed for every skin type to address various skin concerns and complement prescription treatments. At the center of the brand is the exclusive selenium-rich La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, a core ingredient in its skincare formulas known for its soothing and antioxidant properties that is sourced from its Thermal Center in France, the first Dermatology Center in Europe. The products are developed using a strict safety and formulation charter with a minimal number of ingredients and are formulated at optimal concentrations. Additionally, La Roche-Posay products undergo stringent clinical testing for efficacy and safety with over 750+ studies and 25 years of extensive research, even on sensitive skin. For additional information about La Roche-Posay, visit www.laroche-posay.us and follow La Roche-Posay USA on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE La Roche-Posay
PHOENIX, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul Johnson Drywall ("PJD") has acquired the assets of Advanced Drywall Systems II, LLC ("Advanced Drywall Systems"), one of the leading drywall subcontractors in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Cole Johnson, President of PJD, said, "Advanced Drywall Systems, through various prior partnerships and operations, has been a leading drywall installer in the Northeast for nearly five decades, and we couldn't be more excited to add Advanced Drywall Systems to our growing national drywall installation platform."

The entire Advanced Drywall Systems team, including Michael Niessner, Deanne Niessner and David Bedo, will remain with PJD through the transaction.

David Bedo said, "PJD's support will allow our company to continue to deliver exceptional outcomes for our customers and employees going forward. We are most excited about the opportunity to deliver the market-leading service that Advanced Drywall Systems is known for to more of the region's homebuilders along with the opportunity that growth will provide our team members."

About PJD

Established in Phoenix, AZ, in 1967, PJD is the nation's leading residential drywall subcontractor with operations in Arizona, Colorado, Florida (where PJD operates under the Vatos brand), Nevada and Tennessee. PJD recently expanded its product offerings to include gypsum underlayment, lightweight concrete and balcony waterproofing. The family-owned business has long been the drywall contractor of choice for production single-family and multi-family builders, providing on-time, high-quality drywall, and related construction services. More information is available at pauljohnsondrywall.com.

About Advanced Drywall Systems

Advanced Drywall Systems is a residential drywall contractor that serves New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Advanced Drywall Systems is owned by David Bedo and Deanne Niessner. The Niessner family began installing drywall in the Northeast in the 1970s and has been the contractor of choice for quality-focused production builders ever since.

Media Contact:

Sterling Johnson

(928) 830-6879

[email protected]

SOURCE Paul Johnson Drywall, LLC
SAN DIEGO, May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Legal Foundation filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Annette Hubbell, a San Diego-based performer which states her one-woman historical show was canceled by the Rancho Santa Fe Library because she is white.

"San Diego County Library shut the door on Annette not because of what she performs, but because of what she looks like," said Andrew Quinio, attorney for Pacific Legal Foundation. "That's unconstitutional. The Equal Protection Clause forbids the government from denying Annette this opportunity because of her race."

Annette launched Annette Hubbell Productions in 2007, channeling her love for American history into live performances of 17 historical figures ranging from Harriet Tubman and Mary McLeod Bethune to Abigail Adams and Clara Barton. Her shows have been performed across the country for audiences of all backgrounds and ages.

In 2023, the Rancho Santa Fe Library  a San Diego County Library system branch  contracted Annette to perform three historical characters of their choosing: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, and Mary McLeod Bethune. Months later, library officials asked Annette to replace Tubman and Bethune with white characters, explaining that they were "uncomfortable" with a white woman portraying black historical figures.

Annette declined the race-based request. The library responded by canceling the show entirely.

"History belongs to all of us. These are American stories  stories of courage, sacrifice, and resilience  they should be told, shared, and celebrated by everyone," said Annette Hubbell. "It's heartbreaking that the library chose to silence these stories because of my race. I've spent years bringing these characters to life with the care, respect, and honor they deserve. Using identity politics to ignore their legacy is unconscionable. To paraphrase Dr. King, I chose them for the content of their character, and that is what matters."

Represented by Pacific Legal Foundation free of charge, Annette is fighting to restore equal opportunity for everyone to participate in the arts, regardless of race or other immutable characteristics.

The case is Annette Hubbell v. Acosta , filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

About Pacific Legal Foundation

Pacific Legal Foundation is a national nonprofit law firm that defends Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse. Since our founding in 1973, we challenge the government when it violates individual liberty and constitutional rights. With active cases in 34 states plus Washington, D.C., PLF represents clients in state and federal courts, with 18 wins of 20 cases litigated at the U.S. Supreme Court.

SOURCE Pacific Legal Foundation
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinnai America Corporation, a leader in innovative, energy-efficient tankless water heaters, proudly welcomed U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia, on Friday, May 2, as part of the Department of Energy's "First 100 Days of Unleashing American Energy Victories" initiative.

Photo courtesy of Rinnai America Corporation. Photo ID, from left: Perry McGuire, Rinnai Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary; Takanori Oka, Rinnai General Manager of Overseas Business; Chris Wright, U.S. Secretary of Energy; Congressman Brian Jack, U.S. Rep. for Georgias 3rd Congressional District; Frank Windsor, President of Rinnai America Corporation

Secretary Wright toured the facility and delivered remarks recognizing Rinnai's role in strengthening American energy leadership, protecting consumer choice, and advancing domestic manufacturing. His visit underscored the Department's commitment to preserving U.S.-based innovation and production in the face of previously proposed regulations that had threatened both.

"Rinnai America is a perfect example of what's at stake when Washington pushes reckless regulations, bureaucrats tried to end hundreds of jobs with a rule no one asked for, slipped in the day after Christmaswithout a single consideration for the people it would hurt. But these workers stood strong. They didn't back down and because of their courage and hard work, we won this battle together. What they build here changes livesmillions of people choose these products to make their lives better. That's worth fighting for. Let's stand together for our dreams, for the American Dream," said Secretary Wright.

Rinnai is the only company producing non-condensing tankless water heaters in the United States. A Biden-era rule, which was postponed by Secretary Wright, would have effectively banned these energy-efficient products jeopardizing hundreds of local jobs, limiting consumer options, and placing U.S. manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage.

"We were honored to host Secretary Wright and are grateful for the Department's decisive actions to support American manufacturing and consumer freedom," said Frank Windsor, President of Rinnai America Corporation. "By preserving access to high-efficient, cost-effective tankless water heaters, the Department is helping companies like ours continue to innovate, grow, and serve American families."

The Griffin facility is located in Congressman Brian Jack's district. The congressman championed the legislative wins needed to save jobs at Rinnai.

"It was an honor to welcome U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to Georgia's 3rd Congressional District to celebrate the repeal of a job-killing Biden regulation that endangered Rinnai America Corporation's manufacturing plant in Griffin," said Congressman Brian Jack. "Secretary Wright is the first Cabinet Member to make an official visit to Spalding County, and I am excited to continue making history with him throughout President Trump's second term!"

Rinnai's non-condensing tankless water heaters are up to 50% more efficient than traditional storage tank models, ensuring that consumers have access to energy-efficient options that reduce long-term costs and energy use. Rinnai's investment in Georgia represents an opportunity to strengthen American manufacturing and ensure the U.S. remains competitive in the global market.

To watch Secretary Wright's full remarks, click here.

About Rinnai:

Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances, including tankless water heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances, and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and has the highest efficiency of any tankless water heater brand in the United States and Canada. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.3 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st-century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and Creating a healthier way of living. For more information about Rinnai's entire product line, visit www.rinnai.us.

Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. Rinnai and Creating a healthier way of living are the registered trademarks of Rinnai Corporation used under license by Rinnai America Corporation.

SOURCE Rinnai America Corporation
LAKEWOOD, Conn., May 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) is proud to honor its nearly 400 graduates on Sunday, May 4, 2025 during two commencement ceremonies, "Innovators" and "Visionaries." The art and design school, which has more than 2,000 students, will celebrate both in person and virtually, as graduates reside across 39 states.

The commencement ceremony will be held at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts , a leading national theater organization with a shared dedication to the arts. The festivities will continue at RMCAD's Caps Off Celebration, hosted on the scenic 23-acre campus, where newly minted alumni and their loved ones will gather for an outdoor lunch and immerse themselves in the creativity on display at the Spring 2025 Graduation Exhibition , offering a firsthand look at the diverse talents nurtured at RMCAD.

Their passion ignited and their talents honed, these graduates step forward to become the newest chapter in RMCAD's more than 60-year legacy, joining a vibrant community of over 4,500 alumni across the United States and the world. Degree recipients from all 11 academic programs will now be able to pursue the creative careers they've been working toward. For a full list of RMCAD's 2025 graduates, please click here .

"We are thrilled to welcome these new graduates as alumni and look forward to seeing them grow in their careers, make their unique mark on the world, and remain valued members of the RMCAD community," shares President Brent Fitch.

About RMCAD

Founded in 1963, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is an accredited institution of higher education that offers degree programs focused on the arts, design, education, technology, and business. RMCAD serves its students from a 23-acre campus in Lakewood, Colorado, but also virtually, as a leader in online education for more than a decade. RMCAD offers courses taught by practicing industry professionals; an intimate learning environment; multimedia-rich online classes; and a beautiful historic campus. The school strives to allow artists and designers to find their voice, discover their own paths, and thrive as professionals.

Contact: Leila Ertel, [email protected] ; Jenna Heil, [email protected]

SOURCE Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
SHANGHAI, May 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 17, 2025, CLEAR, Unilever's premium professional anti-dandruff brand, officially launched its first SCALPCEUTICALS PRO RANGE globally at TANK Shanghai. This series embodies the brand's 50 years of scientific research and unites the efforts of five global labs and over 200 dermatologists. Using three patented technologies[1] to precisely target scalp concerns like oiliness, dandruff, and sensitivity, it powerfully initiates a revolutionary new era of "cellular-level[2] repair" in scalp care, ushering in a new chapter for premium quality in the field.

CLEAR SCALPCEUTICALS PRO RANGE Global Launch: Redefining Premium Scalp Care with Technological Innovation

Currently, China's premium scalp care market is experiencing explosive growth, expanding at a rate of 190% and reaching a scale of over 33 billion RMB. Faced with evolving consumer demands and their diverse needs for scalp health, simply focusing on ''cleansing'' is no longer enough to satisfy their desire for a premium experience.

"The key to a healthy scalp lies in fundamental repair at the cellular level." Elsharkawy Mohamed, Unilever China's Hair Care Marketing Director and Global Vice President of CLEAR, emphasized that Clear is now focusing on cell science and announced the global launch of the brand's first SCALPCEUTICALS PRO RANGE.

This series, developed through a decade of research in partnership with five global labs and tested by more than 200 dermatologists, reportedly features a revolutionary "cellular-level hair care technology matrix." It's designed to address the core issues of oiliness, dandruff, and sensitivity, helping to build a healthy scalp environment.

Revolutionary Breakthrough at the Cellular Level: CLEAR Unveils the "Scalp Cell Response Mechanism"

Eric Han, Head of R&D for Unilever Beauty & Wellbeing North Asia, stated: ''In the new era of scalp care, treatment should not remain superficial. CLEAR's technological approach is about 'rebuilding the foundation' by synergistically managing cell metabolism and the scalp microbiome to help restore scalp health.''

Thus, the CLEAR SCALPCEUTICALS PRO RANGE, built upon three patented technologies[1], now introduced five targeted products: The Selenium Disulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo incorporates Unilever's proprietary Selenium Disulfide PRO[3] Technology, which strengthens the protein "skeleton" and "outer walls" of barrier cells[2] to eliminate and prevent dandruff at its root cause[4], clearing 99% of flakes in just one wash[5], and correcting oiliness, dandruff, and itch in 4 weeks[6]. The Scalp Massage Essence helps repair the scalp barrier and create an invisible shield against dandruff. For recurrent dandruff issues, the Anti-Dandruff Conditioning Shampoo utilizes Piroctone Olamine[7] Technology to not only inhibit and fight dandruff but also to improve the scalp environment, boosting dandruff resistance by 500%[8].

Beyond breakthroughs in dandruff control, CLEAR has launched its first clinically proven Oil Control Shampoo to address excessive sebum secretion. Utilizing Sebum-reg tech[9], it inhibits "scalp oil production" for a purer and more controlled scalp, correcting oily hair in 4 weeks[10]. Specially formulated for sensitive scalps, the Soothing and Repairing Shampoo is inspired by Nobel Prize-winning research. It features the SENSICARE[11] ingredient to precisely block sensitivity signals and correct the four major concerns of dryness, itch, tightness, and redness within four weeks[12].

[1] Refers to the three patents in the CLEAR SCALPCEUTICALS PRO RANGE formulas. Specifically: CLEAR Soothing and Repairing Shampoo formula, a UK invention patent with patent number EP4271351; CLEAR Anti-Dandruff Conditioning Shampoo formula, a US invention patent with patent number US12246084; and CLEAR Oil Control Shampoo formula, a Chinese invention patent with patent number ZL201811056799.0. [2] Refers to the barrier cells of the scalp epidermis. [3] Refers to the selenium disulfide, serine, alanine, glycine, and panthenol in the formula of Clear's Selenium Disulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. [4] Refers to the root cause of dandruff. [5] A third-party study involving 34 consumers with severe dandruff shows statistically significant agreement in self-assessments after one use of CLEAR Selenium Disulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Individual results may vary. [6] A third-party study involving 34 consumers with severe dandruff shows statistically significant agreement in self-assessments after 4 weeks' use of CLEAR Selenium Disulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Individual results may vary. Itch refers to scalp itch caused by dandruff. [7] Piroctone Olamine [8] Unilever internal testing shows that CLEAR Anti-Dandruff Conditioning Shampoo inhibits the root cause of dandruff more than 6 times better than our internal control product. Individual results may vary. [9] Refers to capryloyl glycine oil control technology. [10] Unilever internal efficacy testing shows that after 4 weeks of continuous use of Clear CLEAR Control Shampoo, instrumental measurements indicated a significant reduction in scalp oil compared to before use. Individual results may vary. [11] Refers to 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol and bisabolol in the CLEAR Soothing and Repairing Shampoo formula. [12] A third-party study involving 32 consumers with sensitive scalp shows statistically significant agreement in self-assessments after 4 weeks' use of CLEAR Soothing and Repairing Shampoo. Individual results may vary. Itch refers to scalp itch caused by dandruff.

From Product Innovation to Industry Leadership: CLEAR is Pioneering a New Era of Scalp Health.

CLEAR's newly launched "cellular-level repair" series directly addresses the growing consumer demand for premium products. On one hand, CLEAR is benefiting from the innovative energy of the Chinese market to continuously push technological boundaries, taking this "cellular-level repair" standard, which originated from Chinese consumer needs, to a global stage. On the other hand, this move will also accelerate the beauty and hair care industry's shift from a "functional" approach towards a more "scientific" one, ultimately raising the industry's overall level.

"CLEAR has dedicated over 50 years to in-depth scalp research. This newly launched SCALPCEUTICALS PRO RANGE represents a vibrant step in the brand's ongoing commitment to its premiumization strategy and its exploration of localized innovation within China," stated Chen Ge, President of Unilever China. "China is not only a significant global consumer market but is also becoming an innovation hub for the beauty and hair care industry. By deeply integrating into China's innovation ecosystem, we are upgrading from functionality to science, and from products to systems, thereby injecting continuous momentum into the transformation and sustainable growth of the global industrial chain."

Notes:

Three patented technologies: Refers to the three patents in the CLEAR SCALPCEUTICALS PRO RANGE formulas. Specifically: CLEAR Soothing and Repairing Shampoo formula, a UK invention patent with patent number EP4271351; CLEAR Anti-Dandruff Conditioning Shampoo formula, a US invention patent with patent number US12246084; and CLEAR Oil Control Shampoo formula, a Chinese invention patent with patent number ZL201811056799.0. Cellular-level: Refers to the barrier cells of the scalp epidermis. Selenium Disulfide PRO: Refers to the selenium disulfide, serine, alanine, glycine, and panthenol in the formula of Clear's Selenium Disulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Root cause: Refers to the root cause of dandruff. Clearing 99% of flakes in just one wash: A third-party study involving 34 consumers with severe dandruff shows statistically significant agreement in self-assessments after one use of CLEAR Selenium Disulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Individual results may vary. Correcting oiliness, dandruff, and itch in 4 weeks: A third-party study involving 34 consumers with severe dandruff shows statistically significant agreement in self-assessments after 4 weeks' use of CLEAR Selenium Disulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Individual results may vary. Itch refers to scalp itch caused by dandruff. Piroctone Olamine: Piroctone Olamine Boosting dandruff resistance by 500%: Unilever internal testing shows that CLEAR Anti-Dandruff Conditioning Shampoo inhibits the root cause of dandruff more than 6 times better than our internal control product. Individual results may vary. Sebum-reg tech: Refers to capryloyl glycine oil control technology. Correcting oily hair in 4 weeks: Unilever internal efficacy testing shows that after 4 weeks of continuous use of Clear CLEAR Control Shampoo, instrumental measurements indicated a significant reduction in scalp oil compared to before use. Individual results may vary. SENSICARE: Refers to 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol and bisabolol in the CLEAR Soothing and Repairing Shampoo formula. Correct the four major concerns of dryness, itch, tightness, and redness within four weeks: A third-party study involving 32 consumers with sensitive scalp shows statistically significant agreement in self-assessments after 4 weeks' use of CLEAR Soothing and Repairing Shampoo. Individual results may vary. Itch refers to scalp itch caused by dandruff.

SOURCE Unilever CLEAR
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Patna, May 3 : Bihar's first underground pedestrian subway, currently under construction near Patna Junction, was inspected on Friday by the State Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin.

The project, being developed under the Smart City initiative, is designed to connect the Multi-Modal Hub near General Post Office, Golambar, to the eastern gate of Mahavir Temple adjacent to the Patna Junction railway station.

The initiative, undertaken at the direction of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, aims to ease congestion and traffic jams caused by vehicle parking around the Patna Junction.

"This is a visionary project initiated by our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to streamline traffic flow and enhance pedestrian convenience. It is the first of its kind in Bihar," said Minister Nabin during the inspection of the development project.

The 440-metre-long subway will feature four travellators spanning a total of 148 metres, two escalators for seamless vertical movement, two lifts located at key points: one near Mahavir Mandir and the other near the multi-level parking area and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems for commuter comfort, installed in Patna, given its underground structure.

Minister Nabin highlighted that vehicles will be parked at the Multi-Modal Hub, thereby decongesting the vicinity of the Patna Junction.

Pedestrians will then use the subway to access the station directly, bypassing busy roads, the Minister said.

The Multi-Modal Hub will also serve as a key transit point with city buses facilitating travel to various parts of Patna, he added.

"This subway will not only improve traffic management but also become a symbol of Patna's modernisation. Once completed, it will be a new identity for the city," Nabin said.

He instructed officials on-site to expedite the remaining work and ensure early completion of the project.

The Bihar government is aiming to complete this project before the upcoming Assembly election scheduled to take place later this year.

It is a dream project of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and he has done the inspection several times in the past as well as directed the officials to expedite the construction works, the Minister said.
Islamabad, May 3 : Authorities in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province have imposed a 12-day smart lockdown in a locality of Bajaur district, following a rise in cases of mpox, officials said.

The lockdown, which began earlier this week, was implemented after the province recorded 17 confirmed cases of mpox over the past three years, with the majority linked to individuals arriving from countries where the disease is considered endemic, according to a notification issued on Friday by the Deputy Commissioner of Bajaur.

Most of the mpox patients had arrived either from the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, where the disease was endemic, Xinhua news agency reported.

In August last year, the World Health Organisation declared mpox an emergency of international concern.

The district administration sealed all entry and exit points of the affected area to contain any further spread of the virus.

"Only essential services such as grocery shops, pharmacies, general stores, and emergency services will be allowed to operate during the lockdown," the statement said.

Authorities warned that legal action would be taken against anyone found violating the lockdown restrictions.

Residents have been urged to remain indoors, cooperate with health teams, and strictly adhere to health safety guidelines.

The Provincial Health department has intensified its surveillance efforts, particularly at entry points and health facilities, in an effort to detect and isolate suspected cases promptly.

Last week, a 31-year-old male resident of Khyber district tested positive after he was screened while departing for Dubai at Bacha Khan International Airport. Following the confirmation of his case, KP Health department issued directives to the district health officer of Khyber for immediate surveillance and contact tracing.

Authorities also revisited a March case involving a woman in Dogra, Khyber district, which was initially suspected to be the province's first local transmission. However, it was later determined she contracted the virus from her husband, who had recently returned from abroad and later tested positive.

The disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, leads to flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. It is usually mild but can kill, with children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, all at higher risk of complications.
Gaza, May 3 : At least 32 Palestinians have been killed and many others injured in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, the enclave's Civil Defence reported.

Six people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli raid targeting a charitable hospice near the Abdel-Al Junction in the centre of Gaza City, and two were killed in an Israeli shelling targeting a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood north of the city, Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told Xinhua news agency on Friday.

In northern Gaza, at least six people were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a funeral home for the al-Masri family in the town of Beit Lahia, Basal said.

In central Gaza, at least nine were killed in an Israeli strike targeting a house belonging to the Abu Zeina family in al-Bureij refugee camp, he added.

In southern Gaza, two were killed in an Israeli strike at a gathering of civilians near the town of Asdaa in the governorate of Khan Younis, at least two others were killed in an Israeli drone strike at a group of civilians in the Qizan al-Najjar area south of Khan Younis, and five more were killed in other raids on different areas of Rafah and Khan Younis, Basal said.

The Israeli army has not commented on these incidents yet, Xinhua news agency reported.

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.

The war in Gaza started after Hamas fighters carried out an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians. As many as 251 hostages were taken, most of whom have since been released as part of negotiations between the two parties. 59 hostages remain, 24 of which are believed to still be alive.
Mexico City, May 3 : Mexico has welcomed a US 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 on Friday that the exemption was confirmed in new US customs guidance published on Thursday, reaffirming that Mexican auto parts will be treated as if they originated in the US and will enter duty-free, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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 US 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 per cent tariff on auto parts, plus another 25 per cent on steel, aluminum, and final products -- that would wipe out entire companies," he said, referring to ongoing talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The tariff suspension follows the sixth phone call between Sheinbaum and US President Donald Trump, during which both agreed to keep working toward solutions on trade and other bilateral issues.

At a press briefing on Friday, Sheinbaum said the decision was "good news".

"There's a preferential treatment for everything that is produced within the trade agreement, and in particular for auto parts, which have zero tariffs," she said, noting that she and Trump spoke by phone on Thursday.

"We continue working together, and if you've noticed, we keep getting better conditions compared to what the situation was previously."

Mexico continues negotiations with the US to prevent the implementation of Trump's broader executive orders targeting key industrial sectors.
Berlin, May 3 : One person has died and seven others were injured, including three seriously, 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, Xinhua news agency reported.

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 said.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. local time in the city center when a black SUV drove into a crowd, according to local media reports.

Police have indicated that preliminary investigation suggests it was an accident.

"Based on the current state of investigation and available evidence, our colleagues at the #Olgaeck scene believe this to be a tragic traffic accident. There are currently no indications of an attack or a deliberate act," Stuttgart police said on X.

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.

"Five people were slightly injured and three seriously injured in the accident. Of the seriously injured, a 46-year-old woman has since succumbed to her injuries in the hospital," police said in a Friday evening statement.

In an earlier post on the social media platform X, Stuttgart Police said all evidence pointed to a "tragic traffic accident" and that they had found no evidence of an attack.

The incident happened at an above-ground subway stop in Stuttgart city centre, police said.

Police had assured the public that there was no further danger related to the incident.

The driver of the Mercedes vehicle was apprehended at the scene, a police spokesperson told reporters.

The area remained cordoned off as emergency responders, police and forensic specialists examined the scene.

Witnesses were being interviewed and subway services through the area were suspended.

Germany has seen a spate of car ramming attacks in recent years, with fears high that such incidents might repeat again.

Two people died on February 13 after they were injured in a car-ramming attack on a labour union demonstration in Munich.

Around 39 people were injured in the attack and police arrested a 24-year-old Afghan national who came to Germany as an asylum seeker. Prosecutors said he appeared to have had an Islamic extremist motive.

On December 20, 2024, at least five people were killed and more than 200 were injured when a car slammed into a Christmas market in Magdeburg in eastern Germany.

And in June 2022, a 29-year-old man drove his car into a crowd of people in Berlin, killing one person and injuring dozens. Police identified the driver as a 29-year-old German-Armenian man.
Beirut, May 3 : Lebanon's Supreme Defence Council has issued a recommendation to the government, warning Hamas against carrying out "any actions that could undermine the country's sovereignty and national security".

The warning followed a council meeting chaired by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, attended by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Cabinet Ministers, and senior military and security officials on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a statement released after the meeting, Mohammad Al-Mustafa, the Council's Secretary-General, said it decided to submit a recommendation to the Cabinet that includes "a warning to Hamas against using Lebanese territory to carry out any activities that compromise Lebanese national security, affirming that the most stringent measures and necessary actions will be taken to end any violation of Lebanese sovereignty definitively".

On April 20, the Lebanese Army announced it had foiled an attempt to launch rockets from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel.

This came just days after the April 16 arrest of Lebanese and Palestinian individuals accused of launching rockets on March 22 and 28 toward northern Israel -- attacks for which Hezbollah denied responsibility and no group has claimed.

President Aoun emphasised during the meeting the "importance of maintaining security, stability, and asserting state authority," stressing "zero tolerance for turning Lebanon into a platform for destabilisation".

He added that while the Palestinian cause remains important, Lebanon must not be dragged into wars or exposed to unnecessary danger.

Amid ongoing security developments in Syria, Aoun stressed "the need to contain any potential fallout that could negatively affect Lebanon's internal stability or worsen the Syrian refugee crisis".

Prime Minister Salam reiterated "the necessity of surrendering all illegal weapons in line with the National Accord Document and the government's ministerial statement, and preventing Hamas or any other factions from destabilising Lebanon's national and security interests".

"The integrity of Lebanese territory is paramount," he added, while reaffirming Lebanon's "support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination on their land in accordance with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative".

Israel has continued to strike Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreed in November to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah that included a bombing campaign and ground incursion.

Under the deal, Hezbollah was to withdraw north of the Litani River and dismantle military sites to its south.

Israel was to pull out of southern Lebanon but has kept troops in five positions it calls "strategic".
New York, May 3 : US President Donald Trump has said that Harvard University would lose its tax-exempt status, repeating his intent to enlist the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in his feud with the university and upend its finances.

"We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve!" Trump wrote on Friday on social media.

However, an administration official said the President's social-media post wasn't a formal directive to the IRS to take action, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Trump's comment comes after Harvard filed a lawsuit late last month against the administration, setting up a legal showdown between America's most prominent university and the White House, Xinhua news agency reported.

The suit argues that the government has violated the university's constitutional rights by freezing billions of dollars in federal funding and imperiling its academic independence.

Trump froze more that $2 billion in federal funds to Harvard, which prompted the university to sue, after it refused to institute policy changes, including the discontinuation of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Earlier this week, Harvard announced it is renaming its "Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging" to "Community and Campus Life".

The university also said it would no longer host or fund affinity group celebrations during commencement, according to The Harvard Crimson.

The school on Tuesday released a pair of internal reports: one on how anti-semitism and anti-Israeli bias are handled on campus, and another on anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian bias.

A White House official on Wednesday described the moves as "positive," but signalled that the university needs to do more to crack down on what it sees as anti-Israel bias on campus.

White House Spokesperson Harrison Fields said that any forthcoming IRS actions were independent of the President and that any audit or investigations were initiated before Trump's 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 nation's 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 organisations on Friday.

"There is no legal basis to rescind Harvard's 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."

Since taking office in January, Trump has targeted US 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.

Trump's 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.
Ottawa, May 3 : Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet US 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.

The Prime Minister said that the meeting will focus on tariffs and the US-Canada relationship, Xinhua news agency reported.

"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.

"There are two sets of issues. There are the immediate tariffs, both sectoral and so-called reciprocal and fentanyl tariffs, and then there is the broader relationship," Carney said.

"So (the meeting will be about) addressing both sets of issues. We'll see how that progress goes."

Asked how he might avoid the same kind of public argument that occurred between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office earlier this year, Carney said he is going into the meeting expecting a "difficult, but constructive" conversation.

"I go there with the expectation of constructive a" difficult, but constructive a" discussions," Carney said.

"That's the spirit of the conversations that the President and I had."

"You go to these meetings well prepared," the Prime Minister continued, "Understanding the objectives of your counterpart and always acting in the best interest of Canada, and we'll go from there."

Last Tuesday, Carney said his country would "never" yield to the US as he declared victory in federal elections, following a campaign overshadowed by relentless provocations and steep trade tariffs imposed by Trump.

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 that 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.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, May 3 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has harshly criticised Germany after its domestic intelligence agency described the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) an extremist entity that threatens democracy and called on the country to reverse course on its own domestic matter.

The top US diplomat described the move as "tyranny in disguise" and took aim at the US ally's immigration policies.

"Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the Opposition. That's not democracya"it's tyranny in disguise," he wrote in a post on X.

"What is truly extremist is not the popular AfDa"which took second in the recent electiona"but rather the establishment's deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes."

"Germany should reverse course," Rubio added.

The tweet by Rubio comes in response to Germany's domestic intelligence agency's finding, based on a 1,100 page expert report, that AfD is "racist" and "anti-Muslim".

The classification of the party as an extremist entity allows authorities to increase their surveillance, including by recruiting confidential informants and intercepting communications.

It is not the first time a high-level Trump administration official has aligned themselves with the far-right party.

Both US Vice-President J.D. Vance and Elon Musk have voiced support for the AfD.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), announced on Friday that it has officially classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a confirmed right-wing extremist organisation at the national level.

The AfD had previously been designated as a "suspicion case" federally, though several of its regional branches had already been classified as right-wing extremist entities.

The BfV said its conclusion was the result of a thorough expert review conducted over nearly three years.

According to German public broadcaster ARD, the BfV's assessment is detailed in a report exceeding 1,000 pages.

The agency concluded that the AfD's prevailing "ethnic-based concept of the people" is incompatible with Germany's liberal democratic basic order.

In response to the decision, AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla condemned the move as a serious blow to democracy.

In a statement, they said the party would continue to challenge the classification through legal means, describing it as a "democracy-endangering defamation".

The AfD currently enjoys strong support in public opinion polls. It surpassed the conservative CDU/CSU bloc for the first time last month to become the strongest political party in a national survey.
Jammu, May 3 : For the ninth consecutive day on Saturday, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing on the Indian posts along the Line Of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

A Defence Ministry statement on Saturday said, "During the night of May 2 and May 3, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked smalla'arms fire across the LoC opposite the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir."

"Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately."

Pakistan has been continuously targeting Indian army positions on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir for the last nine days as tensions reach a new high in India-Pakistan relationship after the cowardly murder of 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, on April 22 in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam by Pakistan sponsored, aided and backed Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists.

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 he chased and hunted down to the ends of the earth.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a 40-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday.

The Defence Minister met PM Modi after he received a detailed briefing by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on the preparedness of the country's Armed forces to meet any eventuality.

Prime Minister Modi has given the country's Armed forces complete operational freedom to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.

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.

India has closed Attari-Wagah border crossing point, deported Pakistani nationals, kept the Indus Water Treaty in Abeyance and closed its airspace for Pakistani commercial flights.

Pakistan has reacted by announcing that it will not abide by the Shimla Agreement thereby deciding to disregard the LoC in J&K, which is the de-facto border in Jammu and Kashmir between the two South Asian neighbours.
Kozhikode, May 3 : A controversy has broken out over the death of five patients at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital following a short circuit at the room where the UPS are kept near the Casualty department.

It was around 8 p.m. on Friday night that the authorities at the Casualty department detected smoke coming out from the UPS room.

While the authorities have said no deaths took place because of inhaling smoke, the Congress legislator from Wayanad, T. Siddique, said three patients died after inhaling smoke.

The Kozhikode district authorities have now sealed the ward where the smoke was detected for detailed probe to be conducted on the reason for the short circuit.

Soon after the incident, the hospital authorities started shifting patients from the Casualty department.

While the hospital authorities have said that four deaths occurred before the smoke emanated, while the fifth patient was brought dead to the hospital.

But dismissing this was the Wayanad legislator T. Siddique, who said three patients died after inhaling smoke.

He added that the relatives of 44-year-old Nazeera brought from Wayanad told him that soon after the smoke covered the area, the patient was removed from the ventilator and was moved to another place and that was the time she breathed her last.

However, State Health Minister Veena George has ordered a probe into the incident.

The Kerala Director of Medical Education has been asked to head the team to conduct the detailed probe on what happened.

Meanwhile, 34 patients who were being treated at the Casualty department have been moved to a few hospitals in the locality.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the authorities have said if the relatives of the deceased who passed away seek a post-mortem, then it would be conducted.

Kozhikode Medical College hospital is the succor of the common man in the districts of Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode and is one of the busiest hospitals in the public sector.
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.
Mumbai, May 3 : After a hectic stretch filled with work commitments, global head-turner Priyanka Chopra Jonas said that she's finally heading home to be reunited with her 'angels' husband Nick Jonas and their daughter, Malti Marie.

Priyanka took to her Instagram stories section, where she shared a picture of Nick and Malti. In the image, the "Sucker" hitmaker is seen hugging Malti.

"Finally heading home to my angels it's been too long," Priyanka wrote as the caption.

On April 30, the actress had shared that her best friend, Tamanna Dutt, along with her son, Thiaan, dropped by to spend some quality time with her on the sets.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, she shared a photo where she could be seen smiling as she posed with Tamanna and her son.

Alongside the images, Priyanka wrote, "My smile says it all..When your family visits set," followed by a red heart emoji.

On April 29, despite her packed shooting schedule in Hyderabad, Priyanka managed to carve out some downtime over the weekend with her closest friend, Tamanna.

Sharing a glimpse of their special moments together, Tamanna shared a heartfelt picture on Instagram with the caption: "Weekend well spent with my NRI. Will miss you babe."

On the professional front, Priyanka is all set to star in "Heads Of State," her upcoming project directed by Ilya Naishuller. In this action-packed film, Priyanka plays Noel Bisset, an MI6 agent who joins forces with John Cena and Idris Elba's characters to navigate a high-stakes situation after their diplomatic mission is disrupted. The film is scheduled to debut on Prime Video on July 2.

She will also portray a 19th-century Caribbean pirate in "The Bluff", which is a swashbuckler drama film co-written by Frank E. Flowers and Joe Ballarini, with Flowers also directing. The film stars Karl Urban, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Safia Oakley-Green, and Vedanten Naidoo.

Set in the Caribbean islands during the 19th century, the film features Priyanka as a former female pirate who must protect her family when her past catches up to her.

Additionally, Priyanka is set to return for the second season of the web series "Citadel."

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, May 3 : Businesses and educational institutions in Manipur will remain shut on Saturday as Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi bodies have called for a bandh to mark the second anniversary of the ethnic violence that erupted in the state in May 2023.

Student organisations representing the Kuki-Zomi community have announced a complete shutdown of educational institutions and business establishments in parts of Manipur on Saturday.

According to the two student bodies, the Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF) and the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Saturday will be observed in silence as a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives and were displaced during the conflict.

They have urged residents in Kuki-dominated areas to participate in the shutdown and hoist black flags at their homes as a symbol of mourning. The student bodies also called for hoisting black flags at the respective residences of all.

The Indigenous Tribal Leadersa Forum (ITLF) has also planned a commemorative event titled 'Separation Day' to be held in Churachandpur district headquarters.

Simultaneously, in the Imphal Valley, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), representing Meitei civil society interests, has called for a public observance by halting all daily activities and attending the Manipur Peopleas Convention scheduled in the state capital, Imphal.

Tensions in Manipur remain high as security forces have increased their presence across the state to prevent any untoward incidents during the anniversary.

Since the outbreak of violence in May 2023, over 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced in the ongoing conflict between the valley-based Meiteis and the hill-dwelling Kuki-Zomi tribes.

Earlier this year, the political situation dramatically changed when Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned amid mounting pressure.

The state has since been placed under Presidentas Rule, and the Manipur Legislative Assembly remains under suspended animation, although its term is set to run until 2027.
New Delhi, May 3 : National Award-winning filmmaker Shoojit Sricar said that the humour in "Piku" was a conscious choice, inspired by the natural, everyday quirks of family life, which are inherently funny. He wanted the film to reflect real-life situations with warmth and subtle humour, rather than using overt comedy.

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) National Award-winning filmmaker Shoojit Sricar said that the humour in "Piku" was a conscious choice, inspired by the natural, everyday quirks of family life, which are inherently funny. He wanted the film to reflect real-life situations with warmth and subtle humour, rather than using overt comedy.

Asked if the balance of humour and emotion in Piku happen by design or instinct, Shoojit told IANS: "I ask people that please just look at yourself or look into your drawing room, what you do from now on, like, you wake up in the morning until lunch, you will laugh at yourself. I mean, it is funny. We repeat the same things every day."

"So our family, everyday life is actually humorous. And I wanted to keep some of that humor angle, so it was very clear from the beginning that we will see it from a humorous point of view. And it is, if you see the film, there is no comedy as such."

He added: "It is a natural everyday going on, which is hilarious, everyday life. So, yeah, the approach was always the way we have shown the film. Okay.

"Piku" is set for a re-release on May 9. The comedy drama, which is set to clock 10 years since its release, stars Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan along with Moushumi Chatterjee, Jisshu Sengupta and Raghubir Yadav.

The film revolved around Piku, an architect and her ageing but nagging father Bhaskor Banerjee, who come close via a road trip to Kolkata despite their disparate ideologies and fights over trivial issues.

Shoojit made his directorial debut with the romantic war drama Yahaan in 2005. He gained the spotlight with the top-grossing social romantic comedy Vicky Donor in 2012). He followed it a year later with the political action thriller Madras Cafe.

His home production, the legal thriller Pink. He subsequently directed and produced the coming-of-age drama October and the Amazon Prime Video's comedy Gulabo Sitabo. The filmmaker gained further prominence in 2021 with the biographical historical drama Sardar Udham.
New Delhi, May 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended condolences to those who lost their lives in the stampede that occurred during the Lairai Devi temple festivities in Shirgao village.

The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday as a large number of devotees had gathered for the annual yatra. According to sources, at least six people lost their lives, and over 30 were injured in the stampede.

"Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

PM Modi also spoke with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and reviewed the situation in detail, offering full support from the Centre during this difficult time.

CM Sawant personally visited the hospital to assess the condition of the injured.

Later, posting on X, the Chief Minister said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken."

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that all district hospitals are on high alert and fully equipped to handle the emergency. He added that the medical infrastructure at Goa Medical College (GMC) and other district hospitals has been strengthened and placed on high alert.

The stampede occurred during the Shri Lairai Yatra, an annual religious event that draws over 50,000 devotees to the temple in North Goa.

A highlight of the centuries-old ritual is the participation of barefoot 'dhonds' who walk across a bed of burning embers in a symbolic act of devotion. The sheer number of attendees and a sudden surge in the crowd reportedly led to the deadly stampede.

Preliminary reports point towards severe overcrowding and insufficient crowd management arrangements as potential causes behind the stampede.

The situation turned chaotic due to a downward slope on a stretch of the route, where the crowd reportedly surged forward rapidly, leading to a crush.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 3 : India is set to emerge as the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) capital of the world and the government and the private exhibition industry has to work together to make the country a centre of MICE tourism, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has stressed.

With the construction of the state-of-the art exhibition and conference complexes in the country, India is all set to become MICE tourism capital of the world.

"The exhibition and conference infrastructure we see across the nation including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur and even small cities post G20 meet indicates that India is standing at the threshold of strong possibilities for this sector," said Shekhawat, while inaugurating a seminar organised by the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA).

Several events which are happening globally can be calendarised and brought here in India, the minister suggested.

"Besides being a destination India, the country is also becoming a big exhibition and conference hub with planned expansion in road, aviation and railway sectors along with expansion of the conference and exhibition sector, the country has a great future for economic growth," Shekhawat said.

After 2014, India has shown a tremendous growth curve in infrastructure, be it the construction of roads over 1,50,000 kms, new railway stations, semi high-speed trains, inland waterways and more than 150 operational airports.

"All of these have contributed to India's prowess with regards to the MICE events. The confidence also built following India's hosting of G20 nations, the entire world is looking at India in awe and curiosity. In times to come, India will emerge as the MICE capital of the world," the minister told the gathering.

The IEIA event is the annual international conclave of the Indian exhibition industry, attended by the captains of the industry from all regions of the country and overseas.

"The event acts as one of its kind meaningful platforms for business networking, knowledge exchange, and discussions on the emerging trends shaping our industry's future," said Sooraj Dhawan, President, IEIA.

IANS

na/
Mumbai, May 3 : Popular TV actor Vivek Dahiya shared a fitness update, describing his leg workout as grueling and intense. Showcasing his dedication, he wrapped up the week with a powerful session that left him completely drained.

Vivek took to Instagram, where he shared a leg workout video and mentioned that he did it after completing 500 squats, leaving him completely exhausted.

"Crushing leg workout end of the week! This routine came post 500 squats so I'm really DONE! (sic)," Vivek wrote as the caption.

Vivek is known for his work in shows like Yeh Hai Mohabbatein and Qayamat Ki Raat. He emerged as winner of the reality series Nach Baliye 8 in 2017.

Last month, Vivek revealed that he has no interest in participating in the controversial reality show Bigg Boss, hosted by Salman Khan. His actress-wife.

Vivek and his wife Divyanka Tripathi were guests on Bharti Singh and Harssh Limbachiyaa's podcast.

Bharti asked if they got an offer for Bigg Boss what they would do, Vivek replied: "No, not Bigg Boss."

Asked if they watch it, Vivek and Divyanka together said: "No, We don't watch it."

Divyanka added: "In fact, there was some talk about him (Vivek) possibly getting a call for it. So I said, 'Let's start watching the show,' but the kind of fights that were going on in Bigg Boss we feltit was too negative. I feel that negativity, and I just want to run away from it."

With the show's format demanding fights, can Vivek do it?

"I can fightI'm a Jaat. But putting yourself in such a situation why? Just for money? There are so many other ways to earn money," he said.

To which, Divyanka added: "He's a great mix. On one hand, he's classy and sophisticated, studied in the UK, and on the other hand, there's a Jaat in him!"

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, May 3 : Angola's President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco on Saturday was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, following which, he expressed hope in strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Angolan President as he arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Angolan President 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.

Speaking to the reporters following the ceremonial welcome, President Lourenco said, "We have arrived in New Delhi, the capital of India, to hold this state visit, which is taking place after 38 years."

"We see this visit as an important one for Angola in order to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. We are very thankful for the friendly and hospitable manner in which we were received yesterday by the people of India," he added.

Upon his arrival in India on Friday, President Lourenco was warmly received at the airport by Minister of State (MoS) 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.

"Warm welcome to President 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 Kirti Vardhan Singh at the airport," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X.

Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh also shared the welcome message on his social media handle on X, saying, "Pleased to welcome President 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 Modi and 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 2023a"24. 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 Lourenco's 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.
New Delhi, May 3 : In the latest development over the ongoing water dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has convened an all-party meeting on Saturday, at 2 p.m. at his residence.

The meeting is aimed at building a unified political stance on the state's long-standing contention with Punjab regarding water allocation from the Bhakra system.

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.

The Haryana government, led by the BJP, seeks to formulate a comprehensive strategy to assert its rights over water distribution.

Political leaders across party lines have been invited to participate in the meeting. Representatives from the ruling BJP, Congress, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have all confirmed attendance.

Notable leaders slated to attend include BJP's Mohan Lal Badoli, Congress state president Udai Bhan, INLD's Ram Pal Majra, JJP leader Dushyant Chautala, AAP's Sushil Gupta, Krishan Jamalpur of BSP, and CPI(M)'s Prem Chand. The National People's Party, though headquartered in Shillong, has also been invited to join the dialogue.

The move comes shortly after Punjab held a similar all-party consultation on the issue on Friday.

The all-party meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann 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.

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.

Similarly, addressing the media in Panchkula on Friday, CM Saini criticised Punjab's AAP-led government for allegedly politicising the water crisis, stating that Haryana has a legal and moral claim to its rightful share. The chief minister emphasised that the issue transcends party lines and requires a united front to safeguard Haryana's interests.

Interestingly, the water dispute has created a peculiar political scenario, with national parties such as the BJP, Congress, and AAP facing internal contradictions. While their Haryana units are pushing for rightful water allocation, their Punjab counterparts maintain there is no surplus water to share and Haryana has already got its share of the water.

The latest stand-off began on April 23, when Haryana sought 8,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra-Nangal project, 4,500 cusecs more than what it is currently receiving. Punjab CM Mann refused, putting the ball in the court of the BBMB.
New Delhi, May 3 : Senior Congress leaders including Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede during the Lairai Devi temple festivities in Shirgao village, North Goa, that claimed several lives and left dozens injured.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday as tens of thousands of devotees gathered for the annual yatra, a revered religious occasion in the region.

According to sources, at least six people lost their lives, and over 30 others sustained injuries during the stampede, which was reportedly triggered by a sudden surge of the crowd on a downward slope near the temple premises.

LoP Rahul Gandhi, took to social media platform X to express his condolences.

"The news of the death of several devotees and injury to many others in a stampede during the annual pilgrimage to the Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgaon, Goa is very sad," he posted.

"I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families. Also, I hope for the speedy recovery of all the injured," he added.

Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also conveyed her grief over the incident.

Posting on X, she wrote, "It is extremely sad to hear about the death of several devotees and injuries to many others due to a stampede during the annual pilgrimage to the Lairai Devi Temple in Shirgaon, Goa. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured."

The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee also expressed deep sorrow over the stampede and offered condolences to the victims' families. The party urged the government to provide immediate aid. It called for better crowd management and safety measures to ensure the remaining Lairai Zatra days proceed safely and smoothly.

Manikrao Thakre, Congress incharge for Goa, left for the state from Delhi to visit the injured devotees admitted to the medical college and to gather detailed information about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In a message on X, Thakre stated, "Saddened by the news of a stampede during the religious pilgrimage of Shri Lairai Devi in Goa. At least 7 people have died, and 30 others have been injured in this accident, as per reports."

The Lairai Yatra, which takes place annually, attracts more than 50,000 devotees to the temple in North Goa. A key aspect of the centuries-old tradition is the participation of barefoot 'dhonds' who walk across a bed of burning embers, a ritual symbolising deep faith and spiritual endurance.

Initial reports indicate that severe overcrowding and a lack of adequate crowd control measures may have contributed to the tragedy.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that a sudden push within the crowd on a downhill stretch of the route caused people to stumble and fall, leading to a stampede.

The tragic incident has drawn national attention, with both the Centre and the state government under pressure to review safety arrangements at large religious gatherings.

Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations remain underway, and authorities have promised all possible support to the victims and their families.
Chennai, May 3 : The Tamil Nadu Health Department, in collaboration with Dr. MGR Medical University, has launched a study to assess the prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) among tribal populations.

The pilot project has been initiated in the Jawadhu Hills region of Tiruvannamalai district.

The study aims to screen a population of 50,000, focusing on identifying high-risk individuals through assessments of abdominal obesity, family history of diabetes, and hypertension.

According to health officials, over 500 tribals have been screened so far, with 120 blood samples analysed. Preliminary results indicate that 10a"14 per cent of participants fall under the high-risk (FIB-4) category for liver fibrosis - a condition marked by scarring of the liver.

Individuals identified as high-risk will undergo fibroscan tests to confirm the severity of fibrosis. Initial screenings are conducted through medical camps, with follow-ups and further evaluations handled by local primary health centres.

Health Minister Ma Subramanian previously announced in the state Assembly that the Health Department would roll out extensive screenings to detect NAFLD and provide treatment based on the stage of the disease.

The Community Screening Programme for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) project reflects the evolving medical terminology. MASLD is the updated term for NAFLD, describing liver fat buildup in people with minimal or no alcohol intake.

Health officials said the programme aims to evaluate the feasibility, scalability, and sustainability of interventions targeting fatty liver disease in tribal regions. MASLD has been integrated into the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) under the Union Health Ministry, highlighting its strong association with India's rising lifestyle disease burden.

Individuals identified as low risk will receive advice on lifestyle changes and annual follow-ups, while those in the intermediate category will be monitored and re-evaluated periodically. High-risk cases will be referred to district or tertiary care centres for advanced diagnostics and specialist treatment. The department also plans to launch awareness campaigns to promote early diagnosis and curb the impact of MASLD.
Mumbai, May 3 : Benchmark indices ended with marginal gains in a highly volatile session on May 2 and volatility is expected to stay elevated due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, developments related to tariffs, and the unfolding Q4 earnings season and major US economic data points, analysts said on Saturday.

The Nifty on Friday opened strong and surged to an intraday high of 24,589 in the first half of the session. However, profit booking at higher levels erased those gains, leaving the index to close nearly flat.

The Nifty finished the day up 12.50 points, or 0.05 per cent, at 24,346.70.

"For the week, the BSE Sensex gained 1.6 per cent, while the Nifty50 rose 1.2 per cent. The BSE Midcap index declined 0.4 per cent and the Smallcap index ended flat," said a note from Bajaj Broking Research.

Among sectoral performers, media, energy, IT, and oil & gas posted gains of 0.30.7 per cent. On the other hand, power, metal, telecom, pharma, realty, and consumer durables sectors saw losses ranging from 0.5 to 2 per cent.

According to Dhupesh Dhameja, Derivatives Research Analyst, SAMCO Securities, Nifty continues to display signs of hesitation at elevated levels, repeatedly getting knocked back from crucial resistance zones and producing intraday fake-outs, indicating a period of consolidation amid fading momentum.

This marks the seventh consecutive session where Nifty has been locked in a choppy range, failing to conquer overhead resistances, underscoring persistent supply pressure and an undercurrent of caution in the broader market mood.

Going ahead, Nifty is expected to extend consolidation in the range of 24,550-23,800. With 23,800 being the confluence of last week's low and recent breakout area. While 24,550 is the 61.8 per cent retracement of the entire decline (26,277-21,744)," according to Bajaj Broking Research.

"We believe the current consolidation will help the index work off the overbought condition developed after the recent strong rally. Stock specific action will continue to remain in focus as we progress through the Q4 earnings season," it added.

Bank Nifty Index is seen consolidating in a 2,000 points range in the last 6 sessions after the recent strong rally of 5,500 points or 11 per cent in the preceding 6 sessions.

"Only a sustained move above recent high of 56,098 could trigger further upside toward the 56,800 levels in the coming weeks. On the downside, key support is seen between 54,000-53,500, which corresponds to the gap-up region and the previous significant breakout zone," said analysts.

IANS

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New Delhi, May 3 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday underlined the need to ensure comprehensive social security for the unorganised sector, including gig workers, agricultural labourers, artisans and casual workers, as part of social justice on the occasion of the Foundation Day of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

Marking the 78th foundation day of the INTUC, Kharge paid tribute to generations of workers and leaders who have championed labour rights in India.

"As INTUC completes 78 years, I extend my gratitude to the countless members and workers who have struggled for labour rights," Kharge said in a post on X.

He recalled the contributions of stalwarts like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, G. Ramanujam, Jagjivan Ram, Aruna Asaf Ali, S.K. Patil, Gulzari Lal Nanda, Harihar Nath Shastri, S.P. Sen and G.D. Ambekar in laying the foundation of an organisation committed to protecting the rights and dignity of the working class, guided by Gandhian values.

"Today, as we observe the foundation day of INTUC, it is imperative for us to raise our voice for new challenges such as social security of the unorganised sector, gig & platform workers, khet-mazdoors, artisans and casual workers, by organising them and assimilating them for the broader goals of social justice," he added.

Kharge's remarks came amid concerns over the lack of formal safeguards for India's vast unorganised workforce, which remains outside the ambit of many labour protections.

The INTUC was founded on May 3, 1947, just before India attained Independence. On the second day of the conference, the constitution of the INTUC was adopted. Mahatma Gandhi also blessed the new trade union centre.

Since its inception, INTUC has maintained a very close relationship with the Congress party.
New Delhi, May 3 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Saturday exuded confidence that talks between Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chart new avenues of growth for India-Angola and India-Africa ties.

The EAM met the Angolan President and said that he values the latter's warm sentiments for India and guidance for taking forward the partnership.

In a post on social media platform X, EAM Jaishankar said: "Honoured to call-on President of Angola during his State Visit to India. Value his warm sentiments for India and guidance for taking forward our partnership. Confident that his talks with PM @narendramodi later today will chart new avenues of growth for India-Angola & India-Africa ties."

Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the Angolan President as he arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Speaking to the reporters following the ceremonial welcome, President Lourenco said, "We see this visit as an important one for Angola in order to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. We are very thankful for the friendly and hospitable manner in which we were received yesterday by the people of India."

"This is the first visit by an Angolan President to India in 38 years. It comes as India and Angola mark 40 years of diplomatic ties this year," the MEA said.

During his stay, President Lourenco is expected to meet separately with Prime Minister Modi and President Murmu.

Both sides are likely to sign several agreements to enhance cooperation in various fields.

Several MoUs and agreements are expected to be signed during the visit.

On Sunday, President Lourenco will attend a business event in New Delhi, aimed at promoting investment and commercial linkages between the two countries.

In the financial year 2023a"24, trade between the two nations reached $4.192 billion, according to the MEA.

The visit is expected to set the stage for a more dynamic partnership, reflecting the shared priorities and aspirations of India and Angola.
New Delhi, May 3 : India has banned all imports - direct and indirect - from Pakistan amid rising tensions with the neighbouring country over the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack.

According to a notification by the Commerce Ministry, "Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders."

"This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India," said the notification.

A provision in this regard has been added in the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 "to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan," it said in the notification dated May 2.

As per official data, India's exports to Pakistan fell 56.91 per cent year-on-year between April 2024 and February 2025 to $491 million, while there were no imports. Top exports to Pakistan in FY25 included drug formulations, sugar, bulk drugs, residual chemicals and auto components.

The Attari-Wagah border, the sole trade route between India and Pakistan, had already been closed in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.

At least 26 civilians, including a Nepalese tourist and a local pony guide operator, were massacred by terrorists in the scenic Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. The relations between the two nations soured as terror links to Pakistan emerged.

As per official data, India's exports to Pakistan fell 56.91 per cent year-on-year between April 2024 and February 2025 to $491 million, while there were no imports.

Top exports to Pakistan in FY25 included drug formulations, sugar, bulk drugs, residual chemicals and auto components.

Meanwhile, the ongoing tension with India has shaken the confidence of investors in Pakistan badly, setting the country on course to record its worst performance in dollar bonds and stocks since 2023.

The investors have lost at least four per cent during April, while equities are down by three per cent. In comparison, India's assets have largely been invulnerable.

Global powers, including the United States, have called on both parties to show restraint and de-escalate tensions.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 3 : A day after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting passed a resolution calling for immediate steps to punish those responsible for the massacre of 26 innocent civilians in J&K's Pahalgam and asked the government to hold Pakistan accountable for its continued support of terrorism, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Saturday demanded swift and strong action, saying that they stand with the nation, not politics.

Speaking to IANS, Pramod Tiwari said, "The Congress party is fully standing with the government. We are consistently demanding strict action against the terrorists who mercilessly killed our 26 innocent people. Alongside that, Pakistan, which has always sponsored terrorism, should also face consequences."

In Friday's CWC meeting, the party passed a resolution calling for immediate steps to punish those responsible and to hold Pakistan accountable for its continued support of terrorism.

Tiwari, who recently met with the widow of one of the victims in Kanpur, expressed deep anguish over the lack of security that led to the tragedy.

"Twelve days have passed since then. We are waiting for justice, especially after meeting the widow from Kanpur, whose husband was murdered in front of her due to lack of security. Like many fellow citizens, we await accountability for such cowardice," he said, adding that the Congress fully supports any governmental action aimed at eliminating terrorism.

The Congress leader also talked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in Kerala where he said, "The INDI alliance will lose sleep." Tiwari stated, "When the whole country is demanding action against terrorism, the Prime Minister is making political jibes. My heart is hurt. The country expected different conduct from its Prime Minister, especially during such a crisis."

Meanwhile, on the issue of caste census, Tiwari responded to a letter written by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to the Prime Minister.

He said Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's stance was clear and firm on the matter.

"Rahul Gandhi Ji has a very clear stance that this should be implemented with full commitment within a specific time frame. Any existing caps should be discussed and resolved through consensus in Parliament. The Backward Classes who have been left behind should benefit from concrete action," he said.
Chennai, May 3 : Shooting for director Nahas Hidhayath's eagerly awaited Malayalam film, 'I'm Game', featuring actor Dulquer Salmaan in the lead, began on Saturday.

Dulquer Salmaan announced the commencement of shooting on his social media timelines.

The popular actor, who will be making a return to Malayalam cinema with 'I'm Game', wrote, "At long last we begin shooting of our highly ambitious film, "I'm Game" ! We have assembled a wonderful team of technicians and actors and have been waiting to get started. Wishing the entire team good luck and prayers for a fantastic first schedule!"

It may be recalled that only a day before, the makers of the film had welcomed one of Tamil cinema's top directors Mysskin onboard the project.

Taking to his timelines on social media, director Nahas Hidhayath had said, "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the multifaceted, incredibly talented Mysskin Sir to the #ImGame team! Get ready for an exciting game ahead!"

Mysskin was 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'.

The film's title poster, which was released a few days ago, features two hands, one placed over the other. While one of the hands holds a playing card, the other has 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.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Bengaluru, May 3 : A video of Karnataka's Minister for Housing and Waqf, B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan, declaring that he was ready to become a suicide bomber for India and walk into Pakistan with explosives to wage war, went viral on social media on Saturday.

Speaking to the media earlier, Minister Zameer stated, "I have said this repeatedly: We are Indians, we are Hindustanis. We have no connection whatsoever with Pakistan. I repeat, we have no relationship with Pakistan. I am ready to wage war if needed. Even as a minister, if I am sent to the battlefield, I am prepared to go and fight against Pakistan."

"I will personally go to the battlefield to fight for India. Let all of us do it for our country. If necessary, I will become a suicide bomber for India. I am not saying this lightly or out of emotion. If the country requires it, I am ready to sacrifice myself as a suicide bomber," he added.

"Let Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah give me the opportunity to become a suicide bomber. I swear by Allah  I will have explosives wrapped around my body and I will go to Pakistan," Minister Zameer declared.

The video has garnered widespread attention and is being shared widely across social media platforms, receiving praise from various sections of society.

Minister Zameer, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, represents the Chamarajpet constituency in Bengaluru.

He rose to prominence in state politics with the support of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. After leaving the JD(S), he joined the Congress party.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had sparked controversy with a remark advocating against war with Pakistan.

His statement drew criticism at the national level and was reportedly highlighted by the Pakistani media.

Following the backlash, CM Siddaramaiah clarified that he has no objection to waging war against Pakistan if necessary.
Kozhikode, May 3 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday termed the incident at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital's casualty wing as "unfortunate" and said it was something that "should not have happened." Kozhikode, May 3 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday termed the incident at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital's casualty wing as "unfortunate" and said it was something that "should not have happened."

The controversy erupted after reports emerged that five patients had died during the incident.

Former state BJP president K. Surendran has demanded the resignation of Health Minister Veena George, holding her responsible for the alleged lapses.

The local police have registered a case of unnatural death, and hospital authorities have announced that post-mortems will be conducted on all five bodies.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Friday, when smoke billowed from the casualty wing of the seven-storey hospital building following a short circuit.

Around 200 patients were present in the building at the time, with about 40 in the casualty wing.

Emergency operations to evacuate and shift patients were undertaken, and the relocation was completed within a few hours.

Hospital authorities have maintained that the deaths were unrelated to the smoke. However, Wayanad Congress legislator T. Siddique claimed that three of the five patients died after inhaling smoke and alleged a lack of timely medical attention.

Chief Minister Vijayan said, "Something that should not have happened has taken place. The Electrical Inspectorate will investigate the cause. Health Minister Veena George will visit the hospital later today."

The district administration has sealed the affected ward to facilitate a detailed investigation into the short circuit.

Siddique has called for a comprehensive probe involving the health department, fire force, and electrical inspectorate.

"This building is just two years old and was constructed at a cost of Rs 190 crore. There appear to be technical flaws in its design -- patients had to be rescued by breaking down doors. Every aspect must be probed," Siddique said.

While hospital authorities claim four patients died before the smoke incident and the fifth was brought dead, Siddique disputed this, citing the case of 44-year-old Nazeera from Wayanad. Her relatives alleged that she was removed from a ventilator and shifted amid the smoke, leading to her death.

Health Minister Veena George has ordered an investigation into the incident, to be headed by the Director of Medical Education.

Meanwhile, 34 patients from the casualty wing have been shifted to other hospitals in the area.

Kozhikode Medical College Hospital is a major public sector institution serving patients from Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Malappuram districts.

Angry BJP workers staged a protest outside the Principal's office. Surendran criticised the state's health system, calling it a failure.

"Kerala is often praised for its healthcare system, but five precious lives were lost. Veena George must take moral responsibility and resign," he said.
New Delhi, May 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reaffirmed India's unwavering resolve to act decisively against terrorism and those who support it.

His statement came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), where over 26 innocent civilians were killed.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, Prime Minister Modi stated, "We are firmly united in our stance against terrorism. I expressed my gratitude to President Lourenco and the people of Angola for their sympathies to those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack."

"We are committed to taking firm and decisive actions against terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for its support in our fight against terrorism," the Prime Minister added.

The brutal assault was carried out by four heavily armed terrorists, linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Two of the assailants were confirmed to be Pakistani nationals. Emerging from the dense forests surrounding the area, the terrorists unleashed indiscriminate gunfire on a group of tourists, resulting in one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent years.

In response to the April 22 terror attack, the Indian government swiftly convened a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on April 23, chaired by PM Modi. Several critical decisions were taken against Pakistan in the aftermath of the massacre.

India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and ordered the closure of the Attari border.

Additionally, it cancelled all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, initiated a sweeping crackdown on Pakistani YouTube channels and X handles, and downgraded diplomatic relations by ordering a further reduction in High Commission staff, effectively sending back many diplomats to Islamabad.

In a stern message following the CCS meeting, PM Modi had warned that India would leave no stone unturned in seeking justice.

"We will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their supporters. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth," he declared, underlining the country's aggressive stance in the face of terrorism.

India's response marks a significant escalation in its counter-terror strategy, signalling a no-compromise policy on national security and terror threats emanating from across the border.
New Delhi, May 3 : Several Indian diplomatic missions across the globe held prayer meetings on Saturday, where diplomats and several people expressed grief and paid tributes to the victims of the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack.

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.

In the Consulate General of India in Atlanta, Indian Consul General Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan had a meaningful interaction with Indian-American community members in Tampa in memory of Bitan Adhikary from Brandon, Florida, who tragically lost his life in the attack while he went for summer vacation with his family.

During these interactions, a one-minute silence was also observed in memory of the innocent civilians, and the gatherings also offered prayers for Bitan Adhikary.

The Consul General appreciated the strong support and unity of the Indian-American community and their contribution to society.

In Chicago, over 220 members of the Indian diaspora gathered, condemning the brutal attack and rejecting cross-border terrorism.

"Crossing regional and religious divides, over 200 members of Indian diaspora organisations in Novi, Michigan, gathered to condemn the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22, targeting innocent tourists. The community stood in solidarity against violence, emphasising resilience and collective rejection of cross-border terrorism," the Consulate General of India in Chicago, USA, posted on X.

Meanwhile, over 200 members of the Indian diaspora, as well as other community members, gathered at the premises of the Indian High Commission to New Zealand, observing two minutes of silence in solemn solidarity against the horrific attack.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto, Canada, also held a memorial service remembering the victims.

"The Consulate organised a solemn remembrance service for those who lost their lives in the brutal terror attack that took place in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, India. A large number of the Indian diaspora and friends of India came together to pay their tributes. We remain undeterred. We remain unshaken. We will never forget," the Consulate General of India in Toronto posted on X.

The Consulate General of India in Houston organised a prayer meeting in solemn remembrance of the victims. A large number of people from the Indo-American community, the Consular Corps, and elected officials attended the prayer meeting.

Consul General DC Manjunath conveyed his sincere gratitude to each of the attendees for standing with India during this testing time.

In Lebanon, the Embassy of India held a solemn prayer meeting and lit candles, observing a two-minute silence in respect of the innocent lives lost.

Indian Ambassador to Lebanon Noor Rahman Sheikh appreciated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon's strong condemnation of the terrorist attack.

Indian diaspora attended the event, standing united against terrorism.

In Guatemala, the Indian Embassy organised a condolence gathering in memory of the people killed in the attack and observed a moment of silence.

"The Embassy of India in Guatemala held a condolence gathering today to honour the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. A floral tribute was offered, candles were lit, and a moment of silence was observed in solidarity with the families and to remember the innocent lives lost," the Embassy posted on X.
New Delhi, May 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a bilateral meeting with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, extending warm congratulations to Angola for assuming the chairmanship of the African Union and highlighting the historic bond between the two nations.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside President Lourenco, Prime Minister Modi said, "India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their bilateral ties. However, our relationship goes much further back, to a time when Angola was fighting for its freedom, and India supported it with full faith and friendship."

Congratulating Angola on leading the African Union, the Prime Minister added, "It is a matter of pride for us that during India's G20 presidency, the African Union secured permanent membership of the G20. India and African countries raised their voices together against colonial rule. Today, we continue to speak in unison for the Global South -- its hopes, expectations, and aspirations."

The Prime Minister highlighted the increasing momentum in India-Africa cooperation over the past decade, noting that mutual trade has reached nearly $100 million.

He also emphasised the growing collaboration in Defence and maritime security, particularly referencing last month's first-ever India-Africa Naval Maritime Exercise.

"In the past ten years, we have opened 17 new Embassies across Africa. India has extended over $12 billion in credit lines to African nations and provided $700 million in grants," PM Modi said, adding that vocational training centres have been established in eight African countries, and partnerships in digital public infrastructure are ongoing in five more.

Highlighting India's consistent support in times of need, he said, "India has stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Africa as a first responder during disasters. We see the African Union as a partner in progress and as a pillar of the Global South."

He also noted India's significant role as a key buyer of Angola's gas and oil and expressed readiness to assist in training Angola's armed forces. He said India would share its expertise in digital public infrastructure, space technology, and capacity building with Angola.

"Today, we also decided to strengthen our ties in healthcare, diamond processing, fertilisers, and critical minerals," he said, while also acknowledging the popularity of Yoga and Bollywood in Angola as symbols of the cultural strength of the relationship. To further bolster people-to-people ties, he announced the launch of a youth exchange programme.

In his address, President Lourenco said, "I have come to India to convey a message of admiration and friendship for your country, whose history is rich in cultural, scientific, technological, and political achievements on the global stage."

Outlining Angola's vision for the future of bilateral ties, he said, "We want relations grounded in concrete, achievable objectives with practical outcomes that will impact the lives of our people."

He stressed that Angola would prioritise sectors such as agriculture, finance, health, Defence, higher education, IT, energy, trade, and mineral resources in its cooperation with India.

He emphasised Angola's interest in deeper economic engagement, saying, "We attach great importance to the direct participation of Indian investors in the Angolan economy, which offers growth potential and attractive conditions."

The meeting marked a significant step forward in India-Angola relations, reinforcing shared goals across the spheres of development, energy security, cultural exchange, and solidarity within the Global South.
New Delhi, May 3 : After banning all imports from Pakistan, India on Saturday barred Pakistan-flagged ships from entering any of its ports, following the barbaric attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which took 26 lives.

According to a directive from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Pakistan-flagged ships have been banned from entering Indian ports.

The directive also prohibited India-flagged vessels from docking at ports in Pakistan.

Citing national security concerns, the directive was implemented to "ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo, and related infrastructure, in public interest and for the interest of Indian shipping".

The directive is effective immediately and will remain in force until further notice.

"The objective of the Act is to foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine, in a manner best suited to serve national interests," the order issued by the ministry said.

"A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian port, and an Indian-flagged ship shall not visit any ports of Pakistan," the order further stated.

According to the ministry, the action has been taken in the interest of "safety of Indian assets, cargo, and connected infrastructure", as well as to further the objectives of Indian shipping.

Any exemption from the order will be examined and decided on a case-by-case basis.

Earlier in the day, India banned all imports - direct and indirect - from Pakistan amid rising tensions with the neighbouring country.

According to a notification by the Commerce Ministry, "Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders."

"This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India," said the notification.
Mumbai, May 3 : Actress Mansi Sharma has joined the cast of "Badi Haveli Ki Chhoti Thakurain".

Mansi will be seen in the role of Tapasya  an affluent, bold, and emotionally complex character whose entry promises to shake the very foundations of the haveli.

She has only one goal in mind: to reclaim Jaiveer (Sheel Verma) at any cost. Her chilling motto says it all: "If I can't have it, no one else will."

Talking about her entry and her character, Mansi said, "It's always a thrilling challenge to enter a show that's already doing so well, especially in an interesting role like Tapasya. She's a woman who seems to have it all  power, money, status  yet deep inside, she's hollow and lonely. Her obsession with Jaiveer stems from an unresolved past and a desperate need for emotional validation. What makes Tapasya truly dangerous is that she doesn't just crave love  she craves control. In her world, if she can't have something, no one else should either."

"Stepping into such a layered and unpredictable character gives me a wonderful opportunity to stir up fresh drama and intensity in the show. I'm excited for the audience to see the chaos Tapasya brings to the haveli, and honestly, I hope they end up hating her for everything she does  because sometimes, the best way to love an actor is to hate their character!," she added.

With Jaiveer and Chaina's (Diksha Dhami) marriage already hanging by a thread, Tapasya's arrival could be the final blow. Meanwhile, Chamkili (Ishita Ganguly), who has been creating her share of trouble, might find an unexpected ally in Tapasya. Will the two join forces to break Chaina and Jaiveer apart? Or will Chaina rise against the odds to protect her love?

"Badi Haveli Ki Chhoti Thakurain" airs every Monday to Saturday at 9:00 PM, only on Shemaroo Umang.
Chennai, May 3 : BJP National President and Union Minister, J.P. Nadda on Saturday reviewed the party's preparedness for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections during his one-day visit to Chennai.

Nadda chaired a state core group meeting, where he urged senior party functionaries to immediately commence groundwork for the upcoming elections, while also strengthening the party's organisational structure, a senior leader said.

The meeting was presided over by Tamil Nadu BJP President and Legislature Party leader Nainar Nagendran.

Key leaders in attendance included national co-incharge for Tamil Nadu P. Sudhakar Reddy, state co-convener H. Raja, national Mahila Morcha President and MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, and former state presidents Pon Radhakrishnan and Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, among others.

It may be recalled that Nainar Nagendran, BJP MLA and former Tamil Nadu minister, was elected as the state unit President on April 12 this year.

His elevation followed the departure of K. Annamalai, who had declared that the party's goal was to oust the ruling DMK from power in 2026, a mission now entrusted to Nainar Nagendran in alliance with the AIADMK.

Nainar Nagendran's appointment was formally announced by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, who confirmed his unanimous election as state President.

In his address during the transition, Annamalai emphasised that the BJP-AIADMK alliance had a clear and determined path ahead, pledging to "dislodge the evil shakti" of the DMK government in 2026.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the architect of the BJP-AIADMK alliance, had earlier stated that the alliance aimed to establish a coalition government post-election.

HM Shah reaffirmed that the 2026 elections would be contested under the leadership of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

He also highlighted key electoral issues, including corruption, law and order challenges, and incidents of violence against Dalits and women, accusing the DMK of using contentious issues such as Sanatan Dharam, delimitation, NEET, and the three-language policy  to divert public attention.

Senior BJP leaders noted that following the revival of the alliance with the AIADMK, the morale of party cadres and local leaders has been reinvigorated as preparations gather momentum for the 2026 Assembly polls.

IANS

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Chennai, May 3 : The peak summer phase in Tamil Nadu, known as Agni Natchathiram or Kathiri Veyil, will commence on Sunday, May 4, and continue till May 28.

These 25 days are typically marked by intense heat, with temperatures already soaring past 100 degrees Fahrenheit in several parts of the state.

This year, the summer heat has been intensifying since March, with a sharp spike recorded in early May.

As Agni Natchathiram approaches, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast worsening heatwave conditions, especially in coastal districts, with temperatures expected to rise by up to 5 degrees Celsius above normal.

In light of the soaring temperatures, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) has issued a detailed advisory urging the public to take precautions.

The department recommends drinking plenty of water throughout the day and avoiding direct sun exposure as much as possible.

"Residents are strongly advised to stay indoors between 12 noon and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its peak," the advisory stated.

It also encouraged using umbrellas or hats for protection and avoiding strenuous outdoor activities during peak hours.

The health advisory further warned against leaving children or pets inside parked vehicles, as internal temperatures can rise dangerously fast.

The public has been advised to limit the intake of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, which can contribute to dehydration.

To reduce heat buildup indoors, residents are encouraged to avoid cooking during peak heat hours.

Walking barefoot on hot surfaces and consuming high-protein or expired foods should also be avoided, as they can increase bodily stress in extreme temperatures.

For hydration, the DPH suggests consuming homemade drinks such as lemon water, buttermilk, lassi, and fruit juices with a pinch of salt, along with fruits and vegetables rich in water content.
Mumbai, May 3 : Actress Apoorva Arora, who is known for her work in Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Kannada films, has completed the shoot for her upcoming film in Indore, bringing an intensive 20-day schedule to a close.

The actress immersed herself fully into the role during the shoot, which took place at various locations across the city. While the production kept her busy, the actress also made time for a personal spiritual moment.

While the title, and the details of the project are under the wraps, during her stay, the actress paid a quiet visit to the Omkareshwar temple, one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas, reflecting her personal belief and connection with the divine.

Talking about her experience of shooting in Indore, the actress told IANS, "Shooting in Indore was truly an unforgettable experience, the energy of the city, the warmth of the people, and the rich cultural backdrop added so much to our journey. Though the 20-day schedule was intense and packed, every day brought its own adventure".

She further mentioned, "A personal highlight for me was visiting the sacred Omkareshwar temple and Mahakaleshwar temple, it brought such calm amidst the chaos. Sharing this journey with Akashdeep Arora, who's not just a brilliant co-actor but also a dear friend, made the entire experience even more special".

Though details about the film remain under wraps, excitement is already building among her fans.This project is expected to showcase a new dimension of Apoorva's acting abilities, following her recent success in projects like 'Family Aaj Kal'.

Earlier, in January, Apoorva visited the historic Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Andaman ahead of the Republic Day. The iconic site, known as "Kala Pani", holds deep significance in India's struggle for independence.

Apoorva paid her respects to the countless freedom fighters who endured unimaginable hardships within the walls of the infamous prison. She explored the premises and spent time reflecting on the sacrifices made by India's heroes.
Jaipur, May 3 : Panic gripped passengers of the Jaipur-Jodhpur Intercity Express as smoke billowed from the train's engine, about 4 km before Gotan station in Rajasthan on Saturday.

The incident happened around 9.30 a.m., causing panic among passengers, many of whom deboarded.

According to railway officials, the train departed Jaipur on time at 6.00 a.m. and had already passed Jogi Magra when the engine developed a technical fault.

Emergency brakes were applied by the loco pilot, averting any immediate danger.

A replacement engine was dispatched from Jodhpur and reached Gotan around noon. The affected train was then pulled back to Jogi Magra station, from where it resumed the journey to Jodhpur at 12.15 p.m.

In the aftermath, several other trains on this route were temporarily halted.

The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) has ordered a detailed inquiry into the cause of the engine failure.

A dedicated investigation team will assess whether maintenance issues or other technical factors were responsible.

According to railway sources, smoke started coming out due to a technical fault in the engine.

The train was stopped in time, and the technical team was called to the spot.

At the same time, the top officials of the railway are also monitoring the situation after this incident.

"Train number 22977 Jaipur-Jodhpur Express departed for Jodhpur on Saturday at its scheduled time of 6 a.m. Around 9.30 a.m., this train moved ahead of Jogi Magra. But two to three kilometres before reaching Gotan station, smoke was seen coming out of its engine. On this, the loco pilot immediately stopped the train by applying emergency brakes. Seeing smoke coming out of the engine, there was panic among the passengers in the train, and they got down in panic, said officials.

Further investigation is underway.
Dhaka, May 3 : In a growing emergence of Islamic extremism in Bangladesh, thousands of leaders and activists of the radical Islamist group of the country, Hefazat-e-Islam, on Saturday organised a rally in Dhaka demanding the dissolution of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission.

Additionally, the Islamist group demanded the withdrawal of cases against its leaders and a ban on the Awami League, local media reported.

Law enforcement agencies are on high alert as members of various security forces, including plainclothes and uniformed police, have been stationed at key points across the city since early morning.

Approximately 300 cases are pending against the Hefazat leaders, according to a report by UNB.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Hefazat-e-Islam threatened to paralyse Bangladesh if all their demands, including the abolition of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission, were not met immediately.

Addressing a protest rally in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, Maulana Junaid Al Habib, the organisation's central senior vice president, declared that Dhaka will come to a standstill on Saturday if their demands are not met.

"The government's time is until tomorrow. If a decision is not made by tomorrow, the country will be brought to a standstill and set to fire," said the Islamist leader.

"If the cases against Hefazat leaders and religious scholars are not withdrawn and the women's commission is not abolished, we will launch stricter programmes," another leader of the Islamist party, Mohiuddin Rabbani, warned.

Last week, Hefazat-e-Islam issued a threat, stating that Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus will face a similar fate as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if the proposals made by the women's commission are put into action.

Earlier, at various protest rallies and processions organised across the country, the Islamist group made these warnings to the interim government, terming the women's reform body proposals as "anti-Islamic."

Addressing a public gathering in Narayanganj district last week, Mamunul Haque, joint secretary general of Hefazat, said that the women's commission has shown complete disregard for Islamic law by stating that religious and social norms are the main reason for discrimination against women in the country, according to a report by leading Bangladeshi daily, The Business Standard.

"Yunus Saheb has talked about implementing it quickly. He has stood against the Islamic inheritance law. We have given him a lot of respect, but if he moves on this path, we cannot treat him any differently than Hasina," Haque stated.

The extremist groups previously collaborated with student leaders and Yunus to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Awami League.

The previously celebrated unity of political parties in Bangladesh, evident during the ousting of Hasina in August 2024, is gradually diminishing.
New Delhi, May 3 : Unhealthy lifestyles are dramatically accelerating the ageing of the heart, contributing to a global rise in several cardiovascular diseases, finds a study, led by Indian-origin researchers in the UK.

Using a new Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging technique, also known as cardiovascular MRI scan, researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) uncovered the "true age" of a heart.

The MRI scan revealed how unhealthy lifestyles can dramatically accelerate the heart's functional age.

While among healthy people, the heart's age was found to be similar to the chronological age, for patients with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and atrial fibrillation, the 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," said lead researcher Dr Pankaj Garg, from UEA's Norwich Medical School and a consultant cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

"People with health issues like diabetes or obesity often have hearts that are ageing faster than they should - sometimes by decades. So, this could help doctors step in early to stop heart disease in its tracks," he added.

The findings could transform how heart disease is diagnosed -- offering a lifeline to millions by catching problems before they become deadly, said the researchers who called their cutting-edge technique a "game changer for keeping hearts healthier, longer".

"It could also be the wake-up call that 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," Garg said.

The team collaborated with hospitals in the UK, Spain, and Singapore and studied MRI scans from 557 people, of which 191 were healthy individuals, while 366 had 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.

Heart disease is one of the world's biggest killers. The new MRI method gives doctors a powerful tool to look inside the heart like never before and spot trouble early - before symptoms even start, said the team.

The research has been accepted for publication in the European Heart Journal Open.
Dehradun, May 3 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met a high-level 10-member delegation from Nepal's Sudurpashchim Province, led by Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, at his official residence on Saturday.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in border areas.

Discussions covered a range of issues, including development in border districts through mutual coordination, promotion of cultural and religious connections, boosting tourism, and improving disaster management strategies.

CM Dhami emphasised the deep-rooted social and cultural ties between Uttarakhand and Nepal, underlining their shared historical and civilisational heritage.

He assured full support from the Uttarakhand government in collaborative efforts related to trade, health, education, and infrastructure development along the border.

In a post on X, Dhami said, "Honourable Chief Minister of Far Western Province of Nepal, Kamal Bahadur Shah, met with respected ministers and officials at the Government residence. On this occasion, various contemporary issues related to India and Nepal were discussed. There is a deep similarity between the people of India and Nepal from cultural, religious, and social points of view. Our traditions, customs, language, cuisine, and way of life continue to strengthen mutual trust and bonding. The relationship between our two countries is not just political or geographical -- it is deeply emotional and cultural."

The Nepalese delegation included Minister Veer Bahadur Thapa; Members Ghanshyam Chaudhary, Naresh Kumar Shahi, Jhapat Bahadur Saud, and Sher Bahadur Bhandari; Chief Secretary Dr Kamal Prasad Pokharel Sharma; Secretary Surat Kumar Bam; and Political Advisor Dr Jitendra Upadhyay.

Representing the Uttarakhand government were Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu and Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman.

Earlier, Nepal delegation members met Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in New Delhi and discussed ways to strengthen ties.

The delegation is on an official visit to India from April 29 to May 5.
New Delhi, May 3 : Gujarat Titans spinner Rashid Khan credited captain Shubman Gill's leadership skills and team effort for the franchise's splendid run in the IPL 2025.

With the 38-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, Gujarat moved to second spot in the points table with seven wins in 10 games, only behind Mumbai Indians, who have the same points in 11 games but have stronger net run rate.

For Gujarat, their top order featuring Sai Sudharsan, Gill and Jos Buttler is the backbone of their batting unit and they all are in contention for the Orange Cap. Currently, Sudharsan holds the cap with 504 runs while Buttler and Gill are in close proximity with 470 and 465 runs respectively.

On the bowling front, Prasidh Krishna is the Purple Cap holder with 19 scalps while Mohammed Siraj is also on the list with 14 wickets.

The Afghan star lauded Gill for leading from the front and making things easy for fellow team members.

"Well, I think it's overall, you know, a team effort. Starting from Ashish bhai, how he manages the team. Then captain Shubman Gill, how he manages inside (on the field). And then, how he is leading from the front, that's something which sets an example for us as a player that the captain is leading from the front.

"And that's something which makes it very easier. How our top order and also the bowling unit, how Siraj and Prasidh, Ishant, Sai Kishore and everyone is bowling. I think it's just a combination of all team effort," Rashid told IANS in a virtual media interaction organised by the franchise.

The 26-year-old added that the side is keeping things simple and backing their process to get the desired results.

"And to be honest, we just kept the thing simple. You know, the simple we keep, the better we perform. And we don't really much think about the result but we really think about the process and the mindset and the preparation. That it all has to be done properly. And I feel like that's why we have been delivering the best performances," he added.

With playoffs qualification within reach, Gujarat will hope to secure the numero uno spot in the standings to bolster their hopes to reach the finals.

The Ahmedabad-based franchise will next take on table-toppers Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on May 6.
Los Angeles, May 3 : The US State Department has approved an F-16 fighter jet training and sustainment package worth $310 million for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced.

The package included aircraft modifications, flight training, maintenance support, spare parts, ground handling equipment, and specialised software systems, according to the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, BAE Systems and AAR Corporation are the deal's principal contractors. However, This package contained no actual aircraft, as the jets would be provided by NATO allies rather than directly from the United States, said the DSCA.

The support package followed an earlier $266.4 million F-16 sustainment agreement approved in December 2024 under the administration of Joe Biden, which provided mission planning systems and key maintenance equipment, Xinhua news agency reported.

Several NATO members, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium, have collectively pledged 79 F-16s to Ukraine, with more deliveries expected throughout 2025.

According to FlightGlobal, a Britain-based data, news and industry insights provider to the aviation and aerospace industry, a shrink-wrapped F-16 fuselage was being loaded onto an Antonov An-124 heavy cargo airlifter at a desert airfield.

Flight tracking data revealed the An-124 landed at Tucson, Arizona, airbase on April 25 and departed the next day for Poland.

The Tucson-based Kgun 9 news channel reported Friday that the boneyard at Davis-Monthan air force base near the city was the likely source for old F-16s going to Ukraine in the deal. The report cited a statement from the Department of the Air Force as saying that the old planes stocked there would provide spare parts for F-16s Ukraine received from European nations.

"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," according to the statement.
New Delhi, May 3 : India's decision to put the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack should send a strong message to Pakistan that engaging in activities that threaten their neighbours does lead to consequences, a key aide of US President Donald Trump during his first term told IANS in an exclusive interview on Saturday.

"It is something that I hope can be resolved between India and Pakistan. This question of riparian rights in countries that are obviously critically dependent for irrigation and other uses on this water supply. If arrangements that have been worked out in the past are no longer workable, I think everybody is going to suffer, particularly in the downstream areas. So, it should be a message to Pakistan that engaging in activities that threaten their neighbours do lead to consequences," John Bolton, the US National Security Advisor (NSA) to the US President Donald Trump from 2018-2019, told IANS in an exclusive interview.

India has maintained that Pakistan has been exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism, and destabilising the entire region. The heinous Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians were gunned down by four terrorists, two of them from Pakistan, has once again raised worldwide calls for punishing the country fuelling global terror.

"I think if their activity warrants it, they should be. The United States has never hesitated to do that. I think in this case, it is more a question of the Pakistani government not exercising effective control over its own territory, which is a legitimate reason for India, to act militarily if it so decides and also a way to limit possible escalation, because it would not be considered an attack on Pakistan itself, but on lawless groups in, in their territory," said Bolton.

The former US Ambassador to the United Nations said that, with the terrorist problem growing more acute in the region, both New Delhi and Washington should engage in more extensive counterterrorism cooperation.

"Obviously in the context of Kashmir, it's been a serious issue since Partition and other terrorist attacks that India has endured in more recent years across the country. So, it's one reason why I think US Indian cooperation on counterterrorism activities has been amply justified in the past and certainly could benefit from more extensive cooperation," Bolton mentioned.

Pakistan stayed on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for a long time and continues to support, facilitating and financing terror elements to operate and carry out various activities, especially in India.

"Well, I think, in fact, steps have been taken. I think Pakistan's been on the watch list several times, and I think it should be subject to continued review if there are new facts that warrant stronger steps. The US feels very strongly about state support for terrorism. We've been subjected to it ourselves and it's been a consistent position," said Bolton.
New Delhi, 3 May : Congress MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has ignited a major political storm by casting doubts on the 2019 surgical strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces across the Pakistan border in response to the Pulwama terror attack.

"No one saw where the surgical strike happened and how many were killed, or where in Pakistan it occurred. Nothing had happened. I have always demanded proof," Channi said, questioning the widely publicised military operation that followed the killing of 40 CRPF personnel in Pulwama.

The remarks triggered immediate backlash from BJP leaders, who accused Channi and the Congress of undermining the armed forces and demoralising the nation.

Speaking to IANS, leaders across the political spectrum blasted the former Punjab CM for "disrespecting" the Indian Army and the nation's unity and integrity.

BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said Channi's comments were an insult to the Army and the entire nation, and accused the Congress of aligning with Pakistan's narrative.

"This statement disrespects the unity, integrity, and divine power of the country," Chugh said.

Rajasthan Minister Jogaram Patel slammed Channi for seeking "proof for facts globally accepted." He said the Congress was supporting activities that are shameful to humanity.

Former Jammu Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta said, "Whenever there is a crisis, the language of Pakistan and Congress becomes identical. This is not surprising coming from them."

BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh claimed the statement reflected not just Channi's opinion, but a position discussed in the Congress Working Committee.

"Kharge and Rahul Gandhi must clarify whether the Congress Working Committee resembled a meeting in Pakistan," he added.

BJP leaders Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Bihar Minister Santosh Kumar Singh also lambasted the Congress, accusing it of repeatedly undermining the Army and national morale.

Shiv Sena's Krishna Hegde said, "At this critical moment, Congress is echoing Pakistan's stance. The people of the country will never forgive them."

JD-U spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan called Channi's remarks "intellectual bankruptcy" and noted his history of controversial statements. His colleague Neeraj Kumar said the people had already conducted a "political surgical strike" against Congress in 2019 and 2024.

Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht criticised Channi harshly, saying, "He has completely lost his sensesa If he had lost someone from his own family in such attacks, he might have understood the pain."

Congress leaders, however, distanced the party from Channi's statement.

Senior leader Harish Rawat said, "This is not the time to raise past issues. Our leadership stands firm in support of national unity and any action against terrorism."

He acknowledged that "sometimes, old realities unintentionally slip out," but reiterated that the party officially supports any decisive action against terrorism and Pakistan.

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Channi had voiced a personal opinion, stating, "He was the Chief Minister, he must have known something. But today, what's happening in Kashmir, where 26 Hindu tourists were killed, shows that the Kashmir issue remains unresolved. There was no police presence, no intelligence."

Channi's controversial remarks come just days after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of over two dozen Hindu tourists, allegedly at the hands of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba's offshoot, The Resistance Front.
Chennai, May 3 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin on Saturday launched a sharp attack against the BJP-led Union government, accusing the AIADMK under Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) of succumbing to the BJP's pressure tactics.

He asserted that while the AIADMK has bowed to the BJP's threats, the DMK will resist and counter the BJP politically.

Speaking at a meeting of district secretaries held at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, Stalin said, "The BJP is desperately trying to gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu. It has subdued the AIADMK through various forms of coercion. Edappadi Palaniswami had no alternative but to align with the BJP, fearing for his own leadership position within the AIADMK. He knew his leadership would be challenged if he did not agree to the alliance."

The CM also took aim at the Union government for using central agencies to target senior DMK ministers and leaders. "We have faced such challenges throughout our journey as a movement. Those who fail to defeat us politically resort to these tactics to tarnish our image. The people understand the true motive behind these threats and intimidations. We are prepared to face the BJP's onslaught politically," Stalin said.

In a clear message to party workers ahead of the 2026 Assembly election, the DMK chief emphasised that only capable and winnable candidates will be fielded. "The party high command will decide who is deserving. It is your (district secretaries') responsibility to ensure your candidates prove worthy of contesting and winning. Ministers must dedicate more time to their districts instead of staying in Chennai. MLAs should visit every panchayat and ward regularly," he instructed.

It may be recalled that the DMK has scheduled its General Council meeting for June 1 in Madurai. The meeting, chaired by Stalin, is expected to play a pivotal role in framing the party's roadmap for the 2026 Assembly polls. The decision was finalised during Saturday's district secretaries' meeting, where the party also announced plans to hold 1,244 public meetings statewide under the theme: 'Glorious four years lauded by the nation. Let it continue.'

The meeting also adopted condolence resolutions for the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and for the late Pope Francis. With the 2026 elections in sharp focus, the DMK has set an ambitious target of winning 200 out of Tamil Nadu's 234 Assembly seats. Currently, the DMK holds 133 seats, and its INDIA bloc allies collectively control 159 MLAs.

A senior DMK leader told IANS that the upcoming General Council session would fine-tune the party's strategies to achieve its target, ensuring robust preparation across all constituencies. As part of its groundwork, the DMK has appointed experienced constituency in-charges, including senior office-bearers, ex-MLAs, former MPs, and grassroots leaders -- credited with playing a key role in the DMK's 2021 comeback after a decade in opposition.

Notably, the DMK followed a similar strategy during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, deploying constituency in-charges and deputies for every Assembly segment to ensure strong local oversight.
New Delhi, May 3 : Consumption of tobacco and marijuana is expected to spike heart disease death by 50pc in the next 5 years, according to twin studies.

It showed that while tobacco use is expected to raise coronary heart disease death by 40 per cent, people with cannabis use disorder are 50 per cent more likely to experience cardiogenic shock, acute myocardial infarction, and arrhythmias.

The studies were presented at the scientific sessions during the ongoing Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2025 in Washington, DC, US.

"Despite major public health campaigns to raise awareness for the harms of tobacco and cannabis, usage is still commonplace as we continue to see their effects on cardiovascular health," said James B. Hermiller, SCAI President.

Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary heart disease, is a condition where the heart weakens due to reduced blood flow from narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.

A team from Wayne State University, US, analysed data from 1999-2020 on ischemic heart disease mortality related to tobacco use in individuals aged 25 and older.

Data projected a 43.7 per cent increase in tobacco-related heart disease deaths by 2030. While the mortality trends in females decreased, males saw the opposite with a sharp uptick in deaths.

"Tobacco-related ischemic heart disease is not just a problem of the past. It is still a major cause of death today. If we hope to design more targeted interventions, it's vital for clinicians to recognise vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected," said Roopeessh Vempati from the varsity

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a condition where individuals have a problematic pattern of cannabis use, leading to distress or impairment in day-to-day life and impacts.

Researchers from the Sinai Hospital in the US identified 1,372,419 patients who were admitted with heart failure.

The analysis revealed patients with heart failure and CUD experienced a greater risk of serious cardiovascular events like cardiogenic shock (27 per cent more likely), acute myocardial infarction (50 per cent more likely), and arrhythmias (48 per cent more likely).

However, individuals with cannabis use disorder and heart failure were found to be at a lower risk of mortality than those without the disorder.

"Despite a lower chance of death, they are at significantly greater odds of developing other related cardiovascular conditions like heart attack or irregular heartbeat. This understanding is necessary for doctors and public health professionals to warn individuals of the potential side effects of consistent cannabis use from the start, even before heart failure occurs," said Syed Ishaq, MD, Internal Medicine resident at the Sinai Hospital.
New Delhi, May 3 : J&K National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah on Saturday visited Kashmir's Pahalgam and interacted with tourists and expressed solidarity with the victims, who fell to terror bullets on April 22, which saw the death of 26 people, mostly civilians.

"I came here (Pahalgam) and felt very happy. When I saw that people have come from Maharashtra as well, and after what happened (terror attack), they all told me they are not afraid. They said, 'We have come to stand with our fellow citizens.' I also spoke to their children, even the youngest ones, and they said, 'We are not afraid.' They want to show those who committed this act that we are not scared of them. This is a very powerful message," the NC president told IANS, who was accompanied by party leaders and local representatives.

Slamming "divisive rhetoric" by some channels, the NC chief added that some of the TV channels spread hatred instead of promoting brotherhood; they try to divide rather than unite.

"They are also responsible. They must look towards India's collective spirit; if India rises, everyone will rise, regardless of language or region. I appeal to the negative channels: stop this nonsense, or you'll perish. The nation will move forward, progress will continue, and such divisiveness will be wiped out," said the senior Abdullah.

The three-time J&K Chief Minister also visited the family of Adil Hussain Shah, a pony handler who was among those killed in the attack.

While assuring the bereaved family of full support, the former union minister said: "I believe that we must fulfil everything they wished for. Whatever their desires were, whatever their son wanted to achieve, we must carry them forward. There is no one we fear; we fear only Allah, and we pray to Allah for the strength to move ahead."

NC MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani also extended financial support to Shah's family by donating a cheque from his basic salary.

The April 22 attack, carried out by terrorists, has triggered national outrage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first reaction, said the terrorists, their handlers, and backers would be "hunted down to the ends of the earth."

The Prime Minister has granted full operational freedom to security forces to avenge the killings.

In a stern response to terror infrastructure, security forces have intensified operations, including the demolition of properties belonging to known terrorists.

Last Friday, two houses of LeT terrorists, Adil Hussain Thokar and Asif Sheikh, were demolished.
New Delhi, May 3 : The Centre on Saturday announced to suspend exchange of inbound mails and parcels from Pakistan via air and surface routes, after banning all imports and barring Pakistani-flagged vessels from entering the ports earlier in the day.

In a notification, the Ministry of Communications announced the suspension of mails and parcels from the neighbouring country, in the wake of the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

"The Government of India has decided to suspend exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes," read the notification.

India earlier banned all imports -- direct and indirect -- from Pakistan amid rising tensions.

According to a notification by the Commerce Ministry, "Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders."

"This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India," said the notification.

Later, New Delhi barred Pakistan-flagged ships from entering any of its ports.

According to a directive from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Pakistan-flagged ships have been banned from entering Indian ports. The directive also prohibited India-flagged vessels from docking at ports in Pakistan.

Citing national security concerns, the directive was implemented to "ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo, and related infrastructure, in public interest and for the interest of Indian shipping." The directive is effective immediately and will remain in force until further notice.

"The objective of the Act is to foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine, in a manner best suited to serve national interests," the order issued by the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reaffirmed India's unwavering resolve to act decisively against terrorism and those who support it.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, Prime Minister Modi stated, "We are firmly united in our stance against terrorism. I expressed my gratitude to President Lourenco and the people of Angola for their sympathies to those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack."

"We are committed to taking firm and decisive actions against terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for its support in our fight against terrorism," the Prime Minister added.
Fifty-one civilians suffered varying degrees of injuries and acute stress as a result of overnight Russian drone strikes on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, including two girls aged 11 and 16, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

"Four districts of the city came under fire: Osnoviansky, Slobidsky, Saltivsky, and Kyivsky. Numerous fires broke out across the city. Multi-story and private residential buildings, educational institutions, vehicles, businesses, and stores were damaged," the statement read.

Ukraine's National Police reported via Telegram that 11 of the injured were hospitalized.

"Police officers, rescuers, and medics are working at the impact sites. They are assisting civilians in evacuating from damaged buildings, providing medical and psychological support, and rescuing the wounded," the message noted.

According to prosecutors, between approximately 9:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. on Friday, Russian forces launched at least 15 Shahed-type strike drones, presumed to be Geran-2. Criminal investigations have been launched under Part 1, Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code (violation of the laws and customs of war).

Earlier, Kharkiv Regional Military Administration head Oleh Synehubov reported that a 47-year-old man was killed during Russian attacks on Kharkiv and four surrounding settlements, though he did not specify the exact location.

Synehubov said Russian forces used various types of weapons in the assault, including 11 glide bombs, 3 FPV drones, 21 Shahed-type drones, and 28 Geran-2-type drones. Some 17 Geran-2 UAVs struck four districts of Kharkiv: Slobidsky, Saltivsky, Kyivsky, and Osnoviansky.
Mumbai, May 3 : Responding to the horrifying Pahalgam attack, activist Faizaan Ansari decided to stick posters of popular Pakistani actress Mahira Khan on the Municipal public toilets in Mumbai.

When asked about this, Faizaan told IANS, "I have said this earlier as well that Pakistan is solely responsible for the Pahalgam attack. I have initiated a campaign, where I have placed the photographs of the Pakistani superstar Mahira Khan on the walls of public toilets in Mumbai. By doing this, I want to send the message that the entire Pakistan is only capable of cleaning toilets."

He stressed that this gesture is a warning for Pakistan as to what is to come next. "The entire world can see this photo on the toilet wall. I want Pakistan to know that if you raise your voice again India, we will finish you. Right now, we have only stopped your water supply, but in the future, we may also disrupt your food supply," Faizaan shared.

The activist claimed that not only Mahira Khan but posters of other Pakistani actors like Hania Aamir and Fawad Khan will also be placed on the walls of the public toilets of Mumbai.

Before this, the accounts of famous Pakistani artists, Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, and 'Pasoori' fame Ali Sethi, were banned in India.

The text on the Instagram pages of these artists reads, "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content."

Ever since the terror attack in the Baisaran valley of Pahalgam where at least 26 tourists were killed, tensions have escalated between India and its neighbor Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a free hand to the defense forces to take the call on the mode, time, and route of action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack.
New Delhi, May 3 : A Special NIA court in Delhi on Saturday monitored the collection of voice and handwriting samples of Pakistani-Canadian national Tahawwur Rana in the Mumbai terror attack case of 2008.

The fresh samples will be matched with recordings of Ranaas telephonic discussions with 26/11 co-accused David Coleman Headley, an official said.

His handwriting sample is also likely to be matched with the notes that Rana has been making in a diary provided to him by NIA during its custody, said a source.

Rana, who was recently extradited from the US, is suspected to have passed on to Headley handwritten notes sharing instructions, coordinates, and maps which were used to scout 26/11 targets.

The NIA is also preparing to take Rana to Mumbai and other cities to reconstruct the chain of events preceding the terror attack that left 166 people dead.

On April 28 last week, the Special NIA court extended Ranaas NIA custody by 12 more days to allow investigators to question him.

Special Judge Charan Jit Singh accepted Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnanas plea that the investigating agency needs more time to uncover Ranaas role in the Mumbai attack of 2008.

Ranaas 18-day remand ended on Monday, and he was presented in court for an extension of his NIA custody.

During the court proceedings, the Special Judge was informed by the NIA about the alleged evasive technique adopted by Rana during questioning.

The NIA also expressed its desire to take Rana to various other cities to reconstruct the chain of events during the accusedas India visits preceding the terror attack.

The court had earlier directed the NIA to conduct a medical test of Rana every 24 hours and allow him to speak to his lawyers every second day.

During his 18-day remand, Rana was also questioned by Mumbai Police officers. During the interrogation, Rana claimed that he had "no connection whatsoever" with the planning or execution of the attack.

He also claimed that his childhood friend and co-accused, David Coleman Headley, was solely responsible for the reconnaissance and planning aspects of 26/11. Headley is currently in a US jail.

Headley, who turned approver in the case, had earlier admitted to conducting recce missions across India, including in Mumbai, on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

During questioning, Rana said that apart from Mumbai and Delhi, he had also travelled to Kerala. When asked about the purpose of his visit to Kerala, he claimed he had gone there to meet a known acquaintance and had provided the individual's name and address to the agency.

Rana, a former officer of the Pakistan Armyas Medical Corps, was extradited to India from the US recently to face justice in the Mumbai attack case.
New Delhi, May 3 : For over three decades, India has faced the brunt of a proxy war - one waged not from across the world, but across the border. When the demand is made to "show evidence," it rings hollow. After all, how much proof is needed when the venom of terrorism seeps consistently from the same snake pit? New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) For over three decades, India has faced the brunt of a proxy war  one waged not from across the world, but across the border. When the demand is made to "show evidence," it rings hollow. After all, how much proof is needed when the venom of terrorism seeps consistently from the same snake pit?

Who arms and trains the terrorists that have repeatedly struck at the heart of India? Who provides them safe havens and ideological indoctrination? The answer remains unchanged: Pakistan.

From the bloodshed in Kashmir to the devastating 2008 Mumbai attacks, the fingerprints point clearly towards Pakistan's deep-state nexus of intelligence, military, and jihadi outfits. Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Tahawwur Rana  now extradited from the United States to India  was a key conspirator in the Mumbai massacre. Meanwhile, Hafiz Saeed walks freely in Pakistan, his terror empire untouched.

Salahuddin, the Hizbul Mujahideen chief designated a global terrorist by the United States, lives openly in Pakistan. Dawood Ibrahim, the mastermind behind the 1993 Mumbai blasts and linked to later attacks, including the Mumbai train bombings, has been sheltered for decades in Karachi. These aren't allegations  these are acknowledged facts.

Pakistan's record isn't limited to Islamic extremism alone. It has given shelter to known Sikh separatist elements and allowed them to incite violence against India from afar. Osama bin Laden, the most wanted terrorist in the world, was found hiding in Abbottabad  a stone's throw from a major Pakistani military academy. Coincidence?

Let's not forget the Taliban  born from Pakistan's madrassas, armed and guided by its establishment, and eventually used to bring Kabul to its knees. In the process, they also killed American soldiers. So the damage wasn't limited to India; the world paid the price for Pakistan's duplicity.

The truth becomes even clearer when Pakistan's own former leaders admit to this strategy. A former army chief who seized power in a coup once proudly stated that terrorism was a "low-cost option" against India. A former Prime Minister was forced to retract a leaked comment acknowledging the damaging role of state-sponsored terror. Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir recently described Kashmir as Pakistan's "jugular vein" and praised the religious divide fuelling violence  a stark admission of strategic intent.

The strategy is sinister: arm, train, and infiltrate terrorists across the LoC under the guise of local Kashmiri "freedom fighters." Sophisticated communication gear, near-military level training, and logistical support  these are not tools of grassroots rebellion, but of cross-border sabotage.

Pakistan has also consistently resisted the international designation of its nationals involved in terrorism  often with the help of China  further shielding these actors from global accountability.

The narrative is clear. This isn't only about Kashmir. It's also about a decades-long state policy of destabilising India through terror. The facts are undeniable. The casualties are real. The threat is ongoing.

To ask for "evidence" after years of bombings, massacres, and buried bodies is to ignore the obvious. Pakistan's long-standing record as the world's foremost state sponsor of terrorism speaks louder than any dossier.
Colombo, May 3 : A Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Chennai to Colombo underwent "comprehensive security inspection" upon its arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday afternoon after a reported "tip-off" from Indian intelligence authorities that suspects linked to the Pahalgam terror attack were believed to be on board.

"Flight UL 122, operated by aircraft 4R-ALS, arrived in Colombo from Chennai at 11:59 hrs today, underwent a comprehensive security inspection upon arrival. The search was conducted in coordination with local authorities following an alert from the Chennai Area Control Centre concerning a suspect wanted in India who was believed to be on board," reported Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper.

The aircraft was cleared for further operations after a thorough inspection though the mandatory security procedure resulted in a delay to the subsequent scheduled service.

Local reports cited that Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Air Force, and airport security units jointly carried out the search operation. But no suspect was found.

The heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack resulted in the death of 26 innocent civilians who were gunned down by four terrorists, two of them from Pakistan, after identifying their religion.

India on Saturday announced to suspend exchange of inbound mails and parcels from Pakistan via air and surface routes, after banning all imports and barring Pakistani-flagged vessels from entering the ports earlier in the day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday also reaffirmed India's unwavering resolve to act decisively against terrorism and those who support it.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, Prime Minister Modi stated, "We are firmly united in our stance against terrorism. I expressed my gratitude to President Lourenco and the people of Angola for their sympathies to those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack."

"We are committed to taking firm and decisive actions against terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for its support in our fight against terrorism," the Prime Minister added.
Bengaluru, May 3 : Karnataka BJP on Saturday criticised the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged 'suspicious' delay of internal reservation implementation in the state.

"We fear a suspicious delay in the implementation of internal reservation by the Congress government in the state," said former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol while addressing a joint press conference at the BJP state office in Bengaluru.

He added that after the Supreme Court verdict on August 1 last year, the authority to implement internal reservation was granted to state governments.

"The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government argued in favour of internal reservation to resolve a 30-year-old issue, marking a historic development. Following the SC's verdict, the governments of Haryana, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh swiftly implemented internal reservation and have been appreciated for their proactive approach," he said.

The former Chief Minister added that, however, the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has shown "suspicious" delay, seemingly due to internal pressures.

"Siddaramaiah, who portrays himself as a champion of social justice, now appears to have fallen behind other states, hanging his head in shame. The Karnataka government is in a position where internal reservation activists have to bring constant pressure and push the government to act at every stage. From May 5, a state-wide survey among Scheduled Castes for internal reservation will begin in Karnataka. On Friday, our delegation met with the commission chairman and discussed various issues and challenges," he said.

He added that to ensure the survey is conducted properly and to build trust among the Scheduled Castes, the state government must take initiative.

The former Deputy Chief Minister also urged Siddaramaiah to announce the date for implementing internal reservation.

"The survey will conclude by May 20. Since technology is being used, the final report will be ready within a few days. To encourage active participation in the survey, Siddaramaiah must announce the date of enforcement of the internal reservation law in advance," he said.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister Narayanaswamy said that the Kantharaj Committee report (caste census) has been presented before the state Cabinet, adding that while some Congress leaders from dominant communities have opposed it, Cabinet Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa, G. Parameshwara, Priyank Kharge, K.H. Muniyappa, and R.B. Timmapur have not voiced any opposition regarding the data concerning Scheduled Castes in the report.

"The Kantharaj Commission has not only conducted a caste census but also a social and educational survey. The current data reveals the population statistics of 101 Scheduled Castes. These figures largely confirm the findings of the earlier Sadashiva Commission and Madhu Swamy Committee reports," he said.

Narayanaswamy said that ministers Mahadevappa, Parameshwara, and Priyank Kharge have taken an ambiguous stand on the Kantharaj report," adding that they have neither accepted nor rejected it outright.

"Therefore, they may continue this dual stance even with the data from the upcoming Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das-led survey. Before the survey begins, we insist that Siddaramaiah announce a date for implementing internal reservation and demonstrate his commitment clearly," he said.

BJP State Spokesperson H. Venkatesh Doddahatti and SC Morcha State Vice President Hoodi Manjunath were also present.
New Delhi, May 3 : For honouring young achievers, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has invited nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2025 by July 31, an official said on Saturday.

The prestigious national-level award is conferred annually by the President to recognise exceptional achievements of children, aged 5 to 18, in the fields of art and culture, bravery, sports, social service, environment and science and technology.

The objectives of the awards are to celebrate and amplify the achievements of India's youth in diverse spheres, to inspire peers nationwide by showcasing real-life role models and to foster an enabling environment for children's holistic development, said a statement.

The official said young achievers can also nominate themselves online.

In a social media post on X, the Ministry said, "Do you know a young hero whose story can inspire the entire nation? Nominate them today at http://awards.gov.in Hurry! The last date to submit is 31st July 2025."

To apply, young achievers must first register or log in on the portal by providing details such as First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Applicant Type (Individual/Organisation), Mobile Number, Email ID, Aadhaar Number, etc. and CAPTCHA verification, said the statement.

It said that once registered, they should select the 'Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2025' under the 'Ongoing Nominations' section and click on 'Nominate/Apply Now'. Applicants must then choose the relevant award category and indicate whether the nomination is for themselves or someone else.

The application form requires nominee details, a concise narrative (maximum 500 words) describing the achievement and its impact, and the upload of supporting documents (PDF format, up to 10 attachments) and a recent photograph, said the statement.

It said applications can be saved as drafts and edited before final submission. Once reviewed and submitted, a downloadable copy of the application will be available for reference.
Bhopal, May 3 : The police have arrested a suspect in the case of the kidnapping and sexual assault of a four-year-old minor girl at Khagamau village, in the Majhgawan Police Station area of Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district.

The accused, identified as Kamlesh Lodhi alias Kariya, aged 22 years, lured the child with toffees while she was alone and took her away under the pretence of attending a wedding dinner organised nearby in the village.

After committing the crime, he abandoned her near a grocery shop and fled. He has been arrested on Friday and sent to jail, the investigation officer said.

The incident took place on the evening of April 26, at around 7.30 p.m., when a wedding procession had arrived in the village.

Male members of the girl's family had already left for the venue, and she insisted on joining them.

Her mother dressed her up and made her sit outside the house, assuring her they would go together after finishing household chores.

However, while the mother was occupied inside, the child left alone, investigation officer Dhannu Singh told IANS.

While the girl child was waiting outside for her mother, she encountered the accused, whom she trusted and referred to as "Bhaiya" (elder brother).

Exploiting her innocence, he led her away in an open area behind a school in the village and committed the sexual assault.

Hours later, a woman found the girl by the roadside, visibly terrified and crying inconsolably, the police said.

She was taken home, where bloodstains on her clothing alerted her mother and other family members to the severity of the situation. The family rushed to the police station to report the crime, the police officer said.

Due to the absence of a female officer at the time, the formal complaint was registered in the early hours of April 27 under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act.

A medical examination confirmed that the child had been sexually assaulted, said the officer. The police faced difficulties in identifying the culprit, as the child did not know his name and repeatedly referred to him as aBade Bhaiya".

Investigators rounded up several individuals matching her description, including guests who had come from outside the village to attend the wedding.

When shown a photograph of the suspect, the child reacted with fear, confirming his identity.

Initially, the accused attempted to mislead the police by implicating others and claiming he had been outside the village at the time of the incident.

However, after sustained questioning, he eventually confessed to the crime.

Police arrested Lodhi late on May 2, and he was presented before the special court under POCSO Act, from where the accused sent to jail to judicial custody as further investigations continue.
New Delhi, May 3 : Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said on Saturday that party legislators will organise registration camps in their 48 constituencies and the remaining 22 seats for Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana Card for the 70-plus elderly.

He said the party will organise camps for beneficiaries of the health insurance scheme in even those constituencies which are represented by MLAs of the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party.

Sachdeva congratulated Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her cabinet on the launch of registration for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana Card under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The city BJP chief said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced free medical treatment for senior citizens above 70 years across the country, and registration in Delhi began on Saturday.

He mentioned that the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana Card will be made available in all 70 Assembly constituencies of Delhi. A total of 70 mobile vans will travel to these constituencies and provide doorstep registration and card issuance to the elderly.

The Delhi BJP President stated that party workers will also support this government campaign.

Sachdeva said that although Delhi has 48 BJP MLAs, the organisation will set up camps in all 70 constituencies to ensure the success of this campaign.

He said the BJP government has always been dedicated to the people of Delhi, and through the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, elderly citizens in Delhi will receive free medical treatment.

He stated that over the past 11 years, the Arvind Kejriwal government had betrayed the elderly in Delhi.

While the entire country was benefiting from the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Kejriwal, due to his political motives, deprived Delhi residents of many central government schemes. However, now that there is a BJP government in Delhi, efforts are being made to ensure that the people of Delhi receive the benefits of every central government scheme, he said.
Alappuzha, May 3 : Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday hit out at state Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas over his social media jibe regarding Chandrasekhar's presence on the dais during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event at Vizhinjam Port on Friday.

Riyas, the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had posted a photo on social media showing Chandrasekhar sitting alone on the stage while Riyas was in the audience. The post was widely shared by CPI(M) supporters online.

Responding at a BJP event in Alappuzha on Saturday, Chandrasekhar, without naming Riyas, said: "While the entire nation was celebrating the Vizhinjam Port project, a Communist Royal Family's son-in-law is upset."

"I arrived at the venue early, around 8.45 a.m., and took the seat where my name was marked. Others were in the visitors' lounge. I came early because I wanted to be with my karyakartas. When they chanted 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai,' I joined them," he said.

Taking a swipe at Riyas, Chandrasekhar added, "I don't know why this Communist Royal son-in-law is upset. I'm neither a psychiatrist nor a counselor to suggest a remedy -- he should consult a doctor."

His remark drew loud applause from the audience.

Later, in a post on X, Chandrashekhar, without naming anyone, slammed Rahul Gandhi also along with Mohamed Riyas. He said, "Two 'royal dynasties' speak grandly about democracy and the Constitution one in Delhi and another right here in Kerala. In Delhi, it's the son; in Kerala, it's the son-in-law. Corruption is common for both. Corruption there, corruption here as well!"

Tensions between the two sides have simmered since April 26, when visuals of a review meeting at the Vizhinjam Port -- chaired by CM Vijayan -- showed the presence of his entire family, including daughter Veena Vijayan, her son, and his wife.

The image sparked criticism, especially after former DGP Jacob Thomas posted it online, asking, "Who is this young authority?"-- referring to Veena's son from her previous marriage.

Riyas and Veena married in 2020, both for the second time. Riyas's rise in the CPI(M) since then -- including his elevation to minister despite being a first-time legislator -- has often drawn scrutiny, particularly from BJP circles.
Mangaluru, May 3 : The investigation into the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty (42) has revealed that the killing was carried out as an act of revenge for the death of Mohammad Fazil, who was allegedly hacked to death by Shetty in 2022. The probe has further revealed the involvement of eight individuals in the crime.

Suhas Shetty, a former Bajrang Dal activist, was killed on May 1. He was the prime accused in the murder of Mohammad Fazil, a resident of Surathkal. Shetty and his associates had allegedly killed Fazil in a public place on July 28, 2022, reportedly in retaliation for the murder of BJP youth worker Praveen Kumar Nettaru.

Nettaru, a BJP activist, was hacked to death during the height of the 'hijab' row. His murder had triggered a series of revenge killings and multiple stabbing incidents across Karnataka. Shetty had been released on bail at the time of his death.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal stated that Fazil's brother, Adil Meharuf, had conspired to kill Suhas Shetty and had arranged the funds for the execution.

The arrested individuals have been identified as 29-year-old Abdul Safwan, a driver, and 28-year-old Niyaz, both residents of Shathigudde Pejawar village near Bajpe; 31-year-old Kalandar Shafi, from Kursu Gudde, Kalavaru; 32-year-old Mohammad Muzammil, a salesman working in Dubai; 19-year-old Ranjith, a driver from Kalasa in Chikkamagaluru district; 20-year-old Nagaraj, also from Kalasa, who worked at a shamiyana store; 28-year-old Mohammad Rizwan; and Adil Meharuf from Mangaluru.

The Police Commissioner stated: "A total of eight accused have been arrested in the Suhas Shetty murder case. Abdul Safwan is the main accused. He was attacked in 2023 and feared that Suhas Shetty would target him again. He decided to eliminate him first. Safwan contacted Fazil's brother Adil and hatched a conspiracy to murder Shetty."

Adil allegedly arranged Rs 5 lakh to finance the killing of Shetty. Accused Ranjith and Nagaraj, who are friends of Niyaz, had stayed at Safwan's residence for two days, Agarwal said.

The accused had tracked Shetty's movements on May 1 and attacked him that night, the Commissioner added.

Karnataka Minister for Home, G. Parameshwara, while addressing a joint press conference on Saturday alongside senior police officers and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao -- who is also the district in-charge minister for Mangaluru -- announced that to prevent incidents of communal violence, an Anti-Communal Task Force will be set up to operate in the Mangaluru and Udupi districts.

"The task force, which will be headed by an officer of Inspector General (IG) rank, will work to prevent communal violence in the coastal region and will begin functioning within two weeks. It will operate in coordination with the police department," he added.

He further emphasised that strict action would be taken against those making provocative statements.

Referring to the recent mob lynching case in Mangaluru, where a man was allegedly attacked for saying "Pakistan Zindabad", HM Parameshwara said, "In connection with the murder of Kerala resident Mohammad Ashraf, the police have arrested 21 individuals. Action will be taken against the guilty. We will not allow anyone -- regardless of religion -- to break the law."

He reiterated that such incidents must not recur in the region. "I will not allow the law and order situation in the district to deteriorate," he warned.

The police had formed five special teams to apprehend the killers. All the accused are being interrogated, and they were arrested from various locations within Mangaluru district. Investigators have obtained video footage of the incident, which helped in identifying and apprehending the suspects, sources said.

Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje and Mangaluru BJP MP Captain Brijesh Chowta have appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to transfer the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra has announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for Suhas Shetty's family.

Multiple stabbing incidents have been reported from the Mangaluru and Udupi districts in the coastal Karnataka region following Shetty's murder, and the situation remains tense and volatile.

According to the investigation, the accused first rammed a goods vehicle into the car in which Suhas Shetty was moving. Then, a gang of assailants, who were following in a Swift car, emerged with weapons and brutally hacked him to death.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a three-day ceasefire from May 7 to 9 as a theatrical gesture aimed at creating the illusion that Russia is emerging from isolation. Instead, Zelenskyy is insisting on a 30-day ceasefire, in line with a strategy proposed by the United States.

"An unconditional ceasefire is the model proposed by the Americans. We are following that model. Whether it starts on that date or another  ideally earlier. Yes, let's try for 30 days. Why a 30-day ceasefire? Because it's impossible to reach any agreements in three, five, or even seven days," Zelenskyy told reporters.
New Delhi, May 3 : The deadly alliance between Hamas and Pakistan-based terror groups Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) could be "very disturbing", Former US National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton told IANS in an exclusive interview on Saturday.

Following the heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians were gunned down by four terrorists, two of them from Pakistan, the intelligence officials have found several striking similarities between the tactics used by attackers in Kashmir and the brutal murders carried out by the Hamas terrorists in Israel in October 2023. Several reports have cited all four terrorists were trained in PoK where Hamas has set up a training module in camps operated by terror groups.

"Well, if there is evidence to that, I think that would be very disturbing. This is one reason Israel has entered the Gaza Strip after the October 7 attack and is systematically dismantling Hamas. It is clearly a terrorist organisation and any involvement by Hamas or Hezbollah or the Houthis or other terrorist groups from the Middle East, in Kashmir or across the Indian border, is a very serious matter," Bolton told IANS.

Bolton, who served as the US NSA during the Pulwama attack in February 2019 - also conducted by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad resulting in the death of 40 CRPF personnel - also spoke in detail about the need for India and the United States cooperating more closely on counterterrorism issues, calling the bilateral relationship the most important one for Washington in in this century.

Excerpts:

IANS: You were the US NSA when Pulwama happened, now Pahalgam has taken place. Nothing seems to have changed, and India remains a victim of terror acts induced by Pakistan...

John Bolton: This is one of a string of terrorist attacks in Kashmir over recent years. It's obviously tragic for the victims and for the people in Kashmir generally that can't live in a stable environment. The tourists are deterred from coming because of terrorist activity like this. I think it's very important to continue the work to find exactly what the circumstances of this were. But, when I was National Security Advisor, we faced a comparable situation in 2019 with a terrorist attack that emanated from Pakistani soil. We consulted closely with senior government officials. I spoke and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Ajit Doval, the Prime Minister's National Security Advisor. Our view at the time was that if the government felt that they were confident that this had emanated from Pakistani soil and that the government of Pakistan had failed to prevent the attack from taking place or had actually assisted it, that India had every right to act in self-defence. And I think the same principle applies here. I do think it's in India's interest to be able to demonstrate, as convincingly as possible, what the circumstances were to justify a military response, if that's what they decide to do. Nobody wants to see a wider conflict in South Asia but the threat from terrorist attacks is something that nobody has to live with. That's why, response and self-defence is fully permissible.

IANS: Will India get US assistance in war against terror?

John Bolton: The United States has been dealing with the question of Pakistan for quite some time and in very difficult circumstances, over a long period of time, especially, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. And, we have said in both Republican and Democratic administrations that state sponsorship of terrorism, is not something we can accept. And the terrorist activities that come from Pakistani territory, ultimately are going to find themselves attributed to the government if they don't take action against them. It's a difficult process but I am concerned about potential threats from terrorist groups inside Pakistan or across the border in Afghanistan, I'm also concerned about the growing influence that China has over the government of Pakistan, which really is a threat to peace and security in that region. So, there's a lot at stake here. And I think that the US role should be to cooperate closely with India, as we have in the past on counterterrorism measures and perhaps cooperate more closely. And to continue to talk to the government of Pakistan about why this situation needs to come to an acceptable conclusion.

IANS: Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted recently that the country has been doing "dirty work" for the US for the past three decades...

John Bolton: I don't know what he means by that. There's no doubt that, during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, elements of the Pakistani military like ISI contributed support to the Mujahideen fighting against the Soviet Union. Now, if that's what he means, I don't consider that illicit activity. I consider it trying to help the Afghan people get their country back. That is about the extent I am aware that we've cooperated with Pakistan on issues like that. Quite the contrary, we have worked with them inside the country against terrorist activity, particularly in the Northwest Frontier Province or what used to be the Northwest Frontier Province where terrorists had retreated from Afghanistan to seek refuge across the border. So, it's not helpful to the government of Pakistan, obviously, when it's actually admitting to this kind of conduct because that triggers international reactions and why it's conducive not only to general peace and security in the region but to the safety of Pakistan itself, not to have terrorist groups scattered across the country.

IANS: Isn't it high time to declare Pakistan as a terrorist State?

John Bolton: I think if their activity warrants it, they should be. The United States has never hesitated to do that. I think in this case, it's more a question of the Pakistani government not exercising effective control over its own territory, which is a legitimate reason for India, to act militarily if it so decides and also a way to limit possible escalation, because it would not be considered an attack on Pakistan itself, but on lawless groups in, in their territory. I think this terrorist problem is growing more acute. I mean, obviously in the context of Kashmir, it's been a serious issue since partition. And, other terrorist attacks that India has endured in more recent years, across the country. So, it's one reason why I think US Indian cooperation on counterterrorism activities has been amply justified in the past and, certainly could benefit from, more extensive cooperation.

IANS: What is your take on India's decision to put the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack?

John Bolton: It's something that, I hope, can be resolved between India and Pakistan. This question of riparian rights in countries that are obviously critically dependent for irrigation and other uses on this water supply. If arrangements that have been worked out in the past are no longer workable, I think everybody is going to suffer, particularly in the downstream areas. So, it should be a message to Pakistan that engaging in activities that threaten their neighbours do lead to consequences.

IANS: Lots of provocative statements being issued by Islamabad, Pakistan's Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi even said that the country's nukes are not just for show but "for India"...

John Bolton: I don't think that's helpful at all. You know, look, it's, I don't think Pakistan really wants a full-scale military confrontation with India. They know it. They know what the relative size of their conventional military is. And, how dangerous it would be to try and increase, to try and escalate the conflict, that could threaten even something even more than that. And obviously, the idea that India and Pakistan would resort to nuclear weapons, perhaps Pakistan first, because of the imbalance in the forces, is something that nobody should be contemplating. So, you know, provocative statements by anybody don't help to resolve the crisis. Whatever India decides to do in self-defence, I think it's got a legitimate right to do it. But I hope that both sides here look to address the real problem, which is these terrorist attacks, that India shouldn't be subjected to and Pakistan shouldn't allow to happen.

IANS: Pakistan is still giving refuge to terror masterminds, including Maulana Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed, and not held accountable for that...

John Bolton: This is the kind of thing we have talked to the Pakistanis about for many, many years. Obviously, the government of India has done the same. And its lack of success is frustrating, obviously. And I think that, that is why India is justified if it can demonstrate the background for this attack in its own self-defence to use military force, it ought to be subject to negotiation between India and Pakistan. I'm not suggesting the US get involved in it. I'm not sure either side would want that to happen in any event. But ultimately, you know, these political questions ought to be addressed by political means and not through terrorism

IANS: Isn't it high time for Pakistan to return to the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)?

John Bolton: Steps have been taken. Pakistan's been on the watch list several times, and it should be subject to continue review. And if there are new facts that warrant stronger steps, the US feels very strongly about state support for terrorism. We've been subjected to it ourselves. And, you know, it's been a consistent position.

IANS: Many say that the US is no longer interested in the region after leaving Afghanistan?

John Bolton: I think we're still very interested for eminently good reasons. You know, just speaking of Afghanistan, even the Biden administration testified in open Congressional hearings that the return of foreign terrorist fighters to Afghanistan probably meant that ISIS-K by this point could once again mount terrorist attacks around the world. They plan and are based in Afghanistan. So that terrorist threat unfortunately, since our withdrawal has returned. But of course, the bigger problem is China, which I think continues to pursue a policy of hegemony. All along its Indo-Pacific, periphery, and, in the disputed areas, in, all along the line of actual control between China and India, but particularly, up near Kashmir. It's a very delicate situation that we've seen a lot of Chinese provocations over the years. I am, as I said a moment ago, I am very worried about increased Chinese influence on Pakistan. I don't think that's in the U.S interest or India's interest or the interest in peace and security in South Asia. And yet that continues to happen. And having that in mind, as well as dealing with the threat of terrorist attacks, emanating from Pakistani territory are very important priorities for the United States.

IANS: There have been several reports, including by Israelis, of Hamas joining hands with Pakistan-based terror groups in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)...

John Bolton: If there's evidence to that, I think that would be very disturbing. I mean, this is one reason Israel has entered the Gaza Strip after the October 7 attack and is systematically dismantling Hamas. It's clearly a terrorist organisation. And any involvement by Hamas or Hezbollah or the Houthis or other terrorist groups from the Middle East, in Kashmir or across the Indian border is a very serious matter.

IANS: You've interacted closely with NSA Doval and seen PM Modi's strong response to terrorism in 2019. What kind of action are you expecting from them after Pahalgam?

John Bolton: It'll be a very considered response. I don't think either man is going to react without carefully thinking through the implications of it and what they think they need to do to act, in its defence. I have confidence, as in the case in 2019, that they will be strongly protective of India and its citizens and all the rights that they have as a sovereign power but will not do so in a way that can't be fully justified.

IANS: What was your first reaction on removal of Mike Waltz from the post of National Security Advisor?

John Bolton: I think the second Trump term is just about as chaotic as the first was. With Waltz's removal, he now had five National Security Advisors in less than four and a half years in office. I just will say, for the record, I am his longest-serving National Security Advisor. I may not have that title at the end of the second term, but, you know, it's untenable to have the kind of job turnover, whether by resignation or otherwise, that we saw during the first term. You can't have a stable, decision-making team if people keep leaving. So, Waltz will go on, presumably, to be nominated to be Ambassador to the UN, which is another job I've had. It's a nice job. It's not like being National Security Advisor, but I think he was given a soft landing. I think it's unsustainable for very long to have Secretary of State Marco Rubio also be National Security Advisor. So, for Trump's own benefit, he ought to name a, I won't say a permanent replacement, but a full-time replacement for Waltz as soon as he can.

IANS: Your views on President Trump's first 100 days in office...

John Bolton: He accomplished some things domestically, but I think internationally there were a series of mistakes and failures. In Ukraine, I think we're mistaken now to be negotiating with Iran over their nuclear weapons programme which I don't think the Ayatollahs have any intention whatsoever of giving up. And I think the entire plan of tariffs is going to be very unhelpful and perhaps lead to real economic difficulties for everybody involved in it.

IANS: Despite the tariff issues, do you see India-US ties progressing under PM Modi and President Trump?

John Bolton: Well, I think from the US perspective, the bilateral relationship with India is probably the most important one we have in this century. Given the nature of the threats we face around the world, I think it is an advantage that Trump and Modi have a good personal relationship. And I think there's a lot of work to do on political issues, on military issues, to try and draw closer together. And that is made more difficult by trade disputes. So, I wouldn't have launched this trade war with every country in the world. I think the principal bad actor is China. I think we've all been harmed by Chinese practices like stealing intellectual property and subsidising their companies in competition with ours and not really opening their domestic market as they've promised to do. That's obviously not the way Trump is proceeding, but that is still the biggest problem.
Moscow, May 3 : Russia has declared a state of emergency in the port city of Novorossiysk in the Krasnodar region on Saturday, claiming an attack by Ukraine that damaged apartment buildings in a residential complex.

"A state of emergency has been introduced in Novorossiysk. As a result of the overnight attack by the Kyiv regime, apartment buildings in the Aurora Residential Complex and on Suvorovskaya Street sustained damage. Private property in the Eastern District has also been hit. Emergency response services are working at the site. We will establish temporary accommodation centres if necessary," said Mayor Andrey Kravchenko on his Telegram channel.

Governor of Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratyev, said the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar Region was attacked by Kyiv on Friday night, damaging three residential buildings in Novorossiysk.

The report suggested that the drone attack injured five people, including two children and damaged three tanks at a grain terminal.

The drone wreckage also fell in the village of Taman in the Temryuksky district, and in Yurovka and Tsibanobalka near Anapa. While private homes were hit, no casualties were reported.

Speaking to the state-run news agency TASS, Sergey Altukhov, a State Duma (lower house of the Russian Parliament) member from the Krasnodar region, said that the attack on Novorossiysk, which affected children, showed that the Kyiv regime has shifted from damaging infrastructure facilities to terrorism against Russian civilians.

"Novorossiysk is our key transportation and logistics hub in the Black Sea. For three years, it seemed the city had grown used to living in a constant state of high readiness for emergencies. The Kyiv regime has moved from strikes on infrastructure to outright terrorism targeting civilians. As a result of tonightas attack, three apartment buildings in densely populated residential neighbourhoods were damaged. People have been injured," Altukhov said.

Earlier, blaming Ukraine for destabilisation in the Black Sea region, Russian Presidential aide and Maritime Board Chairman, Nikolay Patrushev, said that both Moscow and Washington are interested in ensuring the security of maritime traffic, and the next step should be made by Kyiv.

"The activities of Ukraine's armed forces and mercenaries are the main destabilising factor in the Black Sea region," Patrushev said in an interview with TASS.

"At the same time, as we have already learned from practice, Kyiv has repeatedly demonstrated its total inability to negotiate with," said the Kremlin aide.
Manila, May 3 : The Philippines on Saturday slammed China for resorting to disinformation activities around Sandy Cay, emphasising that the area was an integral part of its territory.

"The alleged seizure of Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay), an integral part of the Philippine national territory in the West Philippine Sea, was a clear example of the disinformation activities of the Chinese government, where it made it appear that China has effective control of the cay by displaying its flag and conducting waste collection," National Maritime Council (NMC) of the Philippines said in a statement.

It further stated that the Chinese government, through its state-controlled media, is sowing disinformation to "mislead its people and the international community about the continuing illegality of its activities in the West Philippine Sea".

"The Philippines is firm in protecting its vast maritime domain, and is unwavering in fighting false allegations that detract from the country's lawful exercise of its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction," the NMC added.

The maritime council accused China of degradation of the environment around Pag-asa Island and its cays. It stated that constant illegal swarming of Chinese vessels in the area and the damaging impact of China's massive artificial island-building in Zamora Reef (Subi Reef), a low-tide elevation that forms part of the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island and its cays, caused environmental damages," state media Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

"The Philippines will consistently pursue peaceful means for resolving disputes and constructive approaches to managing differences, while also continuing its lawful and routine activities in the West Philippine Sea, consistent with its maritime entitlements under international law," the NMC said.

The Philippines claims that Sandy Cay falls within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), while China lays claim to the maritime feature, calling it Tiexian Jiao.

Recently, countering China's narrative, the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police-Maritime Group conducted a routine visit to Sandy Cay and the surrounding waters of Cay 1 and Cay 3, PNA reported.

Earlier this week, the Philippines condemned the latest Chinese activities around Sandy Cay, emphasising that the area is part of Philippine territory and no Chinese provocation will change that.

Chinese personnel reportedly raised a Chinese flag and conducted inspection activities on Sandy Cay.

Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Philippines, Romualdez, termed the Chinese actions "desperate and cheap stunts" designed to mislead and bolster illegitimate claims.

"I call on China: Cease these reckless provocations. Respect international law. Stop these cheap stunts," he added.

Chinese activities in the South China Sea have been a growing cause of concern for many Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.

China makes sweeping claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea, which has untapped natural resources, including oil and natural gas. The relations between the Philippines and China have nosedived due to Beijingas growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
New Delhi, May 3 : India and Angola on Saturday signed several key agreements following the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in the field of Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine and on cooperation in the field of agriculture.

An agreement on a cooperation programme between India and Angola in the domain of culture for the period 2025-29 was also signed.

Angola also signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and became the 123rd member of the ISA while India approved the Angolan request of Line of Credit of US$ 200 Million for defence procurement.

Earlier in the day, addressing a joint press conference alongside President Lourenco, Prime Minister Modi said both countries have close cooperation in various fields, adding that India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their bilateral ties.

He asserted that the relationship goes much further back, to a time when Angola was fighting for its freedom, and India supported it with full faith and friendship.

aIndia is one of the largest buyers of Angola's oil and gas. We have decided to expand our energy partnership. I am happy to announce that a defence credit line of $200 million has been approved for the modernisation of Angola's forces. There was also discussion on repair and overhaul of defence platforms and supplies. We would be happy to assist in training Angola's armed forces," said PM Modi.

"We welcome Angola's decision to join the International Solar Alliance. We have also invited Angola to join India's initiatives Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Big Cat Alliance and Global Biofuels Alliance," he added.

Reaffirming India's unwavering resolve to act decisively against terrorism, PM Modi also thanked Angola for its support towards India in the fight against cross-border terrorism.

"We are firmly united in our stance against terrorism. I expressed my gratitude to President Lourenco and the people of Angola for their sympathies to those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack," said PM Modi.

"We are committed to taking firm and decisive actions against terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for its support in our fight against cross-border terrorism," he added.

Meanwhile, President Lourenco said that his visit to India is to convey a message of admiration and friendship for the country.

"We want relations grounded in concrete, achievable objectives with practical outcomes that will impact the lives of our people," he said, outlining Angola's vision for the future of bilateral ties.

He stressed that Angola would prioritise sectors such as agriculture, finance, health, defence, higher education, IT, energy, trade, and mineral resources in its cooperation with India.

The meeting marked a significant step forward in India-Angola relations, reinforcing shared goals across the spheres of development, energy security, cultural exchange, and solidarity within the Global South.
Jaipur, May 3 : In a significant development in the ongoing crackdown on drug and land mafias, Pratapgarh Police (Rajasthan), in coordination with the Income Tax Department, has successfully attached benami properties worth approximately Rs 15 crore, an official said on Saturday.

The sized/attached assets, comprising agricultural land in the Bagwas area of Pratapgarh city, was allegedly acquired by the notorious land mafia figure Jansher Khan -- son of Shernawaz and a resident of Akhepur -- under the names of four of his associates.

Superintendent of Police Vineet Kumar Bansal stated that Jansher Khan, who was arrested in connection with the suicide of businessman Mustafa Bohra in November 2023, had been operating in Pratapgarh and nearby areas for a long time.

Following a detailed investigation by a police officer, proposals were submitted to the Income Tax Department in Jaipur to identify and attach Khanas benami properties.

The process was closely monitored throughout.

According to SP Bansal, Jansher Khan was known for forcefully acquiring disputed properties in and around the city. He would either intimidate property owners into selling at a low price or have the ownership registered in his name or those of his associates.

Acting on the police proposal, the Income Tax Department appointed an investigation officer to probe the matter.

During the investigation, the Deputy Director of Benami Prohibition, Income Tax Department, examined records related to the purchase, sale, and income generated from properties in the Bagwas area, traced to Jansher Khan and his associates.

Last month, the department requested an additional investigation report from the police.

SP Bansal ensured a thorough investigation by the Pratapgarh police station officer, and the updated report, along with supporting documents, was submitted to the Income Tax Department.

After reviewing the evidence and hearing both parties, the investigating officer on April 28 declared the agricultural land -- registered in the names of Radheshyam Meena, Basanti Lal Meena, Samarth Meena, and Bhaggaram Meena -- as benami.

The officer then issued orders to the Tehsildar, Pratapgarh, to take possession of the land, which is valued at over Rs 15 crore.

SP Bansal further revealed that Jansher Khan had placed his trusted aides as witnesses in most of these property transactions to facilitate easy possession and resale.

He assured that the district police remain committed to closely monitoring land mafia activities and will continue to take strict action against offenders.
Patna, May 3 : Former Mokama MLA and strongman leader Anant Kumar Singh, also known as 'Chhote Sarkar', has been acquitted by the MP-MLA court of Munger in a case related to the violation of the model code of conduct during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Patna, May 3 (IANS) Former Mokama MLA and strongman leader Anant Kumar Singh, also known as aChhote Sarkara, has been acquitted by the MP-MLA court of Munger in a case related to the violation of the model code of conduct during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The verdict was delivered on Saturday by Special Court Judge cum Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate First Kumar Pankaj, who acquitted Singh citing lack of evidence.

The hearing and pronouncement were conducted via video conferencing, as Singh remains lodged in the Beur Central Jail, Patna, due to security concerns.

The case registered as Dharhara Police Station Case No. 84/2019, accused Anant Singh and 80 to 100 of his supporters of conducting an election rally with a 16-vehicle convoy without permission on March 31, 2019, in support of his wife and Congress candidate Neelam Devi.

The incident took place in the Dharhara zone, under Jamalpur Assembly constituency, and was captured on video by the flying squad led by Zonal Officer Abul Hussain.

Despite a large number of individuals allegedly involved, only Anant Singh was charge-sheeted, and the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence to support the charges.

While Anant Singh has been acquitted in this case, he will remain in Beur Central Jail, Patna. He is currently incarcerated in connection with Barh P.S. Case No. 389/2019 and is facing charges related to the alleged involvement in a firing incident in Nauranga-Jalalpur village on January 22, 2025.

Anant Singh has been lodged in Beur jail since the firing incident. Anant Singh and the Sonu-Monu gang were involved in an exchange for firing over 200 rounds.

Nauranga-Jalalpur is a native village of Sonu-Monu, and Anant Singh went there to release a house allegedly captured by the Sonu-Monu gang.

Recently, Singh was granted one-day parole to attend a family wedding and had hinted at securing relief from the High Court within 15-20 days.
Itanagar, May 3 : Arunachal Pradesh police on Saturday arrested four highway robbers involved in a series of lootings along National Highway-415 in the state's Papum Pare district since January, officials said on Saturday.

A police official said that the group of robbers, who targeted innocent people under the guise of checking Inner Line Permits (ILPs), drugs and contrabands, threatened the victims with knives and other sharp cutting tools before fleeing with cash, mobile, electronic devices and other valuables.

He said that the victims filed FIRs in various police stations, including at Banderdewa police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).

After the series of such crimes, the police authority has formed an investigation team involving Naharlagun Sub-Divisional Police Officer Longdo and Banderdewa police station officer in-charge Kipa Hamak.

The police team collected various pieces of evidence of the robberies, including CCTV footage and eyewitness statements, and then launched thorough and intensive search operations.

"The police team laid an ambush on the National Highway at Karsingsa in the Papum Pare district and caught two suspected robbers on Friday night as they attempted another robbery," the official said.

However, one of the robbers subsequently managed to escape, but one was arrested, and he was identified as Patey Bagang (19) on the spot.

During interrogation, the detainee disclosed the names of three accomplices, leading to a quick operation that resulted in the arrest of Tadar Rar (24), Ngurang Tako (23) and Tabia Kapa (27).

Police investigations revealed that all four arrested persons are habitual offenders who have been involved in a series of robberies and theft cases since January this year.

Meanwhile, the Naharlagun Police team has recently arrested three burglars from different locations for their involvement in multiple theft and burglary cases in the capital region.

The arrests were made as part of intensified efforts to curb criminal activities in the capital region.

--IANS

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Hanoi, May 3 : The holy Buddha relic exposition witnessed a sea of devotees on Saturday, with lakhs of devotees lining up since early morning to pay homage to Lord Buddha.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday visited the Truc Lam Buddhist Monastery, reaffirming the deep-rooted spiritual connection between India and Vietnam through the timeless teachings of Lord Buddha.

The Minister, who led the high-level Indian delegation to the country with the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, arrived at Dalat city on Saturday.

On Friday, Rijiju, joined by Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh, monks and senior officials accompanying the Sacred Relics from Sarnath, was warmly received by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and other officials, reflecting the profound and shared spiritual values that unite both nations.

aArrived in Vietnam leading the high level Indian delegation with the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha. Grand ceremonial reception was accorded by the Government of Vietnam and Vietnam Buddhist Sanghas. The Holy Relics will be in Vietnam from May 2-21 2025 for UN Vesak Day celebrations," the minister said in a post.

Rijiju also paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Ho Chi Minh City commemorating the values of peace, non-violence, and unity propounded by the Father of the Nation. He said the arrival of Buddha's Holy Relics has brought tremendous spiritual joy amongst the people of Vietnam.

Following ceremonial prayers, the holy relics were reverently enshrined at Thanh Tam Monastery. In a symbolic gesture of peace and friendship, a Sacred Bodhi Tree sapling from India was also planted at the Vietnam Buddhist University. A joint press conference was held by the Indian delegation and leaders of the Vietnamese Sangha, where Rijiju conveyed a heartfelt message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India.

The Government of Vietnam expressed its sincere gratitude for the sacred gesture, which stands as a symbol of the enduring civilisational and spiritual ties between the two countries.

The holy relics are being exhibited with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the National Museum of India, and the International Buddha Confederation. They will be displayed to the public in Ho Chi Minh City until May 7, 2025, before continuing to Tay Ninh, Hanoi, and Ha Nam until May 21, 2025.
Dhaka, May 3 : Discussions in Bangladesh are swirling around the potential return of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who is "actively considering" to lead the outfit on home soil.

Rahman, who has been leading the BNP from London, is also at the crossroads. Having recently been acquitted in major cases, including the August 21 grenade attack, he faces minimal legal hurdles to return. Analysts reckon that he may possibly be testing waters in the political turbulence of the Bangladeshi politics under the present Yunus administration, which is under pressure to deliver on its promised reforms and to hold elections.

BNP wants an urgent election this year and has threatened to hold street protests if they are delayed further asserting that long-term reforms should be carried out under an elected government. The core question remains whether Rahman can provide leadership in politically turbulent times in Bangladesh. Bangladesh had been seeking transition into a more prosperous and moderate Islamic nation till the collapse of the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, last year.

Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is expected to return to Bangladesh from London on Sunday or Monday, depending on the availability of a special air ambulance. Efforts are underway to arrange the air ambulance, and if successful, she will return on Sunday. Otherwise, she may fly back on a scheduled Bangladesh Biman flight the following day.

According to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Zia will be accompanied by her two daughters-in-law Zubaida Rahman and Syeda Shamila Rahman Sithi.

Separately, BNP has sent a letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) asking to "ensure security" of Zubaida Rahman, the wife of Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, upon her arrival in Bangladesh.

As per the letter, Zubaida Rahman will stay at her father's house in Dhanmondi and "there is a security threat to her life as a member of the Zia family and wife of Tarique Rahman".

Signed by Khaledaas private secretary ABM Abdus Sattar on April 30, the letter outlines a four-layer security arrangement. It includes armed security personnel, police escort with vehicles, a police guard at home, and the installation of archways at the residence.

Political opponents say that Tarique Rahman is risking his wife's well being and using her as "a human shield" to check whether it will be safe for him to return to the political culture of violence in Bangladesh's party system.

It may be mentioned that Khaleda Zia was sentenced to prison for seven years and fined Tk 1 million in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case on October 29, 2018. She was imprisoned at the Central Jail in Old Dhaka.

After the Sheikh Hasina government was toppled by the so-called student-led mass movement on August 5, Khaleda was released by President Mohammed Shahabuddin through an executive order. The court later quashed her jail sentences, as well.
Chennai, May 3 : Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Saturday strongly condemned the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for "vendetta politics." Chennai, May 3 (IANS) Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Saturday strongly condemned the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for "vendetta politics."

The party vowed to confront the Centre's actions both legally and by taking its message directly to the people. At a meeting of the party's district secretaries, chaired by DMK President and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the party passed a resolution alleging that the Union government had created an "undeclared Emergency" through its abuse of power.

"This meeting of district secretaries strongly condemns the Union BJP government, which is creating an undeclared Emergency," the resolution stated, citing a pattern of political intimidation through raids by the Income Tax Department and the ED, especially in opposition-ruled states like Tamil Nadu. The DMK further accused the Centre of undermining the independence of autonomous institutions, including the judiciary.

It claimed that agencies such as the CBI, ED, and the tax department, which are mandated to operate impartially, have become tools of political retaliation under the BJP regime. According to the DMK, courts have also criticised the misuse of these institutions.

The party alleged that the BJP government used its agencies to pressure political rivals into alliances, notably the AIADMK, which recently aligned with the BJP. The resolution cited instances where the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court had reportedly censured the functioning of these central agencies in corruption-related cases.

Reaffirming its stance, the DMK said it would face all actions against its leaders by central agencies with "courage and legal resolve." The party also pledged to expose the BJP's alleged abuse of power to the public and to defeat the saffron party and its allies in the upcoming elections.

Senior DMK leaders, including K. Ponmudy and V. Senthil Balaji, remain under the ED's scrutiny in connection with various cases. With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections just a year away, the DMK has already begun its preparations, setting an ambitious target of winning 200 out of 234 seats in the 2026 polls.
Zelenskyy on safety of foreign visitors traveling to Moscow for May 9: Ukraine cannot be held responsible for what happens in Russia

Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/news/all

Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign representatives traveling to Moscow for the May 9 Victory Day parade, President Zelenskyy warned. He noted that the Russian side is capable of staging incidents involving foreign guests and then shifting the blame onto Ukraine  something Ukraine cannot be responsible for.

"Our position is very simple for all countries planning to go or already heading to Russia on May 9: we cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They [Russia] are the ones providing security, and therefore, we will not offer any guarantees. We don't know what Russia will do on those dates. They may take certain actions  arson, explosions, and so on  and then accuse us. As president, I told the foreign minister that we must inform anyone who reaches out to us: 'We do not recommend visiting Russia from a [safety] standpoint. And if you do choose to go, do not ask us. That is your personal decision,'" Zelenskyy stated during the press briefing.

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine acts in a respectful and balanced manner toward China and countries that have not supported it since the start of the war  or that have leaned toward Russia due to historical ties.

"We've had other nations approach us before their visits to Russia, asking us to ensure nothing happens while they're there. That's diplomacy  it exists in many forms. We take a very balanced and respectful approach to all countries and we listen  to what they ask and what they request," the president said.

"Ukraine bears no responsibility for what is currently happening inside Russia. That's a fact. We are responsible here, on our own territory. And I'm confident other countries conduct similar diplomacy with the Russians when they visit us. Experience has shown that we've hosted many different leaders, and during those visits there were various forms of attacks, assaults, and intimidation," he added.
Shahdol : , May 3 (IANS) The Custom Hiring Scheme, launched under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) by the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is transforming rural agriculture and empowering small farmers across India. In Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district, the scheme has become a game-changer by not only increasing productivity but also opening avenues for self-employment and income generation.

Under this initiative, farmers are being provided with access to modern agricultural machinery. These machines can be used on their own farms or rented out to others, helping them earn additional income. The government is offering up to 40 per cent subsidy on machinery purchases and interest rebates of up to 3 per cent, significantly easing the financial burden on small and marginal farmers.

Designed to promote mechanised farming and create job opportunities for rural youth, the scheme is open to unemployed farmers aged 18 to 40 years who have passed Class 12.

According to R.K. Pyasi, Assistant Agricultural Engineer in Shahdol, applications are accepted online through the Agriculture Directorate's portal, and beneficiaries are selected through a lottery system. Once selected, candidates undergo five-day training in Bhopal or Budhni, focusing on the usage and maintenance of farm machinery.

"After training, farmers purchase the equipment and, following physical verification, receive the subsidy. Key equipment includes tractors, cultivators, rotavators, ploughs, and threshers, while optional tools like happy seeders, super seeders, paddy transplanters, reapers, and harvesters can also be purchased," said Pyasi.

He added that 52 Custom Hiring Centres have been established in Shahdol so far, and applications are invited annually from villages that do not yet have such centres.

The aim is to ensure community-wide benefits, enabling farmers not only to use machinery for their own fields but also to support others in their village, thereby boosting collective agricultural output. Rental income can also help farmers repay loans and expand their agribusiness.

Seema Baiga, a beneficiary from Nargi village, shared her experience: "I learned about the scheme through radio. I applied online via MP Online and was selected through the lottery. After receiving training, I purchased a tractor, cultivator, and plough, and received a subsidy of Rs 6.86 lakh. These machines have improved my productivity and increased my income through rentals."

Similarly, Neeraj Singh Parmar from Dulhara village said: "I got the information from a news report and applied. After training, I purchased the equipment and am eligible for a subsidy of Rs 8 lakh. Earlier, farming was very difficult without machinery, but now all my work gets done on time, and renting out the equipment brings in extra income."

Both farmers expressed their gratitude to PM Modi-led government for introducing a scheme that has transformed their livelihoods and strengthened the backbone of rural India.
Kolkata, May 3 : The move by the Odisha government directing the Shree Jaagnnatha Temple Administration, Puri to initiate a probe into the controversy surrounding the newly-built Jagannath Temple, officially termed as a cultural centre, at Digha in East Midnapore district of West Bengal is quite justified, according to fashion designer-turned-politician and the BJP legislator from West Bengal, Agnimitra Paul.

The Digha temple, which was inaugurated on April 30, has been officially referred as Shree Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre in the records of the West Bengal Government arguably to avoid controversies over spending public money from the state exchequer for the construction of any religious structure.

Now the main objection of the Odisha government is regarding calling the Jagannath Temple at Digha in West Bengal as 'Jagannath Dham'.

Justifying the objections of the Odisha government on this count, Paul told IANS on Saturday that the deliberately created controversies over the Digha structure are bound to offend the sentiments of traditional Hindus, especially the people from Odisha, regarding the Shree Jagannatha Dham temple at Puri.

"In West Bengal, several persons from Odisha reside. Mamata Banerjee had insulted them, Does she think that she would be able to do anything just because she is the Chief Minister? She will not follow the Indian Constitution and rather will try to impose her own. Previously, she had done the inauguration of Durga Puja idols much before the arrival of the auspicious period necessary for that. In the Hindu religious belief, there are four Dhams namely Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameswaram, and Puri. The Chief Minister or rather anyone has the right to construct Jagannath Temple. But that temple cannot be designated as a Dham," Paul told IANS.

She also said that such deliberately created controversies sound even more irritating in the backdrop of the attack, and atrocities on the Hindu population in West Bengal.

"Hindus are being killed in West Bengal. They are being evicted from their lands... Hindu houses and Hindu temples are being gutted. Is the Chief Minister trying to play a balancing act to justify her minority appeasement politics? So, what the Odisha government is doing is justified," Paul said.
Mumbai, May 3 : Actress Gehana Vasisth, who is a contestant on the reality show "House Arrest" hosted by Ajaz Khan has urged the government to file a case against Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh and Radhika Apte for exposing themselves on screen.

Gehana has posted a video saying, "I request you all, especially Priyanka Chaturvedi mam, and Chitra Wagh mam to please make it equal for everyone. Just like you have filed a case against Ajaz (Khan), the Ullu app, and the producers of the show "House Arrest", similarly please file a case against Priyanka Chopda, Radhika Apte, and Ranveer Singh."

"They are also the citizens of our respected country and are equally responsible for what they are showing to the public. They have fans in millions and the youth looks up to them. So kindly consider my request," she added.

Pointing out the hypocrisy, Gehana questioned why no action is taken against those who watch porn websites.

She further said that when Priyanka Chopra does nude scenes in Hollywood films, or Radhika Apte does a topless scene in "Sacred Games" and "Parched", or Mandakini did some bold scenes a long time ago,(Ram Teri Ganga Maili) why they were not accused of spreading obscenity in society?'

Gehana further requested to bring in censorship in the digital space, so that makers are obliged to follow the rules.

A massive controversy erupted after a clip went viral from "House Arrest" on social media where host Ajaz Khan was seen asking the contestants to enact sex positions on camera.

Gehana also said that during the task, the maximum exposure was of a bikini. She added that every contestant was also wearing extra clothes.

In response to the video, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued summons to Ajaz Khan and Vibhu Agarwal, CEO of Ullu App. The Ullu app has yet to comment on the controversy.
Bhopal, May 3 : The Madhya Pradesh government's decision to appoint Aruna Kumar as the new Director of Medical Education (DME) at Bhopal's Gandhi Medical College (GMC) has sparked a controversy.

To oppose Kumar's appointment as DME, Junior Doctors Association along with Medical Teachers Association (MTA) of GMC, state's biggest medical institution, on Saturday staged a protest.

Protesting doctors demanded that the state government should rollback its decision to appoint Kumar as GMC's DME, citing examples of suicide case of two junior doctors during her tenure as the Head of the Department (HoD) of gynaecology in 2023.

MTA General Secretary of GMC, Rakesh Malviya said that Aruna Kumar was removed from GMC on two occasions due to bad behaviour with her staff.

Several doctors and other staff members have complained against Kumar's bad behaviour.

"Aruna Kumar was removed from the post of HoD of gynaecology department after a junior doctor Bala Maheshwari ended her life by suicide at GMC's hostel. She was removed from the post following the intervention of Union Health Minister in 2023. We are surprised with the state government's decision to appoint her as new DME," Malviya told IANS.

Malviya also told that a delegation of MTA has also met Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who is also the Health Minister of Madhya Pradesh, and have demanded to rollback its decision.

"Today's protest was just an indication, and if the government not takes back its decision, all junior doctors and other medical staffs will go on indefinite strike, and then the government will be responsible for disturbance in medical services at GMC," he added.

During the protest at GMC, doctors were holding pamphlets and banners having photos of Bala Saraswati, a Hyderabad-based medical student, who had ended her life at GMC in July 2023.

Police had then recovered a suicide note (from WhatsApp message) in which she had mentioned that constant mental torture from Aruna Kumar forced her to end her life.

Later, in January 2024, a 27-year-old junior doctor Akanksha Maheswari, a resident of Gwalior, had also died by suicide and she had also blamed the toxic culture at GMC.

Following these incidents, Aruna Kumar was removed from the post of HoD (gynaecology), however, she was reinstated as the HoD of obstetrics and gynaecology few months later.
Bhopal, May 3 : Four persons, including two children of a family, were killed in a road accident in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district.

Bhopal, May 3 (IANS) Four persons, including two children of a family, were killed in a road accident in Madhya Pradeshas Shivpuri district.

The collision occurred when a car struck a motorcycle carrying two adults and two young children, leading to a fatal accident. The incident took place near a petrol pump in the Rannaud police station area of the district on Saturday.

Following the accident, the bodies were sent for post-mortem examination before being handed over to their grieving relatives. The driver of the car fled the scene immediately after the crash, prompting the police to launch a manhunt to apprehend him, police said.

According to police reports, the deceased were all part of the same family. The victims included the head of the household, his son, and his two granddaughters. They were residents of Khorana village, located within the Rannaud police station jurisdiction.

The deceased have been identified as Kishan Lal, aged 57, his son Siyaram, 30, and his two granddaughters, Kara, 4, and Poonam, 6.

Reports indicate that the tragedy stemmed from a domestic dispute. Siyaram Adivasi had an argument with his wife, after which she left their home along with their daughters and went to her maternal residence. Determined to bring them back, Siyaram and his father, Kishan Lal Adivasi, headed to the Rannaud bus stand in an attempt to reunite their family. However, Siyaramas wife refused to return with them. Disheartened, Siyaram and his father decided to make their way back to their village with the children. It was during this return journey that the devastating accident occurred, police sources said.

Reports suggest that the vehicle bearing registration number MP06 CA 6045 is owned by a resident of Rannaud and was en route to a wedding celebration. Following the tragic accident, the passengers travelling in the car quickly switched to another vehicle that was trailing behind and departed the scene, the police source said.
Amritsar, May 4 : Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Sidhupur) have staged a protest against the Punjab government in the Khur Manian village of Punjab's Amritsar district.

The farmers have alleged that their crops are getting destroyed and the Aam Aadmi Party government is not giving any financial compensation for their crop produce.

While speaking to IANS, farmer leaders Jaswinder Singh and Gurwinder Singh of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) accused the state government of negligence towards the welfare of farmers.

The protesting farmers said, "The farmers targeted the AAP government for not providing proper arrangements for storing their crops in Khas Mandi."

"It is the rainy season, it is cloudy due to which wheat will get destroyed. The Punjab Ministers are sitting in their offices and making completely false promises. At the same time, all the wheat has got wet due to the rain throughout the night. The wheat that was brought from the markets on April 17 have not been purchased yet," they added.

The protesting farmers said, "Large quantity of wheat was destroyed due to a recent fire incident in Faridkot. The wheat got destroyed due to bad weather. We were very happy that our crop has been harvested. But now the crop is getting spoiled, so what is our fault, we are farmers. The government should come here and see what is happening to our crops? We are being harassed. We sit in the market the whole day, but our crop has not been purchased yet. By selling this crop, we will get our children admitted to school. We will have to return the money from whom we borrowed it. If our crops remain unsold, then how will we get the money to pay?"

Meanwhile, Navdeep Kaur, Attari market committee Secretary, said, "An illegal market has been set up at a house in Khur Manian village of Khasa, whose license has been cancelled for 15 days due to which it cannot be purchased. If farmers are facing any problem in Hoshiar Nagar village, it will be resolved soon and farmers will be informed about it soon. Farmers will not be allowed to face any kind of inconvenience."
Amritsar, May 4 : The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Sidhupur) have staged a protest against the Punjab government in the Khur Manian village of Punjab's Amritsar district and accused the latter of not giving any financial compensation for their crop produce which were destroyed by the incessant rains which lashed the state and several other parts of the country.

While speaking to IANS on Saturday, farmer leaders Jaswinder Singh and Gurwinder Singh of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) accused the state government of negligence towards the welfare of farmers.

The protesting farmers said, "The farmers targeted the AAP government for not providing proper arrangements for storing their crops in Khas Mandi."

"It is the rainy season, it is cloudy due to which wheat will get destroyed. The Punjab Ministers are sitting in their offices and making completely false promises. At the same time, all the wheat has got wet due to the rain throughout the night. The wheat that was brought from the markets on April 17 have not been purchased yet," they added.

The protesting farmers said, "Large quantity of wheat was destroyed due to a recent fire incident in Faridkot. The wheat got destroyed due to bad weather. We were very happy that our crop has been harvested. But now the crop is getting spoiled, so what is our fault, we are farmers. The government should come here and see what is happening to our crops? We are being harassed. We sit in the market the whole day, but our crop has not been purchased yet. By selling this crop, we will get our children admitted to school. We will have to return the money from whom we borrowed it. If our crops remain unsold, then how will we get the money to pay?"

Meanwhile, Navdeep Kaur, Attari market committee Secretary, said, "An illegal market has been set up at a house in Khur Manian village of Khasa, whose license has been cancelled for 15 days due to which it cannot be purchased. If farmers are facing any problem in Hoshiar Nagar village, it will be resolved soon and farmers will be informed about it soon. Farmers will not be allowed to face any kind of inconvenience."
Tehran, May 4 : Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has condemned a drone attack, allegedly carried out by Israel, on a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

He referred to an incident reported by the international non-governmental organisation Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which said on Saturday that its Gaza aid ship "Conscience" was bombed by drones in international waters off the coast of Malta early on Friday, blaming the strike on Israel.

In a statement released by his Ministry, Baghaei said the attack on the ship was carried out in line with Israel's plan against the Palestinians and to ensure the continuation of the Gaza aid blockade, calling it "a clear crime against Palestinians and a terrorist action against maritime security and safety".

He stressed that depriving Gaza residents, particularly children, women, and the wounded, of food, water, and medicines was considered "a clear instance of war crimes and crimes against humanity".

Baghaei also described the US and other supporters of Israel as accomplices in "these crimes," voicing Iran's solidarity with the "oppressed" Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, Xinhua news agency reported.

The blockade also constitutes a breach of the principles of international humanitarian law, he added.

Reiterating Iran's solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson called on the international community and Islamic countries to firmly condemn Israel and hold the regime's officials accountable for their actions.

On Friday, Malta's government confirmed that maritime authorities had received a distress call from a vessel outside the country's territorial waters and offered immediate assistance.

Local media said the vessel's crew members were rescued, with no injuries reported.

The media reports noted that an Israeli military aircraft hovered around Malta hours before the vessel was attacked.

Israel has not officially commented on the incident or related reports so far.

In March, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, banned aid deliveries into Gaza in a move he said was meant to pressure the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas into accepting an extension of the first stage of the ceasefire deal, which Israel broke.

The Israeli Minister in-charge of military affairs, Israel Katz, recently said no preparations were being made to bring supplies into the strip.

He added that the Israeli government would not allow any humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, confirming that food is being used as a tool of pressure against Hamas.

Israel has blocked the entry of food, medicine, and other critical supplies to Gaza for weeks.

Aid agencies say there are concerns of a full-blown famine taking hold across the blockaded Palestinian territory.
Gaza, May 4 : Dozens of journalists held a protest in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, urging the international community to protect media workers from repeated Israeli targeting.

The protest was organised by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate to mark World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The journalists gathered at the Nasser Medical Complex in the city and held up signs reading "Stop Killing Journalists".

In a speech during the protest, Tahseen Al-Astal, the syndicate's deputy head, accused Israel of committing "a crime against Palestinian journalists by directly killing them and destroying their homes".

Al-Astal considered the media situation in Gaza to be among "the most dangerous in the world, given the complete absence of any safety guarantees, the destruction of press institutions, and the deprivation of the most basic work tools".

The syndicate reported that 210 Palestinian journalists have been killed in the last 17 months of the Israeli war on Gaza, with hundreds wounded or losing family members, along with the destruction of media facilities and thousands of violations against media workers in the West Bank.

Saying the Israeli occupation is fully responsible for these crimes, he called on international institutions to take serious action to "hold the killers accountable".

Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, Israel has killed 212 journalists, injured 409, and arrested 48 others, the Hamas-run media office reported on Saturday.

The journalist body demanded the immediate release of all imprisoned journalists and international action to hold Israeli leaders accountable for crimes against media personnel.

"The world celebrates press freedom while Palestine endures unprecedented attacks on journalism," it said.

World Press Freedom Day was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in December 1993 to defend media independence worldwide.

This year's commemoration comes amid what media freedom organisations describe as the deadliest period for journalists in modern history, with Palestinian reporters bearing the brunt of the casualties.

The Israeli army renewed its assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering a January 19 ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.
Zelenskyy on meeting with Trump in the Vatican: Best discussion we've ever had

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

President Zelenskyy described his recent talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump on April 26 in the Vatican  where both attended the farewell service for Pope Francis  as the most productive discussion they've had to date.

"I believe our conversation with President Trump was the best we've had so far. It may have been the shortest, but it was the most substantive. With all due respect to our teams, I think the one-on-one format worked best. We had the right atmosphere for a real dialogue," Zelenskyy told reporters.

"I'm confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump started to see things a bit differently. We'll see. It's his vision, his choice, of course. But I believe we conducted ourselves constructively and with integrity, which is important," he added.

As reported earlier, Zelenskyy and Trump met last Saturday. Media outlets published photos showing the two leaders seated opposite each other in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
Aden : , May 4 (IANS) Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak has submitted his resignation to the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), citing constitutional constraints and obstructions that hampered his reform initiatives.

In his official resignation statement on Saturday, the outgoing premier revealed he had faced "lots of difficulties," including being unable to reshuffle the government and exercise his constitutional powers to implement necessary institutional reforms, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I have just met with the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, and resigned as Prime Minister," Bin Mubarak posted on X, also sharing his resignation letter.

"I could not exercise my constitutional powers and take the necessary decisions to reform government institutions or implement rightful governmental changes," the letter said.

"Despite the challenges, we achieved significant financial savings for the state," he noted, pointing to more than $133.5 million saved in electricity fuel purchases costs within the past year.

The Prime Minister's resignation came as Yemen continues to face multiple challenges, including ongoing conflict with Houthi forces and economic instability.

Sources familiar with the matter indicated that "the growing tensions between bin Mubarak and PLC chief Rashad al-Alimi, had reached an impasse".

Prior to his resignation, 18 Cabinet Ministers signed a memorandum in April calling for his removal, highlighting severe fractures within the internationally-recognised government.

In recent days, there have been widespread protests in Aden and other government-controlled areas, with demonstrators voicing frustrations over the collapse of basic services, including electricity shortages, and the ongoing economic decline that has left millions struggling to meet their basic needs.

Bin Mubarak has held the premiership since February 5, 2024.

Prior to his appointment as Prime Minister, bin Mubarak served in several high-profile positions, including Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the US.

"The resignation reflects the profound governance challenges facing Yemen's legitimate authorities," said a senior government official speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Internal divisions have hampered effective response to the country's mounting crises."

Political analysts suggest the resignation may signal a forthcoming cabinet reshuffle as the PLC attempts to address governance failures and restore public confidence amid Yemen's protracted humanitarian catastrophe.

Yemen has been embroiled in civil conflict since 2014 when Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa, forcing the internationally-recognised government to relocate operations to Aden.
Love works in mysterious and sometimes messy waysjust ask Christine Pride. A few years ago, Pride, 48, got another shot at romance when she reconnected with two of her ex-boyfriends, both of whom she had first dated more than 20 years earlier.

Pride dated the men again, back-to-back, in 2020 and 2021and one of them, Ian, has been her partner ever since. We have this mentality in our society that time is constantly running outon your career, on your love lifeand thats such a nefarious message, Pride says over Zoom from her apartment in East Harlem. Reconnecting with her exes in middle age gave her an idea for a novel about a love triangle. Sometimes, to go forward, you have to go backward. So many people wonder what if about a past love. I thought, this is actually too good not to write about.

Prides heartfelt new novel, All the Men Ive Loved Again, out in July from Atria, is the story of Cora Belle, a smart and shy woman from Virginia, who (like the author) dates the same two men twice and must choose between them. Part coming-of-age story, part modern romance, its Prides first solo project. Shes also the coauthor, with Jo Piazza, of We Are Not Like Them (2021), a Good Morning America Book Club pick, and You Were Always Mine (2023). Her previous novels explore race, friendship, and motherhood, and have been translated into three languages, according to Atria.

Pride is also a 20-plus-year publishing veteranshes held editorial positions at Doubleday and Simon & Schuster, among other presseswho became a novelist at 42. As an editor, I really try to think about reaching the widest possible audience, she says. Its still radical to see a story about a Black heroine thats not centered on race, trauma, or tropes. I want All the Men Ive Loved Again to be universal enough that it doesnt matter what the characters look like. So its not the point of the story.

All the Men Ive Loved Again is about finding love, and how luck and timing, both bad and good, impact that search. Im primed to think of things in terms of fate and destiny, Pride says. I believe everything happens for a reason. Moving between 1999 and 2021, the novel follows wide-eyed Cora as she starts college, makes lifelong friendships, and searches for love. First she falls for Lincoln, a pretty boy who wants to be a lawyer, then Aaron, a photographer who leaves for Paris on a fellowship soon after they meet, and whom she gets to know through the letters they exchange. Cora eventually loses touch with both men but reconnects with them in adulthood: theyre successfuland still into her. Now more self-assured and working at a nonprofit, Cora must decide which guy is her soulmate.

One of the inspirations for this book, vibes-wise, was the movie Sliding Doors, Pride says. This idea that, at any given moment, any given decision could change the direction of your life.

Laura Brown, Prides editor, calls the author an incredible literary citizenone who mentors young Black women in publishing, has worked as a tutor at Dream Charter School in East Harlem, and always brings a personal touch to her fiction. Christine does a great job of taking real emotions that shes experienced and putting them on the page in a visceral and warm way. Shes gifted at making readers feel what her characters feel.

Pride found it especially fun to write about Coras college yearsa time when Destinys Child and TLC reigned, no one had cell phones, and handwritten notes trumped email. Nothing will make you feel older than a book set in the 90s, which I think of as my peak time, Pride says, laughing. I thought, Im basically writing historical fiction.

Born and raised in Silver Spring, Md., Pride describes herself as a classic Gen-X good girl who felt cocooned growing up. Her late father, John, who worked for the federal government, and mother, Sallie, a homemaker, were married for 60 years and instilled in her the importance of doing volunteer work. After receiving a BA in journalism in 1998 from the University of Missouri at Columbia, Pride moved to New York City in 2000 to work at the Family Center, a nonprofit that assists vulnerable families, and in 2003 began her career in publishing as an assistant at Doubledayin grand style. My first day was the day The Da Vinci Code went on sale, she recalls. We were having champagne toasts.

In 2017, Pride was working as an editor at Simon & Schuster when, on a lark, she asked one of her writers, Piazza, whod written a few bestsellers, if shed like to collaborate on a novel. A literary partnership was born, and the pair are currently cowriting their third novel. Christine is a great and loyal friend, Piazza says. I cant do this with anyone else. We have the same work ethic, and were both dedicated to getting things done.

For Pride, going solo with All the Men Ive Loved Again was scary but rewarding. Writing is exposing, she says. I had to learn to trust my instincts. Taking risks is what its all about, she notes. If she hadnt cowritten her first book, she wouldnt have started an Instagram account to promote it, and wouldnt have reconnected with Ian in 2021 on the platform. (Ian, incidentally, still had the letters Pride sent him in their 20s.) I never wouldve written this novel, because the premise wouldnt have existed. Its an interesting domino effect.

Pride dedicated her new novel to her father, who passed away last September. I got the copyedit of this book delivered the day after my father died, she says. He was a huge supporter of my writing. He would call me at the end of every chapter he read. Hes how I discovered my love of reading. She also credits her friends with sticking by her. I spent most of my adulthood single and childless, so my besties have been my everythingmy midnight phone calls, my dates to weddings.

These days, Pride is right where shes meant to be: writing fiction, uplifting her community through volunteerism (just like her parents taught her), and spreading positivity. Its important to stay inspired, she says. I hope my book reminds people that love does matter, and its not trivial to say that.

Elaine Szewczyks writing has appeared in McSweeneys and other publications. Shes the author of the novel Im with Stupid.
More than 1,600 independent bookstores nationwide participated in Independent Bookstore Day on April 26, according the American Booksellers Association, with many reporting sales levels comparable to, or higher than, those of the holiday season.

This years successes came in spite of some competition. TikTok Shop conducted a #BookRecs campaign April 2329 to align with IBD and World Book Day, Amazon held a massive book sale April 2328, and Barnes & Noble offered a 25% discount on preorders April 2325 on top of its regular discounts. Even so, most indies that spoke with PW said their IBD sales shattered previous one-day sales records.

Women and Children First in Chicago reported the biggest sales day in its 46-year history, with $3,000 rung up within the first hour. West of the Windy City, Andersons Bookshops, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, reported that Saturday sales at its Naperville location were up a whopping 261% over last yeardespite B&N opening a store only 800 feet away three days earlier.

Amazons sale, many booksellers suggested, may have actually motivated people to visit their local indies. Angela Schwesnedl, co-owner of Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis, said the stores IBD sales were 50% above last years, and that multiple people mentioned that they were pissed off about Amazons sale and shopping at independent stores because Amazon was such a bully. She added, The average customer may not feel like they can do much to fight Amazons predatory pricing, but lining up on IBD is one small thing they can do, and they showed up.

Cathy Fiebach, owner of Main Point Books in Wayne, Pa., said sales were up 35% over last year after the store publicized Amazons sale on social media. I had people come in angry and wanting to show they support us, Fiebach said.

An Amazon spokesperson said that the overlap was unintentional and that the dates were selected to accommodate additional countries participation in the sale. B&N did not respond to a request for comment.

Emilie Sommer, the buyer for East City Bookshop in Washington, D.C., said April 26 marked the stores best sales day ever. Though Sommer did not hear mention of Amazon or B&N, she suggested that our neighborhoods general displeasure with billionaires and their meddling in D.C. might be working in our favor, noting that Danny Caines How to Protect Bookstores and Why and How to Resist Amazon and Why were among customers top picks. East Citys weekend bestseller, by a large margin, was Emily Henrys Great Big Beautiful LifeReeses Book Clubs May pick and a top seller at many stores participating in IBD.

The ABA said more bookstores than ever partnered on crawls, doling out passport stamps for future discounts. Organized crawls ranged from four indies in Columbia, Mo., and five in central Kentucky to 55 in Chicagoland. Customers could visit 37 indies during the Twin Cities crawl, including four stops on one Minneapolis block; participants in Seattles 29-store Bookstore Day Passport Challenge had to take a ferry to Eagle Harbor Book Company on Bainbridge Island to collect a full set of stamps.

In New York City, the Nonbinarian Bookstore, which opened six months ago, presented medals to customers for whom the store was at least their 20th stop of the 26-store Brooklyn Bookstore Crawl. Everyone in the store would erupt into applause when a medal was awarded, said owner K. Kerimian. It was a really wholesome moment.

Seven Atlanta-area indies owned by Black women went big, celebrating IBD and collaborating on the inaugural Black Girl Book Fair, held outside Brave + Kind Books in Decatur. Julia Davis, owner of the Book Worm in Powder Springs, Ga., said the fair made the day her most successful and most fulfilling IBD yet.

Political figures even got in on IBD. Oregon governor Tina Kotek made whistle stops in Portland at Powells City of Books, Sunrise Books, and Third Eye Books. Meanwhile, San Franciscos Bookshop West Portal used IBD to engage in some grassroots activism, said buyer and special project manager Susan Tunis. Customers were encouraged to jot messages to their legislators on store-provided postcards, which the shop stamped and mailed on their behalf.

We are fortunate not to have issues with book banning in San Francisco, Tunis said. But library funding, First Amendment rights, and Amazons monopoly affect us all. 
Spirituality publishers note that the formats that appeal to religious believersdaily devotionals, Christian living guides, and poetic meditationsalso work well for those who eschew traditional faiths. In new and forthcoming books aimed at such readers, authors assert that spiritual experiences can occur anywhere, at any moment, on any given dayif one is open to them.

One title aiming to help readers open up is The Daily Artists Way: 366 Meditations for Creative Living (Nov.), an interactive guide that builds on Julia Camerons blockbuster inspirational 1992 title The Artists Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. St. Martins Essentials editor and publisher Joel Fotinos, who acquired the book, says Cameron doesnt tag her ideas to God or a higher power but rather defines spirituality as a connection to something within that is bigger than ourselves. Like religious devotionals, which usually offer a short author comment or prayer, a Bible quote, and an action prompt each day, The Daily Artists Way features a brief meditation from Cameron; a related quote from an author, philosopher, or even a rock star; and a prompt to get creativity cooking.

Another day-by-day approach is offered in Do/Reset/Meditate. Move Beyond Thinking. Find Clarity. out now from Do Books. Author Jill Lavender leads people of faith or no faith in Vedic meditation techniques. Miranda West, publisher of Do Books, says that while a religious person might trust that God has their back, a meditator might trust the universe or their own instincts. People who arent religious, West adds, still have a spiritual side that needs to be nurtured. We all want to feel anchored and grounded.

Watkinss Daily Glimmers (Aug.) is a pocket-size collection of more than 1,000 suggestions for spotting glimmersthree-second moments of joythat can brighten any day. Author Bridget McNulty writes that glimmers can be as simple as petting a purring cat. A glimmer may not be a religious experience, says commissioning editor Brittany Willis, but it could be described as a spiritual experience, because it connects the reader to the universe around them and back to themselves.

And Convergent brings two poetry collections to the spiritual-but-not-religious bookshelf. Make Believe: Poems for Hoping Again (out now) is by lawyer-turned-yoga-instructor Victoria Hutchins, who shares her views, poems, and yoga techniques on social media. Associate editor Leita Williams says Hutchinss poetry draws on childhood and nostalgia. Williams points to the poem god as imaginary friend in which, she says, the author aims to take some of the pressure off of talking to God, adding, Maybe the spiritual life doesnt always have to be so complicated and rigid, maybe a childlike faith is what our souls are really yearning for.

Editorial director Derek Reed says that A Rebellion of Care (July), the debut collection of poems and essays from Instagram poet David Gate, invites readers to care for our bodies, our communities, our environment, or our souls. Gate writes that creating art as a form of care is a kind of sacred act.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that regardless of the specific model of international security guarantees for Ukraine, the cornerstone is a powerful, capable Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"We've held meetings and discussions about a military contingent or a coalition  there are two different approaches. But in both cases, the key factor is a large Ukrainian army. Everyone understands this. A strong army is one that can defend itself. For us, that is truly the number one guarantee of security. And we're saying that openly," Zelenskyy told reporters.

He added that the two potential models involve either a significant international military presence or a smaller force that still signals allied commitment  particularly under something akin to NATO's Article 5.

"Either a substantial contingent, or a smaller one that shows presence  both with the possibility of invoking Article 5 [NATO's collective defense clause] or a similar arrangement. These are different formats," he explained.

According to Zelenskyy, if there is no American "backstop" (security guarantee), then a very large foreign military contingent will be needed  an expensive and complex route for all involved.

"There's also a model similar to Article 5, like Israel has  for example, an air force capable of defending the country. That's effectively America's backstop. When aggression comes from Russia or there are missile attacks, the United States joins in defense efforts, alongside other coalition members, much like what happened when Iran launched 800 missiles at Israel. Fighter jets scrambled, and so on," he said.

Zelenskyy also clarified that the issue of patroling is not up for debate. "No one's questioning whether air patrols are needed  everyone agrees they are, in any format. Constant patrols must be maintained, in specific numbers, 24/7. This has already been accepted in principle. It hasn't been formalized or signed yet, but it's being documented. So  strong army and patrols," he said.

Patrols, he explained, are tied to monitoring: "The form of monitoring will determine the type of patrols. This already works in the Baltic states  they know how it functions. For our partners, anything that's already operational elsewhere is easier to understand in terms of cost and logistics."

Zelenskyy acknowledged that most partner countries are reluctant to risk deploying troops to Ukraine due to the danger of direct military involvement, but there are some exceptions. "Not everyone, but most are cautious. There are a few 'hotheads' among our partners who are ready  we very much support their readiness," he said.

"There have been meetings regarding the coalition. We'll continue meeting in this direction. Everyone wants a ceasefire, and after that  to pursue active diplomatic steps. But if there's no ceasefire, what is there to talk about?" he added.

Zelenskyy also mentioned that former U.S. President Donald Trump had told him in their conversations that the agreement itself represents a form of security guarantee from the United States  "not a complete one, but a partial one."

"Our troops will carry out relevant actions with the Coalition of the Willing. This will be effective if there is a U.S. backstop. The Americans clearly understand that our entire coalition  whether it involves a large or small presence  requires some form of arrangement between Ukraine and our partners, especially the United States, like along the lines of Article 5. For example, even if the contingent is not large, there must be monitoring of airspace, waters, and land. If the presence is limited, then a U.S. backstop is needed  something similar to what they have with Israel," Zelenskyy concluded.
The Clarke Middle Health Center hosted its ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 1, welcoming a crowd of dozens of medical staff, students and community members to visit and tour the primary care teaching clinics new permanent location. The CMHCs prior location was between the campuses of Clarke Middle and Bettye Henderson Holston Elementary schools, with the new placement being inside the middle schools building.
Though Uber functions as a cab aggregator, the Delhi state commission ruled it should ensure timely and reliable delivery of services offered through its platform.

Kindly note the image has been published only for representational purposes.. Photograph: Kind courtesy Uber

Upendra Singh, a prominent doctor residing in New Delhi, had booked air tickets for himself and his wife, Preeti, to travel on Vistara Flight UK 913 from Delhi to Indore to attend the wedding function of a close friend.

To ensure timely arrival at the airport, they scheduled an Uber cab for November 19, 2022, at 3.15 am to transport them to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal 3.

Although Uber allotted a cab, the assigned driver, Daleep Yadav, failed to turn up. Singh's attempts to contact the driver or reach customer care were unsuccessful, as there was no response to his calls.

Ultimately, Singh was forced to hire a local taxi, which dropped the couple at the airport at 5:15 am.

Due to the delay, they missed their scheduled flight and had to book another one departing later in the evening at double the cost. They missed several ceremonies due to the total delay of nearly 12 hours.

Following the incident, the Singhs sent a legal notice to Uber requesting a resolution of the issue. However, the company failed to respond.

Consequently, they filed a complaint before the Delhi District Consumer Commission. Uber neither appeared in the proceedings nor submitted a reply to contest the case.

The matter was decided ex parte, and Uber was held liable to pay Rs 24,100 towards the cost of fresh air tickets for the evening flight.

In addition, the company was directed to pay Rs 30,000 as lump sum compensation for mental agony and litigation expenses.

The commission allowed 45 days for compliance with the order, after which any delay would attract interest at 6 per cent.

Uber challenged the order before the Delhi State Commission, arguing that it had not received notice of the proceedings at its registered or corporate offices.

The company contended that the order was not proper, arguing it merely functioned as a cab aggregator providing a platform to connect independent drivers with passengers.

It argued that it could not be held responsible for cancellations, refusals, or delays caused by a driver.

Uber further submitted that Singh contributed to the delay by searching for a local taxi during odd hours instead of requesting another cab through the Uber App.

The State Commission, however, found that the notice had been duly delivered via both registered and speed post, as supported by an affidavit of service.

It observed that although Uber may operate as a cab aggregator, it has an obligation to ensure that services facilitated through its platform are delivered as promised and on time.

The Commission noted that despite the couple waiting for a considerable duration, there was no communication from either the company or the driver, so the Singhs could not be faulted for not making another booking through the app under such circumstances.

The Commission castigated Uber for its failure to provide a timely and reliable alternative, which undermined the promise of a seamless customer experience.

The Commission concluded that Uber's failure to ensure the driver's punctual arrival resulted in the missed flight and additional expenses incurred by the Singhs.

It upheld the earlier finding that Uber was guilty of deficiency in service and dismissed the appeal.

Jehangir B Gai is a consumer activist.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'Amaravati will be a game changer for Andhra Pradesh.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates various projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati, May 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Giving a fresh lease of life to Andhra Pradesh's dream capital project of Amaravati, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore (Rs 580 billion) for the state.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the country's first Quantum Valley, being built in Amaravati, would be inaugurated on January 1, 2026.

'I see Amaravati as a fulfilled dream. Amaravati is a land where tradition and development walk hand in hand,' the PM said, launching the new projects.

Of the Rs 58,000 crore, around Rs 49,000 crore (Rs 490 billion) is earmarked for 74 major infrastructure projects in Amaravati. This includes construction of the AP legislative assembly, secretariat, high court, and residences for judicial officers.

'Today we have laid the foundation stone and inaugurated works worth Rs 60,000 crore. These are not just concrete structures -- they are a strong foundation for the aspirations of Andhra Pradesh and the vision of a developed India.

'The name of Indra's capital was Amaravati -- Now, Amaravati is the capital of our Andhra Pradesh. This is no coincidence; I declare it a sign of good fortune and a beginning for the construction of Swarnandhra (Golden Andhra),' Modi said.

IMAGE: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu clearly likes what Modi is telling him at the inauguration of various projects in Amaravati, May 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

As Gujarat CM, Modi said he used to closely monitor Naidu's work in developing the IT sector in Hyderabad. 'I studied it through officials and understood the process, and today, I'm able to implement those learnings across the entire country.'

'In this nation, when it comes to executing large-scale projects, completing them quickly, and ensuring top-notch quality, there is no one better than Naidu.'

Modi had laid the foundation stone of the project way back in 2015. However, it got stuck during the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party government.

IMAGE: Modi, Andhra Pradesh Governor Syed Abdul Nazeer, Naidu, AP Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and other at the inauguration of various projects in Amaravati, May 2, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

A senior government source told Business Standard that around Rs 37,702 crore (Rs 377.02 billion) of the contracts for Amaravati's development, out of the total estimated cost of around Rs 64,910 crore (Rs 649.10 billion) in 2024, have already been awarded.

The Union government has committed Rs 15,000 crore (Rs 150 billion) in assistance to Amaravati so far in 2024 and has facilitated support from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank with support of $800 million each.

Around 25 per cent of the Rs 13,700 crore (Rs 137 billion) is scheduled for advance disbursement. Hudco has signed a deal to provide a Rs 11,000 crore (Rs 110 billion) loan, and discussions are in the pipeline with Germany's KfW Development Bank for another Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion).

***

IMAGE: Aerial view of Dhyana Buddha statue in Amaravati Photograph: Kind courtesy iMahesh/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

Amaravati, nestled along the southern banks of the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh, is in a festive mood.

Across the 20-kilometre stretch from Vijayawada to the state's futuristic capital, everything -- from the lush green trees and harvest-ready fields to the buildings -- points to one thing: The arrival of Amaravati 2.0.

It is a kind of rebirth for the 2,300-year-old city, once the cradle of divine Buddhist culture and a seat of dynasties like the Ikshvakus, Pallavas, and Cholas.

The city was dubbed a 'ghost town' during the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party government's tenure.

Locals and industry stakeholders had given up on the project after the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government floated the three-capital theory.

Jagan's idea was to have Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, and Amaravati and Kurnool as the legislative and judicial capitals, respectively.

Roads and unfinished tall buildings, once overrun with wild shrubs and weeds until the assembly elections in June 2024, have since been cleared.

Bumpy roads have been reconstructed, and bylanes that looked deserted and haunting just 10 months ago are now vibrant once again.

A senior government source told Business Standard that a lion's share of the contracts for Amaravati's development, estimated to cost around Rs 64,910 crore in 2024, has already been awarded.

"Various works related to trunk infrastructure, flood mitigation, neighbourhood development, government offices, and housing, amounting to Rs 37,702 crore, have been awarded and are in the mobilisation stage," the source said.



On the other hand, there is a sense of joy among locals, whose dreams are back on track.

"The entire 50,000 acres had become a jungle over the past four years. We are eagerly waiting to welcome the PM. Amaravati will be a game changer for Andhra Pradesh," said Puvvada Sudhakara Rao of the Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi Joint Action Committee.

A key indicator of this revival is the real estate sector, which is seeing a V-shaped recovery in prices.

After falling to Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000 per square yard during the YSRCP regime, prices have more than doubled, now ranging between Rs 35,000 and Rs 65,000 per square yard, depending on the location, Rao said.



According to government sources, funding is already in place, and further sources are being explored.





"Amaravati is set to become the index of Andhra Pradesh's growth. The industry will develop rapidly once infrastructure is in place," said Raja Sekhar Bahudodda, general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation.

"The government has announced several policy measures to ease norms for industry and ensure the availability of incentives. This will become the next major destination for global majors in information technology and artificial intelligence," Bahudodda added.

"Startups are also gaining prominence, indicating Amaravati may become a future startup hub," he said.

Last month, a delegation from the Singapore government visited Amaravati and assured support to revive its partnership, which got derailed during the YSRCP government's tenure.

Between 2014 and 2019, Singapore had played a key role in the development of the Amaravati greenfield capital.

Already, around 130 government and public-sector offices have been allotted land in Amaravati to begin operations.

In addition, public-private partnership (PPP) projects are being invited and scrutinised on a case-by-case basis for potential memoranda of understanding.

The government has stated that the Amaravati project is expected to be completed within three years.



"A lot of time was lost for Amaravati due to political reasons. Chandrababu Naidu is known for attracting investors, and many investments are already taking place in and around the capital city," said Rama Krishna Sangem, a veteran journalist and political analyst.

"When he was chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, he brought in major players like Microsoft and other global corporations. The same model is now being replicated in Amaravati," Sangem added.

"Naidu will not waste time now."

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The post-to-post small arms firing between India and Pakistani troops continued in different sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the ninth consecutive night, officials said on Saturday.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo

However, there was no casualty in the border skirmishes initiated by Pakistan troops in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

This was the nine consecutive nights of unprovoked firing from across the border, which had mostly restricted to LoC.

There was only one incident of firing along the International Border (IB).

Firing between the two sides comes amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.

"During the night of May 2 and 3, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

"Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately," a defence spokesman said.

Civilians living along the LoC and IB have begun cleaning their community and individual bunkers to make them habitable in case of an escalation to shelling.

Since the night of April 24, just hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following a 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.

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.

On April 24, 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.
The Central Reserve Police Force has dismissed from service its jawan Munir Ahmed for "concealing" his marriage with a Pakistani woman as his action was found to be detrimental to national security, official sources said Saturday.

Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard near Dal Lake in Srinagar in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack.

The jawan was last posted with the 41st battalion of paramilitary CRPF, the lead internal security force of the country.

He was "dismissed from service" under the rules that do not require conducting an enquiry, official sources told PTI.

"Munir Ahmed has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national and knowingly harbouring her beyond the validity of her visa.

"His actions were found to be in violation of service conduct and detrimental to national security," CRPF spokesperson Deputy Inspector General (DIG) M Dhinakaran said.

Ahmed's marriage with Menal Khan came to light after India asked Pakistani nationals to leave the country as part of diplomatic measures taken in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 persons were killed.

The two got married over a video call on May 24 last year.

A CRPF probe found the jawan had "not intimated" his wedding and her overstaying in India to the authorities concerned.
Twice every 12 days, the NISAR satellite will scan nearly all of earth's land and ice surfaces to measure changes in the planet's ecosystems, growth and retreat of its land and sea ice, and deformation of its crust.

IMAGE: Work on the NISAR satellite has been completed at the ISRO Satellite Integration and Testing Establishment in Bengaluru, and preparations are under way to transport it to the launch site at the agency's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Photograph: Kind courtesy nisar.jpl.nasa.gov

ISRO is gearing up for the June launch of the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, a joint initiative of India and the US.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) -- code-named GSLV-F16 -- will orbit NISAR sometime this June.

ISRO began the launch campaign activities at Sriharikota in the first week of April.

After the completion of work related to NISAR at ISRO's Satellite Integration and Testing Establishment located in Bengaluru, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had said the two countries are reviewing the launch date.

Changing Goal Posts

The NISAR launch has been changed a couple of times owing to various reasons. ISRO had earlier said the NISAR satellite would be launched in 2022 or early 2023.

ISRO and NASA signed an equal partnership on September 30, 2014 to collaborate on and launch NISAR.

SAR - Not For Surveillance

NISAR is a first-of-a-kind dual-band radar satellite that will measure land deformation from earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes, producing data for science and disaster response.

It will track how much glaciers and ice sheets are advancing or retreating and it will monitor growth and loss of forests and wetlands for insights on the global carbon cycle.

Twice every 12 days, the NISAR satellite will scan nearly all of earth's land and ice surfaces to measure changes in the planet's ecosystems, growth and retreat of its land and sea ice, and deformation of its crust.

The data gathered will assist in tasks as infrastructure monitoring, disaster response, biomass assessment, and agricultural management.

ISRO identified science and applications that were complementary to the primary mission objectives: Agricultural monitoring and characteriSation, landslide studies, Himalayan glacier studies, soil moisture, coastal processes, coastal winds, and monitoring hazards.

Though NISAR has the SAR (synthetic aperture radar), a former ISRO chairman had earlier said NISAR will not be used for surveillance and will be used for earth observation.

Under this collaborative project, NASA is responsible for providing the L-Band SAR payload system and the Indian agency will supply S-Band SAR payload.

Both the SAR systems will make use of a large size (about 12m diameter) common unfurlable reflector antenna.

That apart, NASA also provides engineering payloads, including a payload data subsystem, a high-rate science downlink system, GPS receivers and a solid state recorder.

The spacecraft bus, the S-band radar, launch vehicle and associated launch services are provided by ISRO.

NISAR will be the first earth-observing satellite with two kinds of radar -- an L-band system with a 10-inch (25-centimeter) wavelength and an S-band system with a 4-inch (10-centimeter) wavelength.

Whether microwaves reflect or penetrate an object depends on their wavelength.

Shorter wavelengths are more sensitive to smaller objects such as leaves and rough surfaces, whereas longer wavelengths are more reactive with larger structures like boulders and tree trunks.

So NISAR's two radar signals will react differently to some features on earth's surface.

By taking advantage of what each signal is or isn't sensitive to, researchers can study a broader range of features than they could with either radar on its own, observing the same features with different wavelengths.

The NISAR observatory carries a 12m wide deployable mesh reflector mounted onto a deployable 9m boom developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory which shall be used by both-JPL-NASA developed L-Band SAR payload system and ISRO developed S-Band SAR payload.

After the successful in-orbit checkout of the satellite, the science operations phase will start and extend for three years and contain all data collection required to achieve the L1 science objectives.

During this phase, the science orbit will be maintained via regular maneuvers, scheduled to avoid or minimise conicts with science observations.

Extensive calibration and validation activities will take place throughout the first five months, with yearly updates of 1-month duration.

Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at venkatacharijagannathan@gmail.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Pakistan on Saturday announced that it has conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System  a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km, amid heightened tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack.

IMAGE: The Pakistani army said the missile launch was part of Exercise INDUS. Photograph: X

The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features, the army said in a statement.

The army said the missile launch was part of Exercise INDUS without giving details about the exercise.

The training launch was witnessed by the Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan's strategic organisations.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and services chiefs extended their congratulations to the participating troops, scientists, and engineers.

They expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness and technical proficiency of Pakistan's Strategic Forces to ensure credible minimum deterrence and safeguard national security against any aggression.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused the Congress of repeatedly supplying "oxygen" to Pakistan, and slammed the opposition party for its leader Charanjit Singh Channi's remarks questioning the veracity of Balakot air strikes after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.

IMAGE: BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra addreses a press conferen in New Delhi. Photograph: @sambitswaraj/X

"Outside it is the Congress Working Committee but inside it acts like Pakistan Working Committee," BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged in a press conference.

Patra said it has become a pattern with the Congress that its resolutions speak in one voice, while several of its leaders speak in another.

He claimed that the Congress is full of pro-Pakistan leaders who make statements against India's interests, and mocked the party for its letter that had advised its functionaries to toe the official line on the issue.

The Congress Working Committee, the key organisation body of the party, passed a resolution on Friday asking the Centre to act with firmness and clarity to teach Pakistan a lesson for its continued export of terror to India.

Patra told reporters that immediately after the CWC passed the resolution Channi held a "parallel" press conference in which he questioned the genuineness of India's air strike in Balakot after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack and also taunted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He told reporters, "The Congress spares no occasion to supply oxygen to the Pakistani army and terrorists and to boost their morale."

Referring to the Pulwama attack, Channi said 40 Indian soldiers were killed and when elections were held, the government boasted of action.

"But we have never seen where in Pakistan the strikes were done and where people were killed. If someone threw a bomb in our country, will people not know? They claim to have conducted surgical strikes against Pakistan but nothing had happened. Surgical strikes were not seen anywhere and no one knew about them," the former Punjab chief minister said.

Asked if he had sought proof of those strikes, he said, "I have always been demanding that." He, later, backtracked following the BJP's counterattack and said no proof was needed.

Patra, however, hit back saying the oxygen supplied to Pakistan cannot be taken back.

The BJP leader said opposition leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav and parties like AAP were cited by a Pakistani senator for their questioning of the Modi government's stand, and added that Congress's Rahul Gandhi is now trying to join them in getting praise in the neighbouring country.

Patra referred to other controversial comments of several Congress leaders related to the Pahalgam terror attack to slam the party over a gap in its official pronouncements and its members' public comments.

He named Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Maharashtra MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, Himachal Pradesh minister Inder Singh, and Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra for allegedly raising issues on the terror attack, which left at least 26 civilians, mostly tourists dead.

Patra alleged that they have questioned the need for war and asked whether terrorists had indeed religiously profiled their victims, and said this raises questions about the sincerity of the Congress' official stand.

It is more than a coincidence and is in fact a pattern, he said.

The BJP leader asked if a string of such controversial remarks by Congress leaders has not lowered the morale of armed forces and Indians in general.

The Congress, he noted, has asked the government to spell out its strategy following the terror attack.

Patra said the moment Congress leaders are informed of the government's plans, they will seek to best each other in conveying the message to Pakistan.

In this context, he also took up Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's repeated attack on Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi over the latter's alleged visit to Pakistan. Patra noted that Sarma has also said that Gogoi's children are not Indian citizens.

At the press conference, Patra flayed the Congress for claiming credit for the government's announcement of the caste census, saying the party in its over 60-year stint in power never carried out the exercise.

But the Modi dispensation will carry out independent India's first such caste enumeration exercise, he said.

It is like the slogans of Congress prime ministers on removing poverty, Patra said, adding that the Modi government is, however, succeeding in it.

Amid a row over the name 'Jagannath Dham' given to the newly constructed temple in Digha in West Bengal, Patra insisted that there can be only one Jagannath temple, which exists in Odisha's Puri, a constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha.
United States President Donald Trump has posted a seemingly AI generated photo of himself in papal attire on his social media sparking a duelling backlash and praise, Newsweek said on Saturday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Donald Trump on Truth

The image, which was also posted from the White House's social media handle, prompted many social media users to call it cosplaying as the next Pope comes days after Trump had jokingly said last week that he would be his own number one choice for the next pope.

In the Vatican, cardinals are set to begin on May 7 the process to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21. The US president was among the world leaders who attended his funeral at St Peter's Square on April 26.

The president posted the picture at 10:29 pm Friday, without a caption or comment. The post immediately garnered positive and negative reaction online, Newsweek said adding, it reached out to the Vatican via email soon after.

Earlier on April 29, Trump told a television reporter: I'd like to be pope. That would be my number one choice.

When asked who should replace Francis, Trump said, I have no preference, but added: I must say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who's very good, so we'll see what happens.

Meanwhile, Trump's image went viral on social media with scores of users coming up with jokes, memes and criticism of the president.

Reacting to the image posted on the White House's X account, Lepus (@LepusNox) was quick to point out how it was neither funny nor respectful. As President of the United States, posting a picture of himself as Pope a few days after the Pope's death is neither funny, nor does it present statesmanship and respectful behaviour. Rather, it shows the boundless arrogance and childish behaviour of a man who believes he is above everything, can get away with anything and is the head of everyone.

The newsportal quoted comedian Terrance K Williams's post on X, which said: Pope Trump... Lol our President just posted this. He's trolling because he knows the media is going to flip out. Love it Actually I love the sound of King Trump, the first of his name.

Melanie D'Arrigo, executive director of the Campaign for New York Health and former Democratic congressional candidate, also took to X saying, The guy who broke all 10 commandments is posting pictures of himself cosplaying as the next Pope.

An X user, Average Aussie Egyptologist (Therese Clarke) (@AUSegyptology) called it truly disgraceful and an insult to the late Pope Francis.

I can take lots of jokes about religion, but this is truly disgraceful - an insult to the late Pope Francis. It is on Donald Trump's approved Instagram account. The man couldn't even follow the protocols advised by the Holy See, fell asleep during the funeral mass and now does this, she said.
Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has said he is ready to wage war for the country against Pakistan.

IMAGE: Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Photograph: @BZZameerAhmedK/X

The Minister for Housing, Waqf, and Minority Affairs in the Siddaramaiah-led government claimed that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were to give him a suicide bomb, he would tie it to himself and go to Pakistan to fight.

"I have said this several timeswe are Indians and Hindustanis. We have no relation with Pakistan. We are ready to wage war (against Pakistan). As a minister, I'm ready to go if I'm sent to wage war. I will go and fight for the country. Let's go," Khan said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters here, he claimed, "If needed, I will go with a suicide bomb. I'm not saying this as a joke or out of josh. If the country needs me, let Narendra Modi and Amit Shah give me a suicide bombI swear on Allah (the God), I will tie it and go to Pakistan."

Meanwhile, reacting to Khan's statement, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called it "childish".

"Believe in the military and stay quietthat's enough. You don't need to make speeches or go there. Have faith in our soldiers and intelligence agencies, and remain silent. That will be your biggest service to the country," he said.

"Ensuring that such statements do not lower the morale of our soldiers will be Zameer's greatest service. Big namaskar to Zameer and his party if they just keep quiet," Joshi added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also voiced hope that the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) will ratify the agreement signed with the United States, noting that any lawmaker who fails to support it will bear personal responsibility.

"This morning a member of Parliament asked me what I thought. I believe this is a very important matter today. Everything that could be done regarding the agreement has been done professionally by officials and lawyers from both countries. If any MPs refuse to vote for it, I believe that will be their problem alone  they simply don't want to support it. But I hope the agreement will be ratified," Zelenskyy told reporters.
Mariam Nikuradze holds an unofficial record among Georgian journalists: None has racked up as many fines as she has while covering daily protests since November.

"You get a phone call. They tell you the date you are fined for and the reason," she says.

The fines, which dozens of other Georgian journalists say they also have received, are for allegedly blocking roads.

In some cases, protesters had blocked a road, and the journalists were there to carry out reporting duties. In others, the police cordoned off the streets themselves, trapping both protesters and journalists alike.

Four reporters from RFE/RL's Georgian Service are among those who have been fined, often receiving notifications of the penalties by text message.

Nikuradze, who is a co-founder of Open Caucasus Media, says the fines are just a small part of a wider strategy of media suppression in Georgia.

"I think the idea was to scare us," Nikuradze told RFE/RL ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. "But at the end of the day, I'm going to do my job."

Nikuradze said she now owes more than $7,000 -- more than six times the average monthly salary in Georgia -- for four fines which, so far, she has refused to pay.

Georgia's Foreign Agent Law

She says that while she is not worried about the rising penalties she faces, she is concerned about Georgia's new foreign agent legislation.

OC Media receives foreign funding but she has refused to register it as a foreign agent.

"It means I could go to jail for five years. But I have already made my peace with it," Nikuradze said.

"It has never been so unsafe to be a journalist in Georgia," she added.

Georgia appears to be at an inflection point.

Once a poster child for democracy in the Caucasus, it has been slowly drifting out of its previously pro-Western orbit and moving toward alignment with Moscow.

Last year, the European Union suspended financial aid for Georgia and also froze high-level contacts with its government, citing democratic backsliding. EU membership talks were suspended.

This led to a wave of daily protests in cities across the country, which the authorities are now effectively fining journalists for covering. Foreign journalists have also been refused entry after landing in Tbilisi to report on the protests, which Nikuradze still covers on a daily basis.

In February, parliament, dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party and its satellite party People's Power, introduced changes to the Law on Broadcasting that strengthened censorship powers held by the national media regulator.

The amendments also restricted the vaguely defined term "foreign powers" from funding broadcasters or co-financing programs. "Foreign powers" include foreign governments, noncitizens, and foreign-based organizations.

'A Nightmare For Journalists'

The International Press Institute warned after the adoption of the legal changes that they were part of "a comprehensive government crackdown on the media" that has seen the "rapid deterioration of press freedom and of targeted violence against journalists, amid a broader democratic backsliding."

"The deterioration of press freedom in Georgia, amid rising authoritarianism, is extremely alarming-- and, if continued, will have wider implications for democracy in the region," it added.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has documented a collapse of media freedom in Georgia in recent years.

In it's latest World Press Freedom Index, released on May 2, Georgia ranked 114 out of 180 countries. Last year it was ranked 103, down from 77 in 2023.

"The Georgian Dream party has become a nightmare for journalists," RSF analyst Jeanne Cavelier told RFE/RL. "It has become impossible to work freely and safely in Georgia."

There has also been widespread criticism from Western countries of Georgia's treatment of the media.

In December, a group of media organizations including the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), PEN International, and RSF sent an open letter to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen raising the alarm about a "brutal crackdown on the media in Georgia."

There have been many reports of journalists being attacked while covering protests. including an RFE/RL reporter.

Nikuradze said that at first uniformed police were responsible but that later it was "masked guys in black without any identification."

She herself recounts being knocked off a wall after being targeted with water canon, being slammed against a wall by a cop, and other incidents.

The cause celebre of Georgian journalism is Mzia Amaglobeli, who was arrested in January for allegedly slapping a police officer during an altercation in Batumi. A court ruled on April 28 to keep her in custody as legal proceedings continue.

Amaglobeli, a veteran Georgian journalist and the founder and director of two of the country's most-prominent independent media organizations, could face up to seven years in jail for the slap, which, according to evidence given in court by the local police chief, left "no visual damage, no bleeding."

Nikuradze is bleak about the way things are heading for journalists in Georgia.

"We are counting our last months of being able to go in the street and actually report the protests," she said.
Mariam Nikuradze holds the unofficial record among Georgian journalists for fines received while covering daily protests amid an intensifying crackdown on the media. I think that we are counting our last months as, you know, being able to go in the street and actually report," she says.
The Pakistani military reported that it had test fired a ballistic missile on May 3, as the country squares off with India following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Video released by the army showed the missile streaking into the sky as soldiers looked on, before shouting joyful slogans.

The military said they had tested an Abdali surface-to-surface missile system, which has a range of 450 kilometers.

"The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features," the Pakistani military said.

The two countries have been locked in a standoff since militants killed 26 people in the Himalayan mountain town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22.

The attack has sparked widespread outrage across India and brought nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan to the brink of conflict.

India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack and the two countries militaries have exchanged fire across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in Kashmir, which both sides claim sovereignty over.

On April 30, Pakistan said an Indian attack was imminent within the next 24-36 hours, but no attack materialized.

In recent days, Pakistan has asked Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help ease tensions with India. But the ballistic missile launch may rekindle them.

Prior to the test, India had warned that it would be a reckless act and a provocation. There was no immediate response to the test taking place on May 3.

Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the scientists and engineers involved in the test, according to the Pakistani statement.

Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali told the Associated Press that the Abdali missile was named after a prominent Muslim conqueror of India, also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani, underlining its symbolic significance.



The timing of this launch is critical in the current geopolitical context, he said, adding it was intended as a strategic signal to India after it had threatened to suspend a crucial water-sharing treaty.

Pakistan previously conducted a test launch in August 2024. This was a Shaheen II surface-to-surface ballistic missile, with a range of 2,000 kilometers, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

In October 2023, Pakistan also successfully conducted a test flight of the Ababbeel weapon system. At the time, the military said the missile system was aimed at strengthening deterrence and enhancing strategic stability in the region.
The Kremlin has said it wants Kyiv to give a clear answer to its call for a cease-fire lasting from May 8 to May 10 even as its forces continued to pound civilian targets in Ukraine.

We will, of course, await not ambiguous but definitive statements and, most importantly, actions aimed at deescalating the conflict over the public holidays," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

His comments came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the truce proposal as theater.

And they preceded a Russian attack near the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, reportedly killing two civilians.

Earlier, a major overnight Russian assault on Ukraine between May 2 and 3 targeted multiple regions with missiles and drones, according to local authorities.

The Ukrainian military reported that two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 183 strike and decoy drones had been launched at the Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, and Mykolayiv regions.

The northeastern city of Kharkiv, located near the Russian border, bore the brunt of the drone offensive. The city sustained hits at 12 locations across four districts on the evening of May 2, resulting in dozens of casualties.

One local woman whose apartment was damaged told RFE/RL that the overnight assault had given her "a nervous breakdown."

"Everything is broken, everything is destroyed," she said. "Many people are cut up."

The woman, who gave her name as Natalya, said her home was rocked by an explosion as she was about to go to bed.

"The only thing that saved me was perhaps the corner that I was behind and the blanket that I had over me -- or simple luck," she said.

"We are alive and well, that's important."

Local authorities said at least 51 people had been injured and that eight had been hospitalized. The victims included two girls, aged 11 and 16.

Moscow has denied allegations of deliberately striking civilian targets in Ukraine throughout the war, even though repeated attacks on hospitals, schools, energy facilities, and residential buildings have been documented.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian General Staff said 216 combat clashes had taken place at the front on May 2 and that more than a third of the fighting was recorded in the direction of Pokrovsk, with Ukrainian authorities saying they had repelled 83 attacks.

The area around the strategic town of Pokrovsk remains one of the heavily contested areas at the front with the largest number of combat clashes being recorded there over the past year.

Vadym Filashkin, head of Ukraine's Donetsk Regional Military Administration, said that in the town of Myrnohrad late on May 3, "the Russians killed a 56-year-old man and damaged six private houses. The second fatality was a 69-year-old resident of Komar."

Also, the correspondent of the Radio Liberty Donbas Realities project reported that a Russian attack on Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region led to fires breaking out in several private homes. Local authorities have not yet commented on the attack.

In Russia, the governor of the Krasnodar region said a Ukrainian drone attack had hit a residential building in Novorossiisk, on the Black Sea.

He said two adults and two children were injured.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 170 Ukrainian drones in various regions. The number included 96 in Russian-occupied Crimea. They also claimed to have destroyed eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles over the Black Sea.

Battlefield reports cannot be independently verified.

Russian pro-war blogs also reported the Ukrainian drone attacks. Two of them reported that a Russian Su-30 fighter was shot down over the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian intelligence service claimed it was the first time ever that an unmanned naval drone had shot down an enemy warplane. At least one Russian blogger also reported that this had happened.

WATCH: Footage shared on social media purportedly showing a drone downing an Su-30 warplane:

The fighting again underlined how US-led efforts to broker a cease-fire have stalled.

In the latest move, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested a three-day truce to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, running from May 8 to May 10.

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is ready for a 30-day truce as proposed by Washington.

Speaking to reporters on May 2, Zelenskyy said Putin's offer was aimed at making international guests feel safe at the annual Red Square parade on May 9.

Among those slated to attend are Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"We do not recommend visiting Moscow on May 9. Don't ask us for assurances. It's your choice to go there," Zelenskyy said.

With reporting by Current Time
The US State Department on May 2 approved a deal to provide training and equipment for F-16 fighter jets already in Ukraine.

The State Department said it notified Congress that it has given the nod for a $310.5 million sale to Ukraine that will include services to maintain the aircraft in addition to training and equipment.

"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.

Ukraine has previously received F-16 jets from US allies under a transfer authorized by former President Joe Biden's administration. Ukraine received its first deliveries of F-16s in mid-2024 after two years of pushing Biden to approve their transfer.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year announced the delivery of a fresh batch of jets but did not say how many were delivered.

The deal announced on May 2 -- which Ukraine will pay for -- comes after US President Donald Trump criticized the billions of dollars in military and economic support provided to Kyiv under the Biden administration.

Zelenskyy said F-16s were discussed on May 2 during a meeting on the development Ukraines fleet of military aircraft.

All the key issues were discussed: the F-16s that are already in Ukraine, the F-16s we expect in the near future, and the systemic solutions that will help us prepare and use our military aviation more effectively, he said on X. I thank everyone who is strengthening our actions in the skies.

The weapons and equipment pledged to Ukraine under Biden were mostly approved under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the president to approve rapid transfers to foreign countries from US military stockpiles.

These weapons and others purchased with US funds on behalf of Ukraine continue to flow.

The sale approved by the State Department on May 2 is separate and represents an actual weapons deal whose principal contractors include US defense contractors Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and BAE Systems, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The sale could include aircraft modifications and upgrades, flight training, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts, repair, ground handling equipment, classified software, classified publications and support, the statement said.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Ukrainian soldiers will join a British military procession next week in London marking the 80th anniversary of end of World War II in Europe, the UK government announced on May 3.

Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK armed forces members on May 5 as UK kicks off commemorations of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

The participation of the Ukrainians will symbolize "the global support for their continued fight for freedom" against Russia, the government said in a statement.

"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," Defense Minister John Healey said in the statement.

The procession, including soldiers on horseback and military bands, will begin in Parliament Square when Big Ben strikes midday and will conclude with a flyover featuring an aerobatic team and historic military aircraft.

Britain has various events planned for the anniversary. Next week's events in London will culminate on May 8 with a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey attended by the royal family.

May 8 is observed in Britain, France, the United States, and other countries as the date when the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany took effect in 1945. Russia, which fought the Nazis as part of the Soviet Union, marks the occasion on May 9.

Britain will observe a two-minute countrywide silence on May 8 at noon UK time to remember and thank those who fought for our freedom, the government said in a statement.

Britain has staunchly supported Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. It has provided billions of pounds in military aid and placed wide-ranging sanctions on Russian entities and individuals to punish Moscow for the conflict.

The Ukraine representatives in the VE Day march on May 5 will be soldiers deployed on Operation Interflex, the UK's training program for Ukrainian recruits with 12 partner nations.

The UK and partner nations have trained more than 54,000 Ukrainians in frontline combat skills.

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 British statement added.

"People from all over the world joined forces 80 years ago to defend freedom -- we must remember all of their sacrifices," World War II veteran Jack Mortimer, 101, said in a statement issued by the government. Mortimer is expected to be one of the veterans observing the military procession on May 5.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Vira Hyrych worked as a producer for RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service until April 28, 2022, when a Russian missile hit her home in Kyiv, killing her instantly.

She is one of dozens of journalists killed in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ukraine has suffered tens of thousands of civilian casualties during the last three years of fighting.

Among them, at least 117 media members have lost their lives during Moscows ongoing attacks on the country, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

One of them was Viktoria Roshchyna, a former freelancer for RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service who died in Russian captivity in 2024. When the 27-year-olds body was returned to Ukraine this year, it showed numerous signs of torture and was missing internal organs, according to reports.

Other journalists have been victims of attacks and violence during the conflict.

According to the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), a Kyiv-based nongovernmental organization meant to protect journalists rights, Moscow has committed some 830 crimes against journalists and media organizations in Ukraine. Thats in addition to at least 30 Ukrainian media workers who are currently in Russian custody.

Many journalists face serious risks when reporting from frontline areas.

RFE/RL correspondent Yevhenia Kytaiva-Rusetska was filming an interview with a Ukrainian soldier when a Russian rocket exploded nearby, severely injuring the fighter.

Kytaiva-Rusetska narrowly avoided being wounded and rushed to help the downed soldier. You grasp at whatever you remember from your first-aid courses and do anything, anything at all, to keep him alive, she said.

Emotional Toll

The war has also taken a heavy emotional toll on those who have witnessed the scale of human suffering.

Maryan Kushnir, an RFE/RL correspondent who has covered fierce fighting, says the "war is like watching your home burn and you can't do anything about it. After three years, I've had my fill of this war, and now I don't want to film it.

Financial survival is also a serious challenge for Ukrainian media during wartime.

Russia has shelled TV towers, launched cyberattacks, and destroyed media infrastructure and office buildings.

According to the IMI, this has contributed to 332 media outlets shutting down since February 2022, making it even more difficult for journalists in Ukraine to provide crucial war coverage.

Other media organizations have had to choose between financial survival and editorial independence. Since 2022, many Ukrainian media outlets have relied increasingly on grant funding to stay afloat, as subsidies and traditional revenue sources have dwindled.

Despite these overwhelming obstacles, however, Ukrainian journalists like Maryan Kushnir continue to show resilience, but many also say they are physically and emotionally exhausted.

Before the full-scale invasion, I thought my entire life would be dedicated to covering war, Kushnir says. These days, I don't want to think about it. I don't want to talk about it. But we can't stay silent now.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/13559

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that while various countries will play different roles in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, those who supported Russia will be excluded from the process.

"Those who helped Russia will definitely not be involved. That's a fact. How could they help destroy, only to now profit from rebuilding? That makes no sense at all," Zelenskyy said during a media briefing.

According to the president, priority for participation in reconstruction will be given to countries that supported Ukraine during the war.

"Certainly, financial support counts  providing weapons is financial assistance, whether it's arms, energy, or direct budgetary contributions to Ukraine. Many countries also directly funded specific regions, helping across the board. For example, Japan didn't provide weapons, but we're fully aware they contributed $15 billion to Ukraine's resilience, primarily in the energy sector. So there's a clear prioritization of countries, and they'll be the ones involved in the rebuilding," he explained.

Zelenskyy emphasized that this prioritization is due to the fact that "reconstruction won't be free" and therefore, European Union countries will be first in line.

"We're talking about money  specifically, money from the European Union and European countries. That means EU companies will take the lead. It would seem quite strange if Europe funds the effort, but companies from other markets come in to do the rebuilding. I'm simply laying out who has priority," he said.

The United States also holds priority status. "And the Americans are absolutely right to say, 'excuse us, but why should those who didn't help be allowed to profit?' There's no altruism here, nor was any shown toward Ukraine by certain countries. This doesn't mean others are banned, but we may advise our regional authorities not to engage in joint projects with countries that offered no assistance," Zelenskyy added.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the heads of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies to focus special attention on locating and recovering Ukrainian assets that were embezzled and moved abroad.

"I would like to express particular gratitude to Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine, who are handling the case of embezzlement of assets from the Ukrainian state company Motor Sich and the sale of Ukrainian weapons to Russia. One of the suspects has been detained in Monaco, and it is important to note that this is a signal: they will not hide abroad. Everyone must be held accountable for their actions," Zelenskyy said in his evening address on Friday.

He added that he had "instructed the heads of law enforcement agencies to pay special attention to such cases and to the search for misappropriated Ukrainian funds that have been transferred abroad."

As reported earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office uncovered a major scheme involving the theft of assets from Motor Sich. Working in cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Monaco and France, Ukrainian prosecutors and the SBU detained the son of Motor Sich's former president, who is suspected  along with his father  of embezzling the company's assets.
If India attacks Pakistan: Bangladesh Yunus government Disavows Retired General's remarks (image/NDTV)

Muhammad Yunus' interim government, however, made it clear on Friday that the state has nothing to do with the "rhetoric" of the statement.

Bangladeshi former army's remark on colloborating with China if India take action against Pakistan, latest news: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, a close associate of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has suggested that Bangladesh, in collaboration with China, should occupy the Indian North Eastern states if India attacks Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives.

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Muhammad Yunus' interim government, however, made it clear on Friday that the state has nothing to do with the "rhetoric" of the statement.

The person identified as ALM Fazlur Rahman, a former Bangladesh army officer and Major General (Retd), who headed the Bangladesh Rifles (now known as Border Guards Bangladesh), made the remarks.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Rahman reportedly 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.

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Clarifying its stance on the former army officers comments, Bangladeshs Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a media release on Friday, stated, 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 authorities to refrain from associating the state with the personal views expressed by Rahman, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported, as reported in the Hindu.
Pahalgam Terror Attack: Farooq Abdullah Says, Kashmir Was, Is, and Will Be Part of India

87 years old, affirmed We have to move forward, and we will move forward. Definitely, we will."

Farooq Abdullah on tourists after Pahalgam Terror Attack, latest news: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah met tourists in Pahalgam on Saturday and conveyed that tourists are not scared after the horrific terror attack that killed 25 tourists and a local pony ride operator.

Speaking to media reporters, he asserted that Kashmir was, is, and will be part of India.

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"The biggest message is that the tourists are not scared. The people who wanted to spread fear have lost. They (the terrorists) have lost. It has been proven today that we are not going to get scared. Kashmir was and will always be a part of India. People want terrorism to end. It has been 35 years since we have been witnessing terrorism; we want progress. We want to move forward. We will become a superpower one day. They want to stop our progress  we are not going to remain beggars," ANI reported.

87 years old, affirmed We have to move forward, and we will move forward. Definitely, we will."

Farooq Abdullah has also served multiple terms as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and was the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy from 2009 to 2014.

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Farooq Abdullah is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC). He resumed the party presidency in 2009.

( For more news, apart from 'Farooq Abdullah on tourism after Pahalgam Terror Attack , Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Pahalgam attack: NIA Confirms Lashkar-e-Taiba, ISI, and Pakistan Army's Role; 2800 Interrogated

They were reportedly in regular contact with their handlers across the border, receiving detailed instructions.

Pahalgam terror attack, NIA Confirms Lashkar-e-Taiba, ISI, and Pakistan Army's Role, latest news: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has confirmed the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and the Pakistan Army in the Pahalgam terror attack on the meadows of Baisaran, which claimed 26 lives on April 22 and left many others injured, according to a preliminary report cited by The Indian Express.

According to the report, the federal anti-terror agency has identified individuals who allegedly provided "logistic support" to the attackers. These individuals are Overground Workers (OGWs) from Kashmir, and they are currently being interrogated, the report added, citing sources.

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As of now, about 2,800 individuals have been interrogated, with more than 150 still in custody, including suspect OGWs and individuals linked to banned groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami and various Hurriyat factions, the report stated.

Two of the OGWs have been identified as Nisar Ahmad alias Haji and Mushtaq Hussain, alleged associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and are currently detained at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu. These two OGWs were arrested earlier for assisting terrorists in attacks on Army convoys in Bhata Dhurian and Totagali.

According to the NIAs preliminary report, the Pahalgam terror attack was orchestrated by LeT, with active support and direction from Pakistani state agencies, including the ISI and the Pakistan Army.

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The two main suspects  Hashmi Musa, also known as Suleman, and Ali Bhai, also known as Talha Bhai  have been identified as Pakistani nationals. They were reportedly in regular contact with their handlers across the border, receiving detailed instructions related to logistics, timing, and execution of the attack.

According to the preliminary report by the NIA, the attackers entered India weeks before carrying out the attack. After their entry around April 15, they were sheltered by a network of Overground Workers. The attackers assessed four potential sites for the attack, as reported by The Indian Express: Baisaran Valley, Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and a local amusement park. Baisaran Valley was ultimately chosen due to the absence of security forces in the area.

"Satellite phone activity in the region spiked in the days leading up to the attack. At least three satellite phones were operational in and around Baisaran, and signals from two have been traced and analyzed," a source was quoted as saying.

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Meanwhile, an intense search operation is underway across the dense forest areas in Baisaran Valley, Taranau Haptgund, Dawroo, and surrounding regions.
The Ladino Language

One of the languages specific to both South-Eastern Europe and the Middle East, which contributed to the creation of a common multicultural space, was the Ladino language, a language spoken by the Sephardic Jews.

The Ladino Language

Steliu Lambru, 03.05.2025, 14:00

Romania shares with the other countries in the region this heritage that the Sephardic Jews brought from Spain, but which today only exists in documents. The city of the Ladino language in the Balkans was, until the Second World War, Thessaloniki, where the Jews formed a majority.

Felicia Waldman is a professor of Jewish history at the University of Bucharest. She has written about the Ladino language and culture and has shown how it underwent transformations when its speakers arrived in Romania. A decisive influence on the evolution of the Ladino language was the emergence of the modern Romanian state: Until the 19th century, there was both Ladino culture and Ladino language. The Sephardic religious cult is in Ladino. So as long as there were synagogues, until 1987, as long as Cahal Cicu existed, the ritual was in Ladino, so the language was still spoken. But starting from the 19th century, even Sephardic families began to use French as an international language. We have, for example, correspondence from Sephardic families in Bucharest, which is in French. There is a word or an expression in Ladino there, but the correspondence is in French. Schools were also in Ladino until the 19th century. From the 19th century, they began to be in Romanian because the Sephardic were interested in them being Israeli-Romanian schools, so that the children could integrate. So from the mid-19th century, there were schools with the classes in Romanian, where the children were also learning Ladino, but classes were generally taught in Romanian. So the Ladino language is learned, but it is no longer the only language of the Sephardim.

For a language to exist, intellectuals, journalism and a book market are needed, not just a school. The Sephardic population had at least two intellectuals, one who can be claimed by Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, the other by Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Uruguay and Argentina. The first was Haim Bejarano (1846-1931). Born in Bulgaria and arriving in Romania after the Romanian War of Independence of 1877-1878, he was appointed rabbi and got involved in all the important projects of the Sephardic community in Bucharest. In 1910 he left for Turkey to be the rabbi of the Jews of Edirne. The second, Sabetai Djaen (1883-1947), was also born in Bulgaria and after the First World War, in 1921, he was appointed chief rabbi of the Sephardic communities in Romania. Felicia Waldman: There is no press, there is only one newspaper in Ladino in Romania, El Luziero de la Pasiencia, which was printed for only one year in Craiova. Nothing was published in Bucharest, but in Craiova this magazine was printed, which worked very little and from which, practically, a few issues appeared and that was about it. But we have personalities like Haim Bejarano or Sabetai Djaen who wrote books about the Ladino language used in Romania and in the Balkan area in general. They collected Sephardic folklore, they collected Sephardic theatre, theatre in the sense of Jewish holidays where re-enactments of the respective holiday are made. For Purim and Pesach, various shows were also made and all of this was recorded by these two great collectors of Sephardic culture, of Ladino culture, whose merits are recognized. For example, Djaen was decorated by the president of Spain, Alcala-Zamora, for his contribution to the promotion of Hispanicism in the Balkans. He promoted the Spanish language, not only Ladino but also standard Spanish, he tried to convince the world of the usefulness of learning Spanish, not only of using Ladino.

Felicia Waldman told us what the situation is for Ladino speakers today in Romania and throughout Southeast Europe and the Middle East: Today there is no Ladino speaker in Romania, the last one died before the covid pandemic, Mihail Cafe. But there are still Ladino speakers in Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia and thats about it. In Bulgaria, the majority of Jews are Sephardic and speak Ladino. In Turkey, the majority are Sephardic, but there are also many Ashkenazi. Greece is divided into three: there are Sephardic, there are Ashkenazi and there are Romaniots, and there are still Romaniots. And in Serbia, just like in the rest of the Balkans, there are more Sephardic, there are a few Ashkenazi. In Israel, Ladino is almost not used at all. In general, in Israel the vast majority of Sephardic Jews are actually those who left Spain in 1492, but arrived in the Ottoman Empire in the Arab zone. Basically, when they left for the Ottoman Empire, they emigrated to what are today Syria and, Lebanon. When they arrived in Israel, after 1948, after being expelled from the Arab states, they came to Israel speaking Judeo-Arabic, not Ladino.

The Ladino language is the bearer of a Neo-Latin Jewish culture from an area of distribution that includes Romania. Even though Ladino is rarely spoken today, it is one of the elements on which modern Hebrew was developed. (EE)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW

28 April- 2 May, 2025

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Calin Cotoiu, 03.05.2025, 13:39

Voting in the diaspora for the election of the President of Romania has begun

Romanians with the right to vote in the diaspora have three days  May 2, 3 and 4  to choose the person who will lead Romania for the next five years. In the 965 polling stations in the diaspora organized for this years presidential elections, Romanian citizens who are abroad on election day can vote, regardless of whether or not they have their domicile or residence outside the country. The most polling stations are in Italy and Malta  161, Spain  147, Great Britain  108, France and the Principality of Monaco  69, the Republic of Moldova  64, the USA  50, Belgium  29 and the Netherlands  23. At the same time, the Permanent Electoral Authority reports that a number of 6,085 applications for voting by correspondence out of the 6,496 submitted in this regard on the portal www.votstrainatate.ro met the legal conditions. The most applications for voting by correspondence were registered in Germany, followed by Great Britain, Switzerland, France, the United States, Italy and Spain. In Romania, voters are expected to go to the polls on May 4 to choose one of the 11 candidates. The second round is scheduled two weeks later.

More money for Defense

The Romanian Minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, was mandated to assume, on behalf of Romania, the phased increase in the Defense budget until 2030 in the negotiations and technical discussions that will prepare the NATO summit in The Hague. The announcement was made by the interim president of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, after the Defense Coucil approved that Romania access the credit made available by the European Commission for the community countries, in order to provide additional endowment for Defense. Bolojan said that, in this way, Romania will be able to ensure its security and, together with its European partners, be a contributor to the defense of Europe. The credit made available by the European Commission is advantageous, and will allow Romania to improve its military capabilities, without putting great pressure on the national budget, explained Ilie Bolojan. The Defense Coucil also approved the National Plan on Military Mobility. According to him, a new bridge over the Danube is included as an important project in this plan, and Romania has joined a new north-south mobility corridor.

Romanias interim president at the Three Seas Initiative summit in Warsaw

During the Three Seas Initiative summit in Warsaw, Ilie Bolojan reaffirmed Romanias interests. He said that an important project for Bucharest is Via Carpathia, and explained that the Romanian authorities are in the tender stage for some sections of the project. Via Carpathia is a network of expressways and motorways that connect northern Europe, from the Baltic Sea to the south, through Romania, to the Black Sea and also through the Balkans to the Adriatic Sea. In Ilie Bolojans opinion, the Three Seas Initiative is gaining increased relevance, connectivity is its essence, the regions potential is immense, and Romania, through its geographical position and economic capacity, plays an important role in this equation. At the same time, he recalled that the plan to build reactors 3 and 4 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant (southeast) is making important steps, and in the field of natural gas exploitation in the Black Sea, the strategic project Neptun Deep continues, being essential for regional energy security.

A new Patriot air-to-surface missile system for Romania

Romania will have a new Patriot missile system, replacing the one it supplied to Ukraine last September. The Ministry of National Defense in Bucharest welcomed the decision of the US State Department to approve the sale to Romania of the system, which includes a high-performance radar, two launchers and a command unit. The cost is over 260 million dollars, and the financing will be provided from non-reimbursable external funds. The Patriot system is capable of intercepting and destroying various types of air threats, including ballistic missiles, and will contribute to strengthening Romanias defense in the Black Sea area. On the other hand, Defense Minister Angel Tilvar discussed, in Brussels, with Andrius Kubilius, the European Commissioner for Defense and Space, about strengthening Romanias defense preparation and intensifying European industrial cooperation.

Simple motion adopted in the Senate against the Minister of Labor

The Senate in Bucharest adopted, on Wednesday, a simple motion submitted by AUR to the Minister of Labor, Simona Bucura-Oprescu. During the debates, the opposition representatives criticized the pension system, stating that it deepens social inequalities. The minister, however, stated that the 2025 pension budget is 21 billion lei (about 4 billion euros) higher than last year, and accused the initiators of the initiative of peddling disinformation. On the other hand, the Romanian senators postponed by two weeks the plenary debate of the draft law that should modify the retirement age and the method of calculating the pensions of magistrates. In the version already adopted by the Chamber of Deputies, the document stipulates that their retirement age will increase to 65 years, starting with January 1 next year, and the amount of the pension cannot exceed that of the last salary. The release by the European Commission of the third tranche of financing from the national recovery plan depends on the approval of the law.

Gopo Awards Gala

The 19th edition of the Gopo Awards Gala took place in Bucharest on Tuesday, an event that annually celebrates and rewards the most important achievements of Romanian cinema. The film The New Year That Never Was, directed by Bogdan Muresanu, was the big winner of this edition, the film obtaining ten distinctions, including for direction, best actor (Adrian Vancica), best actress (Nicoleta Hancu), sets, sound, or screenplay. Director Dan Pita received an award for his entire career. Career awards were also given to actress Ioana Pavelescu, and to Florin Mihailescu, one of the most talented and prolific cinematographers in Romanian cinema.
Indias 2W market is one of the, if not, the largest in the world. Establishing dominance in this market is quite a flex for any OEM. The month of April 2025 yields interesting results in the countrys 2W market. Heres the sales performance of the top six 2W manufacturers in India across domestic sales and exports.

2W Sales and Exports April 2025  Domestic

In the domestic market, it was Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI). The company pushed 4,22,931 units in April 2025, and accounted for 30.32% of the total sales within the top six 2W OEMs. When compared to the 4,81,046 units sold in April 2025 and 4,01,411 units sold in March 2025, Honda registered a 12.08% YoY decline, losing 58,115 units in volume and 5.36% MoM growth, gaining 21,520 units in volume.

In 2nd place, we have TVS accounting for 23.2% of this list and it sold 3,23,647 units in the domestic market with 7.36% YoY growth and 8.74% MoM growth, gaining 22,198 and 26,025 units YoY and MoM respectively. We have Hero MotoCorp in 3rd place accounting for 20.68% of this list with 43.79% YoY and 43.44% MoM decline in sales, losing 2,24,772 units YoY and 2,21,562 units MoM.

Bajaj registered a 13.06% YoY decline and 2.7% MoM growth as it sold 1,88,615 units last month. Suzukis sales trend was opposite to Bajaj as it registered 8.12% YoY growth and 9.95% MoM growth by selling 95,214 units. Royal Enfield came 6th in this list as the company sold 76,002 units with 1.28% YoY growth, but a steep decline of 12.68% MoM. In total, the top six 2W OEMs sold 13,94,933 units in the domestic market with 16.76% YoY and 12.08% MoM growth.

2W Exports

In the exports substrata, Bajaj pulled ahead with 1,29,322 units shipped and accounted for 38.13% of the total exports within this list. Bajaj registered a 3.59% YoY growth over 1,24,839 units shipped last year, gaining 4,438 units in volume and a 2.08% MoM decline over 1,32,073 units shipped a month before, losing 2,751 units.

In 2nd place, we have TVS Motor with 1,06,683 units shipped and is the only OEM to register positive growth in both YoY (45.86%) and MoM (4.08%) aspects. Volume gain stood at 33,540 units YoY and 4,185 units MoM. Honda stood in 3rd place with 57,965 units shipped and the company more than doubled in shipments MoM at 122.63% MoM growth. However, there was a 4.82% YoY decline in sales.

Suzukis shipment pattern was opposite to Hondas as the company shipped 17,734 units last month with 56.8% YoY growth and a 12.18% MoM decline. Heros shipments stood at 16,882 units with a 16.79% YoY and 57.28% MoM decline, followed by Royal Enfield with 10,557 units shipped and registered a 54.52% YoY growth and 18.61% MoM decline. In total, these top six OEMs shipped 3,39,143 units with 14.07% YoY and 1.76% MoM growth.

2W Total Sales

If we add domestic sales and exports of these top six 2W OEMs, we can see that Honda led the charts with 4,80,896 units and accounted for 27.73% of the total units in this list. Honda registered an 11.26% YoY decline, but a 12.50% MoM growth. TVS inched close to Hondas numbers with 4,30,330 units and it saw positive growth across with 14.88% YoY and 7.55% MoM growth.

Bajaj Auto followed in 3rd place with 3,17,937 units and the company witnessed a 6.98% YoY decline and a 0.70% MoM growth in April 2025. In 4th place, we have Hero MotoCorp which fell into the red completely as it pushed 3,05,406 units last month with 42.76% YoY and 44.43% MoM decline in sales. Followed by Suzuki and Royal Enfield with 1,12,948 units and 86,559 units respectively and both OEMs saw YoY growth and MoM decline.

In total, there were 17,34,076 units pushed by these top six OEMs combined. However, it has to be noted that there was no positive growth here as these OEMs together registered a 12.12% YoY decline over 19,73,159 units from April 2025 and a 9.68% MoM decline over 19,19,855 units from March 2025. Volume loss stood at 2,39,083 units YoY and 1,85,779 units MoM.
Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/news/all

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the American side has repeatedly received explanations from Russia during negotiations as to why it refuses to end the war in Ukraine. He noted that the Russians are hostile to any proposals not initiated by the Kremlin, which may have contributed to a gradual shift in the U.S. attitude toward Russia.

"Regarding the American side: they've had conversations with the Russians, and I'm absolutely certain that once again they were given reasons why the war shouldn't be stopped. But this was already the second time. The first time, the Russians claimed that Ukraine would never agree to a ceasefire because Ukrainians don't want the war to end  that Ukraine started it. That was the narrative coming from the Russians. But after the meeting in Saudi Arabia, the Americans began to doubt those claims. The second thing the Russians said was: 'Go ahead and sign something with us  the Ukrainians will never sign anything with you," Zelenskyy said during a media briefing.

He added that it was clear to him that the Russian side is hostile to any proposals that don't originate in the Kremlin. "Without strong sanctions and other forms of pressure on Putin, they'll continue to respond this way. Right now, conditions are still relatively comfortable for them  though we could talk about the state of the Russian economy. I'm afraid  or rather, I'm not afraid, I'm pleased  that things aren't going all that well for them," the President said.

"Whitkoff [Steven Witkoff, special envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump] presented proposals [from the United States], and, unsurprisingly, the Russians rejected them. I think he was quite taken aback, because from the warm embraces of the first meetings and lunches, those early introductions, I believe he's now entering a phase where things are only going to get worse," Zelenskyy added.
An overwhelming majority of Hungarian citizens support Ukraine's accession to the European Union, despite the stance of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who initiated a public opinion survey in the country on the matter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"By the way, Orban's opposition organized an open survey for all Hungarians. Seventy percent support Ukraine joining the EU. So, the people of Hungary are with us. You know he conducted his own survey  supposedly showing people were against it. He controlled that poll. But there's another poll, and it shows 70% in favor of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said during a conversation with journalists.

The President expressed his belief that this is a matter of internal political struggle in Hungary.

"Just don't drag us into your elections. That's what he [Orban] is doing  by blocking us in the EU. In the end, this strategy won't be a winning one. Why? Because, ultimately, the people there support Ukraine. No matter how much he tries to manipulate public opinion. He may sway a portion, but you can't keep winning purely by spreading hate," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also warned that Orban is engaging in "very dangerous actions." "We see it, and we're watching closely. We're communicating with our other partners and signaling that what he's doing is dangerous for the European Union. He may be opposed, but taking steps to block our accession  he has no right to do that. Because that's the sovereign choice of another country. Just as we have no right to interfere in Hungary's affairs," the President said.

He reported that Ukraine is continuing to meet the necessary criteria for European integration and plans to have three technical clusters ready by mid-summer. "Yesterday, we had a report from Stefanishyna [Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration]. She told me that we expect to be technically ready by July 1. We believe we'll receive support from everyone  except one specific country. Stefanishyna has been in talks in Hungary  our team visited, they've been engaging. There are no results yet," Zelenskyy said.

"If Orban is tying the NATO issue to his vision of how the war should end  well, I've always said that's not what this is about. He's just operating the way he always does," the President added.
Timeline: A week of gun crimes

Friday, April 25

11:57 p.m.: Alvin Crespin, a homeless man, dies after being shot in the abdomen and leg at the De Vargas Park skate park in downtown Santa Fe.

Saturday, April 26

5:12 p.m.: A 17-year-old boy reports to police an Uber driver pointed a shotgun at him when he arrived at the man's house to retrieve a cellphone he left in the man's car earlier that day.

Sunday, April 27

7:49 a.m.: Sheriff's deputies arrest a Santa Fe man on Paseo Real after finding two stolen, loaded guns in the trunk of his car.

7:52 p.m.: A man is accused of falling asleep on a public bench near De Vargas Park with a loaded handgun sitting next to him.

9 p.m.: A man is accused of taking out a shotgun and firing a shot at his brother-in-law as he drove his pickup truck out of an Allsup's gas station parking lot on Cerrillos Road.

Monday, April 28

8 a.m.: A trial begins for two men out of three charged in an Easter Day 2024 incident in which they both fired upon a man who drove a pickup into a group of people outside a house party.

Tuesday, April 29

2:55 p.m.: Santa Fe police arrive on Baca Street in response to a call reporting a weapons infraction, according to the agency's hot sheets.

Wednesday, April 30

Santa Fe police arrest Pierre Cheykaychi, 37, a man from Santo Domingo Pueblo accused of shooting and killing Alvin Crespin days earlier.

8 a.m.: A La Cienega man is accused of brandishing a handgun at a tow truck driver during an argument outside his house.

7 p.m.: A Chimayo man suffers gunshot wounds to his index and middle finger in rifle accident in Nambe

Thursday, May 1

9:30 p.m.: An intoxicated man from Dallas is accused of brandishing a handgun during a fight at a bar on Cerrillos Road downtown.
Production and measurement of the extremely neutron-rich hydrogen isotope H achieved for the first time in an electron scattering experiment. Result shows a stronger than expected interaction between neutrons within the nucleus.

The A1 Collaboration at the Institute of Nuclear Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), together with scientists from China and Japan, has for the first time successfully produced one of the most neutron-rich isotopes, hydrogen-6, in an electron scattering experiment. The experiment at the spectrometer facility at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) particle accelerator presents a new method for investigating light, neutron-rich nuclei and challenges our current understanding of multi-nucleon interactions. "This measurement could only be carried out thanks to the unique combination of the excellent quality of the MAMI electron beam and the three high-resolution spectrometers of the A1 Collaboration," emphasized Professor Josef Pochodzalla from the JGU Institute of Nuclear Physics. Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai in China as well as from Tohoku University Sendai and the University of Tokyo in Japan were involved in the experiment. The experimental work was led by doctoral student Tianhao Shao and has been published in Physical Review Letters.

Limits of nuclear structure in extremely neutron-rich systems

One of the most fundamental questions in nuclear physics is how many neutrons can be bound in an atomic nucleus with a given number of protons. For the fundamental isotope hydrogen, which contains only a single proton, several very neutron-rich isotopes from H to H have been observed beyond the well-known deuteron and triton. The extremely heavy hydrogen isotopes H -- consisting of one proton and five neutrons -- and H -- with one more neutron -- have the highest neutron-to-proton ratios known so far. They are unique systems to address this question. However, experimental data on these exotic nuclei are scarce, and the results remain controversial. In particular, there is a long-standing debate about whether the ground-state energy of H is low or high.

New method for generating hydrogen-6 in the A1 Collaboration experiment

Together with the Chinese and Japanese scientists involved, the A1 Collaboration developed a new approach for producing H. In this method, an electron beam with an energy of 855 megaelectronvolts (MeV) impinges on a Li target, producing H via a two-step process: first, a proton in the lithium nucleus is resonantly excited by the interaction with the electron and promptly decays into a neutron and a positively charged pion. If this neutron subsequently transfers its energy to another proton within the nucleus, it can form the neutron-rich hydrogen isotope H together with the residual nucleus, while the pion and the proton leave the nucleus and can be detected simultaneously together with the scattered electron using three magnetic spectrometers. To achieve a sufficient production rate for this rare process, a 45-millimeter-long and 0.75-millimeter-thick lithium plate was traversed by the electron beam along the 45-millimeter-long side. This is highly unusual, as electron scattering experiments typically use very thin targets along the beam axis, with the beam striking a broad surface perpendicular to its direction of propagation. This special setup was made possible by the excellent beam quality of MAMI, particularly by the extremely focused and stable electron beam. An additional challenge was handling the lithium itself, as the material is highly chemically reactive, mechanically fragile, and sensitive to temperature.

During a four-week measurement campaign, approximately one event per day was observed, as it had been estimated. It was one of the rare experiments at MAMI in which all three high-resolution spectrometers in the A1 experimental hall were operated simultaneously in coincidence mode so that three particles could be detected at the same time. This complex setup enabled a level of precision that had not been achieved before, while maintaining an extremely low background.

The new measurement provided a clear signal of H with a very low ground-state energy, indicating a stronger interaction between the neutrons in 6H than expected from recent theoretical calculations. This result thus challenges our understanding of multinucleon interactions in very neutron-rich systems.

The experiment was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the National Key Research and Development Program of China and by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation funding program. Further support was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
Depression, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions affect 1 in 4 people in their lifetime, but mechanisms underlying these conditions are poorly understood. New research led by researchers at the University of Bristol has linked the body's immune response with schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and bipolar disorder. The study demonstrates mental health conditions might be affected by the whole body as well as changes in the brain. The findings could pave the way for better treatments of some mental health conditions.

Most people with depression or schizophrenia are treated with drugs that work on brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. However, 1 in 3 people with these conditions do not benefit from these treatments, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved.

The study led by Dr Christina Dardani and Professor Golam Khandaker in Bristol's MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) used Mendelian randomisation -- a computational approach that uses genetic information from large datasets -- to examine whether immunological proteins are likely to be involved in 7 neuropsychiatric conditions.

The research team looked at the relationship of 735 immune response related proteins measurable in human blood with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, autism, and ADHD.

The researchers found a potential causal role of 29 immune response related proteins in these 7 neuropsychiatric conditions. From the identified biomarkers, 20 showed potential as targets of drugs approved for other conditions. These biomarkers could potentially be used in the future for novel therapeutics in the area of mental health conditions.

The findings suggest a fundamental change in the understanding of causal mechanisms for neuropsychiatric conditions. To date causal explanations for depression and schizophrenia have been predicted on monoamine neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, but this study suggests that overactivity of the immune system could also contribute to the cause of mental health conditions.

Golam Khandaker, Professor of Psychiatry and Immunology and MRC Investigator in the Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences (PHS), said: "Our study demonstrates that inflammation in the brain and the body might influence the risk of mental health conditions.

"The findings challenge the centuries-old Cartesian dichotomy between the body and the mind, and suggests that we should consider depression and schizophrenia as conditions affecting the whole person."

The next step is to examine biomarkers identified through genetic analysis using other methods. This includes research based on health records, animal studies, and proof-of-concept clinical trials in humans, to further evaluate causality; understand precise mechanisms from inflammation to symptoms of mental health conditions; and therapeutic potential -- does modulating immune pathways improve symptoms of these conditions.

The research was funded by a Medical Research Council programme grant for immunopsychiatry to Professor Golam Khandaker. This grant forms part of the University of Bristol's MRC IEU.
A groundbreaking study published today in Science reveals that North American bird populations are declining most severely in areas where they should be thriving.

Researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology analyzed 36 million bird observations shared by birdwatchers to the Cornell Lab's eBird program alongside multiple environmental variables derived from high-resolution satellite imagery for 495 bird species across North America from 2007 to 2021.

The team set out to develop reliable information about where birds are increasing or decreasing across North America, but the patterns they uncovered were startling.

Birds are declining most severely where they are most abundant -- the very places where they should be thriving. Eighty-three percent of the species they examined are losing a larger percentage of their population where they are most abundant.

"We're not just seeing small shifts happening, we're documenting populations declining where they were once really abundant. Locations that once provided ideal habitat and climate for these species are no longer suitable. I think this is indicative of more major shifts happening for the nature that's around us," said Alison Johnston, lead author and ecological statistician. Johnston initiated this study as a research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and now she is a faculty member in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of St. Andrews, UK.

This news follows on the heels of other recent research that documented widespread losses of birds in North America. The 2025 U. S. State of the Birds report showed bird declines in almost every biome in the nation, and a 2019 paper published in Science reported a cumulative population loss of nearly 3 billion birds in Canada and the U.S. since 1970. "The 2019 paper was telling us that we have an emergency, and now with this work we have the information needed to create an emergency response plan," said Johnston.

This research published in Science features recent bird population trends at 27 km by 27 km scales, the smallest parcels of land ever attempted for an analysis across such a large geographic area.

"This is the first time we've had fine scale information on population changes across such broad spatial extents and across entire ranges of species. And that provides us a better lens to understand the changes that are happening with bird populations," said Amanda Rodewald, faculty director of the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Previously national and continental monitoring programs could estimate population trends only across entire ranges, regions, or states/provinces, but with advances in machine learning and the accumulation of vast amounts of data from participatory scientists, researchers can look at how well species are doing in areas about the size of New York City. Some species appear to be doing well across their range or within a region, but are fairing very poorly in specific locations within those regions.

"The thing that is super interesting is that for almost all species we found areas of population increases and decreases," said Johnston. "This spatial variation in population trends has been previously invisible when looking at broader regional summaries."

Areas where populations are increasing are the bright spots, said Johnston: "Areas where species are increasing where they're at low abundance may be places where conservation has been successful and populations are recovering, or they may point to locations where there may be potential for recovery."

Key findings from the study include:

83% of the birds are faring worse where they are most abundant

Grassland and Arctic tundra birds show particularly troubling trends

Population decreases are not uniform across a species range; nearly all species (97%) had some areas where the populations are increasing, a positive sign that can help direct conservation action

Knowing exactly where on the landscape declines are happening helps scientists start to identify the drivers of those declines and how to respond to them.

"It's this kind of small-scale information across broad geographies that has been lacking and it's exactly what we need to make smart conservation decisions. These data products give us a new lens to detect and diagnose population declines and to respond to them in a way that's strategic, precise, and flexible. That's a game changer for conservation," said Rodewald.

The study's detailed mapping of population changes will help conservation organizations and policymakers better target their efforts to protect declining bird species, which according to the authors is sorely needed to help reverse the declining population trends.

The research also reveals the power of participatory science data. "Knowledge is power. Because of the volunteers that engage in programs like eBird, because of their enthusiasm and engagement, and generosity of time, we now know more about bird populations and more about the environment than we ever have before," said Rodewald.

"Without the massive amount of data available from eBird, we would not have been able to complete this study," said Daniel Fink, a senior research associate and statistician at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. But, Fink shared, with all of that information comes many analytical challenges. "We employed causal machine learning models and novel statistical methodologies that allowed us to estimate changes in populations with high spatial resolution while also accounting for biases that come from changes in how and where people go birding," Fink said. To ensure the reliability of the data the team ran over half a million simulations, stacking up more than 6 million hours of computing, which would take about 85 years to run on a standard laptop computer.

This research was made possible by funding from a number of different sources over several years: The Leon Levy Foundation, The Wolf Creek Foundation, and National Science ABI sustaining: DBI-1939187. Computing support was provided by grants from the National Science Foundation through CNS-1059284 and CCF-1522054. This work used Bridges2 at Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center and Anvil (Song et al. 2022) at the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing at Purdue University through allocation DEB200010 (DF, TA, SL, OR) from the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support (ACCESS) program, which is supported by NSF grants #2138259, #2138286, #2138307, #2137603, and #2138296.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope for a meeting of national security advisers from partner countries to take place in Kyiv. He believes that there is no need to wait for the appointment of a new U.S. national security adviser, as current responsibilities have been assigned to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"We would like for the advisers' meeting to take place in Ukraine. There's a positive development  the advisers have agreed to meet. That's important. I think that's the most crucial point. I can't confirm a date yet because there have been some changes in the United States, and a reshuffling or reformatting is underway there," Zelenskyy said while speaking with journalists.

When asked whether the next meeting depends on the appointment of a new U.S. national security adviser, he replied: "I believe that for now, the responsibilities of the national security adviser have been assigned to the Secretary of State, Rubio, so the advisers' meeting will proceed in that format." "So, I don't think anyone is going to wait for a new official to be appointed  that's my sense," Zelenskyy added.

As reported, U.S. National Security Adviser to President Donald Trump, Michael Waltz, and his deputy Alex Wong have resigned from their White House posts. President Trump announced that Marco Rubio would serve as acting National Security Adviser, while Waltz has been appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
China's 10th batch of aid supplies handed over to quake-hit Myanmar

Xinhua) 11:21, May 03, 2025

Participants pose for a group photo during the handover ceremony of the tenth batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government in Yangon, Myanmar, May 2, 2025. The tenth batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Friday in Yangon. The aid supplies included 18,000 tons of diesel oil. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein accepted them in Yangon. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

YANGON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The tenth batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Friday in Yangon, Myanmar.

The aid supplies included 18,000 tons of diesel oil. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein accepted them in Yangon.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 1, the earthquake has claimed 3,835 lives and injured 5,105 people, with 105 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar's official data.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
A tale of two laws: Italian professor reflects on 26-year bond with China

Xinhua) 12:18, May 03, 2025

Prof. Oliviero Diliberto, dean of the faculty of law at Sapienza University of Rome, displays the Italian edition of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China at his office in Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, April 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

ROME, May 1 (Xinhua) -- In the office of Prof. Oliviero Diliberto, dean of the faculty of law at Sapienza University of Rome, East meets West in a quiet yet powerful dialogue.

A tapestry of ancient Rome's founding myth faces a desk adorned with a Chinese dragon plate and a calligraphic symbol of the Chinese character for good fortune. Legal texts in both Italian and Chinese line the shelves - a testament to a relationship that has spanned continents and decades.

Diliberto's connection with China began in 1999, when he first set foot in the country as Italy's justice minister. "Since the start of China's reform and opening-up, I've followed its innovations closely," he said, recalling his early encounters with Chinese legal scholars and his growing admiration for China's dedication to civil law. "That experience convinced me to devote myself to fostering legal exchanges between our countries."

Over the past 26 years, Diliberto has traveled frequently between Rome and Chinese cities such as Beijing and Wuhan, strengthening ties through government visits, academic partnerships, and cultural initiatives.

PIONEERING LEGAL EDUCATION ACROSS BORDERS

In 2022, his vision bore fruit with the establishment of the School of Law and Economics (LES) at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL), co-founded by Sapienza University in Rome. As the first sino-foreign cooperative education institution in China specializing in law and economics, LES has already enrolled more than 220 Chinese students in a bilingual legal education program.

Diliberto said it is his greatest pride to watch a new generation of legal scholars grow through these opportunities. "Students are the true future of Sino-Italian friendship," he said.

Despite his heavy administrative duties, Diliberto remains devoted to teaching. In Rome, he lectures Chinese students on Roman law using original Latin texts. Each year, he travels to Wuhan to deliver courses at LES and maintains frequent virtual exchanges with students in China via Zoom.

Under his mentorship, many Chinese students have earned doctoral degrees at Sapienza University and emerged as rising voices in international legal scholarship.

BRIDGING LAWS, BUILDING LEGACIES

From his shelf, Diliberto pulled down a blue-covered book - the Italian translation of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China, a project for which he served as final reviewer. The translator, Huang Meiling, a former student of his, was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2023 for her contributions to China-Italy legal exchanges.

"What makes me proudest is seeing so many of my former students now thriving in China's legal profession," Diliberto said.

Having witnessed China's profound transformation over the years, Diliberto said he admires the country's unique balance between tradition and innovation. "China's Civil Code addresses issues like technological innovation, digital rights, environmental protection, and privacy ... It's remarkably progressive," he added.

CHINA, HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Photographs, awards, and mementos fill Diliberto's study, but none shines brighter than the 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award he received earlier this year.

"I was deeply moved when I stepped into the Great Hall of the People in Beijing," he recalled. "When I first embarked on this journey 26 years ago, I never imagined receiving such an important recognition."

This year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union - milestones Diliberto regards as reminders of the enduring importance of people-to-people connections. "We should build bridges, not walls or barriers," he stressed.

His dual allegiance is symbolized on his unique business card: one side bearing his title as dean of the faculty of law at Sapienza, the other as Italian dean of LES at ZUEL. "This card reflects my life," Diliberto said. "I've been to China over 20 times, taught more than 300 Chinese students, and truly feel at home in both countries. China has long become my second homeland."

Prof. Oliviero Diliberto, dean of the faculty of law at Sapienza University of Rome, speaks during an interview with Xinhua at his office in Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, April 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

Prof. Oliviero Diliberto, dean of the faculty of law at Sapienza University of Rome, reacts during an interview with Xinhua at his office in Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, April 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Visitors to Historic Richmond Town can once again stroll the property with an ice cream in hand, courtesy of its new concessionaire, Uncle Louie G's, which rolls up to the village on May 9 for the season. Silvestri

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Historic Richmond Towns 2025 season kicks off with Uncle Louie Gs Italian Ices & Ice Cream. The family owned dessert franchise will be opening Friday, May 9, within the Big Apples living history village.

The museum hopes this partnership will enhance the bucolic property, offering Uncle Louie Gs signature water ices, gelato and ice creams. More than 30 flavors and styles will be served via a mobile unit at the 441 Clarke Ave. spot.

Here's a taste of ice cream flavors among the 30 styles offered at soon-coming Uncle Louie G's at Historic Richmond Town. Silvestri

The new concession will be located in the heart of the historic village, providing a venue for families and visitors to take a break and enjoy a treat while immersed in the rich history of Staten Island.

Founded in Brooklyn in 1959, Uncle Louie Gs has more than 50 locations across the country, including seven on Staten Island. The Finocchiaro family owns three of them, including the soon-to-open seasonal spot.

The Uncle Louie G's truck will be on the Historic Richmond Town campus daily after May 9. Pamela Silvestri

We are thrilled to partner with Uncle Louie Gs to enhance the visitor experience at Historic Richmond Town, said Jessica B. Phillips, CEO of Historic Richmond Town. Their dedication to quality and community aligns perfectly with our mission to provide engaging and enjoyable experiences for everyone who visits Historic Richmond Town.

Salvatore Finocchiaro, franchisee and operator of Uncle Louie G, enthused: My family and I are humbled at the opportunity to offer Uncle Louie G Italian ices and ice cream at such a great property like Historic Richmond Town. We look forward to serving you all this season.

The courthouse can be seen just past the fenced-off area, a patch of land on which the former HBO Boardwalk Empire prop set used to stand. The Uncle Louie G's truck will be on the Historic Richmond Town campus daily after May 9. Silvestri

Eggers Ice Cream parlor was previously the ice cream vendor for the not-for-profit village. The business was housed in a retro structure  designed and built as a prop for HBOs The Boardwalk Empire  that has since been torn down. Last May, the Historical Society put out a Request For Proposal for a new concession on the Historic Richmond Town campus.

Starting May 9, hours for Uncle Louie Gs will be Monday through Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8:30 p.m.

Main Street Coffee has an outdoor section located on a street closed to vehicular traffic. There will soon be another food vendor, as Uncle Louie G's truck will be on the Historic Richmond Town campus daily after May 9. Silvestri

At the moment, food services can be found at Main Street Coffee, at 3728 Richmond Rd., Richmond. The cafe offers light fare including soups, sandwiches and sweets. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursday through Saturday, when it closes at 5 p.m.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance/Silive.com Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Christ Church New Brighton celebrated its 175th anniversary with A Night at the Opera on Friday, honoring retiring pastor Rev. Trevor R. Babb.

The New York Concert Opera performed the concert, to the delight of church members and guests.
A police officer works on the scene as a bystander is shook up by the homicide in front of 2107 Cedar Ave S in Minneapolis, Minn., on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP) AP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A fourth person has died from a mass shooting in Minneapolis earlier this week in which investigators believe a fifth person was killed hours later in retaliation, police said Friday.

The 28-year-old man had been hospitalized in grave condition since the shootings late Tuesday, and died Thursday shortly after federal authorities arrested a 34-year-old suspect, the Minneapolis Police Department said in a statement.

The murder charges allege the suspect was in a vehicle with five other people when he shot them all in the head before fleeing. One of them survived and was able to identify the suspect to police.

Police say the victims were Native American. The shootings have shaken the large Indigenous community in the Phillips neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis.

Police say the shootings were gang-related

Newly unsealed murder charges against the Minneapolis man allege he and members of his family are associated with a gang known as the Native Mob. It operates in the citys south and other parts of Minnesota, the charges say.

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 motive is still unknown

The complaint gave no details on what might have prompted the shootings. Police Chief Brian OHara said during a news conference Thursday that authorities were still investigating.

This is a bittersweet day, OHara said in Fridays statement. 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.

What do we know about the victims?

A 20-year-old woman, a 17-year-old boy and a 27-year-old man died at the scene in the first shooting, which happened on Tuesday just before midnight in a vehicle parked in a mixed residential and commercial neighborhood.

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 all four other people in the vehicle before fleeing on foot.

A second shooting the next day

Police have released few details about that homicide.

About 13 hours later and roughly three blocks away, a 30-year-old man was killed outside an apartment building. The police chief said it was entirely probable this second shooting was revenge for the first.

The suspect is now charged with murder

The U.S. Marshals Service said its local fugitive task force and an FBI SWAT team arrested the suspect on Thursday afternoon. Newly unsealed court records show he was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The suspect has at least one felony on his record, an assault conviction from 2021, which 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.

He remained jailed Friday, and court records didnt list an attorney who could comment on his behalf. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

What was the suspects relationship to the victims?

According to the complaint, 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.

Relatives of one victim told police that the victims were all together at a family friends 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 the defendant was an associate of more than one victim, the complaint said.

The survivor told police on Wednesday morning that Little James was the person who shot them, that they knew him, and that he and was the only shooter, the complaint said.

A surveillance video was consistent with the survivors account, the complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court said. It shows one person matching the suspects description exiting the vehicle and fleeing before police arrived.

How have Minnesotas Native American communities reacted?

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, community members gathered Thursday at a park a few blocks from the shooting scenes for a prayer and drum circle.

The states 11 sovereign tribal nations issued a joint statement Thursday, mourning the deaths and urging anyone with information to contact Minneapolis police, Crime Stoppers 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.
J-16 fighter jets engage in flight training

China Military Online) 14:18, May 03, 2025

Ground crew members and pilots assigned to an aviation brigade with the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command inspect the cockpits of J-16 multi-role fighter jets during a flight training exercise in middle April, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhao Yutong)

A pilot assigned to an aviation brigade with the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command climbs into the cockpit of his J-16 multi-role fighter jet during a flight training exercise in middle April, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhao Yutong)

Two pilots assigned to an aviation brigade with the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command salute to the ground crew members before taking off during a flight training exercise in middle April, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhao Yutong)

Two J-16 multi-role fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade with the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command taxi on the runway during a flight training exercise in middle April, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhao Yutong)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
The Costco store in New Springville is pictured here in this 2024 photo. The warehouse chain has announced some changes to its food court menu. (Advance/SILive.com | Jason Paderon)

Costcos food courts are popular among its shoppers just the way they are, but the Washington-state based company has recently unveiled a few updates  including one offering that hasnt been available since 2013.

Here are some recent or planned changes that Costco has announced via social media and other outlets.

Strawberry banana smoothie

CFO Gary Millerchip said during Costcos second-quarter earnings call in March that the company had introduced a new strawberry banana smoothie,' according to a FOX News report. It became available at the start of that month, according to a Facebook post from Costco, the news outlet reported.

Turkey provolone sandwich

Costco, a popular warehouse retailer, plans to reintroducing the fan-favorite turkey provolone sandwich in the third quarter, Millerchip also told analysts and investors at the time, FOX reports. The dish, served warm, had been removed from the menu for several years.

Coca-Cola products

And in a major change, the company plans to converting the food court fountain business back over to Coca-Cola this summer, CEO Ron Vachris said during the companys January shareholders meeting, FOX reports.

Costco has offered Pepsi products in the food courts since 2013, the report says.

Costco has said in the past that its food courts encourage members to visit the warehouse retailer more often.

Globally, the companys food courts saw sales of 229 million hot dog and soda combos in fiscal 2024, Vachris said during the shareholders meeting.

Costco now has 900 warehouses globally and 620 domestically, as of early March, it was announced with the launch of a Sharon, Massachusetts location.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a news conference on Feb. 20, 2025, in New York in this photo. Among the details of the latest state budget she recently shared was a $47 investment in free college education for certain adult students. (Associated Press/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP

N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochuls announcement last week of the New York state budget deal for fiscal year 2026, promised a state investment of $47 million to make community college free for adult students pursuing associate degrees in certain high-demand industries.

The governor had come to a budget agreement with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Portions of the budget the governor highlighted included a $1 billion tax cut for the middle- and low-income New Yorkers, and apparent deals on changes to the states discovery laws.

Other portions Hochul highlighted included criminalizing mask-wearing for people committing certain other crimes and expansions to the states involuntary incarceration laws.

Earlier this year, the governor detailed the education plan which will make community college free for adult students pursuing associate degrees in certain high-demand industries.

When my dad got a college education, our whole family got a shot at a better life  and I want New Yorkers to have that opportunity, Hochul said back in January. Under my plan, every New Yorker will have the chance to pursue a free associate degree at SUNY and CUNY community colleges to help fill the in-demand jobs of tomorrow.

Across New York state, there are more than four million working-age adults who do not have a college degree or credential, according to the governors office.

The new change would cover tuition, fees, and books at any SUNY or CUNY community college for these adult learners who have never earned a degree and are pursuing an associate degree in a high demand field, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering.

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The USDA has issued a public health alert for potato-chip products containing chicharron imported from Colombia, which is ineligible to export meat to the United States. Associated Press

A public health alert for potato-chip products containing chicharron - pork cracklings - has been issued, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The products were imported from the Republic of Colombia, which is ineligible to export meat products to the United States.

A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.

The items were shipped to distributors in Florida and New York and to retail locations nationwide.

The mixed bags were imported between August 2024 and March 2025. It affects the following products:

 270-gram plastic bags containing six 45-gram foil bags of De Todito Natural mixed chips with Chicharron Americano Jacks, Margarita and Natu Chips.

 165-gram foil bags containing De Todito Natural mixed chips with Chicharron Americano Jacks, Margarita and Natu Chips.

 270-gram plastic bag containing six 45-gram foil bags of De Todito BBQ mixed chips with Chicharron Americano Jacks, Margarita and Natu Chips.

 165-gram foil bags containing De Todito BBQ mixed chips with Chicharron Americano Jacks, Margarita and Natu Chips.

 165-gram foil bags containing De Todito Limon mixed chips with Chicharron Americano Jacks, Margarita, Tostitos and Natu Chips.

 270-gram plastic bags containing six 45-gram foil bags of De Todito Limon mixed chips with Chicharron Americano Jacks, Margarita, Tostitos and Natu Chips.

 140-gram foil bags containing Golpe Con Todo Sabor Limon mixed chips with Rizadas, Platanos and Chicharron Fred.

The products subject to the alert do not bear import marks on the labels.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

More info

 Contact Jack Wilson, owner of LatinFood US, at jwilson@latinfoodus.com or 631-681-5276.

 For details on recalls and food-safety questions, call the USDA meat and poultry hotline, 888-674-6854 or chat via Ask USDA 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Consumers can email questions to MPHotline@usda.gov. For those who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry or egg product, the electronic consumer-complaint monitoring system is online. Recalls are posted online.
Willie Mae Goodman is presented the Family Advocacy Award by Jose Rivera at the 50th Anniversary of the Willowbrook Consent Decree celebration. May 2, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Advocates for the developmentally disabled gathered Friday at the College of Staten Island to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Willowbrook Consent Decree, a monumental milestone that led to the end of horrific warehousing of people with developmental disabilities in New York state.

At The Evolution of Inclusion, event, state and local leaders, together with local advocates for the developmentally disabled, reflected on lessons learned from the history and closing of the boroughs Willowbrook State School at a time when the concept of inclusion wasnt yet on the worlds radar.

Yet Fridays event wasnt an occasion to rest on laurels, said each of those who spoke, including Geraldo Rivera, the TV journalist whose expose brought the horrors of the school to national attention.

They all stressed that the future of those with severe disabilities depends on continued vigilance and funding today.

Now, more than ever, we will not let anyone, and I mean, anyone forget or erase the history of the Willowbrook State School, said Kim Hill Ridley, the first-ever chief disability officer for New York state, pointing to her position as evidence of the commitment of Gov. Kathy Hochul to ensuring inclusion for those with disabilities.

34 1 / 34 50th Anniversary of the Willowbrook Consent Decree

Michael Cusick, president and CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corp. and former New York state assemblymember, also thanked Hochul, Ridley, and Willow Baer, acting commissioner of the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

We have to remind people, every day, of the atrocities that took place at Willowbrook," he said. Theres so many people in this room who have dedicated their lives to make sure that we follow that decree ... that people with developmental disabilities are given the dignity they deserve. This is a battle of inclusion. We still have to protect and move forward protecting our family, our friends, our neighbors with developmental disabilities.

The 1975 decree, one of the first official actions taken by Gov. Hugh Carey, put guidelines into place, ultimately freeing 6,000 vulnerable residents from abuse and neglect in the countrys largest institution for the developmentally disabled  located where the colleges campus now stands.

The decree was a catalyst for the group home movement, with the goal of placing the developmentally disabled in the least restrictive environment possible in their own communities. The school closed for good in 1987 by Gov. Mario Cuomo.

But there is work yet to be done, Erik Geizer, CEO of The Arc New York, told the Advance/SILive.com

We have to remember where we came from,' he said. We need to know that so we dont go backwards. Were at a precarious time right now with funding, staffing, programs are consolidating and its hard to run programs. Were at a time now where we have to be hypervigilant, and events like this bring it all home."

The event was organized by community advocates, including Diane Buglioli, co-founder and board member of A Very Special Place. Buglioli is a former employee of the Willowbrook State School who was named an Advance Woman of Achievement for her efforts to create the Willowbrook Mile, a path on the CSI campus with stops highlighting 12 milestones in the fight to close the Willowbrook State School.

Geizer, too, was on the organizing committee, as was Kate Geurin, director of communications and public relations for The Arc New York; Kim Hill Ridley, chief disability officer for New York state and Kate Jerian, chief strategy officer for The Arc New York.

In 1971, Staten Island Advance reporter Jane Kurtin and photographer Eric Aerts first broke the story of the squalid conditions and deplorable abuse taking place at the Willowbrook State School, and she documented these horrors, leading to drastic changes over time in the way developmentally disabled people are treated in the U.S.

The Advance reports caught the attention of Geraldo Rivera, whose own reporting for ABC-TV brought national attention to the schools overcrowding, cruelty and unethical medical trials.

Unwavering advocates

Inaugural award recipients Bernard Carabello and Willie Mae Goodman garnered thunderous applause and brought the crowd of nearly 250 to its feet.

Goodman, 93, was presented with the Family Advocacy Award by Jose Rivera, chief operating officer of Cerebral Palsey of Nassau County. The award recognizes those who are their loved-ones unwavering advocates.

Goodmans daughter was a resident of the state school and her trailblazing advocacy on her daughters behalf led to the legal injunction preventing children from returning to Willowbrook.

All of us have a disability, said Goodman, noting that none of us are perfect. Everybody is somebody. All of our kids are somebody. These kids are angels. They didnt ask to be born this way and its up to all of us to care for those who cannot take care of themselves. Its an obligation."

Carabello, who has cerebral palsy and lived for 18 years in atrocious conditions at the school, becoming nationally known after his interview with Geraldo Rivera, was presented with the inaugural Bernard Carabello Self-Advocacy Award, which recognizes a self advocate who embodies the determination of community inclusion for all people with developmental disabilities.

He sounded the alarm that Willowbrook was not a place for those we love said Cathy Loquercio as she presented his award.

Carabello holds a doctorate degree from CSI.

The brave advocacy of people with developmental disabilities and their families, people like Bernard Carabello, Mrs. Willie Mae Goodman, Jose Rivera, and countless others, brought about the change that led to the formation of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, tasked with ensuring that people get the supports and services they need to live a rich and fulfilling life, Baer said. Their legacy continues in todays self-advocates who hold us accountable to always do better, and to recognize and support the contributions that people with developmental disabilities bring to our communities.

Carabello was joyous when taking the stage.

Im baaaaak, Carabello mused, before admitting that confronting those outside of the school was difficult, as he often faced mockery. I had to get over it,' he said People needed to be educated and if I had to do it again, I would.

Carabello and Geraldo Rivera traded playful, unscripted barbs on stage as Geraldo Rivera addressed the crowd, with the journalist pointing out Carabellos potential and abilities.

It takes more intellect to crack a joke than it does to make a speech, and hes constantly ribbing me the journalist said.

Its very touching every time Bernard and I return to this property,' the television reporter said. It brings back such emotions. It is amazing. We are the living link to the grim old days, to the nightmare, when everything was harmful and covered up."

Dr. Timothy Lynch thanked Geizer as he announced that The ARC of New York would officially transfer to CSI its collection of archives, 75 years of documents and photos of the Willowbrook Schools history.

It is a profound symbol,' Lynch said, noting that CSI is the perfect home for the collection.

The Evolution of Inclusion

Later in the program, influential advocates for those with developmental disabilities participated in a panel discussion, and many in attendance also viewed the full documentary: The Path Forward: Remembering Willowbrook.

Panelists included Chester Finn, a self advocate at the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities; Geizer, Beth Haroules, lead counsel in the Willowbrook class action litigation, who handles a broad variety of civil rights and civil liberties issues; Jason Harr, associate executive director for On Your Mark, Inc. and chairman of the Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council; and Henry Kennedy, a parent of a woman with an intellectual disability who has served on numerous boards and committees that address the needs of those with disabilities.

Also participating in the panel were Willowbrook Attorney Clarence Sundram, a nationally recognized expert on conditions in institutions and community programs for persons with developmental disabilities.

It was moderated by BJ Stasio, a self-advocate and Self Advocacy Association of New York State president who has been involved in advocacy and leadership for more than 20 years.

Several people also remained after the program to walk the Willowbrook Mile,
Courtesy of the New York City Office of Emergency Management

In this 2019 photo, the Staten Island Community Emergency Response Team participates in a rescue exercise in Seaview. The team will address members of Community Board 3 during a public meeting this week. (Courtesy of the NYC Office of Emergency Management) Courtesy of the New York City Office of Emergency Management

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  During Staten Island Community Board meetings this week, New York City agency representatives will give updates on road projects and the new composting program, and a community emergency response team will explain its mission.

Heres a listing of upcoming Community Board meetings, provided by representatives from Staten Islands three Community Boards.

Community Board 1

Community Board 1 has no meetings scheduled this week.

Community Board 2

There will be a joint meeting of the Traffic, Transportation and Public Service committees on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m.

At the meeting, a representative from the New York City Department of Transportation will discuss the proposal for safety improvements on Father Capodanno Boulevard from Midland Avenue to the end of the roadway.

The proposal is to install a parking-protected bike lane as well as pedestrian safety improvements and mobility options for all users.

A representative from the New York City Department of Sanitation will provide an update on the citys expanding composting program.

And a representative from the New York City Economic Development Corporation will present an update on the Travis Avenue Raised Shoreline Project.

The meeting will be held at 900 South Avenue, Bloomfield, in the third-floor conference room.

Community Board 3

On Tuesday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m., the Health and Human Services Committee will hold a meeting and public hearing at which a representative from the Community Emergency Response Team, a community-based volunteer team, will explain the role it plays in emergency situations.

The team informs and educates neighbors about disaster preparedness, assists public safety agencies and local Community Boards with public events, responds to local disasters in accordance with its protocols and supports emergency personnel upon their arrival at scenes.

The Traffic & Transportation Committee will hold a meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. There is no set agenda.

Also on May 7, the Community Alliance Committee will hold a public hearing and meeting at 7 p.m.

New York State Liquor Authority applications for new and temporary retail permits for the following businesses will be discussed:

Reggianos Cucina, 4126 Hylan Blvd., Great Kills

Kreischer Mansion Events Ltd., 4500 Arthur Kill Rd., Charleston

Chipotle Mexican Grill #5447  185 Bricktown Way, Charleston

All meetings will be held in person at the Community Board Office, 1243 Woodrow Road, Woodrow, on the second floor.

Open to the public

All Community Board meetings and meetings of their committees are open to the public. They provide an excellent opportunity for residents to learn about happenings in their neighborhood and surrounding areas. Below is more information about the Islands three Community Boards:

Community Board 1

Arlington  Castleton Corners  Clifton  Concord  Elm Park  Fort Wadsworth  Graniteville  Grymes Hill  Livingston  Mariners Harbor  New Brighton  Port Richmond  Randall Manor  Rosebank  St. George  Shore Acres  Silver Lake  Stapleton  Sunnyside  Tompkinsville  West Brighton  Westerleigh

The board chairman is Nicholas Siclari. The district manager is Joan Cusack. The telephone number is 718-981-6900.

Community Board 2

Arrochar  Bloomfield  Bulls Head  Chelsea  Dongan Hills  Egbertville  Emerson Hill  Grant City  Grasmere  High Rock  Lighthouse Hill  Midland Beach  New Dorp  New Springville  Oakwood  Ocean Breeze  Old Town  Richmond  South Beach  Todt Hill  Travis

The phone number is 718-568-3581. The fax number is 718-568-3595. The chairman is Fred Guinta. The district manager is Debra A. Derrico.

Community Board 3

Annadale  Arden Heights  Bay Terrace  Charleston  Eltingville  Great Kills  Greenridge  Huguenot  New Dorp  Oakwood  Pleasant Plains  Princes Bay  Richmond Valley  Richmond  Rossville  Tottenville  Woodrow

The office phone number is 718-356-7900. The district manager is Charlene Wagner.
Andrew Cuomo paid us a visit the other day, speaking to members of the Staten Island Economic Development Corp. about his campaign for mayor of New York City.

I have rarely felt as gaslighted by a politician.

The former governor talked about improving public safety here. He pledged to hire more cops and said that defund the police were the three dumbest words ever uttered by an elected official.

Huh?

This was the same Cuomo who as governor signed cashless bail into law. Who signed the Raise the Age law. Who threatened to withhold funding from police departments that failed to reform themselves in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.

Were not going to fund police agencies in this state that do not look at what has been happening, come to terms with it, and reform themselves, he said in June 2020, according to CNN.

Those measures were at the root of the recidivist crime crisis that New York City has seen in recent years, to the point where you cant grab simple items off the shelf at CVS anymore because everything is locked up to deter shoplifters.

Cuomo also cast blame at the law enforcement community when speaking to the SIEDC, saying, We also have to hold the judges and the district attorneys accountable. They have the legal ability to hold people, incarcerate people, sentence people, and they have to be held to that.

How soon we forget that the very criminal justice laws put in place under Cuomo helped tie the hands of judges and district attorneys when it came to dealing with offenders, including youth offenders.

Speaking of the dire straits that the city finds itself in, Cuomo actually blamed voters for picking bad leaders, saying, shame on us and shame on the voters for electing people who have no credential to run an organization as big as the City of New York.

As if its our fault that city and state Democrats, who overwhelmingly control uber-blue New York, have offered us such poor choices for leadership.

Meanwhile, hardly a peep from Cuomo about the defining event of last few years in office: the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not a word about the controversy over his Health Departments edict that sent COVID-positive senior citizens into nursing homes.

And in a comment that will no doubt cause borough small business owners to seethe, Cuomo said we needed to make the government work for the private sector, not against the private sector, and youll see this city rise higher than ever.

This from the governor who kept New York City shut down after the worst days of the pandemic were over even though other parts of the state were allowed to re-open. The governor who, along with Mayor Bill de Blasio, inexplicably kept indoor dining, gyms and malls closed when other businesses here were finally allowed to re-open.

It was under Cuomo that non-sensical rules governing indoor dining, including curfews and demands that patrons order food along with their drinks, were instituted. Restaurant owners and patrons very well remember the so-called Cuomo Combos.

None of that was very business-friendly.

Its during out-of-nowhere crisis moments like the pandemic when leaders emerge and when leaders show what theyre really made of: 9/11. Hurricane Sandy. Pearl Harbor. COVID.

And Cuomo was admittedly admirable during the early days of the pandemic, including when he opened a drive-through COVID testing site on the Island.

But theres way more than that to Cuomos COVID record and to his record overall, including when it comes to criminal justice reform.

And its not just fair but crucial that we keep it all in mind when deciding whether we should hand Cuomo the keys to City Hall.

We remember. Even if Cuomo sometimes appears to have forgotten.
Melissa Sullivan is the new executive director of the Pride Center of Staten Island. May 1, 2025. Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Melissa Sullivan, who grew up in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn, came out as a queer woman at the age of 15. To assimilate into the LGBTQ+ community, she found herself heavily involved in a youth program at the LGBTQ Center in Manhattan.

I went to the center from when I was 15 to when I was 23, when I aged out of the youth program, Sullivan recalled. So I know how important LGBTQ+ centers can be for our community, especially for a young persons development and to give them a home and a place to feel included. Its a place to learn how to have a voice and become advocates for themselves and their community. And so Ive always dreamed of leading a Pride Center or an LGBTQ+ Center.

That dream became reality for Sullivan last week when she started her new job as the executive director of the Pride Center of Staten Island. The role was previously held by Carol Bullock, who served as its executive director for seven years.

Upon getting the job offer to take the helm of the Pride Center of Staten Island, Melissa Sullivan said she was absolutely thrilled. Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel

And those are big shoes to fill. Bullock is the Pride Center leader who championed LGBTQ+ inclusion in Staten Islands St. Patricks Parade.

I am incredibly proud of the team and all that weve accomplished during my tenure at the Pride Center of Staten Island. Its been an honor to be part of such meaningful work and to serve this vibrant community, said Bullock.

I couldnt be happier to welcome Melissa Sullivan as she steps into the role of leading the team. Melissa is an outstanding addition, and Im fully confident in her ability to continue the great work weve started and take the center to even greater heights. The future is bright with her at the helm, she added.

Upon getting the job offer to take the helm of the Pride Center of Staten Island, Sullivan said she was absolutely thrilled.

Sullivan said she plans to continue the array of programming already available at the Pride Center, and wants to expand services, particularly for the LGBTQ+ youth. Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel

The interview process felt really good. Everybody I met throughout the interview process -- the board members, staff members, Carol -- it just felt like I knew everyone. I felt like I could really connect with them, and that everybody was so passionate about the work, and cared so deeply about the community of Staten Island, said Sullivan who has had an expansive career in the non-profit sector with many groups, from Girl Scouts of America to PFLAG, which is a national organization formerly known as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Meeting the needs of the community

Sullivan said she plans to continue the array of programming already available at the Pride Center, and wants to expand services, particularly for the LGBTQ+ youth.

I want to really hear from the community about what they want from their Pride Center. Being in a place of listening and not prescribing is really important to me, said Sullivan. I plan to hold some in person and some virtual meetings where the community can get to know me, and also share with me their ideas about what they would like the Pride Center to be.

She especially wants the pride center to be a safe space, for the LGBTQ+ community. Were in a tough time for LGBTQ+ people and families, like parents with trans kids, said Sullivan. I want our space to be a resource provider, a safe haven and a genuine community for people, whether thats mental health support or fun, programming.

Melissa Sullivan lives with her wife, Dr. Karissa Sullivan; infant daughter, Brooklyn, and their two dogs, Mila and Milo in Nyack, N.Y. Courtesy of Melissa Sullivan

In addition, Sullivan said she plans to diversify the centers funding streams in light of potential cuts to government funding.

We receive a lot of government funding right now, and our government funding is mostly city and state funding, which is not at great risk But theres certainly some, potential to see trickle down effects from whatever is going on federally. And so I definitely want to diversify where I want to keep our government funding, because were doing great things with that money, but I also want to make sure that were building out our donor base, she said.

Excited to work with the Staten Island community

Sullivan said she is very excited to work with the Staten Island community.

Its absolutely a dream position, and Im thrilled to be joining the team because Staten Islands a really special place, she said. You see a lot of whats going on in the rest of the country as a microcosm on Staten Island. And I think its really, really important that were doing this work here. I want the Pride Center to be a space where all of the LGBTQ+ folks and allies on Staten Island feel like theyre at home and theres support and programming for them.

About Melissa Sullivan

Prior to joining the Pride Center, Sullivan served in key executive leadership roles at PFLAG NYC, Girl Scouts of Greater New York, and Girls Inc. of New York City. Throughout her career, she has built and scaled programs that center equity, belonging, and community empowerment. She possesses extensive experience in organizational growth, fundraising strategies, grant writing, and developing sustainable, inclusive programs for diverse groups.

She lives with her wife Dr. Karissa Sullivan; infant daughter, Brooklyn, and their two dogs, Mila and Milo in Nyack, N.Y. She is also the proud adoptive mother of her adult daughter, Imani.

Melissa serves on the Board of Trustees of the Nyack Library, where she is a member of the Policy, Finance, and Fund Development Committees and serves as chair of the Long Range Planning Committee. She holds degrees from SUNY Empire State College and Thomas Edison State University, as well as multiple graduate certificates in fundraising, volunteer coordination, and nonprofit management.

In 2024, Melissa was honored as a New York Knicks Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award recipient for her leadership and contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.

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President Donald Trump imitated a transgender weightlifter during a speech in Alabama on Thursday, despite warnings from First Lady Melania Trump that such actions were inappropriate.

Speaking to the graduating class at the University of Alabama, Trump talked about the controversy surrounding transgender people competing in womens sports, the New York Post reported.

The greatest is like weightlifting, you ever see the weightlifting? Where they have a record that wasnt broken in 18 years, Trump said.

Noting Melanias warning, Trump then asked the crowd if they wanted to see his impression.

Should I imitate him? My wife gets very upset when I do this. She says, Darling, its not presidential, I say, Yeah, but people like it, Trump said.

He joked, All right, Im in trouble when I get home, but thats OK, what the hell. Ive been in lots of trouble before.

Trump spun a scenario where a female weightlifter had difficulty lifting eighth of an ounce of weight before a transitioned person follows up.

Trump then made high-pitched noises and imitated the female not being able to lift the weight.

Then a guy comes along or a gal or whatever, Trump said. A transitioned person and he was a failed weightlifter as a male, but he comes along 206 pounds, they put the little thing on and just boom, boom, boom.

Trump showed how the transitioned athlete would easily lift the weight and would break the record by 119 pounds.

Thats not right, he said.

Trumps comments brought roaring applause from the students, Fox News reported.
A wildcard potential candidate for president in 2028 has refused to rule out a White House bid.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) left the door open for a presidential run when asked by Fox Digital whether she was seriously thinking about running for president or the Senate.

I think what people should be most concerned about is the fact that Republicans are trying to cut Medicaid right now, and peoples healthcare is in danger, socialist AOC said. Thats really what my central focus is.

President Donald Trump has said that he does not plan to cut Medicare.

This moment isnt about campaigns, or elections, or about politics. Its about making sure people are protected, and weve got people that are getting locked up for exercising their First Amendment rights. Were getting two-year-olds that are getting deported into cells in Honduras. Were getting people that are about to get kicked off of Medicaid. That, to me, is most important, she said.

Talk of a White House run was stoked when a campaign-style video called We Are One was posted on the Team AOC site on X.

Ocasio-Cortez had been traveling the country and holding rallies with Sen. Bernie Sanders in whats being called the Fighting Oligarchy tour. She is hosting a town hall meeting with constituents in her district on the night of May 2.

Fans reposted the We Are One video on X, saying that its proof of AOCs 2028 presidential ambitions.

Get ready America. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will almost undoubtedly run for president in 2028, political reporter Eric Daugherty said in response to the video.

Ocasio-Cortez has also been mentioned as a potential primary candidate against U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the current Senate minority leader.

On the Kalshi wagering website, gamblers are giving AOC a 9% chance of being the 2028 Democratic Party nominee for president.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California is still seen as the frontrunner.
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have taken heavy criticism for axing thousands of federal workers through the Department of Government Efficiency.

But one U.S. president actually cut more federal workers from the payroll in his first 100 days in office than Trump, the New York Post reported.

The number of U.S. government workers on the payroll fell for the fourth straight month in April, with non-postal employment dropping by 8,500.

That means that Trump and Musk have cut 23,000 non-postal workers from the federal force so far this year.

Including postal workers, federal civilian employment fell by 9,000 in April and has declined by 26,000 so far in 2025.

But President Ronald Reagan did Trump better during his first four months in office in 1981, cutting 46,000 workers from the federal payroll.

The more than 75,000 federal workers who have agreed to take deferred retirement but will remain on government payrolls until later this year.

Reuters said that more than 260,000 federal workers have been fired, taken buyouts or retired early during the first 100 days of Trumps second White House term.

Trump has claimed that his cuts have saved the federal government $160 billion. Musk has announced that he will pull back from his duties at DOGE.

The record holder for paring the federal workforce in their first year in office is President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who shed 195,000 federal workers during his year in office in 1952.

Mirroring his efforts with DOGE, USA Today reported that Trumps budget calls for $163 billion in spending cuts.

The proposed cuts for the year starting Oct. 1 include less spending on environment, education, foreign aid and health care programs.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev, who is currently on a visit to the United Kingdom, held a meeting with UK Minister of State for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty. The sides discussed issues related to regional stability, economic cooperation, and progress on climate commitments, Trend reports.

The British minister shared a positive assessment of the meeting on social media, stating: The UK is a close partner of Azerbaijan. It was a pleasure to meet with Yalchin Rafiyev this week to discuss regional stability, economic cooperation, and progress on our climate commitments.

Stephen Doughty also reaffirmed the UK's support for the swift signing of a peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan.

In response, the Azerbaijani diplomat emphasized that the partnership between the two countries is built on a strong foundation, and that, if used effectively, it offers great opportunities for advancing shared interests. Rafiyev also praised the UKs constructive role at COP29, the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Baku last year. The UK's constructive participation was extremely important for achieving forward-looking outcomes at COP29, he said.

It is worth noting that on April 29, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a phone conversation with Stephen Doughty.

In the UK political system, a Minister of State effectively acts as a deputy to a Secretary of State and oversees specific policy areas within the ministry, playing a significant role in shaping government policy and representing the country internationally.
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A platoon of American soldiers sits quietly in an Iraqi apartment. Birds tweet peacefully outside, a pen cap clicks, radios intermittently babble directives. Then, all of a sudden, the harsh crack of a grenade envelops the room.

This deafening sound sets everything off in Warfare, A24s hyperrealistic film set during the Iraq War. Developed from the memories of real-life navy SEALs, it depicts the visceral, concussive sound of war as much as the horrifying look of it  snapping bullets, booming IEDs, blood-curdling screams.

You dont only hear sound. You feel it, says Glenn Freemantle, Warfares Academy Award-winning sound designer. It completely transforms cinema. You can just listen to a film and get everything from it. Whereas, if you watch a film without sound, you miss a lot.

In Warfare, Freemantle says, sound directs focus as much as the camera lens. Every sound, whether its dust settling or a passing jet plane, is intentionally woven into each scene.

Working alongside co-director Ray Mendoza, who was one of the soldiers at the real-life mission depicted in the film, Freemantle recreated the sounds of combat as accurately as possible. This involved travelling to gun ranges in the Czech Republic to record the sound of live ammunition and sonic booms (when bullets travel faster than the speed of sound).

We needed to make it as real as it could be, he says. Theres no music, no other source guiding your emotions other than these sounds. Its minutely detailed to the nth degree to create a sense at each moment  to make you uncomfortable, to make you scared.
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.
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Eating outCheap eats Why do zoomers hate these burgers? And what are they eating instead? Millennial burger joints are being mocked online by Gen Z, who say ridiculous toppings, overpriced add-ons and inauthentic fit-outs are out. So whats in? Haymun Win 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

Over-the-top burgers, fries served in metal baskets and neon signs were standard at the peak of the 2010s burger wave. Now, these same burger flourishes are the punchline in a widespread roast of Millennial burger joints on TikTok and Instagram  the latest salvo in Gen Zs sledging of Gen Y on social media. Stephanie Rose, a Melbourne food content creator who runs Instagram account @girlaboutmelb, says the hallmarks of a Millennial burger joint include charcoal-infused buns, truffle fries, mountainous milkshakes (also known as freakshakes), sauces served in syringes and burgers stacked to the nines. I would say even Millennials cringe and find it funny now, myself included, she says. Burgers at 300 Grams, which are simple enough to cater to Gen Zs burger tastes. Paul Jeffers One post with more than 112,000 likes on Instagram meme page Middle Class Fancy, depicts uncomfortable metal chairs, a $7 truffle fries surcharge, exposed ceiling pipes, and waiters explaining, We do things differently around here.

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[It] nails the over-the-top vibe of the burger craze from about a decade ago, says Joe Farah, founder of 300 Grams, which has four stores in Melbourne. Think towering stacks, gourmet buzzwords and sauces that shouldve never gone into a burger. More-is-more burgers with hefty price tags were everywhere in the 2010s. When competitive eater turned social media consultant Jesse Freeman opened a burger trailer in Sydneys northern beaches in 2023, he discovered those gimmicks were no longer so important to diners. People wanted simple, great-tasting and price-sensitive burgers, much like [American chain] Five Guys, he says. In the car park of a Brookvale brewery, Freemans Dip It trailer now serves no-frills burgers like those found at US diners and fast-food chains. (Customers are still encouraged to dip those burgers in cheese sauce and gravy.)

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Mister Gee founder Gee Ozgen with a Cheese Boogie Deluxe at his restaurant in North Strathfield. Dylan Coker Gee Ozgen, who has been running Mister Gee Burgers since 2014, has also witnessed the evolution of burgers in Australia, noting that at some point, the innovation got out of control. There was a push to be different, he says, adding that towering Frankenstein burgers (which could be loaded with more than one type of meat or use a doughnut for the bun) went too far. Many Millennial burger joints are still in business. With its penchant for baconaise and truffle aioli, Queensland-origin chain Milky Lane is an exemplar of the form. Brennan Lukav, who runs the Burgers of Melbourne online directory, believes they largely reflect a much earlier scene. I havent seen a mason jar in about 10 years, he says. Burger blogger Brennan Lukav, who runs @burgersofmelbourne, says simpler burger shops are now in. Paul Jeffers Two of the most popular counterpoints to so-called Millennial burger spots in Sydney are Eat at Robs  a butcher with a grill plate, lean menu and $10.50 cheeseburgers in Rozelle  and smashburger specialist Chebbos in Roselands and Marrickville. In Melbourne, Gen-Zers gravitate towards the old-school look and simple menu of Elmos in Fitzroy North, and the stripped-back cheeseburger at Brunswicks Juanita Peaches.

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The cost of living crisis is no stranger to young people, says Ali Chebanni, founder of Chebbos. While Five Guys is a solid consistent option, I think the price factor really drives [them] out. A Five Guys cheeseburger starts at $19.90; Chebbos burger costs $12. According to Chebanni: You could define the typical Chebbos customer as a young adult, 18 to 24 years old, coming either by themselves or with a group of mates to visit once a week. Even places like Gimlet and Maison Batard get it. Their burgers are stellar because theyre straightforward and executed perfectly. Its proof that quality and simplicity are king. Joe Farah, owner, 300 Grams in Melbourne Most of the operators spoken to for this story agreed that value-for-money, simple menus, the convenience of online ordering and a brand that Gen Z can identify with are the key factors in todays most successful burger joints. Semi-permanent food trucks are popular too, especially on land where theres ample parking. In Sydney, Marcelo de Almeida operates his Marci Lou burger trailers in Dulwich Hill and Cabramatta, and says Gen-Z will catch you out if the operator appears to be trying too hard. Instead, he says, they care about the produce and where its coming from. They care about whats going on behind the scenes.

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Related Article Why Australia is hungry for a new wave of American burgers  and where to find them Another drawcard is riffing on well-known menu items from fast-food giants. With outlets in Melbourne suburban Prahran, Coburg, Richmond and Northcote, 300 Grams references Hungry Jacks (a burger called Not the Whopper) and the Golden Arches (Mac Fries topped with diced onion and pickles). 300 Grams owner Joe Farah believes that the appeal of overworked burgers and venues has passed. Theyve been on the way out for a while now, Farah says, Even places like Gimlet and Maison Batard [both Melbourne fine-diners] get it. Their burgers are stellar because theyre straightforward and executed perfectly. Its proof that quality and simplicity are king.

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When northern beaches furniture designer Adam Stewart could not find a mid-century modern home by builders Pettit+Sevitt on the market, he went door-knocking to find somebody whod sell.

Fed up with the familys ugly 2.5-bedroom townhouse in Forestville, Adam and his wife Nikki spent a few months of Sunday nights visiting homes  that werent for sale  designed by renowned architects for the building company.

We loved the 1970s project homes, he said.

Company founders Brian Pettit and Ron Sevitt pioneered the sale of architecture-designed project homes at affordable prices from 1961 to 1978.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. A government delegation from the Republic of Azerbaijan, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, visited Nepal from April 30 through May 2, 2025, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the visit, Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov was received by President of Nepal Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Sharma Oli.

The minister also held a bilateral meeting with Nepals Minister of Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba, where both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. The Nepali side expressed high appreciation for the Azerbaijani delegation's visit.

As part of the visit, the first political consultations were held between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal. The consultations were led by Elnur Mammadov and the Nepalese Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

During the discussions, the two sides addressed the development of bilateral and multilateral political relations, current cooperation, and future prospects in areas such as trade and economy, energy, tourism, agriculture, and humanitarian affairs.

Cooperation between the two countries within international organizations was positively evaluated, and the importance of strengthening mutual support in multilateral formats was emphasized.

Members of the Azerbaijani delegationincluding representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Agriculture, State Tourism Agency, and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO)participated in a roundtable with their Nepali counterparts. The meeting, held at the Nepal Investment Board, focused on exploring potential areas for collaboration, with Azerbaijani officials delivering detailed presentations.

Additionally, Deputy Minister Elnur Mammadov gave a lecture titled "Azerbaijans Foreign Policy: Challenges and Opportunities" at an event organized by the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA). The event gathered prominent public and political figures, think tank leaders, government and non-government representatives, and experts. He also addressed questions from the audience.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Jessica Broadbent waited for an hour from 10am to cast her vote at North Melbourne Primary School and was disappointed to see an electoral officer come around only once, seeking voters who could be fast-tracked. Broadbent said people with specific needs, such as older voters or hospital workers, should be regularly ushered through. Simon Heaysman at North Melbourne Primary School. Credit: Sophie Aubrey We should make it easy for people  to participate in democracy, she said. Why is there not even one person in a fluoro vest with a loud voice and cheerful smile staying out here doing any kind of queue management? At the same polling booth, Simon Heaysman was relishing the election atmosphere given he often has to vote early due to work.

I wanted the full election experience, the sausages, the cupcakes, the line, he said. Early on Saturday, voters arriving at Docklands only polling booth, at The District shopping centre, were told they would have to stand in line for at least 90 minutes. Older voters and people with access issues were whisked to the front. Some voters told The Age they wouldnt bother lining up at Docklands and would vote in the suburbs later in the day.

By 2pm, those at the front of the queue at Docklands said the wait had eased to just 20 minutes. Loading At the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in Southbank, in the seat of Macnamara, the queue to vote was snaking around the block in the early afternoon. Voters said they were told it could be up to a two-hour wait. A trio close to the front of the line said they had been waiting for about 75 minutes. Some drinks would be nice  or a hat for me to put on, said one man, motioning to his empty drink bottle and bare bald head.

Age readers in Prahran, Fitzroy and Kooyong also shared experiences of waiting close to two hours and minimal resourcing at polling stations. Loading Reece said inner-city waiting times were not good enough and it wasnt unreasonable for people to be in and out of a polling booth in 20 minutes. Im calling for a root and branch review of how this poll has been conducted in Melbourne, the lord mayor said. In a country where we have compulsory voting, there is an obligation on electoral authorities to make voting as easy as possible.

Access to pre-polling in and near the Melbourne CBD was a hot topic in the final days of the election campaign. Reece called the lack of pre-polling venues in the city centre baffling and undemocratic. The AEC later accused the City of Melbourne of failing to help the commission secure suitable venues. On Saturday, Reece said: Im not interested in the blame game, Im interested in finding solutions. The City of Melbourne is happy to work with the AEC to ensure this never happens again. They managed to find a pre-polling booth in every CBD in the country. The voting infrastructure in inner-city Melbourne is failing the voters and our democracy.

People queue to vote in Docklands. Credit: Jason South AEC spokesman Evan Ekin-Smyth denied waiting times on Saturday had hit two hours and suggested the reported figures from voters were inadvertently inflated. He said the lines at each booth were checked regularly and data being fed into the commissions command centre showed queues were, at worst, about 80 minutes. The absolute vast majority of the 7000 [national] polling places on offer are seeing very reasonable wait times, if any at all, he said. Ekin-Smyth said that when waits reached about 30 minutes, officers looked at adding new ballot-issuing points or redeploying staff from other stations. For example, additional workers were sent to Docklands.
Anthony Albanese started the final day of the 2025 election campaign on the hallowed turf of the MCG, in a plan to make literal the sporting analogies he loves to use.

Peter Dutton also got his day underway early in Melbourne, but his program was more prosaic, as the opposition leader made one more pitstop at a petrol station  his 17th of the campaign  in the safe Labor seat of Gorton, accompanied by his steely campaign spokesman James Paterson.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the MCG on Saturday morning. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

As the final hours of the campaign ebbed away on Saturday, both leaders pressed the flesh and urged undecided voters to mark their ballots for the red or blue team.

Dutton said that after a hectic five weeks, he was looking forward to having a beer or two with close friends and supporters and urged Australians not to reward Albanese for the last three years.
Labor supporters acclaimed the result for giving the government a powerful mandate, given the rare outcome of an increased majority for a government at the end of its first term. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese walks through the crowd after his speech at the election night function. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values  for fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all, for the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need, Albanese said. In this time of global uncertainty, Australians have chosen optimism and determination. Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way  looking after each other while building for the future.

In a pointed moment that drew cheers from Labor supporters, Albanese prefaced his remarks with an acknowledgement of Indigenous Australians  after Dutton called during the campaign for the Welcome to Country to be scaled back at public events. Loading Reprising his key message from the campaign, he held up a Medicare card and vowed to improve health services. He promised fair wages, fair work conditions and industrial reforms including the right to disconnect so that workers could turn down calls from bosses outside working hours. In an emotional moment that saw him come close to tears, Albanese was joined on stage by his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, and his son, Nathan, and thanked Australians for their support. Serving as your prime minister is the greatest honour of my life, he said at the beginning of his remarks.

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. Dutton was joined by his wife, Kirilly, and his sons when he conceded defeat in Brisbane. Ive always wanted in public life the best for our country and the best for every Australian, he said. We didnt do well enough during this campaign  that much is obvious  and I accept responsibility for that.

Loading The voting showed the Labor candidate for Duttons seat, Ali France, had posted a significant gain in her primary vote on her third campaign for the seat, leading Dutton to concede. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Coalitions nuclear policy had worked against Dutton in his home seat after he said he was willing to have a nuclear power station in his local area. Labor also made gains in electorates including Leichhardt, a seat that includes Cairns and Cape York, where candidate Matt Smith was expected to win the seat. In Bonner, one of the most marginal Brisbane electorates, Liberal member Ross Vasta suffered a double-digit swing against him in the early counting, losing to Labor candidate Kara Cook. Labor has not won the seat since 2007, when Queenslander Kevin Rudd led the party to victory.

Liberal National Party senator James McGrath, an experienced party official and campaigner before he entered parliament, predicted a result so tight that Australians might not know on Saturday night who could form government. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton votes in his Brisbane seat of Dickson with wife Kirilly, sons Tom (left) and Harry and daughter Rebecca. Credit: James Brickwood I dont think were going to know who the next prime minister of the country is tonight, McGrath told the ABC. 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 just a number of unique, different contests across the country. The outcome showed an emphatic victory for Labor instead. By the end of counting on Saturday night, Liberal shadow minister David Coleman appeared to have lost his seat of Banks in southern Sydney. Another frontbencher, Luke Howarth, was on track to lose his seat of Petrie in Brisbane. A third, Melissa McIntosh, was in a close contest to retain her seat of Lindsay in western Sydney, with some calculations putting Labor candidate Hollie McLean ahead in the race. The Labor gains included a significant victory against the Greens in the Brisbane seat of Griffith, where Greens spokesman Max Chandler-Mather lost. Greens MP Stephen Bates lost the neighbouring seat of Brisbane. In the nearby seat of Ryan, the Liberals were close to defeating Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown but the result was too close to call.

Loading Liberals admitted the counting was not promising for their candidate in the Sydney seat of Bradfield, Gisele Kapterian. Teal independent Nicolette Boele had campaigned in the seat for several years with funding from Climate 200. The early counting showed a swing to Boele. Liberal immigration spokesman Dan Tehan defended his seat of Wannon against a teal challenger backed by Climate 200, and the Liberal member for Flinders, Zoe McKenzie, was ahead of the teal challenger in her seat on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne. Labor began the campaign with 78 seats and the Coalition 54, although each had a vacant seat after Bill Shorten and Keith Pitt resigned this year. This gave the two sides a formal tally of 77 and 53, respectively. The Greens went into the election with four seats in the lower house. Independents and minor party crossbenchers had 15 seats, in a tally that included former Coalition MPs Russell Broadbent, Ian Goodenough and Andrew Gee, who contested the election after moving to the crossbench.

Loading While published opinion polls showed the government had been losing ground with voters for more than a year, especially after the defeat for the Indigenous Voice referendum Albanese championed in October 2023, many voters swung back to Labor from the start of this year. The major polls in the final week of the campaign showed that voters were leaning towards Labor, giving the government an average lead of 52.4 per cent in two-party terms. The results suggested the Coalition had lost ground since the start of the formal campaign at the end of March and had slipped to an average of 47.6 per cent in two-party terms in the polls conducted over the past week. Albanese named key targets in his appearances on Saturday, including the electorates of Menzies and Deakin in Victoria, the first held by Liberal backbencher Keith Wolahan and the second held by Liberal shadow assistant treasurer Michael Sukkar. Both appear to have lost their seats to Labor in results based on more than three quarters of the votes.
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Peter Dutton was dignified in defeat, taking responsibility for the Coalitions campaign and apologising to those who ended up losing their seats  as he himself did in Dickson.

The first-term Liberal leader would not have expected to be making a concession speech at 9.30pm on election night. But there he was, in the sombre function room of a five-star Brisbane hotel, telling the party faithful he had already called Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on Labors victory.

Peter Dutton, flanked by his family, tells the party faithful he has conceded defeat. Credit: James Brickwood

Flanked by his wife and children, Dutton spoke initially as a national political leader, declaring his time as defence minister the highlight of my career and saying how lucky Australia was to have those men and women in uniform to keep us safe.
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Peter Dutton has become the first federal opposition leader to lose his seat after voters ejected him from the suburban Brisbane seat of Dickson  and the Liberal leadership  leaving his Coalition colleagues devastated.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his family on Saturday night. He said he had called Labor candidate Ali France to congratulate her on her victory. Credit: James Brickwood

The result has sent a shockwave through the Coalition, which will be in opposition for another term after a heavy loss on Saturday night that has left the Liberal Party searching for a new leader.

Just a few weeks ago, the Coalition believed Dutton had a serious chance of defeating Anthony Albaneses government after just one term in power for Labor, but there is now an open contest for the leadership of the Liberal Party.
Labor is facing a nervous wait in the typically safe seat of Bendigo after a strong result from the Nationals.

Local MP Lisa Chesters went into the election with a comfortable margin of 11.2 per cent but that has been almost entirely whittled away by Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean after a massive campaign.

The seat remains too close to call and a final result could take days.

Lisa Chesters. Credit: Penny Stephens

The Australian Electoral Commission had begun the two-party preferred count with Labor and the Liberals, but have had to start again to direct preferences between Labor and the Nationals instead.

Chesters is ahead on primary votes at 33.85 per cent, a drop of 8.26 per cent since the last election. Labor campaign sources were not confident of retaining it once preferences are distributed. Losing Bendigo would be significant for the ALP.

It was transformed from a marginal battleground in the early 2000s to one of Labors safest electorates.

It is also the home of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and her electorate, with the Nationals campaigning on linking Albanese to the state government through issues such as crime.

Allan conceded on Sunday the seat her friend Chesters has held since 2013 was still too close to call.

The Nationals made Bendigo the centre of their Victorian campaign operations. They distributed leaflets showing Allan wearing a yes T-shirt from federal Labors failed Voice referendum. About 60 per cent of people in Bendigo voted no.
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The Liberal Party could be reduced to just five of Sydneys 29 electorates after Labor decisively swept back to power in Saturdays federal election.

The Liberals are projected to lose the southern Sydney seat of Hughes to Labor and the north shore electorate of Bradfield to the teal independent Nicolette Boele. The Liberals were also projected to lose the southern Sydney electorate of Banks  held by Coalition frontbencher David Coleman  to Labor.

Nicolette Boele speaks at her election party in Artarmon last night. Credit: Wolter Peeters

The Nationals also failed to regain the central NSW seat of Calare, which has been won by the former National-turned-independent Andrew Gee.
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 Eleven seats and 11 very different outcomes in an election that has changed the political landscape of Australia, and been dubbed by political insiders and experts as a Labor landslide. Here is the state of play across the key seats in Sydney and NSW. Banks Liberal frontbencher David Coleman is another high-profile casualty after he suffered a significant swing against him in his Sydney seat of Banks. In an electorate that Labor and Liberal strategists both saw as one they could claim, Coleman suffered a 7.3 per cent primary vote swing against him, as Labor candidate Zhi Soon enjoyed strong preference flows. Zhi Soon campaigning with Anthony Albanese. Credit: Getty Images Soon, who experienced only a 0.8 per cent increase on the partys primary vote, snatched the seat from the longstanding Liberal MP with a 6.6 per cent swing towards him. Banks runs across the inner ring of Sydneys southern suburbs and has been held by the Liberals since Tony Abbotts thumping 2013 victory. Soon migrated with his family from Malaysia as a child.

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Bennelong Sitting Labor MP Jerome Laxale has held on to the knife-edge seat of Bennelong on Sydneys lower north shore, fending off Liberal candidate Scott Yung with a hefty swing towards Labor, despite a boundary redraw that tightened the race. Tonight, everyone, weve made history, Laxale told a jubilant crowd at The Ranch in North Ryde on Saturday night. What weve achieved here in Bennelong on our new boundaries is pretty exceptional. I think what weve seen is a complete rejection of Peter Dutton and the Liberals. Labors Jerome Laxale at his election-night party after he retained the Sydney seat of Bennelong. Credit: Janie Barrett Laxale, a former Ryde mayor, was elected in 2022 and held the seat on a 1 per cent margin. That was only the second time Labor had claimed victory in the long-time Liberal stronghold  once held by former prime minister John Howard  in seven decades. But the boundary redraw that abolished the seat of North Sydney shifted Bennelong east, turning it into a notionally Liberal seat with a wafer-thin margin of 0.04 per cent.

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Yung has come under scrutiny for his campaign finance record during his 2019 state election run. Bradfield Teal candidate Nicolette Boele is narrowly ahead in the polling. If Boele wins Bradfield, independent candidates will hold five Sydney seats  the same tally as the Liberal Party in the city. On election night she stopped short of claiming the seat of Bradfield, insisting it was too close to call. Whatever the outcome, Boele told her supporters on election night, we have made Australian political history. In 2022, the independent narrowly lost the North Shore seat to Liberal MP Paul Fletcher, who didnt contest the 2025 election following a redistribution and amid polling which showed he was on track to lose. Boele, who has maintained an electorate office and styled herself as Bradfields shadow member, built strong grassroots support in the blue ribbon seat. Its been a tight race between Boele and Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian, a senior executive at a global technology company.

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Nicolette Boele speaks at her election party in Artarmon on Saturday night. Credit: Wolter Peeters If Boele wins the seat she will join fellow teal MPs Sophie Scamps (Mackellar), Zali Stegall (Warringah) and Allegra Spender (Wentworth) on the crossbench. Fowler Independent Dai Le has retained the western Sydney seat of Fowler, despite Labors best efforts to win back what was once considered a safe slice of its heartland. It remained a tight throughout the night against Labors Tu Le, reflecting a keenly fought contest that at times descended into ugliness. Supporters of Dai Les campaign accused Labor of spreading lies, spending $1 million on the seat, and of borderline bullying. Independent Dai Le celebrates with supporters after winning Fowler. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

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Tu Le, a local, was former MP Chris Hayes first choice to contest the seat back in 2022. Labor instead controversially parachuted in Kristina Keneally, only to subsequently lose the seat. Fowler was won by former councillor Dai Le in 2022 by a slight 1.1 per cent margin. She became one of the first independents to win a seat in Labors traditional heartland of western Sydney. Sitting close to the centre of Sydneys west, Fowler is home to many diverse communities, including large Vietnamese and Iraqi diasporas. And that was reflected in the campaign, which featured two candidates from Vietnamese backgrounds, and was fought and won almost exclusively on local issues. Gilmore The seat of Gilmore, on the NSW South Coast, was one of the most at-risk Labor seats. Incumbent Fiona Phillips was defending a 373-vote margin against Liberal Andrew Constance. In the previous election, Constance, a high-profile former state member for Bega, overcame Coalition infighting during preselection to secure a 2.5 per cent swing towards him, even as the Coalition suffered a 5.3 per cent drift the other way.

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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 Labors victory came through winning several key electorates in the Greater Brisbane area  from the Coalition and from the Greens. Heres the state of play in some of the most tightly contested seats. Brisbane The seat of Brisbane takes in inner-city suburbs including riverside New Farm and Newstead, the well-heeled Clayfield and Hamilton, as well as Albion, Lutwyche, Bowen Hills, Kelvin Grove, Newmarket, Enoggera, Windsor, Wilston and Wooloowin, plus the CBD and parts of Stafford and Bardon. In 2022, Greens MP Stephen Bates took the seat from the LNPs Trevor Evans in the progressive partys historic Brisbane sweep, prompting leader Adam Bandt to declare a Greenslide. Corflutes outside New Farm State School in the electorate of Brisbane. Credit: Rosanna Ryan This time, Labors Madonna Jarrett  who also ran at the last election appears to have triumphed in the rematch, with help from a well-resourced campaign.

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Griffith Griffith was held by Labor for almost a quarter of a century  with former PM Kevin Rudd serving 15 years  before Max Chandler-Mather won the seat from Terri Butler in 2022. The renter- and apartment-dominated suburbs of West End, Kangaroo Point, South Brisbane and Woolloongabba fall within the boundaries, as does a mortgage-heavy belt spanning Bulimba, Norman Park, Carina, Camp Hill, Holland Park and Coorparoo. Griffith election corflutes outside Brisbane State High School in South Brisbane. Credit: Thom Ryan Chandler-Mather made an impression as a Greens firebrand and the partys spokesperson for housing. His Labor challenger, Renee Coffey, most recently served as chief executive of a national youth mental health charity. Ryan

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Established as an electorate in 1949, Ryan was a blue seat  that is, held by the conservative Liberal Party or its Queensland successor, the LNP  for all but 11 months in 2001, until Elizabeth Watson-Brown won in 2022. The electorate covers two dozen suburbs, from urban riverside areas near the University of Queensland campus to more affluent suburbs where at least 80 per cent of residents are home owners. A corflute for Ryan MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown near the University of Queenslands St Lucia campus. Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt Former architect Watson-Brown faced off against the LNPs candidate, barrister Maggie Forrest, and former school principal Rebecca Hack who ran for Labor. Dickson Rumours he was losing his home base dogged Peter Dutton, the federal opposition leader, since the election was announced in late March.

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With a margin of 1.7 per cent, it shaped up as one of the tightest races in the south-east. Polling booths in Peter Duttons electorate of Dickson were quiet on election day. Starting a half-hour drive north of Brisbanes CBD, Dickson includes the City of Moreton Bay suburbs of Albany Creek, Everton Hills, Ferny Hills, Kurwongbah, Murrumba Downs, Petrie, Strathpine and parts of Kallangur. Labors Ali France has been creeping up on Dutton since her first try in 2019. Dickson was also contested by a handful of independent and minor party candidates, including Climate 200-backed independent Ellie Smith. Bonner

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Ross Vasta from the LNP is Bonners longest serving MP. He won the seat when it was first created in 2004, lost it at the next election, but regained it in 2010 and had held it since, most recently on a 3.4 per cent margin. The seat on Brisbanes eastern fringe covers the bayside suburbs of Wynnum, Manly and Lota, along with Tingalpa, Belmont, Carindale, Mansfield, Mount Gravatt, Wishart and Rochedale. Anthony Albanese cuddles a child next to Labor candidate for Bonner in Brisbane, Kara Cook. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Vasta appears set to be replaced by Kara Cook, a lawyer who served as a Brisbane city councillor for the ward of Morningside until early 2023. Moreton Moreton was already considered a safe Labor seat, and the party looks to have consolidated its hold with Julie-Ann Campbell elected following the retirement of long-serving MP Graham Perrett.

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Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Poland Andrzej Duda, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I congratulate you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Poland - the Constitution Day.

I believe that the ties of friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Poland will continue to evolve and expand in line with the interests of our peoples.

On such a remarkable day, I extend my best wishes to you, and wish your friendly people peace and prosperity," the letter reads.
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The Australian Electoral Commission is investigating after songs talking up Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Chisholm MP Dr Katie Allen were played at polling booths in Victoria.

The Victorian Labor campaign has referred the songs  played on speakers outside two booths in the electorates of Chisholm and Hawke  to the AEC, complaining the tunes could be heard within the six-metre exclusion zone around the polling booth.

Voters leave the polling booth at St Francis Catholic College in Melton, where pro-Liberal songs were played on speakers earlier in the day. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

A song that was played on Saturday morning at a booth in Chisholm, in Melbournes east, vaunted Liberal candidate Allens experience and stated that those assembled should vote for her.
Chaney wins in Curtin The mood was buoyant as Curtin independent Kate Chaney darted through the crowd of the hundreds of supporters gathered in the tavern of the University of Western Australia. Attendees  including her father, prominent Perth businessman Michael Chaney  roared as the incumbent thanked her 1000-strong army of volunteers who she said had been motivated by a broken political system they were adamant was not beyond repair. Liberal candidate Tom White speaks after the WA seat of Curtin was retained by teal independent Kate Chaney. Credit: Jesinta Burton It was a stark contrast to the atmosphere at Liberal candidate Tom Whites party in the heart of the affluent western suburbs, as the initial count indicated Chaney would hold on to the blue-ribbon seat she wrested from the Liberals in 2022 as the teal wave swept the country.

Loading One party faithful dripping in campaign gear mouthed expletives as he strolled past a Sky News broadcast of Labor claiming victory. Its not looking good, is it? one party member said. Its a debacle. A complete debacle, said another, as a friend shook their head. White entered to a round of applause shortly before 9pm, beginning his speech by paying his respects to his formidable opponent and shutting down a heckler who accused Chaney of being a liar.

At the time, Chaney had 53 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, but White was adamant victory was still possible and vowed not to discuss concession until the results of pre-poll were clearer. White declined to engage in a post-mortem of the national campaign, and said he had no regrets about waging his battle on local issues, but the former Uber executive conceded the partys result warranted introspection. The Liberal Party clearly has some work to do to define itself in a way that appeals to people, particularly young people  and as a relatively young person myself, I feel that quite acutely, he said. Lets let the dust settle. The battleground electorate, which Chaney held by a 1.3 per cent margin, has been dubbed the seven-figure seat amid reports both candidates have spent at least $1 million over the course of the campaign.

Bullwinkel on a knifes edge At Liberal candidate for Bullwinkel Matt Morans party in the Perth hills, the 40 or so party faithful took more interest in the sausage rolls than the federal result, with the ABC coverage playing in the background calling the election for Labor early in the night. One couple there to support Moran were flabbergasted at the result in Peter Duttons seat of Dickson. Liberal Bullwinkel candidate Matt Moran with his partner Kama at the Lesmurdie Club. Credit: Hamish Hastie He lost it? Youre joking. I cant believe it, the woman said.

Loading Labor wins the election. Bugger, another punter said reading the caption on the big TV playing the election coverage. By 9.30pm, Labors Cook was 0.3 per cent ahead of Moran. Bullwinkel was billed as a three-way contest, but Nationals candidate Mia Davies only received 16.2 per cent of the vote, conceding to a sea of yellow-shirted supporters at the Kalamunda Tap House that it was mathematically difficult for her to snatch victory. The former state opposition leader said she was OK with the prospect of defeat.

Because a big part of this when I made the decision to put my hand up for the role  was that I was prepared to make sure that our brand of politics was spread beyond the boundaries that we had, she said. Neither Moran nor Cook had claimed victory by the end of the evening, with both conceding it was too close to make any firm call. Speaking at Morans after party retiring Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds said there was no way of sugar coating it  it had been a tough night for the Liberals. Weve lost a lot of really fabulous members, including our leader in Peter Dutton, who did a mighty job for us all, and he came and did a mighty job for us here in Bullwinkel, she said. Moran said the eyes of Australia watched the Bullwinkel campaign.

We fought this on local issues, about issues that local people wanted to talk about, and that means a lot to me. So thank you once again for your time. I am committed to this community, and lets bring it home, he said. Teals strong showing in Fremantle Fremantle community independent Kate Hulett had another strong showing at this election after her surprise result in the state election. By the end of the evening, Hulett matched her state result in attracting 24.5 per cent of the primary vote, putting her behind Labors Josh Wilson. Independent Fremantle candidate Kate Hulett after the election on Saturday night. Credit: Mark Naglazas
Sydney property buyers could save up to $332,000 if they chose to purchase a house with one less bedroom.

A typical three-bedroom house costs $1,198,000, some $332,500 cheaper than a house with four bedrooms, Domain data has revealed.

Buyers who opt for a two-bedroom house instead of three bedrooms could save $123,000.

That savings gap balloons to $480,000 if buyers opt for a two-bedroom unit instead of a three-bedroom unit.
Singapore: Singapores Peoples Action Party (PAP) won its 14th successive election on Saturday to extend its unbroken six-decade rule, delivering a strong mandate to its new prime minister as the city-state braces for economic turbulence from a global trade war.

On the same night as Australias incumbent government easily secured a second term, the PAP took 87 of the 97 parliamentary seats up for grabs, with victories by huge margins in many of the 33 constituencies, as the opposition failed to build on gains made in previous contests.

Lawrence Wong, Singapores prime minister, celebrates victory. Credit: Bloomberg

The election was a bellwether of the popularity of the PAP amid some signs of disenchantment with its tight grip on power, speech and assembly in the Asian financial hub, whose 6 million people have known no other kind of government.

Though the PAP has consistently won about 90 per cent of seats, its share of the popular vote is closely watched as a measure of the strength of its mandate, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong eager to leave a mark on his first election in charge.
US to stage military parade on June 14, Trump's birthday



Washington, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



The United States will stage a military parade on June 14 to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army, the White House said Friday, with the event also falling on President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

Trump "will honor American Veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and military history with a military parade!" White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly wrote on X.

In addition to the parade, the celebration of the service's birthday will feature fireworks and a festival on the National Mall, US Army spokeswoman Heather Hagan said.

"Given the significant milestone of 250 years, the Army is exploring options to make the celebration even bigger, with more capability demonstrations, additional displays of equipment, and more engagement with the community," Hagan said.

"Parade planning is actively underway, and we anticipate approximately 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and 6,600 soldiers," she added.

Trump had floated the idea of holding a military parade in Washington during his first term after attending a Bastille Day parade in France.

It never materialized, however, after the Pentagon said it could cost $92 million and concerns were raised that tanks and other heavy military vehicles would damage the city's streets.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser raised similar concerns last month when asked by reporters about plans for a parade.

"Military tanks on our streets would not be good," Bowser said. "If military tanks were used they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads."



- 'We never celebrate anything' -



The last major US military parade in Washington was held in 1991 to celebrate the end of the Gulf War.

The new parade announcement came a day after Trump said he was declaring May 8 to be Victory Day for World War II and changing Veterans Day -- observed on November 11 -- to Victory Day for World War I.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US president downplayed the role of European countries -- many of which suffered far more casualties and devastation than the United States -- in the two global conflicts.

"We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything -- 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 wrote.

Trump has had a contradictory relationship with US military forces, lauding their power but also claiming they were depleted and in need of rebuilding.

He at times clashed with military brass during his 2016-2020 term in office and reportedly referred to fallen troops as "losers" and "suckers" -- something he denied.

During his second term, Trump has overseen a purge of top officers, including chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff general Charles "CQ" Brown, whom he fired without explanation in February.

Other senior officers dismissed this year include the heads of the Navy and Coast Guard, the general who headed the National Security Agency, the vice chief of staff of the Air Force, a Navy admiral assigned to NATO, and three top military lawyers.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has insisted the president is simply choosing the leaders he wants, but Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential politicization of the traditionally neutral US military.
Israel launches new Syria strikes amidst Druze tensions



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 reportedly launched its heaviest barrage this year on the country.

Israel said the Damascus strike was a "clear message" to the government not to harm the Druze minority, following recent sectarian clashes.

Hours later, Israel staged more than 20 strikes on military targets across Syria, according to the war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The strikes came after Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to Damascus. They urged the new authorities to appoint local officials to government posts in Sweida province, heartland of the Druze religious group.

Their statement followed fighting between Druze fighters and Syrian forces, including government-affiliated groups that killed more than 100 people in Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus and in Sweida, the Observatory said.

An apparent drone strike killed four Druze fighters at a farm in Sweida, the Observatory said. It was unclear who staged the strike, but Syria's official SANA news agency said it was an Israeli attack.

SANA later reported Israel airstrikes near Damascus and in the west, at Latakia and Hama -- where four people were injured -- and in Deraa in the south.

The observatory reported more than 20 night time Israeli strikes overall on the regions, calling them the heaviest since the start of the year.



- Israel sends 'message' -



The early morning blast in the presidential palace area of Damascus was heard across the city.

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 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 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.

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' -



Mohamad Halawa, a security official in Damascus province, said there was 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".

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.

It was the worst bloodshed since the overthrow of Assad, who is from that minority community.

The government accused Assad loyalists of sparking the violence, and launched an inquiry.
Israel launches new Syria strikes amid Druze tensions



Damascus, May 2 (AFP) May 02, 2025



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.
Shooter wounds two at US college



Los Angeles, United States, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2025



A gunman wounded two women on Friday on the campus of a private college near the US city of Los Angeles, authorities said.

"One's in critical condition, and one is in stable condition right now," Inglewood Mayor James Butts told reporters.

The shooting took place in the late afternoon on the campus of Spartan College, a private college in Inglewood that teaches aeronautics.

The suspect may be a former college employee, according to the mayor.

Local television station KTLA reported that the suspect was wearing a uniform resembling that of a security guard and was arrested by police.

The school's campus was secured by the police and the mayor said there were no other victims.
MSF hospital bombed in South Sudan



Juba, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2025



Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said one of its hospitals in South Sudan had been bombed early on Saturday, with at least seven people killed by airstrikes in the area.

South Sudan has descended into renewed conflict in recent months due to the collapse of a power-sharing agreement between rival generals, President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar.

MSF said its hospital in Old Fangak in the north of the country had been bombed, destroying its pharmacy and all its medical supplies. A patient and staff member were injured.

"The attack began at around 4:30 am (0130 GMT) when two helicopter gunships first dropped a bomb on the MSF pharmacy, burning it to the ground, then went on to fire on the town of Old Fangak for around 30 minutes," MSF said in a statement.

It said a drone bombed the town's market next to the hospital at around 7 am, leading to at least seven deaths and wounding 20 people.

"The hospital is clearly marked as a hospital. I don't think it was an accident," Mamman Mustapha, MSF's head of mission in South Sudan, told AFP by phone.

"We've been there since 2014, we've shared our coordinates. They know us. And they continued shelling on the civilian population as well," he added.

The hospital is the only one in the county, serving a population of more than 110,000 people in an area with extremely limited access to healthcare.

It has not been an area at the centre of renewed clashes between the forces of Kiir and Machar in recent months.

But the attack came a day after the Kiir-aligned army chief, Paul Majok Nang, threatened attacks in Fangak and Leer counties in response to a number of boats and barges being "hijacked".

An army statement on Friday accused members of Machar's forces and its allies in the so-called White Army, a militia drawn from the vice president's ethnic Nuer community, of being behind the hijackings, which led to passengers and crew being "held hostage" and ransoms demanded.

A spokesman for Machar's forces described the hijacking claims as "false" and called on the international community to investigate Saturday's assault.



- 'Considered hostile' -



Biel Boutros Biel, a local official in Fangak County, confirmed that bombings had hit the area around 4 am on Saturday.

In a recorded statement, he said they were carried out by a drone and plane, displacing "over 30,000 people" and said a nine-month-old boy was among those killed.

"These planes belonged to the government of South Sudan," he said.

Last week, an opposition lawmaker accused Kiir's government of preparing a "genocide" of the Nuer community after it classified nine out of 16 Nuer-majority counties as "hostile", meaning aligned with Machar's party.

South Sudan has been plagued by instability since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

Kiir and Machar represent the two largest ethnic groups, the Dinka and Nuer, respectively.

They fought a civil war between 2013 and 2018 that cost some 400,000 lives.

An MSF hospital was also looted by gunmen in Ulang county, Upper Nile state last month.
UN envoy urges Israel to halt Syria attacks 'at once'



Damascus, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2025



United Nations special envoy Geir Pedersen urged Israel Saturday to halt its attacks on Syria "at once", after it carried out multiple air strikes targeting the Islamist-led authorities following sectarian violence this week.

Fresh Israeli raids were reported overnight, after Israel said repeatedly that its forces stood ready to protect the Druze minority after sectarian clashes killed 119 people, mostly Druze fighters, according to a Britain-based war monitor.

Since ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria's new authorities -- who have roots in Al-Qaeda -- have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but they must also contend with pressure from radical Islamists in their ranks.

"I strongly condemn Israel's continued and escalating violations of Syria's sovereignty, including multiple air strikes in Damascus and other cities," Pedersen said in a post on X, calling "for these attacks to cease at once".

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 20 strikes hit military targets across Syria late Friday, in the "heaviest" assault carried out by Israel on its neighbour this year.

Syria's state news agency SANA reported strikes near Damascus and in the country's centre, west and south, saying one civilian was killed.

An Israeli military statement said its forces "struck a military site, anti-aircraft cannons and surface-to-air missile infrastructure in Syria". It did not give further details.

Firas Aabdeen, 32, a member of the security forces in Harasta near Damascus where one of the attacks hit, said he heard several "very loud" strikes and that a largely disused Assad-era military barracks was targeted.

The barrage followed an Israeli attack near the presidential palace in Damascus early on Friday, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz called 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.

Israeli foe Iran, which propped up the now ousted Assad government, condemned the strikes, accusing Israel of seeking to "destroy and annihilate the defence, economic and infrastructure capabilities of Syria as an independent country".

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group, also an Assad ally, said that the attacks were "a clear attempt to undermine" and weaken Syria.



- Israel army 'deployed' in south -



The Israeli military said it was "deployed in southern Syria" and "prepared to prevent the entry of hostile forces into the area of Druze villages".

Since the collapse of the Assad government late last year, Israeli troops have entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights and have carried out incursions deeper into southern Syria.

It was not immediately clear whether the Israeli army was speaking of a new deployment or how many troops were involved.

A Druze official in the community's heartland in Sweida province, said there had been "no deployment of Israeli soldiers" there.

This week, Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to a united Syria, following clashes between Druze fighters and loyalists of the new government.

The unrest in Sweida and the southern suburbs of the capital was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous. AFP was unable to confirm its authenticity.



- 'Directly interfering' -



The Observatory and Druze residents said forces affiliated with the new government attacked the towns of Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus and clashed with Druze gunmen.

The government blamed "outlaw groups" for the violence.

A de-escalation deal saw government troop deploy in Sahnaya and tighter security around Jaramana.

Israel's military said "five Syrian Druze citizens were evacuated to receive medical treatment in Israel overnight" after sustaining injuries in Syria.

The Druze official in Sweida said they were wounded "in clashes in Sahnaya" and feared being detained if they sought treatment in Damascus.

Middle East analyst Andreas Krieg said Israel was "directly interfering in the transition process in Syria".

Israel is using the Druze issue "as some sort of pretext to justify their military occupation" of parts of Syria, he told AFP.

burs-lar/lg/kir
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev paid an official visit to Kenya on May 2, 2025, Trend reports via the Foreign Ministry.

During the visit, the first political consultations between Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry and Kenya's Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs took place in Nairobi. The meeting, chaired by Rafiyev and his Kenyan counterpart, Abraham Korir Sing'Oei, discussed the positive dynamics of bilateral political, economic, trade, humanitarian, and parliamentary relations, as well as cooperation in international platforms.

The parties held an extensive exchange of views on the future development prospects of the relations established between the two countries over the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Solidarity was expressed regarding the broad opportunities for cooperation in the fields of information and communication technologies, the digital economy, promotion of the progressive "ASAN Service" model, energy and mining resources, agriculture, tourism, and education.

The current status of mutual cooperation in multilateral formats, particularly within the frameworks of the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement, was highly appreciated, and the possibilities for its expansion were discussed.

During the political consultations, an exchange of views was held on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

During the visit, Rafiyev was received by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, Musalia Mudavadi. It was emphasized that the first political consultations would significantly contribute to further deepening the existing bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

As part of the visit, a meeting was organized between Rafiyev and Kenyan youth, initiated by Charline Ruton, the Kenyan Youth Champion and the head of the "International Youth Network" public union.

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This of course could also be related to the shimmering afterimage effect of the kind of old school fame that comes when youre on Doctor Who. When youre not simply appearing on memes and Comic Con stages and launch party posts and news sites, but are in peoples homes on Saturday night and post-Christmas dinners. In fact last time we saw Millie  Ruby, sorry  was at Christmas, watching from the window at the Christmas star at the end of Joy to the World, a brief sign that when she left Ncuti Gatwas Doctor at the end of last season to be with her long lost mum, it wasnt the end. This is no one season wonder.
Where to live

Golden Visas: the four European countries where you can still get citizenship by buying property

Four European countries still offering golden visas to property buyers
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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, and Arzu Aliyeva, Head of the Baku Media Center, along with their family members, visited the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on May 2, Trend reports.

They familiarized themselves with rich historical and cultural heritage of Nakhchivan, unique architectural monuments located there, medical and social rehabilitation facilities, and natural scenes.

They first put flowers at the monument of Azerbaijans National Leader Heydar Aliyev, also visiting the Heydar Aliyev Museum, where they viewed the rare exponents, reflecting the life path, political legacy, and public activities of the genius personality.

The program also included visits to one of the architectural pearls of Nakhchivan - the Momina Khatun Tomb, the Nakhchivan Khans Palace, open-air museum at the Ajami park, showcasing the artifacts from the khanate era.

Leyla Aliyeva, Arzu Aliyeva and the family members also visited the Nakhchivan Childrens Rehabilitation Center for the childrens with disabilities. They examined the various departments of the center, inquiring about medical rehabilitation process and services provided to the children.

Leyla Aliyeva donated various equipment for foot and hand rehabilitation to the Children's Rehabilitation Center, including "Robotic" rehabilitation gloves, as well as miostimulation and infrared light therapy devices.

The same day, the Heydar Aliyev Palace in Nakhchivan hosted the screening of the feature film Taghiyev: Oil Part I, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Nakhchivan AR.

Produced by the Baku Media Center, the feature film Taghiyev: Oil chronicles the life and philanthropic efforts of the notable Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev.
Weather Alert

Take action to protect yourself and others  extreme heat can affect everyones health. Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day. Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1 or your emergency health provider if you, or someone around you, is showing signs of heat stroke which can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness. While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body. Drink water often and before you feel thirsty to replace fluids. Close blinds, or shades and open windows if outside is cooler than inside. Turn on air conditioning, use a fan, or move to a cooler area of your living space. If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library or shaded park. Follow the advice of your regions public health authority. Plan and schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day. Limit direct exposure to the sun and heat. Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Never leave people, especially children, or pets inside a parked vehicle. Check the vehicle before locking to make sure no one is left behind. Humidex values reaching 40 are expected. A heat event is expected 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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to postpone his visit to Azerbaijan, a diplomatic source told Trend.

In view of the latest domestic political developments, as well as processes related to the situation surrounding Syria and the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided to reschedule his visit to Azerbaijan for another date, the source said.

The PM thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the invitation and highly appreciated the warm relations between the two countries, the statement from Netanyahus office said.
PIKE COUNTY, Mo.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol has launched two investigations into the death of 23-year-old man and allegations that sheriffs deputies knew where his body was, but waited weeks to recover it.

State Attorney General Andrew Bailey requested one of the inquiries into the death of Nathaniel Mueller, who went missing Dec. 21 and was last seen in Quincy, Illinois. Muellers body was pulled from a pond on his grandmothers property near Frankford, Missouri, about 90 miles northwest of St. Louis, in February.

Baileys request came days after Bowling Green Police Chief Ty Bounds held a press conference in March, alleging that, while investigating a separate burglary, he uncovered cellphone evidence that a local sheriffs deputy might have helped cover up the death of Mueller and the discovery of his body.

Those phone records, including text messages, referenced Muellers disappearance and showed the deputy was a close family friend of one of the burglary suspects.

Bowling Green is in Pike County, but has its own police force, separate from the sheriffs department.

Baileys request tasked investigators to look into Muellers death and any criminal acts, which may have occurred during the investigation, said highway patrol spokesman Brad Germann. The investigation is specifically looking at an incident that occurred between the Bowling Green Police Chief and the Chief Deputy of Pike County, on Feb. 28 when Muellers body was recovered.

The other ongoing investigation comes at the request of Pike County Prosecuting Attorney Alex Ellison, who asked the highway patrols criminal investigation units look into the death of Mueller.

It is too early to determine if it is a suspicious death investigation or not. We wont know that until the investigation is complete, Germann said.

Authorities are still waiting for the medical examiner to release Muellers autopsy and toxicology reports from the St. Louis County medical examiners office, said Germann.

They are following up on several leads that can also develop into multiple other leads, Germann said. The one thing we dont want to do is expediate this case and miss something. The most thorough investigations take time, sometimes days, weeks or even months.
JEFFERSON CITY  Rep. Ben Baker, a Neosho Republican who has represented Newton County in the Legislature since 2019, has been named the U.S. Department of Agricultures state director for Rural Development in Missouri.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the appointment Friday.

Baker thanked President Donald Trump in a social media post, calling the appointment a great honor.

A native of Indianapolis, Baker is a lay minister, missionary, former professor and former dean of students at Ozark Bible Institute in Neosho. In the Legislature, he served as chairman of the House Government Efficiency Committee.

Baker is the father of Natalie Lloyd, a Christian missionary who was killed along with her husband and the director of a nonprofit by Haitian gangs in May 2024.
A T-38 Talon takes off with the Sutter Buttes in the background at Beale Air Force Base on April 2, 2025. (Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via TNS)



(Tribune News Service)  Beale Air Force Base will be home to a new mission that could return the Northern California installation to the forefront of defense technology.

Beale, near Marysville, Calif., was announced as the home of the Air Forces new Collaborative Combat Aircrafts readiness unit and its semiautonomous, unmanned aircraft, a mission that Air Force leaders and California lawmakers are calling a milestone.

One of the missions ultimate goals, said Air Force officials: delivering combat power at a fraction of the cost of traditional fighters.

This is a major win for Beale AFB and a vote of confidence in the capabilities of our region, said Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, in a statement Friday announcing the move. These aircraft represent the future of the Air Force autonomous, highly capable, and ready to deploy at a moments notice. This new mission not only solidifies Beales role in our national defense, but also brings new technology and investment to our region.

LaMalfa and California Sen. Adam Schiff worked to bring the unit to Northern California. The Beale site beat out Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and North Dakotas Grand Forks Air Force Base for the technologically advanced unit.

The two lawmakers toured Beale just weeks ago ahead of the Air Forces announcement, LaMalfas office said.

When we visited Beale Air Force Base just a couple weeks ago, I met committed California servicemembers working to protect our nation and apply new technologies to the adapting threats we face, Schiff is quoted in the statement. As the West Coast remains on the front line for deterring adversaries in the Pacific and the home of the nations technological innovation, Im proud to see Yuba County at the tip of the spear for promoting Americas national security.

Two aircraft, the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, are undergoing ground testing to evaluate engine performance, avionics and other metrics before moving to flight testing later this year, said Air Force officials. A decision on production of the aircraft is expected in 2026.

This phase bridges the gap between design and flight, boosting confidence and laying the groundwork for a successful first flight and eventual fielding to the warfighter, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said in a statement.

Were moving fast because the warfighter needs this capability, Allvin said. These aircraft will help us turn readiness into operational dominance.

The ability to take combat-ready aircraft to the skies at a moments notice is a key component of Beales new mission. Efficiency is just as important, said Air Force officials in informational materials detailing the new unit.

The new unmanned aircraft means fewer sorties or training missions to maintain flight readiness. The aircraft will be ready to fly at any time, but minimally flown so fewer airmen will be needed to support the fleet, Air Force officials said.

The incoming unit marks a reunion of sorts for the Northern California base. The RQ-4 Global Hawk, the unmanned, remotely-piloted, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that supported operations including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, patrolled the skies from its Beale Air Force Base home from 2004 until it was pulled from the base in 2022.

In addition to its new mission with future unmanned combat aircraft, Beale plays a key role in national defense with several important operations.

The base is home to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and the U-2 Dragon Lady, a high-altitude spy plane that gathers intelligence from around the world. These aircraft have even been used recently to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border. Beale also supports aerial refueling with KC-135 tankers, which help other aircraft stay in the air longer.

The base will host to its annual air and space expo June 7-8. Tickets and more information are available at bealeairshow.com.

2025 The Sacramento Bee.

Visit sacbee.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. With organizational support from the Youth Development and Career Center, the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijan Innovation Center, Baku is hosting its first large-scale Youth Artificial Intelligence Forum, Azer Aliyev, Director General of the Youth Development and Career Center, told reporters, Trend reports.

Speaking to local media, Aliyev noted that the main goal of the event is to enhance young people's knowledge and skills in modern technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI).

Highlighting the significance of the event, Aliyev noted that the forum serves as a development platform for young people and is being held at this scale for the first time.

"The demands of the modern era are pushing young people to adapt to current trends and expand their knowledge in areas such as digitalization and artificial intelligence. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, important strategies are being implemented in our country for digital development and the promotion of AI. By supporting these initiatives, we aim to equip young people with the necessary skills in this field," Aliyev said.

According to him, more than 150 young people participated in the event. The forum featured panel discussions involving representatives from both the public and private sectors. Speakers shared valuable insights on the use of AI in various fields, career opportunities, and future prospects in the sector.

In alignment with the State Program of the Republic of Azerbaijan and pursuant to a decree from the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated December 19, 2011, the Youth Foundation was instituted under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The foundation aims to enhance the framework for executing youth policy, which encompasses the upgrade of the material and technical resources of youth organizations and youth centers.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Cmdr. Joseph Dearing at a change in command ceremony that marked his taking command of the Navy Reserve Center in Manchester, N.H., in September 2024. (NRC Manchester via Facebook)



MANCHESTER, N.H. (Tribune News Service)  U.S. Navy officials announced Friday they have removed Cmdr. Joseph Dearing from his duties as commander of the Manchester Navy Reserve Center.

In a statement, Navy officials said simply that Dearing was relieved of command due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

While considered the Naval Reserve Center of Manchester, the address of the center is actually 64 Harvey Road in Londonderry, N.H.

The Navy said in statement, Cmdr. Joseph Dearing was relieved of his duties as NRC Manchesters commanding officer by Capt. Christian Parilla, commander of Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command (REDCOM) Norfolk.

The Navy maintains the highest standards for leaders and holds them accountable when those standards are not met.

The official release issued by the Navy did not allege any wrongdoing by Cmdr. Dearing.

NRC Manchester is a subordinate command of Navy Reserve Force Command, which is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia.

Cmdr. Christopher Worthy has been temporarily assigned as NRC Manchesters commanding officer, Navy officials said.

The reserve center provides administrative support to attached units, including pay and personnel transaction processing.

Dearing has been temporarily reassigned to REDCOM Norfolk, the Navy said. He assumed command of NRC Manchester in September 2024.

Dearing first joined the Navy in August 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is a graduate of Jacksonville University.

An attempt to reach Dearing for comment Friday was unsuccessful.

 2025 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.).

Visit www.unionleader.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Capt. Micah Murphy, commander, Military Sealift Command Pacific (left) and Vice Adm. John F. G. Wade, commander, U.S. Third Fleet, render honors during the christening ceremony of Military Sealift Commands newest fleet replenishment oiler USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210) at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, Calif., April 26, 2025. (Sarah Cannon/U.S. Navy)



SAN DIEGO, C.A. (Tribune News Service)  Barbara Allen, sixth great-granddaughter of Sojourner Truth, says shell never forget the ceremony where the U.S. Navy christened a John Lewis-class oiler the USNS Sojourner Truth in honor of the abolitionist, womens rights champion and Ulster County, N.Y., native.

Allen, the ships sponsor under a longstanding naval tradition that dates back to 1908, recalled smashing a champagne bottle on the ship during a ceremony at a San Diego shipyard on Saturday, April 26. Allen was joined by her granddaughter Carmen Allen, 19, who served as the ships maid of honor at the ceremony attended by 2,000 people.

Just breaking that champagne bottle, I felt the spirit of Sojourner standing next to me, and Ill never forget it, Allen, of Battle Creek, Michigan, said.

It immediately started moving, it was the first time it touched water, she added.

Allen said it was great to share this moment with her granddaughter, Truths eighth great-granddaughter.

From left, Carmen Allen, eighth great-grandaugther of Sojourner Truth, and her grandmother Barbara Allen, sixth great-grandaughter of Truth stand with a U.S. Navy artist who created a painting depicting the U.S Navy John Lewis Class oiler USNS Sojourner Truth, the Ulster County Courthouse, the Sojourner Mars rover, and Sojourner Truth State Park. Barbara Allen, the ships sponsor helped to Christen the vessel by smashing a bottle of champagne during a special ceremony on April 26 at shipyard in San Diego. Carmen Allen,19, served as maid of honor for the event. (photo provided)

For her to be able to see something like this was unbelievable, she said.

Sponsors are always women, Allen added. She admitted she hadnt known about this tradition before this.

Truth was born in 1797 in the town of Esopus as Isabella Baumfree and was one of seven slaves owned by Johannes Hardenburgh. She was sold at about age 12 to John Ignatius Dumont, who operated a farm in what is now the town of Esopus.

She left Esopus in 1826, after Dumont broke a promise to free her, and took her infant daughter and walked 11 miles to Poppletown, in New Paltz, where she was taken in by the VanWagenen family in a Quaker community. In 1828, a year after New York abolished slavery, Truth became the first Black woman to win a lawsuit against a white man when she took Dumont to court for illegally selling her 5-year-old son to an Alabama slave owner.

Allen said in a Thursday, May 1, interview that she still feels a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing. My trip to San Diego and to see her honored not just on a plaque or building, but on a working ship honoring her legacy is profoundly moving, she added.

Allen said she arrived on Thursday, April 24, then took a tour of the ship and took part in another naval ceremony on Friday, April 25, mast stepping ceremony. followed by a big reception dinner for Allen and her granddaughter, attended by 200 people.

Allen presented several different gifts to the ship, including a framed poster of Truth along with several books, including Truths narrative and a book about her Aint I a Woman speech for the ships library.

Allen and her granddaughter were each presented with a painting depicting the ship, Truth herself, the Ulster County Courthouse in Kingston where Truth won the case against DuMont to get her son back, Sojourner Truth State Park and the Sojourner Mars rover.

A painting depicting the U.S. Navy John Lewis Class Oiler USNS Sojourner Truth along with Truth, The Ulster County Courthouse, the Sojouner Mars rover and Sojourner Truth State Park , was given to Barbara Allen, of Battle Creek Michigan, the sixth great-granddaughter of Sojourner Truth, during a weekend of ceremonies celebrating the christening of the ship at a shipyard in San Diego, C.A. The Ulster County Courthouse was the place where Truth became the first Black woman to win a lawsuit against a white man when she took Dumont to court for illegally selling her 5-year-old son to an Alabama slave owner. (photo provided).

Allen hopes to come to Ulster County and display the painting and has been in talks with county officials to display it at Sojourner Truth-related events this year, possibly in August and November.

Ulster County is a second home for me, she said.

Allen said she only had a short talk with the artist

They also presented me with a wooden box housing the champagne bottle that I broke on the bow of the ship, she said.

While Allen has done a lot of events about Sojourner Truth, both in Battle Creek, where Truth lived and did much of her activist work, and in Ulster County, and events for the two childrens books shes authored, she said nothing was quite like this event.

Allen said a representative from the Navy reached out to her in 2023, letting her and other family members know that Sojourner Truth was picked for the next vessel in the John Lewis Class fleet. Allen recalled that the Navy rep reached out to her after a Google search. I suspect my name was the first to pop up with my childrens books and the events Ive done in other places, she added.

Allen explained the ships role.

The oiler replenishes the Navy ships, delivering crucial cargo and providing humanitarian assistance to those in crisis, Allen said. They say it is one of the most important ships.

Those were big parts that I found compelling, Allen said. They also carry mail to sailors at sea and keep them connected to their loved ones.

Being the ships sponsor comes with several obligations, including being part of nine major milestones of the ship, Allen said. She added that she is technically considered a member of the crew.

That started with the laying of the keel ceremony last year, which she could not attend.

She said the next most important milestone in the ships history will be the commissioning ceremony, where it is accepted by the U.S. Navy, and becomes part of the active fleet.

That ceremony is still about a year from now, when all construction is finished, she said.

The sponsor mans the ship and brings her to life, Allen said. The crew wont board until I say that.

Turning back to Truth, Allen said her great, great, great, great, great, great-grandmothers life has a message for people during a difficult time in this countrys history.

I hope people take away that doing the right thing and standing up for the truth is not in vain, Allen said. You may not see a payback in our lifetime, just like Sojourner didnt, but eventually youll see the effect of your hard work.

 2025 Daily Freeman, Kingston, N.Y.

Visit www.dailyfreeman.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
In 2021, he was handed a three-year probation order but that was revoked a few months later after the 62-year-old assaulted his probation officer.

Internet pervert and former software developer Matthew O'Hare has been charged with breaching his SOPO.

An American software developer turned pervert appeared in court today accused of multiple breaches of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Standing in the dock of Lisburn Magistrates Court, 63-year-old Matthew OHare was charged with two SOPO breaches and a further allegation that he breached the requirements of the police sex offenders register.

The particulars of the SOPO breaches allege that OHare, formerly from Monbrief Walk in Lurgan, had two apps on his phone which he did not have permission for on 14 October last year and further that on 29 April this year, he had two mobile phones, again without permission of his Designated Risk Manager.

The sex register offence alleges that on 7 December, OHare failed to make his annual notification of his name, address and DOB.

Objecting to the pervert being granted bail, Det. Const. Ross told the court how OHare is a category one offender with a SOPO in place until March 2027.

Internet pervert and former software developer Matthew O'Hare has been charged with breaching his SOPO.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

The first alleged breach related to a home visit last October when OHares DRM attended his home and when he examined his phone, the officer noted there were two social media apps which the defendant had not sought permission for.

The officer also noted that part of the web history on multiple dates had also been deleted and that is a further breach.

Moving to events in December, DC Ross said routine system checks noted that OHare had not completed his annual re-notification, adding that to date that still has not been completed.

The last breach, on 29 April, related to another home visit when, after inviting OHare to come in to be formally interviewed, the defendant produced two mobile phones for which he does not have approval for and nor had he registered the devices.

On the 2nd May he attended Musgrave Street where he was arrested and when he was searched, two mobile phones were found, DC Ross told the court.

Emphasising that OHare is currently subject to a suspended sentence for an earlier breach, he said police were objecting to the defendant being granted bail because he is failing to abide by the order and there were fears that he would commit further offences as he has shown disregard for court orders.

Although the defendants background was not opened today, previous courts have heard how Oregon native OHare said in a newspaper interview in 2016 that he moved to Northern Ireland to escape intolerance in his homeland.

In 2019 however he was arrested and charged with making and possessing indecent images of children, possessing an extreme pornographic image and contacting a child for the purpose of sexual gratification.

At Craigavon Crown Court in 2021, he was handed a three year probation order but that was revoked a few months later after the 62-year-old assaulted his probation officer.

Having heard that OHare had been physically attacked and burnt out of his home in an arson attack, Judge Patrick Lynch KC said that seems in your mind to have translated into you being a victim rather than a perpetrator of criminal behaviour and your reaction to the people who tried to give assistance is totally reprehensible.

Imposing a one year sentence at that stage, three months to be served in jail and the rest on licence, Judge Lynch said given he breached it in an egregious fashion, he had no other option but to jail him.

In court today defence counsel Peter Coiley argued that despite the alleged breaches OHare could be granted bail but with a package of conditions.

District Judge Eamon King agreed and told OHare I am keeping this very simple for you - you are not to be in possession of any mope phone or device capable of accessing the internet.

OHare was freed on bail and his case adjourned to 19 May.
The court heard the man's family were hard-working and not connected to crime, and his father cleared the 50,000 debt four years ago

Two Dublin men have been remanded in custody accused of attempted extortion of a 40,000 so-called "tax" on top of a previous 50,000 debt paid off by a recovered drug user's family four years ago.

Warren Treston, 41, who lived in Bettystown, and Patrick Skipton, 42, with an address at Garristown in north Co Dublin, were each charged with demanding 40,000 with menaces from a man from April 7 to May 1 this year.

Mr Skipton has an additional charge for the same type of offence, seeking 50,000 from January to April 2021.

They were remanded in custody after appearing before Judge Grainne Malone at Dublin District on Saturday.

Garda Ross Brierley said Mr Treston "made no reply" to the charge and he would face bail objections.

Asked for an outline of the evidence against that man, Garda Brierly said it was alleged that from April 7 to May 1, Mr Treston demanded 40,000 from a male who had previously paid off a 50,000 drug debt in 2021.

Warren Treston

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

The garda described the new amount sought as a form of tax, "that is the term", and he added that there was a demand with menaces.

It was alleged that on May 1, Mr Treston met the alleged victim to be paid 18,000. They were "intercepted" en route to a bank to withdraw the money.

However, defence counsel Kevin McCrave said Mr Treston was deferring his bail application.

Kelly Richardson BL, for Mr Skipton, said her client, who also made no reply to his charges, was pleading for bail and would obey strict terms, including a curfew and a no-contact condition.

Garda Shane Kennedy objected, citing the seriousness of the case and possible interference with witnesses.

He alleged that in 2021, the victim who knew Mr Skipton had been subjected to threats over a drug debt.

His mental health had suffered during the Covid pandemic, and he allegedly bought drugs from Mr Skipton, was in debt, and sometimes had to store cocaine for Mr Skipton. It led to him suffering suicidal tendencies.

The court heard the man's family were hard-working and not connected to crime, and his father cleared the 50,000 debt four years ago.

The father took early retirement to assist his son, who has since quit drugs and is now working and attempting to reimburse his father.

However, after a four-year gap last month, the court heard Mr Skipton resumed contacting the man.

It was alleged he began seeking 40,000 or there would be "immediate consequences", and threats were made to his family and property.

The court heard claims the complainant was afraid and forced to sell his car and cleared off his motor loan with the funds from the sale. He was instructed to take out another bank loan to pay the Mr Skipton.

It was alleged the man met Mr Skipton and Mr Treston, who were working together.

The garda said the man later went to a bank accompanied by Mr Treston, who remained on the phone with Mr Skipton.

The court heard that the bank told the alleged victim he could only get 18,000, and they left but returned to the bank on Friday when the pair were arrested.

It was claimed Mr Treston was working at the direction of Mr Skipton. Phones and suspected "tick lists" about money owed were allegedly recovered from Mr Skipton's address and will be analysed.

Ms Richardson submitted that there was no evidence her client had made demands, and the money in 2021 was alleged to have been paid to a third party, not her client.

She told the court his family could stand 7,000 bail.

The complainant was not required to testify.

However, while stressing the accused had the presumption of innocence, Judge Malone denied Mr Skipton's bail application given the level of concern expressed by the garda.

The charges are under section 17 of the Public Order Act, which can carry a 14-year sentence.

Legal aid was granted to the pair, who did not address the proceedings. Directions from the DPP must be sought concerning their trial venue, but Judge Malone said she expected it would go to the Circuit Court.

She remanded them in custody to appear again next week.
Keith Gibbons broke his ankle and was on sick leave from work

A firefighter who stole groceries was struggling to pay his mortgage after he broke his ankle and was on sick leave from work, a court heard.

Keith Gibbons (38) also started taking sleeping pills as his mental health suffered following the injury and his absence from his job.

Judge Stephanie Coggans ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to July.

The defendant, of Mariners Avenue in Rush, admitted theft at Tesco, Holywell Link Road in Swords, on November 19 of last year and on December 4 last year.

Tesco logo. Photo: PA

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

He stole items worth a total of 176. The court heard the defendant had no previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Ray Kavanagh said Gibbons co-operated fully with gardai, and admitted the thefts.

Mr Kavanagh said the defendant worked with Dublin Fire Brigade, but broke his ankle a number of months ago and had been off on sick leave.

Gibbonss mental health suffered due to his injury and being off work, Mr Kavanagh said, and he was self-medicating with sleeping pills.

Gibbons did not really remember the thefts, the solicitor added.

The defendant was also struggling financially, as he was paying a mortgage, but was on reduced wages due to the injury he had sustained.

Mr Kavanagh asked the judge to be lenient, asking her to leave Gibbons without a conviction, which would result in the defendant losing his job.

Gibbons had turned a corner in recent times, he added, was attending Narcotics Anonymous, and was focused on staying fit and well.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Armenia must provide precise information about the burial sites of Azerbaijani victims, said the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva, Trend reports.

In a statement released on Saturday, Aliyeva addressed the recent discoveries of mass graves in the cities of Shusha and Khojaly.

"During excavations conducted in April near the liberated city of Shusha in the Republic of Azerbaijan and on the Askeran-Khojaly road, two mass graves were found. The human remains discovered in these graves are believed to belong to civilians. Traces of violence on the remains further confirm the facts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis during the First Karabakh War.

According to the available data, 3,990 people have been registered as missing due to Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan. As a result of the identification work on the human remains found in mass graves on the liberated territories, around 170 Azerbaijani citizens have been identified so far, with identification efforts ongoing.

We regret to report that, despite repeated appeals from our side, Armenia has failed to fulfill its obligations under international law and has evaded providing Azerbaijan with information about prisoners, missing persons, and hostages for over thirty years.

Armenia, as a party to international treaties, must adhere to its commitments and provide accurate information on the burial sites of the murdered individuals. The international community, in turn, must exert serious pressure on Armenia to ensure that this information is handed over to Azerbaijan," the statement reads.

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Dylan Gilligan (24) was jailed for five years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Detectives believe a nephew of crime lord John Gilligan used a machine gun to shoot at the legs of his bitter gangland rival as part of a violent feud.

Dylan Gilligan (24) was jailed for five years yesterday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after his conviction last month for carrying a firearm with criminal intent to commit assault causing harm.

Serial criminal Scott Purdue (27) suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries to his leg after he was shot twice with the high-powered weapon at Shancastle Park on December 17, 2019  the third time he has been the victim of a gangland shooting.

But Purdue refused to give evidence at the lengthy trial or co-operate with the garda investigation, which was carried out by officers from Ronanstown station.

Gilligan was supported in court by a number of family members and friends, but his uncle John Gilligan (72) remains in jail in Spain, where he was arrested last December for allegedly running a pink-cocaine drugs lab close to the holiday resort of Torrevieja, near Alicante.

Unemployed Dylan is the son of John Gilligans sister, Lorraine, and has six previous convictions for relatively minor offences.

I will snap your neck, Geoghegan told Gilligan before he was led out of the court after refusing to give his account of events

There were tense scenes during the trial when violent gangland criminal Jamie Geoghegan (29), who is a bitter rival of Dylan Gilligan, was brought to the courtroom from his prison cell to give evidence as a witness in the shooting of his close associate and friend Purdue.

Geoghegan, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence for the false imprisonment of a man who was forced into a car and then beaten and stabbed in a caravan, refused to give evidence.

Dylan Gilligan outside court. Photo: Paddy Cummins

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

During the few moments he spent in court before being taken back to Mountjoy Prison, six prison officers and a number of gardai stood between Geoghegan and Gilligan.

I will snap your neck, Geoghegan told Gilligan before he was led out of the court after refusing to give his account of the events surrounding the shooting of Purdue.

Purdue also refused to engage with the court process, but he was not compelled to go to court from prison because he was classified as the victim in the feud-related shooting case.

Gangster John Gilligan

What went on in the courtroom between those two individuals shows the levels of hatred involved in this feud, a source said.

It began about seven years ago when a group of teenage males and others aged in their early 20s, who were once associates, were involved in a brawl in a car park.

The latest incident linked to the gangland warfare took place when the Armys bomb disposal unit was recently sent to what turned out to be a hoax pipe bomb near the home of a criminal who has been feuding with Dylan Gilligan and his associates.

There have been numerous arson attacks, assaults, vandalism incidents and shootings linked to the feud. No one has died, but in some cases innocent families have been burned out of their homes.

Many individuals have been warned of credible threats against their lives. The shooting of Purdue was one of the first major incidents linked to the feud.

He was seriously injured when he was struck by a car last October, for which he continues to receive rehab treatment

Purdue is serving a jail sentence for his role in an incident in which he and Geoghegan, along with two other men, entered a boys secondary school in the middle of the day and violently confronted a juvenile, causing widespread fear among students and staff, Dublin Circuit Court heard last year.

Yesterday, Judge Ronan Munro told Dylan Gilligan that he will have a choice when released from prison as to whether or not to return to criminality, before he imposed a sentence of six-and-a-half years with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.

Gilligan, with a last address in Tallaght, maintains he was not involved in the incident and denies wrongdoing. He was seriously injured when he was struck by a car last October, for which he continues to receive rehab treatment, the court heard.

A garda told the court that a person is being prosecuted for attempted murder in relation to that incident.

While it was described in court as stand-alone, gardai have investigated whether it is linked to the wider feud in the Clondalkin, Lucan and Ronanstown areas that involves more than 50 criminals.

Shooting victim Scott Purdue

There was no direct evidence during the trial that Gilligan was the shooter, no medical report and no first-hand witness accounts of the shooting. The firearm was also not recovered and no bullets or shell casings were found at the scene.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Munro noted there was no evidence during the trial about the context of the offence.

However, there was circumstantial evidence. Gilligan was seen in two different sets of clothing on the night before and after the shooting, and forensic results strongly supported the proposition that Gilligan had recently discharged a firearm after he was tested when arrested that night.

Evidence heard in the trial included that from a female witness who was walking in the Shancastle Park area of Clondalkin on the night with a young child.

She was overtaken by a man on a bicycle, who the jury accepted was Gilligan. She said she then heard gunshots, saw a flash and ducked to the ground with the child.

Purdue was also shot in the head in 2017, and the round remains lodged in him

Purdue was taken to a nearby house, and when paramedics arrived they found an entry and exit wound on his lower left leg and an injury to his right foot.

He was taken to hospital, but no medical report was provided to the court. A bloody sock and shoe, believed to be Purdues, were recovered from the house.

Purdue has multiple previous convictions, including one for being caught with a Kinder Surprise egg containing illegal drugs.

A previous court hearing heard that when he was 16 he was the victim of an attack, during which two of his fingers were removed.

Purdue was also shot in the head in 2017, and the round remains lodged in him. He was shot in the lower abdomen in 2018 on the anniversary of the first shooting.

Dylan Gilligans conviction is considered by gardai to be one of the most significant yet in the investigations into the west Dublin feud.
They are accused of possession of a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol and a Sellier and Bellot round of ammunition

A man and woman charged after guns and ammunition were seized in Dublin have been sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court.

Jamie Moss (22) and Sarah Jane Byrne (36) were served with the book of evidence when they appeared on bail before Blanchardstown District Court.

The pair were charged after detectives stopped a car on the Old Navan Road in Dublin 15 and recovered a pistol and ammunition.

During further searches, gardai uncovered a sub-machine gun, a sawn-off shotgun, and more ammunition.

The accused, whose addresses cannot be published, are accused of possession of a 9mm Makarov semi-automatic pistol and a Sellier and Bellot round of ammunition for unlawful purposes at Old Navan Road on February 16, 2024.

Ms Byrne is further charged with having a Tokarev calibre PPS-43 sub-machine gun, a 12-gauge over-and-under configuration sawn-off Beretta shotgun, and 27 rounds of 9mm Luger CBC machine gun ammunition under her control at her home in Dublin.

A state solicitor said that the book of evidence was ready and had been served on the accused, who go forward for trial to a sitting of the Special Criminal Court.

Jamie Moss and Sarah Jane Byrne

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

Judge David McHugh gave the accused the formal alibi caution.

In relation to Ms Byrne, the judge assigned defence solicitor Niall OConnor, one junior counsel and one senior counsel on free legal aid.

Mr Moss was also assigned defence solicitor Lorraine Stephens on legal aid, as well as two counsel.

Gardai previously told Blanchardstown Court that gardai stopped a Ford Focus which Mr Moss was driving on the Old Navan Road. Ms Byrne was in the passenger seat.

Detective Garda Mark Ferris alleged a Makarov pistol was in cling film, in a plastic bag, wrapped in a scarf in the car.

Gda Ferris said gardai conducted a follow-up search at Ms Byrnes home and he alleged a sawn-off shotgun, sub-machine gun and ammunition were hidden under the stairs in her house.

The district court also heard claims that Ms Byrne admitted taking possession of them, stripping them down, cleaning them and rewrapping them.

The accused have not yet indicated how they intend to plead to the charges.
Mr Ilyas died from blunt force trauma to the head, with Assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster telling the jury that the deceased sustained depressed fractures to his head which were "typical of hammer blows".

Two men accused of murdering 22-year-old Mahamud Ilyas in an alleged drugs row acted in self-defence and the evidence points to the deceased being the aggressor and the "prime mover" in the case, defence lawyers have told a trial jury.

In his closing address for the State on Thursday, Eoin Lawlor SC submitted that the use of a hammer was the modus operandi for conflict resolution employed by one of the men accused of murdering Mr Ilyas, while the appalling, callous way in which his body was disposed of indicated his co-accused's part in the joint enterprise of the murder.

They brought him to an isolated location, to a field where they left him in the bleak midwinter, said Mr Lawlor in his closing speech in the case of Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24).

Mr Doroscan, of Bay Meadows Square, Hollystown, West Dublin, and Mr Clejan, with a former address at Verdemont in Blanchardstown in Dublin 15, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022.

Mahamud Ilyas

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

A co-accused, Lorenzo Cantaragiu, of Castlegrange Park, Blanchardstown, faces various charges of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of Mr Clejan and Mr Doroscan, by carrying out various acts while knowing or believing them to have committed the offence of causing serious harm to Mr Ilyas. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Mr Ilyas died from blunt force trauma to the head, with Assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster telling the jury that the deceased sustained depressed fractures to his head which were "typical of hammer blows".

It is the States case that Mr Doroscan and Mr Clejan were involved in the sale and supply of drugs, and they allegedly beat Mr Ilyas to death after a row over a stolen bag of cannabis.

Addressing the jurors at the Central Criminal Court on Thursday, Mr Lawlor said if they found that Mr Doroscan and Mr Clejan were engaged in a joint enterprise to cause serious injury or death, then both men are guilty, irrespective of who struck the killing blow or blows.

Mr Lawlor said there was a compelling case that Mr Doroscan and Mr Clejan were drug dealers. He said that they used a stash house where drugs were kept and sold, with the two accused engaged in the processing of drugs which were weighed and bagged.

Vlady Ndosimau previously told the trial that he was at the bottom of the steps of the apartment when Mr Ilyas went inside but he ran up and barged through the door after hearing a loud banging noise. Inside, he said he witnessed Mr Ilyas sitting on the floor, with his back against a radiator, looking as if he had been beaten and with blood coming from his nose. His hands and feet were tied using a rope or a zip tie and he was moaning while Mr Clejan and Mr Doroscan shouted at him, the witness said.

Accused men Viorel Doroscan and (right) Otniel Richardo Clejan.

Mr Doroscan, holding a fruit knife, stood between Mr Ilyas's legs while Mr Clejan stood close to his head with a hammer in his hand, the witness said. Mr Doroscan, he said, kept on shouting "where is the stuff" while Mr Ilyas responded by "groaning and groaning".

Continuing his closing speech today, James Dwyer SC, for Mr Doroscan, said there had been no attempt by his client to "lure" Mr Ilyas to Verdemont and the deceased was the "prime mover" in the case.

The barrister submitted that the core issue in the case was whether Mr Doroscan and Mr Clejan had acted in self-defence; "that's what this case boils down to and nothing else". Yet, Mr Dwyer said, this issue had not been mentioned once by the prosecutor Mr Lawlor.

He said it was clear both Mr Doroscan and Mr Clejan had acted in self defence when they were interviewed by gardai yet the prosecutor had sought to "rubbish it" and suggest it couldn't be believed. He told the jury if they believed it might reasonably be true that the killing arose in self defence then the true verdict was not guilty.

Mr Dwyer said if this was a carefully planned and prepared task, Mr Cantaragiu would have been lined up by the men in advance. "Would you lure someone to a place surrounded by CCTV, clearly these young men were forensically aware of these things, on the contrary we say the evidence points to Mr Illyas being the aggressor".

He said it was the prosecution's case that this was a cold-blooded plan to lure someone to death and leave video evidence for all to see and then send it to someone else. "We suggest these are not the actions of men who planned anything but a man acting in a bizarre way in a crisis".

The actions of bringing the deceased's body to a field, he said, were appalling and horrendous but he submitted that the jury were not here to judge the men on their conduct in the aftermath of the incident but instead to get to the bottom of what happened in Verdemont to cause Mr IIyas to die.

In summary, Mr Dwyer said evidence of Mr IIyas' conduct suggested it could not only reasonably be true that Mr Doroscan had acted in full self defence but that it had happened. He asked the jury to return a true verdict of not guilty of murder.

In his closing address, Sean Guerin SC, defending Mr Clejan, said Mr IIyas suffered an appalling and wholly unjustified death and there was no possibility of anyone standing over what happened to him. But, he said, that didn't mean what happened to the deceased had been the necessary result of an agreement.

Counsel asked the jury that to consider, even if there was a joint enterprise, was it reasonably possible on the evidence that what happened may have gone beyond the limits of what was agreed. However, counsel said he didn't accept his client was party to any agreement to inflict violence on the deceased. He said a view had been presented by the prosecution that the men had "acted as one" but the fact they were friends and spent time together didn't mean they "should be used as one".

There was no reason to doubt, he said, that Mr Clejan was at Verdemont after 2.30pm that day minding his own business "without any prior involvement on his part" with the deceased and that he had reacted in a limited and appropriate manner as described by him in his garda interviews.

The trial has heard that Mr Doroscan and Mr Clejan told gardai that they defended themselves after Mr Ilyas came running into an apartment with a weapon and threatened to kill them.

He was threatening us and telling us hed stab us in the neck, he went for us with a crowbar, Mr Doroscan told gardai, while his co-accused, Mr Clejan gave a statement to gardai in which he said that he defended himself by once striking and pushing away Mr Ilyas.

The trial continues on Tuesday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of five women and seven men, when counsel for Mr Cantaragiu will give his closing speech.
Rebecca Hogan was shocked at her diagnosis but is determined to share hope for the future with others suffering gut diseases.

Rebecca Hogan was stunned when she was diagnosed with Crohns disease in her early twenties. She didnt know then about the debilitating inflammatory bowel disease and how it could impact on her life.

Six years later, Rebecca is not only living with Crohns  she and husband Liam are about to welcome their first baby into the world  but shes also using her own experiences to help others.

Rebecca is a facilitator for Crohns and Colitis Ireland, which provides information and support to those with the conditions. I think initially, when youre diagnosed, you think: Im so sick. How am I going to get out of this? she says. You can, because things get better, and you get treatment, and you learn how to cope, and what suits you and what doesnt.

Crohns and Colitis Ireland will be hosting a webinar, IBD 101, on May 19, to mark World IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Day. The organisation will also publish a new conversation guide, Gut to Know, on talking to people with IBD about IBD in a way that is understanding, supportive and empathetic.

Rebecca is hopeful that the guide will help create more awareness and conversations around IBD, which cause inflammation of the bowel leading to severe pain, diarrhoea and several other symptoms.

If I could get one message across to people about IBD, it would be that just because someone doesnt look sick, doesnt mean that they arent. Illnesses like IBD, and indeed many others, can allow people to look as if they are fine. However, people often put up a front. Things like fatigue, brain fog and the anxiety that comes with IBD can be just as debilitating as the physical symptoms.

Rebecca, from Clarinbridge in Co Galway, was first diagnosed with IBD in 2019, when she went to her GP with what she initially thought was a stomach bug.

I had pains in my stomach. It was strange. I thought I had a tummy bug, and it didnt go away. I went up to the GP, can you give me something for this? I took the tablets, it didnt do anything, no better. She went back to her GP who referred her to a gastro specialist. At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about Crohns Colitis IBD. The whole time I had the pain, the diarrhoea, the fatigue, mouth ulcers, the whole lot. And I lost weight very fast.

Rebecca Hogan.

Following a gastroscopy, where a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light is inserted into the mouth and stomach to investigate and diagnose issues, Rebecca had a follow-up appointment where a diagnosis of Crohns disease was confirmed.

How do we fix it? That was my mindset, she recalls of that time. He said: Its a lifelong condition, but its manageable, and theres treatment. I didnt take it great, because in my head, I was like, well, I have all these plans, and now I have a lifelong condition  where does that leave everything?

I think in a way, I didnt want to accept it. I was just afraid, because I was so sick, I didnt see it getting better, if that makes sense.

She adds that while the physical symptoms of the disease can be difficult, it was the emotional impact that she most struggled with. Youre in pain and youre going to the toilet. But its the mental side of it that gets you, because you have plans.

Youre supposed to be going here on Saturday, youre supposed to be going there next week. And your head tells you: Well, I cant do that. How am I going to know where the nearest bathroom is, and how am I going to go in the car for a few hours?

Crohns made its impact most felt in 2021, when Rebecca experienced a flare-up of the disease that was so severe, she was hospitalised three times before her condition improved. Youre literally just focusing on getting through with it day by day. I was supposed to get married the following year. And I was like, whats gonna happen if Im still like this at the wedding? Thank God I was absolutely fine the day of the wedding, I was great.

While Crohns continues to have its impacts, Rebecca is now doing well thanks to her own self-care and the dedication of her medical team, and the various treatments available to manage the disease.

Today, while there are still tough days, all in all, I am a lot better than I have ever been. I dont take things for granted anymore. I appreciate every day and all the little things I can do because, when I was really sick, I simply couldnt do a lot. Now my health is stable, I can also run, play and have fun with my beautiful goddaughters Victoria and Olivia. That really makes me so happy.

She is also thrilled to be pregnant with husband Liam as the couple look forward to an exciting time in their lives. I do often think about that girl in the hospital bed in 2021 wondering if all this would be possible. Thats why I share my story because if I had read that it could happen back then, it would have given me hope, something which I would love to be able to give someone else in the same position.
Ferguson repeatedly smacked the young womans bottom and tried to kiss her, even attempting to lick her ears

Sentencing Jonny Ferguson at Belfast Magistrates Court on Wednesday, District Judge Anne Marshall told the 37-year-old creep she was satisfied he knew full well the teenager was vulnerable and thats why you chose her out of all your clients to sexually assault.

That was then compounded by the texts that you sent her, the judge told Ferguson, adding that his offending was significant aggravated by the fact he was in a position of trust.

Judge Marshall said while the custody threshold had been crossed and a prison sentence was warranted, she explained that would mean he served a few months and would then be free with minimal supervision.

Imposing sentences totalling six months, the Belfast judge said she was suspending them for three years to make sure that every female is protected as best I can, in terms of my sentencing powers, from behaviour like this in the future.

Earlier this year powerlifter Ferguson, from Hydepark Court in Newtownabbey, was convicted on two charges of sex assault and one of harassing his teenage victim between April 11 and October 19 2023.

Jonathan Ferguson

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd

Ferguson repeatedly smacked the young womans bottom and tried to kiss her, even attempting to lick her ears.

Ferguson contested the charges, meaning that the victim had to endure giving evidence and cross-examination and in court.

Ironically, the teenager had signed up for Ferguson to be her personal trainer in order to help her mental health but instead she had to endure a creep who licked his lips while staring at her as she performed her exercises.

The court heard that at one point, Ferguson made her cry when he labelled her f***ing useless and while he admitted in his evidence that he had called her that, he denied there had been any sexual contact. Lodging a plea in mitigation, Fergusons defence counsel told Judge Marshall the case and the subsequent convictions had a detrimental effect on the defendants mental health.

He suggested that Ferguson could be put on probation but Judge Marshall said given the defendants stance, I can rule out a probation order.

Imposing four months for the sexual assaults and two months for the harassment but ordering they be served consecutively, Judge Marshall told Ferguson it was not without some degree of reluctance that Im suspending those for three years.

In addition she also imposed a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, an order which she considered necessary and proportionate given the fact that Ferguson had taken advantage of a young female.

As part of the SOPO, Ferguson is banned from contacting the victim or her family and he is also barred from entering any romantic or sexual relationship without making verifiable disclosure of his convictions.

Speaking after the hearing, the victims mum commended Judge Marshall for the sentence but lambasted Ferguson as he intends to appeal the sentence. To hear he is appealing is really deflating but it will only look worse on him when he is convicted again because the messages are all there, all in black and white, that he is apologising and pleading with her not to elevate this.
One of New Zealands major donors to Hamlin Fistula New Zealand has just returned from Ethiopia where she saw the dire situation for herself.

Noeline Campbell, a retiree and avid Hamlin Fistula New Zealand supporter, was recently invited to join the charitys 13-day Supporters Tour in Southern Ethiopia.

There, Campbell joined the small group tour that offered an immersive experience of the life-changing work of the Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia.

The Tauranga resident has been making donations to Hamlin Fistula NZ since 2021, after reading about a charity for obstetric fistula sufferers when living in Kazakhstan.

It described what fistula was and it was just so horrible. I couldnt imagine the tragedy of being a young woman who suddenly her life is turned upside down because shes had a fistula.

Obstetric fistula happens during childbirth when the baby becomes stuck inside the mothers body with no midwife or doctor available to assist her.

This results in a life-changing injury  a hole forms between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum, resulting in uncontrollable leaking of urine and faeces. Some women also suffer from paralysis caused by nerve damage.

Tragically, over 90 per cent of women who suffer an obstetric fistula will give birth to a stillborn baby, often after an agonising obstructed labour that has lasted several days, said Hamlin Fistula New Zealands fundraising manager, Jayne Rattray.

Fistula deeply affects a womans life; it causes horrific, life-altering damage to the womans body, and brings with it severe social stigma due to their smell, rejection and deepening poverty.

Campbell said a lot of women dont even want to stand up, their husbands reject them, and many sufferers commit suicide.

Survivors often live hidden away for years, sometimes decades, not realising they can be helped.

I gave birth once, forceps-assisted. I have three sisters, two of them needed caesareans, one needed two caesareans.

Out of Mums four daughters, three of us might have had fistulas. I couldnt walk past that.

She returned to New Zealand from Kazakhstan in 2014 and found out about Hamlin Fistula, New Zealand.

The charitable organisation was founded by New Zealand and Australian obstetrician-gynaecologists Dr Reg and Catherine Hamlin in the 1960s and is committed to treating and preventing childbirth injuries, restoring health and transforming lives.



The pillars of care available to all Hamlin Fistula patients, according to need. Photo / supplied

After years of donating to the organisation, Campbell was invited to join the supporters tour to Ethiopia.

Campbell saw the work that the charitys founders, Dr Reg and Catherine Hamlin, had set up in Ethiopia and the impact of the organisations hospitals and midwifery clinics.

Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia provides the gold standard of fistula care worldwide, said Campbell.

When the tour group arrived in Ethiopia, they began by visiting Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa.

The root cause of fistula is a lack of access to quality maternal care; this makes it more common in underdeveloped countries, particularly in rural communities.

In rural Ethiopia, 50 per cent of women give birth without a midwife or doctor present, said Rattray.

One of the highlights at the hospital was meeting Mamitu [Gashe], an early fistula patient of Hamlins.



One of Noeline Campbell's highlights at the hospital was meeting Mamitu Gashe, an early fistula patient of Hamlin's.

She was an illiterate village girl, yet, under their care and tutelage, she became one of the worlds premier fistula surgeons.

Now around 86 years old, she works daily at the hospital wherever she sees a need, though no longer as a surgeon.

Rattray said an estimated 31,000 women still suffer from untreated birth injuries, with around 1000 new cases each year.

Hamlin Fistula Ethiopias six hospitals performed a record-breaking 4,272 surgeries in 2024, they said.



Desta Mender (Village of Joy), the peaceful, restorative rehabilitation village for former patients of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia who need ongoing care after their operations.

While on the tour, Campbell also visited Hamlins rehabilitation centre, Desta Mender  or Village of Joy  for former patients who need ongoing care after their operations.

Not only does Desta Mender provide a home, but also a range of skills, from which the women choose to learn two, to become self-supporting. These skills include pottery, embroidery and sewing.

When they are able to return to their villages, they are given seed money to turn their skill into a business.

Some women, rejected by their families and with nowhere to go, stay at Desta Mender for the rest of their lives, working at the village, possibly in the kitchen or the laundry. Ex-patients may also work at the hospital as nurse aids. Others may be found work in Addis Ababa.

No one will move on from Hamlin care with no means of support.

Since coming back from Ethiopia, Campbell continues to support the charity, donating to the Master of Midwifery programme held by Hamlin College of Midwives.

We visited Hamlin College of Midwives, which opened in 2007, for Bachelor of Nursing (Midwifery) degrees and more recently for Master of Nursing (Midwifery) degrees.

In a country radically short of doctors, a Master of Nursing can take the place of a doctor, delivering babies by caesarean section or with forceps.

Campbell has also been organising to speak at local service clubs and spread awareness about the cause.

To donate to Hamlin Fistula NZ, visit https://hamlinfistula.org.nz/donate/

Hamlin Fistula NZ offers two Ethiopian tours per year in March and November.

More details, including dates, costs, and itinerary, can be found here: https://hamlinfistula.org.nz/adventure
The Government is taking action to better support unpaid and informal carers, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Penny Simmonds said.

Every morning across New Zealand, unpaid carers are helping loved ones get ready for the day  preparing meals, arranging medication, assisting with transport, and offering vital support, all while juggling jobs, study, and family life.

Each day, around 500,000 unpaid carers provide essential support for New Zealanders with disabilities, illnesses, injuries, or addictions, Simmonds said.

Its critical work that often leads to better outcomes than clinical or residential care  and it eases the burden on our health and social services.

But its tough work. Many carers are balancing these responsibilities with little formal recognition or support. They deserve better, and thats exactly what this new Action Plan aims to deliver.

Government agencies already provide targeted assistance for carers, including financial support, respite subsidies, and practical help. The Action Plan will build on this foundation and ensure carers needs are better understood and addressed.

The Ministry of Social Development is leading development of the Plan, working closely with the Carers Alliance, relevant government agencies, and a new Carers Advisory Group.

The Advisory Group will include around 10 experienced members who reflect the breadth of the carer community  from young carers to those supporting disabled or older people, Simmonds said.

There will also be opportunities for unpaid carers themselves to share their experiences and shape the plan.

An interagency working group will oversee the development, with the final Action Plan expected by the end of the year.

A lot has changed since the last Action Plan expired at the end of 2023. Its time to listen again and deliver a plan that genuinely supports the people who care for our communities every day, Simmonds said.
A doctors union is considering further industrial action after Thursdays 24-hour senior doctors strike.

More than 5000 senior doctors who are Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) members took part in the strike nationally, including 206 at Tauranga Hospital and 100 at Rotorua Hospital.

The strike delayed planned appointments and procedures around the country.

It came after mediation failed to avert the strike and the union refused to take Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealands latest offer to members.

Among strikers were sexual health medicine specialist Dr Massimo Giola, who said he would be the only such specialist working in Bay of Plenty and Lakes hospitals from next week when his colleague retired.

Rotorua Hospital anaesthetist and ASMS executive member Andrew Robinson was also striking because, in his view, Health NZs offer was not really adequate to recruit doctors, improve on-call rosters and get rid of the [staffing] gaps.

On Friday, an ASMS statement said further industrial action remains under active consideration.

ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton said the parties met with an Employment Relations Authority member on Friday as it considered Te Whatu Oras application for facilitated bargaining.

ASMS will respond to the application next week, then the ERA will determine whether it will support the application.

Health NZ committed to settling agreement

Te Whatu Ora chief clinical officer Dr Richard Sullivan acknowledged and thanked its hospital staff and contingency planning teams who worked before and during the industrial action to ensure the continued delivery of care and treatment to patients.

Sullivan said some planned care appointments were postponed to focus on clinical care for acute and priority patients.

Appointments deferred because of the strike would be rescheduled for the next available opportunity, he said.

Sullivan said the impact of the strike varied by hospital, depending on acute care demand on the day and the number of ASMS members who took part in the strike.

Health NZ remained very concerned about delays caused to a significant number of patients on Thursday.

We are committed to settling this collective agreement with ASMS members and we recognise the concerns raised by union members in regard to workforce shortages.

Growing our permanent medical workforce is a focus for now and long term.

Sullivan said it was increasing the capacity to train new doctors and providing more places at medical schools.

Health NZ was also changing models of care and increasing primary care capacity to ensure there were better early interventions, he said.

We believe we have made a fair and reasonable offer, and we have applied to the Employment Relations Authority for facilitation.

Te Whatu Ora did not have detailed information about the impacts of the strike on Tauranga and Rotorua hospitals immediately available on Friday.

Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.
A great honour ... and just when they are going out of fashion.

Thats noted satirist - and Katikati resident - Richard OBriens reaction to NZ Posts new stamps honouring his iconic work, The Rocky Horror Show.

Four stamps are being issued this week, in recognition of NZ Music Month, celebrating more than 50 years of the gender-bending rockn roll musical.

OBriens play debuted in London in 1973 and was adapted for film in 1975. It has become an enduring cult classic, seen by millions of people.

UK-born OBrien, who spent his teens and early 20s in Tauranga and Hamilton, starred as Riff Raff. A statue of him in character was unveiled in Hamilton in 2022.

Were shivering with anticipation, NZ Post head of collectables Antony Harris said in a statement. [Eds note: ... antici ... ... ... pation, surely.

Rocky Horror has a special place in New Zealands creative history, and were thrilled to honour its legacy and status as a global cult hit in the official stamp programme.

The black, white and red stamps are based on officially licensed Rocky Horror Show artwork interpreted by Wellington designer and musician Chris Jones.

Jones said it was an honour and a challenge to try to do justice to OBriens iconic characters and songs inside four small frames.

Whats not to love about Rocky Horror from a visual perspective? Its an absolute feast. Ive loved getting lost in the world of Brad, Janet and Frank more than I probably should have, and being reminded of just what a genius tongue-in-cheek comment on society the show makes.

Asked how he ranked the stamps among the many ways Rocky Horror has been memorialised over the years, OBrien told the Bay of Plenty Times it was yet another astonishment to ponder over.

He moved back to New Zealand permanently just over a decade ago and settled in Katikati.

He has used big birthdays to throw charity events benefiting Starship Childrens Hospital and supported local rainbow community events.

The Rocky Horror Show creator Richard OBrien promoting his new theatrical project, The Kingdom of Bling under a chandelier last year Photo / Jason Oxenham

Last year, aged 82, he took his new show, The Kingdom of Bling - a satirical fairy tale with a Donald Trump-inspired monster - on tour around New Zealand.

The Rocky Horror stamps can be purchased on the NZ Post Collectables website or at selected PostShops within New Zealand  with an issue date of May 7.
Firms altered tallow for profit, court hears after probe.

New Zealand Food Safety said a group of meat processing companies, directors, and managers have been fined a combined $1,629,500 for illegally tampering with tallow destined for export.

The Manukau District Court sentenced Tuakau Proteins Limited, Taranaki By-Products Limited, Wallace Proteins Limited, Stephen Dahlenburg, Paul Drake, Glenn Smith, Glenninburg Holdings Limited, SBT Group Limited, GrainCorp Commodity Management (NZ) Limited and GrainCorp Liquid Terminals NZ Limited following a complex investigation under the Animal Products Act.

Deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle of New Zealand Food Safety said the group deliberately added adulterants, including off-specification products containing unknown fats and oils, to tallow to manipulate its free fatty acid (FFA) levels.

A lower FFA level increases tallows market value, especially for use in biofuels.

The price is based on FFA. By adding other oils, they made the tallow seem of higher quality and gained more profit, Arbuckle said.

Arbuckle said the directors and managers involved knew they were breaching export rules, which require compliance with New Zealand standards and those of importing countries through a Risk Management Programme (RMP).

While there was no food safety issue, this type of conduct risks damaging New Zealands trade reputation, which is built on integrity and compliance, Arbuckle said.

The investigation began after a whistleblower alerted officials that vegetable oil may have been mixed into tallow.

Investigators followed the lead, building a case that revealed more than 8,000 tonnes of non-compliant tallow had been illegally exported.

Arbuckle said Tuakau Proteins Ltd, Taranaki By-Products Ltd and Wallace Proteins Ltd operated the rendering plants where the scheme was carried out. Managers and directors from the companies collaborated to alter the product and profit from it.

This was deliberate offending. The companies and individuals worked together to bypass rules they fully understood, Arbuckle said.

Arbuckle said the prosecution was the result of persistent work by investigators who connected evidence across multiple entities.

Their work shows that those who deliberately breach export laws for financial gain will be held to account, Arbuckle said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. The next graduation ceremony for the Marine Commando Basic Course was held in the Azerbaijan Naval Forces' military unit, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Defense.

The event was attended by Naval Forces leadership and servicemen. First, flowers were laid in front of the monument erected in memory of the martyrs within the military unit's territory.

At the graduation ceremony, the memory of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was commemorated with a minute of silence. The national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

The Acting Commander of the Naval Forces, 1st grade Captain Shahin Mammadov, welcomed the servicemen, conveyed congratulations from the leadership of the Ministry of Defense to graduates who successfully completed the course, and wished them success in their future service.

Mammadov spoke about the successful reforms carried out under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev in the Azerbaijan Army, formed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev as a regular army, about the activities of the Naval Forces, and about the participation of Naval Forces personnel in the historic victory in the 44-day Patriotic War.

Then, the course's top graduate attached the emblem to the symbolic stump, followed by the presentation of certificates to the graduates and the awarding of honorary certificates and valuable gifts to distinguished servicemen and instructors.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Multiple fire crews are attending the scene of an electric vehicle fire in Bethlehem, Tauranga.

An electric truck caught fire in the carpark outside Kmart at Bethlehem Town Centre, causing large clouds of billowing smoke to drift across the surrounding area, blanketing a section of Bethlehem Rd and parts of the Bethlehem Town Centre.

Nearby shops have been closed, with bystanders saying they were evacuated from Kmart, Dominos and Burgerfuel.

The electric truck on fire at Bethlehem Town Centre on Saturday, May 3. Photo/Therese Hamahona.

We received a call at 4.50pm, Fire Emergency New Zealand northern shift manager Gareth Lewis said.

It was an electric truck with two batteries on fire at Bethlehem Town Centre.

Lewis said there are no reports of any injuries.

Fire crews working at the scene of an electric truck fire at Bethlehem Town Centre. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Weve been there since after receiving the call; what were doing is cooling it with a significant amount of water.

He said about 20 fire fighters were at the scene.

Fire crews working at the scene of an electric truck fire at Bethlehem Town Centre. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Weve got three fire trucks there, from Tauranga and Greerton, Lewis said.

And in addition to that, weve got three support vehicles. And we have a hazmat unit on the way as well, because its hazardous substances.

The hazardous materials unit have special equipment to deal with these sorts of incidents.

Effectively we just have to drown the batteries, to allow them to cool, and we expect to be there for a few hours.

The batteries of an electric truck caught on fire at Bethlehem Town Centre on Saturday, May 3, resulting in clouds of billowing smoke. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

A masked volunteer fire fighter at the scene said the smoke was difficult to work with.

Bethlehem Rd is blocked from the first entrance into Bethlehem Town Centre to Westermoreland Rise and locals have been advised to close their house windows and stay indoors.

Bethlehem Road was cordoned off while fire crews attended the scene of an electric truck fire at Bethlehem Town Centre. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

A detour is in place from State Highway 2 into Bethlehem Rd, into Bethlehem Town Centre, then Te Paeroa Road, then Cambridge Road and back on to Bethlehem Road.

Bethlehem Road was cordoned off while fire crews attended the scene of an electric truck fire at Bethlehem Town Centre. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Lewis said a fire investigator is also in attendance.

They will do their investigation into the cause of the fire.

He asks that people stay clear of the scene.

We just ask members of the public to respect the cordons that are in place and to just allow the firefighters to do their work.

The batteries of an electric truck caught on fire at Bethlehem Town Centre on Saturday, May 3, resulting in clouds of billowing smoke. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Lewis said the fire crews will be managing the fire for a few more hours this evening.

Were expecting to be there for a while. Batteries take a long time.

EV truck fires are particularly intense due to large battery size and complex failure modes. Once a fire starts, it becomes a prolonged operation due to the chemical and structural nature of lithium-ion cells.

People were evacuated from nearby stores after an electric truck caught fire in the Bethlehem Town Centre carpark on Saturday, May 3. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Thermal runaway can occur during fast charging or overcharging, where one cell in the lithium-ion battery overheats and causes a chain reaction, igniting neighbouring cells.

Once thermal runaway begins, the battery essentially feeds its own fire, making it difficult to suppress with conventional firefighting methods.

The batteries of an electric truck caught on fire at Bethlehem Town Centre on Saturday, May 3, resulting in clouds of billowing smoke. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Water doesnt work well on these types of fire, as thousands of litres of water may be required to cool the battery sufficiently, and even after appearing extinguished, batteries can reignite as internal temperatures spike again.

Burning EV batteries can release toxic gases like hydrogen fluoride, requiring firefighters to take extra precautions.

The electric truck on fire at Bethlehem Town Centre on Saturday, May 3. Photo/Therese Hamahona.
Horses come through the fourth turn of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) AP

One of the biggest yearly sporting events is back, as the 151st Kentucky Derby will air on NBC Saturday. The horse race is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

How to watch: Stream the 151st Kentucky Derby on DirecTV Stream (free trial).

Heres what you need to know:

What: 151st Kentucky Derby

When: Saturday, May 3, 2025

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET

Where: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky

TV: NBC

Channel finder: DirecTV, Verizon Fios, Cox, Xfinity, Spectrum, Optimum

Live stream: DirecTV Stream (free trial), fuboTV (free trial), Peacock (free trial), Hulu + Live TV

Can I bet on the race?

Yes, you can bet on the Kentucky Derby from your phone in New York State, and weve compiled some of the best introductory offers to help navigate your first bets from BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, Bet365 and more.

Heres a recent Kentucky Derby story from the Associated Press:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Ian Wilkes viewed the reporters outside his barn as a sign he must be doing something right.

The veteran trainer is thoroughly embracing the attention that Burnham Square has brought him as a Kentucky Derby starter. Even better, he is the points leader heading into Saturdays 151st running at Churchill Downs after entering the final big qualifying weekend on the margins.

Its great to get to the Derby. Thats the race everyone wants to win, Wilkes said of his gelding, who rallied from the rear to earn 100 points at Keeneland on April 8 and vault to the top of the standings. He finished with 130 to edge Sandman (129) and Journalism (122.5), two of the Derby favorites.

Wilkes added, Its been just a nice preparation for the horse. It gets better and better each time, just putting the building blocks together. Just keep building for the Derby.

Whether that momentum carries over into a signature win remains to be seen, but the native Australian has his second Derby starter and first since McCraken finished eighth in 2017. Having visited the winners circle twice in different roles working for nowretired Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger, Wilkes knows about the process and the rewards of draping that garland of roses.

He was an exercise rider and groom for Nafzger while training Unbridled, who won the 1990 Derby and Preakness before closing the year with a Breeders Cup Classic victory that clinched the Eclipse Award as top 3-year-old. Wilkes was Nafzgers assistant in 2007, when Street Sense was a back marker through 3/4 mile before quickly surging into contention and beating Hard Spun by 2 1/4 lengths.

Everybody contributed, but something about Wilkes effort told Nafzger hed be successful in his own right.

We had some good horses, but Ian just had a special way with them, good hands and a good eye for talent, Nafzger, 83, recalled about a relationship that began in the late 1980s.

Wilkes had a bunch of graded stakes wins of his own by the time Nafzger turned the operation over to him in 2008. More victories have followed, highlighted by Breeders Cup Classic breakthrough in 2012 with Fort Larned.

As Nafzger recalled watching Burnham Square work out last weekend beneath the Twin Spires, he also marveled at how personnel has remained stable under Wilkes. Consistency is key to success and Wilkes even-keeled skills in handling people and the rollercoaster nature of horse racing was cited among his many skills by Nafzger and colleagues.

We all have good runs and we all have droughts, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. His demeanor and his attitude and his temperament towards people is steady. I cant say that about myself.

Right now, Wilkes is basking in a roll with Burnham Square that he hopes will continue in racings marquee event.

Im going to enjoy every day and just have some fun, and hopefully its my turn, he said.

Burnham Square has won two of three starts as a 3-year-old, sandwiching Blue Grass and Holy Bull stakes wins around a fourth in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream. Despite topping the Derby standings, he will start the $5 million, 1 1/4-mile Triple Crown opener facing 12-1 odds from the No. 9 post beside red-hot 3-1 favorite Journalism, aiming to become just the fifth winner from that spot and first since Riva Ridge in 1972.

And unlike the Blue Grass  where he trailed the field through two turns before moving forward and eventually running down pacesetter East Avenue in the stretch  there are 19 other competitors to navigate. Burnham Square will be ridden by jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., who guided the stunning comeback at Keeneland and swept last years Derby and Kentucky Oaks aboard Mystik Dan and filly Thorpedo Anna, respectively.

Even with a chance to become the first jockey to win back-to-back Derbys since Victor Espinoza 10 years ago, Hernandez looks forward to rewarding Wilkes and owner Janis Whitham with a seminal achievement.

They put me on my first Grade 1 winner with Fort Larned, and Im fortunate enough to win a Breeders Classic, he said. But to come back and win a Kentucky Derby for him, that would be the ultimate for the Whitham family and Ian as well.

What is DirecTV Stream?

DirecTV Stream is a comprehensive internet TV service that offers your favorite entertainment, news and sports channels, as well as local TV stations and regional sports networks. Its the only choice for fans who want full access to local, televised sports. DirecTV Choice includes 125+ channels, unlimited DVR storage and thousands of on-demand titles.
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.
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My Travel Diary | A Fortnight Across the Middle Kingdom | A short visit to China Introduction



Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to China for a short business visit. While I never intended to turn this into a travelogue, mostly because of the short duration and the nature of the trip, what I saw and experienced turned out to be a real eye-opener. This was, without exaggeration, one of the most incredible trips Ive ever taken. Even though we share almost 3,500 km of land border with China, the two countries are incredibly different in almost every wayculturally, socially, and beyond. The border being a bit hilly probably played a role in that too.



Of course, there are some common threads, like giving importance to family, respecting elders, and honouring traditions, traits we share not just with China but with other South Asian countries as well. But beyond that, we are complete opposites in so many ways. The trip was far too short to claim any deep understanding of the country or its people, but I do hope I caught at least a tiny glimpse into their world through my brief stay and interactions with my colleagues there.







Before the trip



First and foremost, the biggest hurdle for the trip was getting a Chinese visa. The rejection rates were incredulous. From what I could gather, the Chinese embassy was rejecting about 60% of visa applications without offering any explanation. I had to apply multiple times before mine finally got approved. Honestly, it almost felt like a lottery. I had to submit all the necessary documents along with our passports. Needless to say, being without a passport for however long they decided to take their sweet time processing it is a bit of a punch to the ego. But at long last, I won the lottery. I mean, the visa was approved.



With that done, I jumped through the rest of the corporate hoops to get everything ready. Its better to use a prepaid forex card loaded with Chinese Yuan instead of your personal credit card, as the conversion rates and convenience fees add up frighteningly quickly. Id also advise against activating a roaming plan on your regular SIM. Instead, go for an international SIM like Matrix. Even though Airtel does work in China with an international plan, the connectivity is quite poor. The Matrix SIM was decent. It worked fine in mainland China, though not in Hong Kong. Outgoing international calls took forever to go through, but internet speeds were surprisingly good.



Also, China is heavily cashless. Very few people use physical currency, and getting change can be tricky. Use either Alipay or WeChat. International forex cards can be linked to both. Their system is similar to UPI, with QR code-based payments, and its quite good. That said, Ill admit with a bit of pride that our UPI is way better.



Another point to note is that Google services dont work. That means no Google Search, no Translate, no Maps. Dont bother downloading offline maps on Google Maps either, the data is outdated and public transport info is missing. Apple Maps is fully integrated with Gaode, the local map provider, and its extremely accurate. It even shows bus timings, subway routes, and which exits to take at metro stations. Android users can manage with Gaode Maps too. The interface is in Chinese, but you can get the hang of the basics pretty quickly. A spoon and fork icon means food, so thats all you really need, right?



And yeah, Facebook, WhatsApp, Reddit, none of these work. Unless you have a VPN. Free VPNs are slow and unreliable. I got a one-month subscription to Surfshark VPN and was really impressed with the speed and reliability.





Coimbatore to China



The most tiring part of the journey was getting to China. From Coimbatore, I had to take three flights: Coimbatore to Chennai, Chennai to Hong Kong, and finally, Hong Kong to Shanghai. Adding up the flight times, layovers, and the time zone changes, it ended up being around 26 hours of continuous travel. The first leg from Coimbatore to Chennai was on IndiGo, while the other two were with Cathay Pacific. I have to say, I was really impressed with their service. Both flights, an Airbus A350 and an A330, were clean and very comfortable. There was sufficient legroom, fully functional in-flight entertainment with a wide selection of movies, and excellent meals with plenty of dietary options such as Kosher, Halal, Jain, and more. The crew were friendly and helpful too, which made the long journey a lot more bearable.



The comfortable familiarity of Coimbatore airport was a nice way to ease into the journey. As a true-blue South Indian, I just had to have one last ghee roast dosha from Annapoorna before setting off. Priorities, after all.













Night had fallen as I approached Chennai. Based on the shape of the roads and the distance left, Im guessing it was Kanchipuram town.











Landed at Chennai airport. Even though there was a terminal change, it was within walking distance. There are multiple travelators along the way, which made the walk a lot easier. The Cathay Pacific counters only opened after 10.30 PM, so I had plenty of time to kill walking around the terminal.











Everything proceeded smoothly once the counters opened. Several staff members expertly managed the queue. Cathay has a strict luggage policy, 23 kilograms per bag, which caused some trouble for a few passengers. Since I was specifically told about this by our travel desk, I had split my luggage between two bags to avoid any issues. It was around 1 AM when we boarded the aircraft. It was an Airbus A350, neat and well maintained. The in-flight entertainment system had a nice collection of movies, as well as a live map. But I was more interested in the flight cameras. There was one somewhere in the front near the cockpit, and another on what I assume was the tail.



A very interesting and beautifully made flight safety video was shown before take-off, which included all the basic safety instructions set in the backdrop of Hong Kong culture, instead of the crew showing how the belt and jacket worked.











We were served in-flight meals after some time. While the meal was hot and extremely tasty, the timing was ghastly. I was woken up from a deep sleep by the crew serving food. And the time? 4.30 goddamn AM! Apparently, it was 7 AM in Hong Kong, their normal breakfast time. But my body was very clear about one thing, it was still solidly sleepy time. My phone and watch happily confirmed that.



The food, to be fair, was absolutely delicious. Naan, chicken curry, mashed sweet potato, fruits, and yoghurt. No complaints on that front. They also had a choice of beverages, including tea, coffee, juices, soft drinks, and even liquor. Unsurprisingly, there was only one particular ethnic group that kept asking for liquor, even at this ungodly hour.









We landed at the Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport around 9.30 AM local time. The airport is located on an island, and I really enjoyed watching the landing. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China and follows a "one country, two systems" style of governance, with its own government, currency, and set of rules. From the air, it looked stunning, with hilly islands scattered across the sea and tall skyscrapers lining the coast.

Once we landed, something surprising happenedeveryone waited patiently until the cabin crew announced that the exits were open. Not a single person stood up before that. Unbelievable, right?



The Hong Kong airport is huge! I had around four hours to kill before my connecting flight. Id downloaded some movies to pass the time, but I ended up wishing I had more layover time instead. The airport is beautiful (not Changi-beautiful, but still), and its almost like a shopping mall in itself. I had a great time just roaming around. Free Wi-Fi is available, and thankfully, WhatsApp and other sites are not blocked. There are clear signs everywhere showing the different gate locations and even the walking distance to each one. After wandering around for hours, I ended up taking an underground metro train back to my gate.





















Soon, I boarded the final flight to Shanghai Pudong Airport. This was a comparatively shorter journey of around two and a half hours. Needless to say, the lack of sleep and the 17,000 steps (as per my fitness tracker) at the airport were catching up to me. Still, I managed to enjoy the flight and even squeeze in a movie. By around 4 PM, we landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. After landing, we had to fill out a form that included details like our visa number, local contact, place of stay, and duration of stay. There was also a row of ATM-like machines where we had to scan our passports, give our fingerprints, and get our photos taken. The rest of the immigration process went smoothly. Outside the airport, I soon found the driver sent by the hotel and started the final leg of the journey.



The plane taking a turn over the iconic Yangtze river.















My destination, Suzhou, was about 140 kilometres from Shanghai. Back home in Kerala, that would have easily been a four-plus hour journey. Here, it took around one hour and twenty minutes. The roads were excellent, with wide six-lane highways, and the traffic discipline was fantastic. Maybe not Middle East level fantastic, but still leagues ahead of us. The driver consistently maintained speeds of 120 kilometres per hour without any drama.



What really blew me away was the automobile scene in China. There were so many brands and models I had never seen before. I even managed to spot the much-hyped Xiaomi SU7 electric sports car. And yes, a large percentage of cars on the road were electric, including my taxi.









At long last, I reached my destination by around 7.15 PM. After meeting up with a colleague over dinner, I autopiloted myself onto the bed and passed out for the night. 26 hours without sleep had finally caught up with me. Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to China for a short business visit. While I never intended to turn this into a travelogue, mostly because of the short duration and the nature of the trip, what I saw and experienced turned out to be a real eye-opener. This was, without exaggeration, one of the most incredible trips Ive ever taken. Even though we share almost 3,500 km of land border with China, the two countries are incredibly different in almost every wayculturally, socially, and beyond. The border being a bit hilly probably played a role in that too.Of course, there are some common threads, like giving importance to family, respecting elders, and honouring traditions, traits we share not just with China but with other South Asian countries as well. But beyond that, we are complete opposites in so many ways. The trip was far too short to claim any deep understanding of the country or its people, but I do hope I caught at least a tiny glimpse into their world through my brief stay and interactions with my colleagues there.First and foremost, the biggest hurdle for the trip was getting a Chinese visa. The rejection rates were incredulous. From what I could gather, the Chinese embassy was rejecting about 60% of visa applications without offering any explanation. I had to apply multiple times before mine finally got approved. Honestly, it almost felt like a lottery. I had to submit all the necessary documents along with our passports. Needless to say, being without a passport for however long they decided to take their sweet time processing it is a bit of a punch to the ego. But at long last, I won the lottery. I mean, the visa was approved.With that done, I jumped through the rest of the corporate hoops to get everything ready. Its better to use a prepaid forex card loaded with Chinese Yuan instead of your personal credit card, as the conversion rates and convenience fees add up frighteningly quickly. Id also advise against activating a roaming plan on your regular SIM. Instead, go for an international SIM like Matrix. Even though Airtel does work in China with an international plan, the connectivity is quite poor. The Matrix SIM was decent. It worked fine in mainland China, though not in Hong Kong. Outgoing international calls took forever to go through, but internet speeds were surprisingly good.Also, China is heavily cashless. Very few people use physical currency, and getting change can be tricky. Use either Alipay or WeChat. International forex cards can be linked to both. Their system is similar to UPI, with QR code-based payments, and its quite good. That said, Ill admit with a bit of pride that our UPI is way better.Another point to note is that Google services dont work. That means no Google Search, no Translate, no Maps. Dont bother downloading offline maps on Google Maps either, the data is outdated and public transport info is missing. Apple Maps is fully integrated with Gaode, the local map provider, and its extremely accurate. It even shows bus timings, subway routes, and which exits to take at metro stations. Android users can manage with Gaode Maps too. The interface is in Chinese, but you can get the hang of the basics pretty quickly. A spoon and fork icon means food, so thats all you really need, right?And yeah, Facebook, WhatsApp, Reddit, none of these work. Unless you have a VPN. Free VPNs are slow and unreliable. I got a one-month subscription to Surfshark VPN and was really impressed with the speed and reliability.The most tiring part of the journey was getting to China. From Coimbatore, I had to take three flights: Coimbatore to Chennai, Chennai to Hong Kong, and finally, Hong Kong to Shanghai. Adding up the flight times, layovers, and the time zone changes, it ended up being around 26 hours of continuous travel. The first leg from Coimbatore to Chennai was on IndiGo, while the other two were with Cathay Pacific. I have to say, I was really impressed with their service. Both flights, an Airbus A350 and an A330, were clean and very comfortable. There was sufficient legroom, fully functional in-flight entertainment with a wide selection of movies, and excellent meals with plenty of dietary options such as Kosher, Halal, Jain, and more. The crew were friendly and helpful too, which made the long journey a lot more bearable.The comfortable familiarity of Coimbatore airport was a nice way to ease into the journey. As a true-blue South Indian, I just had to have one last ghee roast dosha from Annapoorna before setting off. Priorities, after all.Night had fallen as I approached Chennai. Based on the shape of the roads and the distance left, Im guessing it was Kanchipuram town.Landed at Chennai airport. Even though there was a terminal change, it was within walking distance. There are multiple travelators along the way, which made the walk a lot easier. The Cathay Pacific counters only opened after 10.30 PM, so I had plenty of time to kill walking around the terminal.Everything proceeded smoothly once the counters opened. Several staff members expertly managed the queue. Cathay has a strict luggage policy, 23 kilograms per bag, which caused some trouble for a few passengers. Since I was specifically told about this by our travel desk, I had split my luggage between two bags to avoid any issues. It was around 1 AM when we boarded the aircraft. It was an Airbus A350, neat and well maintained. The in-flight entertainment system had a nice collection of movies, as well as a live map. But I was more interested in the flight cameras. There was one somewhere in the front near the cockpit, and another on what I assume was the tail.A very interesting and beautifully made flight safety video was shown before take-off, which included all the basic safety instructions set in the backdrop of Hong Kong culture, instead of the crew showing how the belt and jacket worked.We were served in-flight meals after some time. While the meal was hot and extremely tasty, the timing was ghastly. I was woken up from a deep sleep by the crew serving food. And the time? 4.30 goddamn AM! Apparently, it was 7 AM in Hong Kong, their normal breakfast time. But my body was very clear about one thing, it was still solidly sleepy time. My phone and watch happily confirmed that.The food, to be fair, was absolutely delicious. Naan, chicken curry, mashed sweet potato, fruits, and yoghurt. No complaints on that front. They also had a choice of beverages, including tea, coffee, juices, soft drinks, and even liquor. Unsurprisingly, there was only one particular ethnic group that kept asking for liquor, even at this ungodly hour.We landed at the Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport around 9.30 AM local time. The airport is located on an island, and I really enjoyed watching the landing. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China and follows a "one country, two systems" style of governance, with its own government, currency, and set of rules. From the air, it looked stunning, with hilly islands scattered across the sea and tall skyscrapers lining the coast.Once we landed, something surprising happenedeveryone waited patiently until the cabin crew announced that the exits were open. Not a single person stood up before that. Unbelievable, right?The Hong Kong airport is! I had around four hours to kill before my connecting flight. Id downloaded some movies to pass the time, but I ended up wishing I had more layover time instead. The airport is beautiful (not Changi-beautiful, but still), and its almost like a shopping mall in itself. I had a great time just roaming around. Free Wi-Fi is available, and thankfully, WhatsApp and other sites are not blocked. There are clear signs everywhere showing the different gate locations and even the walking distance to each one. After wandering around for hours, I ended up taking an underground metro train back to my gate.Soon, I boarded the final flight to Shanghai Pudong Airport. This was a comparatively shorter journey of around two and a half hours. Needless to say, the lack of sleep and the 17,000 steps (as per my fitness tracker) at the airport were catching up to me. Still, I managed to enjoy the flight and even squeeze in a movie. By around 4 PM, we landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. After landing, we had to fill out a form that included details like our visa number, local contact, place of stay, and duration of stay. There was also a row of ATM-like machines where we had to scan our passports, give our fingerprints, and get our photos taken. The rest of the immigration process went smoothly. Outside the airport, I soon found the driver sent by the hotel and started the final leg of the journey.The plane taking a turn over the iconic Yangtze river.My destination, Suzhou, was about 140 kilometres from Shanghai. Back home in Kerala, that would have easily been a four-plus hour journey. Here, it took around one hour and twenty minutes. The roads were excellent, with wide six-lane highways, and the traffic discipline was fantastic. Maybe not Middle East level fantastic, but still leagues ahead of us. The driver consistently maintained speeds of 120 kilometres per hour without any drama.What really blew me away was the automobile scene in China. There were so many brands and models I had never seen before. I even managed to spot the much-hyped Xiaomi SU7 electric sports car. And yes, a large percentage of cars on the road were electric, including my taxi.At long last, I reached my destination by around 7.15 PM. After meeting up with a colleague over dinner, I autopiloted myself onto the bed and passed out for the night. 26 hours without sleep had finally caught up with me. Last edited by GeneralJazz : 2nd May 2025 at 18:23 .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan benefit from exceptionally advantageous geographical positions, which serve as significant comparative advantages for our economies, said Zeljka Cvijanovic, Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in an exclusive interview with Trend.

She highlighted the strategic advantages that both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan possess due to their geographical locations, emphasizing their potential to drive regional trade growth.

Cvijanovic went on to underline the increasing importance of the Middle Corridor, noting that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the potential to become a central distribution hub for goods coming from Azerbaijan, as well as for broader trade flows towards Central and Western Europe.

However, she stressed that achieving this potential requires substantial infrastructure development. "A crucial prerequisite for this is enhanced infrastructure connectivity, including the construction of new and modern transport routes that would facilitate faster and more cost-effective goods transportation through Bosnia and Herzegovina," the chairwoman stated.

She also revealed that her government is actively engaging in discussions with Azerbaijani partners to develop specific projects aimed at improving transport infrastructure. "We are hopeful that the implementation of these projects will take place in the near future," Cvijanovic added.

The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor. The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye before reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes.
Forward-looking: Visa plans to allow AI agents to conduct financial transactions on behalf of consumers, a move that could streamline and automate everyday purchases. The company is currently running pilot programs that connect its payment network to AI platforms developed by firms such as Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, Perplexity, and Mistral, with broader adoption expected soon.

By bridging the gap between AI's growing capabilities and secure payment processing, Visa is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in the next evolution of commerce.

This initiative, called Visa Intelligent Commerce, addresses a persistent challenge for AI-powered shopping assistants: securely completing purchases without human intervention.

While digital assistants are becoming adept at helping users discover and select products, the final step  making a payment  has typically required direct user involvement. Visa aims to close this gap by integrating its payment infrastructure with AI systems, enabling digital agents to finalize transactions.

As part of this effort, the company is introducing "AI-Ready Cards," which use tokenized digital credentials to protect sensitive card information.

Over the past six months, Visa has collaborated with AI developers to tackle technical hurdles related to security, including authentication, user authorization, and spending controls. As part of this effort, the company is introducing "AI-Ready Cards," which use tokenized digital credentials to protect sensitive card information. These measures are designed to ensure that AI agents can only make purchases within boundaries explicitly set by users.

Potential uses for these AI agents include handling routine tasks like buying groceries or booking travel. However, Visa anticipates that human involvement will remain central to more personalized or high-value shopping experiences, such as purchasing luxury goods.

Jack Forestell, Visa's chief product and strategy officer, described the company's efforts as "transformational, on the order of magnitude of the advent of e-commerce itself." He noted that while early versions of AI commerce agents are effective at product discovery, they still face significant challenges when it comes to completing payments. "You get to this point where the agents literally just turn it back around and say, 'OK, you go buy it,'" he said.

Also read: AI Agents Explained  The Next Evolution in Artificial Intelligence

Forestell also emphasized that consumers will retain control by setting specific spending limits and rules for their AI agents. "At first, the AI agents are likely to come back to buyers to confirm specific purchases, such as an airplane ticket. Over time, those agents might gain more autonomy  for example, 'Go spend up to $1,500 on any airline to get me from A to B,'" he explained.

Developers participating in the program see further opportunities to personalize user experiences. With user consent, AI agents could access transaction histories to better understand individual preferences and tailor recommendations.

"Visa has the ability for a user to consent to share streams of their transaction history with us. When we generate a recommendation  say you're asking, 'What are the best laptops?'  we would know what are other transactions you've made and the revealed preferences from that," Dmitry Shevelenko, chief business officer at Perplexity, told The Associated Press.

Visa's initiative comes at a time when the payments industry is shifting away from physical cards and card numbers. The company says its system is designed to reassure users, banks, and merchants that purchases made by AI agents are legitimate and secure, with safeguards in place for dispute resolution and fraud prevention.
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust

The big picture: A high-stakes legal battle over the future of Google's advertising business is set to unfold this September, as the US Department of Justice pursues remedies that could reshape the digital ad ecosystem. As the trial approaches, both sides prepare for a legal showdown that could determine whether Google's dominance in online ads remains intact or is fundamentally dismantled.

The US Department of Justice has confirmed its intention to pursue a breakup of Google's advertising technology business, escalating the stakes in a high-profile antitrust battle. The DOJ is seeking a court order to force Google to divest key parts of its ad tech operations, including its ad exchange and publisher ad server, as part of efforts to restore competition in the digital advertising market.

This confirmation came during a hearing where US District Judge Leonie Brinkema set a trial date for September 22 to determine the appropriate remedies following last month's ruling that Google illegally monopolized critical segments of online advertising technology.

The judge's earlier decision found that Google unlawfully maintained monopoly power by tying its publisher ad server  software that helps websites manage and sell ad space  with its ad exchange, where advertisers bid for that space.

Google used to have 10 results meeting the searcher's intent. Now, depending on the query, you're seeing around 4-5 on-target results. Great job, Sundar, in boosting revenue while destroying the product silently. pic.twitter.com/rZ5yCjccjE  Goog Enough (@Goog_Enough) April 25, 2025

Judge Brinkema emphasized that this conduct harmed publishers, competitors, and consumers by restricting competition and locking publishers into Google's ecosystem. However, the court did not find Google to hold a monopoly over advertiser-facing tools, narrowing the scope of the ruling.

The DOJ's proposed remedy is a phased approach beginning with Google providing real-time access to bidding data from its ad exchange to rival publisher ad servers. Ultimately, the government wants Google to sell off its ad exchange and publisher ad server businesses, a process DOJ attorney Julia Tarver Wood acknowledged could take several years. "Leaving Google with 90 percent of publishers dependent on them is, frankly, too dangerous," Wood said.

Google vehemently opposes the breakup plan, arguing that the DOJ's demands exceed the court's findings and lack a legal basis. Karen Dunn, Google's lead attorney, described the forced divestiture as "very likely completely impossible" and warned it would cause "serious complications," including the loss of important privacy and security protections.

Dunn also questioned whether there are buyers that can run the complex ad tech systems outside of massive tech companies.

Instead, Google has proposed behavioral remedies, such as sharing a limited subset of ad data with competitors and ending certain anticompetitive pricing practices, including unified pricing.

The company also pledged not to reinstate discontinued tactics like "last look," which previously allowed Google to outbid rivals at the last moment. To oversee compliance, Google suggested appointing a court monitor, but Judge Brinkema appeared skeptical of this approach during the hearing.

Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google's vice president of regulatory affairs, criticized the DOJ's breakup proposals as "go[ing] well beyond the Court's findings, have no basis in law, and would harm publishers and advertisers." She reiterated Google's intent to appeal the ruling.

Also see: Google fights back: proposes to limit default search agreements, wants to avoid selling Chrome

The trial scheduled for September will mark a critical juncture in this legal saga, which follows similar antitrust challenges Google faces in its search business and the ownership of Chrome, the dominant browser in desktop computers and all Android phones.

Judge Amit Mehta is expected to rule on remedies in that case by August, with Google also confronting ongoing litigation over its Play Store policies. Together, these cases could lead to unprecedented structural changes for Google, potentially reshaping the digital economy.
What just happened? Kuwait has declared cryptocurrency mining "illegal and unlicensed" as part of a broad crackdown to ease pressure on its strained power grid amid a worsening energy crisis. This firm stance contrasts sharply with neighboring Dubai, which continues to embrace the crypto sector, recently hosting a major international conference attended by prominent industry figures.

Kuwait has launched a sweeping crackdown on cryptocurrency mining, blaming the activity for worsening a power crisis that has led to rolling blackouts across the country as temperatures soar and air conditioning demand surges. The Ministry of Interior announced last week that it had begun a "wide-ranging" security operation targeting homes suspected of hosting crypto mining rigs, which officials described as illegal.

"These mining operations represent an unlawful misuse of electrical power  and may lead to outages impacting residential, commercial, and service areas, posing a direct risk to public safety," the ministry said.

The government's campaign has focused on the Al-Wafrah region in southern Kuwait. The Ministry of Electricity reported that around 100 homes were being used for mining, with some consuming up to 20 times the electricity of a typical household. Following the raids, energy consumption in Al-Wafrah dropped by 55 percent, according to a government statement.

Electricity in Kuwait is heavily subsidized and among the cheapest in the world, making the country an attractive destination for crypto miners seeking to maximize profits.

Kuwait's power grid is under strain from multiple sources, including rapid population growth, urban expansion, rising temperatures, and deferred maintenance at power plants. Electricity is heavily subsidized and among the cheapest in the world, making the country an attractive destination for crypto miners seeking to maximize profits.

However, officials warn that the unchecked power consumption from mining rigs is pushing the grid beyond capacity, exacerbating the risk of blackouts as summer heat intensifies.

While cryptocurrency trading has been banned in Kuwait since 2023, mining has existed in a legal gray area, with no specific legislation until recent government action.

The Ministry of Interior has now declared crypto mining "illegal and unlicensed," and warned that violators will face legal penalties. Authorities have identified over 1,000 suspected mining sites using abnormal electricity usage as a key indicator.

The crackdown is being coordinated at the highest levels, with Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef and Minister of Electricity Dr. Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem overseeing operations. More than 60 individuals are currently under investigation, and the Ministry of Electricity has begun disconnecting power from properties linked to mining activities. Reconnection is only permitted after clearance from the Ministry of Interior.

Despite the government's assertion that mining is a "major" factor in the power crisis, a source at the electricity ministry told Reuters it is not the only cause. Researchers at the University of Cambridge estimated that Kuwait accounted for just 0.05 percent of global bitcoin mining in 2022. Still, Alex de Vries-Gao, founder of Digiconomist, told Reuters, "It only takes a very small share of the total bitcoin mining network to have significant impact on the relatively small total electricity consumption of Kuwait."
Chinese firms keen to stretch out throughout Kazakhstans Aktobe

Photo: Akimat (local government) of the Kazakhstans Aktobe region

Deputy Akim Abzal Abdukarimov traveled to Xi'an, China, where he met with prominent Chinese firms, including Non-metallic Flexible Composite Pipes, Telie Valie Group, and Shaanxi Wantuobang Industrial Co. The conversations concentrated on possible investment prospects and local production in Kazakhstans Aktobe Region. Abdukarimov highlighted the region's benefits for partnership in the energy, oil, gas, and manufacturing industries. Numerous firms showed interest in collaborative ventures and technology partnerships in Kazakhstan

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Singapore ruling party wins election in landslide



Singapore, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2025



Voters have handed Singapore's long-time ruling party a landslide election victory, offering Prime Minister Lawrence Wong a clear mandate to navigate the trade-orientated Southeast Asian nation through economic upheaval sparked by looming US tariffs.

Wong's People's Action Party took all but 10 seats in the 97-seat unicameral legislature with a total of 65.57 percent of the more than 2.4 million votes cast in the wealthy island state in Saturday's polls.

"Singaporeans gave the PAP a strong mandate to govern," Wong told a press conference hours after the official results were announced.

"The results will put Singapore in a better position to face this turbulent world," he said, adding they were a "clear signal of trust, stability and confidence in your government".

Wong was facing his first major test against a rejuvenated opposition and had urged voters to offer him a strong show of support amid the global economic uncertainties brought on by US President Donald Trump's tough tariffs policy.

The PAP, which has steered the country to prosperity during its decades in power while being criticised for suppressing dissent, was always expected to easily retain a clear majority in the legislature.

Though its dominance had been increasingly challenged by a more vocal electorate over the years, the vote saw the PAP's popularity climb as compared with 2020 elections.

Popular after leading Singapore's Covid task force, Wong took over last year from his predecessor Lee Hsien Loong, the son of founding premier Lee Kuan Yew, who ruled the island state after its bitter break-up with Malaysia in 1965.



- 'Reliable' -



Wong had warned Singapore would be hit hard if Trump went ahead with the tariffs he announced -- and then paused -- for most countries, and that it needed to stay open and competitive to counter their effects.

He has also said the ructions caused could require a major restructuring of Singapore's economy.

"The intense campaigning by PM Lawrence Wong and former PM Lee Hsien Loong in the hot seats must have helped a lot and the fear of Trump's tariffs must have worried voters as well," political observer and veteran former editor P.N Balji told AFP.

At a post-vote rally attended by cheering PAP supporters wearing white and waving flags with the party's red lightning bolt symbol, one supporter told AFP he had voted for stability.

"The PAP is the government and most of the time, things have been going smoothly," said Arham, an 18-year-old student. "To me, the PAP is reliable."



- Controversies -



The overwhelming PAP majority has become a norm in Singapore's political landscape.

But in the run-up to the latest polls, the PAP has faced a series of controversies.

Lee Hsien Loong is locked in a bitter feud with his brother Lee Hsien Yang, who vehemently supports the opposition and who has sought political asylum in Britain.

The long-running family row centres on allegations made by Lee Hsien Yang that his brother is seeking to block the demolition of a family bungalow to capitalise on Lee Kuan Yew's legacy -- something he has denied.

Last year, former transport minister S. Iswaran was thrown in jail for graft and in 2023, the parliament speaker and a lawmaker resigned over an "inappropriate" affair.

At the same time, younger voters showed themselves to be increasingly receptive to alternative political voices.

In 2020, the country's largest opposition group, the Workers' Party (WP), made historic gains, winning 10 of the 93 seats at stake -- a significant jump from its previously held four seats.

The WP -- which has become politically slicker -- has been hoping to build on that momentum this time around with a slate of charismatic candidates, including a top lawyer.

The party pulled in massive crowds at its campaign rallies, but just like in previous elections, those big numbers failed to translate into major electoral gains.
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To be a novelist in Turkey means something different than it does in Britain. It is a heavy experience, says Elif Shafak, who at 53, is often described as the countrys most famous female writer. And well, to be a female novelist in Turkey thats another story.

Overnight, you can find yourself put on trial, sued, investigated, prosecuted, almost digitally lynched, says Shafak. She knows this first hand. In 2006, she was tried for insulting Turkishness with her novel The Bastard of Istanbul, over the simple fact that it acknowledged the Armenian genocide, and in doing so challenged the Turkish states official narrative. It was the first time a work of fiction had been put on trial in such a way. The words of fictional characters had been plucked out of my novel and used as evidence in the courtroom, she says now. Outside that courtroom, ultra-nationalists were spitting on my pictures, burning my pictures and the EU flag. It was quite unsettling. Eventually, she was acquitted.

More recently, in 2019, another of Shafaks books, the kaleidoscopic 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, about a murdered Istanbul prostitute, was one of multiple books investigated by Turkish authorities for crimes of obscenity. It was also shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Its been nearly a decade since Shafak has felt comfortable returning to Turkey. She has lived in London for 16 years, commuting to Istanbul for seven of them before stopping altogether. Still, today at her publishers office in central London, Shafak has Turkey written all over her  its in the Kohl eyeliner that rims her blue eyes and in the scent of mint tea wafting from her mug. Her accent, too, wears the rhythmic cadence of her mother tongue. Still, there are English words that I cannot pronounce, she says, smiling.

Her novels, written in English, betray none of that diffidence. Theyre ambitious in their scope, flinging their arms around centuries and geographies, from ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day London. Of her 21 books, almost all embody her trademark interest in memory and politics. Safaks latest novel, There Are Rivers in the Sky, follows a single drop of water across millennia from the Tigris to the Thames, introducing characters as diverse as the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, a 19th-century polymath born in Londons slums, and a young Yazidi girl growing up in Turkey.

While her first novels were lauded at home, it wasnt until she started writing in English that Shafak gained international recognition, no doubt bolstered by the legal brouhaha over The Bastard of Istanbul. People may have come for the headlines, but they stayed for the writing. Now, two decades and 11 books later, Shafak is one of the UKs most popular novelists.

In conversation, Shafak is so blatantly a writer  reeling off metaphors in conversation as readily as others deploy like or um. That she is a lifelong heavy metal fan is a delightful tidbit; its hard to imagine the poetic prose of The Forty Years of Love being conjured to the headbanging sounds of melodic death metal.

Shafak was born in Strasbourg, France, where her father was studying for a PhD in philosophy. Hers was an intellectual upbringing. I was surrounded by lots of international leftist students, idealistic books, smoking, turtlenecks, she says, sounding wistful. When her parents split, she moved with her mother to Ankara. Our neighbourhood was very conservative and very inward-looking and patriarchal, she says. I was too young to understand and compare [it to France] but I wasnt too young to feel that we were different. That we were the odd ones out.

Her mother was a divorcee, a fact that singled them out immediately  that she resisted the communitys attempts to find her a new husband was stranger still. Usually women in such situations at the time would be married off to someone older immediately, but my grandmother intervened, she says. She took care of me so that my mother could go back to university, so that she could have a career and she could have choices. It was incredible. What she did was very progressive.

At home, Shafaks grandmother would regale her with stories and lullabies, riddles and legends of the Middle East, the Balkans, the Levant  echoes of which ring loudly in her books to this day. My grandmother was not a very well-educated woman, because she had been pulled out of school in Turkey for being a girl, but she was a very wise human being.

open image in gallery Elif Shafak: When women support each other, particularly at those critical junctures, the impact of that goes beyond generations ( Ferhat Elik )

Her mother went on to enter the foreign ministry, a job that saw them later relocate to Spain. I really believe in sisterhood. When women support each other, particularly at those critical junctures, the impact of that goes beyond generations.

In Spain, Shafak was the only Turkish student at her school. I remember when a Turkish terrorist tried to kill the Pope, I walked into the classroom the next day and all the kids would make fun of me, Why did you guys try to kill the Pope? she says. Or Turkey would receive zero points in Eurovision and the children would bully me. Cliched as it sounds, books were her friends. And writing was her escape. I wanted to run away into my imagination as much as I could, says Shafak. She still remembers the day she discovered Don Quixote  the first time she found true freedom in literature.

The second time was much later, in her thirties, when Shafak first started writing in English. It felt like cutting off the hand I write with, she says. Having to refine my literary voice in another language was like starting from scratch, but migrating into the English language gave me cognitive distance and this additional sense of freedom. She compares it to looking at a picture: When you want to see something better, you take a step back and it brings you closer.

That linguistic step backwards has allowed Shafak to hear more clearly the silences she wishes to fill. Turkey has a very long and rich history, but that doesnt necessarily translate into a strong memory, she says. If anything, I believe, in Turkey, were a society of collective amnesia. When you look at the history thats taught to us, there are so many silences. What was the Ottoman Empire like for women? Big silence. For minorities? Big silence, she says. Across Turkish literature, theres a big silence about the Armenian genocide, and it can cut across the board, not only the right [wing] but the left as well. Its still one of the biggest taboos in Turkey. To that end, Shafak likes to think of herself and other writers as memory keepers.

Her decision to switch to English was not without backlash. People were saying I had abandoned my language, that I couldnt be called a Turkish writer anymore, she says. But thats the thing about nationalism, its always an either/or mentality. Im not abandoning my mother tongue, how can I? Its the language of my grandmother, my mother and my childhood.

People said I abandoned my language, that I couldn't be called a Turkish writer anymore Elif Shafak

When it came time for Shafak to choose a new home, she landed on London for several reasons. Due to its intellectual and cultural depth, certainly, but also for its diversity. I treasure the fact that when children go to school, they have friends from different backgrounds  that they learn to celebrate each others cultures and traditions, she says. The other thing Shafak loved was how level-headed Brits were in the face of politics. I used to think how amazing it was that British people stayed so calm even when they disagreed, she says, pausing. And then Brexit happened and we lost that.

Shafak is wary about the future. We need to pay attention, she urges, leaning in. We might disagree on issues, but we have to be aware of our shared values. For me, it is an appreciation for democracy. Im not saying democracy is a perfect regime, but its the best system that we have developed and we need to improve it, not abandon it. No human being, no political party, no tech company in this world should have absolute power, that is such a dangerous thing. Were all fallible creatures. Were all human. We need to be careful about democratic norms, which unfortunately, were losing sometimes. She pauses a moment, Im not saying its happening in the UK, but I see seeds of it.

She is, of course, particularly attuned to these alarm bells. Her ears prick up at the first sounds of tyranny, tuned to this frequency by the politics back home where, she says, weve seen a steady decline in what remained of Turkish democracy under the 22-year-long presidency of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

open image in gallery Womens Prize: Elif Shafak, Ruth Ozeki, Lisa Allen-Agostini, Meg Mason, and Maggie Shipstead ( PA )

The day we speak, fierce protests are erupting in the capital over the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and Erdogans main rival, days before he was due to be selected as the 2028 presidential nominee. Its unacceptable, unlawful and undemocratic, says Shafak simply. On the streets, protestors are being fired upon with tear gas and rubber bullets. There are so many people in Turkey who want and deserve a proper democracy. We do not want authoritarianism.

Turkey shows us what happens when the rule of law is damaged, when there is a separation of powers and no independent media, she says. When you only have the ballot box, that system cannot survive as a democracy in the long run. It can only be majoritarianism, and from there, the fall into authoritarianism can be very short, very quick. Crucially, that fall can happen anywhere.

We have to worry about womens rights wherever you come from and in America, even more so right now, because things can go backwards very fast

Shafak recalls an interaction she had some 10 years ago with a scholar from America who told her it was understandable that she was a feminist given she was Turkish. That statement gave me pause because the implication was that if youre American, or from Norway or from Canada, you dont have to worry about the future of womens rights, she says. But now we know better.

The Trump era in the US has ushered in a rollback of human rights, undermining decades of progress  from the overturning of Roe v Wade to the mounting backlash against the rights of migrants, refugees, LGBT+ people and women. We have to worry about womens rights wherever you come from and in America, even more so right now, because things can go backwards very fast, Shafak says.

When Shafak speaks about politics, there is no passivity in her voice  no apathy to be heard. She is animated. She is fired up. A similar thing occurs in her writing. No matter how bleak the subject matter, there is hope. Even the story of a murdered prostitute discovered in a dumpster somehow still shimmers with humour and light. The mind can be more pessimistic, and I think thats OK because it makes us a little more aware of whats going on, she says. But we need to keep the human will, to keep the human heart and be hopeful.

There are Rivers in the Sky is published by Penguin in paperback; Elif Shafak will speak to Kirsty Lang on Sunday 25 May at Hay Festival; more information here
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Alexander Skarsgard has thrown his hat into the ring to play a Swedish James Bond as the hunt for the next 007 continues.

Speaking in a new interview with The Times, the 48-year-old True Blood actor was asked whether he would like to play the British spy, to which he replied: Im way too Swedish for that.

However, when he was informed by the journalist that the franchise could be taking a new direction, since Bond producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have passed full creative control over to Amazon MGM, Skarsgard was swayed by the idea of a Scandi Bond.

Yeah,. I could be a very polite, diplomatic Swedish James Bond, who negotiates, he said.

When asked whether he could use his past military experience in the Swedish national service for the action scenes, he said he would prefer his Bond to be a peacemaker instead of having regular brushes with death  since previous iterations of Bond are known for their high-speed car chases and violent fight scenes.

Oh no, therell be no violence at all, he joked. Itll just be boardroom meetings where people try to find consensus, everyones stressed out and desperately tries to avoid an argument or complications, thats very Swedish.

Ill pitch it, he added.

In February, it was announced that Amazon MGM had taken full creative control of the Bond franchise after striking a deal with long-time producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The duo remain co-owners of the franchise, but the business decision leaves creative control of future James Bond productions in the hands of American-owned Amazon.

Alexander Skarsgard said he could be a very polite James Bond ( Getty Images )

The hunt for a new Bond to replace actor Daniel Craig has been ongoing since his fifth and final turn as Bond in 2021s No Time to Die.

Possible names include Aaron Taylor-Johnson (34), Harris Dickinson (28) and James Norton (39). Taylor-Johnson, however, has since distanced himself from the claims.

When the film arrives, it could beat the record for the longest break between Bond instalments, which currently stands at six years and four months for the wait between 1989s License to Kill and 1995s Goldeneye.

Amazon MGM recently confirmed that production for a fresh and exotic new chapter of the franchise was already underway.

Appearing at Las Vegass CinemaCon in April, studio executives Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll said that Bond producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman were already in London getting started on the long-awaited next instalment.

We are committed to honouring the legacy of this iconic character while bringing a fresh, exotic new chapter to audiences around the world alongside Amy [Pascal] and David [Heyman], said Valenti and Kroll.

Skarsgard will star in the forthcoming Apple TV+ ten-parter Murderbot, which is based on the sci-fi novella series The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. The actor plays a rogue security robot who secretly gains free will.
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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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Frasier star and noted Republican Kelsey Grammer has explained why he likes Donald Trump.

Although insisting he isnt a big government guy, Grammer is one of the few outspoken conservatives in Hollywood  and previously said he doesnt have a lot of problems with the presidents controversial policies.

In a new interview, Grammer has reiterated his support for Trump and shared the reason why he likes him.

Its great to have somebody who actually means what they say, he told The Times of the president.

Since Trump won a second term in the White House, he has backtracked on several of his earlier statements, including the banning of TikTok and his tariff rollout that sent the stock market into disarray.

Grammer, acknowledging that his pro-Trump views might be contentious, asked the outlet to be kind about the political thing, adding: Some people just dont like it.

Talking about what he believes has shaped his political leaning, the actor, whose Frasier reboot was cancelled earlier this year, said that he prefers to embrace facts over feelings.

When I was a little boy I just thought, you know, theres a right and a wrong. This grey area thing doesnt have a lot of value.

open image in gallery Kelsey Grammer has shared the one reason he likes Trump ( Getty Images for Christopher & D )

He continued: I get you can have feelings about certain things, and I want to respect everybodys feelings. But, you know, you learn in AA that feelings are not facts. And thats where I think we get confused a lot these days.

Grammer previously hit out at the left, saying Trump is astounding for people who come from the more liberal side of politics.

He said: They just never had anybody come back at them in the same way. Weve witnessed in American politics the same basic language since Ronald Reagan.

The actor told The New York Times he is outspoken about his beliefs, as to be anything else would be a problem.

He added: I dont go along with a lot of what is preached in Hollywood.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has a voter in Frasier star Kelsey Grammer ( Getty Images )

While Grammer is usually open about his political views, he attempted to swerve the subject while being interviewed by the BBC in 2023.

The actor was asked on BBC Radio 4s Today programme if he was still backing Trump, and he brusquely stated: I am and Ill let that be the end of it.

Journalist Justin Webb then revealed that, while Grammer was perfectly happy to go on talking about it, Paramount+, who released the Frasier reboot, were less happy that he talked about it at some length.
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Reality TV star Kirk Medas, best known for appearing in the Jersey Shore spin-off Floribama Shore, has died aged 33 after spending two weeks in an intensive care unit.

Medass father told TMZ on Friday (2 May) that he had died following complications with liver failure.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Kirk Medas, a beloved member of the Floribama Shore family, an MTV spokesperson shared in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans during this difficult time.

Medas joined the cast of Floribama Shores first season in 2017. He starred in the series during its four-season run on MTV as one of the main cast members alongside Aimee Hall, Nilsa Prowant, Jeremiah Buoni, Codi Butts, Kortni Gilson, Candace Rice and Gus Smyrnios. The show was cancelled in 2022.

Medas appeared in a special Fear Factor episode, where the Floribama Shore cast competed against Jersey Shore: Family Vacation cast members, including Deena Nicole Cortese, Snooki, Pauly D and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro. He also had a role in the comedy series Everybody Hates Kyle in 2022.

On Thursday (1 May), Floribama Shore star Hall shared a picture on Instagram of Medas in a hospital bed, saying he has been in the ICU for over two weeks now, battling a severe case of necrotising pancreatitis. She added that he was on a ventilator and that the situation was incredibly serious.

Necrotising pancreatitis is a form of acute pancreatitis where the pancreas loses its blood supply and can cause some of the tissue in the pancreas to die, according to the NHS.

In a separate post shared on Friday following Medass death, Hall posted a tribute, writing that she had lost a brother, a best friend and heaven gained the most beautiful angel.

open image in gallery Kirk Medas was best known for appearing in the Jersey Shorespin-off Floribama Shore ( Instagram via @kirkmedas )

He loved each and every one of us so deeply, with a heart bigger than this world, she said.

Me and Kirk started this journey together when we were just 24 years old, and from that moment on, we were family. We talked almost every single day. We worked together, we travelled together, we vacationed together  we did life together. He was there through every chapter, through every change, always ready to hold our hands and lift our spirits.

She added: His heart, his soul, his light it was something you dont come across often. He was our rock, our joy, and the one who kept us all connected.

open image in gallery Kirk Medas joined the cast of Floribama Shores first season in 2017 ( MTV )

Floribama Shore producer SallyAnn Salsano and production company 495 productions told TMZ that they were heartbroken by the news.

We are heartbroken over the passing of Kirk Medas, a beloved member of our Floribama Shore family. Kirk brought light, laughter, and loyalty to every moment  both on screen and off. He was more than a cast member; he was family, they said.

Our hearts are with his loved ones, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. We will forever cherish the joy and memories he gave us.
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Netflix has denied issuing a celebrity chef with a legal warning for criticising Meghan Markles cookery show.

Released last month, the critically mauled series With Love, Meghan followed the Duchess of Sussex through her everyday life with Prince Harry as she cooks and hosts family members and friends.

Jameson 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.

On Friday (1 May), the chef, who previously claimed he declined an offer to be a part of the show, alleged that his anti-Meghan comments saw him receive a warning from Netflix.

However, the streaming service has denied this allegation, with a spokesperson telling The Independent: No legal letter was sent to Jameson Stocks from Netflix.

Stocks 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.

open image in gallery Netflix has denied sending chef Jameson Stocks a legal warning ( Getty Images )

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.

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I felt that even if she produced a really great programme, which I was quite sceptical of anyway, that I might get a little slammed for it, for being a part of it, he said.

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.

open image in gallery Meghan Markles Netflix show was mauled by critics upon release ( Nrtflix )

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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Margaret Atwood published her dystopian novel The Handmaids Tale, set in Gilead, a repressive theocratic version of the United States, in 1985, as Republican president Ronald Reagan nudged the United States into the neoliberalism that would rule for decades. She published a sequel, The Testaments, in 2019  make of that what you will. And now, the television spinoff of Atwoods world is drawing to its conclusion after an eight-year run that has coincided with profound challenges to Americas social fabric. As the curtain falls on Gilead, is Channel 4s drama too close to the bone?

In the opening moments of season six, both June (Elisabeth Moss) and Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski) are on a train, heading for the last outpost of the United States in Alaska. You are one exceptionally tough woman, Serena admits, but soon their paths will diverge again. Across the border in Gilead, Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) is pushing ahead with New Bethlehem  his liberalised community within Gileads borders  and Nick (Max Minghella) has become an influential lieutenant. But his relationship with June, which has turned him into a double agent against the regime, is being tested by the presence of her husband, Luke (O-T Fagbenle), who has joined the Mayday rebels alongside Junes old friend Moira (Samira Wiley).

But theres one thread that June has never been able to wind in: her daughter Hannah is still a prisoner in Gilead. After all, The Handmaids Tale, set in a world of declining fertility, is a show about the next generation, and the struggle to guarantee a future. Ive really tried to save her, June laments. Ive really tried to get her out, but you know And viewers will know. Each time June seems to have turned a corner, another wall springs up in front of her. Escape comes before return. Ultimately, the series seems to say, if Gilead cannot be destroyed, then June will never be truly free. And so, in this final season, the action moves ever closer to that reckoning.

Throughout its run, The Handmaids Tale has been consistently high quality. Elisabeth Moss is one of televisions best actors, a compellingly ambiguous leading lady, and June has been a perfect demonstration of her talents. As the series has progressed, shes also become more instrumental to it: she first directed an episode in season four and directs four episodes here, including the finale. At the same time, the show has expanded wildly beyond the remit of Atwoods imagination, creating a complex world built of oppressive forces and radical hope. When asked whether she might join a future sequel, Wiley demurred. I am done with the trauma, she said. And the show has been a hard watch for viewers too, putting its characters through relentless brutality with little respite. It is a world in which even sanctuary is a vulnerable thing.

And yet, even though the show can be hard to enjoy (in the purest sense of that word), it has also increased in urgency as it has progressed. The Handmaids Tale is a book that is now taught in schools, and has been for many years, but its TV sibling is a more granular guide to the political and bureaucratic forces that collude in an authoritarian regime. These are dark days, Serenas preacher father tells her, in a flashback to the pre-Gilead era. People need to believe in something. That is the flickering candle of hope that lights the way for tyranny, and it is a subject that The Handmaids Tale has portrayed, viscerally, over the past decade.

The show has expanded wildly beyond the remit of Atwoods imagination, creating a complex world built of oppressive forces and radical hope ( Disney )

Creator Bruce Miller, alongside Moss, has delivered a bleak, uncompromising final chapter in a saga that operates as a cautionary tale for modern America. At moments of acute political distress, art can serve as a warning. The Handmaids Tale has been a gripping demonstration of how fear metastasises into fascism. Its end might give viewers a sense of relief, but it will certainly leave a void in the schedule.
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Lorraine Kelly has revealed that she needs to undergo surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes.

The Scottish TV presenter, best known for hosting her eponymous ITV programme, shared a video from her hospital bed on Saturday (3 May), saying she had not been feeling all that well for a little while.

Just wanted to let you know that Im having a wee procedure today. Ive not been feeling all that well for a little while. So I had some scans and tests and I have to have my ovaries and my tubes taken out, she said in the video.

She assured fans it was purely preventative and was being performed using the minimally invasive procedure keyhole surgery, adding that she is being very well looked after.

Im going to be totally fine, she said. See you soon.

In the posts caption, Kelly wrote that she was very lucky to be treated so well as she thanked gynaecologist Dr Ahmed Raafat and hospital staff.

Kelly was met with messages of support from celebrity colleagues and friends, with Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid writing, Sending you all the love in the world, alongside a love-heart emoji.

Countyfile presenter Matt Baker said, Sending lots of love Lorraine X, as radio host Adele Roberts added: Lots of love to you Lorraine! Get well soon xxx.

TV presenter Vanessa Feltz said: Thinking of you and sending love. Let me know if you fancy a visit. Love V xx

Chris Hoys wife Sarra added: Sorry to hear you havent been feeling well but so pleased to hear there is a plan and you are being sorted. Hang in there xx, while Katie Piper also wished her a speedy recovery.

open image in gallery Lorraine Kelly shared a video from her hospital bed ( @lorrainekellysmith )

The procedure, which is known as salpingo-oophorectomy, takes one to two hours and requires several more hours of recovery in hospital.

The NHS advises that you must stay off work for two to four weeks after having the procedure. Kelly did not state why she was having her ovaries removed, but it is typically done as a preventative measure if there's a significant risk of associated disease, such as ovarian cancer.

Kelly recently commented on the hurtful suggestion that she takes too much time off from presenting her morning show.

Recent years have seen Kelly take an increasing number of breaks from presenting, with the parody X/Twitter account @LorraineKWatch documenting the number of times she has appeared on her show. The account has since been taken down.

open image in gallery Lorraine Kelly pictured in March ( Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images )

The presenter told The Guardian that she found it really hurtful, actually.

She added: It really is. Ive not spoken about it before. Im a grafter and I work really hard and Ive had to take Fridays off for the past year. I just thought it was weird to care so much.

The host said she initially took time off to care for her mother who has been ill, but then realised she enjoyed the break  and was jealous of other ITV morning hosts who were able to work four days a week.

It sort of brings you into line with everyone else because, if you look at This Morning, everybody else does four days. And as Im getting older, I want to do other things  more writing, all of that, the host, who has written two books, said. Mate, Ive been doing this for 40 years, working my a*** off.
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There are few sensations more instantly soothing than lighting a scented candle. It doesnt matter whether youve chosen a high-end brand or a 4 supermarket dupe with suspiciously similar packaging: this simple act can soften the edges of the most stressful days (and make you feel like you just about have your life together at the same time).

Simply ignite the wick, watch the flame flicker to life, then let your fragrance of choice waft through the room while feeling equal parts smug and sophisticated. Extra points if the scent is designed to evoke some hyper-niche experience, like flicking through old tomes in a vintage bookshop, walking into a bakery on a sunny morning, or perusing a specific flower market at dusk.

For better or worse, theyve become a shortcut to self-care and a quick fix for our frazzled nerves (plus, theyre the perfect prop for an artful social media post, which certainly hasnt harmed their popularity). No wonder, then, that these delicately fragranced status symbols have become big business. Between 2021 and 2022, UK shoppers spent 418m on scented candles, according to data analysts at Kantar, and over the next decade, the global market is predicted to rise from almost $4bn to $6.1bn (4bn). As far as guilty pleasures go, they might seem pretty harmless, bar the staggering price tag that comes attached to some of the fanciest offerings, of course. But do we need to take a closer, more critical look at what exactly it is that were burning?

By now, were all well aware of the dangers of air pollution, and how the fumes released when we burn fossil fuels can negatively affect both the environment and our health. Over the past few years, though, scientists have become increasingly concerned about the quality of the air inside our homes too. After all, people living in developed countries tend to spend up to 90 per cent of their time inside, so it makes sense to pay attention to what were breathing in. Everyday processes such as cooking (and indeed burning candles) can generate particulates and other pollutants, which are risk factors for heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), household air pollution causes more than 3 million deaths each year.

A handful of studies have specifically focused on the impact of burning candles indoors, with some potentially worrying results. In 2017, experiments on mice by researchers at Copenhagen University found that particles released by burning candles caused more damage than the same dose of diesel exhaust fumes. Another Danish study explored exposure to ultrafine particles, which can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and exacerbate lung disease, and found that candle burning was responsible for around 60 per cent of this exposure. Why does so much candle research originate in Denmark, you ask? The Danes are among Europes top candle consumers, getting through an average of 6kg per person annually (blame the hygge phenomenon, which is all about staying in and getting cosy).

So how concerned do we actually need to be about our favourite little luxury? A candle is effectively a small combustion source with an open flame, explains Professor Christian Pfrang, chair of atmospheric sciences at the University of Birmingham. Much like a fireplace, gas hob or wood burning stove, he says, it will produce nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, especially if combustion is incomplete. In case its been a while since your science GCSE days, incomplete combustion takes place when you burn something without a sufficient oxygen supply; sooty deposits around the top of your candles jar are a telltale sign of this. Nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide are known to have major health impacts, Pfrang adds, including lung and heart problems. But, he cautions, experiments tend to show that the levels released by a single candle are unlikely to exceed the amounts set out in the WHO guidelines on indoor pollutants.

open image in gallery Scented candles are a little luxury beloved by many, and the market is booming worldwide ( Getty/iStock )

Particulate matter, explored in the aforementioned Danish study, is another important piece of the puzzle. Burning a candle will produce particles of different sizes, with small particles [known as] PM2.5 and ultrafine particles being of most concern, Pfrang says. Exposure to PM2.5 has been shown to most strongly affect elderly people with chronic heart and lung disease, children and asthmatics, he adds.

And new research is starting to explore the potential impact on the way our brains work, too. Earlier this year, Pfrangs colleagues at the University of Birmingham, along with scientists at the University of Manchester, found that an hours exposure to a burning candle impaired our cognitive function, diminishing the participants ability to focus and to interpret the emotions on other peoples faces.

When you start to put fragrances into the mix, things become more complex. Burning any type of candle produces volatile organic compounds (VOC), which evaporate easily and are released as gases. In this context, the word volatile basically means something that is easily going to go into the air, says Nicola Carslaw, professor of indoor air chemistry at the University of York. Additional artificial smells mean more VOCs.

Other scented products  take perfume, for example  will also contain VOCs. But the difference is in how we use them. We dont tend to, erm, burn perfume, but when we strike up a candle, the VOCs will interact with combustion products in the flame, so [they] are potentially more harmful, Pfrang says. Formaldehyde, benzene and toluene are just some of the toxic VOCs released when you light up. Some of the VOCs released can exceed WHO recommended values, says Pfrang, who singles out acrolein and benzo[a]pyrene as being of particular concern, as they are associated with various diseases, including cancer.

Ventilation is key to removing indoor pollutants from your home Professor Christian Pfrang, University of Birmingham

Aroma chemicals crop up in everything from air fresheners to cleaning products to shower gels, Carslaw says, and the problem is that they are quite reactive once theyre released. Research has found, she adds, that more particles are made when these chemicals oxidise in the air. Recent studies from Purdue University in the United States, for example, have found that these airborne pollutants are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.

If all this has you ready to throw your prized candles in the bin, artisan jars and all, then hold fire. The good news is that by making a few swaps, and by changing the way you use them, you can carry on indulging without worrying too much. The first thing to do is to think carefully about air flow. Ventilation is key to removing indoor pollutants from your home, says Pfrang. This is most quickly achieved through cross-ventilation, when you create a draft for a short time by opening multiple windows. It might sound like stating the obvious, but how many times have you been guilty of firing up, say, a cinnamon-y Christmas-themed candle in the depths of winter, while keeping your home hermetically sealed to stay as warm as possible? (once again, I blame hygge).

Proper ventilation shouldnt negate the candles smell, either. In fact, it should help the fragrance circulate properly, by maximising the candle throw (an insider term for how well the scent moves around a room).

open image in gallery Lighting multiple candles in a small, poorly ventilated space is a bad idea ( Getty/iStock )

While the odd candle isnt going to make you keel over and collapse, as Carslaw puts it, the quest of where you burn is important too. You quite often see it in big Hollywood movies: theres something in a room with 20 scented candles around them, in some sort of romantic scene. If you start doing that sort of thing in a very poorly ventilated area, thats when youre going to get problems. So, essentially, dont try and recreate Monica and Chandlers proposal scene from Friends. And even though scented candles are often sold to us as a crucial part of any wind-down routine, she cautions against lighting them in smaller spaces such as a bathroom, or burning one for extended periods in your bedroom before you go to sleep.

And as tempting as bargain dupes with similar scents might be (theyre basically the fragrance equivalent of a fast-fashion brands rendering of a designer dress), its worth getting to grips with candle ingredients too. You absolutely get what you pay for, explains Gail Race, an interior designer who has previously worked in product development for home fragrances. Cheaper candles, she says, tend to be [made from] paraffin wax with an artificial fragrance (even if that fragrance is something that sounds like it could have been naturally derived  a cut-price brand will tend to use, say, artificial lavender scents rather than sourcing the real deal).

As you go up the price bracket, people are using much cleaner burning waxes like beeswax and coconut Gail Rice, interior designer

Burning paraffin, which is derived from oil, releases potentially dangerous chemicals. As you go up the price bracket, people are using much cleaner-burning waxes like beeswax and coconut, Race says. These also happen to be more eco-friendly options, too. She also recommends taking a closer look at the wick, which sometimes gets overlooked when were getting over-excited about niche fragrances and aesthetic packaging. Once, wicks were made with a lead core to keep them standing upright, but these were banned in 2003 due to safety concerns (worth bearing in mind if you end up digging out any ancient candles for nostalgia purposes). Cotton or wooden wicks tend to be a safe, sustainable choice.

Its worth bearing in mind, too, that when the candle is extinguished, it can produce a large burst of particles, Pfrang says. So, the moment that you blow out the flame is actually the most polluting aspect of candle use indoors. He recommends using a candle snuffer instead: this might sound Dickensian, but its just a simple device that extinguishes a flame safely and cleanly. You can buy aesthetically pleasing ones from posh interior design brands and lean into the object dart of it all or you can opt for a simple one from, say, Ikea for 1.50.

Essentially, Pfrang says, we dont need to stress too much about occasionally using a candle, but it is important to be aware of the potential pollutant risk, so that you can minimise exposure while [still] enjoying what you like to do. Youll find me lighting up a Diptyque Baies in celebration. With the windows open, of course.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. This morning, the captain of a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by LOT Polish Airlines on the BakuWarsaw route made the decision to return to Heydar Aliyev International Airport due to the sudden deterioration of a passengers health and issued an emergency landing request.

The aircraft successfully landed at Baku Airport at 07:45. Immediately after landing, medical personnel were dispatched to the aircraft, and the passenger received initial medical assistance on site. Based on the doctors decision, the passenger was not cleared to continue the flight and was placed under medical supervision.

At the same time, under the captains instruction, due to the need for an additional technical inspection of the aircraft, the remaining passengers were disembarked and temporarily accommodated at the airport terminal.

It should be noted that Heydar Aliyev International Airport always prioritizes the safety and well-being of its passengers and continues to ensure a high level of operational coordination in such situations, in full compliance with international service standards.
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The Maricopa County medical examiner has determined the death of a popular community pastor in his Arizona home was a homicide.

Bill Schonemann, 76, was found dead on his bed in New River around 7:30 pm on Monday.

According to sources that spoke to FOX 10, Pastor Bill, long-time head of the New River Bible Chapel, was found with his arms spread out and his hands pinned to the wall. The sources also said the pastor appeared to have suffered significant injuries.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has not publicly revealed many details about the death. No suspects have been arrested, and no motive is publicly available.

"Our thoughts are with Mr. Schonemanns loved ones as we continue our efforts to bring justice in this case. MCSO detectives are actively investigating and following all leads," the sheriff's office said in a news release.

Bill Schonemann, the 76-year-old pastor of New River Bible Chapel, was found dead on April 28 in his home. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office has determined his death is a homicide ( Google Maps )

Investigators believe the murder was an "isolated incident, and that theres no threat to the community.

Mike Anders, a neighbor who lived next to the pastor for 12 years, said Schonemann was friendly, always open to conversation, and had a passion for building trucks.

He told FOX 10 that the lack of information about the murder has left the community on edge.

"I mean, we locked our doors last night. Its just something that we are just not used to doing. Until we know whats going on, we dont know if it was a family member, or ... we dont know what, who could do this to him," Anders said.

A former congregation member, Zane Sharpe, told ABC 15 that the news of the pastor's death was crushing.

My heart just dropped, he said. It dropped to my core. Like what a sweet guy, a pastor, too. Everyone holds pastors in high esteem, but this guy truly lived what he spoke.

The pastors son, Randall Schonemann, said in a statement: Our dad had such a positive impact on people everywhere he went. We will miss the loving guidance and patience, the happiness he showed just getting to walk around an airport getting his steps in.
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Federal authorities have charged an admissions official at Emmanuel College of trying to have sex with an underage applicant.

Jacob Henriques, a 29-year-old Assistant Admissions Director at the Boston school, faces one criminal count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.

Federal prosecutors allege that Henriques used his position to allegedly gain access to the personal information of various admitted or prospective students, who he later contacted to solicit to engage in commercial sex with him.

The Independent has reached out to the college for more information.

He met with at least three admitted or prospective students on April 25 and then began contacting them, authorities said. These exchanges included the 29-year-old allegedly offering to pay them for some fun, offering to provide them with pornography, and, in some instances, sending them pornographic videos or images.

That same day, Henriques also got in contact with a fourth admitted student  after she committed to attend Emmanuel College  and then offered to pay her for some fun and began sending pornographic videos to her, federal prosecutors said.

According to a series of now-deleted online profiles, Henriques graduated from Emmanuel College in 2021 with a BA in History and Secondary Education. During his time as a student, the suspect was involved in the campus ministry.

open image in gallery An admissions official at Emmanuel College was arrested and charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor ( Google Maps )

One of the victims was a 17-year-old prospective student. He allegedly saw the female victims date of birth on her tour registration form just before giving her a tour, prosecutors stated.

While on the tour, Henriques allegedly asked the prospective student what grade she was in, and she told him the high school she attended. Hours after the tour concluded, he began texting the teen on the number she gave on her admissions form, authorities allege.

Throughout the night, he texted her, including allegedly offering to pay her $400 for some fun, and said he had some explicit photos and videos for her. He never told the girl who he was or how he got her number, prosecutors say. He just told her that porn and $ was ready for her.

He then allegedly sent the teen five pornographic videos depicting men and women engaged in sex acts before asking her whether she wanted to participate in a gangbang or whether she wanted to have sex with him.

Despite her multiple rejections, prosecutors said, he continued to text her to let her know if she changed her mind. He added that he would buy her anything she wanted.

Between April 25 and April 28, Henriques allegedly accessed the minors profile 47 times. She blocked his phone number, but authorities allege that he started reaching out to her via email.

The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a minor carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, with at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Hes due in federal court in Boston on Monday, May 5.

Henriques is no longer working at the school, according to a statement.

Emmanuel College is saddened, angered, and shocked by these serious federal allegations that have been brought against a former employee, the school told WHDH in a shared statement.

The claims are an affront to our core values, and we stand with any victimized by this incident, the statement continued, noting that the college immediately contacted law enforcement and launched an investigation after learning of these allegations.
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The founder of fundraising platform GiveSendGo has compared the case of Karmelo Anthony  a 17-year-old accused of stabbing and killing teenager Austin Metcalf at a track meet  to those of Kyle Rittenhouse and Daniel Penny.

Jacob Wells said that last months incident was similar to the other two high-profile and controversial cases, which had been kicked off other platforms such as GoFundMe, but that Anthony should be afforded the same presumption of innocence as anyone else.

The incident, in which Metcalf was fatally stabbed, happened on April 2 at Memorial High School in Frisco, about 30 miles north of Dallas. Prior to the altercation, Metcalf had reportedly asked Anthony to leave the event as he did not attend that high school.

According to its website, GiveSendGo is a Christian crowdfunding platform. The platform has attracted controversy for allowing far-right extremists to fundraise, including neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups.

Speaking on conservative pundit Jason Whitlocks podcast, Wells said that both Anthony and Rittenhouse should be tried in a court of law rather than the court of public opinion.

open image in gallery Austin Metcalf, 17, left, of Frisco, Texas was allegedly stabbed and killed by Karmelo Anthony, 17, right, also of Frisco, following a fight at a high school track meet on April 1, 2025 ( GoFundMe/Frisco Police Department )

We saw massive amounts of hate from the left at that moment, massive amounts of information, misinformation, being posted throughout the media about the situation, Wells said, of the Anthony case.

And we said, Well, you know what, theres actually a principle here that people ought to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, not public opinion.

Its a biblical position So we allowed that campaign. And then that kind of opened up the door where people said, Well, heres a platform thats just not canceling people whenever, like GoFundMe has been and still does, he added.

As well as fundraising for Rittenhouse, who gained national attention at age 17 for killing two men in Kenosha in August 2020 during a protest over the police shooting of Black man Jacob Blake, GiveSendGo has also raised money for Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran who was accused of criminally negligent homicide after he restrained homelssman Jordan Neely on the New York City subway in 2023.

open image in gallery Rittenhouse gained national attention at age 17 for killing two men in Kenosha in August 2020 during a Black Lives Matter protest. GiveSendGo hosted a fundraiser for him on its platform ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery GiveSendGo has also raised money for Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran who was accused of murdering a homeless man on the New York City subway last year ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Referring to both Rittenhouse and Penny, Wells said: Weve had many, many, legal defense funds for people that were accused of violent crimes, accused of murdering people by the prosecution.

And so we said, You know what, this principle of presumption of innocence and not ruled by mobs really ought to be preserved in difficult circumstances, and that led us to where we are now.

Wells also noted that Anthonys family did not even start the campaign, which was similar to the campaign for Rittenhouse. The person was unrelated, uninterested in that respect and had created the campaign wanting to do something good for the family, knowing that as a family in a very difficult trying time they would probably need some support.

He also hit out at the fake news surrounding Anthonys case that was spread after the family took over the fundraising page, as well as acknowledging the racial tension. Metcalf was white, while Anthony is Black.

A lot of fake news came out, as it does around all of these high-profile events, about the spending of funds, the use of funds being used for things like buying a Cadillac  fake news, not true  buying a house  fake news, not true  lots of fake news and a lot of racial tension narrative around it, he said.

open image in gallery Last week, the organization representing Anthonys family said the teenager has had to be moved from his home due to threats he's been receiving ( Frisco Police Department )

I get the fact that it was a Black boy and a white boy. So I get that there's, on its face, a race difference there. Our position at GiveSendGo was, you know: Pull race out of it.

The right, as being principled people, ought to be saying, and this is what I didnt see, is that This is a horrible situation The facts dont look good for Karmelo Anthony, according to what weve seen so far.

But he ought to be given the same affording that was afforded to Daniel Penny and Kyle Rittenhouse which [is]... that same presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law, not public opinion.

Last week, the organization representing Anthonys family said the teenager had to be moved from his home due to threats.

According to a press statement, the family and its representatives are "gravely concerned" for Anthony's well-being and have moved him to an undisclosed location to "ensure his immediate safety. "

Anthony was previously released on house arrest after his bond was reduced.
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A judge has ruled that the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch is not fit to stand trial on sex trafficking charges.

The Friday ruling ordered Michael Jeffries, 80, to be hospitalized to see if his mental condition improves.

Jeffries lawyers sought the ruling in April. They wrote in a letter, filed in a New York federal court, that the former CEO requires round-the-clock care.

He suffers from Alzheimers disease, Lewy body dementia and the residual effects of a traumatic brain injury, they said.

The defense, as well as prosecutors, requested that Jeffries be placed in federal Bureau of Prisons custody so he can be hospitalized and receive treatment that might allow his criminal case to proceed.

The court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense, Judge Nusrat Choudhury wrote in his decision.

open image in gallery Jeffries partner, Matthew Smith, is also facing charges ( AP )

He directed the Attorney General's office to place Jeffries in a hospital for up to four months.

Jeffries had been free on a $10 million bond since pleading not guilty in October to federal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.

Prosecutors say he, his romantic partner and a third man used the promise of modeling jobs to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties in New York City, the Hamptons and other locations.

Jeffries left Abercrombie & Fitch in 2014 after more than two decades at the helm.

He presided over the retailer's evolution from a Manhattan hunting and outdoor goods store founded in 1892 to a fixture of teen mall culture during the early 2000s.

His partner, Matthew Smith, has also pleaded not guilty to the charges and remains out on bond, as does their co-defendant, James Jacobson.

In their letter, Jeffries lawyers said at least four medical professionals concluded that their clients cognitive issues are progressive and incurable and that he will not regain his competency and cannot be restored to competency in the future.

They said the doctors found that his cognitive issues significantly impair his ability to understand the charges against him, and to consult and participate with his counsel in his defense.
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A school board in Arkansas put the superintendent on leave after her husband, a former teacher and registered sex offender, was arrested for violating his parole, according to local reports.

The Hot Springs School District placed Dr. Stephanie Nehus on administrative leave Friday after mounting public calls for the superintendent to resign after her husband, Zachary Nehus, was arrested on Tuesday, KARK 4 reported.

A jury convicted Zachary Nehus, a former teacher in the state, in 2016 for possession of sexually explicit images of children, court filings show. Now, hes being held in Garland County Detention Center for allegedly violating his parole.

The school board had opted to keep the superintendent in her post on Thursday.

Her husband was arrested in 2014 on more than two dozen counts of child pornography. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years of probation. He was paroled in September 2022. His parole violation involves evidence that was found at his home relating to his original conviction during a routine check by police.

But the board reversed course after parents expressed outrage, placing Nehus on leave and naming Becky Rosburg, the assistant superintendent, as interim superintendent until the end of the school year. Dr. Mike Hernandez will take over from then until June 2026, THV11 reported.

open image in gallery Zachary Nehus arrested for allegedly violating his parole - a move that led to his wife being placed on administrative leave as superintendent of the school district ( Garland County Detention Center )

Parents stood outside the school boards meeting calling for Nehus to be removed. One parent, captured by THV11, held up a sign that read: Integrity in schools starts at the top!

According to the school district's website, Nehus obtained her bachelors and masters degrees from Henderson State University and her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Before becoming superintendent, she worked as a math teacher, assistant principal, and principal at schools in the state.

The website says she has been with the Hot Springs School District for 15 years and was named the Arkansas Rural Education Association Superintendent of the Year for 2021-2022. Nehus and her husband have three children together.

This time, parents are finally feeling heard, Sara Jeffers, a parent, told KARK. I definitely do feel like people are finally listening to us.

However, the issue isnt totally resolved, as some parents are still frustrated by the lack of transparency regarding the terms of her leave.

While Im happy at the moment that some kind of action has been taken, there are so many more layers of corruption, Jeffers added. I still feel defeated, and Im not going to not feel defeated until she is gone.

There was a lot of questions as far as if it's going to be a paid administrative leave or it's not, Emilie Boyett, another parent, told THV11.

After her appointment, Rosburg sent out a statement, obtained by the outlets, to the Hot Springs community.

Our students, families, and staff deserve consistency during this time of transition, and I am committed to honoring the work already underway while ensuring our continued progress. I, with the help of the entire administrative team, will work diligently to renew your trust and support in our District, she said.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 3. Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Jasurbek Choriev, met with Korea National Railway CEO Lee Song Hae to discuss expanding cooperation in railway technologies and innovations for Uzbekistan's railway system development, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Transports of Uzbekistan.

Particular attention was given to the implementation of advanced signaling systems, geolocation, and railway management systems, as well as Korean navigation technologies, which play a key role in ensuring the safety of high-speed trains and in the development of new railway projects in the country.

Additionally, Song Hae provided an update on the current status of the development of the feasibility study (FS) for the construction of a dedicated high-speed passenger railway line along the "Tashkent  Samarkand" route. It is worth noting that in the Presidential Decree of Uzbekistan, dated October 10, 2023 (No. PP-329), the task of developing the feasibility study for this important infrastructure project was set.

As a result of the discussions, an agreement was reached to develop the feasibility study with the involvement of a consortium of companies, including Saman Engineering, Dong Myeong Engineering Consultants & Architecture Co., Ltd., Korea Railroad Corporation, and Korea National Railway, using grant funds from Korea Eximbank.

A key milestone was the meeting held on February 14 of this year, during which the relevant documents were signed, laying the foundation for the transition to the practical phase of the feasibility study development for this project.

Thus, cooperation between Uzbekistan and Korea continues to grow, opening up new prospects for the modernization and development of the country's transport infrastructure.

Uzbekistan Railways serves as the country's primary rail transport operator. The organization possesses and manages the entirety of the railway infrastructure throughout the nation. This entity is a government-owned joint-stock company, established in 1994 to manage railway operations throughout Uzbekistan. As of March 2017, the overall extent of the primary railway system measures 4,669 km, with 2,446 km being electrified. The organization has a workforce of 54,700 individuals.

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You might be wondering how, with issues such from a housing shortage to ongoing tariff threats from the United States and wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the price of eggs came to summarise perfectly the frustrations of so many voters in this years federal election.

Three years on, there have been so few big ideas presented from either party that were left with little else to discuss. Credit: Dionne Gain

Recently, thats rung particularly true because weve seen a clear national divide emerge. Forget NRL v AFL, or potato cakes v potato scallops; over the past seven days youve found yourself in the camp of either Australians who dont think our nations next leader needs to know the price of a basic grocery item, or in the camp of those who do.

Ive always thought that grocery shopping can tell you a lot about a person. Not just because of which chain theyre loyal to, or the brands they choose, but also their priorities  ease of routine, savvy price saving or brand loyalty, for example.

You might be asking yourself if any of this actually matters, or whether its a sign of how far the quality of political debate has fallen. But unlike previous elections, this so-called gotcha question does matter  a lot  in this instance. Let me explain.

First, its worth noting that when Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese were asked the price of a dozen eggs during Channel Sevens leaders debate last Sunday evening, neither knew the answer. Sure, Dutton was dreaming with his guess of $4.20 (a price not paid since 2018), but Albaneses estimate of $7 was still a way off the true price too.

While the prime minister did acknowledge that eggs are not only more expensive of late, but also harder to find, in failing to give the correct price and being off by almost 20 per cent, he and the opposition leader both highlighted they still didnt fully understand the very real pain that grocery shopping has become.

Three years on, there have been so few big ideas presented from either party that were left with little else to discuss than the price of eggs.

This is where the criticism of those in the dont need to know camp comes in. As much as politicians want us to believe theyre just like the rest of us, and as much as we like to think they are, its pretty unlikely that either the PM or the person hoping to be the next one can easily duck down to the shops for some bread and milk like we can.
A seat defended after a once-in-a-century byelection. A seat named for the longest-serving Liberal prime minister. A seat held by a close confidant of the opposition leader.

Labor had been expected to give up ground in Victoria at the federal election, as the Coalition targeted Melbournes outer fringes as a potential path to victory.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Mary Doyle after she won the seat of Aston at a byelection in 2023. She looked set to hold her seat at the 2025 election. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Instead, Labor is poised to win Deakin, Aston and Menzies in the eastern suburbs in a devastating result for the Liberals that could completely lock the party out of the city.

There were other seats, including Casey and La Trobe in the east and south-eastern suburbs, that were also considered close races that could further add to the Labor stronghold in Victoria.
A decade of family violence reforms have failed to address the needs of tens of thousands of children impacted every year, prompting calls for a dedicated national support service.

The nations leading family violence prevention advocates and experts have warned that vulnerable children are falling through cracks in the response to the 2015 Royal Commission into Family Violence and desperately need their own tailored services.

Family Court Chief Justice William Alstergren (left), with the courts Janet Carmichael (centre) and Hayley Foster, is introducing measures to better cater for childrens needs in the court and wider legal system. Credit: Alex Coppel

The move is being backed by the Family Court, which has begun reforming its own processes and introducing a Childrens Charter to ensure the needs of young people impacted by family violence are put at the centre of its considerations.

The charter will guide all people working in the Family Court system  from social scientists to lawyers and judges  to ensure children and young people are considered at every step of the process.
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 Labor entered this federal campaign confronting an electoral reckoning in Melbourne. Instead, it is the Liberal Party facing a historic wipeout in Australias second-largest city, with no seats gained and its two surviving metropolitan MPs on the brink of losing theirs. While Keith Wolahan in Menzies and Michael Sukkar in Deakin have yet to concede their seats, they were both called for Labor on Saturday night. These likely losses underscore a disastrous campaign for the Liberal Party. Elsewhere in Victoria, the once-safe Liberal seat of Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula and the growth-suburb electorate of Casey were also wobbly at the time of writing. By contrast, the Liberal Party, at the time of Peter Duttons concession speech, had no chance of wresting any Victorian seats back from Labor. Even Aston, a seat listed as nominally Liberal after a redrawing of its boundaries by the Australian Electoral Commission, stubbornly refused to turn blue. Instead, Labor MP Mary Doyle appears to have picked up a sizeable additional chunk of the primary vote. Liberal-targeted seats such as Chisholm and Dunkley barely got a mention on election night. Michael Sukkar and Peter Dutton during the campaign. Credit: James Brickwood

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If Wolahan and Sukkar cannot hold on, they will leave the entire area within Melbournes metropolitan boundaries devoid of any federal Liberal MPs. It is a cataclysmic result for a party that at the start of the campaign saw Victoria as its path back to power. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, a state Labor leader whose face was plastered next to Anthony Albaneses in Liberal campaign ads, climbed a makeshift stage outside the Victorian Trades Hall building to acclaim a stunning result. We saw that Australians and Victorians had a choice, she told a crowd of red T-shirted ALP supporters and union members. They said no to those blockers. They said yes to the builders. They said yes to the Suburban Rail Loop. They said yes to airport rail. These results are not despite what weve done here in Victoria, they are because we have done all we have. For the Labor Party, it is a result beyond imagining five weeks ago, when Anthony Albanese called the election, and as recently as last week, when internal party polling conducted in the final days of the campaign predicted a statewide, two-party-preferred swing of between 2 and 3 per cent against Labor. This had left party hardheads resigned to the loss of some seats but no longer holding fears for an electoral bloodbath.

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Liberal MP Keith Wolahan is in danger of losing Menzies. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen As the night went on, Labor figures were astounded at the numbers coming in. By 8.30pm, when ABC analyst Antony Green called the election for Labor, the only ALP seat at risk of being lost was Wills, in Melbournes north, where MP Peter Khalil was locked in a close battle against the Greens. In Melbournes west, Labor MP Sam Rae turned the seat of Hawke from marginal back to dead red, after rebuilding his primary vote back to 40 per cent. In neighbouring Gorton, an electorate Dutton had driven through on Saturday for his final, performative visit to a petrol station, Labor candidate Alice Jordan-Baird also increased her already safe margin. Loading To the citys north, the electorate of McEwen again confounded Liberal strategists. Labor MP Rob Mitchell first won the uber-marginal seat in 2010, and on Saturday night appeared to have extended his margin, with a 3 per cent swing in his favour after preferences. In the south-east, voters made a mockery of Liberal designs on the seat of Bruce and the Liberal Partys choice of candidate against Labor MP Julian Hill. After one-third of the vote was counted, Hill had recorded a 6.6 per cent swing to him on first preferences and a whopping 12.1 per cent swing to Labor on two-party preferred. Labors statewide share of the vote, with a third counted, was sitting on 33.8 per cent. This is a marginal improvement on 2022, when the party recorded its low watermark primary vote of 32.6 per cent in Victoria. The Liberal Party primary vote collapsed to a new low of 30.9 per cent.

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Once preferences flows from the Greens, independents and other candidates were taken into account, Victorian Labor was the beneficiary of a healthy 3 per cent swing in its favour. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. Credit: Justin McManus This result is a triumph for the formidable Labor campaign machine and lays bare the ineptitude of the Victorian Liberal Party. What it means for the beleaguered leadership of Allan is not immediately clear. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Labors most senior Victorian federal parliamentarian, noted during the ABCs election night coverage that voters tended to distinguish between state and federal issues once they walk into a polling place to cast their ballots. While this is true, it is also beyond argument that dissatisfaction with an 11-year-old state Labor government and Allans personal unpopularity was a drag on the federal Labor campaign in Victoria. This was made explicit in what voters told federal and state MPs, campaign workers and Labor strategists throughout the campaign. To help understand what this result means for state politics, this masthead spoke to Labor powerbrokers across the right-left factional divide. Their comments suggest that, whatever the final tally of seats, the results will be treated with caution.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 3. Uzbekistans airline My Freighter (Centrum Air) launches flights to Kazakhstan, Trend reports.

A new airline from the Republic of Uzbekistan Freighter (Centrum Air)enters the air transportation market of Kazakhstan on May 5 this year.



The airline will start performing direct regular passenger flights on the route TashkentAlmaty with the frequency of two flights per week (on Mondays and Thursdays). Further, from June 6 this year, 1 more flight per week (on Fridays) will be added; thus, the number of flights will increase to 3 per week, the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan said.

The ministry also highlighted that the resumption of air connectivity between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will play a key role in boosting trade, economic ties, business, investment, tourism, and cultural collaboration between the two nations.



"My Freighter," an Uzbek airline headquartered in Tashkent, operates both passenger and cargo services. Founded in January 2020, the airline commenced its first passenger flight in February 2023.

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What an amazing, amazing three years. I cannot thank every single one of you enough, she said. As I did in 2022, can I say that I cant believe the power of this community. I cant believe what weve achieved together. In Goldstein, the Elwood Bowls Club reverberated with cheers as Daniel took to the stage to claim victory. Teal independent Zoe Daniel claims victory in Goldstein. Credit: Penny Stephens What we have created in this community is rare, Daniel told her jubilant supporters. We might not have a minority government, but Im pretty sure we can pull some levers.

This has been incredibly hard, but we did it. In Wannon, Liberal incumbent Dan Tehan was on track to hold his seat after fending off a fierce challenge from Climate 200-backed independent Alex Dyson. Tehan was defending a 3.8 per cent margin after the 2022 election and had gathered just over 42 per cent of the primary vote by about 10.30pm on Saturday. Dan Tehan with Dutton at a campaign event in Melbourne in April. Credit: James Brickwood He told the Nine Network he had worked his backside off over the past three years in his electorate.

Ive never worked harder in my life, he said. Tehan said his electorate had been beset by drought, bushfires in the Grampians, and hailstorms in Casterton, and he had been helping his community respond. Making sure youre there for your community is something that Ive always prided myself on and thats what Ive tried to do over the last three years. On Saturday night, Tehan refused to rule out a tilt at the opposition leadership, after Peter Dutton lost his Queensland seat. At Indi in north-east Victoria, independent Helen Haines retained the seat at her third election.

In Flinders on Victorias Mornington Peninsula, Liberal incumbent Zoe McKenzie had gathered about 37 per cent of the primary vote, compared to teal candidate Ben Smith on 22 per cent and Labors Sarah Race on 23 per cent. McKenzie retained the Mornington Peninsula electorate with a 6.2 per cent margin at the 2022 election. Smith, a Climate 200-backed independent, was one of McKenzies main challengers, along with Race, a former Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor. In the south-east Victorian electorate of Monash, Liberal candidate Mary Aldred had suffered a swing of just over 6 per cent against her when counting closed on Saturday night. While Aldred had gained about 30 per cent of first preferences, the result was still too close to call. Bradfields independent candidate Nicolette Boele voting with her daughter Saskia at her alma mater Killara High School. Credit: Steven Siewert Labors Tully Fletcher gathered about 20 per cent of primary votes, compared to teal independent Deb Leonard who was on about 19 per cent. A crowded field contested Monash, including Russell Broadbent, who ran as an independent after losing the Liberal Partys endorsement.

He previously held the seat for more than 20 consecutive years for the Liberals and was re-elected with a margin of 2.9 per cent at the 2022 election. Broadbent had won about 10 per cent of the primary vote at the latest count. Loading The NSW Liberals surrendered another blue ribbon seat on Sydneys north shore, with teal candidate Nicolette Boele seizing Bradfield from Gisele Kapterian in the independents second shot at the electorate. Boele, who narrowly missed out on unseating the then Liberal MP Paul Fletcher in 2022, beat Liberal candidate Kapterian, who had planned to contest North Sydney until it was abolished in a boundary redistribution. Boele will join fellow teal MPs Sophie Scamps (Mackellar), Zali Steggall (Warringah) and Allegra Spender (Wentworth) on the crossbench. That will leave just one Liberal in the partys former heartland, with Julian Leeser in Berowra now the sole MP for the area stretching from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Ku-ring-gai Chase.
For 15 months, two dates have been looming over Albaneses head: the federal election, and his wedding to Jodie Haydon. Although the formers May 3 calendar note has been and gone, its unlikely the prime minister will confirm when, exactly, he will be tying the knot. The outcome of Australias decision has logistical implications  venue choice, among other details, has been a popular debate item  for any plans, existing or otherwise. Not that the couple has spent much time planning their big day recently. In fact, Albanese divulged in March he and Haydon, 46, had seriously considered eloping on Valentines Day this year  exactly one year after their engagement  just to put an end to the perpetual speculation over anything and everything to do with their wedding. Jodie Haydon and Anthony Albanese, pictured at the Midwinter Ball in 2024, have been engaged since February last year. Credit: James Brickwood We decided that might get some speculation back as well, so we didnt. I did think about doing it really quietly, the 62-year-old told B105 Brisbanes breakfast radio show of their decision against a secret ceremony.

Loading Perhaps paradoxically, considering his apparent apprehension regarding wedding-related chatter, Albanese then gave Stav, Abby & Matts listeners more than a few crumbs to sustain the rumour mill: he and Haydon are planning to marry on an unspecified day this spring and, if they have their way, its going to be a small event. It wont be elaborate, he said, confirming the only detail that had been finalised at that time was the first dogs role on the day. Toto, of course, will be the ring bearer. A star-studded gala wedding at Kirribilli House  which Opposition Leader Peter Dutton joked about being invited to in a brief well-wish in between the usual hostilities  is only on the cards for as long as Albanese is in office. From what we do know about Albanese and Haydons upcoming wedding, its unlikely the couple would opt for that.

What we know about Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydons wedding so far One year after their engagement, Albanese and Haydon revealed the small, intimate wedding they had been eyeing off with feeling would be in spirit only due to the brides big family. Despite their shared upbringing in the Catholic faith, Haydon told Australian Womens Weekly in February the ceremony would be possibly outdoors, in the second half of this year, with our family and loved ones  And you can be sure Toto will make an appearance. Divorcees are traditionally prohibited from remarrying in church unless an annulment is obtained for any previous marriages. Albanese, who was married to former NSW Labor deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt from 2000 until their 2019 separation, became the first divorcee to be appointed prime minister in 2022.

Loading He told the magazine he had asked his 24-year-old son, Nathan, for his opinion before he proposed to Haydon. I respect him and have a good relationship with him, and with his mother. So I asked him to think about it, and then he came back to me and Nathan was supportive, Albanese said. He wants me to be happy, and Nathan and Jodie have a really nice relationship as well. Questions surrounding the venue persist, with arguments for The Lodge in Canberra  perhaps the best place to hide away from crowds and paparazzi and prevent details leaking  put on pause before Australians headed to the polls. There is always the couples $4.3 million four-bedroom, three-bathroom and three-carport property in Copacabana. Neither Albanese nor Haydon  who said she plans to continue working full-time as head of strategic partnerships at Teachers Mutual Bank  have been doing much planning lately, Albanese told WSFM in February, weeks before Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his fourth budget and the countdown to the federal election began in earnest.
Buyers priced out of the Mornington Peninsula market during the COVID-era boom may find the door is ajar, after price falls in desirable areas.

Upmarket Sorrento recorded the steepest annual drop of 23.9 per cent, to a median house price of $1.75 million, the latest Domain House Price Report shows.

Sorrento is not alone in its more subdued conditions. The heat in the market has been flushed out of Blairgowrie (down 15.7 per cent, to a median of $1.34 million), Rye (a 10.8 per cent reduction, with a median of $990,000), Mornington (down 7 per cent, hitting a $1.07 million median), Mount Martha (a 5.2 per cent drop, to $1,375,000) and Dromana (down 3.8 per cent, to $976,000).

Slender declines were recorded in Capel Sound (1.5 per cent down, to $720,000) and Rosebud (1.4 per cent weaker, at $754,278).
Farewell to Our Dear Friend, Thom Cannell







AUTO CENTRAL - May 3, 2025: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thom Cannel, a long-time associate and contributor to The Auto Channel. Thom's death took place earlier this week at his home in Ft. Myers, Florida. Additional details are not yet known.

Thom was graduate of Michigan State University.

Veteran automotive journalist Steve Purdy described Thom as "A consummate professional wordsmith and image maker with an amazing grasp of technology. His broad aesthetic senses enhance the depth of his work."

Bob Gordon, The Auto Channel's President and Co-Founder, said: "Thom was always great to work with, and fun to be with. He was an important part of TACH's success story. He will be missed."

Thom described himself and his career in this way: "I'm a photographer and journalist. There's never time to be as polished as desired; deadlines compel the final draft or image edit. Yet, abolition of time limits measured in days or minutes is an artist's daydream. We must deliver meaningful stories and compelling images as if those constraints did not exist. Call it art or craft, it is what I do.

More of Thom's work can be found HERE.
Kazakhstan allocates fresh funds to revitalize its Ridder CHPP

Photo: Official information source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has approved the allocation of approximately 1.7 billion tenge (about $3.23 million) from the Government Reserve for repairs at the Ridder heat and power plant. This funding, transferred to the East Kazakhstan region, will support ongoing restoration work to prepare the plant for the 20252026 heating season. Since 2022, around 15.5 billion tenge has been invested in the plant, significantly reducing equipment wear and upgrading 21.3 km of heat networks. The plant was also transferred to municipal ownership in 2024 to enhance operational stability.

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AI joins the Force For smarter probe, Maha Police deploy Crime-OS





By Dheeraj Fartode : Imagine a police officer uploads an FIR and within seconds, an AI assistant starts the investigation. It writes official letters, scans bank data and spots suspicious transactions. It sounds like science fiction - but its now reality in Maharashtra. The State Police have started using Crime-OS, a powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool developed under the MARVEL project (Maharashtra Research and Vigilance for Enhanced Law Enforcement). This tool, built in partnership with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur, works like the co-pilot feature in Microsoft Office - but to solve crimes.

It helps police save valuable time and reduces the heavy workload of investigations. Assistant Superitendent of Police (ASP) Deepak Agrawal explained that police investigations usually take a lot of time and effort. Crime-OS is designed to ease that burden. For example, if a fraud case FIR is uploaded, the tool automatically picks out important information. It then writes a request letter to the bank to get account details.

When the bank sends the data, the tool reviews the transactions, identifies anything suspicious and gives a summary to the police officer, said ASP Agrawal. The Nagpur Rural Police, whose SP Dr Harssh Poddar is the officiating Director of MARVEL, have already started using these tools. At each police station, one Police Sub-Inspector and one head constable have been trained to operate this new technology. Officials believe that tools like Crime-OS will change the way police works. With faster, smarter systems, officers can focus more on action and less on paperwork. This is just the beginning of a new era in smart policing, added ASP Agrawal.

One project, many smart tools

MARVEL is a Government-owned special purpose vehicle (SPV) and is not limited to just one tool. Along with Crime-OS, the team has developed several other smart policing tools:
Entire country awaits accountability, justice: CWC





NEW DELHI :

THE Congress on Friday urged the Centre to act with firmness in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack to penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror, and pressed for time-bound accountability into the serious lapses in security and intelligence in one of the most heavily-guarded regions of the country. The Opposition party made the assertions in a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which was chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and general secretaries Jairam Ramesh, K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others. 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 resolution said. The Congress also asserted that this is a time for demonstrating our collective will as a nation to teach Pakistan a lesson and curb terrorism decisively. 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, the resolution said. The Congress also called for sustained moral and institutional support to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 persons, mostly holidayers, 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, the party said. Announce clear timeline for caste survey: CWC: THE Congress on Friday asked the government to announce a clear timeline for every stage of the caste survey and reiterated its demand for removing the arbitrary ceiling of 50 per cent on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs. The Opposition party made the assertion in a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which was chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by former chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and general secretaries Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others.
Handing over of Ngp airport to GMR postponed till mid-May





By Vikas Vaidya :

The long-anticipated transformation of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur, to be undertaken by GMR Airports Limited (GAL), is delayed. GMR was to take charge of development work from April 2025. Now, it is likely to be done by mid-May. Highly placed sources in Delhi told The Hitavada that GMR is ready to take over and start work at any given time but the delay is caused from Maharashtra Governments end. The total sanctioned amount for this transformational project is Rs 700 crore. The upgradation is set to create a state-of-the-art airport infrastructure, which will expand both passenger and cargo operations. A key objective of MIHAN has always been to position Nagpur as a cargo hub, significantly enhancing cargo handling and logistics in the region. The role of MIHAN India Limited is to monitor the work progress of GMR.

Considering its significance, Government has given this responsibility to District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, who is also Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Airport (MIL). Dr Itankar told The Hitavada that in a recently held meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed to speed up the work and the administration is working accordingly. Dr Itankar said, At this juncture, the airport is managed by MIHAN India Limited (MIL), a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). I am constantly in touch with Delhi office of AAI. The procedure takes a little time which includes land acquisition and handing over the airport removing all hurdles. GMR Airports will lead the transformation of city airport into a world-class facility. The first phase of this transformation includes enhancing the passenger terminal capacity to 4 million passengers annually.

This ambitious project will also involve upgrading existing infrastructure, building a modern cargo terminal, and improving airside facilities with a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower. GMR Nagpur International Airport (GNIAL, a 100% subsidiary of GAL) and MIHAN India executed the concession agreement for the project. This transformation is set to not only enhance connectivity within the Vidarbha region but also strengthen its economic infrastructure. GALs commitment to modernising and expanding the airport includes a significant boost in cargo handling capabilities  increasing the capacity to 20,000 metric tons, said an official on condition of anonymity. Dr Itankar stated, It is the dream project of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and we too are striving hard. Now it will get momentum.

The battle in court delayed the project a bit but Fadnavis was consistently following it. Even Union Minister Nitin Gadkari attributed the credit to of bringing GMR to Nagpur to Fadnavis during the ground breaking ceremony. A well-equipped building of 3 lakh square feet will be raised in this project, which will be built at a cost of around Rs 7,000 crore. GMR Airports Limited (GAL) is expected to upgrade, develop, and operate Nagpurs Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport and transform the Airport into a modern aviation hub with advanced facilities. GMR Airports Limited (GAL), will lead the transformation of Nagpurs Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport into a world-class facility. The project is part of Indias larger vision to elevate the countrys aviation infrastructure to global standards, ensuring seamless connectivity and supporting the growth of regional economies. The first phase of this transformation includes enhancing the passenger terminal capacity to 4 million passengers annually. This ambitious project will also involve upgrading existing infrastructure, building a modern cargo terminal, and improving airside facilities with a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower.
Man booked for duping steel trader of Rs 3 cr





Staff Reporter :

A steel trader has filed a police complaint after being cheated of nearly Rs 3 crore by a hardware trader. The case has been registered at Lakadganj Police Station. Sunil Muralidhar Tulsyan (67), is a resident of Empress City, D-Wing, Ganeshpeth, runs a steel trading business under the name Yogesh Enterprises Ltd, located in the Small Factory Area of Bagadganj. His company used to supply steel coils to Mary Zygros Hardware Trading Company.

According to police, at the beginning of their business relationship, Mary Zygros Hardware Trading Company used to pay Tulsyans company in advance. Based on that trust, steel materials were regularly supplied. However, between December 10, 2023, and May 8, 2024, the owner of Mary Zygros Hardware, Murtuja Yusuf Shakir (41), a resident of Fatmi Manzil near T B Hospital in Tehsil, bought steel goods worth Rs 2,97,74,740 from Tulsyans firm. Instead of paying the amount in cash or through bank transfer, Murtuja gave a cheque. When Tulsyan deposited the cheque, it bounced. When Murtuja was contacted for payment, he kept delaying and asked the complainant to try depositing the cheque again in a few days. However, every time Tulsyan followed up, Murtuja avoided payment and finally refused to return the money. Realising the fraud, Tulsyan approached Lakadganj Police and filed a complaint. After reviewing the documents and statements, the police registered a case under Indian Penal Code Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) against Murtuja Yusuf Shakir.
MPROA challenges findings of EOW against Revenue Officer, Patwari





Members of Madhya Pradesh Revenue Officers Association submitting a memorandum to Collector Deepak Saxena.

Staff Reporter :

Members of Madhya Pradesh Revenue Officers (Junior Administrative Service) Association, Jabalpur Unit have challenged findings of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Revenue Officer and Patwari. Association President, Shashank Dubey, in a press conference on Friday, informed that mutation application submitted by the applicant Harpendra Singhs mother pertained to Khasra No. 17. However, the attached land records referenced Khata No. 17, which includes Khasra Nos. 86/2 and 87/2. It appears the applicant mistakenly wrote Khasra No. 17 instead of correctly identifying the relevant Khasra numbers from Khata No. 17.

Despite this clerical error, the Patwari conducted a site inspection of the correct land parcel as per the attached Khasra copy and prepared a Panchanama accordingly. The Tehsildar, based on this verification and standard administrative process, proceeded with the mutation. Officials argue that such minor technical errors are common and do not typically result in rejection of mutation applications. He alleged that EOWs interpretation that the mutation was carried out for an entirely different parcel of land is therefore being considered baseless. It is emphasised that EOW overlooked key facts related to the khata and khasra references in revenue records, leading to an inaccurate conclusion. He also charged that the second allegation pertained to the acceptance of a forged death certificate without verification. However, it has been clarified that the Tehsildar is not mandatorily required to verify every death certificate submitted with mutation applications.

In this case, the certificate was initially accepted after being scanned for a barcode. Once doubts were raised, the Tehsildar independently initiated a verification process. Upon receiving confirmation from the Municipal Corporation that the certificate was indeed forged, the mutation order was revoked the same day. Notably, it was the Patwari who first flagged the irregularity. Officials argue that the swift and responsible actions of the Tehsildar and Patwari demonstrate administrative integrity rather than criminal collusion. The assumption of intentional wrongdoing by EOW is thus considered unfounded. Office-bearers and members of Madhya Pradesh Revenue Officers Association have forwarded memorandum to Collector addressing the Principal Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary for intervening the issue for making justice with Tehsildar and Patwari.
Kazakhstan seeks UK collaboration for advancing digital and green economy initiatives

Photo: Kazakh Invest

Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alibek Kuantyrov, and Deputy Chairman of Kazakh Invest, Madiyar Sultanbek, held meetings with British companies, financial institutions, and industry leaders during their visit to London. The discussions focused on enhancing investment cooperation, promoting non-resource sectors in Kazakhstans economy, and exploring various joint projects. Key topics included localizing pharmaceutical production with AstraZeneca, potential Kazakh company listings on the London Stock Exchange, financing infrastructure projects with Standard Chartered, and deploying satellite infrastructure with Eutelsat OneWeb. They also discussed green energy, logistics, and digital transformation projects with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Kuantyrov highlighted the UKs importance as a strategic partner in Kazakhstan's sustainable development.

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Nagpur Rural SP office stands 2nd in State





Spl IGP Dr Dilip Patil - Bhujbal adressing the press conference on Friday while Addl SP Ramesh Dhumal and SDPO Deepak Agrawal were looks on.

Staff Reporter :

In a remarkable achievement, the Superintendent of Police Office, Nagpur Rural, has secured the second position across Maharashtra by scoring 80 out of 100 marks in the 100-day Action Plan for Regional Offices. This initiative, launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to enhance administrative efficiency and modern governance, was implemented from January 7 to April 16 and included all departments of the State Government. Special Inspector General of Police, Dr Dilip Patil-Bhujbal, shared during a press conference that the evaluation was conducted by the Indian Quality Council, an independent non-profit organisation. Among all the participating police departments, only the top five SP offices were selected based on their overall performance and the Nagpur Rural emerged as a model for transparent, citizen-focused and technology-enabled policing.

Nagpur Rural Police completed 100 percent of the objectives outlined under the campaign. These included improvements across multiple parameters such as digital infrastructure, cleanliness, grievance redressal, internal workflow, officer training, use of artificial intelligence and coordination with Central Government agencies, he said. A major digital milestone was the development of a website providing real-time updates on transfers, promotions and public service schemes. The website, audited by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, was praised for its accessibility and transparency, said IGP Dr Patil.

In terms of cleanliness and office maintenance, over 750 obsolete items were removed, 613 outdated records were destroyed and numerous unused vehicles de-registered. Every police station and office received upgrades including clean drinking water, waiting areas, and proper signage. The IGP further said, On the administrative side, the SP Office resolved all 346 complaints received through the e-office system and streamlined internal processes to under four levels for faster resolution and ensured timely responses to media reports. The Nagpur Rural Police also excelled in officer development and technology adoption. Training in new criminal laws was provided to 167 officers and 2,066 staff members. Confidential reports and service records were fully updated and AI-driven tools were deployed to aid in crime detection, investigation planning and document analysis.

These systems use chatbots, geo-mapping, video analytics and automated data extraction to enhance policing efficiency. Proactive community engagement and industrial coordination also played a key role. The department conducted 115 meetings with industrialists and resolved multiple law and order issues at project sites like Morarji Company and NTPC Mauda. The recovery and transparent return of stolen items in 2025 was 1,412, more than double the previous year. Addl SP Ramesh Dhumal, SDPO (Butibori) Deepak Agrawal, SDPO (Kanhan) Santosh Gaikwad and others were present in the press conference.
Pak knocks Muslim countries doors





By Sajjad Hussain

ISLAMABAD

Urges Saudi, UAE, Kuwait to impress upon India to deescalate tensions

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. 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 Pakistans 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 Kashmirs 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 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.

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.
PM Modi commissions Vizhinjam International seaport





THIRUVANANTHAPURAM :

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 worlds largest cargo ships to dock smoothly. In his speech following the commissioning of the Rs 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. Emphasising that this scenario is now set to change, Modi asserted that Indian money would now serve India, and the funds that once flowed out of the country would instead generate new economic opportunities for Kerala and the people of Vizhinjam.

He said ships from Kerala had long carried goods to other nations, establishing it as a vital hub for global commerce. Today, the Government of India is committed to further strengthening this channel of economic power, the Prime Minister said, adding: Indias coastal states and port cities will become key centres for the growth of a developed India. Praising the Vizhinjam port, developed by Adani Ports, Modi said people from Gujarat might be disappointed with Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani for building such a large port in Kerala, despite hailing from the western Indian state himself. Modi also noted that Kerala Ports Minister V N Vasavan had referred to the Adani Group as a partner of the Communist-led state government, describing this as symbolic of the changes taking place in the country.

Highlighting the importance of the private sector in advancing Indias maritime industry, Modi said that under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, investments worth thousands of crores had been made over the past decade. He stated that this collaboration had not only brought Indias ports up to international standards but had also made them future-ready, with private sector involvement driving innovation and increasing efficiency. The PM further emphasised that a port economy thrives when infrastructure and ease of doing business are promoted together.

Vijayan, Tharoor present at Kerala port inauguration: Modi says it will give sleepless nights to many

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,

May 2 (PTI)

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a swipe at the Opposition bloc INDIA and the Congress, saying the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Shashi Tharoor at the commissioning of the Vizhinjam International Seaport here will give sleepless nights to many. Modis direct mention of Tharoors presence at the event comes at a time when the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram is being accused by his own party colleagues of going soft on the BJP after the Pahalgam terror attack. Tharoor has also been criticised by some Congress leaders for praising Indias deft diplomacy on the Russia-Ukraine conflict under Modis leadership. Congress state unit leaders have also objected to some of the comments made by Tharoor.
Student found dead in Sehore Polytechnic Hostel, family demands fair probe





Staff Reporter :

A 19-year-old first-year CSC student, Raksha Nayak, was found hanging in her hostel room (No. 17) at the Government Womens Polytechnic College in Sehore, under suspicious circumstances on Thursday night. The college management has linked the death to a possible love affair, but Rakshas family has rejected this claim, accusing the college of negligence and demanding an impartial investigation. According to hostel warden Pooja Jaroliya, at around 10:30 pm, a young man called, claiming to be Rakshas brother, and asked to speak with her. Shortly after, when a student Rekha, knocked on Rakshas door, she found her hanging from a noose.

Another student, Neha, bravely brought the body down, and a teacher, Neetu, rushed Raksha to a hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead. Rakshas roommate, Riya, was absent, attending a relatives wedding, which delayed the discovery of the incident. No suicide note was found at the scene, yet the college management insists Rakshas death was linked to a romantic relationship, a claim the police have not confirmed. Rakshas father, Jashmat Nayak, alleged that the college failed to inform him of his daughters death and is now attempting to tarnish her reputation. On Friday morning, he and other family members protested at the Sehore Collectorate with Rakshas body, demanding action against the college administration.

Kotwali police station in-charge Ravindra Yadav said the investigation is underway, with Rakshas call details and statements from hostel students being examined. SDM Tanmay Verma assured the family of a fair administrative probe. The absence of a suicide note and the mysterious call to the warden have raised questions, intensifying calls for a thorough inquiry. The incident has sparked outrage among locals, with many questioning the safety and oversight in the college hostel.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Opportunities for increasing mutual investments were discussed during a meeting between Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and the UAE's Minister of Investment, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Trend reports via the nation's Ministry of Economy.

During the meeting, the friendship and brotherhood relations between the two countries were also emphasized, and the expanding economic and trade partnership was noted.

The significance of the UAE's investments in Azerbaijans renewable energy sector was highlighted.

It was mentioned that Azerbaijans favorable business environment, strategic geographical location, rich resources, and the rapid development of the non-oil sector create attractive opportunities for investors.

Effectively utilizing these opportunities to promote investment relations and expand partnerships among business entities was underscored as being of great importance.

Additionally, the parties discussed strengthening economic integration between the two countries and establishing new cooperation ties.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Masdar has completed the delisting of TERNA ENERGY from the Athens Stock Exchange, following the acquisition of 100 percent of the companys shares last month, Trend reports.

The move finalizes TERNA ENERGYs integration as a wholly owned subsidiary of Masdar, the UAE-based renewable energy company.

A delegation led by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, visited TERNA ENERGYs headquarters in Athens. The visit included meetings with employees and strategic discussions with Georgios Peristeris, Executive Chairman of TERNA ENERGY, focused on expanding clean energy operations in Southeastern and Central Europe.

The acquisition is part of Masdars broader strategy to scale up its global clean energy capacity to 100 GW by 2030. TERNA ENERGY aims to contribute to this target with plans to reach 6 GW of operational capacity by the same year.

TERNA ENERGY will serve as Masdars regional platform to support clean energy development in Europe. The company is currently continuing construction on several projects in Greece and Bulgaria, including the Amphilochia pumped storage hydropower facility. It has also reached final investment decisions on solar, wind, and battery projects totaling 250 MW, expected to come online within two years.

Masdar initially acquired 70 percent of TERNA ENERGY from GEK TERNA SA and other shareholders in November 2024. The deal, valued at 3.2 billion, was the largest energy transaction on the Athens Stock Exchange and among the largest in the EU renewable sector. The remaining 30 percent was acquired through a mandatory tender offer and a squeeze-out process completed last month.
Kazakhstan Railways pushes for higher grain loadings to facilitate 2025 harvest prep

Photo: Kazakhstan Railways

Kazakhstan Railways urges to increase grain loading in May and June to promptly free up elevators for necessary activities like fumigation, ensuring the reception of the new harvest. Grain transportation by rail in Kazakhstan has significantly increased compared to the previous year, with a substantial portion sent for export. The largest growth was observed in shipments to Central Asian countries, with notable increases in exports to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Exports to the Baltic countries and Iran through Caspian Sea ports have also seen remarkable growth. For the marketing year, grain transportation volumes on Kazakhstan Railways have risen significantly, with exports showing a notable increase.

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Former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh has stirred the political cauldron once again, this time by visiting the Jagannath temple in Digha and paying a courtesy call on chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Sources close to Ghosh describe the move as a strategic masterstroke amid his growing marginalisation within the party. A seasoned RSS worker with over three decades of political experience, Ghosh appears to have subtly launched a political counter-offensive against state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari. The timing was symbolic: while Suvendu was holding a Sanatani rally in Contai  just miles away from Digha  as a counter to Mamata Banerjees inauguration of the Jagannath temple, Ghosh chose to pay his respects at the temple and meet the chief minister, sending what many see as a veiled message to his detractors. Speaking to reporters, Ghosh reaffirmed his commitment to the BJP, asserting, I will remain a BJP worker till my last breath. He also invoked the memory of around 250 BJP workers who, according to him, became martyrs during the partys struggle in Bengal during Trinamul Congress tenure. Their deaths demand political reckoning, and I will stay in the battlefield for that, he said.

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In an indirect jibe at Suvendu Adhikari, Ghosh slammed recent entrants from Trinamul Congress, claiming that many of them were still secretly in touch with TMC. I keep myself 100 yards away from such people. I do everything openly and on principle, he remarked. Ghoshs visit to the temple, he insisted, was a personal religious duty as a Hindu, and his meeting with Mamata Banerjee was an act of political courtesy.

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But not everyone in the party is convinced. Critics within BJP questioned the timing and motive, especially when the state is grappling with volatile situations like the one in Murshidabad. Attacking Ghosh, BJP MP Soumitra Khan  a defector from TMC  criticised the move. In response, Ghosh hit back aimed at several leaders, including Arjun Singh and Sajal Ghosh. He also reminded the party that it was under his leadership that BJP won 18 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 and 77 Assembly seats in the 2021 elections. His remark: I wont learn politics from those who came to BJP hiding under Mamatas pallu is widely seen as a dig at Suvendu Adhikari, who had joined BJP when Ghosh was the state president.

However, questions remain. If Ghosh had such strong reservations about Suvendu, why didnt he oppose his induction into BJP back then? And if the 2019 victory was entirely his doing, why did home minister Amit Shah publicly credit Mukul Roy? Sources in the BJP suggest that the central leadership is not pleased with Ghoshs latest manoeuvre. Delhi is unlikely to reward this adventurism, especially since it goes against the emotional sentiments of party workers, said a senior leader, indicating that Ghosh may have further alienated himself within the party hierarchy. Yet, Ghosh remains defiant.

Drawing a parallel with former Left leader Subhas Chakraborty, who had visited Tarapith, Ghosh said: Those who practice independent and self-respecting politics lead the party. Chakraborty kept the Left alive. He brought lakhs of people to rallies. You have to see who teaches you to fight and who teaches you to win. As the internal tussle within the Bengal BJP intensifies, one thing is clear: Dilip Ghosh is far from ready to fade into political irrelevance  and hes willing to fight back, temple visits and all.
The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed Manoj Verma, commissioner of Kolkata Police (KP) to probe the incident of defacing judges photo and heckling lawyers inside the court premises.

The HC has also instructed the city police chief to identify those involved in the incident.

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Today, a special Bench of Justice Arijit Bandyopadhyay, Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj while hearing the case asked the KP to submit an inquiry report to the court.

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The Bench has also observed that the incident amounts to criminal contempt of court at the initial stage and this should not happen again in future. This kind of act is done to disrupt the judiciary, it is also observed.

It has also directed to serve notices to 15 jobseekers including Raju Das and the Trinamul Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh. The registrar general of the HC has been asked by the court to ensure the matter in connection with serving the notices.

We have gone through the material which have so far been brought on record, including the affidavits of persons who were present at the scene of occurrence. Prima facie, we are of the view that criminal contempt has been committed in this case by interfering administration of justice and scandalising the judiciary, the court said.

The next hearing of the case will be held again on 19 May.

The HC on Monday had instructed the city police to identify those involved in the heckling of lawyers inside the court premises.

Earlier on Friday, lawyers Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and Firdous Shamim, representing those qualified in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) exams of 2016 were allegedly deprived of employment in the cash-for-jobs scam, were heckled by protesters.

If they are unhappy with the verdict they can always file an appeal. Protests cannot be held in this manner. Those involved would have to be identified, said Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, when the matter came up for hearing on 28 April.

The matter had come up for hearing in the Bench of Justice Biswajit Basu. After the hearing concluded the protests had started. The protesters defaced Justice Basus picture.

Police had remained silent witnesses while the lawyers were abused and gheraoed, said an advocate.

The incident was brought to the notice of the Chief Justice.

Some of the protesters had demanded that the case on the supernumerary candidates would have to be withdrawn.

Earlier in April, the Supreme Court had upheld a Calcutta HC division Bench verdict scrapping the entire panel of teachers and non-teaching staff who had appeared in the 2016 school service commission examination for the posts of assistant teachers, group C and D employees in government-aided schools across West Bengal.

The chief minister Mamata Banerjee had also blamed lawyer Mr Bhattacharya and Abhijit Ganguly, former judge of the Calcutta High Court turned BJP MP from Tamluk for the court judgment which had described the recruitment process as vitiated.
Servitors of the Puri Jagannath Temple, along with several others, including Padma Shri awardee and renowned sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik, have strongly objected to the use of the term Jagannath Dham for a recently inaugurated temple in Digha, West Bengal.

Puri is one of the four sacred dhams in India, and the designation cannot be replicated elsewhere. In a letter to Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Mr Patnaik emphasised that the title Jagannath Dham is exclusive to Puri.

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Concerns were also raised over rituals performed at the Digha temple, including the installation of darubrahmaa sacred practice signifying the rebirth of Lord Jagannathtraditionally conducted only at Puri during Nabakalebara, an event that occurs once every 12 years.

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One of the servitors who attended the Digha inauguration clarified that stone idols had initially been installed four months ago. When I was consulted for an auspicious date, I informed them that rituals cannot be performed with stone idols. I then provided idols made from neem wood, as per tradition, for the consecration, he said.

However, he too objected to calling the temple Jagannath Dham, stating: There is only one Jagannath Dham, and it is in Puri. There are numerous Jagannath temples across India and abroad, and no one objects to thembut using the term dham is inappropriate.

Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida also weighed in on the issue, sharply criticising the move. A dictatorial regime often displays arrogance. Lord Jagannath is watching everything, she remarked on Friday.

Sudarshan Patnaik further demanded that chief minister Mamata Banerjee offer an apology to Jagannath devotees for referring to the Digha temple as a dham.
BJPs former councillor from Chandni Chowk, Ravinder Kumarfondly called Ravi Kaptanpassed away at a hospital in Gurugram on Friday night following a brief illness, the party said.

With a political career spanning over five decades, he won in the 2017 MCD elections from the Chandni Chowk area and served as Municipal Councillor between 2017 and 2022.

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Kumar followed the footsteps of his father, the late Vasudev Kaptan, a prominent political figure from Chandni Chowk. His father served as a Metropolitan Councillor from 1983 to 1990 and later rose to become an MLA from the Chandi Chowk assembly constituency between 1993 and 1998.

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Nigambodh Ghat, where Kumars last rites were performed on Saturday, was thronged by religious and social figures and traders from his ward.

Leaders across party lines paid tribute to Kaptan, a popular leader among the residents of old Delhi, particularly in Chandni Chowk and Khari Baoli.

With his passing, we have lost a popular leader and a dedicated, experienced worker, stated Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva.

Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal also shared his close association with the late leader and expressed deep sorrow. My political journey ran parallel to that of Ravi Kaptan. Our families have been active in the political and social landscape of Old Delhi since the days of the Jan Sangh, spanning over five decades. His death is a personal loss for me, he added.

Appreciating Kaptans simple and kind nature, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said he was a close friend, adding that Kaptan was deeply religious and always cared for the poor.

A diverse group of dignitaries, including former MP Jai Prakash Agarwal (Congress), ex-MLA Prahlad Singh Sahni (AAP), former Mayors Jai Prakash and Sardar Avtar Singh, and BJPs Delhi Co-Office Head Amit Gupta, attended Kaptans last rites.

From traders to religious committees, Kaptans popularity ran across the communities of Chandni Chowk, all of whom paid floral tributes at the last rites ceremony.

The family will gather at Agrasen Park near Kashmiri Gate Bus Terminal at 11 am on Sunday for his Rasm Uthavni (memorial prayer meet).
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday flagged-off a mobile van from Munirka in South Delhi to launch the registration campaign under the Vay Vandana Yojana, initiated to facilitate card registration for senior citizens aged 70 years and above for the health scheme.

The CM informed that these vans will travel to various parts of the city to help people register for the scheme and obtain their cards.

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These vans will visit all the 70 assembly constituencies, and conduct on-the-spot registrations for the Vay vandana Yoajana, which was recently launched in the national capital.

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She also said that to obtain the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, eligible senior citizens need to provide only their Aadhaar card and proof of residence in Delhi.

So far, since the launch of the scheme, CM informed that in just five days, 28,000 senior citizens have already registered.

She said that the mobile vans will continue to visit various locations including public squares, RWA complexes, and senior citizen associations, ensuring every eligible senior citizen is registered.

To maximize reach, the Gupta called on all elected representatives, RWAs, and senior citizen centres to support the campaign, and also directed District Magistrates and relevant officials to ensure swift and effective execution so that no eligible senior citizen is left out.

Under this scheme, registered senior citizens above 70 years of age will receive free medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh.

Speaking on the occasion, Gupta stated that schemes like Ayushman Bharat, initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are giving the country new direction and energy. The Vay Vandana Yojana is also an important step in advancing the PMs vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, CM added.

The Delhi CM also said, Building upon this vision, our government is launching mobile vans to issue health cards to senior citizens aged 70 and above, ensuring they dont need to stand in queues or visit offices. The Delhi Government will deliver this service at their doorsteps, she further added.

Gupta explained that this initiative also marks the completion of 70 days of the current government, and 70 mobile vans will serve citizens aged 70 and above across Delhis constituencies.

Expressing gratitude to PM Modi, she said that his leadership has brought security, dignity, and hope to the lives of senior citizens.

Gupta also informed that Delhi Government has enhanced the Rs5 lakh health coverage provided under Ayushman Bharat by an additional Rs 5 lakh, ensuring a Rs10 lakh cashless treatment benefit for senior citizens aged 70 and above.

No one will need to make any advance payments at hospitals. Just present the Ayushman card and begin treatment. The entire cost up toRs 10 lakh will be covered by the Government, she further added.

CM informed that with this card, they will be eligible for free medical checkups, medications, and treatments at any empanelled hospital under this scheme, including emergency services.
In a meeting with a delegation of parents whose children study in private schools, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood on Saturday assured them that the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025 will curb arbitrary fee hikes by private institutions.

The parents lauded the governments efforts to regulate school fees and expressed support for the proposed legislation.

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Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Gupta reaffirmed that the government would not tolerate any injustice toward students and urged parents to report any instances of harassment by schools over fee-related matters.

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For 27 years, private schools have been increasing fees arbitrarily, without checks or clear regulations. Previous governments lacked a concrete legal mechanism to control such practices, said the Chief Minister.

Gupta added that once her government received complaints from parents, it acted with utmost urgency. Within two months of taking officeand under the leadership of the education ministerthe administration drafted a robust and fair legislative framework.

She informed the delegation that the new bill would enable transparent fee regulation across all 1,677 private schools in Delhi.

Additionally, the Chief Minister assured parents that the 65 new CM Shri schools currently being established would offer such high-quality education that many families would opt for government institutions over private ones.

Speaking at the same event, Education Minister Ashish Sood emphasized the governments strong political will, demonstrated within just 60 days of assuming office. He criticized the previous administrations, particularly the AAP government, for turning education into a political tool and failing to protect parents and students.

He highlighted the case of Delhi Public School (DPS), where parents have been protesting fee hikes since 2020, but no action was taken by the earlier government.

Sood clarified that the governments intent is not to antagonize school managements, but to end the mental, emotional, and financial exploitation of students and parents once and for all.
A former journalist was found dead inside his rented accommodation in Gupta Colony, Khirki Extension, Malviya Nagar, South Delhi, police said on Saturday.

The deceased, identified as Subhabrata Ghosh Chowdhury, 32, had previously worked at wire agency ANI and was most recently employed at a public relations (PR) firm, they added.

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According to the police, a PCR call was received on Friday from a woman who reported that her brother had been missing for the past 56 days and that his phone had been switched off.

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A team was dispatched to the specified apartment in Khirki Extension, which was found locked from the inside.

After forcing entry, the team discovered Chowdhurys body in a decomposed state, lying on the floor of the house.

Police said the body has been sent to a hospital for post-mortem examination, and an investigation has been initiated under Section 194 (unnatural death) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Notably, one of Chowdhurys last social media posts was on his LinkedIn account, where he wrote, Self-motivation works when external forces dont play spoilsport!

The exact cause of death will be determined following the post-mortem, an official said. The officer also added that the deceaseds family stated that Chowdhury last contacted them on the day of the Bengali New Year, and his phone had been switched off since April 25.
At least six people were killed and over two dozen others sustained injuries after a stampede broke out during an annual temple festival in Goa early Saturday morning. According to police, the incident occurred at around 3 am at Shri Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, where more than 50,000 people had gathered for the Zatra (Larai).

Speaking to media persons, North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal said that while the police are still trying to determine the exact cause of the incident, the stampede might have broken out due to some people spreading rumours.

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He further informed that around 400 police personnel were deployed at the temple for the annual festival and that this was the first time such an incident had happened here.

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We are still trying to determine the exact cause of the incident. However, we have been told that the stampede might have happened due to some people spreading rumours The biggest challenge for us was to peacefully vacate more than 50,000 people who were inside the temple for the (Larai) Zatra.

Around 400 police personnel were deployed here for the Zatra. This is the first time something like this has happened on this occasion, said SP Kaushal.

The injured are being treated at Goa Medical College and other hospitals in the area, where at least 10 are believed to be in critical condition.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered his condolences on the loss of lives in the Goa temple stampede.

Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected, read a statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office.

The PM has also spoken to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take stock of the situation and offered full support from the Centre.

In a social media post on X, CM Sawant said that he visited the hospital to meet the injured and that he is personally monitoring the situation.

Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken, Sawant said.
Syed Salar Masood Ghazi FairThe Bahraich district administration has denied permission to hold this years annual fair at the dargah of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, which was scheduled to begin on May 15.

In a joint statement, the City Magistrate and the Circle Officer (CO) Sadar confirmed the decision, marking the first time in nearly 500 years that the event, popularly known as the Jeth Mela, will not be held.

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City Magistrate Shalini Prabhakar stated on Saturday that the Dargah Management Committee had submitted a request to organize the fair.

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In response, the district administration sought reports from intelligence and other concerned departments, but none provided a favorable recommendation.

The Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) submitted a 12-page report to Commissioner Shashi Bhushan Lal Sushil and DIG Amit Pathak, advising against granting permission for the event.

The report cited potential protests in light of the recent Pahalgam attack and emphasized that, considering the current national situation, such gatherings should be avoided.

The CO City noted that public resentment following the Pahalgam attack has led to demonstrations across the country, and the decision to cancel the fair was made in view of these tensions.

The month-long fair, traditionally held from May 15 to June 15, typically draws around 1.5 million devotees from both Muslim and Hindu communities.

Earlier this year, authorities also denied permission for the Neja Mela, an annual event held in Sambhal in the name of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi.
In a political face-off, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday slammed the Congress for its stance on national security issues questioning the 2019 surgical strikes and asking for proof.

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, alleged BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla in a video message while accusing the Congress of hurting the morale of the armed forces.

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Former Punjab Chief Minister and party Member of Parliament Charanjit Singh Channi, in a press conference on Friday, had raised doubts about the 2019 surgical strike by India on Pakistan.

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If a bomb explodes in our nation, would we not know? There was no surgical strike I have always asked for proof [of surgical strike], Mr Channi had questioned.

The said surgical strikes were carried out on September 29, 2016, following the deadly Uri terror attack by Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammed that killed 19 Indian soldiers.

Congress has become the Pakistan Prast Party (PPP)Earlier, Rahul Gandhi also demanded proof of the surgical strikeRobert Vadra and other Congress party leaders have given a clean chit to Pakistan and blamed Hindutva. They always match their tunes with Pakistan, Poonawalla alleged while asserting: 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.

Mr Channis remarks sparked an outrage across the BJP fraternity with party MP Sambit Patra also launching a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of undermining national security and echoing narratives favourable to Pakistan.

Addressing the media, Mr Patra alleged that the Congress partys conduct was more in line with Pakistans interests than Indias.

Mr Patra questioned: Does this not demoralise our armed forces? Does it not shake the confidence of the people of India? he asked.

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, when the nation is grieving, the Congress party is playing politics, Mr Patra said.

Alleging that Congress was echoing Pakistani narratives Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also accused the Congress and Charanjit Singh Channi of questioning the integrity of the Army and Air Force.

Charanjit Singh Channi has said again that he does not believe that the surgical strike was carried out and that he wants proof, Mr Sirsa said.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also shared a post on his social media handle X: Rahul Gandhis Congress continues to defend Pakistani terror! Now Charanjeet Singh Channi questions our forces. Why is Congress demoralising our forces at this critical time?

Later, reacting to the growing criticism of his remarks, Mr Channi clarified that he had not sought any evidence of the strike.

He reiterated the Congress partys support for national security measures. We do not ask for proof and no evidence has been sought for it. The issue today is justice for the victims families. We are standing with the government, he said.

Also, the Congress Working Committee, which addressed the Pahalgam terror attack in its recently held meeting adopted a resolution that while demanding strong action against Pakistan reaffirmed its demand for a time-bound accountability by the government into the serious lapses in security and intelligence that led to the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 innocent citizens.
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A portion of the second-floor corridor of the medicine ward at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Hospital in Jamshedpur collapsed on Saturday, triggering chaos within the hospital premises. At least four persons are feared to have been trapped under the debris, though two have been rescued so far  a critically injured elderly woman and a male patient.

The incident occurred in the B Block of the hospital, located in Sakchi, which houses the medicine department. According to hospital authorities, the affected structure was over four decades old and in visibly dilapidated condition. Both rescued patients are reportedly without attendants and are categorised as unclaimed.

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Deputy Superintendent of MGM Hospital, Dr Nakul Chaudhary, confirmed the structural collapse and acknowledged the buildings deteriorated state. The section that collapsed was part of the corridor on the second floor. Two patients have been pulled out, both of whom were unaccompanied. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has taken over the ongoing rescue operations, he said.

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The collapse led to scenes of panic as in-patients, hospital staff, and attendants rushed outdoors. Many patients could be seen sitting on the hospital grounds, unwilling to re-enter the building until assurances of structural safety were provided.

Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy visited the site and squarely blamed the government and hospital administration for neglecting infrastructure upkeep. The responsibility for this incident lies with the administration. They continued housing patients in a known unsafe structure despite repeated warnings, Mr Roy told reporters.

Jamshedpur East MLA Purnima Sahu also visited the hospital and called for an impartial investigation and urgent repair of all unsafe hospital blocks.

It is pertinent to note that the state government had earlier commissioned the construction of a new 500-bed hospital on Mango-Dimna Road under the MGM Medical College umbrella. Inaugurated by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the new facility was intended to absorb patient load from the old MGM Hospital. However, the shifting process has been stalled due to water supply shortages and other infrastructural challenges.

This incident has once again highlighted the precarious condition of public healthcare infrastructure in Jharkhand and the urgent need for remedial measures.
Angolas President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco on Saturday was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, following which, he expressed hope in strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Angolan President as he arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

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The Angolan President 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.

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Speaking to the reporters following the ceremonial welcome, President Lourenco said, We have arrived in New Delhi, the capital of India, to hold this state visit, which is taking place after 38 years.

We see this visit as an important one for Angola in order to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. We are very thankful for the friendly and hospitable manner in which we were received yesterday by the people of India, he added.

Upon his arrival in India on Friday, President Lourenco was warmly received at the airport by Minister of State (MoS) 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.

Warm welcome to President 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 Kirti Vardhan Singh at the airport, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X.

Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh also shared the welcome message on his social media handle on X, saying, Pleased to welcome President 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 Modi and 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 fresh steps against Islamabad in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has banned the import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan and suspended the exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from its intrasingent neighbour through air and surface routes.

A notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said, Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.

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The notification cited national security and public policy as reasons behind the decision.

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This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India, it said.

The Central Government has inserted a new Para 2.20A in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, to enforce the prohibition of import and transit of all goods from Pakistan.

In another notification, the Ministry of Communications said the Government of India has decided to suspend the exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes.

The steps taken today come days after 26 tourists were gunned down by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam. Amid mounting tensions between the two countries, India squarely blamed Pakistan for the deadly terror attack.

After the attack, India announced several punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus water treaty. The Indian government has also vowed to punish the terrorists, their backers, and the planners of the attack.

Pakistan is also apprehensive of a strong Indian military action after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the armed forces complete operational freedom to decide on Indias response. Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had Wednesday said Islamabad has credible intelligence that India is planning military action in the next 24 to 36 hours.
Karnataka does not fail to provide more than its share of Nataka (theatrics) when it comes to politics and its politicians.

Now, the state Housing Minister, Zameer Ahmed Khan, has declared that he is ready to go to Pakistan with a bomb strapped to him. In a video posted on X, the minister is heard saying, If needed, I will go on a suicide mission. Im not saying this as a joke or out of josh.

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The video post, made on Friday, generated quite a controversy as he said, If the country needs me, let Narendra Modi and Amit Shah give me a suicide bombI swear on Allah (the God), I will tie it and go to Pakistan.

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The minister maintained in conversations with media personnel, We are Indians and Hindustanis, and have no relation with Pakistan. We are ready to wage war with Pakistan.

In sheer jingoism, the Karnataka minister seems to have overtaken everyone else in the political field, much in keeping with the Congress stance after the Pahalgam incident. The Congress said it was fully with the government and urged it to take whatever action it deemed fit to teach Pakistan a lesson.

But in terms of jingoism, the Karnataka minister seems to have outdone even members of the hardcore right-wing ecosystem. His utterances drew sharp remarks from the BJP. Union Minister from Karnataka, Pralhad Joshi, termed his remarks childish and advised him to stay silent and trust in the Army. Joshi said that the biggest service Zameer could render to the nation would be to stay quiet.
Kerala health minister Veena George on Saturday assured that a thorough probe would be conducted into the fire that broke out at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital on Friday night.

Speaking to media persons in Kozhikode on Saturday, Veena George said technical experts from the Electrical Inspectorate will conduct a detailed examination to determine the exact cause of the fire. Currently, forensic experts are investigating the site, she said.

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The minister further said that a team of doctors from other medical colleges in the state will thoroughly examine the causes of the death of five persons who had allegedly died due to inhalation of smoke emanating from the UPS room in the emergency department.of the medical college Hospital, after the break out of the fire.

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A fire erupted from the UPS room of the PMSSY block of the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, triggering panic on Friday night. Patients were swiftly evacuated from the building, and three units of Fire Force rushed to the spot to douse the fire.

The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Friday, when smoke billowed from the casualty wing of the seven-storey hospital building following a short circuit.Around 200 patients were present in the building at the time, with about 40 in the casualty wing

Medical College Hospital authorities have maintained that the deaths were unrelated to the smoke. However, Congress Kalpetta MLA T. Siddique claimed that three of the five patients died after inhaling smoke and alleged a lack of timely medical attention.

The Medical College hospital authorities have claimed that three of the patients died due to their medical condition.

The police have registered a case in connection with the death of five patients following a fire at the medical college. The case has been registered under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) (investigation of deaths under unnatural circumstances).

Meanwhile, poor patients are in crisis following the accident. Those admitted to private hospitals following the accident are unable to afford treatment.

Relatives of several patients who were transferred to private hospitals, following the fire ,complained that they were asked to pay exorbitant bills.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday termed the incident at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospitals casualty wing as unfortunate and said it was something that should not have happened.

BJP former Kerala president Surendran criticised the states health system, calling it a failure.Kerala is often praised for its healthcare system, but five precious lives were lost. Veena George must take moral responsibility and resign, he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and discussed the situation in the Union Territory in the wake of last weeks terror attack in Pahalgam.

The meeting at the PMs official residence lasted around 30 minutes, officials said.

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The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of the ongoing discussions in New Delhi on Indias response to the terror attacks in which at least 26 tourists were gunned down.

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Mr Abdullah has extended full support to the Centre in the fight against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
Amid heightened tensions with India following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that left at least 26 innocent civilians dead, Pakistan is said to be preparing to test fire surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, a move seen by New Delhi as a reckless act of provocation and a dangerous escalation in its hostile campaign against India.

According to an ANI news report, the planned missile test has been dubbed by government sources a desperate attempt to whip up tensions with India.

The hostilities between India and Pakistan have intensified since the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani forces have been violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) almost daily, with Indian military retaliating strongly to the provocation.

After the Pahalgam attack, India announced several punitive measures against Pakistan for its role in supporting and funding cross-border terrorism.

The diplomatic measures included downgrading of diplomatic ties, suspension of Indian visas for Pakistani nationals and closure of the Attari border. India also suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, a move termed by Islamabad as an act of war.

Pakistan is also fearing Indian military action in response to the Pahalgam attack, in which at least two Pakistani terrorists, including former Pak Army commando Hasim Moosa, were involved.

While India has vowed to punish the Pahalgam attackers, their backers and the planners of the attack, it has not revealed what kind of response is being planned.

However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given complete operational freedom to the armed forces to decide on their response.

At least 26 people  mostly tourists from across the country  were killed in the Pahalgam attack, one of the largest targeting civilians in decades. A local and a Nepali national were also among the deceased.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended condolences to those who lost their lives in the stampede that occurred during the Lairai Devi temple festivities in Shirgao village.

The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday as a large number of devotees had gathered for the annual yatra. According to sources, at least six people lost their lives, and over 30 were injured in the stampede.

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Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement.

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PM Modi also spoke with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and reviewed the situation in detail, offering full support from the Centre during this difficult time.

CM Sawant personally visited the hospital to assess the condition of the injured.

Later, posting on X, the Chief Minister said, Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken.

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane confirmed that all district hospitals are on high alert and fully equipped to handle the emergency. He added that the medical infrastructure at Goa Medical College (GMC) and other district hospitals has been strengthened and placed on high alert.

The stampede occurred during the Shri Lairai Yatra, an annual religious event that draws over 50,000 devotees to the temple in North Goa.

A highlight of the centuries-old ritual is the participation of barefoot dhonds who walk across a bed of burning embers in a symbolic act of devotion. The sheer number of attendees and a sudden surge in the crowd reportedly led to the deadly stampede.

Preliminary reports point towards severe overcrowding and insufficient crowd management arrangements as potential causes behind the stampede.

The situation turned chaotic due to a downward slope on a stretch of the route, where the crowd reportedly surged forward rapidly, leading to a crush.
The Municipal Corporation Court in Shimla on Saturday ordered the complete demolition of a five-storey mosque in the Sanjauli area, declaring the structure unauthorized.

The verdict comes after more than 15 years of legal proceedings and over 50 hearings before the Municipal Commissioners court.

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Presiding over the case, Municipal Commissioner Bhupender Kumar Attri ruled that the mosque had been constructed in blatant violation of municipal building byelaws.

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The court noted that no building permit, approved structural plan, or no-objection certificate (NOC) had been obtained from the Shimla Municipal Corporation. While an earlier order issued in October 2023 called for the demolition of the top three floors, the latest ruling extends the order to include the remaining two floors, mandating the razing of the entire structure.

Although the detailed written order is pending, the Commissioner announced the decision in open court, citing the failure of both the mosque committee and the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board to establish legal ownership of the land.

The petitioner had argued that the original mosque was demolished and that the land, being government-owned, had reverted to the state.

The court accepted this argument and rejected the Waqf Boards claim of ownership.

In 2010, a local resident filed a complaint against the mosques construction. The case gained momentum after the Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the Municipal Corporation in October 2023 to deliver a final decision within eight weeks, following tensions in Shimla after an alleged communal clash in Mehli on August 31, 2023.

It is said that, following the incident, several individuals reportedly took shelter in the Sanjauli mosque, sparking protests.

Speaking to the media, the petitioners counsel stated that the mosque had been built illegally without the required permissions and that the respondents had failed to produce any valid documentation proving legal entitlement to the land.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 3. Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation to discuss enhancing trade and economic cooperation, Trend reports, citing the Uzbek presidents office.

The implementation of agreements reached during the official visit of the President of Russia to Uzbekistan in May of last year was reviewed.

The importance of taking coordinated measures to maintain the momentum of mutual trade turnover, accelerate cooperation projects in priority sectors of the economy, and continue active contacts at the regional and business levels was emphasized.

In this context, the fruitful results of the recent business events in Tashkent, held alongside the Fifth International Industrial Exhibition INNOPROM Central Asia, were highly praised.

The leaders of Uzbekistan and Russia exchanged views on international issues and discussed the schedule for upcoming meetings.

Meanwhile, in the first quarter of 2025, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Russia reached $2.6 billion, with Uzbek exports to Russia increasing by 18.2 percent
A police team had a brief encounter with an absconding accused in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh, during which a Police Sub-Inspector (SI) was hit by a bullet fired by the accused. The accused was also shot in the leg in retaliatory fire by the police and was subsequently arrested.

According to the police, the encounter took place in the early hours of Saturday.

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The accused, identified as Adarsh Gautam alias Achchu, had been on the run for the past few days after allegedly shooting and seriously injuring a Police Head Constable inside the barracks of Jaitwara Police Station in Satna district.

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While searching for the accused, the police received information on Friday night that he was hiding near Tikuri Akona road. A police team led by Kotar Police Station In-charge SI Dilip Mishra went to the location to apprehend him.

Police officials said that around 2:30 AM on Saturday, the police team spotted Adarsh hiding behind a brick kiln and ordered him to surrender. Instead, he opened fire on the police.

A bullet struck SI Mishra in the chest, but he was saved by his bulletproof jacket. In retaliation, the SI returned fire, hitting Adarsh in the left leg near the knee, causing him to collapse.

The accused was subsequently arrested and taken to the district hospital for treatment. The SI was also admitted for medical observation.
Switzerland and the European Union on Saturday condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in the context of the Pahalgam terror attack.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and expressed gratitude for expressing support and solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

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In a post on X, Mr 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.

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The Indian minister also had a telephonic conversation with Vice President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas and discussed the recent terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

In a post on X, he said, Good to speak with EU HRVP Kaja Kallas this evening. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Welcome, European Unions strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
Will our geography change? Will a new country emerge on the South Asian map? Is Pakistan on the verge of breaking apart again? And will India get a chance to correct its nearly 80-year-old mistake?

Fuelling many such questions, a raging fire of anti Pakistan sentiment is burning fiercely in Balochistan. Thus, the politics of South Asia is gradually changing. Balochistan is ablaze with protests, and the heat of this fire is also being felt in Pashtunistan. On the other hand, the Pakistani military is perpetrating severe human rights abuses in Balochistan to quell the nationalist insurgency.

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The region has witnessed thousands of killings, targeted assassinations of intellectuals, and widespread use of force, arrests, and brutality. Despite this, the resistance persists. The underlying cause of the unrest is Pakistans continued occupation of Balochistan, which the Baloch people view as an infringement on their rights and sovereignty. The review of the situation corroborates the facts mentioned earlier. The Balochistan region, spanning across southwestern Pakistan, southeastern Iran, and southern Afghanistan, has been embroiled in a protracted conflict that has defied resolution for decades. This intra  ctable dispute has pitted the Pakistani government against Baloch nationalist groups, with the Iranian government and Islamist militants also entangled in the fray. Thus the conflict involves a diverse array of stakeholders including the Pakistani and Iranian governments, Baloch nationalist groups, Islamic militants, and external powers such as the United States and China.

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The Baloch people have a distinct cultural, linguistic, and ethnic identity that predates the creation of modern nation-states in the region. The Balochistan region has historically been a contested territory, with various empires and dynasties vying for control over the area. The creation of the region of Balochistan is a complex historical process that spans thousands of years. It has been part of various ancient civilizations. The regions strategic location on the Iranian plateau made it a hub for trade and cultural exchange. The Baloch people migrated to the area from the West and are believed to be of Aryan and other races. It is to be noted here that Balochistan is a vast and resource-rich region in southwestern Pakistan covering about 44 per cent of the countrys land area. It is the largest province in Pakistan, but has the lowest population density due to its arid desert climate.

There are approximately 14.9 million people, with a diverse mix of ethnic groups, including the Baloch and Pushtuns. In 1947, the British Indian Empire was partitioned, and Balochistan was forcibly incorporated into Pakistan. Under British colonial rule, it consisted of the four princely states of Kalat, Lasbela, Kharan, and Mak  ran. When India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947, Kalat remained independent for a few months before joining Pakistan. In fact, Balochistan resisted joining at the time of the countrys inception following the partition of British India. The region aspired to be an independent or autonomous state, a desire that remained unfulfilled. This sentiment of independence and distinctness continues to persist in Balochistan and the Baloch people have since then been seeking greater autonomy or independence, citing cultural, economic, and political marginalization by the Pakistani state. The conflict between the Baloch insurgents and Pakistani military forces has been on for years, with periods of escalation and relative calm.

A recent incident of this kind has brought the conflict to the forefront, sparking widespread controversy and attention. Last March, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) insurgents took control of the Jaffar Express near Bolan Pass, 160 km from Quetta. The insurgents selectively targeted and killed Pakistani Army Officers and soldiers travelling on the train. The news of this train hijacking sent shockwaves amid the intense conflict between Balochistans insurgents and Pakistans military forces. The Baloch quagmire is an intricate and multidimensional dilemma that has been besetting the region for years. This enigmatic puzzle involves a diverse array of stakeholders as mentioned above. At its core, the Baloch predicament revolves around the quest for autonomy and self-determination by the Baloch people, along with the local people seeking greater control over their political, economic, and cultural affairs. The regions rich natural resources, including gas, oil, copper, and gold have also become a bone of contention, with the Pakistani government accused of exploiting these sources without providing adequate compensation or benefits to the local population. The Baluch imbroglio has been further complicated by the presence of Islamist militant groups.

The Taliban and Lashkar-eJhanvi have carried out attacks on civilians, government officials, and security forces further destabilizing the region. The Pakistani militarys response to the insurgency has also been criticized for its heavy-handedness, with allegations of human rights abuses and enforced disappearances along with extrajudicial killings. The militarys tactics have only served to exacerbate the situation, driving more Baloch youth into the arms of nationalist groups. The Iranian governments role in the conflict has been equally problematic. Tehran has provided support to the Pakistani government, while also carrying out military operations against Baloch insurgents on its own territory. The United States has also been drawn into the conflict, providing military aid to Pakistan, which has been used to combat the Baloch insurgency.

Chinas growing economic interests in the region, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), have added another dimension to the conflict. Therefore, the Baloch enigma has far reaching implications for regional and global security. It is to be remembered that the conflict has the potential to destabilize the entire region, with spillover effects on Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and India. To unravel the complexities of this protracted conflict, a comprehensive and nuanced approach is required. This will necessitate meaningful dialogue and negotiations between the Pakistani government and Baloch nationalist groups, as well as economic development and investment in the region.

The Pakistani government must address the underlying grievances of the Baloch people, including their demands for greater autonomy and self-determination. The government must also ensure that the regions natural resources are exploited in a transparent and equitable manner, with benefits accruing to the local population. Until Pakistan addresses these issues, the intensity of the insurgency will increase rather than decrease, because now the Baloch people are desperate to protect their rights.

The international community, including the United States and China, must also play a constructive role in resolving the conflict. This will require a delicate balancing act, taking into account the competing interests of various stakeholders while promoting a peaceful and inclusive solution. Ultimately, the resolution of the Baloch enigma will require a sustained commitment to dialogue, negotiation, and economic development. Only through a comprehensive and inclusive approach can the region hope to achieve lasting peace and stability. Failure to address these issues will likely push the Baloch people towards alternative routes or solutions.

(The writers are, respectively, Associate Professor and Head, Political Science, Chandernagore Govt. College, and Associate Professor, Political Science, Galsi Mahavidyalaya)
In a remarkable twist of irony, it was Donald Trump ~ not Mark Carney, nor Pierre Poilievre ~ who became the decisive figure in Canadas recent federal election. What began as a predictable contest marked by fatigue with a decade of Liberal governance transformed into something else entirely: a referendum on Mr Trumps vision of Canada. His taunts about turning the country into Americas 51st state, his belittling of the US-Canada border as artificially drawn, and his looming tariffs on Canadian auto exports lit a fire under an electorate that had otherwise seemed resigned to change. New Prime Minister Mark Carney understood this shift better than anyone.

A political newcomer with an elite banking background, he could easily have been cast as out of touch. Instead, he ran not just against his Conservative rival, but against the shadow of a US President determined to reduce Canada to a bargaining chip. In his victory speech, Mr Carney declared: President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That was not political theatre ~ it was the emotional core of his campaign. This election became a story about sovereignty ~ not in the abstract, but in concrete terms. Mr Trumps threats to upend trade ties, impose punitive tariffs, and undermine long-standing diplomatic norms made the stakes feel immediate. For many Canadians, it wasnt just a matter of policy; it was personal. The ballot bec  ame a tool of resistance. Mr Poilievres Conservatives, though domestically focused, were dragged into this framing.

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Their ideological alignment with Trumpian themes ~ small government, fossil fuel revival, culture war rhetoric ~ only deepened the perception that a Conservative victory might echo or empower Mr Trumps approach north of the border. That perception proved fatal. Mr Trump didnt merely loom in the background ~ he dominated the stage from afar. His erratic style, bombastic statements, and contemptuous view of Canadas autonomy injected urgency into the race. Mr Carney sei  zed the moment, framing himself as a defender of national dignity. That message resonated deeply, especially with voters who might have otherwise stayed home or voted against the Liberals in protest. In a global moment where populist conservatism has resurged, Canada charted its own course. The Liberal resurgence under Mr Carney was not a repudiation of conservative ideas alone ~ it was a rejection of American interference.

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Mr Trumps attempt to bully Canada into economic and political submission didnt just fail; it backfired spectacularly. Ironically, Mr Trump may have preferred Mr Carney to his predecessor Justin Trudeau. But by inserting himself so forcefully and frequently into Canadas political conversation, he left voters with no ambiguity. The choice was no longer about continuity or change. It was about standing tall or being subsumed. Now, Mr Carney faces the hard part: negotiating with the very President who helped him get the mandate. But if this election proved anything, it is that Canadian democracy, when tested, doesnt retreat. It responds ~ with purpose, and with pride.
In the wake of rising tensions and fears of an aggressive military operation by India in response to the Pahalgam incident, the legislative government of Pakistan Administered Kashmir has instructed residents living along the de-facto border, the Line of Control (LoC) with India to stockpile food and other essential items for at least two months. The instructions have been given the Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq.

The instructions were issued during a session of the legislative Assembly on Friday when PM of the Pakistan administered Kashmir said that precautionary measures are being done to safeguard the lives of Kashmiris amid looming fears of an attack by India.

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Instructions have been issued to stock food supplies for two months in the 13-constituencies along the Line of Control (LoC), said Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq.

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An emergency fund has also been created of $3.5 million (One billion rupees) to ensure that basic necessities including food and medicines are facilitated through the 13 constituencies situated along the LoC.

Moreover, the legislative government has deployed government and private owned machinery to maintain clearance of roads in the borderline areas.

Following the Pahalgam incident, India claims has clear prints of Pakistans involvement and tensions have escalated along the Line of Control (LoC) as both sides have had heavy exchanges of fire, causing considerable damages on both sides.

Indian and Pakistani security forces have exchanged gunfire for eight consecutive night along the militarised Line of Control, said a local journalist from Muzaffarabad, Pakistan Administered Kashmir.

Pakistan has categorically denied any involvement in the Pahalgam incident, calling for a neutral and credible investigation by a third party or parties.

Both Pakistan and India have taken some major decisions in a tit-for-tat measures, among which the most notable and crucial one is the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India, and closing down of airspace by Pakistan.

Both sides have also shut down the Wagah-Attari border crossing and directed all Pakistanis nationals in India and Indian nationals in Pakistan to leave the country with immediate effect.

Islamabad maintains that it would not be the first to attack India, however, it asserts that any misadventure by New Delhi will be responded to with full force and decisive response.

Pakistan has also claimed that it has credible intelligence that India is planning to conduct military attacks within the coming days, prompting the legislative government of Pakistan Administered Kashmir to take immediate pre-emptive and precautionary measures, including closure of over 1000 religious seminaries in Kashmir for at least 10 days and instructing residents in 13 constituencies to stockpile food for at least two months.
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.

Pakistans 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.

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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.

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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 Indias unilateral decision to suspend the IWT as New Delhis 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.


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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, May 3. The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Zhaparov, has signed a decree to establish the National Council for the Development of Virtual Assets and Blockchain Technologies, Trend reports via the administration of the president.

The council aims to formulate and implement a unified state policy in the field of virtual assets and blockchain technologies, foster innovative projects, and attract investments while considering national interests and international standards.

Key tasks of the Council include coordinating the development of state policy, improving the investment climate, refining the regulatory framework, supporting foreign companies, integrating the Kyrgyz economy into global processes, and executing innovation programs in the blockchain and virtual assets sector.

A secretariat has been established as the executive body to implement the Council's decisions. The director of the National Investment Agency will head the secretariat.
The third day of WAVES saw the alumni from the National School of Drama take to the dais to discuss 'Beyond the stage: Theatre 2.0 needs a new Act.' In attendance were actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Mita Vashisht, who was also a classmate of Irrfan Khan; Chittaranjan Tripathi, director of the National School of Drama; and Amita Prasad Sarbhai, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The session was moderated by writer and actor Swanand Kirkire.

All the panellists, except for Sarbhai, are NSD alumni, and interestingly, Vashisht taught drama to all three, Kirkire, Siddiqui, and Tripathi, all of whom were same batch of passouts. The discussion that began with narratives around theatre and how theatre in India is getting more and more colourful and dynamic, the talk soon veered into the NSD territory, with all panellists appreciating the numerous initiatives taken by the government in bringing about "an institutional makeover" and some more need-of-the-hour measures that will give it a "much needed boost".

"I studied method acting at NSD, and it helped train me as an actor who could survive, despite not being gifted with the stereotypical hero looks that Bollywood is known for," said Siddiqui, opening the discussion. Once a Russian director visiting NSD cast me in a serious role, just because he said he found depth in my eyes. That was the first time I even thought I could do serious roles," added the actor, looking dapper in a cream-coloured blazer suit. Until then, Siddiqui had only tried his hand at comedy at NSD.

Both Vashisht and Siddiqui agreed that NSD was the incubation centre for everything that is "cinema and visual art", and the time has come to take it to the "next level". More than 50 years later, NSD continues to inspire awe and respect for being an acclaimed institution that has churned out some of the finest actors and filmmakers we know of today, including Irrfan Khan, Piyush Mishra, Neena Gupta, Alok Nath, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Ratna Pathak Shah, Anupam Kher and others.

Speaking on the government's role in ensuring NSD's legacy as the top-notch institute for dramatic arts, Sarbhai said, "When it comes to the government's role, one must understand that we are only the facilitator; we run a number of schemes, and we have repertory grant schemes made available for students right from the age of 3 up till the age of 18. And out of 2000 organisations which we support in the areas of music, dance and theatre, 50 per percent is in fact theatre only. So the government supports, but if the institutions expect that we support them for two to three decades, it's not feasible and not possible. So please seek the government's help only as a facilitator."

Speaking on the fact that the National School of Drama still only offers diplomas and not degrees, Sarbhai said that the government is trying to push for the status of a deemed university for the National School of Drama and is also "planning to ensure that the course content keeps pace with the changing times".

"I can assure everyone present in this room that the government will work towards this. We will also be opening more branches of NSD. We have already opened branches in a few parts of the country, and we'll also take it abroad," she said. Recently NSD had its festival in Colombo, as well as Nepal. A batch of second-year students are presently visiting Moscow as they're participating in the theatre festival there, informed Tripathi, director of NSD.

"Theatre is something the government of India is very serious about, and we are working to make sure that the facilities and opportunities to make the most of theatre in India are available to everyone," said Sarbai.

Tripathi further added that theatre is "the finest form of learning how to live".

"It brings about a balance in the mind, body and soul. Right now at NSD we are looking at starting the Natyashastra training full-fledged. We are looking at conducting three-month modules in diverse places across the country, especially tier-2 and tier-3 cities. We have folk theatre, musical theatre, classical theatre, mythological, historical and contemporary theatre, and now, unlike earlier, it will be a paid course now. Theatre is a part of our ancient culture and spiritual texts and should be valued as a cultural heritage," said Tripathi.
Amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan on Saturday test-fired a surface-to-surface missileAbdali Weapon Systemwith a range of 450 kilometers.

PTV News, in a social media post, said the launch was aimed at ensuring the operation readiness of Pakistani troops and validating key technical parameters, including the advanced navigation system and improved manoeuvrability features of the missile.

Commander, Army Strategic Forces Command; senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division; and Army Strategic Forces Command witnessed the training launch.

PTV News said the President, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Services Chiefs "expressed complete confidence in the operational preparedness and technical proficiency of Pakistans Strategic Forces to ensure credible minimum deterrence and safeguard national security against any aggression" after the missile testing.

ALSO READ: With Indo-Pak border ceasefire in flames, India opts for calibrated statecraft

Earlier, news agency ANI quoted defence sources as saying that Pakistan's intention to test the surface-to-surface missile was a "reckless act of provocation and a dangerous escalation in its hostile campaign against India." According to them, the proposed missile test was a "desperate attempt to whip up tensions with India."

Meanwhile, small-arms firing between Indian and Pakistani troops continued in different sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the ninth consecutive night after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed.

During the night of May 2 and 3, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately, a defence spokesperson said.
Precision landings, coordinated take-offs, and tactical operations were part of the night-time combat drills involving fighter jets Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar, and Mirage-2000 of the Indian Air Force (IAF), conducted at India's first expressway airstrip on the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

The fighter jets and transport aircraft AN-32, the C-130J Super Hercules, and MI-17 helicopters simulated touch-and-go landings and combat operations on the 3.5-kilometre airstrip between 7 pm and 10 pm, showing their combat readiness and disaster response capabilities.

Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi told news agency PTI that some fighter jets were seen landing with the help of ropes dropped from helicopters, followed by ground tactical deployment.

READ MORE: IAF begins landing drills on Ganga Expressway in UP. Why is this important for India's defence preparedness?

"Despite strong winds and unfavourable weather during the day, the drill was completed successfully, with the night operations proving to be smoother and more efficient," Dwivedi was quoted as saying.

The Ganga Expressway is the first in the country to support both day and night fighter jet landings.

Night operations, enabled by advanced systems like Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS), allow the force to be ready for missions round the clock, enhancing the capability of the IAF to quickly disperse, regroup, refuel, and counterattack in times of conflict.

So far, emergency landing drills could be carried out only on the Lucknow-Agra and Purvanchal expressways. These, however, were limited to daytime operations.
Ukraine has claimed that Ukraines Defence Intelligence (GUR) successfully destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using an unmanned naval drone, the Magura, in the ongoing conflict.

The GUR's elite Group 13 unit, in coordination with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the countrys defense forces, shot down the Su-30 fighter jet using the Magura V5 sea drone, according to reports.

Ukrainian officials claim that this is the first time in history a combat aircraft has been destroyed by a sea drone.

According to the officials, the multi-role fighter, estimated to be worth about $50 million, was targeted near the Russian port city of Novorossiysk. The Magura drone, which has become a major part of Ukraine's naval strategy in the ongoing conflict against Russia, launched a precision missile during the operation.

ALSO READ: How US Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet was lost in Red Sea

The jet reportedly caught fire mid-air before crashing into the Black Sea.

The strike follows an earlier milestone achieved in 2024 when Magura V5 drones were used to destroy two Russian Mi-8 helicopters  also a global first for naval drone capabilities.

Ukraine has been using seaborne drones, which are cheaper and smaller than conventional ships, to target Russia's Black Sea fleet.

The stealthy, highly versatile Magura se drones can reach speeds up to 42 knots and have an operational range of 400 miles. According to bulgerianmilitary.com, these dronesequipped with cameras, GPS, and autonomous navigation systems can carry a payload of explosives and missiles.
The Metropolitan Museum of Arts annual Met Gala, formally known as the Costume Institute Benefit, has stood as a cornerstone of the fashion world for over seven decades. Founded in 1946 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the first Met Gala took place in 1948 as a fundraising event for the newly established Costume Institute. The event was attended by the members of New Yorks high society and the fashion industry where the tickets were priced at USD 50 per person. The attendees were offered a platform to express themselves through fashion and style.

ALSO READ | Glamour and glitz: What to expect from Met Gala 2025

Met Gala has evolved into a global phenomenon over the years, captivating celebrities, fashion designers and influencers. The introduction of an annual theme, first introduced in 1973, established the mood for the gala and inspired guests to craft intricate and provocative outfits. Initially, the gala was simply one of the many annual benefits held in New York. When Diana Vreeland became the consultant of the Costume Institute in the year 1972, the gala began to grow into a more global and glamorous event.

Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, has contributed to transforming Met Gala into the modern display it is today. Since becoming the chairperson in 1995, she has brought a new level of glamour and glitz to the event, attracting a diverse and wide range of celebrities and fashion industry professionals across the globe. Today, the Met Gala is one of the most anticipated events in the fashion world, with tickets priced at USD 75,000 per person in 2025.

ALSO READ | SRK Met Gala debut: Can he break Bollywood's bad luck spell?

Since its inception in 1948, the Met Gala was has been held every year, except in 1957, 2000 and 2002. As the Met Gala continues to evolve, it remains to be a testament to the power of fashion and art to inspire and unite people across the world.
The Mumbai police have issued an FIR against the host and producers of Ullus House Arrest for alleged obscene and pornographic remarks made on the reality show. Former Bigg Boss contestant Ajaz Khanthe host of House Arrest, producer Rajkumar Pandey and others have faced the heat from the authorities and social media for their unruly behaviour on the web show.

"Based on a complaint lodged by Gautam Ravriya, an activist of Bajrang Dal, the police registered a case against actor Ajaz Khan, producer Rajkumar Pandey of the web show 'House Arrest' and other persons from Ullu app," the official of Amboli police station said on Friday.

The complainant stated that he received several complaints from others urging him to take action. Clips from the show have been making rounds on the internet where Khan was seen insulting the modesty of women. He was seen asking female contestants to perform sexually explicit actions on camera. Another clip shows the actor asking the female contestants to remove their undergarments without removing their clothes.

#HouseArrestshow                     

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      pic.twitter.com/rEnctG6kgj  Dr.Harish (@DrHaris9456) May 2, 2025

Khan and Pandey have been charged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, the official said.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) also reacted to the matter taking suo moto cognizance of obscene content.

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

On Thursday, Maharashtra BJP MLC Chitra Wagh demanded an immediate ban on House Arrest. She said, as quoted by PTI, "Ajaz Khan, who calls himself an actor, has created a show called House Arrest, which is nothing but the epitome of obscenity. Clips from this show, streamed on the Ullu app, are now circulating freely on social media, and they are extremely vulgar."

Ullue has since removed all episodes of House Arrest from its platform.
Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda has landed in a soup for his poor choice of words while passionately condemning the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir which claimed the lives of 26 people. He was speaking at the pre-release function of Tamil actor Suriyas recent film Retro. Vijay was the chief guest of the event which was held in Hyderabad.

Before he spoke about the movie or its lead actor Suirya, Vijay started off by addressing the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We are all thinking about you, everyone is feeling the pain, everyone is feeling the anger, it shouldnt have happened. We all stand in support of you, he said.

To my dear brothers  pic.twitter.com/QBGQGOjJBL  Vijay Deverakonda (@TheDeverakonda) May 3, 2025

Towards the end of his speech, he once again touched upon the subject of Kashmir. Two years back, I shot in Kashmir for the movie Kushi. I have such great memories, he said. He felt that education was the solution to ensure that local youth are not brainwashed and are weaned away from terrorism.

He then steered towards criticising Pakistan and its alleged role in the violent incident. Pakistanis are not able to look after themselves as they dont have water or power, what will they do coming to our land? India doesnt have to attack Pakistan, Pakistanis will only get frustrated and attack their government if this continues, He then said a line which has turned controversial. They (terrorists) are fighting like how tribals fought 500 years back without applying minimum common sense.

The line ended up creating a furore. Tribal Lawyers Association has lodged a complaint with the state SC/ST Commission urging them to take action against the actor. In his complaint, lawyer Kishan Raj Chauhan of the Association alleged that Vijays comments were derogatory and inflammatory and equated tribal communities to terrorists. A complaint was also lodged with Hyderabad police who have booked a case against the actor.

Vijay later tweeted a clarification. It has come to my attention that a remark I made during the Retro audio launch event has caused concern among some members of the public. I wish to sincerely clarify: there was absolutely no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, who I deeply respect and consider an integral part of our country.

He justified the usage of the word in the context of the Kashmir attack.

The word "tribe," as I used it, was meant in the historical and dictionary sense - referring to a time centuries ago when human society globally was organized into tribes and clans, often in conflict. It was never a reference to the Scheduled Tribes classification, which was introduced during colonial and post-colonial India and formalized only in the mid-20th centurynot even 100 years ago.
Iran, Russia expanding cooperation through North-South Corridor project

The article details growth of cooperation between Iran and Russia within the International North-South Transport Corridor. In this regard, top official from the Iranian Road Maintenance and Transport Organization Javad Hedayati shared plans on joint investments with Russia to increase transport and cargo services around Iran's Astara border terminal within the corridor. He added that the recent meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Economic Commission of the two countries in Moscow focused on further improvement of cargo transportation activities between them

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An unsettling incident near the Eco World IT Park in Bellandur has brought attention to women's safety in Bengaluru yet again after a woman reported being assaulted late Wednesday night.

The incident occurred around 11:40 pm when the victim was returning home from work. Unidentified individuals on a motorcycle struck the woman from behind before quickly escaping, mentioned the filed police report.

Highlighting a deeply concerning aspect of the incident, the survivor stated that despite the area being populated and her explicit calls for help, nearby witnesses failed to intervene.

Responding to the incident, Whitefield Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shivakumar confirmed that a formal complaint had been lodged. An FIR (No. 218/2025) has been registered under Sections 74 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 78 (stalking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

DCP Shivakumar acknowledged the public setting of the alleged crime and the consequent distress caused to the victim. He reiterated the police department's support for the complainant and commitment to a thorough and swift investigation.

Currently, investigators are analysing CCTV footage from the vicinity to identify those involved and piece together the exact sequence of the assault. This latest case surfaces amidst the ongoing public discourse fueled by other recent events impacting women's safety in the region.

Notably, a molestation in BTM Layout last month, captured on video, provoked widespread outcry and led to an arrest in Kerala. Additionally, a Mangaluru bus conductor faced disciplinary action after being filmed engaging in inappropriate conduct with a passenger. Such incidents continue to drive critical conversations about the security measures protecting women in Bengaluru, particularly during nighttime hours.
As India is weighing on its counter-terrorism measures after the deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi stirred up a political storm with his remarks on the surgical strikes carried out by Indian forces across Pakistan border in 2019.

The military operation was conducted in response to the terrorist attack in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

Channi, a senior Congress leader, raised doubts on the surgical strikes and demanded that the government provide proof.

"No one saw where the surgical strike happened and how many were killed, or where in Pakistan it occurred. Nothing had happened. I have always demanded proof," he said.

Channis remarks drew sharp reaction from the BJP which accused the former CM and the Congress party of undermining the armed forces and demoralising the nation.

BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh said Channi's comments were an insult to the Army and the entire nation, and accused the Congress of aligning with Pakistan's narrative.

"This statement disrespects the unity, integrity, and divine power of the country," Chugh was quoted as saying by IANS.

Several other leaders, including Rajasthan Minister Jogaram Patel and Former Jammu Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta, also condemned Channis remarks, saying the language of Congress and Pakistan has become identical.

As the controversy raged, the Congress distanced itself from Channis remarks, saying they were his personal views.

"He was the Chief Minister, he must have known something. But today, what's happening in Kashmir, where 26 Hindu tourists were killed, shows that the Kashmir issue remains unresolved. There was no police presence, no intelligence, said Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Senior leader Harish Rawat said the Congress leadership stands firm in support of national unity and any action against terrorism."
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has dismissed a soldier from service after he allegedly concealed his marriage with a Pakistani woman.

According to the force, Munir Ahmed, who was last posted with the 41st battalion, was dismissed after his action was found to be detrimental to national security.

"Munir Ahmed has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national and knowingly harbouring her beyond the validity of her visa, CRPF spokesperson Deputy Inspector General (DIG) M Dhinakaran said.

"His actions were found to be in violation of service conduct and detrimental to national security," he added.

According to reports, Ahmed married Menal Khan over a video call on May 24 last year. The marriage came to light after India asked Pakistani nationals to leave the country as part of diplomatic measures taken in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

A probe conducted by the CRPF found that Ahmed failed to intimate the authorities his marriage with Menal and her overstaying in the country.

India has heightened security across the border after the Pahalgam attack in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists, lost their lives.

New Delhi has alleged role of Pakistan-based terrorists in the attack and took a slew of punitive measures against the neighbouring country, including suspension of the short term visas granted to Pakistani nationals.
With India banning all imports from Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reiterate the Centre's readiness to take decisive action against terrorists and their supporters.

Addressing a joint press statement with Angola President Joao Lourenco in New Delhi, PM Modi thanked him for condoling the deaths of Pahalgam victims and for expressing support for India's fight against terrorism. A total of 26 people were killed in the deadly attack.

Addressing the press meet with President Joao Lourenco of Angola. @jlprdeangola https://t.co/DVlVpOWhzp  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2025

Both countries believe that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity," Modi said, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Modi's address comes amid deteriorating ties with Pakistan as India stopped all imports from and through Pakistan. It also denied entry for Pakistani ships at Indian ports on Saturday. New Delhi has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and revoked the visas of Pakistani citizens.

India and Angola are marking the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. Pointing out the relationship of the two nations goes way back, Modi said, "When Angola was fighting for its freedom, India was standing beside it with faith and friendship".

The joint address comes as India nears $100 billion in trade with African nations in the past decade. New Delhi has also opened 17 embassies in various countries of the continent in the last 10 years. India held its first naval maritime exercise with African nations in April.

PM Modi said India has given $700 million in grants to African nations. "We've opened vocational training centres across 8 countries in Africa. We're aiding in building digital public infrastructure across five countries," the premier said.
Amid heightened tension along the border following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistani media and their proxy social media handles have launched a disinformation campaign against Indias armed forces officers.

The campaign was launched as New Delhi is weighing its response to the deadly attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, on April 22.

In the wake of Indias firm resolve to punish the perpetrators of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, several Pakistan-based media outlets and proxy social media handles have launched a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting senior Indian armed forces officers, a defence ministry official was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.

He said such malicious campaigns have once again exposed Islamabads habitual resort to fake narratives whenever confronted with the prospect of decisive Indian action.

The spokesperson noted that some of the Pakistani channels had alleged that Lieutenant General D.S. Rana, Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency, had been 'sacked' and exiled to the 'Kala Pani penal colony in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to operational lapses.

However, he said, Lieutenant General Rana has been promoted to the rank of a Commander-in-Chief, which means he is now elevated to a higher rank in the same appointment as DG DIA.

Similarly, Pakistani social media handles reported that Lieutenant General M.V. Suchindra Kumar was shunted out of Northern Command for security failures linked to the Pahalgam attack. In fact, Lieutenant General Kumar retired honourably on April 30 upon superannuation after nearly four decades of distinguished service, said the spokesperson.

In another malicious campaign, Pakistani social media accounts claimed that Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.P. Dharkar was dismissed for refusing to fight a war against Pakistan.

Air Marshal Dharkar completed his full tenure and superannuated on 30 April 2025, receiving a ceremonial guard-of-honour and paying homage at the National War Memorial, said the official.

India has blocked several Pakistani media websites and YouTube channels for allegedly publishing anti-India content. The social media accounts of several Pakistan-based celebrities have also been blocked.

The Pahalgam attack, the deadliest in the region in decades, has brought both India and Pakistan to the brink of a war, with New Delhi alleging cross-border links to the attack.

India has already taken a slew of punitive measures against the neighbouring country, including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and downgrading of diplomatic ties. On Saturday, India suspended all trade ties with Pakistan.
Indian troops responded "proportionately" on Friday as Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control and carried out unprovoked firing for the ninth consecutive night. Pakistan Army has been resorting to unprovoked firing in the aftermath Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

According to Indian Army authorities, Pakistani troops fired at Indian posts across the LoC in Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas on Friday night. "During the night of 02-03 May 2025, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked smallarms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately," Army officials said.

Pakistan's unprovoked firing at Indian posts began after India announced a series of diplomatic measures against the neighbouring country in the aftermath of gruesome terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. As many as 26 persons including 24 tourists from various states, a Nepali citizen and a local horse rider were killed in the attack.

India announced a raft of diplomatic steps against Pakistan including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, suspension of visas for Pakistan nationals and the closure of Attari border. India also declared defence advisors and their support staff at the Pakistan Embassy in Delhi as Persona Non Grata.

In retaliation, Pakistan also announced a series of measures against India including closure of its airspace for Indian airlines. Experts opine Pakistan has resorted to these cross-border firings after being rattled by condemnation of the attack by Pakistan-supported terrorists from most global leaders. Traditionally, firings from across the border were to aid terrorists to slip across into India especially when the snow melts, experts say.
In light of the terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam, Indias decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty in 'abeyance' signals a firm stance against cross-border aggression in the form of a dramatic shift in the regions hydropolitics.

Signed on September 19, 1960, by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Field Marshal Ayub Khan, under the auspices of the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) carefully delineates control over the Indus river system, granting India rights over the Eastern Rivers  Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, while reserving the Western Rivers  Indus, Jhelum and Chenab for Pakistan, with the former permitted limited usage for hydropower and irrigation. As the lower riparian in the Indus river system, Pakistan has long harboured deep-seated concerns over its water security, given Indias upstream position.

Notably, this is not the first instance where India has reconsidered the Indus Waters Treaty, in light of security concerns. Following the 2016 Uri attack, India threatened to revoke the treaty, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi declaring that blood and water cannot flow together.

Indias evolving stance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflects a broader strategic recalibration, not merely as a reaction to the recent terror attacks, but as part of a deliberate reassessment of the Indus Waters Treaty and its hydro-strategic leverage, proactively aligning water security, national interest, and diplomatic strategy.

After the Uri attack, India decided to restart the Tulbul project on the Jhelum river in the Kashmir Valley, previously suspended considering Pakistan's objections.

The mandatory annual meeting of the IWT commissioners had become irregular after the 2019 Pulwama attack and the last meeting took place in May 2022, indicating IWT's purpose of cooperation is lost except its arbitration part. At the meeting between the two commissioners of the Permanent Commission on Indus Waters (PCIW) in March 2022, Pakistan raised objections over 10 hydropower projects. Pakistan decided to invoke Article 9 of the IWT, which provides for the resolution of differences and disputes through various international forums of arbitration, over the 1,000MW Pakal Dal hydropower project on the Chenab river. It considers the design of the 330MW Kishanganga project on the Jhelum and the 850MW Ratle project on the Chenab, a violation of the Indus Water Treaty.

Dissatisfied with Pakistans protracted complaints process and the delays surrounding its Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects, India advocated for amending the IWT to enable swifter resolution of bilateral water disputes. On January 25, 2023, India formally notified Pakistan, demanding treaty modifications and accusing it of repeatedly acting against the spirit and objectives of the agreement. Pakistan, however, dismissed the prospect of abrogation, citing its lower riparian status and its critical dependence on the Indus river system. This diplomatic exchange signalled a significant shift in Indias stance, marking a turning point that set the stage for future escalations in water diplomacy.

Both countries meanwhile have been pursuing two different conflict-resolution options. The two processes were unleashed concurrently, whereby Pakistan took its case to the arbitration court in the Hague under Article IX of the treaty. India proceeded with the appointment of neutral experts. The IWTs clauses dealing with the appointment of neutral experts or the International Court of Arbitration and the honest brokers role for the World Bank are unique to IWT, and mostly absent in other regional transboundary water agreements.

Although the Treaty allocated three western rivers to Pakistan, India was entitled to draw up to 3.6 million acre-feet (MAF) from their waters. Yet, for decades, India refrained from constructing major storage dams, a stance that could be viewed either as an exercise in restraint or a missed opportunitydepending on perspective.

An assertive infrastructure strategy also aligns with India's entitlements under the treaty framework, in addition to catering for a rapidly expanding population and demand for a more efficient and sustainable energy strategy to meet future needs.

This recalibrated approach is evident in Indias major infrastructure projects aimed at fully utilizing its eastern rivers share. These include the Shahpur Kandi Dam on the Ravi river, completed in 2024, the Makaura Pattan barrage under the second Ravi-Beas link in Punjab, and the Ujh Dam project on the Ujh river in Jammu and Kashmir. The Shahpur Kandi barrage, long mired in political disputes, remained incomplete for years, allowing a significant portion of river Ravis waters to continue flowing into Pakistanuntil now. Despite being declared a national project in 2008, its construction faced repeated delays, and it was only after central intervention in 2018 that the deadlock was finally broken, paving the way for its long-awaited completion.

With the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage, waters of the Ravi, which had continued to flow into Pakistan, will instead irrigate farmland in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua and Samba districts. Additionally, the region will receive 20 per cent of the hydel power generated from the dams 206MW capacity.

These developments not only optimize Indias water entitlements under the treaty but also serve the agricultural and energy needs of Punjab and northern hill states, reinforcing India's push toward self-sufficiency and strategic resource management.

Pakistan has rejected Indias suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and reiterating its binding nature asserted that Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan as per the Indus Waters Treaty, and the usurpation of the rights of lower riparian will be considered as an Act of War.

Ismail Serageldins warning that the wars of the next century will be fought over water, resonates now more than ever. The aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack has thrust the Indus Waters Treaty into sharp focus, revealing its dual role as both a lifeline and a geopolitical instrument. While India cannot immediately block the flow of water, it does have the capacity to regulate it in ways that could harm Pakistans agriculture and economy. As Pakistan seeks World Bank intervention, India's decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty in 'abeyance' raises intricate legal dilemmas, exacerbated by the treatys lack of an exit clause. Beyond legal complexities and security concerns, the treaty demands institutional reassessment through the lenses of ecology and climate change, and as a potent force in shaping international relations.

While water remains an essential resource, Indias measured actions underscore its prerogative to safeguard national security and reassess agreements that no longer serve its interests in the current geopolitical landscape. By halting the unilateral concessions historically extended to Pakistan, India signals a shift toward a more assertive approach, reinforcing its commitment to self-preservation and equitable resource management on its terms.

These complexities underscore the strategic significance of hydro-diplomacy, reinforcing its intersection with national security.

Vaishali Basu Sharma is a security and economic affairs analyst.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the National Democratic Alliance for opposing the caste enumeration exercise earlier and urged the data must be used for genuine social reforms. Yadav added Centre has only acknowledged the oppositions position by making the landmark announcement.

In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, the former Bihar deputy chief minister said he is writing with a sense of cautious optimism. For years, your government and the NDA alliance have dismissed calls for a caste census as divisive and unnecessary. When Bihar took the initiative to conduct its own caste survey, central authorities including the top law officer of the government and your party created obstacles at every step, Yadav said.

My letter to PM Sh. @narendramodi Ji.



The decision to conduct the caste census can be a transformative moment in our nation's journey towards equality. The millions who have struggled for this census await not just data but dignity, not just enumeration but empowerment. pic.twitter.com/t2uszNfjOH  Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 3, 2025

Your belated decision represents an acknowledgement of the groundswell of demands from the citizens who have long been relegated to the margins of our society, Yadav added. The key INDIA bloc leader said the caste census survey conducted by the Bihar government revealed OBCs and EBCs constitute approximately 63 per cent of the states population, shattering many myths peddled to maintain the status quo.

Yadav said the census data must lead to a comprehensive review of reservation policies. He also upcoming delimitation exercise to determine Lok Sabha seats must be sensitive to the caste census data. Special provisions must be made for adequate political representation of OBCs and EBCs who have systematically been excluded from decision-making forums, he said.

Yadav said sufficient changes must be brought in private sector as well, who benefit from various incentives from the government. It is entirely reasonable to expect them to reflect the composition of our country. The context created by the caste census must be used to have open conversations about inclusivity and diversity in the private sector across organisational hierarchies, he said.

Saying the decision to conduct a caste census is a historic move, Yadav asked, Will the data be used as a catalyst for systemic reforms, or will it be confined to dusty archives like the many previous commission reports? The opposition leader from Bihar pledged constructive cooperation in utilizing the census data for genuine social transformation.
A ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists bound for Gaza was rocked by explosions and engulfed in flames early on May 2 while in international waters off the coast of Malta. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the group operating the vessel, said the ship was targeted by armed drones in what they called a deliberate and unlawful attack.

The vessel, named Conscience, was en route to pick up additional activists in Malta before continuing its journey to Gaza, more than 1,000 miles away. The FFC alleges the ship was attacked at 12:23am Maltese time, resulting in a fire and a serious breach to the hull.

Although no casualties were reported, the vessel was temporarily disabled and at risk of sinking before a tug boat responded to a mayday call and extinguished the blaze.

1 Puede Israel atacar con drones un barco civil en aguas internacionales y que no pase absolutamente nada?



Eso ha ocurrido esta madrugada con el Conscience, un buque humanitario rumbo a Gaza. Y te lo estan ocultando.



 pic.twitter.com/or2bpG0Opl  Spanish Revolution (@Spanish_Revo) May 2, 2025

The government of Malta put out a statement saying that 16 people12 crew members and four civilian passengerswere aboard the 68-foot vessel. The FFC had claimed that as many as 30 people were on board. The Maltese army said the fire was brought under control and that all those aboard were safe, though officials were still monitoring the situation closely.

While the FFC squarely blamed Israel for the attack, no direct evidence has yet been provided linking the strike to the Israeli military. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have declined to comment on the allegations. Nonetheless, the FFC has called for Israeli ambassadors to be summoned and held accountable for what it claims is a violation of international law.

Adding to the intrigue, a C-130 Hercules aircraft belonging to the Israeli Air Force was observed flying to and from Malta hours before the incident. According to flight-tracking data, the aircraft flew at a low altitude over eastern Malta but did not land at the islands main airport. It returned to Israel roughly seven hours later. The IDF also declined to comment on the presence of the aircraft.

Images posted on social media by the FFC showed the ship ablaze and indicated that the strike may have targeted the vessels generator, cutting off power and further endangering the crew. The Cypriot authorities later released photos showing significant damage to the hull, although there has been no independent verification that drones caused the explosion.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition describes itself as an international network of pro-Palestinian activists campaigning against Israels blockade of Gaza by means of non-violent direct action. The organisation previously attempted to breach the blockade in 2010, when Israeli forces stormed the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people onboard. A tenth died in 2014 after years in a coma.

Greta Thunberg and retired US Army Colonel Mary Ann Wright were among the activists due to join the Conscience in Malta. Speaking to reporters, Thunberg confirmed she had intended to board the vessel on May 2. This attack caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission, she said. This is one of many attempts to open up a humanitarian corridor and challenge Israels illegal siege on Gaza.

Turkeys foreign ministry condemned the alleged attack, confirming that Turkish nationals were among the passengers and demanding a full investigation. We condemn in the strongest terms this attack on a civilian ship, it said, adding that all necessary efforts will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The incident comes as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. Aid agencies warn that remaining stocks of food and medicine are nearly depleted. The International Committee of the Red Cross yesterday that without immediate access to supplies, its operations would cease. Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected, the organisation urged.

Hospitals are rationing remaining medicines and prioritising the most critical cases. Chronic disease treatments are almost unobtainable, and community kitchens are being forced to shut down.

In a press briefing from Gaza, a UN spokesperson described scenes of desperation, with people fighting over water as public services collapse. In fact, as I speak to you, just 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, said Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office (OCHA), underscoring the devastating impact of the blockade and the urgency of aid access.
With the fourth round of Iran-US talks over Tehrans nuclear programme postponed, uncertainty looms large over achieving a constructive deal. Even though the dialogues were taking place, tensions have also been simmering between both nations.

Logistical reasons have been cited for postponing the talks, scheduled to be held on Saturday (May 3). The first round of talks took place in Muscat, the second in Rome and the third was held again in Muscat on April 26.

US President Donald Trump has stressed his aim that he wanted to prevent Iran from making any nuclear weapons. However, Iran has framed its nuclear programme as a civilian energy project.

Iran has said that it has every right to enrich uranium under the terms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that several NPT members 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.

The next round of the talks would be depending on the US approach, Iran said after the postponement, which came after the US imposed fresh sanctions on companies linked to Tehran.

There were also reports that Iran has described growing doubt about the usefulness of these talks as, on one side, the US continues to impose sanctions under Trump's 'maximum pressure' policy towards Tehran.

Iran has accused the US of "contradictory behaviour" with the imposition of new sanctions.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Iran has to "walk away" from uranium enrichment and also 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," said Rubio in an interview with Fox News.

However, Iran has made its stand clear that it would not give up its missile programme or uranium enrichment.

Rubio said that 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.

On Thursday, Trump 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.

However, the foreign ministry said that Iran would not tolerate approaches based on threats and pressure.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Iran remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said during a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Trend reports.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran retains the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under the framework of the NPT and is determined to continue uranium enrichment in line with that right.

The FM added that Iran continues its diplomatic efforts to resolve the artificially created concerns around its peaceful nuclear program. The country expects other parties to refrain from raising issues that fall outside the scope of the NPT and contradict its provisions. There should be confidence that sanctions will be effectively lifted and that Irans economy will benefit as a result.

"The inconsistent behavior and statements by US officials regarding threats against Iran and the continuation of sanctions, which, he said, have only deepened mistrust in the seriousness of the US about pursuing diplomacy," he said.

The Iranian diplomat noted that over the past year, several rounds of dialogue were held between Iran and three European countriesthe UK, France, and Germanyindicating Irans readiness to continue mutual engagement with European counterparts. He expressed hope that these countries would adopt a constructive strategy aimed at resolving disputes through peaceful means.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed Irans stance and underlined the importance of continuing the ongoing indirect talks between Iran and the US on the nuclear issue until a resolution is reached.

Three rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US regarding Irans nuclear program were held on April 12, 19, and 26. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Less than two months after the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) rattled Pakistan by hijacking the Jaffar Express, reports have now emerged that the rebels have now taken control of Mangocher city in Balochistan.

The Baloch rebel outfit has reportedly captured government offices and has taken military personnel hostage. Reports suggested that BLA killed four private guards of former Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove, whom the rebels referred to as a pawn of the Pakistan army and the ISI. The fresh wave of violence in the restive province has sparked worries of a full-blown civil war in cash-strapped Pakistan.

This comes after the BLA killed Muhammad Nawaz, an agent of Pakistan's spy agency ISI, in the Pasni region on April 28. Nawaz was reportedly working undercover with the state-backed death squad agents. The group also targeted army and police vehicles and blocked the national highway.

Mangocher city in Kalat district of Balochistan is a little over a 100 km from Quetta, the provincial capital. Mangocher saw violence in 2022 when unidentified individuals opened fire on civilians, claiming the life a person while another was wounded. BLA was believed to be behind the attack, though there was no official confirmation.

The latest attack in Balochistan comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan over Islamabad's alleged involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. A total of 26 people were killed in the attack by terrorists belonging to The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Recently, Pakistan claimed that its security forces killed 54 militants who tried to enter the country in North Waziristan from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, India has strengthened its diplomatic ties with the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan recently. Anand Prakash, the joint secretary in the MEA's Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran division, held talks with Aghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul on April 27, less than a week after the deadly attack in Pahalgam.
Six individuals suspected to be involved in the deadly Pahalgam terror attack have reportedly travelled to Sri Lanka on Saturday. It is not clear if the suspects are directly involved in the April 22 attack or whether they indirectly helped the terrorists carry out the attack.

The suspects were said to have flown from Chennai to Colombo on a Sri Lankan Airlines flight.

Following a tip-off from the Indian authorities, Sri Lankan authorities have launched a search operation at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The operation is being carried out jointly by the Sri Lankan police, air force and the security units at the airport.

Sri Lankan Airlines revealed the Flight UL 122 operated by aircraft 4R-ALS landed in Colombo at 11.59 am on Saturday morning. The airline said the flight underwent a comprehensive security search following an alert from the Chennai Area Control Centre.

The deadly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam claimed lives of 26 people. The Resistance Front, a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, is said to be behind the attack.

Security forces have been carrying out a search and cordon operation to find the perpetrators. One of the key accused, Hashim Musa, is a former Pakistani para-commando who later became an operative of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Earlier reports revealed that the four terrorists who opened fire at innocent civilians in Pahalgam are still in South Kashmir. They are believed to be self-reliant with food supplies and other provisions, allowing them to stay in forests without outside help.

The attackers reportedly recced four tourist spots in the Union Territory, inlcuding Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Baisaran Valley and an amusement park. With the three other areas under intense security surveillance, the terrorists decided to carry out the attack in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam.

Earlier reports revealed that the four terrorists who opened fire at innocent civilians in Pahalgam are still in South Kashmir. They are believed to be self-reliant with food supplies and other provisions, allowing them to stay in forests without outside help.

The attackers reportedly recced four tourist spots in the Union Territory, inlcuding Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Baisaran Valley and an amusement park. With the three other areas under intense security surveillance, the terrorists decided to carry out the attack in Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam.
Indian-origin FBI Director Kash Patel has recently come under fire after a former bureau official alleged that Patel had been spending more time at nightclubs than at work.

In a televised conversation on Friday with Joe Scarborough and Jonathan Lamaire, host of MSNBC's chat show 'Morning Joe', former counter-intelligence official Frank Figliuzzi explained that Patel's disappearances were becoming a bit too common at the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington D.C.the headquarters of the FBI.

Reportedly, hes been visible at nightclubs far more than he has been on the seventh floor of the Hoover building, he said, claiming that the Trump administration's prized pick for the FBI had driven it to a state of chaos, having changed the frequency of his briefingsfrom daily to biweeklyand constantly travelling back and forth from Washington to his house in Las Vegas. Reports suggest that he also works from home more often.

Now an author, Figliuzzi is a veteran law enforcement agent, who was appointed as the Assistant Director of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division by Robert Mueller (then the Director of the FBI) in 2011, where he served 25 years as a special agent, having directed numerous espionage investigations.

So this is both a blessing and a curse, because if hes really trying to run things without his experience, without any experience level, things could be bad. If hes not plugged in, things could be bad. But hes allowing agents to run things so we dont know where this is going ... the one word that keeps coming back at me from inside is that the building is chaos, he explained.

Figliuzzi's allegations come in the wake of a formal request made to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) by Senate Democrats, requesting a review of the FBI Director's personal flights with government aircraft, as per a CBS News report, citing GAO and congressional sources. Patel also faces backlash for his controversial move to have the FBI perform polygraph tests on agents to pinpoint the unauthorised release of information to journalists.

With Patel already under the lens for his flight records and controversial polygraph system, it is only a matter of time before FBI and/or government officials probe his questionable behaviour too.
Shortly before the Pahalgam massacre, Pakistans Army Chief General Asim Munir reiterated two-nation theory in his abrasive speech that stressed on the irreconcilability between Hindus and the Muslims. His statements stirred a debate on both, the present-day relevance of the idea of Pakistan and his reasons for choosing the Overseas Pakistani Convention as a platform to share his thoughts. Firstly, as Pakistan remains embattled with domestic challenges, Munirs speech, contrarily seemed to address Pakistans ethnic and regional fault-lines that are no longer distracted by anti-India rhetoric. Secondly, the memories of Imran Khan-led insurrection in May 2023 remain fresh in the Armys institutional memory. The Army is desperate to mend ties with the overseas Pakistani community, which had long been captivated by Khans charisma.

It would not be wrong to attribute the gruesome killings in Pahalgam, that claimed 28 innocent lives, to Munirs provocative statements. After all, the victims were targeted based on their religious identities. Besides similar such killings in the past (Chittisinghpora being a prime example), they also remind us of the tribal invasion of 1947, which unleashed a widespread massacre of non-locals by religious zealots with the aim of forcefully annexing Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan.

Speaking to an international news channel shortly after the Pahalgam killings, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif justified the support for terror outfits as dirty work for the US and the West that was forced on Pakistan for decades. Though a not new admission, it sought to drag the international community to sympathise with Pakistans alleged inability to control rogue elements and even share part of the blame with the West for pushing it into extremism.

Though a common rhetoric used by Pakistani generals and politicians in their conversations with the western media, such accusations discount the centrality of fundamentalism in states political trajectory since its creation. Beginning with the tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir that sought to galavanise the national mood against India, fundamentalists were quick at identifying the Ahmadiyyas as their existential enemies, resulting in the first ever anti-Ahmadiyya riots of Lahore in 1953. In fact, only a day after Munirs speech, a member of Ahmadiyya community was lynched by a mob in Karachi.

Ironic as it may sound, Munirs stress on Muslim-Hindu difference comes at a time when millions of Pashtuns and Afghan refugees are being forcefully deported to Afghanistan along with ongoing military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Pakistan Armys decision to expel them stems from the resurgence of the TTP, much against the high hopes from the Afghan Taliban to act against the group. Pakistans periodic air strikes on the Afghan soil on the pretext of eliminating terrorists indicates its frustration with the Afghan Taliban regime and the impossibility of controlling the TTPs growing menace. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, the TTP emerged as one of the worlds top four deadliest organisations.

In neighbouring Balochistan, the states incarceration of peaceful activists and accompanying internet shutdown across the province reveals deep insecurities on the growing popularity of the new generation of activists. Pakistani authorities were quick to blame India for the recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express, while failing to acknowledge the swelling numbers of highly educated Baloch youth taking up arms. The new face of Baloch resentment is no longer confined to the tribal chieftains; it embraces cosmopolitanism and possesses a deep knowledge of the Baloch history.

The last few years have witnessed a convergence of voices from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that question the growing militarisation and the virtual absence of civilian institutions. As a result, the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), that united the entire Pashtun community through peaceful means, stands banned. The Baloch Yakjehati Committee faces similar challenges, with its leader Mahrang Baloch behind the bars. It is also worth noting that time and again, the military and civilian leadership have demonstrated their willingness to negotiate with the TTP, while having zero-tolerance for peaceful activists.

The resentment in KP and Balochistan begs a larger question tied with their complicated integration into Pakistan in 1947.While the state continues to address these problems through more militarisation and surveillance, such policies only reopen uncomfortable questions on the ideological foundations of Pakistan. Added to this is Pakistans over-reliance on Chinese megaprojects and the CPEC, and the accompanying promise to emancipate the region from the politico-economic crisis.

General Munirs speech may have rightly served its role to an echo chamber comprising of his fellow colleagues and mainstream political parties scrambling for the Armys attention, but his reiteration of the two-nation theory may not find any sympathy with the civil society or the masses of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Balochistan.

The author holds PhD in Modern History from the University of Oxford
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese secured a historic comeback victory for his Labor Party in the federal elections on Saturday, becoming the first prime ministerin more than two decadesto win a second consecutive three-year term.

Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way, looking after each other while building for the future, Albanese told supporters in a victory speech in Sydney.

We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people, he added.

Dutton's Liberals had been leading in opinion polls as recently as February as voters blamed the government for cost of living pressures, food insecurity and a housing crisis, as per a Reuters report.

Amid similar political circumstances in the election of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneyas a repsonse to global backlash against US President Donald Trump's administration stylePeter Dutton, leader of the conservative Liberal party, lost his own parliamentary seat and conceded defeat to Albanese, promising to rebuild.

"We didn't do well enough during this campaign. That much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that," Dutton said in a televised speech.

Earlier on, I called the prime minister to congratulate him on his success tonight. Its an historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that, he added.

ALSO READ | For all Canadians: Ex-banker Mark Carney achieves historic PM win, defies Trump in landmark federal elections

While both sides recognised Australia's cost-of-living crisis and climate change, Labor wished to use more renewable resources on the path to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, whereas the Liberals were more in favour of cutting one in five public service jobs to fund nuclear energy usage, so as to to attain the same sustainability goal.

These radical differences in approaching common goals, in light of the global impact of the Trump administration, prompted comparisons of whom the Labor party called 'DOGE-y Dutton' to Trumpand his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Dutton's Liberals highlighted the negative impact that the Trump comparisons had on the elections in both Australia and Canada, with party spokesman, Senator James Paterson terming this phenomenon the Trump effect, in an interview with ABC.

It was devastating in Canada for the conservatives ... I think it has been a factor here, just how big a factor will be determined in a few hours' time, he said.
A day after a retired Bangladeshi major general suggested that Bangladesh should capture India's Northeastern states in the event of a war between New Delhi and Islamabad, Dhaka has distanced itself from the veteran's shocking remarks.

Retired army officer ALM Fazlur Rahman said Dhaka should join hands with Beijing to capture India's Northeast. India is yet to respond to the rhetoric.

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman, Chairman of the Yunus Government's Commission on BDR Mutiny and Killings of 2009, made the following comment on his Facebook.



If #India attacks #Pakistan, #Bangladesh should invade and occupy India's seven northeastern states. In my pic.twitter.com/HvJufPs33l  Mohammad A. Arafat (@MAarafat71) May 2, 2025

However, the interim Bangladesh government headed by Muhammad Yunus soon turned to damage control mode by distancing itself from the remarks of the retired military officer. Yunus's press adviser Shafiqul Alam said Rahman's remarks were "expressed solely in a personal capacity" and did not reflect the government's views.

"...the government neither endorses nor shares such rhetoric in any form or manner," said a statement.

Who is ALM Fazlur Rahman?

ALM Fazlur Rahman is a retired major general who headed the Border Guards Bangladesh (formerly Bangladesh Rifles). The Yunus government had earlier picked Rahman to head the National Independent Commission that is investigating the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles mutiny.

ALSO READ: No 'hug diplomacy'? PM Modi greets Muhammad Yunus with a handshake and cold shoulders

The sharp rhetoric from India's eastern neighbour comes days after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The attack was carried out by The Resistance Front, a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. India has vowed to take retaliatory action against Pakistan over its alleged support for terrorists operating on its soil.

The Centre has already suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and revoked visas of Pakistani nationals in India. Recently, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had urged the Narendra Modi government to suspend the Ganga Water Treaty to Bangladesh, calling the 1996 treaty flawed. The treaty is set to expire in 2026 and Dhaka has been asking for more water during dry season as part of negotiations to renew the agreement.

The remarks by the retired Bangladeshi army official comes weeks after Yunus commented that India's Northeast is "landlocked" and that Dhaka is the "guardian of the ocean" for the region.

Responding to Yunus, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India's Northeast region is the connectivity hub for BIMSTEC with rail, road, water and pipeline networks. PM Modi also responded to his comments, saying India's Northeast is at the heart of the BIMSTEC.
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.

Carneys 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.

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 governments 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 Canadas 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.

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 shouldnt go to Washington, because he risks Trump insulting Canada and him too.

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.

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 Canadas strategy with the Americans.

I am in politics to do big things, not to be something, Carney said.

(AP)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a security assessment on Friday before the start of Shabbos, at which a decision was made to significantly expand the military operaton in Gaza in light of the failure to reach a new hostage release deal with Hamas.

The plans do not include the conquest of the entire Strip, but rather a significant step up in military activity, with the hope that increased military pressure will create leverage for a hostage release deal.

The IDF is preparing to call up tens of thousands of reservists beginning on Sunday.

According to a Ynet report, half of the reservists will be deployed to the Gaza Strip and half will be sent to other fronts such as the northern border or Yehudah and Shomron to replace the regular brigades there, who will lead the new offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The plans are expected to be approved during a security cabinet meeting on Sunday.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. A credible and durable agreement on Iran's nuclear program is within reach, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on his official X page, Trend reports.

Araghchi stated that achieving such an agreement requires only strong political will and a fair approach.

"I generally refrain from airing arguments on key negotiation elements through the media.

What I will say is that repeating falsehoods will not change basic facts. As a founding signatory to the NPT, Iran has every right to possess the full nuclear cycle. Moreover, there are several NPT members that 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.

A credible and durable agreement is within reach. All it takes is firm political will and a fair attitude," the post reads.

Three rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US regarding Irans nuclear program were held on April 12, 19, and 26. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Missile alert sirens blared in several locations in Israel at about 6:30 a.m. on Shabbos morning, including Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Modiin, the Negev, and the Dead Sea area.

The missile, launched by the Houthis in Yemen, was successfully intercepted by Israels missile defense forces.

A 26-year-old man was lightly injured while rushing to a protected area.

The Houthis launched two missiles at northern Israel on Friday.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
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You don't have to pay through the roof for a decent internet connection. It's possible to find the best fibre broadband deals for you by comparing providers today.

Fibre broadband is faster than traditional copper connections  and the good news is that most UK households can now get this type of internet.

What's more, major broadband providers often battle to win customers by offering big bonuses to encourage you to switch.

Incentives range from gift vouchers to bill credit, with Vodafone handing out a whopping 125 in gift cards on one of its packages. But be quick, because these deals wont hang around forever.

Compare fibre broadband deals: Here are our top picks

Before taking out a broadband deal, read the terms and conditions and find out about any mid-contract price rises. Some deals come with incentives which aren't around forever, so if you want to take advantage of rewards like gift cards and vouchers, check when you have to act by and read the small print. You'll need to use the links below to receive the incentives.

Best broadband deal with free gift  Vodafone Full Fibre 150 with 125 gift card*

Price: 26 a month

26 a month Length: 24 months

24 months Set-up cost: 0

0 Incentive ends: 7 July 2025

Vodafone's offering a huge 125 gift card to spend at Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S and Amazon that you'll receive after you sign up for its Full Fibre 150 package. But be quick, because you have to complete your purchase by the end of the day on 7 July.

If you want and can get faster internet, check out Vodafone's Full Fibre 500 package*, which costs 32 a month for 24 months and comes with a 120 gift card.

Next top broadband deal with free gift  Sky Full Fibre 500 with 80 gift card*

Price: 31 a month

Length: 24 months

Set-up cost: 0

Incentive ends: 10 July 2025

You can get an 80 gift card from Sky to spend at the likes of Tesco, M&S and Currys when signing up to its fast Full Fibre 500 package.

It competes on price with Vodafone's deal for the same speed, so it's worth considering as an alternative option.

Top pick for no mid-contract price rises  YouFibre Full Fibre Broadband (You 150) with 45 cashback*

Price: 23.99 a month

23.99 a month Length: 18 months

18 months Set-up cost: 0

0 Incentive ends: 6 July 2025

If YouFibre is available in your area, this is a great value package for speeds of 150Mbps, plus you get 45 cashback until 6 July.

We also like that the contract length is 18 months, meaning you aren't locked in for as long as most other providers. What's more YouFibre promises no mid-contract price rises, so 23.99 is the price you'll pay each month for the whole term.

Best of the rest: broadband deals without closing dates

Best cheap broadband deal - NOW TV Full Fibre 75*

Price: 23 a month

23 a month Length: 24 months

24 months Set-up cost: 0

NOW TV is operated by Sky, so this contract should be widely available. This is a good deal for full fibre broadband, at a speed thats fast enough for everyday use.

Best deal for cheap fast broadband  Hyperoptic, 500Mb Fibre Connection*

Price: 25 a month

25 a month Length: 24 months

24 months Set-up cost: 0

If your area can get faster speeds, check out Hyperoptic. This provider isnt available everywhere, only covering areas in London and larger cities at the moment. But if you can get it, its packages are competitive.

Best broadband deal with TV  Sky Stream, Essential TV, Netflix & Full Fibre 75 Broadband*

Price: 35 a month

35 a month Length: 24 months

24 months Set-up cost: 0

Skys Essential TV package includes Sky Atlantic, Netflix and Discovery+. The monthly bill is the same for 75Mbps, 150Mbps or 300Mbps, which is great news for those who want and can get faster speeds.

Find the fastest and cheapest broadband - and see if you can save Broadband, TV and phone contracts are notoriously sticky, with customers often allowing deals to run on for many years while providers raise prices. But it may be possible for you to get faster broadband, a better TV package and an improved phone deal, while saving money each month. It is always worth comparing prices to see if you can save - particularly as the cost of living crisis bites. This is Money has partnered with Broadband Choices to offer readers the chance to easily search for the best and cheapest deals for their broadband, mobile and TV. > Can you save? Compare broadband, TV and phone deals

Is it worth switching broadband supplier?

Its worth comparing broadband providers if youre reaching the end of your contract. Switching suppliers can bag you:

a cheaper deal

faster internet

a competitive bundled package (for example with TV and streaming services included)

free gifts and incentives to move

improved service

Youll be shunted to a rolling contract when your existing one expires  and it's likely the provider will hike your monthly bill. Internet providers bank on customers not taking any action in this situation, so you should check whether you can get a better deal elsewhere.

Keep in mind your broadband supplier must tell you when you're reaching the end of your contract and what alternative deals they have available. Moving to one of these in good time means youll avoid hefty out-of-contract prices.

How to change broadband supplier

Its now straightforward to switch broadband through one touch switching. Once youve found a new deal, give the new internet provider your details, including your address and current provider.

Your old provider should send you information to help you decide whether you want to continue with the switch. If you do, the providers will arrange for this to happen on your preferred switching date.

If something goes wrong you may be entitled to compensation. For example, you cant be left without internet for more than one working day during the switch, under Ofcoms rules.

Can I get fibre broadband?

Your internet speed is determined by the type of broadband connection you have. The slowest type of broadband is Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), which runs on copper phone lines.

Full fibre runs completely on fibre optic cables and is the fastest, but not every household can get full fibre currently.

Heres where availability stands right now:

Most UK households can get ADSL broadband. While its the slowest type of broadband, its widely available, so remote and rural locations can still get connected. ADSL speeds generally reach 21Mbps (megabits per second).

While its the slowest type of broadband, its widely available, so remote and rural locations can still get connected. ADSL speeds generally reach 21Mbps (megabits per second). Most UK households can get part-fibre broadband. This broadband can reach speeds of around 76Mbps. Its known as fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) broadband. Your homes linked to a cabinet on your street by a copper cable, with the cabinet then connected to the broadband exchange by a fibre optic cable.

This broadband can reach speeds of around 76Mbps. Its known as fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) broadband. Your homes linked to a cabinet on your street by a copper cable, with the cabinet then connected to the broadband exchange by a fibre optic cable. 69 per cent of UK households can get full-fibre broadband. This is called fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband, because the fibre optic cable is connected directly to your home. Speeds can reach 1Gbps (gigabits per second). Telecoms regulator Ofcom wants full fibre rolled out to almost the whole country by 2027.

Use Ofcoms postcode checker to find out what broadband is available in your area.

What speed broadband do I need?

The best broadband for you wont necessarily be the fastest. You might end up paying for speeds you dont need  it depends on what internet you can get in your area, how many people are in your household, what you each use the internet for and how many people are using the internet at any one time.

Many households now use the internet for much more than browsing the internet and sending email. Network provider Openreach says households with no more than four people should find download speeds of around 50-76Mbps enough for basic internet use plus streaming, working from home and video calls.

If you throw gaming, 4K streaming or using virtual reality in the mix  or there are more than four people in the house  you may benefit from faster speeds. You can find full fibre broadband deals offering speeds of up to 1Gbps (gigabits per second) from providers including BT, Vodafone and Virgin Media.

What is the average internet speed in the UK?

In 2024 the average internet speed in the UK was 223Mbps, according to Ofcoms Connected Nations report. This was up from 170Mbps in 2023.

Stream easy: a solid internet connection keeps streaming stable...but won't solve arguments about what to watch

How to haggle for a deal from your current internet provider

If youre coming to the end of your broadband contract or are out of contract already, it's often possible to get cheaper internet by negotiating with your current provider.

It may be worth haggling when youre still under contract, but your options will be far more limited. Being able to switch without penalty puts you in a stronger position for haggling. When youre under contract, you probably wont be able to leave without paying exit fees. This can be expensive, because it usually involves paying for the remaining months of your contract.

Here are our tips on how to haggle broadband:

1. Check your mid-contract price hike

Broadband providers raise prices in March or April each year. If your provider tries to hike your monthly bill by more than you agreed to, you have a right to leave within 30 days without penalty, so review your contract to make sure its increasing by the right amount.

2. Compare broadband deals when your contract is ending

When haggling, it pays to be prepared. The best time to compare deals is a few weeks before your contract is due to expire. If you find cheaper internet than your providers offering and it's the speed you want, note the prices down, contact your provider and ask them to match what youve found.

Dont take the first offer  your provider will have a dedicated team that can authorise better deals.

3. Be persistent

When you contact your provider at the end (or out) of your contract and say you want to switch because youve found a better deal elsewhere, youll usually be put through to its retentions department. This teams job is to make sure customers stick with the provider.

The trick is to stay calm, civil and persistent. Dont let the price you'll be happy with slip  it can harm your position. If youre broadly happy with your provider, say your bill is your biggest sticking point. But if you don't have any success initially, hammer home any issues youve had. Are you getting the advertised speeds? Is the Wi-Fi connection strong enough? If not, these are all bargaining chips you can haggle with.

4. Consider extras  but only if you need them

Your provider may be more willing to throw in gifts, extras or add-ons rather than drastically reduce the price. Dont be rushed into accepting these  they can sound tempting, but you may end up with something you didnt really need.

In the same way, think about whether you really need everything youre paying for currently. For example, reducing your speed could make your internet cheaper, and ask about deals without extras added.

5. Be willing to switch

Dont rush to accept a deal. Tell your provider you need time to think about it, or you need to discuss the offer with someone else first  whether thats your partner, housemate or children.

If you aren't happy with their offer, the final trick up your sleeve should be to go ahead with switching to a cheaper deal.

Luckily switching broadband provider is the simplest its ever been. In 2024 Ofcom introduced one touch switching. You just need to give the provider you want to switch to your details and they can kickstart the process.

Answers to common questions about broadband

Do you need a landline for broadband?

No, many providers allow you to take out a broadband-only deal. While your home may still be connected to the internet in part by a copper phone line, you dont always need to take out a home phone service or pay for calls. In this situation, your monthly price will reflect the cost of renting the phone line for a broadband-only service.

Full fibre, cable, satellite and mobile broadband connections arent delivered through a copper phone line, so you wont need a landline if you can get these types of internet.

What is the best broadband in my area?

The best broadband is subjective because it depends on your households needs. But you can find your best deal by entering your address into a comparison tool, which should give you an idea of the packages available in your area.

Ofcoms latest statistics suggest that out of the major providers, customers are most satisfied with Plusnet for overall service and internet speeds.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 3. Iran's primary objective in indirect nuclear negotiations with the US is to safeguard its national interests, said Ali Larijani, Senior Advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Trend reports.

Speaking at a recent event in Tehran, Larijani asserted that discussions would only continue if they aligned with Iran's strategic goals. He stated that if the country's interests are not secured, there is no point in continuing them.

Larijani also reiterated Iran's commitment to peaceful nuclear energy and adherence to agreed frameworks. However, he cautioned that the US should not expect Iran to compromise on its rights or be pressured into unfavorable terms.

Commenting on the sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, Larijani noted that the pressure on Iran extends beyond the nuclear issue and encompasses a range of political and economic dimensions.

Three rounds of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US regarding Irans nuclear program were held on April 12, 19, and 26. These discussions, conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, involved Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi leading the Iranian delegation, while the US delegation was led by the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff. The first and 3rd rounds took place in Muscat, Oman, while the 2nd round was held in Rome, Italy.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Today proved historic as thousands gathered along a procession to pay their respects to KCFD paramedic hero Graham Hoffman.

The roundup . . .



Colleagues and those close to Hoffman remember him as compassionate, outgoing and courageous. His story has been shared by thousands around the country and fundraisers have raised more than $300,000 for his family. Friends, family and the community continued their celebration of Hoffman and his legacy on Friday with a funeral and procession.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Loved ones, community celebrate life of Kansas City paramedic Graham Hoffman Loved ones, first responders and many others in the community are honoring the life of Kansas City paramedic Graham Hoffman, who was killed in the line of duty.

Kansas City, Kansas firefighter recovering after fainting at first responder's funeral The firefighter, who has not been named publicly, was hospitalized but remains in good condition as of Friday evening.

'It shakes you': Procession bystander calls for more accountability after Graham Hoffman's murder Austin Casel, who watched the procession for murdered Kansas City, Missouri, firefighter paramedic Graham Hoffman along U.S. 71 on Friday, May 2, 2025, called for more accountability to halt violence.

Fallen firefighter paramedic Graham Hoffman remembered at somber service Inside Pleasant Valley Church, beneath a row of funeral floral arrangements, a set of Kansas City Fire Department turnout gear rested alongside a photograph of a young man with a smile that exuded light.

People share stories about Graham Hoffman outside of Station 42 As people lined the street outside Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department's Station 42, KSHB 41 found a few people with memories of their interactions with Graham Hoffman.

Developing . . .
Lots of stuff to cover for constant readers and our late night friends as we check pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Home Team Backslide

Former Royals come back to haunt powder blue boys in 3-0 loss to Orioles Ryan O'Hearn and Emmanuel Rivera granted the Orioles the win.

Payback Life Lesson

Kansas City-area professional answers questions surrounding student loan confusion After years of deferments, forbearances and court rulings on student loans following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Federal Student Aid announced it will resume collections.

The Dotte Awaits Beaver Nuggets

Construction set to begin on first Buc-ee's store in Kansas Construction is set to start within the next month on the first Buc-ee's convenience store and gas station in Kansas.

Fed Cuts Confront Low-End

'It's devastating': Kansas City, Missouri, children's nonprofit loses AmeriCorps grant The Emmanuel Family & Child Development Center is the latest entity to feel the effects of federal cuts. This time, it's to the center's AmeriCorps program.

Dead-Tree Proves Descriptive

Live rats, chunky milk, smelly meat: Kansas City area restaurant inspections These Kansas City, Missouri food businesses in Midtown, the Northeast and Waldo include Jay's Grocery and Restaurant and Reflections Kitchen and Kocktails.

Old School Celeb Endures

Valerie Bertinelli, 65, reveals her REAL SIZE after bikini snaps Fans were quick to comment that she 'looks good at any size' and is 'more beautiful than ever.' Another said: 'Still a beauty!' The 65-year-old looked radiant in the tiny two piece.

MAGA Trade War Payout

Trump's April tariff revenue topped $17 billion. That dwarfs any haul from his first term. The amount collected from President Trump's tariffs nearly doubled in April, dwarfing the smaller spikes in government tariff revenue seen during Trump's first term.

Not Much Progress . . .

Democrats face 'major wake-up call' as Trump trounces them in polling Despite his declining approval ratings and record-low popularity, recent polls show Donald Trump continues to be trusted more than the Democratic Party.

Tesla Takes Ur Data . . .

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let DOGE access Social Security systems The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to clear the way for Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to access Social Security systems containing personal data on millions of Americans.

Economic Fight Against Vlad?!?

Exclusive: US readies Russia sanctions over Ukraine, unclear if Trump will sign, sources say U.S. officials have finalized new economic sanctions against Russia, including banking and energy measures, to intensify pressure on Moscow to embrace U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to end its war on Ukraine, according to three U.S. officials and a source familiar with the issue.

White House Confronts Americans Worried About Recession

Trump says short-term recession OK: "This is a transition period" When asked if he were worried about a recession, Trump said: "Anything can happen."

Local Good Life Debuts?!?

Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Showroom Grand Opening - IN Kansas City Magazine On Thursday, April 24, Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City celebrated the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art showroom at 9510 W. 67th Street in Merriam, Kansas. The event marked a significant milestone for the dealership, formerly known as Aristocrat Mercedes-Benz, as it unveiled its rebranded identity and relocated facility designed to enhance the luxury automotive experience....

Hipster Westside Weekend Taste



Eat This Now: Street tacos at Ricos Tacos "Lupe" Ricos Tacos "Lupe" // Photo by Sarah Sipple Best street tacos I've had. That's it-article over. Fine, I'll elaborate. On a Southwest Blvd. block brimming with eateries, Ricos Tacos "Lupe" rests subtly behind an orange exterior with a glass door. A few picnic tables out front extend seating for the small restaurant.

Sun Comes Out . . .

Kansas City weather: Sunshine returns for the weekend Spotty showers and storms stick around Friday evening, but they will clear out for Saturday and Sunday.

Maroon 5 - Priceless ft. LISA was the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Academic Clint Smith in Maryland, in an image courtesy of the author. Carletta Girma

My grandfathers grandfather was enslaved. This is how writer and academic Clint Smith, 36, begins the epilogue of his book How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America.

The ties to that history arent so far in the past, yet those in power have been quick to overlook the deep human tragedy of slavery. Smith examines street names and questions the figures behind the monuments of New Orleans, New York, and Dakar in an effort to trace the roots of inequality.

Traffickers and politicians appear within the pages of a book that invites readers to unravel the unanswered questions of a history that was never written by the oppressed.

With a U.S. president who has ordered an ideological purge of the Smithsonian museums and a restoration of U.S. history, Smiths voice feels more urgent than ever.

Im concerned about a country thats in some way heading toward fascism, where the executive branch tries to dictate what should and shouldnt be taught. Thats how authoritarianism works. And we have to fight it, he said via videoconference from Maryland.

Question. How necessary is a book like this right now?

Answer. Extremely important. If you dont understand the social, political, and economic impact that the history of slavery has had for centuries, youll assume that the reason for different levels of wealth, health, or academic outcomes is because of something wrong with the people themselves. But what the context teaches you is that it has nothing to do with them per se, but rather with the things that have been taken from them, extracted, and the opportunities they have been denied.

Q. What does it mean for the Trump administration to rewrite the historical narrative?

A. Its deeply disturbing. An administration that conceives of patriotic education, so to speak, as something that ignores what weve done wrong is morally and intellectually reprehensible.

Q. What do you think the compensation and reparation process should look like?

A. If you have a group of people who have been intentionally, systemically, and structurally deprived of access to basic public benefits for centuries, you have to repair the damage. And not just by writing a check, but by multifactorial measures like compensating for discrimination and segregation, creating education projects, and also memory projects, to understand the origins of inequality.

Q. In your book, a professor from Senegal reflects on the idea that white sugar brings Black misfortune. How do you connect slavery to capitalism?

A. Something I think about constantly is that in 1860, in the United States, the four million enslaved Black people were worth more than all the banks, factories, and railroads combined. Its impossible to understand the development of the American economy as the worlds leading economic superpower without slavery. Its a story very similar to that of colonialism.

Q. Both slavery and colonialism took place in Europe as well.

A. Many European countries developed at the expense of others, mainly African countries. And exploitation is also why much of Africa struggles with poverty today while Europe prospers.

Q. How would it be helpful to learn more about these dynamics to manage migration?

A. It is misleading to suggest that the history of colonialism and European exploitation of African nations has nothing to do with migration patterns.

Q. How did you feel entering the dungeon known as the Recalcitrant Cell, which was used to imprison enslaved people who resisted being trafficked, on Goree Island in Dakar?

A. Being in the same place where my ancestors may have been captured is a moving and powerful experience. We are of African descent, but we cant know which community they come from. I dont know if my family is from Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, or Togo; theres simply no way to know that information, and certainly no way to trace it back to a community in that area. That experience is as close as I can get to our past.

Q. How does it feel to be a descendant of an enslaved family?

A. Im very proud to come from people who overcame more than I could have ever imagined. They fought for freedom, for emancipation, for liberation. And the vast majority of them never had the chance to enjoy this, but they fought anyway because they knew that one day someone would. And I think that my life and my childrens lives are only possible because of them. This makes me think about my responsibility: to try to build a better world, to create more opportunities for my people, my community.

Q. The book is like an invitation for each person to question and consider who is behind each monument or street name. Was that the intention?

A. Absolutely. Its meant to be an invitation, not a lecture or some kind of condemnation. This book began because I grew up in New Orleans, the key city of the slave trade, and I am a descendant of enslaved people. And yet, I realized I didnt understand the history of slavery in a way that was commensurate with the impact and legacy it left on this country. This book was a desire and an opportunity to learn on my own everything I wish I had been taught growing up.

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By Alex Greenwood, May 2, 2025

Global Vision scholars and faculty present a panel to the UCM Board of Governors. From left: Shari Bax, vice president for

Student Experience and Engagement; Amanda Harrison, assistant professor of Library Science; student Carson Couch;

student Deaihra Washington; and Lover Chancler, associate professor and director of The Center at UCM.

WARRENSBURG, Mo.  The University of Central Missouri (UCM) Board of Governors convened for its regular meeting April 24 to take action on budget priorities, capital improvements and student-centered initiatives that reinforce the universitys mission of academic excellence and global citizenship.

Key actions included approval of the fiscal year 2026 operating budget, major infrastructure projects at Todd Residence Hall and Skyhaven Airport, a powerful student panel on international service learning, and the honorary naming of a new aviation lab in recognition of a longtime faculty member.

FY 2026 Budget and Campus Improvements



The board reviewed UCMs fiscal year 2026 operating budget, which aligns university resources with strategic goals focused on student success, innovation and long-term sustainability. The budget includes modest increases in tuition and room and board rates to support academic quality, campus operations and student services. The vote for final budget approval will occur at the June meeting.

The board also approved two key infrastructure investments:

A $535,000 contract with Reinhold Electric Inc. to replace aging electrical switchgear in Todd Residence Hall, ensuring reliable power for multiple residential and dining facilities.





A $1.37 million contract with Civic Elite Contracting Inc. to construct a self-serve fuel facility and access road at Skyhaven Airport. The project, contingent on grant funding from the Missouri Department of Transportation, will support UCMs nationally recognized aviation program and enhance airport operations.

Global Vision Panel Spotlights Student Impact Abroad



A highlight of the meeting was a panel featuring students and faculty involved in UCMs Global Vision Scholarship Program. Robynn Kuhlmann, associate professor of American Politics and Research Methods, is the coordinator of the Global Vision Scholarship Steering Committee. She has been involved in the program's development and growth for the past three years and introduced it to the governors.

The Global Vision Scholarship program began in 2008 and for the past 17 years, the program has sent a group of students to a variety of destinations to volunteer their time to vulnerable populations, both internationally and within the United States, Kuhlmann told the board. From 2008 to 2021, UCM students have volunteered in a variety of destinations, and this includes Tanzania, Peru, Ecuador, Nepal and most recently, the territory of Puerto Rico.

This unique initiative offers UCM students the opportunity to travel domestically or internationally for a service-learning experience, with all major expenses, including airfare, meals and lodging, covered through a dedicated scholarship. Priority is given to students who have not previously studied abroad, expanding global access to those who might not otherwise consider international travel.

Two students and two faculty members shared reflections from recent trips to Puerto Rico and Kathmandu, Nepal, where they worked on hunger relief and youth education projects. Panelists described the experience as transformational  personally, academically and professionally. Senior Accountancy major Carson Couch, of Olathe, Kansas, opened the panel by quoting St. Augustine: The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read one page.

Deaihra Washington, a Health Studies senior from Kansas City, said the experience helped her overcome shyness and grow more confident in her future role as a nurse.

Alexis Barnes, a Political Science major from St. Louis, emphasized that she came away with a deeper understanding of leadership as action rooted in humility and persistence.

Faculty panelists Amanda Harrison, assistant professor of Library Science, and Lover Chancler, associate professor and director of The Center at UCM, echoed the life-changing impact of the program. She told the panel, You are more than UCM students  you are assets to the world.

The panel was facilitated by Shari Bax, vice president for Student Experience and Engagement. Board members praised the participants insight and commended the program for exemplifying UCMs mission to prepare globally conscious, civically engaged graduates.

Student Alexis Barnes (center) addresses the UCM Board of Governors as fellow student Deaihra Washington (left) and

Dr. Lover Chancler look on.

UCM Honors Faculty, Staff and Students Who Exemplify Service, Excellence and Educational Impact



As part of the April 24 plenary session at the Elliott Student Union, several UCM students, faculty and staff members were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the campus community.

The 2025 Education for Service Awards  established during the 2021-22 academic year by the Office of Student Experience and Engagement  honor one student, one faculty member, and one staff member each spring who exemplify UCMs core values of community, diversity, excellence, learning, opportunity and service. These values reflect the institutions enduring Education for Service mission. This years recipients were Julie Stephens de Jonge, professor of Spanish; Courtney Swoboda, director of Military and Veteran Services; and Psychology senior Andrea Garcia Tovar.

Additional honors included the UCM Governors Award for Excellence in Education, presented to Natalie Tye, associate professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and the 2025 Byler Distinguished Faculty Award, presented to Professor Yuankun Yao of the Department of Educational Foundations and Literacy.

Recognized for their academic excellence and strong community involvement were seniors Marie Hall and Alyssa Robertson, recipients of the 2025 Charno Award, the most prestigious honor given to UCM students.

Honorary Naming: Dr. John W. "Jack" Horine Virtual Reality Flight Simulation Lab



In a unanimous vote, the board approved the honorary naming of the Department of Aviation virtual reality lab in the T.R. Gaines Building on the Warrensburg campus. The facility will be named the Dr. John W. "Jack" Horine Virtual Reality Flight Simulation Lab in recognition of Horines more than 50 years of service to the university.

Horine co-founded UCMs aviation program in 1968 and created the nations first Master of Science in Aviation Safety program. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of thousands of aviation professionals across the country. Family members were present for the boards action and recognition.

Additional Business



Other actions and updates during the meeting included:

Information items were submitted for the 3rd quarter statement of revenue and expenses, along with the 2025 third quarter investment report.

A report from UCM President Roger Best on enrollment growth, upcoming Founders Day and commencement celebrations, and expanding international partnerships.

A legislative update from David Pearce, executive director for Governmental Relations, which included federal advocacy on FAFSA delays and Pell Grant funding.

A closed session to discuss legal, real estate, personnel and contractual matters in accordance with Missouri statutes.

For more information about the UCM Board of Governors and upcoming meetings, visit ucmo.edu/bog.
The Benefits and Limitations of AI in Medicine

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), predictive medicine is becoming an important part of health care, especially in cancer treatment. Predictive medicine uses algorithms and data to help doctors understand how a cancer might continue to grow or react to specific drugs  making it easier to target precision treatment for individual patients.

While AI is important in this work, researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) say that it should not be relied on exclusively. Instead, AI should be combined with other methods, such as traditional mathematical modeling, for the best outcomes.

In a commentary published April 14 in Nature Biotechnology, Elana Fertig, PhD, director of the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) and professor of medicine at UMSOM, and Daniel Bergman, PhD, an IGS scientist, argue that mathematical modeling has been underestimated and underused in precision medicine to date.

All health computational models need three key components to work: datasets, equations, and software. Then, after generating data comes leveraging it to improve early diagnoses, discover new treatments, and aid understanding of the diseases.

In a second commentary, out April 15 in Cell Reports Medicine, Fertig and IGS colleagues Dmitrijs Lvovs, PhD, Anup Mahurkar, PhD, and Owen White, PhD, address how to ethically share health data and methods to create reproducible science.

Taken together, the two commentaries set a foundational approach to generating, analyzing, and ethically sharing data to benefit both patients and science.

Explaining the argument of the Nature Biotechnology commentary, Fertig said, AI and mathematical models differ dramatically in how they arrive at an outcome. AI models first must be trained with existing data to make an outcome prediction, while mathematical models are directed to answer a specific question using both data and biological knowledge.

That means that when data is sparse  as it often is in newer cancer treatments such as immunotherapy  AI can overgeneralize, resulting in biased or inaccurate outcomes that cannot be reproduced by other scientists. Mathematical modeling, on the other hand, uses known biological mechanisms, learned from scientific experiments, to explain how it arrived at an outcome.

For example, with a mathematical model, we could create virtual cancer cells and healthy cells and write a program that would mimic how those cells interact and evolve inside of a tumor with different types of treatments, said Bergman, assistant professor at IGS and UMSOMs Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Drug Development. At this time, AI cannot give us that type of specificity.

The authors state that in addition to using both types of models in computational immunotherapy, using a breadth of populations, and making datasets publicly available are critical for the most accurate outcomes.

Data breadth and accuracy are key. Artifacts in the dataset, or even a simple typo in computer code, can throw off the accuracy of either type of model, added Fertig. Therefore, for any analysis pipeline to work correctly, it must be reproducible and that can only be assured by open science  giving access to other researchers whose work can confirm the models will get the right treatment to the right patient.

However, reproducibility remains a critical challenge in science. In a 2016 article in Nature surveying more than 1,500 scientists, more than 70 percent of researchers said they have tried and failed to reproduce another scientist's experiments, and more than half have failed to reproduce their own experiments.

Reproducible research enables investigators to verify that the findings are accurate, reduce biases, promote scientific integrity, and build trust, explained Lvovs, research associate at IGS and first author on the Cell Reports Medicine commentary. Because data science is computationally driven, all results should be transparent and automatically reproducible from the same dataset if the analysis code is readily available through open science.

While that sounds simple enough  and there are best practices in place  the challenge, the authors argue, is how to share data while protecting patient privacy and blocking unauthorized data breaches. Genomic data, when combined with personal health information, could lead to re-identification of patients, a privacy violation.

The authors say that creating ethical open science data sharing means: getting detailed informed consent from patients; ensuring data quality when collecting and processing data by mitigating errors; harmonizing and standardizing data collected from disparate sources; using and creating resources and platforms, such as multiomic, clinical, public health, and drug discovery repositories; and working with vetted pipelines, such as open source analysis tools and software platforms.

Ethical and responsible data sharing democratizes research, supports the advancement of AI, and informs public health policies, said Lvovs. With ethical and responsible data sharing, the biomedical research community can maximize the benefits of shared data, accelerate discovery, and improve human health.
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China at ICJ on Israel, Gaza: Will International Law Surrender to Brute Force?

In a hard hitting speech delivered at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Friday May 02, 2025 China slammed the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian lands and its inhuman blockade of Gaza

Saturday May 3, 2025 6:43 PM , ummid.com News Network

The Hague: In a hard hitting speech delivered at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Friday May 02, 2025 China slammed the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian lands and its inhuman blockade of Gaza.

Joining as many as other 38 other countries, China while participating in the public hearing on the obligation of Israel, asked the United Nations (UN) to play a "central and unique role" in leading and coordinating humanitarian assistance and called on all member states to cooperate to provide relief to the Palestinian people.

"Occupation continues and starvation persists despite the advisory opinion of the court last year , Ma Xinmin, Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a Member of the International Law Commission China said at the ICJ Friday.

"The desperate eyes of Gaza children pierce our conscience with two burning questions: Will international law surrender to brute force? Will the pillars of civilization yield before the law of the jungle?" he asked.

Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Unprecendented

China also told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territory has reached "unprecedented" levels, threatening to overwhelm an already suffering population, and called on the court to uphold international law and international justice.

"The situation grows more desperate. In Gaza and throughout the occupied territories, we are witnessing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis threatening to overwhelm an already suffering people," said Ma Xinmin, representing China.

He stressed that Israel has a clear legal obligation to accept humanitarian assistance from third parties when the population is inadequately supplied.

"This is not a discretionary choice. Refusing such assistance could constitute a denial of humane treatment of civilians or a form of collective punishment, both prohibited under international law," he said.

Beijing also expressed deep concern over casualties among humanitarian workers in the occupied Palestinian territory, stressing that Israel must ensure the privileges and immunities of UN agencies and bodies.

China also urged the court to issue an advisory opinion that would uphold the integrity of international law and "stir the conscience of the international community" to safeguard fairness, justice, and the rule of law.

39 Countries submented statements

According to the ICJ, 39 states, the United Nations and three other international organizations presented oral statements during the hearings Friday. They included:

The United Nations; Palestine; Egypt; Malaysia; South Africa; Algeria; Saudi Arabia; Belgium; Colombia; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Spain; the United States of America; the Russian Federation; France; Hungary; Indonesia; Turkiye; Iran; Jordan; Kuwait; Luxembourg; Maldives; Mexico; Namibia; Norway; Pakistan; Panama; Poland; Qatar; the United Kingdom; China; Senegal; Slovenia; Sudan; Switzerland; Comoros; Tunisia; Vanuatu; the League of Arab States; the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation; and the African Union.

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Politics of Communal Polarization in the Name of Pahalgam Attack

The BJPs response to the Pahalgam killings is not limited to the domain of foreign policy alone but is tagged with the agenda of communal polarization

Saturday May 3, 2025 3:30 PM , Kumar Sanjay Singh

Post Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025, the BJP-led NDA government has ratcheted up war hysteria. A majority of the Parliamentary opposition has acquiesced by offering unconditional support to any step that the government initiates to take to task the culprits and their patrons.

Thereby, the BJP led NDA has been given a carte blanche, at least in the domain of foreign policy viz., the liberty to decide upon the contours of the Indo-Pak relationship that could forefront a military option over diplomacy.

That the largest opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC), believes that foreign policy is the decisive arena to address the challenges posed by the killing of tourists at the hands of seven armed militants of The Resistance Front, some of whom were speaking in Pashto, appears to be a strategic choice.

Indeed, the leadership of the Congress seems to be vigilant in ensuring that any statement issued by party leaders, that are raising policy and administrative failures of the central government, need to be refrained with as they distract from the party line of extending unconditional support to the government to tackle the issue of militancy in Kashmir.

The letter to all PCC Chiefs, CLP leaders, party general secretaries and in-charges, MPs, MLAs/MLCs and heads of various departments and frontal organisations, by AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal is instructive.

At this critical juncture, when our collective resolve is being tested, the Indian National Congress must exemplify unity, maturity, and responsibility- virtues that have defined our conduct through decades of national service, in government and in opposition alike It is, therefore, hereby directed that all comments, statements, and representations- whether by party leaders, spokespersons, media panelists, or official handles of the Congress Social Media Department- must strictly adhere to the CWC resolution Any deviation, misrepresentation, or off-the-cuff remark that diverges from the official line shall be deemed a serious breach of party discipline.

It may be pertinent to point out here that a member of the highest echelon of the Congress Party tagged Venugopals post on the X handle.

Yet, it will be sobering to remember that the BJPs response to the Pahalgam killings is not limited to the domain of foreign policy alone. Indeed, it is tagged with the agenda of communal polarization.

On the foreign policy front, the BJP has been ratcheting up a muscular military approach towards Pakistan. In a political rally in Bihar, PM Modi said India will pursue terrorists to the ends of the earth and give them a punishment bigger than they can imagine.

A raft of diplomatic measures was unveiled - suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty , downgrading bilateral ties, and shutting down the Attari checkpost.

Finally, the decisive step, underscoring the preference of military over diplomacy, was taken when, on 29 April 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi empowered the armed forces to decide on their targets and timing of response in Indias counter attack against terrorists over the Pahalgam terror attack.

Even as the war drums are getting louder with every passing day, the right-wing groups are leveraging the Pahalgam attack to deepen a campaign of oppression against the countrys largest minority group. The intensity of such campaigns is strongest in BJP ruled states.

Rallies with lit candles and tiki torches have been organized that equate nationalism with political Hinduism (Hindutva) and anti-nationalism with Muslims. Official machinery has been used to harass Muslim migrants from other parts of the country in the name of a drive against illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya.

Gujarat tops the list with arrest of 6,500 suspected Bangladeshis. Kashmiris in other states have reported harassment and violence. Killings of Muslims were reported in two states, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

There have been widespread demolitions of properties of Muslims. In Kashmir, houses of alleged active militants were turned into rubble through controlled blasts, while several residences of alleged militant supporters were searched, and hundreds of local people were detained.

Facing an outcry from regional parties, including the ruling National Conference (NC), security forces operation to demolish houses of suspected terrorists was apparently stopped. However, the major crackdown on supporters of terror outfits has intensified.

Also Read: Camera in Hands and Hate in Hearts

The government in Gujarat also announced a demolition drive at a Muslim slum. The states home minister, Harsh Sanghavi, said that about 2,000 huts had been razed in a drive against illegal Bangladeshis.

In this backdrop, while the Congress decision to present a national united front in the face of a low intensity cross border warfare may be strategically correct but inadequate.

If the opposition doesnt highlight and resist the attempt by the BJP to leverage war hysteria against Pakistan to indulge in communal polarization of our society, it will fail in the task of securing secularism in India.

[The writer, Kumar Sanjay Singh, is Associate Professor, Department of History, Swami Shraddhanand College, Delhi University]

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My story is different from most of the ones youve heard. Firstly, because 1.5 million Jewish children were murdered in the Holocaust and I survived. Most of those who survived did so by hiding in Christian homes, monasteries, convents, forests I didnt. I was in a ghetto, a labor camp and several concentration camps. I had a terrible childhood, up until I was 10. After that, I had a wonderful life.

This isnt an excerpt from an autobiography, a video, or a lecture. Rather, its the living voice of Rena Quint. Shes part of the dwindling group of survivors of the Nazi genocide who can still share their experience with future generations. Last week, Israel remembered them.

This past January marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, which was the largest extermination camp and a symbol of the Holocaust. A study released on April 22 by the Claims Conference  which represents the compensation rights of Jewish victims of Nazism  estimates that the voices of 70% of the more than 200,000 survivors from this community will be silenced forever in the next decade. More than 1,400 of the survivors are over 100-years-old, while the average age is 87.

Quint is two years older, but she displays the typical energy of someone who values life greatly because she came so close to losing it. This is evident as she shares her memories with a dozen people sitting around the living room table of her home in Jerusalem. The walls are filled with paintings, letters and photos of the large family she ended up building, after losing her entire family as a child in the Nazi camps.

Her autobiography is titled A Daughter Of Many Mothers (2017). This is because one of the constants in her early life is how she lost one mother after another, all the way up until her final adoption in the United States at the age of 10. She has also had several names. Rena Quint was born Freida Lichtenstein in 1935, in Piotrkow Trybunalski, a town in Poland that had a large Jewish community (10,000 people, representing about a fifth of the population) before World War II.

The town synagogue was ultimately converted into a library. This was because  as the mayor admitted, in 1989, when Rena visited the site for the first (and last) time  there wasnt a single Jew left to pray there.

Rena Quint, during a meeting in the living room of her home in Jerusalem. Saeed Qaq

Quint was almost four-years-old when World War II broke out. The Nazis entered Piotrkow Trybunalski and created the first of the ghettos in Poland that are now part of world history. That year, the country had 3.3 million Jews. Six years later, only 300,000 remained.

While in Poland in 1989, Quint obtained the birth certificates of her two older brothers, David and Yossi. She saw them  and her mother  for the last time at the age of six, inside the synagogue where the Nazis had forcibly confined hundreds of Jews and began shooting. Her mother and brothers  like half of the ghettos inhabitants  ended up in the infamous Treblinka extermination camp.

Here, memory seems to merge between what she would have liked to have happened and what probably actually happened. A man shouted at me: Run, run! I grabbed my mothers hand. What would a six-year-old do, scared, surrounded by bullets, watching people fall dead? I imagine grabbing her skirt. And what would she do? Hold me. But I dont know what happened. Maybe I was brave, maybe I was stupid, but I ran.

In any case, it was her safe passage to a second life. She ended up hiding her gender to survive. She was taken with her father to the glass factory where he worked under the Nazi occupation, where only boys over the age of 10 were admitted. Her father told her what she had to internalize from then on: Youre no longer a girl, but a boy. Youre not six years old: youre 10. And your name is no longer Fedya, but Froyim. Froyim. Repeat after me.

The lie endured amidst the overcrowding and the smoke from the factories. But it wouldnt have survived the first thing the Nazis did to those arriving at the concentration camps: separating men from women and children and stripping them naked. Her father understood this as they approached a concentration camp in Poland in a cattle car.

He entrusted his daughter to a schoolteacher and said goodbye, leaving her with a photograph and a promise. The picture showed the two parents and the three children. Of the five, she was the only one who survived. Look at [this photo], he told me. The war is going to end. You can already see the Allies approaching. I promise well see each other again, in our village. A father is supposed to keep his promises. My father didnt.

He ended up murdered at Buchenwald. And she doesnt have the photo he gave her, because a Nazi soldier tore it apart. He saw me hiding something in my hand and thought it was a diamond. Maybe a watch or money... he took it from me and ripped it up. It was very important to me; to him, it was garbage.

Rena Quint shows one of the many photos that adorn her home. Saeed Qaq

When her father was taken to Buchenwald, she was left alone and eventually sent to another concentration camp: Bergen-Belsen, located in Germany and controlled by the SS. There, she experienced a chilling moment that she recounts with distance, as if she had been more of a spectator than a protagonist.

In the last weeks of the camps existence, hundreds of people were dying of hunger, disease, cold, whatever and the women would take [a dead persons] blanket, then take the body and dump it anywhere along the vast plain of Bergen-Belsen.

Wherever you went, you saw and smelled death, she recalls. I dont know if youve ever been acquainted with that smell.

One day, she continues, she was very ill with typhus and diphtheria, unable to stand. Someone (I dont know who, she clarifies) must have thought she was already dead  or had only a few hours left  so they placed her with the corpses. I imagine they thought: Anyways, everyone is going to die.

But not her. She reads an excerpt from her autobiography to describe her memory of April 15, 1945, when the British forces liberated Bergen-Belsen and found tens of thousands of bodies: Men and women who never walk faster than a shuffle are running. I want to see where they are going, but I cant stand up. Im sick. People who never talk louder than a whisper are shouting. Soldiers in khaki uniforms are walking nearby. I can tell these arent German soldiers by the way the prisoners greet them with shouts of joy. How strange. Some of the soldiers are throwing up. Nazi soldiers never throw up. Ihr seid frei  you are free, are words on the loudspeaker. We are the English Army. Be calm. Food and medical help are on the way. Frei, Frei - We are free, women shout around me, in Yiddish. What does fre mean? I do not understand. I am too sick and tired to move  I want my mother."

She knows that she had typhus and diphtheria that day: the diseases appeared on a medical test that she took a few weeks later, in Sweden. Through the Red Cross, the Scandinavian country welcomed hundreds of displaced people from devastated Europe. People were just beginning to understand the scale of the Holocaust and wake up from a six-year-long nightmare.

Because of how young she was at the time  and also because of the intricate paths taken by memory  Quint has few recollections of those moments. Still, however, she retains sensations and images. What you never forget are the smells and the freezing cold, she emphasizes. Even today, sometimes a cold wind comes and  even if Im bundled up  it brings me back there. Or I go to a restaurant and, since I have a walker, they take me through the kitchen: theres garbage and I can smell it. Its the smell of soup in Bergen-Belsen.

In Sweden, it was Christmas when a young couple approached her with a doll whose eyes opened and a piece of candy and asked her if she would become their daughter. At the time, the German-Jewish family was waiting their turn to settle in the United States when one of their daughters of the same age died  just like many thousands of Jews after the liberation of the camps  from suddenly eating too much food after being starved, or from the various health conditions they suffered from. They also suggested using her documents (which were not easy to obtain) to pass herself off as Fanny. Another name change. She had to accept that she was now Fanny and that she was not born in Poland, but in Germany, on February 15, 1936.

Rena Quint holds up the list that shows her father's death at Buchenwald. Saeed Qaq

Once she was in the United States, the other children were amused by this stranger who didnt know English words like house, spoon, or car. One day, as she was becoming a typical American girl, the neighbors appeared with sad faces and took her to a place she had never been to  a cemetery  to bury their mother, who had been suffering from an illness.

There was a pit, a coffin. I had no idea what it was. Everyone was crying, except for me. Maybe I didnt know how to cry in the first place. Why would I have cried in Bergen-Belsen? Because I was hungry? Everyone was hungry. Thirst? Cold? Everyone was thirsty and cold. And besides, what could they do for you? So, you learned not to cry. I also didnt know that youre supposed to cry when someone dies. In Bergen-Belsen, if someone died, they just took the body and threw it away.

She says that those charged with her care were unsure about what to do with her. They took her to spend Shabbat dinner with a childless Jewish couple. She recalls how her fear of being disliked and ending up abandoned on the streets outweighed her fear of their German Shepherd, reminiscent of the dogs the Nazis used in the ghetto. At the end of the Sabbath  instead of sending me back  they asked me: Do you want to stay and be our daughter? This time, I had a mother, a father, a dog, a bed and a room of my own. I was a princess.

In 1984, she made aliyah  the Hebrew term for settling in Israel if you have at least one Jewish grandparent, which automatically entitles you to citizenship  with her husband and four children. Today, she proudly says, she has 22 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren. She doesnt need to explain why she values family so much.

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Half a century after the end of the Vietnam War  commemorated on April 30  the Asian nation once again finds itself at the heart of a global power struggle. Now transformed into one of the worlds most dynamic economies and a manufacturing and export powerhouse, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is caught between two competing forces vying for control over global supply chains: China and the United States. This battle is being waged through tariffs, sanctions, and geo-economic maneuvers, placing Vietnam in a position that is both strategically crucial and highly delicate.

Its industrial boom has brought Vietnam under the spotlight of U.S. President Donald Trumps renewed protectionist crusade. The United States  Vietnams main customer and strategic partner  has threatened to impose tariffs of 46% on all Vietnamese goods starting in July unless an agreement is reached before the current 90-day global pause comes to an end.

At the same time, China  Vietnams largest supplier and neighbor, with which it has ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea  has warned it will retaliate against any countries that strike trade deals with Washington that are detrimental to Beijings interests.

Vietnam was the stage for conflicts that shaped its development throughout much of the 20th century. After reunification in 1976 and the launch of the doi moi reforms a decade later, the country began a modernization process that transformed it. From a centrally planned and impoverished economy, it integrated into global markets and attracted foreign investment.

Vietnams nominal GDP per capita has multiplied more than eightfold  from under $500 in 1986 to nearly $4,300 in 2023, according to the World Bank  while extreme poverty has fallen to under 2%. Except for the pandemic years, its economy has sustained uninterrupted growth for 25 years, averaging an annual rate of 6.25%, the highest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

With a population of 100 million, Vietnam is one of the most vibrant countries in the region. This vitality is evident in its bustling streets, rapidly expanding infrastructure network, and the energy of its young and connected population (the average age is 33). Its combination of stability, relatively skilled labor, and openness to trade has made it a leading destination in the so-called China Plus One initiative  a strategy to diversify production in response to trade tensions that began during Trumps first term.

Tech giants (like Samsung, Foxconn, and Intel), textile companies (Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo), and machinery and engineering manufacturers (Bosch Rexroth and ABB) have expanded their production in Vietnam to circumvent the tariffs imposed on China since 2018. LEGO has also bet on the country, recently opening one of its largest factories in the world.

In addition to its strategic location in Asia, Vietnam offers preferential access to major markets thanks to a robust network of trade agreements. It is a member of two of the worlds largest free trade areas by GDP  the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)  and has signed 15 other free trade deals, including with the European Union, Japan, and South Korea.

As a result, Vietnam has become a key cog in global trade. But its role as a top destination for offshoring is a double-edged sword. Thirty percent of its exports end up in the United States, more than anywhere else in the world. In 2024, Vietnams exports to the U.S. reached $136.6 billion, according to official customs data  nearly triple the $47.58 billion it exported in 2018, the year the first phase of the U.S.-China trade war began.

Although Vietnam has massively scaled up production, it still lacks a solid base of local suppliers for components, machinery, and raw materials. That makes it heavily reliant on others to fuel its factories and sustain growth. Chief among them is China, which has become Vietnams top supplier. In 2024 alone, Vietnam imported around $144.5 billion worth of goods from China, up from about $65.44 billion in 2018.

This high dependence has fueled the perception that Vietnam functions primarily as an assembler of goods made with foreign components, and Washington fears it may be used as a backdoor to sneak Chinese goods into the U.S. According to data from the OECD and WTO, the Chinese value-added content in Vietnamese exports rose from 0.4% in 1995 to 13.8% in 2018.

The tariff exemptions on electronics  which account for a large share of exports  and the current pause on new levies have softened the immediate blow. But negotiations are now on the table. Although Trumps trade policy remains murky due to constant reversals, the prevailing view is that he aims to isolate China by pressuring its partners to curb economic ties with Beijing.

In April, trade officials from Vietnam and the U.S. began talks, though few details have been made public. Vietnam currently holds the fourth-largest trade surplus with the U.S.  $123.5 billion in 2024  and the White House is considering new rules of origin to prevent Chinese transshipment through Vietnam.

In a gesture aimed at appeasing Trump, Vietnam is preparing to step up inspections on Chinese goods crossing its border en route to America. However, Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief Asia-Pacific economist at Natixis, warns that Vietnams room for maneuver is limited.

Vietnams decoupling from China is practically impossible, she says. Garcia adds that the country is in a worse position than in 2018 because of the extreme situation: massive imports from China and massive exports to the U.S.

Moreover, any attempt to impose its own tariffs on China  as Washington may demand  would hurt Vietnams competitiveness and create friction with Beijing. At the same time, there are growing fears that Chinas overcapacity, fueled by state subsidies, could flood the market and jeopardize Vietnams industrial base.

Vietnam, which has spent decades cultivating a foreign policy based on balancing the two superpowers, is finding its room to maneuver increasingly limited. This was evident during the recent visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, which concluded with 45 agreements but saw no amplification of his message about opposing unilateral intimidation  a clear veiled reference to Washington.

Vietnam doesnt want to give the impression that its trying to screw the United States, as Trump put it, says Nguyen Khac Giang, visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Now its being forced to pick a side, at least economically. But it has good reasons not to, because both choices carry risks.

In China  which is the only country facing 145% tariffs  all these moves are being closely watched. Not only by the government, which has expressed its willingness to respond, but also by businesspeople who relocated their factories to Vietnam. Still, the hope that tariffs will remain relatively low (Vietnam aims to reduce them to a range between 22% and 28%) has fueled new projects, according to Hanna Wang, a cross-border trade content creator. Chinese social media is filled with posts by entrepreneurs based in Vietnam; EL PAIS contacted five of them, but all declined to comment.

Decisive path

The road ahead is critical. Vietnamese leader To Lam  who has been in power since last summer  aims to transform the communist nation into one of Southeast Asias top commercial and investment hubs by 2030, and into a high-income economy built on technology, knowledge, and advanced manufacturing by 2045. Vietnam has set a GDP growth target of 8% for 2025 and hopes to push it into double digits in the coming years. In that plan, increasing exports to the United States is a key pillar.

But it wont be easy. The International Monetary Fund has lowered its growth forecast for Vietnam from 6.1% to 5.2%, and analysts at Natixis estimate that if reciprocal tariffs persist, it could fall below 3.5%, warns Garcia.

Tran Dinh Lam, director of the International Cooperation Program at the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies, insists the solution lies in maintaining our strategic autonomy and ensuring national private investment. Lam says the country is working to strengthen ties within ASEAN and with middle powers such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India, and is also seeking to deepen relations with the EU  Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited recently  to maintain a stable trade order.

Giang agrees with that approach: Hanoi is trying to make friends. But he notes that the success of this effort will depend on how its received in Beijing and Washington. The analyst believes that although the intensifying rivalry between the worlds two largest economies doesnt seem likely to end anytime soon, I dont see a scenario where Vietnam becomes a full ally of either one, he concludes.

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Germany's domestic intelligence service on Friday designated the far-right AfD party as an extremist group, setting off a diplomatic spat with the United States.

The BfV intelligence agency, which had already designated several local branches of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) as right-wing extremists, said it moved against the entire party due to its attempts to "undermine the free, democratic" order in Germany.

The classification gives authorities greater powers to monitor the party by lowering the barriers for such steps as intercepting telephone calls and deploying undercover agents.

The conservative US administration quickly condemned the move.

US Vice President JD Vance on Friday accused Germany of rebuilding a "Berlin Wall".

"The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt -- not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment," Vance, who in February defiantly met the AfD leader in Munich, wrote on X. He said the AfD was "the most popular party in Germany".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it "tyranny in disguise" and said "Germany should reverse course". President Donald Trump's billionaire advisor Elon Musk has also previously defended the AfD.

The German foreign ministry took the unusual step of replying directly to Rubio on X to say: "This is democracy."

The ministry said that the "decision is the result of a thorough and independent investigation to protect our constitution" and could be appealed.

"We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped," the ministry said.

The AfD slammed the move as a "heavy blow" to democracy, just months after they came second in a national election. It vowed to mount a legal challenge.

The designation revived calls to ban the party in Germany ahead of conservative Friedrich Merz becoming chancellor next Tuesday, leading a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

The SPD's Lars Klingbeil, set to become vice-chancellor and finance minister in the coalition, said the government would consider banning the AfD.

"They want a different country, they want to destroy our democracy. And we must take that very seriously," he told Bild newspaper. He added however that no hasty decision would be made.

Incoming interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said the spy agency's move "inevitably means there will be further observation of the AfD".

AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla charged in a statement that the party was "being publicly discredited and criminalised", and that the decision was "clearly politically motivated".

The intelligence agency said the AfD "aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society".

In particular, the AfD does not consider German citizens with a migrant background from countries with large Muslim populations to be "equal members of the German people", it added.

- Welter of controversies -

The party, founded in 2013, has surged in popularity by capitalising on fears over migration while Germany has suffered from a recession.

It won more than 20 percent of the vote in February's election, a record result and behind only the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc of Merz.

Recent opinion polls have put the party neck-and-neck or even slightly ahead of the CDU/CSU alliance.

In a country still haunted by its Nazi past in World War II, establishment parties have vowed not to govern with or work with the AfD.

Merz breached this so-called "firewall" during the election campaign by relying on its support to pass a parliamentary motion demanding tougher immigration measures. That sparked widespread anger and nationwide protests.

He has since insisted he will not work with the AfD.

The AfD during the election campaign won the backing of tech billionaire Musk who said only the AfD could "save Germany", appeared by video at one of their rallies and hosted an interview with Weidel on his platform X.

On Friday he said banning the AfD "would be an extreme attack on democracy".

The party has faced frequent controversies. One leading member has been convicted for using a banned Nazi slogan and others have been criticised for downplaying Nazi atrocities.

It has also faced allegations of close ties to Russia. This week a former aide to an AfD European Parliament lawmaker was charged over suspected spying for China.

AfD supporter Manuela Spitzwieser, a 54-year-old cleaner from the western city of Duisburg, also believed that the BfV action was politically motivated as the AfD was ahead in opinion polls.

She told AFP that if the party was banned there would be civil unrest "like they had in France with the yellow vests... or we would found a new party which would go through the roof at the next election."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin as theatrics, but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.

Moscow said the truce, set to coincide with its World War II commemorations on May 9, was aimed at testing Kyiv's "readiness" for long-term peace. It also accused Zelensky of making a "direct threat" to events on the holiday.

The Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and Washington in March, and Putin has since offered little to end the three-year Russia invasion.

"This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war," Zelensky said.

He was speaking Friday to a small group of journalists including AFP in remarks embargoed until Saturday.

Some in Ukraine have criticised the truce as an attempt to prevent Kyiv from disrupting the World War II anniversary celebrations. Foreign leaders are due in Moscow to watch a military parade on Red Square and an address by Putin.

Zelensky said Ukraine would not be "playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin's exit from isolation on 9 May".

- Leaders headed to Moscow -

In his evening address, the Ukrainian leader added he saw no "readiness" for a longer-term ceasefire on Russia's part.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the short, three-day truce was aimed at testing "Kyiv's readiness to seek ways to achieve long-term sustainable peace".

Russian shelling killed two people in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region on Saturday, while a drone strike on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson left one other person dead, regional officials said.

Russian authorities meanwhile accused Ukraine of an overnight attack on the southern port city of Novorossiysk, damaging apartment buildings and injuring five people.

Leaders of around 20 countries, including China's Xi Jinping, have accepted invitations to join the May 9 celebration, according to the Kremlin.

Zelensky said some countries had approached Kyiv to warn they were travelling to Russia and had requested safety.

"Our position is very simple towards all countries that have travelled or are travelling to Russia on May 9 -- we cannot take responsibility for what is happening on the territory of the Russian Federation," he said.

"They are ensuring your safety," Zelensky said, adding that Russia "may take various steps on its part, such as arson, explosions, and so on and then blame us".

Zelensky did not say what Ukraine would do during the truce, but Russia jumped on the comments, accusing Kyiv of making a "direct threat" to the commemorations.

"He is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and celebrations on the holy day," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram. "His statement... is, of course, a direct threat."

- 'See things differently' -

Russian officials have promised grand celebrations for the occasion, during which Putin will seek to rally support for his troops fighting in Ukraine.

Russian troops have been making gruelling gains on several parts of the front, as both Moscow and Kyiv have stepped up their aerial attacks.

The United States has warned it could abandon efforts to broker a ceasefire if it does not see progress.

Washington is seeking "a complete, durable ceasefire and an end to the conflict", rather than a "three-day moment so you can celebrate something else", US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said this week.

President Donald Trump has overhauled US policy towards Russia since taking office, initiating a rapprochement with the Kremlin.

He had an on-camera clash between Trump and Zelensky at the White House on February 28, where both leaders had been set to sign a mineral deal granting US access to Ukrainian resources in exchange for some protection.

Ukraine has since renegotiated the deal, which would see Washington and Kyiv jointly develop and invest in Ukraine's critical mineral resources.

Zelensky on Friday said the deal was beneficial to both sides and protected Ukraine's interests, even though the accord offers no concrete security guarantees for Kyiv.

That followed a meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the end of April before Pope Francis's funeral at the Vatican, the first encounter since their public clash.

"We had the best conversation out of all those that preceded it," Zelensky said Friday.

"I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently."

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Latin America and the Caribbean are facing the weakest economic growth of any region, and some of the highest public debt levels. Government deficits are rising and geopolitical tensions, including tariffs on Mexico and other countries by the Trump administration, add further uncertainty. Against this backdrop, governments are grappling with constrained fiscal space to tackle the challenges of the day, including climate, AI, and now, protectionism. As a result, fiscal resources available for healthcare are far below the level needed to address the growing health crisis in the region. One potential avenue to raise funds that remains grossly underutilized is health taxes.

Few policy levers remain as potent for raising revenue as health taxes. According to the high-level Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health, of which we are both members, increasing taxes enough to raise prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages by 50% would raise US$ 41.82 billion in Latin American and the Caribbean, each year. This is nearly 20% of the regions current annual expenditure on healthcare. This additional revenue could be reinvested back into the healthcare system to provide essential services, such as maternal and child health services, chronic disease management, and cancer treatments.

But the economic benefits of health taxes are only half of the story. These taxes have the potential to tackle the regions growing crisis of non-communicable diseasesincluding cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases the leading cause of mortality in the region. Tobacco use and second-hand smoke claimed over 350,000 lives in 2021, with over 40% of respiratory cancers in the region attributable to tobacco use. And these health effects have knock-on economic implications, too, further gnawing away at healthcare system spending. In Chile, smoking cost the government almost US$ 2 billion a year in direct costsfor treatments, hospitalizations, surgeries, and medicines representing 8.1% of the countrys annual healthcare expenditure. By reducing consumption, raising health taxes would significantly reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases. In fact, tax increases that raise the price of these harmful products by 50 percent would save 50 million lives over the next 50 years, globally.

A number of countries in the region have an excellent track record in the use of health taxes. Colombia tripled tobacco taxation between the years 2016 to 2019. Prior to this, it had the second-cheapest cigarettes in the west, after Paraguay. The effect was immediate: by 2018, cigarette consumption dropped by 34% and the increased tax revenues helped to fund an expansion of our health services. In Chile, tobacco taxes rose to a remarkable 75% of the final pack price in 2016, contributing to a reduction in smoking prevalence from 40.6% in 2010 to 33.3% in 2017.

Despite the compelling health and economic arguments in favor of raising health taxes, tobacco products in Latin America and the Caribbean remain affordable and have become more affordable over time. Yet health taxes have few economic downsides when compared with other taxes: they do not put economic growth at risk, nor do they affect employment rates. The passing of Colombias sugary beverage tax in 2022, for example, was the third of a series of health tax increases by successive governments from different sides of the political spectrum. And surveys consistently show substantial support for health taxes by majorities of the population. The political economy for raising health taxes is often more manageable than for other taxes, largely because opposition is limited to certain industries and younger generations tend to support policies that promote healthy or clean living. Policymakers should harness this sentiment in favor of raising health taxes.

Several countries in Latin America already appear to be heeding the call: the governments of Colombia and Brazil are currently discussing increased health taxes, and Barbados just announced a new excise tax on high-salt foods. Policymakers involved in these discussions should keep in mind the strong case for raising health taxes. Given the regions fiscal challenges, its no longer a question of if taxes should be raised, but which. Health taxes offer a unique win-win policy solution for revenues and for health.
Trump sparks backlash with social media post.

US president Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as pope on his Truth Social platform on Friday night, sparking an instant backlash online.

The White House shared the image on its official X account, generating a barrage of complaints from social media users who found the post offensive, disrespectful, insensitive, inappropriate, embarrassing and unfunny. Others found it humorous.

Trump posted the controversial image a week after attending the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican and just days ahead of a papal conclave to elect a new pontiff.

The viral post came after Trump was asked by a reporter earlier this week for his thoughts on who the next pope might be.

"Id like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice", Trump joked, before stating that New York has a "very good" candidate, in an apparent reference to Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

Subsequently, US Republican senator Lindsey Graham faced criticism on social media after he enthusiastically endorsed the president's bid to become pope, describing him as "a dark horse candidate".

The conclave will begin on 7 May when 133 cardinal-electors will convene in the Sistine Chapel for the secretive process to elect the 267th pope and leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
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.

The awards, which took place today 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.

A total of 16 awards were presented across a variety of categories, from exceptional milk quality and milk solids to environmental stewardship and innovation.

The highlight of the afternoon was the announcement of the Byrne family from near Dungarvan 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 Kirwan Jnr, Butlerstown, Co. Waterford won the Tirlan South Region Award. Pictured, from left, were Tirlan Board Member Brendan Hayes, Jane and John Kirwan, and Tirlan Milk Supply Manager Padraig Nugent. Photo: Finbarr O'Rourke

Daniel OBrien from DJ OBrien & Sons from Tallow was singled out for his dedication and rewarded with the Milk Driver Recognition Award.

Daniel O'Brien of DJ O'Brien and Sons won the Milk Driver Recognition Award. Pictured, from left, were Tirlan Board Member Dan Lynch, Daniel O'Brien of DJ O'Brien and Sons and Tirlan Ingredients Transport Manager Mike O' Neill. Photo: Finbarr O'Rourke

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 to 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.

John and Mary Byrne from Coolnasmear, Dungarvan, were presented with the Milk Supplier of the Year award. John is the fifth generation to farm there and says the family farm is very special to him.

We put huge emphasis on animal health, whether it be the calves or the cows. We try to keep their nutrition right at all times. Grass is number one and we try to get as much quality grass into them as we can.

If we dont look after this country and this earth, nobody else is going to. We have to keep things right on farm.

"The vast majority of farmers are doing that and doing it very well.

Tirlan family farm suppliers have a long heritage of delivering high quality milk from well-managed, grass-fed herds for consumers to enjoy through many award-winning products, including 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.
Sinn Fein TD for Waterford and party spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Conor D. McGuinness, has said the revised National Planning Framework "exposes" the Governments disregard for the needs of Waterford and the South East.

Commenting on the matter to waterford-news.ie Deputy McGuinness said the failure to include any meaningful reference to key regional infrastructure was a clear sign that Waterford has been written out of this Governments vision for Irelands future".

This framework talks about balanced regional development but it fails to mention Waterford Airport," he said.

"It fails to prioritise the N24 and N25  roads that are becoming more dangerous and more congested by the week," he added. He also said it offered nothing on the Port of Waterford which, he said, had major potential for sustainable economic development.

"There is no serious investment plan here, just more vague aspirations," he said.

He also pointed out that the draft plan offered no clarity on whether Tramore will be included in the Waterford City Metropolitan Area Spatial Plan (MASP) as sought by all political representatives.

"This move would reflect the reality in the ground, add to Waterfords critical mass, and ensure Waterford Airport is included in the cities footprint for planning purposes," he said.

"The draft framework is also silent on how it will treat towns like Dungarvan that have yet to complete a Local Area Plan due to delays on transport planning," he added.

The Sinn Fein Deputy also pointed to the absence of commitments to coastal communities and maritime infrastructure.

There are harbours in this county such as Ce Heilbhic that cant be used properly because the Government wont fund dredging," he said.

"We hear talk about offshore wind, about marine tourism, but you cant even get a punt out of the harbour. Its disgraceful," he added.

Deputy McGuinness said that Waterfords exclusion from the Governments strategic thinking would have consequences for employment, housing and quality of life.

The people of Waterford have been promised a regional counterbalance for decades, but what we see here is a plan that centralises growth in the major cities and their commuter belts," he said.

"The South East continues to be overlooked and that means missed opportunities for our young people, our workers and our communities," he added. He also remarked that the draft National Planning Framework failed to offer any answers to the housing crisis, particularly in places like Waterford.

We need public housing, affordable housing, serviced sites and targeted investment to meet the needs of communities across this county, rural and urban," he said.

"This framework offers no guarantees; it doesnt tell us how or when delivery will happen and it certainly doesnt give the people of Waterford any reason to believe that change is coming," he added.

He concluded by saying his party wouldn't support any plan that "excludes our region, ignores the needs of our communities and continues the pattern of underinvestment in the South East".

"Waterford deserves better and Sinn Fein is committed to delivering that change," he said.
One quite noticeable feature of the present government is the silence from our four elected representatives on matters of vital local importance.

Sure, everyone piped up when the announcement of 24/7 cardiology was made, but otherwise, there has been a return to the default position of PS. That PS means pre Shanahan.

Whether you loved or hated Matt Shanahan, he mentioned the word Waterford almost daily in the Dail and was relentless in pursuit of government on investment decisions relating to this city.

He also released details of his Dail contributions and parliamentary questions especially relating to UHW, SETU and our airport, on social media so everyone could at least see what he was doing.

I think Deputy Shanahan believed, above all else, that investment in UHW and the development of SETU were the prime movers for the future of Waterford. The current silence suggests a different focus? Maybe everyone is working in the background?

Anyway, the Facebook page of Deputy Cullinane is interesting to see where he stands on the subject of SETU.

Sinn Fein hardly covered itself in glory over the years when it came to WIT and was certainly not beyond putting in the boot at the Public Accounts Committee when it suited them. Maybe the party and/ or Mr Cullinane dont really see third level education as relating to the partys base?

In any event Mr Cullinane posted the following of Facebook on October 24, 2022: Delighted to attend the official launch of the South East Technological University. A long time coming and can be transformative for the region. Additional capital funding needed to expand campuses across the region. Waterford will be the engine of a new University delivering for the region.

That was the only relevant post I could find. It would be interesting to find out from Mr Cullinane, his party colleague Mr McGuinness, or our two government reps, how exactly SETU Waterford can be the engine of this new regional university without any fuel in the tank?

Investment is the fuel and there has been none for 20 years.

Newly elected Waterford Fine Gael TD John Cummins, now Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, confirmed last December that the Higher Education PPP Bundle 2, which contains a major capital build at SETUs Cork Road campus, was formally approved at a meeting of cabinet on December 11, 2024. Tenders were received for the Higher Education Bundle 2, 12,800 sq/m Engineering, Computing and General Teaching building at SETU Cork Road Campus, in April 2024.

In a letter to Deputy Cummins in early April, the then Minister for Further and Higher Education and then Taoiseach Simon Harris said: Further to our ongoing engagement in relation to PPP Bundle 2, I wish to confirm the final tender has been received. A full technical and financial evaluation is currently being undertaken of this bid.

He went on to say: As you know, I am acutely aware of the importance of this project to SETU and I will ensure the new Minister for Further and Higher Education is fully appraised in early course. I assure you I remain fully committed to the delivery of PPP Bundle 2 and look forward to continuing to work with you on this project.

Speaking following the Cabinet decision in December 2024, Deputy Cummins said: I am on record as expressing my deep frustration with the slow nature of the PPP process, which is being managed by the National Development Finance Agency. The reality is this bundle experienced a number of setbacks and significant due diligence and cost benefit analysis was required to ensure it found favour with cabinet.

This project has been one of my main priorities to deliver for Waterford and I have engaged with the Taoiseach, Minister ODonovan and Minister Donohoe throughout the process to underscore the importance of this project for our new university.

"Im delighted that it has received the green light today and I look forward to contracts being signed and construction commencing in Q1 of 2025.

Deputy Cummins said: There have been a lot of inaccuracies put out there in the public domain about the Higher Education PPP Bundle 2, not least the incorrect assertion that the resubmission of planning for the building in Waterford in September would see this project stalled indefinitely.

"The reality is additional due diligence in the guise of a cost benefit analysis was required and thankfully the benefits have been determined to outweigh the economic costs.

He went on to say: This has been a top priority project for me to get over the line and I am certain it will be a major asset to SETU when it is completed. It follows the excellent news in the past few months of the awarding of veterinary medicine and pharmacy to SETU.

"I am very much looking forward to continuing to work closely with the leadership team led by Professor Veronica Campbell to progress further items for SETU, such as student accommodation and further capital expansion on the new University Enterprise quarter (former Waterford Crystal site), which was purchased by the state last year.

As we head into the middle of Quarter 2, 2025, government has clearly missed Mr. Cummins' hoped for commencement of the new building in Quarter 1 of 2025. Even allowing for problems in project procurement, missed government deadlines are hardly new for Waterford.

Delay is ubiquitous.

The shameful carry on with our airport would anger a saint. Minister Mary Butler is on record in the last government saying that a new minister would be needed (not Eamon Ryan, Green Party) before a decision could be expected on airport investment.

We have a new minister and a new government. Neither the decision nor the investment has happened.

Patience is tried to the limit.

No one doubts that Mr Cummins is anxious to see the SETU building started. As a University of Limerick alumnus, he well knows the level of development at that institution and, by extension, the level of investment needed here to make SETU Waterford into the university of size and scale we know to be necessary for this city.

The SETU Engineering Building contract has apparently been awarded to BAM. A construction start is long overdue. The time for excuses is over.
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)
Among the first wave of the hundreds of executive orders signed by Donald Trump during his second U.S. presidential term was the suspension of the countrys Refugee Admissions Program. The decree dealt a fatal blow to the United Nations resettlement program, as the United States had previously been the country that accepted the largest number of its beneficiaries: 69% of the total in 2024.

The measure was blocked one month later by a federal judge, on the grounds that the decision exceeded the administrations powers. Though this was followed by other court orders, but in practice, the U.S. State Department has proceeded to terminate contracts with the main national organizations that were implementing the program. Both the indefinite ban on accepting refugees and the freeze on funding remain in place, despite appeals from the resettlement organizations.

On Monday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has already blocked other anti-immigration measures taken by Trump, issued another ruling, stating that the administration must resettle thousands of refugees who already had flights scheduled to the United States before January 20, when Trump took office, and that were canceled due to the executive order. Previously, the government had stated that it would only resettle 65 Afghan refugees in coming months.

Resettlement is a little-known but essential tool for the most vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees. It involves transferring individuals from a country where they have already sought protection to a third country that grants them permanent or long-term residence. This program is aimed at people in urgent need of protection  such as survivors of violence or torture, women and children at risk, and others with serious physical or legal protection needs.

More than 50% of resettlement beneficiaries are women and girls, as they often face serious risks in host countries where they typically live in refugee camps, explains Haruno Nakashiba, senior coordinator for resettlement and complementary pathways at the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR). For them, it can be a life-saving solution and their only chance to rebuild a future safely, she said in an email.

The programs beneficiaries are initially identified and selected by UNHCR, although the final decision is made at the discretion of the host country. In 2024, 116,528 individuals were resettled around the world. Of them, around 80,000 (69%) were admitted to the United States. The rest went primarily to Canada, Australia, Germany and other European countries and the Asia-Pacific region.

The decision worsens an already troubling situation that predated Trumps time in the White House. The 116,528 refugees who were resettled last year represent just a fraction of the 2.4 million in urgent need of relocation.

With the U.S. pulling back, that number is expected to drop even further. And 2025 doesnt look any more promising: UNHCR estimates that 2.9 million people will need resettlement  500,000 more than the previous year, a 20% increase. The rise is due to the persistence of mass displacement crises like the war in Syria  where, despite the fall of Bashar al-Assads regime in December, 6.2 million Syrians still live as refugees outside the country.

New conflicts, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and climate-related disasters like floods, earthquakes, and droughts have also fueled the surge; in 2024 alone, 6.6 million people were displaced by such events, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC).

In light of this new scenario, with the resettlement program in dire straits, UNHCR is urging states to step up efforts to ensure that those who are most in need have access to resettlement.

Every resettlement counts and must be valued, as it can help save a life. Even a relatively small quota is an important gesture of solidarity and is valued by refugee host countries, said Nakashiba.

Consequences in the United States

The United States founded its resettlement program in 1980 when Congress unanimously approved the Refugee Act. Thats why, in a ruling issued at the end of February, federal Judge Jamal Whitehead in Seattle argued that Trump could not suspend its operations, as doing so amounted to an effective nullification of congressional will. The president has substantial discretion [...] to suspend refugee admissions. But that authority is not limitless, said Whitehead in a hearing, according to the Associated Press.

Since 1980, the United States has accepted more than three million refugees. Going forward, that will change. The decisions impacts are already becoming noticeable. More than 30,000 refugees who arrived in the U.S. in the months leading up to the Trump administration have lost access to essential services. Tens of thousands more remain in limbo overseas, including 1,600 Afghan allies who had been approved by DHS but had their flights canceled at the last minute, said Refuge Point, of the countrys leading resettlement organizations.

The new administration has said that the reasoning behind the executive order is that the country has become inundated by resettlement requests. The United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, reads the text of the executive order. The United States is the country with the highest number of foreign-born residents, with 47.8 million documented migrants. Another 14 million are undocumented. But in the case of refugees, these large numbers (the three million received by the country since the 1980 law was passed) make up 0.88% of the countrys 340 million residents.

Contrary to the reasons given by the White House, a study published last year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concluded that, over the course of 15 years, refugees and asylum seekers contributed $123.8 billion more to the countrys economy than they received in services.

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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.
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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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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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.
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.
The same camera also captured Gilmores mother discussing by phone the attack on Cassius in the hours after the incident. Prosecutors say Brearley was bragging on the other end of the call, with a voice heard saying, He was lying in a field and I was smacking him with a trolley pole so hard. Brearley denies it. He also insists it wasnt him mocking Cassius when the voice mimics the teen saying, Im so sorry, dont hurt me. Yet he agreed during his week in the witness box that he and Palmer re-enacted the bashing after the alleged incident, which was also recorded on CCTV, and blamed each other for the murder. Palmer told the jury he was full of piss the day Cassius was targeted and waited in his ute near when Brearley ran into bushland with a pole after a group of teens including Cassius.

He said Brearley yelled for help and said hed been stabbed, and that when he walked into the scrub, he found Brearley standing over a blood-covered Cassius. Brearleys version is that he chased Cassius towards a creek and after the teen slowed and tripped on a piece of wire, the pair ended up in the dirt. He told the jury Cassius stabbed him in the leg with a steak knife and he tried to flee but the teen held on to him, so he punched him. He said he landed two blows on Cassiuss face and called out to Palmer because he had been stabbed. Brearley, who is also accused of trying to frame another man for the alleged murder, said Palmer, whom he allegedly sold drugs for, appeared on the scene with a shopping trolley handle and was the one who hit Cassius.

But a murder weapon has not been found. In one police interview, Brearley told detectives there were 20 armed kids mouthing off at him and he ran at them. He said he chased the fat one and that after he punched him three times, Cassius cried and pleaded with him to stop and apologised over the alleged knifing, but his version of events changed as the interview wore on. Prosecutors say it was another teen who slashed Brearleys leg and his attack on Cassius was a fury-filled, vengeful act of vigilante violence. CCTV recorded outside Palmers house in the hours before Cassius was bashed shows the accused murderers drinking alcohol before climbing into Palmers monster ute and leaving.

The court was told they drove to Gilmores home after her younger brothers messaged her about social media threats they received about a potential home invasion, with calls for them to meet in a nearby park for a fight. Palmer, Brearley, Forth and Gilmore later drove to a train and bus station to look for the teens Brearley believed were behind the threats and damage to his car. About the same time, Cassius and a large group of fellow students were on a bus to a field near Gilmores home to watch a fight being talked about on social media. CCTV on the bus showed him dressed in a green school uniform t-shirt and dark shorts with a black backpack. Hes tall and calm and stands quietly near the rear doors with his right hand wrapped around a yellow pole to steady himself.

He appears deep in thought as the group of students chat with each other around him. Cameras on buildings and in the bus recorded Cassius and the group stepping off at a stop about the same time Palmer allegedly drives his ute with his co-accused past. In the minutes that follow, as the students walk down a street, Gilmore leaves Brearley, Palmer and Forth after an argument. Prosecutors say the three men then confronted Cassius group before he was attacked. A witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the jury he was among the teens.

Then 13, he said he ran into bushland in fear of the men and that after crossing a creek, he looked back and spotted his close mate Cassius get hit by a man with a description matching Brearley. The teen said Cassius, who suffered brain bleeds consistent with blunt force trauma, was bleeding from the side of his head and crying in pain. He was laid to rest just over a month later by hundreds of mourners, who celebrated his life. Dashcam footage taken in a nearby car park later showed Cassius lying on the ground near an ambulance stretcher with a security guard helping him. The trial has also shown video recorded at Gilmores home that prosecutors described as the 13 minutes of mayhem.

In it, Gilmore allegedly said: The little c--- just got f---ing bashed and Forth allegedly said: F---. We done it and lets go back there and f--- everyone of them up. It was followed by Brearley, who allegedly said: I bashed the c--- on crutches and in the bush before he said Im not going to jail. The trial continues withjury has started deliberations with Chief Justice Peter Quinlan giving the jury directions on Friday prior to its retirement. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14
No, he said to the Dutton detractors. No. What we do in Australia is we treat people with respect. He was gracious in victory, and so what if graciousness comes more easily when you have won a greater majority, and your opponent has been wiped off the electoral map? I was raised to be an optimist ... my mother taught me to always be positive and to see the best in people, he said. We have so much reason to be optimistic ... truly, there is nowhere else you would rather be than right here in Australia.

Albanese certainly gave no signs of wanting to be anywhere else, although in paying tribute to his local community  Sydneys inner west, where he has lived his whole life  he did say Im sorry, I wont be moving back for a little while. Loading This was not just a re-election, the first one for any Australian prime minister in 20 years. It was a vindication and an affirmation of the prime ministers self-made mythology as a battler who fights best when his back is against the wall. A few months ago, Albanese was cranky and drifting in the polls. Dutton was in the ascendancy.

But then the fight  the election campaign  began. And he boxed his way out of a probable loss. Three years ago, he had stood on the same stage, on election night 2022, to claim the prime ministership in front of a room so packed he had trouble threading his way through the crowd. Then, he had travelled to the RSL from his Marrickville home just a few streets away. This time, he departed from Kirribilli House, driving across the bridge to Sydneys inner west in a Comcar. Then, he spoke of his first priority as prime minister  the Voice referendum. This time, talk of Aboriginal policy was further down the list, but he made a point of acknowledging the traditional owners and paying his respects to elders, today and every day.

Anthony Albanese will return to Canberra with a larger majority. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen This time, he exuded confidence and certainty, the aura of a man who knows he has cemented his power and consolidated his authority. He brought his favourite prop with him - his Medicare card. This card, he said, is not Labor red or Liberal blue. It is green and gold. The card, he said, was a declaration of our national values in our national colours. No coincidence, then, that he has worked hard during the campaign to associate the Medicare card with brand Labor and brand Albo.

His opponents would even say he misled voters in the process. Loading Albanese did not mention US President Donald Trump, arguably the man he owed most for this astounding victory. But he did have a jab at members of the opposition accused of aping the US president. We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else, he said. We do not seek our inspiration overseas.
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.
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
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.
TOKYO - Japan has no intention of striking a trade deal with the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump unless all of its new tariffs are reviewed, top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa indicated Saturday as he returned to Japan following the second round of ministerial-level tariff talks in Washington.

"We have pressed the United States to reconsider all of the series of tariff measures and we cannot reach an agreement if that is not properly addressed in a package," Akazawa told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to discuss the outcome of the negotiations.

The remarks underscore that the two countries are at odds over what tariffs are negotiable, with the U.S. side showing its unwillingness to back off from duties on imports of automobiles and steel and aluminum, while the Japanese side is hoping for the elimination of such levies.

The Japanese government has been particularly concerned about the new 25 percent duties targeting the auto industry, which accounted for nearly 30 percent of total exports to the United States by value last year.

Trump, who believes that the United States has been "ripped off" by its trading partners and is critical of trade deficits, has imposed 25 percent levies on all imported steel and aluminum and 25 percent tariffs on automobiles produced outside the United States.

He has also announced so-called reciprocal tariffs, which amount to 24 percent for Japan including a baseline tariff of 10 percent. The extra portion has currently been put on hold as negotiations continue.

The Trump administration is believed to be focused on negotiating with Japan the halted portion of the reciprocal tariff rate.

In another blow, a 25 percent tariff on certain auto parts took effect on Saturday, to which Ishiba expressed his strong disappointment.

"Japan will continue to ask for U.S. tariff measures to be reconsidered," Ishiba told reporters after meeting Akazawa, also Japan's economic revitalization minister, admitting that Japan and the United States have not yet "reached common ground."

He also emphasized that Japan is negotiating with the United States on "all" U.S. tariffs, including those on auto, steel and aluminum.

Related coverage:

Trump's 25% auto part tariff takes effect, in latest blow to Japan

Japan PM vows to protect national interests in tariff talks with U.S.

Japanese carmakers post firm U.S. sales growth on rush of buying
TOKYO - All modes of transportation experienced peak congestion Saturday, the first day of the four-day holiday in the second half of Japan's Golden Week, as the travel and return rush intensified, operators said.

Reserved seats on shinkansen bullet trains were quickly filled, while many domestic flights were at full capacity. Train stations and airports were packed with travelers, with long traffic jams expected on expressways.

Most seats on Nozomi bullet trains departing Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line were already booked Saturday morning. Reservations for other shinkansen lines were also mostly filled from the first services of the day through early afternoon.

According to All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, only a few seats were available on domestic flights departing from Tokyo's Haneda airport.

Expressway operators said outbound traffic from major cities including Tokyo was set to be heaviest on Saturday, while the return rush is likely to peak on Monday.
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Independent Cllr Richard Finn has expressed frustration over the "persistent delays" affecting housing development in Claremorris and, in particular, a "lack of responsiveness" from local and national government.

Cllr Finn says housing development is being stifled by "red tape and inefficiencies in the planning system".

We have planning permission for a number of housing estates here in Claremorris, but the developments just arent moving forward. The planning system is holding everything up, and were constantly in conflict with planners. Its incredibly frustrating.

One of the key obstacles, according to Cllr Finn, is the attitude to derelict buildings in the town centre. He claims that developers with significant resources are being deterred by overly restrictive conditions placed on renovations and redevelopments.

There are buildings in the heart of Claremorris that could be transformed, but the pressure being put on developers is making it non-viable. These are people ready to spend millions to bring life back into the town centre, but theyre being blocked at every turn.

Cllr Finn says the issue is symptomatic of a national problem.

The cost of building a house today is higher than what most wages can support in terms of a mortgage. Thats not unique to us - its a global issue. But the reality here is that more and more young people are being priced out of owning a home. Renting is becoming the only option, and even that is increasingly out of reach.

Despite these challenges, several public and private housing projects in Claremorris have been approved.

There are 28 Cluid houses currently with planning permission at Lower James Street, and another development of 30 homes near SuperValu and there are units near completion on Mount Street," he explained. "Theres also planning permission submitted for 67 more houses on the old Knock Road. Thats being brought forward by a developer with links to Westport and Dublin. And theres planning permission for 23 houses on Convent Road.

Cllr Finn warns that these projects wont be enough if systemic issues are not addressed.

The developments are there on paper, he said, but paper doesnt house people. We need to see action, not just applications.

One longstanding concern that Cllr Finn has highlighted is the derelict An Tintean site - the old cinema. The property has remained undeveloped for several years, despite its central location and potential to accommodate multiple residential units.

There are seven or eight apartments there, along with three houses to the rear, and theyve been sitting idle for years, Cllr Finn explained. Ive been asked about it countless times. Its right in the middle of the town, and yet nothing is happening. This kind of stagnation is holding Claremorris back.

Cllr Finn argues that Mayo County Council and the Department of Housing need to be more proactive in addressing such cases, especially when properties are in prime locations that could contribute to the vibrancy and economic health of the town.

Theres a real opportunity to regenerate Claremorris, but the authorities need to grasp the nettle. Until they do, well continue to see potential squandered. While acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead, Cllr Finn remains committed to pushing for progress and holding decision-makers to account.

Ill keep fighting this case. We owe it to the people of Claremorrisparticularly the younger generationto ensure they have a future here. That starts with a place to live.
A large crowd turned out in Irishtown in South Mayo on Easter Monday for the official launch of Briathra Talun / Words from the Land - a series of twelve sculptures created by artist Noah Rose.

The sculptures were unveiled by Fianna Fail Cllr Damien Ryan, the Cathaoirleach of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District of Mayo Co Council.

The event took place in Pairc a Tobair, a key community space in the village, and was attended by members of the Irishtown Community Development Company, local residents, staff from Mayo County Council, and members of the Mayo Arts Service.

Speaking at the launch, Cllr Ryan reflected on the importance of the occasion, noting the deep historical connections of Irishtown, particularly to the Land League movement and the landmark Irishtown meeting of 1879.

Its symbolic and historic that, 146 years later, we gather here in Irishtown again, this time to celebrate a new kind of expression, he said. The significance of this village in Irish history cannot be underestimated. Todays event not only honours that history but adds a new layer to how we reflect and remember.

Cllr Ryan expressed his appreciation to those who helped bring the project to fruition, including artist Noah Rose, the Irishtown Community Development Company, the Mayo Arts Service, and staff of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District. He welcomed the attendance, which included Aoife OToole and Anne-Marie McGing from the Arts Office of Mayo Co Council, along with Director of Services, Tom Gilligan, County Librarian Austin Vaughan and Cllr Alma Gallagher.

This project is a great example of collaboration between artist, community, and local authority, he said. Its thanks to the dedication of all involved that we are standing here today.

Cllr Ryan praised the contribution of the Mayo Arts Service and underlined the importance of continuing support for the arts at a local level.

The work done by the arts team in Mayo County Council is fantastic and cannot be underestimated, he said. The arts were never more important than they are now. In uncertain times, they provide a valuable outlet for reflection, creativity and connection. Its crucial that they are supported both in spirit and financially.

The installation, Briathra Talun / Words from the Land, was funded through the Per Cent for Art Scheme, a programme that allows a percentage of the cost of public infrastructure projects to be allocated to the commissioning of new works of art.

Cllr Ryan said the sculptures were a fitting addition to the growing collection of public artworks across Mayo and would contribute to the cultural and visual identity of Irishtown.

This is a meaningful piece of work, he said. It tells a story and roots itself in the land and the community. Ive no doubt it will be enjoyed by local residents and visitors, young and old, for many years to come.

He described the work as a continuation of Irishtowns legacy - a place where people have gathered historically for social and political purposes and now for cultural expression.

Its a great day for the village, and a proud moment for all involved, he said. Noah Rose has created something truly special, and its a privilege to be here to officially launch this project.

Cllr Ryan concluded by formally announcing the launch of Briathra Talun / Words from the Land sculpture series and extended his thanks to all those who helped bring the project to completion.

Fine Gael Cllr Alma Gallagher said she has been a long-time admirer of the Irishtown community and its can-do attitude.

The village is a great example of intergenerational living, Cllr Gallagher told the Western People. Theres a childcare centre here, a well-run social housing scheme, a strong community centre and a very active Tidy Towns group. It embodies everything that makes a rural village work. So Im here today to support them and the launch of the artistic features that they have added to the park.

Cllr Gallagher acknowledged the work involved in bringing the sculpture park to completion.

Theres a lot that goes into planning, procuring, securing funding, and commissioning a piece of public art, she said. Im proud to support this community and to be here for this launch.

Cllr Gallagher said her engagement with the village has been consistent.

Ive been invited here many times, even before the election, to hear about the priorities the community has set for itself, she said.

These, she noted, include improvements to the streetscape, improving lighting, securing additional funding for Tidy Towns efforts, and ongoing concerns around road safety.

Speed limits on the main road have been raised regularly with me, she said. Ive worked on those issues since being elected, and Im glad to have been able to help move them forward.

Tom Gilligan, Director of Services with Mayo Co Council, said it was great to see such a huge turnout for the unveiling.

There's a great buzz about the place, he said. I was here a couple of weeks ago when they launched the Community Futures Programme. There's a great community in Irishtown, and it's great to be here today to see this project come to fruition and to support the community.

Community activist, Billy Freely, said that the 12 pieces of artwork located around the track tell the story of the famous meeting which was instrumental in the formation of the Land League.

We had a bit of money left over from the housing project that we did, and that had to go into art, and this was the option we went with after the tendering process, Mr Freely explained. Artists made their submissions and this was the one we liked best.

Mr Freely said 12 artists had tendered for the project.

They could suggest whatever they wanted and we went with what you see here today. This park is steeped in history. It's owned by the community. It was bought a number of years ago and it has got a Famine road running through it, like the ones constructed during Famine time. We have the ruins of two houses. There were nine originally before the Famine. We have a holy well and a Mass Rock. This artwork greatly enhances our project.

Artist Noah Rose standing at one of the columns that are part of Briathra Talun / Words from the Land sculpture series at Pairc a  Tobair, Irishtown. Picture: Trish Forde

Artist Noah Rose explained the basic idea behind his pieces and the research that informed the different elements of the design and the processes that made it.

The pieces are a representation of newspaper reports of the tenant rights meeting that took place in the village on April 20, 1879, Mr Rose explained. I used Corten steel for the columns, with laser-cut quotations in Irish and English from newspaper archives, with an accompanying artist publication.

Dr Andrew G Newby, senior lecturer in Transnational and Comparative History at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, gave a historical perspective on land ownership and tenancy issues in Ireland of the 19th century.

He said that even though April 20th, 1879, was a wet day, it didnt dampen the gatherings spirits or enthusiasm.

Theres no Irish word for landlord," he said, and even though there are a number of Irishtowns scattered throughout the country, Irishtown, Co Mayo, is the definitive one.

The original Irishtown meeting is widely regarded as the catalyst for the formation of the Land League of Mayo later that summer. The protest was sparked by threatened evictions on the Bourke Estate and quickly evolved into a larger movement to challenge landlordism and fight for tenant rights.

Behind the scenes, the meeting was driven by a coalition of local activists, including Connaught Telegraph editor, James Daly, along with Matthew Harris and John OConnor Power MP. Daly played a central role in organising the event, using the newspaper as the hub for publicity and coordination.

The initial idea was simple: hold a large public gathering to protest the evictions and highlight broader issues affecting tenant farmers - unaffordable rents, poor harvests, falling prices, and reduced seasonal work in Britain. The meeting was originally scheduled for February 1879, but on the advice of Michael Davitt, who had just returned to Mayo, it was deferred to April to allow time for greater preparation and to attract wider attention.

With three key resolutions - on tenant rights, land ownership, and fair rent - the Irishtown meeting drew between 7,000 and 15,000 people and sent a powerful message. It marked the beginning of a coordinated, organised resistance that would lead to major reforms in Irish land law and ultimately the decline of landlordism in Ireland.

Pairc a Tobair is a superb, community-driven commemoration of the meeting, and of the life and times of the people of the area. The park is open all year round and there is no admission charge. The sculptures add to the cultural and historical capital of the amenity. The community staged a pageant a number of years ago, dramatising the meeting, and plans to do an even bigger one in the near future.

In 1879, Irishtown was a beacon to the rest of Ireland. It remains so, today.
An award-winning short film, written and produced by two South Mayo men, will enjoy its Mayo premiere in Claremorris on Thursday, May 8th. Screenings in Ballinrobe and Glencorrib will follow later in the month.

Where The Old Man Lives explores themes of rural isolation, resilience, and the profound impact of losing ones sense of security. The film was inspired by true events, including the well-documented Padraig Nally story in Cross.

Written and produced by Carnacon native Ruaidhri Hallinan and Kilmaines Eamonn Keane, of Maglite Films, Where The Old Man Lives has already picked up several awards including Best Cinematography at both the Oscars-qualifying Edmonton International Film Festival in Canada and at the Worcester Film Festival in the UK, and Best International Short Film at the Catalina Film Festival in California. It enjoyed its Irish premiere at the Kerry International Film Festival, with recent screenings at Kansas City Film Festival, Beeston Film Festival and Vienna International Film Festival.

Claremorris Town Hall Studio will play host to the Mayo premiere on Thursday night, May 8th, with tickets available through www.townhall.ie and on the door. On Thursday, May 15th, Where The Old Man Lives will be screened in Ballinrobe Library, with Glencorrib Community Centre playing host on Wednesday and Thursday, May 21st and 22nd. Tickets for the Ballinrobe and Glencorrib shows are available through Eventbrite and on the door. All events begin at 8pm, and will be followed by a Q&A session with the filmmakers, led by MC Crona Esler, author of Unless By Invitation: Crimes That Shocked Ireland.

The film stars renowned Irish playwright, novelist, actor and poet, Michael Harding.

The film stars renowned Irish playwright, novelist, actor and poet, Michael Harding, in his first venture in a lead role on the silver screen. Harding spent a number of years as a resident playwright in The Abbey Theatre, as well as starring as the Bull McCabe in The Gaiety Theatres 50th anniversary production of The Field.

Harding plays alongside acclaimed Irish actress Ruth McCabe, whose feature film works include My Left Foot, The Field, The Snapper, and Philomena. The film also stars Cork actor Michael Patric, known for his roles in The Quiet Girl (2023), Smother (2021), A Dogs Purpose (2017), Frontier (2016), Primeval (2013), and Becoming Jane (2007).

Directed by Sonya ODonoghue, with Niall OConnor as Director of Photography, and IFTA-winning Sarah Lynch as film composer, Where The Old Man Lives was filmed in four locations across Gort, Oranmore and Clarinbridge in Co Galway. Pre-production ran from late August 2023 to late January 2024, with post-production wrapped by the end of April 2024. It features a 12-strong cast, with up to 100 extras.

Where The Old Man Lives is a compelling and introspective film that delves into the life of Michael (Michael Harding), an elderly man living alone on a rural farm in Ireland. Through the lens of Michael's journey, the film examines the fragility of the human psyche and the longing for a world turned upside down to be made right once more.

Where The Old Man Lives will be the headline short for each of the Mayo screenings in May, while audiences will also get to enjoy two others. The first, Rapacious, was written, directed and produced by Eamonn Keane. Filmed around Moorehall, it tells the story of a man who, fearing capture for sins of a rapacious past, comes face-to-face with his greatest transgression.

The final short, Radha, was written and directed by Sonya O'Donoghue. Set in rural Ireland, it tells the story of 12-year-old Radha who lives a solitary life with her grandmother. After witnessing the tragic death of a local girl, they find themselves complicit in hiding the truth from the community that surrounds them.

Co-writer and co-producer Ruaidhri Hallinan.

Speaking ahead of the Mayo screenings, co-writer and co-producer, Ruaidhri Hallinan, said: From Kerry to Kansas City, and from Vienna to Edmonton, its been an incredible journey for Where The Old Man Lives, but theres just something extra special about bringing it home to Mayo. The film takes a modern-day look at farm life in rural Ireland and the isolation faced by so many. The story is sure to resonate with audiences across South Mayo, and were really proud to be holding these exclusive screenings in Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Glencorrib.

Co-writer and co-producer Eamonn Keane.

RuaidhrI's fellow co-writer and co-producer Eamonn Keane added: This is a film we really wanted to make. It delves into characters and the intricacies of the human condition, looking at the theme of rural isolation, and exploring the profound impact it can have on individuals. It illuminates the realities of rural life and the fear of living alone.

"We both grew up in rural Ireland and can identify with the characters and their stories. Weve heard the stories and seen the consequences, we know about the fear that is present in so many communities, but we have never seen it brought to life on screen and we felt this was a story that needed  and deserved  to be told.
YOKOHAMA - A man in his 20s was taken in for voluntary questioning by police on Saturday, after the skeletal remains of his former girlfriend were found in his home near Tokyo, investigative sources said.

The man, who had been warned by the police for stalking 20-year-old Asahi Okazaki before she went missing in December, returned to Japan from overseas Saturday afternoon, they said.

During a search of the man's house in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Wednesday, the police discovered a bag containing human remains under the floorboards. They conducted the search on suspicion that the man violated the anti-stalker law.

The police said Saturday that the body had been confirmed as that of Okazaki's. Autopsy findings showed signs of burning and that more than a month had passed since her death.

Okazaki, also a Kawasaki resident, had an on-again off-again relationship with the man since she started going out with him from around spring last year. She was being stalked at her workplace and near her home, according to her family.

She went missing around Dec. 20 last year while staying at her grandmother's house.

The man denied involvement during voluntary questioning by police at the time of her disappearance, the investigative sources said.

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NAHA, Japan - A helicopter from a China Coast Guard ship violated Japanese airspace close to the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Saturday, the Japanese Defense Ministry said, making it the fourth airspace intrusion by Beijing.

The helicopter took off from one of the four Chinese coast guard ships that entered Japan's territorial waters around the Senkakus from around 12:20 p.m., the Japan Coast Guard said. The uninhabited islets are controlled by Japan but claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu.

Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels spotted the helicopter flying above the territorial waters for about 15 minutes, prompting the Air Self-Defense Force to scramble two jet fighters, according to the ministry.

The ministry is looking into any possible connection to a small Japanese civilian aircraft that was flying in the area around the same time.

Japan lodged a protest with China through a diplomatic channel, demanding measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again, according to the Foreign Ministry said.

Previous violations of Japanese airspace near the islands by China involved a fixed-wing aircraft in 2012 and a small drone in 2017.

Meanwhile, in August last year, a Chinese spy plane violated Japanese airspace over the East China Sea off islands in Nagasaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan. The intrusion was the first by a Chinese military aircraft that Japan has confirmed.

By around 1 p.m. Saturday, the four Chinese ships had moved to the contiguous zone just outside Japan's territorial waters, the Japan Coast Guard said.

The latest case marks the first intrusion by Chinese vessels into the area since April 7, and the 11th such incident this year.

All four ships were equipped with autocannons, with Japanese patrol vessels issuing warnings that they leave the territorial waters.

Including the contiguous zone, Chinese authorities' vessels have been confirmed sailing near the Senkaku Islands for 166 consecutive days.

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LIMA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and one remains missing after a Peruvian Navy vessel collided with a river platform early Friday in the Amazon region of Loreto, authorities said.

The Navy reported that the navy vessel B.A.P. Ucayali struck the Manati platform, operated by energy company Perenco, near the mouth of the Napo River in the Amazon Basin.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with specialized personnel and aerial, riverine, and diving units deployed to expand coverage of the area.

The Navy said 30 crew members were safely rescued with help from nearby vessels traveling in convoy with the Ucayali.

Local media said the ship had departed Iquitos, the capital city of Loreto Region, and was en route to Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia. 
Pasadena firefighters who battled the Eaton Fire are waiting to receive blood test results after experiencing severe symptoms from the smoke.
TEHRAN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday exchanged views over the phone on the latest progress of the Omani-mediated indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

The two sides also discussed the latest regional and international developments, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi highlighted Iran's "responsible" approach of choosing the path of diplomacy to resolve the "fabricated issue regarding its peaceful nuclear program."

He said that as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran insisted on its right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, for which uranium enrichment was a necessity, while remaining committed to its international obligations.

He said U.S. officials' "contradictory" behaviors and remarks, along with the continuation of sanctions and threats against the Iranian nation, had led to the intensification of the distrust and suspicion towards Washington's seriousness in advancing the path of diplomacy.

The UN chief, for his part, appreciated the Iranian foreign minister's approach of explaining the developments related to his country's indirect talks with the United States, and underscored the importance of continuing the diplomatic process until a result is achieved, the statement said.

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." 
The far-right Reform UK made major gains in the Thursdays elections in Britain at the expense of both the ruling Labour Party and opposition Conservatives.

Reform, led by Nigel Farage, won the majority of seats in local elections in England and won the parliamentary by-election for the Runcorn and Helsby constituency in northwest Englandformerly considered one of the safest Labour seats.

Nigel Farage addressing Reform UK rally during the General Election campaign at Trago Mills, Devon, June 2024 [Photo by Owain.davies - Own work / CC BY-SA 4.0

The seat became vacant when Labour MP Mike Amesbury stood down after being convicted of assaulting a man who he punched repeatedly in the street.

Elections were contested across 24 local authorities and 1,641 council seats; and for seats on 14 county councils and eight unitary authorities in England. Six mayoral elections were held, including inaugural mayoral contests in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire.

Reform UK won Runcorn and Helsby by just six votes (12,645 to 12,639) but slashed Labours majority of almost 14,700 at the general election held in July last year. The narrowest margin of victory in a by-election since the war was therefore achieved due to a 17 percent swing to Reform on a turnout of 46 percent. Reform also picked up votes from the Conservatives to win the Runcorn seatwith the Tories share of the vote falling by nearly 9 percent from the 2024 general election.

Local elections, held on a rotating basis, were mainly in Conservative-held seats that were last contested in 2021, when the Tories were in power under Boris Johnson. Around 1,000 of the seats (957) in the local election were being defended by the Tories, with just 297 being defended by Labour and 224 by the Liberal Democrats.

Reform won most seats taking an average of around 10 percent above other parties. With 20 of 23 councils declaring results by Friday evening, Reform had taken eight, winning 635 seats. The Tories lost 15 councils, taking just 300 seatsa fall of 633. Labour lost one council as it took just 88 seatsa fall of 180. The Liberal Democrats won three councils.

Reform won the mayoralties in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire. The partys Tory defector candidate Andrea Jenkyns, with a huge majority of nearly 40,000 votes, was elected Greater Lincolnshire mayor, and Reform also took Lincolnshire council wiping out a 38-seat Tory majority. Giving vent to Reforms anti-immigrant agenda, Jenkyns said of asylum seekers in her victory speech, I say no to putting people in hotels Tents are good enough for France, they should be good enough for here in Britain.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Reform UK mayoral candidate Andrea Jenkyns look towards the media during their election campaign in Scunthorpe, England, April 29, 2025 [AP Photo/Darren Staples]

Reform also took Kent, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire councils.

Sir Keir Starmers Labour Party was partially shielded by contesting fewer seats but still proved itself to be massively unpopular after having enforced cuts to pensioners income and 5 billion in welfare cuts with Starmers own ratings falling to a record low. Such is the hatred for Starmer that party strategists advised him not to visit Runcorn to campaign for Labours candidate.

As well as losing Runcorn, Labour suffered huge losses on Durham Council to Farage. Labour had run the northeast council for almost a century until 2021. With Durham under no overall control, Reform managed to capture the 50 seats needed to take the council (taking 65 in total), with Labour winning just four. An ecstatic Daily Mail described Durham, located in a former coal mining region, as the spiritual home of the labour movement.

Reform more than consolidated the gains it made in last Julys General Election in which Farages party won over 4 million votes and 14 percent of the poll. Due to Britains undemocratic first past the post system, this translated into just five MPs in a 650 seat Parliament. Just prior to the local elections, however, it was polling as the first party nationally on around 26 points, ahead of Labour on 24 and the Tories on 21.

Based on the local election results, Sky News estimated that Reforms national share of the vote in a general election would reach 32 percent, well ahead of Labour on 19 percent and the Tories on 18 percent.

While the official policy of Kemi Badenochs Tories and the Reform leadership is that they will not form a coalition at a national level, with Farage deriding the Tories as a waste of space, the parliamentary arithmetic now points to a Reform UK/Tory coalition and the wipeout of the Starmer government at the next election.

Former Tory cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg told the World at One on Friday, In terms of policy, theres very little difference between the Conservative party and Reform. Its basically a matter of personality I think we need to work together.  conservatism is having a fantastic 24 hours.

Reform originates in Farages earlier UK Independence Party and the Brexit Party (which became Reform UK in 2021). It has only been able to make a breakthrough due to the abandonment of any defence of the working class by Labour and the trade unions.

This has created fertile ground for Farage to win a hearingincluding among a layer of mainly older workers in former industrial heartlandsbased on an appeal to social despair being channelled into scapegoating migrants for the decimation of housing, education and the National Health Service.

Labour and the Tories share much of the anti-immigration platform of Reform, with Labour boasting of its successes keeping out migrants and even using Reforms turquoise branding. But Farages party continually insists that only it is serious about slashing migration. He called in the election campaign for a new Department of Deportations to be created. His agenda is constantly promoted by a filthy tabloid media, keeping a daily tally of how many illegal migrants get to the UK on small boats and denouncing Labours policies, as did the Express this week, as migration madness.

Reform UK are openly aping the fascist US President Donald Trump, who Farage counts as a friend having spoken at Trump rallies and attending his inauguration in January. One of Reforms slogans is Make Britain Great Again. On Thursday, Farage announced that he would end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies in any council Reform won, and reiterated his call for a Trump/Elon Musk-style Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Britain.

Nigel Farage, the then leader of the Brexit Party speaking at a Donald Trump campaign rally at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Goodyear, Arizona, October 2020 [Photo by Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0

But not only does Labour fuel anti-migrant sentiment. Its pro-business agenda and refusal to put forward anything whatsoever to ameliorate massive social hardship, with the cost of living at unbearable levels, allows Reform to portray migration as the root of all evil.

Jeremy Corbyns betrayal of the mass movement that backed him as Labour leadercentred on demands to end austerity and war and to kick out Labours Blairitesput Starmer, a right-wing man of the state, at the partys headpaving the way for his governments savage welfare cuts, warmongering and anti-migrant policies.

The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) campaigned in the local elections via their Stand Up to Racism campaign, declaring that it was so important that they labelled Reform UK a racist party and campaigned against the myths about immigration.

But while the SWP raised the need for a left alternative at the ballot box that could mobilise breaking with Labour to the left, those they say should lead this projectCorbyn and the trade union leadershave no intention of leading any movement against Starmer. Indeed, the pseudo-lefts recent Summit of Resistance, with Corbyn the main draw, specifically ruled out the formation of any political party to challenge Labour from the left.

Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the Summit of Resistance

Reform UK have filled the political vacuum this creates. Its rise belatedly mirrors already far advanced developments in major European countries, as evidenced by the rise of the fascist Alternative For Germany and Marine Le Pens National Rally in France.

Genuinely combatting Reform UK demands the building of a revolutionary party, through which the deepening rupture between the working class and the Labour Party can become a conscious political struggle against Starmers pro-capitalist government and for socialism.
Since the Left Party backed the new German government's war loans of 1 trillion in the Bundesrat (Federal Council), it has taken an increasingly aggressive stance on foreign policyparticularly on the NATO war against Russia in Ukraine.

In a recent interview with Deutschlandfunk (Dlf), co-chair Jan van Aken railed against the Trump administrations move to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia in Ukraine. The US plans are a betrayal of Ukraine. The Americans were throwing Ukraine under the bus or throwing Ukraine into Russias mouth and basically agreeing to all of Russia's demands.

Trump is not interested in peace, van Aken continued. He is interested in greater influence for the USA. And he wants, as he has said quite clearly, the Panama Canal. Its about power, its about influence, its about exploiting other countries. And now you're throwing away Ukraine and saying thats your influence.

Of course, Trump's policy is not a peace policy. But neither do EU criticisms of Trump's plans, which van Aken and the Left Party share, have anything to do with peace or with the defence of democracy or human rights.

A recent analysis by the World Socialist Web Site shows that behind the growing conflict over Ukraine and Russia lie bitter rivalries between Washington and the European imperialist powers. This is over the plunder of Ukraine and more broadly over how to divide the world economy between them amid the accelerating global trade war over Trumps tariffs.

German imperialism is taking a particularly aggressive stance. Eighty years after the fall of the Nazis, it is once again focusing on great power politics and war against Russia. In the Bericht aus Berlin television programme on Sunday, the current and, in all likelihood, future Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democrats, SPD) spoke out strongly against Trump's recognition of the Ukrainian territories claimed by Russia. Ukraine could have done this on its own, by basically surrendering a year ago, he ranted.

In the same breath, Pistorius assured Ukraine of further German military aideven in the event of an end to American support. This was clearly stipulated in the incoming German governments coalition agreement, he commented. If Ukraine falls, if Putin wins this war in the sense that he occupies Ukraine, or even just large parts of it, then this poses a maximum threat to NATO territory and, incidentally, to neighbouring countries such as Moldova and Georgia, Pistorius claimed. It must be clear to everyone: This is not just about solidarity with Ukraine, it is about our security and our peace in Europe.

This is nothing but propaganda. The warning of a Russian invasion of the whole of Europe corresponds to the lies of German imperialism on the eve of the First and Second World Wars. The same applies to the interests behind it. As early as the First World War, control of the resource-rich and geostrategically important Ukrainealongside German hegemony in Central Europewas one of the German Empires war aims. Hitler built on this in the Second World War. The subjugation of Ukraine played a central role in the war of annihilation against the Soviet Union, which led to the Holocaust and cost the lives of at least 27 million Soviet citizens.

Even today, German imperialism is not concerned with security and peace. It is once again pursuing the goal of removing Ukraine and other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union or the Russian Empire from Moscow's influence and bringing them under the control of the German-dominated EU. This is what van Aken is talking about when he criticises Trumpalmost word for word with Pistorius.

The Left Party supports the German government's goal of developing a European war policy independent of the US. As the Left Party, we have been saying for a long time that we need to think more and more about security in European terms, he emphasised. We have to get ready for defence in order to assume a more, so to speak, neutral, great position, as a force for peace. We must not throw ourselves at the feet of the US or Russia or anyone else, but must act independently.

Although Van Aken explained in the interview that we should not play world power and arm ourselves to the teeth, it is precisely this policy that the Left Party supports. When Gregor Gysi, the figurehead and founding father of the Left Party, opened the new Bundestag (Federal Parliament) in his capacity of honorary president for his length of parliamentary service, he declared: If the European Union really worked, it could become a kind of fourth world power alongside the USA, China and Russia. We would have to work on this and perhaps some states would have to step forward.

In fact, van Aken's entire interview is a clear commitment to German and European militarism and the escalation of the war against Russia. In response to Dlf's comment that the reality in Ukraine shows that anyone who doesn't arm themselves will be gobbled up by Russia, the Left Party leader replies: 'Well, we say quite clearly that of course there needs to be a sufficient army in Germany and Europe for EU and national defence. I think we all agree on that.'

In order to achieve his own war aims against Russia, van Aken also advocates increasing the pressure on China. As strong allies of Russia  they have an influence on the Kremlin, said van Aken. Thats why we say we have to involve China. Brussels would not be neutral either. We are of course on the side of Ukraine, which is absolutely right.

The Left Party's solidarity with the oligarchic regime in Kiev, which is dominated by far-right forces, goes hand in hand with its support for the reactionary government campaign to exclude representatives of Russia from the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on May 8. Leading Left Party politician Wulf Gallert, Vice President of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, told DPA: Anyone who wages a war of aggression today, and does so without regard for the civilian population, should not take part in commemorations for peace in the name of this state.

Russias war in Ukraine is reactionary. But that does not change the fact that the NATO powers are the main aggressors in this conflict. Through their decades-long policy of encirclement, they provoked the Russian invasion in February 2022. Since then, they have been pushing ahead with the escalation in order to crush Russia militarily and implement long-planned armament and war strategies. The exclusion of Russian representatives from commemorations underlines how directly the ruling class is returning to Hitlers great power policyand once again waging war against Russia.

A few weeks ago, at an event titled Why did the Left Party agree to the rearmament madness?, the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) explained what lies behind the Left Partys militarism, which is now taking on ever more open and repulsive forms:

The militarism of the Left Party is ultimately not simply a product of its right-wing leaders, but is rooted in the party's political and social orientation and history. Despite its name, the Left Party has never been a left-wing or even socialist party. It has always been a bourgeois organisation that represents the interests of the state apparatus and wealthy middle classes, defends German capitalism and imperialism and is rewarded for this with ministerial posts and millions in state subsidies.

All their Sunday speeches cannot hide the fact that:

1. Their Stalinist predecessor organisation, the SED/PDS (Socialist Unity Party/Party of Democratic Socialism), supported the reintroduction of capitalism in East Germany and thus laid the foundation for the return of German militarism.

2. Wherever it sits or has sat in state governments together with the SPD and the Greens, it resolutely supports and enforces the associated attacks on social spending.

Workers and young people who want to fight against militarism, fascism and war must settle political accounts with the Left Party and consciously turn to a socialist perspective. The Socialist Equality Party, together with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), will present such a perspective at the International May Day Online Rally on May 3 at 9 p.m. Central European time. Register here to take part in this important event.
UCLA police in riot gear on April 30, 2025 [Photo: @doloresquintana]

On the evening of April 30, the UCLA administration once again bared its repressive teeth against pro-Palestine students and community members, arresting three protesters during a rally and film screening marking the first anniversary of the infamous Zionist attack on last years Gaza solidarity encampment.

The demonstration, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a group that the university has suspended in a blatant attack on free speech, was met with overwhelming police presence, riot gear and a grotesque display of state-sanctioned intimidation.

About 200 protesters gathered in the evening at Wilson Plaza to screen The Encampments, a documentary chronicling the wave of student-led protests against Israels genocidal assault on Gaza. This film features firsthand footage and testimonies from students who endured state and vigilante violence during the encampments.

However, UCLAs administration shut down the screening with spurious justifications under the so-called Time, Place and Manner policy, which is nothing more than a fig leaf for state repression.

When protesters adapted by moving locationsfrom Wilson Plaza to Bruin Plaza, and later to De Neve PlazaUCLA Police Department (UCPD) officers, backed by private security and equipped with riot gear, descended en masse. By 9 p.m., in a scene of brazen authoritarianism, police stormed the crowd, seized the film equipment, and arrested protesters under flimsy pretexts.

The arrests and violent suppression come precisely one year after the notorious attack on the pro-Palestinian encampment on April 30, 2024. That night, Zionist thugs hurled fireworks, scooters, and other projectiles at peaceful protesters. For over three hours, police stood by and refused to intervene, allowing the violent mob to terrorize students. The universitys refusal to protect students and their free speech rights underscored its complicity in silencing any challenge to US imperialism and its backing of Israels genocide in Gaza.

While the Biden administration mouthed platitudes about human rights, it laid the groundwork for todays authoritarian measures under Trumpdemonizing anti-Zionist activism, conflating it with antisemitism, and offering unconditional military and financial support to Israels genocidal campaign in Gaza.

Far from being a bulwark for democratic rights, the Democrats have led the charge in constructing the machinery of repression.

The events at UCLA must be understood within this broader political context. The ruling class has no constituency for the defense of democratic rights. Both Republicans and Democrats serve the interests of US imperialism and the capitalist state. Far from being an aberration, Trumps escalations, now unfolding with chilling speed, are a logical extension of the repressive apparatus meticulously erected by the Democrats.

This escalation has been on full display as the Trump administration targets 900 University of California faculty over their opposition to the Gaza genocide, combining its attacks on pro-Palestine activism with broader assaults on immigrants on campuses, particularly in cases like Mahmoud Khalil, Momodou Taal and Rumeysa Ozturk.

The so-called left wing of the Democratic Party, represented by figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has proven to be nothing but an instrument of imperialist containment. Their tepid statements and hollow gestures are designed to pacify dissent while maintaining their loyalty to the capitalist state and its imperialist interests.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez have repeatedly affirmed their support for Israels right to defend itselfcode for endorsing mass slaughterand have done nothing to challenge the Democratic Partys pro-war agenda in any substantive way.

Meanwhile, the campus unions, especially the United Auto Workers (UAW), have shown their true colors by colluding with university administrations and law enforcement to suppress student activism.

UAW Local 4811 delayed action after the Zionist thugs attacked the UCLA encampment, failing to protect students. When it did respond, it limited strikes to the fraudulent and failed stand-up model, weakening the movement. Union officials, fully supportive of Genocide Joe Biden at the time, allegedly facilitated police access to dismantle the encampment. Overall, the UAW leadership prioritized collaboration with university, state and political authorities over support for the protesters and their democratic rights.

Adding to this context are recent lawsuits that expose the universitys complicity and overreach: victims of last years Zionist assault on the student encampment have filed a lawsuit against UCLAs administration, seeking accountability for the violent suppression and negligence that endangered student lives.

Additionally, in a significant legal setback for the universitys expanding surveillance ambitions, a judge recently ruled against the University of Californias attempt to assert blanket police access to a student protesters phone at UC Santa Cruz.

While legal challenges may provide temporary relief or small victories, the struggle for democratic rights and true liberation will not be won in a court of law, but through the organized class struggle of the working class worldwide.

The suppression of the anniversary rally and the arrests of protesters expose, yet again, the utter bankruptcy of relying on any faction of the ruling class or its appendages for the defense of democratic rights. The only viable path forward lies in the independent political mobilization of the working class, uniting students, workers, and oppressed people globally in a common struggle for socialism against the capitalist system.
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Airmen with the 436th Aerial Port Squadron use a forklift to move 155 mm shells ultimately bound for Ukraine on April 20, 2022 at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Today, May 3, the World Socialist Web Site is hosting its International May Day Online Rally at 3:00 p.m. EDT. A central theme of the rally is the need to build an international, socialist movement of the working class against imperialist war.

The urgency of this perspective was underscored by the release this week of a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), documenting a staggering $2.7 trillion in global military spending in 2024.

Over a third of global military spending was accounted for by American imperialism, with Washington spending $997 billion on war during 2024, the last year of the Biden administration. The figures also revealed dramatic increases in war budgets in Germany (to $88.5 billion) and Japan (to $55.3 billion), increases of 28 percent and 21 percent in a single year, respectively. Germany rose from the seventh-largest military spender in 2023 to the fourth-largest last year.

The US-led NATO alliance spent over $1.5 trillion, or 55 percent of the global total. This is 10 times more than the $149 billion allocated by Russia, which is being targeted by the imperialists for plunder in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The surge in military spending has been relentless over the past decade, rising by over $1 trillion, from the $1.67 trillion total in 2015. But this is only a down payment. The imperialist powers have unveiled further huge increases to their war budgets with the aim of ensuring their share of the spoils in the new redivision of the world among the major powers.

US President Donald Trumps 2026 budget proposal released Friday calls for a 13 percent increase for the Pentagon, to $1.01 trillion. To help fund this gargantuan sum, Trump plans to slash the education budget by 12 percent and impose massive cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other critical social programs.

In Europe, Germany has committed 1 trillion ($1.13 trillion) to prepare for war: a 500 billion special fund to ensure social infrastructurelike roads, bridges and hospitalsis being readied for military use; and 500 billion to procure military equipment. The 500 billion for military equipment equals 11 percent of Germanys GDP, more than the 8.6 percent of GDP that German war credits amounted to during the first year of World War I. Hitler only reached a comparable level of military spending in 1938, after his Nazi regime had been rearming feverishly for five years and just one year before the beginning of the Second World War.

The vast growth of military budgets promises handsome profits for arms manufacturersthe modern-day merchants of deathand the financial oligarchy. The top 100 global arms manufacturers recorded total sales of $632 billion in 2023, $317 billion of which were accounted for by US producers.

Germanys Rheinmetall, which supplied the Nazi regime with weaponry during World War II, saw a staggering 36 percent growth in sales in 2024 and expects a further 25-30 percent growth this year. Rheinmetall suggests that an increase of military spending by the NATO powers to 3.5 percent of GDPa goal endorsed by the German, French and British governmentswould boost orders by up to 400 billion by 2030.

All of the imperialist powers claim their military expenditures are purely for defensive purposes, with budgets designated as defense spending. This is a grotesque lie. Whether in Washington, Berlin, London, Paris or Tokyo, the ruling elites are arming themselves to the teeth to advance their predatory economic and geostrategic interests by military means against their rivals and nominal allies in every corner of the world.

As for Russia and China, whose regimes desperately seek an accommodation with the imperialist powers, they deploy military sabre-rattling and reactionary nationalism to push for a deal with imperialism and defend their right to exploit the working class in their own countries.

The explosive growth in military spending over the past decade has gone hand in hand with the eruption of imperialist wars for control over raw materials, markets, pools of labour and spheres of influence around the world. In 2014, the US and Germany orchestrated a fascist-spearheaded coup in Kiev to topple the pro-Russian president and bring Ukraine directly under imperialist control, a process that provoked Moscows invasion in 2022 and the US-NATO war on Russia.

Ten years on, Washington, led by the fascist-minded Trump, is escalating conflicts on multiple fronts in what is rapidly developing into a Third World War. In addition to the ongoing war aimed at subjugating Ukraine, Russia and the entire Eurasian landmass to the interests of American capital, Washington is openly preparing for war with China in the Asia-Pacific to prevent its economic rise.

The latest SIPRI report explicitly pointed to the 2022 US National Defense Strategy as a driver for sharp military spending increases over recent years. That document described China as the most comprehensive and serious challenge to U.S. national security and was released just two weeks after the Biden administrations National Security Strategy, which pledged to defeat Russia and China in the coming decisive decade.

In the Middle East, Washingtons determination to secure its unchallenged hegemony over the energy-rich region has led it to back Israels genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. Washington and Berlin supplied tens of billions of dollars of weapons to the Zionist regime, allowing it to expand its bloody onslaught into Lebanon, where it killed and maimed tens of thousands, and launch strikes on Iran, the main regional target for US imperialism.

In just the first month of a savage bombing campaign against the Iranian-aligned Houthis in Yemen begun by Trump in March, the US has reportedly expended $1 billion in munitions and military resources.

The European imperialists increasingly view their former US ally as an adversary and have no intention of being sidelined by Washington in the struggle for global dominance. Recognizing that Trumps America first foreign policy means the end of the transatlantic relationship that dominated the post-war period, the European powers are all stepping up rearmament drives so they can wage war independently of the United States.

This process will sharply exacerbate class conflict. Across the European Union, which recently pledged that its 27 member states would commit an additional 800 billion to war spending, some 93 million people, or 21 percent of the population, were living in poverty during 2024.

The financial oligarchies that dominate official political life in every imperialist country intend to impose the burden of militarism and war on the backs of the working class.

To this end, governments are gutting public spending and all social services and establishing dictatorial forms of rule to suppress popular opposition to imperialist war. The trade unions are whipping up the nationalist jingoism used by the ruling class to mobilise workers for war and enthusiastically promoting the conversion of civilian manufacturing into military production.

Trumps announcement of further military spending increases has been accompanied by his relentless push to erect a presidential dictatorship in the US, lay off hundreds of thousands of federal workers and close entire government departments.

In Germany, the resurgence of military spending by over 80 percent in the past decade has taken place as levels of poverty and inequality have spiked. The ruling elite has systematically rehabilitated fascism in the form of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), and budgets for healthcare have been slashed to the bone.

To secure their predatory global ambitions, the imperialists want to turn the clock back to the brutal, dictatorial social order that prevailed during the two world wars of the 20th century.

At his famous May Day speech in Berlin in 1916 where he called for an end to the bloody slaughter of World War I, German socialist Karl Liebknecht denounced with bitter irony the three great Prussian state privileges enjoyed by German citizens at the time: We can be soldiers, we can pay taxes, and we can keep our tongues between our teeth.

The international working class is the social force capable of halting the ruling elites revival of imperialist world war and dictatorship. It is already engaged in major class battles, as shown by the burgeoning opposition to Trump and an upsurge in strikes across Europe and North America. The global mass protests against the Gaza genocide express the bitter hostility of millions to the barbarism of the Zionist regime and its imperialist patrons.

The decisive task is to arm workers in struggle with the necessary socialist and internationalist programme to oppose militarism and war and the capitalist profit system that is their root cause. The International May Day Online Rally sponsored by the World Socialist Web Site and International Committee of the Fourth International on May 3 will make a significant contribution to this fight. We urge all of our readers to attend.
A protester carries a sign that reads: "Workers united against Musk and Trump" at the May Day demonstration in San Diego, California, May 1, 2025.

Tens of thousands marched throughout the United States on Thursday, May 1, in a continuation of the protests against Donald Trumps drive to establish a presidential dictatorship, intensify the assault on the working class, and escalate US-led wars around the globe.

Many carried homemade signs opposing fascism, oligarchy and the attacks on immigrants and democratic rights.

More than 1,000 rallies were held throughout the US. They followed mass protests held on April 5 and April 19, which saw millions march. Polls show Donald Trumps support dropping rapidly, with 39 percent approval ratings after barely three months in office.

Protesters in Washington, D.C. call for Trump's impeachment and removal at the May Day rally, May 1, 2025.

In Washington D.C., an early protest at 7:30 am blocked rush hour traffic. Later in the morning and afternoon, several thousand marched from a site in Franklin Park to the White House.

Protesters called for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal resident and father of three from El Salvador who was kidnapped by the Trump administration and illegally transported to a dangerous prison in his home country in March. The US government has refused court orders that Abrego Garcia be returned to his family.

It has been 50 days of pain and suffering for Abrego Garcia and his family, stated his wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura as she spoke in front of the White House. Sura declared that her husband had been thrown away to die in one of the most dangerous prisons in El Salvador with no due process because of an error. Thousands chanted free Kilmar! and let him go! as she spoke.

In New York City, over 6,000 protested in the evening at Foley Square near City Hall. Several thousand protested in Chicago before marching toward the lakeside.

Workers at the Los Angles May Day rally hold a sign that reads "One struggle, one fight, workers unite!"

In Los Angeles, at least 6,000 protested downtown. Many waved signs reading No Fascist USA, We Will Not Be Silent Against Tyranny, and Immigrants Built This Country.

Cities which previously went to Trump, such as Mobile, Alabama; Wichita, Kansas; and Tulsa, Oklahoma, all registered protests from the dozens to the hundreds.

World Socialist Web Site reporting teams distributed thousands of leaflets promoting its International May Day event on Saturday Socialism Against Fascism and War and found strong agreement from a wide audience for its demands for a political break from the Democratic Party and a turn to building a genuine revolutionary international movement of the working class.

One of the things were really trying to elevate today is that workers are immigrants and immigrants are workers. Its inextricably linked, our struggle, said a protester in Los Angeles.

I think that the Abrego Garcia case was really stunning to most people because of the outright abuses against personal freedoms [being carried out,] another protester said. Everybody felt like were next in a way.

The protester denounced claims that the Democrats were the lesser evil or defenders of immigrants, noting Obama deported more immigrants than the presidents before him.

Then you have Biden, another mess, and now you have this fascist who is essentially implementing, intensifying, and bringing to a new level all of the measures that had already been implemented, they said. Summing up the experience over the past years of social and political reaction, the protester stated Its like enough is enough.

A section of the May Day rally in Los Angeles, California, May 1, 2025.

While the attitude of protesters were generally one of growing militancy and radicalism, many of the events were organized by the trade unions and other Democratic Party-affiliated organizations, which are seeking to derail opposition to Trump.

In Washington D.C., New York City and elsewhere, trade unions and other groups falsely tried to present the Democratic Party as a defender of the working class, offering the stage and microphone to representatives of this big business party of imperialism and war.

The largest event was in Philadelphia, as Senator Bernie Sanders hosted a Fighting Oligarchy rally in the city, bringing in tens of thousands in front of City Hall before marches commenced.

The hypocrisy meter hit its peak when Senator Sanderswho has praised Trumps trade war, had pro-Palestine protesters thrown out at his events, and solidarized himself with Trumps anti-immigration policies at the US borderdeclared that May Day is, in a sense, a sacred holiday.

Over the last 50 years, the very richest people in this country have become much richer, while 800,000 people today sleep out on the street and the average worker struggles, he declared. Sanders did not mention that it was the Biden administration, whom he had campaigned for and praised, which allowed billionaire wealth to increase by over a trillion dollars in 2024. This happened while homelessness doubled during his administration.

Crowd at Detroit May Day protest

Several hundred people joined a demonstration in Detroit called by the May Day Coalition, including groups such as Moratorium Now, 50501 and others.

Frank Hammer, former president of UAW Local 909 at GMs now-closed Warren Transmission Plant, addressed the demonstration, praising UAW President Shawn Fain, an avid promoter of Donald Trumps trade war agenda, which has already led to layoffs of thousands at automakers and other manufacturers.

Despite the politically bankrupt outlook of the formal organizers, many attendees expressed frustration with the lack of perspective and program, and stopped to talk to supporters of the Socialist Equality Party, register for the SEP 2025 online May Day rally, and to purchase socialist literature from Mehring Books.

Retired nurse at Detroit May Day demonstration who wanted to remain anonymous.

A retired nurse said, Trump is doing what he said he would do. Our fears were not overblown.

We cant just sit here and be anxiety-ridden and do nothing. I told my former coworkers that I was coming to this today and told them to join me. I had actually wanted to go to the protest against Trumps visit the other night, but my family was worried that it could get violent with the MAGA crowd so I sat that one out, she said. The fact that more people came to protest than to actually hear him speak is so importantnone of that was even really reported in the media.

A young administrative worker also attended the demonstration by herself and described her disillusionment with the Democratic Party paving the way for a Trump victory. Harris was actively trying to convince people on the right to vote for her. I dont think that is even the main reason she lost, but that caused a rift with a lot of people on the left who could barely stomach voting for her to prevent a Trump presidency.

I think we cannot accept the things that are happening at the top, she added. We cannot accept the violence and the divisive rhetoric. We outnumber everybody in Washington. We outnumber all of the corporate CEOs, all the people who want nothing more than our money. Its up to us.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls on workers, young people, rural poor and intellectuals to vote for our party in the local government elections to be held in Sri Lanka on May 6. Your vote for the SEP will demonstrate your support for a socialist program against imperialist war, austerity and dictatorial forms of rule.

The SEP is contesting for Kolonnawa Urban Council in the suburbs of Colombo and Karainagar Divisional Council in the war-ravaged Jaffna district, fielding slates of 21 and 13 candidates respectively. Our slates are headed by longstanding party leaders, Vilani Peiris and Paramuthirugnan Sampanthar.

SEP election meeting in Jaffna, April 2025

From the outset, the SEP has warned workers, youth and poor that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National Peoples Power (NPP) government called the election to strengthen its hand to implement austerity measures dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

These include the privatisation/restructuring of over 400 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), higher taxes on working people and funding cuts for basic public services like education and health. The result will be the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs as well as the slashing wages and working conditions.

We have been proven correct.

In his May Day message, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized: In the face of global geopolitical shifts and growing challenges, it is the working people of Sri Lanka who continue to shoulder the burden of rebuilding our economy.

What his remarks mean is that the government will impose new burdens on the working class as the capitalist crisis in Sri Lanka and internationally continues to worsen.

Speaking at the JVP/NPP May Day rally, Dissanayake declared: We urge trade unions to shed their old attitudes. Do not fight even for trivial things.

Although the president referred to trade unions, his real target is the working class. It is a warning that the government will not tolerate any opposition by workers and will not hesitate to use police-state repression to suppress strikes and protests.

All the opposition parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), United National Party (UNP), and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), as well as the Tamil and Muslim bourgeois parties, fully support the IMF agenda as the only means of saving capitalism. Their demagogic criticisms of the government and empty promises are simply to grab votes.

The local elections in Sri Lanka are taking place amid a deepening crisis of global capitalism, centered on US imperialism. Events over the past month have overwhelmingly confirmed the necessity of building an independent and socialist movement of the working class, as outlined in our election statement.

The fascistic US President Trump openly draws on the ideology the Nazi dictatorship of the 1930s. He is brazenly defying laws and the constitution in carrying out mass deportations of immigrants, dismantling essential social services, firing hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, and launching a global trade waraccompanied by heightened war preparations against China.

The current confrontation between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan greatly heightens the danger of a war that drags in the US and China on either side. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made unsubstantiated accusations against Pakistan over the April 22 terror attack in Indian-held Kashmir and has threatened to cut off water to the Indus Riveran act of war.

The unfolding conflict underscores the urgency of unifying workers throughout South Asia with their class brothers and sisters globally in an anti-war movement based on socialism. That is the program for which SEP, the Sri Lankan section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), is fighting.

SEP meeting in Oori village at Karainagar

During Modis visit to Sri Lanka last month, he and Dissanayake finalized a defense cooperation pact. The military agreement is aimed against China and includes joint exercises, intelligence sharing, training, capacity-building initiatives and high-level exchanges. Dissanayake, like his predecessor, the notorious US stooge Ranil Wickremesinghe, is integrating Sri Lanka with India into US imperialisms war plans.

The IMF has publicly praised Dissanayake for implementing its harsh austerity dictates. Much more is to come, however, as the IMF demands full compliance. This includes raising electricity prices bills to make the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) profitable, fast-tracking the privatization of SOEs, and finalizing debt restructuring to repay the defaulted 2022 debts in exchange for the next tranche of a $US3 billion IMF bail-out loan.

Already working people are suffering. The minimum expenditure required for a person to survive has been jumped by 134 percent from 2019 to February 2025, according to government statistics. Yet income levels are stagnating and unemployment rates are rising with close to 26 percent for young people aged 15 to 24 years. A recent World Bank report found that a third of the population is below the poverty line and facing persistent malnutrition.

The JVP/NPP government came to power by capitalizing on widespread anger against the traditional parties that have ruled since independence in 1948 and inflicted deep attacks on the social and democratic rights of working people. Once in office, Dissanayake dropped his promises to improve conditions of workers and rural toilers and pledged to implement the IMF demands in full.

Trade unions also bear responsibility for this social disaster, having suppressed and sabotaged the struggles of the working class under both Wickremesinghe and Dissanayake. The union bureaucrats agree with the IMF agenda and have deliberately limited protests and strikes to futile appeals to the government and as a means of letting off steam.

The SEP warns workers not to trust any of the capitalist parties or their apologists among the fake left parties and trade unions. The Frontline Socialist Party claim that workers can pressure the government to the left and onto the correct path. What has happened is the oppositethe JVP/NPP has intensified the social crisis and cracked down ruthlessly on any resistance by workers.

The working class must rely on its own independent strength and fight for a socialist alternative to the capitalist barbarism of war and austerity resulting from the reactionary policies of its political representatives.

SEP members campaigning in Meethotamulla

The SEP urges workers and rural toilers to establish democratically-elected action committees in every workplace and neighborhood to fight for their social and democratic rights. We pledge our full political support to this effort.

We will redouble our campaign for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses, comprised of delegates from these action committees as the means to develop an independent political movement of the working class and rally rural poor. Only by overthrowing bourgeois rule and establishing a workers and peasants government to implement socialist policies can working people defend their class interests.

The cornerstone of our program is internationalism. Workers must oppose all forms of nationalism and communalism, including Sinhala supremacism and Tamil separatism, and fight to unite with the international working class. Working people in Sri Lanka need to join their action committees with the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), as the means to wage a unified struggle against predatory global capital.

We urge workers, the poor and youth to demonstrate your support for a socialist alternative by voting for our candidates in Karainagar and Kolonnawa. In other areas, we do not endorse a vote for any party or candidate.

We appeal to all those who vote for us to take the next important step. Study our political perspective and program and join the SEP to build it as the mass revolutionary party needed for the struggles ahead.

We also make a special appeal to workers, youth, rural toilers and socialist-minded intellectuals in Sri Lanka and throughout South Asia, to attend the International May Day Online Rally organised by the ICFI. It will start at 12.30 a.m. on Sunday, May 4 (Sri Lankan and Indian time).
Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien giving a contract campaign update, July 1, 2023. [Photo: Teamsters]

The 20,000 layoffs at UPS are the latest in massive attacks on the working class with the support of the union bureaucracy. Since the passage of a new UPS contract in 2023 on the basis of lies, tens of thousands of jobs have been destroyed through the so-called Network of the Future restructuring, with the guilty silence of the Teamsters union.

Their role in the layoffs expresses the hostility of the bureaucrats to workers they claim to represent. This is not the result of bad policies but of social interests. This has drawn the bureaucracy into alignment with the extreme right against the working class. Teamsters General President Sean OBrien, elected four years ago as a bogus reform candidate, is one of many top union officials openly backing Trump, especially his tariff policies which will put countless Teamsters out of a job and lead to war.

These social interests were exposed in a recently published annual financial report for the Teamsters for 2024. The Teamsters bureaucracy sits upon a treasure chest of nearly $650 million, which it uses almost exclusively to pay itself exorbitant salaries and benefits.

These documents demonstrate that the bureaucracy is an unreformable institution that must be swept away by a rebellion of the rank-and-file to return power to the shop floor and seize back control over the immense financial resources stolen from workers.

Documented assets of the Teamsters International are the highest in at least 25 years. At $650 million in 2024, the Teamsters bureaucracy holds immense wealth in the form of financial and real estate assets, not even including the assets of various local unions.

Annual income for the Teamsters is also the highest in decades, at $375 million. Of this sum, $215 million is generated from member dues, at an average of $172 a year per member. A further $120 million was made from the sale of financial assets to fund the purchase of additional assets, primarily Collective Trust Funds, which are typically used in retirement accounts.

This is what the bureaucracy is preoccupied with, not defending its members but shuffling assets around to maximize benefits for itself.

The rank-and-file received just $23 million back in strike benefits. The rest was largely consumed by the bureaucracy for General Overhead ($29 million), Representational Activities ($61 million), Union Administration ($20 million), and employee benefits ($43 million). Distributed among these categories are employee salaries and other disbursements totaling $58 million. This means that the bureaucracy consumes a total of $153 million just for its own salaries, benefits and activities, or 71 percent of members dues payments.

In the documents there are 655 people listed as officers or employees of the Teamsters headquarters, placing the total average spending for each employee at $233,587. This does not include the additional income union officials may make from their locals, which can have assets of their own in the tens of millions.

It is not surprising then that the Teamsters have increased the number of people making $200,000 a year or more from 160 in 2023 to 213 in 2024. This 200k Club is monitored by the message board T-Union Link, which publishes an annual list of officials making $200,000 or more in total. Among this list are 30 officials making more than $300,000 a year and three making more than $400,000 a year, including President Sean OBrien, who made $431,000 in 2024.

This level of income places the 200k Club members in the top 6 percent of American society. Figures like Sean OBrien make enough to be in the top 1 percent of income earners.

OBriens Teamsters United slate of candidates for 2026, backed by Teamsters for a Democratic Union, is full of 200k Club members.

Fred Zuckerman, who is running for General Secretary Treasurer and who has caucused with the TDU, makes $391,327 a year.

Juan Campos, running for general Vice President, makes $311,695.

Matt Taibi, running for Eastern Region Vice President, makes $256,044.

Thomas Gesuladi, also running for General Vice President, makes $456,638, second highest in the bureaucracy.

The list goes on, filled with long-time bureaucrats who make many times what a typical Teamster makes every year.

While these bureaucrats gorge themselves on members dues money, they allow thousands of Teamsters to lose their jobs. This includes the 22,000 workers at freight company Yellow, who lost their jobs in 2023 when the company went under, and the continuing barrage of layoffs at UPS.

At UPS, warehouses have been closed all over the country. This includes the recent closure of the Swan Island hub In Portland, which has been hotbed of opposition. Over 200 workers will lose their jobs upon closure and another 700 will see their jobs threatened when the upgrades are complete.

These layoffs are sweeping across UPS, with the company firing 10,000 people in middle management in preparations for automating 200 locations, setting the stage for mass layoffs. The Network of the Future restructuring is using automation to destroy as much as 80 percent of inside jobs.

The UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee, formed to prepare a rebellion against the bureaucracy, raised the alarm at an early stage. Even during the contract vote, the Committee explained:

The bureaucracy is worse than dead weight. We dont need their permission to organize a fight. In reality, our fight is not only against UPS but against the management stooges who control the Teamsters union. It is not a question of bad apples at the top; the bureaucracy, which we have no control over, is what produces the bad apples.

The treachery of the bureaucracy rooted both in social interests and history. Over the past 50 years the rapid globalization of the world economy has rendered the program of national reform untenable. To defend its social interests the bureaucracy has turned from class compromise to class collaboration, subordinating the unions to the interests of capitalism and turning deeper into support for nationalism and war.

Teamsters President Sean OBrien is emerged as a top supporter of Trump since his speech at the Republican National Convention last year. He has given extensive support to Trumps Labor Secretary pick, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, calling her the only choice in an interview with PBS. He has said that he speaks with Trump on the phone three to four times a month and praised Trump for making certain that working people, especially union people, were taken care of. OBriens union people in the bureaucracy are certainly taken well care of.

He has also given public praise to fascist Republican Senator Josh Hawleys rants against transgender people and foreign companies and has given tacit support for Trumps trade war policies, joining other union leaders in promoting the illusion that tariffs will bring back manufacturing jobs to the US.

This is part of a broader shift, involving those hailed by the pseudo-left as reform candidates only a short time ago in the front rank. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain has been very vocal in his support for the tariffs, falsely claiming that the tariffs will restore jobs in the auto industry while advertising the UAWs services to the American state as a buttress for American war manufacturing, invoking the UAWs role during the Second World War as the arsenal of democracy.

Both dockworker unions, the International Longshoreman Association (ILA) on the east coast and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on the west coast, have thrown their support behind trade war policies which will cause the ports to grind to a halt and lead to mass layoffs spreading through the country and the world.

The union bureaucracy is not simply mistaken on Trumps policies, they are making a conscious political decision to line up behind his policies for global trade war, and eventually imperialist war. They support the tariffs, not because they will bring back jobs (which they will not), but because they support the plans to consolidate economic forces in North America under US dominance in preparations for world imperialist war. The bureaucracys social interests are tied to the profitability of the national capitalist system and they see Trumps policies as essential to defending and bolstering their social position.

The rank-and-file cannot afford this parasitic caste of labor bureaucrats, either financially or politically. Bureaucrats like OBrien and his ilk are throwing themselves behind Trump to defend their own interests, which are independent of and antithetical to those of the working class.

Workers therefore need their own independent program and organizations to exercise their strength and promote their interests. In 2023, the UPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee wrote:

We need structures which we control. On our own, the Teamsters bureaucrats will be able to isolate us and wear us down. Organized, we will be powerful enough to countermand this and all future sellouts. We call on our coworkers to join us in building a network of rank-and-file committees, linking hubs and other facilities together across the country.

This must be an international movement, unifying workers around the world in defiance of the aims of the capitalist class and the trade union bureaucrats to divide workers by nationality.

The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees must be built as the organizing center for such a global movement, rejecting America First and its equivalents in other countries in favor of the slogan, Workers of the world, unite!
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Washington D.C. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

As the Trump administration escalates the detention and disappearance of US citizens, legal residents, students, immigrants and asylum seekers without due process, top policy adviser Stephen Miller confirmed Friday that the administration intends to defy Supreme Court rulings and use the National Guard to carry out mass deportations. He made the remarks in an interview on the podcast of Republican propagandists Clay Travis and Buck Sexton.

Asked by the hosts if the administration was still planning to deport them en masse, Miller replied:

Yes. Absolutely.  But the biggest near-term impediment to that goal, of course, are the courts and these radical leftist judges that are trying to shut down the machinery of immigration enforcement nationwide.

After painting a target on the judiciary, Miller declared:

We ... the Department of Justice, is pursuing a legal strategy with the hope that very soon the Supreme Court will swat away these injunctions so that we can get to the business of securing the American homeland in full force.

Miller added that the administration is prepared to take actions in defiance of the court:

If the Supreme Court doesnt provide that relief, there are many other options that I will not get into here on what the presidents inherent authorities and powers are. So this isnt we are only waiting on the Supreme Court. It is: The Supreme Court will hopefully do the right thing, or we have many other options at our disposal.

When Miller speaks of the presidents inherent authorities and powers, he is explicitly invoking the unitary executive theorya dictatorial interpretation of the Constitution that asserts that the president alone exercises full control over the executive branch and possesses sweeping authority over both foreign and domestic policy, including immigration and law enforcement.

Miller, both during his time in the White House and as the founder of America First Legal in 2021, has advanced policies and filed lawsuits aimed at legitimizing Trumps dictatorial attacks on federal agencies and established law.

He noted that in order to carry out mass deportations, the administration would have to enroll state and local law enforcement nationwide in assisting in supporting the deportation effort, as well as the National Guard.

Were going to get National Guard more engaged in putting them into immigration enforcement roles in a domestic law enforcement setting, Miller said, adding, which is allowable under the 287(g) program thats used for state on local law enforcement as well.

The 287(g) program, a provision added to the Immigration and Nationality Act in 1996, allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deputize state and local law enforcement to carry out immigration raids and other functions. However, it has never before been used to deputize members of the US military.

Some 241 police agencies in 26 states have signed Task Force Model (TFM) agreements with the DHS under the 287(g) program. These agreements authorize state and local police to interrogate individuals about their immigration status, make arrests and even carry out raids on homes and businessesentirely independent of ICE agents. Under one such TFM agreement with fascistic former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, tens of thousands of Hispanic and Latino residents were targeted and arrested.

Millers threats to conduct mass militarized raids are already being put into effect. In a display of force reminiscent of US combat operations in Fallujah or Kabul, more than 15 heavily armored ICE vehicles descended on a residential neighborhood in Irvine, California, Thursday morning. Dozens of armed agents swarmed a homenot in response to a violent crime but over allegations that posters had been placed on wooden poles.

Flashing their lights and carrying semi-automatic rifles, the agents surrounded the upper middle class home and ordered Michael Chang, the son of Annie Yang and YuZong Chang, to exit with his hands up. Chang, however, was not even present. In an interview with ABC7, his parents confirmed that he had moved to New York last month.

According to ABC7, Michael Chang is being targeted by the agency for the crime of putting up posters around Los Angeles warning residents that agents from Homeland Security Investigations and ICE were operating in the area. The station reported that the posters allegedly included personal information.

In the face of growing popular opposition, Trump is escalating his assault on democratic rights with the full confidence that the official opposition will do nothing to stop him.

The Democratic Party has already signaled its complicity. In Trumps first 100 days, it provided bipartisan support for the Laken Riley Act, voted overwhelmingly for his spending bill enshrining massive cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and confirmed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State with a unanimous 990 vote. Emboldened by this collaboration, the Trump administration is pressing forward in open defiance of the Constitution.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Rubio pledged that the US would continue to disappear alleged immigrants to foreign gulags.

I say this un-apologetically, declared Rubio as Trump sat next to him.

We are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries. So we are active, not just El Salvador. We are working with other countries to say, We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings to your countries. Will you do that as a favor to us? And the further from America the better. So they cant come back across the border.

He continued, gesturing towards Trump:

I am not apologetic about it. ... The president was elected to keep America safe and to get rid of a bunch of perverts and pedophiles and child rapists out of our country.

Since his election to the Senate in 2011, Rubio has been a vocal advocate for expanding the Guantanamo Bay torture complex. During his 2016 presidential campaign, he declared, We should be putting more people into Guantanamo, not emptying it out.

Following the cabinet meeting, CNN reported that the Trump administration is actively negotiating with the Rwandan dictatorship and Libyan warlord General Khalifa Haftar to disappear immigrants by deporting them to these regimes, where they face the threat of imprisonment, torture or even enslavement.

The administrations plans go beyond those with alleged criminal records; CNN confirmed that asylum seekers are also being targeted for removal to Libya, a country notorious for slave markets and extrajudicial killings.

Following the 2011 US-NATO bombing campaign in Libya, the country has collapsed into a state of poverty, desperation and civil war. A 2024 United Nations report confirms that immigrants are routinely smuggled and trafficked within Libyan prisons:

Migrants were reportedly also hired out for forced labour, sold to other centers or smugglers, or released against payments. ... While it was challenging to verify individual reported incidents, UNSMIL [United Nations Support Mission In Libya] confirmed a consistent pattern of reports of sexual violence, slavery and exploitation targeting people on the move across Libya.

As for Rwanda, the current President Paul Kagame was elected to a fourth term last July with 99.17 percent of the vote. Conditions inside the prisons are unsurprisingly horrid. In a 2024 report, Amnesty International wrote:

There was evidence of torture and other ill-treatment in detention, with a rare prosecution offering limited accountability. Enforced disappearances were reported.  Journalist Dieudonne Niyonsenga, who was arrested in 2020 for reporting on Covid-19 restrictions and was serving a seven-year sentence in Mageragere prison  appeared at his appeal hearing in January. He bore visible signs of ill-treatment. He told the court that he was beaten frequently, detained in dark conditions in a hole that was often filled with water, and that his hearing and eyesight were consequently impaired.

The methods and tactics used by US imperialism against its official enemies abroadmass imprisonment, torture, targeted assassinations, extraordinary renditionare now being rapidly deployed against immigrants and so-called home-growns, that is, US citizens.

This is no accident. It is the product of decades of bipartisan support for imperialist war, mass surveillance and the systematic erosion of democratic rights. The Democratic Party, no less than the Republicans, has backed illegal wars of aggression, CIA black sites, mass deportations and the legal architecture of dictatorship, all in preparation for global conflict, above all, with China.

The defense and expansion of democratic rights cannot be entrusted to the Democratic Party, which functions as a full accomplice in the Trump administrations assault on immigrants and its preparations for war. The fight must be waged by the working class, through the building of an independent socialist movement that defends the right of all workers and their families to live and work wherever they choose, free from repression and fear.

We urge all workers and youth to attend todays May Day online rally and join the Socialist Equality Party to take up this fight.
This file photo taken on Jan. 17, 2024 shows then Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, who has now been the president of the country's Council of Ministers after being appointed by the National Assembly, in Lome, Togo. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)

LOME, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe was sworn in on Saturday as the president of the country's Council of Ministers after being appointed by the National Assembly, which is dominated by his political party, the Union for the Republic.

In May 2024, Togo's constitutional amendment came into effect, formally switching the country from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary system.

Under the new constitution, the president of Togo will be elected by parliament in a largely ceremonial role for a four-year term, renewable once.

In addition, the new constitution introduced the position of "President of the Council of Ministers," to be held by the leader of the political party or coalition that wins the majority of seats in parliamentary elections, with a six-year mandate and considerable power in managing government affairs.

In April 2024, Togo's ruling party, the Union for the Republic, won a majority in the legislative election, seizing 108 out of 113 seats in the new National Assembly.

The new Togolese president will be elected by parliament, including the National Assembly and the Senate, later on Saturday. 

This file photo taken on Jan. 17, 2024 shows then Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, who has now been the president of the country's Council of Ministers after being appointed by the National Assembly, in Lome, Togo. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
More than 1,000 Sydney workers, primarily from the building industry and ports, walked off the job Thursday to participate in a May Day rally held by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and several other unions.

A section of the Sydney May Day rally on May 1, 2025

Hundreds of construction workers attended, defying the admonitions of the administrator of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

Construction workers were told by the government-appointed leadership they had no right to strike and could be penalised by their employers if they took part in the rally.

The CFMEU May Day ban was a stark reminder that the administration, imposed by the federal Labor government last August, is aimed at smashing workers democratic rights and suppressing the class struggle, throughout the building industry and more broadly.

On the basis of vague and mostly untested claims of corruption in the CFMEU leadership, the Labor government placed the entire construction division of the union under quasi-dictatorial control, in a clear bid to intensify the assault on wages and conditions.

Under these conditions, and with a federal poll to be held Saturday, what was most notable about the speeches by union officials was how little they had to say about the election. This was especially stark given that the rally was bordered on one side by New South Wales (NSW) Parliament and on the other by a pre-polling booth.

The bureaucrats were clearly concerned how workers might respond to open promotion of the very Labor government that has carried out the most blatant attack on workers democratic rights in decades, presided over a deepening assault on wages and living standards, and which is complicit in Israels genocide in Gaza, the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, and US-led preparations for war against China.

They could not openly discuss the election, because to do so would require an explanation of why, under these conditions, the unions continue to back the Albanese government, when Labor has spent the past three years demonstrating its pedigree as a pro-war, big-business party that is totally hostile to the working class.

Several speakers denounced the administrators attempt to prevent building workers from attending the rally. ETU NSW secretary Michael Wright described it as an absolute f..king disgrace. But there was a marked attempt to cover over the federal Labor governments responsibility for the administration and paint this as a NSW-specific issue.

The fact is, there was no need for the CFMEU administrators or anyone else to ban workers from walking off the job in other states, as the union bureaucracy organised their May Day events in the evening or over the weekend, outside normal working hours.

While speakers, including Wright, referenced the need to get rid of the administrator, not a word was spoken about how this might be accomplished. Conspicuously absent was the bluster, empty as it always was, of building industry rallies last August. Then, Labor politicians were labelled traitors of the working class, speakers declared next election, were gonna vote these bastards out, and union officials vowed to campaign for the absolute destruction of the Labor Party.

This hyperbole was replaced on Thursday with the bankrupt call for workers to put [Liberal-National Party leader Peter] Dutton last. Within the capitalist parliamentary framework, this can only mean one thingwhatever you do, preference Labor above the Coalition.

The basis for this, expressed by plumbers union official Chris Seet, was that if the Liberal Party gets in theyre not just going to screw us over, theyre going to bury us.

Specifically, Seet was referring to Duttons threat to deregister the CFMEU. This course of action was considered by the Albanese government last year, but rejected because Labor and sections of big business believed that maintaining the union framework, albeit under state control, was the best means of suppressing the class struggle among building workers.

There is no question that the deregistration of the construction union would be a massive attack on building workers and the working class as a whole. But the conditions for a Coalition government to do so have been created by Labors imposition of administration, and, moreover, by the complicity of the union apparatus.

This includes the majority of unions, led by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), which gave full-throated support for the administration. But it also includes the ousted CFMEU officials and their cronies in the other building industry unions, who posture as opponents of the measure, but have suppressed any fight by workers against it.

This is for two reasons: First, the sole preoccupation of the sacked bureaucrats was and remains the restoration of their own privileged and highly paid positions, gained by imposing decades of sell-out union-management deals. Second, they recognised the explosive potential of an industrial fight against the Labor-imposed administration, which would have quickly and necessarily assumed broader political dimensions.

The bureaucrats are intensely aware of mounting hostility to Labor in the working class, on a far broader range of issues than the administration alone. This was reflected, albeit in limited and distorted fashion, in several of the speeches on Thursday.

MUA Sydney secretary Paul Keating referred to US President Donald Trump and the need for workers to reject the re-emergence of fascism around the world including here. Keating name-checked socialism, and declared we cant fix a system that exploits us. But he said not a word about how fascism could be fought, and is campaigning on social media for the election of a Labor government.

Denis McNamara, who served on the CFMEUs committee of management until he was removed by the administrator, declared: Our government is a collaborator of the US and other imperialists. This means that Australian workers are not safe.

We need to oppose any war effort by the Australian government, he continued, stating that class consciousness among workers and unity of all workers are the keys to prevent war. McNamara also spoke of the need for workers to stand with Palestinians against Israels genocide.

The truth is that the unions are just as complicit as the Labor government and all the capitalist parties. Since October 7, 2023, the Australian union apparatus has prevented any industrial action by workers against the genocide, under conditions of mass working-class support for the Palestinians, demonstrated in more than a year of weekly protests.

MUA officials, including Keating, expressed violent hostility to Socialist Equality Party (SEP) members, in November 2023, when they so much as asked whether the organisation would uphold the call by Palestinian unions to block all potential military related shipments to Israel. Since then, Keating and the MUA have made sure that ships of the Israeli ZIM line, which has publicly dedicated its entire fleet to aiding the mass murder of Palestinian civilians, come and go, load and unload, without the slightest hindrance.

The record is clear. Keating and the MUA are flunkies of Labor, of the Zionist regime and bitter opponents of the fight to mobilise the working class against fascism, genocide and war. Bureaucrats who will aid the Israeli war machine will not fight fascism; if it were to be victorious, they would assist it too.

The bureaucrats on Thursday paid lip service to the deepening global crisis and employed their hollow scraps of pseudo-left phraseology for a definite political purposeto keep workers burgeoning opposition to fascism, genocide and war trapped within the control of the union bureaucracy and ultimately, its ally in the Labor government. Above all, they are desperate to prevent the development of a unified political struggle of workers against Labor and the political establishment.

This is because the union officials are not just supporters, but integral components of the Labor Party and its governments. Tightly integrated into finance capital, they serve as an industrial police force, enforcing the job and wage-slashing demands of management, and defending the capitalist system from any challenge by the working class.

That is why the SEP is campaigning for the establishment of rank-and-file committees, democratically run by workers themselves and independent of the union bureaucracy. We call for these committees to join with the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, a means to unite the struggles of workers worldwide, who all confront the growing threat of world war, as well as deepening attacks on their jobs, wages and conditions.

Above all, the working class needs its own mass socialist party, independent from and opposed to all the capitalist parties. That is what the SEP is fighting to build.

Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia.
GUIYANG, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Yang Shengzhu, 27, of the Dong ethnic group, has already woven a deep bond with her students and colleagues as a middle school teacher in Gaoniang Township in southwest China's Guizhou Province despite having been there for less than a year.

"I grew up in the rural areas of Guizhou's Tianzhu County and briefly worked in a city after graduation, but I always wanted to return to the countryside to help mountain children," Yang said.

After graduating from Guizhou Education University in 2022, she initially secured a teaching position at a well-equipped high school in east China's Fujian Province, where facilities and living conditions were favorable. Yet, her heart remained tied to her hometown in western China.

In June 2024, she passed the special-post teacher recruitment program -- a national initiative to address the shortage of teachers in rural areas -- and returned to Tianzhu to continue her teaching journey.

Responsible for four classes and occasional psychological counseling, Yang noticed that some students were struggling with shyness and social interactions. One girl, in particular, faced isolation due to personal hygiene issues, which had led to minor conflicts with her classmates. Yang, an avid runner, began inviting the student to join her for after-class exercise sessions. Over time, this not only helped the girl build stronger relationships with her peers but also led to an improvement in her academic performance.

"My own teachers once greatly supported me, so I wanted to do the same for children like me in the mountains," Yang explained. She also sees rural work as valuable personal growth, a sentiment shared by many young colleagues. Nearly a third of the teachers at her school, which has over 30 staff members, are under the age of 30.

Yang is among many graduates choosing careers in rural areas. Zhang Wenhao, 26, a village doctor in Guizhou, graduated from Zunyi Medical and Pharmaceutical College in 2021 with a degree in clinical medicine.

After passing local medical exams and additional training, he began serving in a village under the city of Kaili. Beyond daily consultations, he manages chronic disease cases, handles infectious disease reports, and conducts health check-ups for the elderly.

"Rural areas need doctors like me, especially in villages where many young people have left. We're the frontline of primary healthcare," Zhang said.

Compared to China's more developed central and eastern regions, the western region lags behind in terms of economic development, talent retention, education, and healthcare. However, with government support, an increasing number of young people are choosing to settle there.

Born in 1997, An Yuling became one of the few college graduates in her village. After earning her degree from Guizhou Minzu University in 2020, she began working as a public servant in a village under Guizhou's Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, where she focuses on promoting agricultural development.

During the recent spring plowing season, she organized drone-based pesticide spraying in collaboration with local experts. In late 2024, she was honored with a national grassroots service excellence award for graduates.

"The western region may be less developed, but it offers vast opportunities for young people," An said, noting that working with villagers taught her invaluable practical knowledge beyond textbooks.

To encourage young people to contribute their skills and talents to grassroots development in the western region, China has adopted various supportive measures and pledged continued assistance. Since 2003, the "western development program" has attracted over 500,000 volunteers committed to advancing rural education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance. 
KABUL, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 3,172 Afghan families with 16,764 members returned to their homeland from neighboring Iran and Pakistan within the past four days, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees Problems said on Saturday.

The immigrants have come home via the Torkham border crossing in eastern Nangarhar province, the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province, the Islam Qala border crossing in western Herat province, the Abrisham border crossing in western Nimroz province and the Bahramcha border crossing in southern Helmand province, it said.

The commission provides temporary shelters, food, water, medical care, and transportation services to their respective provinces for the returnees.

Nearly 120,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland from Pakistan from April 1 to 24, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Thursday.

About 7 million Afghan refugees, most of whom are undocumented migrants, are currently living abroad, with most living in neighboring Pakistan and Iran.

Recently, Pakistan and Iran have asked those undocumented Afghans to return to their home country. 
COLOMBO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- One of SriLankan Airlines' planes underwent a comprehensive security inspection upon arrival in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, on Saturday, due to a security alert related to a suspect of the recent attack in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, an official of the airlines told the press.

The plane involved is Flight UL 122, which arrived in Colombo from southern Indian city Chennai at 11:59 a.m. on Saturday.

According to the official, the search was carried out in coordination with local authorities after receiving an alert from the Chennai Area Control Center regarding a suspect wanted in India over the recent attack in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, who was believed to be on board.

Following a thorough inspection, the aircraft was cleared for further operations. However, the mandatory security procedure caused a delay to the airline's next scheduled service.

SriLankan Airlines said the safety and security of its passengers and crew remain its top priority and that it is committed to maintaining the highest operational standards at all times. 
One of the most famous movies of all time happens to be a story about a man-eating shark that terrorizes the fictional island of "Amity."

In real life, "Amity" is Martha's Vineyard, where the movie was filmed in 1974. What's also very real is the fact that "Jaws" will turn 50-years-old on June 20 of this year.

If you are someone who hasn't seen the classic film, which was directed by a young Steven Spielberg, then there are plenty of ways to see the movie right now.

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The same applies to all those people who have loved the film for decades and just want to see it again.

Here's where to watch "Jaws."

Where can people watch 'Jaws' right now?

The film can be streamed on services like Prime Video, Netflix, Peacock, and Tubi. It can be rented, or bought on Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Google Play Movies and the Microsoft Store.

When will 'Jaws' be in movie theaters in Massachusetts?

Universal Pictures is releasing the film in theaters around Massachusetts and the rest of the country from Aug. 29 to Sept. 4, 2025.

There will also be "special screenings at TCM (Turner Classic Movies) Fest in April (and) Alamo Drafthouse events all summer," according to an Instagram post by @Screenthrill.

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The Alamo Drafthouse is located at 60 Seaport Blvd. Boston.

The TCM Fest will be taking place in Los Angeles.

Explore Jaws filming locations: Marthas Vineyard celebrates anniversary with Amity Week

Will there a special screening on Martha's Vineyard?

There will be a showing this summer where moviegoers can actually sit in the ocean on Martha's Vineyard and watch "Jaws."

According to the Collider website, the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow will host "Jaws on the Water" on June 21 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

A scene from the classic film, "Jaws," which will be celebrating 50 years on June 20. You can stream the film now, and there are several theaters and special venues where it will be showing in coming weeks.

'Jaws' accompanied by live orchestral music?

There's also a showing of "Jaws" planned where fans of the film will also be able to watch the movie accompanied by a live orchestral performance by the Boston Pops on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10. Both shows will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Hall in Boston, located at 301 Massachusetts Ave.

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The musical score of the film was originally written and performed by famed conductor John Williams.

Ticket prices for these performances range from $50 to $122. There are still plenty of tickets available for both shows. You can purchase tickets on the Boston Pops website.

What's happening on Martha's Vineyard 'Jaws' is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025.

Here's what to know Are Vineyard rentals, hotels available for 'Jaws' anniversary in June?

What is 'Jaws' about?

The classic movie focuses on when the seaside community of Amity finds its swimmers under attack from a dangerous great white shark.

"The towns chief of police, a young marine biologist and a grizzled shark hunter embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again," a release from the Boston Pops stated. "Featuring an unforgettable score that evokes pure terror, Jaws remains one of the most influential and gripping adventures in motion picture history."

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The movie is based on a 1974 novel by author Peter Benchley.

While Benchley acknowledged that the shark attacks of 1916 in New Jersey played a role in inspiring the novel, he told BBC in a past interview that "the novel grew out of his lifelong interest in shark attacks, including the exploits of Frank Mundus, the Montauk, Long Island sport fisherman who landed a record 3,427-pound (1554kg) great white."

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 'Jaws' is almost 50. Here are places to see it and stream it
UPDATE (5/3, 9:45 pm)  An arrest has been made in Friday nights deadly shooting.

20-year-old Dante Anderson of Lucedale is charged with manslaughter. He is currently being held at the George County Regional Correctional Facility.

The George County Coroner has identified the victim as 38-year-old George Buckley of Lucedale.

ORIGINAL STORY:

GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG)  George County deputies are investigating a deadly shooting Friday night.

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According to a George County Sheriffs Office Facebook post, the homicide occurred on the 200 block of CF Ward Road. Deputies responded Friday night around 7.

3 children injured in crash involving Mobile County Public Schools bus

The post said one person is dead at the scene, and one person of interest is in custody.

GCSO officials are not releasing the victims identity until George County Coroner Deeann Murrah notifies their family.

Authorities are asking area residents to avoid the area.

News 5s Summer Poole contributed to this story.

This is a developing story. News 5 will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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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 WKRG News 5.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  One person was killed, and another was injured after being struck by fallen tree limbs in Birmingham on Saturday, according to Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services responded to the incident in the 1900 block of 21st Street South. The person who was injured was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

This story will be updated as information becomes available.

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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 CBS 42.
NEW DELHI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At least six people died and over 30 were injured when a stampede occurred during a religious festival at a temple in India's southwestern state of Goa in the early hours of Saturday, confirmed a senior police officer.

The stampede occurred at the Sree Lairai Devi temple situated in Goa's Shirgao area, added the cop over the phone.

Ten injured people were said to be in a critical condition and were undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences at the loss of human lives. A state government official said that a probe would be initiated into the reason for the stampede. 
A 12-year-old was shot while they were sitting in the back seat of an SUV during a road rage incident.

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Around 1:35 p.m. on May 2, crews were dispatched to a crash on Emerson Ave at the ramp from I-465 in Beech Grove, Indiana.

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Upon arrival, police found two vehicles involved in a crash.

Inside one of the vehicles, a black Honda SUV, officers found a 12-year-old child with a gunshot wound.

The occupants of the other vehicle were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The 12-year-old was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition, according to a release from the Indiana State Police (ISP).

There was also an infant in the SUV who was not injured but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Police believe that the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident when two drivers fired shots toward each others vehicles while driving on I-465.

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The driver of the vehicle occupied by the child was one of the two people police believe fired shots, according to the ISP.

The other vehicle involved in the crash was not involved in the original road rage incident.

There were bullet holes in the rear drivers side door of the black SUV. Police were able to locate the other vehicle involved in the shooting, which also had multiple bullet holes.

The vehicle was abandoned, but officers found who they believe to be the driver at a nearby residence.

The crash and shooting remain under investigation by the ISP.

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DENVER (KDVR)  The beer has been tasted and the results are in: 16 Colorado breweries make some of the best brews in the world.

The 2025 World Beer Cup concluded on Thursday in Indianapolis, and awards were presented in 112 different beer categories. The event is known as the Olympics of Beer and is described on the competitions website as the most prestigious beer competition in the world.

Denver ranks among 10 best beer cities in nation: USA Today

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In total, 21 beers from 16 Colorado breweries, 15 of which are independent craft breweries, received gold, silver and bronze medals in several categories.

When industry professionals acknowledge the excellence in products from around the market, the consumer can be sure that those products are the finest available, competition director Chris Williams says on the website.

Winners were selected by a panel of 265 beer judges from 37 different countries. These judges are qualified with formal beer sensory training, ongoing beer sensory experience, industry and peer recognition, knowledge of beer styles and the brewing process, and judging demeanor.

According to a release from the Colorado Brewers Guild, 8,375 beers were in the competition, coming from 1,761 breweries in 49 different countries.

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Colorado continues its tradition of making high quality world class beers! From Barley Wines to Belgian-style beers to Session IPAs, Colorado proved that they are able to brew a diverse range of beers for every palate, Colorado Brewers Guild Executive Director Shawnee Adelson said in a release. Equally impressive is the consistency breweries like River North, Verboten, The Post, Westbound & Down and Cellar West showed with their streaks.

Colorado lost 41 breweries in 2024, beer sales down more than national average

Here are the Colorado brews that raised the bar at the 2025 World Beer Cup:

Gold medals

The World Beer Cup website said gold medals were presented to world-class beers that accurately exemplify the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.

Beer Brewery Category City Grow Old With You Verboten Brewing Barley Wine-Style Ale Loveland Gallus Cellar West Brewery Belgian-Style Ale or French-Style Ale Lafayette Suntrip New Terrain Brewing Co. Belgian-Style Witbier Golden Burnout Brown Mash Lab Brewing English-Style Brown Ale Windsor Tonyas Still Crushing It Blue Moon Brewing Co. Field Beer Denver Cold Front Avery Brewing Co. German-Style Bock or Maibock Boulder Krystal Moon Blue Moon Brewing Co. German-Style Leichtes or Kristal Weizen Denver Mountain Man Verboten Brewing Old Ale or Strong Ale Loveland

New beer garden opens in historic former elementary school

Silver medals

Silver medals were presented to excellent beers that may slightly vary from the style parameters but still adhere closely to the style and display an excellent taste, aroma and appearance.

Beer Brewery Category City Old Fortwaukee Coopersmiths Pub & Brewing American Light Lager Fort Collins Dear You Ratio Beerworks American-Belgo-Style Ale Denver Westbound IPA Westbound & Down Brewing Co. American-Style Strong Pale Ale Lafayette Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun River North Brewery Coffee Beer Denver East County Fine Malt Liquor The Post Brewing Co. Other Strong Beer Lafayette Pumpkin Spice J. Marie River North Brewery Pumpkin Beer Denver Gin Golden Sour Stodgy Brewing Co. Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer Fort Collins

Denvers Auraria Campus is getting a new bar, preview pop-up event in May

Bronze medals

Bronze medals were awarded to beers that exhibit a fine example of the style and may slightly vary from style parameters or have minor defects in taste, aroma or appearance, the website said.

Beer Brewery Category City Midnight Hike River North Brewery Chocolate Beer Denver Kolsch Best Day Brewing Classic Non-Alcohol Ale or Lager Berthoud Coconut Oil Man Elevation Beer Co. Field Beer Poncha Springs Lichtenhainer Mythmaker Brewing Historical Beer Fort Collins Moondoor Dunkel Wibby Brewing Munich-Style Dunkel Longmont Scenic Route Westbound & Down Brewing Co. Session India Pale Ale Lafayette

River North Brewery brought home three medals, the most of any Colorado brewer. Many of the breweries are adding awards to their collection from previous years, but these six received awards for the first time:

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New Terrain Brewing Company

Wibby Brewing

Stodgy Brewing Co.

Mythmaker Brewing

Best Day Brewing

Mash Lab Brewing

Nearby states also had several award-winning brews. Visit the World Beer Cup website for a full list of winners from all around the world.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A 17-year-old student was arrested Wednesday after bringing a loaded handgun to school, originally reported by our news partner WOIO in Cleveland.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Sheriffs deputies who were serving as resource officers at the Lake Local School District responded to reports of an armed student around 1:20 p.m., according to WOIO.

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Deputies found a 17-year-old at Lake Middle/High School with a loaded Glock pistol in his backpack, WOIO says.

The student was arrested and charged with one count of receiving stolen property and one count of illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance in a school safety zone, according to WOIO. Both of these charges are felonies.

Deputies do not believe the student had a plan to cause harm to students or staff at the school, WOIO says.

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Lift Orlandos 2nd annual EmpowerEd Scholarship event honored 18 outstanding high school seniors with renewable scholarships of up to $10,000 annually for four years.

Nestled in the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center, the event celebrated 18 remarkable seniors from the neighborhoods within the 32805 zip code and nearby areas, awarding over $150,000 in scholarships.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

Countless bright scholars are excited to attend esteemed universities such as Duke, Wake Forest, UCF, and Florida A&M.

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Lift Orlandos partner KPMG, surprised the students with free laptops, significantly boosting their educational journeys.

The event was a powerful and exciting time spent celebrating the youth of Central Florida.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

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The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

The event brought together community leaders, educators, families and partners to celebrate and invest in the future of Central Floridas youth.

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Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
DENVER (KDVR)  Three people were killed in a crash in Weld County on Wednesday, and the Coroners office released two of their identities on Friday.

The crash happened around 3 p.m. on Highway 85 in Platteville. Colorado State Patrol and the Weld County Sheriffs Office said that a GMC Yukon was driving northbound on Highway 85 and crossed into oncoming traffic at Highway 60, crashing head-on with a Toyota 4Runner.

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The crash caused a gas leak and a fire. CSP said troopers tried to separate the burning vehicles using a push bumper and attempted to put out the fire with fire extinguishers, but all occupants in the vehicles died.

The driver of the Yukon was identified as Kayla Dickinson, 37, of Evans. The passengers identity has not been released pending next-of-kin notification.

The driver of the 4Runner was identified as Christine Ann Schwarz, 57, a middle school teacher from Mead.

A deputy was treated for minor injuries on the scene and a CSP cruiser was damaged in efforts to separate the vehicles.

Possible pursuit led to crash

CSP said in a press release Thursday that deputies with the Weld County Sheriffs Office were pursuing a suspected stolen GMC Yukon on northbound Highway 85 before the crash.

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Previous: 3 dead after CSP says stolen vehicle pursuit led to crash in Platteville

The sheriffs office said in a release Thursday that a deputy had pulled the driver over, and when the deputy approached the vehicle, they drove off at a high rate of speed. At some point while the deputy was trying to locate the vehicle, WCSO said the fleeing driver crossed into oncoming traffic and hit the other vehicle.

The Weld County Sheriffs Office told FOX31s Vicente Arenas on Friday that they are not sure if a pursuit was happening at the time of the crash.

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.

Community mourns teacher killed in crash

The Weld County School District RE-1 confirmed to FOX31 on Friday that a La Salle North Valley Middle School seventh-grade science teacher was among those who died in the crash. The schools website lists Christine Schwarz among its staff.

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The schools superintendent told FOX31s Vicente Arenas in an interview that the district canceled classes at North Valley Middle School on Thursday and Friday after the crash.

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Several members of the small community told Arenas that the death has hit the community hard, and word spread fast that one of the communitys favorite teachers was killed.

The community is both mourning and asking questions about the reported chase on what they consider a busy highway that connects the districts schools.

Why are they happening? Why are we doing that on that 12-mile stretch, and you hit those three towns, theres a lot of traffic there, Weld County School District RE-1 Superintendent Kimberly Bloemen said.

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The Weld County School District has a little more than 1,700 students across six schools spread across three towns on Highway 85, according to the Colorado Department of Education.

In these small towns, many people know their neighbors and all the teachers.

Theres been a lot of heartbreak and shock The kids, just trying to figure out what its going to look like going back to a building without a treasured teacher, North Valley Middle School Parent Ashley Grauberger said.

Graubergers daughter, Danika, who is in the sixth grade, was not one of Schwarzs students but often saw her.

She was just on a field trip, and I had just talked to her that morning. It was really hard, Danika said.

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Classes are scheduled to resume in this district on Tuesday. In the meantime, CSP said it still trying to determine exactly how the crash happened.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
This weeks roundup includes a refrigerated item from Trader Joes, a shelf-stable salsa, and a defunct kitchen appliance part. Use this guide to find out what to toss or return for a refund or replacement.

Simply Recipes / Trader Joes

Trader Joes Recalls Pre-Made Salad Due to Undeclared Allergen



On April 28, 2025, Trader Joes recalled 500 units of its ready-to-eat sesame miso salad with salmon, which was distributed among 18 states. During the packaging process, sealed packets of Parmesan cheese crumbles were mistakenly placed in the salad containers instead of crispy onion packets. The salad usually doesnt contain any traces of milk, so this accidental swap introduced an undisclosed milk allergen.

Given that milk is one of the nine most common food allergens in the United States, those with the allergy couldnt safely enjoy the food they purchased.







Trader Joe's Sesame Miso Salad With Salmon

Product Name: Trader Joes Sesame Miso Salad with Salmon



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Code: SKU 77316

Use By Dates: April 28, 2025 and April 29, 2025

Distribution: Alabama, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin









If you bought the salad in one of the 18 states listed above earlier this week, you are eligible for a refund. If you have more questions regarding the recalled item, call Trader Joe's Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 or send an email here.

Simply Recipes / La Victoria

Bottled Salsa Recalled For Wood Contamination

On April 14, MegaMex Foods, LLC of Orange, CA recalled 501 cases of its La Victoria Cilantro Salsa (medium-heat) because it may contain wood pieces from a recalled ingredient: fresh cilantro. Interestingly, a salsa brand supplied by Costco was just recalled last week for the same concerns.

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The recall has yet to be classified by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it remains ongoing.







La Victoria Cilantro Salsa

Product Name: La Victoria Cilantro Salsa, Medium, 15.5 oz

UPC Code: 0 72101 34470 3

Best By Date: December 2026

Distribution: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Michigan









If you still have this salsa in your pantry, toss it or return it to the store you bought it from.

Simply Recipes / cpsc.gov

SharkNinja Recalls Over 1.8 Million Multi-Function Pressure Cookers



On May 1, 2025, SharkNinja, the maker of many popular kitchen appliances, announced a recall of 1,846,400 multi-function pressure cookers in the U.S. (including 184,240 units sold in Canada) due to a burn hazard.

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According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the appliances pressure lid can be opened during pressure cooking, allowing hot contents to escape. The recall follows 106 reports of burn injuries, 50 incidents of which involve second or third-degree burns to the face and body. A total of 26 lawsuits have been filed to date.

The recalled multi-function pressure cookers were sold nationwide from January 2019 through March 2025 at major retailers, both in-store and online, for about $200. These include:

Walmart

Costco

Sams Club

Target

Amazon







SharkNinja Pressure Cooker

Product Name: SharkNinja Foodi OP300 Series Multi-Function Pressure Cookers; black model with 6.5-quart capacity



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Recall Number: 25-247

Model Numbers: OP300, OP301, OP301A, OP302, OP302BRN, OP302HCN, OP302HAQ, OP302HW, OP302HB, OP305, OP305CO, and OP350CO (printed on the label found on the side of the appliance)

Distribution: Nationwide and in Canada







If you own one of these appliances (or you purchased an OP300 series replacement pressure cooker lid during this time frame), you can contact SharkNinja for a free replacement lid 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 to sharkninja@rqa-inc.com, or online at www.rqa-inc.com/client/SharkNinja/ or www.ninjakitchen.com and click on Recalls under Support at the top of the page.

While you wait for your replacement lid, the CPSC notes that it's still safe to use other functions on the appliance, such as air-frying.



Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WGHP)  Two breweries in the Piedmont Triad proved their world-class craftsmanship at the 2025 World Beer Cup on Thursday, taking home a combined total of three medals.

According to its website, the World Beer Cup is hosted by the Brewers Association and is the worlds most prestigious professional beer and cider competition that  continues to showcase the global industrys dedication to innovative craftsmanship, diverse flavors, and technical excellence.

This years event saw 8,375 entries from 1,761 breweries across 49 countries, judged over 14 sessions by an international panel of 265 experts.

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Wise Man Brewing, located at 826 Angelo Bros Avenue in Winston-Salem, won two silver medals: one for Living a Double Life in the German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock category and one for Outraged Daughters in the Irish-Style Red Ale category.

Little Brother Brewing, located at 221 North Main Street in Kernersville, won a bronze medal for King in the Castle in the Old Ale or Strong Ale category.

See the full list of 2025 World Beer Cup winners here.

For more information about the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild and its member breweries, visit drinkncbeer.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 FOX8 WGHP.
SANAA/JERUSALEM, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a missile attack towards central Israel, which triggered air raid sirens across Jerusalem earlier in the day.

According to a statement broadcast on the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group launched a "hypersonic ballistic missile" aimed at a "military target" in southern Tel Aviv. He asserted that the missile "hit the target," though no further details were provided.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen early Saturday morning.

Israel's national emergency service, MDA, said in a separate statement that there were no reports of casualties, except for a 26-year-old man who was bruised on his way to the shelter.

The launch marked the third missile attack claimed by the Houthis against Israel in the past 48 hours.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement aired by al-Masirah TV, the group said it would begin targeting any tanker of any shipping company transporting U.S. crude oil exports in the Red Sea, starting May 17, in response to the ongoing U.S. airstrikes on northern Yemen.

The group said the attacks would cease if the United States halted its air operations against Houthi targets in Yemen.

It also reported 25 U.S. airstrikes since Saturday early morning until dawn, targeting sites across northern Yemen, including the Houthi-controlled oil port of Ras Issa in the Red Sea's province of Hodeidah. The Houthis did not report any casualties.

Tensions between the Houthi group and the United States have escalated since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15 this year to deter the group from targeting Israeli cities, Israeli-linked ships, and U.S. warships in the region.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have been targeting Israel since November 2023 to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The group said it would stop its attacks if Israel stopped its war on Gaza and allowed humanitarian aid back in. 
Twelve countries operate one of the four models that can claim status as 5th-generation fighters.

Those elite ranks are set to grow with two new entrants: Turkey's Kaan and South Korea's KF-21.

The monopoly held by the world's superpowers on 5th-gen aircraft is likely nearing its end.

Ever since the introduction of the F-22 Raptor in 2005, 5th-generation fighters have been the undisputed kings of the skies.

These state-of-the-art fighter jets have characteristics like high maneuverability, advanced electronics, the ability to supercruise, and, most importantly, low observability to enemy radar detection. They are both feared and vaunted, and are at the top of the wish lists of the world's best air forces.

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To date, twelve countries operate one of the four models that can claim 5th-gen status; the American F-22 and F-35 built by Lockheed Martin, China's J-20, and Russia's Su-57. That club could grow to twenty by 2030.

But it's not just the number of 5th-gen fighter operators that's set to grow. The even more exclusive club of 5th-gen fighter producers may get two new members by the 2030s: South Korea and Turkey.

While not traditionally global military powers, both countries are increasingly seen as rising powerhouses in the global defense industry and have been hard at work for over a decade on their own advanced fighter designs.

South Korea's 'fighting hawk'

Korean Aerospace Industries intends to upgrade its KF-21 jet to be a full stealth fighter. KIM Jae-Hwan / SOPA Images/Sipa USA

Developed by Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) and officially unveiled on April 9, 2021, the KF-21 is South Korea's first domestically-made fighter jet, which officials aim to upgrade to a stealth fighter.

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Also called the Boramae or 'fighting hawk' in Korean, the KF-21's origins stem as far back as 2001, when then-South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung declared his country's intent to replace South Korea's aging F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers and F-5 light fighters with a domestically made fighter.

The first prototype was rolled out and unveiled at KAI headquarters in 2021. On July 19, 2022, it made its maiden flight, and on January 17, 2023, it reached supersonic speeds for the first time.

The KF-21 program has since conducted over 1,000 sorties across six prototypes, including weapons separation tests and an air-to-air refueling exercise. Two of the prototypes feature a tandem seat arrangement.

The KF-21's specifications are just as impressive as its development speed. The jet can reach a speed of Mach 1.8 (or 1,400 miles per hour), has a ceiling of 50,000 feet, and can carry 17,000 pounds of ordnance.

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The KF-21 also has an advanced suite of avionics and other electronics, like an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar; a cutting-edge system that uses thousands of tiny antennas to rapidly scan, track, and target multiple objects simultaneously. The two-seater variant is expected to be capable of teaming with South Korea's Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System (LOWUS), a collaborative combat aircraft under development.

The KF-21 can fly as fast as Mach 1.8 and carry up to 17,000 pounds of munitions. KIM Jae-Hwan / SOPA Images/Sipa USA

Despite its impressive capabilities, the KF-21 is not a 5th-gen fighter, as it does not have the same stealth capabilities as its American, Chinese, and Russian counterparts.

While the jet does feature an angular design to reduce its radar cross section, it lacks radar-absorbent materials (RAM) across its entire body and does not have internal weapons bays, instead relying on ten external hardpoints.

Consequently, KAI and analysts often refer to the KF-21 as a "4.5 generation" fighter  in other words, an advanced 4th-gen fighter with some 5th-gen characteristics.

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But that may not be the case for long. KAI has announced that it intends to upgrade a version of the KF-21 to a full stealth fighter. Dubbed the KF-21EX, these upgrades will include internal weapons bays, more advanced RAM coatings, conformal antennas (flat sensors embedded in the airframe's skin that replace protruding antennas), and possibly low-observable exhaust nozzles for engine exhaust and infrared signature reduction. Internal weapons bays are important for a 5th-generation fighter because external weapons produce sizable radar returns.

The KF-21EX may arrive by the late 2030s or early 2040s.

South Korea's air force signed its first contract for 20 KF-21s last year, with deliveries expected between the end of 2026 and summer of 2027. A second order of 20 more is expected to come by the end of this year. The country hopes to acquire 120 of the jets by 2032.

Turkey's 'king of kings'

The Kaan is similar in size and appearance to the F-22 Raptor, but its engines lack features needed to hide from radar and infrared detection. EYEPRESS via Reuters Connect

Turkey's entrant to the 5th-gen fighter club, the TAI TF Kaan, is claimed to be a fully fledged stealth fighter.

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Turkey had planned to replace its fleet of F-16s with a mix of high-end/low-end 5th-gen fighters since 2010, with the Kaan intended to form the low-end portion and around 100 F-35s bought from the US forming the high end.

But Turkey's expulsion from the F-35 program in 2019 over its purchase of Russian air defense systems forced the Turks to commit to developing the Kaan as a fully fledged 5th-gen fighter.

In the summer of 2019, state-run Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) displayed a full-scale mockup at the Paris Air Show. Construction on the first parts finished in 2021, and in 2023, the jet was finally unveiled to the public and officially named the Kaan  Turkish for 'ruler.'

A little more than a year later, the Kaan conducted its maiden flight, which was followed in 2024 by a second test flight.

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With a wingspan of 44 feet and a length of 66 feet, the Kaan is similar in size and appearance to the F-22. TAI officials have said that the Kaan can carry up to 20,000 pounds of ordnance, though it has been reported that it can only carry 1,000 pounds internally; Internal capacity is important for a 5th-generation fighter because external weapons produce sizable radar returns. It is also equipped with an AESA radar.

That Turkey has the capability to build a 5th-gen fighter is not far-fetched. Formerly a Tier 3 partner of the F-35 program, Turkish companies provided some 900 components for the F-35, including the air inlet ducts, exterior panels for the airframe, weapons bay doors, and other structural components and assemblies.

It is unknown if Turkey has radar-absorbent materials for the Kaan. Emin Sansar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In fact, TAI was one of only two suppliers for the F-35's center fuselage  a critical structural core that connects the wings to the airframe and partially houses the jet's fuel tanks, weapon bays, and a portion of its avionics.

The degree of the Kaan's stealth, however, is unknown, especially since it has several features that make it difficult to maintain low observability. The Kaan's two F110-GE-129 engines (the same General Electric jet engines on F-15s and F-16s), for instance, were never designed for stealth aircraft and lack features like specially designed exhaust systems and nozzles, which would reduce both high infrared signatures and radar reflections.

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More importantly, it is unknown if Turkey has radar-absorbent materials for the Kaan. The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey has said that it is developing "Radar Absorbing Multilayered Thin Film Surface Coating" for the Kaan, and TAI and Turkish officials have said that the Kaan has advanced technologies that make it stealthy, but there have been no official statements on the status of the RAM's development or its quality, beyond general claims of stealth.

Two more Kaan prototypes are under construction, with three more to be built before serial production begins. TAI expects to deliver the first of 20 Kaans to the Turkish Air Force by 2028 or 2029.

More producers, more customers

Turkey developed its Kaan into a 5th-generation fighter after it was booted from the F-35 program. Here, a US F-35C fighter ran flight tests at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu, California in late April. Lt.j.g. Drew Verbis/US Navy

The KF-21 and Kaan will almost certainly be flown by countries that previously had no real hope of obtaining stealth fighters.

Fifth-generation fighters are hard to acquire due to their cost-prohibitive prices (often in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars per unit) and complex procurement processes. Their advanced tech make countries hesitant to share them, fearing secrets could reach hostile powers, with sales typically limited to very close allies capable of fulfilling stringent assurances.

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Cheaper fifth-generation fighters from producers with fewer geopolitical constraints and ambitions to expand influence through high-end arms sales could make acquisition more feasible.

As a development partner in the KF-21 program, Indonesia is slated to acquire 48 of the 4.5-gen KF-21 variant, though issues with funding and data theft may change that. Other countries have reportedly either expressed interest or been courted by KAI, including Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the UAE, Poland, and Peru  though these countries would likely opt for the 4.5-gen variant.

The Kaan, meanwhile, has received a lot of interest. Close Turkish ally Azerbaijan became a partner of the Kaan program in 2023, which might make it the first foreign customer. In January, it was reported that Turkey and Pakistan may establish a joint factory for Kaan production, and that Saudi Arabia had expressed interest in acquiring 100 of the fighters. The UAE has also reportedly indicated interest in joining the program as well.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has expressed interest in both purchasing the Kaan and competing for a future contract that would see it be involved in the production of its future engines.

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Even if the initial versions of the KF-21 and the Kaan do not prove to be as stealthy as their American, Chinese, or Russian counterparts, their development so far shows that the monopoly held by the world's superpowers on 5th-gen aircraft is likely approaching its end.

Moreover, it may also serve as something of a warning that more countries  including ones not seen as global or even regional powers  may field their own undetectable aircraft in the near future.

Benjamin Brimelow is a freelance journalist covering international military and defense issues. He holds a master's degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in international security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His work has appeared in Business Insider and the Modern War Institute at West Point.

Read the original article on Business Insider
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP)  Two female employees of a Southern California technical college were shot on campus Friday and taken to the hospital in an incident that authorities attributed to workplace violence.

The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. in an office at the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology campus in Inglewood, where Mayor James Butts said the suspect was believed to be a former employee.

Aerial TV video showed a heavy police presence outside the campus in the city, which abuts Los Angeles to the southwest.

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One of the victims was in critical condition, Butts said. The Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed on the social platform X that two people were taken to the hospital.

A person was taken into custody after initially leaving the scene, Butts said.

The Los Angeles Police Department said officers detained a male subject from a car matching the description of a vehicle linked to the shooting, which had been sent to local law enforcement agencies by the Inglewood Police Department. The Inglewood police did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

The school went on lockdown for at least an hour after the shooting.

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Chris Becker, president and chief administrator of the campus, told KABC-TV that the campus is patrolled regularly and, as an aviation school, safety is one of its primary focuses.

Its a peaceful campus, Becker said. Its a nice community of students and teachers and staff.

The Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has campuses across the country. The college's Inglewood location, about a mile (about 1.5 kilometers) from the Los Angeles International Airport, accommodates 500 students and offers training programs focused on aviation maintenance technology, according to its website.
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.

NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson (Photo: NCDOJ)

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

This report was first published by Stateline, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom Network.

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@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. (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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.
DENVER (KDVR)  Aurora firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire Friday night in a three-story apartment building.

The structure fire was reported at 1400 N. Kingston St., which is a block south of East Colfax Avenue, AROUND 9:40 p.m.

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Several Aurora Fire Rescue units responded and saw flames and a large volume of smoke coming from a ground-level apartment. The agency said it immediately called a second alarm due to the which occupancy of the building and possibility of people still inside.

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Hose lines were advanced into the first and second floors for fire control, search and rescue. Ladders were placed at exterior windows to assist any residents who couldnt evacuate due to heavy smoke and zero visibility in the hallways, AFR said in a press release Saturday.

The agency said the fire was under control and searches of the building were cleared around 10 p.m. Two people were evaluated for smoke inhalations and there were no injuries reported.

Firefighters contained the fire to a single apartment, however, AFR said there is smoke damage throughout the building, and 24 residents were displaced, including five children.

The American Red Cross said it was responding to help residents who were displaced by the fire.

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The causes of the fire is still being investigated.

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Three corrections officers at Wallens Ridge State Prison were stabbed by inmates in a "premeditated" attack Friday, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections.

A total of five officers were injured at the prison in western Virginia during the attack, according to the department. The officers were transported for medical care outside the facility.

Three officers have been discharged, the Virginia DOC said. Two officers are in stable condition.

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The DOC alleged that five of the six perpetrators are "confirmed MS-13 gang members from El Salvador, who were in this country illegally," according to a press release provided to ABC News.

Each of the suspects have been convicted of violent crimes, including aggravated murder, first and second degree murder and rape, according to the DOC.

PHOTO: The sign for Wallens Ridge State Prison is shown in this screen grab from Google Maps. (Google Maps Street View)

The other inmate involved in the attack is a confirmed member of the Sureno 13 gang and from the U.S., serving a sentence for second degree murder.

"Five of the individuals responsible for this senseless attack should never have been in this country in the first place," said Virginia DOC Director Chad Dotson in a statement.

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MORE: Trump administration says 'top MS-13 national leader' arrested

"Every single day, our officers put their lives on the line to ensure public safety for the more than 8.8 million people across the Commonwealth," Dotson said. "This attack is an example of the dangers they face when they show up to work every day. Our officers are heroes, and I commend the team at Wallens Ridge for their swift response."

Dotson also included an "unofficial" statement saying, "our dedicated staff deserves a Director who makes it crystal clear that the safety of our officers is our highest priority, over literally anything else we're doing," adding that "this will not stand."

The attack is currently under investigation, and no further response will be provided until the investigation is complete, DOC officials said.

3 corrections officers stabbed by MS-13 gang members in prison: Officials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A 38-year-old woman was killed in an explosion after a bomb she was allegedly carrying detonated prematurely in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Saturday, May 3

The explosion damaged storefronts and vehicles parked nearby

The woman was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead

A woman was killed in an explosion after a bomb she was allegedly carrying went off in her hands in Greece.

The 38-year-old woman was transporting a bomb outside a bank in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki when it detonated and killed her at around 5:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 3, local newspaper eKathimerini, Associated Press and Reuters reported.

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She is believed to have been attempting to plant the bomb outside the bank before it detonated prematurely in a parking lot next to the bank branch, at the intersection of Platonos and Agios Dimitriou, according to reports.

The woman was rushed to Ippokrateio Hospital, where she died from her injuries, per eKathimerini.

"It appears that she was carrying an explosive device and planned to plant it at a bank's ATM. Something went wrong and exploded in her hands," a senior police official told Reuters.

AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos Greek police forensic experts search the area where a 38-year-old woman was killed when a bomb she was carrying exploded in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on May 3 Greek police forensic experts search the area where a 38-year-old woman was killed when a bomb she was carrying exploded in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on May 3

Related: Suspicious Package Detonated in Controlled Explosion Outside U.S. Embassy in London, Say Police

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Photos from the blast show several storefronts and vehicles damaged from the impact, with the windows blown off.

The victim had a criminal record and was believed to be part of a circle closely tied to an anti-authoritarian figure who is currently in jail for bank robberies and bombings, eKathimerini reported, citing police officials and the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

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AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos Forensic expert at the scene where a woman was killed when a bomb exploded Forensic expert at the scene where a woman was killed when a bomb exploded

In February 2024, the same group allegedly sent a parcel bomb to the Thessaloniki Court of Appeal. The incident remains under investigation by the anti-terrorism officers, according to the outlet.

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The woman was previously arrested with the same anti-authoritarian figure and jailed over a bank robbery after she was found carrying a Kalashnikov rifle in a backpack, per eKathimerini.

The Organized Crime Directorate is investigating the incident, the outlet reported.

PEOPLE has contacted the police and the Ministry of Citizen Protection for comment.

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Officials announced the temporary closure of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach coastal water areas due to a large sewage spill in Orange County.

The affected areas span from the Talbert Channel outfall at Huntington State Beach to the projection of Grant Street in Newport Beach, the O.C. Health Care Agency announced Saturday.

The sewage spill of approximately 4,000 gallons was caused by a roots and grease blockage of a sewer line in Costa Mesa, the HCA said in a release.

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Officials said that response crews recovered about 3,000 gallons using vacuum trucks, while an estimated 1,000 gallons remain in the system.

O.C. Supervisor Katrina Foley issued a statement following the beach closures, saying that although the leak has since been resolved, sewage still entered the ocean at the mouth of the Santa Ana River, resulting in closures of 2,000 feet north and south of the channel.

A 4,000-gallon sewage spill closed the above coastal areas in Orange County. May 2025. (O.C. Health Care Agency)

According to the HCA, the affected ocean water area will remain closed to swimming, surfing and diving until the water quality meets acceptable standards.

As a matter of public health and safety, I urge residents, visitors, and beachgoers to follow posted signage and avoid contact with ocean water in the affected areas where sewage was released as water quality is assessed, said Foley. My office continues to monitor and inquire about potential impacts to residents at the source, and will update as we learn more.

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For information regarding Orange County ocean, bay, or harbor postings and closures, you can call 714-433-6400 or visit www.OCBeachinfo.com. To report a sewage spill, call 714-433-6419.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Two current members of the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees are apparent winners, and two incumbents appear headed to defeat after unofficial final results were released shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.

Financial adviser and incumbent Leah Hanany is the apparent winner against office administrator Monica Elena Benjamin and Nelson Bank, a former teacher, in EPISDs District 1.

Hanany leads with 59.12 percent or 901 votes, followed by Benjamin with 38.58 percent or 588 votes. Bank is at 2.30 percent or 35 votes.

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Hanany voted against the districts plan to close six schools next school year and two more the following year.

Divided EPISD board votes to close schools

District 3

In District 3, incumbent Jack Loveridge, who also voted against closing schools, continues to have a big lead and is the apparent winner against public relations director John Ponce De Leon, according to unofficial final results.

Loveridge leads with 71.91 percent or 704 votes, and Ponce De Leon is behind with 28.09 percent or 275 votes.

District 4

In District 4, Mindy Sutton, a senior instructor at the Otero County Detention Center, is headed to victory against incumbent Isabel Hernandez and Juan M. Duran, a special education teacher, according to unofficial final results.

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Sutton leads with 62.99 percent or 657 votes, followed by Hernandez with 32.98 percent or 344 votes. Duran is at 4.03 percent or 42 votes.

Hernandez voted in favor of closing schools.

Incumbents in EPCC, San Eli ISD apparent winners in board races

District 5

In District 5, veteran Robert Osterland is the apparent winner against board president and incumbent Israel Irrobali and Melvin Milton, a mobility manager in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to unofficial final results.

Osterland is at 54.89 percent or 634 votes, Irrobari follows with 30.48 percent or 352 votes, and Milton is at 14.63 percent or 169 votes.

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Irrobali also voted in favor of closing schools.

El Paso ISD is facing budget deficits and difficult decisions, and this election could help shape its future.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
YANGON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have seized 1.39 million stimulant tablets in eastern Myanmar's Shan state, the state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics police searched two vehicles in Kunhing township in Shan state on April 30, and seized 1.39 million stimulant tablets, 2.725 tons of controlled chemicals (caffeine) and 600 liters of chemical scent solution from the two vehicles, the report said.

According to an investigation, the drugs were transported from Kengtung township to Kunhing township, and two suspects were arrested in connection with the case, it said.

The suspects have been charged under the country's law, and further investigations were ongoing. 
A mother and father are leaning on their Mississippi community for help after a car accident involving their three sons ended in the death of their youngest boy.

Micah Braxton Lee Napper, 4, of Petal, Miss., was named as the deceased in an obituary, which listed the date of his death as April 28.

Related: 'Okay Baby' TikTok Star, 2, Dies in Car Crash, Family Disputes Police Claim He Wasn't Properly Buckled

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In a GoFundMe set up by the childs paternal uncle, Mike Napper, the organizer said Joseph Paul and Michelle Pittman Nappers 16-year-old son, who was driving, is currently in the ICU.

Their 10-year-old son, who was a passenger, has been airlifted to another hospital for further treatment. Sadly, their 4-year-old son succumbed to his injuries and has passed away," Napper wrote.

A photo of Micah swinging a bat while playing tee ball was included.

GoFundMe Micah Napper Micah Napper

According to a statement by North Forrest Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brandon Odom, his team responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident with possible entrapment and injuries in the 500 block of River Road shortly before 5:30 p.m.

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Once at the scene, firefighters found a silver vehicle that had left the roadway, entered a creek and landed upside down on the bank.

Two of the victims, the 16-year-old and his 10-year-old sibling, were already outside of the vehicle, while the 4-year-old remained trapped inside.

Related: 10-Year-Old Boy Hurt by Falling Debris from Philadelphia Plane Crash While Protecting Sister

As crews worked to provide medical assistance to the older brothers, they pulled Micah from the vehicle.

Tragically, the juvenile who was trapped succumbed to their injuries at the scene, Odom said. The other two victims were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

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Due to their financial situation, they have no insurance and limited resources, Napper said on the GoFundMe profile. They will need help covering funeral expenses and ongoing medical costs. Any support you can offer would mean the world to them during this unimaginable time.

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As of Friday, May 2, the GoFundMe had raised just over $26,000, passing the $25,000 goal.

Micah filled every moment with energy, joy, and love in his short time on earth, his obituary read.

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The 4-year-old especially loved wrestling with his dad and older brothers  his laughter and enthusiasm leaving lasting impressions on all who knew him.

Micahs funeral will be held Saturday, May 3, at 11:30 a.m.

The Forrest County Sheriff's Office will continue investigating the incident, Chief Odom said.



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(NewsNation)  Rising inventory and sluggish demand are giving home buyers leverage, pushing more sellers to offer concessions to get deals done.

According to a new Redfin report, sellers gave concessions to buyers in 44% of U.S. home-sale transactions in the first quarter, up from 39% a year earlier.

The latest figure is just below the 45% record set in early 2023 and double what it was a few years ago in June 2022, when sellers had the upper hand in a red-hot market.

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Americas housing shortage by the numbers

A concession is when a seller offers something that lowers the buyers total purchasing cost without reducing the homes list price  perks like money toward repairs, closing costs, or mortgage-rate buydowns.

Concessions are highest in the Pacific Northwest

As with most things in real estate, concessions vary widely depending on location.

In Seattle, home sellers gave concessions in 71% of first-quarter transactions  nearly double the rate from a year earlier and the highest share among the 24 major metros Redfin analyzed.

Condos have become a tougher sell because of skyrocketing HOA fees and insurance, Stephanie Kastner, a Redfin Premier real estate agent in Seattle, said in the report.

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Real estate agent commissions mostly unchanged since new NAR rules

Kastner added: Builders are offering concessions because its in their best interest to keep sale prices high; theyre willing to pay buyers closing costs and maybe provide a free washer-dryer if it means they dont have to drop the listing price.

Portland, Oregon, was second on the list at 64%, up from 50% a year before.

Buyers used to ask for concessions to cover little things like repairs. Now theyre negotiating concessions so they can afford to buy a home, said Chaley McVay, a Redfin Premier agent in Portland.

McVay said a lot of sellers are offering money for mortgage-rate buydowns, and she even had a seller cover seven months of HOA fees for the buyer.

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Sellers in Atlanta (62%), San Diego (61%) and Denver (59%) also offered concessions above the national average, though those levels are mostly in line with the year prior.

Rising concessions are a sign the housing market is tilting in favor of buyers in some parts of the country. The shift has been driven by a trifecta of high home prices, elevated mortgage rates and recent economic uncertainty from Trumps trade war  all of which have made buyers nervous.

At the same time, sellers are facing more competition from each other with active listings recently hitting the highest level in five years, according to Redfin.

Fewer sellers are offering concessions in NYC, Miami

In some cities, sellers are feeling less pressure to sweeten deals.

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Last quarter, home sellers in New York City gave concessions to buyers in roughly 6% of home-sale transactions  declining nearly 16 points from a year prior and the lowest share among the metros analyzed.

The next biggest decline was in Miami, where concessions fell about 13 points from a year earlier to 34%. Concessions also fell in San Antonio, down 11 points to 44%, as well as, Tampa, where they dropped 9 points to 34%.

Sellers in Florida and Texas have had more time to get used to a slow market, and have started pricing their homes lower from the get-go, meaning they often dont need to offer concessions, Redfin noted in the report.

Nationwide, roughly 16% of homes that sold in the first quarter had a price cut and a concession, up from 13% a year earlier.

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Redfins report on seller concessions was based on an analysis of data submitted by Redfin buyers agents across the country, covering rolling three-month periods from 2019 to the present. The region-specific information is based on data for 24 major U.S. metros.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A black SUV left the road and hit multiple people in Stuttgart, Germany, on Friday, May 2

A 46-year-old woman died and eight people were injured in the incident, including three with serious injuries

Police stated that the collision was a "tragic traffic accident" and arrested the driver at the scene

A woman has died and several others are injured after a car plowed into pedestrians in Germany.

The driver of a black Mercedes G-Class left the road and struck eight people at the Olgastrae/Charlottenstrae intersection, south of Stuttgart's city center, at around 5:50 p.m. local time on Friday, May 2, Stuttgart Police stated in a press release.

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Five people were slightly injured and three others were seriously injured in the incident. A 46-year-old woman died of her injuries in the hospital, police confirmed. One person was reportedly resuscitated at the scene.

The Stuttgart Fire Department wrote on X, We are responding to a serious #traffic accident with multiple injuries at #Olgaeck in #Stuttgart Mitte. The area is cordoned off, and the injured are being treated on site.

The driver was a 42-year-old man, German outlets Deutsche Welle and RTL Deutschland reported. His name has not been released by police.

Bernd Weibrod/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images Car drove into a group of people in Stuttgart, Germany Car drove into a group of people in Stuttgart, Germany

Related: 9 People Killed After Man Drives Car 'Through a Crowd' at Vancouver Street Festival: 'Tragic Incident'

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The driver was not injured and was arrested at the scene.

Stuttgart Police said the incident was a tragic traffic accident and not intentional.

According to the current state of the investigation, there is currently no evidence to suggest a deliberate act of violence or an attack, police stated, per the release. Therefore, the Stuttgart police are currently treating the incident as a tragic traffic accident. However, the background to the overall incident is subject to extensive, ongoing investigations. An expert has also been consulted.

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Among the injured were children and a mother with a stroller, RTL reported.

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The children were given a "cautious all-clear" by Friday evening, hospital spokesperson Stefan Mobius told the outlet. "One child underwent surgery that evening by traumatologists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons and will subsequently receive further intensive care, he said.



Marco Krefting/dpa via AP Emergency personnel at the scene after a car drove into a group of people in Germany Emergency personnel at the scene after a car drove into a group of people in Germany

Related: 1 Dead, Others Injured After SUV Crashes Into Crowd in Germany

A police spokesperson stated that all injured children were out of danger on Saturday, May 3, per RTL.

An investigation is ongoing.

This incident comes two months after another black SUV plowed into pedestrians in Mannheim city center in Germany, killing one man and injuring several others.

PEOPLE has contacted the Stuttgart Police for further comment.



Read the original article on People
A woman from Lawrence was charged in federal court on Friday after being accused of using someone elses identity to obtain a passport and other government issued IDs, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foleys office.

Wendy Chavez, 49, was arrested on Thursday and charged with passport fraud, aggravated identity theft and misuse of a social security number. Chavez made her initial appearance in court Thursday afternoon and a detention hearing is scheduled for May 7.

The incident happened in June 2020 when Chavez is accused of submitting a passport renewal application using another persons name, date of birth and Social Security number, Foleys office said.

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The passport was issued to Chavez.

Chavez is also accused of using the same identification information to acquire multiple government-issued IDs, including a Massachusetts drivers license.

If convicted of false statement in a passport application, Chavez could face up to 10 year sin prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine, the statement reads.

The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum of two years in prison to be added to the felony committed while using the means of identification of another without lawful authority.

The charge of misuse of social security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and $250,000 in fines.

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A fourth suspect was arrested in connection to a vehicle theft that led to a police shooting in East Price Hill May 1, Cincinnati Police Department officials said.

Cynsere Grigsby, 18, is charged with receiving stolen property and felony obstruction of official business, officials said.

Around 9:30 a.m., Cincinnati police responded to Westview Condominiums in East Price Hill for reports of a stolen vehicle. Police confronted four suspects in a 2021 Kia Telluride that was recently stolen out of Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said.

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All four suspects fled the Kia and started running from the police. Three of the suspects ran into the woods.

After an extensive search, Jurell Austin, 18, and 19-year-old Deanthony Bullocks were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing official business in connection with the incident, Theetge said May 2.

She had initially reported the third suspect who ran into the woods had evaded arrest.

Cincinnati police officers were involved in a shooting before 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Westview Condominiums on Warsaw Avenue in East Price Hill.

Police shooting occurred in East Price Hill

While three of the suspects ran into the woods, 18-year-old Ryan Hinton did not.

One officer started chasing Hinton and the officer saw the Hinton's gun and called out to let others know there was a weapon, Theetge said.

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Hes got a gun. Hes got a gun, the officer yelled.

Hinton tripped but continued to run between two dumpsters with a gun in his hand, before he encountered another officer, Theetge said. She added 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, Theetge said. The body camera showed the officer fired four to five rounds at Hinton as he ran in the officers direction

While its unclear from the blurred body camera footage, Theetge said, the officer who fired the shots said in interviews that Hinton pointed the gun at him.

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Hinton was struck twice by gunfire, once in the chest and once in the arm, Theetge said. She added that theres no indication the suspect fired off any rounds at police, but the gun was loaded with an extended magazine.

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.

Officials say parallel investigations into the shooting have been launched by the Cincinnati Police Department and the city's Citizen Complaint Authority.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 4th suspect arrested in incident that led to police shooting
Russia launched an overnight attack on Ukraine using two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 183 drones of different types, killing five civilians and injuring at least 61 others, Ukrainian authorities reported on May 3.

Ukraine's air defense forces intercepted 77 drones, while another 73 were lost from radar without causing damage, according to the Air Force report.

The heaviest casualties were reported in Kharkiv, where 51 people, including two children aged 11 and 16, were injured in a mass drone attack late on May 2, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors Office. Russian forces launched at least 15 Geran-2 drones at the city, triggering fires and widespread destruction across the Osnovianskyi, Slobidskyi, Saltivskyi, and Kyivskyi districts.

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In other parts of Kharkiv Oblast, including Kupiansk and Bohodukhiv districts, Russian strikes killed one, damaged homes, a store, an apartment building, and a warehouse. In total, four settlements and the city of Kharkiv were hit, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said earlier.

In Kupiansk district, strikes damaged a private home, store, apartment building, and other civilian infrastructure. In Bohodukhiv district, two homes and a warehouse were damaged or destroyed.

In Donetsk Oblast, four people were killed, and eight more were injured, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. He emphasized that casualty figures exclude Russian-occupied Mariupol and Volnovakha.

In Sumy Oblast, Russian forces injured two civilians in the Seredyna-Buda community amid nearly 130 attacks across 43 settlements in one day, regional officials said. Russian attack damaged homes, a post office, educational institutions, and other infrastructure across several communities.

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In Mykolaiv Oblast, Russia launched Shahed drones at Mykolaiv city, targeting industrial sites overnight. No injuries were reported, according to Governor Vitalii Kim. Additional drone strikes hit settlements in the Mykolaiv and Ochakiv districts throughout the day on May 2, also without casualties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for a 30-day ceasefire, saying on April 23, Ukraine insists on an "immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire."

"For over 50 days now, Russia has been ignoring the American proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire," Zelensky wrote on X on May 1.

He added that Ukraine had also proposed halting strikes on civilian infrastructure and establishing "lasting silence" across land, sea, and air.

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"Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults," he said.

Read also: One night with 3rd Assault Brigade medics in a new age of war

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A 51-year-old woman was seriously injured after she crashed into a pole early Saturday morning, according to a Dayton Police Department crash report.

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The crash occurred at the intersection of Delphos Avenue and Brooklyn Avenue at approximately 12:01 a.m.

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The woman was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Impala east on Delphos Avenue when she lost control and hit an unmarked RTA pole head-on, according to the crash report.

It is unclear how fast she was driving at the time of the crash.

Medics took the driver to Miami Valley Hospital with suspected serious injuries.

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This weekend, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation will honor 70 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2024.

The 44th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will also honor 70 more firefighters who died in previous years. In total, six were from Texas.

Each of these 140 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others  a profound sacrifice that defines true heroism, Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the NFFF said in a release. Memorial Weekend is a time for our nation to come together to honor their bravery, to stand beside their families, and ensure their legacy lives on in every community they so selflessly served.

Families and colleagues of fallen firefighters hold candles aloft in the National Fallen Firefighters Candlelight Service on May 4, 2024.

Who are the firefighters from Texas?

Six Texas firefighters are being honored during this years National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend:

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Lieutenant Charles "Buddy" Freeman II , of the Montgomery County Fire Department Emergency Services District, died on Sept. 29, 2023. He had responded to a possible carbon monoxide leak on July 9. The following morning, he suffered a heart attack and later died from complications following multiple heart surgeries, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. He did not return to duty after the hazardous materials incident.

Firefighter and Paramedic G. Wade Cannon , of the Flower Mound Fire Department, died in 2022 from colon cancer.

Firefighter Marcelo "Ox" Garcia III , of the Houston Fire Department, died on Nov. 6, 2023, after a wall collapsed on him while he was battling a fire at a vacant warehouse.

Assistant Chief Scott Glass , of Perryton Fire and EMS, died on Oct. 20 from a head injury caused when he was struck by a 5-inch hose that whipped unexpectedly while being charged with water during a structure fire.

Safety Officer Daniel R. "Dan" Potts Sr. , of City of Whitney Fire and Rescue, died in 2023 from a heart attack while responding to an early-morning structure fire. He passed away before reaching the scene.

Chief Zebulin Earl "Zeb" Smith, of the Fritch Volunteer Fire Department, died in March 2024 from a heart attack while battling a structure fire. He had been fighting wildfires for nine consecutive days during a weeks-long wildfire outbreak that scorched much of the same area. It was the largest wildfire in state history.

How can I watch the 44th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend events?

There will be two events open to the public at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland: a candlelight service on Saturday, May 3, and a memorial service on Sunday, May 4, when flags will also be at half-staff to honor those individuals. Both events will be streamed live.

The candlelight service will be held from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

A memorial service will be held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 4, 2025.

The NFFF will live stream both events on their website (firehero.org), YouTube channel, and Facebook page.

How can I honor fallen firefighters?

Even if you can't make it, there are ways to pay tribute to this year's honored firefighters.

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Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters (April 27 - May 4): Light your homes, businesses, landmarks or fire departments with red lights.

Bells Across America (May 3-4): Sign up to ring bells across the country.

Sound the Sirens (May 4): At noon, many fire stations will sound their sirens in honor of fallen firefighters.

Sign the Remembrance Banner: You can pay tribute to a specific firefighter or share a story.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: These 6 fallen Texas firefighters will be honored this weekend
A 7-year-old boy, who took his younger sister for a spin in their mothers car in the hunt for a McDonald's Happy Meal, has been found safe, according to police.

Authorities in Ogden, Utah, responded to reports of reckless driving by someone who appeared to be a child at around 8 a.m. on April 27.

According to ABC4, the car eventually came to a halt when it hit a parking strip at 40th Street and Washington Avenue.

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Officers learned that the child had taken a family vehicle without parental knowledge. The boy drove the car from Clearfield to Ogden10 milesin a bid to reach the golden arches. The children were unharmed, police said.

Whitney Bush, the kids mother, told the outlet she woke up to police knocking on her door to tell her about her childrens early morning joyride.

A 7-year-old boy in Utah took his younger sister for a joyride to get McDonalds using his mothers car (Getty Images)

I dont think anybody wakes up in the morning or goes through their day thinking their 7-year-old is going to play Grand Theft Auto with their vehicle, she said.

Bush recalled to ABC4 that her son told officers he had been planning to go to McDonalds and reassured his mother that he wore his seatbelt.

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Hes got a family full of truck drivers. Hes gonna be a truck driver someday, thats what he wants to do, Bush quipped to ABC4. I told him its not gonna be today, hes gotta wait.

She said the car is now in a tow yard, which is particularly difficult for her as a single mother.

Im not proud of him by any means, Bush told the outlet, but confessed it was impressive he was able to pull off such a stunt. Hes in a world of trouble; hes probably grounded for the rest of his life.

Bush said the boy has exhibited some behavioral issues in the past, but nothing to this magnitude. Although shes tried to seek help from the Department of Child and Family Services, authorities, and hospitals, his age has meant extra help is hard to come by.

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The boy is not being charged due to his age, police said.

Although the boy later told his mom that they had passed several McDonalds during his joyride, it doesnt appear that they ever stopped for food. Instead, the kids were given breakfast at the police station before being returned to their family, police said.
What 7 proposed developments reveal about SLO County's future

Stories by The Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

Proposed San Luis Obispo County developments illustrate the region's balancing act between addressing housing demand and preserving environmental and community priorities. Projects such as infill developments and affordable housing aim to expand access amidst rising costs, as seen in Arroyo Grande's financial support for subsidized units and San Miguel's owner-built homes initiative. However, tensions exist over land use, including debates about rezoning agricultural areas or lifting decades-old building moratoriums tied to water sustainability.

Luxury and high-income housing proposals like Avila Canyon Estates highlight ongoing market interest at all levels. However, projects to aid low-income and houseless individuals face funding limitations and public concerns. These plans demonstrate the challenges of scaling growth while conserving natural resources and maintaining community integrity.

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The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

A gated community consisting of 21 luxury homes from Coastal Community Builders will open near Highway 101 and Avila Beach in 2025.

NO. 1: NEW LUXURY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN WORKS FOR SLO COUNTY. SEE WHAT THE HOMES WILL LOOK LIKE

The housing development will be just minutes away from two popular beach towns. | Published June 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Joan Lynch

An aerial view of Los Osos and Baywood Park from 2007. By David Middlecamp

NO. 2: A DECADES-OLD BUILDING MORATORIUM COULD BE LIFTED IN LOS OSOS. IS THERE ENOUGH WATER?

The California Coastal Commission will vote on the plan on Thursday. | Published June 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Stephanie Zappelli

A development proposal calls for building eight homes between Highway 1, North Ocean Avenue and Bella Vista by the Sea mobile home park in Cayucos. Four of the homes would be built on the hill behind this house on North Ocean.

NO. 3: SLO COUNTY DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD 8 SEASIDE HOMES ALONG HIGHWAY 1. NOW HE'S ONE STEP CLOSER

The California Coastal Commission considered a step in the project development during its meeting Thursday. | Published October 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Stephanie Zappelli

Concept art from RRM Design shows the layout of a 63-unit Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo affordable housing project at 700 N Oak Park Boulevard. HASLO executive director Scott Collins said the project is likely to break ground in early December. By Courtesy of HASLO/RRM Design

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NO. 4: ARROYO GRANDE HAS SPENT MORE THAN $1 MILLION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN. WHEN WILL IT BE BUILT?

The project would add 63 units of affordable housing in the city. | Published October 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Joan Lynch

Mission Gardens II, a 14-home San Miguel development, will open applications Dec. 2, 2024 for households looking to participate in Peoples Self-Help Housings owner-builder program. Builder-owners will do around two thirds of the home construction in exchange for lowered housing costs.

NO. 5: SLO COUNTY PROJECT WILL HAVE HOMEOWNERS BUILD OWN HOUSES LIKE A BIG LEGO SET. HOW TO APPLY

The sweat equity project helps give families a leg up to home ownership, Peoples Self-Help Housing said. | Published November 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Joan Lynch

The Welcome Home Village cabin project intended to provide a first step for homeless individuals from encampments to housing was reduced in size from a total of 80 cabins to 54 less than a year after being approved by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. It will be located in the Bishop Medical Center parking lot at the corner of Johnson Avenue and Bishop Street in San Luis Obispo.

NO. 6: CONTROVERSIAL SLO COUNTY CABIN VILLAGE PROJECT IS GETTING SCALED BACK. WHAT CHANGED?

Though the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors approved the Welcome Home Village last year, a smaller version was proposed Tuesday. | Published January 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joan Lynch

A 56-acre property on Evans Road south of the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is proposed to be rezoned from agriculture to large-lot residential, seen here on Feb. 5, 2025. By David Middlecamp

NO. 7: SLO COUNTY LANDOWNER WANTS TO REZONE FARM SITE TO BUILD NEW HOUSING  BUT THE CITY IS OPPOSED

The county Board of Supervisors pushed the project application forward on Tuesday, but it will still go through a long review process before approved. | Published February 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chloe Shrager

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.
BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Around 4 p.m., the fourth door of the day swung open and out bounded a small brown poodle named Duoduo, tail wagging furiously, ears perked, eyes lit up with recognition. She knows this visitor.

It's not her owner, but the one who shows up when the owner is away. It's Xiao Lyu.

Xiao Lyu crouched down, letting the little dog leap excitedly into her arms. She ruffled Duoduo's ears, already knowing what comes next: a few eager sniffs at the food bowl, a quick circle under the table, then a sprint to the leash by the door.

By day, Xiao Lyu is a high school physical education teacher in Beijing. But outside of school hours, she works as a part-time pet sitter for families who can't be home. It's a role she stumbled upon after a deep personal loss in 2021, when her own dog, a companion of 17 years, passed away.

"When I show the animals kindness, they give it right back," Xiao Lyu said. "The feeling of being needed by them is truly rewarding." Caring for pets like Duoduo, she added, has been a comforting part of her healing journey.

She's not alone in her effort to care for furry companions. The surge in China's pet economy has turned pet sitting, once a niche sideline, into a sought-after gig for the country's young urbanites.

Around 2019, the role began gaining broader visibility, attracting those drawn to its low entry barriers, flexible hours and growing demand. For many, providing in-home feeding services on weekends or holidays has become an ideal way to earn extra income simply by spending time with cats and dogs.

Driving this trend is an explosion in urban pet ownership. By 2024, Chinese cities were home to more than 124 million pets and nearly 77 million pet owners. Over 70 percent of these owners belong to the post-80s and post-90s generations, highlighting how millennials and Gen Z are reshaping not just lifestyles but also the labor market.

At 7 a.m. in a high-rise office tower in downtown Shanghai, Ms. Li sat in the lobby, juggling a sandwich and her phone. Her brow was furrowed, not over work, but over her Samoyed, who hadn't been out since the night before. With a crucial morning meeting fast approaching, she had no time to spare. Within seconds, she opened a dog-walking app and placed a service request.

Such situations are becoming increasingly common in China's fast-paced cities, where long working hours and packed schedules make daily pet care a logistical challenge. The strain intensifies during holidays, when many owners travel or visit families, triggering a sharp rise in demand for at-home pet services.

The growing need has opened new doors. In Chongqing, 25-year-old finance worker Bai Xiao turned her love for animals into a side hustle in 2023. Through online pet-sitting platforms, she offers home visits and has quickly built up a loyal clientele.

Each appointment lasts about 45 minutes. She feeds the pets, tidies up, plays with them and documents everything with photos and videos, sending updates in real time to owners checking in from afar.

Holidays bring a tide of service requests. During the ongoing May Day break, Bai was on the move from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with barely a pause between visits. She earns between 60 and 100 yuan (between 8.3 and 13.9 U.S. dollars) per session.

Still, the work can be unpredictable. "It's very seasonal," Bai said. "On regular weeks, I might make around a thousand yuan a month."

Bai's experience highlights the growing pains of a rapidly expanding pet-sitting industry. While the sector is flourishing, a lack of oversight has made it vulnerable. The low barriers to entry mean many enter the field without formal training, leading to inconsistent service quality. Coupled with the absence of clear regulations, safety concerns have escalated, with reports of pets injuring caregivers.

In response, pet sitters are raising the bar by pursuing professional training and certification, often joining regulated platforms to enhance their credibility.

The pet economy in China is booming, with vast potential across pet care, veterinary services, and products. According to the 2025 China Pet Industry White Paper, the urban pet dog and cat consumer market reached over 300 billion yuan in 2024, growing 7.5 percent year on year.

As the market expands, experts argue that regulation and legal frameworks are becoming essential to ensure sustainable growth. 
There have been questions about a mysterious ninth planet in our solar system for nearly a decade.

Pluto was unseated as number nine in 2006. Now, a group of international researchers say they may have found a candidate  although nothing is certain.

I felt very excited, Terry Long Phan, an astronomy graduate student at Taiwans National Tsing Hua University, told Science this week. Its motivated us a lot.

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Phan was the lead author of the findings in a study that has been accepted for publication in the journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. The research was initially posted to the preprint server arXiv.

The researchers used surveys of the sky from two infrared space telescopes that were launched in 1983 and 2006. They theorized that a potential planets long orbit would enable them to see it move across the sky. They found 13 pairs of dots that could be explained by a moving planet that resembled Planet Nine. One set of dots had matching colors and brightness.

Is there a possible ninth planet in our solar system? Researchers say they may have found a candidate (Credit: ESO/Tom Ruen/nagualdesign)

But, the announcement has been met with some skepticism.

Mike Brown, an astronomer at Caltech who was part of the team responsible for the hypothesis in 2016, told the publication he isnt convinced that the infrared dots Phan and his team identified out of old, infrared satellite data is a ninth planet. His calculations suggested the body would be on a much greater tilt than the solar systems plane and would orbit in a different direction from the known planets.

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This difference "doesn't mean it's not there, but it means it's not Planet Nine," Brown told Science. "I don't think this planet would have any of the effects on the solar system that we think we're seeing."

But, if the researchers are right, their planet would disprove the original planet. They would make each others orbits unstable and could not exist together, he explained.

Its kind of fun that a paper that purports to find a candidate for Planet Nine is really finding something that would basically say that we were wrong the entire time, he noted.

However, skepticism doesnt mean theres nothing there.

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The argument for the planet has to do with the Kuiper Belt: a region of icy debris far beyond Neptunes orbit. The hypothetical planet would explain some strange orbits of the objects there.

Theoretically, the Neptune-sized planet Brown and his colleague Konstantin Batygin found would orbit about 20 to 30 times farther from the sun than Neptune, taking between 10,000 and 20,000 Earth years to make one full orbit around our star.

Planet Nine, also known as Planet X, has never been observed. That doesnt mean its not out there (Credit: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC))

"Although we were initially quite skeptical that this planet could exist, as we continued to investigate its orbit and what it would mean for the outer solar system, we become increasingly convinced that it is out there," Batygin, an assistant professor of planetary science, said in 2016. "For the first time in over 150 years, there is solid evidence that the solar system's planetary census is incomplete."

No observational evidence for Planet Nine has been found, although this is not the first time a candidate has been identified in infrared data. The last time was in 2021.

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Some researchers even posit that evidence pointing toward the existence of an undiscovered ninth planet may actually indicate our ideas of gravity are incorrect.

Only time will be able to shed light on the truth of the matter. Astronomers will have a closer look using the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory on Chiles Cerro Pachon mountain.

It is pretty amazing to think that something as big as Neptune could be sitting out there and no one would have ever noticed it, Gary Bernstein, an astronomer at the University of Pennsylvania, told Science. But if you put it far enough away, it gets fainter and fainter very fast.
CHEYENNE  As Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities make their way onto college campuses, the question of whether schools should be prepared to interact with ICE has been raised across the Cowboy State.

Though there has been no reported ICE action at Wyoming schools, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a letter in early April, at the request of local teachers, guiding educational institutions on their policies and the rights they maintain should ICE come to their facilities.

Based on our conversation with the community, with people, organizers and advocates that were partnering with, were hearing on the ground that theres a lot of scared parents (and) kids who are scared to go to school, ACLU of Wyoming advocacy director Antonio Serrano told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. This immigration enforcement is making it hard for families just to live their life.

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As one of his first official acts of his current term, President Donald Trump removed a longstanding policy that protected sensitive locations, such as churches and schools, by limiting immigration enforcement at those locations.

It is no longer contrary to ICE or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policy to engage in enforcement operations at or near schools, school playgrounds, or bus stops, the ACLUs letter reads. But simply because internal agency guidance may permit activity does not mean that schools must, or even can, consistent with law, allow immigration agents to enter schools, inspect records, or engage with students and staff. No agency directive can override federal laws and the U.S. Constitution.

The letter states that many Wyoming educators reached out, concerned about how the federal governments revocation of the sensitive locations policy will affect their ability to educate their students. They wanted to know more about how best to serve their immigrant students, what their legal obligations are and how to keep schools safe places for all children to learn and grow.

Serrano noted that studying and educating yourself on your rights is the best way to protect yourself, your family or even students and peers from any potential unlawful actions.

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Regardless of immigration status, everybody has rights here, Serrano said. I think theres a lot of misinformation going around saying that immigrants or undocumented people dont have the same rights as citizens, and thats not true.

Serrano advised any concerned educators to make sure that their students who are immigrants or the children of immigrants have the information that they need.

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder has been clear about her support for the Trump administration, saying the policies are common sense.

When it comes to individual campuses, she told the WTE via email that policies regarding ICE would need to be worked out within the school districts, but encouraged districts to cooperate.

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This is a legal issue local districts need to work through with their attorneys to ensure compliance with federal law, Degenfelder wrote. I encourage districts to start discussing this issue and be prepared to cooperate with federal authorities should they make contact.

Legal obligations

For teachers and faculty at local schools, theres uncertainty about what complying with federal law looks like.

A lot of it is  the uncertainty, ACLU of Wyoming senior staff attorney Andrew Malone said. I dont know if we can completely dispel that, but that was definitely one of our goals with sending this letter, was to try to suggest some things that schools could do that, you know, would help them provide as much protection as possible to their students.

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Per Plyler v. Doe, a U.S. Supreme Court case decided in 1982, undocumented immigrants and their children are people in any ordinary sense of the term and, therefore, are afforded 14th Amendment protections.

The case specifically involved an attempt in Texas to withhold state funds from local school districts educating children of undocumented immigrants.

What that essentially held was the discrimination on the basis of immigration status, when youre dealing with basic public education access, that does violate the Constitution, Malone said.

This case, alongside the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Wyomings state constitution, are referenced in the letter to support the ACLUs claim that students are protected at school, regardless of immigration status.

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We know these are amazing educators, Malone said. Thats what they want to do. They want to provide a safe place for their students, and its hard to always know exactly how to do that. So were hoping we could provide some guidance that might be a little helpful.

School procedures in LCSD1

Regardless of the political stance of educators, administrators and other educational staff, the letter advised that schools develop policies in case ICE agents come to campus.

Rather than having a teacher, who might be dealing with their class and really unsure what to do in this situation and maybe being pressured into making a decision related to a warrant, they know the schools policy, Malone said.

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Laramie County School District 1 Community Relations staffer Lindsay Hubert told the WTE that the district will handle any inquiries from ICE following the same procedures used whenever law enforcement requests to meet with students on LCSD1 property.

Specifically, schools in the district are to follow policies in LCSD1 Board Policy, Chapter 8, Section 13, and Chapter 9, Sections 7 and 11.

Those policies indicate that the building administrator or designee and law enforcement would discuss whether it is necessary to handle the law enforcement business at the school site. Final responsibility rests with the law enforcement official to determine whether the law enforcement business should take place at the school site, the policy reads. It is the responsibility of the law enforcement official interviewing student witnesses or student suspects to assure compliance with all applicable legal and procedural safeguards.

The policy also indicates that the parent/guardian would be notified should law enforcement determine they need to interact with a student. The principal of a students school or their designee would also be present during any interview. Law enforcement would apply to ICE agents, according to Hubert.

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Cooperation with law enforcement authorities is essential for the protection of students, visitors and District employees, as well as for maintaining a safe environment in District schools and safeguarding all District property, the policy reads. Cooperation shall recognize the function of the schools and the Districts legal responsibility for students and District employees during regular operating hours.

The policies do not address detainment or warrants being served on campus, but require district administrators to cooperate fully with police authorities in the enforcement of laws.

University of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming, which has had six students lose, then regain, their visas this year, has given staff direction for what to do in the event a government agent visits campus or their workplace.

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The university provided the policy, but did not comment further on the subject.

The policy, modeled after policies from George Washington University, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Seattle University, directs employees to stay calm and respectful.

Avoid any actions that could be perceived as interfering, such as physically obstructing an agent, alerting the individual under investigation, concealing or destroying documents, or making deceptive statements, the policy reads.

The checklist walks employees through how to interact with agents, including:

* Directing employees to get proof of identity from agents and not accept any subpoena or warrant on behalf of another individual or any university office. Instead, employees should contact university authorities for assistance.

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* If the agent attempts to enter a nonpublic area or to present a warrant or subpoena, employees may direct them to the Office of General Counsel (OGC) and inform the agent that they understand they are there for law enforcement purposes, but they are not authorized to grant the agent permission to enter nonpublic areas or accept any documentation on behalf of the university.

* If the agent asks for student or employee information, employees should inform them that, while they understand they are requesting student or employee information, they arent authorized to provide that information.

The policy also clarifies that a government agent can access public areas of the campus. In general, public areas are areas accessible by members of the public without screening or escort, but a government agent cannot access nonpublic areas without authorization.

It reiterates that employees are not authorized to give permission to an agent to enter nonpublic areas, such as offices, laboratories or any other secured rooms or buildings.

ACLU advice on legal nuances

Malone, the ACLU attorney, stressed that whether its immigration agents coming to campus looking for a specific person, making requests of the school for personal information or agents serving warrants, there are several legal nuances to consider.

In each of those situations, there is nuance in the law based on what type of warrant they show up with, what type of subpoena thats delivered, Malone said. But as thats happening at the moment, if theres no plan in place, it can be confusing and unclear.

The law requires schools to comply with valid judicial warrants and subpoenas; however, immigration agents often serve administrative warrants, which do not have the same legal force, according to the ACLU.

If they show up with an ICE warrant, an administrative warrant, that doesnt give them the same authority to search the school, Malone said. And so its good for educators to know about that distinction in advance, and to be able to recognize some of the key distinctions.

In addition, Malone recommends clearly demarcating what parts of school property are public vs. private.

The judicial warrant will allow people to conduct searches in non-public areas, Malone said. So another thing we suggest is making sure theres clear demarcation about what areas of the school are public and non-public.

To be valid, the letter clarifies that a judicial warrant must be:

* Issued by a judicial court.

* Signed by a state or federal judge or magistrate (not merely authorized by an immigration judge or agent within the Department of Homeland Security or ICE).

* State the address of the premises to be searched (check for the schools exact address).

* Executed within the limited time period specified on the warrant.

The WTE reached out to local ICE representatives about whether officers have ever gone into a Wyoming school to detain or arrest anyone for suspected immigration violations, and if an ICE presence should be expected in locations typically not targeted, such as schools and churches. However, they did not respond in time for this article.
COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL)- This spring, the United States has experienced over 21,000 wildfires. This nearly doubles the number we typically see. Across Georgia and Alabama, over 3,000 fires have been burned since January 1st, which totals to over 35,000 acres. The month of March was the worst for wildfires because of critical fire weather.

The Numbers: During the first week of March, over 400 wildfires occurred across Alabama and Georgia. Including a record-breaking 181 wildfires in Alabama in a single day. Not only were there more fires than normal, but the average wildfire size was double the average size. In Georgia, the normal fire size is around 8 acres; this year it has been 35 acres. Over 1,500 homes were threatened due to wildfires this year, and only a handful were lost thanks to the efforts of the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Georgia Forestry Commission.

What Caused The Fires? There are three main ingredients when it comes to fire weather: dry fuels (dry ground), low humidity, and strong winds. The first week of March saw extreme values for all three and for a long period of time.

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How did forestry officials respond? WRBL spoke with the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Alabama Forestry Commission to see how they handled such an active fire season. Chief Ranger George Barbee (Muscogee, Talbot, Harris) says they increased the number of personnel on call so that they were ready to respond to all wildfires. Both organizations also had water planes on standby if any large fires got out of control.

The Alabama Forestry wants to thank the public for adhering to no burn orders and for first responders aiding their efforts.

The Georgia and Alabama Forestry Commissions utilize several ways to detect fires. The primary source is 911 calls from the public. But other detection methods include satellite imagery and surveillance planes. We spoke to both offices about a new technology that could help locate fires much faster. A new NASA satellite sensor could help to locate hot spots faster and both forestry commissions say they are in the process of using this experimental data.

Next Fire Season: The current fire season is now coming to an end because rainfall is increasingbut forestry officials say we typically see a second peak in the fall. Current long-term forecasts are already predicting an above-average wildfire season. This could mean a chance to beat all-time records. Balsie Butler, the Assistant Director of the Alabama Forest Protection Division, says:

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In 2022, we had over 38,000 acres consumed by wildfires throughout the entire year. If you looking at the year from January 1st through December, the 31st so far, comparing that to 2025, weve had over 25,000 acres that have been consumedwe probably will eclipse that if we have any adverse weather conditions for the rest of the year.

How they are preparing: Both Chief Ranger Barbee and Assistant Director Butler emphasized the need for constant training in preparation for next season. Assistant Director Butler says that each fire has its own unique personality, so it is critical to learn from each fire.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  Decatur activist Terrance Adkins is defending charges he and five others received after a city council meeting Monday night.

The meeting ended abruptly after citizens shouted at council members for not holding police officers responsible regarding the deaths of John Scott Jr. and Stephen Perkins.

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The Decatur Police Department said they obtained six warrants after Mondays meeting.

Adkins, the co-founder of the social justice group Standing In Power, was served with a warrant for trespassing and resisting arrest, but he said he was shocked to learn of the warrant because he claimed he never resisted and was not warned of the trespass warrant prior to Monday.

I am not a criminal, I dont have a criminal record, and I dont do anything outside of protests and try to make sure that my community is safe, Adkins explained. Its just weird that Im trying to protect my community and the police are not.

Decatur City Council President Jacob Ladner, who has threatened to shut down council meetings over the use of profanity, said:

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I am trying to stay patient during the public comments period, but weve got to have an orderly meeting. We will not tolerate the use of profanity and attacks, said Ladner.

Adkins told News 19 that the arrest warrants are all part of tactics to silence their peaceful demonstrations.

The fear tactics that they are trying to use are not working. We will still be out on the streets protesting, well still be calling for justice, well still have people at city hall and well still have meetings at Turner Surles Center, said Adkins. Well still have all these things in Decatur city because we are taxpaying citizens, and we are law-abiding citizens. Until we get what it is that we demand, were not changing direction.

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Actor-turned-soldier Maksym Kovtun was killed on the front line, the Dnipro Academic Youth Theater said on May 2.

"Maksym went to the front to protect our country, our freedom, and our future," the theater said in a post to social media.

Kovtun was a member of the youth theater before he began serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"Maksym Kovtun died defending Ukraine. His roles  bright, sincere, full of warmth  will forever remain in our hearts. He played for children and adults, giving joy, laughter, and deep emotions," the theater said.

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"Our entire theater team, colleagues, and friends express their deepest condolences to Maksym's family, his loved ones, and everyone who was by Maksym's side in life," the theater said.

More than 45,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the start of Russia's full-scale war in 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February.

Ukraine repatriated the bodies of 909 soldiers killed in Russia's war, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs announced on April 18.

Many have abandoned their careers to defend on the front line as Russia continues to wage its war against Ukraine.

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Artur Shybalov, a former cameraman and editor who joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was killed fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast on March 13, his mother said on March 20.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia attacks Kharkiv with drones, injuring at least 40

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
CONSTANTIA, N.Y. (WSYR)  State Attorney General Letitia James released the bodycam footage from the ongoing investigation of Miles Digneans death that occurred on March 21. The footage shows the public what happened before the Constantia man was shot and killed by police.

Oswego County Sheriffs deputies and New York State police troopers can be seen at Digneans home to serve an order of protection by removing his three-year-old son.

As seen in the video, Dignean was not willing to hand over his son to the authorities and held onto him while officers attempted to explain the situation.

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After Dignean resists, he continues to clutch his child and escalates the situation by pushing an officer away from him. At one point, Dignean stumbles, and an officer is able to retrieve the child.

Daddy, the boy said repeatedly during the altercation.

During the struggle, later in the video, officers can be seen punching Dignean in the side for approximately 20 seconds, attempting to put him in handcuffs.

Later in the video, Dignean swung at an officer with a metal object before he was struck multiple times by gunshots.

Dignean was taken to Upstate Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

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The Office of Special Investigations will continue to look into what happened on March 21.

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MIDWAY, Ky. (FOX 56)  It should come as no surprise that Kentuckys political history has overlapped with the horse business.

Its an amazing thing to get to do for a living, Bret Jones told FOX 56.

Spread over 2,500 acres off Old Frankfort Pike is Airdrie Stud, launched in 1972 by a West Virginia man Kentucky would soon know as Governor Brereton Jones.

Jockey-trainer duo reflects on pulling off Oaks-Derby sweep

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So long before politics, it was that love of horses that really got pop excited, Jones son Bret, who now oversees the breeding farm, said. Every Saturday, Dad would watch almost every race where any of our horses that we raised or even were loosely associated with were running. He was absolutely so passionate about the business, so passionate about Airdrie.

Airdrie is home to about 130 mares and 10 stallions, including Mage, the Derby winner of 2023. That was a transformative year for both the farm and the Jones family.

The deal was signed the day after Dads passing. So that was a very, very emotional time. But that really was a wonderful moment within those very tough moments to be able to secure the first Kentucky Derby winner in the history of the farm, Jones said.

Mage, now in his second career, lives the good life as a breeding stallion.

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Very, very charismatic, he honestly acts like a Kentucky Derby winner. Your camera is not bothering him in the slightest, Jones said of the champion horse.

For now, Mage is the only Derby winner on the property; however, there will be two horses running for the roses this year that took their first steps on this farm: Chunk of Gold and Publisher, the latter Jones stayed on as owner. And whose family still resides in one of the farms pastures.

So her big brother will be in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby, Jones said as he introduced a young mare still kept under the watchful eye of its mother, Indian Pride. Jones hopes to one day run Publishers little sister in the Kentucky Oaks. Airdrie has already raised 3 Oaks winners.

Hes fast, and lets hope shes even faster, he said.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Jones said Publisher may be a long shot on the board, but should he cross the wire, Jones eyes wont just be on the celebration below, hell be thinking of his dad up above.

Itll hit us all right in the face if one of those gets there first, it will be my very first thought, and itll cross my mind about a million times thereafter, he said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
BLOUNT COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  An Alabama man has pleaded guilty to 225 counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of producing child pornography.

Dennis Ray Spann, 55, of Boaz was sentenced to 10 years on the counts of possession of child pornography, as well as 20 years on each count of production of child pornography.

An investigation began after Spann failed to make payments on a storage unit he was renting in Blount County, and the owners of the storage unit discovered apparent images of naked female children and a sex doll with childlike features while emptying the unit.

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After an investigation by the Oneonta Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spann was found to be in possession of 225 pictures and/or videos of child pornography and five pictures and/or videos produced by him. According to court documents, Spann admitted to possessing and producing this material.

It takes everyone, including our citizens, to fight back against child abuse. The owner of these units no doubt saved other children from becoming victims of Dennis Spann, said Pamela Casey, Blount County District Attorney. Child pornography is not and never will be a victimless crime. 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.

Possession of child pornography is a Class C felony, and it can carry a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Producing child pornography is a Class A felony with a potential sentence of 10 to 99 years in prison.

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Turkish university students gathered in Istanbul on Friday to showcase their Chinese language skills at the 4th Chinese poetry recitation and karaoke competition.
A four-year-old girl in Alabama spent two days in intensive care after reportedly becoming drunk at school.

The child was slobbering at the mouth and limp when her parents arrived to pick her up while her blood alcohol content was 0.29  over four times the legal limit for adults to drive.

Mary Singleton, the girl's mother, said the school had called them just two minutes before students were dismissed for the day. Shortly afterwards, she found her daughter almost unresponsive in the nurses office.

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She was slobbering at the mouth, she was heavy, and the teacher handed her to me, saying we probably needed to take her to the ER, Singleton told WALA.

The child was taken to the Childrens and Womens Hospital in Mobile, where she spent two days in the ICU. Doctors said she had ingested a large amount of ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol.

A four-year-old child was taken to hospital in Alabama and spent two days in the ICU after ingesting ethanol at school. The childs blood alcohol content was 0.29  over four times the legal limit for adults to drive (WALA)

A toxicology report shared with WALA confirmed this, though it is not known how the child gained access to the substance.

In Alabama, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration is 0.08% for most adult drivers.

According to the Chemical Safety Facts Organization, ethanol is found in a variety of products, including skin care products, hand sanitizers, food packaging systems, perfume, and more.

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The Singletons said their daughter was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, though they want answers as to how the situation occurred.

A police investigation has been launched.

Its hard to deal with when you see your child walking into school and being carried out, you know, and you dont have any idea whats going on, said the girls father, Albert Singleton.

The Independent has contacted the Prichard Police Department. Mobile County Public Schools did not respond to WALA's request for comment.

Experts recommend that adults ensure ethanol products are out of reach for young children. The Child Advocacy Center told the outlet it has seen similar cases previously.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday ordering the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to end federal funding for NPR and PBS.

The executive order will go into effect on June 30th.

Jack Williams, the External Affairs Director for Alabama Public Television, said 13% of their budget, or about $3 million, comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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I suspect this will wind up in court, Williams said. Were not exactly sure that the President has the authority to take away, to re-direct, the funding like this.

Williams said hes urging their members of Congress to encourage the President to use a laser, not a shotgun.

The executive order states, 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 taxpaying citizens.

To read the executive order, click on the following link:

Ending Taxpayer Subsidization Of Biased Media  The White House

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Williams said that, while hes never received a complaint about locally produced content, theres room for improvement with the national programming.

I think the publics looking for unbiased, balanced news and I think we can improve on that, Williams explained.

Williams said theyve been involved in discussions at the national level this week, prior to the executive order coming out, about how to improve that product.

We will be in meetings next week, and the next two weeks with PBS and NPR to discuss some of the concerns being raised by the administration, he added.

According to Williams, Alabama Public Television produces about 10% of its own content, including shows like DIY Science Time and documentaries like Alabama Black Belt Blues.

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Alabama Public Television also provides educational programming and training for educators.

The places that need our help the most would be hit the hardest by this, Williams explained. In some of our low-income school districts, where were working with teachers to help prepare them to do the best job possible with more limited resources.

While the $3 million in federal funding for Alabama Public Television was appropriated two years ago, Williams worries about what the future holds.

It doesnt take the funding away, but it prohibits it going to NPR, or in our case PBS, so well have to scramble for programming starting July first if we dont get this resolved, he said.

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He said Alabama Public Television knew this was coming and has been working with their national trade association and CPB to address some of the issues that the White House has concerns about.

Patricia Harrison, the President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, released a statement which reads:

CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the Presidents authority. 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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Williams said about 50% of Alabama Public Televisions content comes from PBS, and the rest is from two other sources dependent upon PBS funding so theres concern about the cost associated with having to produce more of their own programming.

He estimates it could cost them an additional $7 million as CPB and PBS are able to do things cheaper than 165 stations can do on their own.

Theres also uncertainty surrounding what the future may hold if they are not granted relief from the courts.

If we lose $3 million, somethings going away, he added. I dont think weve made decisions yet on whats going away.

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We also stopped by WBHMs studios in Birmingham on Friday afternoon to speak with Will Dahlberg, the Executive Director of WBHM and the Gulf States Newsroom.

He sent us the following statement:

We are assessing the orders implications on our budget and operations. While federal funding and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting have provided important support for our mission for decades, the largest portion of WBHM financial support comes from our valued community of listener members and corporate underwriting partners. Now more than ever, we will rely on that community to support our important work as we remain committed to journalism that is fair, credible, accurate, honest, and free from commercial and political influence.

Dahlberg said about eight to 10% of their budget comes from federal funding, which amounted to $190,000 this fiscal year.

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The Alaska Senate Finance Committee meets on Friday, May 2, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

On Friday, the Alaska Senates finance committee finished work on a draft state operating budget for the coming year and sent the draft ahead to a vote of the full Senate.

Senators is scheduled to begin debating amendments on Monday, with a vote on the draft expected later in the week.

The committees draft is $384 million less than a version passed by the House in April and $1.7 billion less than Gov. Mike Dunleavys proposal for the fiscal year that starts July 1 and runs through June 30, 2026.

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Most of the cuts came from the 2025 Permanent Fund dividend. Dunleavy proposed a payout of about $3,900 per recipient, and the House reduced that to about $1,400. The Senates latest draft has it at $1,000.

The budget arrived in the finance committee with a substantial deficit, and it leaves with a surplus of between $100 million and $200 million, using only numbers in various budget bill drafts to date.

That surplus is almost certainly an illusion, the committees two leading members warned.

Sens. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, and Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, said that lawmakers next year are likely to face a significant deficit, somewhere between $300 million and $600 million at current estimates.

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We argue that this is sort of a transitional budget, getting prepared for the headwinds that were going to face, Hoffman said.

The upcoming budget is based on a state forecast from March that predicts North Slope oil prices will average $68 per barrel in the coming fiscal year. Since that forecast was released, futures markets have plummeted, so much so that the Department of Revenue later approached the co-chairs with concerns, Hoffman said. When spending exceeds revenue, lawmakers must make up for it with a supplemental budget bill in the next legislative session.

It may be as low as $64, which will mean a potential supplemental (bill), if thats the case, of an additional $150 million, estimated, Hoffman said.

On top of that are several large union contracts that remain under negotiation. Pay and benefit increases are expected after a salary survey found significant numbers of state employees are underpaid.

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They may be between $100 million and $300 million, Hoffman said.

Then add the federal government programs cut because of DOGE, Hoffman said. That White House office has been slashing federal programs and spending. If the state were to lose 5% of its federal funding, keeping programs alive would cost as much as $300 million.

Then theres fire season to consider, he added.

If its higher than an average year, which may happen, we could see a substantial hit on the states coffers. So you know, I and others in the Senate are concerned, Hoffman said.

He added that theres yet another area of concern.

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Were using north of $100 million in one-time funds in this years budget that arent going to be available next year, Hoffman said. So that is why we may have a gap of between $300 million and $600 million next year.

Legislators have removed the possibility of closing the budget gap with new revenue  opposed by some key House members  or spending from savings, opposed by Senate leaders who say it wouldnt be sustainable.

Stedman referred to the temporary budget surplus as a buffer that likely would be consumed by expected cost increases. Were a little cautious, Stedman said.

Some of that buffer could be consumed later this year as members of the House negotiate with the Senate on a budget compromise that integrates parts of the Senate and House drafts.

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Stedman said he hopes there will be few items added back into the budget.

The fact of the matter is, Hoffman said, at some point, the message needs to be that we cant continue as we are.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A judge ruled that an Albuquerque mom facing charges for the death of her 2-year-old son and for shoplifting in a separate incident will remain in custody.

Amillia Garcia was first arrested after her son was found dead with a gunshot wound inside a southeast Albuquerque apartment complex on April 6.

Police said the boy was left alone, got hold of Garcias gun, and accidentally shot himself while three other people, including Garcia, were in the apartment.

Story continues below

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On April 10, Judge Bruce Fox released Garcia, Angel Cordova, Angel Morales, and Angelica Lucero under pretrial supervision.

Days later, on April 17, Garcia was arrested again after Albuquerque police say she was caught shoplifting at the Walmart on Carlisle Blvd. and Menaul Blvd. with a minor by her side.

On Friday, Judge David Murphy ruled Garcia will remain in custody while her cases go through the judicial process.

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As a result of the 2-year-olds death, Garcia was charged with child abuse resulting in death, tampering with evidence, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, and negligently making a firearm accessible to a minor.

In the other incident, she is charged with shoplifting and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

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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.
By Alasdair Pal

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Disability advocate Ali France pulled off a shock defeat of Australia's opposition leader Peter Dutton in his own seat on Saturday at the third time of asking, just over a year after losing her son to leukaemia.

Her win was part of a comprehensive federal election victory by the incumbent Labor Party over Dutton's conservative Liberals.

France, a former journalist, communications professional and para-athlete, lost her leg in a car accident in 2011, sparking an interest in protecting the public healthcare system, her official biography says.

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She had contested the seat of Dickson, held by Dutton for 24 years, on two previous occasions. She had also spent 18 months in the period since the 2022 election caring for her son Henry, who died of leukaemia at the age of 19 early last year.

"Life's bittersweet, isn't it?" she told Sky News on Saturday after her victory. "It is a series of highs and lows."

"We discussed it a lot, and I thought I wouldn't be running because I would be caring for him. And he would say to me, 'No, Mum, you have to do this. I know you're going to win this time'. And I feel he's been with me on this journey."

Preliminary data from the Australian Electoral Commission on Saturday showed a swing to Labor of around 8 percentage points in the seat, easily ousting Dutton, who had held the seat in the northern state of Queensland with a margin of 1.7 percentage points in 2022.

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"Ali and I have been combatants for a number of elections now, but she was successful in Dickson tonight and she will do a good job as a local member," Dutton said at a party event in Brisbane.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Aliza Shermans best friend was choked up after learning that an arrest was finally made in the Cleveland Clinic nurses 2013 murder.

On Friday, 51-year-old Gregory Moore, who was Shermans divorce attorney, was indicted on several charges in the 53-year-old death, including aggravated murder, conspiracy and kidnapping, the I-Team first reported.

The arrest came more than a decade after Shermans murder, which was considered one of Northeast Ohios biggest unsolved mysteries for years.

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I-Team: What was the motive behind Aliza Shermans murder?

FOX 8 spoke with Shermans best friend, Jan Lash, who said on Friday she was overwhelmed with emotion and just trying to catch my breath after hearing about the arrest.

Still, Lash said shes grateful Moore is in custody.

In a 2014 interview with FOX 8, Lash said their long and close friendship started in Lamaze class.

A relationship like that is just so special. You just dont find that, Lash said at the time. I guess I was selfish enough to think that I would have that the rest of my life.

Lash described the moment she received the dreaded phone call as numbing.

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It was devastating, indescribable, she said.

Unsolved for 12 years: A timeline of Aliza Sherman murder case

During the interview, which was about a year after Shermans death, Lash shared a strong message for her best friends killer.

You, the monster, will be caught, and justice will be served. You cant hide anywhere, she said. We will find you.

Moore will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  Investigators and loved ones of Aliza Sherman are reacting to the arrest of her divorce attorney with mixed emotions.

Some broke down in tears and others are happy that the alleged killer has finally been identified.

I was like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I was so excited, said Maria Zoul, a very close friend of Sherman.

For twelve long years theyve waited and prayed for an arrest, holding yearly vigils at the location where she was murdered and posting signs to spread the word, hoping someone would come forward.

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I said I would never give up. I would fight for justice for her, said Zoul. I have a reward poster on the side of my car, a magnet in the back and a sign in my yard.

Unsolved for 12 years: A timeline of Aliza Sherman murder case

Another close friend, Jan Lash, broke down in tears on the phone and said, Im just learning about the arrest and feeling overwhelmed with emotion. Just trying to catch my breath at this time, but grateful he is in custody.

Shermans divorce attorney, Gregory Moore, has been arrested in connection with the murder, which happened March 24, 2013, in downtown Cleveland at 75 Erieview Plaza.

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She was meeting Moore at his office for a meeting about her upcoming divorce trial, but she never made it inside and was fatally stabbed outside of the building in broad daylight

Its hard to wrap your head around this, said Zoul.

Middleburg Heights Police Chief Edward Tomba told FOX 8 that he was not surprised that Moore was arrested.

As you know, we deal with facts and evidence, but you know, we all had our hunches and our thoughts, so no, Im not surprised at all, Tomba said.

Tomba was a deputy chief with Cleveland police at the time of the murder and continued to closely follow the case over the years.

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I-Team: What was the motive behind Aliza Shermans murder?

He could often be seen at the vigils on the anniversary of the murder.

I did get to know the family, I did get to know the friends of Eliza and it was a little more personal. We kept in touch and they kept the faith and they were always very supportive of law enforcement, he said.

The investigation was collaborative, including the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office, Cleveland Division of Police and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Although it appeared to have gone cold, they said they never gave up and will continue fighting until justice is truly served.

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I will never give up, said Zoul. But just so happy, so happy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
A 28-year-old man was shot after allegedly trying to force his way into an apartment, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) said in a release.

The man reportedly tried to enter multiple units after breaking through an exterior door at 21st Avenue and East Yesler Way, SPD said.

When the suspect got to one unit with a 31-year-old man, his wife, and two-year-old child inside, the suspect allegedly started yelling and forced the door open, according to the release.

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The man inside said he gave multiple warnings before shooting the suspect through the door, hitting him in the leg, the release said.

The suspect was taken to Harborview Medical Center and charged with burglary, SPD said.
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)  It was after their tiny plane crashed into the Bolivian jungle earlier this week that their ordeal really began.

After smashing into the ground, the aircraft flipped over into a lagoon infested with anacondas and alligators, plunging the pilot and four passengers  including a 6-year-old boy  into a harrowing 36 hours spent clinging to the planes wreckage before being rescued Friday in the northeast of this Andean nation.

The doctor who treated the five survivors told The Associated Press on Saturday all were conscious and in stable condition, with only the young boy's 37-year-old aunt still hospitalized for an infected gash to her head. The rest were discharged and recovering from dehydration, minor chemical burns, infected cuts, bruises and insect bites all over their bodies.

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We couldn't believe it, that they weren't attacked and left for dead, Dr. Luis Soruco, director of the hospital where the survivors were delivered in Bolivias tropical Beni province, said by phone after sending the pilot and two of the women home with a strong course of antibiotics.

The pilot, 27-year-old Pablo Andres Velarde, emerged Friday to tell the story that has transfixed many Bolivians  a rare piece of uplifting news for a nation badly in need of it after years of a spiraling economic and political crisis.

The mosquitoes wouldnt let us sleep," Velarde told reporters from his hospital cot in the provincial capital of Trinidad, where Dr. Soruco said he was in surprisingly good health and spirits. The alligators and snakes watched us all night, but they didn't come close.

Shocked that the caimans (pronounced KAY-men), a species of the alligator family native to Central and South America, didnt lunge at them, Velarde speculated it was the stench of jet fuel spilling from the wreckage that had kept the predatory reptiles at bay, although there's no scientific proof that's an effective alligator repellent.

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Velarde said that the five of them survived by eating ground cassava flour that one of the women had brought as a snack. They had nothing to drink  the lagoon water was filled with gasoline.

The small plane had set off Wednesday from the Bolivian village of Baures, bound for the bigger town of Trinidad farther south, where Patricia Coria Guary had a medical check-up scheduled for her 6-year-old nephew at the pediatric hospital, Dr. Soruco said. Two other women, neighbors from Baures ages 32 and 54, joined them.

Such flights are a common form of transportation in this remote Amazonian region carved with rivers. Heavy rains wash away unpaved roads this time of year.

But just 27 minutes  almost halfway  into the flight, the plane's lone engine cut out. Velarde said he reported their imminent crash over a portable radio to a colleague.

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He recalled in interviews with local media that he scanned the vast emerald green canopy below him and aimed for a clearing near a lagoon.

There was no ranch or road along the route, he said. It was just swamp.

Instead of skidding across the shore as planned, the plane smashed into the ground and flipped upside down  injuring everyone on board and leaving Coria Guary with an especially deep cut to her forehead  before splashing into the water.

The landing was very rough, Velarde said.

As the plane flooded, the five of them managed to clamber on top of the fuselage, where they stayed for two terrifying nights surrounded by caimans and anacondas and attacked by swarms of mosquitoes and other insects.

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They waved shirts and sheets to no avail and screamed each time they heard the thud of propellers or revving of a boat engine. On Friday, at the sound of approaching motorboats, we started shining our cell phone flashlights and shouting, Velarde said.

A group of fishermen noticed, and helped them into their canoe. They called the authorities and delivered them to an army helicopter some hours later.

We couldnt have handled it one more night," Velarde said.

___

DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At the Artificial Organ Technology Laboratory of Soochow University in Jiangsu Province, east China, Professor Po-Lin Hsu's lab is transforming heartbeats into precise data streams.

Leading a team focused on developing an extracorporeal maglev artificial heart, Hsu is offering new hope to patients in need of life-saving medical advancements.

After earning dual Ph.D.s from the University of Cambridge and RWTH Aachen University, Hsu joined Soochow University in 2013 as a full-time professor and deputy director of the laboratory. In 2017, she founded magAssist Co., Ltd., a company dedicated to creating a multi-organ life-support platform.

"I wanted to help medical workers in their fight against death," Hsu explained, reflecting on her entrepreneurial drive. Her ultimate goal has always been to translate research into practical solutions that address critical care needs. The supportive policies in the Chinese mainland for high-end medical devices, combined with the business-friendly environment, gave her the confidence to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

Today, three of the company's artificial heart products are in clinical use, with one currently deployed in around 30 hospitals. Over the past eight years, the startup has filed more than 350 patents.

"Although our resources are modest, relentless innovation and hard work can enhance our nation's global competitiveness. This is our mission," Hsu said. Having been born and brought up in Taiwan, Hsu wants to encourage more Taiwan youth to consider pursuing a career in the Chinese mainland, citing its vast market, resilient economy, and rapid technological advancements.

Meanwhile, in Yunnan Province, Taiwan entrepreneur Christopher Chen has been nurturing the growth of Kunming Tongyi Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a company specializing in potted orchids and seedlings. Founded by his father in 2000, the company now boasts a rich orchid gene bank with over 100 varieties and annual sales approaching 2 million plants. Exports of the company now reach markets in Vietnam and Russia.

Chen returned to Yunnan after completing his studies with big ideas for the family business. "The Chinese mainland's support for Taiwan farmers has given us more opportunities to focus on innovation," he said. In addition to breeding and smart cultivation, Chen is working to set international standards for orchid products.

In the green mountains of Fujian Province, Chiu Pin-ping is breathing new life into fading village cultures with his team. Together, they are reviving ancient traditions and offering fresh perspectives on rural life.

In 2021, he joined Fuzhou Suiping Yili Architectural Design Co., Ltd., a rural revitalization team consisting of youth from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Initially, Chiu and his team faced skepticism from the villagers, but their persistence gradually won them over. They delved into local revolutionary history and began creating cultural products. With strong policy support, they even launched an online store to help boost sales of rural products.

For Chiu, his work in Fujian feels like "a drop of water merging into the ocean." "The villages here hold immense cultural value. Taiwan youth should serve as a bridge for cross-Strait exchanges," Chiu said.

A native of New Taipei City, Wang Yiwen views the Chinese mainland as an ideal runway for her dreams. Wang, now a senior at the business school of Central South University in Hunan Province, quickly embraced the vibrant energy in Changsha, the provincial capital city. Before graduation, Wang received three job offers. She finally chose to join an e-commerce firm as a management trainee.

Wang often shares advice with her peers: "The Chinese mainland's policies ensure a fair playing field for Taiwan youth, from internships to promotions."

She plans to settle down in the Chinese mainland, applying her skills to support rural revitalization. 
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  A former inmate at the James Allred Unit in Wichita County was sentenced to more prison time after pleading guilty to strangling a fellow inmate in 2019.

William Wallace entered his plea on Friday, April 25, 2025, in the 89th District Courtroom, with 30th District Court Judge Jeff McKnight presiding. He was sentenced to 25 more years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility.

PREVIOUS STORY: More details on former Allred inmate charged with murder

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Wallace also pleaded true to an enhancement paragraph for the following charges:

Burglary of a building  Milam County (1995)

Burglary of a vehicle  Burleson County (2005)

Wallace was indicted for murder by a Wichita County grand jury in January 2024. The charge stems from September 28, 2019.

According to the custodial death report from the Attorney Generals Office, Delandro Hamilton, 31, was found unresponsive in his bunk by correctional officers. Life-saving measures were attempted, but Hamilton was pronounced deceased at the prison.

The report ruled Hamiltons death a homicide, and according to the indictment, Wallace caused Hamiltons death by strangulation and/or asphyxiation.

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.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
While Chicago and Philadelphia have canceled Cinco de Mayo festivities this year amid fear over immigration crackdowns, Detroit's parade will still go on.

This year represents a milestone for the annual Cinco de Mayo Parade, the 60th year of an event to celebrate Mexican heritage.

"We've been planning this for the whole year. We have not canceled and a cancellation has not gone through our mind. ... Our residents are okay with it, the community is okay with it. We do listen to them, and so that's something they've asked us to continue," said Elizabeth "Lisa" Gonzalez, parliamentarian for the Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metro Detroit, the volunteer group behind the Cinco de Mayo Parade.

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She expects thousands of people to show up for Sunday's parade. Gonzalez, a community organizer and lifelong southwest Detroit resident, said the event is a way for young Latino people to recognize their roots and culture  Mexican, Salvadoran, Honduran and American.

Though not everyone agrees the parade should go on.

Samantha Magdaleno, executive director of the Southwest Detroit-based One Michigan for Immigrant Rights, said that some community members are planning to stay at home and celebrate with their own cookouts. Magdaleno's organization provides assistance to immigrants in need of resources.

We have been advising people if you dont have status or if you have family members that you live with that dont have status, weve been advising them to not go to these kind of events, Magdaleno said. Weve been trying to tell them to be more aware and to be cautious, not to necessarily live in a bubble and hide, but at the same time to just be cognizant.

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More: Venezuelan immigrant detained in Detroit by border agents tried to take his life

More: Trump pauses crackdown on international students, including many in Michigan

In light of other major cities canceling their Cinco de Mayo festivities, Magdaleno said that she thinks Detroit shouldve followed suit as a way to protest the Trump administration and its policies.

I know there have been several community attempts to do a day without Latinos, a day without Mexicans, a day without immigrants. And I think this would have been the time to do it. ... There's a lot of outsiders that come to southwest Detroit to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, and I think this would have been the perfect opportunity to show them like, Look, no, we're not coming out. There's nothing to celebrate. This administration is abusing us, and you guys need to understand it,'" she said.

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Jaime Carrillo is the director and co-founder of Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Izel, a traditional Mexican folk dance group, and a business owner in southwest Detroit. Although he resides Downriver, he has heard concerns from patrons and members of his dance group.

The main concern is the raids and stuff that ICE has been doing. Thats the main concern that people are afraid that theyre going to get caught up with something like that. And Im not just talking about undocumented people, just people in general, because right now it seems like they dont care. As long as you fit the profile, theyre either questioning you, pulling you over or basically harassing you," said Carrillo, 47, of Lincoln Park.

The group hasn't participated in the parade in more than a decade but will be a part of the Cinco de Mayo festival following the parade at Patton Park. Carrillo said Detroit police shut down last years celebration early, but local vendors are hopeful that won't happen again.

'Climate of fear'

Many residents question the value in publicly celebrating their heritage when the freedom to be Mexican in America is seemingly under attack.

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Since Trump took office, theres been a growing sense of hostility in our community, said Hector Vega, a Mexican American and southwest Detroit native. It no longer feels safe to gather publicly with our families. The increase in deportations and police presence has created a climate of fear.

In a Facebook post, Vega raised concerns about attending this years parade, an event he attended a few times as a child. He cited concerns about ICE presence, but also urged other Mexican Americans not to share their culture for the drunken fun of non-Latinos.

For years now, Cinco de Mayo has felt co-opted  used by outsiders as an excuse to drink, party, and consume our culture without respecting our people, he told the Free Press in an email. In the U.S. the holiday is often called Drinko de Mayo, referring to the heavy consumption of alcohol in the name of Mexican pride.

Mexicans  and Latinos in general  are known for our hospitality. We proudly share our food, music, and traditions. But lately, its clear the U.S. government doesnt want us here, Vega said, noting that hes witnessed families targeted by ICE simply for grabbing tacos at local food trucks.

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If were not welcome here, that rejection should include our culture, too. You cant claim to love our food and festivities while hating the people behind them," he said.

A longtime southwest Detroit community leader and resident, who requested anonymity to protect community members, said this year's festivities  which he described as a "great plus" for businesses and families  are going to be different.

"There's a lot of fear in our community," he said.

There are families that don't want to take their kids to school, to doctor's appointments, to worship or get groceries, despite having a legal status, he said. He thinks people are going to stay home.

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"There's a worry of themselves being picked up and their family members being picked up, their neighbors being picked up. There's a worry of just a possible violent confrontation, if people respond wrong, or if immigration responds wrong and doesn't follow the law themselves. There's worry about just how the events would be impacted," he said.

He said he'd be perfectly fine if the parade were canceled.

"Having first hand knowledge of cases of people that are detained, families, neighbors, friends, and just things that are going on in the courts, that has caused me to pause and I wonder if this is a really good idea," he said.

It's a big weekend for restaurants, mom-and-pop stores, street vendors and taco trucks, whose livelihood could see a hit if attendance dips, but if their relatives, neighbors, friends and patrons are detained by immigration enforcement, that would also be a hardship, he said.

Will not 'stand down'

Other longtime residents say the community is accustomed to border portal and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and people are eager to celebrate.

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"The general tone so far has been positive," said Maria Salinas, founder and executive director of Congress of Communities of Southwest Detroit.

Salinas, a longtime southwest Detroit resident and community organizer, said the celebration has been going on for generations and "for us to stand down and not celebrate our Latino heritage is just something we're not going to do." The organizing committee has done its due diligence to ensure a safe, and festive environment, she said. Her organization is a vendor and has paid to be in the parade.

Gonzalez said the community is looking forward to the celebration, but acknowledged there's "a little bit of anxiety." She said hasn't heard too much concern. Southwest Detroiters are used to having federal immigration agents around because of the neighborhood's proximity to the Ambassador Bridge, which connects the U.S. and Canada.

"Border patrol and ICE are naturally in our neighborhood. They're in our backyard," Gonzalez said. "We live with them on a daily basis. This is how it's always been for many, many years since I was born and raised here in southwest Detroit."

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She said it's a personal choice if people want to stay home or join, but everyone is welcome.

"Many people come from many parts of Michigan. We have people come from other states to come see this parade. We're known to have this parade every year. That's why we listened, we listened to what everybody wanted, what the community wanted ... what outside of the communities also wanted," she said.

The weekend's festivities include a two-day fiesta at Patton Recreation Center, featuring music, vendors and food trucks, and the parade on May 4 along West Vernor Highway, with floats, marching bands and mariachis. The parade honors the 1862 Battle of Puebla and the Mexican victory over French forces. Organizers say the celebration will highlight diverse Latino ethnicities that make up the "rich cultural fabric of Southwest Detroit," according to the Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metro Detroit's website.

Contact Nushrat Rahman: nrahman@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @NushratR.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Southwest Detroit's Cinco de Mayo Parade still planned despite fears
A Mora woman who operated an in-home dog training and boarding business has been charged with 16 counts of animal torture after nine dogs were found dead and nine others were suffering allegedly under her watch.

The case began to unfold when veterinarians with the University of Minnesota were asked to conduct a necropsy a dog that died after allegedly being under the care of 30-year-old Moriah S. Krondak at "Done Right Dogs" in Mora.

The criminal complaint says Krondak was trusted to care for a family's two pit bulls while they were on vacation. One of them allegedly lost 27 pounds under Krondak's supervision, and the other lost 38 pounds, dropping to a weight of 33 pounds with "bones and ribs easily visible," before dying from a likely cause of malnutrition.

Moriah KrondakKanabec County Jail

Unsanitary housing conditions were suspected due to a bacterial infection on one of the dog's skin. That same pit bull's teeth were stained, possibly from "him trying to chew through the bars of a wire dog kennel," though the veterinarian who conducted the necropsy couldn't confirm or deny the cause of the stained teeth.

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The family dropped the dogs off on Feb. 28 and were scheduled to pick them up on March 10.

Upon their return from vacation, Krondak allegedly gave excuses to prevent them from getting their pets. On March 12, the family informed Krondak that they would be coming to get the dogs, only to have Krondak call and inform them that one of them had died.

The investigation began on March 13, and on April 7 deputies went to see Krondak's home and discovered multiple dogs in crates, with dog feces in the kennels and a "very strong odor of urine and dog feces inside the residences," according to the charges.

They also found a dog on a three-foot leash that was tied to a sliding glass door. They documented that the dog "did not appear" able to lay down "due to the length of the leash," and none of the dogs had access to food or water.

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Deputies searched the garage and as soon as the door was opened they experienced a "smell of a strong odor of decay," according to the complaint. The deputies shined flashlights into the darkness and "noticed a severely decayed dog inside of a kennel."

Three more decaying dogs were found in kennels in the garage, and five more were found dead and decaying inside kennels in a basement bedroom.

In total, nine dead dogs and nine surviving dogs were removed from the home.

The nine dogs that died were either surrendered to Krondak or brought to her by rescue organizations, the complaint says. One of the dogs found dead had a detached head.

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The surviving dogs were commonly "caked with urine and feces," had lost significant weight, and were struggling with anemia due to starvation. One dog had broken teeth, possibly from attempting to chew its way out of a kennel.

One of the surviving dogs was ravenously trying to drink water" and was even trying to drink dirty feces and urine-ridden bath water when getting a bath," the complaint reads.

Not only does it appear that these dogs died from lack of food and/or water, but they likely suffered while doing so. Starvation and dehydration are both incredibly painful," a veterinarian with the Animal Humane Society told authorities. "Considering the body condition, these dogs likely suffered for at least weeks and likely months before dying."

Krondak tested positive for methamphetamine and refused to speak with investigators, according to the charges.
Anthony Scaramucci, who served as Donald Trumps communications director in his first term, advised Democrats on Friday to dial into their purpose to counter the presidents hostile takeover of the Republican Party.

And so I would recommend to them, cut out that policy fight, focus on the larger purpose, he told MSNBCs Katy Tur before pointing to the partys success in pushing presidents Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton.

Pick somebody young to help you navigate this thing and take on Trump in the culture war, and youll beat him, youre not going to beat him by fighting with each other.

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Scaramucci, who famously had just a 10-day stint in the Trump White House, declared that members of the GOP might be known as Republicans, but theyve become effectively a third party or  in his terms  the MAGA party.

He suggested that Democrats open the party up to a broader coalition, including those with policy disagreements, before adding that theyre not going to find success by searching for a more perfect form of socialism or progressivism.

The Democratic Party, which has seen record-low favorability this year, has struggled to rally behind a party leader to fight back against Trump. Recent polling finds registered voters still believe Trump would do a better job in the White House over former Vice President Kamala Harris, in spite of his chaotic leadership over the last few months.

Scaramucci appeared on MSNBC to weigh in on Trump ousting Michael Waltz as his national security adviser, only to nominate him as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

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Scaramucci stressed that the Trump administration doesnt want to fire people because they dont want to give mainstream media outlets a win, adding that the president is Napoleonic in his ability to understand the culture war.

He sees the cultural battlefield better than anybody, and he fights in a way that [Democrats] dont fight, Scaramucci said.

And they better find their Wellington before 2026 comes around.

When asked how the Democratic Party could realign itself, Scaramucci argued it should overarchingly be a pro-Constitution, pro-democracy party to reject Project 2025 and unitarian executive power.

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He noted that such a realignment would require Democrats to bury some of the things that trigger people.

He added that despite his admiration for efforts by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), going too far left may cause Democrats to lose the plot and allow Trump to win the midterms.

Related...
Australias prime minister claimed a historic victory Saturday in a second-term win fueled by voters concerns about President Donald Trump.

Our government will choose the Australian way, because we are proud of who we are and all that we have built together in this country, Albanese told supporters after his victory. We do not need to borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration from overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people.

Anthony Albanese came out on top despite polling at record lows in January and the encroachment of conservative leaders like Peter Dutton, who conceded defeat after losing his seat of 24 years. He is the first Australian prime minister to win consecutive terms in two decades.

Anthony Albanese has emerged victorious despite low polls in January. / DAVID GRAY / David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

Albaneses triumphant comeback came only days after Canadas liberal party also emerged victorious riding a similar wave of anti-Trump fervor.

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We have been defined by our opponents in this election, which is not the true story of who we are, Dutton said in a speech conceding the election.

He apologized to his members of parliament and accepted full responsibility for the loss, promising his party would rebuild.

President Donald Trump's international policies have sparked outrage from voters in Canada and Australia. / Scott Olson / Scott Olson/Getty Images

Amid harsh reciprocal tariffs and a globally unstable economy, voters worldwide have begun to mobilize against Trump.

In Australia, Dutton claimed during the election that he would appoint politician Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to a ministry of government efficiency, bizarrely similar to Tesla billionaire Elon Musks role at the Department of Government Efficiency in the United States.

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Price, who promised that her party would make Australia great again, faced the repercussions of her MAGA likeness when her party suffered a record defeat.

A spokesperson from the conservative party defended the campaign, saying the Trump factor had unfairly burdened its chances.

Albanese, who defied the countrys incumbency curse to win in the landslide, said that voters chose fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all; for the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need.

Canada's Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney also kept his position due to MAGA backlash. / DAVE CHAN / Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images

Trump also loomed large over the Canadian election after the commander-in-chief threatened to make our northern neighbor the 51st state. His fixation on annexing our ally, harsh tariff threats, and bizarre criticisms of the country inadvertently prompted the revival of Canadas left-wing party. Canadians voted against Trump, and the results of their April 28 election confirmed that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would remain in office.
President Donald Trump brushed aside concerns about a possible economic recession, telling NBC News in an interview set to air Sunday that while anything can happen, he thought the economy was strong.

When pressed by Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on whether he is worried that a recession could happen in the short term, Trump first said no, before he left the door open to the possibility and added his own outlook.

Anything can happen, he said, according to an excerpt released by NBC News. But I think we're going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country. I think we're going have the greatest economic boom in history.

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Trumps comments come as his economic policies, particularly his growing trade war with most other countries, has triggered a realignment of the international order and significant market swings.

The U.S. gross domestic product, a sum of all goods and services, dropped 0.3 percent in this years first quarter  before Trumps tariff announcements on Liberation Day in early April  the first quarter of negative growth since 2022.

He has since paused higher tariffs on most countries for 90 days as negotiations play out, while hiking tariffs on China to over 100 percent.

Trump has sought to place the blame at the feet of his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, arguing that the volatility of the stock market was caused by Biden, and not his own aggressive tariff stance. This is Bidens Stock Market, not Trumps, Trump posted on Truth Social.

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During a Cabinet meeting this week, Trump continued the blame game after the Commerce Department released poor first-quarter GDP numbers. This is Biden, he said.

In the NBC News interview, he dismissed concerns over a looming recession when asked by Welker whether it is okay to have a recession in the short term. Look, yeah, it's everything's okay, he said.

This is a transition period. I think we're going to do fantastically.
Star lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was heckled while giving a town hall, making her the latest member of Congress to be loudly confronted by upset constituents.

The incident occurred during a town hall on Friday night in the Democrats home district in Queens, New York. A woman in the crowd, who identified herself as a nurse, stood up and began shouting as the Democratic Congresswoman described which parts of her district are under threat by the Department of Government Efficiency cuts.

I want to know what youre doing about the genocide in Gaza! the woman shouted, pointing at Ocasio-Cortez on the stage. Shame on you! Youre a liar!

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The Congresswoman, who remained calm amidst the shouting, repeated that she would be happy to take her question and said well get to that in the Q&A portion of the evening.

Still, the woman persisted and was met with boos from other audience members. Some even shouted at her as others waved for her to leave the room.

The heckler was eventually escorted out of the event, footage shows.

New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was heckled at a town hall in her home district on Friday (Getty Images)

Heres the deal, with town halls: I more than welcome people who disagree or are maybe even super pissed off at me for any issue to come but we have some ground rules here. Please wait for the Q&A because we dont want to deprive all of our neighbors of the ability to have information and hear things and respond to it, Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd.

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The stop in her home visit comes as the New York Democrat has been hosting the Fighting Oligarchy tour with Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders, filling arenas across the country.

The heckling at Ocasio-Cortezs event is just the latest public town hall where lawmakers have faced outcry from the crowd.

Last month, a group confronted California Democrat Laura Friedman in the middle of her town hall, accusing her party of not doing enough to push back on President Donald Trumps agenda. I dont believe that you have fought hard enough! one protester shouted.

A handful of Republicans have also been the target of their constituents rage over the Trump administrations sweeping moves over the past 100 days.

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Police tased two individuals and charged three after a group disrupted Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes town hall last month. This is a peaceful town hall, she told the crowd.

In late February, Georgia Rep. Rich McCormicks constituents booed and asked angry questions at his town hall. One attendee even asked what the Republican Congressman planned to do to rein in the megalomaniac in the White House?

That same month, a 54-year-old veteran was escorted out of a town hall following a shouting match with North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards. And you wonder why folks dont want to do town halls anymore? the Congressman quipped.
May 2An outside arbitrator has ruled that a Dayton police sergeant who was fired after he was convicted of several misdemeanor crimes should be reinstated.

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."

But the disciplinary actions the city took against Setty were not consistent with the police union's contract and were not consistent with case law, said police Sgt. Kyle Thomas, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #44, the police officers union.

Thomas said misdemeanor convictions do not rise to the level of termination under the police union's contract.

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However, he said, that does not mean that the city cannot terminate an employee for a misdemeanor conviction if it can demonstrate from the findings of an administrative investigation that the conviction violated rules of conduct, policies, procedures or negatively affected the workplace environment.

Arbitrator Susan Fernandez's ruling says that Setty's employer did not meet its burden to establish that it had just cause to terminate the officer or place him on an unpaid suspension.

Setty was placed on unpaid leave in June of last year and he was fired a couple of months later. The Dayton Fraternal Order of Police filed grievances, and the arbitrator ruled that Setty should be reinstated with back pay and benefits.

Fernandez's decision calls for vacating Setty's termination and modifying his discipline to a 30-day suspension.

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"Given the employer's inadequate internal investigation, disparate treatment towards grievant as compared to other similarly situated officers, and the chief's complete lack of consideration of job performance and mitigating factors when determining the level of disciplinary action, it cannot be concluded that the employer had just cause to impose the ultimate sanction of termination," Fernandez wrote.

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."

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.

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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.

Fernandez's decision says there is no evidence that Setty's actions adversely affected his ability to perform his job duties and that his employer conducted an "inadequate internal investigation" and treated him differently, compared to "similarly situated" officers.

The decision notes that other police officers who were convicted of misdemeanor crimes in the late 2010s were not terminated.

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The decision also says that just cause requires a fair investigation into whether the alleged infraction occurred and what would be an appropriate form of discipline given the circumstances.

Sgt. Thomas said the city has to follow the rules and the appropriate process when it comes to discipline. He said the police union essentially does not defend individual employees or his or her actions  the FOP defends the union's contract and case law.

"When the city takes shortcuts, when the city does not put in the full work product to justify their decision, they are breaking the rules," he said. "The entire purpose of the union is to ensure the city treats their employees consistently and fairly."

Thomas said he understands that there's a lot of emotion around cases like this. But he said conflicts like this arise because the city did not do its job correctly.

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"The city is well versed on how to adequately train or discipline their employees," he said. "They should be working with the union if they have an issue, a problem  they should be working with us to ensure that if they feel righteous action should be taken that they are not skipping any boxes, that they're not taking any shortcuts, that they are able to do so correctly, fairly and adequately, so you don't have a problem with a contract violation or case law problem."

The city can appeal the arbitrator's decision to the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL)  The Washington County, Virginia Sheriffs Office announced the armed and dangerous suspect from two April shootings was taken into custody on Friday.

A release from the sheriffs office said, in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service, credible information led to the whereabouts of fugitive Harley Pope.

The Washington County, Virginia Sheriffs Office said its Special Response Team (SRT) responded to Popes location and attempted to call him out of his residence peacefully. After Pope failed to comply, the SRT entered the residence and Pope fled from the back of the home into a nearby wooded area.

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After a brief manhunt, Pope was apprehended without incident, the release said.

Pope was wanted out of Virginia and Tennessee for two separate shooting incidents, one in Bluff City and one in Bristol, Virginia. According to the release, his charges are as follows:

Bristol, Virginia:

Felony Assault  Malicious Wounding Resulting in Severe Injury (VA Code 18.2-51.2)

Felony Shooting Into an Occupied Dwelling (VA Code 18.2-279)

Misdemeanor Reckless Handling of a Firearm (VA Code 18.2-56.1)

Sullivan County, Tennessee:

Failure to Appear / Probation Violation (TN Code 39-16-609)

Aggravated Assault  Domestic (TN Code 39-13-102)

Aggravated Assault (x2) (TN Code 39-13-102)

Rape (TN Code 39-13-503)

False Imprisonment (TN Code 39-13-302)

Vandalism (TN Code 39-14-408)

Evading Arrest (x4) (TN Code 39-16-603)

Bristol, Tennessee:

Aggravated Burglary (TN Code 39-13-1003)

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Pope is being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man barricaded himself in an apartment on Friday after assaulting his ex-wife, Corvallis police said.

Authorities responded to the incident at 755 NW 3rd St. around 11:30 a.m.

A woman had contacted 911 to report that she had been assaulted by her ex-husband, who had also attempted to kill her. The woman was able to escape the apartment and call for help, police said. Officers arrived on scene and immediately transported the victim to a waiting ambulance for medical evaluation. She was then transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

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Police say the suspect, Jason Corona, 45, was armed with knives and barricaded himself in the apartment for over an hour. Around 12:45 p.m., he was taken into custody and charged with assault and strangulation related to domestic violence, as well as violation of a restraining order.

Additionally, Corona also had three outstanding arrest warrants. He was lodged in the Benton 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 KOIN.com.
The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government arrives in Yangon, Myanmar, May 3, 2025. The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

YANGON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar.

The aid supplies include 340 prefabricated houses, which were received by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein during a handover ceremony.

A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. As of May 2, the earthquake has claimed 3,839 lives and injured 5,105 people, with 101 others remaining unaccounted for, according to Myanmar's official data. 

The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government arrives in Yangon, Myanmar, May 3, 2025. The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

Participants pose for a group photo during the handover ceremony of the eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government in Yangon, Myanmar, May 3, 2025. The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government arrives in Yangon, Myanmar, May 3, 2025. The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government arrives in Yangon, Myanmar, May 3, 2025. The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)

The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government arrives in Yangon, Myanmar, May 3, 2025. The eleventh batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government was handed over to Myanmar on Saturday in Yangon, Myanmar. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe)
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two weeks after a man was found shot outside a Walgreens in southeast Shelby County, a man has been arrested.

The Shelby County Sheriffs Office said Adrian Woodward was taken into custody at his Olive Branch, Mississippi, residence, Friday morning by its Fugitive Apprehension Team and DeSoto County deputies. Woodward is facing a charge of aggravated assault.

Adrian Woodard. Courtesy: SCSCO

The sheriffs office said on April 18, the victim was discovered on the ground near the Walgreens in the 8300 block of East Shelby Drive.

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Deputies immediately rendered lifesaving aid, and the man was transported to the hospital in non-critical condition.

Memphis Murder Map 2025

Investigators with the Violent Crimes Unit were able to identify Woodward as the shooter. They said Woodward shot the victim during an argument.

Woodard was booked in the DeSoto County Jail, awaiting extradition.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  An art exhibit on display in Baton Rouge is honoring the lives of Louisiana men who spent yearssometimes decadesbehind bars for crimes they didnt commit. But beyond honoring the wrongfully convicted, the exhibit is also raising questions about justice, accountability, and proposed legislation that could cut compensation for exonerees.

Exonerated: Portraits of the Wrongfully Convicted is a collection of 23 sculptures created by artist Becky Gottsegen. Each bronze bust represents a man who was wrongfully imprisoned in Louisiana. One of them is Jerry Davis, who was incarcerated at the age of 24 in Jefferson Parish and spent 40 years in prison.

Gottsegen said her work is meant to humanize those too often reduced to statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that between 4% and 6% of those incarcerated are innocent. Many of the men portrayed in the exhibit were convicted during a time when poor Black men were often targeted by the justice system, according to Gottsegen.

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If there was a poor Black guy on the street who maybe wasnt the most honest or together person, theyd stick a serious crime on him, she said.

She hopes her work starts deeper conversations about justice, and about what happens after someone is exonerated. Although Louisiana law currently allows wrongfully convicted individuals to seek up to $480,000 in compensation, that right is now under threat.

In the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers are considering a House Bill that could shorten the timeframe for filing compensation claims and dissolve the Innocence Compensation Fund, leaving future and ongoing claimants with fewer options.

Some of these men have been receiving compensation over a number of years, Gottsegen said. If the fund is dissolved, there will be nothing left for them. They say it wont affect people who already received some compensation, but it takes years for that process to even begin.

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Gottsegen hopes to bring the exhibit to Baton Rouges Main Library at Goodwood next, to continue raising public awareness around wrongful convictions.

To know what horrors theyve been through and nobody really cares, she said.

Exonerated: Portraits of the Wrongfully Convicted will remain on display at the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center through Wednesday, May 14.

The artist encourages visitors and community members to contact their local representatives and speak out about the experiences of wrongfully incarcerated individuals and the importance of protecting their right to fair compensation.

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CHEMUNG COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM)  An Ashland man has been indicted on several child sex abuse charges after officials say he sexually assaulted more than one minor for an extended period of time.

Warren F. Morrison, 49, was indicted on the following charges, as stated in a release from the Chemung County District Attorneys Office:

Predatory sexual assault, class A-II felony

Criminal sexual act in the first degree, class B felony

Nine counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, class D felony

Rape in the second degree, class D felony

Six counts of rape in the third degree, class E felony

Three counts of forcible touching

Criminal sexual act in the second degree, class D felony

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Previous story: Ashland man arrested on rape charge for incident involving minors

The indictment states that Morrison engaged in various forms of sexual contact with at least five different minors between the fall of 2020 and March of 2025.

In previous reports, officials say Morrison was arrested on the charge of rape in the first degree, a class B violent felony, following an investigation conducted by the Chemung County Sheriffs Office. At this time, officials say that a school resource officer from the Chemung County Sheriffs Office Civil/Community Services Division was informed by a minor girl that she and other girls had been sexually assaulted by Morrison for an extended period of time.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents held a leadership conference so educators can best support Latino youth in their education.

The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents is launching a New England Chapter, striving to inspire powerful, Latino leaders in western Massachusetts school districts.

Fridays leadership conference, the organizations first, and a milestone event in creating inclusive learning environments where Latino students and educators thrive. Jose Esribano, Assistant Superintendent for Springfield Public Schools, told 22News, Springfields about 70% Latino, Worcesters about 50%, and we go on and on, so its important that the leaders that are in front of our students understand their needs and how best to support them.

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The conference brought together Latino educators and administrators from all across the country, helping them collaborate and share goals on how they can solve existing issues in education.

Some of those issues, Bidens former U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, defines in his keynote address. He shares his message of leading collaboratively in what he calls a challenging time, amidst the federal governments cuts to the Department of Education. Despite roadblocks, he says its a time educators should be grateful to influence.

So when we find out that we have groups like this that can come together and engage philanthropy, or work with legislators to help them understand the impact of that, thats strengthened when you have a group like ALAS New England that can do that together, says Cardona.

Cardona adds ALAS New England is a step in the right direction, using the power of unity to enact change in our school districts.

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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JACKSON, Ohio (WCMH)  A man was arrested and charged a week after a hit-and-run in Jackson County left a child with serious injuries.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Officers responded to a crash at about 8:00 p.m. on April 22 on State Route 93 in Madison Township. According to a release from OSHP, a Dodge Dakota traveling southbound on State Route 93 struck a 2-year-old boy in the roadway.

The driver of the Dodge Dakota drove away southbound. OSHP stated the child was originally taken to a local hospital in Chillicothe before being transferred to Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus.

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Local mans T-shirt compay goes global

More than a week after the accident, OSHP arrested the driver, 38-year-old John D. Miller Jr., of Athens.

Miller was located Friday at a McDonalds restaurant where he surrendered.

According to a release from OSHP, an arrest warrant was obtained from the Jackson County municipal court after several leads from media exposure and other resources pointed to Miller.

Miller is being held in Jackson County jail and is charged with leaving the scene of a serious injury crash. His first court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

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ATHENS, Pa. (WETM)  An Athens man was sentenced recently and could see nearly eight years in a Pennsylvania state prison after a string of theft-related events since 2022, according to a release from the Bradford County District Attorneys Office.

Matthew Patrick Gay, 34, was sentenced in April to a minimum of 23 months plus 258 days (eight months) to a maximum of 95 months (nearly eight years) in state prison for the offenses of retail theft in the third degree, a felony, and default in required appearance, a felony in the third degree.

Gays charges stem from a retail theft incident at the Walmart in Athens Township in October 2022 where he stole seven diamond rings from the store on separate occasions all valued at $7,362.50.

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Lindley man indicted on weapons charges

Gay was witnessed on camera asking the clerk to see a particular ring, and then when the clerk was distracted, Gay would replace the ring with another one from his pocket.

Gay was eventually convicted on the theft charge but didnt show up to his sentencing in August 2024 and fled the area. A warrant for his arrest was issued and he was eventually captured but managed to commit several similar offenses in Berks County, PA, where he was sentenced to five to 24 months plus two years of probation. The DAs office said.

Gay didnt return to Bradford County until April 2025 when he was given the additional charge of default in required appearance.

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Gays criminal history includes more than two dozen offenses of this nature, said District Attorney Richard Wilson. For that reason, a lengthy state prison sentence is appropriate, he said, it appears to be the only way we can protect society from Matthew Gays thievery, Wilson said.

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May 2Athens State University and Calhoun Community College are graduating a combined 3,273 students this spring semester, with Athens State's graduation ceremony on Saturday and Calhoun's on Thursday.

"While we're very sorry to see these students go off and leave us to their next chapter, we're also really excited for their next steps and know that they're ready for whatever happens next to them," said Athens State President Catherine Wehlberg. "We are graduating a large class of students, and they are amazing. We cannot wait to see what they're able to do for our community and all of the state."

Athens State has 415 students graduating this semester. The spring commencement ceremonies will take place Saturday at the university's Carter Gymnasium inside the Carter Physical Education Building. Athens State will graduate three colleges between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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Calhoun has 2,858 students graduating, with 659 students walking this semester.

"We are incredibly proud of each and every student who has worked so hard to reach this important milestone," said Calhoun President Jimmy Hodges. "Graduation is a powerful reminder of the transformative role that education plays in our community, and it's a joy to celebrate the success stories that unfold here each year."

The graduation ceremony will be held Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Propst Arena inside the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville. It will be livestreamed at calhoun.edu.

"Commencement is not just a celebration of academic achievement, but a reflection of the dedication, grit, and perseverance that our students bring to their journeys," said Calhoun Vice President of Academic Affairs Wes Rakestraw. "We are honored to be part of their story and confident they will make an impact wherever life takes them next."

erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460.
ATHENS, Texas (KETK)  The City of Athens is currently asking for residents input on the future of housing in the city.

Tenants now moving into affordable housing complex in Athens

Athens is currently running an online survey to try and determine what kinds of housing Athens residents want to see built in the city. The survey ends on Friday, May 16 at 3 p.m. and is available online in English and Spanish.

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We want to hear directly from the people who live and work here, said Athens City Manager Elizabeth Borstad. Their input will help shape future development that strengthens our workforce and our neighborhoods.

The start of the survey follows the Athens City Councils approval of two new housing agreements at Monday nights meeting. The first measure would brin 160 new single-family homes to the Athens Heritage development and a second measure would create new duplexes within the Park 19 subdivision.

Both of these projects support our long-term goal of making Athens a place where people can live and work without having to commute from outside the city, Borstad said.

To complete the 2025 Athens Housing Survey in English click here and to complete the survey in Spanish click here.

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AURORA, Colo. (KDVR)  Fifty years ago, thousands of babies and young children were evacuated from the war zone in the final days of the Vietnam War. It was a herculean humanitarian effort dubbed Operation Babylift.

The children joined legions of other adoptees whod been placed in loving homes all around the world over the course of the war. John Le Cupp of Aurora was one of those children.

Colorado nurse recalls 5 days in Vietnam that changed her life during Operation Babylift 50 years ago

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Cupp was born in Vietnam. He never knew his birth father, who was likely an American GI fighting the war. And he never knew his birth mother, a Vietnamese woman. According to the story Cupps always been told, he was abandoned along the side of the road somewhere in Vietnam.

Me, and I think two other kids that were a little older, he said.

Mercifully, while out on patrol, some American soldiers happened to find him and the two other kids on that roadside.

And they took us to a nun that they knew had an orphanage, Cupp told FOX31.

Had they not found him, the chances of him finding a home and family in Vietnam werent great.

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If my parents didnt adopt me, I probably wouldnt be here today, Cupp said.

During and after the Vietnam War, an estimated 100,000 so-called Amerasian children were born. They were babies born to Vietnamese mothers and American soldiers. The children were almost always left behind when U.S. troops returned home from war, and rejected in a country where they didnt look like everyone else.

Colorado educator reconnects with her roots, 50 years after she left orphanage in Vietnam

They had more trouble getting adopted and getting fed first. The orphanage was already limited on food, so if there was any food left, rice water, you know, then we were given, we were the last stages of actually being given food, Cupp said.

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Thankfully, he wasnt in the orphanage for long. When Denver-based photojournalist David Cupp was on assignment in 1972, taking photographs of orphans in Vietnam, he decided one of the children belonged back home in Denver with his family.

They really just said, hey, well take one of the babies thats, you know, in survival mode right now, Cupp said.

David Cupp, who was a photographer for the Denver Post and National Geographic, used his camera to photograph every stage of what turned out to be an idyllic childhood for his son John, in a new home in Denvers Park Hill neighborhood, a world away from the ravaged war zone where he was born.

(My dad) built a darkroom in his basement, so hes always had us in there helping him develop his films, Cupp said.

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Cupp says his childhood experiences actually inspired him later in life. It was the story of those American soldiers who found him on the side of the road as a baby that motivated him to join the Army himself, where he spent more than two decades serving his country. He retired two years ago.

Vietnam: 50 Years Later

He was also inspired by his father, who died a couple of years ago, but whose photos will forever tell the story of a loving family brought together by, of all things, the Vietnam War.

Yeah, I was a lucky kid, Cupp said.

To learn more of Cupps story  and the stories of other Colorado adoptees and volunteers who were part of a daring evacuation from Vietnam 50 years ago, watch our special report The Vietnam War: Flight to a New Future, airing Sunday, May 4 at 9 p.m. ET on NewsNation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A woman waiting months to get her loved ones ashes is finally getting a bit of closure. Melanie Azpeitia said she experienced delays from the business that did the cremation, which is now the same place at the center of a corpse abuse investigation.

Azpeitia first reached out to Capital Mortuary Services after her sister, Tamara, passed away at the start of this year. Azpeitia said originally, things went well.

They gave me some paperwork to fill out, Azpeitia said. Signed all that, paid in full, and then they told me it would take about a week to process.

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Azpeitia said she originally put the cremation on pause, as she tried to figure out if she needed to do an autopsy for her sister. She said the owner, Adeline Bui, agreed to wait.

Melanie Azpeitia said she and her sister were close. Azpeitia said she will continue to follow the Capital Mortuary Service investigation. (Photo: KXAN) Melanie Azpeitia said she and her sister were close. Azpeitia said she will continue to follow the Capital Mortuary Service investigation. (Photo: KXAN) Melanie Azpeitia said she and her sister were close. Azpeitia said she will continue to follow the Capital Mortuary Service investigation. (Photo: KXAN) Melanie Azpeitia said she and her sister were close. Azpeitia said she will continue to follow the Capital Mortuary Service investigation. (Photo: KXAN)

However, a few days later, Azpeitia said she received a new fee after already paying in full.

They sent me another bill for refrigeration fees, and we went back and forth on emails, Azpeitia said. There was no discussion of this. There was no contract.

Azpeitia said Bui refused to give her sisters ashes until the fee was paid. Azpeitia then went to the Texas Funeral Service Commission to file a complaint.

RELATED | Police arrest an Austin mortuary owner accused of experimenting on corpses

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Not long after that, she heard about Buis arrest in April for a different situation.

Corpse abuse investigation

Bui is accused of forging death certificates and running experiments on severed limbs.

The Austin Police Department confirmed that at least one body was abused more than three weeks ago at Capital Mortuary.

Adeline Ngan-Binh Bui (Courtesy: Austin Police Department) According to an arrest affidavit, Bui and Capital Mortuary Services have several ongoing allegations against time filed with the Texas Funeral Service Commission. (Photo: KXAN) According to an arrest affidavit, Bui and Capital Mortuary Services have several ongoing allegations against time filed with the Texas Funeral Service Commission. (Photo: KXAN)

RELATED | Austin Police ask potential witnesses to come forward in corpse abuse case

Officials said theyre still trying to identify who that person was.

Investigators said Bui worked with medical training facility, MedtoMarket, on the experiments. According to APD, it involved her injecting formaldehyde into arms to see the effect it had over time on severed extremities.

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According to Buis attorney, this has to do with efforts to find more eco-friendly and cost-effective ways to preserve cadavers longer for training purposes.

MedtoMarket CEO Aaron Ali faces charges of Abuse of Corpse without Legal Authority and Aggravated Perjury.

Aaron Ali, 53 | Mugshot: Austin Police Department

Officials said Ali acknowledged instructing Capital Mortuary staff to preserve and observe the progression of embalmed limbs over time. However, Ali denied labeling the activities as experiments.

When police asked the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) if this was legal, the commission said no. It said Capital Mortuary is not licensed to perform this kind of work.

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Buis attorney said none of the bodies in the care of Eternal Peace Funeral Services, the other facility Bui is licensed to, were involved in any of the embalming-related work done on corpses.

APD said using Capital Mortuary doesnt necessarily mean your family member or loved one was involved as a victim.

Still, APDs Victim Services Counselors are available to answer questions and provide basic information.

The Austin Police Department is encouraging families and former employees of Capital Mortuary Services to reach out with any questions or additional information. (Photo: KXAN)

We are obviously getting inundated with quite a number of calls and emails and people reaching out trying to get information. Thankfully, the APD Victim Services offered to assist with that, said APD Detective Bryce Bishop.

Families getting loved ones remains

Regarding families picking up remains, the TFSC said families should reach out directly to the funeral home. If any issues arise, the TFSC said fill out a complaint form and submit it to their investigation team.

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I actually called and got in touch with someone over at Eternal Peace, Azpeitia said. Told them, Look, you know, Im one of those unfortunate families that need to pick up remains from Capital Mortuary. And he said, Yes, we do have everything over here.'

Finally on Friday, Azpeitia got what she was waiting months for.

Melanie Azpeitia said she and her sister were close. Azpeitia said she will follow the Capital Mortuary Service investigation closely. (Photo: KXAN) Melanie Azpeitia said she and her sister were close. Azpeitia said she will follow the Capital Mortuary Service investigation closely. (Photo: KXAN)

Feeling victory, feeling anger, feeling happiness, relief. I mean, theres just so many emotions running together. Melanie Azpeitia, Former Capital Mortuary Services Client

While shes still processing this situation, shes thankful to finally take her sister home.

May she rest in peace and may all the families out there find peace and get their loved ones and be able to have closure, Azpeitia said.

Azpeitia said that because of her experience, she wants to help others through this process as well.

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If theres any families out there that I can help, Im willing to give my information for them to contact me so I can help them and guide them on who they need to reach out to and how to help them, Azpeitia said.

She recommended people call Eternal Peace Funeral Service and connect with someone there about the steps to pick up remains. Azpeitia said she was told to bring her drivers license and give them an hours notice before arriving.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
NEW YORK, May 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. billionaire investor Warren Buffett on Saturday warned against tariffs and protectionism.

"Trade should not be a weapon," the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett, told the company's annual shareholders meeting, which was held in Omaha, Nebraska.

"It's a big mistake, in my view, when you have seven and a half billion people that don't like you very well, and you got 300 million that are crowing in some way about how well they've done -- I don't think it's right, and I don't think it's wise," said Buffett.

"I do think that the more prosperous the rest of the world becomes, it won't be at our expense, the more prosperous we'll become, and the safer we'll feel, and your children will feel someday," Buffett added.

Operating earnings of Berkshire Hathaway decreased by 14 percent to 9.64 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2025, with over 700 million dollars of loss related to foreign exchange.

"Our periodic operating results may be affected in future periods by impacts of ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical events, as well as changes in industry or company-specific factors or events," Berkshire Hathaway said in its quarterly earnings report issued on Saturday.

"The pace of changes in these events, including international trade policies and tariffs, has accelerated in 2025. Considerable uncertainty remains as to the ultimate outcome of these events," said the company. 
The great English-speaking democracies have traditionally been redoubts of moderate and stable government. But even they are being roiled by the angry and illiberal tide that has crashed across the rest of the democratic world.

Until this week, the United Kingdom was one of the last countries in Europe without a significant anti-systemic party  a fact that would have scrambled the minds of hard-line anti-Brexiteers had they been able to bring themselves to acknowledge it. Not anymore.

Even Canada and Australia, where the late 20th-century party system has survived more or less intact, have been caught in the tailwinds of Trumpery. In both countries, the backlash against US policy was strong enough not just to propel the Left to power but to oust the conservative leaders, Pierre Poilievre and Peter Dutton, from their own seats.

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Before we come to that, though, lets define our terms. I have never liked the word populism. It generally means Things that other people support, but that I dont. It is found mainly in the mouths of officials who benefit from the existing order while being uneasily aware that it does not enjoy widespread backing. Eurocrats, for example.

Equally, though, there is a type of politician whose stock in trade is to pretend that he alone speaks for the people or for real people, and that everyone else is fundamentally self-interested.

Such claims are nonsense. Every political party  with the possible exception of some hard-line anti-population Greens  sees itself as being on the side of ordinary people. Yes, human beings are flawed and politicians, like everyone else, have a selfish streak. But recognising that political parties can sincerely disagree without being corrupt is a necessary precondition of an open society. When we treat rival candidates as enemies rather than opponents, civil unrest and autocracy often follow.

We can see this disquieting development across Europe, not only in relatively recent democracies such as Romania, which cancelled an election last year to stop an anti-establishment candidate winning, but also in states with ingrained republican traditions. When it banned Marine Le Pen from public office, France was lining up with Russia, Pakistan, Belarus and Venezuela. Yet the Brussels establishment cheered.

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The Anglosphere democracies have thought of themselves, down the years, as being above this kind of thing. Whether because of first-past-the-post or simply from some phlegm in their national characters, they eschewed extreme and anti-democratic politics. During the 20th century, Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand did not elect a single fascist MP, and only six communists.

These were the countries that created the global order that, until an eye-blink ago, we took for granted. When we speak of universal values, we mean values overwhelmingly developed in the language in which you are reading these words: regular elections, religious pluralism, free association, open markets, private property, habeas corpus, equality before the law, jury trials, uncensored media. Imagine that the Anglosphere and its auxiliaries had lost the Second World War or the Cold War. There would be nothing universal about them then.

The defeat of autocracy allowed the post-war world to be built on certain precepts. Stronger countries should not bully weaker ones. Borders should not be altered by force. Disputes should, wherever possible, be resolved through arbitration. Representative government was preferable to dictatorship, civilian administration to military rule.

These precepts were sometimes violated in practice; but almost everyone signed up to them in theory. It is easy to forget that they were the product of a specific place and time, namely Newfoundland in August 1941, when Churchill and Roosevelt signed the Atlantic Charter. They became the basis of the Western allies war aims until 1945 and of Natos until 1990. After that, they went global.

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But not anymore. Never mind Donald Trumps pro-Russian stance. Far more subversive of the post-1945 order are his territorial claims on Panama and Greenland, and his economic war against Canada.

The old order rested ultimately on the willingness of the United States, its chief guarantor, exemplar and beneficiary, to defend it. The sudden reversal of US policy, and the readiness of its political and administrative class to go along with that reversal, has destroyed any meaningful notion of a coherent West.

Tyrants around the world are emboldened. Atlanticist politicians in allied nations have been cut off, like distant proconsuls when they hear that Rome had been sacked. Those who were the strongest supporters of the US-led order have been the most badly hit  especially the centre-Right parties in Canada and Australia.

Trumps 51st state rhetoric and tariff policies cut the hamstrings of the Canadian Conservative Party. On the eve of his annexation demands, it was 20 points ahead. By polling day it was losing. So toxic was Trump that Canadas Right was tarnished by association. Older Canadians, in particular, rallied to the incumbent Liberal Party, repelled by the disruptor message that had previously drawn them to Poilievre.

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Australia is more distant from the US, and less dependent on its commerce, so the effect was less marked. Yet the same dynamic played out. When Trump violated the 2005 US-Australia trade agreement by imposing steel and aluminium tariffs, he undermined the pro-Americans in Canberra just as surely as he had those in Ottawa. The centre-Right Liberal Party, which had a small but growing lead on the eve of the tariffs, was thumped, and Labor came back with a larger majority.

It was the Trump factor, said Senator James Paterson, the impressive Liberal campaign spokesman, as the results came in  a conclusion backed by the polls.

Does a similar dynamic apply in our own country? It is certainly true that the rise of Trump takes away some of the grown-up-on-foreign-policy appeal that traditionally benefited the Tories. Not only has Trump effectively ended the Atlantic alliance. By going after his domestic critics and demanding a third term, he is also undermining the pro-American sentiment on which that alliance rested.

Here, unlike in Australia and Canada, there exists a more or less Trumpist party. Nigel Farage was the US Presidents strongest overseas backer and he was authentically reflecting the views of his British constituency. According to YouGov, Reform voters backed Trump by two to one last November, whereas among Tory voters those proportions were reversed.

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But Trumps subsequent actions, on Ukraine, on trade and on Canada, have tarnished his brand, and Farage has been savvy enough to distance himself from his hero.

Indeed, the Reform leader has, to his credit, eschewed the cruder policies supported both by Trump and by his admirers in Continental Europe. He opposes protectionism and, after an initial wobble, is now unequivocally anti-Putin.

He has also taken a series of domestic positions that are incongruous in a supposedly populist politician. He wants to attract more non-doms, for example, and opposes VAT on private schools. He even favours an insurance-based healthcare model  though he has recently gone quiet about that.

In short, Farage is sensibly positioning himself to lead a Rightist government rather than simply to be a vehicle for mid-term protest votes.

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Might he pull it off? It depends on whether he works with others. I have argued many times that the only way to secure a Right-of-centre majority under our voting system is for the Conservatives and Reform to work together. They dont need to merge. But they do need to stand down in seats which they have no chance of winning  Reform in southern England, the Tories in parts of the North and Wales.

That in turn depends on the willingness of all involved to lay aside their egos. A recurring criticism of Farage is that he wont let anyone else share the limelight. From Suzanne Evans and Douglas Carswell in Ukip to Ben Habib and Rupert Lowe in Reform, anyone getting too high a profile has ended up being forced out.

Will he be big enough to, in one of his favourite phrases put country before party? Will the Tories do likewise? The country might be unforgiving if they are not.

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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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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emerged victorious in the countrys elections Saturday after support for the right-wing opposition dropped amid U.S. President Donald Trumps tariff war.

Albanese was up against the Liberal Partys Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer.

We didnt do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that, Dutton said as he conceded defeat.

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Albanese the first Australian prime minister to win a second consecutive three-year term in 21 years, according to the AP.

Support for the opposition Liberal-National Coalition had been high prior to Trumps return to office, in part due to anger over rising housing costs, NBC News reported. Dutton had touted policies similar to Trumps, including pledging to reduce legal migration to Australia and slash tens of thousands of civil servant jobs.

But Trumps continued global trade war, including against Australia, shook the confidence of voters who may have otherwise voted for the opposition. While Trump paused his reciprocal tariffs in April, it may have been too late to sway voters.

An April poll from the Lowy Institute, a political think tank, showed that Australians trust in the U.S. has dropped by 20 points since 2024. Only 36% of Australians trust the Trump administration, though 80% of respondents said they still believe its important to have an alliance with America.

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Just days before the election, opinion polls showed Albanese and the center-left Labor Party eking out a victory against the Liberal-National Coalition and Dutton.

Simon Jackman, an honorary professor at the University of Sydney, told CNN the opposition was leading in January.

Then along comes Donald Trump and the election just pivoted, Jackman said.

He added that the Trump administrations attacks on Australia may have been a factor.

The narrative flipped from being sort of looking backwards at Labors economic performance to looking forward and [saying], Oh my goodness, the world is very different and dangerous and insecure, and our closest ally and strategic partner is saying all these horrible things about us. I thought the Americans liked us. Whats going on? Jackman told CNN.

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In March, Dutton attempted to distance himself from Trump by telling critics, Im my own person.

Saturdays election results are just the latest rebuke of Trump and his influence on the world stage. After the U.S. president spent months attacking Canada  including by threatening to make it the 51st U.S. state  Canadians voted against Trumps interests, and Prime Minister Mark Carney claimed victory.

President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us, Carney said during his victory speech. That will never, ever happen.
SYDNEY (Reuters) -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.

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.

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.

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"You do your democratic duty, you get a snack while you wait, and you also raise a bit of money for charity," said Nick Fabbri, a voter in the Bondi area of Sydney, adding that money from the sales would go to the local surf club.

Sue, who moved to Australia from Wisconsin in the United States in 2019, said that although early voting was available she decided to vote on election day to get the full experience.

"People said vote early but we wanted to come and get a democracy sausage, said Sue, who did not give her full name. She was voting at the Bourke Street Public School in Sydney.

By afternoon the sausages were running out as more voters tried to get a quick snack.

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"The perfect democracy sausage is one thats available," said Andy H, a voter in Melbourne.

"I missed out today but my daughter got a democracy cupcake - does that count?"

Meanwhile, at polling booths near Australia's famed beaches, including Bondi, some swimmers cast their ballots after a dip wearing brief-style swimming trunks locally called "budgy smugglers".

An Australian swim wear brand called Budgy Smuggler ran a campaign offering a free pair to the first 200 people who voted in smugglers.

"It's a very Australian thing," said Fabbri.

"It's a little bit revealing and may be confronting for some of your viewers. But a lot people here come out of the water and come and vote. I think it's a nice statement of Australian democracy."

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Voting began on Saturday in Australia's 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.

(Reporting by Cordelia Hsu, Zahra Matarani and Christine Chen in Sydney; Melanie Burton in Melbourne and Peter Hobson in Canberra; writing by Praveen Menon; editing by Stephen Coates)
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?
How do we continue convincing our few remaining allies that journalists work is important?

Last month, I was sitting on stage at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Europes biggest journalism conference, when I heard this question from an audience member.

The answer came to me fast.

Point at who is killing journalists, I suggested.

I then reminded the room about the case of Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist killed in Russian captivity. She took a huge risk to go into occupied territories to report about Russian torture chambers there  only to end up in one. In October 2024, her family was told she died in captivity, a month earlier.

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Since then, two separate journalistic investigations found that Viktoriia was subjected to torture and abuse. Everything points to the fact that she was killed  whether they murdered her last Septmber, or slowly killed her through months of abuse, torture, and starvation.

She was only 27 years old.

If Russia, a huge authoritarian country, was so afraid of this small woman that they killed her in prison  all because she was a journalist, I said, then journalists must be doing something very important  something that the worst people of this world are really afraid of.

While I was speaking on that stage, I didnt yet know that Viktoriias body was already in Ukraine. Russia returned it in February, but it was in a condition that made it difficult to identify. The body was missing a number of organs, including the brain, eyes, and trachea, and was initially marked as male. An impressive collaborative investigation by several newsrooms found the details of her imprisonment, and mentioned that the missing organs point to an attempt to hide the fact that she died from asphyxia.

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A few people on the Kyiv Independents team knew Viktoriia. Some worked with her in other publications, others knew her through friends  Kyivs media crowd is relatively tight. I didnt know her personally but by now, it almost feels like I did  because of how many personal tributes to her I have read.

Viktoriia put herself in mortal danger by going into Russian-occupied territory because she believed that finding out the truth was worth the risk. One of her former colleagues said it was almost like she couldnt believe that something bad could happen to her because of how enormously important the mission to find out the truth was.

Its a dark irony that Russia is, in a way, on the same page. Authoritarian regimes recognize the weight of truth, the power of real story  and thats why, everywhere in the world, they make truth their target number one.

For Russia, it meant killing Viktoriia to discourage others from finding out the truth about its treatment of Ukrainian civilians in the occupied territories. That truth  the persecution, forced Russification, torture and killings  doesnt fit well into Russias narrative that claims they are liberating these territories.

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These revelations could be especially damaging to Russia now that ceasefire negotiations are underway, and where it unfortunately appears the U.S. is ready to recognize Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories  completely disregarding the fate of the millions of Ukrainians living there.

Russia tried to silence Viktoriia Roshchyna  instead, it proved her right.

Oppression of press freedom is by far not limited to Russia  the latest Press Freedom Index, released every year by Reporters Without Borders for World Press Freedom Day on May 3, shows an alarming picture. The overall level of press freedom globally is the lowest since the start of the index in 2002.

One major factor is the deteriorating economic climate in the media sector. In Ukraine, it was especially felt earlier this year, when the new U.S. administration abruptly ended USAID projects around the world. In Ukraine, U.S. grants funded many media outlets, including small front-line newspapers and prominent teams behind anti-corruption investigations. Grants like those cut came without interference in the content produced by the media  allowing them to maintain independence while paying their bills.

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I wrote about it here. Since then, the Kyiv Independent held a fundraiser to help local outlets in areas near the front lines. Our community rose to the occasion in the most inspiring way  and we were able to quickly give some bridge funding to three newsrooms.

The Kyiv Independent itself is one of very few independent media outlets that wasnt affected by the U.S. grant cuts because we are lucky enough to be backed by our readers. As of today, 17,500 people from around the world are members of the Kyiv Independent  they stand with us in our mission to bring the truth about Ukraine and Russias crimes to the world, and we are immensely grateful to them.

As Im writing this on World Press Freedom Day, looking at the dispiriting assessments of the state of free press globally, I keep coming back to them.

That gives me a ray of hope in the otherwise gloomy landscape  our community reminds me that press freedom has enough champions for the truth to not be subdued. And while some of the worst and most powerful people in the world are keen to end free press, some of the best are standing up to defend it.

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If youre reading this, consider supporting free press today. Pick a newsroom you believe in. Buy a subscription, a membership, or donate. If you can, donate to a Ukrainian newsroom.

There are many who cant afford to pay for the news  and every donation means that people in any circumstances can have access to truthful information.

If you cant afford a subscription or donation, those arent the only things you can do to show your support. Write a short email with words of encouragement to a newsroom you follow. It always means a lot to receive them. My inbox is a curious mix of Die, Ukrainian propagandists. Russia will win! and Youre doing a great job, thank you so much!  but there are many, many more of the latter kind.

And if you already are one of the many champions of free press worldwide  on behalf of our team, thank you. We are doing something right  together.

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Read also: Russias torture of Viktoriia Roshchyna shocks world, but dozens of Ukrainian journalists still in captivity

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Visiting Washington during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings this April felt surreal. The weather was nice, but the air was heavy with the uncertainty of the tariff war, President Donald Trump's administrations criticisms of international institutions, and the far more immediate tension of geopolitics between Ukraine and the U.S.

As reported by the Guardian, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva quoted the movie Bridge of Spies, emphasizing the need to stay calm and focused amid chaos. A U.S. lawyer in the movie tells a Soviet spy that he has been appointed to defend him, and that he will probably be executed. You dont seem alarmed, he says, to which the spy replies, Would it help? The metaphor also fits Ukraines situation perfectly: in 2025, it is once again navigating perilous waters, maybe even worse than a year before.

For Ukraine, this year's IMF meetings were not center stage, but rather the backdrop for two monumental, intertwined developments. First, there was the critical minerals agreement  a deal that could shape Ukraine's economic future by anchoring its resource sector to the U.S.s sphere of influence. Second, there were ongoing negotiations towards a peace settlement with Russia, where Trump has actively played an intermediary role. Despite developments, in both instances, relations remained strained.

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These developments far overshadowed the typical Spring Meeting business, at least for the Ukrainian delegation. For Ukraine, Washington 2025 was therefore less about public speeches and more about navigating a complex maze of alliances, negotiations, and backroom deals.

The progress on the critical minerals deal brought cautious optimism. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the latest draft (signed on April 30) better aligns with both Ukrainian and EU priorities: crucially, previous Western aid to Ukraine won't be retroactively counted as debt, and no existing Ukrainian revenue streams will be diverted to fund new projects. But memories of the last draft's public leak keep everyone on edge.

The peace deal, however, remains the major stumbling block in Ukraine-U.S. relations. While Donald Trump appears determined to end the war at any cost, it is the Ukrainian people who are expected to bear that cost, and they are far from willing to do so. The complexities of the relationship were even spotlighted at a special event at the Spy Museum, where former National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne remarked, We do not have a strong track record of appeasing dictators  a sentiment that resonates deeply with most Ukrainians.

By the weekend, however, all conversations turned to the extraordinary scene that had unfolded: after a scandal at the White House, a hastily organized meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump at Pope Francis's funeral became the new focal point. The symbolism was too rich to ignore, and it fuelled new hopes in a lot of hearts.

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Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko was also in Washington, pursuing the task of securing external funding for 2026. His mission once again underscored Kristalina Georgieva's steadfast commitment to a no-alarm approach. As usual, the IMF emphasized the familiar refrain: the need for stronger revenue generation and disciplined fiscal policy. While essential, these prescriptions have become an almost ritualistic part of Ukraines dialogue with international lenders.

Meanwhile, concerns over Ukraine's debt sustainability continue to loom large, threatening to narrow the space for additional aid. True to form, both the IMF and the World Bank remain skeptical about confiscating frozen Russian assets. With new grants increasingly scarce and debt sustainability concerns limiting access to additional loans, advancing the effort to seize Russian assets remains a critical task Ukraine cannot afford to let slip.

Finally, the Innovation Days at Ukraine House unfolded in stark contrast to the grim reality back home. Beneath the bright Washington sun, with green lawns and easy conversations, Ukrainian officials and guests networked and participated in panels.

Yet even as ideas were exchanged and opportunities discussed, many attendees kept refreshing their phones: that very morning, Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, had endured a deadly Russian attack. While bombs fell on those who remained at home, Ukraines delegation in Washington tried to balance hope for the future with the horror unfolding in real time.

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This article was prepared with the support of the European Union and the "Renaissance" International Fund within the framework of the joint initiative European Renaissance of Ukraine." The article represents the position of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the International Renaissance Foundation.

Read also: Why Zelensky wont  and cant  sell out Ukraine for Trumps peace





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Sometimes you want to reach over to the Germans and give their heads a wobble. What are you doing, Friedrich Merz?

On Friday, Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), the populist party eye-catchingly backed by Elon Musk, was designated an extremist organisation by the Bundesamt fur Verfassungsschutz (BfV) domestic intelligence agency, the first step towards banning it.

Was this the outfit that doubled its share of the vote to win an unprecedented second place in Februarys election? Why, the very same. This in a country where shortly after October 7, Islamists were handing out sweets and synagogues were firebombed; yet neither the Muslim Brotherhood, which seeks to impose Sharia by increments, nor the Iranian regimes Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for actual acts of terrorism, are banned.

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Its as if the Germans are actively trying to foster a populist revolution. According to the BfV, the ethnicity- and ancestry-based conception of the people that predominates within the [AfD] is not compatible with the free democratic order, citing xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic statements by its leaders. True or not, this sounds suspiciously like a political argument rather than a security one.

Certainly, its millions of voters will take it as such. The American Vice-President, J D Vance, spoke for many when he said that the West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt  not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment. The amount of popular anger in the country is staggering.

Over in Romania, where voters head to the polls on Sunday, a similar script is playing out. Its November election was cancelled after the ultranationalist maverick, Calin Georgescu, delivered a shock victory and the countrys constitutional court raised concerns about Russian interference. Georgescu was banned from running again, with Romanias election bureau ruling that he violated the very obligation to defend democracy.

Its all very European, isnt it? When the public gets it wrong, they must go back and try again. We saw it after the Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty; we saw it after the Danes rejected the Maastricht Treaty; we very nearly saw it after Brexit. In the Romanian re-run on Sunday, Georgescus boots will be filled by George Simion, leader of the far-Right Alliance for the Union of Romanians party, who wants to cancel military aid to Ukraine. He has vowed to give Georgescu a job if he wins. It will be interesting to observe what happens then.

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These moves emerge weeks after the French far-Right figurehead Marine Le Pen  also supported by the White House  was banned from running for political office for five years when she was found guilty of embezzling European Union funds. No matter that not a cent went into her own pocket, nor that every other party was allegedly engaged in similar schemes. The ruling appeared to shatter her hopes of winning the presidency in 2027. Problem solved, right?

Im not defending all of these headbangers. Every single populist party has harboured sinister creatures in its waters. But they rose to prominence in the first place in what I think of as the funhouse mirror effect, in which hubristic over-extension by the elites conjures a distorted political movement that proceeds to take it to task.

Sixty-eight per cent of Germans favour fewer asylum seekers, 57 per cent demand that they are turned away at the border and only 3 per cent desire more refugees. For the establishment, however, it is easier to ban the peoples representation than listen to them. Or is it?

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GREAT BARRINGTON  The looming shutdown of Bard College at Simons Rock and Bard Academy at Simons Rock will cost 116 jobs, according to a filing with the state Labor officials made public Friday.

The layoffs will be effective starting June 30 but some will stay on until Dec. 31, the college told the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development in a letter dated Wednesday.

The layoff dates start with 28 instructional staffers, six administrative staff, seven academic support jobs and 10 student support staff June 30. Then five more student support staff on July 31.

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Bard plans to lay off 52 student support staff Aug. 31 and three administrators on Sept. 30. Five more student support staff will be laid off Dec. 31.

Bard also told the state it is possible that one or more employees would remain to assist with administrative aspects of closing the facility. But even those would remain for no more than 60 days.

The college and academy announced their planned shutdowns in November.

Both will move to Bard Colleges Massena Campus in Barrytown, New York, near its main campus in Annandale-On-Hudson, New York, for fall 2025.

Great Barrington votes will consider zoning changes for the Bard property that could allow more uses besides education and single-family homes at a Town Meeting the afternoon of Saturday, May 3.

Stories by Jim Kinney

Read the original article on MassLive.
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB)  On Friday, State Senator April Baskin visited the Doyle Hose No. 2 Fire Company in Cheektowaga to celebrate the introduction of a bill that would provide volunteer fire and EMS workers with an additional tax credit.

If passed, the Volunteer Firefighter Public Safety Bill would give these volunteer responders the opportunity to receive both a 10% local property tax credit and a $200 state income tax credit.

Currently the eligible volunteer has to choose between one of the two  and so this bill changes that so that they can receive both, said Baskin. We are going to work hard this session to get the bill passed. What it does, it allows our volunteer firefighters to have not just a property tax (credit), but also an income tax (credit) as well  a break for their service and their commitment to their residents of the great state of New York.

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Baskin is hoping to get the bill passed this session and said that counties would have to opt into it if the state passes it.

Baskin said during Fridays press conference that she picked this bill because of a personal story. Two weeks after buying her first home, they had an electrical fire.

It was devastating because it was also one day after Christmas, said Baskin. Our lives were saved that night by firefighters in the City of Buffalo, and we were displaced for a couple of months. But we were so grateful to have our lives.

According to Baskin, in the past 20 years, the number of volunteer firefighters and EMS workers has dropped from 80,000 to 40,000.

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Most people here do have a second job, and they work time to time to make ends meet. But I believe this will help them  they can kind of pump the brakes on that and spend some more time here, said Matthew Burdzy, Fire Chief of Doyle Hose Company No. 2. I believe it would help out very well for our membership and to retain people.

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Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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MANILA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) went on full alert on Saturday to ensure a peaceful, fair, and orderly May 12 mid-term elections.

"Our personnel are committed to maintaining peace and order throughout the election period," said PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, adding, "There is no place for violence or intimidation in a democratic process."

The police's full alert status started at 12:01 a.m. local time on Saturday and would continue until 11:59 p.m. local time on May 15.

Marbil said that all PNP standby forces, quick reaction forces, and regional units will remain on standby and respond immediately to any untoward incident that may break out.

"Police presence will be heightened in polling centers and other critical areas in different regions," Marbil added.

The PNP reported at least 13 election-related deaths and 16 injuries in 35 incidents across the archipelago related to this year's national and local elections.

Nearly 70 million Filipinos will elect over 18,000 officials on May 12, including 12 senators, 254 district representatives, 63 party-list representatives, and over 17,000 governors, mayors, and local officials. 
The BBC is to appoint an independent figure to investigate its Arabic channel over repeated allegations of anti-Semitism exposed by The Telegraph.

On Saturday, Dr Samir Shah, the chairman of the BBC, said that the corporations wider handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict would also be examined.

The Telegraph has previously revealed a number of BBC Arabics contributors have posted anti-Jewish sentiments and expressed their apparent support for the terror group Hamas, both before and after the October 7 attacks.

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The broadcaster has previously defended its Arabic channel, which is part of the World Service.

But speaking to Times Radio, Dr Shah said: The Arabic service, we are looking at it, weve been examining it. I think this whole business of how weve covered Israel-Gaza is a proper thing to examine thoroughly, which is why were going to identify... were going to get hold of an independent figure to look at our coverage.

BBC sources said that what they described as a thematic review of the standard of its reporting of the Middle East conflict will be independent and published in full, for presentation to the board.

Only last week, The Telegraph revealed that a journalist who appears prominently on BBC Arabic to report from Gaza had previously called for Jews to be burned as Hitler did.

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Samer Elzaenen, who has appeared on BBC Arabic more than a dozen times since the conflict erupted, has posted on social media many times singling out Jews for condemnation, and even appearing to call for violence against them.

In one post he wrote: My message to the Zionist Jews: We are going to take our land back, we love death for Allahs sake the same way you love life. We shall burn you as Hitler did, but this time we wont have a single one of you left.

Responding to the revelation about Mr Elzaenens comments, Dr Shah said: That one is also being investigated. The Arabic service, we are looking at it, weve been examining it.

Were going to get some independent figure to look at this thoroughly, and that will include BBC Arabic.

Dr Samir Shah says the whole business of how the BBC has covered Israel-Gaza will be examined - PA/Danny Lawson

The BBC has previously investigated a number of BBC Arabic presenters and reporters who liked or shared social media posts which appeared to celebrate the October 7 atrocities. The corporation said it did not comment on HR matters but had taken action where there was a case to answer.

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In March, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, called for wholesale reform of BBC Arabic, after a report by the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (Camera) accused it of appalling anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias.

The BBC has already launched a separate investigation into the making of a documentary about the Gaza war, after it was revealed that its narrator was the son of a Hamas government minister  a connection which was not disclosed in the film.

The Telegraph revealed that the family of Abdullah al-Yazouri, the 13-year-old who narrated the film, was paid 790 for his role.

The documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, was pulled from iPlayer after the BBC acknowledged serious flaws in its production.

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Dr Shah defended the BBC against wider claims of bias, saying it remained widely trusted by the British public.

He said: Were always going to have to be vigilant about this, vigilant about our bias, make sure we continue to examine it, report on it, cover it.

We still find that the people still trust the BBC for impartial, trusted news. Forty-five per cent [of the public] turn to the BBC for news.

Huw Edwards urged to give money back

Dr Shah also urged Huw Edwards, the former news presenter, to give back the 200,000 he earned after his arrest over indecent images of children.

Edwards was suspended in July 2023 and arrested in November of that year, before resigning in April last year on medical advice. During that period, he continued to collect his 480,000-per-year salary.

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In July last year, the disgraced presenter pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Dr Shah has now made a direct public appeal to Edwards to return the payments he received from the corporation before being convicted.

He said: Weve been asking him and asking him and asking him.

When it was pointed out that Edwards could simply refuse, Dr Shah went on to state: Were getting legal advice on it. I think, frankly, if Huw is listening to this, give it back, Huw. Just give it back. You know you should, you know you should and you should do it.

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Tim Davie, the director-general, has previously defended the decision to continue paying Edwards in the months following his arrest.

We have to stamp it out

In August last year, the BBCs board asked Edwards to hand back the 200,000 salary he was paid after being arrested, saying he had brought the BBC into disrepute and behaved in bad faith by continuing to take the money.

It followed a demand from Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, for Edwards to return the money.

Edwards was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Westminster magistrates court last September.

Paul Goldspring, the chief magistrate, also ordered Edwards to undertake a sex offender treatment programme, undergo a rehabilitation activity requirement order, and sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

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Dr Shah said the BBC was taking steps to make sure staff felt the confidence to speak out over concerns involving the behaviour of figures like Edwards.

The BBC chairman added: The reality is there are pockets in the organisation where these individuals do abuse their power. We have to stamp this out. Im not prepared to accept it.

The point to make is that nobody, nobody in the BBC is irreplaceable. I think the problem here is to persuade staff who do feel like that to have the confidence to speak up.

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May 2BEMIDJI  When Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood started his career more than 20 years ago, he considered himself "just a guy who loved the fire service."

Since then, his role has blossomed into much more.

On Thursday, he returned to the institution that helped kickstart his career to receive Northwest Technical College's inaugural Innovation, Mastery, Progress, Achievement, Community and Technology (IMPACT) Award.

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"(This award) is presented to a truly remarkable leader in both industries and public service," NTC Executive Vice President Ketmani Kouanchao noted during the program. "(Sherwood) has dedicated his career to advancing fire service technology, transforming challenges into opportunities and inspiring the next generation of first responders and innovators ... His dedication to excellence, leadership and service embodies the very spirit of this award."

Sherwood was

named fire chief in 2021;

at the time, he had 18 years of fire service under his belt. He holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Bemidji State, a fire service technology certificate from NTC, an associate of applied science degree in fire service technology from the College of Western Idaho and is pursuing a master's degree in public safety leadership and administration at Arizona State.

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He also earned a chief fire officer certification from the Center for Public Safety Excellence, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Managing Officer Program, and serves as the Region 2 northern representative for the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association.

In addition to his accolades, Sherwood is a writer with work published in the Minnesota Fire Chief and Firehouse magazines. Much of his writing focuses on the importance of mental health practices and work-life balance, values that play a huge factor in Sherwood's role as a leader and mentor.

"I love the way that Justin's story ties to what we try to do here at NTC of career expertise, the technical, the work that (he has) done and learned in those spaces," BSU and NTC President John Hoffman said, "but also the commitments to mental health and holistic health and life beyond the workplace."

During his acceptance speech, Sherwood took a moment to note the stigma surrounding mental health in the fire service.

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"This job is incredibly hard and I guess I get emotional because we put a lot of time into it," he said. "...Here I am being vulnerable because fire chiefs aren't supposed to be criers, but I'm probably the most emotional fire chief in the country. But I own it."

Sherwood recalled the day he was notified that he would receive the award, expressing feelings of gratitude and relief. Looking out into the audience filled with his family, friends and colleagues, he credited his support system for getting him where he is today.

"Regardless of the impostor syndrome, it isn't about my individual accomplishments or ... the types of awards I'm getting, but it is truly about those who support me," he said. "So I want to say thanks to my mentors and supporters in this room, my colleagues from the city ... but most importantly, my family.

"You guys have really supported me even in those seasons that were really hard. So your love, and, I have to note, extreme patience, is what got me here."

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In closing, Sherwood thanked NTC for choosing him as the first-ever recipient of the IMPACT award and noted the symbolism of the item, which he plans to display at his office in the fire hall.

"(This award) will always serve as a strong reminder for me and a powerful motivation to continue leading with purpose, integrity, motivation and dedication, because all we can do is give our best effort," he said. "When I started this path, (I) wanted to help people, but ultimately be a dreamer and do my best and try to always use my position to advocate for those who couldn't."
Law enforcement members and their supporters gathered Friday afternoon at the Berks County Heritage Center in Bern Township for a solemn service to honor their fallen colleagues.

The Police Memorial Service is conducted by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 71 at the police monument, the base of which is etched with the names of members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This memorial serves as a central place where our brothers and sisters who served in law enforcement in Berks County have a place to come together as one, said Joseph M. Brown, lodge president. It serves as a reminder to all who visit this beautiful park, the sacrifices that were made by these officers.

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Joseph M. Brown, president, speaks during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

To the families here today, your loved one stood for something greater than themselves. They wore the badge, not for recognition or for praise, but because they believe in protecting others and standing up when others step back, and in serving with integrity, courage and heart.

Brown said two of the names added to the monument this year were Reading police officers who died by suicide.

They stood with us in our deepest moments and carried burdens few of us can truly understand, he said. It is never easy to speak at times like this, especially when we lose someone, not in the line of duty, but to an internal battle too often fought in silence.

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Their deaths are a heartbreaking reminder that the wounds our officers carry are not always visible, the weight of the job, the things seen and felt, the unspoken expectations to stay strong. can all become overwhelming.

During the ceremony, Lt. Sean Fullerton of the Exeter Township police department slowly read the names of the fallen as the memorial was surrounded by the Berks FOP honor guard, color guard and a squad of police officers who marched in unison from the parking lot.

The police honor guard marches to the memorial during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Family, friends and former colleagues of the fallen grabbed red carnations and placed them at the monument as bagpipers and drummers played Amazing Grace.

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Carnations were placed by family members honoring police officers during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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The police honor guard marches to the memorial during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Joseph M. Brown, president, speaks during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Joseph M. Brown, president, speaks during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Lt. Sean Fullerton o fthe Exeter Township police department reads the names of the officers on the memorial during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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The Berks Lodge #71 Firing Detail offers a rifle salute during the Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Carnations were placed by family members honoring police officers during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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The police honor guard marches to the memorial during the Berks Lodge #71 Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Service at the Berks County Heritage Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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Public debate over a ban on the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is premature in the view of Felor Badenberg, justice senator in the city of Berlin and a former vice-president of Germany's federal domestic intelligence agency (BfV).

Badenberg said she expected the AfD, which was on Friday designated as "confirmed right-wing extremist" by the intelligence agency, to take legal action against the designation. The classification has implications for how the party is monitored by the intelligence services.

Speaking to national public radio Deutschlandfunk, she noted that this could drag on for years. Politicians should start considering the issue only after the courts had ruled on the designation, Badenberg said.

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On Friday, the BfV said in a lengthy report that there was now concrete evidence that the anti-immigrant party pursued efforts that threaten Germany's democratic order and that its understanding of the German nation as based on ethnicity and descent was incompatible with Germany's free democratic order.

The AfD has charged that the decision is not based on evidence.

The BfV designation has revived public debate on applying to the Constitutional Court for a ban on the AfD.

The court has been reluctant to ban political parties. After banning two communist parties in the 1950s, the court ruled in 2017 against banning the far-right National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD). An earlier attempt to ban the party was dropped on procedural grounds in 2003.

US administration keeping close eye on Germany

Badenberg rejected criticism of the BfV decision from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said on Friday: "Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That's not democracy - it's tyranny in disguise."

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She told Deutschlandfunk that she could see nothing anti-democratic in the BfV designation.

Noting that the AfD had taken second place in the February elections, Rubio said it was the German establishment that was extremist in backing an open-border immigration policy that the AfD vehemently opposes. He called on German to "reverse course."

Immigration was a key issue in the elections in February that will return the conservative Christian Democrats to power at the head of a coalition government.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A Bessemer man was sentenced for his role in an elder fraud scheme Friday.

Terrance Pruitt, 47, was sentenced to 50 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona announced. Pruitt was convicted by a jury on two counts of wire fraud in December 2024.

6 sentenced for drug trafficking conspiracy in east Alabama

In 2023, Pruitt executed a power of attorney over an elderly family member with dementia, without the victims knowledge or permission, according to evidence presented at trial. Pruitt reportedly defrauded the victim by becoming a joint account holder on the victims bank accounts. He then changed the address on the victims bank account from their address to his address, removed two payable on death beneficiaries from one of the accounts and added two payable on death beneficiaries to another account.

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He then transferred $550,000 in funds from the victims account to his personal bank accounts. Pruitt used some of the funds for his personal benefit, and he moved $500,000 to a new bank account that did not include the victim as an account holder.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  A Bessemer man was sentenced to over 52 years in prison for plotting the murder of a federal prosecutor, drug trafficking and possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

Michael Black, 32, was sentenced to 420 months for planning the shooting of a federal prosecutor, and 212 months for the initial drug and gun charges, according to Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson.

Black was incarcerated in Hoover after federal charges were brought against him in 2023. Black reportedly told another inmate about his plan to have a federal prosecutor working on his case murdered by two of his associates on the outside, according to court records. Black shared details of who he planned to contact and that he would have them shoot the prosecutor while in her car.

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He also pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm in January, according to U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

Bessemer man sentenced to more than 4 years for role in elder fraud scheme

Black also committed crimes on three separate occasions, according to the plea agreement.

On July 22, 2021, a Bessemer police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Black after discovering it had a switched tag. The officer observed several syringes lying in the drivers side door pocket. After Black exited the vehicle pursuant to the officers orders, the officer searched the vehicle and recovered drugs and ammunition. Officers searched Blacks person and recovered cash and more drugs.

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On December 22, 2021, Black sold 435 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer.

On September 7, 2022, an FBI Task Force Officer and FBI agents went to arrest him at a residence in Bessemer. After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, FBI agents and the Bessemer Police Department Special Operations Unit recovered multiple drugs, guns, ammunition, and more. At the time of the search warrant, Black was a convicted felon prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described his 26 April meeting with US leader Donald Trump at the Vatican, where they attended the farewell to Pope Francis, as their best discussion yet.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing Zelenskyy during a private conversation with journalists

Quote from Zelenskyy: "With President Trump, I think we've had the best conversation we've ever had before. It may have been the shortest, but it was the most meaningful. With all due respect to our teams, the one-on-one format, in my opinion, has worked. We had the right atmosphere for the conversation itself...

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... I'm sure that President Trump began to look at everything a little differently after our meeting in the Vatican. Let's see. This is his vision, his choice in any case. I think we behaved constructively and decently, which is essential."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Vatican was the most productive conversation the two have had to date, Interfax-Ukraine reported on May 3.

Speaking to journalists in a closed-door session, Zelensky described the April 26 meeting, which took place during a visit to pay respects to the late Pope Francis, as perhaps the shortest, but the most substantive.

Zelensky reportedly urged Trump to return to his original proposal of an unconditional ceasefire as the starting point for peace talks, a move Kyiv has supported but Moscow has rejected.

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The discussion marked the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since their tense February encounter in the Oval Office, during which Trump and Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Zelensky over what they described as a lack of gratitude for U.S. support.

"With all due respect to our teams, the one-on-one format, in my opinion, worked. We had the right atmosphere for the conversation," Zelensky said.

Zelensky added that he believes the meeting may have shifted Trumps perspective.

"I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a bit differently. Well see. Its his vision, his choice in any case. I think we behaved constructively and with integrity, and that matters," Zelensky said.

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Previously, Ukraine's president said that the signing of a long-awaited U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal was the first concrete result of his recent meeting with Trump in the Vatican, calling it a historic outcome of their April 26 conversation.

Read also: Trumps team prepares economic options against Russia, Bloomberg reports

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Former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra decried the Trump administrations skinny budget request unveiled Friday, lambasting it as not a budget proposal but a demolition plan.

In the proposal, President Trump called for cutting $33.3 billion or 26.2 percent of the HHSs discretionary funding. These requested cuts included a $3.6 billion reduction in discretionary funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $18 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $674 million for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Program Management.

This isnt a budget proposal  its a demolition plan. Slashing $33 billion in NIH funding and cratering public health research is an assault on our nations ability to prepare for and respond to disease, medical innovation and everyday care that millions of Americans rely on, Becerra wrote on social platform X.

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Last month, he launched his campaign for California governor, citing his tenure as HHS secretary as well as his record of taking on Trump when he was California attorney general.

The Oval Office asked to cut the funding of several programs that it said promoted diversity, equity and inclusion and radical gender ideology.

The only health program that gains discretionary funding in the proposal is HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, for which the budget provides $500 million.

In fiscal 2025, the last budget under the Biden administration, the HHS ultimately received $127 billion in discretionary funding. The Biden White House had requested s $130.7 billion in discretionary budget authority.

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The Trump administration proposal would give the HHS $93.8 billion in discretionary funding.

Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) was among the Republicans who pushed back on the asks in the budget, citing the proposed cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, operated under the HHS, as one of requests she took issue with along with those that support biomedical research.

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French photographer Nicolas Cornet poses for a photo on the Huangshan Mountain in east China's Anhui Province. (Xinhua)

HEFEI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At dawn on an April day, the summit of Huangshan Mountain was a world adrift in a swirling sea of clouds, dotted with majestic pine trees atop jagged peaks, as French photographer Nicolas Cornet clicked his shutter to quickly capture this breathtaking scene.

This was Cornet's eighth visit to the renowned Huangshan Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in east China's Anhui Province. Every visit, he said, brought fresh discoveries and renewed inspiration.

Cornet's fascination with Huangshan began about a decade ago when he came across photos of the mountain by a Canadian photographer. He was immediately captivated by Huangshan's "mysterious landscape" and started planning his own trip there.

In April 2016, Cornet made his first visit to Huangshan. The moment he set eyes on the mountain's gnarly pine trees, grotesque rock formations, and endless sea of clouds, he was hooked.

"I instantly fell in love with the mountains and knew I would be spending a lot of time there photographing them," he recalled.

That first encounter sparked a bond that would draw him back to Huangshan seven more times over the following nine years. For Cornet, the mountain never lost its allure as each season and each shift in weather unveiled a fresh and captivating beauty.

"As a landscape photographer, revisiting the same location under different light and weather conditions is essential for creating unique images," he said.

He added that one of his most memorable experiences at Huangshan was seeing the mountain covered in snow. "It felt like walking through a fairy tale. I rushed between various photo spots to make the most of the rare conditions," he said.

Cornet's visits to Huangshan culminated in a black-and-white photo series of the mountain, now featured on his personal photography website. He explained that the choice of style was "directly inspired by traditional Chinese ink paintings."

In February this year, Cornet's photographs of Huangshan were exhibited at the Xposure International Photography Festival in the United Arab Emirates. He said that while many visitors had never heard of Huangshan before, several began planning trips to the mountain after seeing his photos.

For Cornet, Huangshan has offered far more than stunning images; it has opened a window to Chinese hospitality.

He said locals have been very friendly to international tourists like him, and he has built friendships with local Chinese photographers.

He noted that as Huangshan continues to gain international recognition, services have been steadily improving to accommodate the growing number of overseas visitors. "I've also noticed that some staff members at key locations now speak English, which is very helpful," he said.

He also hailed China's visa-free entry policies, which made his two most recent trips to Huangshan much easier.

Currently, China grants unilateral visa-free entry to 38 countries, including France, and has extended the transit visa-free period to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries.

Cornet said he expects the relaxed entry policies to attract more international tourists to China.

He is already planning his next trip to Huangshan. With a new cableway set to open, he said he looks forward to exploring and photographing parts of the mountain that were previously less accessible. "It will open up new creative opportunities for me." 

This file photo shows French photographer Nicolas Cornet's photographs of Huangshan being exhibited at the Xposure International Photography Festival in the United Arab Emirates in February, 2025. (Xinhua)
WAHIAWA (KHON2)  Big changes are coming to Wahiawa. Old buildings are being demolished and modern facilities are going up.

Blaze devastates newly revamped playground at Wahiawa park

Many said it will help revitalize the old plantation town and help bring crime levels down.

On Thursday, Wahiawa residents said they heard a loud boom coming from the former Wahiawa General Hospital.

I looked outside and I couldnt believe it was finally happening, said Keoni Ahlo, who owns several Wahiawa businesses including BioFit and Teaspresso across the street from the hospital.

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We had been hearing rumors about it coming down, we didnt know if it was true or not, but apparently it is true because they are tearing it down.

The dilapidated long-term care facility building was built in 1966 and closed back in 2022, then the hospital was taken over by Queens Medical Center.

Its been around for a while, and its definitely something were used to seeing every day, so seeing it gone is going to be quite unusual.

Queens Medical Center hasnt announced plans for what will replace the structure.

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On Saturday, Wahiawa Public Library will close its doors as it prepares for a new chapter and will be demolished along with the Dept. of Educations Wahiawa High Core store front building.

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Both those buildings are sorely outdated, explained Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz (D) Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village. I mean were talking about almost termites holding it up.

In about two years, the library will be part of a three-story building along with a parking garage.

Well see a new library on the bottom, central district offices on the second floor, and community college classrooms on the third floor, Dela Cruz explained.

He said the Wahiawa Center for Workforce Excellence will provide educational opportunities for North Shore too.

I think well see an uptake in usage of library especially for rural communities that might not have access to technology, computers and audio books, they can come to the library and thats all accessible to them, Sen. Dela Cruz added.

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Construction is set to begin this summer and completed in Spring 2027.

It will be located right next door to the new Civic Center which will house the new Satellite City Hall and have a two-story judicial building which is slated to open December 2025.

Dela Cruz and others say all the work will help revitalize Wahiawa.

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[Wahiawa] kind of gets a bad rep once in a while, but if you look deep into all the different areas theres a lot going on here, you can see changes, theyre subtle, were not trying to gentrify the area but we want to bring it up, clean things up and bring better and newer things to Wahiawa, Ahlo said.

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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 ratified, H. 3490 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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This story is part of SLO Tribune's Parents Central, our expanding coverage for local parents. We're tackling issues that matter to you the most, explaining the "what it means," from school budgets to children's health. We also want to have fun: Send us your best tips for local parents and things to do. Email tips@thetribunenews.com.

A bill that would fully fund transitional kindergarten in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District has cleared its first legislative hurdle, Assemblymember Dawn Addis reported Friday at a news conference at Pacheco Elementary School.

Introduced by Addis, the bill is good news for local parents as it aims to provide transitional kindergarten funding to basic-aid school districts.

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State law requires districts to offer transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds  but for basic-aid districts, like San Luis Coastal, that requirement adds an extra financial burden.

Thats because these districts receive funding through local property taxes rather than the states funding formula  and as the law sits now, they dont receive extra money for transitional kindergarten.

That lack of funding caused a stir at San Luis Coastal in January, when administrators suggested cutting the transitional kindergarten program to help manage the districts $6 million budget deficit.

Parents and teachers showed up in droves to protest the cut, ultimately leading the district to keep the program  but district Superintendent Eric Prater said in a statement at the time that the district would work to seek state funding to help secure the future of transitional kindergarten in the district.

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And thats what Addis bill is hoping to accomplish.

Transitional kindergarten bill moves through California Legislature

During Fridays news conference, Addis said that her proposed legislation fixes the gap by providing state funding for TK to all districts, ensuring equity and honoring the Legislatures original commitment.

She added that the bill has garnered support from lawmakers.

Im very proud to announce today that AB 1391 has passed its first hurdle with bipartisan support from a supermajority of the education committee and no no votes, Addis said, receiving applause from the audience.

Addis bill advanced out of the committee on Wednesday on an 8-0 vote and was re-referred to the committee on appropriations, according to the legislative website.

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Pacheco Elementary transitional kindergarten teacher Monica Garcia testified before lawmakers in support of the bill, Addis said, and Hawthorne Elementary transitional kindergarten teacher Fiona Lloyd-Moffett delivered letters from her students about the value of the program.

Addis also thanked the parents, teachers and community members who have advocated for transitional kindergarten in SLO County.

Its a special moment, because we are in a time in our country that is showing historic levels of division, and here in San Luis Obispo County on the Central Coast, weve built a coalition that crosses political divides, brings regular people, government, management and labor all together to work on behalf of our children, Addis said.

Addis added that shes committed to the long haul to get the bill onto Gov. Gavin Newsoms desk.

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Both Garcia and Lloyd-Moffett were also at Fridays conference to speak to the value of transitional kindergarten.

As TK teachers, we have the joy and privilege every day to see how transitional kindergarten transforms lives. It doesnt just prepare children for school. It shapes who they are and who they will become, said Lloyd-Moffett. TK nurtures the whole child, helping them grow socially, emotionally and academically.

Garcia continued that message, saying many families in San Luis Coastal rely on transitional kindergarten.

Transitional kindergarten is not just an option. It is their only access to high-quality learning, and TK provides that stability, that care and that opportunity at a crucial stage of development, said Garcia. TK gives our parents peace of mind, knowing that their children are safe, supported and thriving in a nurturing, engaging environment. TK helps ensure that every 4-year-old, regardless of their life circumstance, gets a strong and fair start during these essential early years.

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San Luis Coastal parent Gina Lopez also spoke at the news conference, saying transitional kindergarten has been transformative for her daughter.

She has become more confident in expressing herself, more thoughtful in how she connects with others and incredibly eager to learn, Lopez said. Meanwhile, her other child didnt have the opportunity to go to transitional kindergarten, she said.

While hes doing well now, I truly believe the early challenges that he faced  reading and writing  could have been lessened with the strong foundation TK provides, she said.

Lopez added: Transitional kindergarten is not just an early start. Its the strong start that every child deserves.

Superintendent Prater, board member Ellen Sheffer and San Luis Coastal Teachers Association representative and district kindergarten teacher Ingrid Frojker also spoke at the event in support of the proposed legislation.
(NewsNation)  Bill OReilly said the Elon Musk led Department of Government Efficiency has more work to do on cutting down government spending, but that results are already evident.

OReilly said he recently spoke with the tech billionaire at an event at the White House.

So Musk turns to me, and he says, How am I doing? And I said, Youre doing well, youre right on track, because we cant have this kind of unbelievable waste of taxpayer dollars, but the presentation needs to be toned down, OReilly said.

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CUOMO town hall breaks down Trumps first 100 days

Im not going to take credit for it, but since that time, the Musk presentation has changed, he added.

OReilly also spoke on DOGEs work, saying the agency has saved $1,000 a head thus far and that cuts are still ongoing.

They havent even gotten to the Pentagon yet. They havent even gone in there yet with the $800 toilet seats and stuff.

Despite the remaining work, Musk is already starting to wrap up.

Bill OReillys 100 Days of Trump: Are you better off?

At this point, as we are in 100 days, Musks role is on the decline because Musks got to get back to his private concerns, which have taken a huge hit, OReilly said.

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But OReilly also said it is likely that the tech billionaires relationship with President Donald Trump will continue after the two are no longer working together.

Trump respects achievement, OReilly said. He wants to get information from people who have succeeded, thats what he wants.

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The Montana state capitol pictured after a late-night Senate vote on Jan. 9, 2025. (Micah Drew/Daily Montanan)

Two bills originally designed to protect Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen from losing office if hes suspended for disciplinary conduct failed to pass the Legislature, one in the House and one in the Senate.

Knudsen is facing discipline for statements he and lawyers under his supervision made that disparaged the court and for defying a court order in a legal standoff in 2021.

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House Bill 856 and Senate Bill 49, in its initial draft, offered different ways to shield the attorney general from a proposed punishment some viewed as unfair.

Lawyers since have indicated the attorney general may not need protection, but a decision on discipline is pending with the Montana Supreme Court, and Republicans in the Montana Legislature have been critical of the judicial branch.

Sen. Wendy McKamey, R-Great Falls, carried one of the bills, HB 856, in the Senate, and she said Friday she was disappointed fellow Republican senators didnt lend enough support for it.

They did not use the tools at their disposal to protect their Republican attorney general, McKamey said.

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McKamey also said she suspected some of the opposition might have been payback from Republican leadership in the Senate  an allegation the president and majority leader disputed.

Republicans in the Senate were split this session, and McKamey is among a group who has at times bucked leadership.

It certainly appears to be some sort of retribution, McKamey said.

One day earlier, Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, said he had opposed the bill because he felt uncertain about its impact, and Friday, he responded to the allegation of possible retribution.

Thats absolutely false. Sen. McKamey has no influence on my vote either way, Regier said.

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In 2023, the Office for Disciplinary conduct alleged Knudsen broke rules of professional conduct for lawyers in connection with the standoff. The office oversees discipline against members of the bar.

The Montana Supreme Court is considering a unanimous recommendation from the Commission on Practice that Knudsen be suspended for 90 days for multiple violations of rules.

HB 856 and SB 49 presented different methods to protect the attorney general from disciplinary consequences.

HB 856 would have ensured Knudsen wouldnt be at risk of losing office if he faces the full recommended suspension of 90 days.

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Montana law states that an office becomes vacant if an incumbent generally fails to discharge their duties for three consecutive months, and HB 856 would have extended the period to four months.

In committee, sponsor and Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, said he thought the idea that Knudsen could get thrown out of office if he ended up suspended for 90 days was unfair, so he proposed HB 856.

Fitzpatrick said the people of Montana had just elected Knudsen, and he had won by a large margin. Knudsen, a Republican incumbent, took 60% of the vote in November 2024.

It didnt seem right to me that a disciplinary official would be able to basically override the will of the people, Fitzpatrick said.

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Since then, Fitzpatrick learned that even if the Supreme Court imposes a penalty of 90 days, it may not translate into a loss of office.

At a hearing in March before the Montana Supreme Court, lawyers for Knudsen and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel agreed such a penalty doesnt mean he needs to lose his elected office.

For example, the 90 days, if imposed, dont need to run consecutively, or they can be counted inside of a three-month period.

Knudsens team made other arguments as well, including that the Montana Constitution allows for the removal of a judge, but not an officer of another branch.

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In the legislative committee hearing, Fitzpatrick said he didnt know if the bill would have any impact on the attorney generals situation, but he viewed four months as more appropriate than three months regardless.

The bill made it through the House, and the second to last week of the session, it passed a significant vote in the Senate, 28-22, without debate.

However, three days later, it failed on a final 22-27 vote.

Some Republicans who have been critical of the courts voted against it on second and third reading, and some changed their votes from yes to no.

Thursday, Fitzpatrick described the result as confusing.

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McKamey said Fitzpatrick asked her to carry the bill in the Senate, and she tried her best with it.

She said the Knudsen family is clearly important to Republican leadership, and she described the lack of support for the bill as short sighted.

Austin Knudsen is the attorney general, and his mother, Rhonda Knudsen, is a former Republican legislator who served as an advisor to Regier during the session.

Regier and Majority Leader Tom McGillvray, R-Billings, were among the senators who voted against it, both consistently, and Regier said he wasnt certain the bill was even relevant by the time it ended up on the floor.

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McGillvray said he didnt find it to be a significant bill, proposing a shift from three months to four, he found the speech McKamey made on the floor pretty weak, and he cast his vote accordingly.

I dont speak for how other people vote, but I dont do retribution, McGillvray said.

McGillvray also said if the Montana Supreme Court wanted to impose a penalty that sought to push Knudsen out of office with a suspension, it could simply extend the penalty to five months if the legislature changed the duration to four.

On the floor, McKamey had said the bill initially came about because of news reports that said Knudsen might lose his office if he was suspended for 90 days, but she said supporters of the bill later learned that might not be the case, and the law might not apply.

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Nonetheless, four months is a more appropriate timeframe than three months and provides approximately 120 days before a person loses a job that they were elected to do, McKamey said on the floor.

Senate Bill 49 failed earlier in the House.

Sponsored by Sen. Barry Usher, R-Billings, SB 49 would have granted immunity from discipline to lawyers who are also elected as Constitutional officers, such as the attorney general or governor.

An original draft protected only the attorney general.

A subsequent amendment, supported by Usher, moved the implementation date so it was not retroactive, a provision described as a get out of jail free card for the AG.

Usher was among the legislators who initially supported HB 856 in the Senate, but subsequently opposed it. He could not be reached for comment Friday.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A state board on Friday denied parole for one of the members of the infamous Bird Rock Bandits who had been convicted of murder in the death of a professional surfer nearly two decades ago.

Seth Cravens, alongside his buddies who were behind a string of assaults in the coastal neighborhood, attacked 24-year-old Emery Kauanui outside his mothers home on May 23, 2007 following a verbal altercation at a local bar.

Cravens, then 21 years old, threw the fatal blow to Kauanuis head that led to his death at the hospital five days later from blunt force trauma.

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Chula Vista man sentenced to prison for robbing ATF agent during machine gun sale

A jury found him guilty of second degree murder two years after the incident, in 2009. He has been incarcerated at a state prison in Corcoran  a small city between Bakersfield and Fresno  ever since, serving a sentence of 20 years to life.

The parole hearing Friday was Cravens first on whether he should be granted a second chance after reaching eligibility in December 2024. The hearings original date in January of this year had been vacated due to the wildfires that were still raging in the Los Angeles area.

The parole board determined Cravens history of violence in the years leading up to Kauanuis murder and during his time behind bars affirms that he would pose an unreasonable risk to the general public, should he be granted parole.

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While the board ultimately ruled he is unsuitable for release, Cravens, now 39, will be able to revisit potential release in five years.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Pepper Place will host its Spring Bazaar on Thursday, May 8.

The market will last from 5- 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Dr. Pepper building. It will feature local vendors, live music and more.

Mercedes-Benz announces new car coming to Alabama plant

Select Pepper Place tenants, including Billy Reid, Design Supply, Yellowhammer Creative and Little Professor will offer extended shopping hours during this event. Live music will be performed by local artist Sarah Mason, and Caroline Gidiere will be signing copies of her new book A Life in Good Taste. Other highlights of the Spring Bazaar can be found here.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese is getting a new bishop, but hell only be temporary.

The Diocese notified parishioners that Bishop DeGrood has asked for a replacement while he continues to undergo treatment for some health concerns.

The bishop filling in is no stranger to the Diocese.

Madison rally planners to emphasize due process

The week before Palm Sunday was the last service conducted by Bishop Donald DeGrood at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Sioux Falls.

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In a letter, the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls says Bishop DeGrood has been undergoing medical care for some health concerns over the past few weeks.

It reads, With his persistence of his migraines, Bishop DeGrood has realized that he needs more time to heal and work with medical professionals, requiring him to remain outside of the diocese.

Now Reverend Donald Kettler, who was once with the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese in a variety of roles, will be coming back to fill in.

In 2002, Kettler left Sioux Falls to become the fourth bishop of Fairbanks, Alaska.

He stayed there for 11 years before Pope Francis named Kettler as the ninth bishop of St. Cloud in 2013.

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In December of 2022, Pope Francis accepted Kettlers resignation as bishop of St. Cloud after he surpassed the retirement age of 75.

But now hell come out of retirement and enjoy the rights, faculties and responsibilities that all Bishops of the Catholic Church are provided.

KELOLAND News reached out to the Diocese to find out when Bishop Kettler will start his new duties, but it didnt have a confirmed date yet.

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Bruno, a service dog for military veteran Kerrie Porter, was fatally struck by a car almost two months ago

Thanks to a nonprofit and a law firm, Porter received a new service dog Hayden, who is also Bruno's brother, on April 28

"The fact that he can go everywhere with me is a big deal, Porter said of her new dog

About two months ago, tragedy struck a legally blind U.S. Army veteran when her service dog was found dead near a Georgia interstate. However, her story now has a happy ending with the arrival of a new canine support dog.

In a Facebook post published in March, the Top Dogg K9 Foundation, a nonprofit that pairs support dogs with disabled veterans, announced that Bruno, a canine who belonged to Kerrie Porter, a veteran living with disabilities, had died.

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Related: Golden Retriever Surrendered to Shelter Gets Second Life as a Service Dog (Exclusive)

Fox affiliate WAGA reported at the time that Brunos body was found near Interstate 285, approximately 3 miles from Porters home. The outlet reported that Bruno was fatally struck by a car

Bruno bolted Sunday night [March 9] when a group of dogs spooked him during a walk, the nonprofit wrote. A supporter who saw Brunos story online alerted us this morning to a potential sighting along an interstate. Two members of our team quickly went to the area and found Brunos lifeless body on the shoulder of the road."

Top Dogg K9 Foundation Bruno, Kerrie Porter's service dog, who died in March 2025 Bruno, Kerrie Porter's service dog, who died in March 2025

"We are heartbroken," their statement continued. "The team was able to recover Brunos service vest and our founder Blake [Rashad] returned it to this incredibly devastated veteran."

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Related: Pet Company Working to Make Service Dogs Available to All Veterans Looking for a Companion

The group said that they had paired Bruno with Porter, who has PTSD in addition to being legally blind, just two weeks earlier.

In the two weeks since he was paired with Kerrie, Brunos specialized training provided crucial assistance, significantly improving her quality of life, even waking her in her sleep when her blood pressure went too high, Top Dogg said in an online fundraiser created to establish a memorial for Bruno and help Porter get a replacement service dog.

As Porter told NBC affiliate WXIA, "He was such a sweet dog."

Top Dogg K9 Foundation Kerrie Porter with her late service dog Bruno Kerrie Porter with her late service dog Bruno

On Monday, April 28, more than a month after Brunos death, Top Dogg surprised Porter with a new service dog, a poodle named Hayden who just so happens to be Bruno's brother, reported WAGA.

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Related: Hurricane, the Secret Service Dog Who Protected Obama White House from Intruder in 2014, Dies at 15

In a news release shared with PEOPLE, Top Dogg acknowledged a $15,000 donation by Atlanta-based law firm Montlick Injury Attorneys to help pay for the costs associated with providing Hayden to Porter.

"Knowing the profound impact a service dog has on a veteran's life, we were determined to help Kerrie find a new partner, especially considering how vulnerable she has been since the loss of Bruno, said Blake Rashad, Top Dogg's co-founder, per the news release. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Montlick Injury Attorneys, whose support has made it possible for Kerrie to receive Hayden."



Top Dogg K9 Foundation (L-R): Jolie Montlick and Jenny Harty from Montlick Injury Attorneys; Sheila and Blake Rashad, co-founders of Top Dogg K9 Foundation; and military veteran Kerrie Porter (holding her daughter) (L-R): Jolie Montlick and Jenny Harty from Montlick Injury Attorneys; Sheila and Blake Rashad, co-founders of Top Dogg K9 Foundation; and military veteran Kerrie Porter (holding her daughter)

"We are honored to give back to those who have given so much, and were proud to support Kerrie as she begins a new chapter filled with hope and healing," said Montlick Injury Attorneys in an April 28 Facebook post.

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Porter, who has a young daughter, told WXIA that it is overwhelming to her that so many people cared about her story and wanted to help.

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Top Dogg K9 Foundation Kerrie Porter (center) petting her new service dog Hayden Kerrie Porter (center) petting her new service dog Hayden

The fact that he can go everywhere with me is a big deal, Porter said of Hayden, according to CBS affiliate WANF. Bruno went with me to three different VA facilities, and if you have ever been to the VA, its not a walk in the park.



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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD)  Community members gathered Friday night at the Bloomington Public Library for a forum discussing a new housing development to combat homelessness.

Home Sweet Home Ministries is working through a deal now with Connect Transit to acquire property off of Main Street and Oakland Avenue to build the new village. The Bridge will have non-congregate shelters, including 48 sleeping cabins. Home Sweet Home Ministries said the new space will be able to hold 56 adults.

Home Sweet Home Ministries CEO Matt Burgess said homelessness has gone up in the Bloomington area over the last few years, exceeding the number of beds open in the existing shelter system.

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Traditional shelters also provide congregate or group accommodations, meaning a guest would have to share a space with others. The non-congregate cabins being offered at The Bridge will give options to those looking for permanent housing.

The newly elected Bloomington mayor, Dan Brady, said Friday he wanted to have these meetings to be transparent with the community and to inform residents about the housing village.

People at the meeting were able to voice their concerns, share why they support the plan and also ask any questions.

Some people who opposed the housing village said that even with the new village, there will still be a homelessness problem in Bloomington.

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One supporter, Sean Boston, is in support with The Bridge. He said he believes Home Sweet Home is really focusing on all options for the unhoused and doing research.

What are the alternatives there? There arent any better alternatives than this, Boston said. This is going to enhance the community, the neighborhood. I think people will understand that this is actually a benefit for the entire community.

Home Sweet Homes Ministries plans to break ground next month and have the village completed by November 2025.

If you missed Fridays forum, there is another one Monday night at the Bloomington Public Library at 7 p.m.

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BELGRADE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has abruptly cut short his official visit to the United States and is returning home after experiencing a sudden medical issue, the country's national broadcaster RTS reported Saturday.

According to the report, Vucic felt unwell on Friday afternoon, following a series of meetings with U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, and Serbian-American business representatives.

Present in the room at the time were Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali and Suzana Vasiljevic, Vucic's media adviser, as preparations were under way for upcoming engagements.

After consulting with doctors, the president made the decision to return to Serbia immediately. He was unable to attend key events planned for his visit.

As previously announced, Vucic was scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican officials.

RTS reported that the office of the president will announce further details about his health in the coming days.

During the visit, Vucic also met with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in Florida. 
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  Amid anger and frustration from residents, the District Attorney General over the prosecution of a former Blount County Schools PE teacher who was accused of inappropriately touching students has explained the reasoning behind the charges that were pursued and called the law over the crimes in question clearly insufficient.

Earlier this week, former Blount County Schools employee Joseph Dalton was given a sentence that could allow him to have the case expunged later after he pleaded guilty to five accounts of assault by physical contact. The judicial diversion, which is a type of probation for first-time offenders, requires Dalton to serve six months of supervised probation, undergo psychosexual evaluation, and comply with any resulting recommendations of that evaluation

Mother of victim speaks out against former Blount County teachers sentencing

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Early Saturday morning, Fifth Judicial District Attorney General Ryan Desmond issued a statement about the case, explaining how the case developed, why the specific charge against Dalton was chosen, and the difficult questions asked ahead of the prosecution.

Desmond explained that he became aware of an incident where a young student felt like one of their teachers was acting inappropriately in late 2023, and he said it was the first time he had heard of that teacher. After this, he also heard concerns from others that there had been numerous similar allegations made against the teacher in the past, he wrote.

Because of the concerns, Desmond said he had a criminal investigator obtain surveillance video from every class the teacher had participated in that school year. After reviewing the footage, Desmond said they located multiple concerning incidents where the teacher had physical contact with students that was inappropriate. The parents of the students were notified, and the investigation continued with statements and all possible related evidence being collected.

An important aspect of Tennessee criminal law that Desmond explained was that laws on sexual battery require contact with the intimate parts of a victim. He said no videos or evidence showed that the teacher had done that, and while the teachers behavior was concerning, it did not qualify as sexual battery or any other sexual offense under current Tennessee Law.

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We then faced a question, if the conduct did not amount to sexual battery, should the case and investigation then be closed? I found this answer to be unacceptable. Instead, we carefully researched the law and found the only criminal offense that fit the facts and evidence before us. That criminal offense was assault through the offensive touching of another, Desmond wrote.

Under Tennessee law, assault by offensive touching is a Class B misdemeanor, which has a maximum punishment of 6 months, Desmond explained.

The children have to come first: Parents angered by sentencing of ex-Blount County PE teacher

The next question Desmonds office faced was if it was worth it to prosecute the case knowing how minimal the sentence would be. The alternative, he said, was to do nothing.

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I was elected to protect the citizens of our community, and the right choice was clear. Considering past efforts by the school system to curtail this teachers behavior had clearly not been effective, doing nothing was not an option I could accept, Desmond wrote.

Desmond explained that the decision to charge the teacher with five counts of offensive touching assault was not made lightly. Rather, he said the decision was made knowing that many would think the charges and sentence would be woefully insufficient, but that prosecutors are only able to do what the law allows. If there were more serious charges that were supported by the evidence, prosecutors sought those charges, Desmond wrote. He ended his statement saying:

I understand people believe the sentence for these crimes is insufficient. I do not disagree. I would certainly support any effort by the legislature to amend the law to address scenarios wherein a person in a position of trust has inappropriate contact with children in their care.

The law for these crimes, as it currently exists, is clearly insufficient. Despite that inadequacy, when faced with this issue I ultimately made the decision that some action had to be taken. I stand by that decision. Fifth Judicial District Attorney General Ryan Desmond

Desmond is not the only Blount County official who is calling for the laws to change. Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell wrote that he is doing everything in his power to make sure the actions Dalton was accused of never happened to another student in the Blount County Schools system.

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, Mitchell wrote in part.

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6 News obtained the judgement records for Dalton, which states that the victims of these charges were between the ages of 8 and 10 years old. The document also adds that Daltons probation is set to end on October 30, 2025.

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VALLEY CENTER, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Bo Mazzetti, the longtime Chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, has died at the age of 77, the tribe announced Friday.

A statement from the tribe said Mazzetti died after a courageous battle with cancer, and that he was with his family in his final moments.

Mazzetti advocated the protection of tribal sovereignty. While prioritizing the needs of tribal members, Mazzetti championed the Rincon tribes generous support of community organizations and causes throughout the region, the tribes statement said. Under Mazzettis vibrant leadership, the tribe grew in stature and influence throughout the state, while providing for the care and protection of its tribal members.

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Mazzetti was elected to the Rincon Tribal Council in 2002, became Vice Chairman six years later, and was elected Chairman in 2008, serving in that role until his death.

In his youth, Mazzetti attended school at Orange Glen High School in Escondido before joining the Navy and serving in the Vietnam War. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science from California Polytechnic University.

Mazzetti served as the San Diego County Indian Affairs officer and his own company after obtaining his general contractors and engineering licenses. He also became the roads officer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and then president of the San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority.

The San Diego County Sheriffs Office released a statement after Mazzettis passing.

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Today, my heart is heavy at the news of the passing of Chairman Bo Mazzetti. My sympathies and thoughts are with the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians and Mazzetti Family. Chairman Mazzetti Bo was a friend and mentor. He was committed to making a difference, not only for the tribe but for the Valley Center and San Diego communities. His impact was immeasurable. He never failed to have a smile and quick wit. His kindness and love shined brightly and I will miss him deeply, Sheriff Kelly Martinez said.

Mazzetti is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Emily and son Joseph.

Services for Mazzetti are pending at this time.

The Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians occupies a 5,000-acre reservation in Valley Center.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  On a cold day in 2022, Tennessee Highway Patrol pulled over a van with a number of other people inside. The driver was identified as Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland father whose deportation to El Salvador has garnered national attention.

The Salvadoran native reportedly fled to the U.S. when he was 16 and lived in Maryland for roughly 14 years, but he was deported in March to an El Salvador prison over a 2019 accusation that he was in the MS-13 gang.

According to the Associated Press, police in Maryland identified Abrego Garcia as an MS-13 member based on his tattoos, clothing, and the word of a criminal informant, but his lawyers said the informant claimed Abrego Garcia was in an MS-13 chapter in New York, where hes never lived.

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The Trump administration initially indicated in court documents that the deportation was due to an administrative error. Since then, both a federal judge and the Supreme Court have ruled that the administration must facilitate his return, with a federal appeals court declining to lift the federal judges order.

In an Oval Office interview with ABC News earlier this week, President Donald Trump acknowledged that he could call El Salvadors president and have Abrego Garcia sent back, but then he said, If he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that, but hes not.

Trump says he could return Abrego Garcia to US, but wont

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, News 2 received a copy of the body camera footage dated Nov. 30, 2022, of the traffic stop, which the Department of Homeland Security previously said took place on Dec. 1, 2022, along Interstate 40 near Cookeville.

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It began when a THP trooper stopped Abrego Garcia for speeding. As the trooper approached, he noticed very dark windows and Texas plates on the Suburban.

The trooper talked to Abrego Garcia, who was driving. A woman in the front seat never spoke or looked at the trooper.

Trooper: How are you? Abrego Garcia: Good, and you? Trooper: Alright. Abrego Garcia: Everything good? Trooper: You got a bunch of people in here, dont you? Abrego Garcia: Its one per seat.

At the time of the stop, Abrego Garcia was 27 years old. He spoke broken English but had little trouble communicating.

Trooper: Where you working at? Abrego Garcia: Where? Trooper: Where? Abrego Garcia: St. Louis, Missouri. Trooper: Missouri? Abrego Garcia: Yes, sir.

PREVIOUS: Maryland man deported to El Salvador pulled over by THP trooper, per DHS report

Despite Abrego Garcia saying his license was suspended, troopers were diligent and discovered his Maryland license was only expired.

Trooper: So where do yall live at? Abrego Garcia: Where am I living? I live in Maryland.

The 27-year-old reported that all of the people in the SUV were working construction in Missouri and headed to Maryland.

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When asked whose car he was driving, Abrego Garcia said it belonged to his boss. The trooper also inquired if anyone else had a drivers license, but Abrego Garcia was the only one.

By this point, a second trooper had arrived at the scene. He suspected Abrego Garcia was a human trafficker.

Hes getting paid to haul these people, probably to Maryland, I would say, the second trooper said. They dont have any luggage in there, right? And if you get them out, theyre going to have tubes of toothpaste and theyre going to have toothbrushes in their pockets, I guarantee it.

In their words: What judges and Trumps government say about Abrego Garcias mistaken deportation

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Abrego Garcia denied having any guns or weapons.

Trooper: Nothing illegal? Abrego Garcia: Nothing, sir. Trooper: No drugs or anything? Abrego Garcia: No, no.

As time passed, more law enforcement officers responded to the scene.

Hes hauling people. Hes got eight or nine in there now, or nine or 10, one trooper said.

Hes getting paid to haul humans is what he is doing, another trooper added.

Authorities asked about the number of seats in the SUV, with one trooper saying hed never seen a Suburban with four rows of seats. Law enforcement also mentioned that Abrego Garcia had $1,400 cash in an envelope in his pocket.

Near the end of the stop, troopers talked to other passengers. Not only was there an obvious language barrier, but nobody had IDs.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

THP told News 2 they contacted both the FBI and Homeland Security during the stop. However, neither federal agency responded to the scene.

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According to the Homeland Security report, since there were no violations or crimes committed, the vehicle and all its passengers were released.

THP sent News 2 the following statement about the incident: The THP complied fully with applicable law and coordinated with the appropriate federal authorities.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Dozens of community organizations, faith leaders and advocates filled San Jacinto Plaza in Downtown El Paso for the Reclaiming Our Dignity and Rights: Community Mobilization march on Saturday, May 3.

According to the news release by the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR), the march marks the kickoff of the Second Journeys of Resistance, a statewide initiative to reclaim the dignity and rights of marginalized communities across Texas.

The Border Network for Human Rights organized the event. The organization bills itself as one of the leading human rights advocacy and immigration reform organizations in the country with over 7,000 members in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.

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At a time of growing militarization of border communities, expanding poverty, attacks on public education, health care, and housing, and the ongoing criminalization and dehumanization of immigrants, Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, disabled, and working-class communities, El Paso will rise to declare: We Are America, BNHR said in a news release.

The march began at the corner of Father Rham and El Paso Street and ended at San Jacinto Plaza with a rally, according to the BNHR.

This mobilization is a public affirmation that, as border militarization expands under the false guise of security, and as families continue to be torn apart, our communities will stand united to proclaim a bold truth: We All Are America, Fernando Garcia, executive director of BNHR, said.

According to the BNHR, the march is in collaboration with Border Workers United, Abara, Border Agricultural Workers Project, Texas Rising El Paso, La Mujer Obrera/Familias Unidas del Chamizal, Prince of Peace Christian Fellowship, Spirit of the Lord Ministries, El Paso Teachers Association, Central Labor Union of El Paso, SEIU, and Common Defense-Latine Veterans Caucus.

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We will lift up the histories that define us, name the injustices that continue to wound us, and reclaim the dignity and rights that belong to every member of our communities, Garcia said.

KTSM received the following statement from El Paso County Republican Chairman Michael Aboud:

This is just another gathering of people who are being paid to pretend to protect. Was it dignified to break another countrys law when they cut the fence and crawled through a little hole, or maybe they jumped over it? But either way, they scampered away like a thief in the night to hide. Were they being dignified when they helped smuggle someone elses child into our country and lied about who the child belonged to? Is it dignified to have another countrys government house you because you broke that countrys laws? What are these people really proposing of these gatherings?

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BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The Bossier Chamber of Commerce will recognize community heroes at an upcoming awards program.

The chamber will host its annual Salute Community Heroes award to honor individuals who have gone above and beyond to help others and make a difference in northwest Louisiana. Anyone in the community can nominate finalists, and a panel of judges will select six winners.

President/CEO of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, Lisa Johnson, explains how this ceremony grew from the former Patriot Awards program to encompass other sectors that make an impact.

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It was during the time of Covid that we realized that we have other heroes out there that we dont ever recognize and talk about. Such as our health care industry, our educators, and grocery store truck drivers. This is really the opportunity to think about everybody who is giving back and is a hero in our community, Johnson said.

The Saluting of Community Heroes will take place May 15 at 8 a.m. inside Margaritaville. Louisiana Supreme Court Associate Justice Jay McCallum will be the keynote speaker.

Tickets and sponsorships are available on the Bossier Chambers website.

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BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The Louisiana State Police say a Bossier City child has been located and is safe.

A Level II Endangered / Missing Child Advisory from the Louisiana State Police said that around 5:30 p.m., the child was going outside to visit a friend. Bossier City police contacted LSP to issue the statewide notice at approximately 12:16 p.m.

As of 6:07 p.m., the search has been cancelled.

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The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors opened up the weekend series against (7) Oregon State on Friday.

The Bows in their 3rd series against a ranked opponent this season and looking to take down a top-10 ranked team in a series for the 1st time since 2014, but the Bows starting off slow.

Oregon State started red hot as they scored 6 runs in the 1st 2 innings. Hawaii was able to score 1 run in the 2nd and 3rd, but the Beavers took any momentum that UH had back.

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Hawaii allowed another 3 runs in the 4th inning. Through 6 innings, Hawaii trailed 10-4 and allowed 11 hits.

The Bows dropped game 1 11-4 after OSU tallied 15 hits, including Saint Louis alum, Aiva Arquette who had 2 hits, 3 runs, and 1 RBI in the Beavers win.

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A 15-year-old boy was listed in good condition after he was wounded overnight in the Englewood neighborhood, Chicago police said.

Shortly after 1 a.m., officers responded to a call of a person shot in the 300 block of West Marquette Road and found a wounded 15-year-old boy, police said.

The boy told officers he was walking on the sidewalk when he was approached by an unknown male and an argument ensued. When the argument became a fight the male pulled out a weapon and opened fire, police said.

The boy suffered two gunshot wounds to the left thigh and was taken to Comer Childrens Hospital where he was listed in good condition.

No one was in custody and detectives were investigating.
BRANSON, Mo.  A man from Branson faces felony sex crime charges in Taney County Circuit Court.

Luce, courtesy of Taney County Jail.

Jacob Luce, born 1995, is charged with felony statutory sodomy involving a person less than 12 years old, as well as incest, according to online court dockets filed on Friday, May 2.

The probable cause statement says a Taney County Sheriffs Office (TCSO) deputy took a sexual abuse report near Branson on Wednesday, April 30, regarding a 4-year-old girl who disclosed that Luce had sexually assaulted her.

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The next day, an interview with the victim was conducted at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, where the victim disclosed of the abuse, according to the statement.

A nurse practitioner advised the TCSO deputy that a sexual assault exam was positive for sexual abuse, per the statement.

Later that day, Luce was taken into custody and transported to the Taney County Jail for an interview. During the interview, Luce allegedly admitted to telling the victim that when she gets older, they would get married, the statement says.

Luce also had several inconsistencies during his interview, and he allegedly admitted to having pictures of the victims genitalia area, per the statement.

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Luce is currently being held in the Taney County Jail without bond, according to the jail roster.

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ISLAMABAD, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces have killed five militants and apprehended two others during a series of intelligence-based operations across the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said in a statement on Saturday.

The operations were carried out on April 30 and May 1 in Bajaur, North Waziristan, and Mohmand districts of the province, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani army, said in the statement.

The killed and arrested militants had been involved in numerous acts of terrorism, the ISPR added.

The country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for neutralizing and arresting the terrorists, the prime minister's office said in a statement. 
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro is expected to be discharged from the hospital "in the coming days" following major abdominal surgery last month to treat an intestinal obstruction, his medical team said on Saturday.

The far-right leader was taken off intravenous nutrition on Saturday, according to the statement, which added that visits remain restricted for now.

Bolsonaro underwent his sixth surgery on April 13 in Brasilia related to the injuries he sustained in a 2018 stabbing attack.

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He had experienced severe abdominal pain during a political event in Brazil's northeast, cutting short a regional tour aimed at rallying support for a proposed amnesty bill for his supporters who stormed government buildings in January 2023 after his defeat in the 2022 election.

Earlier this week, Bolsonaro took to social media to urge his followers to attend a May 7 rally in Brasilia backing the measure.

Brazil's Supreme Court ruled that Bolsonaro should stand trial for allegedly plotting to overturn the election result. He denies any wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
A community on Jacksonvilles westside was shaken by sirens and screams Friday night after a suspect was shot and killed by police.

Im kinda surprised because its pretty quiet in our neighborhood here, Westside neighbor John Ewers told Action News Jax Saturday morning.

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The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office was called to a fight on Jillian Drive around 7 p.m. Friday night. A nearby patrol officer, Delong Zheng, was the one to respond.

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It was an armed fight with injuries, and while those officers were being dispatched, this officer just happened to be in the neighborhood, explained Chief Alan Parker with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office.

When Officer Zheng arrived, investigators say he found a man and woman bleeding on the ground, and the drunk suspect standing over them with two knives in his hands.

JSO released this photo of weapons found at the scene

Investigators say officer Zheng then asked the suspect to put down the knives, but he refused and went to attack again. Thats when Officer Zheng fired his weapon, shooting and killing the suspect.

I just dont understand that at all, strange thing, said Ewers. Shouldnt be going on obviously.

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Neighbors in that westside community told Action News Jax Saturday morning they hope members of their community and Jacksonville as a whole can help avoid any more senseless violence and death.

Read: First Coast Crime Stoppers launches live digital series to spotlight unsolved murders

Please just, they just need to be safe, calm down, take a breath, live life. Dont take another life, pleaded Michael Armsted.

Investigators say both victims are expected to survive.

The 58-year-old suspect hasnt yet been identified.

This was Officer Zhengs first officer-involved shooting in his seven years with JSO. Its JSOs 7th officer-involved shooting of 2025 so far.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  The Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth has affirmed the conviction and sentence of a woman found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

READ MORE: Jury reaches verdict in Brittany Rouleaus trial for child sex crime

Brittany Ann Rouleau, 39, of Petrolia, was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child on May 24, 2024, and sentenced to 60 years in prison by a Wichita County jury of nine men and three women.

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On July 29, 2024, Rouleaus defense attorney filed a notice that she would be appealing the judgment and sentence.

The Second Court of Appeals published its memorandum opinion on April 24, 2025, overruling both of Rouleaus issues and affirming the trial courts conviction and sentence.

Rouleaus appellate brief alleged that the trial court denied evidence that could have exonerated her, and by doing so, denied her the right to an effective defense.

Rouleaus appeal also claimed that photos admitted into evidence during the punishment phase of her trial should have been excluded. The photos contained two images of 57-year-old Kenneth Douglas, who was allegedly stabbed in the heart by Rouleau while she was out on bond.

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READ MORE: Brittany Rouleau pleads to another child sex crime

Rouleau was indicted for the murder of Douglas by a Clay County grand jury, and the charge was pending against her during her trial in Wichita County.

Before Rouleau was set to face a judge and jury for the murder charge pending against her in Clay County, she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

With the appellate court overruling both of Rouleaus issues, her last appeal option is filing a petition for a discretionary review from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest court in Texas. She has 30 days to file that petition.

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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The Lake County jail has two roughly 30-square-foot cells used to isolate prisoners, including people in a mental health crisis. Some are held there for months as they wait for an open bed at the Montana State Hospital. (Photo by Katheryn Houghton/KFF Health News)

POLSON  When someone accused of a crime in this small northwestern Montana town needs mental health care, chances are theyll be locked in a basement jail cell the size of a walk-in closet.

Prisoners, some held in this isolation cell for months, have scratched initials and the phrase love hurts into the metal doors brown paint. Their pacing has worn a path into the cement floor. Many are held in a sort of limbo, not convicted of a crime but not stable enough to be released. They sleep on a narrow cot next to a toilet. The only view is a fluorescent-lit hallway visible through a small window in the door.

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Lake County Attorney James Lapotka stood at the cells center talking about the people he helps confine here. He stretched out his arms, his fingertips just shy of touching opposite walls. Im getting anxiety just being in here, Lapotka said.

Last year, a man sentenced for stealing a rifle stayed in that cell 129 days. He was waiting for a spot to open at Montanas only state-run psychiatric hospital after a mental health evaluator deemed he needed care, according to court records.

A man in the next cell around the same time was on the same waitlist roughly five months. He faced near-daily stints in the jails emergency restraint chair  a steel contraption wrapped in foam with straps for his shoulders, arms, and legs. He regularly saw the jails mental health doctor. Still, Joel Shearer, a Lake County detention commander, said the man routinely experienced psychotic episodes and asked to be locked in the chair when he felt one coming on and stayed there until his screams subsided.

Somebody whos having a mental health crisis  they dont belong here, Lapotka said. We dont have anywhere else.

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Lake Countys two, roughly 30-square-foot isolation cells are an example of how communities nationwide are failing to provide mental health services  crisis care, in particular. Nearly half of the people locked in local jails in the U.S. have a mental illness.

More than half of Wyomings 23 sheriffs told lawmakers there that they were housing people in crisis awaiting mental health care for months, WyoFile reported in January. Nevada has struggled despite a $500 daily fine for each jailed patient whose treatment is delayed. Disability Rights Oregon has said delays in that state continue after two people died in jail while on the states psychiatric waitlist.

In Montana, counties are jailing mental health patients theyre not equipped to handle when the Montana State Hospital is at capacity. Few local hospitals have their own inpatient psychiatric beds. As a result, people arrested for anything from petty theft to felony assault can be jailed for months or longer as their mental health worsens. Many havent been convicted of a crime.

Montana officials have known for years they have a problem. State officials have said they dont have space for all the people ordered to the hospital. The psychiatric hospital has 270 beds, with 54 for people in the criminal justice system. Staffing shortages can shrink that capacity further.

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The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services backed two bills this legislative session that would shield the state from liability for delays when the Montana State Hospital is full. Ahead of the bills, the agency wrote the hospital has struggled to maintain appropriate levels of care due to money and staffing constraints, a lack of community-based services, and having no control over the flow patients Montana courts send its way.

The agency also announced April 23 that $6.5 million was available through one-time grants to help set up jail-based mental health stabilization services.

Officials have said patients deserve care closer to home, in less restrictive settings. But counties say the local services needed dont exist.

You have to do the hard things first, said Matt Kuntz, executive director of the Montana chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. You have to build the beds.

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Health advocates have backed a proposal that would require the state to pay for community commitments. That measure is headed to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte after passing the state House and Senate. Another bill that was still pending would create a new psychiatric hospital for people in the justice system. But implementing those ideas could take years.

The number of inpatient beds for people with a serious mental illness nationwide has plummeted. At one time, that drop was intentional, part of a movement away from locking people up in state-run mental hospitals. But the intended fix, local homelike centers, hasnt filled the void.

One of Montanas biggest providers, Western Montana Mental Health Center, had to close some of its crisis sites because of money problems, said Westerns CEO, Bob Lopp. That includes a facility less than a mile from the Lake County jail.

If thats not where the funding is, you cant just do it for the sake of argument and hope that it comes, Lopp said.

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Gianforte has promised to pour money into rebuilding the states behavioral health system. Mental health workers in small towns find such promises hard to trust after seeing local services come and go for years.

Health department spokesperson Holly Matkin said the agency is proud of its work to fix systems that have been broken for too long and that it will improve services for people who need inpatient care in their communities.

Lake County is known to outsiders as an Instagram-worthy stop on their way to Glacier National Park. It overlaps with the Flathead Indian Reservation, land of the Bitterroot Salish, Upper Pend dOreille, and Kootenai tribes. Its home to a slice of the Rocky Mountains and a gateway to millions of acres of wilderness. Polson, the county seat and site of the jail, is a town of 5,600 on the southern shore of Flathead Lake, one of the largest lakes west of the Mississippi River.

Vincent River has worked as the jails sole mental health clinician for 25 years. He said hes not always available because hes the only psychologist in four northwestern Montana counties evaluating whether a person in jail needs psychiatric care.

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Some are released without care if they linger too long on the state hospitals waitlist.

I talk to these family members. I hear them plead with me with their fear in their voices and tell me all thats been going on for days or weeks or months, River said. And then I cant get people into the hospital. That is a giant crisis.

Its not just the state hospital. River said he cant get people into any psychiatric bed in Montana because there are too few. Instead, he tries to stabilize people while theyre jailed. That has shortfalls.

The jail cant force someone in psychosis to take medication without a court order and a qualified doctor on hand to administer the prescription. Lake Countys aging facility has faced lawsuits because of poor conditions amid overcrowding, and River has to see patients wherever theres room.

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There isnt even space for the jails restraint chair. Jail workers leave strapped-down prisoners in a hallway or locker room.

River said many gradually get better and leave isolation. Some dont.

They languish there, psychotic and lonely, he said, at the mercy of what the voices are telling them.

Locals are working to fill some gaps. A mobile team launched in February is staffed by people who have lived with mental and substance use disorders to provide peer support. But someone truly in crisis has only two options  jail or an emergency room.

The room reserved for people in crisis at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson leaves patients both isolated and without privacy. The locked doors thick glass looks onto a busy emergency room hallway.

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Those who deteriorate enough to be deemed dangerous to themselves or others are sent down the road to jail.

Rebecca Bontadelli, an ER physician, said patients can be housed in the room for days as hospital staffers scour Montana and nearby states for an open psychiatric bed. Some reject care in the meantime.

Were not really helping them, Bontadelli said. They feel like theyre in prison.

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.






Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement responding to Prince Harry's BBC interview as well as his court loss over reinstating taxpayer-funded security for him and his family.

A spokesperson seemingly pushed back on Prince Harry's claim that an "establishment stitch-up" was to blame for the ruling, which came after a five-year legal battle.

They didn't address Prince Harry's desires for a "reconciliation" with his family amid their ongoing feud.







Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have stayed mum on their ongoing rift with the royal family over the past few years, but that all changed on May 2 as the Duke of Sussex lost a long-running court battle over his familys taxpayer-funded security. Shortly after the judges decision, an emotional Prince Harry sat down with BBC for a tell-all interview delving into his dreams for reconciliation with his father King Charles as well as his argument that an establishment stitch-up was to blame for the court loss. While Charles and the rest of the royals have yet to address Harrys claims about his family feud, Buckingham Palace quickly issued a rare statement responding to his interview as well as the legal ruling.

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All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion, a Palace spokesperson shared in response to Prince Harrys BBC interview, seemingly shading his assertion that the royal family had any pull in the matter. The statement comes after Harry shared that he felt devastated and let down by the ruling from Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos, who argued that downgrading Prince Harry and his familys personal security after their 2020 exit from their roles as working senior royals was predictable and sensible.

Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince Harry and King Charles, who are estranged over a security court battle Prince Harry and King Charles, who are estranged over a security court battle

In his BBC interview, Prince Harry revealed that the ramifications of the ruling mean that his kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will never visit his home ever again. "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point," he shared, explaining, "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."

Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince William and Prince Harry in 2021, one year after Harry's exit from royal duties Prince William and Prince Harry in 2021, one year after Harry's exit from royal duties

He also shared that he would love to settle his long-running rift with his dad and brother Prince William, telling the publication, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore." However, he said that some members "may never forgive" him for writing his book Spare.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Meghan and Harry in 2020, when they stepped back from royal duties and lost taxpayer-funded security Meghan and Harry in 2020, when they stepped back from royal duties and lost taxpayer-funded security

Referencing King Charless cancer battle, he revealed the level of their estrangement as he added, 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."

Read the original article on InStyle
BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WPRI)  The registered sex offender convicted of abducting a 12-year-old girl nearly three years ago and then attempting to hire a hitman to kill her will spend the next 35 years behind bars, according to R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha.

Chandler Cardente, 30, of Cranston, pleaded no contest Thursday to six counts of first-degree child molestation. He also pleaded guilty to federal charges earlier this year, including enticing a minor, committing a felony involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender and interstate murder for hire.

RELATED: Burrillville child-snatching, murder-for-hire suspect pleads guilty

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Prosecutors said Cardente picked the girl up near Burrillville Middle School after dismissal back in December 2021. The girls family reported her missing after she didnt return home from school.

Investigators later learned Cardente, then 27, had been chatting with the girl online for months while posing as a 17-year-old and the two made plans to meet up.

Court documents revealed that Cardente had sex with the girl several times throughout the seven hours the two were together that night.

The girl was eventually found curled up on the side of the road in Warwick. Prosecutors said Cardente, who had been convicted of first-degree child molestation in 2014, kicked the girl out of his car when he learned officers were looking for him.

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MORE: Burrillville child-snatching suspect agrees to plea deal

Neronha said Cardente deserves every bit of the lengthy sentence he received for his terrible crimes.

While nothing can undo the pain caused, the young victim in this case demonstrated incredible courage by telling her story in her exceptional victim impact statement, Neronha said. She is an inspiration for victims everywhere.

Prosecutors said Cardente also tried to hire a hitman to kill the 12-year-old while he was behind bars in February 2022. He provided the girls name and address to a supposed hitman, who turned out to be an undercover Rhode Island State Police detective. He is also accused of offering the undercover detective $200 in cash and equipment worth $1,500 to get the job done.

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Cardente was sentenced to 60 years with 35 to serve, followed by 60 years of probation. He was also ordered to stay away from the victim, register as a sex offender and attend counseling. He will be sentenced on the federal charges in June.

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May 3Sarah Nixon didn't grow up on a farm. But as a someone who had the opportunity to live and work on one while recovering from trauma, she found caring for livestock to be "profoundly healing."

And when she encountered miniature horses at an auction in Arthur, a lightbulb went off in her mind.

"I knew that there was something incredibly special about them and the potential they could have to connect with children who had experienced trauma or may be at risk for trauma," Nixon said.

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She later entered the Carle Illinois College of Medicine's first Health-Make-A-Thon in 2019 and was awarded funding to help bring her idea to life.

Six years later, Nixon and her two American Miniature Horses, Chiron and Shifa, have servd over 1,000 children in the Champaign-Urbana area as "Miniature Horse Power."

While the business's primary focus is serving kids at risk of "adverse childhood experiences" in the Champaign County area, Nixon said Chiron and Shifa have greeted clients of all ages, including residents at Amber Glen Memory Care in Urbana.

Nixon uses the two miniature horses to teach children about subjects such as wellness, "mini-horsemanship", nutrition, leadership and mindfulness.

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"Because mini horses are so small and unintimidating, they're much more approachable for children, especially children who have grown up in an urban environment and may have had limited interaction with animals," she said.

Additionally, she and the two minis often visit the University of Illinois campus to help students who are dealing with "exam-time jitters."

"It just changes their whole focus," she said. "It gets them away from the anxiety of needing to cram for exams and (allows them to) just chill and be in the moment."

For more information on Miniature Horse Power, call 917-830-5640 or email .

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The Main Scoop is opening a new shop that will be located at The Yard on Broadway in Urbana.

"Right now, Drew Smith is leading the charge on when the first hall opens, but we hope to open alongside Smith Burger and anyone else that is ready to go at that time," said co-owner Jessica Hanson. "We are targeting a June opening at this time."

The ice cream shop is one of several restaurants that will be located in , a new development underway at the former Broadway Food Hall at 401 N. Broadway Ave. in Urbana.

The Main Scoop currently has locations in Mahomet, Monticello, Rantoul and West Main Street in Urbana.

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"Our downtown Urbana location WILL remain open," Hanson said. "We are excited to service two different audiences and locations in the C-U area."

The business also plans to open a new shop in Paxton at 201 E. State St.

The Champaign Public Library will hold the Young Entrepreneur Program Pitch Competition from 2 to 5 p.m. today in the Robeson A/B room.

The event, which is open to the public, is the culmination of an 11-week workshop and mentoring series led by the library's business specialist, Lauren Gramly. Students also received advice from local business leaders and entrepreneurs, library staff said.

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During Sunday's event, 11 high schoolers will present their business ideas in hopes of winning seed money, with $5,000 awarded to the first-place winner.

"Watching these students develop their ideas and grow over the past 11 weeks has been inspiring," Gramly said. "I'm so impressed by their dedication, and I'm excited to see their hard work pay off at the pitch competition."

Central Illinois Natural Health Clinic has announced plans to move its Danville location from 1012 W. Fairchild St. to 800 Oak St., with the new location housed within the Illume Counseling and Wellness Center.

Clinic officials expect the move to be complete by May 12 and do not anticipate any interruption in services. The clinic will continue to offer its "signature services" at the new location, including naturopathic medicine, nutritional counseling and chiropractics.

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"Twenty years ago, we opened our doors with a vision of bringing holistic health options to Danville and the surrounding communities," said Dr. Andrew Peters, founder and director of the clinic. "Today, we're thrilled to not only celebrate this milestone anniversary but also to announce our move into a new facility that will allow us to better serve our patients for years to come."

Peters will also continue to see patients in the clinic's Urbana facility at 302 W. Elm St.

Illinois American Water has announced plans to build a new water storage tank on Market Street, just north of Interstate 72.

Company officials said the elevated tank will "enhance the overall water delivery system" in Champaign, improve fire protection, and replace a 78-year-old tank located on Market Street south of the interstate, near the Market Place Shopping Center.

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Company officials said construction on the approximately $4.5-million project is expected to kick off in late 2025, with completion estimated to be late 2026.

"The new tank will nearly double the existing tank water storage volume of 1 million gallons to better support the Champaign community that has grown and expanded greatly over the past 80 years," said Director of Operations Luke Esteppe.
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  The Caddo Parish Commission has named its next Caddo Parish Poet Laureate.

Caddo Parish Commissioners selected Crystalyn Whitaker-Nelson, a Caddo Parish native, former English and history teacher, lyricist, and vocalist in the locally acclaimed music group, Tipseythe Band, as their next 2025-2028 poet laureate.

The Parish of Caddo says Whitaker-Nelson will be responsible for highlighting the local community and engaging young citizens in finding their own poetic voices through local events, such as Artbreak, poetry readings, and more.

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Poetic X: GRAMMY category victory poets; and upcoming poetry festival

(Courtesy of the Parish of Caddo)

Crystalyn Whitaker-Nelsons awards and titles:

Juried roster of literary artists for SRAC;

featured works The Colored Port Saga: Colored FaithWalk;

and numerous awards, including the National Leaders of Color fellowship,

The 2023 Kallenberg Artist Tower Residency,

The 2022 National Endowment for the Arts subgrant recipient;

and the 2021 SRAC Literary Fellowship.

Whitaker-Nelson holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northwestern State University and a Master of Science in Education from Louisiana State University at Shreveport, says the Parish of Caddo.

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I am honored to be selected as the Caddo Parish poet laureate,and there is no place I know better than Caddo Parish, said Whitaker-Nelson. This position is a profound culmination that allows me the platform to infuse youth and adults with tangible art that is meaningful to all, and I look forward to orchestrating poetry experiences in our communities that need the spirit that only creativity can yield, said Whitaker-Nelson.

Poet Laureate Whitaker-Nelson will receive an annual honorarium stipend of $1,500 provided by the Caddo Parish Commission over her three-year term.

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TOKYO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday expressed his strong disappointment that a new 25 percent U.S. tariff on auto parts took effect earlier in the day.

Ishiba told reporters that Japan will continue to ask U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to reconsider its tariff measures.

The U.S. administration on Saturday imposed a new 25-percent tariff on imported auto components, including engines and transmissions, in another blow to Japan's mainstay car industry already slapped with the same rate of tariff on automobiles that took effect in early April.

Ishiba also said Japan is negotiating with the United States on "all" U.S. tariffs, following reports that the U.S. side is unwilling to offer exemptions on duties imposed on products such as auto and steel.

The U.S. administration told Japan in their second round of negotiations, held in Washington on Thursday, that it aims to focus mainly on reciprocal tariffs in its negotiations with Tokyo while not including duties on automobiles, steel and aluminum, Kyodo News reported, citing Japanese government sources.

Japan has no intention of striking a trade deal with the U.S. administration unless all of its new tariffs are reviewed, top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said Saturday as he returned to Japan from the ministerial-level talks in Washington.

"We have pressed the United States to reconsider the series of tariffs and we can not reach an agreement if that is not properly addressed in a package," Akazawa, who is Japan's economic revitalization minister, told reporters. 
The California High-Speed Rail Authority plans to downsize its massive Central Valley stations, including the Merced station, in an attempt to narrow the projects focus on only building infrastructure essential for Central Valley service.

Margaret Cederoth, the projects director of planning and sustainability, told the authoritys Board of Directors on Thursday that staff have spent the last six months taking a very close look at all the requirements for the system.

They found that previous track alignment configurations  including the number of tracks within a station  yielded a station size that was a little bit oversized for what we needed for the first several decades of operation.

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In places like Merced, Cederoth said, the downsizing could include the removal of a track from the design because it would be superfluous for decades.

One of the unique design challenges for the Central Valley stations is that they need to be rightsized for opening day, but have the ability to be easily expanded in the future as the system and ridership grows over time, she said.

In a statement, the rail authority said it is finding efficiencies in all station designs that will allow construction of stations that match ridership demand. This is an expected part of the design process, the agency said.

The project, which initially envisioned a system connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco via bullet trains by 2020, now plans to launch service from Merced to Bakersfield sometime between 2030 and 2033.

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The pivot in planning comes as the authoritys board directors raised concerns that the Trump administration could withdraw federal support for the project. Officials said Thursday that, with private investment, the project could be completed in about 20 years.

The plans to downsize stations also follows last years release of renderings by the authority a year ago showing massive stations in Merced and other cities in the projects Central Valley initial operating segment.

The Merced station, planned to be the Valleys largest, was expected to reach 215,000 square feet. In Fresno, the station was expected to reach 165,000 square feet.

The stations are crucial for attracting investment in the downtown areas of both cities. Frank Quintero, Merceds director of economic development, said last year that downtown investors  including from the El Capitan Hotel, the Mainzer and The Tioga  were already focused on how high-speed rail was going to be able to benefit their investments.

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On Friday, Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto told the Sun-Star that, first and foremost, he wants to make sure the station gets built.

If this (a size reduction) makes it more likely to be built, then thats better, Serratto said. Obviously, we want the best service, but we also have to be realistic.

In Fresno, the station is central to downtown revitalization plans, which include a residential and commercial boom tied to the presence of the high-speed rail. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer recently said during a bullet train panel hosted by the Fresnoland newspaper that he is opposed to any reduction in size to the high-speed rail station.

In response to Dyer during the panel, High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri said he agreed that any changes should not disrupt the way people experience the stations.

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The rail authority says its still in the process of revising design, so its not yet known how much square footage each station could lose.

Rail station downsizing, future growth

The downsizing of the Central Valley stations will be part of a $14 million phase approved Thursday by the authoritys Board of Directors that will finalize the design of the Fresno station.

Cederoth told the board this phase involves finalizing the specifications and standard drawings of elements shared across the four stations. This includes features like elevators, escalators, stairways, canopies and platforms, among other items, she said.

We tried to take a very careful look at all of the infrastructure we needed just for opening day, and that allowed the station to be reduced in size, Cederoth said.

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She said the final design can co-locate or co-mingle staff facilities that dont need to be duplicated at each station.

Engineering staff has also looked at reducing the distance between tracks in order to make stations more narrow.

The authority said it plans to move forward with the removal of a track in Merced because that station will not require expanded capacity until the projects Phase 2 segment from Merced to Sacramento is complete.

In the meantime, that expanded capacity would require consistent maintenance and carry an associated cost, the authority said. It makes business sense to re-sequence elements of the project that are not necessary for the initial early operating service yet carry significant maintenance requirements.

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Cederoth said the final station designs are taking a modular approach, which anticipates how stations can be easily expanded and further integrated into their surroundings, while not interrupting the passenger service in the future.

The downsized designs still include all the components we need for safe, comfortable, code-compliant rail, she said.

An artists rendering shows what the California High Speed Rail station planned for Merced could look like.
Beale Air Force Base will be home to a new mission that could return the Northern California installation to the forefront of defense technology.

Beale, near Marysville in Yuba County, was announced as the home of the Air Forces new Collaborative Combat Aircrafts readiness unit and its semiautonomous, unmanned aircraft, a mission that Air Force leaders and California lawmakers are calling a milestone.

One of the missions ultimate goals, said Air Force officials: delivering combat power at a fraction of the cost of traditional fighters.

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This is a major win for Beale AFB and a vote of confidence in the capabilities of our region, said Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, in a statement Friday announcing the move. These aircraft represent the future of the Air Force autonomous, highly capable, and ready to deploy at a moments notice. This new mission not only solidifies Beales role in our national defense, but also brings new technology and investment to our region.

LaMalfa and California Sen. Adam Schiff worked to bring the unit to Northern California. The Beale site beat out Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and North Dakotas Grand Forks Air Force Base for the technologically advanced unit.

The two lawmakers toured Beale just weeks ago ahead of the Air Forces announcement, LaMalfas office said.

A YFQ-44A unmanned aircraft is staged in a testing chamber in Costa Mesa in an undated photograph provided by the Air Force. The YFQ-44A, developed by Anduril, is one of two semiautonomous vehicles headed to Beale Air Force base that the Air Force says will be critical in securing air dominance for the Joint Force in future conflicts, leveraging autonomous capabilities and crewed-uncrewed teaming to defeat enemy threats in contested environments.

A YFQ-44A unmanned aircraft is staged in a testing chamber in Costa Mesa in an undated photograph provided by the Air Force. The YFQ-44A, developed by Anduril, is one of two semiautonomous vehicles headed to Beale Air Force base that the Air Force says will be critical in securing air dominance for the Joint Force in future conflicts, leveraging autonomous capabilities and crewed-uncrewed teaming to defeat enemy threats in contested environments.

When we visited Beale Air Force Base just a couple weeks ago, I met committed California servicemembers working to protect our nation and apply new technologies to the adapting threats we face, Schiff is quoted in the statement. As the West Coast remains on the front line for deterring adversaries in the Pacific and the home of the nations technological innovation, Im proud to see Yuba County at the tip of the spear for promoting Americas national security.

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Two aircraft, the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, are undergoing ground testing to evaluate engine performance, avionics and other metrics before moving to flight testing later this year, said Air Force officials. A decision on production of the aircraft is expected in 2026.

This phase bridges the gap between design and flight, boosting confidence and laying the groundwork for a successful first flight and eventual fielding to the warfighter, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said in a statement.

Were moving fast because the warfighter needs this capability, Allvin said. These aircraft will help us turn readiness into operational dominance.

The ability to take combat-ready aircraft to the skies at a moments notice is a key component of Beales new mission. Efficiency is just as important, said Air Force officials in informational materials detailing the new unit.

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The new unmanned aircraft means fewer sorties or training missions to maintain flight readiness. The aircraft will be ready to fly at any time, but minimally flown so fewer airmen will be needed to support the fleet, Air Force officials said.

The incoming unit marks a reunion of sorts for the Northern California base. The RQ-4 Global Hawk, the unmanned, remotely-piloted, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft that supported operations including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, patrolled the skies from its Beale Air Force Base home from 2004 until it was pulled from the base in 2022.

A T-38 Talon takes off with the Sutter Buttes in the background at Beale Air Force Base on April 2, 2025.

In addition to its new mission with future unmanned combat aircraft, Beale plays a key role in national defense with several important operations.

The base is home to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and the U-2 Dragon Lady, a high-altitude spy plane that gathers intelligence from around the world. These aircraft have even been used recently to monitor the U.S.-Mexico border. Beale also supports aerial refueling with KC-135 tankers, which help other aircraft stay in the air longer.

The base will host to its annual air and space expo June 7-8. Tickets and more information are available at bealeairshow.com.
A gender critical activist who was cancelled by the Australian government has said it is phenomenal that the White House has championed his case.

Chris Elston, a Canadian campaigner known as Billboard Chris, was last year ordered by the Australian government to take down a post on X about a transgender activist who landed a job as a UN health expert.

Mr Elston is currently awaiting a tribunal judgment after taking the Australian government to court over its demand to have his offensive post removed.

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But in a highly unusual move, the US State Department, which handles foreign policy, weighed in on the case on Thursday, issuing a statement saying it is deeply concerned by the Australian governments clamp down on free speech.

A bit surreal to have Trump backing

Mr Elston, 49, said it was tremendous and a bit surreal to have the backing of the Trump administration and thanked the president for his support.

Asked what it meant to have the US governments support, he said: I think its phenomenal, but considering the extraordinary child abuse thats going on across the world, I think its also expected, because we simply cant continue to tolerate this as a society, and the Trump administration is doing a great job pushing back against this.

The Trump administration is standing up for freedom of speech all across the world by putting pressure on these other countries, because were seeing more censorship than weve ever seen in my lifetime, he told The Telegraph.

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Hes accomplished more in his first months fighting gender ideology than had been accomplished in the political realm in the previous years.

Chris Elston thanks Donald Trump for his support

The State Departments bureau of democracy, human rights and labour posted on X that it is deeply concerned about efforts by governments to coerce American tech companies into targeting individuals for censorship.

It added: Freedom of expression must be protected  online and offline.

Citing Mr Elstons case, the bureau suggested that free speech censorship could affect diplomatic ties with Australia, as it seeks to negotiate with Washington over tariffs.

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Even when content may be objectionable, censorship undermines democracy, suppresses political opponents, and degrades public safety, it wrote. Our diplomacy will continue to place an emphasis on promoting fundamental freedoms.

The intervention marks the latest example of the Trump administration wading into domestic freedom of speech rows among its allies.

In March, Washington raised concerns about freedom of expression in the UK in relation to the case of Livia Tossici-Bolt, who was prosecuted for holding a sign near a Bournemouth abortion clinic reading: Here to talk if you want.

Mr Elston, a married father-of-two, is known for standing in public places wearing sandwich boards, with slogans such as children cannot consent to puberty blockers.

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This ideology is really affirming self-hatred in children, he said. My message is that children are perfect, just as they are. They dont need drugs or scalpels to be their true selves.

Since becoming an activist in 2020, Mr Elston has amassed over 500,000 followers on X, where he shares videos of him standing with his signs in cities around the world.

Mr Elston in Sydney

In that time, he has been attacked around 40 times and even broke his arm when he was beaten with a traffic cone in Montreal.

In March last year he shared a Daily Mail article on X, headlined: Kinky secrets of UN trans expert revealed.

Alongside the story, he commented: This woman (yes, shes female) is part of a panel of 20 experts hired by the @WHO to draft their policy on caring for trans people.

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People who belong in psychiatric wards are writing the guidelines for people who belong in psychiatric wards.

The story was about Teddy Cook, a transgender activist awarded a job on a WHO expert panel drafting care guidelines for trans and non-binary people.

The WHO worker, who self-identifies as a queer man of trans experience, has advocated for taxpayer-funded surgeries for all trans Australians.

Cooks now-private social media allegedly included images of public nudity, bondage parties and orgies, according to The Daily Mail.

In response to a complaint, Australias eSafety commissioner sent Mr Elston a letter demanding that he remove his deliberately degrading post and threatened him with a hefty fine.

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X initially refused to take the content down but later geo-blocked it in Australia following a formal removal order from the commissioner, according to the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, which is supporting Mr Elstons case.

Mr Elston was threatened with a fine by the Australian government for his post on X

As in the UK, the Australian governments attempts to curb freedom of expression on social media have been widely criticised.

David Limbrick, a Victoria MP, called the eSafety Commissioner a danger to free and open discussions on sensitive topics in response to Mr Elstons case.

The e safety commissioner is keeping you safe from opinions the government doesnt like, he wrote on X.

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Speaking at the Melbourne tribunal last month, Mr Elston said it is damaging to teach children they are born in the wrong body and called for evidence-based care.

The eSafety commissioner has argued that Mr Elstons post constituted cyber abuse and was intended to cause serious harm  defined by one expert witness as severe psychological symptoms lasting several months.

While in Australia, Mr Elston was fined over 800 Australian dollars (AUD), threatened with arrest and forcibly moved on by police on the streets of Brisbane for allegedly obstructing people while wearing a sign that criticised giving puberty blockers to children.

Since returning to office, Mr Trump has signed a series of executive orders to reinforce freedom of speech, ban puberty blockers for children and restore a conception of gender based on biological reality.

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In Australia, children can gain access to puberty blockers with parental consent, as well as other gender-affirming care.

Established in 2015, the countrys eSafety Commissioner was set up to protect Australians from online harm, particularly cyberbullying and child sexual abuse.

The Australian department of trade and eSafety Commissioner were approached for comment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
A cardinal predicted that the selection process for the successor to Pope Francis, who died April 21 at the age of 88, will be very short.

As cardinals prepare to kick off the conclave week, Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez of El Salvador told ABC News on Friday that the Vatican is looking for Francis 2. In preparation, Vatican firemen were spotted installing a ceremonial chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. It will blow smoke to indicate whether a new pope has been chosen.

Salvadoran cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez arrives for the fifth congregation meeting at The Vatican, on April 28, 2025. / ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images

Although Chavez, 82, is not eligible to vote in the conclave, he shared that he been very close to the process.

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I think there is a consensus... the vision is very clear what kind of pope we need in the church and for the world, said Chavez. That is why I think the conclave will be very short, two or three days.

A pope with similar values and beliefs as Pope Francis could signal the Vaticans desire to continue shifting their policies more toward the left.

During his tenure, Francis drew controversy over several statements that left some Catholics scratching their heads while others commended his open beliefs.

One such statement was his belief that atheists can also go to heaven, reported The Washington Post.

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The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ, all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! Father, the atheists? Even the atheists. Everyone! Francis said in 2013.

Yet Francis has also used his pedestal to draw attention to politics. He has spoken out against the Gaza war and rebuked President Donald Trump for his draconian immigration policies.

U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand before the casket of Pope Francis in St. Peters Square at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. / Dylan Martinez / REUTERS

In a letter, Francis wrote that nations have the right to defend themselves against criminals entering their communities, but the act of deporting people who in many cases have left their own land for reasons of extreme poverty, insecurity, exploitation, persecution or serious deterioration of the environment, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families.

Francis even managed to take a final jab at Trump from the grave, as a cardinal reiterated the Holy Fathers distaste for the policy.

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Pope Francis incessantly raised his voice, imploring peace and calling for reason and honest negotiation to find possible solutions, said the cardinal during the ceremony, with Trump looking on from a front-row seat. He added, Build bridges, not walls, was an exhortation he repeated many times.

A reported 133 cardinals will vote for the next pope during the conclave, the most electors ever, reported ABC News; 108 of those cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis.
A stranger hopped behind the wheel of an SUV a woman left running with her 2-year-old son inside in Brooklyn Friday morning  and the tot was saved within 10 minutes when cops pulled over the joyrider, authorities said.

The 32-year-old mom called 911 and told cops she left her Nissan Pathfinder running with the toddler in the backseat as she stepped into a deli on Sutter Avenue near Van Sinderen Avenue in Brownsville, police said.

While she was in the store, 34-year-old Maurice Stephens got behind the wheel and drove off with the toddler, said cops.

Maurice Stephens, 34, hopped inside the unattended Nissan Pathfinder and drive off with the 2-year-old boy inside, police said. Google

Stephens drove about a mile before cops pulled him over at Liberty Avenue and Wyona Street, police said. Google

The alleged carjacker drove for nearly a mile when officers spotted him at Wyona Street and Liberty Avenue and pulled him over around 10:50 a.m., authorities said.

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The boy was recovered safely and Stephens  who has no relation to the family  was placed in cuffs, authorities said.

Stephens was charged with grand larceny, kidnapping and other raps, cops said. Christopher Sadowski

Stephens, of Brooklyn Heights, was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, second-degree kidnapping, criminal possession of stolen property and endangering the welfare of a child, cops said.

He has one prior arrest, for criminal possession of a controlled substance from January in Midtown Manhattan, authorities said.
DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Schaefer is retiring after a 30-year career in law enforcement and says he hopes he leaves behind a legacy of building relationships.

CBI Director Schaefer has been working within the Colorado Department of Public Safety for his entire career. First, as a trooper with Colorado State Patrol, then as an agent with CBI, before working his way up to become the 10th director of the bureau as of 2022.

2 of 3 killed in Weld County crash identified by coroner

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He was emotional on Friday, speaking about his reason for retiring. That reason being, he was able to keep an 18-year-old promise from his days as an agent.

Its the case of Jessica Bejarano, a young Weld County mom who was murdered in 2007 in Frederick. Investigators found her in her bathroom, with a single stab wound to her chest. At the time of the incident, her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son were present in the home.

New DNA evidence led to the arrest of Darrell Burklund, 72, a former maintenance worker, on March 14, 2025, in York, Nebraska, in connection with Jessicas murder. He has been booked on a single count of second-degree murder.

Schaefer was able to travel to Nebraska to help with that arrest.

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I got to know the family very well, I got to see the kids who witnessed the murder and see them raised, and I always told that family I wouldnt retire until it was solved. It was one of the best days in my career, one of the best days of my life. Certainly, putting handcuffs on the suspect was the best arrest Ive ever made. Its hard to describe that feeling, Schaefer said.

Director speaks candidly on alleged misconduct in CBI labs

But not every moment has felt that way, with former forensic scientist Yvonne Missy Woods facing numerous charges related to misconduct and mishandling of DNA evidence between 2008 and 2023.

The majority of cases the bureau handles are sexual assault, and 46% of the 1,022 cases potentially mishandled are sexual assault. More than 40% of all DNA cases submitted to the CBI Forensic Lab are sexual assault cases.

Denver man arrested in connection with shooting death of woman in Berthoud: Sheriffs office

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Its no surprise the numbers associated with Woods reflect that, both in her overall caseload and the number of cases her alleged misconduct impacted, said CBI Spokesperson Rob Lowe.

You gotta admit you screwed up. You gotta fix it. You gotta have a plan, said Shaefer. All I can sit here and do is apologize, but I understand at this point those are just words. So, we have to follow up with that as an organization, but it is going to take some time.

Woods alleged misconduct has led to a backlog in sexual assault cases, which the state has now stepped in to help with. Legislation sponsored by Senator Mike Weissman to address the backlog passed the Senate Friday. This bill creates the Colorado Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Evidence Review Board, whose mission mirrors that of the existing Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board. The board would review and monitor the effectiveness of current protocols, standards, and training practices in the criminal legal systems response to sexual assault.

Those arent just kits, right? Theres a victim behind every one of those and it was almost like seeing that again, it was a reinvigoration knowing that we have to get this done and we have to do whats right for these victims and we have to do it much better than weve been doing it, Schaefer said.

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Denver Crime Lab to take 100 rape kits back from CBIs backlog with state funding

He knows some may think his retirement has to do with Woods and the backlog, but he says thats not the case and has faith in the team hes leaving this work in the hands of. He says he hopes his legacy is the health of the organization.

Weve had some rough times in the past couple of years, very rough, but Im glad I was here. Im glad I was the one who had to deal with that, but because of that, I think we thought more about our employees, Shaefer said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Over the past two decades, Serneels has crossed continents more than 60 times, tirelessly traveling into China's rural heartlands. His mission: to help Chinese farmers grow better potatoes and train the next generation of agronomists.

by Xinhua writer Ding Yinghua

BRUSSELS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A group of Belgian students walks through a greenhouse on the outskirts of Chongqing, China, where fields of tender seedlings stretch out beneath their feet. Leading them is Francois Serneels -- a Belgian agronomist affectionately nicknamed "Dr. Bethune of Potato," after the Canadian surgeon Norman Bethune who became a hero in China for his dedication to the Chinese people's fight against Japanese aggression in 1938.

Captured in an old photo stored on Serneels' phone, such a field study in China with Belgian students is a familiar scene for Serneels.

Over the past two decades, Serneels has crossed continents more than 60 times, tirelessly traveling into China's rural heartlands. His mission: to help Chinese farmers grow better potatoes and train the next generation of agronomists. He often brings Belgian students or fellow scientists along.

The picture shows that Belgian agronomist Francois Serneels (second from left) was conducting on-site teaching at a potato production center in Wuxi County, Chongqing, in 2017. (Xinhua)

Serneels likens his connection to China to a childhood comic book adventure. "My story with China is a little like Tintin's," Serneels said, referring to The Blue Lotus, a classic Belgian comic he read as a child. "In the story, a young reporter goes to China and becomes friends with a Chinese guy. I visited China later in life and can say my best friend is a Chinese guy."

That friend is Che Xingbi, an agronomist from Chongqing. The friendship began in 1999, when Serneels went to Beijing for the first China International Agricultural Expo and the first International Conference on Plant Protection. There, he presented a predictive system developed by the Hainaut Provincial Research Center in Belgium to help farmers combat potato late blight -- a fast-spreading disease that devastates potato crops.

Che was intrigued and invited Serneels to Wuxi, a remote mountainous region in northeastern Chongqing, where local farmers were struggling with repeated outbreaks of the disease. The Belgian system proved transformative. In the years that followed, potato yields in Wuxi rose significantly, and the humble tuber became a pillar of local poverty alleviation efforts.

Today, the system is used in around 16 provincial-level regions in China, helping farmers avoid major losses.

Che credits much of this success to Serneels' professionalism and dedication. Jiang Ning, another close friend of Serneels and a professor at the University of Mons in Belgium, recounts an anecdote about Serneels. During a trip to Hulunbuir in Inner Mongolia, Serneels' luggage did not arrive, but the first item he purchased was a pair of high-top rubber boots -- essential equipment for fieldwork. "That choice showed Francois's focus on getting the job done," Jiang said.

The picture shows that Belgian agronomist Francois Serneels (right) inspected harvested potatoes in Wushan County, Chongqing, in 2011. (Xinhua)

FROM "WIN-WIN" TO "ALL WIN"

Their cooperation on this system, already in application for years in China, fed back into the method Serneels and his Belgian colleagues used to approach agricultural technology back home.

Belgium's original potato late-blight warning system was largely manual. "Farmers used to go to the weather stations, note down the temperature and rainfall, and call the scientists by phone," Serneels explained. "We would then draw curves and analyze how the blight is developing manually. By 1999, only a basic automation of the system had been achieved."

Such methods were impractical in China, given the country's vast agricultural areas. That challenge prompted Serneels' Chinese partners to develop advanced computing and data transmission systems to fully automate the process. "We designed the first system, but we got back a much more powerful version from China," Serneels said. "It was a real win-win cooperation."

That upgraded version is now also in use in Rwanda, Guinea, and Bangladesh. Serneels calls this expansion "the cherry on the cake," and "a very interesting example of shared progress for humanity."

With the world confronting urgent challenges, including climate change, food insecurity, and energy shortages, Serneels said he believes such collaboration is essential. "Europe has advanced research, and China has vast fields for application and innovation. Put together, as we did with the potato system, we can achieve great things."

The picture shows that in 2012, at Wuxi County, Chongqing, Belgian agronomist Francois Serneels (first from right) observed the growth of potatoes in the field with his students and Chinese partners. (Xinhua)





FIELD STUDY BUILDS UNDERSTANDING

Having witnessed the transformation of rural China firsthand, Serneels is passionate about showing his students these changes. Almost every year, he organizes trips for Belgian students to visit China, sometimes leading groups of up to 57 participants, with a strong focus on rural immersion.

Guillaume De Vriendt, a student from Condorcet University, said he had discovered a China largely unfamiliar to most Westerners and often misrepresented by stereotypes.

Serneels said he believes that personal experience is the key to deeper understanding. "Only by seeing rural China, staying a few days, and meeting local students, farmers, and scientists can they begin to understand the real China."

The results have been encouraging: more than 20 of his students have returned to China for extended internships or research projects after their initial visits.

To explain cultural differences while highlighting common ground, Serneels often compares cheese and tofu: "In Europe, we have hundreds of cheeses; in China, many kinds of tofu. Cheese is transformed milk; tofu is transformed soy protein. The tastes differ, but both are symbolic and nutrient-rich," he said.

Recognizing commonalities, he believes, is key to lasting collaboration across borders.

Tourists visit Longchi Village in Wuxi County, southwest China's Chongqing, May 2, 2023. China is witnessing a travel boom during this year's five-day May Day holiday. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

On the eve of another trip to China with a new group of students, Serneels offered a simple blessing in Mandarin: "Yi lu ping'an," which means "safe journey." For him, this farewell expression is also a quiet hope for the future of China-EU relations as the two sides observe the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations this year.

"China and the EU have a long road ahead," he said. "But by walking it together, we can build a more stable, trusting, and fruitful partnership - a journey like a well-tended field that promises a lasting harvest of friendship and progress." 
An elementary school administrator in Cedar Park has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Marta Alicia Johnson, 51, was taken into custody early Monday morning at Reed Elementary School, where she works as an assistant principal.

A Cedar Park police officer was dispatched to the campus at about 7:20 a.m. in response to reports of a collision between a car and a cyclist, according to a Williamson County affidavit obtained by the American-Statesman. The officer found the cyclist laying on the ground and Johnson sitting inside her car.

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Johnson had "bloodshot red and glassy eyes" and smelled "strongly" of alcohol, the affidavit said. She also was unable to maintain her balance while standing, swaying "from side to side."

After Johnson failed a standardized field sobriety test, the officer administered a breathalyzer test, according to the affidavit. She blew 0.282  more than three times the legal limit.

Johnson was charged with one count of driving while intoxicated, a class-A misdemeanor that is punishable by a fine of up to $4,000 and a jail sentence of up to one year.

Asked to comment, Leander Independent School District spokesperson Crestina Hardie referred the Statesman to a letter the school's head principal sent to parents later Monday. In the letter, Reed Principal Cynthia Griggs said that "the school staff member involved in a Monday crash had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by law enforcement and the district."

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According to the affidavit, Johnson told police she had drank two White Claw hard seltzers and gone to sleep at 3 a.m. She also said she had been on her phone at the time of the accident. The cyclist involved suffered an apparent broken arm and small lacerations on his hand, the document stated.

A school Facebook post shows Johnson joined the staff at Reed in 2021.

American-Statesman staff writer Claire Osborne contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin-area elementary school assistant principal charged with DWI
HARLEM, Manhattan  A beloved grandmother and violence interrupter who was herself slain by a stray bullet was memorialized in a celebration of life service Friday afternoon.

The homegoing service was a triumphant tribute to the life of Excenia Foote Mette, 61, but it also acknowledged the tragic way in which she lost her life.

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Foote Mettes casket was brought to Mother AME Zion Church in a horse-drawn carriage. Her family members hugged and wept before some of them, all dressed in white, served as pallbearers, bringing her casket into the sanctuary.

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There, the attendees took the celebratory spirit of the celebration of life ceremony to heart, in honor of the woman known throughout the community as Momma Zee.

A full drum set and keyboard combo led the congregation in a raucous musical tribute.

Foote Mette and her family are members of the Pentecostal Christian Church, which believes that occasions like the homegoing service are joyous tributes to a persons life. Some of the congregants were dancing in the aisles, as everyone else clapped and shouted to the upbeat music.

Still, there were moments in the ceremony when the tragic circumstances of Excenia Foote Mettes passing were acknowledged. Those came most notably from Rev. Al Sharpton, the founder of the National Action Network, of which Ms. Foote Mette was an active member.

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We have got to stop this gun violence, Rev. Sharpton said from the pulpit.

He was referring to the scene near 113th Street and Lenox Avenue on April 22nd, when gunfire rang out outside of the Harlem business where Ms. Foote Matte was. She went out to see if her grandson was hurt, and more shots were fired. One bullet struck her, fatally. The two men charged in the crime, Ricky Shelby, 23, and Darious Smith, also 23, have prior records. Smith has had felony arrests in the last year, according to police, who also say that a dispute between the two men involving their past crimes is what led to their shootout last month.

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Mayor Eric Adams was one of three elected officials who came to pay their respects to Foote Mette. Outside of the church, the mayor spoke about the gun violence that led to Momma Zees death.

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These communities are calling for the removal of these guns, he said, the removal of this violence, and the removal of these dangerous people who do this repeatedly.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and the local city councilmember, Yusef Salaam, also attended and called for an end to the violence.

Maria Lopez joined their pleas. She was one of a group of activists in the violence interruption organization Guns Down, Life Up, who were at the service.

Its enough, she said about the situation. Youre letting them out easy, out in the streets.

Ultimately, the ceremony captured the kindness and caring that Excenia Foote Mette showed her family, friends, and community.

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She would have loved this, said Jacqueline Webb, Foote Mettes best friend since childhood.

The people that didnt know her, Webb continued, Im sorry, because you missed someone special.

Excenia Momma Zee Foote Mette will be buried in Peoria, Illinois, the city where she was born and where she and Webb became lifelong friends.

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The Fayette County Board of Education plans a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 6 at Oak Hill High School.

Among the agenda items is the first reading of a new cell phone policy that is being planned in response to state legislation signed into law earlier this week by Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

On April 29, Morrisey was joined by students, legislators and supporters at Lincoln Middle School in Shinnston to sign House Bill 2003, which prohibits the use of personal electronic devices by students in elementary and high school classrooms. There are exceptions provided for in the legislation.

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Also that day, Senate Bill 280, which requires public schools to display the United States motto In God We Trust, was signed by the governor.

As governor, one of my top priorities is to improve West Virginias educational rankings, Morrisey said in a press release. To do that, we must focus on academics and remove classroom distractions.

HB 2003 empowers county boards of education to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices in classroom settings.

According to Fayette County Schools Superintendent Gary Hough, some Fayette schools have already implemented their own individual cell phone polices. Wed like to have some consistency, he said.

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County principals will discuss the situation in a meeting Monday, said Hough, who noted that each school classroom in Fayette County is equipped with a phone that reaches out to 911 immediately in the event of an emergency.

Recognitions and reports on the Tuesday board agenda include:

 Mary Ann Freeman  Golden Horseshoe winners;

 Dawn Dooley  Young Writers;

 Dawn Dooley  Governor School Recipients 2025; and

 Sandra Whitaker  Regional and State Social Studies Fair winners.

The board is expected to take final action on several policy revisions recommended by Hough and also introduce first readings of other policies.

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Among those set for final action are policies relating to employment of substitutes, suspension, teacher workload/supplemental duties, suicide prevention, graduation requirements and the schools and community agencies.

Before the board for first reading will be the cell phone policy and polices on fund accounting, travel payment and reimbursement and property inventory,

The agenda also includes a recommendation from Hough for a $190,520 purchase of Microsoft Surface computers from Zones LLC (state contract) to replace outdated teacher computers at Oak Hill and Midland Trail high schools and other schools as needed. Funding will be from Tools for Schools.

And, the board will act on Houghs recommendation to approve a request for out-of-state/overnight travel. The Fayette Institute of Technology HOSA students (approximately four students) are planning to attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn. on June 17-22. Chaperones will be FIT instructors Annette Ashley, Andrea Anderson, Brian Richmond and FIT Director Robert Keaton. Travel will be by charter bus. Funding will be from FIT funds.

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Hough recommends approval of accounts payable in the amount of $1,203,846.28. A list of bills is available upon request from the central office.

There will also be personnel actions and other items of discussion.

Future meetings of the board include: Tuesday, May 13, special meeting/budget hearing, board office, 9 a.m.; and Thursday, May 22, regular meeting at Meadow Bridge High School, 6 p.m.
5/5 UPDATE:

GREENUP, Ill. (WCIA)  A school bus driver from Cumberland County will remain behind bars during his criminal trial.

The Attorney Generals office identified the bus driver as 54-year-old Karl Kimble of Greenup. He faces one Class X felony count of dissemination of child pornography and five Class 2 felony counts of possession of child pornography.

Holding child predators who exploit children accountable can help survivors and their families heal from the terrible trauma they have experienced, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. My offices Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies to locate and bring to justice individuals who exploit minors.

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Court records show Kimble was denied pretrial release on Monday. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 27.

CHARLESTON, Ill. (WCIA)  In a letter to parents and guardians, Charleston CUSD 1 said a school bus driver employed by their transportation company has been arrested on child pornography charges.

The school district was notified that a driver with Illinois Central School Bus was arrested by law enforcement in Cumberland County on charges related to child pornography. The letter, sent on May 2 by Superintendent Chad Burgett, said the individual was not a direct employee of Charleston CUSD 1, but was contracted through Illinois Central School Bus to provide transportation services.

Significantly crossed the boundaries: report details misconduct of former GCMS teacher

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Upon learning of the arrest, we took immediate action to ensure the individual would no longer have any contact with students or access to school property, the district said. We are working closely with the contracted company as the investigation proceeds.

According to CUSD 1, there is currently no indication that any students from the district schools were involved or harmed in any way. The district said if any parents, guardians or students have any questions or concerns, they are encouraged to reach out to Illinois School Bus Company or the CUSD 1 District Office.

We understand that news of this nature can be deeply unsettling, the district said. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all students, and we are reviewing all protocols with our transportation providers to ensure the continued use of rigorous background checks and safety procedures are strictly enforced.

The letter did not provide the identity of the school bus driver. There is no further information at this time.

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Im no fan of greenism. The movement seems to have come to be dominated by lunatics who appear to be more interested in destroying peoples lives and Western democracy than reversing the effects of greenhouse gases.

But I, like most people with a soul, also care for nature  life, in short  and feel my spirits stir at the sight of expanses untouched by man. Who could possibly enjoy the sight of sealife choking on plastic, of nature used as a trash heap, of endangered species being murderously harvested, of glaciers melting and oceanic creatures great and small dying in too-warm waters? Where is the wonder, the vitality, the prosperity in that?

Watching David Attenboroughs films about the earth, especially the Blue Planet series, clarified these feelings. His latest, and probably final, documentary about the great deeps, Ocean, is to be released this week for his 99th birthday. The old boy is more stridently political than ever before, laying into the evils of industrial fishing which, he says, has killed two-thirds of all large predator fish, with trawlers trashing the foundation of an entire ecosystem.

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For those who are aligned with Attenborough, the race is on to save the oceans. No route to aquatic recovery is more valuable than Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the biggest and most important in the world being the one around the Chagos Islands.

The islands became British territory in 1814. In the 1960s, before the establishment of a key US-UK military base on the largest island, Diego Garcia, the 1,500-strong population was forcibly relocated to Mauritius, the Seychelles and the UK. Britain detached the islands from the then-colony of Mauritius 1,300 miles away and established them as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

After mounting international legal warfare over the islands ownership, Britain is now to hand them, and the seas around them, back to Mauritius. In a move we can ill afford, costing billions, Britain will lease back the land for the base.

It is feared that Mauritius will do deals with China over the islands, not least over fishing rights and other natural riches too.

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In 2010, the UK turned the whole territory into a no-take zone MPA where no fishing is allowed. If China gets its hook into the islands and its resources  and it has a great incentive to do so to neutralise the strategic advantage of Americas Diego Garcia base (as does India, considered the big fish, so to speak, in the area)  then we can safely assume the MPA will be scrapped or violated.

The decision to return the islands has been seen in some noisy quarters as being long overdue, because of colonialism. Weirdly, there is specific anger reserved for the designation of the territorys waters as an MPA, because it was done without us first asking Mauritius or the Chagossians. It was seen as adding colonial insult to injury.

And so, suddenly, Britains alignment with sound environmental objectives is not seen as vital for preserving the oceans ecosystem, but as the luxury imposition of a racist former empire that still wants to lord it over the little people.

Now the idea of climate justice, peddled relentlessly by the acolytes of Greta Thunberg  whereby the rich West owes it to the poor Global South to make up for the harmful effects of global warming  is turned on its head. Apparently, according to that sort of person, we now owe the Global South a ruined ocean.

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Among the most prominent advocates of returning the islands is the international lawyer Philippe Sands KC, a close friend and ally of Starmer. Sands, a zealot of that most sinister branch of social justice, the international type, seems possessed by the cause of Mauritius and the islands. Its morning on Chagos, where the flag of Mauritius flies, proving that the rule of law is not only a dream, he tweeted in 2022 (the post was later deleted), on a trip in which he turned up on the British territory with Mauritian officials, journalists and Chagossians.

Yet on the eve of 2021s Cop 26 climate conference, Sands himself discussed whether ecocide should be classed as a fifth international crime. Odd that he and his international law cronies dont seem too concerned in this case.

Especially as the waters in the Chagos territory are perhaps the most important for marine life and the oceanic ecosystem on the globe. The Great Chagos Bank is the largest coral atoll in the world. The islands are a paradise of refuge for turtles, manta rays and sharks; even more important are the massive reef systems they host.

In an age of mass coral erosion, the 300 species of coral, which includes the Chagos brain coral and the largest coral atoll in the world  the Great Chagos Bank  are surely worth preserving from the incautious machinations of trawlers.

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Zac Goldsmith, who as a minister was responsible for overseas territories and a passionate defender of MPAs, described the situation to me thus:

The Bluebelt is one of the biggest nature wins in my lifetime. The UK directly and fully protects an area of ocean bigger than India  and for minimal cost. And the BIOT is among the most important. If we allow a rollback of protection for this biodiversity jewel, or worse we hand it over to industrial fishing, we will have done an almighty injustice to nature and future generations. It would be unforgivable.

As the tussle over the islands shows, you can be woke and profess a commitment to greenery, but end up destroying everyone and everything. Or you can be sensible and work to preserve life for humans and fish alike.

Surely all those who have been mesmerised by Attenborough and his work should follow the latter path.

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(NewsNation)  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is still pushing for small businesses to have tariff relief despite the White House insisting this will come via tax cuts.

The chambers executive vice president, Neil Bradley, joined The Hill to discuss the impact of President Trumps tariffs on small businesses.

They have the optimism.  They want to see resolution. But listen, they just dont have that long to wait, Bradley told The Hill.

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Jobs solid, confidence down: The economys mixed message

When asked what he would say to small business owners unsure about the future, Bradley relayed a message of caution.

You cant assume anything about the future, so we can have hope about the resolution of these tariffs. But it does seem that some of the tariffs may be here to stay for a while, he said.

Thats why, at the U.S. Chamber, were arguing for this exemption for small businesses. We think they need that, but if were not able to get that, theyre going to have to adjust their business plans.

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DENVER (KDVR)  An 18-year-old suspect is facing numerous charges in connection with an attempted kidnapping that reportedly happened Monday near Thornton Middle School.

Steven Houseman is facing charges of second-degree kidnapping and criminal attempt to commit sexual assault. He has not entered a plea, according to court documents, but was given a $100,000 cash or surety bond and appeared in court Friday to hear the charges filed against him.

Denver man arrested in connection with shooting death of woman in Berthoud: Sheriffs office

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FOX31 obtained the arrest warrant for Houseman, which described what police learned about the attempted abduction on Monday. The affidavit said the 15-year-old girl was walking home from Thornton High School at about 11 a.m. and was headed to the Sierra Vista Apartments.

She told police that she was walking between Thornton Middle School and Five-Star Stadium with a drink in her hand and listening to music through earbuds.

According to the affidavit, she described being grabbed from behind, which caused her to drop her drink, and an unknown person placed an arm around (the victims) neck and squeezed tightly, simultaneously the person firmly placed another hand over (the victims) mouth.

She told police that she struggled with the attacker for 30 seconds to a minute and that she couldnt breathe and felt faint during the incident. She said the attacker eventually let go and ran toward the Sierra Vista Apartments, stopping briefly to look back, before continuing to flee.

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Police also spoke to a substitute teacher who witnessed the incident while she was sitting in her vehicle on break. She said she saw the attacker running toward Hoffman Way before getting into a red sedan and driving away.

18-year-old was subject to slashed tire, stalking from Denver deputy: Affidavit

Police obtained surveillance footage from the school and the stadium that showed the incident. They later identified the attacker as Houseman, who is a student at Thornton High School, and brought him in for questioning on April 29.

During the interview Steven admitted to attacking (the girl) with the intent to have sex with (her), the affidavit states.

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An arrest has been made and charges have been filed against an 18-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a woman on an LA Metro bus last month.

Edgar Zepeda was formally charged Friday with sexual battery, attempted armed first-degree robbery, and forcible oral copulation.

On the evening of April 12, Zepeda allegedly boarded an LA Metro bus in East Hollywood and took a seat behind a 33-year-old woman, at which point he pulled out a knife and attempted to rob her.

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When the woman said she didnt have any money, he sexually assaulted her at knife-point, authorities said. He then got off the bus at a stop near Exposition Park and fled the scene on foot.

Security images of the suspect in the sexual assault were released by the Los Angeles Police Department earlier this week, which eventually led to Zepeda being identified and arrested.

The circumstances of his arrest were not immediately disclosed by police.

Zepeda made his initial court appearance Friday and pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who said his office is committed to holding criminals fully accountable for violent crimes.

Los Angeles police released security images from an April 12, 2025 sexual assault on a Metro bus in East Hollywood. (Los Angeles Police Department) Los Angeles police released security images from an April 12, 2025 sexual assault on a Metro bus in East Hollywood. (Los Angeles Police Department)

The brutal attack of a woman on public transportation  where she should have felt safe  is both deplorable and unacceptable, Hochman said in a news release. No one in Los Angeles County should have to live in fear while riding a bus, walking down the street, or simply going about their daily lives.

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Zepeda is due back in court on May 15. If convicted as charged, he could face a maximum of 15 years to life in prison. Hes currently in police custody on $1.15 million bail.

The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives believe there may be additional victims who have not been contacted.

Any potential victims or witnesses can contact detectives with the LAPD Southwest sex crimes division at 323-290-2976. Anonymous tips can be provided online or by calling 800-222-8477.

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A Charlotte man has been arrested after allegedly hitting and killing two surveyors on an interstate in Florida.

ALSO READ: Motorcycle crash with multiple patients closes both sides of interstate, MEDIC says

According to WFTV, Hassan Abdirahman Sheikh Ali was driving a semitruck on Interstate 95 in Palm Bay when the incident occurred.

Ali then stopped at the scene for a second before taking off, according to police.

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The semitruck he was driving was later stopped by officers 130 miles later. He was allegedly impaired at the time of the incident.

Police said Ali is being held in Florida without bond.

VIDEO: Motorcycle crash with multiple patients closes both sides of interstate, MEDIC says
GAZA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 Palestinians were killed on Saturday in Israeli strikes targeting homes and tents sheltering displaced persons across the Gaza Strip, according to the Civil Defense in Gaza.

Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said 10 people died in an airstrike on the Ghattas family home in eastern Gaza City's Shuja'iyya neighborhood. Four others were killed in a drone strike on civilians in the Daraj neighborhood, and two more in Zeitoun, also in Gaza City.

In the southern city of Khan Younis, 11 people were killed in a strike on a residential house. One person died and three were injured when a tent near Nasser Medical Complex was hit. Another strike killed one more individual in a nearby tent. A pregnant woman was also killed in a drone strike on the Abu Hajras family home in Khan Younis.

The Israeli army has not commented on these incidents yet.

Meanwhile, the Kuwait Specialized Hospital in Rafah issued a press statement warning of the imminent collapse of the healthcare system amid severe shortages of medicine, medical supplies, and food.

"The situation has worsened due to the continued closure of border crossings and the disruption of humanitarian aid deliveries," the hospital said.

"More than 75 percent of essential medications are unavailable, significantly hampering the facility's ability to treat patients ... the current medical stocks may not last more than one week," it added.

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 2,396 Palestinians had been killed and 6,325 others injured since Israel renewed its intensive strikes, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 52,495, and injuries to 118,366, Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday. 
The Chenango County Historical Society and the Chenango County Historians Office will collaborate on an event titled, An America250 Conversation.

The organizations are seeking input from the people of Chenango County on how local communities will participate in America250, a national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The community dialogue, the second in a multi-year series, will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 29 at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus, at 20 Conkey Ave. The goals for the conversation are to present an overview of the official America250 themes, to seek public support for the commemoration and to encourage the participation of libraries, arts organizations, historical societies and other community organizations, the release stated.

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The commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution gives us the opportunity to re-examine the seminal events that took place between 1774 and 1783, and how those events have shaped our history and aspirations as a people, said Henry Drexler, county historian.

Were looking forward to this second collaborative conversation, said Jessica Moquin, CCHS executive director. As local planning gets underway for marking this national milestone, we welcome everyone to join us. The commemoration is anticipated to last through 2033, and we expect a range of programs will be hosted throughout Chenango County.

Registration is encouraged by emailing info@chenangohistorical.org.

Visit www.ChenangoHistorical.org for more details about this and other museum programs.
ANNISTON  In 2008, when the Surface Transportation Board approved the abandonment of a 1.4-mile Norfolk Southern rail corridor in Anniston, few could have predicted it would take nearly 16 years of research, advocacy and coordination to secure that short stretch of land for the completion of the Chief Ladiga Trail.

Toby Bennington, Annistons director of Economic Development and City Planning, has been at the center of it from the beginning.

There were times when it would have been easy to throw in the towel, Bennington said. But those of us who were there from the start held our own and didnt give up.

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The trail, a 33-mile paved path stretching from Anniston to the Alabama-Georgia line where it connects with Georgias Silver Comet Trail, has long been a cornerstone for regional recreation and economic development in Calhoun and Cleburne counties. But the final link  through the heart of Anniston  was tangled in legal ambiguity and bureaucratic red tape.

In June of 2008, the city and (Metropolitan Planning Organization) received notice of the Norfolk Southern abandonment, Bennington said. Former Mayor Gene Robinson and I reached out to Craig Orcutt with NS Real Estate. Craig, now retired, helped clarify what this meant and even provided original Valmaps of the railroad.

Despite Robinsons interest in moving forward, support from the City Council at the time was lacking, and there was no documented communication between the city and Norfolk Southern before the abandonment occurred.

Nonetheless, Bennington and Jack Plunk of the MPO created a line item in the regional transportation program, hoping the city would one day acquire the corridor.

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Progress was slow until the Stewart administration reignited the city's interest in the project. Bennington and then-City Manager Brian Johnson resumed talks with Norfolk Southern, only to find that the Alabama Water and Wastewater Systems Board had acquired part of the corridor by quitclaim deed.

Norfolk Southern argued they no longer owned the property  a claim that complicated the citys eligibility for federal funds. To unlock that funding, Anniston had to prove Norfolk Southern had once owned the right-of-way and build a property map from the ground up.

It was new to everybody  the consultants, the MPO, ALDOT, even the FHWA, Bennington said. We were creating a legal and historical record of rail ownership from scratch.

Multiple administrations  Stewart, Draper and now current leadership  kept the project moving. Kent Davis came on as city manager, and researchers Bruce Downey and Jay Rhodes dove into historical records to document the right-of-way ownership.

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That work paid off. The Federal Highway Administration and Alabama Department of Transportation ultimately approved the right-of-way map, allowing the city to purchase the property from Norfolk Southern and AWWSB.

Over 12 years, the MPO earmarked $525,000 for acquisition and design engineering. Sain Associates became the lead design consultant after JRWAs retirement, and environmental studies, permitting and neighborhood assessments followed. Former Anniston City Manager Steven Folks helped sustain the vision and leadership for the project.

During those years of persistence, the city expanded its bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure planning. With MPO support, Anniston developed a Bicycle-Pedestrian Integration Plan, a Multimodal Center Preservation Plan and several Share the Road routes. In 2012, the city added the McClellan Spur using Recreational Trail Funds, connecting the trail to the Longleaf Preserve and the Talladega National Forest via the Pinhoti Trail.

This was never just about a trail, Bennington said. It was about building a system that connects people  to each other, to downtown, to the outdoors.

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In 2022, Anniston officially purchased the final 1.4-mile segment from Norfolk Southern. And on February 20, 2024, the city awarded a $7.26 million construction contract to B&B Developers to complete the trail.

The list of contributors is long: former mayors, city managers, MPO staff like Lori Sokol and Elizabeth Messick, state officials like Del Marsh and DeJarvis Leonard of ALDOT, researchers, engineers, JSU economists and many more.

This has been a team effort from start to finish, said Jackson Hodges, the citys director of Public Relations. Toby really was the glue. Without his institutional knowledge and drive, I dont think this wouldve happened.

Now, with the final leg finished, Anniston is positioned to reap the trails economic and recreational benefits. A JSU-led impact study predicts increased tourism, healthier lifestyles and stronger local economies along the route.

For Anniston, this is more than a trail, Bennington said. Its a legacy  and a promise fulfilled.
Four adults and one child were found alive after surviving nearly 48 hours in a swamp in Bolivia

A search and rescue operation had been launched to find possible survivors after a small plane was reported missing on Wednesday, April 30

The plane had crashed after having engine failure, according to reports

Four adults and one child have been found alive after surviving nearly two days in alligator-infested waters following a plane crash in Bolivia.

On Friday, May 2, the five people were rescued after the small plane was found by local fishermen in Bolivia's Amazonas region around 48 hours after the aircraft was reported missing, Bolivian news outlets La Razon and Red Uno and BBC News reported.

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The plane took off from Baures in northern Bolivia heading to the city of Trinidad at 12:00 noon local time on Wednesday, April 30. The pilot reported "technical problems" around an hour into the flight, "before all contact with the aircraft was lost," La Razon reported.

A search and rescue operation was launched to find the missing passengers on Thursday, May 1.

Among the survivors were three women, a child, and the 29-year-old pilot. They were found in excellent condition, Wilson Avila, director of the Beni Department's emergency operations centre, told BBC News.



Ministerio de Defensa Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia/Facebook Survivors of plane crash in Bolivia Survivors of plane crash in Bolivia

Related: Pilot Rescued with Daughters After Spending Night on Crashed Wing Was Not Authorized to Have Passengers: Officials

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The passengers were found huddled together on the fuselage of the small plane" after surviving there for more than 40 hours, Red Uno stated on Instagram.

In footage posted by the outlet, the survivors are seen being transported to helicopters on stretchers by emergency responders after being rescued.

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The Ministry of Defense said in a statement, per La Razon, "On Friday, May 2, at 7:20 a.m., an Eco Charlie EC-145 helicopter took off from Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Equipped with a crane, tracking technology, and specialized equipment from the SAR-FAB (Bolivian Air Force Search and Rescue Service), this unit headed to the municipality of Baures. The search was reinforced in the area delimited by the previous flights."

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Aerial work and ground tracking helped to locate the missing aircraft.

Pilot Andres Velarde said the plane crashed in an emergency landing after having engine failure, according to BBC News. He tried to land the aircraft near the Itanomas River, however, the plane lost altitude and he was forced to land in the swamp, the outlet reported.



Getty Small plane (stock image) Small plane (stock image)

Related: Man and 2 Children Found Alive During 'Miracle' Rescue 12 Hours After Plane Crashes on Frozen Alaska Lake

The five people remained on top of the plane where they were "surrounded by alligators that came within three meters of us, Velarde told BBC News. "We couldn't drink water and we couldn't go anywhere else because of the alligators.

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Velarde said he believes the alligators stayed away as petrol was leaking from the plane into the water, the outlet reported.

Ruben Torres, director of the Beni Region Health Department, said, "I am really happy because in the end all the institutions joined together to be able to find the missing people and save those lives," per BBC News.

Read the original article on People
(NewsNation)  The trade war between the United States and China has become noticeable on the American front.

Chinese shipments to U.S. ports have dropped noticeably at the Port of Los Angeles, which, along with the Port of Long Beach, receives 40% of all imports from Asia.

Shipments in Los Angeles were down 10% compared to the same time in the previous year. Last week, port officials warned arrivals would keep dropping.

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We are now beginning to see the flow of cargo to the Port of Los Angeles slow, Port of Los Angeles executive director Gene Seroka said on April 24. Its my prediction that in two weeks time, arrivals will drop by 35%.

Trumps tariffs explained: When do they start, and who is affected?

He said that was because essentially all shipments out of China for major retailers and manufacturers has ceased.

Import taxes on products shipped from China remain at 145%, which Trump implemented beginning April 9. Popular budget retail brands like Temu and Shein have already responded by raising consumer prices. Known for their low-cost items, both companies said their operating expenses had increased due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs.

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The Port of Seattle has also seen changes. The ports commissioner Ryan Calkins said the trade war will translate to real pocketbook impacts for American consumers.

Calkins said he expects fewer vessels coming into U.S. ports in the coming weeks, with less cargo on board when they arrive.

Were going to see a pretty significant drop off towards the end of May, Calkins said of port traffic. And of course, that isnt going to change, even if things improve in the trade dispute over the next few days.

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CHURCH HILL, Tenn. (WJHL)  The suspect in a Church Hill homicide investigation has turned himself in, according to police.

Church Hill Police Chief Chad Mosley said Friday evening that Hunter Groves turned himself in to the police department.

Gang members accused of stabbing 3 corrections officers at Southwest Virginia prison

Groves was transported to the Hawkins County Jail in Rogersville on a $500,000 bond, Mosley said.

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Authorities charged him with second-degree murder in the death of Joseph William Pennington, 43, who was found dead inside a home on Highland Avenue after a reported shooting.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The White House plans to cut staffing at the CIA and other intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency, Trump administration officials told members of Congress, The Washington Post reported Friday.

A person familiar with the plan but not authorized to discuss it publicly confirmed the changes to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The administration plans to reduce the CIA workforce by 1,200 over several years, and cut thousands of positions at the NSA and other intelligence agencies. The Post reported that the reductions at the CIA include several hundred people who have already opted for early retirement. The rest of the cuts would be achieved partly through reduced hirings and would not likely necessitate layoffs.

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In response to questions about the reductions, the CIA issued a statement saying CIA Director John Ratcliffe is working to align the agency with Trump's national security priorities.

These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position CIA to deliver on its mission, the agency wrote in the statement.

A spokesperson for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Gabbard's office oversees and coordinates the work of 18 agencies that collect and analyze intelligence.

The CIA and NSA have already offered voluntary resignations to some employees. The CIA also has said it plans to lay off an unknown number of recently hired employees.

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The new administration has also eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs at intelligence agencies, though a judge has temporarily blocked efforts to fire 19 employees working on DEI programs who challenged their terminations.

Trump also abruptly fired the general who led the NSA and the Pentagon's Cyber Command.

Ratcliffe has vowed to overhaul the CIA and said he wants to boost the agency's use of intelligence from human sources and its focus on China.

___
This video screenshot taken on April 29, 2025 shows a worker carrying out drainage operations in flood-prone areas in the suburban area of Guediawaye of Dakar, the capital of Senegal. (Photo by Papa Demba Gueye/Xinhua)

DAKAR, May 3 (Xinhua) -- As the rainy season approaches in West Africa, Senegal is intensifying its flood prevention efforts through coordinated actions involving government agencies, local authorities, and community residents.

Senegal's National Office of Sanitation (ONAS) recently launched a special campaign ahead of the rainy season to dredge and drain water channels in the national capital of Dakar and throughout the country. By mobilizing a large workforce and heavy equipment and working with local communities, the initiative aims to minimize the risk of urban flooding.

Dakar is the most densely populated area in Senegal and one of the regions most vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. According to meteorological data, the rainy season in Dakar typically begins in late June and lasts until the end of October, with the risk of flooding persisting from early July to mid-October.

In the suburban area of Guediawaye, workers equipped with shovels, assisted by suction trucks and excavators, are busy clearing flood-prone zones. They are removing garbage and silt from drainage ditches to ensure the smooth flow of water.

"We have deployed technical personnel and heavy machinery, including water pumping vehicles, to fully clean blocked drainage pipes, reservoirs, and culverts," said Djibril Samb, an ONAS staff member overseeing the operation on site.

At the campaign's launch ceremony, Senegalese Minister of Water and Sanitation Cheikh Tidiane Dieye emphasized that while the government has invested significant resources in flood control, public cooperation is equally vital.

He urged residents not to litter, block waterways, or damage drainage infrastructure, and encouraged them to actively participate in community cleaning and maintenance efforts.

Since 2012, Senegal has been implementing the National Flood Management Plan to improve its flood disaster response capacity. The plan includes the construction of stormwater drainage infrastructure in Dakar and other regions, which has significantly reduced flooding in many areas.

Astou Mbengue, head of data collection at the Senegalese Federation of Residents' Associations, called on the government to prioritize urban drainage development and speed up improvements to both sewage and stormwater discharge networks.

She also suggested that authorities involve residents in all stages of project design, construction, and maintenance to help establish a sustainable, long-term mechanism. 

This photo taken on April 30, 2025 shows a suction truck discharging sewage in the suburban area of Guediawaye of Dakar, the capital of Senegal. (Xinhua/Si Yuan)
A Cincinnati sheriffs deputy was fatally struck by a car driven by the father of an armed 18-year-old man who was shot and killed by police a day earlier, authorities say.

The driver in a way that was calculated and premeditated lined up his car, deliberately accelerated his car and purposely caused the death of an on-duty deputy sheriff, prosecuting attorney Ryan Nelson said Saturday morning at the fathers arraignment.

It appeared from everybody who was on the scene that he deliberately struck the deputy in an attempt to kill him, Nelson said.

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Prosecutors are seeking an indictment for aggravated murder, Nelson said.

The defendant, Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, is the father of a man who was fatally shot by Cincinnati police on Thursday morning, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said. On Friday night, police identified the 18-year-old as Ryan Hinton, according to CNN affiliate WCPO.

Authorities have not said whether the suspect had any connection to the deputy.

Ryan Hinton turned 18 a few weeks ago, family attorney Michael Wright said, who described him as a fun, loving and good kid, adding, The circumstances surrounding his interaction with the police there, you know, they [the family] are surprised that occurred.

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Hinton Jr.s son was armed and fleeing from a stolen vehicle when a responding officer fatally shot him, police said. Police body cam footage does not clearly show whether the fleeing man pointed a gun at the officer.

The family reviewed the footage between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday, and the father was very distraught, according to Wright, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Wright told CNN that he has filed a public records request and is asking for additional information.

At this point, we are still investigating the circumstances of Ryan being shot and killed by the Cincinnati Police Department, Wright said, adding that he has met with the Chief of Police. The familys pretty upset, pretty distraught about what happened to their son.

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Police said the deputy was killed at about 1 p.m. Friday.

Public defender Tom Ewing acknowledged an emotionally charged situation at the arraignment in a Hamilton County courtroom packed with law enforcement officers.

I understand that theres a lot of sadness and a lot of anger in this room right now an in the community at large, he said, before requesting a reasonable bond.

The judge ordered Hinton Jr. to be held without bond until a hearing Tuesday.

The deputy was hit while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati, where commencement was taking place, Theetge said.

The officer was just out doing his job  for what was supposed to be a glorious day for many, Theetge said. Responding police and fire officials transported the deputy to the universitys medical center, where he later died, according to a police statement.

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The deputy, whom authorities are not naming in accordance with an Ohio law protecting crime victims rights, had recently retired but continued on in service as a special deputy, Theetge said. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine condemned the Hamilton County deputys killing.

I have been briefed on the ongoing investigation and am sickened by what appears to be an intentional act of violence. We offer our sincere condolences to the deputys family, friends and colleagues, DeWine wrote on social media.

Police shooting happened in six quick seconds

In a news conference Friday, Theetge detailed the police encounter on Thursday that resulted in the 18-year-olds death, showing footage from the body cam of the officer who fired the fatal shots.

The man was among four suspects discovered in a stolen vehicle in a parking lot in Cincinnatis East Price Hill neighborhood, Theetge said. All four fled when uniformed officers arrived, and the 18-year-old was seen holding a handgun, the chief said.

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One of the officers shot the 18-year-old as he emerged from between two dumpsters, the body cam video showed. On the footage, moments before the shooting another officer can be heard yelling, Hes got a gun! Hes got a gun! On your right! On your right!

The officer said after the shooting that the 18-year-old appeared to point the gun at him, according to Theetge.

When the individual came out between the dumpsters, he had the firearm in front of him. It was in like a bladed position, and it was pointed at the officer, and he (the officer) felt threatened for his life and thats why he discharged his firearm, the chief said.

Theetge said the officer is believed to have fired four to five shots, two of which are believed to have hit the teen.

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The police body cam footage played at the news conference does not clearly show the fleeing man point a gun at the officer. Theetge acknowledged the footage is a very blurred image, unfortunately because the body cam was kind of jolting as the officer is running.

Police recovered a handgun with an extended clip they say the 18-year-old was carrying. Theetge said the gun had not been fired.

The officer who opened fire has been with the Cincinnati Police Department for more than 10 years and was assigned to the Fugitive Apprehension Squad in the departments Special Investigations Section, Theetge said.

The chief said the officers tried to save this gentlemans life by administering different variations of medical aid until other emergency officials arrived. She defended the officers actions, stressing how quickly the scene unfolded.

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I want to point outfrom the time they bailed from the vehicle and police were chasing them to the time the individual was shot  six seconds. Six quick seconds, Theetge said, calling it unreasonable to expect the officers to process and determine a different course of action in such a short time.

The shooting remains under investigation by the departments homicide unit.

A tremendous loss we have all suffered

Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey described the fallen deputy as a beloved figure who had dedicated decades of his life to public service.

He was so well-liked and so well-known, we could fill this building with the law enforcement agencies that respect him, love him, his friends, his family, McGuffey said, adding, What a tremendous loss we have all suffered.

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Theetge urged Cincinnati residents to remain patient as the city grapples with two critical incidents that unfolded over two days.

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 Cincinatti, I will ensure you transparency and a thorough and accurate investigation, Theetge said.

The department held a procession Friday night to honor the deputy, CNN affiliate WLWT reported.

He will not be alone, McGuffey said. There will be someone with him until the day that he transitions to higher ground.

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The family of the slain 18-year-old called the killing of the officer a tremendous tragedy, according to Wright, their attorney, and said they are sorry for the loss of the officer and offer their condolences to the officers family.

This is a horrific tragedy on both sides. This family lost their son, and this police officer lost his life, Wright said.

The Cincinnati Police Department is serving as the lead agency in the investigation into the deputys death, officials said.

CNNs Alaa Elassar contributed to this report.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  The idea of encouraging planting, protecting, and appreciating trees rose from the mind of a Nebraska pioneer, Julius Sterling Morton. On that first Arbor Day, about one million trees were planted.

Since April 10, 1872, communities around the world have found many ways to honor nature and the environment for Arbor Day. A holiday thats usually observed in late April or early May.

Springfield city leaders, federal officials, and students from Mary Dryden Veterans Memorial Elementary decided to mark this holiday on May 2, 2025, after losing a tree over school vacation.

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There was an ash tree out there that was providing shade and growing in the school yard just out front, but unfortunately it was infested with an invasive bug, said Alex Sherman, Springfield City Forester.

Before picking up the shovels, the students led the celebration with the Pledge of Allegiance, poems, and songs.

Its a long tradition that began under Congressman Richard Neal when he served as the city`s Mayor of Springfield several decades ago.

Since Congressman Neal passed the baton to Mayor Domenic Sarno, Springfield has planted thousands of trees to cool homes, improve air quality, and strengthen the communitys resilience to climate change.

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The School Faculty, Springfield city leaders, and federal officials wanted to teach the elementary students how a tree can resemble a child growing.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno told the students, As you start to grow and have your families, you know, you become the roots and the trunk of the trees.

Now the students will be reminded of their impact on this world by looking at a growing 50-foot-tall maple tree in front of their school.

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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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Two civil rights groups have now promised action after lawmakers did not act on the new social studies standards, meaning they will eventually be implemented.

The two groups include Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law.

Oklahoma families, not politicians or public schools, should decide if, when, and how children engage with religion. If implemented, these new social studies standards will violate students and families religious freedom by promoting Christianity and advancing Christian Nationalist disinformation. Not on our watch. We are preparing to take the steps necessary to protect the religious freedom of all Oklahoma public school students and prevent these standards from undermining public education in Oklahoma. Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law

They were also a part of a lawsuit which eventually led to a temporary halt to Supt. Walters Bible buying for Oklahoma classrooms.

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Senate and House republicans are asked why they didnt act on school standards

It was in March when the Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the State Department of Education from purchasing Bibles and Bible-based lessons for Oklahoma schools.

The court barred OSDE from issuing any new requests for the purchase of Bibles. The ruling also places a temporary hold on a request for proposals seeking a supplier for Bible-based curriculum.

The ruling came after the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the state agency that oversees RFPs, asked the court to issue a stay because of the concerns about ongoing lawsuits and the possibility of new legal challenges.

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There is no litigation filed just yet regarding the standards, but the two groups said it is more than likely would come when the standards go into effect.

The standards wont officially be applied to schools until the 2026/2027 school year. Contracts to find textbook suppliers begin later this year and last until next year.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have continued to push for some accountability when it comes to Supt. Walters and him using tax dollars for legal fees/legal counsel.

Hes communicating to the Republican caucuses thats making them feel comfortable about these standards, because our continued concern about those standards at their age is inappropriate, politically charged. And there are so many religious undertones, said Rep. Cyndi Munson.

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News 4 reached out to OSDE for a response to the potential for this litigation, but didnt hear back.

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The pictures tell the stories, a dozen photos and a collar, all beloved pets by two women.

Tears still fill their eyes as they recall the heart-shattering news that the ashes behind each of their photos may not belong to their beloved pets.

These animals were members of their family, and they believe their family was not treated with any type of respect in fact it was disrespect, said Attorney Robert Peirce.

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The class action lawsuit is now being filed as more victims come forward. All of them claim to have paid Patrick Vereb for a proper burial of their pet, yet an Attorney Generals Office complaint said Vereb dumped those pets in a landfill instead.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Pittsburgh funeral home owner accused of dumping pets in landfill instead of cremating them

The purpose of the class action is primarily to find out what happened to these animals and why, Peirce said.

These victims are now seeking answers, knowing it may not be the information they want to hear. While the AGs criminal case only covers the years 2021-2024, Peirce encourages anyone who used these services to give them a call.

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PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Woman questions if her pets ashes are real after funeral home owner was charged with deception

Im afraid this is the tip of the iceberg and it could be worse, Peirce said.

The law offices already had dozens of victims reach out and do plan to try to get some money back.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Former employee reporting suspicions to police led to charges against Pittsburgh funeral home owner

If you think you are a victim, you can contact the two law firms.

Rob Peirce, Robert Peirce & Associates

robpeirce@peircelaw.com

Gary Lynch, Lynch Carpenter

gary@lcllp.com

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WEST POINT  A West Point man facing multiple felony sex charges was captured in Indiana and returned to Mississippi recently.

The investigation into Kenneth McWilliams Jr., 41, of West Point, began in April. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said when McWilliams learned of the investigation, he fled the area. He was later apprehended by local police in Porter, Indiana, about 20 miles east of Chicago.

McWilliams was booked into the Clay County Jail on April 30 around 8 p.m. He is charged with sexual battery of a child under 14, sexual battery of a child under 18, enticement of a child to meet for sexual purposes, and felony taking of a motor vehicle.

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There is a chance he could face additional charges. A joint investigation by the Clay and Oktibbeha sheriffs offices and the state district attorneys office is ongoing.

During the initial appearance in Clay County Justice Court, McWilliams' bond was set at $2 million.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  The Texas Legislature is up against the clock. Once May 15 passes, all bills which havent hit the House floor are dead for the session.

On Thursday afternoon, vocal conservative members of House Republican Caucus held a press conference expressing concerns over their chambers lack of progress.

Elon Musks attorney John Bash drops out of Texas Attorney General race

The clock is ticking and our Republican voters are looking for the Republican majority they elected in the Texas House to deliver, State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, said. In February I penned an op-ed Id like to quote from because its still true today. [House Speaker Dustin] Burrows is in a position where he has an opportunity to deliver and silence his critics.'

Priority bills waiting

In February, Gov. Greg Abbott laid out seven emergency items to address this session:

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On Saturday, Abbott will sign a bill achieving the first goal of establishing ESAs. The rest remain on the shelf.

After getting ESAs passed, Abbott has appeared to turn his focus to bail reform, advocating for the legislation in Austin on Tuesday and in Houston on Wednesday.

This is common sense. You pass this bill  pass this constitutional amendment  lives will literally be saved. You fail to pass this, more people are going to be murdered, Abbott said. However the two main pieces of legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Joint Resolution 5, were sent to the House on March 25 and have sat awaiting a committee hearing since.

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Border encounters down 94% in Trumps first two months

Were reaching a point where if your bills not out of a House committee, youre in trouble, Former Texas Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen said. Were not quite there, next week is the point where it gets pretty, pretty hard to get a bill passed to the governors desk.

However, priority legislation, like bail reform, could get fast-tracked if Abbott has the two-thirds majority necessary to get the measures passed.

Straight forward, there are 88 Republicans in the Texas House who I know will support this proposal, Abbott said. To get it passed [we] would need 12 Democrats in the Texas House to agree to this, so its just a matter of gaining the support of 12 Democrats.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg police evacuated the Lovin Life Music Fest on Saturday afternoon in light of severe storms.

Severe thunderstorms rolled into Mecklenburg County around 4:30 p.m. And the severe thunderstorm warnings ended around 5:30 p.m.

FORECAST: Tracking strong to severe storms Saturday PM

CMPD evacuated the Lovin Life Music Festival in Uptown as lightning approached. They asked spectators to seek shelter in nearby parking garages.

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Lovin Life posted on social media before 5 p.m. asking people to evacuate festival grounds and go to the 7th Street parking garage.

The Lovin Life Music Fest is being evacuated due to inclement weather pic.twitter.com/hjfqVKIblo  Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 3, 2025

Lovin Life later posted on social media about the festivals return to the stage.

Posts informed spectators that the music would resume at 6:30 p.m., after lightning had cleared the area.

CMPD informed guests that the gates had reopened around 6:25 p.m.

FORECAST: Storms move in from the west around 10 PM
A 54-year-old man was airlifted from the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship near Cape Flattery on Friday, The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest posted on X.

The man was experiencing stroke-like symptoms and the Coast Guard crew, based out of Air Station Port Angeles, medevacd the man and he was brought to Olympic Medical Center, the Coast Guard said.

In video posted by the USCG PNW, a member of the Coast Guard can be seen lowering down with a basket onto the bow of the cruise ship and safely raising the man up to the helicopter above.
People gather at the Colorado Capitol in Denver on Feb. 3, 2025, for the national "A Day Without Immigrants" demonstration, a response to President Donald Trump's policies that target immigrants. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill Saturday to expand the states existing protections for immigrants and further limit how local law enforcement can interact with federal immigration authorities.

Senate Bill 25-276 passed on a party-line vote, with Democrats in favor. The Senate, which approved it in April, needs to sign off on changes made in the House before the bill heads to Gov. Jared Polis desk.

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There is clarity in place of what happens when an (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) action takes place. Notice that Im saying when, because everyone here knows that there is zero sense of false hope, especially in our immigrant population. They know more than anyone here in this room that they are not living risk free, Rep. Lorena Garcia, a bill sponsor and Adams County Democrat, said ahead of the vote.

This bill is a declaration to our commitment to civil and constitutional rights in this state, for everyone who calls this state home, she said.

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The bill would prohibit local government officials and employees from sharing personal identifying information about immigration status with ICE and would also limit where ICE can go within a public school, child care facility, hospital and library without a warrant signed by a judge. A House amendment removed the inclusion of surrounding areas to those banned spaces.

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Public officials who intentionally violate that data sharing provision would be liable for a $50,000 civil fine, which would go to the states immigration legal defense fund.

The bill would also prevent local sheriffs from delaying a persons release from jail for the purpose of immigration enforcement, get rid of certain affidavit requirements for immigrants seeking in-state tuition or a drivers license, and allow immigrant defendants to ask that a guilty plea is overturned if they were not aware of immigration consequences of that plea when they made it.

This bill does not provide immigrants with more rights than citizens, but it ensures equal treatment under the law, bill sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, a Glenwood Springs Democrat, said.

Democrats framed the bill as a response to the Trump administrations mass deportation efforts and increased detentions of immigrants without legal status, which they said are often imposed without the due process the bill tries to protect.

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When we violate due process, we violate justice, Garcia said.

An Aurora apartment building was the site of a chaotic immigration raid earlier this year, and dozens of international students in Colorado have had their visas revoked. There have also been coordinated drug and immigration enforcement efforts at unofficial nightclubs in Adams County and Colorado Springs, and it is unclear whether the people detained in those actions have a criminal history warranting arrest.

One of the reasons why I appreciate this bill so much is that it is one of few that is really taking seriously the crisis that the federal administration poses for immigrants in particular and for marginalized people generally, Rep. Yara Zokaie, a Fort Collins Democrat, said.

Republicans, during the initial debate on the bill and on Saturday, argued that the bill could provoke the Trump administration to target Colorado and withhold federal money. On Friday afternoon, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to invalidate the type of sanctuary laws that prohibit coordination and information sharing between local officials and immigration authorities.

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This is super-sizing sanctuary policy, Rep. Max Brooks, a Castle Rock Republican, said. When we consider this bill, we ought to be looking at the downsides, not just the emotional stories to be able to support it, but we need to look at what could potentially be the harm and the downstream negative impact.

Eric Maruyama, a Polis spokesperson, said in a statement Saturday that the Governors office has expressed concerns about the original version of SB25-276, and has been working with legislators, as well as stakeholders, including law enforcement, throughout the process on amendments that would help gain the Governors support. Colorado is not a sanctuary state, and Governor Polis continues urging Congress to secure the border and do their job and pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Once the bill is sent to Polis, he will have 30 days to sign or veto it. The legislative session ends Wednesday.

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SINGAPORE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Polling has officially concluded in Singapore's general election, with voting stations closing at 8:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Saturday and results expected later Saturday or early Sunday.

A total of 209 candidates from 11 political parties and coalitions, along with two independents, contested 97 elected seats in the parliament. Five of these seats, located in the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights multi-member constituency, were uncontested and secured by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) on Nomination Day, April 23.

This election marks the first time Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is leading the PAP into a general election, after succeeding Lee Hsien Loong in May 2024, following Lee's two-decade tenure. Since its independence in 1965, Singapore has been governed by the PAP, which has won every general election with more than 60 percent of the popular vote and has consistently maintained a strong parliamentary majority.

At stake has been its share of the vote. In the 2020 general election, the PAP received 61.24 percent of the popular vote, a decline from 69.86 percent in 2015.

The Workers' Party (WP), the only opposition party to win seats in the 2020 election, increased its representation from six seats in 2015 to ten in 2020. In the current election, the WP is fielding 26 candidates across eight constituencies, in a bid widely seen as an effort to expand its footprint in the eastern region.

During the nine-day campaign period that began on April 23, the PAP highlighted global uncertainties, particularly the effects of recent U.S. tariffs on open economies like Singapore, and urged voters to back experienced leadership. Several seasoned ministers were among its candidates. Meanwhile, the WP campaigned for greater political diversity and questioned the notion that certain individuals are indispensable.

A survey conducted by research firm Blackbox between late March and early April, involving more than 1,500 Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, found that the cost of living remains the top concern across all demographic groups. Employment, wages, and housing affordability followed closely, with housing issues cited as particularly pressing among voters in their 30s. 
At the most recent annual conference of the American Society on Aging, the topic on the minds of the nations leading experts on aging was the future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in the current political environment.

Their insights, which are vitally important to anyone in or near retirement, mostly ranged from dour to downright bleak.

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This is nothing like anyones ever seen before, said Amy Gotwals, chief of public policy and external affairs at USAging (formerly the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging). Theres an incredible amount of disruption.

The anxiety-filled On Aging conference came near the end of President Donald Trumps first 100 days back in the White House, a period that has featured dramatic changes, proposals and staffing cutbacks for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid  programs that provide benefits primarily to older Americans. Many of those actions have been decided on and carried out by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

For the first time in a long time, Congress is looking to cut some of those mandatory programs, said Gotwals.

Read: How bad have 10 weeks of stock-market volatility been for your retirement fund? Maybe not as bad as you think.

Social Securitys future

There was a sliver of good news about Social Security, which turns 90 in August: None of the experts I heard from believe benefits will be cut any time soon for current beneficiaries or people close to claiming Social Security. Nor did they think the president and Congress will raise the full retirement age from the current 67.

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But they agreed that changes to Social Security will be needed at some point before 2033, when the programs trust fund is projected to be depleted.

Read: Opinion: A flat $1,660 monthly Social Security benefit for everyone? Its one proposed CBO remedy.

Although Trump has vowed to protect Social Security, the conference analysts were outraged by the efforts of DOGE to cut the Social Security workforce by roughly 12% and to close or merge offices.

About 40 field offices have lost at least 25% of their staff, and others have seen even larger workforce reductions, according to NPR.

If this is protecting the program, what does it look like when theyre not protecting a program? asked National Council on Aging Chief Executive Ramsey Alwin.

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These and likely future cutbacks to customer service, the experts said, will pose worsening problems for people who need assistance from the Social Security Administration or who are just looking to receive benefits theyre due.

Now some people have to drive five or six hours to go to a Social Security office, and you need an appointment, said Ryann Hill, founder and CEO of Indigo Hill Strategies, a government affairs, public policy and lobbying firm.

There has already been a longstanding customer-service crisis at Social Security, following decades of underfunding of its operating budget, said Rebecca Vallas, CEO of the National Academy of Social Insurance, an organization made up of experts on social insurance.

Average call wait times at the Social Security Administration have more than doubled since August. Thats happening as the number of calls has soared  from 6.5 million in November 2024 to 10.4 million in March.

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Before Trump began his second term, the average Social Security wait time for callers was an hour. Now its an hour and 39 minutes.

My check of the Social Security Administrations website on the morning of April 29 found there were 4,349 people on hold and 12,919 waiting for callbacks. Only 39% of callers are now able to reach a representative, down from 71% in May 2024.

Wait times are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week and later in the month, the site advises.

In mid-April, the Social Security Administration launched restrictions on what kind of help people can receive from the agency over the phone. The reason, officials say, is to crack down on fraud by people calling to apply for benefits.

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Theres now a new phone verification system, although the administration hasnt offered many details. Theres a lot of confusion about the antifraud verification, Vallas said.

And if the DOGE team winds up incorrectly putting your name into Social Securitys death master file, prepare for trouble.

Landing on that list could harm your ability to get credit, Vallas said, because the Social Security Administration sends the names on its deceased list to consumer credit-reporting agencies.

Another Trump administration change thats roiling advocates for older people is its rollback of President Joe Bidens clawback rules for people who received overpayments of their monthly Social Security benefits.

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Biden capped the clawbacks at 10% of benefits per month. The Trump administration initially said it would withhold 100% of benefits until the amount is repaid, but it then backed off and switched to 50% withholding, effective April 25.

The health of Medicare

The experts at the OnAging conference were generally less concerned about big potential changes to Medicare than to Medicaid.

Medicare is much more sacrosanct than Medicaid in many ways, said David Lipschutz, co-director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

Lipschutz shared the comforting news that the Congressional Budget Office now says Medicares Hospital Insurance Trust Fund wont be depleted until 2052  17 years later than it predicted a year ago.

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When it comes to Medicare, the chief immediate worry among experts concerns the nations State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as SHIP.

SHIP provides free, nonpartisan assistance to state residents, explaining how Medicare works, the differences between traditional Medicare and private insurers Medicare Advantage plans, Part D prescription-drug plans, Medigap policies, how to appeal Medicare denials and who qualifies for Medicare subsidy programs.

SHIP isnt an expensive government program, relatively speaking: It has an annual budget of $55 million. But it was part of the Administration on Community Living, a federal agency the Trump administration is eliminating.

Pieces of ACL are moving to three other agencies, but the administration hasnt yet said what the future holds for the SHIP program.

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We need people to help explain how Medicare works and to find the best programs for people, said Gotwals. Unlike SHIP staffers, agents and brokers get paid by Medicare Advantage insurers and can sell plans that are in their own interest rather than the best interests of beneficiaries.

Gotwals said a leaked draft budget from DOGE calls for eliminating federal funds for SHIP. If that happens, SHIP would only continue through contributions from states and community-based organizations.

As of now, experts think SHIP will keep running through the upcoming Medicare enrollment period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2025. Beyond that, however, is anyones guess.

The Medicare experts also said the Trump administration is very supportive of Medicare Advantage plans, which now have more members than traditional Medicare.

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In early April, the administration announced a higher-than-expected payment increase of 5.03% to Medicare Advantage plans for 2026.

Trump, they noted, also halted Biden administration restrictions on the marketing of Medicare Advantage plans.

We expect less emphasis on consumer protection in this administration, Lipschutz said.

He also told On Aging attendees that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may be working on proposals to make Medicare Advantage the default enrollment choice. Currently, traditional Medicare is the default.

Medicaid is in a critical moment

Medicaid, the federal-state health program for low-income Americans, which accounts for 12% of federal spending, is most likely to see quick and possibly devastating changes, the conference speakers said.

We are in a critical moment now for the future of the Medicaid program, said Lipschutz. This is crunch time.

If Medicaid funding is reduced significantly  were likely to know how much by Memorial Day  people in long-term care and their family members could face serious financial challenges. Thats because Medicaid, unlike Medicare, covers some expenses for nursing homes, assisted-living care and home care.

Roughly half the money spent on long-term services and support is provided by Medicaid.

The budget resolution passed recently by Republicans in Congress instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut spending by $880 billion over 10 years, and Medicaid looks like a target to achieve that goal.

The Congressional Budget Office says its impossible for the Trump administration and Congress to reach its spending targets without deep cuts to Medicaid, said Lipschutz. He believes home- and community-based long-term-care services paid for by Medicaid are especially at risk.

Read: $880 billion in Medicaid cuts would be devastating for nursing homes and their residents

Rural health clinics could also close, because they receive significant funds from Medicaid. Congress might cut funding to states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, too.

Dental care will also likely take a hit, since it is often cut when money is tight.

Reflecting the mood of the conference, American Society on Aging President and CEO Leanne Clark-Shirley told the audience: What felt safe and secure before now feels under threat. The landscape of public funding for aging services, research and health initiatives is changing by the day  sometimes by the hour.

Most Read from MarketWatch
By David Lewis, Giulia Paravicini and Sonia Rolley

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) -The M23 insurgents who routed Congos army to take control of the eastern part of one of Africas most populous nations now face a task as mundane as it is daunting: governing.

The long-term success of their uprising  which aims to overthrow the current leadership in the capital of Kinshasa  requires showing they can bring order and prosperity to the regions they already hold. Whether they can pull it off depends in large part on reviving the economy in seized areas that are home to more than five million people.

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Virtually all banks are closed. Currency shortages abound. With supply chains disrupted, prices of some staples have jumped. Now residents are finding themselves subject to new taxes imposed by the insurgents, who need money to finance their revolution.

The changes can be seen near the town of Rubaya, where M23 has moved quickly to tighten its grip on a slice of Congos vast mineral wealth. Small, artisanal mines there produce around one-sixth of the worlds supply of coltan, a metallic ore crucial to the production of smartphones and other electronic devices. M23 now charges a tax of 15% on the value of that coltan production, according to rebel officials and traders who disclosed that figure for the first time to Reuters.

Rebel administrators are rolling out other levies too. Private businesses and aid agencies have been handed tax bills. Theyre imposing duties as high as 20% on small-time traders to sell staples like bananas, cloth and cooking charcoal, even as cash-strapped consumers tighten their belts.

Customers dont come any more, said Rachelle Monimpo, who sells cloth in a Goma market. Its becoming very complicated for us to get the money to pay this tax.

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Reuters journalists recently visited the M23-controlled cities of Goma and Bukavu, as well as Rubaya, a town to the west, and spoke to more than three dozen officials, residents, traders and businesspeople living or operating there. Most requested anonymity to speak freely about the latest upheaval in the years-long conflict in Congo. The fighting has displaced more than 4 million people, involved dozens of armed groups and sucked in armies from three neighboring countries. Over the past four months, M23 made a lightning advance across eastern Congo that has sent hundreds of thousands more residents fleeing.

During the day, the streets of Goma and Bukavu bustle with motorcycle taxis and pedestrians. Many businesses are open. The cities border crossings with neighboring Rwanda are booming as Congolese residents stream across to obtain cash and goods. As night falls, however, Goma and Bukavu are largely deserted, aside from rebel patrols and remnants of pro-government militia groups roaming the streets.

M23 receives backing from the government of Rwanda, according to the United Nations. In response, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the European Union have imposed a range of punitive measures, including cutting aid and sanctioning Rwandan officials and entities suspected of supporting the rebels.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied funding, arming or training M23. But Rwandas ruling party, mainly headed by ethnic Tutsis, shares the same concerns as the Tutsi-dominated M23 insurgents over the purported threat posed by rival Hutu groups operating in eastern Congo. Rwanda has said that it will do whatever it takes to defend itself.

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Rwanda's government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, did not respond to questions sent for this story.

Guns alone cant cement M23s grip on eastern Congo indefinitely, says Zaynab Hoosen, a senior Africa analyst at Pangea-Risk, a South Africa-based consultancy. If the group fails to shore up the economy and restore essential services, she said, it risks eroding local support and undermining its claims to legitimate governance, potentially weakening the durability of its rebellion.

M23 officials disclosed their new coltan tax in interviews with Reuters, but did not respond to follow-up questions for this story.

BANKING WOES

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Having seized Goma in late January and then Bukavu in February, M23 is keen to demonstrate that life there is returning to normal in the wake of fighting that the U.N. says killed at least 7,000 people.

The group has nominated governors in the respective provinces of those cities  North and South Kivu  and is training thousands of local administrators to take control of the civil service.

But paralysis in the banking sector reveals things are far from normal. Under pressure from Congos central bank in Kinshasa, banks remain shuttered in rebel-held towns. Gunmen tried to force their way into the vault of the Goma branch of the central bank on February 28 but couldnt open it, three sources told Reuters. Videos posted on social media showed M23 troops deployed at the entrance to the bank that day.

Congolese francs and U.S. dollars are scarce. Kinshasa continues to pay the salaries of teachers and doctors in these areas, but like any local with a bank account, they struggle to access their funds. Including exchange rates, fees for mobile money transfers can be as high as 6%, three users said.

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Residents and businesses needing currency sometimes travel hundreds of kilometers to bank branches in government-controlled areas of Congo, or to neighboring Rwanda. One Goma businessman said he regularly sends an employee to Butembo, a Congolese city to the north, on a week-long, 1,000-kilometer round trip via Uganda to obtain cash for operations.

Despite the hardships, Kinshasa wont authorize banks to reopen in rebel-held territory because that would only serve to legitimize M23s land grab and make things easier for the illegal occupiers, Daniel Mukoko Samba, Congos deputy prime minister for the economy, said at an April 14 press conference. "People in this part of the country are not suffering because of the government but because of the occupation."

M23 leaders in April announced the re-opening of branches of state savings bank CADECO in Goma and Bukavu. Open bank accounts. Launch and relaunch your activities. Dream again. Because this bank is yours, the rebels said in a statement at the time.

But the branches are effectively cut off from Congos banking system with no way to obtain fresh cash. Some traders in those cities told Reuters they had paid their taxes owed to M23 at the re-opened CADECO locations but were uncertain if they could complete any other transactions there.

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Samba, the deputy prime minister, told the press conference that CADECO was financially unsound even before M23s invasion and is unable to guarantee depositors the full value of their savings as the institution is technically insolvent.

Colonel Joseph Bahati Musanga, newly appointed by M23 as governor of North Kivu province and the former finance czar of the movement, told Reuters the first new banking licenses would be handed out as early as mid-April. Reuters was unable to confirm whether any licenses had yet been issued.

But three banking experts told Reuters that any new bank would need to work with a foreign correspondent bank, and its highly unlikely that outside financial institutions would take the risk of getting hit with international sanctions to do business there. No bank will come and set up shop there for M23, one of the people said.

M23s Bahati acknowledged that potential sanctions are an impediment. We are currently figuring out how to solve this problem, he told Reuters.

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TAX HIKES

In a sign of deepening efforts to set up its administration  and generate revenue  M23 in March started overhauling existing tax policy and issuing its own tax bills. Reuters viewed a 562-page document issued in North Kivu detailing the range of levies that people and businesses there will have to pay under M23 administration.

That has put companies and aid agencies operating in rebel-held territory in a bind. Businesses that dont pay could be closed by M23. Those that do risk violating U.S., EU and other sanctions by handing over cash to the rebellion.

One Goma-based importer said businesses in rebel-controlled territory had to juggle the conflicting demands of national taxes owed to Kinshasa for bringing goods into the country and the local levies that they must now pay the rebels. We dont have a choice. When they come through the door, you cannot tell them to go away, he said. You have to compromise and work with both.

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Traders in the informal economy said they, too, are getting hit by new levies collected by tax officials from the previous administration now working for M23. For women who sell brightly patterned cloth known as pagne, charcoal vendors, and farmers who grow fruits and vegetables in the regions rich volcanic earth, the daily tax to sell in Gomas lakeside market has more than doubled to 500 francs ($0.17), four traders said.

Bulonza Nzarimo Faustin said the taxes he pays to transport charcoal from the island of Idjwi on Lake Kivu to Goma now total around 25% of the value of the goods, leaving him little profit.

Jeanine Kahumbu, a palm oil trader in the Virunga market in Goma, said the tax collectors dont play around. If you dont pay up, you risk physical punishment, like being whipped, she said.

Locals have dubbed such levies the Nangaa tax, after the head of the Congo River Alliance, whose men are responsible for the tax hikes.

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Neither Nangaa nor a spokesman for M23 responded to questions on these allegations.

NO MONEY, NO ADMINISTRATION

A brutal colonial legacy and decades of conflict have mired Congo in poverty, but its natural wealth is staggering. In addition to coltan, the nation boasts deposits of petroleum, copper, diamonds, cobalt, tin and gold. Over the years, rebel groups operating across eastern Congo have been funded, at least in part, by the illicit mineral trade. Kinshasa has issued edicts banning the export of all minerals extracted from areas under rebel control. Yet mining there continues.

In a December report, U.N. experts estimated that M23 was taking in $800,000 monthly from taxes collected from coltan mining in eastern Congo. Nangaa of the Congo River Alliance disputed that figure but did not disclose how much revenue insurgents collect from these levies.

During a visit to the Rubaya mine in March, three M23 officials told Reuters they were now charging a 15% tax on the value of all ore leaving the mine. They did not say how much total revenue has flowed to M23 as a result.

Reuters contacted a government expert with direct knowledge of the Rubaya mine, who said it produces $2.5 million to $3 million worth of coltan each month. That would equate to $375,000 to $450,000 in monthly tax revenue for M23.

The rebels also are profiting from their control of areas containing gold and tin mines worked by small-scale miners. In South Kivu, for example, M23 is charging traders $250 for a license to operate, and about $5 for every kilo of the tin oxide mineral cassiterite thats extracted, three locals told Reuters.

M23 officials did not respond to further questions on mining.

Bahati, the rebel-appointed governor of North Kivu, said voluntary donations from members of M23 and other armed groups in the Congo River Alliance were another important source of revenue. He declined to disclose how much that brought in monthly but said individual contributions could range from $5 to $1,000.

In recent weeks, rebel advances have largely stalled. International attention is, for now, focused on diplomatic efforts let by Qatar and the United States to end the conflict. Having brokered an initial agreement in April, the U.S. government wants Congo and Rwanda to sign a peace deal within two months, a step that would trigger billions of dollars in Western investment, Massad Boulos, President Donald Trumps senior advisor for Africa, said on May 1.

In the meantime, M23 faces the same challenge as the government it hopes to replace.

You cannot run an administration without money, the banking source said.

(Reporting by David Lewis and Giulia Paravicini in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo; and Sonia Rolley in Paris.Editing by Marla Dickerson and Silvia Aloisi)
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  President Donald Trump signed an executive order to stop federal funding for National Public Radio and PBS, for what he called biased and partisan news coverage.

Congressman Richard Neal told 22News that this order is based on revenge and chaos.

On May 2, 2025, the White House said in a statement that NPR and PBS have received tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds each year.

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Therefore, President Donald Trumps executive order is directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease federal funding for both networks to the extent allowed by law.

The order can be challenged in court. Congressman Neal says this order is an issue with freedom of speech.

I think whats underestimated here is the role that NPR and PBS play in everyday life, its part of the conversation we have, said Congressman Richard Neal.

According to NPR and PBS, they receive roughly half a billion dollars in public funds and earn money from sponsorship. NPR said less than 1% of its funding comes from public sources.

Both networks have served the public with educational programming for more than 50 years.

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.
CORINTH  The ongoing investigation into the sale of illegal products at an Alcorn County truck stop led to the seizure of thousands of items and the arrest of the business owner.

Alcorn County Sheriff Ben Caldwell said his department has received multiple calls over the last several months about stores selling illegal items, including kratom and tianeptine. The Alcorn County Board of Supervisors banned the sale of kratom in April 2019 when it added the substance to its list of illegal synthetic cannabinoids and other synthetic products.

The state legislature classified tianeptine as a Schedule I drug in 2023.

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The sheriffs office conducted several undercover operations at stores across Alcorn County and found that the 45 Truck Stop was in violation of the county ordinance. During the execution of a search warrant April 10 at the Highway 45 South business, police seized thousands of bottles and pill packs containing kratom.

They also seized more than 400 dosage units of ZaZa white, which contains tianeptine, as well as more than 3,000 pills containing the prescription drug Sildenafil (Viagra).

The clerks at the truck stop were issued citations. Truck stop owner Adel Ahmed Bader turned himself in April 29 and was charged with possession of a counterfeit substance with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies. He has since bonded out of jail.

The Alcorn County Sheriffs Office is working with the Food and Drug Administration in relation to the prescription medication seized during the search warrant and more charges are pending.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP)  Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves took another step in his shift toward a tough-on-crime stance, announcing plans to build a new prison in the Central American nation modeled on the maximum security gang prison in El Salvador.

With the announcement Friday during a visit to the Reforma prison, Chaves was channeling El Salvador President Nayib Bukele who he recognized last year with Costa Ricas highest diplomatic honor for his decimation of that countrys gangs.

In addition to building a new prison, Chaves said the small shops selling things inside existing prisons would be shut down. Permission for conjugal visits would be restricted and authorities would tighten the ability of families to bring food to inmates.

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The restrictions were aimed at stopping drugs being brought into prisons and other illicit activities.

Costa Rica continues to struggle with historically high homicide numbers.

In 2023, Costa Rica set a homicide record with 907, down somewhat in 2024 to 880. So far this year, the country is on nearly the same homicide pace as last year, according to government data.

Chaves spoke Friday of an alliance with El Salvador and said he was working to line up financing for the new prison.

Bukele built his massive new prison to hold alleged gang members among the 85,000 people arrested under his state of emergency for three years as his administration crushed the countrys powerful street gangs.

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That prison has received even more attention since the U.S. government shipped more than 200 Venezuelans it accused of gang ties in March. El Salvador's prisons have been criticized as legal black holes where a lack of due process makes it difficult for people to get out.

Bukele had visited the same Costa Rican prison last year with Chaves.

Relatives of inmates saw the measures as harsh and have protested.

They dont have privileges, theyre rights, they took away their right to see their childen, the right to have a visit and to eat food from home, said Katherine Lopez, the wife of an inmate.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The City of Columbus and COTA leaders announced Friday its taking another step toward becoming a 24-hour transit system and are now expanding its late-night service past midnight.

COTA used to offer the midnight service before the pandemic, but for the first time in five years, theyve brought it back.

This is the first step towards fulfilling the promises weve made, and it starts with really expanding and improving our current service, said Monica Tellez-Fowler, CEO of COTA.

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CEO of COTA, Monica Tellez-Fowler, and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin wore their Midnight in Motion shirts to make this announcement.

Think about the single parent who gets off after midnight, the nurse coming home from the hospital, the young entrepreneur who works late. This is for them. We see you and were making improvements to support your schedule, said Tellez-Fowler.

This late-night expansion is one of the first tangible moves from the LinkUs initiative, a 25-year plan. This past November, voters approved the comprehensive mobility and growth strategy plan. The initiative helps position COTA to become a 24-hour transit system.

Boy back home after recovering from severe dog attack

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This is what Central Ohio Transit is now going forward, and we look to expand more, said Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin.

With the passing of Issue 47, it will increase COTAs total share of sales tax from 0.5% to 1%. That sales tax increase began in April. The LinkUS initiative will expand COTAs services and create more than 500 miles of bike paths, sidewalks, and trails across Franklin County by 2050.

We get to now have a first-rate, top-of-the-line transit system that serves all of our residents throughout our community, said Hardin.

This late-night expansion will include most downtown lines. Lines 1 through 11 and CMAX will have lineups available at 10 pm, 11 pm, and midnight. Additionally, 17 crosstown lines will now operate past midnight to better connect customers across the region.

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It was always about people, making sure that they had access and opportunities to get to where they need to go, be that nighttime activities or work or back home, said Hardin.

These changes will only take place Monday through Saturday. According to COTA, Sunday evening hours will remain unchanged for now. These late-night hours begin this Monday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Imagine if the biggest social media company on Earth allowed its artificial intelligence tool to repeatedly accuse you  falsely  of illegal activity and antisemitic views.

This is the allegation of a new multi-million-dollar defamation lawsuit, reviewed by the Deseret News, that was filed against Meta on Tuesday by anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck.

On Thursday, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak, Utahs former solicitor general, responded to the lawsuit with concern.

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Lee called for congressional committees to take action against Meta, which he said had exploited market dominance by disadvantaging people who think like I do.

Holyoak, whose office helps oversee federal antitrust policy, shared Lees post, saying if Starbucks claims were true, it would be extremely alarming.

In a statement to the Deseret News, Holyoak said her office has made addressing big-tech discrimination  including banning, shadow banning and demonetization  a priority.

Technology platforms have engaged in lopsided censorship and reduced certain user-generated speech reflecting disfavored views in several prominent circumstances, Holyoak said. Its critical that the FTC understand how technology platforms deny or degrade users access(.)

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The Federal Trade Commission launched an inquiry into tech censorship in February in an effort to identify practices that harm consumers or demonstrate anti-competitive conduct.

In her statement, Holyoak directed users to take advantage of the commissions request for public comment, which runs until May 21, and said she looks forward to investigating the bad actors.

Melissa Holyoak, Federal Trade Commission commissioner, answers interview questions at the Deseret News office in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 3, 2024. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

A Meta spokesperson responded to a request for comment from the Deseret News on Friday, saying, As part of our continuous effort to improve our models, we have already released updates and will continue to do so.

What the lawsuit says

In addition to gaining the attention of Washington, D.C., officials, the announcement of Starbucks lawsuit has gone viral, sparking debate about the future of AI.

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The lawsuit, submitted to the Delaware Superior Court on Tuesday, alleges that Meta has committed defamation by knowingly distributing provably false statements about Starbuck to third parties.

Starbuck first became aware of the false statements in August of 2024, when Meta AI users began posting screenshots of their responses on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Starbuck says that in response to users inquiries about him, Meta AI claimed that he participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, was arrested for his involvement and ultimately pleaded guilty for disorderly conduct.

None of these claims are true, according to the lawsuit. Starbuck said he was at home in Tennessee the day protesters entered the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and that he has never been arrested in his life.

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The lawsuit alleges that Meta AI also began telling users that Starbuck promoted Holocaust denialism, spoke at antisemitic events and was affiliated with white nationalist influencer Nick Fuentes  all completely false claims, according to Starbuck, a Cuban American who says he has never talked to Fuentes.

On the day Starbuck became aware of Meta AIs responses, he said he reached out to Meta executives on X and messaged their legal counsel in an email that is included in the lawsuit.

But despite communication between Metas legal counsel and Starbucks lawyers over subsequent months, the false claims allegedly continued to appear in Meta AI responses as recently as mid-April.

The lawsuit alleges that Meta AIs failure to correct the mistake and issue an apology has irreparably damaged Starbucks reputation, multiple business ventures and the emotional well-being of his family, including by leading to an increased number of violent threats.

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Starbuck is requesting that the court force Meta to ensure that its AI platform stops publishing further defamatory statements about him. The lawsuit seeks in excess of $5 million in compensatory damages, attorney costs and additional punitive damages.

In his video announcement of the lawsuit, Starbuck demonstrated what he said was the Meta AI voice feature making false claims about him, even going so far as saying that authorities should consider removing Starbucks parental rights over his children and recommending that companies do not hire Starbuck or advertise on his show.

Its really not hard to imagine the dystopian future coming soon where lies from AI can strip your ability to get a home, a car, credit, a job, or yes, take away your parental rights, Starbuck said.

Meta and Meta AI respond

Joel Kaplan, the chief global affairs officer of Meta, responded to Starbucks video on Thursday with an apology and a commitment to solve the problem.

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Robby  I watched your video  this is unacceptable. This is clearly not how our AI should operate," Kaplan said in a post on X. Were sorry for the results it shared about you and that the fix we put in place didnt address the underlying problem. Im working now with our product team to understand how this happened and explore potential solutions.

Robby  I watched your video  this is unacceptable. This is clearly not how our AI should operate. Were sorry for the results it shared about you and that the fix we put in place didnt address the underlying problem. I'm working now with our product team to understand how this https://t.co/dPeUZPvXVO  Joel Kaplan (@joel_kaplan) April 29, 2025

The previous fix Meta put in place appeared to be an automatic response Meta AI temporarily gave to users who inquired about Starbuck that said: Sorry, I cant help you with this request right now.

By Friday, Meta AI had begun responding to simple inquiries about Starbuck by listing his background as a former music video director and as a social media activist who targeted large corporations to expose their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The responses, viewed by the Deseret News, also included information about Starbucks lawsuit and an admission that Meta AI had provided users with false information.

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Metas AI chatbot falsely claimed he was involved in the riot and even accused him of denying the Holocaust and promoting conspiracy theories, Meta AI said. Meta has acknowledged that its AI systems sometimes make errors and has implemented measures to improve accuracy.

The Meta AI response also stated that Starbucks lawsuit highlights concerns about AI hallucinations and their real-world consequences.
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has added a new line of attack in her showdown with the states legislators and attorney general over the citys display of an LGBTQ+ Pride flag outside City Hall.

Gov. Brad Little in April signed into law a bill that banned cities from displaying non-official flags, including the U.S. flag and the Idaho state flag, on government property. The law bars Boise from displaying its Pride flag outside City Hall, where it has flown for years.

Boise City Hall continues to fly a Pride Flag among its array of flags in downtown Boise, just over a block away from the Idaho State Capitol Building. The Idaho Legislature passed a law this session that bans the flag on government property.

But McLean has refused to take down the flag despite protests and a letter of rebuke from Attorney General Raul Labrador. She argues that because the law has no provision for enforcement, she is not committing a crime by continuing to fly the flag.

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Damon Sidur, a spokesperson for Labrador, told the Idaho Statesman that the mayor and her legal team do not understand the requirements of state law.

On Friday, McLeans office announced in a news release that the City Council would consider a resolution confirming that the flags flown at City Hall  including the Pride flag  are official city flags and therefore in compliance with the law.

The flags the city flies are an expression of our values and responsibilities, which include a commitment to equality, inclusion, and civic pride, Council President Colin Nash said in the release. This is our lawful expression of our dedication to ensuring all members of our community feel seen, respected, and welcome.

McLean also said local attorneys had volunteered to provide free legal representation to the city if any legal action is taken against the city on this matter. That could quell criticism that McLean might require taxpayers to pay for an expensive legal battle.

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The announcement comes after weeks of public back-and-forth between McLean and state officials over the flags display. Labrador posted his open letter to McLean online, urging her to take down the flag and warning her that lawmakers were already considering ways to add enforcement provisions to the bill during next years legislative session.

In late April, McLean responded with an open letter of her own, accusing the state of acting in bad faith if it imposes civil or criminal penalties on the city for continuing to fly the flag.

The constitutional rights of our residents are not subject to  cannot be subject to  the political whims of legislative disapproval, McLean wrote in her letter, and we will not step back from them simply because the principles our community cherishes make some in state government uncomfortable.

Boises City Council is set to vote on the resolution Tuesday. Its meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

A video shared with the Idaho Statesman shows Mayor Lauren McLean putting Pride and Donate Life flags back up after activists covered them.

Boise mayor threatens legal action on Idaho law that bans Pride flag

Boise-area sheriff criticizes a new Idaho law he says police cant enforce
A 2023 lawsuit against a South Louisiana parish regarding pollution is back in court, according to Reuters.

The lawsuit alleges that predominantly Black neighborhoods in St. James Parish had been inordinately subjected to petrochemical emissions. A study from a grade school in neighboring St. John the Baptist Parish suggested students were being subjected to the "highest theoretical cancer risk in the nation." The risk earned a stretch of land in St. James Parish the nickname of Cancer Alley.

The case was originally dismissed because the statute of limitations had been exceeded, as the zoning permissions were given to industry in 2014. The appeal to bring the case back succeeded on grounds that those permissions were part of a larger pattern of violating 13th and 14th Amendment rights. Part of the lawsuit's argument is that polluting industries were given license to operate in majority-Black communities, while nearby white communities were granted a moratorium on commercial solar installations.

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"While it is unclear at this pleading stage whether these alleged incidents of discrimination can ultimately prove a violation of the Organizations' constitutional or statutory rights, as alleged they plainly fall within the applicable one-year limitations period," 5th U.S. Circuit Court Judge Carl Stewart wrote, per Reuters.

Minority communities have historically borne the brunt of pollution. This is in part because of redlining, which kept underrepresented groups close to industrial zones. A newer trend, bluelining, increases insurance premiums in areas deemed environmentally risky, often in the same Black communities.

This demonstrates how oil and gas pollution does more than just exacerbate extreme weather patterns. The effects have an immediate and harmful impact on those living nearby.

"Now we can finally get back to the urgent work of addressing the public health emergency caused by the parish's constant and easy approval of every request by any petrochemical company seeking to operate in these majority-Black communities," plaintiffs lawyer Pam Spees said, per Reuters.

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May 2A Dayton man is accused of using social media to plan robbing letter carriers and stealing mail to cash fraudulent checks.

Anthony Parks was indicted on conspiracy to commit bank fraud and robbery of a letter carrier in federal court in April.

A U.S. postal inspector linked Parks to two armed robberies of letter carriers in Dayton where suspects stole the letter carriers' arrow keys, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio.

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Arrow keys give mail carriers access to U.S. Postal Service collection boxes.

The first robbery was reported around 12:43 p.m. on Nov. 26, 2022, in the 2200 block of Ravenwood Avenue in Dayton.

An armed male reportedly approached the letter carrier, displayed a gun and demanded the arrow key. The letter carrier handed over the key and the suspect fled in a vehicle waiting nearby.

In March 2023, an Oakwood police officer stopped a Chevrolet Malibu for improper display of a license plate.

Parks and a second man were in the vehicle and consented to a vehicle search.

Officers found stolen mail in the car and arrested both men. While they were being booked, police inspected the other man's protective case on his cellphone and found a USPS arrow key between the case and the phone, according to court records.

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The serial number on the key matched the one stolen during the Ravenwood Avenue robbery.

The second robbery was at 2:08 p.m. on Oct. 14, 2023, in the 4600 block of Merrick Drive in Dayton.

Three males approached a letter carrier, and one pulled put a gun and put it against the letter carrier's chest, according to court records.

The letter carrier gave the group the arrow key and the key to the USPS delivery truck.

While canvassing the area a few days later, investigators received video surveillance footage of two of the suspects prior to the robbery.

Investigators reviewed Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway information about Parks, who previously was caught with stolen mail, and noted Parks matched the description of one of the suspects in the Merrick Drive robbery.

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Investigators checked Bureau of Motor Vehicles records for Parks' driver's license photo taken earlier in 2023, and noticed he was wearing a sweatshirt that matched the sweatshirt worn by a suspect in the Merrick Drive robbery, according to the complaint.

Investigators learned Parks operated two Instagram accounts and received a warrant to search the accounts.

He allegedly used the accounts to conduct various criminal activities, including planning to rob letter carriers, steal mail and fraudulently alter checks.

Some of the messages from July and September 2023 included Parks discussing needing more guns and another person sending a video of a letter carrier with a voiceover stating, "he got the key," according to court records.

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Following the Merrick Drive robbery Parks exchanged messages with another account about the keys stolen during the robbery. He also sent messages to the account discussing cashing an altered check and received a picture of the check, according to the complaint.

Parks was arrested on April 11. During a hearing on April 16, Magistrate Judge Peter Silvain Jr. ordered Parks remain in custody pending trial.

Parks has a status report on June 23 and is scheduled to go to trial on June 30.
S. Korean acting president, prime minister Han resigns

Xinhua) 15:48, May 01, 2025

SEOUL, May 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's acting president and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced his resignation on Thursday in a televised address to the nation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
JINJA, Uganda, May 3 (Xinhua) -- CRJE (East Africa) Limited, a Chinese company, has completed the construction of a state-owned hotel and tourism training institute in Uganda's eastern city of Jinja, as the East African country seeks to boost tourism revenues through a skilled workforce.

Moses Kaneene, deputy principal of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, told Xinhua in an interview on Friday that the contractor has built a state-of-the-art complex that includes an administration block, classrooms, and a multipurpose hall.

He said the complex has been equipped with the necessary facilities, including two computer laboratories, demonstration rooms, and a kitchen.

"There is no way we would produce highly skilled manpower without modern equipment. When a modern institute comes, we shall be able to produce the highly skilled manpower required by the tourism industry." Kaneene said.

Unlike before, when only 400 students were trained with limited equipment, the institute now has the capacity to train more than 1,000 students, he said.

Allan Akatwijuka, the institute's property manager, described the quality of the contractor's work as "good."

"In terms of standards, when you have a walk around, you can see an esthetically appealing project," he said, adding that the contractor is supporting the local market, including subcontracting with local companies.

Liu Qiang, general manager of CRJE (East Africa) Limited, noted that over 300 locals worked on the project during the construction phase, which lasted a year until November last year. He said the locals, who have now been transferred to other projects, had acquired various skills during the various stages of construction.

According to Uganda's Ministry of Finance, tourism is one of the country's main sources of foreign revenue, contributing 7.7 percent of gross domestic product. The government is optimistic that having a skilled workforce in the hospitality industry would further boost tourism revenues. 
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Minor injuries were reported after a car collided with a parked mail truck in West Hartford, police said.

The crash took place in the area of 74 Tumblebrook Lane. The area is closed due to a telephone pole being involved in the crash.

Minor injuries reported in car vs. pedestrian incident in West Hartford

The public is urged to avoid the area.

This is a developing story. Stay with News 8 for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
BOSTON (SHNS)  As high-flying aerial silk acrobats swung across the Great Hall, spoken word artists recited slam poetry, and a neo-soul performance before the Grand Staircase brought an audience to their feet, creatives made their presence known in the State House on Wednesday.

They were showcasing their skills to advocate for priority bills to fund more public arts programs, make culture and humanities grants more accessible to people with disabilities, protect and develop new creative production and exhibition spaces, and increase spending towards the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Investing in the creative sector is critical under a federal administration looking to slash the arts, they argued.

Congressman Richard Neal reacts to President Donald Trump stopping federal funding for NPR and PBS

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Theres no surprise that a government that kidnaps people, innocent people, off the street, takes people and treats them the way theyre being treated today, will be interested in reducing and eliminating funding for the humanities. That is not a surprise. They do not want people to see between the lines, said Executive Director of MassHumanities Brian Boyles.

Earlier in advocacy day program, Boyles had said, Humanities are how we seek out the truth today. About ourselves. About our ancestors. About our towns and our cities and our states and our country and world. History cannot tell you what will happen next. Literature cannot write the answer for you. Philosophy cant answer your biggest questions. But it can teach you how to read between the lines.

Boyles wasnt the only speaker who spoke about dark days related to President Donald Trumps administration, who Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Chairman Sean Garballey said, does not care about the cuts that they make, about the harm that they do to our cities and towns to our arts sector.

The National Endowment of the Humanities canceled most of its grant programs earlier this month and began putting its staff on administrative leave, and grant recipients were told the agency would be repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the presidents agenda, according to the New York Times.

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Trump in March also slashed funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which provides grants to museums and libraries across the U.S., with his executive order directing that the agency be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, POLITICO reported.

The funding cuts are part of the Trump administrations larger efforts to downsize the federal government, which he has said is guilty of fraud and wasting taxpayer money.

President Trump was given a clear mandate by the American people, and his Executive Order delivers on that by reducing federal bureaucracy, a Trump administration official told POLITICO about the IMLS cuts. This restructure is a necessary step to fulfill that order and ensure hard-earned tax dollars are not diverted to discriminatory DEI initiatives or divisive, anti-American programming in our cultural institutions.

Worried about federal cuts affecting grants available at home, the creative sector institutions are backing state policies this session that they hope will continue investing in the arts as an economic driver for Massachusetts.

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MASSCreative is backing a bill to create a statewide public art program, through which .05% of the funds that go to construction or renovation projects of any state-owned building or property would go into a fund to create and maintain public art. The bill (H 3592 / S 2332) includes a $300,000 cap per project. It would create a commission to approve the art projects, and give priority to applications from Massachusetts artists.

The arts advocacy organization is also supporting a bill (H 224 / S 160) to create a grant program for arts, culture, humanities and interpretative science organizations to have access to additional resources to make their programs and facilities more accessible to people with disabilities.

It would be funded through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services budget, which would be tasked with establishing a commission to determine grant criteria and administer the fund. The commission would be made up of a majority of individuals with disabilities and advocates.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council wants a technical change (S 2169) to be made to the Cultural Facilities Fund statute that allows them to give grants to municipal, nonprofit and tribal cultural facilities  but restricts recipients to be a certain size or age to be eligible for a CFF grant. The agency wants the flexibility to give a grant to any public cultural facility, regardless of size or age.

Mass Cultural Center Executive Director Michael Bobbit speaks before a crowd in the Great Hall on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (SHNS)

The council is also requesting an increase in their budget to $28 million, up from $25.9 million. The governor and House have both recommended a slight increase in their funding, by 0.58%, to just over $26 million.

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The creative and cultural sector knows how to engage and to show up when it is important. Theres nothing more important than advocacy at this moment, said Cultural Center director Michael Bobbit.

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.
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  A Crestview man has been arrested after he had been on the run for weeks, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office.

Evergreen man allegedly confronted school bus driver after spitting incident: WCSO

Richard Zach Wagner, 32, was arrested on Friday, May 2, at a home on Antioch Road after being tackled by deputies, according to an OCSO news release.

Wagner allegedly barricaded himself inside his home and refused to exit before being arrested.

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Officials said Wagner was wanted on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.

U.S. Coast Guard and Escambia County first responders conduct mass rescue operation exercise

In April, Wagner fled into the woods and disappeared after deputies attempted to take him into custody, according to officials. He later allegedly battered a woman and used force to steal her car.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Thursday at 11 a.m.

Damian Barr, 29, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, possession of paraphernalia, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle.

J.D. Bell, 43, of New Albany, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

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Tytavion Delonzo Doss, 30, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of a Schedule II drug, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance.

Britney L. Drewery, 35, of Falkner, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

Kenneth A. Hill, 28, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, capias for possession of methamphetamine.

Cornelius Fitzgerald Hughes, 42, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, burglary of a building, disorderly conduct, disturbance, no insurance, suspended drivers license, possession of marijuana.

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Kenneth W. Jaggers, 34, of Pontotoc, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession a Schedule II drug, tint violation.

Joshua Daniel Lazore, 30, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, first-degree murder.

David D. Lewis, 51, of Nettleton, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, violation of probation.

Carlos Martinez 35, of Booneville, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, sale of methamphetamine, felony taking of a motor vehicle.

Roy Merritt, 44, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, trafficking methamphetamine.

Jessica M. Pignataro, 34, of Horn Lake, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, possession of methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl.

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Mark A. Sanders, 37, of Amory, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, felony warrant.

Clark R. Tidwell, 34, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, sale of a counterfeit controlled substance, simple assault on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence second offense, no insurance, no license, ran a red light.

Zachary Westbrook, 28, of Nettleton, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation.

Lee County Sheriffs Office

The following reports were filed Thursday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

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A County Road 1349, Mooreville, woman received phone calls from two different lending agencies to confirm the two loans for which she recently applied. She told the callers that she had not applied for any loans. She was told she needed to put a freeze on all her credit card accounts and change her passwords. She also called Credit Karma to start an investigation into who applied for the loans. She said the loans were stopped before any money was transferred.

A Tupelo landlord said her renter was missing a county-issued garbage can from their Woodcliff Cove, Saltillo, house. She said Waste Management has a video of the dumpster being dropped into the garbage truck. She needed a report to get a replacement issued.

A Tupelo man went to check the mail at his stepmothers County Road 819, Shannon, mobile home, which has been empty for about six weeks. The window in the front of the trailer was broken, as was a flood light and the front porch security camera.

A West Point woman said she purchased land on County Road 1282 next to the landfill. They put up a chain across the drive to keep people off the land. When she came back to check on it, someone had torn down the chain and dumped a lot of tires on her property.

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A State Park Road, Mooreville, woman said she noticed three mixed breed dogs on the side of the road near Maggie Drive. She did not know where the dogs came from but feels they were abandoned.

Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
UPDATE: The Crockett Police Department has recovered the body of a missing teenager they believe to be Michael Ortiz. Police said they found the body Friday night on County Road 4020 in Houston County and the investigation is being treated as a homicide case.

The Houston County Sheriffs Office is currently leading the investigation with assistance from the Texas Rangers and Crockett Police Department.

Anyone with tips and leads is asked to contact 936-544-2862. Anonymous tips can also be left at 639TIPS.com.

CROCKETT, Texas (KETK) The Crockett Police Department is searching for a missing 16-year-old last seen on Tuesday evening.

Image of Michael Martin Ortiz, courtesy of Crockett Police Department

Rusk County Sheriffs Office releases statement after NBC investigation into 2022 fatal shooting

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Police said Michael Martin Ortiz was wearing black jogging pants and a black hoodie when he disappeared.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Crockett Police Department Detective Humberto Gonzalez by calling 936-544-2021 or emailing him at gonzalezh@crocketttexas.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 KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo lost out on nearly $3 million in public matching public funds in his comeback bid for New York City mayor  because his campaign couldnt follow instructions on how to submit digital payments, new emails show.

Cuomo staffers appeared to have brushed off the City Campaign Finance Boards repeated recommendations not to use Apple or Google Pay to solicit donations without prior approval  and to stay on top of online contributions  according to communications reviewed by The Post.

The campaign was emphatically told on March 3  two days after Cuomo announced he was running for mayor  that donations cannot be accepted by the tap phone payments and that Electronic Funds Transfers needed backup affirmation letters confirming each donors information, the emails show.

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Campaign attorneys conceded they werent set up to accept mobile and electronic payments, but said they would charge ahead with taking them anyway.

Political candidates usually register their campaigns with the CFB in hopes of becoming eligible for the citys public funds program, in which every $1 of contributions less than $2,100 made by New Yorkers is matched with $8 in taxpayer cash.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo (pictured) is the frontrunner for the democratic nomination in the NYC Mayors race. John Garry for NY Post

The Campaign Finance Board repeatedly warned the Cuomo team about using the mobile payments. Koshiro K  stock.adobe.com

In order to be eligible for these matching funds, candidates must go through a lengthy process ensuring donors addresses and payment methods are verified.

The board warned the Cuomo team multiple times over the months-long correspondence that to get mobile payments approved, the campaign would have to provide a signed affirmation letter for every such donation.

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The CFB stressed that while the campaign could still collect those contributions, they would not be considered eligible for match with public funds per Board Rules.

The Cuomo camp attempted the major feat of collecting affirmation letters for over 50 donors, but it eventually became clear that the campaign wouldnt be getting all of the required documentation  landing it in hot water with the CFB.

On April 11th, four days before the deadline to submit the information, the board dropped the bomb that despite team Cuomos efforts: All contributions collected through the (online) platform, [] are invalid for match due to the lack of compliance with the requirement that the contributor actively agrees to an online affirmation statement.

The candidate for Mayor lost out on millions in matching funds due to the mobile payment snafu. Michael Nagle

That prompted a last-minute scramble from the campaign, which sent out email to donors begging for the affirmation letters just two days before the April 15 deadline.

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The email  which went out the morning of April 13  came with the subject line line Urgent  Action Required and stressed, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

We need you to complete the form included in this additional email, TODAY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. We apologize for the inconvenience, but it is critical that we get these forms back as soon as possible.

But the warning came too late  and cost the ex-gov roughly $2.7 million in matching funds off $332,530 raised.

The next round of funding by the CFB will be announced May 23. Michael Nagle

Cuomos lawyer even asked for concessions the day after the deadline on April 16th, desperately trying to remedy the situation and reverse the CFBs decision.

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But the CFB doubled down that they had warned the Cuomo team about electronic payments.

I looked back at our correspondence about the use of Apple Pay and Google Pay for contributions collected through NGP VAN and I mentioned the following: Contributions made (1) by Apple Pay and Google Pay, (2) through NGP VAN and (3) without the address verification and ZIP code checks performed are permissible. However, these contributions will not be considered eligible for match with public funds per Board Rules, the CFBs campaign advisor said.

The trouble doesnt seem to have ended there  potentially bleeding over into the CFBs next round of matching funds  which are set to be released May 23.

As recently as April 18, Cuomos team signaled ongoing troubles with the pesky affirmation letters  and appeared to still be attempting to find a way to use the payment methods.

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Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said a technical software error was to blame for the campaign losing out on the majority of the matching funds.

He also said that the snafus with Apple and Google Pay could be attributed to it being the early days of the campaign  and that staffers quickly learned the payment methods would not be accepted.

The cures have been made, Azzopardi added. Were getting matching funds in 10 days.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Cybertips led investigators to arrest a Columbus man accused of uploading suspected child sexual abuse material.

According to court records, The National Center of Missing and Exploited Children received multiple tips from the electronic service provider Kik from incidents between June and September 2024. The tips contained the username daviddivad followed by different numbers, and all but one of the tips shared a common IP address in the login history.

Columbus dispensary issued product alert for edible glitter in cannabis gummies

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The IP address led the investigation to East Beck Street, near German Village. Based on the username and the IP address, a detective discovered additional cybertips, including two from North Carolina. Investigators in North Carolina provided local authorities with the name Austin Pittman, who was associated with the IP address in Columbus.

During alleged incidents in December 2024, the user shared a file with another in a private chat that contained a video with two minor girls, one approximately 3-4 years old, the other approximately 6-8 years old.

Police surveilled the East Beck Street residence and observed a car registered to the Pittman family at that address. The family later moved to the Far West Side of Columbus, where a warrant was issued on April 30.

Pittman, 25, was arrested on two felony charges of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor. He was issued a $250,000 bond in Franklin County Municipal Court, ordered to stay away from all minors as a condition of his bond, and to appear for a preliminary hearing on Friday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A cyclist was taken to the hospital for severe head injuries after being struck by a motor vehicle in Pittsfield on Friday.

Motor vehicle crash on Westfield Street in West Springfield to cause traffic delays

Pittsfield Police Sergeant David Hallas said that at approximately 8:39 p.m. on Friday, officers, firefighters, and emergency response crews were called to Cheshire Road in front of Berkshire Gas Company regarding a motor vehicle accident involving a cyclist.

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Investigators determined that an 18-year-old individual driving a 2008 Subaru Impreza was traveling northbound and struck a cyclist, also traveling northbound, from behind. The cyclist, a 33-year-old man, was admitted to Berkshire Medical Center to be treated for severe head injuries.

Pittsfield Police said that Cheshire Road was closed for approximately four hours following the incident, and that the roadway opened back up at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The Pittsfield Police Traffic Unit is currently investigating the incident. Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to contact Sergeant Hallas at 448-9700 extension 560.

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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(NBC)  Fridays all-new two-hour Dateline episode explores the chilling 2007 murder of Anita Knutson, a beloved 18-year-old college student found stabbed to death in her off-campus apartment in North Dakota.

The episode follows the case from the initial investigation through the shocking arrest and long-awaited trial more than a decade later. Dateline correspondent Blayne Alexander sits down with the detectives who worked the case, as well as Knutsons friends and family, to piece together the search for justice.

Here is a preview of Alexanders report:

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The town is mostly quiet now, but youll see them, these weather-worn pink ribbons, a faded photograph of a young woman, reminders of a mystery that spanned nearly two decades.

Anita Knutsen, a young college student, was found lying dead inside her apartment.

KAREN LEIER: Its just something you never, ever can prepare yourself for.

JOHN KLUG: Weve got to find the person responsible.

A case that shattered the predictable peace of this small community.

ANNA KNUTSON: At that time, anybody and everybody is a suspect to me.

The pressure was on the police to find some answers. And those who loved her were relentless, year after year.

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KIM FUNDINGSLAND: Nobody ever forgot the murderer was still out there.

TYLER SCHMATLZ: We did everything we could to keep her memory alive.

LAUREN LAESSIG: There were always things we thought we could do.

A story with a final chapter no one saw coming.

Watch Dateline: Murder in Minot Friday at 9 p.m. on NBC4.

About Dateline

Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is in its 33rd season. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Blayne Alexander, Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy.

The stories range from compelling mysteries to powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. When major news breaks, they go to the scene, putting the pieces together to bring the viewer the full picture. And in every story they tell, they help the real people who lived the events share their journeys with the viewer.

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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.
ADEN, Yemen, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak submitted his resignation to the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) on Saturday, citing constitutional constraints and obstructions that hampered his reform initiatives.

In his official resignation statement, the outgoing premier revealed he had faced "lots of difficulties," including being unable to reshuffle the government and exercise his constitutional powers to implement necessary institutional reforms.

"Despite the challenges, we achieved significant financial savings for the state," he noted, pointing to over 133.5 million U.S. dollars saved in electricity fuel purchases costs within the past year.

The prime minister's resignation came as Yemen continues to face multiple challenges, including ongoing conflict with Houthi forces and economic instability.

Sources familiar with the matter indicated that "the growing tensions between bin Mubarak and PLC chief Rashad al-Alimi, had reached an impasse."

Prior to his resignation, 18 cabinet ministers signed a memorandum in April calling for his removal, highlighting severe fractures within the internationally-recognized government.

In recent days, there have been widespread protests in Aden and other government-controlled areas, with demonstrators voicing frustrations over the collapse of basic services, including electricity shortages, and the ongoing economic decline that has left millions struggling to meet their basic needs.

Bin Mubarak has held the premiership since Feb. 5, 2024. Prior to his appointment as prime minister, bin Mubarak served in several high-profile positions, including foreign minister and ambassador to the United States.

"The resignation reflects the profound governance challenges facing Yemen's legitimate authorities," said a senior government official speaking on condition of anonymity. "Internal divisions have hampered effective response to the country's mounting crises."

Political analysts suggest the resignation may signal a forthcoming cabinet reshuffle as the PLC attempts to address governance failures and restore public confidence amid Yemen's protracted humanitarian catastrophe.

Yemen has been embroiled in civil conflict since 2014 when Houthi forces seized the capital Sanaa, forcing the internationally-recognized government to relocate operations to Aden. 
Alarmed by what theyve seen and felt under the past 15 weeks of President Donald Trump and six years of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a swath of Democratic activists, elected officials and financial donors see a candidate who could, they hope, produce an upset victory in the 2026 Florida governors race.

Their candidate is David Jolly  whos been a registered Democrat for less than two weeks, but was in many ways ideologically and temperamentally aligned with his new party even when he was a Republican congressman a decade ago.

If his name sounds familiar, at least to Democrats, its because one of his post-congressional endeavors is serving as a commentator on MSNBC, the favorite cable news channel for people on the left.

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In the coming weeks, hes all-but-certain to become an official, major candidate for next years Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

This is a very serious endeavor, he said in an interview Wednesday, when he had a packed day of political activities in Broward, the most Democratic county in the state. I anticipate getting into the governors race.

Jolly is, effectively, already running.

Recently he formed Florida 2026, a committee allowing him to raise and spend political money.

He is midway through a series of 20 town hall meetings around the state, some of which attract hundreds of people. On Wednesday, some 450 people attended a town hall in Plantation, where they peppered him with questions about his background, views on a range of major issues, and plans for ending Florida Republicans decadeslong winning streak.

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Before the town hall at Plantation United Methodist Church, he met with elected officials, political leaders and potential donors at a downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurant, sat for a media interview, and held another meeting with Democratic activists.

Why run?

Jolly said a constellation of factors have led him both to the point that hes preparing to run  and created an environment in which a Democrat can win the Florida governors office for the first time in more than 30 years.

We are in the middle of one of the greatest political change environments in decades, Jolly said. The tumult of Trumps second term, and the public reaction to it, has created a moment in American history where people are likely looking for change.

He said he feels compelled to act. His family has been in the state for generations, but its become harder to live in the state. We have faced some real hard decisions in the past several years about is Florida the right place to raise our kids?

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Path to victory

And hes convinced he could win the governors office next year, and hes trying to convince others.

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Very importantly, we would not be in this race if I didnt think there was a pathway, Jolly said. We are sober about this. We are not naive. This is not a vanity project. This is truly about meeting a moment where I think a Democratic-led coalition can accomplish change in Florida.

Jolly said several factors must align.

He said he would have to run a credible campaign that, a year from now, is showing he could defeat the likely Republican nominee, Republican Byron Donalds, who is already running, or Casey DeSantis, who hasnt said if shes going to run. Term limits prohibit her husband, Ron DeSantis, from running again.

If polling shows hes within single digits 12 months from now, Jolly said the campaign would attract significant national fundraising support that would be essential to mounting a successful campaign that could cost $100 million.

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Much rests on voters feelings about Trump next year, he said.

Another element to an effective campaign is focusing on issues that matter to Floridians, such as insurance rates and schools.

The components of a winning coalition, Jolly said, are Democrats plus no party affiliation/independent voters and a slice of non-MAGA or common sense Republicans who want government to work on real issues, stop fighting culture wars, and return to normal.

He may have already had an impact.

Jolly switched his voter registration from no party affiliation/independent to Democratic on April 23. Hours after Politico reported that news the next morning, state Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo pronounced the Democratic Party dead and announced he was quitting his leadership post and the party  after spending much of the last year touting himself as a possible Democratic candidate for governor.

Hard road

Perhaps, Jolly would win, said Aubrey Jewett, a political scientist at the University of Central Florida. At this point its so early and given whats happened to previous Democrats, Ill say that hes got a long way to go. He certainly would be considered a long shot.

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Democratic assertions that the party can win a governors race  or or any other statewide elections  are familiar, and usually wrong.

Immediately after President Barack Obama won Florida in 2012 on his way to a second term and then-U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson won reelection, Democrats had 558,272 more registered voters than the Republicans in the state. Today, Republicans are ahead by 1.2 million registered voters.

Democrats have lost the last seven Florida gubernatorial elections. And since 2022, Republicans have won 32 statewide elections and Democrats have won six.

Independent analysts dont see that changing soon.

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On Thursday, Sabatos Crystal Ball, from the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, issued its first assessment of 2026 governors races, listing Florida as safe Republican red. The Cook Political Report also has the Florida governors race as solid Republican.

Matthew Isbell, a Florida-based Democratic data consultant who runs the MCI Maps firm, said its early to assess his prospects, because its unclear who else might seek the nomination.

Jolly will have to spend time explaining some of the votes he cast as a Republican in Congress from early 2014 until 2017, Isbell said.

Hes going to have to work to earn trust. Starting now is smart because it gives him time to try and sell his vision. Maybe mea culpa on some stuff. Time will tell, he said via text message. Its not impossible for Jolly to win the primary but I do not think hes the front-runner if a semi-serious Democrat gets in.

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If a well-funded independent candidate emerges, that could siphon away so many votes of people who want a change after decades of Republican control that a Democratic victory would be even more elusive than normal. I respect people who follow that political compass and independence. An NPA in 2026 in the governors race hands Tallahassee to Byron Donalds or Casey DeSantis. Thats it. Theres no other outcome, Jolly said.

Candidates evolution

Trumps ascension began Jollys departure from the Republican Party.

Jolly said he wasnt a doctrinaire conservative, even when he was a Republican, describing himself as a Republican who was more in the mold of the first President George Bush, when that approach was 20 years past its expiration date.

Bipartisan Index prepared by the Lugar Center at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University rated him among the most bipartisan members of Congress.

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In December 2015, while he was still in Congress, Jolly called on Trump to drop out of the presidential race. He lost his bid for reelection in 2016. In 2018 he left the Republican Party.

Arguably I was never a good enough Republican when I was there, he said. I supported marriage equality, climate science, gun control, campaign finance reform, he said.

He said he has changed his views on some issues, including two major ones, abortion and guns.

Citing his background, growing up in an evangelical household as the son of a preacher, I wrongly conflated being pro-life with being anti-Roe, he said. Now, he said, he believes abortion rights should be protected by law  and said he would introduce legislation to do that if he becomes governor. I changed, he said.

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Jolly also has changed his views on gun control.

I came up embracing a broad Second Amendment interpretation, he said. Im now for the licensing, registration, and insurance of firearms. You can follow that journey through my time in Congress after the Pulse nightclub (massacre in 2016). I was the only Republican joining the Democrats on the (House) floor, saying weve got to do something.

He favors much more stringent background checks, covering all forms of changing gun ownership including gifting within families, and banning assault weapons.

Folks, guns are the problem. Access, largely unlimited, unrestricted access to firearms, is the problem, Jolly said. When Republicans suggest that guns arent the problem, people are the problem, theyre lying to you.

While Jolly said hes changed his views on some issues over the years, he rejects some of the handwringing thats consumed some in the Democratic Party since the November 2024 presidential election loss.

Leading Democrats today who come out and say, oh, weve got to change who we are, we have to change our values, theyre wrong. Theyre wrong. The Democratic Partys values are absolutely right and dont need to be changed, he said.

Issues

Many of Jollys positions resonated with the town hall audience, which often applauded his answers.

One woman questioned Florida Republicans support for cracking down on and deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally and then pushing to relax limits on young teens work.

Child labor is wrong, Jolly said as he pilloried the Tallahassee politicians for creating a tight labor market and when they kick them (undocumented immigrants) out of the state or the country and create this labor shortfall, the answer is to employ children, he said, adding that Republicans in Tallahassee who are advancing this should be condemned for what theyre doing.

He said quality public education, vital to individuals and the economy, is being damaged as money is siphoned off to vouchers to help cover private school tuition, a financial arrangement he said isnt sustainable. He wants to end the trend of attacking public schools and public school teachers and trying to control the thought and the speech of our teachers.

Jolly said the high cost of property insurance is making living unaffordable for many in the state. Hed like to see a state catastrophic insurance fund to take on risk of natural disasters, which his website says would dramatically reduce property and car insurance rates. And he said, climate change is real and requires government action.

South Florida

Jolly, 52, was born in Pinellas County, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. (He had some time in South Florida when his father was pastor of a Miami-Dade County church.)

Someone like Jolly, who served as a member of Congress from the St. Petersburg area, would usually have a tough time getting known. Florida has 10 media markets, and its hard for one member of Congress (the delegation currently has 28) to get known outside their home area.

A big advantage for Jolly, Jewett said, is his post-Congress time as a commentator on MSNBC, making him familiar to Democratic voters in Florida and potential campaign donors around the country.

Jolly said a campaign would likely be based in South Florida, where hes already building a network of supporters.

Mitchell Berger, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer who has decades of political experience as a major national fundraiser for Democratic presidential, gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates, said hes fully committed to the Jolly effort. David Jolly is somebody who is genuinely concerned about the future of the state and the nation, Berger said. He has a servants heart, and a servants spirit.

Berger is a longtime close political associate of former Vice President Al Gore. In 2022, he was finance chair for Democrat Nikki Frieds unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign.

Also advising Jolly is Fernand Amandi, Miami-based Democratic pollster and strategist. The Broward town hall was organized by Lourdes Diaz, president of the Pembroke Pines Democratic Club and past president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus chapter in Broward.

Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller, a former Democratic leader in the Florida Senate who was Broward campaign chair for Democrat Charlie Crists unsuccessful 2022 gubernatorial campaign, introduced Jolly at the town hall. He said Jolly is somebody that can unite the Democratic Party and appeal to all voters in the state of Florida.

Reactions

Mitch Ceasar, a former chair of the Broward Democratic Party, said Jolly seemed very genuine  an assessment not shared by the Florida Republican Party, which said in a statement that Jolly is a craven, desperate politician who will say and do anything.

State Republican Chair Evan Power called him a sanctimonious and phony independent and has now reached the end of his political journey by switching to the Democrats.

Joyce Beach, a Democrat from Lake Worth Beach, said she found Jolly excellent.

I have admired him on MSNBC for a long time. And he has, (and) we need, charisma. And hes smart, and hes got a lot of energy. He wasnt reading a teleprompter. He was speaking from his mind, and I think his heart, Beach said. I think hes a very viable candidate.

Susan Steinhauser, of Coconut Creek, who is registered with no party affiliation, was also impressed.

Im a proud NPA and I am thrilled to be here, and I will bring every NPA with me, she announced to Jolly and the audience. Please run.

But Ilene Sztorc, a Democrat from Coral Springs, said she wasnt ready to commit, preferring to see who else emerges as a candidate. Right now, I feel comfortable, she said. I stand right now on the sideline.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
CHEYENNE  The 20th annual Cheyenne Day of Giving will take place Friday, but the support the fundraiser provides for the community lasts all year long.

The work we do outside of May is every bit as important as the Day of Giving itself, because both instances, the event and the work throughout the year, helps fill the gap between what agencies need and what they have the money for, said Greta Morrow, founder of the Day of Giving.

On Friday, volunteers will collect physical donations like food, personal-care items and craft items. In addition, Day of Giving collects monetary donations that are used to purchase items for the 16 community organizations partnered with Day of Giving throughout the year. One hundred percent of the donations received go back into the community, Morrow said.

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The monetary donations are never given to these organizations as raw funds. Instead, the nonprofits submit their needs to the Day of Giving board each quarter to request certain items to be purchased with the funds they have been allocated.

Morrow said this is done so she knows the donors money will not go to pay administrative costs, but directly support local nonprofits.

One of the beneficiaries of the year-round efforts as part of Day of Giving is COMEA House and Resource Center, the local homeless shelter, which provides housing, free meals, case management and some transportation to those in need.

Day of Giving is a year-round benefit for us. I mean, its such a blessing, said Robin Bocanegra, executive director of COMEA.

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She said one of the current needs at the shelter is a new washing machine and dryer, after both have stopped working recently in the family shelter.

COMEA is typically allotted between $1,100 and $1,300 each quarter to request items for purchase by Day of Giving. Most of the year, those funds are used to pay for items COMEA is in need of but may not have the budget for at the time, like a washing machine or a snow blower.

During the holiday season, those funds are often used to purchase gifts for the COMEA residents. Bocanegra said she and her staff ask residents to put items like clothes or hygiene products on a wish list, and COMEA will purchase it using Day of Giving funds.

Some of them tell us, I dont want anything. Just being able to have shelter is enough for me. So, then well go out and buy them something, she said. We make sure everybody has a brand-new hoodie at Christmas time or a backpack and things like that. So yeah, that money is very helpful.

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Of the 16 nonprofits that benefit from Day of Giving, 12 receive support year-round. Morrow said the amount each organization receives every quarter is calculated based on the funds available and the size of the need for each nonprofit.

We have established a percent, and its very fungible, you know, we can move things around if an agency needs extra help one quarter, Morrow said.

She added that because an agency may need less funds doesnt mean its any less important.

Needs Inc., which provides food, essential items and resources to Laramie County residents in need, typically receives the most funds each quarter because of the size of the nonprofit and the number of people it serves.

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Morrow said Needs Inc. has used the funds from Day of Giving in the past to purchase things like Hamburger Helper or large orders of food from the Rocky Mountain Food Bank.

Another beneficiary of the Day of Giving donations is Magic City Enterprises, which provides support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Morrow said the funds have been used to pay the balance of the cost of special glasses not covered by insurance for some clients, to purchase a bed for a Magic City client who could not afford it, and supplies for clients to do crafts and make gifts.

Each year, Day of Giving spends around $70,000 on its year-round work. Morrow said she would happily spend more on the community if they received more donations. Two pledges cover all event and administrative fees not donated so that 100% of the funds received can go toward meeting the organizations needs.

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Going into its 20th year, Morrow said the work Cheyenne Day of Giving does is only possible because of the support from the community.

Its not because of the board, because all we do is organize, she said. ... Its the community that makes Day of Giving successful. Its the people that understand theres a hidden population, a huge hidden population, in our community that cannot provide for their families life necessities without some help.

Donations can be made to Day of Giving on its website or by check to P.O. Box 192, Cheyenne WY 82003, year-round.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Community members came together Friday to break ground on a new healthcare facility.

Dayton Childrens held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new urgent care facility located in west Dayton.

Macys at Dayton Mall listed for sale

Developed in partnership with local residents, the goal for the new facility is to expand access to conveniently located, on-demand pediatric care.

Dayton Childrens leaders say they are helping to reinvent the path to childrens healthcare by building programs and services that meet community-identified needs.

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This kind of care just really doesnt exist for children in west Dayton, so were excited to bring it. We spend a lot of time with families who live in this area and they told us this is what they needed, said Debbie Feldman, Dayton Childrens president and CEO. But were also going to continue to listen, because we may be able to add more services here as we spend time in the community.

The new facility will open in the 1700 block of Germantown Street in summer 2026.

To learn more, 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.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  One year after a toddler was shot and killed in Southeast, D.C., investigators are still looking for answers.

Just after 9 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the 2300 block of Harford St. SE for the sound of gunshots.

Less than a mile away, at a fire station in the 2400 block of Irving St., they found 3-year-old Tyah Settles suffering from a gunshot wound.

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Crews with DC Fire and EMS and MPD provided aid until the United States Park Police were able to airlift her to a nearby hospital.

Despite lifesaving efforts, she died from her injuries.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Southeast shooting: 3-year-old girl was in car when shot, killed

When Tyah was shot, she was seated in the backseat of a car that was struck by multiple rounds of gunfire, according to MPD. Over the last year, detectives from MPDs major case squad have been investigating to bring closure to Tyahs family.

Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Tyahs death.

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Of the reward, MPD is offering $25,000, the FBI is offering $10,000, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering $15,000.

This case weighs heavily on all of us at the Metropolitan Police Department and we continue to grieve with Tyahs family, Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith said in a statement. We know someone in the community has information that can help our detectives deliver justice. We need anyone with that information to come forward immediately.

MPD urges anyone with information to call (202) 727-9099 or text the departments tip line at 50411.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is searching for a woman accused of vandalizing a Tesla in Southwest D.C. on April 24.

According to a police report, shortly before 3 p.m., a man walked outside to his car parked in the 900 block of Wesley Place SW when a woman approached and began damaging his Tesla.

We dont appreciate it: DC Tesla owner speaks after car is vandalized twice

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The man stated that the woman used her keys to damage the drivers side and trunk.

Police say the woman is wanted in the destruction of property offense and provided the following photo of her:

Tesla vandalism suspect (Metropolitan Police Department)

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
May 2The death of a man who went into full arrest after fights with Montgomery County Jail staff while in custody has been ruled a homicide.

In a release Friday, the Montgomery County Coroner's Office said it found the cause of death for Christian Black, 25, of Zanesville, was "mechanical and positional asphyxia" and the manner of his death was homicide.

Asphyxia means a person's body doesn't get enough oxygen, which can lead to injury or death.

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This announcement came a day after Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck said he was placing on leave 10 correctional staff who were involved in restraining Black.

Streck said the staff were put on paid administrative leave as a procedural step after he was informed that positional asphyxia likely was the cause of death.

Christian Black was taken into custody March 23 after allegedly crashing a stolen vehicle on Interstate 70 in Englewood. Crews took him to a local hospital for treatment, then to the Montgomery County Jail, the sheriff's office said.

While at the jail early the next morning, Black was involved in a fight with jail staff, who used force to subdue him, including using a Taser.

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Later in the day, the sheriff's office said Black forcefully and repeatedly hit his head on the cell door, and jail staff entered the room to subdue him again. A second fight broke out, with staff again using a Taser on Black as well as pepper spray.

He was then put in handcuffs and an emergency restraint chair, and medics were called to take him to the hospital to be checked. While they waited, the sheriff's office said, Black's condition deteriorated and he went into full arrest. Staff performed CPR, administered oxygen and medicine and used a defibrillator on Black before medics arrived and took him to the hospital.

Black was declared dead two days later. His death is being investigated by the Dayton Police Department as well as the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

After Streck's statement on Thursday, attorneys for Black's family released a statement.

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"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," they wrote.

The attorney said Black was shocked with a Taser and placed in a headlock after he was restrained and could be seen struggling to breathe. They called for criminal charges to be brought against the jail employees "for their callous treatment of Mr. Black."

The sheriff said that he promised the family that after the criminal investigations that there would be "a thorough internal review and investigation to ensure accountability and transparency."

A Dayton Daily News analysis of Ohio jail data for 2023 found that more people died after being put in custody at the Montgomery County jail than at any other jail in Ohio. That year, seven people died after being put in the jail's custody.

The following year, another inmate died in custody after taking a gun from an officer while receiving care at Kettering Health Dayton.
May 2Decatur City Schools is dismissing classes early Friday in an effort to get students and buses off the road before heavy rain strikes the area.

They are dismissing secondary schools at 3:10 p.m. Secondary buses will generally be completing their elementary routes and will load and begin routes at about 3:15 p.m. Times will vary by route. Indoor activities planned for Friday, including extended day, will continue as scheduled.

 jean.cole@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2361
The Florida Legislature has concluded policy discussions for the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, effectively killing the proposed decoupling provisions of Senate Bill 408, House Bill 105, and House Bill 1467, all of which the Florida Senate declined to approve for final passage.

However, Floridas Constitution requires the legislature to pass a balanced state budget each year. To meet this constitutional requirement, the Legislature has extended the Legislative Session through June 6, but has limited the focus to items related to the state budget.

Lonny Powell, CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, issues the following statement to commend Florida leaders who have stood with Floridas Thoroughbred industry, while emphasizing the importance of continued collaborative efforts to preserve and strengthen this vital industry:

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The conclusion of Floridas regular legislative session brings encouraging news for our beloved Thoroughbred legacy and the thousands of Floridians who dedicate their livelihoods to this proud tradition. The FTBOA  and the many horsemen groups, individuals, and elected officials who joined our efforts  once again defended our industry from an ill-advised attempt at decoupling, just as we did in 2012, 2016, 2018, and 2021.

We are deeply grateful to the many breeders, owners, trainers, vets, and horsemen who traveled to Tallahassee to share their heartfelt opposition with lawmakers. Your voices had a clear impact and made a real difference. We also thank the lawmakers who championed our industrys values, engaged thoughtfully with our members, and stood firm against proposals that threatened the foundation of Floridas $3.24 billion Thoroughbred industry.

As the legislature continues to consider matters related to the state budget in the coming weeks, we will remain firm in our opposition to any effort to weaken Floridas Thoroughbred industry. We look forward to continuing our work with Floridas leaders and stakeholders on long-term solutions that preserve and grow this vital industry for years to come.
ADEN, Yemen, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A new batch of approximately 200 undocumented migrants has arrived on Yemen's southern coastline of Shabwa province within the past 24 hours, according to a local security official speaking on condition of anonymity.

The migrants landed specifically in the Radhum district, having been transported aboard a vessel reportedly operated by three Somali nationals. Authorities suspect these individuals were involved in organizing the unauthorized maritime transit.

The cohort consists predominantly of Ethiopian nationals -- 160 men and 40 women -- who have since been placed in temporary detention as local authorities initiate standard procedural assessments.

"This ongoing influx adds significant pressure to our limited resources and security apparatus," the security official said. "We are implementing urgent legal measures in coordination with relevant authorities to manage the situation."

Yemen's strategic location between the Horn of Africa and wealthy Gulf states has long made it a transit point for migrants seeking economic opportunities, despite the country's own protracted conflict and humanitarian crisis.

The perilous sea journey to Yemen typically involves overcrowded vessels lacking basic safety measures, with migrants often suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, and various illnesses upon arrival. Many face exploitation and abuse at the hands of smuggling networks.

Despite these challenges, the flow of migrants from the Horn of Africa to Yemen has remained relatively consistent over recent years, according to local humanitarian organizations.

The plight of migrants in Yemen has been further complicated by the ongoing conflict. Last month, U.S. military airstrikes targeting Houthi group sites struck a detention center in the northern province of Saada, resulting in 68 deaths and 47 injuries, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, reported that all victims were illegal African immigrants being held at the detention center in Saada city, the provincial capital. 
Kevin Liles at Fox Theater in Atlanta on June 1, 2022 - Credit: Prince Williams/Wireimage

The Jane Doe now suing former Def Jam President Kevin Liles with allegations he raped her in a company office in 2002 previously signed a settlement agreement that released Def Jams owner, UMG, and any staff including Liles from all claims related to the womans employment at the label, a copy of the 2005 settlement filed in federal court reveals.

Liles attached a copy of the previously confidential settlement to a new legal filing this week, arguing that the 20-year-old pact barred Doe from suing both him and UMG last February. He said that if the woman doesnt dismiss her damaging and frivolous claims against him immediately, he will use the settlement to seek sanctions against her.

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With Liles on the offensive, lawyers for the Jane Doe are fighting back. In a new filing late Friday, they argue their client never forfeited her right to sue for a sexual assault. They admit they didnt have a copy of the 2005 settlement until UMG handed it over to Liles last week, and they concede theyre now voluntarily dismissing UMG from the lawsuit, considering the settlement. However, her attorneys argue the 2005 release was reached in connection with an employment discrimination dispute, not a civil lawsuit, so its thereby limited by that context.

[Jane Doe] had and continues to have a good faith belief that the scope of the release was not intended to cover the rape by Kevin Liles, the Friday letter from the womans lawyer, Lucas B. Franken, reads. The letter says the woman considered the $47,500 paid to her under the deal a severance package for her employment claims. Franken says his client never told anyone about the alleged rape when she complained to her employers 20 years ago because she simply wasnt ready.

In a dueling letter filed Thursday, Liles legal team argued that the release agreement signed in 2005 clearly released Liles from any allegation whatsoever. They refuted the argument that the deal covered employment claims only. Plaintiffs arguments are without basis and would mean that an individual could conceal known  and here, fictitious  claims when settling with a counter-party, purport to release any and all claims, and then file suit seeking remedy for those concealed claims two decades later, Liles lawyers Krystal C. Durham and Joseph M. Terry wrote.

Liles, 57, has vehemently denied Does allegations, calling them outrageous. In a statement last February, he vowed to clear his name and then sue the Jane Doe and her lawyers for defamation. In their letter filed Thursday, Liles lawyers accused the woman of hoping to extort a settlement out of Mr. Liles based on negative publicity.

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Liles lawyers declined to comment on Friday. In a statement sent to Rolling Stone, Franken accused Liles of trying to threaten and silence the Jane Doe.

We believe the outcome of an employment dispute does not negate our clients right to seek redress for the sexual assault and rape that she suffered. Mr. Liles can attempt to intimidate and distract all he wants  we intend to let the facts and evidence speak in court., Franken says.

The judge did not immediately rule on Liles request for a sanctions hearing or the Jane Does request to amend her lawsuit. A spokesperson for UMG did not respond to a request for a comment.

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BOSTON (WPRI)  The defense in Karen Reads second murder case repeatedly sparred Friday with a key witness who was with Read the morning she found her Boston police officer boyfriend dead in the snow, hoping to undermine her testimony.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson tried to suggest that past inconsistencies showed Jennifer McCabes testimony couldnt be trusted. He also suggested that she and several other witnesses coordinated their version of events around the death of John OKeefe.

Prosecutors say Read, 45, backed her SUV into OKeefe after dropping him off at a party hosted by a fellow officer in January 2022 and left him to die in the snow. Defense attorneys say she was a victim of a conspiracy involving the police and have suggested he was killed by someone inside the home.

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A mistrial was declared last year after jurors said they were at an impasse. Reads second trial on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene, began April 22 and has thus far looked similar to the first.

RELATED: Key witness testifies in Karen Read murder trial

Questioning McCabes testimony

On Friday, Jackson tried to convince the jury that McCabes testimony has shifted over time or she left out key details about the events before and after OKeefes death.

McCabe, he said, never mentioned that she called her sister just before OKeefe was found in the snow  something she denied. The two also sparred over what she told former State Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator on the case, about a broken taillight on Reads vehicle. Jackson said she told Proctor that it was cracked, while McCabe testified that she believed I said it was broken and cracked and it was missing pieces.

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After Jackson challenged McCabe about the route she took to the house, McCabe sounded exasperated.

I was in shock, she told the court. So a lot of things from that day are foggy. Certain things, certain details I may have forgotten.

Jackson responded that all of your testimony over the last several days is based on that memory that you just described to these jurors, correct?

McCabe then shot back that there are certain things Ill never forget.

Jackson accused McCabe and other witnesses of coordinating their versions of events in the hours and days after OKeefe died. He brought up a group chat that included McCabe and several others in which they talked about the case and acknowledged listening to a police interview of another witness, Kerry Roberts, who was also with Read and McCabe that morning.

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In the text that we just saw, you were colluding with other witnesses, percipient witnesses in this case through those text messages, were you not? Jackson asked, prompting McCabe to deny it.

He pressed further, suggesting she listened to Roberts interview to help shape her own version of events, which McCabe again denied.

SEE ALSO: Digital forensics expert returns to witness stand

Going back over the Google search

The two also argued over a Google search  hos (sic) long to die in cold  by McCabe related to concerns that OKeefe was suffering from hyperthermia. She pushed back on a suggestion it was done much earlier in the morning of OKeefes death. She also insisted it was done at Reads request soon after they arrived on the scene, despite no other witnesses recounting that.

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I stand by that 110%, she said, when Jackson challenged her account.

Jackson also questioned McCabes actions once she arrived on the scene, arguing that she should have done more to help OKeefe. He suggested that she knew the homeowner, Brian Albert, a friend who had been a Boston police officer, could have provided blankets and was trained to provide life-saving treatment.

You could have walked 25 feet to the front door, walked in the house and screamed for Brian Albert to help you in those precious minutes, Jackson asked.

McCabe said her focus was exclusively on OKeefe at the time.

That would have taken me away from helping John, getting Kerry blankets, giving him compressions, she said.

Finding OKeefe in the snow

During her second day of testimony Wednesday, McCabe recalled a chaotic scene when they reached the house where OKeefe, 46, was later found lying in the snow. She called 911 to report a body while Read and another friend Roberts tried to warm OKeefe up and perform CPR.

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Read, she said, was running around and screaming so much that police suggested she sit in a police cruiser. The three sat together praying, and McCabe remember Read wondering 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 Read saying to a paramedic, Did I hit him? Could I have hit him? Is he dead? Is he dead? Is he dead?

In point of fact, in your entire grand jury testimony, you never said my client said the words I hit him. he said.

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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.

MORE: Karen Read Trial

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3:58 p.m.: Court is adjourned for the day.

Court will resume on Monday morning at 9 a.m. During that time, the jury will receive their instructions and closing statements will be given.

3:49 p.m.: Tadarrius Bean has taken the stand.

Bean and the other defendants are being brought up to say whether they want to testify or not.

He said that hes comfortable going forward with this case without taking the stand in front of the jury.

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Next was Demetrius Haley, who also decided that he didnt want to take the stand in front of the jury.

Lastly was Justin Smith, who said that he didnt want to take the stand in front of the jury.

3:41 p.m.: All three defense attorneys have rested.

Court has ended for the day and the jury was dismissed.

3:27 p.m.: The next witness was Mark Wojcicki, a former Memphis Police officer who spent his last two years at the Memphis Police training academy.

Wojcicki testified that he knew Smith and that the latter had been assigned to his unit in 2020.

He described Smiths reputation as professional and proficient and said that he was an officer youd want living right next to you.

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Wojcicki testified that there were several times Smith dealt with non-compliant suspects and didnt use excessive force.

He brought up a specific incident where he, Smith and Desmond Mills were arresting a suspect and took him into custody with minimal incident.

He added that Smith would come to the training academy to get better at his job.

Smiths lawyer asked Wojcicki if he trusted Smith to arrest his own children. Wojcicki said yes.

Wojcicki testified that to his knowledge, Smith wasnt capable of not intervening if he saw excessive force.

During cross-examination, Hagerman asked that if Smtih did see it or participate in the excessive force, should he be held accountable.

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Wojcicki said yes, but brought up other mitigating factors such as being pepper-sprayed in the face.

Wojcicki was dismissed.

3:12 p.m.: The next witness to the stand is Brian Nemec, a former Memphis Police officer. He was with the Organized Crime Unit for 18 years.

He said that Justin Smith joined the OCU in 2020. He described Smith as a hard worker, a motivator, courteous to others and respectful to his co-workers and the public.

He was a hard worker. I like the way he could write. He kind of fit the bill of what we do. He could go in and do the job, Nemec said.  I called him a motivator. He motivated other officers and thats an important thing for us to keep these guys motivated

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He added that Smith never had a temper, even when dealing with dangerous suspects.

Paul Hagerman began his cross-examination of Nemec by asking about past comments that were made about putting your hands on a suspect.

Hagerman asked Nemec if there was ever an OCU meeting where, if someone sees excessive force, they had to ignore it. Nemec said no.

Nemec also said he believes officers shouldnt allow excessive force to happen.

On redirect, Smiths lawyer asked Nemec if Smith had seen Martin kick Tyre Nichols, he would have stopped it.

Nemec responded yes.

2:38 p.m.: Trial has returned from lunch break.

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Don Cameron was dismissed from the stand.

The next witness called to the stand is Garrett OBrien, a former Memphis Police officer who worked with Justin Smith in the past.

He was dismissed.

12:51 p.m.: The court is on a lunch break. They are set to return at 2:15 p.m.

11:58 a.m.: Trial resumes after a brief recess.

Don Cameron is still on the stand, being cross-examined by Paul Hagerman. They continue looking at the video of Tyre Nichols beating.

Cameron testified that he saw Demetrius Haley kick Nichols, and after he walked away, Emmitt Martin could be seen kicking him.

He added he still hadnt heard anyone tell the officers to stop.

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Cameron testified that he trains officers to tell medical professionals what injuries a person has sustained. He said that the officers didnt do that for Nichols.

Hagerman then proceeded to show the court video from Haleys body cam.

He asked Cameron if it was fair to say that his body cam video started after the incident (Nichols beating) occurred and Cameron agreed.

In the video, Haley could be seen taking a picture of Nichols while he was leaning against the car.

Hagerman asked Cameron if he trained his officers to take pictures of suspects. Cameron responded, Yes, if he were trying to document injuries.

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Cameron was then asked if he thought thats what Haley was doing and he said, Thats what he said he was doing.

Hagerman finished his cross-examination. Haleys lawyer returned to ask Cameron more questions.

Cameron was asked where Haley was at the time Nichols was first struck. He said he didnt think he was present yet.

He also testified that Haley wasnt present when Nichols was struck in the head.

11:40 a.m.: The trial went on a brief recess.

10:06 a.m.: The first witness of the day was Don Cameron, a law enforcement consultant and police training expert.

While on the stand, Cameron explained his experience with police training and the proper use of force when trying to subdue a criminal.

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He said he examined defendant Demetrius Haleys conduct, body cam footage from the night of the incident and other audio footage to see if it was in accordance with Memphis police training.

Cameron testified that Nichols had been at fault, considering he was traveling at a high rate of speed and had run a red light. He added that Nichols decision to abruptly stop as unusual.

Haleys lawyer proceeded to show the video of Nichols traffic stop and asked Cameron if he saw Haley in the clip and if he could describe his conduct.

Cameron responded that Haley attempted to use multiple different MPD techniques, such as hands-on, harsh language and verbal persuasion.

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Because Nichols failed to yield, Cameron said Haley was right to use soft hands to get him out of the vehicle.

Cameron testified that Haley used verbal judo while dealing with Nichols and described the practice as a way for officers to negotiate with a suspect.

If that doesnt work, Cameron said thats when you escalate to other techniques such as harsh language (profanity) or hard hands.

He added that because officers believed Nichols had a hold of one of their guns, Haley and the others were within their rights to take Nichols to the ground.

When officers were demanding that Nichols get on his stomach and he claimed that he was, Cameron said that posed a threat to the officers because they hadnt searched him yet.

So, there was a threat he could have attempted to strike the officers or may have had a weapon in his waistband.

Cameron said that Haleys conduct during the traffic stop was in compliance with Memphis Police protocol.

Haleys lawyer finished his questioning of Cameron. The prosecution has begun its cross-examination.

Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman asked Cameron if he was basing his opinion of Haley and the other officers conduct on what Emmitt Martin said about Nichols grabbing his gun.

Cameron responded, Yes.

Cameron testified that he was not aware that Martin had recanted his original story and said that Nichols had never reached for his gun.

Hagerman showed the court the Skycop video of the beating, where Nichols could be heard screaming in pain and Haley could be seen kicking him.

When asked if he would characterize the kick as excessive, Cameron said that the kick was unnecessary.

Cameron testified that if fellow officers saw that kick, they would have the duty to intervene.

Hagerman asked Cameron if Nichols had the right to protect himself from the excessive force and Cameron agreed.

However, he testified that because Nichols wasnt handcuffed, its difficult to know what he was doing with his hands.

The arm is tucked under the body. Haley comes up, makes a quick assessment of whats occurring and takes the time to look and see where hes going to apply the kick. And he applies the kick to the upper arm muscle area, which they are trained to do because that causes the arm to relax and come up behind the back, where the officer wants the arm to be in a handcuffed position, Cameron said. So he takes the time basically to aim and to kick the area that he wants to kick that is in association with the training he received at the Memphis Police Department,

Cameron also said that while he could hear Nichols screams, he said he wasnt sure if they came from fear or pain.

Hagerman asked if it was a police officers job to unleash punishment and Cameron said no.

Hagerman followed that up by asking if that meant that the officers conduct towards Nichols was excessive and unnecessary. Cameron said yes.

Cameron testified that in the video, Nichols couldnt be seen throwing any punches or kicks. However, officers could be seen striking him multiple times, including in the head.

Cameron said that the force was unnecessary and excessive.

Hagerman asked Cameron if hed heard any officer tell the others to stop striking Nichols and he said no.

When Hagerman followed up and asked if it would be an officers duty to stop his fellow officers from using excessive force, Cameron agreed.

Cameron testified that he could hear Haley say, Beat that man, when he arrived at the scene and got out of the car.

However, Cameron said that he didnt believe Haley said it out of anger, but instead to have Nichols subdued so they could take him into custody.

It may be a way of saying, do what you have to do to keep the guy in custody, Cameron said.

*****

Witnesses testify force used on Tyre Nichols reasonable

MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Saturday marks the sixth day of the state murder trial for three former Memphis Police officers accused of beating Tyre Nichols to death during a Jan. 2023 traffic stop.

The state rested its case earlier this week, and the defense is in the process of presenting witnesses. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith are all facing a second-degree murder charge in the case.

On Friday, John Tisdale, an expert witness in police policy and use of force, told the jury that he believed Beans use of force was reasonable.

He told prosecuting attorneys that under most circumstances, kicking someone in the head who is on the ground would be unreasonable, although Tisdale did later agree with attorneys that any type of strike to the head could be considered deadly force.

Curtis Tate, a police officer and a character witness for Smith, described the former cop as an Honorable, honest guy, loving father and husband, gentle, and courageous.

He (Smith) is incapable, in my opinion, of hurting any victim, any suspect, any citizen. If Justin Smith knew that a suspect was being treated unfairly, he would stop and intervene and confront that officer, said Tate.

The trial is set to begin at 10 a.m. We will provide live updates to this story throughout the day.

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A Denton man has been charged in a series of arsons, including one that killed a 103-year-old man and an 83-year-old woman, Denton police and fire officials said.

John Howard Ore, 36, has been charged with two counts of arson and two counts of arson causing serious bodily injury or death, according to a statement.

The first arson Ore is charged with took place on Dec. 17, 2024 at a restaurant in the 6400 block of Interstate 35, officials said. No one was injured in that incident.

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The next day, the Denton Fire Department responded to a fire at a home in the 2000 block of Houston Place, where the two elderly victims lived, according to the statement.

Dante Bassi, 103, and Marilyn Bradley-Bassi, 83, were rescued from the home, but later died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the fire, officials said.

On Jan. 21, Denton fire crews put out a fire at a daycare in the 1700 block of West Oak Street, officials said. Security footage from the daycare showed a man breaking a window and starting the fire.

Ore was arrested two days later for the restaurant and daycare fires, and was later charged with setting the fire at the Bassis home, officials said.

Ore is being held in the Denton County Jail on a $2.1 million bond.
DENVER (KDVR)  A man was arrested in connection with the shooting death of a woman inside her home in Berthoud earlier this week.

The Larimer County Sheriffs Office previously said it was investigating the 49-year-old womans death as suspicious, and provided more information about the incident in a press release on Friday.

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Around 11:20 p.m. Monday, a 911 caller reported that a woman was shot inside her home in the 500 block of First Street.

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Deputies with the sheriffs office and a nearby Colorado State Patrol trooper responded and provided first aid, but the woman died at the scene.

The sheriffs office said several other people were inside the house at the time of the shooting, but no other injuries were reported.

According to the release, investigators collected evidence and gathered information that identified 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku of Denver as a suspect.

Court documents obtained by FOX31 show that he was arrested on Thursday and booked into the Larimer County Jail for one charge of first-degree murder  extreme indifference. He was issued a $1.25 million cash-only bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)  The U.S Department of Education will officially resume collecting defaulted federal student loans on Monday, May 5, marking the end of a three-year pause, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For thousands of Missourians, and particularly residents of St. Joseph, this could mean renewed pressure from loan services, especially for those whose loans are currently in default.

However, for St. Joseph resident Lorna Davis, the deadline will be of no concern as she believes its starts with making smart decision before taking loans.

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It's a matter of catching it beforehand and deciding if you want to go to a four year school and if you're actually going to stick with it," Davis said. "If there is any way to avoid them, I think that's best."

The pause, which began in March 2020, offered temporary relief to more than 40 million borrowers, halting interest accrual and collections on defaulted loans. But starting this month, collections on federally held student loans in default are restarting, with garnishments of wages, tax refunds and Social Security benefits once again on the table.

In an April interview with Fox Business, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon urged Americans to act swiftly. Its very simple, weve announced that by May 5, you must start to repay your loan, McMahon said. This is not meant to cause hardship. There are several different payment plans available.

What This Means for St. Joseph Residents

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According to the most recent data from the Department of Education, Buchanan County has a significant number of residents with student debt, and many of those loans are currently in default. Local borrowers who have fallen behind could now face renewed garnishments or negative credit reporting if they do not act quickly.

For St. Joseph resident Beth Crumpler, the return to repayment is daunting. "Right now I havent been navigating them because I havent had to pay with the forbearance going on,Crumpler said. "But Im just going to have to work probably until the day I die. Ill just be working to pay what I have to pay."

The Fresh Start initiative, a temporary program from the Department of Education, allows borrowers in default to return to good standing and avoid collections. Borrowers can:

Remove the default status from their loans, re-enter regular repayment plans, restore eligibility for federal financial aid, and prevent wage or benefit garnishment.

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Borrowers must act soon, as Fresh Start is not automatic. To enroll, visit myeddebt.ed.gov or contact your loan servicer.

"I don't know if it was worth it to have the loans but college prepared me for my job absolutely, Crumpler said.
In 2020, when everyone was bored in the house due to COVID, Hoosiers became un-bored by starting their own businesses and becoming entrepreneurs. Some of these new start ups had no business experience, it was just their mind, their product, and the power of the internet.

Small businesses post-pandemic were strengthened after they launched during the pandemic, but the real fruition was when mandates were lifted and allowed the community to gather. According to the United States Department of Labor, 2020 was record breaking in all the years theyve tracked the statistics of start ups.

From 2019 to 2020, there was a 20% increase which is double the growth than other years that the labor department has tracked. The department saw continuation of trends of selling online rather than having a storefront.

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Fast forward to 2025, the manner in which small businesses sell their items now goes beyond social media, seller websites or storefronts. Its all about pop up markets, which means that businesses are invited as vendors to sell their items with other small business owners that then becomes a community in which they all support and promote what each vendor does.

Normally a host or coordinator of pop up markets will charge vendors a fee to have a section, booth and/or space for them to set up. Vendors range in what they sell  some sell clothes, accessories, handmade items, services, food and sweet treats.

Niomi Lara of N&C Pop Ups is an Elkhart County host and recruits vendors for their events that are held seasonally and usually with a theme attached to it. Before establishing her market in the county, she is also a business owner and has her booth set up at each event. Lara opened her business of selling Dulces Enchilados, also known as spiced candy in 2020.

Lara experienced her first market that same year when she was invited to the Hispanic Heritage Festival that is held annually by local Latino leaders with help of the city of Goshen. Lara said that at that time pop-up markets were not as common or trending the way they are now and thats when she and her partner had a lightbulb moment.

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We quickly realized how important attending markets could be, she said. Participating in markets can be a transformative strategy for business growth, offering numerous benefits that extend beyond immediate sales. By engaging in these events, you have the opportunity to showcase your products or services to a wider audience, often attracting new customers who may not have discovered your business otherwise.

Since Lara started as a vendor and later began to host markets, she was able to analyze the need or gaps as a vendor and as a market host. She described being a vendor and host of markets as unique and at times challenging but rewarding.

As a vendor, you are directly involved in showcasing your products and engaging with customers, Lara said. On the other hand, as a market host, you are responsible for organizing the event, coordinating with other vendors, and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. This dual role requires multitasking and strong organizational abilities. The joy of seeing a successful market day, where both vendors and customers leave satisfied, is immensely gratifying.

Jackie Velazquez was a stay-at-home mom and wanted to find a new hobby, so she began making candles. She stuck with her hobby of making candles and then she thought the candles could be a source of income for her and her family. One thing led to another and Velazquez found herself planning her own market, now known as Makers Market located in Ligonier.

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Velazquez said that creating a market and being a vendor was special as it was unexpected but something she now knows was meant for her.

Being a vendor is very special to me because I am able to create using my own ideas as my own boss and leader, she said. Being a host makes me a leader to vendors I work with. It can be different with other hosts because not all hosts will communicate with you or even talk to you during markets.

Velazquez also mentioned that being a host allows her to change that narrative and bad experiences other vendors may have encountered. She made a commitment to herself and her vendors to ensure that they feel welcomed, attend more markets, and join the community of markets she brings together at Makers Market.

Both Velazquez and Lara enjoy the community aspect of what they do and being able to gather small businesses from all over the state of Indiana and even as far as Michigan.

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Velazquez said the markets bring different people together as well as diversity and culture. Lara has also been able to cultivate the same sense of inclusion and diversity in her markets.

Pop-up markets offer numerous benefits to communities, with one of the most significant being the boost to local economies, Lara said. These temporary marketplaces provide a platform for local artisans, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers, often without the high costs associated with permanent retail spaces.

This not only increases the visibility and accessibility of local goods but also encourages residents to support local vendors, keeping money circulating within the community. Additionally, pop-up markets can revitalize underused spaces, attracting foot traffic and fostering a vibrant community atmosphere.

Location is a big factor of the success of a market and thats normally where Velazquez starts when she begins to plan the event.

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I always look for a good location. A location with good parking, a well known location, a place that is a good fit for all vendors and attendees, and accessible for dogs, wheelchairs, large families, etc., Velazquez said.

For Lara, as a host and vendor, she has found her groove when it comes to planning as she plans seasonal markets.

Planning for a market involves several strategic steps to ensure a successful event, Lara said. First, its crucial to research consumer preferences, current trends, other events happening in the area, etc. This information helps in selecting the right products and pricing strategies.

Next, setting clear goals and objectives for the market is essential. Creating a detailed business plan that outlines marketing strategies, budget, logistics, and timelines is also vital. Furthermore, choosing an ideal location, securing necessary permits, and organizing the layout for vendor booths and customer flow are key logistical considerations.

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Lara also emphasized the networking aspect that in the end makes or breaks the market and the work she has put in for preparation.

Networking with vendors is an integral part of a successful market, she explained. We start by identifying vendors whose products complement our offerings and align with our markets theme.

When reaching out to potential vendors, its important to communicate clearly about the benefits of participating in our market, such as exposure to a targeted audience or potential sales opportunities, she explained. For every market we always create a group chat and communicate information leading up till the day of the market. We always share our market essential checklist, tips, and more. We also ask for feedback from vendors after every market to help us learn and grow.

Velasquez also ensures that in all market planning, she too remains consistent with strong communication. She makes sure that everyone is connected, supported, and welcomed using group chats, like Lara, and reaching out to vendors who can join in.

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The sense of community vendors experience, who all identify as a small business, and have yet to create a storefront, is a powerful way of building a platform and connection, leading to great success, according to Lara.

People are increasingly gravitating towards building small businesses for several reasons, she said. Firstly, the desire for independence and control over ones career is a significant motivator. Many individuals seek the flexibility to make their own decisions and create a work environment that aligns with their values and goals. Also, the trend towards supporting local businesses has grown, encouraging entrepreneurs to start ventures that cater to their communities, fostering a sense of connection and sustainability.

As Lara and Velazquez continue to navigate their roles as vendors and hosts for pop-up markets, they cant deny the support theyve received for both roles but most importantly the gratitude and positivity they receive when it comes to feedback from both the local communities and vendors who are experiencing the movement.

The feedback we have received from both vendors, and the community has been so great, Lara said. Receiving positive feedback from both vendors and the community is incredibly encouraging. Such feedback serves as a powerful motivator to continue building on what works, while also being open to suggestions for improvement.

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Velazquez has also received the same positive feedback in her work as a leader and business owner.

Feedback I have received that is positive includes great communication, very organized, great turnouts, and welcoming, all things that Velazquez said she wants to hear.

Both women enjoy everything they do and there are moments during the event or even after, they feel the support and boost their confidence knowing that they are helping and serving the community one market at a time.

I always wanted to be a leader and role model. This is my opportunity to be that and the best part is seeing everybodys products, their creativity, and new inventions come to life, Velasquez said.

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When Lara thought of a moment in which she felt true value in what she does is when she received a thank you that made her appreciate the vendors she collaborates with.

I received a letter from a vendor expressing how grateful they were for the markets we have been hosting for the community, she said. It was such a heartfelt gesture and Ill forever appreciate it. Another success is seeing how many vendor applications we have been receiving, and interest in our markets. This is exactly why we started this.

Goals that Lara and Velazquez look forward to is growing their business, more networking, more valuable connections, and benefit the community is the movement of pop-ups, markets, and small businesses.

Our mission is to create a place where your unique talents can shine, Lara said.
PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Police say a missing Park Township mother, her three children and their dog have been found safe in Missouri.

They are being evaluated by medical staff as a precaution, Sgt. Sean Mazzola with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department told KTVI, News 8s sister station in St. Louis. We do not believe foul play was involved and are in contact with the father of the children.

The Ottawa County Sheriffs Office confirmed they were found safe.

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On Saturday morning, the sheriffs office asked for help finding 50-year-old Michelle Lynn Olszewski of Park Township; her three children, ages 8, 10 and 14; and their dog. Deputies began searching for them after Olszewski removed her children from school on Wednesday and left the state. Her rental car and belongings were found at a hotel in Indiana, but they had not been seen at or near the hotel since Thursday.

They did find evidence that Michelle may be mentally unstable at this time and has a history of mental instability, the sheriffs department said in a release.

On Saturday afternoon, the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office said Olszewski and her 8-year-old son were found in Missouri, but the other two children were still missing at the time. Later on Saturday, authorities confirmed that all of them had been found safe.

The sheriffs office previously said they did not have a known source of transportation. Its unclear how they got to Missouri.

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KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE)  A woman who had been last seen leaving her home in West Knox County Friday has been found safe, according to the Knox County Sheriffs Office.

According to the sheriffs office, Natalie Smith was last seen around 2:30 p.m. Friday. KCSO said she left her home in the 9000 block of Atlas Lane. Smith frequently walks along Westland Drive for around 15 minutes before returning home.

Around 3:50 p.m., the sheriffs office issued an update saying Smith had been located and was safe.

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Man reunites with Loudon County first responders who helped save his life

Saturday morning, the sheriffs office asked anyone who lives in the Westlands and Atlas areas to check any home camera footage to see if there is any sign of Smith. Smith is described as 55 tall with brown hair and blue eyes. She weighs around 225 pounds. It is not known what she was wearing when she disappeared.

Natalie Smith (Knox County Sheriffs Office)

Anyone who had Smith was asked to contact KCSO Major Crimes Detective C. Shuford at 865-215-2243.

Blount County DA points out inadequacy of laws behind ex-PE teachers sentencing

Authorities say nearly 400 people go missing in Tennessee each year. Thats five people for every 100,000. Check this list of people missing from East Tennessee to see if you can help locate someone.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
A Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy has died after being hit by a car driven by the father of a man who was killed by Cincinnati police the day before.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said during a news conference that the sheriff's deputy, whose identity was not released, was hit by a car being driven by the father of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton. The crash happened around 1 p.m. May 2.

The crash comes a day after police fatally shot Hinton in East Price Hill during a car theft investigation.

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Here's what we know.

When and where was the fatal crash?

The crash occurred around 1 p.m. May 1, just a few hours before the beginning of graduation ceremonies for the University of Cincinnati.

It happened near the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods in the CUF neighborhood, north of UC's campus. The deputy was outside of his vehicle operating a traffic light when a car driven by Hinton's father, Rodney HInton Jr., entered the intersection and struck him.

Lawyer: Family had watched body camera of shooting just hours before deputy was killed

The deputy and Hinton's father were transported to the hospital in critical condition. The deputy later died.

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Traffic on Martin Luther King Drive was closed for several hours after the crash. The road reopened shortly after 6 p.m.

Who was the deputy who died in the crash?

The deputy's identity has not been released yet. Theetge said he had recently retired from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and was working a special detail by directing traffic for the graduation.

"The officer was just out doing his job," Theetge said.

Officials have withheld the deputy's name, citing Marsys Law, legislation meant to protect victims of crimes.

Who is charged in the crash?

Cincinnati police said the driver of the vehicle that struck the deputy, 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., has been arrested on a charge of aggravated murder.

What happened during the police shooting in East Price Hill?

On May 1, the day before the fatal crash, Cincinnati police went to an apartment complex in East Price Hill after learning a stolen vehicle was found there.

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Four suspects, who police believed stole the car, took off running into the woods, some in different directions. One officer chased 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was seen holding a gun.

The officer called out twice that Hinton had a gun. The suspect tripped but continued to run between two dumpsters with a gun in his hand, before he encountered another officer, Theetge said.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge at a press conference on 3201 Warsaw Ave., Thursday, May 1, in East Price Hill. Police responded to a shooting on the 2500 block of Warsaw Avenue.

The other officer was pursuing someone else when the armed suspect emerged from between the dumpsters, Theetge said. The body camera showed the officer fired four to five rounds at the suspect as he ran in the officers direction.

While its unclear from the blurred body camera footage, Theetge said, the officer who fired the shots said in interviews that the suspect pointed the gun at him.

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More: Fatal East Price Hill police shooting happened during 'six quick seconds,' chief says

Was the fatal crash intentional?

Police and a lawyer for Hinton's father have not provided details on the intentions behind the crash.

Hinton's lawyer said in an interview with The Enquirer that the father was "very distraught" watching body camera footage of the shooting earlier in the day, around 10 a.m.

"He couldn't finish watching the video," Michael Wright, of the Cochran Law Firm, said of the father. "It was very difficult to watch for the family."

Cincinnati police officers were involved in a shooting before 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Westview Condominiums on Warsaw Avenue in East Price Hill.

Have police arrested the other suspects after the police shooting?

Theetge said after the shooting, the other three suspects ran off into a steep, heavily wooded area. After an extensive search, she said, police apprehended Jurell Austin, 18, and 19-year-old Deanthony Bullocks.

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A third suspect evaded police custody, Theetge said.

Gov. Mike DeWine sent condolences

Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statement about the death of the deputy who died in the line of duty May 2 while directing traffic.

"Fran and I are saddened to learn about the Hamilton County deputy hit by a vehicle and killed in the line of duty today. I have been briefed on the ongoing investigation and am sickened by what appears to be an intentional act of violence. We offer our sincere condolences to the deputys family, friends, and colleagues."

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Rodney Hinton Jr. identified as driver who hit deputy: What we know
SINGAPORE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Sample count results indicate that the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has secured a simple majority in Singapore's general election, as the Elections Department releases results constituency by constituency on Saturday night.

The sample count provides only an early indication of the potential outcome. "As this is a sample count, the election result could be different. Counting is still in progress," the department said, urging the public to await the official announcement of the final results.

A total of 209 candidates from 11 political parties and coalitions, along with two independents, contested 97 elected seats in the parliament. Of these, five seats in a multi-member constituency were uncontested and were secured by the PAP on Nomination Day, April 23. 
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office is dead after a crash near the University of Cincinnati.

NBC affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati reported a sheriffs deputy was in the area of Burnet Woods and Martin Luther King drives on Friday afternoon, assisting with traffic for graduation commencement events.

The deputy was reportedly hit by a vehicle and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he died.

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While not yet identifying the deputy, the sheriffs office said he will be greatly missed.

We could fill this building with the law enforcement agencies that respect him, love him, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said.

According to Cincinnati Police, the driver of the vehicle was the father of an 18-year-old who was shot and killed by Cincinnati Police on Thursday. That man was also reportedly listed in critical condition, according to WLWT.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A Lincoln County Sheriffs Office deputy fired their weapon at a vehicle fleeing from officers Friday afternoon in connection with a narcotics investigation, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

CSP said in a press release that the incident began at about 1 p.m. Friday at a Loaf-N-Jug located at 707 Main Street in Limon. The sheriffs office and the Limon Police Department were trying to contact three suspects in a vehicle at the convenience store when the driver attempted to flee.

2 of 3 killed in Weld County crash identified; community mourns middle school teacher

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The agency said the driver reversed the suspect vehicle into a patrol car, then drove in the direction of a Lincoln County Sheriffs Office deputy, who was standing outside his nearby vehicle. The deputy fired his weapon and hit the suspect vehicle, according to CSP.

CSP said one of the suspects associated with the vehicle had exited the car earlier and was detained at the Loaf-N-Jug, but the other two suspects were still in the vehicle as it drove away. The agency said that the suspect vehicle also hit a bystanders vehicle while leaving the parking lot.

Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, the Limon Police Department and CSP pursued the vehicle west on Main Street, where a deputy performed a tactical vehicle intervention to stop the suspects near the intersection of Main Street and Highway 24. After the vehicle was stopped, the passenger surrendered without further incident.

However, CSP said the driver refused to exit the vehicle and displayed a gun to officers. A deputy used a stun gun on the suspect and a second officer disarmed the driver and took him into custody. The suspect was transported to a local hospital, where he is receiving treatment for injuries he sustained during the incident, according to police.

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Because an officer fired their weapon, the 23rd Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation into the shots fired. The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office is leading the criminal investigation.

Any witnesses or anyone who believes they have information for investigators is asked to contact Sergeant Erwin of the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office at 719-743-2426.

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Governor Ron DeSantis wants approval from the Department of Homeland Security to allow Florida National Guard members to serve as immigration judges. Hes looking at pulling judge advocates from the Florida National Guard to help expedite deportation.

This all came up at a news conference in Miramar on Thursday, where officials discussed Operation Tidal Wave.

1,120 undocumented immigrants were arrested within 6 days. Many of them who did not have final deportation orders must appear before an immigration judge.

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If this is approved, we will go off to the races, and we will be able to do really from soup to nuts, from apprehension to detention, DeSantis said.

This is as state officials call Florida ICEs blueprint for handling mass deportations across the country.

These judge advocates primarily practice in administrative or military law-- not immigration.

Immigration attorney Nayef Mubarak says he would be concerned if one of these appointed national guard members were to be a judge in front of ones of his clients.

My concern here would be, as theyre properly training to understand the law, immigration is one of the largest bodies of law. Its more than removal, Mubarak said. It takes a lot to understand who qualifies for relief and who doesnt.

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Theres also concern about whether the move would expedite cases too quickly.

Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet who was undocumented in the U.S. for 15 years says it would.

It would essentially destroy due process. Our court system exists, so people have a day at court, so they can actually fight their case, Sousa-Lazaballet said.

DeSantis says theres no issues with deputizing these Florida National Guard members.

These are not Article III judges. They are executive branch employees, basically. We can absolutely deputize judge advocates from our National Guard units. To serve as immigration judges. We can do other to do that. So well help on that piece as well, DeSantis said.

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He had this to say when asked about due process.

Now, were in a situation where the federal government is doing, enforcing the law, and the courts are saying, well, no, you really cant do that. People need to have some O.J. Simpson-type trial before they can be deported. Its nuts. And its a heads-they-win, tails-we-lose for the country, to where people come in unimpeded, and its virtually impossible for them to go, DeSantis said.

Now, this has yet to be approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

Immigration advocates and lawyers we spoke to say they believe this would be challenged in court.

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A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

When Steve Hale came to his editors at the Deseret News with an idea to honor Salt Lake City area high school students, he met a receptive audience.

The Desert News had already been recognizing high school athletes for their successes, so to do the same for top scholars made perfect sense.

The year was 1962. More than 60 years later, the Sterling Scholars program is well known for its celebration of student success.

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And it grows and grows each year.

The beginning

According to Sterling Scholar organizers, Hale, a columnist, suggested that the Deseret News sponsor a program to spotlight scholastic achievement.

Hale, along with education reporter Lavor Chaffin and marketing director Keith West, realized that outstanding academic scholars were not recognized in any manner. They decided to meet with members of the board of education in Salt Lake City for support in recognizing high school seniors.

Xiaocheng Ai of Corner Canyon High School laughs upon receiving the General Sterling Scholar Award at the 2025 Sterling Scholar Ceremony at the Conference Center Little Theater in Salt Lake City on Thursday, April 17, 2025. | Brice Tucker, Deseret News

After the board of education approved the program, Chaffin and West created 12 categories and requested that each school nominate at least 12 candidates. They also decided to name the program Sterling since sterling, by definition, is something pure and valuable and scholars seemed like a natural second word. Hence, the name Sterling Scholars was created.

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The first year, the program was only held in Salt Lake City but it quickly spread to Cache and Utah counties and then across all of Utah.

Coverage in the Deseret News that year included photos of the winners on the front page, along with stories about those who helped with the awards program and what parents and school leaders said about the event.

As a fun side note, one winner, who was not present because he was competing in the National Science Fair competition in Seattle, did not find out he had won until the following day, when his parents phoned him.

DN-StScholars2

KSL soon joined the Deseret News in its endeavors and even telecast the event for many years.

The process

Consider how may high students are involved in the program. There are more than 100 schools, and each nominates a winner in each category. The competition categories have been expanded to 14 and now include regional winners in different parts of the state.

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Students begin building their portfolios at the school level. Winners then advance to regional and final competitions. Winners receive awards and recognition, while some colleges and universities in Utah offer financial assistance to top nominees in the Deseret News/KSL Broadcast Group Sterling Scholar Awards Program.

The final awards program is now streamed live by KSL-TV.

DN-StScholars3

It is now considered quite prestigious to be a Sterling Scholar, and it would probably be easy for a Sterling Scholar math nominee to figure out how many Utah high school seniors have been honored.

But the process and what is learned along the way can be valuable as well.

Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about the program:

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"How Sterling Scholar has awarded Utahs brightest students for 57 years"

"Sterling Scholar builds on a 53-year history"

"Sterling Scholars: Where are they now?"

"Meet the Deseret News/KSL 2025 General Sterling Scholar"
BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  A soft opening was held Friday for a new bar inside a local chocolate shop.

Friday evening, First News checked out the new dessert bar at Gorants flagship store on Route 224 in Boardman. There youll find signature cocktails paired with Gorant Chocolate, plus music and appetizers all weekend. The new bar was made possible thanks to the passing of a liquor issue in October.

The feeling once youre in the place, we wanted it to feel like youre in your home. So it has this very intimate, very snug-like feel. So its almost like youre entertaining friends in your own home but youre not; someones serving you drinks and food. It doesnt get much better than that, said co-owner Bergen Giordani.

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The dessert bar will be open every Thursday through Saturday, starting at 4 p.m.

The bar is also open for rent outside its operating hours.

Tino DiCenso contributed to this story.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (ABC4)  New details have been released after seven people were confirmed dead in a crash involving a tour van near Yellowstone National Park on Thursday.

Idaho State Police said the group of 14 people in the Mercedes van were headed to Yellowstone National Park on an excursion organized by Ctour Holiday LLC, a large-scale receptive tour operator that provides international travel services, a press release from Idaho State Police states.

Of the 14 individuals in the Mercedes van, 12 were of Chinese nationality and one was of Italian nationality. The driver was reportedly licensed in California.

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ORIGINAL STORY: 7 dead after van carrying tour group collides with pickup truck near Yellowstone National Park

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Courtesy of East Idaho News via Roger Merrill

Next-of-kin notifications are ongoing, police said. This process is coordinated with local and international authorities, and the notifications are reportedly more complex when they are being done internationally.

The deceased individuals are being transported to the Ada County Coroners Office for autopsy and confirmation of identity.

Idaho State Police troopers are working closely with Ctour Holiday LLC and are in contact with the Consulates of China and Italy as the investigation progresses.

No information regarding the medical status of the injured will be released due to considerations for privacy, according to police.

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No further information is available at this time.

Latest headlines:

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Photo: Troy Police Department

A Detroit dog owner was put through terrible distress in the search for his beloved French bulldog who wandered off. Luckily, he managed to find an online posting of his pooch...and now, the cops are involved.  Kalyn Womack

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There are some more details emerging about the mystery man who had a violent outburst on an inflight America Airlines trip last month. Were not sure this justifies his chaotic behavior but it certainly adds some more context.  Kalyn Womack

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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

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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

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Photo: FOX 5 Atlanta

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

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A Texas family is outraged after the arrest of 17-year-old Peter Brown, a teen with a mental disability which causes him to have the mindset of a child. However, police arent treating him like a kid, let alone a teenager, and the family is outraged.  Kalyn Womack

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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

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Leer en espanol

As I walk inside the bustling bakery at Prince Valley Market, the warm scent of fresh bread and sugar-dusted pan dulce fills the air, quickly transporting me back to my childhood in Aguascalientes, Mexico, sitting beside my abuela, eating a concha.

Among the baking trays of empanadas, cakes and conchas stands Ernesto Nava, a 49-year-old head pastry chef at the Prince Valley Market Bakery, whose hands have shaped the flavors of southwest Detroit pastry shops for the past two decades.

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For many, his baked goods are more than just food. They are a taste of home, a link to their heritage and a reason to gather around the table.

Ernesto Nava, 49, carries two cakes as he exits the walk-in cooler inside the Prince Valley Market bakery in southwest Detroit on Feb. 15, 2025. Nava starts work around 4 a.m. each day, preparing the bakery before anyone else arrives. When he first started at Prince Valley Market, there was no bakery, he helped establish it in 2015. Now, his efforts support a team of 15 employees who create baked goods for customers in Detroit. For Nava, baking isnt just a profession, its a way to stay connected, honor his familys story, and bring a sense of home to those who need it most.

Dozens of containers filled with sweet bread rest on metal shelves inside the Prince Valley Market bakery in southwest Detroit on Feb. 11, 2025.

Born in Maravatio Del Encinal, Guanajuato, Mexico, self-taught baker Nava has spent most of his adult life in Michigan, perfecting the craft of traditional pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread). What started as a job to help his family has become a lifelong calling.

For me, baking is not just about making bread, its about keeping traditions alive here in southwest Detroit, Nava said. When people taste something familiar, it connects them to their roots, to their childhood, to their families and, ultimately, just brings everyone together around the table to connect and share their stories.

Deana Samano, 21, left, and Ernesto Nava, 49, roll dough early in the morning at the Prince Valley Market bakery in southwest Detroit on Feb. 11, 2025. Born in Mexico, Nava came to the U.S. when he was 19 and has spent most of his adult life in Michigan, perfecting the craft of traditional Mexican bread. He has been working and giving back to the Detroit community for two decades, creating pastries.

Ernesto Nava, 49, touches a cube of dough for the sweet bread inside the Prince Valley Market bakery in southwest Detroit on Feb. 11, 2025. Born in Mexico, Nava came to the U.S. when he was 19 and has spent most of his adult life in Michigan, perfecting the craft of traditional Mexican bread. He has been working and giving back to the Detroit community for two decades, creating pastries.

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Despite the love and recognition his work receives from the community, the current immigration climate is bringing fear, uncertainty, anxiety and sadness for Nava and many in his community.

The immigration climate has definitely affected my co-workers and our customers, Nava said. Some have even had to miss work to avoid the risk of being detained by immigration agents or the police, who we know are connected in some cases  we stay in our community to avoid exposure to these risks. Its sad, but we have sacrificed so much and made so many adjustments just to live a better quality of life than we had in our home countries. In the end, many of us ask ourselves if all these sacrifices and limitations are truly worth it just to be accepted.

Ernesto Nava, 49, makes a phone call early in the morning as his colleagues work around him inside the Prince Valley Market bakery in southwest Detroit on Feb. 11, 2025. Born in Mexico, Nava came to the U.S. when he was 19 and has spent most of his adult life in Michigan, perfecting the craft of traditional Mexican bread. He has been working and giving back to the Detroit community for two decades, creating pastries.

A bakery employee stocks a shelf with pastries early in the morning inside the Prince Valley Market bakery in southwest Detroit on Feb. 15, 2025.

Nava still remembers the discrimination and challenges he and his team faced before Donald Trumps first term as president back in 2016 when he was still undocumented.

One morning, the day after Fathers Day, we had sold out of cakes. To restock quickly, we started making tres leches cakes, which are faster for us to prepare and are recognized as Mexican cakes, Nava said. Then, an American woman walked in and got upset because, according to her, we didnt have any normal American cakes. She was so angry that she said loudly and clearly, I hope Donald Trump wins so he can kick you all out of here. That was during his first term, and Ill leave it to your imagination how we felt. Its sad that we have to go through it again.

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Nava became a U.S. citizen in 2023. But even with his legal status, he still fears for his co-workers, customers and friends. Some have returned to Mexico, while others live with anxiety over their status, unsure of what the future holds for them.

He notices it in the way people speak, in the way they hesitate when talking about their families, and in the way some regulars disappear without a word.

Its heartbreaking because many of the people I work with or serve have been here for years, contributing just like I have, he said. Every morning at 4:15 a.m., leaving the house is a challenge. I leave with Gods blessing but also with fear, like everyone else. But I have learned that fear drives you forward, and the desire to provide a better quality of life is the motivation I need to put all my fears aside. Making my parents, wife and children proud is the strength that keeps me going.

Ernesto Nava, 49, takes off his sweater as he prepares to set up early in the morning inside the Prince Valley Market bakery in southwest Detroit on Feb. 15, 2025. Nava starts work around 4 a.m. each day, preparing the bakery before anyone else arrives.

Dozens of photos are taped on a wall inside the Prince Valley Market bakery in southwest Detroit on Feb. 15, 2025.

Throughout it all, Nava remains committed to his work and his community, seeing his role as something bigger than baking. His pastries bring comfort in uncertain times, reminding people of not just home but also resilience and celebration.

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Since helping establish the bakery at Prince Valley Market in 2015, Nava has created 15 jobs, giving opportunities to those who have no baking experience but have a strong work ethic and commitment to their community.

We are not bad people, we just want to work, support our families and live in peace, Nava said. We are capable of contributing whatever is necessary to be accepted and to improve the places where we live by keeping them clean and safe. The proof is in Detroit itself. Twenty or more years ago, when we arrived, the city looked dirty, abandoned, sad and dark. Now, thanks to all the work we have done here in southwest Detroit and the sacrifices we have made, many of us have bought houses and rebuilt them, making the city cleaner and better. That is proof of what we can contribute not only to this city but to this country.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chef at Detroit's Prince Valley Market fears Trump immigration plans
ROME (AP)  Rome is bustling with jasmine blooming and tourists swarming. But behind closed doors, these are the days of dinner parties, coffee klatches and private meetings as cardinals in town to elect a successor to Pope Francis suss out who among them has the stuff to be next.

It was in this period of pre-conclave huddling in March of 2013 that Cardinal Cormac Murphy-OConnor, the retired archbishop of Westminster, and other reform-minded Europeans began pushing the candidacy of an Argentine Jesuit named Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Their dinner table lobbying worked and Pope Francis won on the fifth ballot.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols may have inherited Murphy-OConnors position as archbishop of Westminster. But he's not taking on the job as the front-man papal lobbyist in these days of canvassing of cardinals to try to identify who among them should be the next pope.

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Were of quite different styles, Nichols said Friday, chuckling during an interview in the Venerable English College, the storied British seminary in downtown Rome where Nichols studied in the 1960s. Cardinal Cormac would love to be at the center of the party. Im a little more reserved than that and a little bit more introverted.

Nevertheless, Nichols, 79, provided an insiders view of what's going on among his fellow cardinal-electors, between meals of Rome's famous carbonara  as they get to know one another. They all descended on Rome to bid farewell to the pope and are now meeting informally before the start of the May 7 conclave.

Nichols says he is spending these days before he and his fellow cardinals are sequestered listening. The routine calls for cardinals to meet each morning in a Vatican auditorium to discuss the needs of the Catholic Church and the type of person who can lead it. These meetings are open to all cardinals, including those over 80, while the conclave itself in the Sistine Chapel is limited to cardinals who haven't yet reached 80.

With the exception of an afternoon Mass  part of the nine days of official mourning for Francis  the rest of the day is free. Cardinals have been seen around town taking walks or eating out, trying to remain incognito.

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Not a boys brigade that marches in step

Nichols said a picture of the future pope is beginning to emerge, at least in his mind, as cardinals look back at Francis 12-year pontificate and see where to go from here.

I suppose were looking for somebody who even in their manner not only expresses the depth of the faith, but also its openness as well, said Nichols.

Pope Benedict XVI named Nichols archbishop of Westminster in 2009, but he didn't become a cardinal until 2014, when Francis tapped him in his first batch of cardinals. Francis went on to name Nichols as a member of several important Vatican offices, including the powerful dicastery for bishops, which vets bishop nominations around the world.

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My experience so far, to be quite honest with you, is theres a lot of attentive listening, Nichols said. Thats listening to the people who might have an idea today of who they think is the best candidate, and I wouldnt be surprised if by Monday they might have changed their mind.

Nichols said the picture that is emerging is of seeing Francis pontificate in continuity with the more doctrinaire papacies of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and of appreciating the multicultural reality of the Catholic Church today. Francis greatly expanded the College of Cardinals to include cardinals from far-flung places like Tonga and Mongolia, rather than the traditional centers of European Catholicism.

Yes, divisions and disagreements have been aired. But I can never remember a time when Catholics all agreed about everything, Nichols said.

Were not a boys brigade that marches in step. But he said he sensed that cardinals believe Francis reforming papacy and radical call to prioritize the poor and marginalized, to care for the planet and all its people, needed further consolidating with another papacy.

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Theres a sense that the initiatives that this man of such originality took, they probably do need rooting a bit more to give them that stability and evident continuity, Nichols said. So that these arent just the ideas of one person, one charismatic person, but they are actually consistently part of how the church reflects on humanity, our own humanity and our world.

Team Bergoglio

In his book The Great Reformer, Francis' biographer Austen Ivereigh described the 2013 conclave and how Nichols' predecessor, Murphy-O'Connor and other reform-minded Europeans seized the opportunity to push Bergoglio after it was clear the Italians were fighting among themselves over the Italian candidate.

Team Bergoglio, as these reform-minded cardinals came to be known, had tried to talk up Bergoglio in the 2005 conclave, but failed to get their man through after Cardinal Joseph Ratzingers momentum grew and Bergoglio bowed out.

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In 2013, with many too old to vote in the conclave itself, Team Bergoglio talked up the Argentine at dinner parties around Rome in the days before the conclave. The aim was to ensure Bergoglio could secure at least 25 votes on the first ballot to establish himself as a serious candidate, the book said.

The Great Reformer recounts a dinner party at the North American College, the U.S. seminary in Rome, on March 5, 2013 to which Murphy-OConnor and Australian Cardinal George Pell were invited and where the British cardinal talked up the qualities of a possible first Latin American pope.

He held a number of these dinners, and I think there were a few of them involved, a few who had grown convinced that Bergoglio was what the church needed, Ivereigh said Friday.

Nichols doesnt have any such calculations or preferred candidate, at least that he is willing to share.

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For me, its no good going into a conclave thinking its like a political election and I want my side to win. Im not going to do that, he said. Im going to go in certainly with my own thoughts but ready to change them, to listen and maybe try and persuade others to change theirs too.

___

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.
Senior agronomist Yan Ji checks the growth of vegetables at the center for future agricultural science and technology of an agricultural demonstration zone in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2025. In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

URUMQI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- In the arid hinterlands of northwest China, where barren expanses dominate the landscape, a high-tech greenhouse is defying local harsh conditions -- producing vibrant greens and sweet strawberries year-round with minimal water and zero pesticides.

The smart farm built last May in Kuqa City of Xinjiang with funding from Ningbo City in eastern China uses hydroponics and automated climate control to grow leafy greens and strawberries unaffected by the dry, dusty surroundings of the Taklimakan Desert, the world's second-largest shifting sand desert.

The indoor farm of nearly 7,000 square meters is part of China's push to modernize rural economies through tech-aided agriculture, with Xinjiang -- where deserts cover 25 percent of the land -- as a key testing ground.

Inside the plant factory, rows of spinach, lettuce and ruby-red strawberries thrive under glass, their roots bathed in nutrient-rich water instead of soil. Sensors adjust temperature, humidity, and irrigation automatically, while workers monitor data dashboards -- a far cry from traditional farming in this snowmelt-dependent region.

Local farmer Eli Kerim has a part-time job there, managing roughly 0.27 hectares of strawberries. His daily work has gone beyond physical labor such as pruning and picking to monitoring growth data and conducting necessary analysis.

"The work here expands my skills and knowledge, and I frequently consult with our technicians whenever I have a problem," said the 29-year-old.

"We tailor crops to market demand. Our first strawberry harvest sold out instantly," said Zhang Yaping, manager of the greenhouse.

The greenhouse provides 26 local jobs and is expected to boost annual incomes by 40,000 yuan (about 5,554 U.S. dollars) per worker while paying 700,000 yuan in collective rent and sweet equity dividends to a local village a year.

Li Xiandong, an associate professor at the School of Economics and Management of Xinjiang Agricultural University, sees broader potential. Such smart agricultural facilities could significantly increase the planting area and yield of crops and help drive the industrial upgrading of the surrounding areas, he noted.

At another agricultural demonstration zone in northern Xinjiang's Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, leafy vegetables like amaranth are planted in 10-layer vertical racks that can rotate 360 degrees, ensuring crops absorb sunlight evenly and efficiently increasing the utilization of space.

For climbing plants such as tomatoes, vines sprawling as long as 13 meters are hung over a rope beneath the glasshouse ceiling and roots are immersed in nutrient solutions, maximizing their exposure to sunlight and fertilizer.

Senior agronomist Yan Ji stands on a hydraulic vehicle that can be lifted vertically or moved laterally on a rail, thus allowing him to easily prune side stems and leaves, or harvest tomatoes.

"Here we do most of our work in a standing posture, and seldom bend at the waist or squat for a long time," he said. "High-tech relieves us of heavy manual labor."

Yan noted that the factory's cultivation uses a reasonable combination of artificial and natural light, a mix of nutrients based on scientifically determined proportions, and an isolated environment that reduces the impacts of diseases and pests.

"As a result, our tomatoes are of fine quality, enjoy higher yields and sell at better prices," Yan said. According to him, the harvest season lasts from October to July, with a daily output exceeding 300 kilograms.

In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs.

Yu Jingquan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that northwest China is suitable for the development of facility agriculture as the region has abundant uncultivated land that can be used to increase scale and reduce costs. Natural conditions such as sufficient light and heat also ensure the quality of plants grown in the region. Eventually, facility agriculture can boost farming incomes.

As tourists flock into his farm to sample the unlikely oasis produce at desert fringes, Eli Kerim felt proud. "Our strawberries are very sweet, and so are our lives," he said. Enditem

(Intern Zhang Jiaxuan contributed to the story.)

Senior agronomist Yan Ji checks the growth of vegetables at the center for future agricultural science and technology of an agricultural demonstration zone in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2025. In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member packs freshly picked tomatoes at the center for future agricultural science and technology of an agricultural demonstration zone in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Feb. 10, 2025. In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

This photo taken on Feb. 10, 2025 shows the automatic irrigation devices at the center for future agricultural science and technology of an agricultural demonstration zone in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

This photo taken on Feb. 10, 2025 shows plants growing at the center for future agricultural science and technology of an agricultural demonstration zone in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member works at the center for future agricultural science and technology of an agricultural demonstration zone in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Feb. 10, 2025. In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Senior agronomist Yan Ji checks the growth of vegetables at the center for future agricultural science and technology of an agricultural demonstration zone in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 10, 2025. In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member moves freshly picked tomatoes at the center for future agricultural science and technology of an agricultural demonstration zone in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Feb. 10, 2025. In recent years, Xinjiang has attached great importance to the development of facility agriculture, including smart farming. As of 2023, the region had more than 1.2 million facility agriculture units, involving a vegetable plantation area exceeding 44,600 hectares in total, according to local department of agriculture and rural affairs. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Thousands of AmeriCorps members were laid off in recent DOGE cuts. The program employed over 3,000 employees across Kansas and focused on supporting communities in a variety of ways.

One of the organizations that depended on AmeriCorps labor is the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE). The group is a subgrantee of the national program, meaning their existing workforce was supplemented by AmeriCorps members.

How would you? And how could you? KACEE Director of Outreach and Student Engagement Leonore Enfield said. The gamut spans as big as the need in the United States for what Americorps members could do.

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KACEE lost six of its members who were dedicated to community education. Upon hearing the news that Kansas AmeriCorps programs are being cut, she worried about the impact their work could have.

In seven months, our six members reached over 7,500 students in K-12, Enfield said.

Among the wayward AmeriCorps members is Annika Anzjon, a current student at Wichita State University. She was one of the members who received academic incentives through grants.

The AmeriCorps Program operates like an enhanced volunteer program. It pays its workers and supplements the incredibly low salary with grants and housing stipends.

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It opened up so many doors, it was something I wasnt expecting to enjoy as much as I did, but I kind of fell in love with it, Anzjon said.

Wherever a particular group needs assistance is where AmeriCorps focuses its efforts, cutting the program affects not just Anzjons community education sector but also the dozens of other fields where AmeriCorps operates. Fields like disaster relief, healthcare and homeless outreach.

Theres not an infrastructure to take over for what AmeriCorps can do and what is now lost, Enfield said.

The question they cant find the answer to is why.

None of us really thought that it could be possible because AmeriCorps has such a positive impact on our communities, and all the things were bringing to our teachers, parents, and community members, its all for the greater good, Anzjon said.

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Enfield says that since her organization depends on its AmeriCorps members, it is looking for alternate ways of keeping them on payroll. Its proving challenging, and she says her reach will be much more limited without Americorps.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  The beginning of May means summer is just around the corner, but it also marks the start of stricter rules for four-legged friends on the beach.

Before you leash up your pup for a day of sand and surf, heres a look at the guidelines for each local community:

Folly Beach

Dogs are not allowed on Folly Beach from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. from May 1 to September 30. During other hours, dogs are permitted on the beach as long as they are leashed and under control.

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Pets are never allowed on the Folly Beach Fishing Pier.

Isle of Palms

Dogs can be off-leash from 5 a.m. until 9 a.m. between April 1 and September 14 on the Isle of Palms. From September 15 through March 31, dogs can be off-leash from 4 p.m. until 10 a.m.

At all other times, dogs are allowed on the beach but must be on a leash and under control, including while in the water.

Owners must always have a leash in hand, have their pet under control, and clean up after them. Waste bags are available at most public beach access paths.

All dogs that live or visit IOP must be vaccinated against rabies and have a metal license tag on their collar with veterinary information, according to city officials.

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Residents are encouraged to get a free, annual dog permit from the Isle of Palms Police Department, though it is not required.

Sullivans Island

Dogs are permitted to be off-leash on the beach from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. between May 1 and September 30. They must remain on a leash from 6 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Dogs are prohibited from being on the beach entirely between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during the summer months.

Permits are required for all dogs on Sullivans Island beaches, which cost $25 for residents and $50 for visitors. More information on obtaining a dog license can be found here.

Kiawah Island

Dogs are allowed on Kiawah Island beaches year-round, but the rules regarding leashing change seasonally.

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At Beachwalker County Park  the only public beach access on the island  dogs must be leashed at all times between March 1 and October 15. Dogs can be off-leash from October 16 through February 28 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dogs are allowed off-leash year-round from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the designated dog use area between the eastern boundary of the Beach Club and the Ocean Course Clubhouse. At all other hours, they must be leashed.

Even in off-leash areas, owners must remain with their pet, have a leash with them, and use it if another beachgoer or Beach Patrol requests.

Dogs are never allowed in designated critical habitat areas.

Credit: Town of Kiawah Island

Edisto Beach

Dogs must be on a leash from May 1 through October 31 while on Edisto beaches and year-round at Edisto Beach State Park.

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At all other times, pets must be within verbal command of owners, on a leash, or in a secure area within the town limits.

Seabrook Island

Beaches on Seabrook Island are considered pet-friendly, but there are certain rules regarding when and where pets are allowed.

Within the restricted area:

No dogs are allowed at any time within the restricted area, which stretches from the Community Center Boardwalk northeast to Captain Sams Inlet, whether leashed or unleashed.

Within the limited restriction area:

Dogs are allowed within the limited restriction area, which extends from the Pelican Watch Boardwalk to the Edisto River and northwest to Privateer Creek, but must be leashed at all times.

Within the general beach area:

Rules regarding pets for all other areas of the beach change seasonally.

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From April 1 through September 30, pets must be on a leash between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. They can be off-leash outside those hours but must remain under the owners control.

From October 1 through March 31, pets can be off-leash at all times.

Credit: Town of Seabrook Island

Remember, if you do decide to take your furry friend with you to any nearby beaches, always clean up after them.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
DENVER (KDVR)  The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state of Colorado and the city of Denver for laws and statutes the federal government says are sanctuary laws.

The federal government alleges in its lawsuit, filed in Colorado District Court on Friday, that the laws are designed to interfere with and discriminate against the Federal Governments enforcement of federal immigration law.

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The lawsuit specifically mentions the troubled Aurora apartment complexes that went viral after a video showing armed men in a stairwell was first reported on by FOX31s Vicente Arenas. The men in the video were later connected to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang thats been publicized during recent immigration efforts under President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit argues that federal immigration law preempts state law. Colorado has a law that prevents local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration law, among other things, and it has been decried by many law enforcement advocates and at least three members of U.S. Congress.

But the Sanctuary Laws were enacted for the sole purpose of impeding the Federal Governments ability to enforce immigration law and remove illegal aliens, the lawsuit alleges. These sanctuary policies have tied the hands of law enforcement, emboldened dangerous criminals and left [Colorados] communities vulnerable.'

The lawsuit specifically names Gov. Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser, Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. The mayors office provided FOX31 with a statement, which said:

Denver will not be bullied or blackmailed, least of all by an administration that has little regard for the law and even less for the truth. We follow all laws local, state, and federal and stand ready to defend our values. Denver Mayors Office

The Colorado Governors Office also spoke out against the lawsuit.

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The statement was released Friday afternoon to FOX31.

Colorado is not a sanctuary state. The State of Colorado works with local, state and federal law enforcement regularly and we value our partnerships with local, county and federal law enforcement agencies to make Colorado safer. If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid then we will follow the ruling. We are not going to comment on the merits of the lawsuit. Colorado Governors Office spokesperson

The laws, as previously reported by FOX31, include:

House Bill 19-1124, Protect Colorado Residents From Federal Government Overreach, according to the text, allows law enforcement to cooperate or assist federal immigration authorities in the execution of a federal warrant, but prohibits law enforcement from arresting or detaining individuals based solely on a civil immigration detainer The measure also stops probation officers from giving someones personal information to federal immigration authorities The measure also ensures that individuals who are to be interviewed via telephone or video by a federal immigration authority are informed of their rights

House Bill 23-1100, Restrict Government Involvement in Immigration Detention, prevents state or local government agency employees from entering into intergovernmental agreements allowing for law enforcement to rent bed space to ICE The measure also terminated two such agreements in the state



The lawsuit alleges that the Denver statutes and Colorado laws are impeding federal immigration operations. Last weekend, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents joined local law enforcement in a raid of a Colorado Springs nightclub. Federal officials said they detained over 100 people and alleged that many were undocumented immigrants.

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The lawsuit notes that one of Colorados laws prohibits state and local governments from being involved in immigration detention. The lawsuit says that currently, the ICE immigration detention center in Aurora is the only location where ICE can detain individuals within Colorado.

Because ICEs Denver Field Office covers the entire states of Colorado and Wyoming, and the federal government can no longer temporarily house detainees in county detention facilities, immigration officers are forced to travel long distances, even at late hours and in poor weather conditions, to transport people to the Aurora facility, the lawsuit states. (F)ederal immigration authorities have to release individuals that it otherwise would detain or alternatively incur significant transport expenses that it would not have incurred prior to CRS 24-76.7-103.

The complaint also says that Colorados laws impede DHSs ability to readily obtain from local law enforcement the release date of undocumented immigrants that DHS believes are removable from the U.S.

The lawsuit says that because of this, federal immigration officers are forced to engage in difficult and dangerous efforts to re-arrest or determine that it is not appropriate to transfer an undocumented immigrant to local custody in order to enforce immigration law.

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The DOJ is seeking a judgment that says Colorado and Denvers provisions violate the Supremacy Clause, which states the activities of the Federal Government are free from regulation by any state.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is obtained.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Madison Askins is back home in Pasco County after spending five days in a Tallahassee hospital.

She was one of the eight people shot by a gunman at Florida State University a couple of weeks ago.

Passengers on Jeff Knights boat describe fatal ferry crash: Where the f*** were their lights?

On Friday, Askins shared her story of perseverance with News Channel 8.

You always think it wont happen to you, it wont happen to your family members, and then you get shot, she said.

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From the day Askins toured Florida State University, she fell in love with the campus.

News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked, What does it mean to you to be a Nole?

Well, right now, after going through all this, Id say, definitely unconquerable, she responded.

Askins graduated from FSU with her bachelors degree last year but decided to take her education a step further.

She returned to Florida State to get her masters degree, and in the midst of her time as a graduate student, the unthinkable happened.

Youre going to lunch, youre minding your own business and then, all of the sudden, you hear gunshots, Askins explained.

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Askins said the bullet went through her buttocks and into her L5 vertebrae.

She explained thats where it remains today.

Looking back, Askins believes shes alive because of something her parents, both retired Marines, told her growing up.

When it comes to a shooting, play dead, she explained. I mean, none of these are foolproof, theyre not foolproof, but at the same time, these things will increase your chance of survival.

They are hard conversations that I hate that we have to have in the world, but theyre very much necessary, Askins continued.

News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked, Do you think its because of those things your parents taught you that youre here today?

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100%, she responded. I fully believe if I was moving, he wouldve shot me again.

But her story doesnt stop there. The perseverant FSU student said she will be back in August.

Good news is, Im off the walker so Im on the cane now, Askins said.

As her journey of recovery continues, she wants the world to know, life doesnt have to end after a tragedy.

Dont let your offender beat you, she said. Whatever he took from you, go get it back.

Keep going, keep moving forward, dont let them win, Askins continued. Also, to everybody watching: life is short, eat a cookie.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Islamabad, Pakistan  Eleven days after gunmen shot 26 people dead in the scenic valley of Baisaran in Indian-administered Kashmirs Pahalgam, India and Pakistan stand on the brink of a military standoff.

The nuclear-armed neighbours have each announced a series of tit-for-tat steps against the other since the attack on April 22, which India has implicitly blamed Pakistan for, even as Islamabad has denied any role in the killings.

India has suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty that enforces a water-sharing mechanism Pakistan depends on. Pakistan has threatened to walk away from the 1972 Simla Agreement that committed both nations to recognising a previous ceasefire line as a Line of Control (LoC)  a de-facto border  between them in Kashmir, a disputed region that they each partly control but that they both claim in its entirety. Both nations have also expelled each others citizens and scaled back their diplomatic missions.

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Despite a ceasefire agreement being in place since 2021, the current escalation is the most serious since 2019, when India launched air strikes on Pakistani soil following an attack on Indian soldiers in Pulwama, in Indian-administered Kashmir, that killed 40 troops. In recent days, they have traded fire across the LoC.

And the region is now on edge, amid growing expectations that India might launch a military operation against Pakistan this time too.

Yet, both countries have also engaged their diplomatic partners. On Wednesday, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, urging both sides to find a path to de-escalation. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, on Thursday to condemn the attack and offered strong support to India.

Sharif met envoys from China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, three of Pakistans closest allies, to seek their support, and urged the ambassadors of the two Gulf nations to impress upon India to de-escalate and defuse tensions.

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To understand how Pakistani strategists who have worked on ties with India view what might happen next, Al Jazeera spoke with Moeed Yusuf, who served as Pakistans national security adviser (NSA) between May 2021 and April 2022 under former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Prior to his role as NSA, Yusuf also worked as a special adviser to Khan on matters related to national security starting in December 2019, four months after the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, right, held a meeting with the ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliky, left, in Islamabad on May 2, 2025 [Handout/Prime Ministers Office]

Based in Lahore, Yusuf is currently the vice chancellor of a private university and has authored and edited several books on South Asia and regional security. His most recent book, Brokering Peace in Nuclear Environments: US Crisis Management in South Asia, was published in 2018.

Al Jazeera: How do you assess moves made by both sides so far in the crisis?

Moeed Yusuf: India and Pakistan have for long struggled in terms of crisis management. They dont have a bilateral crisis management mechanism, which is the fundamental concern.

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The number one crisis management tool used by both sides has been the reliance on third parties, with the idea being that they would try and restrain them both and help de-escalate the crisis.

This time, I feel the problem India has run into is that they followed the old playbook, but the leader of the most important third party, the United States, didnt show up to support India.

It appears that they have so far taken a neutral and a hands-off position, as indicated by President Donald Trump few days ago. (Trump said that he knew the leaders of both India and Pakistan, and believed that they could resolve the crisis on their own.)

Pakistans response is directly linked to the Indian response, and that is historically how it has been, with both countries going tit-for-tat with each other. This time too, a number of punitive steps have been announced.

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The problem is that these are easy to set into motion but very difficult to reverse, even when things get better, and they may wish to do so.

Unfortunately, in every crisis between them, the retaliatory steps are becoming more and more substantive, as in this case, India has decided to hold Indus Water Treaty in abeyance, which is illegal as the treaty provides no such provision.

Al Jazeera: Do you believe a strike is imminent and if both sides are indicating preparedness for a showdown?

Yusuf: In such moments, it is impossible to say. Action from India remains plausible and possible, but the window where imminence was a real concern has passed.

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What usually happens in crises is that countries pick up troop or logistics movements, or their allies inform them, or they rely on ground intelligence to determine what might happen. Sometimes, these can be misread and can lead the offensive side to see an opportunity to act where none exists or the defensive side to believe an attack may be coming when it isnt the case.

Pakistan naturally has to show commitment to prepare for any eventuality. You dont know what will come next, so you have to be ready.

Having said that, I dont think we are going to see a major war, but in these circumstances, you can never predict, and one little misunderstanding or miscalculation can lead to something major.

Al Jazeera: How do you see the role of third parties such as the US, China and Gulf States in this crisis, and how would you compare it with previous instances?

Yusuf: My last book, Brokering Peace (2018) was on the third-party management in Pakistan-India context, and this is such a vital element for both as they have internalised and built it into their calculus that a third-party country will inevitably come in.

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The idea is that a third-party mediator will step in, and the two nations will agree to stop because that is what they really want, instead of escalating further.

And the leader of the pack of third-party countries is the United States since the Kargil war of 1999. (Pakistani forces crossed the LoC to try to take control of strategic heights in Ladakhs Kargil, but India eventually managed to take back the territory. Then-US President Bill Clinton is credited with helping end that conflict.)

Everybody else, including China, ultimately backs the US position, which prioritises immediate de-escalation above all else during the crisis.

This changed somewhat in the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Pulwama crisis when the US leaned heavily on Indias side, perhaps unwittingly even emboldening them to act in 2019.

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(In 2016, Indian troops launched a cross-border surgical strike that New Delhi said targeted armed fighters planning to attack India, after gunmen killed 19 Indian soldiers in an attack on an army base in Uri, Indian-administered Kashmir. Three years later, Indian fighter jets bombed what New Delhi said were bases of terrorists in Balakot, in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, after the attack on the Indian military convoy in which 40 soldiers were killed. India and Pakistan then engaged in an aerial dogfight, and an Indian pilot was captured and subsequently returned.)

However, this time, you have a president in the White House who turned around and told both Pakistan and India to figure it out themselves.

This, I think, has hurt India more than Pakistan, because for Pakistan, they had discounted the possibility of significant US support in recent years, thinking they have gotten too close to India due to their strategic relationship.

But India would have been hoping for the Americans to put their foot down and pressure Pakistan, which did not exactly materialise. Secretary of State Marco Rubios phone call again is playing down the middle, where they are telling both the countries to get out of war.

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So, what they have done has, oddly enough, still played a role in holding India back so far, since India didnt (so far) feel as emboldened to take action as they may have during Pulwama in 2019.

Gulf countries have played a more active role than before. China, too, has made a statement of restraint.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in power since 2014, during which ties between India and Pakistan have remained tense [Abdul Saboor/AP Photo]

Al Jazeera: How has Pakistans relationship with India evolved in recent years?

Yusuf: There has been a sea change in the relationship between the two countries. When I was in office, despite serious problems and Indias unilateral moves in Kashmir in 2019, we saw a ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control as well as back-channel talks.

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We have tried to move ahead and reduce Indias incentive to destabilise Pakistan, but I think India has lost that opportunity due to its own intransigence, hubris and an ideological bent that continues to force them to demean and threaten Pakistan.

That has led to a change in Pakistan as well, where the leadership is now convinced that the policy of restraint did not deliver, and India has misused and abused Pakistans offers for dialogue.

The view now is that if India doesnt want to talk, Pakistan shouldnt be pleading either. If India does reach out, we will likely respond, but there isnt any desperation in Pakistan at all.

This is not a good place to be for either country. I have long believed and argued that ultimately for Pakistan to get to where we want to go economically, and for India to get to where it says it wants to go regionally, it cannot happen unless both improve their relationship. For now, though, with the current Indian attitude, unfortunately, I see little hope.

Al Jazeera: Do you anticipate any direct India-Pakistan talks at any level during or after this crisis?

Yes  I dont know when it will be, or who will it be through or with, but I think one of the key lessons Indians could probably walk away with once all this is over is that attempting to isolate Pakistan isnt working.

Indus Water Treaty in abeyance? Simla Agreements potential suspension? These are major decisions, and the two countries will need to talk to sort these out, and I think at some point in future they will engage.

But I also dont think that Pakistan will make a move towards rapprochement, as we have offered opportunities for dialogues so many times recently to no avail. As I said, the mood in Pakistan has also firmed up on this question.

Ultimately, the Indians need to basically decide if they want to talk or not. If they come forth, I think Pakistan will still respond positively to it.

*This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
U.S. President Donald Trump has caused a huge uproar on social media after posting an AI-generated picture of himself as the head of the Catholic Church.

Trump's actions come a week after Pope Francis was buried and days before the Catholic Church elects a new pope.

Several netizens expressed disappointment with Trump, who earlier joked that he would like to be the pope.

Take A Look At Donald Trump's AI-Generated Image

Trump is never too far from controversy and caused some ruckus on Friday when he posted an AI-generated image of himself as the pope.

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The President shared the image on his Truth Social account. It showed him dressed in the pontiff's traditional regalia with one finger raised.

The 78-year-old didn't add any caption to the post, which the official White House X account also reposted.

Trump's actions didn't go down well with many netizens who took turns slamming him on social media.

Netizens Berate Donald Trump's 'Childish Behavior'

MEGA

The President didn't win any admirers with his antics on social media, as many people shared how they felt about his latest move.

One person on X wrote, "As President of the United States, posting a picture of himself as Pope a few days after the Pope's death is neither funny, nor does it present statesmanship and respectful behavior."

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They added, "Rather, it shows the boundless arrogance and childish behavior of a man who believes he is above everything, can get away with anything, and is the head of everyone."

Another person shared, "This has got to be the most baneful and sacrilegious public statement from the United States Government. If shame and moral scruples had any value in this Administration, this abominable post would be deleted. But alas, depravity reigns supreme."

A third X user wrote, "Disgraceful and yet another utter embarrassment of the American people to the international community, including 1.4 billion Catholics whose church is still mourning over the loss of a most humble and loving servant of God."

Other Netizens Find The Funny Side Of Donald Trump's Post

Aaron Schwartz / CNP / MEGA

Amid the outrage Trump's post generated, some people saw the funny side of his post and asked X's AI assistant, Grok, to edit the image and add more features.

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For instance, one person asked Grok to make Trump look like a clown in the image, while another asked the AI assistant to make mud all over his outfit.

Meanwhile, another X user wondered why people were making a fuss over the post. They wrote, "Why people still don't get this is satire and humor is beyond me. Actually nice to have some humor in the White House."

Another person opined, "I love atheists' and non Catholics' performative outrage in the comments. If you can tolerate drag queens mocking the pope and nuns and the Olympics mocking the Last Supper, I think you can survive this."

Trump Says He Would 'Like To Be Pope'

I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility! The first Pope-U.S. President combination has pic.twitter.com/MM9vE5Uvzb  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 29, 2025

Donald Trump's post came a few days after he joked about his desire to be the pope.

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While speaking to reporters about the Catholic Church's pope selection process, Trump said, "I'd like to be pope. That would be my number one choice."

The US President also said he had no preferred candidate for the next pope, though he described the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York, His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, as "very good."

Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham joined in the humor by reposting a video of Trump sharing his desire to be the pope and backed him for the role.

Graham wrote on X, "I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility!"

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The South Carolina senator added, "The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke. Trump MMXXVIII!"

The Catholic Church's Conclave Set To Begin

Stefano Costantino / TTL / MEGA

The Catholic Church was thrown into mourning on Easter Monday following the death of Pope Francis.

The late pontiff was buried on April 26 and had many world leaders, including Donald Trump, who was accused of breaking the dress code at the funeral, in attendance.

Following Pope Francis's burial, the conclave to elect the next pope will begin on May 7.

Around 100 cardinal electors will enter the sealed Sistine Chapel to vote secretly, requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the new Pope, who will be the 267th in the Catholic Church's history.

Strict rules forbid communication with the outside world. Upon election, the new Pope accepts his role and name, receives homage, and gives the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, officially assuming authority over the Catholic Church.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  CBC Construction and business owners scheduled a block party for 3 p.m. this afternoon to coincide with the gate removal. Even though the gates came down Friday morning, the party still happened to celebrate the reveal.

The owner of CBC construction generously gifted a handful of 400 block merchants a stipend to fund goodies for community members.

The Place gave out free desserts. Point Break Arcade handed out hundreds of free craft beers.

Wild Root gave out coffee and desserts.

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The portal pitched in free custom sodas. Several other businesses handed out wine and cookies.

Panama City mayor-elect advocates for Beach Drive pathway

The celebration showcased downtowns best features and gave residents a sneak peek of the fun thats yet to come.

Just to have the normal flow of people back in. You know, we have a fantastic rear entrance to the building, and theres a whole parking lot back there. But, for anybody thats mobility challenged, we have a set of steps back there that they cant necessarily navigate. Were anticipating the numbers picking up now that people can readily walk and park out front, Main Street Antiques owner Liane Harding said.

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The entire Harrison StreetScape Project, including the Last Segment from 5th to 6th Streets, should be completed by November.

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Downtown Farmers Market kicks off 50th season

DES MOINES, Iowa  Thousands of people are making their way to Downtown Des Moines for the opening day of the 50th season of the Downtown Farmers Market.

In 1976, the market started in a parking lot with just 15 vendors. Now, there are over 300 vendors lined up along the streets of 12 city blocks. Thousands of people make their way to shop local at the market every year.

One of the vendors has seen it all, from the parking lot in 1976, to the Spaghetti Works parking lot years later, to the streets of downtown today. Thills Produce is based in Pleasantville, Iowa and has been a staple for people visiting the farmers market since the beginning.

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They sell locally grown produce and homemade shirts, cups, hats, and more.

Brenda Wadles parents started the booth and she grew up attending. Her daughter, Taylor, now also works the market.

When I first started I couldnt even see over the tables, said Taylor, Keeping their tradition alive is very important to me.

Thills Produce is located on 4th Street, just south of Court Avenue.

Even with being around for 50 seasons, the market is never the same every year and thats because of the new vendors that join on a yearly basis. This year, there are 48 new vendors.

One new vendor is Exoticas. They are located on 5th Avenue, north of the intersection with Court Avenue.

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Graciela Chavez and her family run Exoticas. They sell fruits and vegetables grown in South and Central America, and they also make fruit cups with chamoy and tajin.

Chavez said she was inspired to start Exoticas when she was a student in Los Angeles. There, she saw several fruit vendors and she wanted to bring that back with her in Iowa.

I come here every year so the fact that I can even be a vendor is amazing, she said.

The Downtown Farmers Market also expanded this year to include 5th Avenue between Mulberry and Cherry Streets. This section is heavily populated with food trucks, which is a relatively new trend for the market.

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One of these food trucks is Lou-Lou Bs. Belinda Peitzman is the owner and she sells Korean corn dogs and authentic, Chicago-style hot dogs. Her grandsons even help her inside the truck.

Another new vendor this year is Twist, which is a family-owned soda shop owned by Tiffany and Justin Simmons.

They are located on 2nd Avenue just north of Court Avenue.

The Downtown Farmers Market will take place every Saturday from 7 a.m. through noon.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Several entrepreneurs in the Mid-South got the chance to showcase their businesses in Collierville.

However, this wasnt your typical business fair  the owners were much younger than you would expect.

The tents were up and the cash was flowing on Center Street in Collierville on Saturday morning.

Dozens of business owners set up shop to showcase their work.

However, this business fair stands out from others because every owner is under the age of 18.

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Girls hit the football field for one of states first-ever teams

I sell farm fresh eggs from my farm in Rossville, and I sell bracelets that I make at home, Emma Lucas said.

Lucas, 14, owns Crazy Clucker Company and told WREG she made all the bracelets she had at the fair.

She said the bracelets take five to 10 minutes to make.

This is the Mid-South Gifted Academys 7th Annual Childrens Business Fair.

Mid-South Gifted Academys 7th Annual Childrens Business Fair Mid-South Gifted Academys 7th Annual Childrens Business Fair

Director of Admissions Claire Van Drimmelen said more than 70 kids from more than 20 different schools signed up for the opportunity to sell their products.

She said the participating children were between the ages of six and 17. They were required to make a business plan, apply for a booth and make their own products.

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The skills that are needed for an entrepreneur: creative problem solving, critical thinking, being able to communicate with people, to sell a product, Van Drimmelen said. All of those skills, those real-world skills, are going to serve them real well in life.

Like with any business, many of the young entrepreneurs said their business started with an idea.

In school, I think third or fourth grade, we did a bunch of STEM challenges, said Gavin Van Drimmelen, the owner of Stem Genius Boxes. I really like it and I wanted other kids to experience that joy.

Mobile drivers license station coming to Tunica

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Elizabeth Shulpv, 12, told WREG that she sells lemonade, cake and Russian candy.

Shes a triple amputee and said 100 percent of her profit will go towards the Jordan Thomas Foundation, which is the non-profit organization she says paid for her prosthetics.

I feel like Im doing some good in the world because then this is going to help a lot of other children like me, Shulov said. So, that has a lot of meaning to me.

School officials said they plan to host another childrens business fair later this year.

For more information on how to apply to the next event, click here.

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SUVA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Cruise tourism contributes 21.4 million U.S dollars to the Fijian economy, and with a flow-on effect, the indirect contribution to the economy is estimated at 22.7 million dollars, said Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka.

Gavoka added that the tentative cruise schedule shows that Fiji can expect 164 cruise visits this year, compared to 133 last year, reported Fijivillage on Friday.

The Fijian Government has been working with the Asian Development Bank to identify new sites for their additional super ports to accommodate all container ships, fishing vessels and also shipbuilding while the existing super ports can be essentially used for cruise liners, he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that by fostering public partnerships and aligning with regional maritime strategies, they are positioning Fiji and the Pacific as a preferred and responsible cruise destination.

The government is building a cruise tourism sector that prioritizes safety that not only welcomes the world to Fiji's shores but also ensures that every community of the island nation benefits from its growth, Gavoka stressed. 
At least 57 Palestinians have starved to death in Gaza as Israels punishing blockade of food, water, and other critical aid to the besieged enclave stretches into its third month amid relentless bombardment.

Gazas Government Media Office said on Saturday that most of the victims were children, as well as the sick and elderly, condemning the continued use of food by the Israeli occupation as a weapon of war and urging the international community to exert pressure on Israel to reopen the borders and allow in aid.

Gaza has been under total Israeli blockade since March 2, video obtained by Al Jazeera Arabic showing large numbers of trucks carrying vital supplies piling up on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the queue extending south beyond the city of Arish, located approximately 45 kilometres (28 miles) from Rafah border crossing.

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Al Jazeeras team identified one of the latest victims on Saturday, a baby girl called Janan Saleh al-Sakafi, who died of malnutrition and dehydration in the Rantisi Hospital, west of Gaza City. More than 9,000 children have been admitted to hospital for treatment for acute malnutrition since the start of the year, according to the United Nations.

Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeeras Hani Mahmoud said he had witnessed heartbreaking scenes of children rifling through rubbish, looking for whatever is left of canned food products. The enclave, he added, had reached a critical point with international organisations out of supplies and community kitchens unable to prepare meals for displaced people.

Finding a single meal has become an impossible quest, Ahmad al-Najjar, a displaced Palestinian in Gaza City, told Al Jazeera. People here have witnessed one charity after another declaring theyre out of supplies, that theyre shutting down their operations because theyre in no position to  offer the population the needed relief.

Its frustrating and infuriating to have trucks piling up on the other side of the fence be denied entrance while the people, even children, are in dire conditions.





Hospitals face acute shortages

Suhaib al-Hams, the director of the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah, said in a statement that medical services were experiencing acute shortages in more than 75 percent of essential medicines, with only around a week of supplies left.

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He warned that most of the enclaves medical services will stop without immediate intervention to reopen borders and allow medical and humanitarian aid through. He added that patients, who are slowly dying every day without treatment, needed to be evacuated urgently.

The continued blockade is the longest such closure the Gaza Strip has ever faced, and has come as Israeli forces continue bombarding the territory, killing at least 70 Palestinians and wounding 275 others over the two days spanning Thursday to Saturday morning, according to the Health Ministry.

The bodies of two infants, Yahya Sinwar and Seif Sinwar, who were killed in Israeli strikes on Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, are carried by their father and grandfather on May 3, 2025 [Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Photo]

On Saturday, two women were killed in an Israeli air raid on a house in the town of al-Fakhari near Gazas southern city of Khan Younis, according to reports from Al Jazeera Arabic.

Separately, a fisherman was killed and another injured by an Israeli naval attack off the coast of Gaza City.

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Later in the day, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone attack on southern Gazas al-Mawasi area, once an Israeli-designated safe zone.

Israels war on Gaza has killed at least 52,495 people and wounded 118,366 since October 7, 2023, according to the Health Ministry. Thousands more missing under the rubble are presumed dead.
May 2Dozens of people rallied outside the Anchorage courthouse Friday in support of a family of Whittier residents from American Samoa being arraigned on charges of illegal voting, in a case that may have reverberations for a national effort to extend full citizenship rights to people born in the U.S. territory.

State prosecutors have charged the Whittier residents with illegally voting in local elections, contending that because they were born in the territory of American Samoa they are not citizens but nationals and don't have the right to vote.

People born in all other U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Marianas, get American citizenship at birth. American Samoans are considered U.S. nationals. Prosecutors say the family members misrepresented themselves on paperwork. The family members  ranging in age from their 20s to 60s  are facing felony charges, some of which come with a term of up to 10 years in prison.

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On Wednesday, the Whittier City Council passed a resolution calling for the state to amend the state constitution to allow citizens of U.S. territories to vote in local and state elections, and "reaffirming its support for equal voting rights" for citizens of the U.S. or its territories, including those born in American Samoa.

The cases represent the first time American Samoans have been prosecuted "solely on where they happened to be born," said Neil Weare, the co-founder of Right to Democracy, a national nonprofit that advocates for the rights of people living in U.S. territories, including American Samoa. Attorneys for the group are representing Tupe Smith, the first American Samoan family member to be charged with voter fraud, and attorneys from the group flew to Alaska for the arraignments.

At the Friday rally, attended by several dozen people, people gathered for a prayer and sang "Lo Ta Nu'u," a traditional song celebrating Samoa, before taking a group photo and walking into the Nesbett Courthouse together.

In a basement courtroom, nine members of the family made a first court appearance and entered not guilty pleas. Another member was out of the area and is set to be arraigned next week. Several defendants were appointed public defenders after they said they couldn't afford a private attorney. All were released with no bail.

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The cases reveal how American Samoans are treated differently, said Michael Pese, one of the people charged and a Whittier volunteer firefighter.

"If America goes to war, we get drafted," he said. "But we don't have the vote."

Pese said he and his family hadn't expected "this much impact," but were glad for the support. The ultimate goal, he said, is not only to defend the criminal case against him but to see American Samoans allowed to vote.

"We're from American Samoa. It's in the name. Our territory has been a U.S. territory for 125 years, way longer than the state of Alaska has been a state," he said. "I hope we get the same rights."

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Pese said that his family has lived in Whittier for more than a decade. His wife, Tupe Smith, in 2023 was the first to be charged after she ran for school board.

The family intends to remain in Whittier.

"It's our home," he said.

The issue has caused "unintended reverberations" in Whittier, said the community's mayor, Dan Blair, who also said he attended the rally in Anchorage on Friday as a citizen in support of the family.

Blair said people in the community are still unsettled by what they described as a raid by more than a dozen Alaska State Troopers, who arrived in the community in September to investigate the family members later charged with voter fraud. The city has filed public records requests for an explanation of the action.

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"The large presence implied there was some attempt at intimidation of our community members, and it was unsettling," he said.

In Whittier, more than half of the schoolchildren have parents who are American Samoans, Blair said.

"The fear and the unknown  yeah, it's inevitable it gets to the children," he said.

After Friday's arraignment, the family was headed home to Whittier when they came upon a collision on the Seward Highway near Indian, Weare said.

Pese, a trained first responder, jumped out and stopped to help the victim until paramedics arrived.
The man charged with killing a Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy by driving a car into him appeared in court on the morning of May 3.

Deputies solemnly flanked the Hamilton County courtroom as Rodney Hinton Jr. was arraigned on a charge of aggravated murder.

The state has set a bond hearing for Hinton on May 6 at 8:30 am in front of Hamilton County Municipal Judge Tyrone Yates. Prosecutors are asking for no bond. Hinton will be held in Clermont County's jail.

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Police say Hinton was the driver of the automobile that, a day earlier, on May 2, fatally struck a Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy. The deputy was directing traffic ahead of commencement ceremonies at the University of Cincinnati.

A violent chain of events: Man accused of killing deputy day after police shot his son

According to police, Hinton Jr. is the father of a man who was shot and killed by Cincinnati Police in East Price Hill on May 1.

The fatal crash at UC came roughly two hours after the Hinton family reviewed police body camera footage of an officer shooting Hinton's 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, near the Westview Condominiums' parking lot, said the family's attorney, Michael Wright.

The Enquirer will update this story.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Father of man shot by police charged with aggravated murder
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was sentenced to two years in prison Thursday after stealing a car from a Portland woman and then driving erratically to flee from police.

According to court documents, the woman first reported her Kia Soul missing on Jan. 26.

VIDEO: K9 attacks standoff suspect at Albany rest stop

Three days later, officers found the stolen vehicle outside of a Fred Meyer on Southeast 147th and Division Street with two people inside. But before officers could confront the occupants, they drove away.

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When officers tried to stop the vehicle near Southeast 136th and Powell, court documents say the driver  identified as 42-year-old Ryan Van Horn  drove erratically in and around oncoming traffic.

Even when officers deployed spike strips, the car continued on at speeds of up to 90 miles an hour, nearly running over a pedestrian near Southeast 122nd and Powell Boulevard.

Man sentenced to 25 years in prison after running red light while high on mushrooms, killing 2

After more spike strips were deployed, the vehicle eventually stopped and Van Horn was taken into custody.

He plead guilty to unauthorized use of a vehicle and four counts of recklessly endangering another person.

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Van Horn also has previous charges from a reckless driving incident which led to a standoff with Gresham police back in 2023.

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What began as a drug run early Thursday morning spiraled into a violent frenzy when a Miami man stabbed three people  all over a missing wallet, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office.

Around 4:30 a.m., 48-year-old Daniel Lopez, who was arrested Friday, arrived at a home on Southwest 93rd Court in Westchester with three other men  Juan Montano, 32; Arnaldo Martinez, 32; and Rolando Amador, 33  to buy drugs, the Sheriffs Office said. But before any transaction could take place, Lopez realized his wallet was missing and accused Montano of stealing it, according to his arrest affidavit.

After a heated exchange near the front door, the group returned to their vehicle, where Lopez pulled a knife and began attacking all three men, deputies say.

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Deputies say Montano was stabbed under the arm and in the buttock. Martinez was struck in the side. Amador suffered a stab wound to the side of his head and another to his shoulder.

While Amador fled to the SUV for safety, the other two ran behind the house.

Lopez took off.

All three victims were taken to HCA Kendall Trauma Center. Martinez required surgery for his injuries.

The entire attack was caught on a neighbors security camera, and each victim later identified Lopez in a photo lineup, according to the affidavit.

Deputies said they eventually located Lopez at an apartment on Southwest 246th Street, but when officers moved in, he leapt from a third-story balcony and ran into a nearby field, hiding under an abandoned boat.

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With help from aviation and K-9 units, Lopez was found and arrested. He told deputies in Spanish, Im going to beat this case. Those three are drug addicts, and later added, Im the innocent one here. Theyre the ones who stole my wallet, according to his arrest report.

Lopez is charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of resisting an officer without violence. He remained jailed at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Saturday.
County warns of potential drug-resistant TB exposure at San Diego church

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Anyone who attended St. Michaels Catholic Church in the Paradise Hills area of San Diego from Sept. 22 to Dec. 1, 2024, is being warned they could have potentially been exposed to tuberculosis (TB).

The San Diego County Tuberculosis Control Program is working with St. Michaels Catholic Church at 2643 Homedale Street in San Diego to notify anyone who attended church services, primarily at 10 a.m. on Sundays, that they could have been exposed to a strain of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Anyone who believes they were exposed to rifampin-resistant TB  a drug that treats Tuberculosis  or who is experiencing symptoms should call the County Tuberculosis Control Program at 619-692-8621.

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The county did emphasize there is currently no evidence of an outbreak in the community.

TB is transmitted from person-to-person through bacteria that is inhaled after an infected person coughs, speaks, sings or breathes nearby.

Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss, said Ankita Kadakia, M.D., County interim public health officer. Most people who become infected after exposure to tuberculosis will not get sick or exhibit signs right away. This is called latent TB infection. Some who become infected will become ill in the future, sometimes even years later, if their latent TB infection is not treated. For people who think they may have been exposed, blood tests and skin tests are an effective way to determine an infection.

Tuberculosis signs and symptoms (Adobe Stock)

In San Diego, TB cases have been rising since 2020.

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According to the county, in 2020, there were 193 TB cases, 201 in 2021, 208 in 2022, and 242 in 2023. In 2024, 247 people were reported with active TB disease in San Diego County.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A man who was speeding on Interstate 80 on New Years Day with a blood alcohol limit nearly twice the legal limit was convicted in a trial by jury, prosecutors announced on Friday.

DUI DJ was going 90 mph on Highway 101: SF DA

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said testimony and evidence proved that George Callen, 34, was pulled over on January 1 at 1:50 a.m. by California Highway Patrol Officers for traveling at a dangerous speed as he raced toward San Francisco near the Treasure Island exit.

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The D.A. said Callen was the only occupant in the vehicle and admitted to CHP officers to drinking alcohol with friends and family at a New Years Eve party in Rodeo before hopping behind the wheel. Officers said they spotted objective signs of intoxication. No was hurt in the incident.

CHP said Callen was arrested and taken to the San Francisco CHP area office where a chemical breath test confirmed the defendants high blood alcohol, with results of 0.145% and 0.147%.

My office takes these cases seriously and will continue to do everything we can to make our roads safer, said Jenkins in a news release.

This conviction shows that the people of San Francisco will not tolerate the dangers posed by drunk driving in our city, added Assistant District Attorney Samantha Phelan.

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Callen is currently out of custody where he awaits sentencing on May 8.

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy slammed the Defense Department on Friday after an Army helicopter forced two commercial passenger jets landing at Reagan Washington National Airport to shift course.

On Thursday, air traffic control instructed a Delta Airlines flight and Republic Airways plane to perform go-arounds due to a Priority Air Transport helicopter inbound to the Pentagon Army Heliport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Multiple outlets reported on Friday that an army helicopter taking a scenic route near the airport caused the incident.

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Unacceptable. Our helicopter restrictions around DCA are crystal clear. In addition to investigations from @NTSB and @FAANews, Ill be talking to the @DeptofDefense to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded, Duffy wrote in a post on the social platform X.

Helicopter operations near the airport were restricted in March after a deadly collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane killed 67 people in January.

Safety must ALWAYS come first. We just lost 67 souls! No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber  besides most VIPs have black car service, Duffy added in the post.

The Hill has reached out to the Defense Department for comment about Thursdays incident, which occurred at 2:30 p.m. local time, per the FAA.

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Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed similar concerns to Duffy on social media.

I believe its time for the FAA to act swiftly and assert control over the national airspace so the Army stops running air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wrote in a post on X.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) called the incident outrageous, as reported by Reuters.

The Army and FAA need to reevaluate their operations and return to Capitol Hill to explain what needs to be done to make certain the DCA airspace is safe, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) added on social media. We already had a tragedy that should not have happened.

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Since the deadly January crash, officials have been working to restructure the FAAs hiring practices for air traffic controllers, who advise pilots on flying patterns.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will lead the probe into the latest incident and issue a preliminary report in the coming weeks. Spokespeople from Delta and Republic said their companies they will cooperate with an investigation.

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May 3---- The

on Saturday morning received a report that an altercation involving guns had taken place in the 1200 block of 24th Street Northwest.

The caller reported 1:30 a.m. that they stopped at an apartment to pick up their juvenile child and were met by male individuals who threatened them with guns.

The Willmar police and SWAT team responded and were able to negotiate with several occupants of the apartment complex, with one adult male and four juvenile parties voluntarily exiting the apartment.

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Law enforcement used a loudspeaker, drones, robots and non-lethal chemical munitions to get the last occupant of the apartment to surrender without incident.

Trey Kirgis, 18, of Willmar, was arrested and is currently being held at the Kandiyohi County Jail on charges of second-degree assault, threats of violence and obstruction of the legal process.

There were no injuries as a result of the incident, and the case remains under investigation.

Assisting the Willmar Police Department was the
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)  East Texans were able to gain and provide some insight about the federal budget this week.

VIDEO: Marshall ISD bus involved in crash, students onboard

East Texas Congressional representative Nathaniel Moran hosted a budget workshop in Tyler and Longview this past week to hear from residents. The workshops were held to give Moran an opportunity to hear from East Texans about their opinions on the federal budget and how they believe it should be managed.

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Moran emphasized what these kinds of events mean to him. Its one of my favorite things to do. Every time I learn something, so I can be their voice in Washington DC, Moran said.

With Trumps proposed cut to nearly $6 billion from the education budget and return the power to the state, Moran spoke about how he agrees with the proposal.

Return the power to our local school districts and get the federal government out of our government, Moran said.

Why do May elections matter? A sit down with Smith Countys elections administrator

The budget workshop took place on May 1 in Tyler and again on May 2 in Longview, giving residents of both cities a chance to voice their opinions on the federal budget and giving Moran a chance to answer any questions that may arise.

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PHNOM PENH, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Experts on Saturday lauded Cambodia-China relations in a new era, saying that bilateral ties have enjoyed mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win results.

During an event on "Cambodia-China Relations in the New Era," Eng Kokthay, director of the Techo Legacy and Policy School, said bilateral relations have steadily developed over the past decades, with remarkable fruits achieved.

He said that as the world has faced a number of challenges in recent years, China has actively and consistently promoted a neighborhood diplomacy to preserve peace, security and development in the region and beyond.

Kokthay said this policy has been further consolidated in the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said Chinese investment has dramatically transformed Cambodia's urban landscape, particularly in the capital Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.

"Chinese investment has transformed Sihanoukville from quiet seaside province into a bustling hub for Chinese tourists and investors," he said.

"A cornerstone of China-Cambodia economic cooperation, the Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone has transformed Cambodia's industrial landscape since its establishment," Chandarith said.

The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway has reduced logistics costs by 40 percent and transformed the quiet coastal city into a major industrial hub, he added.

Chandarith said China has been the largest source of foreign direct investment to and the biggest trading partner of Cambodia, playing a crucial role in the country's economic and trade development.

As 2025 has been designated as the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism, Chandarith predicted that the number of Chinese tourists to the Southeast Asian country would significantly increase this year.

Diep Sophal, a history professor at the University of Cambodia, said an iron-clad friendship between the two countries is unbreakable and will be even stronger and closer in the future.

Sophal said bilateral ties have been built on the principles of mutual respect, trust and support, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and shared prosperity.

Pay Sambo, secretary general of the Civil Society Alliance Forum (CSAF), said Cambodian and Chinese non-governmental organizations have also cooperated well with each other in the areas of humanitarian assistance and poverty alleviation. 
WILLIMANTIC  Six students from Easterns Business Information Systems/Information Technology Students of America (BIS-ITSA) club traveled to Springfield, Missouri, to compete in the United States IT Collegiate Conference (USITCC).

Among the Eastern students in attendance was Robyn Vetterkind of Ashford, a senior studying Business Information Systems, Data Science and Business Analytics.

USITCC taught the value of hands-on learning, how to manage high-pressure situations and refined my skills and understanding of what works and what doesnt in real-world scenarios, Vetterkind said.
Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Italo Carl Candoli and General Dynamics Vice President of Engineering Charlie Anderson agreed in 1981 to partner in improving the schools curriculum and to instruct teachers about applicable math and science skills.

Anderson sought to cut down the training time for new hires, seeking a more educated crop of applicants. For example, Fort Worth instructors were teaching drafting by hand when General Dynamics was using computers for blueprint drawings.

Anderson assigned Steve (Estevan) De Leon, aeronautics engineer and University of Texas graduate, as a loaned executive to the district in 1982-1984. Born and raised in San Antonios barrio west side, De Leon knew a good education opened opportunities to aspiring students and a way out of poverty. Ms. Wharton, Brackenridge High School math teacher, recognized his math aptitude and encouraged him to pursue a science career. De Leon intentionally took her math classes for four years, seeking her guidance and encouragement.

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After high school, De Leon took an entry test for a jet engine mechanic at Kelly Air Force Base. Scoring high, he landed the job, earning a salary higher than most new hires. He joined the Air Force reserves and went active duty in 1964 to maintain search and rescue helicopters in the 48th Air Rescue Service in Vietnam. De Leon said he learned in the service the importance of working as a team, especially in war.

After six years of military service, he yearned to learn more about aeronautics and entered UT engineering school in 1972. As one of few Latino aeronautic majors, he offered the dean of engineering, Earnest F. Gloyna, his recruiting skills to attract more Latino/a people, Black people, and women to the school. He assured the dean he and other Latino engineering students would more successfully attract minority students than a professional recruitment company. He founded the Pi Sigma Pi Society in 1972 and co-founded the Texas Alliance for Minority Engineers (TAME) in 1976 to increase the number of minority engineers.

The UT dean recommended De Leon to Anderson to help recruit more minority engineers to General Dynamics. At the time, the federal government pressured the company to diversify its staff. De Leon quickly proved his worth as an engineer, recruiter, and executive in the community.

When Candoli asked for a General Dynamics partnership, De Leon fit the specifications to represent the company in the Partners in Education endeavor. He recruited PhD physicists and engineers to the classrooms to teach science and math. He and other engineers reviewed the districts science and math text books and wrote practical applications. For example, the formula for calculating volume was applied to determining the volume of fuel in airplane wings. De Leon coordinated the donations of computers and calculators to FWISD schools.

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To assist the districts science and math teachers, De Leon organized one-day symposiums at the General Dynamics Training Center on how to teach practical engineering skills. He established a homework hotline to assist students from single-parent families or parents who didnt finish high school. Manned by engineers and teachers, the hotline guided students through their science and math assignments. Hotline tutors referenced the same textbooks that the students studied.

Fort Worth ISD business partnerships expanded

Impressed with the success of the General Dynamics/FWISD partnership, Candoli and De Leon expanded the partnerships to several businesses. The program developed into Adopt-A-School in 1982 with IBM, Bell Helicopter, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and other major Tarrant County companies. Corporations parented adopted schools with their expertise, resources, and time on behalf of students and teachers. Dr. H. Richard ONeal, president of the FWISD school board, sounded a familiar note in the 1985 Adopt-A-School Annual Report, saying, Many people these days bemoan the state of public education. But here in Fort Worth, we have a loyal and dedicated cadre of businessmen and women who are taking action rather than complaining. Candoli stated, Every segment of our school district has been favorably impacted. ... For teachers and other staff members, Adopt-A-School volunteers have lightened the workload while enriching classes.

For example, Criminal Court Judge Pete Perez, Justice of the Peace Manuel Valdez, Domestic Relations Court Judge Maryellen Hicks, and other judicial staff and attorneys mentored Polytechnic High School students two hours a day. They provided tours of courtrooms, explained legal procedures, and offered internships.

Another example: Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and Northside High School teamed up to provide tours of the college, taught how to scrub for surgery, allowed school staff to attend medical lectures, and hired students as summer research assistants.

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In 1985, Candoli wrote a glowing evaluation of De Leons loaned executive work to Anderson. He stated, Steve De Leon is totally committed to the role that business and industry must play in the improvement of education. ... (He) gave a bit extra in encouraging and assisting minority students to participate in rigorous academic programs.

Jaime Escalante, esteemed calculus teacher of Mexican American students in East Los Angeles, told his students, like the Mayans, math was in their blood. De Leon, a former Fort Worth resident who today lives in North Richland Hills, proved his veins flowed with math cells and compassion. His calculus for soaring educational success was the partnering of business smarts, receptive students, and a cooperative school district.

Author Richard J. Gonzales writes and speaks about Fort Worth, national and international Latino history.
EDITORS NOTE: All photos are courtesy of the El Paso County Sheriffs Office.

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso County Sheriffs Office arrested 16 people with outstanding criminal warrants over a four-day period this week, ending on Thursday, May 1, the agency said.



The arrests were made as part of the Sheriffs Offices ongoing efforts to ensure public safety by

locating and apprehending individuals wanted for various criminal offenses, the Sheriffs Office said.



The El Paso County Sheriffs Office remains steadfast in its mission to protect the public,

Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said. We will continue working tirelessly to locate individuals with outstanding warrants and bring them to justice.

People who were arrested are facing charges of sexual assault, assaulting a peace officer or judge, DWI, assaulting family members, among other charges.



The Fugitive Apprehension Unit will maintain its focus on tracking down wanted individuals and

encourages the public to report any information that may assist in locating fugitives, the Sheriffs Office said.

Jose Manuel Garcia, 24. Facing charges of sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping sexual abuse Alfredo Herrera, 56. Facing charges of assault family/household member, previously convicted of one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of kidnapping/violating bond/protective order Ashley Hernandez, 21. Facing charge of driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years old. Charles Ray Rodriguez, 29. Facing charges of injuring a child/elderly/disabled person, reckless bodily injury, violating bond or protective order Derek Lance Gavilanes, 41. Facing charge of deceptive business practice with previous conviction Diego Gomez Ramirez, 41. Facing charge of possession of a controlled substance. Edward Jose Gomez, 39. Facing charges of assault family/household member, previously convicted of assault of pregnant person and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Eric Hernandez,36. Facing charge of driving while intoxicated, 3rd or more offense George Chavarria, 45. Facing charge of resisting arrest, search or transport. Irma Patricia Villalpando, 56. Facing charge of hindering apprehension or prosecution of known felon. Kamurua Ann Taylor, 46. Facing charge of driving while intoxicated. Paul Acosta, 21. Facing charge of property theft. Paul Angel Ramirez, 22. Facing charge of evading arrest/detention with a vehicle Ruben Nunez, 50. Facing charge of driving while intoxicated, 3rd or more offense. Ruben Torres, 31. Facing charge of property theft. Austen Tayler Witt, 26. Facing charge of assault on a peace officer/judge.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
An elderly Orange County man was left homeless after being targeted in a fraud scheme that cost him nearly $2 million in losses, officials announced Friday.

According to the Department of Justice, the 78-year-old victim was defrauded by John Tamahere McCabe, 42, of Kailua, Hawaii, who made false promises of brokering the sale of the victims yacht.

McCabe confessed to his federal crime on Thursday, pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

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The DOJ said it all started with McCabe offering to help the victim, whose identity was not revealed to the public, to sell his yacht.

What the victim didnt know was McCabe used fabricated documents to change the ownership of the yacht to McCabes name, the DOJ explained in a release. Once in his name, McCabe then diverted the proceeds to his own personal bank account and used most of the proceeds for his own personal purposes.

Down the line, McCabe also pushed the victim to transfer his million-dollar Irvine home into a limited liability company (LLC) controlled by McCabe.

Without telling the victim, McCabe made himself the sole manager of the LLC and, according to court documents, caused $1 million in loans to be taken out and secured by the victims residence, draining all its equity.

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McCabe spent the proceeds and then defaulted on the loans. The victims home was sold at a foreclosure sale, the DOJ said, leaving the victim homeless.

Through this scheme, McCabe defrauded the victim out of about $1,814,000 in total, officials said.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, the DOJ said help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
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The trial to determine whether Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby conspired to interfere in the duties of the Secretary of States Office when he refused to certify the results of the 2022 election has been pushed back from May to September.

During a Friday morning hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court, Brian Gifford, the attorney representing Crosby, argued that the case should be dismissed because of incorrect language in the grand jury indictment and what he described as the states failure to identify a co-conspirator in the case.

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Crosby and Supervisor Peggy Judd, the two Republican members of the three-member Cochise County Board of Supervisors, were both indicted in 2023 on felony charges of conspiracy and interference with an election officer for their refusal to certify the results of the 2022 midterm election by the state-mandated deadline.

GOP county supervisors across the state faced intense pressure not to certify the election results in 2022 amid unsubstantiated claims by prominent Republican candidates and influencers, including failed GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, of election fraud in Maricopa County.

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The Cochise County Board of Supervisors only voted to certify the election results after a judge ordered it to do so. Cochise was the only Arizona county to miss the Nov. 28 certification deadline, putting the countys votes at risk of not being counted. Even after the court order, Crosby refused to attend the certification meeting.

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In October, Judd pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of refusing to perform the duty of an election officer, a misdemeanor, as part of a plea deal.

On Friday, Gifford argued that the indictment in the case was impermissible because it failed to directly identify a co-conspirator in the conspiracy charge, making it impossible for Crosby to prepare to defend himself at trial. Gifford claimed that prosecutors for the Arizona Attorney Generals Office provided no evidence that Crosby and Judd communicated outside of public meetings about their plans not to certify the election results. And any comments they made during public board meetings were protected by legislative immunity.

How can defendant Crosby prepare a defense against the charge of conspiracy if he has no notice of who the state is claiming he allegedly conspired with? Its ludicrous, Gifford said.

But Todd Lawson, prosecutor for the Attorney Generals Office, said that the defense didnt get to decide whether there was evidence of a conspiracy, but that was up to the jury.

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Gifford also told the judge that the indictment incorrectly accused Crosby of conspiracy to delay the certification of election results instead of conspiracy to interfere with the certification, which is the actual charge brought against him. Gifford said that if the correct language had been used, perhaps the grand jury would not have returned an indictment, adding that the jury would see the indictment and would possibly be confused by it.

Crosby could admit to everything in the indictment but not be found guilty for conspiracy to interfere, Gifford said, since the indictment only accuses him of conspiracy to delay, not to interfere.

He argued that delaying the certification of the results was not the same as interfering with the certification of results, especially since the results were still certified in time to meet the deadline for the secretary of state to sign off on the results.

Lawson countered that Crosbys efforts to delay the certification equaled interference.

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The delay is interference, he said. The goal is to create chaos, to create litigation to create a situation where the legislature needed to declare a winner, to create a situation where the Secretary of State could not perform her job because of questions about whether the information that she was acting on was sufficient to declare winners.

Lawson also criticized Giffords insistence that Crosbys refusal to certify the election results was a victimless crime.

With hindsight, the defendant is now claiming, see, I didnt intend to interfere because look, without my involvement whatsoever, the canvass actually did (happen) after a short delay that didnt wind up actually interfering with anything.

But Lawson pointed out that without a lawsuit from then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, and a subsequent court order that required the Cochise County Board of Supervisors to certify the election results, things might have turned out differently. He reminded the judge that Crosby still refused to certify the results, even after the court ordered him to, and that it was the other two supervisors that ultimately voted to certify in his absence.

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The bank robber who walks out of the bank and drops the money, he still intended to rob the bank, Lawson said. He just didnt get far.

Fish told the court on Friday that his ruling on the motion to dismiss probably wouldnt be coming for at least a week.

The court already denied an earlier motion to dismiss from Crosby in February when he argued that his actions were protected by legislative immunity and that they were improperly filed in Maricopa County.

An appeals court agreed with the lower court.

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Election Day has arrived, and KETK has compiled a list of sample ballots from counties throughout East Texas. Voters will have the opportunity to make important decisions on school bond proposals, city council positions, mayoral races and other local matters.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

Sample Ballots

East Texas Polling Locations

KETK sat down with Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon who spoke about the importance of local elections and voter turnout.

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When it comes to those local races, the cities, the schools, the emergency service districts, those are the elections that affect you on your day-to-day life, Allcon said.

Allcon said of the 70,000 voters that are eligible in Smith County, only 1,400 or 1%, voted during the early voting period. Thats a very small number of people that are making a decision on who those elected officials are going to be, Allcon added.

These elections decide positions like city council members, city mayors, school bonds and more. Allcon said making your voice heard is vital because the results come Saturday could affect your day-to-day life in the future.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
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, accused of 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 local Liberty Park to feed ducks in early April because she was commanded to by the Lord. Barzee also reportedly admitted to visiting another area 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 Barzees release, Elizabeth Smart asked the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole not to release her kidnapper, 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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper, Wanda Barzee, was back behind bars for a brief moment ... because she was arrested in Utah for allegedly violating the conditions of her supervised release.

Police in Salt Lake City tell TMZ ... Wanda was arrested Thursday after detectives discovered she allegedly visited at least two public parks in town.

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The issue ... Barzee is a registered sex offender in Utah and going to a public park is a big no-no for her.

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Cops say Barzee allegedly went to Liberty Park and Sugar House Park ... and she was booked into Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one count of violating Utah's law restricting registered sex offenders from entering protected areas, including public parks.

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department

As you know ... Barzee pled guilty to helping kidnap 14-year-old Smart in 2002, and Smart says Wanda stood idly by as her other abductor, Brian David Mitchell, repeatedly raped her.

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Barzee was released from Utah state prison in September 2018 after 15 years behind bars. Meanwhile, Mitchell is serving a life sentence in Arizona.

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Cops say Barzee is out of custody ... having been released on judicial orders.
Elizabeth Smarts kidnapper Wanda Barzee may or may not be smiling after her arrest on Thursday ... but theres no doubt she was one happy camper posing for her mugshot for Utahs Sex Offender Registry.

TMZ has obtained the photo of Barzee from the registry -- and the convicted criminal could not have looked more jovial. Check out her big fat grin, showing off her yellow-stained teeth.

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She also flashes her wild eyes and messy white hair with moles on her face and neck. The registry lists, among other things, her height, weight and 11 aliases along with details about her federal conviction for abducting Smart.

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Per the registry, Barzee is barred from entering protected areas such as parks. But she ignored the rules, cops say ... 'cause she allegedly popped up at 2 parks in Salt Lake City.

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Police were notified and took her into custody on Thursday, booking her into the county jail for violating Utah's registered sex offenders law.

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As you know ... Barzee pled guilty to helping kidnap 14-year-old Smart in 2002. Smart told

police Wanda stood idly by as her other abductor, Brian David Mitchell, repeatedly raped her.

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department

Barzee was released from federal prison in December 2018 after more than 15 years behind bars. Mitchell is serving a life sentence in Arizona.
Elon Musks Texas SpaceX launch site is set to become an official city known as Starbase.

Residents of the area near Boca Chica Beach went to the polls on Saturday to vote on a measure that would incorporate the neighborhood and call it Starbase, in honor of the tech billionaires rocket company.

Voters, most of whom work for Musk at SpaceX, appear to have voted overwhelmingly in favor of the move, according to The Associated Press on Saturday night.

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The measure would give the company authority over a pocket of land along the Gulf coast.

According to Cameron County records, as of Saturday morning, two-thirds of the roughly 300 people eligible to vote, most of whom are SpaceX employees, had already cast their ballots.

The Independent has reached out to SpaceX for comment.

South Texans will vote on whether to incorporate an area that is home to a SpaceXs launch site into an official city called Starbase (Getty Images)

According to records, only 10 of the 247 residential lots in the area the community is seeking to incorporate are not owned by SpaceX or its employees.

At the end of last year, a petition was filed to make the 1.5-square-mile area a new municipality. This designation would allow the region to have its own governing body, emergency services, and school district, ABC News reported.

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SpaceX has brought more than 3,400 jobs to the area, according to a 2024 annual report from the county, boosting the economy in an area where a quarter of its residents live in poverty.

We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community, SpaceXs Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders wrote in a December 2024 letter to a county judge requesting an election to incorporate the area.

Some critics cited environmental concerns should SpaceX take control of the the public beach nearby (Getty Images)

Leuders noted that SpaceX currently performs several civil functions around Starbaseincluding management of the roads, utilities, and the provision of schooling and medical care for the residents.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. then set the date of the election and said in a statement: If the election passes, this will be the newest town in Cameron County since Los Indios in 1995. We look forward to seeing the outcome of this election.

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Critics, like the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, have cited environmental concerns about whether the area should be incorporated. The group warned that the beachs ecosystem is under threat if SpaceX gains control over the area.

Christopher Basaldu, co-founder of the group, told The Washington Post he used to visit the beach as a child. These were pristine, beautiful lands, like, literally, a gem or a treasure of a beautiful beach, and also sacred lands of the original Indigenous people of the land, he said. I have no confidence that SpaceX is going to become a responsible neighbor just because they become officially a city. In fact, I think that things will get worse.

The group is staging a protest at the beach on Saturday, just before polls close, to voice its opposition to Starbase's proposed incorporation.
BRUSSELS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- From European visitors walking through China's historic neighborhoods to Chinese tourists sampling regional cuisine in southern Europe, two-way travel between China and Europe is steadily gaining momentum and evolving in form.

As the May holiday season unfolds, tourism flows are picking up on both sides, supported by streamlined visa policies and enhanced travel connectivity, and shaped by growing interest in flexible, culturally rich experiences.

GROWING INTEREST IN CHINA TRAVEL

"We now have 12 tour groups travelling in China," said Ewa Gajewska, a project manager with CT Poland, a Polish travel agency specializing in China tours for 25 years. To accommodate heightened demand during Poland's peak travel period in May, the agency added extra departures beyond its original plans.

"Almost every group this year has been full, with 26 tourists plus a tour leader," she told Xinhua, adding that some returning clients are now opting to explore lesser-known but captivating destinations such as Yunnan and Guizhou.

While Gajewska's insights reflect the Polish market, similar trends have been observed elsewhere.

Clients returning from other Asian destinations consistently found China's tour offerings "more engaging and diverse," said Alesya Plyavina, manager at Latvian Antario Travel Agency. "Potential tourists are already booking trips to China even for the end of the year."

According to Chinese travel platform Trip.com, inbound travel bookings from around the world rose by 173 percent year-on-year as of April 25.

One major driver behind the renewed interest is China's recent visa facilitation policies. Since late 2024, China has extended visa-free stays from 15 to 30 days for ordinary passport holders from 38 countries, including 32 European nations. Additionally, travelers from 54 countries, more than half of which are European, are now eligible for visa-free transit in China for up to 240 hours.

"The extension of the visa-free entry to 30 days helps a lot in generating more demand and bookings," said Vera Nebel, Asia product manager at German travel agency Ikarus Tours. "We experienced an increase in bookings for those tours of more than 15 days, because it's a long journey from Germany to China, and it's a big country."

In addition to the visa-free policy, convenient services and infrastructure such as digital payments, shared bikes and high-speed trains have also enhanced the experience for first-time visitors, said veteran Dutch tour guide Tom Lops, who has visited China over 30 times.

"Think basically, and let yourself be surprised by all the new impressions you will have in this country," he said.

EXPLORING EUROPE IN CHINESE WAY

As Europeans discover China as a diverse travel destination, Chinese tourists are exploring the continent with increasing depth and sophistication.

Airbnb China's latest May holiday report showed Chinese user searches for international destinations had more than doubled from last year, with many European countries ranking among the top 30 choices. Hiking, road trips and island tours are now preferred choices.

Szymon Sikora, an English-language guide at Poland's Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, frequently leads Chinese tourists on immersive "miner tours" -- a hands-on experience where guests dress as miners and explore underground tunnels.

"Sometimes I feel maybe I should learn Mandarin," he told Xinhua, adding that more Chinese tourists are opting for immersive and adventurous experiences over traditional sightseeing.

In Slovenia, Liao Shasha, general manager of Visdom Travel Agency, noted growing interest from Chinese tourists due to relaxed visa policies and better flight connectivity. Rather than large group tours, Chinese visitors now prefer smaller, flexible groups seeking personalized and upscale experiences, Liao said.

These evolving preferences mirror not only new global tourism patterns but also broader developments in China. Decades of stable development and high-quality modernization have enlarged the middle-income group in China and led to rising demand for more sophisticated, customized travel experiences.

"More Chinese tourists are willing to pay for a better life -- fine hotels, great food, world-class performances," said Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy. "These 'small but fine' and deeply emotional travel experiences are bringing depth and warmth to global tourism."

TOURISM BRINGS COOPERATION OPPORTUNITIES

As China-Europe travel gathers pace, European observers believe its influence goes beyond tourism -- helping foster mutual understanding and encouraging broader cooperation.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the visa-free agreement with China, in place since 2017, has significantly boosted tourism and people-to-people interactions. As the two countries mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, local tourism officials anticipate greater collaboration ahead.

Haris Fazlagic, president of the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board, said the visa policy is crucial to expanding tourism. "It gives us the motivation to improve services, expand offerings and reach more Chinese visitors."

Looking ahead, Sarajevo aims to launch direct flights, enhance infrastructure and develop experiences tailored to Chinese travelers, Fazlagic added.

In neighboring Croatia, the number of Chinese tourists in 2024 approached the pre-pandemic record of around 300,000. Meanwhile, "China, with its cultural and historical sights, can be a truly top-notch lure for Croatians," said Davorko Vidovic, former deputy speaker of the Croatian Parliament.

He welcomed China's visa-free policy, seeing it as an essential step toward stronger economic, cultural and political ties.

"I hope that when the one-year trial ends, the visa-free policy will be extended as it can open up enormous opportunities for cooperation between the two sides," Vidovic told Xinhua. 
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)  Decades of recovery efforts are bringing one of the Missouri's endangered and longest-living fish back to prominence according to new findings this spring.

Capable of growing up to 8 feet long and weighing 300 pounds, lake sturgeon once thrived in the Missouri River before being driven to the brink of extinction by overfishing and habitat loss in the late 1800s, to the point where the fish was deemed incapable of recovery by the mid-1900s.

In a significant development, the Missouri Department of Conservation confirmed last week that lake sturgeon spawning, or the release of eggs, was witnessed in the wild for the fourth consecutive year in West Alton, located in southeastern Missouri around St. Louis, a major development for recovery programs that first began in 1984.

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It's very exciting because these long held stocking efforts that we've done, since the 80s, is with the hope that we would kind of stabilize the populations and continue to work to what they need to have self-sustaining populations on their own," MDC Northwest Staff Scientist Kasey Whiteman said. Any time that we can find natural reproduction going with a species that has been struggling for a long time, that's a success.

The fast-moving bottom feeder is one of the largest fish in North America and can reach up to 150 years old. As a result, it takes 20 to 30 years before slow-growing lake sturgeon are capable of spawning for the first time.

Widespread coordination and conservation efforts between MDC and the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and volunteer citizens have been instrumental in developing an effective habitat restoration plan for the fish that dates back more than 150 million years.

Conservation measures include protection from fishing, habitat restoration, river management and research, among many other efforts. The most widespread recovery program was the stocking of captive lake sturgeon, which was done by transferring eggs from Wisconsin down to Missouri hatcheries. Stocking programs have largely occurred in central Missouri down to St. Louis.

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"They've been working with the Corps to actually mimic those (conditions) ... being modified in a way that we've seen consecutive years of spawning gives us hope that we're looking in on something important here that maybe is possible to mimic in other locations as well so that they can actually spawn in other places, he said.

The fish, which historically occurred in the Mississippi, Missouri, and lower Osage rivers, was classified as endangered in Missouri in 1974.

Whiteman said continued efforts to improve lake sturgeon habitat on Missouri rivers will be the most effective way to ensure successful spawning and population growth long term. Captive breeding is only effective if the environment theyre being released into is conducive for repopulation.

Based on the current conditions of the river we don't see them make it much past 20 or 25 years old, Whiteman said. "They need all the different components of those big rivers to be successful. And so the uniqueness and challenge with these species of fish is that there's so much work that has to be done with partners so that we can all make the habitat better.

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Statistics compiled by the U.S. Fish Commission in 1899 show that 50,000 pounds of lake sturgeon were harvested commercially from the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in 1895.

Although most MDC research in St. Joseph is geared toward conservation of other sturgeon species, Whiteman said the lake sturgeons ability to travel long distances allows for supplemental research efforts to take place locally.

We do see them occasionally  we can go out when we're trying to track our pallid sturgeon or other fish and when we come across the lake sturgeon, we can collect the information on that and share that information with our counterparts that are more in depth in some of the deeper studies. So there's a lot of overlap in our research of what we do.

A stable population of lake sturgeon in Missouri would also provide a unique and enticing recreational sport fishing opportunity for anglers, similar to what Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota offer.

Getting them to spawn is just half the battle, you know, getting the fish to hatch out and actually recruit to the system is the next part of the equation, Whiteman said. A realistic range would be all the open parts of the river system on the Mississippi and Missouri to the extent where the fish can still make passage and move.
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Authorities in Al-Wafrah, Kuwait, cracked down on alleged crypto miners in the city, which resulted in a 55% decrease in power consumption the following week. According to Reuters, Kuwait is in a power crisis as summer temperatures are soaring. Its growing number of citizens are pushing the power grid to keep cool while some power plants are experiencing maintenance delays. Kuwaiti authorities allege that cryptocurrency miners are pushing power demand beyond the country's capacity, leading to blackouts and a "major" power crisis.

Cryptocurrency trading is illegal in Kuwait, but mining is not explicitly banned. Nevertheless, the government's interior ministry said it "constitutes an unlawful exploitation of electrical powerand may cause outages affecting residential, commercial, and service areas, posing a direct threat to public safety." The government raid covered about 100 homes suspected of hosting crypto mining operations, with some using more than 20 times the electricity consumption of the average Kuwaiti home.

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Crypto mining is a power-intensive activity, with one Bitcoin transaction consuming more than 1,047 kWh of electricity  about the same amount of power that the average U.S. household uses in over a month. Researchers estimated that Kuwaiti miners were responsible for less than half a percent of global mining activities in 2022. However, Digiconomist founder Alex de Vries-Gao told Reuters, "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."

Kuwait is a small, oil-rich country in the Middle East, where electricity is affordable, probably because of its low fuel costs. Because of this, it's become an attractive area for crypto miners, as power consumption is one of the biggest costs of their operation. However, Kuwait's limited power reserves and expanding urban area mean these operations compete against residents and other businesses for electricity. Given that the authorities ban cryptocurrency trading, it makes sense for them to also crack down on mining operations.

This incident highlights the increasing power demands of high-powered computing. And while crypto mining might be setting records in power consumption, AI data centers are the bigger threat to our electricity supply. Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg says that limitations in our power grid will constrain AI growth, with Meta and other companies turning to nuclear reactors to provide the electricity their massive data centers need. And even if there's enough power to be had, they also cause reduced power quality in nearby residential areas, reducing the lifespan of electrical appliances in our homes.

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May 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency is consolidating staff and shifting resources, part of a larger restructuring effort that will seek to "bring much needed efficiencies," officials announced.

The agency is also planning to cut jobs as part of the shake-up, reducing staffing to levels seen during the 1980s, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said this week.

"With these organizational improvements, we recommit to fulfilling all of our statutory obligations and exceptionally delivering on EPA's core mission of protecting human health and the environment. This reorganization will bring much needed efficiencies to incorporate science into our rulemakings and sharply focus our work on providing the cleanest air, land and water for our communities. It will also save at least $300 million annually for the American people," Zeldin said in the agency's statement.

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Zeldin said the agency will strive to "operate as efficiently and effectively as possible," signaling the possibility of looming job cuts.

The New York Times previously reported President Donald Trump's administration planned to fire over 1,500 scientists from the EPA at some point, citing an internal government document.

The agency expects to cut jobs as part of the shake-up, reducing staffing to levels seen during the 1980s, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

The agency had a workforce of 15,130 people and a $9.158 billion budget in the most recent fiscal year.

"This phase of reorganization will save taxpayers more than $300 million annually by Fiscal Year 2026. It is all part of a larger, comprehensive effort to restructure the agency, and when finalized, EPA expects to have employment levels near those seen when President Ronald Reagan occupied the White House," the EPA said in a press release announcing the restructuring.

The EPA plans to begin consolidating staff to save on office space costs, prioritize approval of the use of certain chemicals currently under review and strengthen state-level water and air monitoring relationships, Administrator Lee Zeldin said this week. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

Under the directive, the focus will shift to strengthening partnerships with state-level agencies, particularly when it comes to air and water monitoring.

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"In the Office of Air and Radiation, we're establishing the first-ever Office of State Air Partnerships to improve coordination with state, local, and tribal air permitting agencies. This collaborative approach will resolve permitting concerns more efficiently and ensure EPA is working with states, not against them, to advance our shared mission," Zeldon wrote in an op-ed written for Newsweek and republished on the EPA's website.

Administrator Lee Zeldin pointed to some 504 new chemicals currently under EPA review beyond the statutorily required timeframe and more than 12,000 pesticides in a similar situation as among issues at the agency the restructuring aims to fix. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

Part of that will also see the creation of a new Office of Clean Air Programs.

The EPA also plans to begin consolidating staff to save on office space costs and prioritize approval of the use of certain chemicals currently under review.

"Under the previous administration, EPA's buildings stood largely empty, with headquarters attendance peaking at just over one-third occupancy as the record high attendance day last year. Agency spending had ballooned from around $8 billion to $10 billion to more than $63 billion. Hundreds of new chemicals remained in regulatory limbo far beyond statutory review timelines, as did more than 12,000 pesticide reviews, and 685 State Implementation," Zeldin wrote.

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He pointed to some 504 new chemicals currently under EPA review beyond the statutorily required timeframe and more than 12,000 pesticides in a similar situation.

"The American people deserve an EPA that effectively balances environmental protection with economic prosperity," Zeldin wrote.

"Through this reorganization, we're positioning the agency to do just that."
Erie International Airport is teaming up with Erie Retina Research to increase vision awareness for travelers while they wait.

An interactive display in the terminal provides an easy way to check for symptoms of serious vision conditions. Better yet, those who suspect an issue can get a free screening and, if needed, treatment.

Freedom House celebrates 11 graduates continuing their medical career

This is the first place where patients from other states and countries get to see erie first. Its also where all our clients come through. All the time through here, said Dr. David Almeida of Erie Retina Research.

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After travelers come through security at Erie International Airport, theyll see a step-by-step guide to check for early signs of vision conditions.

The number one cause of blindness in Erie County and the developed world is age-related macular degeneration. Theres nothing that comes close, Dr. Almeida said.

X marks the spot where travelers can cover one eye and look at the grid and the letters for symptoms of vision loss.

Erie International Airport set to roll out Real ID this spring

The board features contact information for Erie Retina Research, which provides free screenings and treatment.

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We in the past have done things with other organizations that are health related and this was an opportunity to help people that might not know that there are challenges with their eyes that their is an alternative and some solutions that are cost effective, said Derek Martin, executive director of the Erie International Airport.

Dr. Almeida said many people dont seek treatment because they suspect vision loss is normal with age and theres nothing they can do. But he says thats not the case

How important is early diagnosis? Its everything, he said. We have gene therapy, things like macular degeneration, diabetes, we can cure almost we thought that it wouldnt be possible, things like that, and we have done more gene therapy here in Erie than anywhere else in the United States.

New cutting-edge tech helping Erie eye doctors revolutionize treatment

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Dr. Almeida recommended that anyone over the age of 55 who has diabetes or is experiencing changes in their vision get a free screening.

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A sacred gathering allowed the community to come together to honor the late Pope Francis.

Bishop Lawrence Persico of the Diocese of Erie hosted an official celebration for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. It took place at Saint Peter Cathedral.

Attendees prayed and reflected on the late popes life and impact on catholicism around the world.

The mass also served as an opportunity for the church to come together and pray before the cardinals go into conclave.

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I think there has been a very positive response in the sense of that there is concern, but there is also concern too that many are praying they are also praying for the cardinals that will have to elect the new pope, the bishop said.

I think he really encouraged us to look past just whos clearly part of our community, our families and kind of really dig deeper into that, said Katie Duda, a parishioner.

Pope Francis died the day after Easter, on April 21. He was 88 years old.

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Recent changes in federal policy led schools like East Tennessee State University (ETSU) to make changes to DEI-related centers and resources on campus. ETSUs president, Brian Noland, said changes on campus were made to comply with the new policies.

ETSU closes DEI office  no position cuts to occur

Some of the structural changes weve made to the organizational components of staff, weve made to ensure that we remain in compliance with state law and with federal policy directives, Noland said.

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Last week, the school announced its new approach to DEI programs. ETSU is sunsetting operations at its Office of Equity and Inclusion. The university also announced changes to the Pride Center, the Women and Gender Resource Center and the Multi-Cultural Center. Students previously told News Channel 11 that the school had not informed them of its decisions, but Noland said the university continued to keep communication channels open.

I think we met with more than 35 groups over the course of the past couple of months, Noland said. So I think the changes that weve made have been well vetted. Theyve been informed. Faculty, staff and students have had the opportunity to provide feedback, and that feedback shaped the ultimate direction of the initiatives that have been in place.

ETSU launches new center to support low-income and first-generation students

While some centers are closing, another was created. The university announced it would soon open the Mary V. Jordan Center, focused on student success. Noland said the center was created to reach the students ETSU felt needed an extra level of support.

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Well offer high-level advising, counseling services, mentoring services and scholarships to students, Noland said. To position them so that four or so years after they begin as freshman, that theyve got the ability to receive their degree and do so with limited to no debt.

Noland stressed that the universitys commitment to its students has not and will not change.

Our value statements indicate that people come first and are treated with dignity and respect, he said. That does not change. I recognize that some students may have concerns about the things that have transpired across the campus over the course of the past few weeks. But we look forward to ensuring that were an institution that remains committed to all students having the opportunity to realize their dreams here at East Tennessee State University.

Noland said the university would prepare to open the center as it looks toward the fall semester.

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Katarina Mathernova, EU Ambassador to Ukraine, has called the death of journalist and freelance writer for Ukrainska Pravda Viktoriia Roshchyna in captivity "one of the most horrific Russian war crimes".

Source: Mathernova on Facebook

Quote: "She was talented and brave. Only 27 years old. Her death is one of the most horrific Russian war crimes.

Many things have shaken me deeply during the past two years since the EU sent me to Kyiv. But the abduction, torture, and murder of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna touched me not only as an ambassador, but also as a mother, a woman, and an admirer of unbreakable and heroic women who do not back down even in the face of military brutality.

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We honour her memory."

Details: Mathernova added that Russia has killed 102 journalists and media workers since 24 February 2022.

Read also: The Viktoriia Project: the story of the captivity and torture endured by journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna and thousands of Ukrainians imprisoned by Russia

Background:

Roshchyna went missing on 3 August 2023 while reporting from Russian-occupied territory.

In May 2024, Russia admitted for the first time that it had detained Roshchyna. Russia's Ministry of Defence sent a letter of confirmation to her father, Volodymyr Roshchyn.

On 10 October 2024, Petro Yatsenko, the head of the press service for Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, reported that Roshchyna had died in Russian custody.

Investigators from Slidstvo.info, a Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet, found that Roshchyna had been brutally tortured while in Russian captivity: her body bore stab wounds, she had been subjected to electric shocks, and was hidden from inspections by staff at a Russian penal colony.

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The European Union has condemned the launch of direct flights between Russia and Abkhazia, an unrecognised, Moscow-backed breakaway region on Georgias territory.

Source: Anouar El Anouni, EU Spokesman for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as reported by European Pravda

Details: On Thursday 1 May, Russia resumed regular flights to Abkhazia, with Sukhumi airport receiving its first commercial plane in 32 years.

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The EU said the move, undertaken without coordination with Tbilisi, represents a violation of Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The European Union reiterates its firm support for Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders," El Anouni said.

Background: In June 2024, the Georgian opposition TV channel Mtavari reported that Tbilisi and Moscow were possibly working to restore diplomatic relations. At the time, the Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed the claim as fake.

However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later said Moscow was open to restoring ties and would welcome such an initiative from Georgia.

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The European Union condemned on May 3 Russia's unilateral decision to launch passenger flights from Moscow to the Georgian city of Sukhumi, the capital of Russian-occupied Abkhazia.

"This action, taken without the consent of the Georgian authorities and in the absence of a necessary international aviation code for the Sukhumi airport, is yet another step by the Russian Federation violating Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," a statement from Anouar El Anouni, Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, read.

Russia resumed regular flights with Sukhumi on May 1, with the city's airport receiving the first commercial flight in 32 years. Sanctioned airline carrier UVT Aero currently operates the flights.

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Abkhazia, an occupied region internationally recognized as part of Georgia, continues to lie under de facto Russian control. Moscow has held a grip on Abkhazia since the Russo-Georgian war in 2008, when it rolled troops into the region and declared Abkhazia and the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia to be independent states.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) cancelled Sukhumi aviation code in 2006 having refused to recognize Russia's occupation of the region.

"The European Union reiterates its firm support for Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders," the statement adds.

As Russia continues to seek to regain control and influence over former Soviet states, the Kremlin has repeatedly sought to influence relations with Georgia.

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The country's ruling Georgian Dream party, founded by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, has drawn criticism for steering Georgia closer to Russia while hindering its EU accession.

Following disputed election in late 2024, mass protest errupted led by Georgian citizen concerned over perceived democratic backsliding as well as Russian influence in domestic affairs.

Since the election, a number of Western countries have imposed sanctions on Georgia over the perceived democratic backsliding. On Jan. 27, the European Union suspended parts of its visa facilitation agreement with Georgia.

Read also: Despite popular uprising, Kremlins grip on occupied Abkhazia runs supreme

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
GAZA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 57 Palestinians, mostly children, have died from malnutrition in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Oct. 7, 2023, a Palestinian health official said Saturday.

"The number of deaths linked to malnutrition continues to rise amid the ongoing Israeli blockade and the near-collapse of the health sector," Marwan al-Hams, director of field hospitals in the Gaza-based health authorities, told Xinhua.

The official noted that a majority of residents are suffering from anemia due to prolonged poor nutrition and the lack of basic food supplies, and field hospitals are witnessing increasing cases of anemia among blood donors, which hampers emergency medical services.

Al-Hams also warned that patients with chronic diseases, including cancer and kidney failure, are "dying silently" due to the lack of treatment and specialized care.

"The injured and chronically ill require urgent care that we can no longer provide," he said, noting that only a few field hospitals are still operating, largely run by volunteers.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run government media office accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon against the civilian population.

"What is happening exceeds the definition of a humanitarian catastrophe ... it is a war crime under international law," the media office said in a statement, which also claimed that Israel continued to restrict the entry of aid and target infrastructure related to food and health.

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 2,396 Palestinians had been killed and 6,325 others injured since Israel renewed its intensive strikes, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 52,495, and injuries to 118,366, the Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday. 
THIMISTER-CLERMONT, Belgium (AP)  The memory of blood dripping from trucks loaded with the mangled bodies of U.S. soldiers arriving at a nearby war cemetery straight from the battlefield in 1945 still gives 91-year-old Marcel Schmetz nightmares.

It also instilled a lifelong sense of gratitude for the young soldiers from the United States and around the world who gave their lives battling the armies of Adolf Hitler to end World War II in Europe.

Schmetz even built a museum at his home in the Belgian Ardennes to honor their sacrifice.

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If the Americans hadnt come, we wouldnt be here, the Belgian retiree said.

That same spirit also pervades Normandy in northern France, where the allied forces landed on June 6, 1944, a day that became the tipping point of the war.

Eternal gratitude

In Normandy, Marie-Pascale Legrand is still taking care of the ailing Charles Shay, a 100-year-old American who stormed the bloodied beaches on that fateful D-Day as a teenager and fought to help liberate Europe for many more months.

Gratitude for me means that I am eternally indebted, because I can live free today, Legrand said.

After D-Day, it would take almost another year of fierce fighting before Germany would finally surrender on May 8, 1945. Commemorations and festivities are planned for the 80th anniversary across much of the continent for what has become known as Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day, one of the most momentous days on the continent in recent centuries.

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Fraying bonds

Ever since, for generation upon generation in the nations west of the Iron Curtain that sliced Europe in two, it became a day to confirm and reconfirm what were long seen as the unbreakable bonds with the United States as both stood united against Soviet Eastern Europe.

No more.

Over the past several months, the rhetoric from Washington has become increasingly feisty.

The Trump administration has questioned the vestiges of the decades-old alliance and slapped trade sanctions on the 27-nation European Union and the United Kingdom. Trump has insisted that the EU trade bloc was there to screw the United States from the start.

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The wartime allies are now involved in a trade war.

After all that has happened, it is bound to leave scars, said Hendrik Vos, European studies professor at Ghent University.

Honoring the fallen

Yet deep in the green hills and Ardennes woods where the Battle of the Bulge was fought and Schmetz lives, just as along the windswept bluffs of Legrand's Normandy, the ties endure  isolated from the tremors of geopolitics.

For all those that criticize the Americans, we can only say that for us, they were all good, Schmetz said. We should never forget that.

After watching the horrors of the dead soldiers at the nearby Henri-Chapelle cemetery as an 11-year-old, Schmetz vowed he would do something in their honor and gathered war memorabilia.

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A car mechanic with a big warehouse, he immediately started to turn it into the Remember Museum 39-45 once he retired more than three decades ago.

I had to do something for those who died, he said.

And for the treasure trove of military artifacts, what truly stands out is a long bench in the kitchen where U.S. veterans, their children, and even their grandchildren come and sit and talk about what happened, and the bonds uniting continent, memories all meticulously kept by his wife Mathilde, to pass on to new visitors and new generations of schoolkids.

The Big Red One

In the coming weeks, she will be going out to put 696 roses on the graves of soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division  nicknamed The Big Red One, or BRO  who lie buried among 7,987 headstones at Henri Chapelle.

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Charles Shay, who is now bedridden in Normandy, was also part of the 1st Infantry Division and came through the Ardennes region too before heading to Germany. He survived the Korean War too and started making visits to the D-Day beaches around two decades ago. Over the years, he became increasingly sick and Legrand, who has helped veterans in one way or another for more than 40 years, took him in to her home in 2018.

He has been living there ever since.

Reagan's impact

The moment everything changed for Legrand was listening to then U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1984 speaking on a Normandy bluff of the sacrifice and heroism of American soldiers.

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Barely in her 20s, she realized that their blood is in our soil and we have to show gratitude. We have to do something. I didn't know what at the time, but I knew I would do something to show it.

She had long volunteered to help Allied veterans before she met Shay. He was lonely, sick and frail when she took him in and began caring for him at her Normandy home.

It is a strong symbol, which takes on a new dimension in this day and age, she said, referring to the tumultuous trans-Atlantic relations that have put the bonds between allies that Trump called unbreakable only six years ago, under extreme pressure.

Once an ally, always an ally?

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Central in Trump's criticism of European NATO allies is that they have happily hunkered far too long under U.S. military supremacy since World War II and should start paying much more of their own way in the alliance. He has done so in such terms that many Europeans sincerely fear the breakup of the trans-Atlantic bonds that were a core of global politics for almost a century.

The naive belief that the Americans will, by definition, always be an ally  once and for all, that is gone, said Vos. It also raises a moral question for Europeans now.

Are we doomed to be eternally grateful? Vos asked.
About 300 people rallied at Evanstons Fountain Square on May 1, a holiday reserved to honor workers, to demand workers and Constitutional rights and protest President Donald Trumps actions during the first 100 days of his presidency.

Speakers at the protest, organized by the group Indivisible Evanston, included Ph.D students, elected officials and clergy and continued the momentum of previous protests in the northern suburbs against Trump and Elon Musk.

They (the Trump administration) are figuring out, how in this moment of unprecedented corporate concentration of power how to make corporations larger and more powerful and weaken workers more, said Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss.

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In this time of unprecedented economic insecurity when people are trying to figure out how to afford housing, how to afford healthcare, how to afford childcare, how to afford elder care, how to afford their higher education, theyre trying to figure out how to make workers weaker and how to make corporations more powerful for the very simple reason that they want to put more money in their own pockets.

Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita (13th) also addressed the crowd, saying, As the daughter of a Teamster, I stand with my brothers and sisters in the labor movement. This year, of all years, we stand by our government workers who make our society work, who make our community strong.

At Evanstons rally, speakers also defended the rights of immigrants and marginalized people.

The Trump administration, through recommendations by the Department of Government Efficiency, has made spending cuts affecting thousands of federal employees, though the president has announced he will increase spending on defense.

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Northwestern University Ph.D student in Mechanical Engineering Rohan Kota told the crowd that spending cuts the Trump administration made have already affected research at the university.

Were working every single day to make groundbreaking discoveries and tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time, Kota said.

A few weeks ago, my roommate, also a Ph.D student, received an email from the federal government telling him to immediately stop his work. The truth is, acts like these jeopardize the very engines of American progress. We cannot expect to lead in the 21st century if we are busy attacking the institutions that built the 20th, he said.

Organizers announced that a future rally is planned for June 14, Trumps birthday.
Alarm bells are ringing over President Donald Trumps upcoming dinner for top investors in his memecoin, known as $TRUMP. Senate Republicans have expressed concern that invitations extended to the top 220 $TRUMP holders for an unforgettable gala dinner with the president at the White House may not be entirely appropriate.

This is my president that were talking about, but I am willing to say that this gives me pause, Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis told NBC News. Lummis, a staunch ally of the president, has been pushing for greater regulation in the cryptocurrency space, describing it as the Wild West.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a frequent dissenter in the party ranks, said the idea made her uneasy but added that she didnt have all the details.

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I dont think it would be appropriate for me to charge people to come into the Capitol and take a tour, Murkowski told NBC News. Hes got to remember that hes living there, but its the peoples house, right?

A screenshot of the gettrumpmemes.com website providing details on the exclusive invitation. / Image: gettrumpmemes.com

Trumps memecoin, launched on Jan. 17just three days before his inaugurationsurged to a peak market value of more than $14.5 billion on Jan. 19 before dropping by 64 percent. However, following the announcement last week that holders could buy access to the exclusive event, with the top 25 investors getting an ultra-exclusive VIP reception with the president, its value has surged by 50 percent.

Few Republicans have publicly questioned the ethics of the event, however Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren have warned that the event may constitute pay-to-play corruption. They have requested an investigation by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.

The official leaderboard on the Get Trump Memes website suggests an invitation can be bought for as little as $1,700 in $TRUMP. However, data on the Solana blockchain explorer Solscan indicates that the top 220 $TRUMP coin-holders have between $460,000 and $319 million in $TRUMP. This does not include the coins held by the two Trump-owned entities, CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC, which together own 80 percent of the presidents cryptocurrency, currently valued at $10.3 billion.

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CIC Digital receives trading revenue for transactions in the $TRUMP market and, since its inception, has earned up to $100 million in transaction fees alone, Reuters reports.

At least 50 of the largest investors in the coin have made profits in excess of $10 million each, while some 800,000 retail traders with small holdings have collectively lost more than $2 billion.
Step by step, a group of Quad Cities residents are getting a glimpse at what it feels like to experience homelessness.

Theres a lot of myths (about experiencing homelessness) and so we wanted to break down that barrier because in order to solve homelessness it takes a whole community effort, said Ashley Velez, Humility Homes & Services chief executive officer. Everybody has a part in helping end homelessness.

Humility Homes & Services put on its third Homelessness in the QC: An Immersive Experience event, which is meant to address the rising numbers of individuals experiencing homelessness.

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In January of 2025 we have to do a federal count. Its called Point-in-Time. There were 34 individuals sleeping outside in five-degree weather, Velez said. Last year in January of 2024 there were eight. Thats just on the Iowa side.

Humility Homes and Services staff member Duwan Baker experienced homelessness in the Quad Cities.

It was hard because I had five children, and Im a single mom, Baker said. We came from another state, and this was a culture shock and something different. I didnt know anybody really here. The stigmatism (around homelessness) is easier for people to get at than actually sitting down and thinking from the beginning, Where did this happen? Why did this happen? What is going on with this person? Everybody has a story.

Velez hopes the event brought attention to the need for more affordable housing options in the Quad Cities.

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We need landlords to partner with us and take second and third chances on people, Velez said. Now imagine if you needed our services and you have nowhere to go.

For the immersive experience, participants were handed backpacks.

Participants are carrying backpacks to know what its like to have items and have to choose what they can bring with, and what they cant, Velez said. You can only bring so much into a shelter.

The event lasted four hours, but the staff hopes the experience has a longer-lasting influence.

Its not always substance abuse or alcoholism (that causes homelessness). Its a different variety of homelessness, Baker said.

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May 2The first cohort of a new nursing program at Eastern Washington University flipped their tassels from the right to the left during a commencement ceremony Friday morning.

The crowd in the Reese Court arena on the Cheney campus cheered and stomped the bleachers.

"You are now an Eagle for life," Kelsey Hatch-Brecek, director of the alumni association, told the new graduates of the College of Health Science and Public Health. "Our alumni community is filled with entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, artists, scientists, athletes and changemakers. And today, we get to add nurses to that list."

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The School of Nursing, which began in fall 2023, graduated 40 students with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Of those students, 37 are from in-state, most are from Eastern Washington and most have jobs lined up at local hospitals.

Donna Bachand, nursing program administrator and department chair, believes the program will help address the state's nursing shortage. Washington ranks high among states facing a severe nursing shortage, according to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, with an estimated shortfall of more than 13,000 registered nurses.

The program based at EWU's Spokane campus is about a decade in the making. Bachand took the helm seven years ago and spent much of that working through regulations to build the program until it received funding from the Legislature in 2022.

"The pandemic really highlighted the deep need the region has for nurses," Bachand said.

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The first class had 132 applications, including 80 EWU students who had done prerequisite coursework.

"I don't know how to describe what it's like sitting in a room by yourself for years before hiring faculty and seeing your first student, but today is the culminating event," Bachand said. "My heart was beating on the front row, thinking please don't cry at the microphone. It's very emotional. It's just gratifying."

Alexana Bueno is a first-generation college student from the Tri-Cities who will return there to work as an oncology nurse working with cancer patients at Kadlec Regional Medical Center, where she interned.

Her path to graduation hasn't been easy. She moved from Washington to Mexico when she was only a few years old and returned when she was 17, speaking little English. She picked up the language during her last two years of high school.

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Compassion that nurses showed her when members of her family were dying inspired her to work in health care.

Her father died when she was a child in Mexico. She couldn't see him when he was in the hospital, but the nurses talked to her about how he was doing.

Then, after she returned to the United States, her brother had a stroke.

"Again, nurses were there for me," Bueno said. "They took excellent care of him. He passed, but they were always there for me and my family."

Bueno said support from EWU's College Assistance Migrant Program helped her navigate college life, especially as she commuted two-hours each way from the Tri-Cities until she found housing.

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"They helped me so much because my English was limited, they explained everything to me," Bueno said.

The nursing program also was challenging because she had to learn medical terms in English, but her teachers and classmates supported her through it.

"I know it is going to be an adjustment, but I'm really excited to go back to my community and serve as a nurse there," Bueno said.

She wrote "Borderless Dreams" in cursive on her graduation cap.

"I'm very proud of all of our grads," Bachand said. "I'm very proud of the work my faculty have done to help them reach this milestone in their career paths. I can't wait to see what they do."

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EWU's nursing school will compliment other nursing programs in the area. Gonzaga University is graduating 76 bachelor of science in nursing graduates this spring along with 107 masters of science in nursing and 12 doctors of nursing practice, according to spokesman Dan Nailen. Washington State University is graduating about 245 undergraduate nurses and another 67 with advanced degrees across the Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima and Vancouver campuses, spokeswoman Gina Raebel said.

James Hanlon's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
A New York federal court has ruled that the former chief executive officer of Abercrombie & Fitch Mike Jeffries is mentally unfit to stand trial on charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.

Jeffries will be held for four months and treated in a hospital to determine whether his condition improves enough for his case to go forward. At this time, he remains free on bond and has not yet been assigned to a Bureau of Prisons medical facility yet.

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In October, Jeffries, who worked at the Columbus, Ohio-based retailer from 1992 to 2014, was charged with one count of sex trafficking and 15 counts of interstate prostitution. He is accused of orchestrating an international sex operation that involved using his influence and phony modeling opportunities to take advantage of a few dozen men. The alleged incidents were said to have taken place in various properties and at some luxury hotels around the world.

His romantic partner Matthew Smith and James Jacobson, an alleged middleman, were also arrested last year and they face the same charges as Jeffries. All three men plead not guilty last year in the federal courthouse in Central Islip, N.Y., and have denied any wrongdoing. Last fall Jeffries was placed under house arrest after posting $10 million in bail.

In December, Jeffries legal team filed an unopposed motion to determine competency to stand trial and was later granted that by the court and was ordered to be examined by Dr. Alexander S. Bardley and Dr. Cheryl Paradis. Those evaluations concluded that Jeffries is suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to properly assist in his defense, according to his attorney Brian Biebers filing last month.

On Friday in the federal courthouse in East Islip, Justice Nusrat Choudhury ruled that Jeffries was suffering from a mental disease or defect and would be unable to understand court proceedings. Jeffries is said to meet the criteria for major neurocognitive disorder, specifically Alzheimers disease, Lewy Body disease and the residual effects of a traumatic brain injury. His attorneys said Jeffries requires 24/7 care to maintain his health and safety and that his cognitive deficits significantly impair his ability to understand the nature and consequences of the charges or to participate in his defense with a reasonable degree of rational understanding.

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Brad Edwards of Edwards Henderson, who is representing some of Jeffries accusers, was not immediately available Saturday to comment, nor was Jeffries attorney Bieber of Gray & Robinson.

Representatives at Abercrombie & Fitch, which was ordered by the court to pay for Jeffries legal defense in March, did not respond immediately to a request for comment Saturday.

The next court date is May 13 and the defendants will appear by phone, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. attorneys office.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Bidens former secretary of education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, was in Springfield and served as the keynote speaker at the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents Leadership Conference.

In his address, he referenced the trump administrations cuts to the Department of Education, acknowledging educators values are under attack.

He says these cuts will have a profound impact on students and the local level. He said, educators can use their position to lead at a time when their country needs them. Public education is under attack, he says. The diversity that makes this country so unique and the best country in the world is under attack. This is the best time to lead. Where our students can see value in themselves and that different doesnt mean bad. That we can come together under one flag and support public education and allow every student to succeed.

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During his time as the 12th U.S. Secretary of Education, Cardona oversaw the distribution of $170 billion in federal education funding for pre-K-12 schools and colleges.

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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Project Liberty, one of the principal bidders for TikTok, said a $600 million EU fine on the platform was further evidence of social medias poor track record of protecting user data. Led by Frank McCourt, Project Liberty has long been an advocate of reforming how social media companies gather data on users.

Project Liberty, the consortium of investors led by billionaire Frank McCourt that is bidding for TikTok, said the platforms recent $600 million fine for violating EU privacy laws was further evidence of social medias harmful data collection practices.

This is the latest story in the avalanche of evidence showing that individualsnot Big Tech platformsshould control their own data, Project Liberty President Tomicah Tilleman told Fortune in an exclusive statement.

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Project Liberty and McCourt first announced their bid for TikTok in January ahead of a deadline that would have forced the platform to be sold to an American owner. President Donald Trump eventually extended that deadline, but McCourts bid and the data security issues surrounding TikTok remain.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court upheld a law forcing TikToks Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations to an American company. The law passed because of concerns the Chinese government might have access to U.S. user data, potentially representing a national security threat.

On Friday, Irelands Data Protection Commission, which regulates TikTok because its European headquarters is in Ireland, fined the company $600 million for failing to protect the personal data of EU users from being accessed by Chinese authorities. TikTok allegedly violated the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EUs strict data privacy law that limits how large platforms can share and store user information.

TikTok said it will appeal the charges and denied violating the EUs law. TikTok has never received a request for European user data from the Chinese authorities, and has never provided European user data to them, the company said in a statement. TikTok did not respond to a request for comment about Project Liberty's statement made outside of working hours in Europe.

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Tilleman sees European and U.S. TikTok users facing similar threats to their personal data.

Americans and Europeans both deserve digital platforms that are committed to protecting privacy, upholding national security, and putting people first, he said.

Project Liberty and McCourt have long advocated for reforming the internet and specifically social media companies writ large so that collecting user data is no longer the norm. Instead, the group, which dubbed its bid The Peoples Bid, believes that users should opt in to which data they would like to share with social media platforms.

The current version of social media allows companies to collect reams of data about users, which then gets used for targeted advertisements. Project Liberty sees acquiring TikTok and its roughly 170 million U.S. as a means to jumpstart its new vision of the internet.

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The Peoples Bid for TikTok is the best way to complete a sale and transition the platform to an American-made tech stack that gives people control of their online experience, Tilleman said.

So far, Project Libertys bid includes support from several well-known investors. Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian joined the group in March, and Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary was one of the original investors.



Trump has twice extended the deadline for a TikTok sale since its original January deadline passed. The current deadline is now in mid-June. However, any forced sale, which the Chinese government opposes, could now possibly be tied up in a broader trade agreement between the U.S. and China.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Fashion industry experts saw sustainability efforts slowing down for months. Now, the recent U.S. tariffs imposed on the world could threaten sustainability goals even further, according to The Business of Fashion.

What's happening?

In 2019, The Fashion Pact, a CEO-led initiative to curb the harmful environmental impacts of the fashion industry, was formed. Brands and organizations, including Adidas and Ralph Lauren, charted a collaborative path forward to make sustainable business choices.

According to Kenneth Pucker of The Business of Fashion, fashion sustainability goals like these have slowed. Lower profits, lack of resources, and pressure from investors have spurred companies to cut back on sustainability-focused efforts.

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"I felt my work had no real impact on moving the needle toward actual sustainability," Julia Vol, a former corporate sustainability manager, wrote in a LinkedIn post.

"This lack of progress is because brands consistently prioritise short-term profits over the longer term, complex and costly work required to make the industry operate more sustainably," writes Kenneth Pucker.

Now, the recent tariffs and the economic pressure it puts on companies will likely increase a further pullback in these efforts.

"Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country," President Donald Trump said in announcing sweeping tariffs. Though there was a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs, there is still a 10% tariff on all imported goods and a 145% tariff on China that can reach up to 245% on some goods.

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According to Market Watch, approximately 20% of imported clothing in the U.S. comes from China. The tariffs could encourage brands to cut sustainability efforts more to maintain profits, though it could also mean that far fewer clothes and other goods travel great distances if the U.S. imports less, which would reduce pollution.

Why are these tariffs important to the fashion industry?

The fashion industry is massive. Uniform Market estimates the 2025 value of the fashion industry to be $1.84 trillion. Fast fashion, the popular practice of fashion brands to sell cheaply made clothing at low prices, drives profits and increases textiles production. This unfortunately drives fashion waste.

"The industry is creating the clothing to quickly deteriorate, meaning it ends up in landfills and other places in the environment," Pucker said.

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, "the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second." An abundance of waste can pollute soil, water, and overall disturb public areas, like beaches.

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A study from McKinsey found that "the fashion industry emits about the same quantity of greenhouse gases per year as the entire economies of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom combined." The size of the fashion industry drives planet-warming pollution and associated natural disasters.

Sustainability in fashion is vital in decreasing the effects of waste and pollution. But tariffs could put financial strain on brands, forcing them to make cuts to sustainability efforts.

"With smaller teams devoted to sustainability, Trump's tariffs will now make it even harder for public fashion brands to devote meaningful resources and focus to labour rights or climate," Pucker said.

"I may have to choose between cutting corners, raising prices, or breaking the promises my brand was built on," wrote Sara Kazimi, founder of LeoBella, a luxury accessory brand focused on sustainability.

What's being done about tariffs and fashion sustainability?

There are at least two potential silver linings of the tariffs.

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First, even though it may cost more for the labor, American-made replacements will generally result in less shipping pollution while in some cases also replacing fast fashion and impulse-buying brands based in China that already have poor reputations on item quality. As noted, though, American-made goods may see a similar drop in quality to compete on pricing, so it's only the shipping pollution reductions that can be counted on as a plus.

Second, and more purely beneficial, an increase in prices of clothing could drive people to thrift or use their items longer instead of buying new items.

"Sales of secondhand goods, not subject to tariffs, will likely also increase, thereby delivering a rare win-win for sustainability professionals committed to restoring the planet to a safe zone," Pucker said.

While thrifting can cut down on the 92 million tons of textile waste produced each year, the tariffs could still be detrimental to the success of small fashion brands. According to PYMNTS, one in five small businesses are at danger of going under due to the tariffs.

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Though Congress could act to stop the tariffs, the ordeal still highlights the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry, which is responsible for 2-8% of global carbon pollution. And as some experts have said, an investment in more sustainable practices can pay dividends once the hard part is over.

"Start treating sustainability not as a reporting exercise, but as a strategic opportunity to future-proof the business," Vol wrote in the LinkedIn post.

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.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  New York City has one of the largest Asian American communities in the United States, greater than the combined totals of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

But how well do you know the story of the Chinese in America?

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During AAPI Heritage Month, PIX11 News visited a fascinating museum in Chinatown to learn more.

On the northern edge of Chinatown, in a renovated building at 215 Centre Street, lies the Museum of Chinese in America, otherwise known as MoCA. At 50,000 square feet, it is the largest institution dedicated to the Chinese American experience in this country.

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PIX11 News was given a private tour by MOCA President Michael Lee.

For this third-generation Chinese American, the first room in the museum is personal as it chronicles the earliest waves of Chinese Immigrants.

One grandfather who bought papers from a man named Lee, and that was already his name, so he got to keep his name, Michael Lee, MOCA President, told PIX11 News.

A wall features how the Chinese helped build the railroads across this country from West to East. Also, the history of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and racist posters from the last century.

Theres a wall of innovators, including the creator of Bing cherries, AhBing, and a room devoted to Chinese American influences in movies, such as Anna Mae Wong, considered the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood.

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She was picked to be in a film in Canada, and she had a hard time getting back into the country, Lee told PIX11 News.

One of the newest exhibits here at the Museum Of Chinese In America is called Heaven and Earth, the blue map of China.

The land was tied to the heavens, Lee told PIX11 News. The Chinese felt strong national pride in their lands connection to the stars, he added.

The last room on the tour is called Magazine Fever, Gen X, Asian American periodicals in the 1980s and 90s, when Asian American identity was finally recognized as a demographic.

So, who should visit this museum?

Everybody interested in Asian culture, everybody interested in learning about the history of our people here should come to this museum, Lee told PIX11 News.

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MOCA is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 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 PIX11.
BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of charging infrastructure facilities in China increased 47.6 percent year on year by the end of March 2025, as the country further expanded its charging infrastructure network for new energy vehicles (NEVs), according to the National Energy Administration (NEA).

The cumulative number of charging infrastructure facilities nationwide reached nearly 13.75 million at the end of March, Zhang Xing, an NEA official, said at a recent press conference.

This figure included 3.9 million public charging points for NEVs and 9.85 million private charging installations, he noted.

Highways now feature 38,000 charging points across 98 percent of service areas nationwide, while 13 provincial-level regions in the country have extended coverage to all townships, lifting the township-level penetration rate to 76.91 percent.

To bolster the integration of NEVs with power grids, the NEA, along with other departments, has launched pilot programs for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interaction in nine cities, including east China's Shanghai, and selected 30 bidirectional charging projects for validation, Zhang added. 
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against Johnson City related to sexual assault victims and complainants have asked a federal judge for two extra weeks to finalize a proposed $28 million settlements details.

PREVIOUS: Attorney breaks down $28M Jane Doe settlement related to JCPD

Friday, attorney Julie Erickson, a representative for plaintiffs in the Jane Does civil lawsuit, requested until May 19 to file their motion for preliminary approval of the class action settlement.

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Funds from the settlement will be split into two pots, one for the class action group and one for the original plaintiffs. One, which does not require Judge Travis McDonoughs final approval, goes to alleged victims of now-convicted child sex offender and former downtown resident Sean Williams. Those women are plaintiffs in the original suit, which was filed in June 2023.

The other group, part of what had been a proposed class action, consists of more than 300 people who reported sexual assaults to the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) between 2018 and 2022.

Less than two months after the original suit was filed, Johnson City released a report they had commissioned from the Daigle Law Group, which looked at JCPDs handling of all sexual assault complaints between 2018 and 2022.

Eric Daigle and his firm found, among other things, that JCPD had a number of certain investigative practices that could negatively affect the quality and efficiency of their response to sexual assault cases.

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Daigle noted a common theme running through many of these weaknesses: JCPDs response to sexual assault was challenged based on gender-based stereotypes and bias.

Following the release of that report, the Jane Doe attorneys sought to add a class action to the lawsuit and open it to complainants from the Daigle Report period.

The other amount  the totals for each pot of money havent been disclosed  will be available for distribution among the roughly 325 women and girls who lodged any sexual assault complaints with the JCPD during the Daigle Report period.

Ericksons motion says the parties began mediation in December 2024 and negotiated for two months before executing a term sheet Feb. 13. The Johnson City Commission unanimously approved the proposal that night, understanding that ultimate approval authority is vested with the Court.

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Judge Travis McDonough initially set a March 24 deadline for the plaintiffs to file a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement, then granted an extension to May 5.

While the sides have been working diligently for eight weeks to wrap up a final proposal, several rounds of drafts have required close review and client sign-off, Erickson wrote in Fridays motion.

All material terms have been agreed on, she added, but some details require additional time, including coordinating with the settlement administrator regarding various logistical procedures.

The plaintiffs, Erickson wrote, are trying to gain approval (and secure payment to settlement class members) as expeditiously as possible.

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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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Claim:

The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill to criminalize political memes.

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

House Bill 366 requires certain groups of people, including officeholders, candidates and political committees, to disclose if their political advertising content includes "appearance, speech, or conduct that did not occur in reality" or was generated by artificial intelligence. It applies to people whose political speech is already regulated by the Texas Electoral Code and Texas Ethics Committee  not the general public. As the people affected by the prospective legislation disclose that something they post has been digitally altered, they would not face the bill's suggested misdemeanor charge.

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In late April and early May 2025, a rumor circulated online that the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill to criminalize political memes.

For example, one X user wrote (archived): "The Texas House passed a bill to CRIMINALIZE POLITICAL MEMES. House Bill 366 would LOCK UP ANYONE FOR A YEAR unless political memes or altered media have a gov disclaimer. Why is TEXAS DOING THIS?!"

(X user @Carlos__Turcio)

The claim appeared on Facebook (archived), Threads (archived), Bluesky (archived) and Reddit (archived). Snopes readers also emailed to ask whether it was true that Texas was criminalizing political memes.

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However, these posts omitted important aspects of House Bill 366, which passed through the Texas House of Representatives on a 102-40 vote on April 30, 2025.

The bill would require "political advertising"  a broad term that could include online material such as memes  to carry a disclosure if it contained "appearance, speech, or conduct that did not occur in reality" or was generated by artificial intelligence.

But the bill  and its proposed Class A misdemeanor charge for omitting such a disclosure  would apply to three groups of people specified within the bill rather than the general public or "anyone," as some online claims suggested. Additionally, at the time of this writing, HB 366 still had to pass a vote in the Texas Senate before it could move to the governor's desk and become law. Given the above, we rated this claim false.

At the time of this writing, HB 366 would require disclosures on "certain political advertising" containing "altered media." According to the bill:

A person may not, with the intent to influence an election, knowingly cause to be published, distributed, or broadcast political advertising that includes an image, audio recording, or video recording of an officeholder's or candidate's appearance, speech, or conduct that did not occur in reality, including an image, audio recording, or video recording that has been altered using generative artificial intelligence technology.

The bill said that alterations affecting "the saturation, brightness, contrast, color, or any other superficial quality of the image or video" or political advertising that already included a disclosure that altered content "did not occur in reality" would be exempt from HB 366's disclosure requirement.

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HB 366 defines "a person" as someone who (link added by Snopes):

(1) is an officeholder, candidate, or political committee; (2) makes expenditures during a reporting period that in the aggregate exceed $100 for political advertising, other than an expense to cover the basic cost of hardware, messaging software, and bandwidth; or (3) publishes, distributes, or broadcasts political advertising described by Subsection (b) in return for consideration.

Therefore, so long as the people named by the prospective legislation disclose that the content they post or share contains digitally manipulated material, they will not face a misdemeanor charge.

Texas House Republicans brand HB 366 unconstitutional

Some House Republicans aimed tough criticisms at HB 366, saying that it targets (archived) political memes. They also spread fear (archived) about who could be jailed under the bill and called the prospective legislation anti-First Amendment and unconstitutional (archived).

Republican Texas Rep. Dade Phelan, who sponsored the bill, repeatedly said, both during a March hearing (at 4:00) in the Committee on State Affairs and in the legislative session that passed HB 366, that the bill would not target the general public. On April 30, 2025, Phelan said (at 2:09:27):

This bill applies to individuals who are currently, whose political speech is currently being regulated by the state of Texas, either through statute or through rules  the Texas Ethics Commission. The "persons," line 10 through 18, are already required to have disclosures. They have to have "Political ad paid for by." That's the same universe that is currently being regulated, that is being regulated in this bill. No new individual, no new person, is being brought in to HB 366. I know that's the narrative out there on Twitter, or social media, it is not accurate.

Phelan was referring to the existing Texas Election Code's Title 15, Chapter 255 that regulates political advertising and campaign communications. Phelan's bill, if made law, would add a section to Chapter 255.

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Texas Ethics Committee rules, which Phelan also referenced in his April 30 appearance, further exempt regular members of the public from political advertising disclosure requirements. According to Chapter 26, a disclosure statement is not required on:

(2) political advertising posted or re-posted on an Internet website, as long as the person posting or re-posting the political advertising: (i) is not an officeholder, candidate, or political committee; and (ii) did not make an expenditure exceeding $100 in a reporting period for political advertising beyond the basic cost of hardware messaging software and bandwidth.

At the time of this writing, HB 366 still had to pass a vote in the Texas Senate before it could become law. The Texas Ethics Committee would decide how the disclosure required by the bill would look if it passed.

Sources:

Commission Rules Chapter 26. https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/rules/commission/ch26.php#:~:text=(2)%20political%20advertising,software%20and%20bandwidth. Accessed 2 May 2025.

ELECTION CODE CHAPTER 255. REGULATING POLITICAL ADVERTISING AND CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.255.htm. Accessed 2 May 2025.

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"Https://House.Texas.Gov/Videos/21926." Texas House of Representatives, 30 Apr. 2025, http://house.texas.gov/videos/21926.

PENAL CODE CHAPTER 12. PUNISHMENTS. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/pe/htm/pe.12.htm#:~:text=Sec.%2012.21.%20%20CLASS,fine%20and%20confinement. Accessed 2 May 2025.

Phelan, Dave. Relating to Required Disclosures on Certain Political Advertising That Contains Altered Media; Creating a Criminal Offense. H.B. No. 366, 27 Feb. 2025, https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/HB00366E.pdf#navpanes=0.

POLITICAL ADVERTISING What You Need to Know. Texas Ethics Commission, 16 July 2019, https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/resources/advertising/Gpol_adv.pdf.

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PROCEEDINGS. Texas House of Representatives, 30 Apr. 2025, https://journals.house.texas.gov/hjrnl/89r/pdf/89RDAY53FINAL.PDF#page=41.

Solanki, Sneha. "Consideration in Contracts: Elements and Types." Thomson Reuters Law Blog, 13 Dec. 2024, https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/blog/consideration-legal-glossary/.

"State Affairs." Texas House of Representatives, 12 Mar. 2025, http://house.texas.gov/videos/21298.


Claim:

An image circulating online in late April 2025 authentically showed a Time magazine cover featuring the words "Hey, Donald" and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney holding up his middle finger.

Rating:

Rating: Fake

In late April 2025, an image circulated online purportedly showing a Time magazine cover featuring Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney giving U.S. President Donald Trump the middle finger.

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The Canadian leader  who was sworn in as prime minister in March after being elected as leader of the Liberal Party and who won the federal election at the end of April  appeared to be wearing a ring adorned with his country's flag, and the cover headline read: "Hey, Donald."

One X user's post that included the alleged cover had amassed more than 7.6 million views as of this writing (archived). The image also appeared on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Reddit (archived), where one user wrote: "I hope this is the Real Time Magazine cover."

(Reddit user u/EugeneWong318)

However, it was not an authentic Time magazine cover. The image had been digitally created and a spokesperson for the outlet said it was not real; therefore, we rated it as a fake.

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A reverse image search on Google showed that the picture began circulating in late April 2025, around the time of Carney's electoral victory.

Browsing Time magazine's archive page revealed that no such cover had been published in April 2025 or earlier. A spokesperson for the outlet also said via email: "This image is not an authentic TIME cover."

The earliest iteration of the image found via Google came from a Bluesky user called Mediocre Meme Lord who posted the fake cover on April 25, 2025 (archived). Snopes contacted the user to ask whether they created the image. We will update this article if we receive a response. The Bluesky user regularly posts images featuring politicians that have clearly been generated using artificial intelligence software. However, as of this writing, it was not possible to confirm who had originally posted or created the fake Time cover.

In fact, numerous AI-detection tools, such as Hive Moderation and Detect AI Images, concluded that there was a significant chance the cover was created using AI software.

If Time magazine had published such a cover, it would have been eminently newsworthy. However, a Google News search produced no evidence of any news media outlets reporting on it.
The union representing full-time Frederick Community College faculty has reached a tentative agreement with the schools leadership, bringing nearly two years of contract negotiations to a close.

If the tentative agreement is ratified, FCCs full-time faculty members could become the first community college employees in Maryland with a union-negotiated contract.

Roughly 200 full-time FCC faculty members are represented by United Academics of Maryland, a local affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors.

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In addition to faculty at FCC, United Academics of Maryland also represents employees of Howard Community College, Hagerstown Community College, Prince Georges Community College, Baltimore City Community College, Community College of Baltimore County and Chesapeake Community College.

FCCs full-time faculty members voted in August 2023 to unionize following the enactment of a Maryland law guaranteeing collective bargaining rights for community college faculty and staff.

At a rally announcing their intent to unionize, FCC faculty members said they hoped to secure better health care coverage, guaranteed personal days and higher salaries through collective bargaining.

In a press release late Thursday, union leaders said the tentative agreement would address pay inequities across the faculty, including up to 10% increases in the first year of the contract.

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AFT-Maryland President Kenya Campbell said in a phone interview on Friday that she could not discuss specific contract terms before the agreement has been ratified.

Campbell said the signed contract is likely to include career ladders and salary schedules, hours and working conditions for full-time FCC faculty as well as a framework for labor management teams.

A press release from FCC on Friday indicated that the tentative agreement will be subject to a ratification vote by the members of the faculty union in the coming weeks. If ratified, the agreement and its terms will take effect promptly, the press release said.

Ted Luck, chair of the FCC Board of Trustees, said in the press release that the tentative agreement marks a significant milestone toward continuing to cultivate a collaborative and supportive work environment at FCC.

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Thanks to the leadership of FCCs Labor Relations Specialist, Pamela Murphy, the goal to maintain open and constructive dialogue throughout the process with UAMD-FCC was accomplished, Lucks statement continued.

Campbell said she is especially proud of what the bargaining group at FCC has been able to accomplish in the midst of some hardcore federal attacks on higher education by the federal government.

She specifically mentioned uncertainty over funding, deportations of immigrant college students and threats to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as issues facing academic workers.

We are still out here battling on the ground each and every day to ensure that our members still have jobs, that they have students that can afford to attend a college or a university, and making sure that there are programs that can continue to provide assistance and support to students, Campbell said.

I feel like the war hasnt stopped, Campbell said. But being able to move to a tentative agreement with Frederick, it opens the door and gives us a little light at the end of the road.
While cramming for finals, one Western Massachusetts teenager offered her classmate Adderall  a pill she got from a mutual connection on social media. She said she trusted him.

This really helps, the teen told her friend. Trust me.

But the pill wasnt Adderall. It was a fake pill laced with fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid. And she was later found unconscious.

Luckily, the scenario was a video created by Hampden District Attorney Youth Advisory Board. Its called "You Cant Study if you Dont Wake Up."

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But its a real issue facing teens  and adults  today.

In 2021, 19-year-old Clifton Dubois died of an overdose in Rhode Island, NPR reported. He had bought counterfeit Adderall the night before, according to the police report. It was laced with fentanyl.

He thought by staying away from the street drugs  and just taking pills, like, he was doing better, Jennifer Dubois, his mother, told NPR. I do truly believe Cliff thought he was taking something safe.

Two Ohio State University students died after taking counterfeit Adderall in 2022, The New York Times reported. And two men in Massachusetts were charged after officials said they used a pill press to manufacture counterfeit pills, including counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and counterfeit Xanax pills containing clonazolam.

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In 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized more than 60 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The 2024 seizures are equivalent to more than 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl. The 2025 fentanyl seizures represent over 119 million deadly doses.

The DEA considers 2 mg of fentanyl a potentially deadly dose.

Theres so much happening for our young people and around our young people that I think is different than it was even 10 years ago, and 20 and 30 years ago, when we grew up as parents or community leaders, said Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. Counterfeit pills and the use of things like Adderall, the misuse, are huge problems that really can be catastrophic.

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But teens are working with Gulluni and his office to make a difference in Western Massachusetts.

Over the past school year, 55 students from 24 schools were part of this years Youth Advisory Board.

The students, grades 10-12, were split up into seven teams for different topics, including substance use, social media, mental health and healthy relationships. The students create projects on their topics, including cook books, murals and videos.

The students presented their projects at an annual conference on Thursday and provided their recommendations to representatives from school, law enforcement and community groups.

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For us to know about [issues teens are facing], impart it, not only here today, but throughout the year to school systems, to school administrators, to teachers, to police officers so they can address it as well in their communities, is enormously helpful, Gulluni told MassLive after the conference on Thursday.

And while theyre heavy topics, Adderall use and vaping are something the students are seeing daily at their schools, multiple students told MassLive.

" Every year, honestly, more substances are being used, said Jaelle Dyer, 17, a senior at Springfield Central High School. Stuff that may not have been common before are becoming more common. [Percocet], Adderall, thats all stuff that people are now using."

The No. 1 place students are seeing their peers use substances, such as vaping, are at school  classrooms, bathrooms and hallways, Joi-Lee Key-Washington, 17, a senior at Springfield Central High School, told audience members Thursday. This came from polling 191 of her peers. The second was social media and the third was at parties.

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Thats what our youth are being exposed to every single day, she told the crowd.

Another student, Rachel Roblinski from Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, echoed her concerns.

Every day. Every single day Im at school, I see something, she told MassLive. See someone with a vape, see somebody buying one.

And her peers are frustrated because it is affecting their learning environment.

Nearly half of the students Key-Washington spoke with said schools arent doing enough to educate students on peer pressure and substance use.

That tells us something is missing, she told the crowd.

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She told the crowd this issue demands our attention, action and understanding.

The group also created a nearly 40-page document to help parents understand some of these issues with substance abuse.

I think parents dont know where [vapes] are hidden, how they are used, how they smell, and in what forms they are in because they are in various forms, Key-Washington told MassLive. So, in our guide we broke down how they look, how they work, where people hide them, just to create awareness and education and emphasize support and education.

The students worry the adults in their lives and community leaders have no idea how serious things have become.

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I dont think we know drastically how bad its gotten. I dont think we realize that when people are taking substances, how fast it can affect somebodys mind and how much substances that people are starting to take, Roblinski said.

When schools try to address the issue, the teens said the response is often punishment  not support. But that approach isnt working.

" They just get them in trouble, suspend them and bring them back, Key-Washington said. They dont educate them on what they are actually experiencing, what theyre actually doing and what theyre actually hooked and helpless on."

Instead, the schools need to focus on better education, she suggested.

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Especially going more into detail on why its bad, Dyer said. They just say its looked down upon, but its not emphasized why. And I feel like thats why so many students are using it because they dont really know the stuff that happens to you when you are using the products.

And all the teens in the program want to continue to be part of the solution  and a source of support. There are people, like Dyer and Key-Washington, that care and can help.

You dont have to run to substances to feel the need to relieve any pain, anything that you have going on, Dyer said.

For all the projects, click here.

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Read the original article on MassLive.

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Read the original article on MassLive.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  An investigation was launched Friday after a suspicious package was found at the St. Petersburg Police Department shortly after officers received reports of a shooting.

St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway said a maintenance person spotted a suspicious vehicle parked behind the station just before 3 p.m., and as they were checking the parking lot, an officer noticed a briefcase underneath a forensic vehicle.

Man turns himself in weeks after deadly St. Petersburg home invasion, police say

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Authorities said two businesses north of the police station were evacuated, and the Tampa Bomb Squad was called to secure the briefcase. Later Friday afternoon, the police chief confirmed that bomb dogs did not detect anything, and the briefcase was empty.

Holloway said officers believe the incident was related to a call they got around the same time. The police chief said they received reports of someone being shot around 2:50 p.m. on 4th Avenue North.

What makes it strange is the tag that they ran from this vehicle comes back to that same address, Holloway said.

While responding to the area, officers spotted someone matching the description of the person who was seen on surveillance video dropping the briefcase off at police headquarters.

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That person ran inside a home and Holloway said Friday afternoon police had the residence surrounded. A woman was later taken into custody at the home for placing a fake bomb device, Holloway said.

Detectives also believe the shooting call may have been false. No one was found with gunshot wounds.

We dont know until we talk to her why she pretended to put a bomb here and why she went to a home and said someone was shot there, the police chief said.

Investigators were working to obtain a search warrant for the suspicious vehicle.

No further information was immediately available.

This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app.

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HAMPTON  Famed aerobatic pilot Rob Hollands plane appeared to be making a normal approach to Langley Air Force Base last week until it reached the end of the runway, according to a preliminary report issued Friday by the National Transportation Safety Board.

As Hollands custom built, single-seat MX Aircraft MXS approached, it leveled off about 50 feet above the runway, then flew straight down the runway for several hundred feet, the report said. The airplane then porpoised, pitched straight up, and rolled 90 degrees to the left before crashing into a grassy ditch about 100 feet from the runway.

A porpoise landing is a bounced landing that, if not recovered by the pilot, results in a plane touching down nose first. If not corrected, the plane will go into a series of nose ups and nose downs, similar to a porpoise leaping in and out of the water. The 5-page report said Hollands plane porpoised twice.

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The 50-year-old national aerobatic champion was flying to Joint-Base Langley-Eustis on April 24 to prepare for his performance in the bases Air Power Over Hampton Roads air show in a couple of days. Holland flew to the base from Smyrna Airport in Smyrna, Tennessee, according to the NTSB. The crash at Langley occurred about 11:35 a.m.

NTSB preliminary accident investigation reports focus on factual information gathered at the scene, and are issued about 1-2 weeks after the accident. Preliminary reports dont provide a determination of probable cause of an accident. That information is included in the final report, which can take a year or more to complete.

The preliminary report in Hollands case said he worked with the manufacturer of his aircraft to modify it to his specifications. All the planes major components were accounted for at the site, the report said, and its most recent condition inspection was completed March 3.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
SAVANNAH, Ga (WSAV)  One Six-Triple-Eight trailblazer, Annie Beatrice Knight, called Savannah home before she passed away in 2010, and Knights daughter attended the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on her mothers behalf on Tuesday.

The Six Triple Eight, the only all black, all-female battalion deployed to Europe during WWII, has finally received one of the nations highest civilian honors, the Congressional Gold Medal.

The unit was tasked to tackle a backlog of millions of pieces of undelivered mail to build morale among U.S troops. Knights daughter, Karen Jordan, said it has been a long time coming.

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The happiest part is that we did finally get the coin, Jordan said. The saddest part about it is there are only two of the women left. The whole time Im sitting there thinking, boy, my mother would have really loved this.

It took 80-years for the nation to recognize the unit for their extraordinary feats.

When youre doing a job, youre just doing it, and you just want to do your best and youre not thinking about what it means on a grander scale, said Jordan. Youre not thinking about how people will view it 80 years later. You just want it to do a good job. So, its not surprising that it took 80 years for people to recognize things.

She said the 855 women left a lasting impact on generations.

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They say that if our mothers, these women, had not done the job that they did, that the black women who went into the military after feeling like they would never have had the opportunities that they had, she said. They showed the military, and they showed the country that black women in the military can make a major contribution of historical significance.

Jordan said she will continue to preserve her mothers legacy and carry their story forward.

We need we need to spend time trying to find out who our ancestors are and what theyve contributed to the United States history, because were major players in this country, she said. And its not just the few that you see in history books. I would say, if anything else, this has taught me that we need to do a lot of digging and we need to find out who we are.

Congress voted unanimously in 2022 to award the unit with the highest honor.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
The Little Leaguers warming up in a Union Park outfield craned their necks between practice swings Saturday morning to listen to the message shouted by a nearby crowd.

What they heard  the protest chants of an anti-Trump movement trying to grow its ranks in Chicago  was aimed not only at the White House, but anyone frustrated by the aggressive start of the presidents second term.

Donald Trump, you racist clown, youre not welcome in this town, the group of around 150 demonstrators repeated at the Coalition Against the Trump Agenda protest.

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The coalitions Saturday rally and march marked yet another Trump-targeting protest in Chicago, where thousands demonstrated alongside unions downtown Thursday for a May Day event similarly focused on the president.

At Chicagos May Day rally, thousands call for immigrant protections, end to deportations in rebuke of Trump

Leaders of the array of groups gathered Saturday painted Trumps presidency as an opportunity to bring more people into their coalition and galvanize those wary of the president around their far-left vision.

Now more than ever is the time to put our differences aside, said Chanel Crittendon, an organizer with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. We have to put our eyes to our common enemy, an enemy who is willfully threatening to do irreparable harm.

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Many in the crowd were veteran protesters aligned with organizations, including the Chicago Teachers Union, dedicated to a wide swath of causes: immigrant rights, an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, stricter rules on police and more.

Sophie Grimes of Chicago said she is not a regular attendee. But Trumps barrage of executive orders, which Grimes sees as meant to sow chaos, pushed her to march, she said.

I just feel like anything I can do to help add power to any protest against whats currently happening, Ill try to be there, said Grimes, 40.

Still, while the handful of speakers derided Trump, their messages often focused less on the president and more on specific issues they championed. And as their attention turned, they blasted Republicans and Democrats alike.

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Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, noticed he was the only elected official who showed up at the event. The firebrand Democratic Socialist put Gov. JB Pritzker in the crosshairs as he spoke to the crowd, citing Pritzkers recent criticism of what he called do-nothing Democrats.

I think hes right. I think what is missing is which side is he on, Sigcho-Lopez said. Its not enough to say youre better than Trump. Show us youre better than Trump. Tax the billionaires, tax the rich.

After several speakers finished, the protesters marched through Union Park and onto Washington Boulevard, where they briefly interrupted traffic at several intersections. Police on bikes and in cars preceded and trailed them, blocking off roadways so no vehicles could get near the moving crowd.

The marchers stopped in front of the headquarters of the Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge 7, the citys rank-and-file police union. There, protest leader Kobi Guillory started a chant of shame as officers outside the building looked on.

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The FOP is not a union, Guillory shouted through a loudspeaker. What they are is a mafia. What they are is a gang that opposes accountability.

Farther down the road, Kim Haynes of Dolton stepped out of a seniors event at the plumbers union headquarters just as the demonstration passed her. She nodded to the sound of a drum as protesters chanted about immigrant rights, and she pulled out her phone to take a video.

Haynes, 54, said she hoped the protesters included people who had immigrants coming into their communities so they might understand various challenges. She said she is troubled by the old age of the president and described him as a senior citizen who is in over his head and who has not thought through his many actions.

She was happy to see people demonstrating in the streets.

Thats what democracy is all about, Haynes said. I may not be directly involved, but I definitely promote their ability to have whatever opinion they have.
GAZA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate as the Israeli blockade enters its third consecutive month, severely restricting the entry of food, water, and essential supplies to the coastal enclave, home to over 2 million Palestinians.

Across Gaza, long queues outside charity kitchens and food distribution are common. In Khan Younis, the southern part of the territory, hundreds of residents wait for hours in hopes of securing a single meal.

"The situation is very difficult. There is not enough food or clean water," said Umm Rami, a mother of four, while waiting outside a distribution center.

Charity kitchens, often the only source of food for displaced families, are struggling to operate amid dwindling supplies. The majority of available food is sourced through limited humanitarian aid or local donations, both of which have drastically decreased due to the continued closure of border crossings.

"If the crossings remain closed, we may be forced to stop within days," Abdullah Skaik, supervisor of a charity kitchen in the al-Amal neighborhood of Khan Younis, told Xinhua. "We used to get rice, lentils, and flour enough to feed the masses. Now we are relying on leftover stock, which is almost gone."

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.

Skaik described the emotional strain on both volunteers and the displaced families they serve. "We're watching malnutrition spread before our eyes. If something doesn't change, it won't just be hunger, it will be starvation," he explained.

The United Nations has warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, reporting increasing signs of acute hunger, particularly among children.

Despite ongoing efforts by local institutions and international relief agencies, aid workers say the current resources are insufficient to meet the vast and growing needs of the population.

Hamas accused Israel of employing "starvation as a systematic weapon of war," asserting that over 1 million children in Gaza are experiencing daily hunger.

The Palestinian presidency also condemned the ongoing blockade and military operations, urging the international community to act. In a statement issued via the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the presidency called for urgent intervention to halt what it described as unprecedented violations against the Palestinian people. 
The father of an 18-year-old who was fatally shot by police during an alleged stolen vehicle incident in Cincinnati on Thursday has been charged with hitting a deputy with his car and killing him, with the police chief saying the two fatal encounters are connected.

Rodney L. Hinton, 38, is accused of intentionally hitting Hamilton County Sheriffs Deputy Larry Henderson Friday afternoon at Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods Drive near the University of Cincinnati, according to court documents. Henderson was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he died as a result of his injuries.

The recently retired deputy was working as a special deputy and directing traffic near the university during graduation events, officials said at a news briefing Friday. Officials did not identify him, citing Marsys Law, which protects victim's names from being disclosed due to privacy protections.

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He was so well liked and so well known, we could fill this building with the law enforcement agencies that respect him, love him, his friends, his family, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said at the briefing. We are so deeply saddened.

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said there was a definite connection between this incident and Thursdays police shooting of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, whom she identified as Hintons son.

The 18-year-old was fatally shot by a Cincinnati police officer who responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at an apartment complex at 2500 Warsaw Ave. around 9 a.m. Thursday morning, according to police.

The incident occurred in a parking lot at the end of a long driveway, Theetge said at another news briefing Friday. The vehicle was allegedly stolen from northern Kentucky earlier Thursday morning.

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Two officers in police vehicles responded to the area to apprehend the four people who were in the car, according to Theetge. All four of them began to run, some in different directions, when approached by police  prompting the two officers to pursue Hinton and another individual, Theetge said.

Hinton was armed, Theetge said.

Body camera footage from the police shooting of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton.

Body camera footage shared by the Cincinnati Police Department and reviewed by NBC News shows an officer exiting his vehicle and aiming his gun at the 18-year-old, who appeared to be running away. The officer fired at least four times, according to Theetge, and the 18-year-old fell to the ground. Its not clear from body camera footage if Hinton had aimed a firearm at officers.

Get the f--- down, the officer could be heard saying afterward. Theetge said she believes Ryan was hit by two bullets, in the chest and the arm.

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Footage from the second officers body camera shows the officer running toward the first officer and the 18-year-old while warning fellow officers that someone is armed.

Hes got a gun! Hes got a gun on your right! On your right! the officer could be heard saying.

The gun that Ryan Hinton allegedly had with him was recovered from the scene following the shooting, along with a loaded extended magazine, Theetge said. A second magazine was also allegedly found in his jacket pocket.

Theetge defended the officers shooting of Hinton, saying officers are often compelled to make split-second decisions to protect others and themselves when faced with immediate threats. The shooting is under investigation.

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Let me be very direct: We cannot allow individuals to flee from officers with a loaded firearm aimed at them, she said. When this happens, the outcome is almost always tragic. No one wins, and everyone involved is affected.

Theetge said in the briefing that the officer who shot Hinton said the 18-year-old had the gun pointed at him, causing him to fear for his life. Hinton did not fire his gun, Theetge said, adding, We do not expect the officers to wait until theyre fired upon before they feel the necessity to fire.

The 18-year-old's family hired attorneys to conduct an investigation into the fatal shooting. On Friday, the family, including Rodney Hinton, and their attorneys, attended a meeting with the Cincinnati Police Department to watch the body camera footage, according to a statement from a spokesperson for the Cochran Firm. After the meeting, the distraught father left in his own car, which is when the incident involving the deputy happened, the spokesperson said.

Theetge did not identify the officers involved in the fatal shooting incident, citing privacy laws, but said that one of the officers joined the Cincinnati Police Department in 2014 while the other joined in 2001. Both were assigned to the fugitive apprehension squad.

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Theetge said the entire incident lasted six seconds.

Six quick seconds, she said, adding that the officers tried to administer medical aid to Hinton until first responders arrived.

Two of the other suspects involved in the alleged car theft were identified as 18-year-old Jurell Austin and 19-year-old DeAnthony Bullucks, who have been charged with receiving stolen property and felony obstructing official business, according to Theetge. A third suspect is still at large.

The car incident involving Rodney Hinton and the deputy is still under investigation, with Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich promising to "throw the full force of the law" at him if the incident is proven to be intentional. A procession will be held in honor of the deputy who was killed.

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In a statement, Attorney General Dave Yost called the deputy's death "a cruel reminder of the many officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf."

"My deepest condolences are with this deputys family and the entire Hamilton County Sheriffs Office," Yost said.

Hinton was charged with aggravated murder in connection with Henderson's death. He appeared in court Saturday, where a judge set no bond ahead of a hearing on Tuesday, WLWT reported. He is being held at Clermont County Jail, according to online records.

Attorneys for Hinton declined to comment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Fayette County Public Schools spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith is resigning her position as district chief public engagement officer, effective June 30.

Her departure was part of the agenda for the April 28 school board meeting.

Fayette County Public Schools is grateful for the years of dedicated service Dia Davidson-Smith has given to our district as Chief Public Engagement Officer and District Spokesperson, Superintendent Demetrus Liggins told the Herald-Leader Friday afternoon.

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Her passion for storytelling, commitment to transparent communication, and advocacy for public education have made a lasting impact, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.

No decisions have been made regarding her successor, Liggins said.

On Monday, Davidson-Smith told the Herald-Leader, It has been an honor to serve the youngest members of our community and their families, as well as support the important mission of FCPS in educating, informing and protecting them. I want to thank Dr. Demetrus Liggins for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to what God has for me next.

Davidson-Smith did not immediately say what her next steps would include.

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Davidson-Smith took the job of chief public engagement officer in July 2023. The districts announcement about her new role at that time said Davidson-Smith was an Emmy award-winning news anchor and reporter for LEX 18 News at Sunrise and Noon, where she had worked for over 20 years.

That 2023 announcement said with more than 30 years of experience in news and journalism, Davidson-Smith had a diverse background in media and education. She began her career as a membership coordinator for Temple University Public Radio, before working as a promotions manager and anchor/reporter at various radio and television stations on the East Coast, including South Carolina Educational Television.

Davidson-Smith holds a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Georgia and a masters degree in journalism from Temple University.
BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (WGN)  Agents from the FBIs Chicago Field Office are searching for answers this weekend after thieves robbed an armored truck at gunpoint in south suburban Blue Island on Friday afternoon.

Agents said the armed robbery unfolded just before 4:30 p.m. outside of a U.S. Bank located in the 11900 block of Western Avenue.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

According to the FBI, the robbery was conducted by three individuals who were armed with guns, though it is unclear how much money was stolen.

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Following the robbery, the group fled the scene in a car.

On Saturday, agents shared surveillance photos of the individuals who are believed to have been responsible for the robbery.

Agents said the perpetrators are believed to be in their late teens to mid-20s and were spotted wearing dark-colored sweatpants, hooded sweatshirts, black facial coverings and light grey gloves.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Agents did not provide details on what was stolen during the robbery and no injuries were reported.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the FBIs Chicago Field Office at 312-421-6700.

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Those with information that could help agents in their investigation can also submit tips at tips.fbi.gov. Tips can be submitted anonymously.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In the Nasser Medical Complex in Gazas Khan Younis, a volunteer doctor breaks down as he speaks of the things he has seen during his mission here.

It is impossible to get over the scenes of starving, shocked, and injured children, thoracic surgeon Ehab Massad says.

The sight of a child standing at the door, bewildered because they have lost their entire family in a bombing, I could never forget that, ever, he adds in a faltering voice as tears fill his eyes.

It will never feel like enough

Massad is a member of a medical mission by the Rahma Worldwide organisation, one of four doctors working in Qatar to have joined.

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I feel like no matter what we do for [the people of Gaza], it will never feel like enough, he says.

[However] the helpless feeling of being outside Gaza and watching the news is gone now; at least I feel like Im doing my part.

Its a feeling echoed by the three other doctors to whom Al Jazeera spoke. Orthopaedic surgeon Anas Hijjawi described a long line of doctors who had signed up for medical missions to Gaza, some of whom had to wait up to five months for a spot on a mission to open up.





Dr Diyaa Rachdan, an ophthalmic surgeon, struggles to keep his voice steady as he tells Al Jazeera that Tuesday was the last day of the mission and the doctors would be heading back to their respective hospitals the next day.

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But I am hoping that there will be more, longer trips to Gaza in the future, he adds.

Their work in Gaza is not easy, but that is not the reason these doctors are sad to be leaving their mission behind. On the contrary, every day is a struggle as they try to cope with a volume of deaths, illnesses and injuries they simply do not have the equipment to address.

Israel has often prevented the entry of hospital supplies into Gaza during the course of its nearly 19-month-long war on the besieged enclave. Medical missions are not allowed to bring anything in with them.

So, the doctors struggle on with the equipment they can find, sometimes reusing disposable medical implements over and over, despite the danger that poses, because there is simply no other choice, Dr Rachdan says.

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At the back of their minds, several doctors tell Al Jazeera, is always the thought that people in Gaza die of wounds and illnesses that would be easily treated in any other hospital that has adequate supplies.

Dr Mohammad Almanaseer reassures a young patient about the burns covering her body and face [Screengrab/Al Jazeera Mubasher]

Sometimes we cant cover a patient or take precautions to preserve the sterility of an operating room, Dr Hijjawi says.

Sometimes I dont have the right size metal plates or screws that I need to mend a limb. Ive had to use the wrong size item  just to get them better enough that they could, some day, travel for more treatment.

The things that happen to people in war

While doctors coming into Gaza have often followed developments there closely before arrival, nothing, they tell Al Jazeera, could have prepared them for the level of destruction the people of Gaza have to cope with.

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Words cant describe the pain people are in here, or the level of exhaustion of the medical teams. Theyve been working nearly around the clock for a year and a half now, despite their own personal pain and tragedies, says the fourth Qatar-based volunteer, urology consultant Mohammad Almanaseer.

Theres a tentativeness in Dr Almanaseers voice as he speaks of the case that has impacted him the most deeply, the story of a little boy of about two years old who was brought into the emergency room after Israel had bombed him and his family.





The usual resuscitation attempts were made with him, but he needed immediate surgery. I was in the operating room, assisting the paediatric surgeon, but it became clear to us that the child probably wouldnt survive.

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The child died the next morning.

He was the same age as my son, and even had the same name. Kinan, little Kinan, may God receive you and your mother, who was killed in the same bombing, by his side.

Injuries as extreme and urgent as Kinans are what the medical teams deal with day in and day out, resulting in a large swath of patients who need less urgent care and who keep getting pushed down the list.

Like the patients who have been waiting for months or years for cataract surgery, some of whom were helped by Dr Rachdan during this mission.

The people of Gaza have been forced to carry on throughout the genocidal war on their existence. This strength has inspired a sort of bewildered regard among the visiting volunteer doctors.

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Dr Hijjawi tells of an afternoon chat with an operating room nurse who was explaining how he struggles to get to work every day and how he says a final farewell to his wife and children every day, because he never knows what may happen to any of them.

Wounded people, including children, are brought to Nasser Hospital following an Israeli attack on displaced Palestinians tents in Khan Younis, Gaza, on April 23, 2025 [Hani Alshaer/Anadolu Agency]

Then, we heard ambulances coming in, Dr Hijjawi continues, and we went to muster in the emergency room. Suddenly, the OR nurse came running past us, desperately asking for an ambulance to go to his house with him because he had heard it had been bombed.

It took some time  but they finally went out and came back with his parents, who had been killed, and the rest of his family, who had injuries among them. And, you know what? Just two days after this happened to him, hes here, hes upstairs working.

The silence of the shocked

All four doctors seem to have a soft spot for their paediatric patients. It is the childrens pain that affects them the most, and it is their suffering that they will take away with them in their memories.

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Al Jazeera follows Dr Almanaseer on his rounds as he visits a young girl in intensive care. She is recovering from severe burns on much of her face and body. In quiet tones, she asks him about whether she will be left with big scars from the burns.

The doctor answers her quietly and seriously, taking time to talk to her until it seems like shes reassured for today.





Dr Hijjawi is also on his rounds, speaking to a little girl, gently examining her leg and asking her to lift both feet off the bed for me. Then he asks a little boy to wiggle his toes so he can check on how hes healing.

Next is a young girl lying under a recovery blanket in a room on her own. Her right arm is bandaged, which is what hes there to look at.

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He squats on the floor near her bed and moves her arm, then each of her fingers. Hes concerned because she seems to have lost sensation in two fingers and feels the problem will have to be explored surgically, as he tells a concerned relative.

The children are quiet, wide-eyed, doing as theyre told and not saying much else.

Theres so much theyre dealing with, Hijjawi says. Being in the hospital is scary, but on top of that, so many of them are just lying there waiting, hoping, for someone to visit them  a parent or grandparent or sibling. Some of them dont know whos left alive from their family outside the hospital walls.

Add all that to their physical pain, yes, they are very quiet for very long periods, or their minds seem to wander, he says quietly.

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Dr Rachdan is holding fast to one memory of Gazas children that he seems to want to preserve as he gets ready to leave: One thing that I dont think I will ever forget is the sight of the children in Gaza who continue playing, despite the destruction.

They make paper aeroplanes, play ball, despite the tragedy they are surrounded by. I will always remember that.




HONOLULU (KHON2)  A federal fugitive wanted for fraud-related charges is back in custody after months on the run.

State probes after womans body found in Sand Island restroom

Honolulu police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Maile Montez, who was arrested Friday morning in Halawa.

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Montez was originally taken into custody in October 2024 on multiple federal charges, including aggravated identity theft, access device fraud and possession of forged documents. Authorities said she later escaped while in custody.

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Federal warrants totaling $50,000 were issued after she violated the terms of her pretrial release.

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She is now being held pending further proceedings.

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May 2Federal cuts, effective immediately, have shuttered the New Mexico Minority Business Development Agency.

Similar agencies around the country received funding termination notices in April. President Donald Trump in March released an executive order announcing the elimination of a slew of governmental entities, including the U.S. Minority Business Development Association.

The New Mexico Minority Business Development Agency, or MBDA, on Tuesday officially stopped offering its services, which included professional service resources, access to federal government contracting, software programs and free logo or website designs. The agency's two staff members had their last day Friday, according to Gabriela Marques, now-former center director for the agency.

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On a call on April 17 with other centers, she learned about termination letters coming from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency but thought the New Mexico MBDA could be exempted because the city of Albuquerque operated the agency.

And then last week, the agency lost access to its funds, Marques said, and got a termination letter on Tuesday.

Ten contracts with business advisers and partner organizations were terminated immediately, and the agency's two staffers found jobs elsewhere with the city of Albuquerque, according to Marques.

"The impact goes much beyond just a program," she said. "People's lives are being affected."

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Over the past three years, the New Mexico MBDA supported more than 600 businesses, generated $230 million in revenue and helped create or retain almost 7,500 jobs, according to the agency.

The city of Albuquerque will keep operating its Business Resource Center, according to a news release.

New Mexico Sens. Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich joined other Senate Democrats sending a letter to Keith Sonderling, the acting under secretary for MBDA, on Wednesday requesting information on the MBDA funding terminations. Specifically, they called into question the role of DOGE in dismantling the agency rather than the U.S. Department of Commerce, which housed MBDA.

"Who is actually running the (Commerce) Department: Secretary (Howard) Lutnick or Elon Musk and DOGE?" the senators wrote.

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Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said the move is "about silencing progress."

"But here in Albuquerque, we won't back down," he said in a statement. "We'll keep fighting for every small business that's been pushed aside by this administration."
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Over $120 million dollars taken from disabled people and their families, but the time for excuses may have run out for the Pinellas non-profit founder tied to that missing money.

St. Petersburg businessman Leo Govoni was back before a federal judge Friday morning as attorneys try to track down over $120 million tied to Govonis now bankrupt non-profit.



Govoni was given multiple extensions to provide key financial documents but the judges patience ran out.

Those attorneys said theyve been stonewalled by Govoni for months. Inside the courtroom, 8 On Your Side saw all the key players, including agents and prosecutors with the Department of Justice.

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Govoni took the stand for more than an hour. After attorneys questioned him and other witnesses as well as providing evidence, Judge Roberta Colton found Govoni in contempt of court orders. The Judge imposed daily $5,000 fines until he produces personal financial and business records plus attorneys fees and the clock is ticking.

Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked: Mr. Govoni, we have to ask  where is the money? Will the victims ever recover any of the money that went missing? Youve heard testimony, these people are suffering. Govoni did not respond.





Everybody wanted to make money and thats what they were doing, making money from the most vulnerable sick children and putting it in their own pocket, said Kimberly Muszynski, Abbys mom.



Muszynski entrusted Govonis non-profit, the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, to manage her daughter Abbys money she received in a wrongful birth case. Abby has since passed away, but her parents fight continues for all the victims.



Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked Govoni, What would you say to the vulnerable victims who relied on you? Govoni did not respond.



Two of Govonis attorneys have dropped him, citing his failure to pay. As of three weeks ago, Govoni has a new lawyer, attorney Buddy Ford.



Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked, Mr. Ford, do you have anything to say on behalf of your client?

No, no comments right now, responded Ford.



Court records show Govoni violated more court orders when he filed for dissolution for 16 of his own companies on March 10.

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Attorney John Dicks who is representing Chapter 11 Trustee Michael Goldberg in the case said his team discovered Govoni has sold off $1.6 million in real estate since the Center filed for bankruptcy in February of 2024.



Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked Govoni, What about the millions of dollars that the attorney is mentioned that youre unsure of where it went?



Govoni didnt respond to Brittany but Govoni told the judge he is unsure.

Dicks claims G is stonewalling to buy time to move money and assets to other organizations under his control. dicks says that $1.6 million in real estate sales could have gone to victims and vendors Govoni has failed to pay.



Govonis attorney acknowledged that his client has not complied with court orders. Ford for then told the judge he will work to provide the requested records.

But if Govoni is in financial trouble how did he pay Fords fees? Govoni told the judge that his wife, Jane Govoni, covered the retainer.



My committee has victims who are victims of vaccine injuries, victims of car, accidents, paraplegics victims of abortion, I think you reported on it, said Attorney Megan Murray of the unsecured creditors committee. Its amazing that these victims have been able to sustain themselves without the funds that they once had in this estate.



Murray represents the victims. She called Govonis testimony a complete disregard for the victims welfare.



If Govoni does not produce the court ordered documents by May 12, Judge Colton said she will make a recommendation to the district court for criminal contempt proceedings.

Now the families across the country continue to wait to wonder how theyll be able to care for their disabled loved ones.



Were here for the victims were fighting for the victims and were not going to stop, said Murray.

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This isnt all that Leo Govoni has to worry about both the FBI and the IRS have launched their own investigations.

Judge Colton appeared to be losing her patience with Leo Govoni.

This is what she said to Govoni as she found him in contempt of court orders:

Govoni has been purposefully evasive in proceedings. Hes been buying himself time and while Govoni turned in a personal financial record, the judge called it completely worthless and it was amazing it was submitted under oath.

Govoni was asked a series of questions about his businesses and assets including, BCL Aviation, which owned a private plane. Attorney John Dicks about a flight log showing Govonis plane visiting the Turks and Caicos and Antigua for 23 hours on Friday, May 25, 2018. Govoni was then asked if bank accounts or trusts were formed. While on the stand, Govoni said no and that he doesnt remember being on the plane then. It could have been a charter.

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Govoni will be back in court on May 12th.

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PYONGYANG, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. arms buildup on the Korean Peninsula and in the region will be an unwise option to further increase the uncertainty of U.S. mainland security, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday.

The warning was issued by an unnamed military commentator quoted by the KCNA.

The interceptor drill simulating the so-called intercontinental ballistic missile attack of an enemy state, conducted recently at the Fort Greely military base in Alaska, is a military action of "an offensive nature that made a nuclear war with the DPRK a fait accompli," the commentator was quoted as saying.

If the United States does not seek a nuclear war with the DPRK, the DPRK strategic nuclear force targeting the U.S. mainland will not happen, and there is no need to talk about "interception," the commentator was quoted as saying.

The recent U.S. moves of assembling strategic bombers and stealth fighters in the Korean Peninsula region prove that "the U.S. arms buildup to raise the level of war readiness in all aspects of attack and defense has entered the stage of mastering practical action, far beyond the level of demonstration," the commentator was quoted as saying. 
A federal judge on Friday permanently barred the Trump administration from enforcing an executive order stripping the prominent law firm Perkins Coie of security clearance and access to government buildings and contractors.

Washington, D.C. Judge Beryl Howell called Trumps retaliatory order an unprecedented attack on the principles of the legal system, and unconstitutional for violating several amendments.

He compared Trumps attack to the exhortation: Lets kill all the lawyers, uttered in Shakespeares Henry VI .

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In a cringe-worthy twist on the theatrical phrase, Lets kill all the lawyers, Howell wrote, Trump takes the approach of Lets kill the lawyers I dont like, sending the clear message: lawyers must stick to the party line, or else.

The decision permanently blocks the administration from enforcing Trumps March order that targeted the firm, in which the president blasted Perkins Coie for its ties to the left, including working with the 2016 campaign of Hillary Clinton and liberal donor George Soros, and declared the firm a national security risk.

Howell held that the executive order violated the First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments of the Constitution, and that it amounted to Trump settling personal vendettas by taking steps that served no legitimate government interest, but only the interest of retaliation.

The judge also found that the attack on the firm effectively barred its clients from their constitutional rights to adequate legal representation, as the March order blocked Perkins Coie lawyers from entering government buildings.

The lawsuit accused the Trump administration of trying to degrade the ability to freely practice law (Reuters)

The over 100-page ruling also referred to similarly targeted firms like Paul, Weiss, which saw the threatened sanctions against it vanish soon after it became one of a number of firms that agreed to provide tens of millions of dollars in free legal services to support administration priorities.

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None of these agreed-upon policy or practice changes appear to explain or address how any national security concerns sufficient to warrant the Paul, Weiss EO [executive order] could have changed so rapidly, Howell wrote.

The White House criticized the ruling.

The decision to grant any individual access to this nations secrets is a sensitive judgment call entrusted to the President, Harrison Fields, Principal Deputy Press Secretary, told The Independent in a statement. Weighing these factors and implementing such decisions are core executive powers, and reviewing the Presidents clearance decisions falls well beyond the judiciarys authority.

The Independent has contacted the Justice Department for comment.

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Fridays ruling could serve as a model for three similar suits for targeted firms that are still being considered.

And it marks another escalation in the administrations war with the courts, where the White House has been accused of dangerously demonizing or ignoring rulings it disagrees with.
CHEYENNE  Workplace advocates rallied Monday for Wyomings state and federal lawmakers to end the states right-to-work policies and shift to a pro-union state during a Workers Memorial Day event at the state Capitol.

For the past 20 years, Wyoming has consistently placed among the top five states in the nation for highest workplace fatality rates, according to the Wyoming AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations).

Total workplace fatalities rose from 34 in 2022 to 45 in 2023 in Wyoming, the highest recorded number of deaths in a single year in the state for at least a decade, according to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

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Wyoming had the highest workplace facility rate in the nation in 2023, with 16 deaths per 100,000 employees, according to AFL-CIO. This is nearly double the second-highest rate in the country: West Virginias 8.3 deaths per 100,000 employees.

Everything you remember tonight represents not just a statistic, but a universe, a web of relationships, dreams, morning coffee rituals, favorite songs and loved ones who still fill the empty space at their dinner tables, said Wyoming AFL-CIO Executive Director Marcie Kindred. Behind every workplace fatality lies a story that was cut short, too.

Workers Memorial Day lands on April 28, the same day the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) went into effect nearly 25 years ago, and commemorates the men and women who lost their lives on a job site. The primary purpose of OSHA is to ensure healthy and safe working conditions for all American employees.

A group of around 40 people attended Monday evenings event, many of them representing local unions from a myriad of industries, including steel, transportation, fire, mining, and construction and energy. Miner and United Steelworkers Local 13214 President Marshal Cummings said right-to-work laws are standing in the way of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

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(Right-to-work is) not about jobs. Its not about freedom, Cummings said. Its about weakening the very organizations, our unions, that keep us safe.

Speakers at the event said they were tired of repeating these same words after little action from the state. Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association Executive Director Marcia Shanor said it feels hollow.

It shouldnt be one time a year that we all get together and talk about why this is an important issue, Shanor said. It should be every day.

She said the state needs to collect more data on workplace accidents in order to strategize better solutions that reduce casualties on the job. Kindred said Wyoming has six OSHA inspectors, and it would take them 307 years to inspect every workplace in the state just one time.

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Isnt that tragically poetic? 307, the single area code that Wyomingites share, Kindred said. This isnt a criticism of OSHA. Its a stark illustration of how severely under-resourced our safety infrastructure is.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was heavily affected when 10,000 employees were laid off April 1 in the federal Department of Health and Human Services. NIOSH is an agency of HHS, and most of its supervisors and research scientists were terminated, according to the National Roofing Contractors Association.

Cummings told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle a scheduled health hazard evaluation for his mine was canceled because the inspector was fired.

She emailed me and said, I want to let you know its not happening. I was fired, Cummings said. Theres not much I can do.
(KRON)  A man is facing attempted murder charges after setting his ex-girlfriends tent ablaze, according to the Antioch Police Department.

The Brentwood Police Department issued a BOLO (Be On The Look Out) alert for the suspect after he set his exs tent on fire. Per Antioch PD, the next day, the suspect travelled to Antioch, where he stopped at a store to get car parts.

Photo: Antioch PD Photo: Antioch PD Photo: Antioch PD

Stolen firearm, ghost gun found in Santa Rosa traffic stop

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Contra Costa Sheriffs Office utilized its helicopter to watch the suspects whereabouts and his car. When he exited his vehicle, authorities surrounded him, and the suspect was detained.

According to Antioch PD, the suspect was a felon.

The victim was not injured, according to police.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Homemade pipe bombs and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are on the rise in Utah, according to the Statewide Information Analysis Center.

Tanner Jensen, Director at the Statewide Information Analysis Center with the Department of Public Safety, spoke with ABC4 regarding the issue.

The conversation follows an incident in which Provo Police found 71 explosive devices, as well as a large amount of bomb-making materials, in an Orem mans apartment after he was arrested for brandishing a weapon near a Provo mall on Friday, April 25.

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The man  Eric Whitaker, 41  faces 71 charges of possession of weapons of mass destruction as a result of the findings. His case was referred to the Utah County Attorneys Office.

READ MORE: 71 explosive devices, bomb-making materials found in Orem mans apartment

There has been a spike recently, Jensen said about IEDs. There have been a number of incidents here in the state that were concerned about. These homemade explosives are very dangerous. Theyre highly concerning. Theyre illegal, theyre felonies to have. So, for law enforcement, we take it very seriously.

In speaking about the intentions behind the individuals who make these devices, Jensen explained, Some individuals may be doing it for criminal purposes. Some individuals may be doing it because theyre curious and have a fascination with fireworks and explosives. But either way, when these are constructed, they can be extremely dangerous, and weve had incidents here in the state where individuals that were trying to make them as a hobby ended up hurting themselves severely.

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Regardless of intention, Jensen is urging the public to immediately contact law enforcement if you believe youve come across a homemade explosive, or know someone who is making them  even if its without malicious intent. He said police dedicate a significant amount of resources in matters like this to ensure these devices are rendered safe.

Additionally, if you are concerned about somebody, or if someone is demonstrating mental health issues, you should contact law enforcement, Jensen said.

Latest headlines:

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Have you appealed a second home premium? Share your story by emailing money@telegraph.co.uk

Second home owners in over 200 local authorities hit by double council tax bills may be able to appeal the increase, it can be revealed.

Some 55 councils have seen disputes over the application of a second home council tax premium, with hundreds of successful appeals, according to data obtained via a Freedom of Information request carried out by the Taxpayers Alliance.

The premium, which has seen some second home owners receive five-figure bills, is charged on properties that are furnished but not used as someones main home.

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Telegraph Money is calling for the premium to be abolished, and scores of our readers have told us that they feel vilified by the levy.

From April 1, over two thirds of town halls chose to use new powers, granted in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which allowed them to impose a 100pc council tax premium on second home owners.

But the new research reveals that councils are already climbing down in some cases.

New Forest Council, which has seen the most appeals of any council, has removed 230 council tax premiums and added exceptions to 199 accounts.

North Yorkshire Council has recorded a total of 310 exceptions to the council tax premium on second homes. Of the 125 disputes in Great Yarmouth, 46 resulted in a change of charge, or 37pc.

Eligibility for appeal

With regard to council tax, a second home is defined as a property that is occupied periodically, for which there is no resident of the dwelling, and the dwelling is substantially furnished. But if you use your second home frequently enough, or you do not believe that your home meets this definition, you may be able to use this to appeal a council tax premium.

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A spokesman for Isle of Wight Council, which has received 350 total disputes and removed premiums on or granted exceptions to 31 homes, said: One likely reason for this is that the property was previously being recorded as a second home, but it is now someones main residence.

But the council also removed 20 premiums on properties that remained a second home, but met an eligibility criteria for an exception to the council tax premium.

The spokesman added: We assessed these based on the information and evidence supplied by the taxpayers to demonstrate their eligibility.

The spokesman said this could include properties that are:

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Annexes and military accommodation

Job-related dwellings

Caravan pitches/boat moorings

Undergoing probate

Being actively marketed for sale or let

Seasonal homes

If you believe that your second home meets one of these criteria, you may be eligible for an exemption from the council tax premium on your second home.

For example, there are 12-month exemptions for properties where the occupant has died, from the date of a grant of probate. Properties being actively marketed for sale or let are also exempt from the premium for one year, but this does not apply to a property for a second time until it has been sold, or let for at least six months.

The council tax premium should also not apply to seasonal homes where year-round or permanent occupation is prohibited, or that have been specified for use as holiday accommodation, or prevent occupancy as a persons sole or main residence.

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Id imagine that most of the appeals would be because people have successfully disputed the claim that its not their primary residence. Alternatively, they may have applied for council tax support, said Elliot Keck of the Taxpayers Alliance.

How to appeal a council tax premium

If you believe that your home should be exempt from the council tax premium, you can first try to appeal to your council directly  ultimately, the decision regarding exemption lies with them.

All councils will have their own appeals process, added Mr Keck.

You will generally need to provide your council tax number along with the address of the home you are disputing the council tax premium on. You will also need to provide evidence to support your claim.

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If this fails, youll need to complete an appeal form and submit it to the Valuation Registry, along with evidence and information supporting your case. Youll need to do this within two months of receiving a decision from your local council about a premium.

Jenny Wigley KC, of barrister firm Landmark Chambers, said: An appeal to the Valuation Tribunal would only really be able to challenge the calculation of council tax payable on a particular dwelling, or the question of whether that dwelling actually falls within the area or category subject to the councils determination increasing the council tax. A Valuation Tribunal appeal would not be able to challenge the councils determination of the increase itself.

If you are facing financial hardship due to a council tax premium, you may be able to apply for a council tax reduction, also known as council tax support. Whether or not you are eligible depends on a number of factors including your income, how many children you have and if they live with you, and ultimately where you are, as your local authority will make the decision.

Evidence for appeal

While councils have been given permission to raise council tax on second homes, there is a list of factors they should take into account when deciding whether it is appropriate to do so, according to the House of Commons library website. These include:

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Numbers and proportion of long-term empty dwellings and/or second homes in the local area

Circumstances which may affect whether the dwelling can be used as a main residence

Potential impact on local economies and the tourism industry

Potential impact on the local community

Potential impact on local services

Other measures that are available to councils to help bring empty dwellings back into use

If you do not believe that second homes in your constituency have any meaningful negative impact on the local community and local services, or that there is not a large number of empty dwellings and second homes in your area, you may be able to use this as evidence in your appeal to the Valuation Registry.

For example, the West Midlands, the North East and the North West rank as the regions with the lowest proportions of second homes in the UK, ranging from 0.2pc to 0.5pc of all dwellings, according to Census data. Yet a number of local authorities within these regions, such as Cheshire and Durham, have taken advantage of their powers to double council tax on second homes.

Heather Powell, head of property at tax advice firm Blick Rothenberg, said: Your local politicians are desperate to raise money. But if there is not a surplus of empty homes in your area, or holiday homes arent going to go to locals, they should be considering the money that second home owners bring into the area and spend, and the support they give to the leisure and hospitality industries. That can be really important for the local economy and businesses, who may suffer due to this.

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Appealing council tax premiums on second homes may become easier in the future; as the tax increase is very new for the majority of UK constituencies, there lacks a wealth of legal precedent for appealers to draw on. As the House of Commons library website states, legal cases that clarify when exemptions should apply may emerge in the next few years.

I fought the council tax premium on my second home  and won

One Telegraph reader, who did not wish to be named, managed to overturn a council tax premium successfully. He told Telegraph Money that by maintaining that he used his second home regularly, the local council conceded that it did not fit definitions of a second home, as stated by online guidelines.

He said: My wife and I are in the fortunate position of owning two houses [in two different local authorities]. We have owned these houses since June 2018 and since then have paid full council tax on both properties: both houses are owned by the two of us jointly.

My wife lives for the bulk of the year in one house, and I live for the bulk of the year in the other. We occasionally spend time together in one of the two houses but more often than not we live separately in the two houses.

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We see our domestic arrangements as very unusual. While we undoubtedly own two properties, we do not see either of them as a second home. They are both lived in and occupied by us for most of the year. Each of us contributes to our local economy.

I think [the council was] swayed by some guidance I sent them which has been published on a number of council websites, which is pragmatic in deciding what constitutes a second home.

While the council did declare that the house is a second home a few months ago, they have recently come round to the view that [it is actually] my main residence and that, subject to sorting out a couple of bits of paperwork, they will be removing it from their list of second homes, and normal council tax will be charged on it rather than double.

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The question of who controls a small independent media outlet has roiled Los Angeles left for more than a year.

This week, the clash over Knock LA exploded into the legal system, with dueling lawsuits that allege copyright and trademark infringement, defamation and even theft of trade secrets.

In one corner is a group of prominent journalists, including Cerise Castle and Ben Camacho, who have built large public followings for tough reporting on local law enforcement.

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On the opposing side stands Ground Game LA, a scrappy advocacy group whose ascent has been inextricably tied to the leftward shift in the citys political power structure.

Ground Game LA formed Knock LA in 2017, billing the nonprofit community journalism project as by and for Los Angeles progressives. The publication flourished during the pandemic, as public health restrictions and protests over police reform put fresh focus on city government. Knock LA and its extremely online reporters helped channel that frenzy of attention into activism, with popular voter guides and live coverage of public meetings.

Amid a particularly fertile moment for local leftist politics, Ground Game LA also soared.

Meghan Choi, Ground Game LAs co-founder and executive director, led Nithya Raman and Eunisses Hernandez's insurgent City Council bids, helping them unseat incumbents. The group also rallied behind Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez and City Controller Kenneth Mejias successful campaigns in 2022.

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Read more: Call them super progressives: L.A.'s political left looks to expand its power at City Hall

But there were deep fissures between the organizations leadership and some of the journalists who had become synonymous with Knock LAs work.

Camacho and Castle charge that Ground Game LA has continued to profit off their work without authorization, even after blocking their access to the site, and are seeking nearly $5 million in damages. Ground Game LA argues that the journalists essentially tried to hijack the news outlet, taking its trademarked name, stealing its confidential mailing list and misrepresenting themselves as the outlet's rightful leaders.

On Tuesday, Castle and Camacho filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit against Ground Game as well as Liberty Hill Foundation and the California Endowment, two leading philanthropic groups that have provided it with financial backing.

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Castle and Camacho said in their lawsuit that Ground Game and the nonprofits have maliciously and systematically exploited their copyrighted journalistic works across multiple platforms."

At issue is Castles 15-part series, A Tradition of Violence," on gangs of deputies within the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The account of violent law enforcement cliques went viral when Castle published it on Knock LA in 2021, winning accolades and contributing to heightened scrutiny of the Sheriffs Department.

Camacho is known for obtaining the photos, names and serial numbers of 9,000 LAPD officers, then providing them to Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, which published the records, prompting two lawsuits from L.A. City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto. He identified 23 images and articles  16 of which are still visible on Knock L.A.'s website, which he accuses Ground Game of infringing upon.

The duo trace the infringement to March 2024, when Castle led an effort to separate Knock LA from Ground Game. The move, according to the suit, was prompted by reasons including editorial overreach, demands for unpaid labor, racial discrimination" and lack of support for Mr. Camacho" after Feldstein Soto's office sued him.

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Within weeks, Camacho and Castle contend, they were cut off from Knock LA's email and other systems "in a deliberately hostile and retaliatory action. They say the move kept their journalistic work captive and allowed Ground Game to profit from their unauthorized use. As independent journalists, both assert that they had retained the copyrights and never "executed any work-for-hire agreements" or transferred their intellectual property.

The pair accuse Ground Game of misappropriating their work to boost its fundraising and stature. By providing grant money and social media promotion, the California Endowment and Liberty Hill materially contributed to the infringement, the suit alleges. Both organizations declined to comment.

Castle and Camacho are seeking an injunction barring Ground Game from using their copyrighted works and an award of damages totaling no less than $4,650,000," among other demands.

This lawsuit is about protecting years of investigative work that I developed independently, often under difficult and dangerous conditions, said a statement by Castle, who now works for Capital & Main. No one should be allowed to take your work, take credit for your work, and use it to fundraise without consent. Thats not solidarity  its exploitation.

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On Wednesday, Ground Game countered with force, filing a federal lawsuit and exhibits spanning 119 pages that cast Camacho, Castle and two others as villains in a scheme to seize the reins of Knock LA, register it as their own company and unlawfully use its trademarks for their own offshoot site.

Ground Games suit also focuses on spring 2024, when Castle  Knock LAs then-managing editor  along with Camacho, the photography editor, and Katja Schatte, the editor in chief, asked to separate from Ground Game and form their own new entity.

When Ground Games board rejected that proposal, the trio began interfering with Knock LA, and the parent organization shut down their Knock email accounts soon after.

The quarrel quickly spilled into public view . Castle, who is Black, accused Ground Game LA of racism , and a social media toolkit   complete with talking points, hashtags and draft posts  alleged that the nonprofit was holding the news outlet hostage. Other contributors joined with Castle, recording a video that accused Ground Game LA "of killing local journalism" and appealing to the public to stand with them.

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Ground Game LA alleges that around that same time, the offshoot group took the organizations confidential mailing list and sent multiple emails without permission, representing themselves as the legitimate successors of Knock LA" and misrepresenting their separation from the broader group to divert donations.

The offshoot group used the contact list to advertise, promote, and grow  their individual and personal interests, according to the suit, calling such actions a "theft" of trade secrets.

Ground Game LA also accuses the offshoot group of hijacking Knock LAs social media accounts and trying to lock the organization out of them, including by changing the Two-Factor Authentication for Knock LAs Instagram account, removing the administrator email on Knock LAs Facebook account, and taking down multiple YouTube videos from Knock LAs YouTube account.

Their lawsuit seeks to prevent the offshoot group from using the mailing list or Knock LA trademarks and demands that they restore access to blocked social media accounts.

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Knock LA continues to publish new material, and its website still prominently features Castle's series on the Sheriff's Department. But its Instagram and Twitter accounts have been dark for months.

Neither side directly responded to the allegations but both lamented that the acrimony had escalated to litigation.

Our folks worked very hard and did everything that they could to prevent it from getting to this place, Choi, Ground Game LA's executive director, said of the dueling lawsuits. Fundamentally, this is just about somebody trying to hijack our project and our identity.

Camacho, in a statement shared by his attorney Almuhtada Smith, emphasized the sacrifice of time, risk and dedication that went into his photography and writing  and that now motivates his and Castle's fight.

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We didnt want to take legal action, but our efforts to resolve this privately were ignored, Camacho said in the statement. No creator  especially those from historically excluded communities  should be expected to let others profit off their work without permission or credit.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A former burger chain CEO under federal indictment on gun and fraud charges now faces another accusation: Allegedly spreading "smears" that reached the White House through conservative pundits, leading to the prosecutor who was handling his case getting fired.

The latest claim was leveled by Adam Schleifer, formerly an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, in a filing last week with the Merit Systems Protection Board, which handles wrongful termination appeals from federal workers.

Schleifer's filing called his dismissal "unlawful" and alleged it was motivated in part by his prosecution of Andrew Wiederhorn, the former chairman and chief executive of Fat Brands, which owns the Fatburger and Johnny Rockets restaurant chains.

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Wiederhorn has maintained his innocence in the criminal cases, and his lawyers declined to comment on Schleifer's allegations.

Schleifer's recent filing included a one-line email in March, sent to him "on behalf of President Trump," notifying him he was being removed from his job.

Schleifer, who had publicly criticized Trump in years past when he was not employed as a prosecutor, claims he was fired for his "engagement in constitutionally protected political activity."

His firing, first reported by The Times, came an hour after right-wing activist Laura Loomer publicly called for it  a timeline Schleifer cited in his filing.

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Read more: White House ordered firing of L.A. federal prosecutor on ex-Fatburger CEO case, sources say

The claim by the former prosecutor  who declined to comment when reached this week  drew a line between how the events unfolded and his work on the Wiederhorn case.

Wiederhorn was indicted last May on federal charges alleging a $47-million sham loan scheme. He was also charged with illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a felony. He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

In his filing, Schleifer said he was fired on the basis of "smears, which originated with and were promoted by Mr. Wiederhorn, his defense team, and that of his codefendant FAT Brands, Inc."

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Lawyers representing Fat Brands did not respond to a request for comment. The White House and the U.S. Department of Justice did not respond to inquiries.

Who is Andrew Wiederhorn?

Originally from Portland, Ore., Wiederhorn graduated from USC and, at age 21, founded the investment firm Wilshire Credit Corp. Billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad was one of his first financial backers, investing $300 million, according to a 2013 Times article.

In 1990, Wiederhorn moved back to Portland, where he founded investment company Fog Cutter Capital. According to The Times, Wiederhorn was worth an estimated $140 million by the late '90s.

In 2000, after Magic Johnson took an interest in Fatburger, Fog Cutter helped finance the change of ownership for the company, then bought a controlling stake three years later for $7 million.

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Federal authorities began investigating Wiederhorn in the 2000s, allegedly for taking out shareholder loans without intending to repay them, according to an April government filing in the Central District of California opposing Wiederhorn's efforts to obtain evidence in the ongoing case.

The recent indictment against Wiederhorn alleged that he caused Wilshire Credit Corp. to issue him approximately $65 million in shareholder loans. Prosecutors have stated they plan to introduce evidence at trial later this year regarding those loans.

"The government investigated those loans in the early 2000s, and ultimately concluded it could not charge Mr. Wiederhorn with any crime because of overwhelming evidence he relied on at least two different tax advisors when reporting the loans on his tax returns and thus lacked the requisite intent to defraud," Wiederhorn's attorneys said in a recent pretrial motion.

Wiederhorn ultimately pleaded guilty in 2004 to charges of paying an illegal gratuity to his associate and filing a false tax return. He spent 15 months in prison and paid a $2-million fine.

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The day before Wiederhorn's plea, Fog Cutter awarded him a $2-million bonus and agreed to keep paying him during his incarceration.

The arrangement prompted New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof to bestow on Wiederhorn his inaugural award for greed, writing: I cant think of a board that has ever so disgraced the principles of corporate governance by overpaying a CEO even as he sits in prison.

Wiederhorn previously told The Times that his attorneys had advised him that his actions were legitimate business deals.

Upon his release from prison in 2005, Wiederhorn became chief executive of Fatburger. He went on a public relations campaign to restore his and his family's reputations, including an appearance on Undercover Boss at a Fatburger restaurant in Mesa, Ariz.

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"Ive always adamantly denied doing anything wrong intentionally, Wiederhorn told The Times in 2017. "Im very grateful for it. I felt like I paid the fine. I did the time. I did everything I was supposed to do to make this go away and put it behind me."

What are the latest charges?

The latest federal investigation into Wiederhorn began around 2021 and involved a dawn raid on his home that December.

Based on an affidavit alleging the CEO had engaged in tax and wire fraud, authorities searched the residence and found a pistol and ammunition in his closet, according to court filings.

Wiederhorn is banned from possessing firearms because of his past conviction. At a court hearing last month, Wiederhorns defense team told the judge the gun belonged to one of his sons.

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In 2023, Wiederhorn publicly announced he was stepping down as CEO, framing it as a way to "eliminate the distraction" of the ongoing federal probe. Weeks later, according to federal authorities, Wiederhorn removed every director other than himself from the board of Fat Brands and reconstituted a new board with directors under his control." The board now includes three of Wiederhorn's children.

Last year, in May, a federal grand jury indicted Wiederhorn over an alleged $47-million "sham loan" scheme, which prosecutors say dates to 2010. Authorities accused Wiederhorn of evading millions in taxes by hiding his true income.

Read more: Ex-Fatburger boss used company funds for Rolls-Royce and other luxuries in $47-million scheme, indictment says

Company money  categorized as shareholder loans  was allegedly disbursed to Wiederhorn and his family for their personal benefit, according to the indictment. Some of that money went toward private-jet travel, ski trips, a Rolls-Royce Phantom and other luxury automobiles, a jewelry collection and a baby grand piano, federal prosecutors say.

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According to the indictment, Wiederhorn had no intention of repaying these sham loans. 

The indictment cited a September 2020 email, in which Wiederhorn said that in addition to his disclosed annual salary of approximately $400,000, he received "$3m-4m of distributions from my company as loans, then periodically the company forgives those loans."

Mr. Wiederhorn consulted and followed the advice of world-class professionals in all of his business dealings, Nicola Hanna, Wiederhorns attorney, previously told The Times. We look forward to making clear in court that this is an unfortunate example of government overreach  and a case with no victims, no losses and no crimes.

Wiederhorn was allegedly assisted by the companys former chief financial officer, Rebecca D. Hershinger, and his outside accountant, William J. Amon, who were also charged in the 22-count indictment. Both have pleaded not guilty.

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Fat Brands has also been charged.

Brian Hennigan, counsel for Fat Brands Inc., previously told The Times the charges were unprecedented, unwarranted, unsubstantiated and unjust."

Who is Adam Schleifer?

Schleifer, whose father is the co-founder and chief executive of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, started with the U.S. attorneys office in 2016. He prosecuted drug trafficking and fraud cases before quitting in 2019 to run for an open congressional seat in New Yorks 17th District.

During his congressional bid, in which he finished second in the Democratic primary, Schleifer on social media attacked Trumps tax policies and behavior toward federal investigators.

In one 2020 tweet, Schleifer accused Trump of eroding constitutional integrity every day with every lie and every act of heedless, narcissistic corruption.

In his filing last week contesting his firing, Schleifer referred to his postings on social media as "First-Amendment-protected political advocacy."

According to the filing, it was Wiederhorn's lawyer Hanna  then serving as U.S. attorney appointed by Trump  who rehired Schleifer in 2020. After his return to the federal prosecutor's office in L.A., Schleifer was assigned an ongoing investigation of Wiederhorn and others.

In the recent challenge to his firing, Schleifer accused Wiederhorn and his defense team of commissioning a tabloid news article attacking his work and urging officials to remove him from the case and his job as a prosecutor.

Schleifer also alleged in his filing a March 17 meeting held between the U.S. attorney's office and Wiederhorn's counsel, including Hanna, in which the latter allegedly "sought Mr. Schleifer's removal from the cases on the mistaken, unethical, and improper grounds that his and the Office's work on those cases reflected a 'woke,' 'DEI,' and 'Biden' bias."

Read more: Trump's axing of L.A. federal prosecutor part of broader war on perceived legal enemies

At the meeting, according to the filing, the defense team brought up Schleifer's critical comments about Trump on social media. Schleifer accused Wiederhorn and his defense team of providing those same social media posts to White House officials and other "tabloid and 'citizen' journalists."

Schleifer alleged he was removed from his position "on the basis of these smears."

Where do the Wiederhorn cases stand?

Wiederhorn's securities fraud trial is scheduled for Oct. 28.

His lawyers successfully argued for a continuance in the firearms case, citing the fact that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a ruling on gun rights for nonviolent convicted felons.

The trial is set for Jan. 20, 2026.

Times staff writers Matt Hamilton and Laura J. Nelson contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Five people have been rescued from an alligator-infested swamp almost two days after their plane crashed in the Amazonian jungle in Bolivia.

The small aircraft, carrying the pilot, three women and a child, crashed on Wednesday, but the group were not rescued until Friday morning, the Bolivian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

None of the group were seriously injured and they survived on chocolate and cassava flour during the ordeal.

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The plane had taken off from the Baures municipality in northern Bolivia and was bound for the city of Trinidad, the Ministry said.

An hour after take-off, the pilot reported technical issues before all contact with the aircraft was lost, according to the Ministry.

The pilot, identified by local media outlets as 27-year-old Pablo Andres Velarde, was able to carry out an emergency landing but landed near an alligator nest, he told local outlet Unitel.

We fell into a swamp, and right next to it, there was an alligator nest. But thanks to the fuel that spilled from the aircraft, it contaminated the water and the strong smell of that scared them off, not completely, but they didnt approach us to attack us, he told Unitel in an interview from his hospital bed on Friday.

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Velarde told CNN in an interview Monday that the reptiles would circle the plane wreck, accompanied by very large serpents. The alligators would make noises at night, scaring the group.

There were several there, and all were angry, Verlarde said. They would approach and bellow at night. It was very frightening.

Verlarde said that a fuel leak kept the alligators away by contaminating the water around the plane, but left the marooned passengers and pilot without any drinking water during the ordeal.

One survivor, Mirtha Fuentes, told local media of her emotional disbelief after surviving the plane crash. We all cried with happiness because we were alive, with bruises, but alive and very lucky, thanks to God and the pilots quick thinking and intelligence, she told Unitel.

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Bolivias defense ministry and civil defense activated a search and rescue operation, but the first 48 hours were hindered by adverse weather conditions, the ministry said. Multiple flights passed over the survivors but failed to spot them, local media reported.

The group survived on rationed food recovered by the pilot from the submerged plane, the pilot told Unitel, before they were discovered by fishermen early Friday morning.

The five survivors were airlifted to the city of Trinidad, in a rescue helicopter from Bolivias Air Force, the defense ministry said.

Thanks to the work of our specialized personnel, at this time the five rescued individuals, including a child, are alive and we are making every effort to take them to safe areas and provide them with the medical attention they need, Bolivian president Luis Arce said in a statement.

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Credit: Bolivian Civil Defence Vice Ministry / Reuters

Five people survived 36 hours perched on top of a crashed plane in the middle of an alligator-infested swamp in the Amazon.

The small plane was discovered by fishermen in Bolivias Amazonas region on Friday, 48 hours after it went missing.

The plane had been forced to make an emergency landing, leaving all on board  three women, a child and a 29-year-old pilot  stranded.

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The group is said to be in excellent condition, according to Wilson Avila, director of the emergency operations centre in Bolivias Beni region.

Andres Velarde, the pilot, said that engine failure had prompted an emergency landing near the Itanomas River. The plane quickly began to lose altitude, forcing Mr Velarde to land the craft in a swamp at the edge of a lagoon.

The group then crowded on top of the planes roof and were surrounded by alligators that came within three metres of them.

Mr Velarde added that he suspected that the fuel leaking from the plane kept the predators at bay.

The group also spotted an anaconda in the water, he said.

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While awaiting rescue, they ate local cassava flour that one of the passengers had brought with them.

We couldnt drink water and we couldnt go anywhere else because of the alligators, Mr Velarde said.

Helicopter rescued stranded group

The Cessna 172CP plane, flying from the town of Baures to the north-central city of Trinidad, 112 miles away, went missing just one hour after taking off, prompting a joint search between the Ministry of Defence and the Bolivian Air Force (FAB).

The FAB conducted two flights over the estimated crash site, searching for more than six hours.

An EC-145 helicopter, equipped with a crane and tracking systems, was sent to the crash site to rescue the stranded group.

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People frequently use air taxis in the Beni area, due to the lack of paved roads and the poor maintenance of those that do exist.

Ruben Torres, director of the Beni region health department, said, there was a lot of speculation about the case, and many theories after the plane seemingly vanished.

I am truly pleased because, in the end, all the institutions collaborated effectively to locate the missing individuals and save those lives, he told Reuters.

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JERUSALEM, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his planned visit to Azerbaijan, said a statement from his office on Saturday.

Netanyahu's visit was scheduled to begin on Wednesday and last five days.

"In light of developments in the Gaza Strip and Syria, and due to a tight political and security schedule, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided to postpone his visit to Azerbaijan to a later date," the statement said.

However, Israeli news website Walla and other Israeli media outlets reported that the reason for the cancellation was Turkiye's refusal to allow Netanyahu's plane to fly over its territory en route to Azerbaijan's capital, Baku.

Citing sources close to Netanyahu, the website said that his office had examined the possibility of flying via alternative flight routes. However, that would have almost doubled the flight duration, and it was decided to cancel the flight.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023, relations between Israel and Turkiye have deteriorated, resulting in the recall of ambassadors and the severance of trade relations. 
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says he will not tell state law enforcement agencies to obey a federal court order halting immigration arrests under a new state law even as the judge who issued the order threatens to hold him in contempt of court.

In a statement issued to Fox News on Friday, Uthmeier said that he disagrees with a federal court ruling prohibiting all state law enforcement officials and police agencies from arresting immigrants who enter the U.S. illegally and then come into the state of Florida. He also said he does not believe an attorney general should be held in contempt of court for what he says is respecting the rule of law.

We believe the court has overstepped and lacks jurisdiction here, and I will not tell law enforcement to stop fulfilling their constitutional duties, Uthmeier told Fox News.

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Uthmeier, who in February was appointed to the states top law enforcement position by Gov. Ron DeSantis, said he will not put his stamp of approval on a federal court order he says should not apply to law enforcement agencies because they are not parties to the lawsuit.

His remarks are arguably the most defiant yet in a court case that has already featured a lot of drama. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, of Miami, scheduled a critical hearing for late May that could lead to Uthmeier being held in contempt of court for flouting her orders in the immigration case.

At the Tuesday hearing, Williams said she was offended to hear the attorney generals position that he does not believe her judicial order is legitimate. Her remarks came after she previously had scolded lawyers for Uthmeiers office after learning that Florida Highway Patrol officers had arrested more than a dozen people  including a U.S. citizen  despite her ordering them to stop on April 4 when she issued a 14-day temporary restraining order that blocked enforcement on the states immigration law.

The judge told lawyers for the attorney general on Tuesday to consult with Uthmeier about withdrawing his advice to police officers to ignore her order, but they said Uthmeier was not retreating from his position.

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What I am offended by is someone suggesting you dont have to follow my order, that its not legitimate, Williams said.

The showdown between the federal judge and the state attorney generals office is tied to a lawsuit filed by immigrant groups and their lawyers against Uthmeier and state prosecutors across Florida. The lawsuit says the new state law, which makes it a misdemeanor for immigrants who enter the U.S. illegally and then come into the state of Florida, is unconstitutional because only federal authorities have the power to enforce immigration laws.

Since the lawsuit was filed, Williams has issued two temporary restraining orders that banned state authorities from enforcing the law, and said that the state laws are likely unconstitutional. She also issued a preliminary injunction at Tuesdays hearing prohibiting all state and local law enforcement agencies from making arrests under the new state law.

Her rulings have drawn the attention of top Florida Republicans, including the governor, who has called the federal judge an activist. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power said the judge was out of control for trying to hold Uthmeier in contempt of court.

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People dont want judges getting in the way of enforcing our laws or protecting Floridians from criminal illegals, Power said in a post on X earlier this week.

The fact that Williams was appointed as a federal judge by President Barack Obama has also been used by Uthmeiers office to defend his position.

Jeremy Redfern, a spokesman for Uthmeier, characterized the federal judges position as lawfare by an Obama-appointed judge.

Miami Herald staff writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report.
Tens of thousands of bees teem inside a hive just placed in the Wunsch Farms cherry orchards on Old Mission Peninsula. May 1, 2025. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between IPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

Rain is pelting the cherry orchards at Wunsch Farms on the Old Mission Peninsula.

Michal Peterson is wearing a full suit of rain gear. On the back of a flatbed truck are bee hives, stacked two or three high and dripping wet in the downpour. Peterson uses a Hummerbee forklift  pretty much a forklift on steroids  to offload them and drop them off around the rows of budding cherry trees.

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He hands me a veil so I dont get stung.

Michal Peterson unloads hives from a truck on Wunsch Farms. May 1, 2025. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

Peterson works for Hilberts Honey, Co., distributing beehives on orchards across northern Michigan, work hes been doing for 18 years.

The wild honeybees arent really around much. You got some butterflies, the monarchs and the bumble bees, but its just another extra pollination to insure the farmer, he said.

Pollination is an essential part of many farming operations. Thats because pollinators  from bees to bugs to birds  are crucial for plant growth and reproduction.

Cherry trees, for example, need pollination in order to develop: More pollination means more fruit.

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And the honeybees Peterson is setting up in northern Michigan are actually from Florida.

Commercial honeybees are considered livestock by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and shipping colonies to different crops around the country is a common practice. For instance, hundreds of thousands of colonies were sent to Californias almond orchards in 2017.

But the process comes with complications and concerns.

European honeybees are not native to North America, and can disrupt ecosystems and out-compete native species for resources. Non-native bees face a number of threats as well: pesticides, diseases and parasites, and weather. Some years have seen high mortality rates, including this year, when some commercial operations reported high losses.

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Peterson said they coordinate with those running the farm to reduce their bees exposure to pesticides.

He tells me when hes done spraying, and I can put the bees in, said Peterson. Right now, theyre probably going to spray after it stops raining, for fungicide or whatever. That dont really hurt the bees. Its the poisons that they put out.

Honeybees just placed in a cherry orchard. May 1, 2025. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

Tens of thousands of bees teem inside one of the hives. Hilberts hives usually have between 30,000 and 100,000 bees. They generally try to place the hives in the orchards when its cool out  early morning or late evening  so the bees are less active. On a chilly, rainy day thats less of a concern.

The cherry trees arent yet in bloom.

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By next week, youll start seeing them kind of popcorn out of their shell and have white buds coming out, Peterson said. So this is about the right time, as you can see, the rain dont stop me. [The bees] have to go in a certain time so they can get acclimated to their surroundings.

When Peterson began, he was in between jobs, and knew he wanted to work outside. His brother-in-law, a fifth generation beekeeper, reached out to ask him for help.

I learned from the best, I feel, he said.

Peterson clearly loves his job. The view is amazing, he said, though we couldnt see much in the downpour.

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While Im putting in bees, its really beautiful out here, he said. I always get excited when I have to put bees in the cherries.

Michal Peterson next to a hive on Wunsch Farms. May 1, 2025. (Photo: Izzy Ross/IPR News)

Hilberts Honey is based in Traverse City and LaBelle, Florida, and Peterson is trying to get back down to Florida to make a second trip  his second this season.

He and his family rear queen bees in Florida and help pollinate watermelon crops there as well.

I have a list of pollinations to do, and Im almost done with this one, he said. We do pollination up [US-31] and all the way up north of Northport. We try to stay local, try to help the local farmers. We also do almond pollination in the wintertime in California, he said.

The bees travel more than we do.
Florida lawmakers late Friday approved barring students in elementary and middle schools from using cell phones during the school day  and testing the idea in high schools.

Current law prevents students from using cell phones during instructional time, but the change would expand that prohibition to throughout the school day in elementary and middle schools. Rep. Demi Busatta, a Coral Gables Republican who spearheaded the proposal, described it as bell to bell.

The cell-phone change was included in a broader education bill (HB 1105) that passed in the final hours of the last scheduled night of this years legislative session. Lawmakers, however, did not finish a budget and are expected to return to the Capitol during the week of May 12 to negotiate a spending plan.

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While the bill would prohibit cell phone use throughout the day in elementary and middle schools, it would keep the current law about instructional time for high schools. But it also would create a pilot program in six counties that would prevent cell phone use in high schools during the entire school day.

Sen. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican who led efforts to pass the bill in the Senate, said lawmakers were taking a hybrid approach and cited a different dynamic in high schools than in lower grades.

The pilot would be in two small counties, two medium-sized counties and two large counties selected by the Department of Education.

Rep. Ashley Gantt, D-Miami, raised concerns about how a ban would affect students who take part in such things as field trips during the school day.

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If theres a field trip thats out of town and they go to some event and its out of town, (and) the kids dont have their cell phones, parents wont have the ability (to reach them), Gantt said.

But Busatta pushed back against such arguments.

Just like we did it when we were in school and we didnt have phones and we didnt have smart phones, our parents were able to get a hold of us when they needed to, she said. They would call the front desk, you go to the front desk, you make a call from the front office.

The House voted 85-14 to pass the bill, with the Senate following in a 26-5 vote. The bill is ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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The bill also included changes that would help charter schools. For instance, it would require that charter schools get a cut if school districts receive sales-tax money through what is known as a local-government infrastructure surtax. Charter schools would receive proportionate shares based on school enrollment.

Also, the bill would make it easier to convert traditional public schools to charter schools. Currently, such conversions must receive support from a majority of parents and a majority of teachers. The bill would remove the requirement for teacher support.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida lawmakers turn off student cell phones; bill heads to DeSantis
A Florida man has been sentenced to four months in federal prison and must pay almost $6,000 in restitution after he assaulted a gate agent at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in 2024, federal attorneys said.

Keith Charles Owens was charged with the crime in November 2024 and in January pleaded guilty to a charge of interference with security screening personnel, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas.

Owens approached the incorrect gate at the airport and informed the agent there that he was late for his flight before attempting to scan his boarding pass, the Star-Telegram previously reported.

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The agent directed Owens to the correct gate, but he attempted to walk onto the jet bridge without scanning a boarding pass, according to the statement.

Airline personnel removed him from the jet bridge, officials said.

Owens later returned to the gate and punched the agent in the head multiple times, security footage from the airport shows.

The flight departing from that gate was delayed, according to the statement.
A new study reveals why nearly all Florida alligator attacks occur.

The University of Florida and Centre College in Kentucky released a study on Wednesday, April 16, that found humans cause the vast majority of alligator attacks across the state. Although rare, there have been nearly 500 attacks since 1948, and of those, 27 people were killed and 339 were major incidents, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

However, the attacks typically derive from risky human behavior, not aggression by alligators, per the study. Usually, those bites occur when humans are swimming in the alligators known habitat.

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In contrast, low and no-risk behaviors, like walking near water or simply being present on land, rarely resulted in attacks, the study said.

Related: Woman Hospitalized After Being Bitten by Alligator While Kayaking in Florida: Reports

Researchers also report that the alligators arent seeking conflict. Instead, they react to attractive stimulus, which is when humans are splashing, swimming or entering alligator habitats.

The takeaway from this study is that many bites can be prevented if humans are aware of their surroundings and minimize risky behaviors, such as walking small pets near bodies of water or swimming where alligators are known to be present, UF professor of wildlife ecology Frank Mazzotti said.

STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty An alligator floats in a creek on February 23, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida An alligator floats in a creek on February 23, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida

Mazzotti also explained that typically, when the alligator that was responsible for the bite is identified, it is euthanized, losing its life because of risky human behavior. An increase in awareness will keep humans safe and save alligator lives, too.

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Ultimately, the study underscores that situational awareness and informed choices, especially during recreational activities in alligator country, can help protect both people and wildlife, said Mazzotti.

Moving forward, the study advises wildlife managers to embrace diverse and targeted communication strategies to facilitate safe behavior around alligators.

Related: 7-Foot Alligator Bites 84-Year-Old Woman Walking Her Dog in Florida: 'She's Lucky She Didn't Lose Her Life'

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Mating season in Florida begins in June, and experts advise people to stay safe from alligator attacks by avoiding them altogether.

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To keep safe from alligator attacks, people are advised to follow directions on signs, swim during daylight hours, dont swim in areas of high vegetation, beware of baby alligators, maintain a safe distance, do not feed wild alligators and keep an eye on children and pets.



Read the original article on People
A former senior cybersecurity official who refuted President Donald Trumps lies that the 2020 election was rigged is under federal investigation, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson.

Chris Krebs is facing an unspecified government investigation, the DHS spokesperson said. As a result, Krebs was expelled from a U.S. customs program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved American travelers at airports, known as Global Entry.

Chris Krebs is under active investigation by law enforcement agencies," the DHS spokesperson told NBC News. "That is a fact disqualifying him for global entry.

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Officials declined to say why Krebs was under investigation or which federal agencies were leading the probe. CNN first reported Krebs' suspension from the Global Entry program.

The White House referred NBC News to the DHS and Justice Department for comment. The Justice Department declined to comment.

Refuting Trumps election fraud claims

Krebs, who served as head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency during Trumps first term, declined to comment. Trump fired Krebs after he said in a statement that the 2020 election was the most secure in American history.

Krebs added, There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.

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The investigation of Krebs comes after President Trump issued a memorandum on April 9 directing the attorney general and the homeland security secretary to take all appropriate action to review Krebs activities during his time in government. The memo also revoked Krebs security clearance.

The memo targeting Krebs, and a similar memo naming former senior DHS official Miles Taylor, marked an escalation in President Trumps campaign of retribution against perceived political enemies. It was the first time the president had requested possible government investigations against individuals.

Miles Taylor, center, departs the Republican Caucus luncheon on Capitol Hill, on March 5, 2019.

The presidential memorandum accused Krebs of seeking to suppress conservative viewpoints on social media about the 2020 election and the COVID-19 epidemic, by allegedly coercing social media platforms under the guise of combatting supposed disinformation.

The memo claimed Krebs falsely and baselessly denied that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen, including by inappropriately and categorically dismissing widespread election malfeasance and serious vulnerabilities with voting machines.

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Trump has repeatedly claimed that the 2020 election was stolen but there is no evidence that the vote was plagued by widespread fraud.

More than 50 lawsuits brought by Trump or his allies alleging fraud and irregularities have been withdrawn, dismissed or denied by state and federal judges.

After Trump signed the memorandum last month cancelling Krebs security clearance, Krebs stepped down from his role at the cyber security firm SentinelOne to prepare his legal defense. Security clearances are crucial for employees working on federal cyber security contracts.

Over 40 cybersecurity experts signed an open letter on April 29 condemning what they called the political persecution of Krebs.

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By placing Krebs and SentinelOne in the crosshairs, the President is signaling that cybersecurity professionals whose findings do not align with his narrative risk having their businesses and livelihoods subjected to spurious and retaliatory targeting," the letter stated, "the same bullying tactic he has recently used against law firms."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  A former daycare worker pleaded guilty in Raleigh County to two misdemeanor charges of battery and now faces one year of probation, according to Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Truman.

Mackenzie Sigman was initially charged with felony child abuse resulting in risk of injury or death, following incidents which occurred in July while Sigman was employed at Rising Stars Daycare, according to court documents.

Sigman was captured on video forcefully throwing a young child to the floor of the daycare and also pushing down a second child, Truman told 59News.

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Truman said a review of the video, however, convinced his office to allow Sigman to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charges.

We viewed the video. We viewed the police report, and it seemed like a fair demonstration of justice that this defendant receive a misdemeanor battery plea instead of a felony, Truman said on Friday, May 2, 2025. She was just in over her head. She was very young. She was likely inexperienced and just overreacted.

The video appears to show Sigman, who was 19 years old, alone in a room with a group of children.

Truman and Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Chief Investigator Jeff Shumate said there were around eight children, which was above the state limit for a daycare class with one caregiver.

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A number of local daycare operators and state policy leaders have said the state faces a daycare crisis, with a shortage of childcare workers and daycare providers.

Daycare operators, parents, lawmakers, agree West Virginias lack of childcare is an economic crisis

A few of the children, including at least one of the victims, threw pillows at Sigman as she appeared to struggle with keeping order.

Shortly after the pillows being thrown, video shows Sigman forcefully tossed one of the victims back on the floor.

She picked up the victim, appeared to comfort the child and then appeared to check the childs head for injuries.

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The child was active again shortly following the incident, based on the surveillance video.

The children also threw objects at one another, appeared to bite one another, and are shown on video apparently trying to overturn a shelf standing on the floor.

Truman said the chaos in the room did not excuse Sigmans actions, but he said the incidents did not appear to be felony child abuse.

Local daycare worker arrested after childs arm broken

Chief Investigator for the Prosecutors Office Jeff Shumate said he viewed the video with a family member of one of the victims.

They actually agreed, that it was so chaotic in the room that day that the young lady was just overwhelmed, said Shumate. Theres several factors we take into consideration. One would be her age, the accused age, also the lack of criminal history.

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Truman said that he had inadvertently failed to notify the victims families that misdemeanor hearings do not include victim impact statements as part of the process, and he said that he understood the desire of the childrens parents to address Sigman.

New sexual abuse charges filed against former high school wrestling coach in Mercer County

The grandmother of one of the victims said Shumate apologized for the oversight.

The father of one of the victims posted to social media that he was upset with the legal outcome and that he had concerns that the charge would not prevent Sigman from working at a daycare in the future.

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Shumate addressed those concerns on Friday.

Most daycares do backgrounds, he said. These charges should come up and the reasons for these charges should come up, and that would be a decision made by that company.

A daycare worker at Rising Stars faced criminal charges in 2023 after a childs arm was allegedly broken.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
A former city clerk in New Plymouth, who served in the role for over a decade, pleaded guilty to a scheme that saw her defraud the small Southwest Idaho town of nearly $200,000, acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced in a news release Friday.

Danielle Painter, 41, of Fruitland, was charged with a felony count of wire fraud in federal court on April 11, according to court documents. Her guilty plea means she will be sentenced Aug. 5, and she faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as a maximum fine of $250,000.

Painter was employed as the city clerk/treasurer for New Plymouth from 2012 to 2023, and was responsible for recording credit card charges in the accounting system, issuing credit card payments and retaining statements, the news release said.

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Between 2017 and 2023, Painter defrauded the city by using official New Plymouth credit cards for personal expenses such as retail and restauraunt purchases, travel and concerts, and medical bills, court records showed.

The unauthorized purchases totaled $196,947, which Painter tried to hide by entering them as professional services for the city.

The Idaho State Police takes our responsibility seriously to uphold public trust and protect taxpayer dollars, Lt. Jack Catlin said in the release. This case demonstrates the strength of our partnerships with local and federal agencies and our shared commitment to holding individuals accountable when that trust is violated.
Former Madison County Councilman Steve Sumner has managed to elude police for 22 months now.

Sumner was arrested in 2022 on 21 criminal charges for alleged sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16. The most serious charges are Level 1 child molesting and rape as a Level 3 felony.

If convicted, Sumner faces a possible prison sentence ranging from 10 to 57 years and maximum fines of up to $120,000.

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He failed to appear for a hearing in Madison Circuit Court Division 3 in July 2023 and has been on the lam since.

Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings said he took part in a Zoom meeting last week with representatives from the U.S. Marshals, Indiana State Police and a Tippecanoe County special prosecutor.

Its really not my responsibility, but as a courtesy I was involved, Cummings said. I think they are devoting as many resources as possible to find him.

He is concerned that Sumner wont be found anytime soon.

I believe there are probably religious groups assisting him, Cummings said. They do have leads that I cant comment on.

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Sumner formerly served as pastor at a local Baptist church.

Investigators want to get the U.S. attorneys office involved, which Cummings believes would be helpful.

There are crimes that we cant enforce locally that are in the federal system, Cummings said. There are some other things going on that I dont want to comment on publicly.

He believes Sumner has received assistance from local people during his flight from prosecution.

I think he has gotten some help in the past, Cummings said.

State police Detective Tony Klettheimer said the case has been a priority over the past two years.

In 2023, the case was run through the ISP intelligence system, which included a search of Sumners financial records, Klettheimer said.

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Were working hand-in-hand with the U.S. marshals, he noted. There are active leads. I contact the lead investigator every week.

Investigators received a report in September 2023 that Sumner was in Tennessee with Sharon Bailey Wood Barker, who was reportedly traveling with an assisting him. A photo of the two was posted on the website for a Knoxville television station.

We thought we did find him in Tennessee, Klettheimer said. There was a van stopped, but we found out it wasnt him.

Authorities have also looked into Sumners connections in Waynesville, North Carolina, and Maryland.

Officials in Tennessee said Sumner has a history of participating in the Nazarene Church in Montana and Colorado. He might also be working as a handyman, according to Tennessee authorities.

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Local businesswoman Katherine Callahan has posted on Facebook that shes offering a $25,000 reward for Sumners capture.

I assume it is legit, Cummings said of the reward offering. It has certainly generated a lot of attention. The more media attention there is, that keeps interest in the case.

According to authorities, between July, 1, 2020, and Aug. 4, 2020, Sumner by force or the threat of force had sexual contact with a girl under the age of 16.

On Sumners cell phone, investigators found images and videos of a young nude female, a probable cause affidavit relates.

The girl told investigators that all but two of the photographs were of her and were taken in 2019 or the beginning of 2020, according to the charging information.

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Following his arrest in December 2022, Sumner said he was innocent of the charges.

Sumner was elected to the Madison County Council from District 2 in 2018. He resigned from his council seat in 2021 after the charges against him came to light.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A former federal prosecutor was in court Friday after being accused of stabbing a man on the Howard Frankland Bridge in 2023 during a traffic incident.

Patrick Scruggs is claiming he was in fear for his life and was forced to stab the driver of a car because he was worried about the safety of other drivers around him.

Scruggs is asking for the charges against him to be thrown out as part of a stand your ground defense.

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Cellphone video taken at the scene shows Scruggs violently stabbing the driver of a car repeatedly during the incident. In the video, he walks away for a brief time before coming back and stabbing the driver again.

Ahmad Gahan was one of the first drivers on the scene and says he stopped because a car was stopped in a traffic lane in the middle of the bridge.

Gahan says he saw a driver passed out in the car and pounded on the window to wake him up.

I talk to him, I said open the window, I help you, said Gahan.

He says the passed-out driver then woke up and tried to drive off, hitting Scruggs car.

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Gahan says Scruggs then became enraged and used the end of a knife to break out the drivers window.

Gahan says he tried to get Scruggs to stop, and thats when the former prosecutor came at him.

He stopped him, and he almost stabbed me too, said Gahan.

Amanda Post was in her car and watched it all unfold in front of her. I was afraid if he saw me take a video of it, he could break down my window and come after me, said Post.

Blake Sharp is the driver who was stabbed by Scruggs. He says he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs but had some type of medical episode that caused him to pass out.

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Sharp has a long criminal history but angrily confronted Scruggs attorney from the stand, saying, Just because Im a felon, does not give your client the right to stab me.

Sharp says his first memory of that day is being stabbed by Scruggs. All I could think of was trying to call my wife and tell her I wouldnt be coming home because some psychopath was stabbing me, said Sharp.

Late in the day, Scruggs took the stand and told the court he was in fear for his life.

The judge told the state and defense attorneys he would issue a ruling on the stand your ground aspect of the case after he considered all of the evidence presented.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
ADEN, Yemen, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A Houthi assault on military positions in Yemen's oil-rich Marib province killed three pro-government soldiers and wounded eight others on Saturday, a military official told Xinhua.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Houthi fighters launched a coordinated offensive on army sites in Harib district in the south of the mostly government-held province.

"Fierce clashes broke out and continued for several hours as government troops mounted a strong defense," the official said.

The wounded were transferred to medical facilities in neighboring Shabwa province, he added.

In a separate statement, the Southern Giants Brigades, a pro-government force, said it had repelled the attack and inflicted heavy casualties, claiming "dozens" of Houthi fighters were killed or wounded in the fighting.

Elsewhere in the country, Yemeni government forces shelled Houthi positions near the Hadd Yafea front in southern Lahj province in what officials described as retaliation for recent Houthi artillery strikes.

The renewed violence comes two days after clashes in Lahj left two government soldiers dead and five wounded. Government sources said they killed four Houthi fighters and injured 13 others in that confrontation.

The Houthi group has not issued any statement regarding the recent clashes. It rarely discloses details of its engagements with pro-government forces. The group, which seized control of the capital Sanaa in 2014, has been battling the internationally recognized government for over a decade.

Military analysts say the intensifying clashes could signal the government's preparations for a broader offensive aimed at reclaiming Houthi-held areas in northern Yemen. The campaign, they suggest, may receive support from regional allies and the United States, which stepped up airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territory in recent days. 
Sen. John Fettermans former chief of staff wrote a letter to a doctor involved with the Pennsylvania senators treatment for clinical depression, detailing warning signs and expressing concern for the senators mental health.

New York Magazine reported Friday that Adam Jentleson, who served as Fettermans chief of staff from 2022 to 2024, listed a number of concerns in the letter, including worry that the senator was not taking his medication as prescribed and was not following through with checkups.

Jentleson had previously communicated updates about the senators care to the public after Fetterman checked into a hospital in February 2023 to receive treatment for clinical depression. Fetterman remained there for six weeks, and declared his depression in remission when he left. Fetterman previously had a stroke in May 2022, during his Senate campaign.

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One year after Fetterman completed his inpatient treatment, Jentleson detailed warning signs we discussed to David Williamson, a doctor who had helped with Fettermans care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

I think John is on a bad trajectory and Im really worried about him, Jentleson said in his letter, according to NY Mag. The New York Times also obtained a copy of the letter, which was sent via email with the subject line concerns.

Sen. John Fetterman speaks to reporters in Washington, D.C., in January. ALLISON ROBBERT via Getty Images

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, Jentleson said, according to NY Mag.

Jentleson also expressed worry about Fetterman purchasing a gun, and said hed warned others not to get in a car with Fetterman if the senator was driving.

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The New York Times reports Fetterman called the NY Mag article  which also detailed the concerns of other staffers and alleged worried comments from Fettermans wife Gisele  a hit piece, and said my ACTUAL doctors and my family affirmed that Im very well. Gisele Fetterman told NY Mag Jentleson told her scary, untrue stories about Johns health.

During his time in the Senate, Fetterman has become known as a staunch ally for Israel, and has been more willing to break with progressive Democrats on a number of issues.

He was the first sitting Democratic senator to meet with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago after he defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Brian Montana, a former guitarist for the Bay Area death metal band Possessed, was killed in a shootout with police in South San Francisco.

The incident occurred April 28 after Montana, 60, confronted a neighbor about tree branches and leaves falling into his yard, according to a press release from the South San Francisco Police Department, first reported in the San Mateo Daily Journal.

"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 release stated. "The suspect then re-positioned himself into a driveway of that neighbouring residence and concealed his location behind parked vehicles while still armed.

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Read more: New revelations after Jillian Lauren, wife of Weezer bassist, accused of shooting at LAPD

"Over the next 25 minutes," the release continued, "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."

Two officers on the scene returned fire and killed Montana. One resident in the home Montana shot at suffered a non-life-threatening injury in the shooting, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The officers were not injured.

San Mateo County Dist. Atty. Steve Wagstaffe told the Daily Journal that On the shooters side, there was some alcohol involved. His death is a tragedy, but its fortunate that nobody else wasnt hit or injured more seriously.

Montana briefly played in the pioneering death metal band from 1983 to 1984. Possessed's official Instagram posted a photo of Montana with a brief remembrance.

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"I just feel like people should know that Brian Montana was a very nice guy. He was jovial and a gentleman," the band wrote. "The Brian I know is from when we were still just kids back in the beginning of Possessed. He was nothing like what Im seeing being 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. Im sure theres a lot more to this story, but that would be up to Brians family to tell or not to tell. I know that I still feel this is a great loss and Im deeply saddened."

Read more: Brian James, founding guitarist of punk's The Damned, dead at 70

This isn't the band's first tragic brush with gun violence. Possessed's vocalist, Jeff Becerra, was paralyzed from the chest down after being shot in an armed robbery in 1989. He has used a wheelchair ever since, but in 2021, he walked for the first time in decades with aid from robotic legs.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CHICAGO  George Homer Ryan served one term as Illinois governor, his scandal-clouded tenure and subsequent imprisonment on federal corruption charges overshadowing a nationally historic move to halt the states death penalty and empty its Death Row amid concerns of widespread misconduct in capital cases.

Ryan, a Republican whose 35-year public career spanned from local Kankakee County Board chairman, state legislator, Illinois House speaker, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and ultimately Illinois 39th governor from 1999 to 2003, died Friday in a hospice in his hometown of Kankakee, said former Illinois House GOP leader Jim Durkin. Ryan was 91.

Ryans career was honed on old-school politics, reliant upon patronage and deal-making, as he also underwent an ideological metamorphosis that took him from hard-line rural conservatism to more pragmatic progressive policymaking. Such was the case in moving from a capital punishment supporter to placing a moratorium on the death penalty.

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Ryans bona fides as a conservative had been such that Republican Gov. James R. Thompson selected him as his running mate in 1982, believing he needed Ryans conservative credentials to balance his own liberalism in seeking reelection.

As House speaker in 1982, Ryan single-handedly blocked the legislature from voting to enact the Equal Rights Amendment to the federal constitution and he steadfastly opposed abortion. By 2000, as governor, he vetoed legislation that would have banned taxpayer-funded abortions for poor women whose health was jeopardized by their pregnancy.

After announcing he would not seek reelection in 2001, with a scandal engulfing his governorship, Ryan asked lawmakers to guarantee gay rights in public accommodations.

As I have said before, I favor equal and fair treatment for everyone, regardless of who they are as a person, Ryan wrote to lawmakers. I have never been in favor of special treatment for anybody, but I have always been in favor of fairness for everybody.

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That prompted then-state Sen. Patrick OMalley of Palos Park, who already had prepared a GOP run for governor, to declare: This appears to continue to go against the very things he has historically been associated with.

Ultimately, it was the federal investigation of Ryans political and governmental operation called Operation Safe Road and its initial probe of commercial drivers licenses exchanged for bribes in his secretary of states office that proved Ryans undoing as governor. Public support evaporated and he announced he would not seek reelection. He was indicted in December 2003, less than a year after leaving office.

Ryan could display a gruff external demeanor, which was only accented by his deep bass voice. It came in handy as the last speaker of the Big House  before the Cutback Amendment reduced the size of the chamber to 118 from 177  when running the state House was a political chore likened to herding cats.

But all that gruffness was just kind of baloney, said Durkin, who served in the House during Ryans tenure as secretary of state and governor. He wasnt a person that took himself too seriously. He was approachable, fun-loving. He was really a down-to-earth guy who wanted to help people.

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Durkin said Ryan wouldnt survive as a politician in todays political climate because he wanted to get things done, even if it meant compromises had to be made.

George was a guy that wanted good things for Illinois. He wore Illinois on his sleeve. He had this incredible ability to be able to bridge the gap between the bitter partisanship between Democrats and Republicans. And he also was able to bridge a gap between the differences between labor and management, something that is very unique.

Ryans successes as governor in moving his agenda through the General Assembly was a reflection that he was a creature of the legislative process and the give-and-take that went with it, said Ryans predecessor as chief executive, former Gov. Jim Edgar.

He didnt get hung up on ideology, like some of us probably did, but he just kind of wanted to work after the deal. Sometimes they were good deals. Sometimes they werent good deals, but there was always a deal, Edgar said.

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He had as many friends among the Democrats as he did the Republicans, said Edgar, who earlier in his career served a term in the House with Ryan, who Edgar said was likely better suited to the legislative branch than the executive branch.

Former Democratic Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, who served in the legislature from 1979 to 2020, said of the seven governors he dealt with, Ryan was the best in dealing with the legislature.

George, given the fact that he was a speaker and a governor, it gave him a unique position to understand the legislature, Cullerton said. He probably had the most volunteer floor leaders in the legislature willing to push his agenda of any governor in the history of the state.

Cullertons predecessor as Senate president, Democrat Emil Jones Jr., recalled that he and Ryan used to shoot pool together as young lawmakers in Springfield and the bond between them grew. One example was Ryans approval of the earned income tax credit for low-income families, backed by Jones and sponsored by an up-and-coming South Side state senator named Barack Obama, who would go on to be president.

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We were friends, Jones said of Ryan. Thats how we got many things done.

Ryan was born in Maquoketa, Iowa, and grew up in Kankakee. After serving in the U.S. Army in Korea in 1954, he came back to work in his pharmacist fathers drug stores, turning them into a small successful chain. In 1956, Ryan married Lura Lynn Lowe, whom he had met in high school.

A back room in Ryans Kankakee pharmacy served as a hub for local Republican political activities and he was mentored by the powerful GOP county chairman and state legislator, Ed McBroom. People looking for state jobs had to get McBrooms approvaland sometimes buy a vehicle from his car dealership if they got hired or got a pay raise.

In 1962, Ryan ran McBrooms campaign for the state Senate; in 1968, Ryan was appointed to the Kankakee County Board; by 1971 he had become County Board chairman and was off to the legislature the next year and became House speaker a decade later.

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After serving as Thompsons lieutenant governor for eight years, Ryan ran and won two terms as secretary of state when Jim Edgar gave up the office to make a successful bid for governor. After Edgar left the governorship following two terms, Ryan ran to replace him, winning the office while often campaigning to the left of former downstate Democratic congressman Glenn Poshard.

Ryans lengthy tenure in Springfield and willingness to engage in horse-trading to get his agenda made him popular with lawmakers in both parties. Having served previously as House speaker, as a Republican he had a successful relationship with powerful Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan.

His ability to forge friendships and alliances worked for him early on, when he secured passage of a massive, $12 billion Illinois FIRST capital improvement spending program to reconstruct schools, roads, bridges, highways and sewers.

As governor, Ryan also mediated a $3.5 billion aid package for the coal industry, a bill of rights for HMO patients, tighter regulation of factory hog farms, $1.5 billion more in school funding, health insurance for 125,000 additional kids from low income families and added 30,000 acres of open space.

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In October 1999, Ryan made a much-ballyhooed trip to Cuba and was feted by Fidel Castro as the governor bucked U.S. policy and urged the nation to reopen trade with the communist island country.

As governor, Ryan had authorized only one execution to proceed and had exhibited emotional qualms about the power of the death penalty even though there was no doubt about the convicted mans guilt.

On Jan. 31, 2000, Ryan declared a moratorium on imposing the death penalty in Illinois, noting that since the state reinstated capital punishment in 1977, 12 people had been executed while another 13 had been exonerated.

Until I can be sure that everyone sentenced to death in Illinois is truly guilty, until I can be sure with moral certainty that no innocent man or woman is facing a lethal injection, no one will meet that fate, Ryan said.

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He cited a Tribune investigative series that examined each of the states nearly 300 capital cases that exposed how bias, error and incompetence had undermined many of them.

Ryans moratorium was continued by his successors but it wasnt until a decade after he issued it that Illinois lawmakers approved a law abolishing the death penalty, which was signed by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

Ultimately, with only days remaining in his term, Ryan in early 2003 commuted the sentences of 167 Death Row inmates and pardoned four others  the largest such commutation in U.S. history. He was repeatedly nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

In many ways the simplest of men, Ryans Death Row decision added a dimension of complexity to his otherwise straightforward legacy.

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Who the hell am I, he said in speeches on the death penalty, to say that a man should die?

In September of 2020, Ryan co-authored with former Tribune reporter Maurice Possley the book, Until I Could Be Sure: How I Stopped the Death Penalty in Illinois, detailing Ryans internal deliberations on the death penalty and discussing the national movement to abolish it.

Critics charged Ryans Death Row moratorium was a desperate effort to deflect attention from the scandal that had enveloped his administration. Supporters said Ryan was filled with genuine moral angst over a system that made quite real the possibility of sending an innocent person to their death.

It was during his tenure as Illinois secretary of state that his troubles with the law began.

As secretary of state, his campaign coffers were regularly loaded with money from his employees, who were compelled to sell tickets for Ryan fundraisers. Commercial drivers licenses were for sale, and among the unqualified motorists who paid for his license was a truck driver named Ricardo Guzman.

In 1994, part of the taillight assembly on Guzmans truck fell off onto Interstate 94 near Milwaukee. A minivan driven by Rev. Duane Willis and carrying his wife and six children hit the dropped part. The van exploded into flames and the children, aged six weeks to 11 years, were all killed.

Known in shorthand as the licenses for bribes scandal, 75 people were convicted of various infractions as a result of the probe; 30 of them were employees of the secretary of states office.

During a six-month trial, Ryan was defended, without being charged legal fees, by a high-powered legal team from Winston & Strawn, the law firm headed by former Gov. Thompson. Despite a defense put together by former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb at an estimated cost of $20 million, a jury found Ryan guilty of all 18 counts against him in April 2006. Also found guilty was Ryans co-defendant and close friend, lobbyist Lawrence Warner, who made more than $3 million on insider deals.

Ryan became the third Illinois governor to be convicted of wrongdoing since the 1970s. Otto Kerner received 3 years in prison in 1973 for taking bribes while governor in the late 1960s; he was paroled after serving a year. Dan Walker was sentenced in 1987 to 7 years for bank fraud unrelated to his public duties but was released after 17 1/2 months.

Ryans successor, Democrat Rod Blagojevich, was impeached, removed from office and convicted of federal corruption charges. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison but was granted clemency by President Donald Trump after serving eight years. Trump pardoned Blagojevich earlier this year.

Throughout Ryans federal investigation and trial, he was steadfast in declaring he had done nothing wrong. At his sentencing, he relented a bit, saying of residents, When they elected me governor of this state, they expected better, and I let them down, and for that I apologize.

Ryans wife, Lura Lynn, died in Kankakee on June 27, 2011. Ryan had been allowed out of prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, to be with her when she died. He was released from a federal prison in Indiana in January 2013, serving the final months of his term in home confinement at his home in Kankakee.

I think we should remember George Ryan for the good things hes done in his life, because hes done a lot of good things for Illinois, Durkin said. Everybody makes mistakes. Everyone. And George paid the price but he also handled it like a man and moved on.

The Ryans had six children: five daughters including a set of triplets  Julie, Joanne, Jeanette, Lynda and Nancy  and one son, George Homer Ryan Jr.

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(Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long contributed to this story.)

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Imagine a Kansas where your vote isnt a faint echo lost in partisan noise but a powerful force shaping the future. This is the promise of fusion voting, a system Kansas once embraced and can reclaim today.

As former Kansas Senate President, and former House Majority Leader, respectively, weve seen gridlock paralyze progress while everyday Kansans are sidelined by a system rigged for the powerful.

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Fusion votingwhere multiple parties can nominate the same candidate  offers a remedy. It would make minor parties constructive players in the political process, help bridge divides, and give voters more choice and more voice.

This isnt just wishful thinking. Its happened here before.

Kansas has a proud history with fusion voting. Until the early 1900s, it fueled competitive elections, giving voters more parties to choose from, which amplified their voices at the ballot box and in the Statehouse.

Then the major parties banned it  not for the public good, but to cement their dominance.

For over a century, that ban has dimmed our democracy, stifling innovation and entrenching polarization.

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Restoring fusion voting would rekindle a legacy of elections driven by ideas, not just party loyalty, returning power to We the People, where it belongs.

Today, the new United Kansas Party, led by citizens from across the political spectrum, is leading the charge to revive this right, challenging the ban on fusion in state court.

Their argument is rooted in our states Constitution, which guarantees freedom of political association and expression, and the right of equal treatment under the law.

The ban violates these bedrock principles by restricting how parties, candidates and voters can associate, silencing coalitions that amplify voter priorities. It is an unconstitutional gag order on political expression, and the Kansas Supreme Court has a duty to strike it down.

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The Kansas Constitutions Bill of Rights doesnt bend for political convenience  it demands freedom.

The benefits of fusion voting are clear and practical.

It empowers minor parties to influence elections and policy, forcing candidates to appeal beyond narrow party lines.

Voters can back specific issues  like rural development or education  without wasting their ballot on long-shot candidates.

Imagine a farmer supporting a candidate endorsed by both a major party and the United Kansas Party, boosting rural priorities with real clout. Historical data from Kansass fusion voting days backs this up: a greater say for citizens, higher turnout, sharper ideas.

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Fusion voting also softens the edges of rank partisanship.

When parties can align on shared goals, candidates will build coalitions instead of burning bridges.

Kansas could lead the Midwest in this renewal of democracy, setting a standard for more freedom in  and less partisan control over  our politics.

This fight is personal  its about the Kansas we hand to our children.

We want a state where politicians answer to the people, not the other way around. We want a state where our elected officials work across party lines, together, to solve our problems, not just fight to one-up each other.

Were hopeful that the Kansas Supreme Court will see the states fusion ban for what it is: a violation of our state constitutional rights.

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But this isnt just about a lawsuit; its part of a movement to reboot our stuck and degraded politics.

Don Hineman i s a former Kansas House majority leader. Stephen Morris is a former Kansas Senate president. Both are Republicans.






DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  2 NEWS is highlighting each candidate for Dayton City Commission ahead of the May 6 election.

In just a few days, five candidates will face off, with four being voted to go onto the November ballot to ultimately fill two commission seats.

2 NEWS has been sharing each candidate in reverse alphabetical order  with the last name on the list being former Mayors aide, Darius Beckham.

Commissioner Profiles

Darius Beckham is a lifelong Dayton resident, a board member on several local nonprofits and has spent many years in Dayton City Hall.

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Its been five years working in the mayors office at City Hall, dealing with the challenges of our city first hand and actually working on solutions, said Beckham.

Beckham worked with both former Mayor Nan Whaley and present Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr. While he is familiar with their policies, Beckham says he is focused on progressive movements for the city.

I believe I am a young progressive that represents diverse communities in this city, said Beckham . And I genuinely believe my lens for my generation is whats needed right now in our community.

Beckham is a Democrat and wants to focus on young people, hoping to continue to combat gun violence, invest into neighborhoods and support local businesses.

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Dayton is a city where young people can see and achieve their full potential, where our neighborhoods are safe and theyre thriving, and where our economy is booming, said Beckham.

Beckham says although he is the youngest in the race at just 27, he is ready to lead the city of Dayton.

I think it takes all of us, but I genuinely believe Daytons best days are still ahead of us, said Beckham.

To learn more about Darius Beckham, visit his campaign website.

2 NEWS has shared profiles on each candidate ahead of May 6. Click here to see full coverage of the 2025 Dayton City Commissioner race, including all five profiles and more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Navajo County Sheriffs Office provided more details after they found a formerly reported missing 13-year-old from Albertville last week.

On April 30, the Marshall County Sheriffs Office said Dayetssi Carrasquillo Pizarro, a formerly reported missing girl from Albertville, was found safe in Arizona with a 32-year-old man, Raul Alexis Arellano-Romero. They were both then placed in the custody of the Navajo County Sheriffs Office and are said to be transported back to Alabama.

The Navajo County Sheriffs Office announced that around 5:37 a.m. on April 30, a Major Crimes Apprehension Team Detective stopped a vehicle traveling eastbound on I-40 near North Sun Valley Road for a civil traffic violation.

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During the stop, the detective made contact with the driver, identified as Arellano-Romero, from New Mexico. NCSO said that while the detective was talking with Arellano-Romero, he saw someone trying to hide under a blanket in the vehicles front passenger seat.

When asked about this, Arellano-Romero said the passenger was a 19-year-old friend he recently met in Las Vegas and was taking her back to New Mexico.

The detective said he noticed inconsistencies in Arellano-Romeros statements, that he looked nervous, and that he had signs of deceptive behavior.

NCSO said the reported 19-year-old gave a false identity and age. The sheriffs office also said it looked like she had fake tattoos on her body, possibly to alter or conceal her real identity.

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Upon further questioning, NCSO said the female disclosed her true name and age, revealing she was a 13-year-old child reported missing from Alabama. Detectives then contacted law enforcement authorities in Alabama, who confirmed that she had been missing since April 19.

The sheriffs office said further investigation revealed that Arellano-Romero had previously been arrested in Massachusetts in 2024 for unlawfully removing the same child from her guardians custody. He was released on bond later that year.

News 19s sister station, WWLP in Massachusetts, said that the investigation revealed that Arellano-Romero left his home in Alabama and drove to Springfield after talking with the girl online. Springfield police say that it is believed that they had previously met in Alabama, where the girls primary residence was.

Authorities believe that Arellano-Romero traveled from New Mexico to Alabama and again took the 13-year-old without lawful custody or consent.

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Arellano-Romero was arrested and booked into the Navajo County Sheriffs Office Jail on a warrant with a $100,000 bond. He is currently awaiting extradition to Alabama and detectives from Navajo County are working with detectives from Marshall County, Alabama, to determine whether additional charges will be filed in Arizona once the investigation is complete.

This case is a strong reminder of how proactive policing can change the course of a young life, Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse said. Thanks to the attentiveness of our deputies and detectives, a missing child was recovered safely, and a dangerous individual was taken off the streets. We remain committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities, no matter where they come from.

Arellano-Romero is still being held in the Navajo County Jail awaiting extradition to Alabama. News 19 has had contact with the sheriffs office there, which said the 13-year-old was safe and secure with Navajo County Sheriffs personnel in Holbrook, Arizona.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR)  A former Pottawatomie County Sheriffs deputy is facing domestic assault charges after allegedly trying to suffocate his own mother and threatening to kill her.

52-year-old David Dewitt, who previously served as a commander for the Pottawatomie County Sheriffs Office, was arrested on Monday by Norman Police.

Edmond Police identify suspect in officer-involved stabbing

According to court documents, Dewitts mother told police that he had hit her in the head and covered her mouth and nose with his hands to prevent her from breathing while he threatened to kill her on April 28.

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Dewitt was arrested following the incident, and booked into the Cleveland County Jail on Friday on several charges, including felony assault and battery by strangulation.

David Dewitt. Photo courtesy Cleveland County Detention Center.

Court records show Dewitt was also charged in connection to another domestic assault involving his wife and daughter back in February.

On February 10, Dewitts wife reportedly told police he had threatened to shoot and kill her during an argument. When Dewitts daughter attempted to call the police, Dewitt allegedly grabbed her phone and attempted to push her down the stairs while pulling her hair, but she caught herself on the railing.

Documents allege Dewitt then grabbed his daughter by the neck, and she punched him in the stomach to escape before running to a neighbors house, where she called the police.

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Dewitt was charged with domestic abuse, threatening to perform an act of violence, and interrupting an emergency call in connection to the February 10 incident. He was later released from jail after posting a $10,000 bond on March 6.

News 4 previously reported Dewitt was arrested in December 2023 after an altercation with a clerk at a Christies Toy Box in Oklahoma City while he was still a Pottawatomie County Sheriffs commander. He was then suspended from the sheriffs department with pay during the investigation.

Dewitt claimed he was acting in self-defense, and the clerk declined to press 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, speaks on Thursday at an event an Anchorage event hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Alaska World Affairs Council. The event, held at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, was part of UAA's community lecture series. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, speaking at an Anchorage event on Thursday, had harsh words for much of her Republican Party but praise for a rare GOP member who, like her, is willing to criticize President Donald Trump: Alaskas senior U.S. senator.

I cant be here in Alaska and not mention the incredible courage of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Cheney said near the start of her event, held at a packed theater in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.

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You see it almost every day. There are very few Republicans who will be consistently counted on to do the right thing. And shes one of a very small group, Cheney said.

The former U.S. House member from Wyoming  and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney  spoke at a lecture hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska World Affairs Council. She took questions from veteran journalist Elizabeth Arnold, who teaches at UAA.

Like Murkowski, Cheney voted to impeach Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and opposed him in other ways.

Unlike Murkowski, who was reelected in 2022 over a Trump-backed challenger, Cheney lost her seat in the GOP primary to a Trump loyalist, Harriet Hageman, who now represents Wyomings single House district.

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That was after Cheney co-chaired the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot and Trumps role in it, and after she had been stripped of her GOP leadership role by fellow House Republicans because of her opposition to Trumps actions.

She is aghast that Trump, now back in the White House, has pardoned those rioters, including those who attacked police officers  and that Republicans in office have gone along with those pardons.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, smiles on March 18 as she enters the Alaska House of Representatives before her annual address to the Alaska Legislature. Murkowski is a rare Republican willing to do the right thing and challenge President Donald Trump, former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney said on Thursday at a lecture event in Anchorage. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

When you hear the Republicans, any Republicans, saying that they are the party that supports law enforcement, you know, please go back and look at the videos of Jan. 6, Cheney said. Remind those Republicans that Trump watched the events unfold on television for three hours without trying to stop the riot, she said.

He watched police officers get brutally beaten by people who were carrying his flag; they were doing it in his name  And then, when he came into office, he pardoned all of those people, she said.

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The Republican Party as a whole  with a few exceptions like Murkowski  has betrayed its convictions and even the U.S. Constitution to become a personality cult loyal only to Trump, Cheney said.

Todays GOP is something we havent seen in this country before, she said. The party has walked away from the Constitution, said the former House member, who noted that she grew up as a Republican and cast her first vote for President Ronald Reagan.

Cheney spent much of her speech calling out House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders of Congress who she said have enabled Trumps attacks on the rule of law and other bad actions.

The problem with Mike is that hes fundamentally dishonest, she said.

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Voters should take action to counter the cult-like devotion that has given Trump and his administration carte blanche, Cheney said.

A dressing room backstage is designated for former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming. Cheney spoke on Thursday as part of the UAA College of Arts and Sciences lecture series event. Since she lost her seat to a Trump loyalist in 2022, Cheney has been traveling the country and advocating on behalf of movements and candidates countering what she considers the dangers posed by the president and his policies. (Photo by James Evans/University of Alaska Anchorage)

Thats why its crucially important that in 2026, the Republicans lose the majority in the House and the Senate, she said.

She also called on the audience and public at large to continue protesting Trump administration actions, writing letters to the editor, contacting members of Congress and state legislators and even consider running for office to replace bad officials.

It was a message embraced by the event audience. Many of those attending Cheneys address had walked over to the theater after attending a May Day anti-Trump protest held a few blocks away on downtown Anchorages Park Strip. Several times during the event, the audience erupted in applause and cheers.

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Cheney herself has continued to be politically active since losing her House seat.

She started a political action committee and has been supporting candidates she believes will counter the Trump movement  most notably, former Vice President Kamala Harris, who wound up losing the 2024 presidential election. She wrote a book, titled Oath and Honor, that details the confrontations she had with fellow congressional Republicans over the efforts to overthrow the 2020 election results. She has also been teaching at the University of Virginia and traveling the country to speak at events like that held Thursday in Anchorage.

Returning to elective office remains a possibility, she said. I dont know if I will end up being a candidate again myself. But its certainly not something that Im ruling out, she said.

That statement was greeted with enthusiastic audience applause, and some follow-up back-and-forth quips to close the evening.

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Clearly, I should move here to Alaska, Cheney said in response to the applause.

We have ranked choice voting, Arnold said.

And you have one good senator, Cheney replied.

We have room for one more, an audience member called out.

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ANDERSON  Former United States Surgeon General Jerome Adams is concerned about the nations health, particularly in marginalized communities.

Adams expressed those some of those concerns Friday during a luncheon sponsored by the Minority Health Coalition of Madison County. He also offered his vision for forging a better way forward when it comes to providing health care services in those areas.

Were the only rich developed nation on the planet that hasnt figured out how to deliver universal access to health care, he said. One of the things Im incredibly proud of is that when I was health commissioner of Indiana, we helped expand the Healthy Indiana Plan.

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Im very worried that that is being reversed right now, he continued.

Adams was appointed the states health commissioner in 2014 by then-Gov. Mike Pence, and was re-appointed in 2017 by Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Adams now serves as executive director of health equity initiatives at Purdue University. He said he aspires to change the way agencies view health care.

What happens in a hospital or doctors office is only about 20% of what determines whether or not youre going to be healthy, he said.

The other 80% involves things that happen in your community  things like transportation, child care, access to healthy foods, safe spaces to exercise.

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Not considering social factors, he said, will result in stagnant health outcomes.

He shared a story about his 15-year-old daughter, who like many teenagers, he said, spends a lot of time on her phone. So, he sends her outside for fresh air.

If you five miles south of where I live, Pendleton Pike, they dont have complete streets, Adams said. Theres gangs, she might be accosted. So, a dad tells his 15-year-old daughter to go outside, thats not a good dad. Thats criminal child neglect.

He encouraged local agencies, including philanthropic organizations and business groups, to take steps to fill in those gaps.

We want to make the healthy choice, the easier choice, he said.
A U.S. Army soldier assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson was indicted on charges related to drug dealing this week. Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez was charged with multiple counts including possession of, distribution of, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The charges come days after approximately 17 active-duty service members, including Orona-Rodriguez, were arrested during a law enforcement raid at an underground nightclub.

The soldier was indicted this week. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Orona-Rodriguez was working security at the underground nightclub Warike in Colorado Springs, where Fort Carson is located, when it was raided April 27 by law enforcement agents, including members of the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The raid, first reported by local media last week, found several soldiers assigned to Fort Carson either working security at the nightclub or there as patrons. Colorado Public Radio reported that more than people were detained. The military members were turned over to the Army, the DEA said. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the raid on Warike was targeting both drug trafficking and undocumented immigrants in the United States.

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As of press time, Orona-Rodriguez, 28, is the only soldier arrested in the raid to have been charged by federal prosecutors. The federal investigation into the staff sergeant alleges months of drug trafficking activity, going back to as early as September 2024. Court documents note that his text messages obtained by investigators show him messaging people about selling cocaine, including transferring it at the nightclub.

At the time of the raid, Orona-Rodriguez was working for a security company that was employing active-duty members of and veterans of the U.S. military.

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, the U.S. Attorneys Office release on his arrest said. On numerous occasions, the Colorado Springs Police Department received 911 calls related to Warike citing a wide variety of alleged crimes, including weapons violations, assault, narcotics, and other violent crime.

As part of the investigation, an undercover agent purchased cocaine from Orona-Rodriguez outside his home on April 22. Five days later the raid on the nightclub happened.

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The affidavit from an FBI agent noted that Orona-Rodriguezs involvement in the security company was known by his commanding officer, who told him in March that activity was not allowed. The commander specifically told him you are prohibited in engaging in off-duty employment without the approval of the Battalion Commander IAW 4ID Despite that, he remained involved, as he was working security the night of the raid.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the raid was carried out by hundreds of law enforcement agents, including members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI.

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DAR ES SALAAM, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania and Malawi on Friday ended their trade standoff after bilateral discussions that reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening trade, fostering economic cooperation, and resolving existing issues.

A jointly-signed communique issued on Friday after a bilateral meeting between senior officials of the two countries said they agreed to lift trade restrictions, pledging to finalize legal frameworks required for the signing of the Simplified Trade Regime Agreement (STRA).

Both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to finalizing the relevant legal framework for the STRA and to implementing it upon completion of domestic legal processes by May 30, said the communique signed by Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Mahmoud Thabit Kombo and Malawian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Gladys Tembo.

According to the communique, Malawi appreciated Tanzania's decision to lift the import ban on plant and plant products from Malawi, which Tanzania imposed on April 23.

In reciprocity, the government of Malawi committed to issuing an administrative instrument to the relevant authorities to facilitate imports and exports between the two countries, with effect from the date of this communique, said the communique.

Tensions began in March after Malawi imposed restrictions on selected agricultural produce from Tanzania, escalating in April when Tanzania implemented reciprocal measures.

Tanzania also imposed similar restrictions on South Africa, which had blocked agricultural imports from Tanzania.

However, in a public notice issued on April 25, Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture Hussein Bashe confirmed that the restrictions had been suspended, effective April 23.

The ban was officially lifted on April 26 following diplomatic overtures from Malawi and South Africa, aimed at fostering dialogue and strengthening cooperation. 
May 2ST. MARYS  The May 6 primary election will see four council seats in St. Marys up for grabs, as well as a county-wide replacement tax levy, a renewal income tax and a renewal library tax.

Council-at-large members Michael Aquaro Jr. and Robert Fitzgerald will run for re-election with Aaron Gilliland and Steven Huff challenging for their seats and the seat of Dan Uhlenhake.

"If I'm re-elected, I will focus on continuing to push for a better relationship and transparency between city administration, city council and the citizens of St. Marys," Aquaro Jr., a member of the St. Marys Chamber of Commerce and the vice president of the St. Marys Alumni Foundation, said. "I have conservative values, but it doesn't mean I won't work with my fellow council members and constituents to help all of St. Marys achieve our common goals."

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Fitzgerald, running for his eighth term in office, said he is interested in completing city projects if re-elected.

"I've seen a lot of the things that happened so far and I'm familiar with what it takes to get things done," he said. "We've some new construction going on downtown on Spring Street and some minor projects with the parks that I like to keep a finger on. What's old is new and what keeps us refreshed is trying to conclude and finish things that might take a little longer than you hoped."

Steven Huff, a St. Marys native and postman in the American Legion and a veteran of 27 years, said he got into the race to give back to the community.

"I think we need to revitalize the downtown area, open storefronts and bring more business into town," Huff said. "I'd just like to make changes where they're needed. I'd make sure that taxpayer money is being spent wisely, which I'm not saying it currently isn't, but it doesn't hurt to have new eyes on it."

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The Lima News reached out to challenger Aaron Gilliland, an engineer for HD.

Erik Mauter and Erin Buchanan will be on the ballot for the fourth ward council seat currently occupied by Arienne Childrey.

The Lima News also reached out to Mauter and Buchanan.

Council President James Harris, Treasurer Kathly Fleagle, first ward Councilman John Bubp, second ward council member David Lunz, third ward council member James Christman and Democratic incumbent fourth ward council member Childrey will all be running unopposed in their primaries.

St. Marys voters will also vote on the statewide Issue 2 fund infrastructure improvements with general obligation bonds.

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Voters will also decide on a tax levy for Auglaize County that would replace a port of an existing levy and reduce it by 0.15 mills to provide sufficient funds for Auglaize County Board of Health programs.

An income tax renewal for the city would continue a 0.5 percent levy on income to fund fire, police and safety facilities, equipment and vehicles; construction of streets, bridges, railroad crossings and storm sewers; and parks and recreational facilities.

A renewal levy for the St. Marys Community Public Library Levy would continue a tax of 0.75 mills, totaling an estimated $205,000 to fund expenses for the library.

To find your ballot, a polling place and more information, visit bit.ly/4iFCgMT.

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See past election coverage at LimaOhio.com/election.

Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.

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MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV)  10 years later, the Fox Cities community continues to reflect on the May 2015 shooting on the Trestle Trail.

Menasha Police Lieutenant Matt Albrecht was among the first officers on the scene when the shooting happened.

We dont want to remember the awfulness, we want to remember the good things that are happening, the support people are giving the families, Lt. Albrecht said to Local 5. The healing that has occurred since then and the healing for some that is still occurring.

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In a random act of violence, a gunman on the trail opened fire, killing 31-year-old Adam Bentdahl, 33-year-old Jon Stoffel and 11-year-old Olivia Stoffel. The man also critically injured Erin Stoffel before turning the gun on himself.

Wisconsin woman convicted for deer poaching gets 30 days in jail, barred from hunting license for 3 years

Despite her gunshot wounds, Erin Stoffel was able to get her other children and herself off the bridge to safety. Her husband Jon and 11-year-old daughter Olivia didnt survive.

The memory is there, you have the memory of the incident, to help work through that you remember all the good things that were accomplished afterwards, Lt. Albrecht said.

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Lt. Albrecht said it was amazing to see the community come together to support the victims friends and families. 10 years later, mosaic tiles with words like courage and faith sit on the support beams of the Trestle Trail bridge to honor the victims.

It certainly was tragic, but weve focused on the unity and bonding and building up of Menasha and the Fox Valley and our growth, Menasha Police Chief Nick Thorn said.

Every year since the shooting, community members and law enforcement officers have done random acts of kindness to honor Olivia Stoffel on December 7, her birthday.

The Fox Valley has embraced Olivias heart in those random acts of kindness, Chief Thorn said.

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Eastern Wisconsin pub wins second-ever Wisconsins Best Burger Contest

I think its important for us to help out with the healing and be part of that, Lt. Albrecht said. Thats part of our mission and part of how we want to continue to be part of the community.

The shooting rocked the psyche of many in the Fox Cities community and 10 years later, people continue to need time to heal from the tragic events of that day.

I think it made people more distrusting of their communities here in the Appleton area, people are more small-town mentality (and this made it feel like our area is) turning into a city, Trey Cotherman of Menasha said. The city element hit them hard.

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Saturday marks one decade since the Trestle Trail shooting. A day that many in the Menasha area will never be able to forget.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Erica Carpenter was clear in listing the things that brought her out to a protest Thursday evening in Fredericks Baker Park.

There was womens reproductive rights, funding for Head Start, the elimination of federal workers jobs, and concerns over due process for people facing deportation, among other concerns.

Theyre chopping up our social safety nets, said Carpenter, a Frederick resident, as she held a small Ukrainian flag and a sign that read Evidence Based Outrage.

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The protest was meant to highlight May 1, known as International Workers Day, said Don Harver of the group Indivisible Frederick City, who served as the events master of ceremonies.

Its a day to celebrate workers and what they provide to keep the community going, Harver said.

But much of the crowds energy seemed trained on President Donald Trump and the policies hes implemented since his inauguration in January.

Diane Silas of Frederick was one of several dozen people who gathered at Fredericks City Hall before marching to the main rally in the park.

Silas said she was concerned about Trump shutting down essential rights.

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Silas said it was encouraging to see so many people show up for the event.

We cant all go to Washington every day. But we all have something to say, she said.

Occasional honks from passing vehicles, presumably in support, drew cheers from the crowd as it marched.

At the rally, Frederick County Council Member M.C. Keegan-Ayer told the crowd that May 1 was a day to honor the struggles and gains made by labor unions and movements around the world.

Jamie Kirk, co-chair of the Frederick Democratic Socialists of America, said May Day began as a fight for an 8-hour workday, and urged the crowd to remember the generations of workers who came before them.

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We carry the legacy of every worker who stood up and said, We deserve more, he said.

He criticized the Democratic Party for failing to deliver on its promises and inspire people in the face of Trumps challenges to democracy.

Don Weiss, a retired philosophy professor who said he recently moved to Frederick, told the crowd about his experience participating in a march to the Pentagon in 1967 in a protest against the Vietnam War.

This is the first time since the 1960s that he feels like people believe they had to take to the streets to protect American democracy, he said.

The movement was much bigger back then, he said after he finished speaking to the crowd.

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But he feels the current opposition to Trump could grow larger as his presidency goes on.

I think this could escalate, Weiss said.

In the crowd, Chuck Hedges, of Lovettsville, Va., handed out blue stickers that said Resist.

The stickers were inspired by a sign his wife had put in the window of their home, he said.

Hedges said he grew up as a Republican in Knoxville, in southern Frederick County, and worked on Republican Barry Goldwaters presidential campaign in 1964.

He turned his wifes sign into a sticker, and began distributing them.

First he ordered 100, then 300, then 400, and then another 400, he said.

He said hes pleased at the response hes received.

Its so important for people to understand that theyre not alone, he said.
SOUTHWICK  With the new state law requiring all boaters to eventually earn a safety certificate to operate any powered craft on the states waterways, the Massachusetts Environmental Police will hold a free boating safety course starting Tuesday, May 6, at Town Hall.

This course will take you from what you might consider common sense when boating to why you should be safe on the water, said Richard Grannells, the chair of the towns Lake Management Committee, which manages the three Great Ponds of the Congamond Lakes.

The LMC had been lobbying for years for the state to require boaters to earn a safety certificate, he said.

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We used to be one of a few states that dont require a safety certificates. Now were one of the many, he said.

Before the state Legislature adopted the Hanson Milone Act and Gov. Maura Healey signed it in January, the state was one of 12 that didnt require boaters to have any education before getting on the water.

When the bill was adopted, Grannells said it was long overdue.

He wanted to stress that anyone who wants to operate a powered craft in the state must have the certificate.

And that means every powered craft, like a JetSki, Sea-Doo, Waverunner, or a jetboard, which is motorized surfboard, he said.

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When the law was adopted, it established a timeline for boaters to attend the safety course.

All boaters born after Jan. 1, 1989, will have until April 1, 2026, to obtain their certificate, and that no boater shall be cited and fined until Sept. 1, 2026.

Also, anyone born on or before Jan. 1, 1989, must obtain their certificate before April 1, 2028, according to the legislation.

Included in the legislation was a provision that anyone younger than 18 years old cant operate a powered craft unless there is someone on board that has a safe boating certificate, which the towns Chief Administrative Officer Nicole Parker, an avid boater, said was sorely needed.

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This would have prevented so many accidents, she said, adding that all too often inexperienced boaters, especially teenagers, have no regard for being safe on the water.

However, anyone between the ages of 13 and 17 can take the course and exam, and upon passing, will be allowed to operate a motorboat without adult supervision, according to the legislation.

Grannells said the MEP has been offering boating safety courses for years, and the LMC and the lake advocacy group, Citizens Restoring Congamond, have been hosting the classes at Town Hall.

He said that anyone who has attended the course and still has physical copy of the certificate awarded at its completion arent required to retake the course.

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However, he said if a boater doesnt have the physical copy of the certificate, they will need to retake the course.

And once completed, no other classes are needed.

Its one and done, Grannells said, adding the certificate is issued immediately at the end of the course.

The certificates will be valid for the lifetime of the person named on it, according to the legislation.

For those who dont pass the examination, they can take it as many times as necessary.

Active members of the military, including the National Guard, will not be required to complete the course or take the exam.

The course will be held over three days  from 6-9 p.m., starting on Tuesday, April 6 and ending on Thursday, April 8.

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And participants are required to attend all three classes, and registration is required, which can be found here.

Grannells said the course is limited to 50 participants, so registering now is important.

The course will cover topics like navigation rules on how to safely maneuver on the water and avoid collisions; emergency procedures in case of an emergency to protect yourself and your passengers; and environmental protections to gain awareness of practices that protect Massachusetts treasured natural resources.

The new program aligns Massachusetts boating regulations with federal U.S. Coast Guard safety standards and aims to ensure that every boater is equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely navigate the states waterways, according to an announcement by the MEP, which regulates the states waterways.

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Grannells said with the renewed interest in boating safely, he expects the law enforcement officials monitoring the ponds this summer will also have a renewed focus on making sure all watercraft have equipment required by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The legislation was named for David Hanson who was 20 years old when he was killed in a boating accident in 2010, and Paul Milone, the late harbormaster from Weymouth who dedicated his life to boater safety and was a tireless advocate for this legislation.

Read the original article on MassLive.
Friday was the beginning of a new chapter for many local students looking for entry into health-related careers.

We attended a graduation ceremony by UPMC Health plan took place at the Erie Center for Arts and Technology. This is an award-winning program that continues to grow here in Erie and across the state.

Glenwood YMCA hosts local seniors for speed dating

Eleven students have completed six weeks of medical training and received their certificates marking Eries third Freedom House graduation.

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The hands-on program is a partnership between UPMC Health Plan and ECAT.

Students focused on anatomy basics, physiology, the principles of community health work, and more.

The program is 100% free, it actually comes with a stipend as well as lots of wraparound support, transportation costs, things like that to really remove as many barriers as we can for students, said Trevor Mathey, product manager for the Freedom House 2.0 program.

Gov. Shapiros budget proposal addresses funding for childcare workers

The name comes from the 1960s ambulance service that paved the way for educating undeserved populations.

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Were just following in their footsteps, hopefully offering this training to folks that need it, Mathey said.

One graduate said this program is a stepping stone for what she plans to be a long and evolving medical career.

Very helpful because they give you open hands to private doctor offices, public doctor offices, community health workers and they bring a lot of mentors here that can show you what direction that this program by itself can take you, said Carlisha Powell, a Freedom House graduate.

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Powell wants to continue to be a medical assistant and then an examiner. She is one of many who have already been offered positions.

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I was very surprised, but my hard work did pay off, she continued.

Another student is following in her mothers footsteps, who graduated from the program last year.

They believe that more people should learn and take advantage of this program.

Gobble gobble, turkey season starting this weekend

A lot of young people dont know a lot about the program Ive been trying to kind of lead them this way because its a great journey once you start it, its nothing but up from here, Natasha Thompson, a former graduate of Freedom House, went on to say.

Applications are now open for their summer classes.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Saturday he was considering proposing a national referendum over the country's budget, given concerns that big cost-cutting plans could result in widespread protests.

"I think the subject is so serious, and it carries such major consequences for the future of the country, that it should be put directly to our citizens. Therefore, I am not ruling out any option," Bayrou told the Journal du Dimanche paper in an interview published on Saturday.

The French government is trying to balance how to cut the country's debt burden while trying to avoid stirring up anger from trade unions and workers who fear big public sector job cuts.

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According to the French constitution, the president can call for a referendum after a proposal by the government.

"It is up to the government to propose, and for the president to decide...We have in front of us a question of huge importance, one which is not only for the technocrats and experts but which needs to be examined by each citizen," added Bayrou.

During his traditional New Year's Eve speech on December 31 last year, Macron opened the door to use referendums this year, saying he would ask the French to decide on "decisive" issues, without elaborating on which ones.

Macron's Elysee office did not immediately return a request for a comment on Bayrou's interview.

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French opposition parties have already threatened to bring down Bayrou's government with a no-confidence motion, after his finance minister said next year's budget would require billions of euros in savings.

Bayrou is keen to avoid the fate of his predecessor Michel Barnier, whose short-lived tenure as Prime Minister was ended after Barnier was toppled due to widespread anger over the cost-cutting plans in his budget.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Jean-Stephane Brosse and Michel Rose; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
JEFFERSON  The Ashtabula County Board of Elections has been see some early voting before the special election Tuesday.

All county precincts will be open because of the state wide issue on the ballot, which would permit the continued issuance of bonds to fund to public infrastructure in Ohio, if passed.

According to the county board of elections website, 728 people have voted early in-person at the board of elections, as of Friday afternoon.

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Early voting has been slow, but steady, Board of Elections Director John Mead said.

Mead said special elections after general elections are usually slower.

It has picked up as we get close to election day, he said.

Early voting will continue today from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. at the Board of Elections office at 8 W. Walnut Street in Jefferson.

Precincts will be open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Almost all county precincts will stay the same as the last election, the exception is Saybrook Township precincts 2, 4 and 8, which were moved to Lakeside Junior High School because of the Lakeside High School roof collapse.

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Along with the state-wide issue, there are 11 levies, both county-wide and local. All candidates on the ballot are unopposed.

According to the board of elections website, 373 people have requested an absentee ballot by mail.

The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot has passed, Mead said.

That deadline was the 28th of April, he said.

Mead said absentee ballots need to be mailed by Monday in order to be accepted by the board of elections office.

The board of elections has sent out 214 absentee ballots to nursing homes, according to its website.

Mead said the board of elections reaches out to county nursing homes to accommodate seniors.

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Most of those have come back by now, he said.

Mead said 14 people have come by the board of elections office to request an absentee ballot to take home and fill out.

The board of elections has sent out three UOCAVA emails that accommodate soldiers serving overseas.

There have also been three curbside votes collected.

Mead said these voters are in the board of elections parking lot, and cannot come into the building because of medical issues.

We do everything to accommodate voters within [Ohio] Revised Code, he said.

The board of election sends poll worker staff of each major party to work with them, Mead said.
Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup in Gabon ending decades of Bongo family rule and swept the election last month with nearly 95 percent of the vote, has been sworn in as the countrys president.

The general and former military government leader, who toppled Ali Bongo in August 2023, officially took the presidential reins on Saturday after leading a 19-month transition government.

The inauguration at Angondje Stadium in the north of capital Libreville drew some 40,000 supporters and was attended by more than 20 African heads of state, including The Gambias Adama Barrow, Senegals Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Djiboutis Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, the AFP news agency reported. The Democratic Republic of the Congos President Felix Tshisekedi also attended.

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Librevilles streets were gridlocked as thousands converged on the venue, with artistic performances and a military parade planned along the Libreville waterfront in the evening, state media reported.

All citizens of Greater Libreville are asked to extend a warm welcome to these distinguished guests, the Ministry of Interior and Security said in a statement.





Oligui, 50, rose to power after deposing Ali Bongo, whose family had ruled Gabon for 55 years. The Bongo era was characterised by a tightly controlled patronage system that enriched elites while leaving most citizens excluded from Gabons oil-fuelled prosperity.

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Oligui faces serious challenges in leading the oil-rich country, which needs to revamp crucial infrastructure and diversify its economy, but is heavily indebted.

A former head of the elite Republican Guard, Oligui has promised a departure from the dynastic politics of the past.

In his first international news interview since the election, Oligui told Al Jazeera he was determined to restore dignity to the Gabonese people.

I will give back to the people what they have given me today. And everything that has been stolen from the people, I want to return to them, he said.





Despite vast reserves of oil, gold, and manganese, and its role as a key part of the Congo Basin rainforest, the country struggles with widespread poverty.

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According to the World Banks 2024 data (PDF), about 40 percent of young people are unemployed and roughly a third of the overall population lives below the poverty line.

During the transitional period, Oligui sought to portray himself as a reformer and builder, launching high-profile construction projects while pledging to tackle endemic corruption. His campaign slogan, We Build Together, was prominently displayed during rallies in the run-up to the election.

However, Oliguis own record has drawn scrutiny. A 2020 investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project revealed that he allegedly owned properties in the United States worth more than $1m and had previously helped expand the Bongos overseas business ventures.

When questioned about these ties, Oligui said they were a private affair.

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But early signs from the World Banks latest report indicate that Gabons economy grew by 2.9 percent in 2024, driven by increased output of oil, timber and manganese, as well as public infrastructure spending.

As Oligui begins his official term, investors and international observers are watching closely to see whether Gabon and its population of 2.2 million people can turn the page on decades of dynastic rule.
BIG STONE GAP, Va. (WJHL)  An investigation is underway after confirmed gang members at Wallens Ridge State Prison allegedly premeditatedly stabbed three corrections officers.

According to a news release from the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC), an investigation into the stabbings is underway.

WCSO: Body found along Nolichucky River believed to be flood-related

At roughly 9:45 a.m. on Friday, six inmates allegedly stabbed corrections officers at the Big Stone Gap prison.

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VADOC stated that five of the six inmates involved are confirmed members of the MS-13 gang. The release stated that the inmates are from El Salvador and were in the U.S. illegally.

Each have been convicted of violent crimes including aggravated murder, first and second degree murder, and rape, VADOC stated in the release.

The sixth inmate involved is reportedly a member of the Sureno 13 from the U.S. and is serving a sentence for second-degree murder.

In total, five corrections officers were transported for medical treatment. As of 5 p.m. Friday, three had been discharged. Two of those three received minor injuries while responding to the alleged attack.

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The other two officers who were transported to the hospital have been admitted and are in stable condition, according to VADOC.

Five of the individuals responsible for this senseless attack should never have been in this country in the first place, VADOC Director Chad Dotson stated in the release. Every single day, our officers put their lives on the line to ensure public safety for the more than 8.8 million people across the Commonwealth. This attack is an example of the dangers they face when they show up to work every day. Our officers are heroes, and I commend the team at Wallens Ridge for their swift 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to work with the new Australian government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.

The spokesperson made the remarks in response to a query on reports that the Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese won the federal election on Saturday.

"China notes the reports and congratulates the Labor Party and Prime Minister Albanese," said the spokesperson.

China is ready to work with the new Australian government and, under the fundamental guidance provided by the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, continue advancing a more mature, stable, and productive comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia to further benefit both countries and peoples, and contribute positively to the peace and stability of the region and beyond, the spokesperson added. 
(The Hill)  GasBuddy, a company that tracks fuel costs across the country, is refuting President Trumps claims in a Friday morning social media post touting record low prices at the pump.

Gasoline just broke $1.98 a Gallon, lowest in years, groceries (and eggs!) down, energy down, mortgage rates down, employment strong, and much more good news, as Billions of Dollars pour in from Tariffs, the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

However, GasBuddy said it could not locate any fuel stations with those prices.

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We dont have any data showing any individual stations below $2 a gallon today nor have we really seen any of that in the last several weeks since these claims have started, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a statement to NewsNation.

The lowest price in the nation as of Friday was in Mississippi at $2.63 per gallon, according to the companys data tracker. The national average is $3.18 as of Friday, according to AAA, with no prices listed at less than $2.61.

Economists predicted Trumps tariffs would spike gasoline rates in early March before reciprocal tariffs and other measures were announced by the administration, many of which have been suspended for now.

The U.S. imports more oil from Canada than any other country, meaning Trumps relationship with new Prime Minister Mark Carney could impact future gas prices  especially in regions that rely heavily on Canadian gas, such as the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains and New England.

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In January, Trump signed an executive order seeking to boost domestic energy and offshore drilling by exploring promising pockets of federal land.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Russia has lost 955,470 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on May 3.

The number includes 1,170 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 10,745 tanks, 22,369 armored fighting vehicles, 47,003 vehicles and fuel tanks, 27,234 artillery systems, 1,375 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,153 air defense systems, 370 airplanes, 335 helicopters, and 34,665 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

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Read also: US prepares sanctions against Russia, unclear if Trump will approve, Reuters reports

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Charlie Bailey is the perceived favorite to become the next Democratic Party of Georgia chair because he has experience running in statewide elections and an ability to rally donors. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder (File)

The Democratic Party of Georgia is set to elect a new state chair on Saturday to compete against Republican-controlled state and federal governments.

A new leader will be selected by the Georgia Democrats to replace Atlanta U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, who resigned in March following internal pressure from key members of her party, including U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who expressed doubts about her ability to devote sufficient attention to promoting the partys platform.

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Ossoff, who is in for a tough fight to keep his Senate seat in 2026, reportedly pressured Williams to step down after the Democrats poor performance in last years election.

President Donald Trumps return to the White House looms large, which raises questions about the role of Democratic party leadership in winning close elections.

Seven candidates are competing for the Democratic Party of Georgia chair and plan to deliver speeches in Atlanta Saturday seeking support for their bid to lead a party that recently enjoyed success with two Democratic senators winning the 2020 election as well as the states pivotal role in putting former President Joe Biden in the White House.

The field of candidates hoping to lead Georgia Democrats includes Gwinnett County state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, former Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis and ex-Rome City Commissioner Wendy Davis, and perceived frontrunner Charley Bailey, a former candidate for attorney general and lieutenant governor.

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The interim party chair, Matthew Wilson, said Democrats are excited about the state committee meeting on Saturday.

He said they have seven great candidates running for chair, a treasurers race, and other votes to determine key strategies.

The benefit to being a big tent party like the Democratic Party is that we have lots of different voices from all corners of the political spectrum. Weve got conservatives, we have moderates, we have liberals, we have progressives, and it is going to be a big job for the new chair to make sure that we are united moving forward in a strategy that centers, again, what matters most, and thats electoral victories, Wilson said.

The 2026 election will feature races for the 236-member General Assembly, U.S. Senate as well as constitutional officers including governor since Republican Brian Kemp is ineligible for a third term.

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University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock said there is a built-in advantage for incumbent state officials since 2023 legislation allows top Georgia lawmakers to set up their own political action committees during the legislative session.

Democrats have signaled the importance of the next party chair by making it a full-time role, especially with many statewide positions and key Senate races up for grabs in Georgia, Bullock said.

The success of Democratic candidates will depend on their ability to coalesce behind a strong candidate and avoid bitter primaries, he said.

Its potentially going to be a big year in Georgia, giving Democrats a shot at winning some of the statewide constitutional offices, Bullock said. They havent won an open seat statewide constitutional office in this century.

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Bailey is the perceived favorite to become the next party chair because he has experience running in statewide elections and an ability to rally donors by not having certain skeletons that would be easy for Republicans to take advantage of, Bullock said.

He can learn from the challenges that he had to overcome as a candidate, Bullock said. He is advising others who maybe have not had the kind of scrutiny that a person gets when they start running statewide so he can give advice in terms of heres some things you dont want to say you believe in.

Brian Robinson, a Georgia Republican strategist, said Democratic candidates will need to overcome the perception that Georgia is well-run by Republicans. Democrats could sway voters by taking advantage of national issues such as Trumps poor approval ratings on the economy as hes followed through on plans to impose steep tariffs.

A new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll found that a majority of registered Georgia voters currently disapprove of Trumps policies on the economy, tariffs, NATO and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The poll, however, revealed the support for Trumps policies were sharply partisan, with 85% of surveyed Republicans approving compared to 97% of Democrats opposed.

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Republicans in Georgia are going into 2026 with a lot of things out of their control, Robinson said. Theyre going to need to focus on the things they can control: get out the vote, raise money, and pick candidates who can win. But we know that theres a headwind for the party in the White House.

If Trumps approval rating is the low 40s or high 30s, thats a prime opportunity for Democrats in the state, if they can have discipline to pick good candidates who dont scare the middle, dont scare independents, and can win (support) from some swing voters in the metro Atlanta area, Robinson said.

The big question for 2026 is whether Kemp enters the GOP field of potential challengers to Ossoffs re-election bid.

Is Brian Kemp heads and tails the best choice for Republicans as the most competitive candidate? Robinson said. Yes, absolutely and anybody who says different is not a serious person to talk about politics.

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But that second tier of GOP candidates will become the first tier at that juncture, Robinson said. They will get nominated, and they will have a lot of money behind them from a lot of organizations.

State Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones, an Augusta Democrat, said the next party chair needs to be able to work closely with the local parties.

I think the key is to work with the county parties and make sure you have a good brand name as far as 2026 is concerned, Jones said. I think all of them are basically committed to that.

Sandy Springs Democratic Sen. Josh McLaurin is optimistic about the party having a groundswell of support for officials fighting for party ideals.

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They want to see energy, the Democratic base does, from its leadership, because what we dont want is to treat this like its just normal politics, like the Trump deportations and the tariffs and all of this is just kind of business as usual, McLaurin said.

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This story was updated with a correction to Wendy Daviss tenure as a Rome city official.
Charlie Bailey, celebrates May 3, 2025, after being elected as chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, replacing Atlanta U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

Charlie Bailey, a former attorney general and lieutenant governor candidate, was elected as chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia Saturday, replacing Atlanta U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams.

Bailey becomes the Democratic Party of Georgias first full-time chair as the party intensifies its efforts to fundraise and campaign for candidates and reenergize a base after setbacks following the 2020 historic elections for U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

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President Donald Trumps return to the White House looms large as Georgia Democrats look ahead, which fueled questions about the role of party leadership in winning close elections. Trumps narrow Georgia win played a key role in his return to the White House this year.

In Saturdays runoff election to lead Georgia Democrats, Bailey won 53% of the votes, with a margin of 116 votes to 98 votes, over Wendy Davis, a former Rome city commissioner and 2022 candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bailey was the Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2018 and lieutenant governor in 2022.

Several top elected Democrats endorsed Bailey, including Ossoff and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, a Marietta Democrat who delivered Baileys nomination speech on Saturday.

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The new chair said he plans to hit the ground running by raising money for key races this year and in next years election when Ossoff will be on the ballot. Hell also need to focus on races for state legislative and statewide constitutional seats including governor.

Bailey will need to unite progressive and more moderate wings of Georgias Democratic base to get the party back in the win column.

I only ask to be judged on my heart and on my work, and I think my work as a lawyer and in politics shows Ive got a heart for democratic values, Bailey said following the election. Were going to support all of our people and get as many Democrats elected across the state as humanly possible.

During his campaign for party chair, Bailey has cited his experience as an attorney who represented local officials seeking to stop last-minute rule changes made by the State Election Board that might have prevented the certification of the presidential election.

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Bailey finished first among a field of party chair candidates that also included Gwinnett County state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, former Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, Nakita Hemingway of Atlanta, a former Democratic nominee for Agricultural commissioner, District 1 chairman Jay Jones from coastal Georgia, and former Newton County Commissioner Alana Sanders.

Bailey said that the state Democratic Party will have to win over voters by following the partys long-held ideals for improving health care, education and the economy inequality.

Bailey said Georgias Republican Party is failing residents because of the closure of rural hospitals after the state GOPs leadership resistance to full Medicaid expansion and lagging public school ratings.

That is what they have given us, the people of Georgia, Bailey said. Democrats, independents, Republicans, they got full cause to be angry about that, and were going to make sure that they know what the Republicans have done, the choices they make, and what we stand for.

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath delivered Charlie Baileys Democratic Party of Georgia chairperson nomination speech Saturday. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

McBath said Bailey is the right person to lead the party because he knows the ins and outs of politics while also being able to raise the millions of dollars needed for campaigning.

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Im not going to mince words about whats happening in D.C. right now, McBath said. Our democracy is truly on the line, and its time that Georgians stand up. Its time that we say enough is enough.

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This story was updated at 1:45 p.m. Sunday, May 4, to add former Newton County Commissioner Alana Sanders in the list of candidates.
Exchange students from Readings sister city, Reutlingen, Germany, learned about Readings government Thursday during a visit to City Hall.

The 11 students, ages 15 to 17, represented two of Reutlingens schools, Johannes-Kepler-Gymnasium and Friederich-List-Gymnasium.

In the German education system, a gymnasium prepares students for a university education and is considered the most academically rigorous of the three secondary school types.

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The later school bears the name of the German entrepreneur, diplomat, economist and political theorist Frederich List, whose legacy unites his native Reutlingen with Reading, where he lived temporarily and edited the German-language newspaper Reading Adler from 1826 to 1830.

The German youths and their teachers, Heike Spiegelhalter and Corina Goesswein, got a brief lesson on Readings history and government from City Council President Donna Reed and Councilor O. Christopher Miller.

German exchange students from Reutlingen line up for lunch during a tour at Reading City Hall on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

Following a lunch reception in Council Chambers, they engaged in a round table discussion of American-European relations.

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The student exchange program began in 2002 as part of the sister-city partnership formed by Reading and Reutlingen more than a quarter-century ago.

Students from each city live with an exchange family for two weeks, attend classes and learn about the others culture

The program is coordinated on the local side by Reading High School teachers Krystal Riegel Martinez and Kate Perkins, who escorted several Reading high schoolers to Reutlingen in October.

German exchange students from Reutlingen Jule Zieger, left, and Johanna Gorlach, both 16, talk about their experience so far in Berks County during a tour and lunch at Reading City Hall on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)

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The Reading students were hosted by the families of the German students now visiting Reading.

We got to be friends, said Jule Ziefer and Johanna Gorlach.

The 16-year-olds, who attend the Kepler school, spent the morning at Reading High School, Ziefer said, and were surprised by the size of the school and number of students.

Their school, with grades equivalent to fifth through 12th in the U.S., has about 1,000 students, they said, comparing it to Reading Highs four grades and about 5,000 students.

The group will use Reading as a base for the next two weeks. During that time, they will make day trips to Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Washington and New York.
The implementation of Proposition As paid sick leave on May 1 marked an important step forward for Missouri businesses and workers. Businesses should see paid sick leave not as a burden, but as an investment in the well-being of our workforce and the vitality of our businesses and economy. That has been my experience as owner of Oddly Correct Coffee in Kansas City.

We employ 20 people. We know from experience that a business model with fair pay and paid sick leave is better than the low-pay, high-turnover model typical for many restaurants and other businesses.

In 2019, we decided to invest more in our employees with guaranteed living wages and paid sick leave, and we saw the very positive impact on our bottom line. Employees became more invested in their work, and it created an environment for higher quality of service and a better experience for customers. We saw a 20% increase in retail revenue.

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We experienced increased productivity and decreased employee turnover, which led to reduced hiring and training costs. We saw an improvement in morale for both employees and management. And our customers were happier.

During the pandemic, when others had difficulty staffing, we had new applications every day because people wanted to work somewhere that could support them. This continues today.

People want to work with us because they know well do right by them. We have a more stable crew and a better business.

And customers dont just appreciate our great coffee. We have new customers coming to us because they want to support a business that cares about their employees and community.

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Missouri voters knew what they were doing when they passed Proposition A in November, establishing earned paid sick leave and raising the state minimum wage.

Beginning May 1, employees will be able to earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked  up to five or seven days of paid sick leave a year, depending on the size of the business. Employers with fewer than 15 employees can limit this to 40 hours per year, while those with 15 or more employees can limit it to 56 hours.

Paid sick leave ensures that workers can take time to recover from illness without risking their ability to pay rent or face other financial hardship. This benefit goes beyond individual well-being. It translates into a healthier and more productive workforce.

Paid sick leave benefits businesses in multiple ways. Employees dont feel pressure to work sick, when they are less productive, more likely to make errors and can spread illnesses to co-workers and customers.

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Paid sick leave increases job satisfaction and reduces employee turnover, leading to lower hiring and training costs and more stable workforces. Employees who feel valued provide better customer service.

With paid sick time, workers can take better care of themselves and their families. People are healthier; workplaces are more productive and communities are healthier.

Together with minimum wage increases, paid sick leave increases workers financial security, which boosts consumer spending and strengthens local businesses.

The experience of many businesses already implementing similar policies has shown that paid sick leave and fair pay are not just ethical choices but smart business decisions. Reduced employee turnover, increased productivity and greater customer satisfaction result in a healthier bottom line.

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And while the impetus for the changes weve made was for us to do what we felt was right, if you take Oddly Correct as a case study, you can clearly see the benefits to businesses that help provide financial stability for workers.

Thats why more than 500 businesses across the state endorsed Proposition A. And thats why I joined four other businesses in February when we submitted an amicus brief defending Prop A before the Missouri Supreme Court. Its the right thing for workers, and its good for businesses bottom line.

Michael Schroeder is co-owner and general manager of Oddly Correct Coffee in Kansas City.
Singles aged 55 and over showed that speed dating isnt just for the younger crowd Friday.

Thirty-six people showed up at the Glenwood Park YMCA for senior speed dating Friday morning. The five-minute conversations were followed by a mix and mingle where the seniors could get to know each other better.

City of Erie administration calls out Daria Devlin for inaccurate statements regarding budget

Participants were happy to get out for a chance to make new friends.

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I think people tend to be a little isolated as they get older, and really benefit when they can meet new people and thats exactly what were doing. Its just more fun than I thought it would be! said Susan Parry, who participated

Gobble gobble, turkey season starting this weekend

AARP reports that one-third of older adults report feeling lonely. Y officials said the event fits the organizations mission of developing a healthy mind, body and spirit.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Two hikers walking in an overgrown field in the Czech Republic discovered over $341,000 worth of hidden treasure in a man-made wall

The treasure was found in two separate containers and included gold coins, jewelry and cigarette cases

The discovery was handed over to a local museum, and experts believe the treasure was likely hidden during the Second World War

Two tourists discovered a treasure trove of gold coins and bracelets while hiking in the Czech Republic.

The hikers found the treasure in two containers hidden in a man-made wall in an overgrown field in February, according to an official Facebook post from the Museum of East Bohemia.

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Upon opening the containers, they discovered gold coins, bracelets, and cigarette cases weighing a total of 15 lbs.

The museum  which is currently in possession of the treasure  said that the hikers began investigating the wall when they spotted an aluminum can sticking out above the surface of a shaft. The jar contained 598 gold coins divided into 11 columns and wrapped in black fabric.

The bracelets and other objects were then located in a metal box stored about 3 ft. away.

Museum of Eastern Bohemia/Facebook Gold coins, bracelets and cigarette holders discovered by hikers turned over to Museum of Eastern Bohemia Gold coins, bracelets and cigarette holders discovered by hikers turned over to Museum of Eastern Bohemia

Related: Couple Finds Rare Coins While Renovating Kitchen Floors  and They Recently Sold for Over $800,000

Miroslav Novak, the Head of the Archaeological Department at the museum, noted that while hiding precious objects in the ground has been a common practice since prehistoric times, it is unique to find such a large amount of precious metal hidden from a relatively recent time period, per the musuems Facebook post.

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Many of the coins found were dated between 1808 and 1915, while several were minted during the twenties and thirties, which helped the museum to better determine when the coins may have been placed in the wall. They noted that the coins originated from a variety of places, including France, Austria-Hungary, Belgium and the Ottoman Empire.

Local news outlet Radio Prague International reported that the coins alone were valued at about $341,000.

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Museum of Eastern Bohemia/Facebook Gold coins, bracelets, cigarette holders and other items discovered by hikers turned over to Museum of Eastern Bohemia Gold coins, bracelets, cigarette holders and other items discovered by hikers turned over to Museum of Eastern Bohemia

Related: Girl Finds 1,000-Year-Old Viking Coins in Denmark with Metal Detector: 'This Is Very Rare'

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While no one currently knows who hid the treasure, Novak told the outlet that it was likely hidden due to larger world events happening in the region at the time  most specifically, the Second World War.

The list of potential reasons for which it was likely buried is fairly clear, he explained. It was the beginning of the war, the deportation of the Czech and Jewish populations, then the deportation of the Germans after the war  so there are several possibilities. There was also a monetary reform, which could have also been a reason.

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The museum's coin expert, Vojtech Bradle, additionally told Radio Prague that the coins would not have been valuable for their numerical value, but rather because of the material from which they were made.

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It was clearly not about the nominal value of the coins, whether they were worth 5, 10, or 100 crowns. Its not about what the coins could buy  thats not what mattered. It was deliberately hidden because it was precious metal, he said.

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BEIRUT, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah remains firmly committed to armed resistance and will not consider disarmament under any circumstances, a senior official from the Iran-backed group said on Saturday.

Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah's Political Council, made the remarks during a public gathering in Lebanon's eastern Baalbek region, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Qomati accused the United States of leading a regional campaign, carried out by Israel, aimed at dismantling what he described as the "pride of the Arab nation" and eradicating resistance movements.

"We are still the force that the Israeli enemy fears," Qomati said. "Israel and the United States continue to target us, while others echo hollow calls to disarm the resistance in Palestine and Lebanon, offering nothing in return. Let it be clear: disarmament is not on the table, at any price."

Qomati warned that Lebanon faces mounting threats "from the south, east, north, and even the sea," framing Hezbollah's arms as a necessary component of national defense.

Hezbollah and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement on Nov. 27, 2024, ending 14 months of hostilities. The deal calls for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and for the Lebanese army to assume security responsibilities along the southern border, preventing the deployment of militants and weapons.

Earlier this week, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the army was moving "calmly and responsibly" to ensure state control over weapons nationwide.

Hezbollah's military autonomy remains a deeply divisive issue in Lebanese politics. Senior Hezbollah figures, including the current leader Naim Qassem, have repeatedly dismissed disarmament calls as unrealistic and detrimental to Lebanon's security, saying such efforts only serve Israeli interests. 
ALABAMA (WHNT)  May 4-11 now has a new name, thanks to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.

On Friday, Governor Ivey announced that she signed a proclamation assigning next week as National Small Business Week for Alabama.

Small businesses are the engine that keeps Alabama moving forward  powering local economies, creating good jobs and strengthening communities in every corner of our state, Governor Ivey said.

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The Governors office said Alabamas small businesses account for around 99.4% of all businesses in the state, employing 46.7% of the private sector workforce. Over the last 25 years, employment in small businesses has grown by nearly 10 percent. These businesses also contribute significantly to trade, with Alabama small firms exporting over $4.4 billion in goods annually, the Governors office said.

From Main Street storefronts to family farms, small businesses are the backbone of Alabamas economy from the mountains in the north, to the beaches in the south, the wiregrass in the southeast and the timber lands in the western part of the state, each business is strengthening their communities and creating jobs, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Alabama State Director Rosemary Elebash, said. By investing in their success, small businesses ensure a stronger Alabama for everyone.

You can read the official proclamation below.

gov.-ivey-may-2Download

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Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday appointed Bryan Traubert, a philanthropist and former eye doctor who is married to Penny Pritzker, the governors sister, to the University of Illinois board of trustees.

State employees are not allowed to appoint relatives  including in-laws  to state positions, according to the nepotism section of the Illinois state employee code of personal conduct.

But the governors office in a statement said the code does not legally apply to a separate entity like the University of Illinois.

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Governor Pritzkers appointments to boards and commissions are transparent and include qualified individuals dedicated to serving the best interests of the state, the statement said.

Matt Hill, a spokesperson for the governor, also noted the board position is unpaid.

As with many other board and commission roles appointed by the governors office, the appointment covers only expenses, with no salary, according to records from the secretary of states office.

Traubert, a U. of I. medical school alumnus, holds a number of civic roles including as head of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to equalizing opportunity in Chicago, according to his resume and an announcement provided by the governors office.

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He joined the board of trustees at Loyola University Chicago in 2020, according to the school, and at different points has been chair of Chicago Public Media and on the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to his resume.

Chicago Tribunes Dan Petrella contributed.
For todays sermon on courage, I would like the church to open their King James Bibles to Matthew 27:24 : When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

While Pontius Pilate knew Jesus was an innocent man, the Roman governor authorized his crucifixion in large part because he was afraid of appearing disloyal to Caesar and losing power.

The constitutional crisis our country currently finds itself in may be new to America, but as we see in the Gospel of Matthew, the wreckage caused by political expediency began in ancient times.

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Which brings us to St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, a proposed online faith-based charter school in Oklahoma that is seeking public funding, a decision to be determined by the U.S. Supreme Court this year. Last summer, the states Supreme Court rejected the contract St. Isidore had with Oklahoma. However, Gov. Kevin Stitt objected, saying in a statement, Im concerned weve sent a troubling message that religious groups are second-class participants in our education system.

Now, let me tell you what Im concerned with: the 2019 audits by the Catholic Church in Oklahoma that found abuse allegations against 22 clerics to be substantiated. Alleged predators responsible for the care of children were systemically transferred by superiors from state to state from 1960 until 2018.

The long and the short of it is you trusted us, and we failed, Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley wrote in a public letter following the reports. I also am sorry for the complicity and negligence of those who failed to respond adequately to reports of abuse, for whatever reason, whether they are bishops, priests, deacons, religious or lay persons representing the Church.

While Catholic leaders in Oklahoma were applauded for acknowledging past failures, that did not protect the church from facing millions in lawsuits over those allegations and others. In fact, in 2022, 10 current and former students filed a $75-million lawsuit accusing Mount St. Mary Catholic High School in Oklahoma City of fostering a rape culture, saying the school did not take reasonable steps to report or stop the rampant rape culture and ongoing sexual abuse. A federal judge dismissed the case in 2023 because the statute of limitations had run out  not ruling on the merits of the allegations.

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These are just recent headlines from one state. From 2004-23, the Catholic Church paid more than $5 billion to settle sexual abuse cases tracked by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and certain U.S. religious communities.

Whatever else you take from those examples and statistics, this much is clear: The Catholic Church isnt hurting for cash. I cant help but wonder why on Earth taxpayer money would be needed to fund Catholic schools.

Its not that Im against faith-based education. My son attended a private Christian school. But I am against any attempt to tear down the wall between church and state. Just turn to the example of Pontius Pilate to see what can happen when secular power tries to exert control over religious life.

History is full of enough evidence to warn us away from this mingling. We dont need a test case in Oklahoma to prove the point.

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In 1534, when Englands Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, King Henry VIII became the supreme head of the Church of England, breaking with the papacy. Because Henry wanted to divorce his first wife, the popes rule had become  inconvenient.

The king pressured English church officials who knew better into making him the religious leader as well as the monarch. And when Henrys second wife did not produce a male heir, he had her executed so he could marry a third woman. He faced no consequences. Why? Political expediency. Parliament washed its hands of the controversy, because lawmakers could tell themselves the king was above the law and above the church. And as with Pontius Pilate, history shows the attempt to sidestep accountability was futile.

The people who founded the United States were trying to leave behind that entanglement and corruption. They embraced the 1st Amendment to keep the government out of religious life and to keep religion out of government.

For taxpayers to fund a religious school would pull us back toward tyranny.

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This week White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said he wanted the countrys children to be taught to love America. I agree. And that begins with protecting America from becoming a theocracy.

@LZGranderson

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
GRANITE CITY, Ill.  A Granite City school district staff member is under investigation after being accused of hurting two students with special needs.

Ariann Davis says she was at her sons preschool, Prather Elementary, to meet with teachers on April 30 when she heard screaming.

I was like, thats my son. I walked out of the conference, went straight to the gym and it was him screaming, Davis said.

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She says she saw an employee hurt two non-verbal kids, dragging one of them by the arm.

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She then alleges the teacher picked up the other student and shook him before knocking him to the ground. She called the other childs mother, Crystal Denton, right away.

I have to bring my child to places where he cant even speak to tell people what happened and I have to watch him try to navigate through his own emotions without being able to talk about whats wrong, Denton said.

Denton says she has noticed a difference in her childs behavior since that day.

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Hes been very aggressive. Hes been throwing things. Hitting people and I cant even be mad at home because he doesnt even know any better because hes been assaulted by somebody that hes supposed to trust, she said.

Police confirm they are investigating, but Denton and Davis say there is no surveillance video in the gym where the incident took place.

SLPS to cut ties with bus company, over 200 jobs cut

The Granite City School District superintendent Dr. Donald Harris sent a written statement saying,

We take all allegations seriously, and the safety of our students is our utmost concern. We are fully cooperating with the Granite City Police Department and DCFS as part of this ongoing investigation. We are unable to provide further comment as this is a personnel matter.

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Wanting to give their children a voice, Denton and Davis shared a few pictures of some bruising and a scraped elbow they found on their children.

This happens often, and people dont get to tell their story, and Im here to tell my story for my son because I want to make sure hes heard, Davis said.

Police say no charges have been filed at this point.

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HOLYOKE  Youve probably heard of mindfulness. But what about Mindful Rage?

Its a new program in Holyoke that transforms the angst and anger of young people into a creative force for introspection, change and justice, all for the good of the community.

Palante Transformative Justice  on a mission to help young people become leaders  doesnt want the teens of today to stew in isolation and anger. The human service agency is now looking to hire a new clinical director to both offer culturally sensitive therapy and oversee the Mindful Rage program.

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Designed by and for youth of color, the program is a creative- and activist-based alternative to traditional anger management courses assigned by courts.

While theres a lot to be mad at when you look around and see the state of our society, you dont want your anger to burn you or the people closest to you. So how do you channel that anger into art, activism, change-making, and moving yourself and your community forward? said Danielle Hayes, Palantes development and communications director.

Palante was among 10 organizations in Massachusetts awarded a portion of a $1 million grant from Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in April.

The funding is aimed at developing innovative public health approaches  like the Mindful Rage program  to prevent gun violence.

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With the funding, Palante is partnering with Multicultural Clinical Services in Amherst, where the providers are all people of color who understand how society affects mental health, Hayes said.

Instead of trying to work with young people to cope with the current conditions, theres also a broader understanding ... that the conditions that folks are existing in can impact their well-being. Part of what we do here is trying to change the conditions, she said.

The Mindful Rage program was developed as part of a youth action research project two years ago.

This year, the program has held four series for court-involved and other youth seeking to manage their anger, Hayes said.

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The program incorporates reflective art and studies the work of various activists and change-makers who have led social movements. In addition to exploring the legacy of the Young Lords and the Black Panthers, groups that turned their anger into political action, she said.

Participants also have opportunities to write, reflect and journal. They study the work of artists like Dee Nichols  who created The Mirror Casket after the murder of Mike Brown on Aug. 9, 2014, by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer  as a way to use contemporary art for social change, she said.

Palante offers sessions after school and on Saturdays, with more sessions planned for this summer. Each session is facilitated by a young person alongside one of Palantes alumni staff.

The grant will not only strengthen Palantes efforts to prevent violence and support youth in staying off the streets, but it also will help youth come together to build power, create joy, and fight for the communities and world they deserve, said Luke Midnight-Woodward, the co-executive director, in a statement.

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This year, Palantes young people are most passionate about building coalitions with other youth and organizations across Massachusetts, Hayes said.

The group supports the Raise the Age Act, which aims to raise the juvenile age to 21.

Research shows that young peoples brains arent fully developed until 25, and recidivism significantly decreases after age 21, Hayes said. Theres an opportunity to give young people another chance, more access to education, mental health support, and resources that are available in the juvenile system that are not in the adult system.

Young people aged 18 or 19 who end up in adult facilities are vulnerable because of who and what they are exposed to, she said.

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Often, young people struggle to access counselors and mental health support, so the youth leaders at Palante are advocating for counselors, not cops, Hayes said.

This initiative aims to reallocate funding from school resource officers to hire more counselors. These counselors should reflect the identities of the young people, be well-paid and have relevant experience, she said.

The turnover is so high at some school-based clinics that young people pour their hearts out in four to six sessions, only to find their counselor gone. They feel like they dont matter, Hayes said.

A young person told her recently, I only saw my therapist twice, because I know that people are temporary.

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Thats part of what we want to do differently here and have continuity of adults and young people, she said.

Over 50% of Palantes staff are alumni. Its board also is composed of more than 50% alumni and youth. The program aims to have youth leadership at every level of the organization to guide the ship, she said.

So, theres a real weaving together of intergenerational community, Hayes said. If youre not going to be a leader one day in the future, youre a leader right now.

Read the original article on MassLive.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Greece Police officers seized a large amount of cannabis following a search warrant at Dewey Ave Mini-Mart Thursday.

According to the Greece Police Department, a search warrant was executed at the Mini-Mart following complaints of illegal cannabis sales.

The store is closed and cannot operate until the owner reapplies for a building permit and resolves code enforcement violations.

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GPD said the business owner was also issued a court appearance ticket for violations of Greece Town Code related to the unlawful possession and sale of cannabis.

On December 16, 2021, the Greece Town Board voted to opt out of allowing cannabis dispensaries and consumption sites under the New York State Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act causing cannabis sales to be not permitted in Greece.

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TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israel has blocked aid from entering Gaza for two months and says it wont allow food, fuel, water or medicine into the besieged territory until it puts in place a system giving it control over the distribution.

But officials from the U.N. and aid groups say proposals Israel has floated to use its military to distribute vital supplies are untenable. These officials say they would allow military and political objectives to impede humanitarian goals, put restrictions on who is eligible to give and receive aid, and could force large numbers of Palestinians to move  which would violate international law.

Israel has not detailed any of its proposals publicly or put them down in writing. But aid groups have been documenting their conversations with Israeli officials, and The Associated Press obtained more than 40 pages of notes summarizing Israels proposals and aid groups concerns about them.

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Aid groups say Israel shouldnt have any direct role in distributing aid once it arrives in Gaza, and most are saying they will refuse to be part of any such system.

Israel has the responsibility to facilitate our work, not weaponize it, said Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the U.N. agency that oversees the coordination of aid Gaza.

The humanitarian community is ready to deliver, and either our work is enabled ... or Israel will have the responsibility to find another way to meet the needs of 2.1 million people and bear the moral and legal consequences if they fail to do so, he said.

None of the ideas Israel has proposed are set in stone, aid workers say, but the conversations have come to a standstill as groups push back.

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The Israeli military agency in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, known as COGAT, did not respond to a request for comment and referred AP to the prime ministers office. The prime minister's office did not respond either.

Since the beginning of March, Israel has cut off Gaza from all imports, leading to what is believed to be the most severe shortage of food, medicine and other supplies in nearly 19 months of war with Hamas. Israel says the goal of its blockade is to pressure Hamas to free the remaining 59 hostages taken during its October 2023 attack on Israel that launched the war.

Israel says it must take control of aid distribution, arguing without providing evidence that Hamas and other militants siphon off supplies. Aid workers deny there is a significant diversion of aid to militants, saying the U.N. strictly monitors distribution.

Alarm among aid groups

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One of Israel's core proposals is a more centralized system  made up of five food distribution hubs  that would give it greater oversight, aid groups say.

Israel has proposed having all aid sent through a single crossing in southern Gaza and using the military or private security contractors to deliver it to these hubs, according to the documents shared with AP and aid workers familiar with the discussions. The distribution hubs would all be south of the Netzarim Corridor that isolates northern Gaza from the rest of the territory, the documents say.

One of the aid groups' greatest fears is that requiring Palestinians to retrieve aid from a small number of sites  instead of making it available closer to where they live 

Aid officials also worry that Palestinians could end up permanently displaced, living in de facto internment conditions, according to a document signed by 20 aid groups operating in Gaza.

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The hubs also raise safety fears. With so few of them, huge crowds of desperate Palestinians will need to gather in locations that are presumably close to Israeli troops.

I am very scared about that, said Claire Nicolet, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders.

There have been several occasions during the war when Israeli forces opened fire after feeling threatened as hungry Palestinians crowded around aid trucks. Israel has said that during those incidents, in which dozens died, many were trampled to death.

Given Gaza's population of more than 2 million people, global standards for humanitarian aid would typically suggest setting up about 100 distribution sites  or 20 times as many as Israel is currently proposing  aid groups said.

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Aside from the impractical nature of Israel's proposals for distributing food, aid groups say Israel has yet to address how its new system would account for other needs, including health care and the repair of basic infrastructure, including water delivery.

Humanitarian aid is more complex than food rations in a box that you pick up once a month, said Gavin Kelleher, who worked in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council. Aid boxes can weigh more than 100 pounds, and transportation within Gaza is limited, in part because of shortages of fuel.

Experts say Israel is concerned that if Hamas seizes aid, it will then make the population dependent on the armed group in order to access critical food supplies. It could use income from selling the aid to recruit more fighters, said Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at two Israeli think tanks, the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute.

Private military contractors

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As aid groups push back against the idea of Israel playing a direct distribution role within Gaza, Israel has responded by exploring the possibility of outsourcing certain roles to private security contractors.

The aid groups say they are opposed to any armed or uniformed personnel that could potentially intimidate Palestinians or put them at risk.

In the notes seen by AP, aid groups said a U.S.-based security firm, Safe Reach Solutions, had reached out seeking partners to test an aid distribution system around the Netzarim military corridor, just south of Gaza City, the territorys largest.

Aid groups urged each other not to participate in the pilot program, saying it could set a damaging precedent that could be repeated in other countries facing crises.

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Safe Reach Solutions did not respond to requests for a comment.

Whether Israel distributes the aid or employs private contractors to it, aid groups say that would infringe on humanitarian principles, including impartiality and independence.

A spokesperson for the EU Commission said private companies arent considered eligible humanitarian aid partners for its grants. The EU opposes any changes that would lead to Israel seizing full control of aid in Gaza, the spokesperson said.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment on ongoing negotiations.

Proposals to restrict who can deliver and receive aid

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Another concern is an Israeli proposal that would allow authorities to determine if Palestinians were eligible for assistance based on opaque procedures, according to aid groups' notes.

Aid groups, meanwhile, have been told by Israel that they will need to re-register with the government and provide personal information about their staffers. They say Israel has told them that, going forward, it could bar organizations for various reasons, including criticism of Israel, or any activities it says promote the delegitimization of Israel.

Arwa Damon, founder of the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance, says Israel has increasingly barred aid workers from Gaza who had previously been allowed in. In February, Damon was denied access to Gaza, despite having entered four times previously since the war began. Israel gave no reason for barring her, she said.

Aid groups are trying to stay united on a range of issues, including not allowing Israel to vet staff or people receiving aid. But they say theyre being backed into a corner.

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For us to work directly with the military in the delivery of aid is terrifying, said Bushra Khalidi, Oxfams policy lead for Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. That should worry every single Palestinian in Gaza, but also every humanitarian worker.

___

Associated Press writer Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
ROME (AP)  Cardinal Alvaro Ramazzini is taking the same spirit to his first conclave that's guided his decades-long front-line ministry among the migrants, poor and Indigenous people in Guatemalas highlands  ensuring that the Gospel isnt preached in the abstract.

Advocating for migrants was a priority of Pope Francis, who made Ramazzini a cardinal in 2019. Being elevated to the top hierarchy of the Catholic Church didnt faze the bishop of Huehuetenango, whose continued commitment to social justice led to many threats of violence. His native Guatemala is struggling through political turmoil and remains a hot spot of migration to the United States.

Its a duty of conscience for the cardinals, now that we have the responsibility to name a new pope, that we dont lose sight that weve been coming along a path and this path needs to continue to grow and grow and grow, Ramazzini told The Associated Press on Saturday, four days before Catholic cardinals gather to elect Francis successor. Im talking about supporting, welcoming, and protecting the rights of migrants.

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Ramazzini said the church has to advocate for migrants forced by dire poverty to migrate along cartel-controlled routes where theyre often extorted or trafficked, both by helping them with shelters and other humanitarian aid and by lobbying for comprehensive immigration reform.

But this we haven't achieved, Ramazzini said. We didnt achieve it with Clinton, we didnt achieve with Obama, we didnt achieve it with Biden, and far, far less will we succeed with Mr. Trump.

Still, the church shouldnt abandon migrants or the pastoral line of advocating for social justice, peace and fairer economic relations between countries that started gaining prominence with the Second Vatican Council and reached new heights under Francis, Ramazzini said.

Theres a line of continuity and I am sure that this will be a task for the next pope, the cardinal said in the hilltop headquarters of the Scalabrinians, a missionary order founded by an Italian bishop in the late 19th century to serve migrants and refugees. We need to be the voice of all these people who dont have access oftentimes to lobbies that we can reach."

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For most of the 50-plus years since his ordination, Ramazzini has been bishop in San Marcos and then Huehuetenango, mountainous regions that were particularly hard-hit during Guatemalas civil war, which ended in 1996. Today, they continue to struggle with extreme poverty and drug-trafficking, pushing hundreds of thousands of local youths to migrate to the United States.

Cardinals are sworn to secrecy about the ongoing deliberations regarding the direction of the church as they prepare to enter the conclave on Wednesday. But Ramazzini said hes heartened by the global vision shared by the unusually large number of cardinals electors  133, all but a couple of whom are already in Rome.

He added that he trusts the next pope will pick up the pending task of reforming church institutions and its financial structure that Francis began, as well as continue the great sign of including more women in positions of leadership.

Ramazzini also highlighted that spirituality and social justice action must go hand-in-hand.

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This is the true spirituality, which is fed by prayer, by reflection on the word of God, but that has to be projected toward the other, he said. The next pope will have his own spirituality. But the important thing is that nobody forgets that you cant have real spirituality without putting the Gospel concretely into practice.

And his own beliefs are keeping him from being nervous about participating for the first time in the election of the next leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics.

Im not worried because I know that nothing will happen that our Lord Jesus Christ wont permit, Ramazzini said. In the end, hes the master of the church, we are his servants.  So he will help us come out of this well.

That's reassuring  as is the certainty that he wont be picked, Ramazzini joked.

___

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.
By Andrew Hay

(Reuters) -A Guatemalan migrant who crossed the US border eight months pregnant and gave birth in Arizona has avoided fast-track deportation after intervention by the state's governor, her lawyer and a federal official said on Saturday.

The 24-year-old woman gained public attention after lawyer Luis Campos said federal agents denied him access to her in a Tucson hospital after she gave birth on Wednesday and told him she was set for rapid removal after entering the country illegally.

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The case raised concerns about the treatment of mothers and infants caught in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, prompting Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs to contact federal officials, according to local media.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the woman had been placed in normal deportation proceedings following her discharge from hospital and given the right to contact an attorney.

"The woman was transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations with a court date to appear before an immigration judge," said a CBP spokesman. "The child remains with the mother."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Campos said the woman, who he identified only as "Erika," fled a "violent situation" in Guatemala, according to her mother who requested that he represent her.

He talked to the woman on Friday and she said she walked for two days in the desert before being apprehended about 50 miles (80 km) south of Tucson. She has the right to express fear of returning to Guatemala and request asylum, he added.

"I'm hoping to get news either today or tomorrow that she's been released," said Campos, adding that Phoenix immigration lawyers had offered him their help at the request of Hobbs.

The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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A Hobbs spokesperson told local media her office contacted federal and local officials regarding the welfare of the woman and newborn.

"Governor Hobbs has been clear in her opposition to inhumane immigration enforcement practices," the spokesperson said, according to 13News.

The CBP spokesman said agents followed the law and adhered to CBP procedures at all times in relation to the woman.

(Reporting By Andrew Hay, editing by Deepa Babington)
CHICAGO  Gun buyback programs aim to take firearms off the streets by offering cash for guns, but one weapon has reportedly ended up back on the street, raising concerns.

Its estimated that the Chicago Police Department has taken thousands of guns off the street. Theres a system in place to log and destroy the guns that are turned in.

The Illinois Answers Project and Sun Times led an investigation into what happened at a south side gun buyback in 2023 when the gun went missing.

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A group of reporters have been able to match the missing gun to shell casings at three different Chicago shootings.

Casey Toner with the Illinois Answers Project says the internal affairs investigation into the gun was closed.

They closed it and basically said there was a Sargeant responsible for overseeing it. That officer was given a one-day suspension, Toner said. But thats not the case. Now we are learning the investigation is ongoing.

A short audio clip details part of the questioning by investigators trying to piece together how the .45 caliber Glock disappeared.

Investigator: Again, in your opinion, you think it was lost in the station?

Officer: Yes

Investigator: Okay and when you found it, when you discovered the error, who did you tell?

Officer: I told everyone in the office. I asked, wheres the Glock?

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Toner has unraveled details about the moments before the gun went missing.

The investigation said there may have been a cleaning lady there as well, but it was almost all police officers, Toner said. Those were the people that were processing the gun, those are the people who were admiring the gun when it came in.

Crystal Reynolds who spoke with the Sun Times discovered that the gun was used during a shooting outside her building. The bullets luckily missed her.

I was kind of shocked and disappointed how many more guns have been put on the street again, Reynolds said in an interview with the Sun Times.

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Its not clear how the gun wound up back on the street.

Since then, there have been some changes to the way guns are recorded once they are turned in. It may be some time before the full investigation into what happened is done.

WGN did reach out to the Chicago Police Department about the Illinois Answers Project report that was released. They have not yet responded.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JERUSALEM/TEHRAN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military confirmed on Saturday that it had deployed forces in southern Syria to prevent the entry of "hostile forces" into Druze-majority areas, following a significant escalation in the region.

On Friday night, Israeli warplanes launched what has been described as "the largest air attack" against Syria this year, targeting over 20 sites across six provinces. The operation has fueled regional tensions and drawn widespread condemnation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that 12 fighter jets were involved in the airstrikes, which targeted key infrastructure, including anti-aircraft cannons and a surface-to-air missile launcher. The IDF emphasized its commitment to "eliminate any threat in the area" and stated that operations would continue with a focus on safeguarding Israel's security.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights characterized the bombardment as the most intense of the year, with strikes hitting locations such as Mount Qasioun, Barzeh, and Harasta in Rural Damascus. The Observatory reported dozens of injuries, though the full extent of casualties remains unclear.

In another development, an Israeli Air Force helicopter delivered aid to the Druze-majority province of Suwayda in southern Syria. According to Israel's Kan TV, the delivery was approved by Israeli political leadership, and 15 Druze Syrians were evacuated to Israel for medical treatment in recent days. The Israeli government has claimed that the Druze community in Syria requested assistance amid its ongoing clashes with Syria's pro-government forces, which have reportedly resulted in over 100 deaths.

Despite Israel's claims of protecting the Druze in Syria, Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt called for the community to reject "Israeli interference" in Syria's internal affairs. "Preserving the (Druze) brothers in Syria involves rejecting Israeli interference," Jumblatt said after meeting with Druze figures in Beirut to discuss the sectarian violence.

The strikes have prompted swift condemnation from several international bodies. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Israeli airstrikes, particularly those near Syria's presidential palace in Damascus, urging Israel to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "It is essential that these attacks stop and that Israel respects Syria's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen also called for an immediate cessation of Israeli attacks.

On Friday, Saudi Arabia condemned the airstrikes targeting the vicinity of the presidential palace in Damascus, reiterating its "firm rejection of Israeli attacks" that violate Syria's sovereignty, security, and stability.

The Arab League condemned the airstrikes and called on the international community and the United Nations to confront what it described as "repeated violations committed by Israel against the Syrian state."

Iraq's Foreign Ministry also expressed its "categorical rejection" of Israeli actions, emphasizing that such attacks threaten Syria's security and stability.

On Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the strikes "in the strongest terms," accusing Israel of attempting to "destroy Syria's defense, economic, and infrastructure capabilities" to pursue its broader regional ambitions. Baghaei called for "immediate and effective action by the international community" to halt Israel's "aggression" against Syria. 
TALLAHASSEE  They had one job.

The Florida Legislature had 60 days to pass a balanced budget  the only job the state constitution requires of them. And they couldnt do it.

The combative tone among legislative leaders and Gov. Ron DeSantis was foreshadowed by a bitter battle in February over immigration that took three special sessions to pass into law.

The regular session started out in March as one of mutual cooperation between the Senate and House leaders as they asserted their independence from DeSantis  all Republicans  and set their own agendas. That spirit of cooperation turned into one of mutually assured destruction in the final days as they clashed over their different policy and fiscal priorities.

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That failure to resolve crucial differences leaves important matters up in the air, including how much the state should spend on public schools and health care, immigration and highway construction, and whether Florida residents can expect a tax cut or rebate.

And it will to force them to come back to Tallahassee later this month to finish crafting a budget and get it approved before the next fiscal year begins July 1. In the waning hours of the regular session that ended Friday, House and Senate leaders said the Legislature would return May 12 and work through June 6 to finalize a budget as well as the Senate Presidents signature rural renaissance bill.

They also announced they have come up with a framework for the state budget that would provide $2.8 billion in tax cuts, including a permanent $1.6 billion reduction in the sales tax.

The state hasnt seen such a legislative logjam in a decade, said Aubrey Jewett, a University of Central Florida political science professor. He saw a parallel between the current mess and the 2015 budget standoff over Medicaid expansion that prompted then-Speaker Steve Crisafulli of Merritt Island to adjourn the House without warning days before session was scheduled to end.

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There are several factors at play this year, Jewett said, but the underlying driver is that for the first time in six years the Legislature is acting as an independent branch of government as a check and balance on the governors office, Jewett said.

When the legislative branch was under the control of Gov. DeSantis, they did get a lot more done, Jewett said. This is a more messy democracy, with three powerful personalities. But all are broadly on the same page. They are all conservative Republicans who are all talking about cutting taxes.

Several issues have driven a wedge between the House and Senate. The House gutted one of Senate President Ben Albrittons centerpiece bills, the Rural Renaissance Act, and the Senate balked at reinstating lawyers fees that were eliminated two years ago as part of a tort reform bill to bring down insurance costs.

The Legislature was also distracted by a month-long investigation into First Lady Casey DeSantis passion project, Hope Florida, and its support charity.

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But the biggest driver of this sessions discontent has been over the budget and taxes, Jewett said.

DeSantis has called for the elimination of property taxes, which would require putting a constitutional amendment before voters in November of 2026. Economists say the drawback to that idea is that property taxes provide the primary fuel for city, county and school board budgets and would require raising sales taxes to replace billions of dollars in lost revenue, or cutting deeply into some of the government services that residents most value  like schools, city streets and flood control.

House Speaker Daniel Perez of Miami announced a bold and ambitious plan to permanently roll back the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, which would cost the state $5 billion in revenue. To cover that gap, Perez encouraged House members to dig deep, scrutinize agency budgets and trim waste to make up for that revenue loss. The result was a $112.95 billion budget, billions less than the Senate proposed to spend.

Albritton said such a drastic permanent cut could destabilize the state economy, suggesting instead a more gradual reduction in the tax rate over several years. He also offered a tax package in the Senates proposed $117.35 billion budget that includes redoing several popular sales tax holidays and creating a permanent sales tax exemption on clothing that cost $75 or less.

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Albritton said he agreed property tax reform would be something worth looking into, while Perez created a select committee to spend the next several months studying the options and coming up with one or more proposals to recommend to the Legislature next session.

The governor is a lame duck, and cant exert pressure like he used to, Jewett said. The House and Senate cant agree and the House is determined to see a permanent change in the sales tax rate as opposed to just spending $4 billion less.

If they were just negotiating a dollar amount, he said, both sides would have more room to negotiate and maybe even meet in the middle. Even if it passes, it will be interesting to see what DeSantis does, because they are not following his blueprint, Jewett said.

But Perez hasnt budged on his sales tax cut, despite several counter-offers from the Senate.

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With legislators unable to reach an agreement on spending and taxes, cracks started to show in the veneer of politeness, as the House and Senate accused each other of holding things up and DeSantis sided with the Senate.

Tempers flared in the middle of the last week of session when the House deleted part of a bill that would have created an addiction recovery center at the Florida Institute of Mental Health and named it after Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg.

Republican and Democrat lawmakers protested the deletion of Rousons name, while Rouson demurred and said the work was more important than whose name was on the center.

Im just really glad that in a year and a half we will have another speaker that will support naming the program after you, said Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican and Albrittons predecessor as Senate President.

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Maybe this will be some indication why on Day 58 of this Session, we dont have a budget agreement, said Senate Appropriations Chair Ed Hooper, R- Palm City. This is what we deal with. We will make it right, or else.

Perez bristled at Hoopers comments, saying it was beneath the dignity of the Senate. He said he was willing to work with the Senate to honor Rouson, but he saw the effort to name the center after him as a means of emotionally blackmailing the House into doing what they want.

DeSantis, who has been especially miffed at Perez after the speakers sharp comments on Hope Florida, said on X the Houses decision on the Rouson center was just typical behavior for what he called the least productive chamber in decades.

The Florida House of Pettiness in all its glory, he wrote.
A rebooted effort in Haiti to disarm the countrys criminal gangs and reintegrate child soldiers into society is getting put on hold. The government of the volatile country, whose armed gangs have been deemed by the Trump administration to be a global menace, is temporarily dissolving a disarmament commission after concerns were raised over the credibility of one of its newest appointees.

The decision was confirmed to the Miami Herald by the head of the Transitional Presidential Council, Fritz Alphonse Jean, on Friday, hours after the Trump administration designated several Haitian gangs as foreign and global terrorists and after the National Human Rights Defense Network blasted a decision to expand the National Commission for Disarmament, Dismantling and Reinsertion by bringing on board its former commissioner.

The purpose of the commission is to help reintegrate the young people and children. who are increasingly being recruited by armed groups and to facilitate the disarmament of armed groups.

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The presidential council took a resolution to dissolve the [commission] in the next minister council meeting until more additional consultations with civil society organizations and personalities in the public and private sectors, Jean said.

On Wednesday, Jean and his fellow council members appointed Jean Rebel Dorcenat, the former head of the commission and another individual to the group to bring the total membership to nine after seven others were appointed in February.

The moves, Jean, said were made in good faith. However, the head of the National Human Rights Defense Network, Pierre Esperance, accused the council of compensating Dorcenat for his alleged ties to gangs and called on the council to reverse course.

Dorcenat previously served as head of the commission after it was reactivated by Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Formed by executive order in 2006, its task is to disarm and dismantle gangs, a job that brings its members into contact with armed groups and their leaders. However, Dorcenat has long faced criticisms and accusations of being sympathetic to gang leaders based on radio nterviews he has given on the radio, and the access he has been alleged to have.

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Dorcenat could not be reached for comment, but in the past he has said that his comments  and role as head of the commission  have been misinterpreted, including those about his role in uniting the capitals main gang leaders under the G-9 Family and Allies umbrella. The alliance is headed by former policeman Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, who in September 2023 joined forces with other gang leaders to help create Viv Ansanm, the powerful coalition sowing chaos in Port-au-Prince and whose name translates to Living Together.

A 2020 article in Haitis Le Nouvelliste newspaper, following a radio interview Dorcenat did on its Magik 9 radio station, quoted him as assisting in the formation of the G-9 by asking Cherizier and other gang leaders to come together under a single platform in order to better facilitate negotiations with them. They are federated because we have a job to do with them, he was quoted as saying at the time. He added that the goal was to stop the gangs from killing.

Esperance, who blasted the decision in a letter to Jean and the council, said the consolidation of Haitis gangs has given birth to a coalition of murderers and kidnappers who have forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, led to the lost of thousands of lives and livelihoods and brought an entire nation to its knees.

Everyone can see that after the gangs federated, they became more heavily armed, and were implicated in more kidnappings and carried out more massacres, Esperance said. At this moment, when the United Nations has taken sanctions against them and the U.S. has designated them as terrorists, for the [Transitional Presidential Council] to put him on the disarmament commissionthis is a slap in the face of all of the victims and to everyone who is living under the terror of the gangs.

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On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, which includes the G-9 and 26 other armed groups, and the Gran Grif gang, operating in Haitis Artibonite region, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The label gives the U.S. wide latitude and opens anyone providing material support to sanctions, criminal charges and deportations if they live in the United States. They can also be banned from entering the U.S.

The designations was met with few public statements but lots of private chatter as many people in Haitis business and humanitarian communities try to understand the meaning and implications for their dealings in the country.

In a joint statement, two political entities in Haiti said they welcome the historic decision but added it doesnt go far enough. The designations need to be accompanied by an international plan aimed at effectively eradicating in the coming months criminal groups that have taken our beautiful country hostage, the statement signed by four leaders representing the groups known as the December 21 coalition and the EDE political party said. Earlier this year, both asked the Trump administration to label Haitian gangs as foreign terrorists.

Jean, the president of the ruling council, said the designation is a recognition of the complexity of the countrys ongoing crisis, but also presents a conundrum given armed gangs tightening grip and recent expansion into other regions of the country, which has led to millions of Haitians requiring humanitarian assistance.

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But as the country relied on international assistance such as the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support mission to support the Haitian national police and Haitis small armed forces, Jean said, we believe that our international partners did not fully comprehend the full extent of the crisis and the nature of the violence in Haiti.

The foreign terrorist designation, he said, is a recognition of the reality of the crisis we are facing.
This timeline has been updated.

A Hamilton County sheriff's deputy died May 2 after he was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic outside a University of Cincinnati commencement ceremony.

The driver of the vehicle, Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, is the father of a man who was shot and killed by Cincinnati Police in East Price Hill the day before.

Authorities have not identified the police officers involved in the shooting or the deputy who was struck at UC, citing Ohio's Marsys Law, legislation meant to protect victims of crimes. Officials said the deputy had recently retired and was working a special traffic detail.

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More: Deputy dead after being struck by father of man shot by police May 1. What we know

The following is a breakdown of how the bizarre and violent chain of events unfolded.

Thursday, May 1

2:45 a.m.: An Edgewood, Kentucky, mans 2021 Kia Telluride was stolen from a driveway on Waterbury Court. The owner reported the vehicle missing later in the morning.

GPS tracking technology showed the vehicles last known location was on Ring Place, which backs up to an apartment complex on Warsaw Avenue in Cincinnati.

According to a police report, officers in Edgewood submitted information about the stolen vehicle into the National Crime Information Center to have Cincinnati police recover it.

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.

9:30 a.m.: Cincinnati Police Department officers encountered four people in a stolen 2021 Kia Telluride at the Westview Condominiums off Warsaw Avenue in East Price Hill. The four suspects ran from the vehicle and did not comply with the officers' commands to stop, according to Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge.

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Three suspects fled into the woods. The fourth suspect, who was later identified as Ryan Hinton, 18, was shot twice by police: once in the chest and once in the arm.

Hinton had a firearm, Theetge said. While it's unclear from the blurred body camera footage, the officer who fired shots said in interviews that Hinton pointed a gun at him, Theetge said.

More: Chief: One dead after police shooting in East Price Hill

Hinton died at the scene.

Two of the three people who ran into the woods were later apprehended by police. Jurell Austin, 18, and 19-year-old Deanthony Bullocks were charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing official business. The third man initially evaded police custody.

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Theetge said officers responded to Westview after receiving information that GPS had placed the stolen Kia at the complex. A firearm stolen from Northern Kentucky was also found inside the Kia.

Friday, May 2

Approximately 9:30 a.m.: Hintons family members went to the Cincinnati police building on Linn Street to review body camera video of the fatal police shooting. Michael Wright of the Cochran Law Firm said he was with the family as they reviewed the footage and that Hinton's father, 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., was "very distraught."

The elder Hinton was so upset (and) agitated that other family members were concerned about his emotional state and did not want him driving, according to Cincinnati police Detective Carl Beebe.

10:30 a.m.: Hinton and his family left the meeting with police. They drove him around, according to police, and then returned to the police buildings parking lot to pick up Hintons car  a Ford Focus.

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12:50 p.m.: Hinton drove out of the parking lot.

1 p.m.: Hinton crashed into Hamilton County sheriff's deputy Larry Henderson near the Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods Drive intersection. The deputy was outside his vehicle operating a traffic light outside a University of Cincinnati commencement ceremony.

A Hamilton County Deputy Sheriff was struck by a car on Martin Luther King Drive near UC May 2. The car then crashed nearby.

Henderson and Hinton were both taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Both were in critical condition, officials said.

More: Fatal East Price Hill police shooting happened during 'six quick seconds,' chief says

3 p.m.: A UC commencement ceremony started. UC President Neville Pinto opened the ceremony by calling for a moment of silence.

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5:30 p.m.: Cincinnati police Chief Teresa Theetge held a media briefing to announce that Henderson died of his injuries.

8 p.m.: Cincinnati police announced Hintons arrest in connection with the deputys killing.

Saturday, May 3

9 a.m.: Rodney Hinton Jr. was arraigned on a charge of aggravated murder at the Hamilton County Justice Center.

More: Driver accused of fatally hitting deputy arraigned on aggravated murder charge

A bond hearing was set in Hintons case on May 6 because prosecutors asked for no bond. Hinton is being held in Clermont County's jail. According to the judge who presided over the arraignment, Hinton is being held in a different county for his protection.

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Approximately 1 p.m.: Cincinnati Police Department officials announced the arrest of the fourth suspect in connection with the vehicle theft. Officials said Cynsere Grigsby, 18, is charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing official business.

Monday, May 5

3 p.m.: The Hinton family held a press conference, alongside their attorneys, in which they said theyre seeking answers about the police shooting and distanced themselves from Rondey Hinton Jr.s actions.

Michael Wright, an attorney for the family, called the body camera footage of the May 1 shooting disturbing and said it is not clear whether the officer who shot Hinton was in imminent danger.

More: Why is the man accused of killing a deputy being held in Clermont County?

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Parallel investigations into the shooting are underway by the Cincinnati Police Department and the Citizen Complaint Authority, officials said.

Tuesday, May 6

9 a.m.: Hinton appears before Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Tyrone Yates for a no-bond hearing.

During the hearing, a Cincinnati police detective testified about the findings of the departments investigation, including the timeline of events leading to Henderson being struck.

The judge ordered that Hinton be held without bond at the Clermont County Jail, where hes incarcerated pending trial.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Deputy killed: Timeline of events
HONOLULU (KHON2)  State House Speaker Nadine Nakamura said she was filled with gratitude, pride and relief as the 2025 legislative session came to a close. Lawmakers said they accomplished a lot over the past four months but acknowledged that tough decisions could still lie ahead.

Big changes coming to Wahiawa

The session ended Thursday, with many lawmakers calling it a success  including Republicans, despite none of their bills passing.

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Weve been working in a bipartisan manner, and Im hoping we can do more of that in the years to come, said Rep. Lauren Cheape Matsumoto, R-House minority leader. Its been an honor to work with this new leadership team. Our caucus is grateful for all of the wonderful legislation we passed this year.

Among the major bills passed was a green fee measure that increases the transient accommodations tax, or TAT, by 0.75%. The additional revenue will go toward protecting Hawaiis natural resources.

This funding is essential because its really going to help us steward our natural resources and make sure theyre available for future residents and visitors for many years to come, said Rep. Linda Ichiyama, D-House vice speaker.

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With the rising threat of coconut rhinoceros beetles, coqui frogs and other invasive species, lawmakers passed a bill to restructure the state Department of Agriculture to include a biosecurity division capable of rapidly responding to potential threats.

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It will have a new deputy focusing only on biosecurity, so now we can have a really good organization with a lot more capacity to deal with this situation, said Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, D-chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Although the session is over, lawmakers noted that their work may not be finished for the year. They are preparing for potential federal budget cuts by setting aside an additional $200 million to support state agencies and up to $50 million for nonprofits. If necessary, legislators could reconvene for a special session to determine how to allocate those funds.

We need to prioritize, Nakamura said. We will have to take a look at the number of requests that come in, and were going to have to prioritize.

We have our own way of doing things here in Hawaii, said Rep. Sean Quinlan, D-House majority leader. Were going to be kind to each other and give each other grace, and ultimately, we are going to serve the people of Hawaii with aloha.

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All bills that passed during the session now head to Gov. Josh Green for approval.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
RELATED PHOTO GALLERY The last day of the legislative session ended Friday just like it did in 2023 : with House Republicans snapping at one another on the House floor shortly after senators walked across the state Capitol, held hands with House members and sang Hawai i Aloha.

Then, moments later, Republicans began squabbling openly among themselves over the latest version of Senate Bill 1434, which provides state funding for universal  immunization, which prompted Republican Reps. David Alcos III (R, Ocean Pointe-Barbers Point ) and Garner Shimizu (R, Moanalua-Aliamanu-Foster Village ) to speak about other immunization bills that already died this session.

Their Republican colleague, Rep. Kanani Souza (R, Kapolei-Makakilo ), twice rose to say that their comments had nothing to do with SB 1434, which she voted for and the House ultimately passed.

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The second time Souza spoke in support of SB 1434, Shimizu interrupted and said, Is this referring to the bill ? prompting Souza to say, Excuse me, sit down. Im speaking. Youre out of order,  prompting laughter.

House Speaker Nadine Naka mura then struck her gavel and called for another recess to bring the House to order.

During two recesses, House Majority Leader Sean Quinlan (D, Waialua-Haleiwa-Punaluu ) strode across the House floor in an unusual move to talk to some of the eight members of the Republican caucus.

Following the dust-up among Republicans, majority caucus leader Rep. Chris Todd (D, Hilo-Keaau-Ainaloa ) then rose to make one of the last comments of the legislative session and said that his speech was not intended to be funny, but it is a little funny now.

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Before Todd could elaborate, Nakamura cut him off, pounded her gavel again and said, Recess,  leading Nakamura and Quinlan to speak quietly to Todd as people laughed.

Todd did not finish his comments.

Later, House Minority Leader Lauren Matsumoto (R, Mililani-Waipio Acres-Mililani Mauka ) said, One of the beautiful things about the floor is we can have debate and you can have different ideas.  Maybe you can see it as refreshing that we do have a lot of dialogue happening.

Asked to explain what was said between him and House Republicans, Quinlan said, It was a robust discussion about the House rules  but ultimately we ended with a smile and handshakes.

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The last day of the 2023 legislative session also ended with Souza in a public dispute with her fellow Republicans when she interrupted Matsumoto for saying in her floor speech that this is the most cohesive the caucus has been.

Souza later told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, I found that to be a blatant lie.

Following her interruption of Matsumoto, Republican Rep. Diamond Garcia (R, Ewa-Kapolei ) then interrupted Souza on the House floor.

I found it very rude and brash, and so I had to call it out,  he later told the Star-Advertiser.

Throughout this years legislative session, Matsumoto repeatedly praised the unprecedented  cooperation between majority Democrats and the Republican minority.

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So the outbursts Friday among her own Republican members particularly stood out among a day of picture taking, presentations of lei and speeches thanking supporters and House staff and the singing of Hawai i Aloha.

The House and Senate did finalize other important bills Friday that now head to Gov. Josh Green for consideration.

SB 97, in particular, generated last-minute, impassioned speeches on both the House and Senate floors.

It would increase penalties for drivers convicted of excessive speeding three or more times within five years, impose a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 30 days and allow judges to order vehicles used in the offenses to be surrendered.

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Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D, Puna ) voted against SB 97 because of the forfeiture provision, which she said could result in the loss of the only vehicle shared by a multigenerational household.

When that vehicle is forfeited because of the reckless actions of oneI agree with punishing that one person,  she said. But when you start punishing a family by removing their ability to go to work or go to school, then I have a problem with that.

Sen. Chris Lee (D, Kailua-Waimanalo-Hawaii Kai ) noted that vehicle forfeiture would be at the discretion of a judge.

The bill passed the Senate by an 18-7 vote. The House voted 44-4 to pass it.

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Both chambers approval of SB 1396 represented the most significant progress yet in Greens efforts over the past three legislative sessions to have tourists, primarily, generate millions of dollars in new revenue to help the state adapt to climate change and reduce the risk of future wildfires through a so-called climate impact fee, or green fee,  that Green said he will sign.

In a statement, Green called it the first of its kind in the nation  and said it represents a generational commitment to protect our aina. Hawai i is truly setting a new standard to address the climate crisis, and I want to thank lawmakers for their unrelenting work these past two years in bringing this to fruition.

It will increase Hawaiis transient accommodation tax to 11 % from 10.25 % on top of the 3 % county tax that each county already charges, resulting in an overall 14 % TAT.

The state Department of Taxation told the Star-Advertiser that revenue has been projected to raise $90 million to $100 million annually.

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Given the devastation we saw on Maui in August of 2023, this measure is crucial because it will help us to deal with wildfire risk resulting from the climate change crisis,  Green said in his statement. It is foundational to our ability to provide a safe and secure Hawai i for our children, our residents, our visitors and the environment.

Senate President Ron Kouchi cited the importance of tourism to Hawaiis economy and the need to protect the islands natural beauty.

The greatest thing that we have to sell is the people of Hawaii and the aloha spirit,  he said. But what makes our people so special is the beautiful landscape with which we stand. And its challenging in finding the ways to protect our natural resource. But without the quality of the natural resource, then the beauty of our people will not shine as brightly as it has, and it is imperative that we find ways to ensure that we take care of our natural resources, and there are no easy choices. So I appreciate all of the discussion, the debate. Well see going forward if that (bill ) works.

He noted the passage of other bills, including greater enforcement against illegal fireworks, and SB 1044, which would have a pair of state entities sell property loss insurance to condominium associations in an effort to stabilize insurance premium spikes.

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In the 25-member Senate, the final day of this years regular legislative session was more congenial than in the 51-member House, with courteous dissent and debate, while a first-term member who is one of three Republican senators expressed appreciation to all her colleagues.

Sen. Samantha DeCorte (R, Nanakuli-Waianae-Makaha ) told all of her Senate colleagues that she absorbed something good from every one of them.

As I conclude my very first session here in the Senate, in the Hawaii state Legislature, I just wanted to really take the time to thank all of my colleagues,  she said on the Senate floor. Everybody that is sitting here on the floor has been responsible of some kind of lesson learned.
WAHIAWA, Hawaii (KHON2)  Hawaiis community animal shelters are feeling the strain as rising costs drive up prices for just about everything.

At a crisis point, Hundreds of animals overcrowd Oahu SPCA

It is kitten season and that means a flood of feral births and animal drop-offs at community shelters. KAT Charities alone is caring for more than 60 kittens right now, all of them need food, medical care and safe homes.

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I never know how were going to get our rent covered for KAT charities. I never know how Im going to pay my vet bills. Its just not enough. One kitten, If I adopt out this kitten at six weeks or eight weeks after its fixed, this kitten will cost me about $300, said Dr. Karen Tyson, KAT Charities founder.

It is not just cats  the number of surrenders at the Oahu SPCA continues to grow.

Just two days ago, had five puppies dropped off at our doorstep. Abandoned. So now were taking on the responsibility of those strays, taking on the cost of caring for those animals, said Adrian Preciado, Oahu SPCA executive director. Since the beginning of the year, were probably close to a 1,000 surrender forms coming into us of people that cant have their pets for various reasons.

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Costs are rising and donations have not kept pace. The Hawaiian Humane Society said it simply does not have enough foster families for the influx.

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We have a certain number of them, but having that extra support from these rescue organizations that can take in these animals that the community can can partner with them on is really critical, said HHS communications manager Brandy Shimabukuro.

Miracle: The pup who defied all odds

Daily, I get at least 15, 20 calls a day of people calling, asking me to take cats and kittens. It is off the chart right now, said Dr. Tyson.

There are still things that the public can do to give back even if donations to community shelters or fostering one of their animals is out of the question.

Were always in need of towels, always in need of food. And and a little bit goes a long way, said Preciado.

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Come in and volunteer. Help us clean up, help us do all the things that we need to do. Get involved if you want to be involved in saving animals lives, said Dr. Tyson.

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The Ashtabula County Health Department is providing free water tests and sewer system evaluations for county residents.

ACHD Director of Environmental Health Randall Barnes said the free tests and evaluations are being funded by a $50,000 clean water grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

County residents get roughly $200 worth of free services from the health department, Barnes said.

Sewage inspections usually cost $150, and water tests normally cost $50, he said.

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To apply for the free test and evaluation, county residents can call 440-576-6010 and dial 3, or they can go to the health departments website, go to the environmental tab and click on Clean Water Ashtabula County.

Barnes encouraged county residents to sign up.

Its a great opportunity to get a free water test and sewage evaluation, he said.

Barnes said people should consider applying if their property contains sandy or gravelly soil, which contaminated water can permeate more easily.

I encourage people to take advantage, he said. Theres no strings attached.

Barnes said around 60 people have signed up so far, and the health department has identified around 12 sewage issues, from broken pumps to sewage backing up into houses.

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The health department has sent out around 14,500 flyers about the program across the county promoting the program, he said.

The free water test will look for contaminants like coliform bacteria, including e coli.

Roughly half of Ashtabula County homes rely on wells, Barnes said.

These hand-dug wells are susceptible to contamination, he said.

The sewer system evaluation will look for both major and minor issues in sewer systems.

If major issues are found with a septic system, Barnes said the health department will send an inspection form to the county Department of Planning and Community Development.

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Barnes said the inspection form can allow residents to qualify for grant-funded assistance from the Department of Planning and Community Development to deal with failing septic systems.

People will not be required to replace their sewage system because of this evaluation, he said.

Barnes said help from the department is first come, first serve because they have limited grant funding.

Barnes said having a well-maintained sewage system is important for keeping the surrounding environment clean.

Your sewage system is an investment, as well, he said.

Barnes compared not cleaning and taking care of your sewer system to not changing the oil on your car, saying a major sewage issue could bring down its worth.

Barnes said taking care of your sewer system saves money in the long term.
Showers and storms have been popping up across parts of New Mexico today. A chance for rain and thunderstorms will continue through the weekend and even into next week.

Northern, central, and western New Mexico saw showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening. Some snow even fell across the mountains in northern New Mexico! The rain has ended tonight and sunny skies return Saturday morning. Another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms will return to the western two-thirds of New Mexico Saturday afternoon. There is a Flash Flood Watch in effect for the Ruidoso area burn scars Saturday afternoon. These storms will continue through late Saturday night.

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 north and east. More showers and storms will develop Sunday afternoon across northern, central, and eastern New Mexico. Some of these storms will produce heavy rainfall in northern and northeastern New Mexico, which could cause flash flooding. A couple strong to severe storms may also be possible from the northern mountains to southeast New Mexico. Another round of strong storms and heavy rain will return Monday afternoon across parts of New Mexico, especially in the eastern part of the state. Flash flooding may be possible over some northern mountain burn scar areas. Albuquerque will see chance for isolated showers and storms both Sunday and Monday.

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Rain and thunderstorm chances will continue across New Mexico next Tuesday and Wednesday as a storm will sit and spin across the state. This will also keep temperatures below average all across New Mexico. Some storms will continue to bring a threat of heavy rain and flooding, mainly in eastern New Mexico. Drier and warmer weather starts moving in late next week.

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Gabonese President-elect Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema attends his inauguration ceremony in Libreville, capital of Gabon, May 3, 2025. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who won the April 12 presidential election with 94.85 percent of the vote, was officially sworn in as president of Gabon on Saturday at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Stadium in Libreville, the country's capital. (Str/Xinhua)

LIBREVILLE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who won the April 12 presidential election with 94.85 percent of the vote, was officially sworn in as president of Gabon on Saturday at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Stadium in Libreville, the country's capital.

"I ... elected president of the republic, solemnly pledge before God, our ancestors, and the Gabonese people to dedicate all my strength to their well-being, protect them from harm, faithfully uphold and defend the constitution and the rule of law, preserve democratic achievements, the independence of the homeland, and the integrity of the national territory, conscientiously fulfill the duties of my office, and be just to all," he said, with his left hand resting on the constitution and his right hand raised before the national flag.

The oath of office was administered before the Constitutional Court and in the presence of the transitional parliament.

About 20 African heads of state attended the inauguration ceremony.

According to the constitution approved by referendum on Nov. 16 last year, the president of the Gabonese Republic is elected for a seven-year term, renewable once. 

Gabonese President-elect Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema takes oath at his inauguration ceremony in Libreville, capital of Gabon, May 3, 2025. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who won the April 12 presidential election with 94.85 percent of the vote, was officially sworn in as president of Gabon on Saturday at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Stadium in Libreville, the country's capital. (Str/Xinhua)

Gabonese President-elect Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema attends his inauguration ceremony in Libreville, capital of Gabon, May 3, 2025. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who won the April 12 presidential election with 94.85 percent of the vote, was officially sworn in as president of Gabon on Saturday at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Stadium in Libreville, the country's capital. (Str/Xinhua)
Several Heber wild horses were rescued from drowning in a mud pit formed by a poorly maintained stock tank.

Stock tanks serve as small drinking ponds for grazing animals in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests during the dry season between May and September.

Betty Nixon from Friends of the Heber Wild Horses received an April 26 text that read "Need help. Horse drowning in mud."

A team of seven rescuers worked together to get a mare and her foal out of the mud. They first got the foal out, then attempted to rescue the mare while her foal waited. Nixon said that the mare was exhausted from struggling, but the team worked patiently to remove her without hurting her. Her Facebook post said "it was truly a cooperative effort to pull off an amazing rescue."

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It took the team over an hour to get the mare out of the mud, and they were able to do so without injuries.

Video posted to Facebook shows the team of rescuers using a log and ropes to try and remove the mare from the mud. Another video shows the same mare walking away from the pit with her foal after the rescue.

Nixon said she was waiting for the U.S. Forest Service to address this incident.

Two days later, on April 28, another foal fell into the same mud pit. Nixon said she was keeping an eye on the pit when another horse got stuck.

Nixon was again able to rescue both the mare and the foal without injury.

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In a Facebook post, Nixon said, "Arizona Game and Fish volunteers are hauling water to wildlife here because of the drought conditions, but they deliver water to areas not accessible to the horses." She added "elk, deer, bear, etc. get water, but federally protected wild horses do not!"

The day after the second incident, on April 29, a mare fell into the mud pit. A team of four rescuers were able to get the mare out using a lasso and teamwork. Nixon said, "You could have all the training in the world, but it's not going to make a difference if you don't have the manpower and the equipment. We had a cowboy with a lasso, and that's all we had. And it was the best doggone thing we could've had at the time."

Nixon said that this is not the first time this has happened. Last year, a similar mud pit formed from a stock tank.

The thick clay-like mud makes it easy for animals to get trapped. Nixon recalled finding a dead coyote in a mud pit last year. She had a difficult time moving through the mud with the foal during a rescue.

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Nixon wants to return to an arrangement from 2021. Wild horse advocates received permits to haul water to the areas where the horses congregate so they do not have the need to approach the mud pits. This year, advocates couldn't get those permits.

The Forest Service did let the wild horse advocates put troughs near the edge of the pit, making water available to the horses without them needing to get close to the pit.

The Arizona Republic's attempts to seek comment from the Forest Service were not successful.

Iconic animal: Where did Salt River wild horses come from, and why have they spurred debate?

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Heber wild horses rescued from drowning in mud pit
Tim Parlatore is a personal attorney and top adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. At the same time, hes suing the Navy and defending private clients against the U.S. government.

Parlatore, who represented Donald Trump in a criminal case two years ago and rejoined the Navy Reserve in March to aid Hegseth, was recently tapped to coordinate the leak investigation that led to chaos at the Pentagon. The probe was publicly tied to the firings of top advisers and preceded further revelations that Hegseth was careless with classified information. Parlatore was also reportedly in the Signal group with Hegseths wife and brother in which the Defense secretary shared details of a strike on Yemen.

But despite Parlatores deep involvement at the Pentagon, he is pursuing litigation against the Navy. A review of federal court records shows Parlatore listed as an attorney on 11 cases  though a few appear to be dormant and not all involve the U.S. government. Often his clients are retired military personnel.

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The business of Washington is built on government officials leaving their jobs to trade access for private clients and using their connections to achieve client goals. While Parlatore insists his arrangement is above board, its highly unusual for a sitting top adviser for a Cabinet secretary to be working in the government while at the same time representing clients suing the government, or working for clients as they fight off the feds.

That tension will be on display in federal court in Washington next week, as Parlatore  wearing his private lawyer hat  leads the defense of retired four-star Adm. Robert Burke against corruption charges. At the trial set to open Tuesday, the Justice Department will seek to prove that Burke, once the Navys second-highest-ranking officer, arranged a lucrative contract for a workforce training firm in exchange for a job he took at the company after leaving the Navy.

That means Parlatore is likely to be cross-examining high-level Navy witnesses who know of his close ties with Hegseth and in-uniform responsibility for legal matters of keen interest to the secretary.

And while Parlatore signed up Burke before Trump won last falls election, Parlatores new, dual role could allow him to capitalize on his ties to Hegseth and his role in the secretarys office, legal experts say.

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Its a great advertising possibility that Parlatore has: Take me to be your attorney because Ive got unusual access, said former Air Force lawyer and judge Joshua Kastenberg, now a law professor at the University of New Mexico.

Tims business is built around representing service members who are in the military justice system, said a person who has worked with Parlatore at the Pentagon. So being close to the secretary and being in his front office provides him an advantage in that business. This person and two others  one who has worked with Parlatore, as well as a former defense official  were granted anonymity for fear of retribution.

Parlatore said he isnt marketing himself that way and noted that on his website, he doesnt mention his work for Hegseth or the fact hes currently in the Navy Reserve. He said he presents himself as an attorney who wins cases, and Ive been winning cases long before I had a client nominated to be the secretary of Defense.

The government should be more concerned about my cross-examination skills, not my Navy Reserve duty, he added. When a potential client has inquired about using my political connections to benefit their case, Ive rejected the representations because Im not selling political influence. Im selling legal skill. I never have and I never will talk about any political connections or my role for Secretary Hegseth in connection with any potential client.

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Spokespeople for the Defense Department didnt respond to requests for comment.

A 2002 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Parlatore was recommissioned a few months ago as a Navy Reserve officer, with Hegseth swearing him in and Parlatore posting a photo of the ceremony. After that, he started coming into the office numerous days a week, much more frequently than typical reservists, according to the two people who have worked with Parlatore at the Pentagon. Early in Hegseths tenure, Parlatore was on virtual calls with the Defense secretary and his core team, and Parlatore has been in numerous meetings with senior staff after his recommissioning, according to the same people and the former defense official.

Parlatores frequent presence in the Defense secretarys office has raised concerns internally, especially since he does not have top-secret clearance, according to the people who have worked with Parlatore. Parlatore said hes in the process of getting top-secret clearance.

When he got recommissioned and they wanted to bring him into the building, they couldnt give him an office in a SCIF, or area for viewing classified documents, because he didnt have a top-secret clearance, said one of the people who has worked with Parlatore.

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Charlie Young, the acting general counsel of the Pentagon, was uncomfortable with the arrangement, according to the other person who worked with Parlatore. The former defense official said Young asked a number of questions about Parlatores role advising Hegseth and what it would entail.

Young declined to comment.

Among his cases, Parlatore represents former Navy Vice Adm. Thomas Rowden in a Freedom of Information Act suit in which hes trying to coax the government to release more records about collisions of Navy ships that led to his clients demotion.

During a hearing last month in the Burke case, a prosecutor raised Parlatores ongoing work for the Defense Department as a potential conflict and asked the judge to make sure Burke understood the two hats his attorney is wearing.

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We just need to make sure the defendant is aware  that his attorney has a job with the Navy and this trial will involve multiple witnesses from the Navy and involves allegations of criminal conduct while [Burke] was employed by the Navy, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Ross told U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, according to a court transcript. Wed like to make sure that the defendant wont raise it, to preserve everything on appeal.

Parlatore said he saw no issue. I dont know what the conflict would be. Im in the Navy Reserves, as many attorneys are, the lawyer said. Ive tried many cases back when I was a Navy reservist before, including  in military courts, where I cross-examined people who were very much higher-ranking than me at the time.

Questioned by the judge, Burke said he was fine with the arrangement. I have no concerns, the retired admiral said.

McFadden, a Trump appointee, later said he didnt view the situation as a conflict and that, in any event, Burke understood Parlatores dual role.

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However, during the discussion no one mentioned to McFadden that Parlatore is a top adviser to Hegseth who has represented him personally for almost eight years, including as he fought a sexual assault allegation during his confirmation process.

Jeff Hauser, founder and executive director of the watchdog group Revolving Door Project, criticized Parlatores dual role and said Americas adversarial judicial process is called into question when the attorney on the other side of the government has incredible juice within the government.

While he noted that the arrangement might be narrowly permissible under current law, he added: What is the government attorney on the other side to think if they are up against somebody who helps set Defense Department policy and on whom the Secretary of Defense personally relies?

Parlatore, the founder and managing partner of Parlatore Law Group, gained notice as one of Trumps lawyers in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents and Jan. 6 Capitol attack cases. Trump was accused of holding reams of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort, and Parlatore was on the legal team representing Trump as he faced down special counsel Jack Smith. Parlatore eventually quit amid infighting on Trumps legal team.

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Several legal experts consulted by POLITICO expressed concern about Parlatores arrangement, although they also said it may not or would not amount to a formal conflict of interest under legal ethics rules.

It doesnt quite pass the smell test, Kastenberg said, noting the potential for witnesses to try to curry some favor by shading their recollections. But he also said: Its not the role of the courts to bust an attorney-client relationship, unless theres an actual conflict that hasnt been waived or wouldnt be waivable.

It doesnt look good, added Eugene Fidell, who teaches military law at Yale Law School.

Kathleen Clark, a professor of legal ethics at Washington University, said the prosecutors in the Burke case should be the most concerned, not Burke. She envisioned a potential scenario in which witnesses for the government were cowed by Parlatores high-level Defense Department connections.

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The glaring conflict of interest in this case is the one for the government, she said.

Parlatore said in an interview that his work as an attorney and top Pentagon adviser is not problematic because there are clear conflict of interest rules that apply to reservists that are different from active duty or full-time government employees.

The Navy Reserves provides a fantastic opportunity for me to return to serving my country while also maintaining a busy civilian private practice, Parlatore added.

In a post on X after joining Hegseths office, Parlatore said he intentionally declined to take a full-time position because I do not want this to create any conflicts and that his Pentagon job is a part-time Reserve position.

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Parlatore has also represented servicemembers in court-martial proceedings, including getting former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher acquitted of a murder charge in a high-profile war crimes case.

In his Pentagon role, Parlatore has stayed busy as Hegseth has faced numerous controversies, including trying to find the source of leaks on matters including military operational plans for the Panama Canal and Elon Musks controversial visit to the Pentagon.

Former Hegseth chief of staff Joe Kasper considered hiring an outside entity, such as another government agency or private company, to manage the leak investigation, according to the former defense official. But in the end, Kasper told Parlatore to take over the supervision of the investigation because of Parlatores experience with Trumps classified documents case. Kasper also told Parlatore that since he was not at the Pentagon at the time of the leaks, he wasnt a potential suspect so he was in a good position to supervise the investigation, according to the former official.

Besides the leak probe, Parlatore has been discussed inside the Pentagon to potentially do a comprehensive review of how investigative processes work for adjudicating criminal matters for personnel and readiness matters involving the services, according to one of the people who worked with Parlatore and the former official.


Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the Army to restructure itself in order to create a leaner force. An April 30 memo, titled Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform, calls for sweeping changes to the service, including consolidating commands, canceling several programs and putting more resources into utilizing and countering drones.

Some of the measures outlined, such as the expansion of drones and counter-drone systems into maneuver units and increased electronic warfare capabilities, draw on programs already underway. Others expand on wider military goals, including positioning the Army in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China.

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, the memo says.

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The secretarys memo lays out several goals the Army must meet in the name of future warfare. Those include expanding manufacturing capabilities, fielding new long-range missiles by 2027 and achieving electronic air-littoral dominance by 2027, predominantly through expanding the use of uncrewed aerial systems or drones.

Some of the most significant structural changes called for include a proposed merger of U.S. Army North and U.S. Army South into a single headquarters rather than two separate force commands. Separately, the memo calls for consolidating Army Futures Command, which focuses on developing new technologies and tactics for soldiers, and Training and Doctrine Command, into a single four-star command. That will be based out of Texas, Army Chief of Staff Randy George said in a separate statement. Overall, Hegseth calls for the closure or consolidation of what he called redundant headquarters and a reduction in the number of generals in the Army in the name of streamlining command chains.

Drone integration

A major part of the Army overhaul is the use of drones in the field. Soldiers in several units are already testing different types of uncrewed aerial systems for reconnaissance and offensive purposes, using lessons learned from the applicability of uncrewed aerial systems in the war between Ukraine and Russia. As part of that, every Army division will field drones in some capacity by the end of 2026, Hegseth directs.

The memo goes on to call for an expansion of counter-UAS measures as well. Specifically it demands that the Army find more affordable tools for that mission, with those elements integrated into maneuver platoons by 2026, and into maneuver companies by 2027.

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The integration of more drone capabilities also comes as Hegseth orders a scaling down in other Army features, specifically the number of crewed attack helicopter formations. To augment those reductions, Hegseth also demands the addition of drone swarms that can serve in support of Army aircraft.

Right to repair

Another major part of the proposal calls for giving the Army the right to repair. Essentially, that would let the U.S. Army fix its own equipment. Currently, the military has the original manufacturer or other contractors conduct maintenance or heavy repairs on its tools and weapons. That can lead to high costs, often from having to transport the gear and machinery to other locations. The right to repair movement has often focused on civilian consumers, but the memo on the Army outlines how it could help military efficiency.

The secretarys memo calls for the Army to identify and propose contract modifications for right to repair provisions where intellectual property constraints limit the Armys ability to conduct maintenance.

An increased sustainment system

Beyond the technical integration and components laid out by the directive, the secretarys memo also calls for shifts in manufacturing, acquisition and logistics. Key among the strategic deployments to the Pacific with planting stocks of ammunition and other equipment in locations in the region. In order to help build up those supplies, it also calls for growing American industrial capabilities to avoid running low on munitions and other equipment. The Army has already been working on that, in light of the war in Ukraine, but the directive calls for the industrial base to reach its full operational capability by 2028.

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Another proposed merger calls for combining units within Army Material Command, with the goal of creating a more streamlined sustainment system, as well as expanding the use of 3D printing by units in the field, to help meet immediate needs.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The cherry trees along Portlands waterfront bring color, joy and a sense of spring every year they bloom. The trees were donated to the city and planted in time for the dedication of the Japanese American Historical Plaza on the north end of Waterfront Park in 1990.

Portland cherry blossoms near peak March 21, 2025 (courtesy Josh Cozart)

But those trees and the yearly cherry blossoms that announce the end of each winter would not be in Portland without Henry Sakamoto.

Now 98, Henry Sakamoto was born in Portland and went to Lincoln High School. More than 35 years ago, he was president of the Oregon Nikkei Endowment, which raised the $500,000 needed to make landscape architect Robert Murases vision a reality.

Henry Sakamoto at his Portland home, April 2025 (KOIN)

The plazas inscriptions, haikyu poems and the Bill of Rights also remind us of a dark time in American history.

Forced into internment

In the early part of the 20th Century, Portland had a vibrant Japanese business community. But after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Japanese Americans were rounded up and detained at what is now the Portland Expo Center.

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That included Henry Sakamoto and his family.

Henry Sakamoto (center) with his parents in an undated photo (Courtesy: Sakamoto Family)

I was too young at 15 years old and I didnt realize the seriousness of erasing our citizenship, our American citizenship and forcing us into internment, or jail, so to speak, Sakamoto said. We were behind barbed wire fences and under the security guard of the United States Army.

The Sakamotos were sent to the Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho and held there for two years.

A recreation of the detention camp barracks Henry Sakamoto and his family lived in in Idaho during World War 2, displayed at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, April 2025 (KOIN)

But once the internment ended, Henry Sakamoto joined the US Army, earned a degree from the University of Oregon and worked for the US Department of Agriculture.

I dont know how to put it, he said, but it was his way of forgiving the United States government for the incarceration. I could appreciate being a citizen of the United States.

Henry Sakamoto with his mother in an undated photo (Courtesy: Sakamoto Family)

With the Agriculture Department, Sakamoto nurtured economic relationships between Portland and Japan.

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Japanese businesses, corporations, so to speak, they sent representatives to Portland to work as part of the economy, and they did a tremendous job, he said.

He was our George Washington

Henry Sakamoto was the catalyst for the cherry trees. But hes a living legend in Portlands Japanese American community.

In 2021, Japan awarded Henry Sakamoto one of its highest civilian honors, The Order of the Rising Sun. It acknowledges the bridges he built between Portland and Japan.

In 2021, Japan awarded Henry Sakamoto one of its highest civilian honors, The Order of the Rising Sun. It is displayed in his Portland home, April 2025 (KOIN)

The cherry trees, he said, were a gift by the Japanese businesses in recognition of the great treatment that the Japanese businessmen received while working here. The Japanese Grain Importers Association actually donated the trees.

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More than that, the cherry trees are a reminder that once-bitter enemies can become friends.

A peace accord, so to speak, he said. Thats how it was taken. And thats how its been received.

Henry Sakamoto at his Portland home, April 2025 (KOIN)

Connie Masuoka with the Japanese American Museum of Oregon said Henry Sakamoto has been one of our greatest leaders of our generation.

It started out as the Oregon Nikkei Endowment, Masuoka said. Id like to think he was our George Washington.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
THOMASVILLE  Its one thing to say God will protect you from a rattlesnake, but its quite another to actually put your faith where its fangs are.

Thats what a Thomasville preacher did 90 years ago, and the resulting snakebite nearly cost him his life. Nonetheless, even as the rattlesnakes venom entered the preachers bloodstream and raced toward his heart  numbing his body and turning his bleeding right hand into a black, swollen deformity  he refused medical treatment, believing God was the only antidote he needed.

The year was 1935, and our fearless man of the faith was the Rev. Campbell Holmes, an old-fashioned fire-and-brimstone preacher who had only heard about the use of snakes in worship services, but had never tried it himself. In those days, snake-handling  or taking up serpents, as its referred to in Scripture  was not uncommon in the rural Appalachian Mountains, but the unusual religious practice had not slithered its way down to the Piedmont, nor had the rest of the country embraced it.

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So when the news broke that this young holy roller preacher man from the Bible Belt had been bitten by a rattlesnake  and that he might die as a result  the sensational story made national headlines, spreading faster than, well, faster than rattlesnake venom in a young mans bloodstream. Newspapers as far away as Texas, Utah and Michigan picked up the story, and some even published it on their front pages.

Holmes, a 26-year-old husband and father, worked two jobs in 1935 to help provide for his young family. He and his wife, Florence, both worked at the old Amazon Cotton Mill in Thomasville, but he was also a Church of God preacher who longed to become a full-time evangelist.

The zealous pastors first and only confrontation with a deadly rattlesnake happened on a Sunday evening  Aug. 4, 1935  as he was preaching at his tabernacle on Concord Street, near the cotton mill. In the midst of his fiery sermon, Holmes declared he could handle a rattlesnake and the Lord would take care of him, so great was his faith, The High Point Enterprise reported in a front-page article the next day.

Like other snake-handling believers, Holmes based his bold statement on his literal interpretation of Mark 16:18, which states, They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

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To such believers  some of whom still exist today  taking up serpents means they can handle poisonous snakes as part of their worship of God, and He will either protect them from being bitten or provide healing for them if they do receive a snakebite. If a believer is bitten and dies, its not a reflection of that persons faith  it simply means that was Gods appointed time for that individual to die.

That was the context under which Holmes took his stand  faith vs. fangs  that Sunday evening. Church member J.M. Ring, who owned a couple of rattlers and had brought one of them to the church for this very purpose, was sitting on the front pew  all by himself, not coincidentally  with the snake captive in a shoebox beside him.

(Holmes) and several members of his flock gathered around the box and started singing, stamping their feet and shouting, Ring later told The Enterprise. The vibration of the floor almost shook the box off the bench, so I reached over and brought it back to the bench beside me.

Holmes picked up the box and carried it to the pulpit. He untied the string that held the lid in place, removed the lid and then pulled out the snake with his bare hands, fervently shouting and singing as he did so.

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The snake was good and mad, Ring told The Enterprise. It started rattling its rattlers and curled up to strike.

Holmes, unperturbed, brandished the serpent for all to see, at one point even putting his face close to the rattlesnakes head. Then, as Holmes moved to grab the snake just beneath its head, the snake decided it had seen enough of the preachers supernatural showmanship and struck quickly at his right hand, sinking its fangs into the back of the hand, just above the forefinger.

The preacher immediately recoiled in pain and tossed the snake back into the box ... but he threw it so hastily that he missed. So now youve got a snakebitten pastor still assuring his congregation that God will protect him, and the ornery snake that just bit him is slithering on the floor as terror-stricken worshipers jump up on their pews. Fortunately, Rings son-in-law recaptured the snake quickly.

Meanwhile, Holmes began to feel sick within minutes as the deadly venom raced through his body. Though he steadfastly rejected efforts to take him to the hospital, the decision was made to at least take him home.

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Pray for me, brothers and sisters! the preacher shouted as he left the tabernacle. Pray for me!

They did pray for Holmes  some even went to his house and gathered around his bed, where they prayed, shouted in tongues and wept  but Holmes seemed to be on the fast track to death, especially since he continued to refuse medical attention.

Initially, he began vomiting. Then weakness set in  and numbness and a feeling of paralysis  to the point that by the time he got to his house from the church, he couldnt even get out of the car on his own. He was even too weak to talk. His hand, turning blacker and bloodier by the minute, became so swollen that the flesh split open between his thumb and forefinger. His right arm swelled and turned darker, too.

Amazingly, though, whether it was through divine intervention or dumb luck, Holmes survived his near-death experience and returned to the pulpit, eventually becoming a full-time Church of God pastor.

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I wasnt scared to handle the snake, Holmes told The Enterprise after his recovery, and Ill do it again if God calls upon me to do so.

Meanwhile, a rumor began to circulate that the rattlesnake that had bitten Holmes had died  which wouldve been the ultimate irony, with the snake dying and its victim living  but an Enterprise reporter fact-checked the rumor and found it to be false.

In fact, when he visited the snakes owner, the rattler was in excellent health and raring to bite a newspaperman next, the reporter wrote, tongue in cheek.

Also, he added, the snake was for sale.

Are there any takers, I mean preachers, in the crowd? he asked.

There were no takers  least of all the Rev. Campbell Holmes, who never again took up a serpent.
The Hoan Bridge will be illuminated in red at 8 p.m. May 4 in honor of two Wisconsin firefighters who died last year.

Milwaukee firefighter Doran Jose Kemp Jr. and De Pere EMT/paramedic Tyler Kreiter will be honored and remembered for their service. The Milwaukee Fire Department and Light the Hoan are partnering with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to honor them.

Kreiter served as a Green Bay Metro Firefighter for 17 years. He died at age 43 on Dec. 12, 2024, after a three-and-a-half-year battle with Synovial Sarcoma, a kind of soft tissue cancer.

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Kemp worked in the Milwaukee Fire Department for 25 years and became a recruiter after being a firefighter. He died at age 44 on July 8, 2024, after a battle with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.

What are the event details?

Kemp and Kreiter will be remembered with a brief reading of their service history, with fire apparatus and fire crews from around the area. After silent prayer and refection, the Hoan Bridge will be illuminated to honor them.

What and where is the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee?

The Hoan Bridge is Milwaukee's most prominent bridge on Interstate 794, which crosses the Port of Milwaukee and connects the Bay View neighborhood with Milwaukee's downtown.

Where will this event be held?

It will be held at the Summerfest parking lot, 650 East Erie St., Milwaukee.

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Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's why the Hoan Bridge will be red on May 4
Image via Getty Images

Gov. Katie Hobbs once again thwarted Republican efforts to facilitate mass deportations in Arizona, vetoing legislation that would have made it easier for federal immigration agents to arrest people while at the same time blocking elected officials from preventing discriminatory actions.

Late Friday, the Democrat wielded her veto stamp to reject nearly two dozen proposals, including Senate Bill 1610 and House Bill 2099, which sought to force county jails to share with ICE the personal information of people arrested for nonviolent crimes such as shoplifting and require Arizonas governor, attorney general and every city and town to cooperate with the federal government on immigration enforcement actions  even if that meant violating the U.S. Constitution.

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Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the GOP majority in the Arizona legislature has tried to boost his mass deportation campaign by seeking to preemptively block any opposition that might arise anywhere in the state. That tactic has met with disapproval from Hobbs, who has long advocated for local control and deferred to local governments and law enforcement agencies on how best to deal with border security issues.

In her veto letter for HB2099, Hobbs chastised GOP lawmakers for attempting to handcuff Arizonas elected leaders, and reminded them that their responsibility is to defend the countrys and states constitutions, not hand over the decision-making to federal officials.

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When I assumed the role of Governor, I pledged to uphold both the U.S. Constitution and the Arizona Constitution, as did each of you, she wrote. Arizonans, not Washington, D.C. politicians, must decide whats best for Arizona.

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Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, have both been vocal critics of Trumps mass deportation promise and his administrations continued disregard for court directives or due process protections. Hobbs has repeatedly vetoed legislation intended to increase the degree to which Arizona is involved with federal immigration enforcement actions and Mayes has sued Trump over his bid to end birthright citizenship and warned that she would actively oppose efforts to set up family detention facilities in the state.

In response to the duos resistance, Rep. Teresa Martinez pushed to force their cooperation. The bill immediately prompted outrage when the Republican from Casa Grande conceded that entangling the state with federal immigration authorities would result in the collateral deportations of peoples relatives.

But what about Nana? Ive heard that. Y abuela? What happens to abuela? she said, during a committee hearing on Jan. 29, using the Spanish word for grandma and affecting a worried inflection before concluding: Yes, there will be, sadly, some collateral damage, some collateral deportations.

Despite assurances from the Trump administration and its allies that the focus is on deporting people with violent criminal convictions, the actual goal appears to be expelling as many people as possible, with little regard for their criminal history or immigration status. There have been multiple cases of asylum seekers and green card applicants attending routine immigration check-ins and interviews only to be detained. Recently, three children who are U.S. citizen were deported. In Arizona, an Iraq War veteran was placed under deportation proceedings even though federal officials assured him he wasnt at risk of removal more than a decade ago. And 90% of the nearly 300 Venezuelans deported to a high security prison labor camp in El Salvador  who the Trump administration has repeatedly promoted as the face of its purported effort to expel gang members  have no criminal record in the U.S. Many of them were deported and imprisoned simply because they have tattoos that ICE claimed are gang-related.

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In her veto explanation, Hobbs said she would cooperate with the federal government on true border security initiatives, but said that complete obeisance is the wrong move.

We should not force state officials to take marching orders from Washington, D.C., she wrote.

A bid to mandate that county detention center officials across the state share the personal information of people with ICE was also swiftly vetoed. SB1610 would have required county jail officials, like sheriffs deputies, to send, on a daily basis, the name, address, date of birth, gender and social security number of every person in custody who was accused of burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting and any other offense that results in bodily injury or death to ICE agents even if they have not been convicted. Currently, that information is often gathered by ICE agents when requesting a 48-hour detainer, also called an ICE hold, for people federal officials suspect are eligible for deportation.

The new legislation would have eliminated the need for any written request, making it vastly easier for ICE officials to take people into custody and initiate removal proceedings. Critics opposed the bill because the existing level of cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement officials already leads to cases of people who arent eligible for deportation being forced to endure prolonged imprisonment. Earlier this month, a U.S. citizen from Georgia was held in jail overnight even after his mother showed a Florida judge his birth certificate.

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Immigrant rights advocates warned that it would only result in racial profiling. Alejandra Gomez, the executive director of Living United for Change in Arizona, argued, in a written statement, that the federal governments blatant disregard for due process should make lawmakers reconsider volunteering their assistance.

SB 1610 is not just an attack on immigrantsits an attack on the due process rights of all Arizonans, she said. This bill moves us dangerously closer to a system where being suspected of wrongdoing based on appearance, accent, or last name is enough to end up detained, deported, or disappearedwithout a fair hearing, without legal protections, and without justice.

Hobbs, in her veto letter, added that Arizona law already bans so-called sanctuary cities, which prohibit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Local elected officials and law enforcement agencies have the option to share information with ICE, and many of them do, readily complying with ICE detainers despite the risk of incurring lawsuits for erroneously issued detainers. Hobbs said the new mandate in SB1610 is unnecessary, and would instead overburden local law enforcement.

Also rejected on Friday were proposals that, among others, would have barred trans people from amending their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity; stripped state funding from colleges with courses on diversity, equity and inclusion; awarded parents $2,500 if they won a lawsuit accusing government or school officials of infringing on their rights to raise their children how they believe is best; incurred new burdensome requirements for Arizonans to obtain unemployment benefits; and fined local officials $5,000 for passing ordinances restricting firearms. On the same day, Hobbs approved almost three dozen bills, including ones to set up a maternal mortality review program to investigate the causes and preventability of pregnancy-related deaths; modify state drivers licenses to add an identifying marker for Native American Arizonans; and direct state medical schools to clearly post admissions information on their websites.

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KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL)Holston Habitat for Humanity is celebrating 40 years in the Tri-Cities, and this year, it will reach the milestone of helping over 400 families.



Holston Habitat is a nonprofit that helps low-income families become homeowners.

Director of Development Jane Wasem says the program educates people on homeownership and financial literacy.

Theres a lot of relationship building as part of that, and they get to build relationships with other homeowner and its just it changes their lives.



The nonprofit depends on volunteers to build homes and run the restorations. Wasem says those volunteers have an impact, no matter how they help.



Weve had over 20,000 volunteers. We really believe that every person whos a part of the work that we do is making a difference in the community.



Wasem said Holston Habitat has built 375 houses over the past four decades and plans to bring the total to 400 in 2025.



Our theme this year is Framing the Future,  said Wasem. Were celebrating all of those families and the impact its made in their lives and in their kids lives over that 40 years.>



The celebration lasts all year. Wasem said they are still looking for help with events.

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Theres a definite need in our community for affordable housing, and especially that need is greater than ever right now. So, wed really love for you to get involved in the work that we do, and we really believe that everybody can in some way.

The celebration will include the grand reopening of the Kingsport Restore and a gala called Blueprints and Bubbly on November 8.

The next celebratory event will be the Rally for Roofs Pickleball Tournament from May 29 to June 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was found shot in Southeast D.C. early Saturday.

Details remain limited; however, the Metropolitan Police Department told DC News Now that at around 12:25 a.m. on May 3, officers were called to a shooting in the 500 block of Newcomb St., in the Congress Heights area.

There, they found a man who had been shot multiple times. Officers said he was unconscious and not breathing.

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Investigation underway after special police officer shoots 2 men in Northeast, DC police say

Responders tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead, according to MPD.

In an update Saturday afternoon, police identified the man as Alex Alexander, 31, of Gaithersburg, Md.

MPD is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and conviction. Tipsters should call police at 202-727-9099 or text the departments tip line at 50411.

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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.
VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN)  A man described as a gentleman of no violence who regularly attended church with his family was shot to death at a home in the Ellsworth Springs neighborhood in Vancouver in the early hours of Saturday.

Eileen Ward, who told KOIN 6 News she is the mans cousin, said she was very shocked, very surprised to hear of the shooting around 4 a.m. near SE French Road and 19th Street.

Its sad that a person is in their home and this happens to them, that they cant even be safe at home, Ward said.

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One dead after 2nd alarm fire at Vancouver apartment

Vancouver police responded to a 911 call and found the seriously wounded man. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died, officials said. He has not yet been publicly identified.

He definitely loved love and loved fishing and all those great things of life, Ward told KOIN 6 News. And it just hurts. It hurts to the core, because I know that now my buddy wont be here.

She added the victim left behind a wife and seven adult children: three stepchildren he raised and four biological children including his daughter, Karissa Bennett. He worked very hard to create a beautiful life for him and his wife and his children.

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The investigation is active and ongoing. At this time, no arrests have been made. Vancouver police did say theyre looking into any possible links between this fatal shooting and an auto prowl call near 8500 NE 15th Street, just a few miles away.

Ward hopes the police find the killer.

I believe if they do their due diligence, which Im sure they will, the persons will be apprehended and the wife can have closure and peace, she said.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
MOGADISHU, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Somalia on Saturday joined the rest of the international community in marking World Press Freedom Day, with a senior United Nations official calling for the safety of journalists working in the country.

James Swan, special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, also stressed the importance of public access to information.

"In view of the key role of independent media as Somalia rebuilds and develops, journalists must be able to carry out their vital work safely and free from harassment and intimidation," Swan said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

This year, World Press Freedom Day focuses on the profound impact of artificial intelligence on journalism and media under the theme "Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media."

Swan said the day reminds governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It also celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, assesses the state of press freedom throughout the world, defends the media from attacks on their independence, and pays tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

"Media freedom and access to information empower citizens to contribute to national development and to hold public institutions to account," he added. 
(KRON)  One person was shot to death in a suspected homicide in San Franciscos Mission District Friday, police say.

The San Francisco Police Department received a call for a possible shooting at a home on the 3000 block of 26th Street at 12:42 p.m. Officers arrived at the scene and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics responded and pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Electric Jeep bursts into flames at Google campus charging station

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Police have not arrested any suspects in the case. The SFPD Homicide unit is leading the investigation.

Anyone who may have information about the shooting is asked to contact the SFPD.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Horry County Fire Rescue crews are currently assisting crews in North Carolina with a large-scale wildfire, the department said Friday on Facebook.

Crews are in Boiling Spring Lakes, assisting Boiling Spring Lakes Fire Rescue and partnering agencies with a large-scale woods fire.

Photo: Horry County Fire Rescue / Facebook Photo: Horry County Fire Rescue / Facebook

No additional information was immediately available.

* * *

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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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
JUBA, South Sudan (AP)  At least seven people have been killed after a hospital in a remote part of South Sudan was targeted in an aerial bombing, Doctors Without Borders said Saturday.

The medical facility is located in a northern town known as Old Fangak, some 475 kilometers (295 miles) outside of Juba, the capital.

The medical charity, also known by its French initials as MSF, released a statement condemning the attack on its hospital, said to be the only source of medical care for 40,000 residents, including many people displaced by flooding.

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The attack began after 4 a.m. when two helicopter gunships dropped a bomb on a pharmacy, burning it to the ground, the statement said. In addition to seven deaths, 20 people were injured, according to the statement.

MSF said the attack was a clear violation of international law."

It was not immediately clear why the facility was targeted. A spokesman for South Sudans military could not be reached for comment.

Additional strikes occurred hours later near a market in Old Fangak, causing widespread panic and displacement of civilians, according to several eyewitnesses.

Old Fangak is one of several major towns in Fangak county, an ethnically Nuer part of the country that has been historically associated with the opposition party loyal to Riek Machar, South Sudans first vice president, who is now under house arrest for alleged subversion.

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The town has been ravaged since 2019 by flooding that has left few options for people to escape the fighting. One eyewitness, Thomas Mot, said that some left by boat, while others fled on foot into flood waters.

The hospital attack is the latest escalation in a government-led assault on opposition groups across the country.

Since March, government troops backed by soldiers from Uganda have conducted dozens of airstrikes targeting areas in neighboring Upper Nile State.

Multiple Western embassies, including the U.S., said in a statement Friday that the political and security situation in South Sudan has markedly worsened" in recent days.

The embassies urged President Salva Kiir to free Machar from house arrest, and called for a "return to dialogue urgently aimed at achieving a political solution.
South Carolina residents dont always learn about new pipelines that would cut through their communities until well after utilities have launched plans for them.

Its a sore spot in places where people have tangled with power companies, and thats why some legislators have backed efforts to require better public notice for folks who might be affected by big energy projects.

Now, those efforts are in jeopardy. The House of Representatives has quietly dropped a requirement for improved public notice as part of a major energy bill thats up for a final vote in the Senate next week.

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The extensive and complicated legislation, H. 3309, includes other major changes that are sparking complaints from senators who say they were left out of the loop and from environmentalists who say the changes make the bill friendlier to utilities at the expense of the public and South Carolinas landscape.

I wasnt engaged in any of that, and many others werent, Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston, said of the House bill. Almost nobody was.

Thursdays 88-13 vote by the House for substantial changes in the bill potentially jeopardizes passage of a plan that has been on the table for the past two legislative sessions as a way to expand energy supplies in South Carolina.

A cornerstone of the bill is allowing state-owned utility Santee Cooper to work with Dominion Energy on a large, more than $1 billion natural gas plant in Colleton County. The measure also limits some legal challenges that could slow down energy projects. It allows utilities to raise rates in smaller amounts, more frequently, as a way to reduce one-time impacts on customers. And it encourages development of nuclear energy.

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Many legislators agree that the plant needs to be built and fewer government restraints on energy expansion is a worthwhile part of the bill. Utilities say they badly need new sources of power as the state grows.

But the energy legislation is full of other measures that utility boosters and public interest groups have had difficulty agreeing on.

The bill appeared to be on the way to passage after the Senate addressed a range of concerns in early April. Senators approved the measure and sent it back to the House for consideration. It now must be considered again by the Senate with just three days left in the 2025 legislative session.

In addition to dropping greater requirements for public notice -- a decision that environmentalists say could make it easier to build a new gas pipeline to serve the proposed Colleton plant -- the House on Thursday also abandoned part of the bill that put some controls on data centers. These are huge energy users that many say are driving the states need for more power, which exposes the general public to rate increases when energy plants are expanded.

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Energy efficiency measures, intended to reduce demand for power, also were watered down, a change conservation groups blasted.

House leaders did not explain in detail what concerns they had about public notice, data centers and energy efficiency sections of the bill, but environmentalists said they suspect utilities, which have influence in the legislature, didnt like those parts of the legislation.

While House leaders said they negotiated with senators and think the upper chamber will sign off on their version of the bill next week, some senators were hesitant Friday to endorse what the House did.

Substantial debate could come up again Tuesday as the legislative session winds down. The legislative session ends Thursday, May 8.

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Both Campsen and Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, expressed concern about dropping the public notice requirements and rules for data centers, which provide power for internet searches and artificial intelligence..

In approving the energy bill April 2, the Senate put limits on economic support from the state for data centers. Massey and Campsen said the state doesnt need to provide extensive incentives for data centers because they are coming to South Carolina anyway. The state already has at least 14 of them, he said.

That is going to be a problem, Massey said of removing data center rules, which he said were basic and not as restrictive as in other states. I have not been involved in the negotiations. I dont know what was agreed to. But there will be a fight about that in the Senate.

Rep. Gil Gatch, however, said he believes the latest House version of the bill will get through the Senate. He had spoken with enough senators about the House changes that he was optimistic about passage.

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We worked diligently with the Senate and this is the compromise that we got, to get this over the finish line so that we can get energy to South Carolinians, the Summerville Republican told reporters after Thursday afternoons vote. As you know, we have an energy crisis, so any delay would probably be detrimental.

On the House floor, Gatch said data center oversight could be addressed in the future as its own bill. He later said the data center language was dropped because it had not been vetted fully. No public hearing had been held since the data center section of the bill had been added by the Senate as an amendment, he said.

That process sort of got skipped a little bit, he told reporters.

Dominion Carolinas natural gas pipeline was installed in the low lying areas of lower Richland County.

Santee Cooper said it is working to oversee data centers that need power from the state-owned utility. The agencys board recently approved an experimental rate for large energy users, including data centers. The measure is intended to ensure those facilities pay for utility system upgrades, which will protect other customers, spokeswoman Mollie Gore said in an email.

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Dominion spokeswoman Rhonda OBanion said the Virginia-headquartered company was committed to being open with customers about the Colleton County project, located at the site of an old coal fired power plant in the Canadys community.

We will continue to welcome input from stakeholders and comply with all legal and regulatory requirements, she said. The proposed Canadys project is no exception. Just as any project of this kind, it would undergo a rigorous regulatory process with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina and other oversight agencies, which includes siting and environmental permitting.

Irate communities and pipelines

One of the biggest concerns expressed by environmental groups is the removal of additional public notice requirements.

The section of the bill the House struck says utilities planning to build energy projects must provide written notice, via the mail, to any property owner whose land may be acquired or condemned for such projects.

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The notice, provided two months before the utility applies for any government permit, must explain the need for the energy project and if any alternatives are available. It also must provide a way to contact the utility and the state Office of Regulatory Staff about the project. A public hearing would also have to be held.

Officials with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Coastal Conservation League said the public notice section is important  particularly now because Dominion and Santee Cooper plan a large natural gas pipeline to serve the Colleton County gas plant. The line would run from the Savannah area to South Carolina.

Some environmental groups say they are worried the pipeline will cover new territory and run through the ACE Basin, an internationally recognized nature preserve between Columbia and the coast south of Charleston. Pipelines can not only affect individual property owners whose land is used, but they can also disrupt natural areas, environmentalists say.

Kinder Morgan, a national pipeline company active in South Carolina and Georgia, reported April 17 that it plans to expand a pipeline known as Elba Express into South Carolina, according to Marcellus Drilling News. The $431 million project would cover 71 miles and would include greenfield areas, meaning it might need to acquire land or condemn land for the new pipeline, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy said. Utilities have previously said they would try to use existing rights of way, or areas where power lines or pipes already exist, for a pipeline to Canadys, rather than greenfield sites.

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There are some federal notice requirements, but environmentalist said that isnt enough.

There is not a good, clear, consistent way for the public to find out about these things, said Kate Mixson, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. This was intended to be a protection.

Frank Holleman, a former SELC lawyer who has worked extensively on environmental cases involving utilities, said that although there are some other types of public notice requirements for utilities seeking pipeline permits, they often kick in well after the projects have been mapped out.

Disputes from the mountains in northwest South Carolina to the Pee Dee region in the states eastern coastal plain have erupted in recent years over pipelines, and the publics complaints about being left in the dark have surfaced more than once, he said.

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Some Richland County residents were involved in a dispute with a Dominion subsidiary about 10 years ago, when they learned a natural gas pipeline would run across their land and through one of most scenic parts of the Columbia area. The company, at one point, had sought to condemn land for people who would not sell.

As it stands, people often dont learn about a pipeline project until a utility land agent approaches them about selling their property for such a project , environmentalists said. And even then, the agents dont always provide the full breadth of the project utilities have on the drawing boards, Holleman and Mixson said.

Public hearings and notice to landowners about the full extent of projects would be a substantial improvement, they said.

At a minimum, you would think notice would be provided to people as a matter of just simple fairness, Holleman said.

Overall, the S.C. Coastal Conservation League labeled the House approved changes bad for ratepayers and the environment.

The changes that the House has removed would have protected electric utility customers from subsidizing big data centers, helped families and businesses save money through energy efficiency, and required landowners to be notified if a company might seize their property for a new fossil pipeline, the Coastal Conservation League said in a statement Friday.

Natural gas is burned off through a tall vertical pipe called a flare stack as part of routine pipeline maintenance in a process called flaring.

This story has been updated with more information from Rep. Gil Gatch about data centers.

Staff Writer Joseph Bustos contributed to this story.
Alba Martinez wasn't supposed to be transferring a property deed, but was caught on camera at the Harris County Clerks Office trying to do just that. A clerk turned her away, though, and for good reason. A judge recently signed a restraining order blocking Alba and her husband, Jarin, from any deed transfers, reports Houstons KPRC 2 News.

The order was signed as part of a lawsuit brought by Harris County against the couple for fraud and deceptive trade practices. They allegedly forged some 79 documents as part of a sophisticated scheme to wrongfully sell at least 37 properties. The scheme also has the Martinez family under criminal investigation, the Harris County District Attorneys Office confirmed to KPRC 2 News.

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This real estate theft scheme has wreaked havoc on the lives of victims, like Jamie Hartley, who lost a home that had been in her family for generations.

Hartley described the situation as "completely frustrating," but sadly, it's a situation many homeowners could face because the scheme is easy to run. Here's how Hartley and others lost their homes, and tips for other homeowners to avoid falling victim.

Victims face a fight to get their property restored

The Martinezes have been working their scam for a while, allegedly earning tens of thousands by transferring properties with documents stamped by fake notaries. Investigators said it's unclear how many homeowners were harmed, but one victim, Jamie Hartley, is speaking out about the loss of her grandmother's home that she inherited along with her brother when her father died.

Hartley said she didn't know anything was wrong until she visited the property in 2023.

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"Me and my brother came just to check the mail. We saw that there was a fence, and we see workers working on the house, pulling stuff out. So were like. Whats going on? We havent hired you. Who are you? How did you get on the property? she told KPRC 2 News reporters.

Sadly, she found the house had been sold by the Martinezes for $53,000, without her knowledge. It's now been out of her control for two years and fallen into disrepair.

To see it in this condition, it is extremely hurtful, Hartley said.

It meant everything to us. All of their belongings and everything from like my grandmothers pictures, family memorabilia, everything was in there.

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Hartley says she has spent thousands fighting a multiyear court battle to get the home returned, but so far has had no success.

We have to basically be standing in court as if we are the ones thats lying or we are the ones that actually dont own the property when in fact we do, she said.

Its been completely frustrating and its been time-consuming, for sure.

The court would need to undo the transfer of the property to the new owner, who was also a potential victim as they likely didn't know they were buying from someone with no true legal claim to the property.

Unfortunately, even if the lawsuit against the Martinezes is successful, the county may be unable to get restitution for victims who, like Hartley, will likely be forced to hire private attorneys to reverse the wrongful deed transfers.

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Read more: Here are 5 must have items that Americans (almost) always overpay for  and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?

How can homeowners protect themselves?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has some advice to help homeowners avoid ending up in a similar situation to Hartley:

To thwart scammers, homeowners should make sure someone is checking on vacant properties often and should monitor to ensure they receive all their normal utility bills.

Homeowners can also check their local records office and, in many areas, sign up to be alerted about changes to property ownership.

Home buyers may also want to make sure they get title insurance in case it turns out they were unknowing participants in a fraudulent deal.

Hartley faces an uphill battle now to get the family home back. Sorting out the mess has taken far too long already, and those who want to avoid a similar fate should be proactive in taking steps to keep their properties safe.

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 Iran-backed Houthi militia launched a renewed rocket attack on Israel from Yemen on Saturday as part of its campaign of solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and near the Dead Sea. The Israel military reported intercepting one projectile fired from Yemen. The attack came after two similar attacks on Friday.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service reported that a young man had injured himself while rushing to a shelter.

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The Houthi militia has renewed its targeting of Israel since Israeli forces moved back into the Gaza Strip on March 18, following the end of a temporary ceasefire.

The militia controls large areas in the north and west of Yemen, which has been wracked by civil war for more than a decade. The United States has also recently stepped up air raids on Houthi forces in the country.

Thousands gathered in the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa on Friday to demonstrate their support for the Palestinians. They brandished weapons and carried signs bearing the Houthi motto: "God is Great. Death to America. Death to Israel. A Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam."
Israel has intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, the third such attack by Houthi forces in a 24-hour span, as the United States continues daily attacks on the country.

The Israeli army confirmed on Saturday it had activated air raid sirens across parts of the country following the missile launch.

No injuries or major damage were reported. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it a response to Israeli operations in Gaza.

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The Houthis have increasingly targeted Israel and shipping routes in the Red Sea, stating that their actions are acts of solidarity with Palestinians as Israel continues its assault on Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

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.

In the meantime, Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reported on Saturday that the US launched two air raids on Yemens Kamaran Island and as-Salif district in the port city of Hodeidah.

The new attacks come a day after the same news outlet reported seven US attacks on the Ras Isa oil port in as-Salif district in Hodeidah. Last month, a US strike on the same port killed at least 80 people and wounded 150 in one of the deadliest attacks on the country by US forces.

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The US has also ramped up its air campaign in Yemen, launching its most extensive military operations in the Middle East since President Donald Trump assumed office in January.

US forces claim to have struck Houthi positions, however, there have been numerous civilian casualties.

The high civilian toll from US strikes is drawing increasing alarm. The UK-based monitor Airwars reported that between 27 and 55 civilians were killed in March alone. Aprils deaths are expected to be higher.

Houthi sources say at least 68 African migrants died in a single overnight strike on Monday, with additional casualties reported around the capital.

Yemens prime minister resigns

As the conflict intensifies, political instability is growing within Yemen.

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Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, the prime minister of the internationally recognised government, announced his resignation on Saturday, citing persistent challenges, including his inability to reshuffle the cabinet.

Government insiders said a power struggle with Presidential Council leader Rashad al-Alimi triggered Mubaraks departure.

Within hours of the announcement, the presidential council named Finance Minister Salem Saleh bin Braik as prime minister, according to the state-run SABA news agency. The council also named bin Mubarak as an adviser to the ruling body, without addressing his claims.

Mubaraks political career has been closely linked to the long-running war in Yemen. He rose to prominence after being abducted by Houthi fighters in 2015 while serving as chief of staff to then-president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Much of the international community does not recognise the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah (supporters of God), even though the armed Iran-aligned group controls most parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and some of the western and northern areas close to Saudi Arabia.
The years-long legal saga following the hate crime hoax orchestrated by Empire actor Jussie Smollett might just finally be over. The city of Chicago has agreed to settle the beef they had with the actor after he used their streets to stage the attack.

The Illinois city reached a settlement after filing a lawsuit against the actor six years ago. In the suit, they accused Smollett of submitting a false police report, claimed he knew his assailants and planned the whole scene. The city sought $130,000 in monetary damages for the police work done in the investigation, per NBC News.

Authorities said back in 2019, Smollett contacted the police to report being attacked by two men from the Empire set who allegedly assaulted him while yelling homophobic and racist slurs. However, it was discovered during trial that Smollett recruited the alleged culprits, brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, to stage the attack.

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Smollett was originally charged with staging a fake hate crime against himself. However, that case was dropped after it was found that Cook County prosecutor Kim Foxx mishandled things, per CBS News. After a special prosecutor was brought in to reinvestigate, Smollett faced a new indictment and was convicted on five counts of disorderly conduct and lying to the police for the scheme, per court documents. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail in 2021 but was released after six days as he sought an appeal, the report says.

Smollett recently had his conviction overturned after arguing his second set of charges were due to double jeopardy, violating his right to due process. He also filed a countersuit against the city, insisting he did not create a plot against himself. However, on Monday, both sides decided to bury the hatchet.

The details of the settlement have no been disclosed and according to NBC, both sides informed the court they needed more time to finalize documentation. The report says a status hearing was set for the end of this month.

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ADDIS ABABA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has announced that the national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, has transported more than 13.9 million passengers in nine months.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Transport and Logistics said in its sector performance report on Friday that the airline transported over 11 million international and 2.9 million domestic passengers during the first nine months of the current Ethiopian fiscal year, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported.

Last year, the airline disclosed a 7.02-billion-U.S.-dollar annual revenue during the 2023/2024 fiscal year, which ended on July 7, 2024. The revenue saw a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year. The airline transported 17.1 million passengers, including 13.4 million international travelers, and carried 754,681 tonnes of cargo during the period.

Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa's largest and fastest-growing airlines, is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2035. As part of this vision, the airline is striving to become one of the most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world by providing safe, secure, market-driven, and customer-focused passenger and cargo transport, aviation training, airport management, and ground services.

In March this year, Ethiopian Airlines and the African Development Bank signed a partnership agreement to cooperate on the construction of Ethiopia's new mega international airport. Ethiopia's mega airport project, estimated to cost 7.8 billion U.S. dollars, will increase annual passenger capacity from 17 million to over 60 million by 2040, reinforcing Ethiopian Airlines' position as Africa's leading aviation group.

The new hub is also expected to drive Ethiopia's aspiration of becoming a major tourism destination, according to the Ethiopian government. 
LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP)  Community members rallied together to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.

Nearly 400 people showed that people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are not alone. The National Multiple Sclerosis Societys Walk MS: Longmeadow raises awareness and funds to find a cure for the disease.

Fight at Amherst Regional Middle School prompts shelter-in-place, ongoing investigation

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About one million people live with MS in the United States. Its unpredictable, and often disabling, but there are resources through the National MS Society, like Walk MS, that help people affected live their best lives. One walker shared why she chose to participate.

Im walking because I was recently diagnosed with MS, and I figured this would be a great way to feel supported by the community, said Degenais Romero of Holyoke.

Romeros relatives also weighed in on their impact.

It means a lot because it shows how youre supportive, and how everyones come together, said Fabian Morales of West Springfield. Its a community thing.

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Another attendee was diagnosed nearly 12 years ago, and she said having her village by her side makes all the difference.

Its a daily fight, and Im just so happy and blessed to have everybody during this journey, said Marlaina Ray of Wilbraham.

Organizers said they expect walkers to raise nearly $70,000 for the National MS Society throughout Saturdays event. They were seen waving paddles showing their connection to the disease, whether theyre living with MS or supporting a loved one.

Sidewalks were full of orange, the color for MS Awareness, with each step towards the finish line and one step closer to finding a cure.

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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Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has pushed back against remarks made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who recently criticised Budapests stance in blocking Ukraines European Union accession.

Source: European Pravda, citing Peter Szijjarto on Facebook

Details: Szijjarto commented on Zelenskyy's statement that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is dragging Ukraine into the elections in Hungary and doing "very dangerous things" by blocking Ukraine's path to the EU.

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According to Szijjarto, Zelenskyy "has to come to terms with the fact that Hungarians have every right to express their opinion on Ukraines fast-track EU accession".

Quote from Szijjarto: "The fact remains: Ukraine wants to join an association that we are members of, and not vice versa... Therefore, Kyiv should choose the appropriate tone."

Background:

Ukraine's leadership and the European Commission had ambitious plans for the pace of accession negotiations in 2025, but the Hungarian veto has prevented them from proceeding.

On 29 April, Ukraine and Hungary agreed to hold regular consultations in Budapest to unblock the accession negotiations.

Budapest organised a poll consulting Hungarians on their views on Ukraine's EU accession, and Viktor Orban publicly voted against it.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A Huntsville small business couple has been named as the Small Business Persons of the Year for Alabama.

Kim and Larry Lewis are the owners of PROJECTXYZ, Inc. in Huntsville.

In March, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the Lewis were awarded as the Alabama Small Business Persons of the Year! Winners were selected from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.

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Larry and I are honored to be named Alabamas Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of our incredible team. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and we are proud to be part of a network of entrepreneurs who drive growth, create opportunities, and inspire the next generation of leaders. We look forward to continuing to invest and engage in Alabamas small business landscape, Kim Lewis said.

PROJECTXYZ, INC. is a great example of a local small business empowering the state of Alabamas economy, Janita R. Stewart, SBA Alabama District Director (acting), said. In accordance with the SBAs Office of Advocacys most recent Small Business Profiles, there are more than 449,000 small businesses in Alabama contributing to the states economy, and business owners like Kimberly and Larry Lewis are helping to lead the way. SBA is proud to recognize The Lewis as Alabamas 2025 Small Business Persons of the Year!

PROJECTXYZ, Inc. is a technical solutions company using its expertise to solve problems and deliver results for federal and commercial customers at various locations, both domestic and international.

In addition to this nationally recognized award, three businesses were recognized at the state level.

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Alabama Rural-Owned Small Business of the Year: CEO Duane Tolbert, Tolbert Insurance Agency, Inc., Oneonta, AL

Alabama Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year: CEO Sean Chappell, Southern Sun Laundry, Foley, AL

Alabama Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year: CEO Lori Purnell, Spencer Environmental Consultants, LLC, Birmingham, AL

These awards recognize businesses for their growth in revenues, growth in physical space, in job creation, their resilience through challenges, and/or contributions to their local communities, the Alabama Small Business Development Network said.

PROJECTXYZ, Inc. said all 53 winners were invited to attend ceremonies in Washington D.C. on May 4-5, where they will be honored with their award, along with special recognition of the runner-up and the naming of the overall 2025 National Small Business Person of the Year.

Since 1971, the U.S. SBA has announced a National Small Business Person of the Year. An Alabama-based company/owner has never won the award.

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You can learn more about these businesses recognized on the Alabama Small Business Development Network website here.

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  As Colorado approaches dry season, state lawmakers penned a letter to the Secretary of Agriculture calling for the rehiring of 3,000 forest service staff.

Of those 3,000, many are incident qualification card holders or red card holders that indicate they passed and completed the required training to fight wildfires.

In response, Congressman Jeff Hurd (CD-3) joined several Colorado Democrats including Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Reps. Brittany Pettersen, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse and Jason Crow.

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Rep. Hurd talked with WesternSlopeNow about the cuts and says I support the presidents efforts to make government more efficient, to make government more responsive, to make government more effective. Part of that means making savings and cuts. We just need to make sure they are done in the right spot. And I think people that work in these agencies, they will tell you yes, there are places where we can realize efficiencies, we just need to make sure that we do it in the right places. So, cutting those firefighters, the red card holders, the ones that are able to help when we have wildland fires in our forest service, cutting those individuals is probably not the best place to do that.

WesternSlopeNow also obtained statements from Reps. Petterson, DeGette and Crow and Gov. Jared Polis on the cuts. Their statements are below.

Rep. Petterson: The Trump administrations decision to lay off 3,000 trained employees who prevent and respond to fires right ahead of peak wildfire season is incredibly reckless. This move puts lives, homes, and entire communities at risk. The administration must reverse course immediately and restore these critical positions to protect Coloradans.

Rep. DeGette: The United States Forest Service plays a vital role in the management of our public lands and protection against wildfires. Since Colorado is prone to wildfires, we depend on a strong USFS to keep us safe. These individuals shouldnt have been laid off in the first place, as many of them are specially trained and certified to fight wildland fires. Their reinstatement will help us combat these climate-related threats, and I will continue to advocate for protecting the public servants who keep Colorados treasured public lands safe and accessible.

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Rep. Crow: The loss of thousands of red-card carrying U.S. Forest Service workers puts Colorado at risk. As climate change and intensifying wildfires threaten our communities, it is important to reinstate those most qualified to fight wildfires and protect our families. Thats why the Trump Administration must reverse these cuts to critical Forest Service workers.

Gov. Polis: In Colorado, we know the devastating impact of wildfires on our communities and outdoors, and underscore the importance of mitigation efforts in lowering risk and keeping Coloradans safe. These Trump administration cuts are shortsighted and hurt Colorados ability to meaningfully mitigate wildfires before they happen in addition to the important outcomes this workforce provides more broadly in the care of our public lands. Governor Polis appreciates the members of Colorados federal delegation who joined this effort to have red card-holding Forest Service members reinstated and echoes the need for urgency before its too late, and urges other members of the delegation to join this effort.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
The ICT Newscast for Friday, May 2, 2025, features stories about the closing message coming soon from the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and a Montana man honoring culture through his business. Plus a Navajo translation for a galaxy far, far away. Check out the ICT Newscast on YouTube for this episode and more.

Canada's Liberal Party won the national election with strong Indigenous support, keeping Prime Minister Mark Carney in power. A record 12 Indigenous MPs are heading to Parliament.





Global Indigenous leaders call for action on UNDRIP. The forum focused on sovereignty, climate, and international collaboration.

Montanas American Indian Caucus secures key wins on child welfare, education, and tribal policy. Several bills await the governors signature.

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A Bozeman entrepreneur honors Native culture through a pop-up shop. Each piece highlights the artists story and tradition.

A drive-in screening of "Star Wars" dubbed in Navajo brings joy and pride. The project supports language revitalization through pop culture.

View previous ICT broadcasts here every week for the latest news from around Indian Country.

ICT is owned by IndiJ Public Media, a nonprofit news organization. Will you support our work? All of our content is free. There are no subscriptions or costs. Support ICT for as little as $10. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter.
May 2Tensions flared Thursday night as an Albuquerque city councilor and the chief of police got into a shouting match amid discussion of the city's proposed budget.

The City Council was meeting as a Committee of the Whole about the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. After Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina took to the podium to answer questions about his department's request, Councilor Louie Sanchez and Medina clashed. The two accused each other of disrespect, with Sanchez commenting on Medina's attire, something Medina didn't appreciate.

"Nice of you to show up in a polo shirt today, chief," Sanchez said, adding, "Thanks for disrespecting us today."

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Sanchez then asked Medina why he didn't tell the council about the deployment of New Mexico National Guard troops to assist Albuquerque police in carrying out lesser roles in order to free-up officers  a request for manpower made by Medina. Before saying that he felt it wasn't in the council's purview, Medina called Sanchez unprofessional and said he hoped "the whole city of Albuquerque saw" what Sanchez did.

"I'm not going to sit here and let you abuse me," Medina said.

The two men shouted over each other and demanded to be allowed to finish speaking until the committee chair restored order.

It was the most dramatic dispute between the council and city administrators during the seven-hour meeting, but not the only one over police spending.

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APD accounts for more public dollars than any other department in the city. This year's proposal seeks $271.5 million, a 5.2% increase of $13.4 million compared with last year's budget. The increase is driven mainly by personnel costs, something Medina and Sanchez sparred over.

"How are you going to do something to change your over-bloated upper echelon in reference to putting boots on the ground?" Sanchez said.

Medina defended those jobs. He said that those leadership positions were needed to bring APD in line with the U.S. Department of Justice consent decree mandating reforms due to excessive use of force, increase the rate of solved homicides, and move away from a department that he said lost control in 2011 and 2014.

"Maybe in 2011, with those low numbers of executives, we had a lack of supervision over people. We had a lack of holding people accountable because we had spans of control that were too wide," Medina said.

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Sanchez, who recently announced his candidacy for mayor, is a former police officer and has long been a vocal critic of Medina, who assumed the position of chief in 2020. Sanchez called for a vote of no confidence in Medina in 2024, but backed away from the effort.

Councilor Dan Champine, also a former police officer, raised questions about the number of command staff. He asked questions to clarify his understanding of the structure, noting that APD requested $6.5 million for the salaries of command staff.

Thursday's meeting also saw a testy back-and-forth between Councilor Dan Lewis and Kevin Sourisseau, the city's chief finance officer.

Lewis noted that APD's budget request doesn't seek funding for dozens of vacant police officer positions, and instead uses that money in other places. Lewis characterized the move as a $5.4 million budget cut to the police department.

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"We're cutting your budget by $5.4 million, and it's going to other things. That's the explanation. That's exactly what's going on," Lewis said.

APD can have up to 1,100 officers, according to the proposed budget. But the money for those additional positions was not requested by the department.

Medina said that APD had about 900 police officers by the end of 2024, with around 400 officers directly responding to 911 calls. He added that he expects the department to reach 1,000 by the end of calendar year 2025. He also said that if the $5.4 million were allocated for personnel costs for vacant positions, he would spend the money on other things anyway.

Sourisseau noted that, despite Lewis' claim of a budget cut, APD's budget overall would increase under this plan. He added that the council has had a long-standing expectation that the administration not fund positions that can't be filled.

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"He thinks he can get to 1,000 officers, and I would rather not fund him for 1,100 officers right now, if he can only get to 1,000 because that money, as we've talked about, can be put to work somewhere else in our budget," Sourisseau said.

Ultimately, the council advanced the budget request. The final vote on the budget is expected to take place May 20.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will not attend the 9 May Victory Day parade in Moscow. His deputy, Sanjay Seth, is expected to represent India instead.

Source: The Hindu newspaper, citing official sources in the Indian government

Details: The decision comes amid growing tensions with Pakistan following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Quote: "Russia had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Victory Day parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War, but it was decided that Singh would attend the event."

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Background:

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had announced that he would go to Russia on 9 May because he had given Putin his word, but on 3 May, it was reported that he had been admitted to a military hospital due to health problems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of other countries representatives during their planned visits to Moscow for the 9 May parade.

In April, chief EU diplomat Kaja Kallas called on European leaders not to attend the 9 May military celebrations in Moscow, but to show solidarity with Ukraine instead.

The European Union has also given a clear instruction to EU candidate states not to attend the 9 May parade in Moscow and not to visit Russia.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico plans to visit Moscow on 9 May at Putin's invitation.

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This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

Spring has arrived in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh and the forest is bursting with every shade of green. Fresh shoots sprout from gnarled tree trunks as life begins anew after the long winter. In the distance, the birdsong is punctuated by a peacocks wails. Whats really holding my attention, though, is the smell  a distinctly sweet, heady aroma that hangs in the humid air, impossible to ignore and emanating from the pearly white buds strewn on the ground by a nearby tree.

Im in Kanha National Park, one of Indias foremost tiger reserves in the northeast of the country, visiting from my hometown on the vast nations western coast, Mumbai. In addition to the elusive big cats, around 145 of which inhabit the reserve, this protected region also happens to be one of the places where the Madhuca longifolia, or mahua tree, grows  a towering sentinel of the forest, its branches spreading broadly.

The mahua trees flowers, when dried and fermented, produce a spirit that has been consumed by Indigenous peoples in the country for centuries. This ancient alcohol, known for its distinct sweet, nutty flavour and heady aroma, has played a pivotal role in Indian daily life, serving as a source of pride for many Indigenous cultures. Photograph by Smitha Menon

Long have people been attracted to its delicate buds  the trees flowers, when dried and fermented, produce a spirit that has been consumed by Indigenous peoples in the country for centuries. But its more than just a folk liquor. This ancient alcohol, known for its distinct sweet, nutty flavour and heady aroma, has played a pivotal role in Indian daily life, serving as a source of pride for many Indigenous cultures.

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So deep is the tribal connection with mahua that its sometimes used to wash the umbilical cords of newborns and bless tombstones and memorials for the departed so theyre not deprived in the afterlife, says grey-haired Aniruddha Jhampan Mookerjee when I meet him later at Salban, a rustic homestay he runs that borders Kanha. Having served as the heritage liquor advisor to the Madhya Pradesh government, Aniruddha has been integral to bringing this ancient spirit back into the limelight.

Decades ago, the spirit fell out of favour. Despite being an important part of Indias cultural identity, mahua was deemed a dangerous intoxicant and a threat to public health by colonial British officers in the late 19th century, who feared it could disrupt social order and banned its distillation. The ban significantly impacted the livelihoods of Indigenous communities, whod traditionally collected the flowers. Soon, mahua largely disappeared.

But now, thanks to a new law brought about by the efforts of government officials, people like Aniruddha and some enterprising bartenders, mahua has been deemed a heritage liquor and is making a comeback.

In 2021, labels such as Mond and Mohulo, the first mahua spirits in India distilled by Indigenous people, came to the market, giving these communities a vital financial lifeline. And slowly, mahua has begun to filter back into Indian life. Fine dining restaurants such as Masque in Mumbai are now incorporating mahua-infused dishes, such as ice cream, into their tasting menus. At The Oberoi Vindhyavilas, a luxury wildlife resort to the north in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, guests are now greeted on arrival with the basant, a welcome drink crafted with mahua, local herbs and soda. Even tent canopies here are embroidered with the flower, which is rapidly becoming a regional emblem.

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Later, when I return to Mumbai, I arrive after dark and head for Bandra Born, a restaurant with a new dedicated mahua bar, opened in partnership with Six Brothers Small Batch, Indias first double-distilled luxury mahua spirit. Its an atmospheric spot, mood-lit with dark wood and speakers playing R&B. On offer here are 10 mahua cocktails, all reinventions of classic drinks  think the mahua mule, tribal negroni and popular mahua colada.

Bandra Born is an atmospheric spot, mood-lit with dark wood and speakers playing R&B. On offer here are 10 mahua cocktails, all reinventions of classic drinks  think the mahua mule, tribal negroni and popular mahua colada. Photograph by Bandra Born

I chat to chief barman Raviraj Shetty, as well as Gresham Fernandes, the restaurants chef-partner, about mahua. As an ingredient, mahua has a hint of smokiness and is slightly sweet, explains Raviraj. I ask them where the idea for the bar came from. It came from a single thought, Gresham interjects. What did we drink before we were colonised? Mahua, we found, was the spirit that allowed us to explore that answer in the most creative way.

Some Indians still hold an internalised bias to what they regard as a country liquor, thanks in part to years of Indias culinary history being devalued during colonial rule. But slowly, the conversation around the need to revive and respect traditional food cultures is growing. Alongside the launch of its Small Batch, South Seas Distilleries has also released 1922 Resurrection  a commemorative release of just 102 bottles that each retail for close to 1,000. And theyre not alone: alcohol brand Mah is also attempting to popularise the drink and its story globally, aiming to change the perception of the spirit in India; already, its being consumed in bars like Little Red Door in Paris and Symbiose in Bordeaux.



As I sip my nimbu sharbat, a spicy mahua-spiked lemonade, and wait for my friends to arrive, a conversation I had back in Madhya Pradesh comes to mind. There, at the female-run Mohulo distillery, Id met Anarkali Bai, an Indigenous woman whos part of the production team. After taking me on a tour, wed sat down to talk over chai and biscuits, and she told me how mahua had made her financially independent, and able to pay for family weddings and ceremonies  just as the liquor had in her community before colonial rule. It has been our guiding spirit, shed said. Very often, our husbands cant support us. But mahua can.

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PHNOM PENH, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has encouraged businesspeople, entrepreneurs, investors and producers to participate in the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), scheduled for Sept. 17-21 in Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said a Ministry of Commerce's statement on Saturday.

The CAEXPO is a significant platform for business and investment exchange between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and China, the statement said.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the annual expo serves as a platform to enhance economic collaboration, promote trade, and foster regional integration between China and ASEAN member states.

"The 22nd China-ASEAN Expo will facilitate the exchange of business ideas, showcase products and services, and encourage investment opportunities, playing a crucial role in strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations between China and ASEAN," he told Xinhua.

"It will promote high-quality regional development through a variety of economic and trade activities, laying a solid foundation for building a more connected, resilient and dynamic region," he added. 
This week, President Donald Trump announced he won't recognize Indigenous Peoples Day and will bring Columbus Day back from the ashes  another sign some Native leaders say that advocacy for Indigenous representation must continue during Trump's second term in the White House.

Columbus Day, celebrated annually in October, venerates the accomplishments of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.

Native Americans have been lobbying local and federal governments for decades to replace celebrations of Columbus with a holiday that recognizes the contributions of Indigenous peoples. For many, the goal was to not only create a celebration of the beauty of Indigenous cultures and experiences but to also recast Columbus historical framing.

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Instead of focusing on his navigation to the Americas, many Native people want to increase awareness of the role Columbus played in the mass atrocities and deaths inflicted upon Indigenous peoples.

Democrat Joe Biden was the first president to mark Indigenous Peoples Day, issuing a proclamation in 2021 that celebrated the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples and recognized the sovereignty and self-determination of tribal nations. The proclamation did not establish Indigenous Peoples Day as a federal holiday, nor did it remove Columbus Day as one.

Trump said he would not follow his predecessors practice of recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day, accusing Democrats of denigrating the explorers legacy as he pressed his campaign to restore what he argues are traditional American icons.

However, Trump has previously acknowledged National Native American Heritage Month, which is celebrated in November. As business owners, artists, teachers, writers, courageous members of our Armed Forces, and so much more, (Native American) contributions to our society are cause for celebration and appreciation by all Americans, reads a 2020 heritage month proclamation issued by Trump.

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In 2020, the Trump administration awarded $30,000 for the restoration of a Columbus statue in Baltimore torn down by protesters. That same year, during the presidential election, the administration released a policy vision for Indian Country entitled Putting Americas First Peoples First  Forgotten No More! in which the president pledged to honor the storied legacy of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

But on Sunday on his Truth Social site, Trump insinuated that Columbus's legacy was another victim of wokeness. The Democrats did everything possible to destroy Christopher Columbus, his reputation, and all of the Italians that love him so much, Trump wrote.

Former president of the Navajo Nation, Jonathan Nez, was with Biden when he signed the Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation. He said it was an acknowledgment that generations of Native Americans fought and died for their right to be recognized as citizens of sovereign nations and the nation-to-nation relationship they have with the U.S.

We have this special relationship with the federal government, but yet actions like this, it just takes us back in time, to a time where Indigenous peoples were not respected and were not seen as human beings, Nez said.

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Although the first official Indigenous Peoples Day celebration began in the 1990s, it didnt gain widespread momentum until the last decade, with an uptick in state and local governments recognizing the holiday. At the same time, as a broad reckoning on racial injustice swept across the U.S., statues of Columbus have been ripped down by activists and protesters  part of a generations-long push to have more honest conversations about the history of the country and its founding.

Columbus Day first gained traction in the 1890s after the lynching of several Italian men in New Orleans. President Benjamin Harrison used it as a way to both quell anti-immigrant sentiments against Italians and to court their votes in the presidential election. Since then, Columbus Day has not only become tied to Italian American ethnicity but has also been a part of American nationalism identity, said Philip Deloria, a Harvard historian and member of the Dakota Nation.

Its pretty clear that Trump is seeing the ethnic strain  he said as much  but not really seeing the American nationalist strain, Deloria said. Its a history he doesnt want to hear. It seems like it might play into the kind of grievance politics he typifies. So its not at all surprising.

During the Biden administration, the necessity for Indigenous Peoples Day was something that most Americans understood and respected, said Bryan Newland, former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior under Biden and a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe).

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The work Native people have done to push the federal government to recognize Indigenous peoples' dignity doesn't end with an administration, Newland said. It's generational work.

"As you go through four-year presidential terms and two-year election cycles its going to ebb and flow, but that toothpaste isnt going back in the tube, he said.

Once you know the historical record of Columbus' impact on Indigenous peoples, you can't unlearn it, said Montana state Sen. Shane Morigeau, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation who has a bill in the state legislature to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day.

Its not like youre trying to erase him from history. What youre trying to do is teach through history, an accurate history, and not ignore it," he said.
Funeral services were held in Arlington on Saturday for Charles Faggart.

Faggart, 31, died days after an April 7th incident inside the Duval County Jail, which led to nine JSO corrections officers being stripped of their authority. Action News Jax learned on Friday that the officers involved have been reassigned to work at the Duval County Courthouse.

An incident report revealed that Faggart was being moved to a cell when he was displaying aggressive, erratic and disruptive behavior by thrashing his body, clenching his fist and pushing & pulling actions while attempting to escort into the dorm.

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Related: Report reveals incident that preceded Duval inmate Charles Faggarts death stretched over 2 hours

Several officers tried to put Faggart in a restraint chair, but they say he continued to fight. Action News Jax sources told us that Faggart was eventually pepper-sprayed during this part of the incident. Officers also put a spit mask over Faggarts head, according to the report.

At 7:24 that morning, the jails mental health director spoke to Faggart and, according to the report said, that he did fentanyl, she deemed him fit to be placed in self-harm housing.

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A nurse also evaluated Faggart and deemed him well enough to remain in the restraint chair. More than one hour later, at 8:51 that morning, eight of the officers who have been suspended took Faggart out of the restraint chair and escorted him into a cell.

What happened next is heavily redacted in the report, but it said between 8:55 a.m. and 8:57 a.m. that morning, Faggart was placed back in the restraint safety chair.

Then the report said that by 9 a.m., medical staff arrived and Faggart was transported to the hospital.

He died on April 10. Were still waiting to learn the cause of his death and whether anyone will be criminally charged.

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Related: He deserved so much more than this: Hundreds protest, demanding justice for Charles Faggart

Meanwhile, attorney Belkis Plata released this statement on the familys behalf after the funeral:

Today, the family of Charles Faggart lays their beloved son to rest. On Monday, April 7, Charles was transported from the Duval County Jail to the hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced brain dead on Thursday, April 10, 2025.

Charles was an organ donor. Although he gave the gift of life to others, some of his organs could not be used due to the severe internal injuries he sustained while in custody.

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Medical professionals we consulted have reviewed Charless hospital records and confirmed that no fentanyl was detected in his system upon admissioncontrary to statements in a police report alleging that Charles told officers he had taken fentanyl. That statement came from officers who are themselves under investigation, and we maintain that this claim is false.

The family remains desperate for answers. Our team has been in contact with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, the Office of the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, and the FBI. Each agency has indicated that investigations are ongoing but have been unable to provide any updates or a timeline for resolution.

Burying their son without answers has been one of the hardest parts of this nightmare. It is a devastating reality to lay him in the ground without knowing what truly happened or who will be held accountable. The family continues to call for transparency, accountability, and timely justice for Charles.

Action News Jax will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they become available.

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When extreme weather hits, such as a hurricane, the effects can be devastating. Lives and homes can be lost. Food and clean water can be difficult to find.

But, as an investigation from NC Newsline shows, there's another, often-overlooked loss that can come from these storms: child care.

What's happening?

In her report, journalist Sara Murphy looked at how Hurricane Helene impacted child care across western North Carolina. The Category 4 storm pummeled the southeast last year, resulting in at least 250 fatalities, making it the deadliest storm in the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

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Six months after the storm hit, the effects are still being felt, especially for those who use or operate child care centers. More than 55 centers were damaged in the storm, and 10 of those remained closed as of March.

"It's a double-edged sword because the providers have to get back to work or they can't pay their bills," Alissa Rhodes, a mother and child care provider, told NC Newsline. "But then at the same time, they need to take care of themselves."

And for those providers that have reopened, the child care experience may have changed, as they are now figuring out how to best help children deal with the trauma they experienced in the storm.

"I've spoken to many early childhood educators who tell me, we can no longer play rain sounds during nap time, because that's not a safe, comforting sound for children anymore," Murphy said in an interview about her article.

Why is this concerning?

Anything that plays a role in the future of children is obviously important, but what could make this more vital is the increasing frequency with which these types of extreme weather events are occurring.

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As more heat-trapping gases are trapped in our atmosphere, not only does the planet warm, but events such as hurricanes, droughts, and tornadoes occur more frequently and with more severity.

According to a Stanford University survey, roughly 60% of parents and early childhood caregivers said they had gone through at least one extreme weather event since 2022.

"Hurricane Helene and the storms that were happening in the region anyway have all been amplified by the fact that the air is warmer and can hold more moisture," climate researcher Ben Clarke said.

What's being done about hurricanes and early childhood education?

Murphy details the funding issues that have faced early childhood education in western North Carolina for years before Helene, a problem that has only become worse since the storm. Experts believe this should be one of the top priorities for state and federal aid after an extreme storm.

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"Having early care and education as part of a recovery strategy is  one of the first things that I think really should happen," Bradford Wiles, an early childhood development specialist at Kansas State University, told NC Newsline. "That alleviates not only the stress and difficulty of trying to parent in that time, but really frees up the adults to help their entire community recover."

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Friday, according to the South Dakota Attorney Generals Office.

Friday mornings incident involved the Oglala Sioux Tribal Police and occurred during a vehicle pursuit that started on the Pine Ridge Reservation and traveled into Fall River County.

The impact of federal funding on local farms

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One person received non-life-threatening injuries. No law enforcement officers were injured.

The attorney generals news release said the suspect is still at-large in Nebraska as of about 4 p.m. Friday, but there is no threat to the public.

The DCI is being assisted by the FBI, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Fall River County Sheriffs Office. The Oglala Sioux Tribal Police are cooperating with the investigation.

Rally planners to emphasis due process at Madison

The Fall River County Sheriffs Office requested the investigation.

In its investigation, DCI will process the crime scene, conduct a forensic examination of all collected evidence, interview officers and witnesses and review all video cameras from the area. After the investigation is complete, the DCI will issue a shooting summary in the case.

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This is the second officer-involved shooting in South Dakota this year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -The Metropolitan Police Departments Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating after a special police officer shot two men in Northeast on Friday night, leaving them injured, MPD said.

According to MPD, at around 10:45 p.m., the special police officer was in the 600 block of Rhode Island Ave. when they saw two men allegedly looking into parked cars. Special police officers are licensed armed security guards.

The guard said that as they tried to confront the men, the men got into a car and drove toward them. MPD said thats when the guard discharged their gun, striking the pair.

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Metro police officer shoots person in Dupont Circle

The men drove to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, MPD noted.

As of Saturday morning, there is no word on their condition, and police have not identified the guard involved.

MPDs Internal Affairs Bureau acts as the departments guardian and investigates members for lethal and serious but non-lethal uses of force.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Iran does not plan to give up enriching uranium, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television on Saturday, as talks with the United States on limiting the country's nuclear programme were postponed.

All countries have a right to a peaceful civilian nuclear programme, Araghchi said, repeating that Tehran was not aiming to secure nuclear weapons. Its enrichment programme was not up for discussion, he said.

The foreign minister rejected US demands that it abandon its enrichment programme or import enriched uranium. He said he had communicated this to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

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In 2015, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme. Among the provisions of the deal was limiting enrichment to 3.67% and stocks to 300 kilograms of uranium.

After the US withdrew from the deal in 2018, Tehran began enriching uranium to 60% and now has stocks exceeding 8,000 kilograms.

A fourth round of talks with Washington was set to be held on Saturday in Rome, but was postponed without a new date being set. Iran said logistical reasons were behind the postponement.

Observers believe the imposition of fresh sanctions on companies doing business with Iranian oil was behind the postponement. There has also been speculation that the two sides are so far from an agreement that progress is impossible.

A settlement on uranium enrichment is widely believed to be a key step in reaching a political agreement in the nuclear dispute.
Iran has defended its right to enrich uranium, doubling down on a long-held stance as the next round of nuclear negotiations with the United States in Oman were abruptly delayed.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took to social media on Saturday to declare, Iran has every right to possess the full nuclear fuel cycle, referencing the countrys membership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He added, There are several NPT members which enrich uranium while wholly rejecting nuclear weapons, underlining Irans argument that its nuclear activities are civilian in nature.

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Maximalist positioning and incendiary rhetoric achieve nothing except eroding the chances of success, added Araghchi, in reference to the US position that Iran must stop all enrichment activities.

In a Thursday interview with Fox News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Iran to halt its enrichment efforts, arguing, the only countries in the world that enrich uranium are the ones that have nuclear weapons. However, countries like Germany, Japan and Brazil also conduct enrichment without possessing nuclear arsenals.

The comments come after a fourth round of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, originally scheduled for Saturday, was postponed.

I generally refrain from airing arguments on key negotiation elements through the media. What I will say is that repeating falsehoods will not change basic facts. As a founding signatory to the NPT, Iran has every right to possess the full nuclear fuel cycle. Moreover, there  Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 2, 2025

Oman, acting as a mediator, cited logistical reasons for the delay. A new date remains unconfirmed, with one Iranian official telling the Reuters news agency it would depend on the US approach.

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The setback follows a new wave of US sanctions tied to Irans oil sales and alleged continued support for Yemens Houthi rebels. Tehran responded by accusing Washington of sending contradictory messages that undermined diplomacy.

France added to the uncertainty earlier this week when Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot claimed Iran was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons  a charge Tehran dismissed as simply absurd.

Iran, which insists it does not seek a bomb, has consistently maintained its nuclear programme complies with IAEA oversight.

Araghchi reiterated that Irans right to enrich was non-negotiable, even as IAEA chief Rafael Grossi suggested on Wednesday that any enriched material in Iran could be either dissolved or exported if a deal were reached.

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The diplomatic deadlock comes as global powers weigh whether meaningful progress can still be achieved on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal brokered by world powers, which collapsed after the US, under the first Donald Trump presidential term, unilaterally abandoned it in 2018.

The 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) saw Iran curtail its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP)  Sama Ebrahimi Bajgani and her fiance, Alireza Doroudi, had just spent an evening celebrating the Persian new year at the University of Alabama when seven armed immigration officers came to their apartment before dawn and arrested Doroudi.

In a moment, the young couple's life was upended.

I was living a normal life until that night. After that nothing is just normal, Bajgani said.

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Details about Doroudi's detention spread through the small Iranian community in Tuscaloosa, where Bajgani and Doroudi are doctoral students. Other Iranian students say they have been informally advised by faculty to lay low and be invisible  instilling fear among a once vibrant cohort.

Doroudi is among students across the U.S. who have been detained in recent weeks as part of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown. Bajgani said the couple does not know why Doroudi  who has no criminal record or public political views  faces deportation, adding that Trumps recent visit to the school made her feel like the university was ignorant of our crisis.

One Iranian civil engineering student and close friend to Doroudi said he has lost over 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) due to stress and depression in the six weeks since Doroudi was detained.

Its like all of us are waiting for our turn. It could be every knock, every email could be deportation, said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of concerns about losing his legal status.

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He now avoids unnecessary trips outside. When he was in a car crash last month, he begged the other driver not to call the police, even though he wasnt at fault, because he didnt want to draw attention to himself.

I stayed with their permission

Bajgani said Doroudi, 32, is an ambitious mechanical engineering student from Shiraz, Iran.

He entered the United States legally in January 2023 on a student visa. Bajgani said he often worked 60-hour weeks while still making time to run errands for loved ones.

If someone like him doesnt get to the place he deserves, there is nothing called the American dream, she said.

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Doroudi's visa was revoked in June 2023, but the embassy didn't provide a reason and ignored his inquiries, Bajgani said. The university told him he could stay as long as he remained a student but that would not be allowed to reenter the U.S. if he left, she said.

He was operating under that guidance when immigration officers came to the couple's door in March.

The University of Alabama didn't comment on Doroudi's case, but said it offers resources to help immigrants on campus comply with federal law. It also offers guidance to students whose visas are revoked.

Our international students are valued members of our campus community, university spokesperson Monica Watts said in a statement.

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Doroudi told Bajgani he spent three days in a county jail, sleeping on a tile floor and feeling panicked.

He is now in a Louisiana immigration detention facility over 300 miles (480 kilometers) from Tuscaloosa while he awaits a deportation hearing scheduled for next week. At least one other high-profile international student is there.

I didnt deserve this. If they had just sent me a letter asking me to appear in court, I wouldve come, because I didnt do anything illegal. I stayed with their permission, Doroudi said in a letter he dictated to Bajgani over the phone to provide his perspective to others. What was the reason for throwing me in jail?

Trump's immigration crackdown

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More than 1,000 international students across the U.S. have had their visas or legal status revoked since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements and correspondence with school officials. They included some who protested Israels war in Gaza. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has since reversed those revocations, including those of four University of Alabama students.

University staff closely monitors changes that could affect them and has communicated updates related to new protocols and procedures, Watts said.

A Louisiana judge who denied Doroudi bond in mid-April said he didn't sufficiently prove that he wasn't a national security threat, Doroudi's lawyer, David Rozas said. Rozas said he was flabbergasted because the government hasn't presented evidence that Doroudi is a threat, though that is what the Department of Homeland Security has alleged.

A familiar sense of fear

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International students make up over 13% of the statewide University of Alabama graduate program, according to the schools website. Over 100 Iranian students attend the university, according to an estimate from the Iranian Student Association.

Every year, many gather for a picnic to celebrate Sizdah Bedar, the thirteenth day of the Persian new year, which begins with spring.

This year, the typically festive holiday "felt like a funeral service, one Iranian doctoral student said. At one point, silence fell over the group as a police car passed.

"Its becoming too hard to be living here, to be yourself and thrive," said the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she fears retaliation.

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She has criticized the Iranian regime since arriving in the United States over five years ago, so she suspects she is no longer safe in her home country. Now, she has those same doubts in Alabama.

All of a sudden it feels like were returning back to Iran again, she said.

____

Riddle 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.
The greatest trick the woke ever pulled was convincing the world it didnt exist. That its strictures on race and gender were not an ideology, but simple human kindness. And when the spell began to wear off, it managed one better: persuading people the revolution had been their idea all along.

Take Ireland. Once defined by Catholicism and national struggle, the country now draws its moral cues not from Rome, but from San Francisco. The tricolour still flies over the Dail, but it is increasingly outnumbered by rainbow flags in government buildings and shop windows.

This is a country where a man may become a woman with the stroke of a pen  and to question it, to utter a biological fact, is to risk social or professional exile. Last month, the UK Supreme Court ruled that trans women are not women under the legal meaning of the Equality Act. In Ireland, the response was a polite shrug. Norma Foley, the equality minister, said the ruling had no relevance here and reaffirmed Irelands commitment to protecting trans identities. RTE, ever deferential, noted that a transgender advocacy group was encouraged that the British heresy hadnt crossed the water.

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But where did this doctrine come from, if not from Britain? If not from America? It didnt rise from the peat bog. It was not whispered by ghosts in Glendalough. This new creed  that identity outranks biology, that feeling cancels fact  was imported, like oat milk and mindfulness, and embraced with evangelical zeal by a political class desperate to seem more enlightened than their forebears. Is there, after all, a more Protestant idea than your truth?

Ireland has since adopted nearly every progressive orthodoxy drifting in from abroad. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  the corporate euphemism for race and gender quotas  has, for all practical purposes, replaced the Holy Trinity as the nations guiding ethic. When the Trump administration sent letters urging multinationals in Ireland to abandon race-based hiring targets for US operations, the response was predictably dismissive.



Simon Harris, the foreign minister, declared that Ireland must remain true to our European values, by which he presumably meant Americas old ones. Trinity College Dublin advised staff not to respond to American inquiries about DEI-linked research. The Irish Times condemned Washingtons letters as unwanted foreign interference  without quite explaining why DEI, itself an American import, was welcome interference.

Such questions are rarely asked, largely because these ideas were never really debated. That, too, is a measure of American soft power: its values stream in through Netflix, filter down through HR departments, and echo through NGOs  not as ideology, but as moral instinct.

Consider the Gender Recognition Act of 2015. It allows a person to change legal sex by obtaining a certificate, and it passed with barely a whisper of dissent. When RTE in 2022 briefly gave airtime to gender-critical women, activists threatened to uninvite them from Pride events. Micheal Martin, now Taoiseach, dismissed the segment as toxic and added: We dont need that kind of debate in Ireland.

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If that sounds patronising, its because it is. Martin, like many of his colleagues  including Norma Foley  is a former teacher. And it shows. They speak in the platitudinous simplicities of the classroom: this is kind, that is not. The possibility that a complex issue might involve competing, even irreconcilable rights is quietly set aside.

But outside the classroom, the tune is changing. Corporate America is starting to backtrack. In 2023, references to diversity and DEI in Fortune 100 company filings dropped by 22 per cent. Even BlackRock  once the $11.5 trillion engine room of woke capitalism  has scaled back its language, just three years after CEO Larry Fink declared the firm must embed DEI into everything we do.

Ireland may soon find itself pulled in two directions: between its economic lifeline  US multinationals  and the values of its progressive elite. It remains to be seen whether it will toe the new line coming from Washington, or remain a stubborn holdout for wokeism: a relic of a cargo cult of bad ideas already tapering out elsewhere.

But if Irish leaders choose that hill to die on, they should not delude themselves. It is not native ground.

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JAKARTA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Friday launched a nationwide education initiative aimed at accelerating the equal distribution of learning quality through digital technology.

The program, known as the Best Results Fast Program, is part of a broader government strategy to ensure high-quality and inclusive education across the archipelago.

Speaking at the launch ceremony held at Cimahpar 5 Public Elementary School in Bogor, West Java Province, Prabowo said one of the key measures under the program would be the installation of television screens in all schools to support digital-based learning.

"Through this initiative, we can deliver the best lessons, especially benefiting schools in remote, underdeveloped, and outermost areas, as well as urban schools that face challenges in accessing qualified teachers or learning materials," Prabowo said.

The program is expected to begin in the coming months, with the goal of equipping all schools in the country with digital screens by mid-2026.

Prabowo emphasized that the initiative would provide substantial support for teachers and students nationwide, particularly in regions experiencing a shortage of skilled educators.

The Indonesian leader expressed hope that the digitalization of education infrastructure would contribute to building a strong and competitive generation of human resources in the country. 
CAIRO (Reuters) - Israel called on Qatar, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, to "stop playing both sides with its double talk and decide if it's on the side of civilization or if it's on the side of Hamas", the Israeli Prime Minister's office said on Saturday.

Qatar rejected the statements as "inflammatory".

Despite efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to restore a 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.

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Israel, which wants the return of 59 hostages still held in Gaza, has insisted Hamas must disarm and be excluded from any role in the future governance of the enclave, a condition that Hamas rejects.

It has insisted on agreeing a lasting end to the fighting and withdrawal of Israeli forces as a condition for a deal that would see a release of the hostages.

"The State of Qatar firmly rejects the inflammatory statements issued by the Israeli Prime Ministers Office, which fall far short of the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari posted on X early on Sunday.

Al-Ansari criticized the portrayal of the Gaza conflict as a defense of civilization, likening it to historical regimes that used "false narratives to justify crimes against civilians."

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In his post, Al-Ansari questioned whether the release of 138 hostages was achieved through military operations or mediation efforts, which he said are being unjustly criticized and undermined.

He also cited the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza represented by what he called a suffocating blockade, systematic starvation, denial of medicine and shelter, and the use of humanitarian aid as a tool of political coercion.

On Friday, 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.

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 Ahmed Tolba and Jaidaa Taha, additional reporting by Muhammad Al Gebaly, editing by Deepa Babington and Daniel Wallis)
Israel has deployed its military to southern Syria following a week of deadly sectarian clashes involving the Druze minority that have left the region on edge.

The IDF said in a statement on Saturday that it was prepared to prevent the entry of hostile forces into the area of Druze villages, but did not provide details on troop numbers.

Israels presence is reportedly confined to Quneitra province near the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, where the Israel Defence Forces established positions following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December, a Druze official said.

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It follows days of intense violence around Druze communities south of Damascus, where fighting between militias aligned to the new Islamist government and Druze fighters has killed more than 100 people, including civilians and local leaders.

Israel has significantly escalated its operations in Syria since Assad was ousted, viewing the new regime in Damascus as a potential threat on its border.

The IDF has conducted multiple strikes it said were meant to protect the Druze community this week, including near the presidential palace in Damascus, as well as in Hama, Daraa, and Latakia.

It launched more than 20 air strikes inside Syria late on Friday, which it said targeted a military site, anti-aircraft cannons, and surface-to-air missile infrastructure.

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Syrian officials have called for international intervention to halt Israeli attacks and condemned them as a dangerous escalation.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Damascus on Saturday - Xinhua/Alamy Live News

Israel, home to a significant Druze population, has repeatedly warned Syrias transitional authorities, led by president Ahmed al-Sharaa, that it will not tolerate threats to the Druze community.

Last week, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said strikes on the region were meant to send a serious message to Syrias new leadership that Israel would not allow the minority to be targeted.

The IDF has carried out a warning operation and struck elements of an extremist group that was preparing to continue attacks on the Druze population in the town of Sahnaya, in the Damascus district in Syria, Mr Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Israel Katz, the defence minister.

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The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno-religious group with a distinct religious tradition separate from Islam.

Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Israels 150,000-strong Druze community, has called for Jews around the world and the international community to act now, immediately, to prevent a massacre.

Israel must not stand by in the face of events unfolding as we speak. Israeli leaders, you must take on the burden of proof and action, he added.

United Nations special envoy Geir Pedersen urged Israel to halt its attacks on Syria at once.

I strongly condemn Israels continued and escalating violations of Syrias sovereignty, including multiple air strikes in Damascus and other cities, Pedersen said in a post on X, calling for these attacks to cease at once.

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An Israeli air attack on a building in the south of the Gaza Strip has killed at least 11 people, including women and children, a spokesman for the Hamas-controlled civil protection agency said on Saturday.

An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed that there had been an attack in the area targeting what she termed Hamas terrorists.

Israel is seeking to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages being held in the Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli media reports, an expansion of the ground offensive, which resumed on March 18, is being planned, with thousands of reservists likely to be called up.
Overnight Israeli air raids on Syria have killed at least two civilians as Israel has stated it is carrying out attacks to protect the Druze minority from government violence, a stance the Syrian Druze community itself rejects.

At least eight people were also reported injured after some 15 air raids hit multiple areas in Syria after midnight Saturday, with at least eight attacks hitting its capital Damascus.

The Israeli military confirmed the attacks on Saturday, saying its forces struck a military site, anti-aircraft cannons and surface-to-air missile infrastructure in Syria without giving further details or any evidence.

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It comes a day after Israel carried out an attack near Syrias presidential palace and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not allow Syrian forces to deploy south of Damascus nor tolerate any threat to the Druze community.

More than 100 people were killed this week during fighting between pro-government forces and Druze fighters in Syria.

Reporting from the Damascus suburb of Jaramana where clashes took place between pro-government forces and Druze fighters, Al Jazeeras Imran Khan said there was an uneasy calm on Saturday.

A lot of people were in absolute fear. The fighters came in from multiple directions during the clashes on Tuesday, but they were beaten back by the security forces and then Jaramana was put under curfew for at least two days.

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He said during that time, a Druze delegation came in to reassure people that security would return.





Syrian government forces in Damascus and the Druze stronghold of Suwayda province in the southern part of the country reached agreements with Druze leaders to increase security and take in some heavy weapons held by fighters.

A local force from the Ministry of Defence will now be responsible for security as part of the deal here and in Suwayda, said Khan.

But the armed fighters are said to be rogue elements of the fighting forces who were fighting the Bashar al-Assad regime that fell. Thats a real concern, because it feels to many Syrian people like elements are trying to destabilise the country by stoking sectarian tensions.

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He added that the Israeli claim of wanting to protect the Druze has been met with a lot of scepticism from the Druze community.

They say they can deal with this issue in-house and dont need Israel to step up. They also point to the way the Druze are regularly mistreated in Israel and how they have had their homes and communities destroyed to make way for illegal Israeli settlements. The feeling here is that the Israeli prime minister is using this to put pressure on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and attack targets in Syria.

On Saturday, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said he strongly condemns Israels continued and escalating violations of Syrias sovereignty, including multiple air strikes in Damascus and other cities.

The Israeli military, which continues to occupy parts of Syria, including the Golan Heights, has continued to launch attacks across the country despite international condemnation.

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Despite the challenges, the foreign threats and the Israeli planes, we are present and nothing can prevent us from protecting our people or prevent us from carrying out our duty towards our people, Ammar al-Hariri, a commander with the Syrian security forces, said from the town of al-Soura al-Kubra in Suwayda.

A Druze resident of al-Soura al-Kubra, Salman Olaiwi, inspects his damaged home following clashes between Sunni Muslim and Druze fighters, in Suwayda province, Syria, May 2, 2025 [Karam Al-Masri/Reuters]

Salman Olaiwi, a resident of the town, said people felt relieved when they heard about the agreement between the government and Druze leaders.

What good have Israeli threats done us? The Israelis are on their own. As for us, those close to us are better than those far away.
TALLAHASSEE  Floridas lawmakers ended their regularly scheduled session Friday without completing their one required duty  passing a budget.

Lawmakers will have to come back to Tallahassee starting the week of May 12 to finish their work. Leaders on Friday evening said they had developed a framework for their budget plan and extended session until June 6.

Though lawmakers have more work ahead, as they leave town Friday, they leave a slew of dead bills behind them, including some dealing with major issues that Gov. Ron DeSantis prioritized.

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In the end, lawmakers passed about 230 bills, dealing with things like prohibiting local governments from putting fluoride in the water, protecting state parks and making changes to the ballot initiative process.

But any help for beleaguered homeowners on the troubled property insurance market went unaddressed through legislation, despite House Speaker Daniel Perez opening the session with a plan to investigate insurers based on Times/Herald reporting.

Lawmakers also couldnt agree on ideas to regulate Floridas hemp marketplace and to reform the states child labor laws.

Heres which issues failed to cross the finish line.

Property insurance

Property insurance is one of the most important issues to Floridians who have found themselves bogged down under expensive bills.

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Floridas Office of Insurance Regulation sought a bill that would have required more transparency from insurance companies.

The proposal would have required insurers to break down their rate filings, including how much money goes to affiliate companies. But the bill that would require that report moved through only one committee in the Senate and none in the House.

Other ideas to reform the property insurance market also failed to gain traction, including bills that would have changed how the My Safe Florida Home program is funded and one that would have opened up the state-run Citizens Property Insurance to everyone.

Lawmakers did, though, pass a bill to repeal a public records exemption and make information on insurance executives compensation, corporate governance and risk assessments open to the public.

Hope Florida

This year, DeSantis sought to codify the Hope Florida program into law.

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That bill got lawmakers looking at the program, and sparked a larger war between the House and DeSantis administration over the Hope Florida Foundation and a $10 million donation it received from the Medicaid provider Centene as part of a settlement.

The Florida House held multiple committee hearings, grilling state agency heads as well as the chairman of the Hope Florida Foundation. They also submitted records requests related to executive spending and communication on Hope Florida.

As the House began its digging, lawmakers chose to leave the DeSantis-backed bill on the table.

First lady Casey DeSantis, who is reportedly eyeing a run to succeed her husband as governor, has made the Hope Florida program a cornerstone of her work.

Hemp

Both the Florida House and Senate sought to control the states hemp marketplace, which allows retailers to sell high-potency, intoxicating products that sometimes have THC levels high enough to classify as marijuana.

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A 2024 Times/Herald analysis showed that products often contain things dangerous for people to consume, like pesticides, yeast and mold.

Both chambers wanted to reform testing requirements for hemp and change how products are packaged and sold. But the Senate took a more aggressive approach, proposing banning all delta-8 products and hemp products containing other cannabinoids like delta-10, HHC, THC-O-Acetate, THCP and THCV.

Ultimately, the House and Senate bills were too different to reconcile.

Child labor

A proposal that would have allowed some teenagers to work overnight and unlimited hours didnt pass through the Florida Senate following public opposition and after some senators expressed hesitation.

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In the House, lawmakers amended the bill to prohibit teenagers 16 and 17 from working later than 10 p.m., and passed that version through their chamber despite Perez saying he still had some concerns about the legislation.

But the Senate bill failed to get scheduled beyond the first committee meeting.

Records show DeSantis office pushed for the legislation.

A few weeks after DeSantis office sent a draft bill to lawmakers, he said during a panel with President Donald Trump administrations border czar that a younger workforce could help replace dirt cheap labor from migrants who are in the country illegally.

Property tax

DeSantis came into the legislative session with an idea to eliminate or significantly reduce property taxes.

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A change like that could only be accomplished if at least 60% of voters approved it during the next election cycle. But lawmakers didnt put forward any language to appear on the 2026 ballot.

Perez said that DeSantis office never presented specifics.

In response, Perez said that the House would create a special committee to put together a proposal for the next legislative session.

He outlined five starting ideas that he thought the committee could work with, including giving lawmakers the power to change the homestead exemption instead of requiring it to go to voters.

Senate President Ben Albritton has also been open to the idea of reducing property taxes, but has said it requires further study.

E-Verify

One of DeSantis longtime immigration priorities did not make it across the finish line.

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A bill that would have required all employers in the state to use E-Verify, a federal online system that checks the legal eligibility of new workers, passed the Florida House but did not get final approval in the Florida Senate.

Florida law requires companies with 25 or more employees to screen their employees through the system. DeSantis has tried to get Republicans in control of the state Legislature to expand the requirement to all employers in the state.

Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers criticized the DeSantis administration for not enforcing the states existing E-Verify laws. The Department of Commerce had issued eight enforcement letters to companies at the time. Shortly after the criticism, DeSantis administration issued warning letters to 40 companies.

Higher education

DeSantis ability to install political allies at the helm of public colleges and universities will not be changed through legislation this year.

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A bill approved by the Florida House sought to prohibit the governor and employees in his administration from discussing a presidential vacancy or anticipated opening with state and local university leaders. DeSantis railed against the proposal and called it asinine.

Even though the bill was overwhelmingly approved by the House, the proposal stalled in the Senate.

The proposal emerged two months after the governors office pushed Florida International University to hire Jeanette Nunez as its interim president without a search. Nunez was serving as DeSantis lieutenant governor when the governors office advocated for her hiring. She now earns an annual salary of $850,000 as interim president, according to her contract.

Times/Herald Tallahassee bureau reporter Ana Ceballos contributed to this report.
I would like to respond to Ed Gignacs column on wakeboard boats and their impact on our lakes  I do this as a resident of Okauchee Lake in southern Wisconsin, which my family has lived on since 1976.

I would first like to point out to Gignac that everyone who does not agree with his halcyon vision of wakeboard boats is, to paraphrase his own words, not a dispenser of emotional nonsense. I am an avid fisherman who now in the summer months can only fish the small areas of the lake designated as no-wake zones. Why? Because I own a modest open fishing boat which has served me in perfect safety for many years. Until now.

Gignac talks about wind generated waves, and yes, I have been on the lake in very bad conditions. However, the wind and waves come from one direction and I can adjust my angle and speed to compensate and operate my boat safely.

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Opinion: Wake surfing done responsibly is fine. Don't restrict Wisconsin boaters like me.

Wakeboard boats each generate their own wave pattern  now add 8 or 10 boats operating on a lake and you are faced with serious waves coming from all directions. Even more dangerous is the zone where waves interact and add their energy together. Ive had my boat almost roll over twice.

I have watched wakeboard boats start in a large, shallow bay and leave behind a path of silt, ripped up weeds and dazed little bluegills spinning on the surface. Later on it looks like plows have ripped up the lake bottom in straight lines.

I agree responsible wakeboarding is not a problem  except responsible operation should be on lakes over 2,000 acres and in more than 20 feet of water.

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Gordon Stelter, Okauchee

Letters: Wake surfers should ask other lake users what they think about their speed bumps

Opinion: On Wisconsins glacial lakes, wake-enhanced boating damaging and dangerous

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: My boat has almost been tipped over twice from wakes | Letters
JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY)  A James City County woman who was reported missing Friday has been found safe, according to police.

Angel Graves

Angel Graves, 48, was last seen in person at her home on Diascund Road in James City County during the early morning hours Friday. At approximately 5:57 a.m., a gray Nissan Rogue, which Graves was believed to have been driving, was spotted on a Flock Safety camera near Norge Elementary School.

Police said the vehicle, with Virginia license plate UCP2405, had not been spotted since.

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On Saturday, police located and confirmed Graves to be safe around 7 a.m. However, she was reported missing once more at approximately 9:30 a.m. The woman was found again near her residence around 12:30 p.m. and is now safely with her 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 WAVY.com.
The Trump White House struck a landmark deal with Ukraine this week, giving the U.S. some access to royalties from future profits of Ukraines oil, gas and critical mineral reserves.

President Donald Trump has indicated he hopes to recoup some of the aid the U.S. sent to Ukraine and rebuild the infrastructure of the war-torn country. The agreement doesnt provide any security guarantees for Kyiv.

Over the last few months, the president and his Cabinet said they considered this agreement a pivotal step toward a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine after more than three years of war.

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As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted Wednesday, this agreement will facilitate the end of this cruel and senseless war while signaling to Russia that the U.S. is standing by its support for Ukraine.

Russia criticized the economic partnership. One senator, Alexei Pushkov, called it another major step towards the colonization of Ukraine.

Will the U.S.-Ukraine critical minerals deal create a path to peace?

The White House often claims Trump is the only leader who could hash out a deal between the Kremlin and Kyiv. But is this critical minerals deal actually a step forward?

A few hours after the deal was signed, Vice President JD Vance told Fox News Bret Baier that its up to the two countries at war to come to an agreement.

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Its not going anywhere, Bret. Its not going to end anytime soon, he said. Vance added he doesnt see an end in sight until Ukraine and Russia take the final step.

Emergency personnel work at the site of a residential building destroyed by a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. | Kateryna Klochko

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?

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated similar sentiments, shifting blame onto former President Joe Biden.

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, Rubio said in an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity on Thursday.

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The Secretary of State was matter-of-fact about the existing situation, where Russia and Ukraine are still far apart.

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 added.

Still, this deal puts Ukrainians in their strongest position yet with Washington since Trump took office, wrote Shelby Magid, the deputy director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center, as CNN reported.

Upcoming ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine this month, starting on May 8 to mark the end of World War II. This is the second time in the last two weeks that Putin has promised a temporary pause in fighting.

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Moscow refused to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, an idea that Ukraine was on board with. Putin announced a one-day truce on Easter, but it did not hold. It did, however, reduce hostilities on both sides.

Trumps term has ushered a renewal of diplomatic communication between Washington, D.C., and the Kremlin. Trump and Putin have also spoken on the phone.

But now that the U.S. has a stake in Ukraine, the Trump administration is deliberating increasing economic pressure on Russia. Trump hasnt decided on what to do yet, as Bloomberg reported. This pressure builds during a truly opportune time as Putin gears up for the important Victory Day celebrations.
Vice President JD Vance is being roundly mocked for saying that he doesnt really care about the Trump administrations recent dismal poll numbers.

A raft of polls marking President Donald Trumps first 100 days in office captured historically poor approval ratings, with one saying just 39 percent of Americans approved  the lowest figure in 80 years.

Fox News host Bret Baier asked Vance on Special Report Thursday about the recent smattering of polls that showed not great approval ratings for the administrations first 100 days in office.

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The approval ratings for you, for the presidentare not great 100 days in. Theyre great on border security but on the economy and overall approval, its a little underwater, Baier said, before asking how the vice president interpreted that.

Im a firm believer that in the modern era, 2025, opinion pollsters dont know how to capture most Americans, Vance said. He then pointed to every mainstream media pollster who predicted Kamala Harris would win the 2024 election.

Vice President JD Vance dismissed the low approval ratings in recent polls, saying he 'doesn't care,' sparking backlash online (Getty Images)

If you do a good job, you worry about the polls later, the politics will take care of itself, Vance said. I really am skeptical of these polls. I also dont really care that much about the polls, even if they were accurate.

If we do a good job, if people see the results, then in three years people will be talking about what a great job President Donald J. Trump and JD Vance did, then thats all I care about, he added.

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Social media users roasted the vice presidents response.

Not sure that attitude will help in 2028, one X user wrote.

Another mocked: Polls not great? Don't care.  the groundbreaking political strategy of simply deciding reality is irrelevant when it's unflattering.

Oh, you dont care about public opinion? Bold stance for someone hired by the public, another chimed in.

Yet another remarked that if the administration had received favorable poll numbers, he would definitely care: Of course you dontbet you if they were the opposite direction, yall would be all over it [and] praising it! Clowns in the White House!

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Vances remarks come after a month of a turbulent stock market. Wall Street has seen record lows and highs as Trump announced an across-the-board tariffs, only to pause the policy for the most part for a 90-day span while the president raised Chinas levies to 145 percent. The tariffs on other nations are set to take effect in early July.

The administration has also taken controversial steps to execute its mass deportation plan, removing dozens of immigrants, including children, without, as judges have said, meaningful due process.
A man casts his ballot for the general election at a polling station in Singapore's Woodleigh, May 3, 2025. Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election.

A total of 211 candidates, including two independents, are contesting the 97 elected parliamentary seats. Of these 97 seats, five in a multi-member constituency have already been secured by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), as no opposition candidates were fielded there.

The PAP, the ruling party since Singapore's independence in 1965, is fielding 97 candidates and contesting every seat. This election marks the first time Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is leading the party into a general election, after succeeding Lee Hsien Loong in May 2024 following Lee's two-decade tenure.

In the 2020 general election, the PAP garnered 61.24 percent of the popular vote, down from 69.86 percent in 2015.

Beyond determining the makeup of the next parliament, the election will also influence the formation of Singapore's next cabinet, which will be responsible for steering the country through rising global uncertainty, particularly in the wake of sweeping U.S. tariffs.

Both Wong and Lee have repeatedly warned that recent global developments could have lasting repercussions for Singapore's open economy. During the May Day Rally on Thursday, Wong cautioned that recent global shifts "may cause further disruptions, and may cause further price shocks," potentially exacerbating cost-of-living pressures for Singaporeans.

The Workers' Party (WP), the only opposition party to win seats in the previous election, expanded its representation from six seats in 2015 to ten in 2020. This year, the WP is fielding 26 candidates across eight constituencies, in a bid widely viewed as an effort to extend its presence into the broader eastern region.

One of the most closely watched races is in the Punggol multi-member constituency in eastern Singapore, described by local media as the "eye of the storm." The PAP team there is led by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who also serves as Minister for Trade and Industry and chairs the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, established in April to support businesses and workers amid ongoing global challenges. The WP team is headed by senior lawyer Harpreet Singh Nehal.

Five constituencies are witnessing multi-cornered contests, with the fiercest reported in Tampines in the east, where three opposition parties are challenging the incumbent PAP team.

Approximately 2.76 million people are eligible to vote in this year's election. Polling stations are scheduled to close at 8:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT). 

A woman casts her ballot for the general election at a polling station in Singapore's Woodleigh, May 3, 2025. Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

A man casts his ballot for the general election at a polling station in Singapore's Woodleigh, May 3, 2025. Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Voters line up to cast their ballots for the general election at a polling station in Singapore's Woodleigh, May 3, 2025. Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

A woman casts her ballot for the general election at a polling station in Singapore's Woodleigh, May 3, 2025. Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Voters are seen at a polling station for the general election in Singapore's Woodleigh, May 3, 2025. Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

A woman casts her ballot for the general election at a polling station in Singapore's Woodleigh, May 3, 2025. Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

A man casts his ballot for the general election at a polling station in Singapore's Woodleigh, May 3, 2025. Polling stations across Singapore opened at 8:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Saturday for the country's general election. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)
In a new interview about her time as Joe Bidens White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki said its dangerous to describe media coverage leading up to his disastrous debate with Donald Trump as a cover-up.

In a discussion with Semafor staffers and Max Tani and Ben Smith about some of the new books coming about Bidens presidency, Psaki said she has complicated feelings about saying that the White House or the media covered-up Bidens readiness for office.

I obviously have complicated feelings about that. Cover up is such a loaded phrase, she told Smith. She said that she thought this is a disaster seeing Biden choke up live on air during the debate, but that she never saw him have those kinds of issues beforehand.

I never saw the person on that debate stage. I was in the Oval Office every day. Im not a doctor. Aging happens quickly, she said.

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When asked to clarify whether her colleagues were were actively covering it up or in denial or whether Biden simply and off-night, Psaki responded, This is what I mean  cover up is a very loaded term. It suggests a crime, like Watergate or misleading the public about a war. Im not accusing anybody of a crime.

She added she didnt think anyone involved was part of an active effort to hide what was happening, but added, Maybe the media missed a lot. In retrospect, there were probably major stories missed. But if you dont know whats happening privately

Psaki continued, Joe Biden was in his early 80s during that period of time. We all knew his age, but denied that GOP reports of him falling asleep in the Oval Office were true, at least up through May 2022 when she resigned her position.

You can listen to the whole discussion in the embedded video above.

The post Jen Psaki Says Its Dangerous to Describe Media Coverage Through Bidens Decline as a Cover-Up: We All Knew His Age appeared first on TheWrap.
Baltimore native Joyce J. Scott, a MacArthur Fellow and a critically-acclaimed multimedia artist, and Maryland first lady Dawn Moore will deliver keynote addresses at the University of Baltimores commencement ceremonies May 21 at The Lyric.

Following her speech at the undergraduate ceremony, Scott will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Baltimore President and former mayor Kurt L. Schmoke.

Scotts art has been exhibited in museums worldwide and included in major public collections at the Baltimore Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Corning Museum of Glass, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Art, among others. In 2024, Scott opened a 50-year traveling museum retrospective, co-organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Seattle Art Museum.

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Moore has more than two decades of leadership in state government, nonprofit management, campaign strategy, fundraising and community engagement. She held government roles in the administrations of former Govs. Parris Glendening and Martin OMalley, and former Maryland Lt. Govs. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Anthony Brown.

In addition to speeches by Scott and Moore, the ceremonies will feature two student speakers who will deliver remarks as representatives of their respective classes.

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents will be represented by Regent Yvette Lewis, who will offer greetings during both ceremonies.

Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A federal judge has denied a motion to sever the trial between two defendants, accused of swindling millions of taxpayer dollars from Albuquerque Public Schools. Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Joseph Johnson are accused of allocating more than $2.5 million of federal funds intended for APS programs to a company called Robotics Management Learning Systems between 2013 and 2021 while Stapleton served as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives.

Four suspects in Las Cruces park shooting to go to trial in Feb. 2026

Federal prosecutors claimed Johnson and Stapleton used the funds for their own use. Stapletons lawyer asked the court to split the trials, but that motion was denied.

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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.
A federal judge on Friday issued a permanent ruling barring the Trump administration from implementing an executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie, describing President Donald Trump's efforts to crack down on law firms as an unconstitutional and "unprecedented attack" on the basic foundations of the rule of law.

"No American president has ever before issued executive orders like the one at issue in this lawsuit targeting a prominent law firm with adverse actions to be executed by all Executive branch agencies but, in purpose and effect, this action draws from a playbook as old as Shakespeare, who penned the phrase: 'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers,'" U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said in a scathing opinion accompanying her ruling.

"In a cringe-worthy twist on the theatrical phrase 'Let's kill all the lawyers,' EO 14230 takes the approach of 'Let's kill the lawyers I don't like,' sending the clear message: lawyers must stick to the party line, or else," she added.

PHOTO: Law Firm Perkins Coie Files For Permanent Relief From Trumps Executive Orders (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

MORE: Newly launched law firm says it will represent those 'inappropriately targeted' by Trump

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The ruling from Howell is a rapid rebuke of the government's actions in a case that is just one challenge of several against Trump's efforts to target law firms that have either represented his political opponents or employed them.

Trump's executive order, which cited Perkins Coie's former representation of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, sought to strip security clearances from the firm's lawyers, virtually halting any dealings with the federal government and restricting its attorneys from accessing most federal buildings.

In March, Howell issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from implementing key parts of the executive order.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump waves as he steps off of Air Force One upon arrival at Tuscaloosa National Airport in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, May 1, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Judge blocks 'unlawful' Trump order targeting law firm that represented Clinton campaign

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During a court hearing on April 23, as Howell contemplated a longer lasting block, she again voiced concerns about the constitutionality of Trump's move and sharply questioned government lawyers.

On the day of that hearing, Trump took to social media to criticize the judge by name over her assignment to the case.

Trump has issued similar executive orders targeting four other law firms, while at least nine law firms have entered into controversial deals with the White House, offering millions of dollars in pro bono work on causes supported by conservatives to avoid being targeted.

Judge issues permanent block of Trump executive order targeting Perkins Coie law firm originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Judge Beryl Howell, in a Friday ruling, blocked Donald Trump's executive order against Perkins Coie.

Howell called Trump's efforts to target lawyers a "cringe-worthy" twist on Shakespearean villainy.

Howell's ruling is the first decision fully blocking one of Trump's orders against Big Law firms.

US District Judge Beryl Howell, in a scathing Friday ruling, struck down President Donald Trump's executive order against Perkins Coie, declaring his effort to target the Big Law firm unconstitutional.

Howell's summary judgment decision fully blocks Executive Order 14230, titled "Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP," from taking effect. It is the first such decision in the myriad legal challenges to Trump's orders targeting various Big Law firms.

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The federal government can appeal the decision, in which case the proceedings will be heard in the court of appeals. Any subsequent appeal would be heard by the Supreme Court.

A spokesperson for Perkins Coie told Business Insider in a statement that the firm was pleased with the judge's ruling.

"This ruling affirms core constitutional freedoms all Americans hold dear, including free speech, due process, and the right to select counsel without the fear of retribution," the statement said. "As we move forward, we remain guided by the same commitments that first compelled us to bring this challenge: to protect our firm, safeguard the interests of our clients, and uphold the rule of law."

Cases involving other firms  including Jenner & Block and WilmerHale  have pending motions to dismiss and have been granted temporary restraining orders partially blocking the orders from being implemented.

'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers'

"No American President has ever before issued executive orders like the one at issue in this lawsuit targeting a prominent law firm with adverse actions to be executed by all Executive branch agencies but, in purpose and effect, this action draws from a playbook as old as Shakespeare, who penned the phrase: 'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers,'" Howell wrote regarding the order targeting Perkins Coie.

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The phrase is a reference to "Henry VI," one of three historical plays published by Shakespeare following the lifetime of King Henry VI of England. It is uttered by the villainous character Dick the Butcher, a henchman for the rebel leader Jack Cade, as part of the pair's strategy to seize power from the government of King Henry VI.

"Eliminating lawyers as the guardians of the rule of law removes a major impediment to the path to more power," Howell continued in her ruling. "In a cringe-worthy twist on the theatrical phrase 'Let's kill all the lawyers,' EO 14230 takes the approach of 'Let's kill the lawyers I don't like,' sending the clear message: lawyers must stick to the party line, or else."

An order 'contrary to the Constitution'

Howell, who was appointed to District of Columbia federal court in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama, wrote that Trump's order "stigmatizes and penalizes" the firm and its employees due to its representation of clients "pursuing claims and taking positions with which the current President disagrees, as well as the Firm's own speech."

"Using the powers of the federal government to target lawyers for their representation of clients and avowed progressive employment policies in an overt attempt to suppress and punish certain viewpoints, however, is contrary to the Constitution, which requires that the government respond to dissenting or unpopular speech or ideas with 'tolerance, not coercion,'" Howell wrote.

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Trump's order against Perkins Coie described the firm's activity as "dangerous and dishonest," highlighting the firm's representation of then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in her 2016 run against Trump.

The executive order, along with similar actions Trump has taken against other firms, revoked the security clearances of employees of the firm, barred the law firms' employees from interacting with federal agencies or even entering federal buildings, and ordered a review of their government contracts.

Fighting back

While Perkins Coie was among several firms that chose to fight Trump's executive order in court, other Big Law firms instead brokered deals with the administration to reverse the president's orders, and some made preemptive deals to avoid punitive executive actions against them.

The executive order targeting Paul Weiss was rescinded after the firm pledged $40 million in pro bono services to support causes identified by the Trump administration and promised to review its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in its hiring practices.

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Skadden made a deal with Trump before it was singled out in any executive orders. The firm promised to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services "to causes that the President and Skadden both support," Trump announced on March 28.

Before the preemptive agreement was announced, Skadden associate Rachel Cohen publicly resigned and, in an open letter circulated among associates at top firms, urged her fellow legal associates to call out their employers for what she described as inaction in the face of the administration's attacks on the industry.

After the Skadden deal was announced, another employee, Brenna Frey, also resigned publicly in an announcement on LinkedIn.

Representatives for the White House and lawyers representing the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

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Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ktangalakislippert@businessinsider.com or Signal at byktl.50. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely .

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For the first time last night, a federal judge struck down one of the Trump administrations efforts to punish a law firm Trump opposes politically. Skye Perryman and George Conway join The Weekend to discuss the American judicial systems efforts to push back against Trumps policies, even in the face of backlash from the administration.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell struck down President Donald Trumps executive order against Perkins Coie on Friday night, ruling his targeting of the law firm unconstitutional.

In a 102-page opinion, Howell excoriated Trump and called his efforts against Perkins Coie an unprecedented attack on the principles of the American judicial system.

No American President has ever before issued executive orders like the one at issue in this lawsuit targeting a prominent law firm with adverse actions to be executed by all Executive branch agencies but, in purpose and effect, this action draws from a playbook as old as Shakespeare, who penned the phrase: The first thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers, she wrote.

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It is the first ruling in which a judge has permanently blocked any of Trumps efforts to target a law firm. In recent months, the president has sought to punish, via executive order, nearly a dozen firms over a range of grievances. Four of them, including Perkins Coie, have pushed back in court, but most have pre-emptively struck deals with the White House to avoid Trumps wrath, as my colleague Steve Benen has pointed out.

Trumps executive order against Perkins Coie, signed in early March, centered in part on the firms representation of his former presidential opponent Hillary Clinton during her 2016 campaign. He revoked security clearances for Perkins Coie employees, restricted their access to government buildings and ended government contracts with the firm.

In her ruling, Howell wrote in a footnote that other law firms have yielded to Trump, but that courts can review the legal merits of a case only when lawyers make the choice to challenge rather than back down when confronted with government action.

Perkins Coie said in a statement that Howells decision on Friday affirms core constitutional freedoms all Americans hold dear, including free speech, due process, and the right to select counsel without the fear of retribution.

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We are pleased with this decision and are immensely grateful to those who spoke up in support of our positions, the firm said.

Whether the Trump administration plans to appeal Howells ruling is unclear. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to MSNBCs request for comment.





This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
NEW YORK  The Justice Department failed to publicly disclose documents in the now-dismissed corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams by a Friday deadline, in apparent defiance of a court order.

The documents in question could shed light on the evidence and legal arguments prosecutors presented to a judge in order to obtain a search warrant in the investigation of the mayor, who is running for reelection. That material may be particularly revelatory because the public likely wont see any other evidence related to the case, now that it has been dismissed.

U.S. District Judge Dale Ho had ordered the department to file copies of material related to the search warrants in the case on the public docket by May 2. Hos order instructed prosecutors to redact the names of law enforcement personnel and any unindicted subjects of the investigation.

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By Saturday afternoon, the Justice Department hadnt filed any documents on the public docket in response to Hos order, nor had prosecutors filed any motions or responses to the order. A spokesperson for the Justice Department didnt respond to a request for comment.

Adams was first elected as a Democrat in 2021, but hes running for reelection as an independent this year after much of the party in the city turned against him during his tenure.

Prosecutors apparent failure to comply with Hos order to disclose the documents is the latest twist in the high-profile case after the Justice Departments February directive to Manhattan prosecutors to drop the charges.

That command sparked a revolt, causing then-acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, as well as several other prosecutors in both New York and Washington, to resign in protest. Sassoon accused Justice Department officials of engaging in a quid pro quo with Adams to drop the case in exchange for his enforcement of the Trump administrations immigration policies.

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Prosecutors from the Justice Departments headquarters took over the case after Manhattan prosecutors refused to comply with the order to seek its dismissal. Ho ultimately agreed to permanently drop the case, rather than allowing prosecutors the option to reinstate the charges at some point in the future.

The documents in question are potentially valuable to media outlets, which sought their unsealing, and to voters. And they are also in demand by the New York City Campaign Finance Board, which also asked Ho to make them public.

That board is seeking to determine whether Adams campaigns broke the law when he was running for office in 2021 and this year.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Records released by Juvenile Court show the Antioch school shooter had been violent at the school months before the shooting occurred.

News 2 previously tried to search for answers into the Antioch High School shooters past, but Metro police said certain laws prevented them from sharing those details.

In February, House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) filed a bill that would allow the public to view juvenile records of children who committed a homicide on school grounds and are deceased themselves.

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SEE ALSO | A look at the Antioch High School shooters past

On Friday, May 2, 100 days after the 17-year-old opened fire in the cafeteria of Antioch High School killing a classmate and then himself, a copy of Solomon Hendersons juvenile record was released following a change in state law.

According to the court records, Henderson allegedly pulled a box cutter on another student in October. He was reportedly charged for the incident and placed on probation. The records reveal one of his parents was served probation papers the day of the school shooting.

Antioch High School shooter previously attended schools in Montgomery County

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In addition, back in 2023, Henderson was charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of minor. Juvenile court records state that the charges stemmed from an incident where Henderson was knowingly and unlawfully in possession of photographic materials that included minors engaged in sexual activity that is patently offensive.

The IP address used to upload the images and videos reportedly came back to Hendersons residence and a search warrant was executed. During an interview, the 17-year-old allegedly admitted to possessing sexual images and videos of minor children.

Antioch High School Shooting | Continuing Coverage

In the records obtained by News 2, Henderson was released to a parent following the incident with certain restrictions, which included: no use of social media; no access to the Internet & any/all programs; no access to a cell phone or computer.

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However, court documents show he was allowed to use a computer for school and for schoolwork only. It appears that the case was retired after some sort of treatment.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A Kansas City, Kansas firefighter is on the mend after briefly collapsing at the funeral of murdered firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman on Friday afternoon.

The KCKFD employee, who has not been publicly named, lost consciousness and fell near the end of a processional ceremony in Hoffmans honor. Scott Schaunaman, a KCKFD spokesperson, said that the firefighter experienced a syncopal episode.

Syncope, commonly known as fainting, happens when blood pressure or heart rate temporarily drops, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This can be caused by a variety of factors and results in a temporary decrease in blood flow to the brain.

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As several funeral attendees attempted to provide aid, the employee came to and could be seen sitting up and moving independently by the time he was brought into an arriving ambulance. The firefighter was in stable condition at a local hospital as of Friday evening and responding well to various tests, according to Schaunaman.

Graham Hoffman, 29, was killed in the line of duty on April 27 when an ambulance patient fatally stabbed him as Hoffman attempted to treat her. His funeral took place at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty on Frida and drew a vast crowd of mourners, including community members and first responders.

American flags were flown at half-mast in Hoffmans honor on Friday at firehouses statewide, as well as at Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte County government buildings and Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City.

PJ Green contributed reporting.
CANBERRA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Australia's election day has arrived at the end of a five-week campaign dominated by cost-of-living and housing issues as well as U.S. tariffs.

Polls opened at over 7,000 locations across Australia on Saturday, with voters set to decide if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's center-left Labor Party will govern for a second term or if the conservative Coalition of the Liberal and National Parties led by Peter Dutton will win power.

If voters elect Labor for a second term, it would make Albanese the first leader of either major party to win consecutive elections since 2004.

A victory for the Coalition would make Dutton Australia's 32nd PM and make Albanese's Labor government the first since 1931 to be defeated after a single term in power.

Although Saturday is election day, only about half of the 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time, with a record-high number having already done so early at pre-poll locations and by post.

Voting in the election is mandatory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and over who are registered on the electoral roll maintained by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), with those who fail to do so facing small administrative fines.

Voter turnout for federal elections has steadily declined since 2007 and, for the first time since compulsory voting began in 1925, fewer than 90 percent of registered voters cast a ballot in the 2022 election.

When Australians vote in federal elections, they fill in two ballot papers: one for the lower house of the federal parliament, the House of Representatives, and one for the upper house, the Senate.

All 150 seats in the lower house, where the government is formed, will be filled at the election, as well as 40 out of 76 seats in the Senate. Each lower house seat represents an electorate, geographic divisions that each contain approximately the same number of voters, while senators represent their state or territory.

AEC staff will begin counting votes as soon as polls close and analysts usually declare a winner on election night.

If neither major party wins a clear majority of seats in the lower house, known as a hung parliament, they will enter negotiations with minor parties and independents will be conducted for their support to form a minority government.

On the domestic front, the election campaign has been fought on housing, cost-of-living, energy and healthcare issues.

Both Labor and the Coalition have made multi-billion-dollar pledges to increase housing supply and subsidize more doctor visits through a funding boost for Medicare, Australia's universal healthcare system.

The Coalition has promised to halve the federal sales tax on petrol and diesel for one year in a bid to ease cost-of-living pressures, while Labor has said it will wipe 20 percent off every Australian's student debt and deliver tax cuts in 2026 and 2027.

If elected to govern, the Coalition has said it would abandon Australia's 2030 emissions reduction target and build seven nuclear power plants at the sites of retired coal-fired power plants, with the first two to be operational in the mid-2030s, as part of its plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Labor has repeatedly called the nuclear proposal unrealistic and has instead committed to an emissions reduction approach centered on renewable sources of electricity such as wind and solar.

A major inflection point in the campaign came when U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs, including 10 percent on imports from Australia.

Albanese said at the time that the tariffs were "not the act of a friend" and has ruled out negotiating with the U.S. on pharmaceutical, biosecurity and media laws that the Trump administration has identified as trade barriers. Dutton has vowed to "stand up" to the U.S. President if he becomes PM. 
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced on friday that a Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced after he led officers on a high-speed chase back in February. That chase involved the man firing a gun at police as well.

The prosecutors office said that Jason Keith pleaded guilty to vehicle hijacking, armed criminal action, aggravated fleeing and first-degree assault. That resulted in Keith being sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Trial set to begin for mom charged in death of boy who fell from KC apartment window

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Court records show that Kansas City police officers contacted a victim of a stolen car in south Kansas City on Feb. 12, 2025. That victim gave officers a description of Keith and the vehicle.

Later that day, officers found the vehicle at a gas station and attempted to conduct a car check when the vehicle fled the scene. Officers then found the vehicle again around East 11th Street and Elmwood Avenue when Keith fired a rifle at them.

While no one was injured, Keith fled again, and KCPD pursued onto I-70. After bean bag rounds were fired, Keith exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.

The incident was just weeks after Keith was seen on surveillance footage allegedly stealing a gun from Bass Pro Shop in Kansas City, Kansas.

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Keith also pleaded guilty to stealing communications equipment from the Defense Information Systems Agency ahead of former President Joe Bidens Kansas City speech.

Suspect charged in Kansas City, Kansas deadly shooting last week

Violent assaults against our law enforcement officers will never be tolerated and will be met with swift consequences, Johnson said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Prosecutors retrying Karen Read in the killing of her boyfriend are laying out a minute-by-minute accounting of what they say happened at the suburban home of a fellow law enforcement officer where John OKeefe was found unresponsive on a snowy morning three years ago.

A witness who was with Read when she found her police officer boyfriend in the snow spent days on the witness stand this week in a courtroom outside Boston, often under intense questioning from a defense lawyer who sought to emphasize what he described as inconsistencies in her testimony.

The events cited by special prosecutor Hank Brennan were not recorded on a home security camera or seen by an eyewitness. But the prosecution has said that shortly after midnight on Jan. 29, 2022, data captured on OKeefes iPhone shows that he never entered the home of Brian Albert, a now-retired Boston police sergeant whom Reads attorneys have said may have played a role in the death.

Karen Read and John O'Keefe.

The prosecution has alleged that after a night of drinking  and an argument  Read dropped OKeefe at Alberts home for a gathering. Instead of leaving, Read backed her Lexus SUV into OKeefe and left him for dead outside in Canton, south of Boston, Brennan alleged in his opening statement.Read, who is charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a collision causing death, maintains her innocence and said she was framed by Albert and others who sought to cover up OKeefes death.

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Reads widely publicized first trial ended with a hung jury last summer. The proceedings exposed allegations of police misconduct and prompted state officials to take the unusual step of firing the cases lead investigator, Michael Proctor, between trials.

Proctors role in the second trial remains unclear. He has not been called to testify, though he has been listed as a possible witness for both the prosecution and defense.

Albert has not testified during the second trial, but during the initial proceedings, he said that OKeefe never entered his home. If he had, Albert said, he would have been welcomed with open arms.

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan questions ARCCA crash analyst Daniel Wolfe during the retrial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., on Tuesday.

The details from OKeefes phone included location, health and battery temperature data. Ian Whiffin, a forensic investigator who examined the data, said the most accurate information extracted from OKeefes device showed that it likely remained outside Alberts home all night.Location data showed that the device arrived at the house at 12:24 a.m., Whiffin said. Fourteen minutes later, the data showed it was near a flagpole in the front yard where OKeefe was found unresponsive roughly six hours later.

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Whiffin said the devices battery temperature data showed a steady decline, dropping from 77 degrees shortly after midnight, when it was in Reads SUV on the way to Alberts home, to 50 degrees by 1:36 a.m.

Based on the totality of the information weve described, my opinion is the device didnt move far away from the flagpole, Whiffin said.

Karen Read sits at the defense table during her murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., on April 30, 2025.

This is at odds with the account of events by Read and her defense team. Theyve said she dropped OKeefe off at Alberts home and watched him go inside, where theyve alleged he was likely beaten and bitten by a dog that belonged to Alberts family at the time.

Defense attorney Robert Alessi pointed to other data analyzed by Whiffin to support that account. At 12:31 a.m.  seven minutes after OKeefes device arrived at Alberts home  health data showed the device moving 36 steps, or roughly 84 feet. Under questioning from Alessi, Whiffin said he had given the measurement less weight because it was based on low-accuracy data.

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When asked if the data could have been diminished because the device was taken inside Albert's home, Whiffin said yes.

The defense attorney also scrutinized the battery temperature data cited by Whiffin. As part of his analysis, the investigator conducted experiments on an iPhone similar to OKeefes, placing it in a freezer and leaving it outside on a day when the temperature was 33 degrees.

In the first test, Alessi said, the temperature of the devices battery plummeted 50 degrees in 15 minutes. In the second, he said, it fell 30 degrees in 13 minutes.

Those figures were far more dramatic than the drop recorded on OKeefes phone, Alessi said, noting that even though the device was outside in a blizzard, it took an hour or more for the batterys temperature to fall 27 degrees.

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Whiffin acknowledged that he did not know the temperature on Jan. 29, 2022, and said he was unaware of what factors may have influenced the battery's temperature, including whether the device was in OKeefes pocket or if it was in a case.

Other key pieces of evidence that Brennan cited in his opening statement and is expected to lay out in detail in the coming weeks include vehicle data showing Reads SUV reversing outside Alberts home and DNA from OKeefe that was found on the Lexus bumper.

Witness Jennifer McCabe continues her cross examination testimony during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., on Wednesday.

After Whiffins testimony, defense attorney Alan Jackson spent hours grilling Jennifer McCabe, who had been at Alberts home during the gathering and was with Read when she found OKeefe near the flagpole shortly after 6 a.m. The defense has said Read panicked after she realized OKeefe never returned from Alberts house and, later that morning, began searching for him with McCabe and a third woman.

McCabe testified that nothing unusual happened at Albert's home  people were listening to music and talking, she said  though her account has drawn scrutiny from the defense. Jackson pointed to text messages from McCabe to her sister, who is married to Brian Albert, and suggested that they may have coordinated their account of Jan. 29 with others in an effort to do "damage control" and cover up O'Keefe's death. McCabe denied those allegations.

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Jackson also questioned McCabe about comments she attributed to Read. After they arrived at Albert's house and found O'Keefe, she said she heard Read repeatedly tell a first responder I hit him." And she testified that Read asked her to search Google for how long it takes to die in the cold.

Jackson pointed out that McCabe did not mention the incriminating statement when she testified before a grand jury or spoke to investigators in the aftermath of OKeefes death.

Instead, Jackson said, she recounted a question Read posed to her over the phone before they began searching for OKeefe  Could I have hit him? The defense also said an extraction of McCabes phone showed her Google search was done at 2:27 a.m., hours before OKeefe was found.

Whiffin, who reviewed the extraction, testified that the search was done at 6:23 a.m., not 2:27 a.m. And McCabe testified that she was certain of what Read told the first responder.

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I went out to help her look for John and then we found one of my closest friends on the front lawn, she said during an emotional exchange. Every police officer I spoke to, I tried to answer their questions the best I could. It took me hours, and, in some cases, days to remember all the things that Ms. Read had said. I was in a state of shock."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
(FOX40.COM)  The Placer County Sheriffs Office and the Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit are searching with assistance from State Parks, California Highway Patrol, and the El Dorado County Sheriffs Office for a missing kayaker.

 Video above: As temperatures rise, more people are expected to flock to the American River to cool off

PCSO said authorities received a report of a kayak that flipped beneath the No Hands Bridge at the American River Confluence, with two Kayakers on board. One of the kayakers was able to reach nearby rocks and is safe.

Quick Quack car wash opens in Roseville, offering free washes for 12 days

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At this time, there is a search in place for the second kayaker.

Image: Placer County Sheriffs Office

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 FOX40 News.
Supporters hoping to save Centre Countys historic Kepler Barn from demolition are still searching for barn champions  those able to donate five- or six-figure sums  as the fundraising deadline draws closer and the fundraising goal remains unmet.

Less than 30 days are left until Penn States imposed May 31 fundraising deadline and, according to organizers, less than $50,000 has so far been raised toward the $500,000 goal. Supporters are hoping the university will consider granting an extension through August, since they were given less than three months to raise the funds.

Organizers believe that Penn States Ag Progress Days, the states largest agricultural exposition from Aug. 12-14, provides the best chance to gain new supporters and others willing to donate to stabilize and preserve the barn.

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Until that bulldozer  whatever  shows up on the property, theres still hope, said Vicky Kepler Didato, the great-great-great granddaughter of the farms early owners. And we will keep requesting another deadline through Ag Progress Days.

A date of 1818 seen on Kepler barn on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Kepler Barn is believed by the family to be more than 200 years old, with the original structure first built in 1818 and a large expansion having occurred between the 1830s and 1860s. From 1929 through the 1970s, the farm just west of Pine Grove Mills was also run by farming pioneer Millie Kepler, a widow who  during World War II  was dubbed the Rosie the Riveter of the farm world.

After Millies death in 1990, the property changed hands 2-3 times before it was sold to Penn State in 2006. That property is now part of the 2,000 acres that make up the land around the universitys Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center.

Penn State did not appear to have much interest in the barn at the time of purchase, and it mostly sat there, undisturbed but without repairs  until Kepler Didato, who lives in Ohio, learned about three years ago of Penn States plans to tear it down. The Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania (HBFF) also became a vocal leader of the barns preservation once it learned of the situation.

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Penn State started as an agricultural college and, to me, they should be saving barns if they can, HBFF President Priscilla deLeon previously told the CDT.

Kepler Didato, who still fondly remembers Aunt Millie, said family members all knew her as a hard-working, thoughtful woman who never gave up. Kepler Didato said her uncles and cousins would often tell each other, I dont know, but Ill figure it out  a saying Millie lived by. After all, she survived the Great Depression, the death of her husband, the early death of her son and a bank foreclosure notice en route to an unlikely and successful farming career.

So, when Kepler Didato is asked what shell do now, or how supporters might pivot, she still countered with the same response: I dont know, but Ill figure it out.

Millie Kepler, second from the right, peels potatoes outside the Kepler Barn sometime before 1932. To her immediate right is believed to be her son Aaron Kepler, who died in 1931 at the age of 13 while crossing a nearby road. Kepler, a widow, experienced a lot of pain in her life, but she was known for being thoughtful and never giving up. She was also known as the Rosie the Riveter of the farm world.

She said shes recently spoken to state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte. She said several Penn State trustees have reached out to her. And shes been in contact with various other groups and organizations, in addition to making numerous appearances on radio and other media.

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Im still fighting because this is something worth fighting for, Kepler Didato said earlier this week.

She doesnt know if Penn State will grant an extension. She doesnt know if enough money will be raised in time, even if the university gives supporters another few months. But she hopes the worst-case scenario, demolition, can still be done in a way that preserves a few things.

For example, shed like to see the university save the hand-blown glass lightning rods atop the barn. And shes already been in contact with an HGTV reality show that salvages antique barns and uses their timber in existing structures.

Kepler Didato warned she didnt want to sound overly dramatic. But a family member was forced to undergo a transplant a few years ago, and she choked up while explaining how the aim of the reality show felt a little similar: If Kepler Barn cant be saved, maybe it can help save other barns.

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But those thoughts dont mean shes any less focused now on saving Kepler Barn, even if she understands its a long shot. A Penn State spokesperson told the CDT that no demolition date has yet been set and the university is open to exploring alternative options to traditional demolition if the fundraising goal is not met.

For its part, the university has also explained  if the demolition goes through  a historical sign or commemorative plaque would be considered in the vicinity of where the barn stands. Select materials could be salvaged, and the Pasto Agricultural Museum is already developing a digital storytelling initiative titled Land and Legacy of Rock Springs, an effort that would start with the Kepler family and farm.

Kepler Didato and other supporters just hope it doesnt come to that.

Im going to pursue whatever options I can right up until that bulldozer shows up, she said. If it was worth fighting for five years ago, its still worth fighting for with 30 days left.

Three generations of the Kepler family pose in front of the Kepler Barn. The barn is at danger of being demolished by the current owner, Penn State, and organizers are trying to raise money to preserve the landmark.

How to donate

Donations are now being accepted online at preservationpa.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/save-the-kepler-barn. (The current listed donation total may not be accurate.) However, those interested can also send checks and note Kepler Barn in the memo to:

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Preservation Pennsylvania



1230 N. 3rd St., Suite 1



Harrisburg, PA 17102

A previous in-person fundraiser at Pine Grove Hall offered donors the option of having their funds returned (minus a 5% administrative fee) or passed along to the HBFF if the fundraising goal was not met. Preservation Pennsylvania did not immediately return a message seeking clarity, and it was not immediately known if that option was available online.
Sitting inside her new apartment in kibbutz Tzora, a leafy community just west of Jerusalem, Almog Holot ran her fingers over a bowl of crystals as the wind chime on her balcony blew in the breeze.

Eighteen months ago, she spent 12 hours gripping the handle of her safe room door in kibbutz Nirim as she, along with her mother and her children  then 6 and 8 years old  hid from Hamas militants, who threw grenades at their house, ransacked their home and terrorized their community.

Five people were killed and another five were kidnapped from Holots kibbutz on October 7, 2023, when Hamas and other militant groups launched a coordinated terror attack on Israeli communities and military posts, killing 1,200 and kidnapping 251 people.

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Holot and her family survived. But her belief in peace did not.

I dont know what I believe in, but its not peace, she told CNN.

Holot and her ex-husband, who is from Nirim, a kibbutz about 2 kilometers (approximately 1.2 miles) from the Gaza border, had decided to raise their family there, believing it was the best place for their children.

Kibbutzes are like paradise on earth in many ways, she said. You live in a community where money is not the most important thing people know each other, people care about each other, and people help each other.

While her children grew up in a reality in which in every single second of every single day, a rocket might hit them, Holot said that before October 7, such attacks were rare.

Almog Holot, who survived the attack on her home in kibbutz Nirim, now lives in another kibbutz outside of Jerusalem. - Almog Holot

Most of the time it was really peaceful, she said. My children knew to answer people that the people who threw rockets were just Hamas, and most of the people in Gaza are good  just like them.

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Like many residents of kibbutzim  or communal settlements  located near the Gaza border, Holot says she holds left-leaning political views. And like many so-called kibbutzniks, she too believed in, and advocated for, peace with Palestinians.

People from outside of her kibbutz used to tell her that her views were naive, she said. Now she believes they were right.

I can no longer say that 95% of them (Palestinians) want to live in peace, Holot said, adding that many in her community were surprised by the attacks, but not because of the actions of Hamas.

We thought (Gazans) were like us. And it turned out, no, theyre not, she said, alleging that common people of Gaza were involved in the looting of October 7 and expressed support for the attacks.

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Its an attitude that Avida Bachar, from nearby kibbutz Beeri also shares. Bachar lost his wife, his teenage son and his right leg in the attacks, in which 100 of the kibbutzs 1,100 residents were killed.

Prior to October 7, Bachar believed that Palestinians and Israelis could coexist.

I thought that we want to live together like two states we can work together, we can live together, he told CNN.

Now, he believes that Israel should raze Gaza and take complete control of it.

We have to take the border, to move the border, and put potatoes and peanut fields there (in Gaza), until the sea. That is a different system, and we have to do it, he said, acknowledging that his support of such an extreme idea would have surprised him prior to the war.

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Such shifts in attitudes arent surprising for survivors of extreme trauma, said Merav Roth, a Haifa-based clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst.

Roth, who established a philanthropic long-term therapeutic organization for the victims of October 7 and who regularly works with survivors and returned hostages, told CNN that survivors rely on disassociation as a coping mechanism.

It takes most of your energy just to survive mentally. And thats why they dont have spare energy to think of the other, Roth said, adding that they are often in fight or flight mode and react in binary, primitive ways.

When youre in chaos, when youre intimidated, when youre threatened, you split the world into two: total good and total bad and revenge is an illusion of becoming strong, Roth said.

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So, by operating with a mentality of I dont want to think about them. I dont want to solve anything, Roth said, survivors are able to create a sense of protection for themselves.

People examine the damage inflicted on their community in kibbutz Nirim after the October 7, 2023 attacks. - Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

Its the type of protection Holot seeks for herself and her children, who both suffer from PTSD.

While Holot said that she does not support US President Donald Trump or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically, their call to relocate Palestinians in Gaza to third countries  a voluntary emigration plan approved by Israels cabinet in March that critics say could amount to ethnic cleansing  has given her pause.

Would I want to get up tomorrow morning, wake up and see that all the people in Gaza disappeared and everything is peaceful? Yes. On the same note, I would like to get up tomorrow morning and find out that all the people in Gaza want peace, she said, before adding: But do I think (either) is possible? No.

A shift to the right

In the 1990s and 2000s, the conflict was a dividing line between left and right, split 50-50 along political lines, according to Tamar Hermann, a public opinion and polling expert at the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), a Jerusalem-based think tank.

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Holot and Bachars views mirror a wider shift in attitudes among Israeli Jews to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the idea of a two-state solution since October 7.

But over the years, Jewish Israeli society has made a significant shift to the right, with only 13% of that population now self-identifying as on the left, compared with 30% in the center, and 55-60% on the right, Hermann said.

While the right remains staunchly against a Palestinian state, a view that has only hardened since the war began, the center is now much more aligned with the right than it used to be, she said.

But the major shift has been among those on the left, who used to support a two-state solution but now see a Palestinian state as unfeasible anytime soon, she said.

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Meanwhile, across all political lines, very few Jewish Israelis (5%) believe that Hamas would end its struggle against Israel even if there was a Palestinian state, according to an IDI opinion poll conducted 13 months ago.

Holot, who still identifies as on the left, said she believes left-wing activists outside of Israel who demonstrate for a Free Palestine do not fully understand Hamas ideological stance, instead only focusing on images of Palestinian suffering.

Israels war in Gaza has killed more than 52,000 people since October 2023  among them 16,000 children  according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. 2,100 Palestinians have been killed since Israel reignited its aerial and ground campaign last month, breaking a two-month-old ceasefire.

Rescue teams conduct a search operation following an Israeli airstrike on a residential area in Gaza City's Shujaiyye neighborhood on April 9, 2025. - Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images

Im very sad for this reality, but Im very stable about knowing that its not our fault and their leaders brought it upon them, Holot said, echoing a wider national sentiment. Nearly all Jewish Israelis (94.5%) believe that Hamas bears a great deal of responsibility for the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, according to the IDI poll.

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Murderousness is infectious, aggression is infectious, Roth said of the vicious cycle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But Roth, who believes in a two-state solution, still has hope for peace. She said some of the returned hostages and survivors shes worked with have told her: I will fight for the two-state solution. We still need peace.

They are amazing, and its inspiring, Roth said. They keep their higher selves, even after all that they went through.

The only reality I knew

In between lectures, 21-year-old Gili Avidor walks under trees on the perimeter of the Tel Aviv University campus. Like the survivors  and much of Israeli society  she, too, has undergone a profound personal and political transformation since October 7.

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But her story is very different than most.

After her former boyfriend was killed at the Nova music festival in southern Israel, she too, wanted revenge. We were first loves. It was really difficult, Avidor told CNN last month.

I remember telling my sister that I want everyone in Gaza dead, said Avidor.

Now I am ashamed and frightened of the fact that these words came out of my mouth, Avidor, who describes herself as being from a right-wing family, said: I was completely inside the Israeli narrative. Thats the only reality I knew.

As Israel escalated its war on Gaza, Avidor said something changed for her.

I thought, there is probably some other girl on the other side of the gate in Gaza that is feeling exactly what I feel, that someone she loved got killed, and revenge is the answer(but) revenge is what makes such things to happen in the first place.

Avidor began to engage with left-wing activist groups that support Palestinian self-determination and volunteered as a protective presence for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, who have suffered an increasing number of attacks by Jewish settlers since the start of the war.

Its hard to stand up to your own society, she said, adding that individual and collective trauma has been weaponized to empower extremists to perpetuate the conflict and dehumanize Palestinians.

Still, she remains committed to a different way forward, saying that it is her duty to advocate for human beliefs in this very dark time.

Avidor acknowledges that she did not experience the first-hand trauma that many kibbutzniks did, and expresses deep sympathy for them.

An Israeli soldier walks past the remains of a burnt houses in kibbutz Be'eri, 10 days after the October 7 attacks. - Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

I can understand that people who endure such a trauma (flips) their life upside-down, Avidor said.

But she pushed back on the idea that October 7 is a reason for them to stop seeing a path forward to peace with Palestinians.

I mean, they say: Okay, we were the the good Jews who helped you and took you to the hospital when youre sick but now they strip them from their humanity, she said.

The notion that human rights is something that people need to gain and to be thankful for? That makes me angry. And I think theyre hypocrites, Avidor added.

Not every survivor has faltered in their vision for peace.

At her fathers graveside at kibbutz Nir Oz several weeks ago, Sharone Lifschitz read one of his poems to friends and family attending his headstone-setting ceremony, as the sound of bombs exploded a mile away in Gaza.

In the poem, he makes a small wish, and the little prayer is that there will be a week in which no Palestinians will be killed, Lifschitz told CNN. It was written in the 1980s, during the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

Oded Lifschitz, a lifelong peace activist, was kidnapped age 83 from the kibbutz on October 7, along with his wife Yocheved, who was freed weeks after her capture.

My father used to say that peace is inevitable, that just the question is how much blood is shed before that, Lifschitz told CNN.

She and her mother continue to embody Odeds ideology, saying that peace with Palestinians is the only way forward.

Roth, the psychologist, believes Israels most severe danger as a society is if we become the atrocity we experience.

This will be really the victory of Hamas, if the Israeli people will lose their values, their higher selves, their morality, (capacity for) seeing the other, she said.

Back in kibbutz Tzora, Holot says she still holds liberal values, and is focused on healing herself and her children.

I dont want to teach them bad things about humanity. So, I prepare them to keep thinking that Hamas is bad and the people are good even if I dont feel it myself, she said.

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Wanda Barzee allegedly visited two parks in Salt Lake City in April

Police charged her on Thursday, May 1, with violating the terms of her parole as a sex offender

Barzee held Elizabeth Smart captive for nine months and was released from prison in 2018

The woman who held Elizabeth Smart captive for nine months and facilitated her husband's sexual assaults of the teenager has been arrested and charged with violating the conditions of her release.

Wanda Barzee, 79, was taken into custody on the morning of Thursday, May 1, by Salt Lake City Police after it was allegedly discovered she had visited local parks.

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Brent Weisberg, a spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police Department, tells PEOPLE that Barzee was booked into Salt Lake County Metro Jail on "one count of violating Utahs law restricting registered sex offenders from entering protected areas, including public parks."

That arrest came after "detectives developed information that Barzee had allegedly visited at least two parks in Salt Lake City, including Liberty Park and Sugar House Park, in violation of state law," Weisberg said.

Barzee is no longer in custody, with court records showing that her release came on judicial orders.

George Frey/Getty Elizabeth Smart Elizabeth Smart

She and her husband Brian David Mitchell kidnapped Smart in 2002 and held her captive for close to a year, moving between rundown houses and abandoned campsites in Utah and the San Diego area.

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The pair were arrested in 2003 and a judge ruled that Barzee could be released from prison in 2018.

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.

That decision did not sit well with Smart, who was very vocal about the fact that she viewed Barzee to be just as culpable for what happened to her as her husband and a threat to society.

She said in multiple interviews around that time that Barzee was an "evil woman."

Mitchell abducted Smart at knifepoint from her home in Salt Lake City after climbing through her bedroom window.

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For the next nine months, Smart was held captive by Mitchell and Barzee and subjected to near-daily sexual assaults.

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department/Getty Brian David Mitchell, Wanda Barzee Brian David Mitchell, Wanda Barzee

Smart has previously discussed Barzee's participation in the assaults, saying she would encourage her husband and often be present while the teenager was being abused by Mitchell.

The public was alerted to Mitchell and Barzee's identities after Smart's sister, who witnessed the kidnapping, recalled that the man whose voice she heard that night was the same man who had previously been hired to do work at the family's home.

Photos of Mitchell and Barzee then ran on America's Most Wanted around the same time the two started appearing in public with Smart, which eventually led to a person recognizing the pair and contacting authorities.

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Smart was rescued on March 12, 2003, just over nine months after she was taken from her bedroom on June 5, 2002.

Mitchell was sentenced to life in federal prison while Barzee served 15 years for her role in the operation.

SLCP says it will continue to monitor this situation moving forward as part of a joint effort with other agencies.

"While the criminal prosecution in this matter remains our priority, our SLCPD social workers and crisis intervention detectives will continue utilizing our co-response model to help ensure that appropriate resources and safety plans are made available as the case progresses through the justice system," Weisberg said.

Read the original article on People
Trump administration officials have repeatedly claimed that judges who order the administration to take action to bring deported Venezuelans back from the El Salvador prison where the U.S. sent them are meddling in the conduct of foreign policy.

The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by President Donald J. Trump  not by a court  and no court in the United States has a right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on April 14.

His comments refer to cases including that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran man who was deported to El Salvador on March 15, 2025, without any due process. The Trump administration says it will not bring him back to the U.S., despite a Supreme Court order to facilitate his return.

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A reporter on April 30 asked Rubio about whether he has been in touch with El Salvador regarding Abrego Garcias potential release from a maximum security prison there.

Well I would never tell you that and you know who else I would never tell? A judge. Because the conduct of our foreign policy belongs to the president, Rubio said.

Rubio made a similar point on April 14, posting on X, No court in the United States has a right to conduct the foreign policy of the United States. Its that simple. End of story.

The legal cases of Abrego Garcia and other noncitizens deported to El Salvador are far from simple. Chimene Keitner, a scholar of international law and civil litigation, answers a few key questions about the power that U.S. judges actually have in these wrongful deportation cases.

The Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on April 28, 2025, with construction scaffolding on the facade. Brendan Smiaowski/AFP via Getty Images

Are these cases really about foreign policy or something else?

These wrongful deportation cases arent primarily about foreign policy, despite what Trump officials have said  theyre about the protection of individual rights, including the right to due process.

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The Trump administration is arguing that courts cannot grant relief to individuals challenging their deportation and detention if those individuals are sent to another country and imprisoned there. Under that argument, even a wrongfully detained and deported U.S. citizen would be out of luck. That cant, in my understanding, be right.

In Reid v. Covert, a foundational case from 1957, the Supreme Court made clear that the government cannot deprive U.S. citizens of due process by entering into an agreement with a foreign country.

Now, noncitizens are being detained in El Salvador under arrangements concluded between Rubio and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in February 2025.

So far, the relevant agreements have not been disclosed to Congress, arguably in violation of U.S. law. They also have not been disclosed to courts that have sought answers about relevant details.

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Following an April trip to El Salvador, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, said that the U.S. will pay El Salvador $15 million to imprison the deported noncitizens  and that El Salvador is imprisoning these men only because the U.S. is paying for it.

What are other important elements to understand about these cases?

The Trump administration is arguing that a judge or the Supreme Court cannot order it to return noncitizens to the U.S., because detention operations in El Salvador, a sovereign country, are beyond the reach of U.S. courts.

However, the U.S. decisions to arrest, detain and deport noncitizens to El Salvador, and to pay for their incarceration there with U.S. taxpayer dollars, are not foreign policy decisions that cannot be reviewed by any judge.

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They are, I would argue, governmental deprivations of the individual right to due process.

A U.S. court does not have power over the government of El Salvador. However, it can order the U.S. government to request an individuals return. The Supreme Court has ordered the government to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia.

The government has argued that facilitate in this context simply requires removing domestic U.S. legal obstacles. However, given that Abrego Garcia is being detained in El Salvador, any effective remedy would require the U.S. government to request his return under the detention agreement between the two countries.

Another federal judge made this clear in an April order requiring the government to make a good faith request to El Salvador to release a different wrongfully deported 20-year-old.

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Meanwhile, Trump has stated that his administration is exploring the idea of extending the El Salvador detention agreement to encompass U.S. citizens. Judges have already expressed concern that U.S. citizens, including children, are being removed from the country with no meaningful process.

These actions cannot be shielded from judicial review on the grounds that they involve foreign policy.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele at the White House on April 14, 2025. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Could the Trump administration legitimately claim that judges cannot rule on its foreign policy decisions?

The Constitution gives foreign affairs powers to both the executive and legislative branches. Judges cant conduct foreign policy. They can, however, decide cases that may affect foreign policy, especially when individual rights are at stake.

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Another countrys involvement in a case doesnt prevent U.S. courts from protecting individual rights.

Can these court orders to bring back wrongfully deported individuals be enforced?

The Trump administration is currently trying to portray judges as spreading lawlessness with these court orders, in the words of Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. But I would argue that the opposite is true. If the White House disagrees with an order by a district court or court of appeals, it can seek review by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, it is obliged to obey lower court orders absent a stay, or pause, of their implementation.

Courts can do their part to reject claims that the executive branch is entitled to act without regard for legislative or judicial limits by issuing strongly worded orders and even holding officials in contempt. At the end of the day, however, only Congress is empowered to remove a president who refuses to comply with the law.

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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: Chimene Keitner, University of California, Davis

Read more:



Chimene Keitner 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.
Royal R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

King Charles III was left frustrated and upset by his son Prince Harrys alleged failure to respect his difficult position during the Dukes fight to win back government-provided security in the UK, according to a new report.

Harry, 40, lost his legal bid on appeal Friday after telling a London court last month that he had been singled out for unjustified and inferior treatment when he and his family were stripped of their taxpayer-funded security detail in 2020 once his and wife Meghan Markles stepped back from their roles as senior working members of the royal family.

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The King, as Harry admitted to BBC in a bombshell interview after Fridays ruling, has not spoken to his youngest child amid the court battle. However, a friend of Charles, who spoke to The Sun before the Duke of Sussexs explosive sitdown aired, said the monarch was forced to remain silent out of necessity  something he supposedly doesnt believe Harry understood.

King Charles III was left frustrated and upset by his son Prince Harrys alleged failure to respect his difficult position during the Dukes fight to win back government-provided security in the UK, according to a new report. ZUMAPRESS.com

Harry, 40, lost his legal bid on appeal Friday, after telling a London court last month that he had been singled out for unjustified and inferior treatment when he and his family were stripped of their taxpayer-funded security detail in 2020. AP

The King has always considered this was an issue for [the British government] and courts to resolve and that for him to intervene in any way would be constitutionally improper, the insider allegedly told The Sun.

What has frustrated and upset him on a more personal level is the Dukes failure to respect this principle  and for his supporters to suggest that somehow his father doesnt care about his family, or should step in, click his fingers, and demand a form of protection that the leading national experts on protection may or may not consider necessary on any given visit, the friend added.

He has been particularly concerned it has taken considerable resources and cost for the Government to defend their position.

Prince Harry told the BBC he wants reconciliation with the Royal Family. BBC News

Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice on April 9, 2025 in London. Harry arrived in the UK to attend court for his appeal against the reduction of his security detail during family visits. Getty Images

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The Court of Appeal heard his case, challenging a High Court ruling that upheld the decision to evaluate his security arrangements for UK visits on a case-by-case basis. AP

The source also remarked, The King is at heart a loving and generous man. That love has been sorely tested by this case and so many other issues over recent times. But there is now a chance for his son to move forwards rather than dwell on past grievances.

From his fathers perspective, the door has been shut by necessity while this painful issue played out through the proper judicial channels  but it has not been locked forever, nor the key thrown away, the friend explained, referring to the radio silence between Charles and Harry.

Representatives for Prince Harry and Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to The Posts requests for comment.

Harrys security was stripped away following his and wife Meghan Markles decision to step back from their roles as senior working members of the royal family. GC Images

What has frustrated and upset him on a more personal level is the Dukes failure to respect this principle  and for his supporters to suggest that somehow his father doesnt care about his family, or should step in, click his fingers, and demand a form of protection that the leading national experts on protection may or may not consider necessary on any given visit, King Charles friend said. Alexi Lubomirski / Duke and Duch

In his interview after the source spoke to The Sun, Harry insisted he didnt want his father to intervene in the legal proceedings.

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I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs, the prince told the BBC.

Though friends close to King Charles had earlier raised the idea of a reconciliation, according to The Sun, Harrys interview is not likely to have helped assuage any tension between father and son, despite the Duke saying he wants reconciliation with his family.

I would love reconciliation with my family. Theres no point continuing to fight anymore, life is precious, Harry said.

A friend of Charles, who spoke to The Sun before the Duke of Sussexs explosive sitdown aired, said the monarch was forced to remain silent out of necessity  something he supposedly doesnt believe Harry understood. WireImage

Though friends close to King Charles had earlier raised the idea of a reconciliation, according to The Sun, Harrys interview is not likely to have helped assuage any tension between father and son, despite the Duke saying he wants reconciliation with his family. Getty Images

I would love reconciliation with my family. Theres no point continuing to fight anymore, life is precious, Harry said. POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Buckingham Palace subsequently issued a rare statement on Fridays events after the BBC broadcast.

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 of the decision to strip Harry of his security detail.

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In a statement provided to The Post on Friday, the Duke of Sussex said, This process has only ever been about ensuring my safety and that of my immediate family when we are in 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.

The prince added that he attempted to resolve this issue privately, even offering to independently cover the costs of necessary and effective police protection in order to keep me and my family safe.

He concluded by saying, I remain committed to a life of public service. This has been and will always be, my lifes work, and when you strip away the noise, youll be able to hear, all Ive been asking for is safety.
BELGRADE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was admitted to a hospital in Belgrade on Saturday, after abruptly cutting short his working visit to the United States, due to a sudden medical issue, local media reported.

Upon arrival in Belgrade, Vucic was admitted to the Military Medical Academy (VMA), the Presidency confirmed to the Tanjug news agency. He was received at the hospital by Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar and Dragan Dincic, one of the VMA's senior physicians.

Vucic reportedly felt unwell Friday afternoon local time, shortly after meetings with U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, and Serbian-American business representatives.

The President's office told Tanjug that more information about his condition would be available in the coming days. 
The King will lead the nation through the most prominent VE Day celebration in years.

Senior members of the Royal family will mark next weeks commemorations as they come out in full force to take part in nationwide tributes in the last major living memory opportunity to do so.

The public is being urged to not forget the sacrifices made by Second World War veterans.

Landmark buildings across the country will be lit up as events are staged to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of the conflict in Europe. These will include a military procession, an RAF fly-past over Buckingham Palace, as well as a concert at Horse Guards Parade.

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Starting the commemorative proceedings will be Timothy Spall, the actor, who is set to read extracts from wartime prime minister Winston Churchills renowned VE Day victory speech in 1945.

He will be followed by Alan Kennett, the 100-year-old Normandy veteran, who will formally begin Mondays procession of 1,300 members of the Armed Forces after being handed the Commonwealth War Graves Torch For Peace.

The Tower of London will unveil a new installation of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies on the site as one of their Beefeaters praised the importance of the last big one for WWII veterans.

Sergeant Daniel Benson, the Yeoman Warder who stood guard over the late Queens coffin as she lay in state in Westminster Hall, said: Its important that our veterans are going to be alive for this last one, or this last big one.

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But I think its for everybody, because there have been a lot of conflicts around the world, and especially those that Ive been involved with, that my colleagues have been involved with.

He added: So its important for everybody just to understand, and its sad that the veterans are going to probably not get another big one  this is our time to remember that.

The 54-year-old, who formerly served in the Armed Forces for 26 years, was wearing his Yeoman Sergeant stripes for the first time on Thursday as he was photographed amid the poppy display being assembled around him.

Annette Boak was one of the volunteers who helped with the original installation - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

Among the 30 daily volunteers building the display  modelled from the 2014 commemorative art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red  was Annette Boak, a retired teacher whose late grandfather died during the war serving as a signals operator for the Royal Air Force.

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As she assembled the ceramic poppies wearing protective gloves, she said: Soon well have nobody that remembers the war.

My father, who died years ago, was a child during the Blitz and he was evacuated away and he remembers being in Devon and told stories all about it.

The poppies installation within the inner walls of the Tower of London, which is taken care of by the Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) charity, has been made to resemble a wound at the heart of the tower, which was bombed during the Blitz.

During the commemoration celebrations, Queen Camilla will view the installation and meet the team behind the display, which took 10 days to complete at the pace of around 3,000 poppies planted each day.

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It has been designed to mark and reflect the sacrifices made by so many during the Second World War.

Military personnel unwind at Wellington Barracks after taking part in an overnight rehearsal for the VE 80 procession - Henry Nicholls

Rhiannon Goddard, the head of public engagement projects at HRP, said: The Tower of London has become a bit of a place of remembrance...the 80th anniversary is a really important one.

Its sort of as things are passing out of living memory, so we wanted to do something really special...this is a moment where we can still talk to those veterans and share their memories.

She added: I do think that 2014 really made us into a place where national commemoration was something people thought about.

Surviving veterans around the country will see Londons most iconic buildings light up from Tuesday evening, including Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and the Shard.

Members of the Royal Navy return to Wellington Barracks after a rehearsal for the VE 80 procession - Henry Nicholls

Sir Keir Starmer described next weeks commemoration plans as a moment of national unity to salute the service of Second World War veterans.

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His comments came as one of the last survivors of the assault on the D-Day beaches in 1944 died aged 101 on Thursday.

Cecil Newton from Aldbourne, Wiltshire, who served in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, died in his sleep.

The Prime Minister added that it will be a time to celebrate that hard-won peace, honour the memory of those who lost their lives, and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom.

He said: Their legacy lives on today in how we stand together in defence of the values they fought for and which bind us together as a nation.

The Royal family will join nationwide tributes in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day - Jeremy Selwyn

Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, said: 80 years ago, millions of people celebrated the end of the Second World War in Europe.

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This week, we will recreate this moment across towns and cities, in our homes, in pubs and on our streets.

We must do all we can to ensure that the stories and memories of this period in our history are not forgotten. We must not forget the hardships, the heroics and the millions who lost their lives.

We are here because of the sacrifices they made and the horrors they endured. This week, I urge the nation to come together and send a powerful message: we will remember them.

On Thursday, celebrations will include a service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence and then will conclude with a concert at the historic Horse Guards Parade.

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The concert, intended to finish the VE Day 80 commemorations in a celebratory tone, will be attended by the King and Queen.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles and senior royals will join veterans and crowds to watch a grand military parade and flypast at the start of four days of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of "VE Day" - the end of fighting in Europe in World War Two.

The unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany came into force on May 8, 1945, known as Victory in Europe Day, and the British government has planned a series of events to mark the anniversary.

These will begin on Monday when London's famous Big Ben clock strikes midday and extracts from British war leader Winston Churchill's VE Day speech will be read out.

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More than 1,300 members of Britain's armed forces will then process through central London from outside parliament to Buckingham Palace, watched by the king, Queen Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate along with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and veterans of the conflict.

Ukrainian armed forces will also take part to show Britain's support for its war against Russia.

As the procession concludes, there will be a flypast by historic military aircraft and the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows aerobatics display team, watched by the royals from the balcony of Buckingham palace.

The royals will then host about 50 veterans and others who lived through the war for a tea party inside the palace.

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This 80th anniversary is a moment of national unity. A time to celebrate that hard-won peace, honour the memory of those who lost their lives, and remember the sacrifices made by so many to secure our freedom," said Starmer.

In 1945, VE Day was greeted by wild celebrations in London and across Britain.

The late Queen Elizabeth, then a 19-year-old princess, and her younger sister Margaret famously slipped out to join the throng outside Buckingham Palace, believed to be the only time during her 96 years she mingled with the public unrecognised.

"We cheered the king and queen on the balcony and then walked miles through the streets," Elizabeth later recalled.

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"I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief ... I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life."

On Thursday, the actual 80th anniversary, the royal family will attend a service of thanksgiving at London's Westminster Abbey during which Starmer will give a reading.

Government buildings will also observe a two-minute national silence at midday, and the commemorations will conclude with a concert in front of the king and queen.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Barbara Lewis)
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ)  More than 70 years after the end of the Korean War, six local veterans were honored for their service with the Ambassador of Peace Medal during a heartfelt ceremony Saturday morning at the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home.

The commemorative medals, presented by the Republic of Korea, were awarded to the recipients, including Anne Sukala, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served as a Finance Specialist and Supervisor Accountant from 1951 to 1955.

Its a great honor for me to get this medal, especially after 70 years, Sukala said. A lot of happiness but also a lot of pain, because I did lose a beautiful cousin during the Korean conflict, and it took a long time to bring his body back to Coalport.

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The Ambassador of Peace Medal recognizes U.S. service members who helped defend South Korea during the Korean War. Local Korean resident Ben Chon, who attended the ceremony, reflected on the profound impact of their service.

I want them to know what great difference they have made for us, Chon said. They laid a foundation for Koreas success.

Chon also shared a personal message of gratitude: Im here because they were there. My parents are here because of them. Korea is existing today because they were there.

The ceremony offered both recognition and reflection, giving veterans and their families a moment of closure and pride.

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I hope that their bad memories may turn into a sense of pride, Chon added. I have done something good. Korea today is their legacy. I want them to know.

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The event, held at Eisenhower Veterans Hall, invited community members and media to meet the honorees and hear their stories firsthand.

All Korean War Veterans, living or deceased, are eligible for the Medal. Families can apply for the medal on the veterans behalf by contacting Ben Chon at chonb815@yahoo.com or by calling 208-602-1511.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on May 3 that Moscow is awaiting Kyiv's "final" response to a three-day ceasefire from May 79 proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Peskov claimed that Ukraine's acceptance of the agreement would amount to "a test of Kyivs readiness for long-term peace."

Peskov's comments come in response to Zelensky's assertion earlier on May 3 that the three-day ceasefire proposal served as a "theatrical performance" designed to ease Russias international isolation and create a favorable atmosphere for the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.

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"They kill until the 7th, pause for a couple of comfortable days, then start attacking again on the 11th," Zelensky said.

Putins announcement, presented as a "humanitarian truce" from midnight May 8 to midnight May 11, came as the Kremlin continues to reject Ukraines calls for a complete cessation of hostilities. Ukraine accepted the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire over 50 days ago, but Moscow rejected it, demanding a complete halt on military aid to Ukraine.

In April, Russia declared a ceasefire over the Easter holiday, calling it a "test (of) Ukraine's sincerity in pursuing peace talks."

Despite the ceasefire, Ukraine accused Moscow of nearly 3,000 violations between April 19 and April 21. Ukraine has also said that Russian forces repeatedly breached a partial truce on attacks against energy facilities brokered on March 25.

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The United States, led by President Donald Trump, has lead the charge in brokering the proposed 30-day ceasefire. In recent months, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russia, questioning Putin's intentions to achieve peace, given ongoing Russian attacks against Ukraine.

In response to the Kremlin's actions, U.S. government officials have prepared a new sanctions package against Russia, targeting Russia's energy, natural resources, and banking sectors. However, it is unclear if Trump will approve the sanctions, Reuters reported.

Read also: Zelensky rejects Putins truce proposal as theatrical, backs 30-day ceasefire plan from US









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Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova have issued threats against Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after he refused to agree to a three-day ceasefire for Victory Day [a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.].

Source: Medvedev and Zakharova on Telegram

Details: Medvedev was put out by Zelenskyys statement that Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of guests attending the 9 May parade in Moscow, as Russia is a foreign country and therefore beyond the scope of Kyivs responsibility.

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Quote from Medvedev: "Who needs his guarantees? It's just a verbal provocation. Nothing more.

This scum understands that no one guarantees that Kyiv will see 10 May in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day."

Details: Meanwhile, Zakharova claimed that Zelenskyy has "betrayed his own grandfather, a veteran".

Quote from Zakharova: "But today he's hit a new low: he's now threatening the physical safety of veterans attending parades and celebrations on this sacred day.

... The phrase that he 'does not guarantee security on 9 May on the territory of Russia' because it is not his area of responsibility, is of course a direct threat."

Background: Zelenskyy has rejected Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin's idea of a three-day ceasefire.

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HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  A Kyle man was arrested and charged with murder Tuesday following an investigation into a fentanyl-related death that occurred in December 2024.

According to the Hays County Sheriffs Office, 28-year-old Alan Steve Rodriguez was charged in connection with the death of a 50-year-old man found at an apartment complex in Austin.

HCSO said deputies responded to a call in the 700 block of Trinity Hills Drive on Dec. 31 and found the 50-year-old man unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

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A preliminary investigation conducted by the HCSO Criminal Investigations Division determined that the death was related to the use of fentanyl, HCSO said.

The suspected fentanyl distributor was identified as Rodriguez, according to HCSOs Repeat Offender Program.

A parallel narcotics investigation into Rodriguez led to the seizure of fentanyl, cocaine, THC, marijuana and multiple firearms, HCSO said.

Rodriguez remains in custody at the Hays County Jail on six charges and a total bond of $777,000, including $500,000 for the murder charge.

This case reflects the Hays County Sheriffs Offices continued commitment to holding drug dealers accountable for the devastating consequences of fentanyl distribution in our community, HCSO said.

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Several federal prosecutors  including the chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section  have submitted their resignations following a plea deal offered by the new U.S. attorney in Los Angeles to a sheriff's deputy who had already been found guilty of using excessive force.

Two sources confirmed to The Times that Assistant U.S. Attys Eli A. Alcaraz, Brian R. Faerstein and section chief Cassie Palmer resigned from the office over a "post-trial" plea agreement filed Thursday in the case of Trevor Kirk, an L.A. County sheriff's deputy who was convicted of a felony for assaulting and pepper-spraying a woman outside a Lancaster supermarket.

Reached Saturday afternoon, Faerstein said he had no comment. None of the other prosecutors said to have resigned responded to inquiries. The sources who confirmed the resignations requested anonymity because they feared retaliation. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office declined to comment.

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Kirk, who has been "relieved of duty" by the Sheriff's Department, was found guilty in February of one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law and faced up to 10 years in prison. Under the plea deal filed Thursday, which still requires approval from a judge, he would serve a maximum of one year in prison. The government agreed to recommend a year of probation.

Read more: L.A. County sheriff's deputy caught on camera throwing woman to the ground faces 10 years in prison

In June 2023, Kirk was responding to a reported robbery when he threw a woman to the ground and pepper-sprayed her in the face while she filmed him outside a Lancaster WinCo. Although the woman matched the description of a female suspect Kirk had received from a dispatcher, she was not armed or committing a crime at the time he first confronted her, court records show.

Under the new agreement, Kirk would plead guilty to a lesser-included misdemeanor violation of deprivation of rights under color of law.

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If the plea is approved by the judge, according to the agreement, the U.S. attorney's office would "move to strike" the jury's finding that Kirk injured the victim.

Alcaraz, Palmer, Faerstein and another prosecutor, Michael J. Morse, all withdrew from the case on Friday, according to court filings. The only assistant U.S. attorney who signed off on the plea agreement, Robert J. Keenan, was not previously involved in the case.

Bill Essayli, appointed U.S. a ttorney for Los Angeles last month by President Trump, is also listed on the agreement.

Read more: Trump ally and rising California GOP star Essayli is named top federal prosecutor in L.A.

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Kirk's attorney, Tom Yu, declined to comment Friday evening. Previously, he described Kirk as a hero, not a criminal and said video showed he acted within the law to detain a combative robbery suspect.

Essayli's move to offer a misdemeanor plea to a defendant who had already been convicted was extremely unorthodox, according to Carley Palmer, a former supervisor in the federal prosecutors office in Los Angeles who is now a partner at Halpern May Ybarra Gelberg.

"It's not unprecedented, but it is extraordinary, to try to have a jury verdict withdrawn and replaced by a plea agreement to a lesser crime. The government invests extraordinary resources to take a case like that to trial," she said. "You have the agency's investigation, you have all the man or woman hours ... then you have a jury that says you got it right beyond a reasonable doubt."

To justify seeking a post-conviction plea deal, prosecutors would need to have found evidence that the defendant was innocent or that there was some serious misconduct on the part of the trial team, according to Palmer.

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Last month, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson denied a motion from Yu for an acquittal. Wilson ruled footage of the incident was sufficient evidence for a jury to find Kirk had used objectively unreasonable force.

"J.H. did not have a weapon, did not attack Defendant, was not attempting to flee, and was not actively committing a crime," Wilson wrote, identifying the woman involved by initials.

The judge also noted in his ruling that while Kirk acted aggressively toward the woman from the outset, his partner managed to lead the arrest of the other robbery suspect without using force.

There are noticeable differences in the way the new plea agreement describes what Kirk did, as compared with a press release issued by the U.S. attorney's office in February when the jury returned a guilty verdict.

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The agreement makes references to the woman having resisted Kirk's attempt to detain her and describes her as "swatting" at the deputy's arm.

In his ruling last month, Wilson determined this could have been seen as the victim reacting reflexively to Kirks actions, and noted it's unclear if she even hits Kirk.

The plea agreement also makes no reference to the woman's injuries, while the February release says she "was treated for blunt-force head trauma and injuries to her head, arms, and wrist."

Attorney Caree Harper, who is representing the woman in a civil suit that reached a settlement earlier this year, said the new plea deal is changing the facts and is not supported by video footage of the incident.

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Read more: Trump's axing of L.A. federal prosecutor part of broader war on perceived legal enemies

Theyre taking creative liberty with the facts and deciding to give a jury of Trevor Kirks peers the middle finger and it should not be tolerated, she told The Times. If Wilson approves the agreement, Harper said, she expects civil rights groups will launch protests and urge state or county prosecutors to take up the case.

Harper noted that downgrading Kirks charge from a felony could allow him to continue working as a law enforcement officer. He will also retain his right to own a firearm without a felony conviction.

"He definitely should not be able to wear a badge again, anywhere in any state, she said.

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According to Robert Bonner, a former federal judge who now chairs the county's Civilian Oversight Commission, a post-conviction plea deal is an extreme rarity. Allowing pleas after trial, Bonner said, could undermine prosecutors ability to negotiate in the future.

If you did this routinely, you could never get a plea bargain," he said.

Even though federal prosecutors and the defense have both agreed to the deal, Bonner said, the judge doesnt have to adhere to it.

"He could reject the whole plea deal, or he can accept the plea deal and say I'm not going to give one year probation, I'm going to give six months in custody or some other period of time up to one year in prison, he said.

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Wilson last month refused to delay Kirks May 19 sentencing hearing, after prosecutors told him Essayli wanted more time to review the case.

Support for Kirk began gaining steam on social media after his indictment last September. In January, Nick Wilson, founder of a first responder advocacy group and spokesperson for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Professional Assn., wrote a letter to Trump urging him to intervene before the case went to trial. Former Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who has become increasingly popular in right-wing circles online, has also championed Kirk's case, posting Instagram video of himself and Wilson consoling the deputy at the courthouse after trial.

Wilson, the Sheriff's Professional Assn. spokesperson, on Friday said he was "encouraged by the recent development in Deputy Trevor Kirks case and will continue to monitor the upcoming sentencing closely."

"While this case should never have been prosecuted in the first place, we are deeply grateful the Department of Justice took a second, impartial look at the facts and merits," he said in an email. "This action sends a powerful message  not just in Trevors case, but to law enforcement officers across the state and nation who too often feel abandoned or politically targeted in todays climate."

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A spokesperson for the L.A. County Sheriffs Department did not immediately comment on the developments in Kirks case.

The wave of resignations comes amid other recent controversy in the federal prosecutor's office. In March, a White House official fired Adam Schleifer as an assistant U.S. attorney, in a one-line email informing him that the dismissal was on behalf of President Donald J. Trump.

Read more: Fired federal prosecutor alleges ex-Fatburger CEO's 'smears' reached White House

Schleifer recently challenged his firing, calling it unlawful and alleging it was motivated in part by his prosecution of Andrew Wiederhorn, the former chairman and chief executive of Fat Brands, which owns the Fatburger and Johnny Rockets restaurant chains. Schleifer had also posted negative comments about Trump during a period when he had left his job as prosecutor to run for office as a Democrat.

According to Meghann Cuniff, an independent legal affairs reporter, the Department of Justice is reviewing a separate case involving Alexander Smirnov , a former FBI informant who pleaded guilty to lying about a phony bribery scheme involving President Biden and his son Hunter. A federal judge sentenced Smirnov to six years in prison.

The turmoil in the L.A. federal prosecutors office follows mass resignations in the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan earlier this year, when several prosecutors stepped down after Trump administration appointees pushed to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
As President Donald Trumps trade war with China continues, buyers across Southern California are heading to stores and stocking up on household items.



Many fear tariffs will cause prices to continue to increase and imports to slow down, which could have negative effects on the supply of essential items.



Some say the increase in stocking up on items is reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemics panic buying. Instead, shoppers cant get the same amount of items due to high costs of products such as food and clothing.



Ever since Covid, its [been] a trauma response that I was stocking up. I felt like I needed it and I got it, said Brenda Orozco to NBC4 Los Angeles.



Unlike 2020, due to the higher cost of items, some consumers dont have the extra money to spend on products today. Now, I dont have that option to stock up because I dont have the funds for it, said Orozco.

According to the Port of Los Angeles, the shipping volume coming to the U.S. from China is expected to drop 35% next week.



According to our own port optimizer, which measures the loadings in Asia, well be down just a little bit over 35% next week compared to last year, said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, to CNBC.



Shipments from China make up roughly 45% of the business for the Port of Los Angeles.



Until some accord or framework can be reached with China, the volume coming out of there  save a couple of different commodities  will be very light at best, said Seroka.



Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%. This is not an isolated incident, however, hours after being sworn in, the President announced he would implement 25% tariffs on items from Canada and Mexico beginning Feb. 1.

He then imposed 25% tariffs on Colombia  and raised them to 50% in one week  after their government turned back planes carrying U.S. deportees.



Tariffs on Chinese imports went into effect starting at 10% on Feb. 4, with an additional 10% going into effect on March 4 as scheduled.



China then began imposing tariffs on farm products from the U.S., including an additional 15% on products such as corn and 10% on soybeans and fruit. This later rose to 34% on imports beginning April 4.



Four days later, Chinese goods were subject to a 104% tariff. China responded with an additional 50% tariff on U.S. goods. Despite backing down on his reciprocal tariffs, China was not included and on April 9, Trump raised tariffs on its exports to 125% with the White House clarifying that this was in addition to a 20% tariff Trump had already imposed on China.



While tariffs continue to fluctuate, some experts believe retailers will see effects in five to seven weeks.



I dont see a complete emptiness on store shelves or online when were buying, said Seroka. But if youre out looking for a blue shirt, you might find 11 purple ones and one blue in a size thats not yours. So well start seeing less choice on those shelves simply because were not getting the variety of goods coming in here based on the additional costs in place.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor Party is heading for a clear victory in Saturday's general election, according to media projections.

A win would make the 62-year-old the first prime minister in more than 20 years to win re-election.

Albanese supporters erupted in jubilation as the first results and forecasts came in.

After about a quarter of the votes had been counted, Labor were clearly leading in 70 seats, according to the Electoral Commission. They would need 76 for an absolute majority in the 150-seater House of Representatives.

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The conservative coalition of Liberals and Nationals led by Peter Dutton were leading in 24 seats.

Albanese had been ahead of his challenger in most polls leading up to the vote.

A former interior and defence minister, Dutton floundered during the election campaign partly due to controversial statements and his closeness to the US administration.

Albanese has been prime minister since 2022, when he replaced Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party-led coalition.
WARSAW, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Poland celebrated Constitution Day on Saturday with official ceremonies in Warsaw, marking 234 years since the adoption of the May 3 Constitution, Europe's first modern constitution.

Events took place at Castle Square, where President Andrzej Duda delivered a keynote speech alongside Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other top officials.

Adopted by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the May 3 Constitution of 1791 remains a key symbol of national identity, despite its brief implementation.

The day is part of Poland's "Majowka" holiday stretch, which includes Labor Day and Flag Day, when red-and-white flags adorn streets and homes nationwide. 
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career.

Tonight, we're making history. (...) Thank you for making history with me, Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd.

The Mother Monster, as she is known, kicked off the show at around 22:10 p.m. local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary. Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand.

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Concert organizers said 2.1 million people attended the show.

Lady Gaga performed her classic hits, including Poker Face and Alejandro, switching between an array of dresses including one with the colors of the Brazilian flag.

Some fans - many of them young - arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot, armed with snacks and drinks. They spent the day under a blazing sun, while others perched in trees, determined to get a panoramic view.

Today is the best day of my life, said Manoela Dobes, a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019. It's surreal to be here.

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Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year.

The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint Johns Day celebrations in June.

It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season  filling hotels and increasing spending in bars, restaurants, and retail, generating jobs and income for the population, said Osmar Lima, the citys secretary of economic development, in a statement released by Rio City Halls tourism department last month.

Rios City Hall said in a recent report that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (some $106 million) into Rios economy.

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Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028.

Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday. The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since, as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012. Rios metro employees danced to Lady Gagas 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for Saturday in a video. A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out.

While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio, the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors.

More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show, more than double the initial forecast, according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport, Rios City Hall said in a statement on Friday.

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Ingrid Serrano, a 30-year-old engineer, made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show.

Ive been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life, said Serrano, who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gagas outlandish costumes over the years.

For her, the mega-star represents total freedom of expression - being who one wants without shame.

Rio officials have a history of organizing huge concerts on Copacabana Beach. Madonnas show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year, while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Years Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994. According to Guinness World Records, that was the biggest free rock concert in history.

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To ensure fans could hear the songs, sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach.

Rio states security plan included the presence of 3,300 military and 1,500 police officers, and 400 military firefighters.

Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017, when the artist canceled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues.

Ricardo Filho, who has been a fan since childhood, said it was worth the wait.

She's the best artist in the world, the 25-year-old said, as chants of Gaga, I love you in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Its been nearly eight years since the death of a 9-month-old girl in Lake Isabella, and her accused killer  her father  still hasnt stood trial.

On Friday, there was yet another delay in the case against 31-year-old Michael Ianvan Johnson. A hearing to reschedule his trial date was postponed to June 10, court records show.

There have been numerous postponements since Johnson was charged with murder in February 2018.

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Former school board member pleads no contest to felony sex charge

On June 23, 2017, deputies were called to a home on Crestview Avenue to a report of a child not breathing. Seraphim Ould-Johnson was rushed to Kern Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

An autopsy determined she died from acute neck compression; there was bruising to her throat and hemorrhaging in her lungs.

Months later, during a follow-up interview with sheriffs investigators, Johnson admitted to pushing on the back of Seraphims neck, pressing her face into a mattress when she became fussy the morning of her death, according to court filings. He told them hed become frustrated and angry with her.

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Johnson was arrested at the end of the interview.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM)  A Lancaster County police chief was assaulted after pulling over a motorcycle earlier this week.

Manheim Township Police say on April 30, Chief Duane Fisher located a motorcycle in the area of Lititz Pike and Chester Road without a registration plate. The motorcyclist then ran a red light on Lititz Pike and Pike Road while also weaving between vehicles and riding onto a sidewalk.

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On the 1900 block of Fruitville Pike while driving an unmarked police vehicle, Fisher attempted to stop the motorcycle and identified himself as police.

Police say the motorcyclist, Benny Pena-Rivera, started the motorcycle, pushed Fisher, and attempted to drive away. Pena-Rivera then allegedly used the bike to push Fisher and make an escape on foot.

Pena-Rivera, 24, was apprehended after a search of the area and charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest, among other charges. He was released on $2,000 bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 14.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A crash involving two semi trucks and a sedan closed northbound Interstate 225 in Aurora on Friday afternoon.

The Aurora Police Department said in a post on X that all three northbound lanes were closed at Alameda Avenue, and traffic was being directed around the crash via the Sixth Avenue exit.

As of 3:12 p.m., the department said one lane was reopened.

See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31

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According to police, one of the semi trucks was leaking diesel fuel, and Aurora Fire Rescue crews were working to clean up the scene.

Police said drivers should expect significant delays on that side of the interstate and as the road will not reopen to normal traffic for several hours. Police recommended using alternate routes like Chambers Road or Peoria Street.

No serious injuries were reported.

This article will be updated when the roadway is reopened.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
May 2GRAND FORKS  A Larimore man was ordered Friday, May 2, to spend the remainder of his life at the North Dakota State Hospital after being

found not guilty of his uncle's murder due to a lack of criminal responsibility.

At the time of the March 23, 2024, murder, Troy Randall Larson was not taking his prescribed mental health medications, and had been released from a psychiatric hospitalization just days earlier, according to court statements Friday.

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"This isn't just one incident (where) Mr. Larson went off his medication and became a danger to himself or others, " said Carmell Mattison, prosecutor in the case. "This is a pattern through his lifetime, and this is just a culmination, the end result of this pattern."

Larson

fatally shot 64-year-old Jamey Allen Holweger,

nearly shot his mother, Linda Lou McMahan, and fired at a law enforcement BearCat vehicle during an ensuing standoff, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

The affidavit says Holweger went to the residence to drop off his dog. As he spoke with McMahan in the entryway, Larson could be heard screaming. He then walked into the room and fired a gun at them.

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"Every day, I picture Jamey on that floor alone, waiting for me to come in there and help him," Suzann Holweger, Jamey Holweger's wife, said in her victim impact statement. "... I have horrible nightmares of that day, with him lying on the floor in a pool of blood."

Her husband was her sole caregiver and a staunch supporter of her artistic endeavors, Suzann Holweger said. They had a deep love and strong bond that developed over nearly 40 years.

"Jamey is the only love I've ever had, and ever will have," she said.

A number of family and friends made statements during the hearing, speaking about Jamey Holweger's kind heart and ceaseless generosity. They also implored Judge John Thelen to hand down the maximum sentence.

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Because Larson is not criminally responsible, his life sentence at the state hospital is the maximum penalty. This sentence was determined based on a risk assessment done in the weeks since he was found not criminally responsible, which noted his history of noncompliance and substance abuse.

Jeanine Strauss, Holweger's sister, said Larson  who she has known since he was approximately 12 years old  has always looked for trouble.

"My view of Troy Larson is that he reflects the devil in his eyes," Strauss said. "He is pure evil."

Suzann Holweger said Larson has used alcohol mixed with illicit drugs for as long as she can remember, "but refuses to take the ones that he's supposed to."

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Larson's attorney, Steven Mottinger, noted that his client never denied responsibility, and is eager to begin receiving treatment at the state hospital, after spending more than a year in the county jail.

"Mr. Larson is extremely remorseful that this situation occurred," Mottinger said. "He had only been released from the hospital a very few days before this happened. It was just an unfortunate set of circumstances that led us to where we're at today."

Larson, 44, will have a review hearing each year. The state hospital must file a report of its findings to be brought to the hearing; if he is deemed no longer a threat, Larson could be released.

Mattison said family members have told her they do not believe Larson would ever be compliant upon release.

"He would start using substances again, go off his medication, and I would dare say we would be in this position again," she said.
Las Vegas honors community heroes for their impact and service

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Compassionate Las Vegas is a community network that was created to build a movement by honoring individuals who embody compassion in our neighborhoods.

I try to give people not so much a handout, but a hand up. Everybody has a story, and its all different. Every story is unique, my job is not to judge but to help out in any way I can, Pastor Russ Smethers, who has been helping the homeless population for the past fifteen years, said.

Most of the work done by this years recipients happens in the shadows, wrapping support around our most vulnerable.

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Compassionate Las Vegas belongs to a network of over 500 compassionate communities across 45 countries, with over 2,766 partnerships.

What makes this place truly extraordinary isnt just what we do, its who we are. We are a compassionate city, Will Rucker from Compassionate Las Vegas said.

The following industries were recognized: Health & Wellness, Education, Housing Security, Human Trafficking Prevention, Strengthening the Family, Restorative Practices and Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resilience.

The 2025 honorees were awarded with an engraved plaque in recognition for their dedication to the community. Additionally, a tree will be planted at Rainbow Family Park in honor of the 2025 Compassionate Award recipients.

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The 2025 winners include: Pauline van Betten, Latoya Holman, Katherine Anderson, Pastor Russell Smethers, Kimberly Harvey, Maria Tucker, and Dr. Robert Bush.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Edd Crotsley, owner of Bad Apple Tattoo in Las Vegas, said that he is shocked that he survived a crash that left him hospitalized for four days and unable to walk.

The collision occurred on Saturday at Desert Inn and Lindell roads in Spring Valley.

This car comes around, hauling and coming right at me, and I knew I was going to get hit, but I was trying to get out of the way, Crotsley said, detailing the crash, which he said saw the driver run a red light and clip the back end of his motorcycle, sending Crotsley hurtling into the air.

I landed on my hip and fractured my foot, Crotsley said.

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The entrepreneur said he is working with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials to find the driver, who detectives believe was driving a Chrysler 300 or a Dodge Charger. The vehicle would possibly have damage to the front drivers side or hood, police said.

For his part, Crotsley said he feels red light runners should be held accountable.

I definitely think we need to have cameras to stop these people, Crotsley said. When I got hit, it was probably a good 5 seconds after the light turned.

James Layba, who lives near the intersection, said he is used to collisions occurring in the area.

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I heard something get hit, but no screeching, Layba said. I then got up and saw him in the middle of the road.

A GoFundMe page has been established for Crotsley.

If you have any information regarding the crash, you are asked to contact Detective LeBaron with Metro Police at r14886L@lvmpd.com or (702) 828-3535.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
GAFFNEY, S.C. (WSPA)  Saturday, May 3, is the day that the last senior class, and others receiving their degrees, of Limestone University will walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.

However, some notable names will not be in attendance.

Out of love for our students, and in response to a letter from our faculty asking us not to attend graduation, myself and the board of trustees will celebrate our students from afar this year, Dr. Nathan Copeland said in a statement. We do not want anything to take away from their special day. We wish our Limestone seniors the very best in the next chapter of their lives, and look forward to watching Gods plans for them.

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Seniors took their graduation pictures, soaking up their last moments on campus.

They said theyre excited to begin this new chapter of their lives, but are sad they are the last class to ever take the stage.

Its really sad to know that well never be able to come back here for alumni stuff or anything, and that no other students will be able to experience limestone like we did, said Morgan Bramble, Limestone University senior.

Its really sad, but were glad that we are able to graduate. Im just happy that Ive gotten the opportunity to be here and meet the people that I have, and at least be the last class to graduate here, said Cameron King, Limestone University senior.

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Definitely devastating, but again, grateful for the four years. Grateful the memories but it does suck that no one else is going to get to experience that but Were so grateful to be here, said Alex Long, Limestone University senior.

Faculty had a meeting Wednesday, voting to not let the president and board of trustees attend graduation.

Two days after students were emailed about the official closure of the school, Cherokee County School District unanimously approved to explore negotiations regarding potential purchase of the Limestone property.

Interim Superintendent Thomas White told 7NEWS in a private interview that Cherokee County School District has capital needs that must be met. There will be several meetings before decisions are made final.

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Cherokee County School District also said that a community forum will take place soon. Do not expect decisions to be made in days or week, this will be a months long process.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Laura Loomer can get President Donald Trump on the phone, but she cant get a seat in his briefing room.

As the White House opens its doors to a new class of media personalities  online commentators, podcasters, web video hosts and partisan influencers  one of the most prominent figures in the pro-Trump digital ecosystem remains on the outside looking in. Loomer, a far-right provocateur with a loyal online following, has a direct line to the president and a proven record of influencing his personnel decisions. Yet her requests for press credentials from Trumps White House have gone unanswered.

Loomer has a theory why.

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I do think theres a fear that I may ask questions about the loyalties of people in the White House, Loomer told CNN, and they fear me having a national and global microphone to ask those questions.

She wants to know why Hunter Biden, the son of the former president, still had Secret Service protection after Trump took office (he revoked it in March, days after Loomer posted pictures that allegedly showed a detail joining Biden in South Africa). Why the White House legal team isnt pushing to disqualify judges she sees as conflicted. And most of all, why certain staffers with what she claims are questionable allegiances have been hired in the first place.

I would hold people accountable, Loomer said. Not to be malicious toward anyone in the administration but to support the America First agenda.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Getting Loomered

Loomers skepticism of the White House  at least on some topics  is rare in right-wing media. Many of her peers use their platforms to amplify Trumps actions, echo administration talking points or attack outside critics.

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But Loomer, one of Trumps most enduring and unflinching supporters, often directs her fire inward  targeting perceived traitors inside Trumps government and finding new avenues to maximize pain on his enemies.

The influence of her work came into sharp focus in recent days with the ousting of national security adviser Michael Waltz. For weeks, Loomer had publicly criticized Waltz over his personnel decisions, accusing the former Florida congressman of staffing national security roles with officials whose political backgrounds didnt align with the MAGA movement.

Last month, after a phone call with Loomer and an Oval Office meeting, Trump dismissed several top national security aides that she flagged for removal, and on Thursday he reassigned Waltz to serve as ambassador to the United Nations.

Amid the shakeup, she posted on X, Loomered  a term she and, at times, Trump have used to describe those who draw her ire and soon find their jobs or reputations in jeopardy.

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If theres anything thats going to torpedo Donald Trump and his agenda after he survived indictments and mug shots and multiple assassination attempts, its going to be the vetting crisis and the unforced errors of his administration, Loomer said. Contrary to whats been said, he doesnt hire the best people. Thats why its so important that theres people to help support the president, because nobody is perfect.

A self-described investigative journalist, Loomer spends her days digging into the backgrounds of administration officials and sharing her findings with her 1.7 million followers on X and through a twice-weekly broadcast on Rumble, a video platform favored on the alt-right.

On Waltz, Loomer said the outcome might have been less disruptive  and cheaper for taxpayers  if she could have publicly questioned these hires during a White House briefing instead of resorting to private appeals to Trump.

Show me any other independent new media reporter thats having more of an impact on the Trump administration than me, she said. Youre going to have these bloggers with 5,000 followers online and say theyre more qualified than me? The president of the United States is calling me and asking me for private meetings, but I dont meet the standards of the esteemed press team? Its a joke.

The new media seat

Trump officials, though, have reason to keep Loomer at arms length.

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Her past inflammatory rhetoric and promotion of conspiracy theories have drawn rebukes even from some Republicans. Her proximity to Trump  which previously included flights on his private plane and regular appearances at his resort clubs  was limited during the campaign last year after she appeared alongside him at an event memorializing September 11, 2001. Democrats pounced, noting Loomer had previously posted a video claiming that the attack on the World Trade Center towers was an inside job. (Loomer, in a phone interview with CNN last year, said, Ive never denied the fact that Islamic terrorists carried out the 9/11 terrorist attacks.)

CNN reported last month that before her Oval Office meeting, senior advisers had taken steps to thwart her repeated attempts to gain access to the West Wing. According to Loomer, directives from Trump to hire her on four separate occasions never materialized in a position.

Still, Loomer saw a new opening earlier this year when press secretary Karoline Leavitt invited new media to apply for access to the White House. The arrangement included a rotating seat in the press room and last week, Leavitt began holding additional briefings exclusively for online creators and commentators.

What shes done to bring in new voices has been welcome and refreshing, said Sean Spicer, Trumps first press secretary. Now the host of an online show, Spicer had a turn in the new media chair.

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He suggested Loomers exclusion could come down to how the White House is defining the term new media. While Loomer is a self-described journalist, the administration may view her more as an influencer, Spicer said.

All of those details matter, he said.

Loomers confrontational style would be out of step with the tone of those so far granted access. Some have offered glowing praise of the administration  congratulations on 100 incredible days, one began  while others lauded Leavitt as intelligent, articulate, and crushing it. Arynne Wexler, a conservative influencer, thanked Trump for deporting undocumented migrants because my Uber drivers finally speak English again. A few used the platform to tee up attacks on the mainstream media. Conservative podcaster Tim Pool asked Leavitt to respond to the unprofessional behavior of the traditional reporters while Ruthless Podcast host John Ashbrook asked Leavitt if the press was out of touch with Americans.

Criticism of these performances have come even from within conservative media. Brad Polumbo, co-founder of BASEDPolitics, wrote in the Washington Examiner that the new media briefings were turning into sycophantic chat sessions. Geoffrey Ingersoll, the former top editor of the The Daily Caller, wrote on X that he was starting to get highly annoyed with all the glazing from the new media invitees.

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I want the (right wing) media to hold Trump accountable from the right, Ingersoll said.

Loomer says thats her mission. And I think I do a great job.

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by Xinhua writers Zheng Bofei, Larry Neild

LONDON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Reform UK, led by Euroskeptic right-wing politician Nigel Farage, achieved significant breakthroughs, winning multiple council and mayoral contests in traditional Labour strongholds.

A total of 23 councils, six mayoralties, and one parliamentary by-election were contested in Thursday's elections, with results emerging throughout Friday. Reform UK secured over 670 council seats, two mayoral victories and a parliamentary by-election win.

The Liberal Democrats also got positive results, with the gain of over 160 councilor seats. In contrast, the Conservatives suffered a net loss of over 670 seats, and Labour lost over 180.

The victories mark a serious challenge to Britain's long-standing two-party political system.

The elections were Prime Minister Keir Starmer's first major electoral test since leading Labour to a landslide victory in the July 2024 general election. Starmer admitted the results were "disappointing," saying Labour would "reflect on the outcome" and "go further than we've gone so far."

Professor Iain Begg from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) told Xinhua, "The results reflect an electorate that's rather unsure of itself."

Reform UK won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election with a mere six votes, producing one of the narrowest margins in British parliamentary history after votes were counted and recounted early Friday. The contest was triggered after the sitting Labour Member of Parliament Mike Amesbury resigned, having pleaded guilty to assault for punching a constituent in the street.

"We're in a rather febrile period of British politics," said Begg.

Professor Stuart Wilks-Heeg, a political expert at the University of Liverpool, commented, "Under our system, you only need one more vote than your nearest rival to win."

"The Runcorn by-election should have been a safe Labour seat. Labour secured over 50 percent of the vote at the general election, so this represents a clear loss of support for Labour in their own backyard," Wilks-Heeg said.

Experts agreed the by-election results could signal a more volatile political landscape ahead, noting that Reform UK's future hinges heavily on Farage's leadership.

"Without Nigel Farage, Reform UK would be nowhere near the level they are now," said Wilks-Heeg.

However, analysts cautioned against reading too much into local election turnout, noting it may not fully reflect national sentiment.

"It's not unusual for an incumbent government to be punished in its first electoral test," Begg of the LSE said. "Let's not forget Labour's been in office for less than a year and has already faced significant challenges."

Wilks-Heeg dismissed suggestions that the Conservative Party is doomed despite its poor showing. "Right now, there aren't really any large parties. No party can convincingly command more than about a third of the vote," he said.

"Other parties, like the Greens and Liberal Democrats, are also performing strongly, particularly in southern England. We're seeing fragmentation of support across parties," he added.

Begg of the LSE noted historical parallels: "Forty years ago, the Social Democratic Party came close to power. But the first-past-the-post system made it very difficult for a new party to break through."

Now that Reform UK controls several councils and a mayoralty, it faces the challenge of proving itself in government. "Their actions in office will start to form their record -- that's the trap of being in power," Begg warned.

He also questioned whether Britain is experiencing the same populist surge elsewhere in Europe. "In France, which also uses a variant of first-past-the-post, populists haven't come close enough to power to be credible," he said.

Wilks-Heeg noted that for the first time, Reform UK is not just in opposition but running local governments. "Whether they have an agenda suitable for governing remains to be seen," he said.

Professor John Bryson from the University of Birmingham said British politics is transforming.

"Local elections have become entangled with national politics, with voters casting ballots not based on local issues or candidate merit, but national party allegiance," he said.

"An important shift is happening in Labour and the Conservatives. In the past, working-class voters backed Labour and middle-class voters backed the Conservatives. Those associations no longer hold," said Bryson. 
Mark Lunsford appears at a July 2005 rally in support of the Childrens Safety Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Before his sentencing in March 2025, a convicted child rapist asked for a judgment that would have set him free in 2027. The Kansas resident received 25 years with no chance of parole.

The reason? Jessicas Law, which Kansas lawmakers passed in 2006.

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Kansas was one of the first states to follow Floridas initial enactment of Jessicas Law 20 years ago in response to the rape and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Jessie Lunsford in Homosassa, Florida. Forty-four other states have followed, altering how America polices, punishes and paroles pedophiles.

Although the law differs in some details from state to state, it generally directs judges to sentence people convicted of sex crimes involving children to a minimum of 25 years. Jessicas Law also monitors offenders movements after prison and strives to keep them away from places where children congregate, such as schools and parks.

Many policymakers, prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges have protested key aspects of the law. They are particularly opposed to its strict minimum sentencing guidelines, which theyve described as oversimplified and counterproductive.

Proponents, however, point to the laws origins: Jessicas February 2005 abduction, rape and murder by a repeat, convicted sex offender. They maintain the crime, which riveted the country for months and sent the third graders father, Mark, on a national child protection crusade, exposed deep-seated flaws in law enforcement and the legal system that made children around the country vulnerable to sexual assault.

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Jessicas Law remains mostly intact throughout the country. But it has come under scrutiny and has undergone changes. As a journalism professor who directed a documentary about Lunsfords efforts to persuade politicians to pass the law that bears his daughters name, Ive kept up with its trials and tribulations.

Twenty years after Florida introduced the law, the jury is still out on whether Americas children are safer as a result.

Jessies Dad

In making Jessies Dad, I filmed Lunsford visiting state capitals and Capitol Hill and interviewed many of his allies and detractors. I also reviewed interrogation footage and newsreels, attended the trial of John Couey  Jessicas killer  and pored over proposed and passed bills, court transcripts and police records.

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The resulting 2011 documentary highlights the laws major perceived pros and cons.

The most glaring of the legal systems shortcomings before Jessicas Law, according to Lunsford and other activist groups, was lax treatment by the police and courts. That, they said, allowed many sex offenders who target children to roam free.

As Lunsford hopscotched from state to state to push for the laws passage, he often noted that prior to raping and killing Jessie, Couey was convicted twice of molesting children but served only fractions of his sentences.

One time they gave him (Couey) a 10-year sentence; he did two years, Lunsford told me. One time, he (Couey) broke into a house and assaulted a child, and he wouldve gotten more time had he stolen their silverware.

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Most of the states that have enacted Jessicas Law direct judges to sentence child rapists to a minimum of 25 years in prison.

Besides mandatory minimum sentencing, most states that have passed Jessicas Law require sex-offender parolees to wear a GPS monitor  something Couey never did.

Lunsford repeatedly pointed out that an electronic ankle bracelet, which tells the police the location of the person wearing it, could have led the police to Coueys room in his sisters trailer across the street from the Lunsfords mobile home. Thats where Couey kept Jessie for three days before burying her alive in a backyard grave.

Romeo and Juliet provisions

In 2007, soon after Ohio passed its version of the law, Lunsfords son Josh faced felony charges for fondling his 14-year-old girlfriend. The girls mother, who disapproved of their relationship, turned him in as soon as he turned 18 and became an adult in the eyes of the legal system. Josh ended up being charged with a misdemeanor, to which he pleaded guilty. He served 10 days in jail and 12 months under supervised release.

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Reeling from this incident, the elder Lunsford advocated amending Jessicas Law with so-called Romeo and Juliet provisions. These stipulations typically exempt most young adults from harsh sentencing when the age difference between them and their romantic teen partners adds up to fewer than four or five years.

Pennsylvania, the second state after Florida to pass Jessicas Law in 2006, became the first to add a Romeo and Juliet provision in 2011.

Today, 44 states have likewise adopted similar provisions.

Legal challenges, too, have revamped parts of Jessicas Law in some states. In 2015, for instance, Californias Supreme Court ruled the law violated the U.S. Constitution by infringing offenders liberty and privacy.

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The law did so, the court determined, by universally ordering registered sex offenders to stay at least 2,000 feet away from schools and other places where children congregate. That meant they could not live within 2,000 feet of a school or places where children gathered.

Prior to the ruling, the Jessicas Law residency restriction left many of Californias registered sex offenders with few viable housing options. It thus forced scores of them onto the streets and contributed to the Golden States homelessness crisis.

Critics have also noted it is difficult to monitor homeless pedophiles.

Although the California Supreme Court ruling technically applied only to San Diego County, it has spurred other parts of the state to restrict residency on a case-by-case basis.

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Electronic tracking

Another divisive Jessicas Law stipulation, however, may be too complex to simply modify.When included in the original Florida law, electronic tracking appeared to hold great promise.

Today, 38 additional states electronically monitor sex offenders. Yet many accused and paroled sex offenders wearing ankle bracelets have nonetheless harmed children.

For instance, David Renz broke free of his GPS monitor in 2013 while awaiting a child pornography trial in New York and raped a fourth grader. He also killed the 10-year-old girls protector and school librarian, Lori Bresnahan.

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While others harmed children after cutting off their ankle bracelets, some, like Arkansas resident Leontarius Reed, committed sex crimes while wearing GPS devices. Reed was wearing the device after a previous nonsexual offense.

Critics claim electronic monitoring numbs society into a misleading state of comfort. Others argue its better than losing track of sex offenders. They also say it deters crime and has saved countless lives.

Despite the widespread adoption of Jessicas Law, comprehensive research is still needed to measure its impact. Such a project would examine whether Americas children are truly safer now than they were on May 1, 2005.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Boaz Dvir teaches journalism, directs and produces documentaries, and directs the Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative and the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative at Penn State. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
DENVER (KDVR)  The clock is ticking at the Colorado Capitol as state lawmakers look to close loose ends before the regular session ends on Wednesday. Before they leave, they are trying to make sure first responders get some funding.

State lawmakers are moving forward with two measures they have been working to fund since the start of the session.

DOJ sues Colorado, Denver for so-called sanctuary laws

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While Im really happy about this piece, and Im excited to be sponsoring this bill, I know there is still a lot of work to do, said State Senator Lisa Cutter, relieved lawmakers were able to reach a compromise on a bill that initially was slated to help boost the states wildfire workforce amid uncertainty surrounding cuts from the federal government and a loss of revenue for districts following property tax reform at the state level last year.

When we knew this other bill wasnt going to make it, we were able to pivot and include this. We wanted to do some other things, quite frankly, this year to address the funding. An enterprise and some other things were kicked around, and it just didnt come to fruition. We didnt have enough time to really fully build those out. So this was a great solution so again, Im really grateful we were able to do this, and well bring more, Cutter said.

The compromise will ultimately allow fire districts to apply for a revolving, interest-free loan fund from the State Treasurers Office. $50 million worth of funding will be available for districts that apply for it. Lawmakers also had to find some funding for law enforcement.

Proposition 130 was on last years ballot and it passed. Basically, it set aside $350 million for recruitment, training, retention for local law enforcement officers was part of it. Another part of it was a million-dollar death benefit if someone is killed in the line fo duty, which we thought was a big part of passing it, said Michael Fields of Advance Colorado.

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Lawmakers will not be allocating that $350 million all at once. Instead, the state will phase it in at around $35 million per year over 10 years through a bill that implements the passed proposition.

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This implementation bill does take too long. It can take 10 years for this money to get out. But voters did vote for it, legislators are coming in and implementing policy to make sure that it does get out the door. I know theres complaints about not only this years budget, but future budgets coming up. But its important when people vote for something, when they expect something to happen- that it happens, Fields said.

Both of these bills still need to complete the legislative process by next Wednesday in order to make it to the governors desk. Lawmakers will be working long and odd hours to get it all done.

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Rep. Dick Anderson, R-Willow City, talks to a colleague on May 1, 2025, in the House chamber. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

A bill that intends to keep North Dakota on the forefront of rare earth mineral development is on its way to the governor after lengthy debate Friday.

Rep. Dick Anderson, R-Willow City, the sponsor of House Bill 1459, said the bill is needed to position North Dakota for a facility to process rare earth minerals, which can be embedded with coal that is already slated for mining. He said there could be federal funding for such a facility.

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The bill passed the House 63-26 and then the Senate 27-19.

China supplies most of the rare earth minerals needed for electronics. Scott Meyer, R-Grand Forks, supported the bill in the interest of national security and not being reliant on China.

For many opponents, a major sticking point on the bill was language that set a royalty payment for mineral rights owners at 2.5% on the rare earth minerals found within a coal seam. That would be on top of the royalty payment that had been negotiated in the coal lease.

Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, said the bill denies the rights of mineral owners to negotiate with coal companies.

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I would want to have the ability to negotiate another lease, Bekkedahl said.

The Northwest Landowners Association, which represents property owners with coal leases, argued that the royalty provision was unconstitutional.

Several House members agreed with that sentiment when the conference committee report was presented on the House floor Thursday morning. The bill was sent back to the conference committee for more work.

Members of the conference committee said the royalty was in the best interest of mineral owners to ensure they get some compensation for the rare earth minerals.

Sen. Dale Patten, R-Watford City, said the rare earth minerals are part of the coal.

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He said the royalty provision is a way for that mineral owner to realize revenue, and without it they may get nothing.

Sen. Dale Patten, R-Watford City. (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly)

Patten noted that coal companies can make the legal argument that the coal leases already cover development of rare earth minerals.

Language was added to the bill at the recommendation of Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, who is an attorney, specifying that mineral owners and the coal companies could renegotiate the terms of the lease.

Klemin said the change addressed some of his concerns but not all of them. He said the bill retroactively changing existing leasing was troubling.

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Anderson said the technology is improving to extract rare earth minerals from the ash of coal that has already been burned, known as fly ash.

While that process is more expensive, he said if that happens, the mineral owners could get nothing.

If you get too greedy, you lose, Anderson said in a conference committee meeting Friday.

Rep. Todd Porter, R-Mandan, said litigation was inevitable but passing the bill helps frame the issues for the court system and provides clarity and certainty to industry that will make them more likely to invest in rare earth mineral processing in the state.

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Brevard County Republican Rep. Debbie Mayfield. (Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives)

In a near-unanimous vote, the Florida House gave final approval Friday to a bill tightening restrictions against state employees participation in political campaigning.

The bill, HB 1445, is narrower than what the Florida House first proposed. The lower chamber wanted to bar state employees from soliciting contributions for political parties, committees, or candidates during working hours.

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The Senate changed that language, replacing it to prohibit contribution solicitations that are coercive, explicitly stating that state employees suggesting someone make a political donation is OK under the bill.

The language lawmakers agreed upon also stops state employees from participating in any political campaign, not just those for elective offices, when theyre supposed to be working.

Throughout the legislative session, the involvement by state officials in Gov. Ron DeSantis political campaign against last years failed ballot initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana and restore abortion access prompted legal challenges came under scrutiny.

The move to restrict politicking from state employees came after NBC News first reported that state employees in the governors office called lobbyists to request donations for a political committee aligned with DeSantis as he and First Lady Casey DeSantis hinted that she was considering a run for governor.

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Although the proposal from Republicans Rep. Debbie Mayfield of Melbourne and Sen. Erin Grall of Vero Beach is on its way to the governors desk, DeSantis has already said he would veto it.

Theyre pulling it out of their rear ends and trying to jam it through this process. Over my veto pen, DeSantis said of the proposal during an April 15 press conference in Pensacola.

DeSantis main criticism of the bill at the time involved a provision requiring agency heads to live in Tallahassee, which the governor referred to as a swamp. However, the final version cuts off reimbursement for agency heads to travel to Tallahassee. For example, state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo lives in Pinellas County.

Final passage of HB 1445 came well into the evening of the 60th day of the legislative session and with little debate. Mayfield reminded the chamber that the sole vote against the bill when the chamber first passed it on April 16 came from Delray Beach Republican Rep. Michael Caruso, a staunch DeSantis ally.

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Caruso was also the sole vote against the bill on Friday.

Two provisions that remained intact in the compromise between the House and Senate require people appointed to universities boards of trustees and the board that oversees Floridas public higher education institutions to live in the state or have graduated from the specific school they serve, or from any state university for the statewide board.

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A key bill to limit heat-trapping pollution in New Mexico has died halfway through the state's legislative session.

What's happening?

Capital & Main reported on the failure of the Clear Horizons & Greenhouse Gas Emissions Act, which would have set strict limits on harmful air pollution in New Mexico. The legislation faced fierce opposition from lobbyists and members on both sides of the aisle.

New Mexico is the second-largest oil producer in the country behind Texas. The oil and gas industry is responsible for around 41% of New Mexico's planet-warming pollution, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

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The Clear Horizons & Greenhouse Gas Emissions Act was one of about 20 bills proposed this session that focused on regulating the oil and gas industry, protecting human health, and prohibiting operations near schools, all of which have faced similar fates.

The outcome disappointed advocates and lawmakers pushing for stronger environmental protections with limited time remaining in the current session.

"With today's vote it's clear that no amount of community input can sway the legislature to take action on climate in any meaningful way," said Lucas Herndon, energy policy director at ProgressNow New Mexico, per Capital & Main.

Why are state environmental regulations important?

The Trump administration has rolled back federal environmental protections, putting more responsibility on the shoulders of state lawmakers to regulate New Mexico's biggest polluter.

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Recent legislation related to the oil and gas industry has struggled to gain traction even with a Democratic majority in both New Mexico houses. Bills have either languished in committee or been killed by lawmakers who received campaign donations from dirty energy companies. The current session was seen as the last chance to codify efforts to reduce air pollution before the end of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's term next year.

Without legislative action to limit dirty energy-related pollution, the state risks worsening air quality. Air pollution has been linked to costly negative health impacts like childhood asthma and early death.

Burning dirty energy sources releases heat-trapping pollutants like carbon dioxide and methane, which overheat the planet. This pollution contributes to the skyrocketing global temperatures that are behind more frequent extreme weather and food shortages.

Despite this, oil and gas lobbyists in New Mexico have spent heavily to advertise against legislation that would impose more regulations. The failure of the Clear Horizons & Greenhouse Gas Emissions Act indicates this campaign has been successful.

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"The oil and gas lobby is resorting to fear tactics to protect its bottom line  even at the expense of our state's long-term well-being," said state Sen. Mimi Stewart, the bill's sponsor, to Capital & Main.

What's being done to strengthen state environmental regulations?

Regulations already in place in New Mexico have helped curb pollution even as oil and gas production has increased. An independent study found that the state's operations emit half the amount of pollution per unit when compared to its less-regulated neighbor, Texas. The trend proves it is still profitable to produce dirty energy even when tighter rules are in place.

State lawmakers are holding polluters accountable. Colorado has put pressure on dirty energy companies for falsifying emissions data. Even on the federal level, the Supreme Court has upheld some Biden-era regulations to reduce pollution despite attempted rollbacks.

Individuals can make a huge difference by decreasing their reliance on dirty energy sources by switching to an electric vehicle or upgrading their homes with solar panels and heat pumps.

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The frustrating setback in the New Mexico legislature highlights the need to support candidates who will advocate for a cleaner future.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  During a hearing in Washington, D.C., military leaders provided an update on what caused food issues at Fort Carson.

In November 2024, a report by Military.com revealed lapses in food service at Fort Carson, with food running out quickly and portions falling short of the nutritional needs of soldiers.

>> Report: Fort Carson addressing food scarcity on post

During a congressional hearing, military leaders were questioned by Congressman Jeff Crank as to what caused the issues at Fort Carson.

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According to leaders, the problems were caused by a lack of forecasting the amount of demand from troops returning from deployments, leading to the dining facilities being overwhelmed.

Those are I believe, anomalies, but sometimes we make mistakes, and we own up to it. I think it was a lack of forecasting with the return of forces, from overseas in some cases. Where they didnt anticipate more people coming into the dining facilities at that time, and I think that was the shortfall, said Lieutenant General Brian Eifler.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHEYENNE  Officials are getting closer to approving streamlined rules allowing members of the public to carry concealed firearms in state-owned public buildings by a July 1 deadline.

In late February, after nearly a decade of trying to pass legislation to repeal the states gun-free zones, lawmakers passed Enrolled Act 24, Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act. The new law, which will go into effect this summer, repeals gun-free zones at public schools, community colleges, the University of Wyoming and state-owned government buildings. Gov. Mark Gordon let the new law go into effect without his signature, calling it a legislative power grab.

The State Building Commission must promulgate rules around firearms in public buildings to match state statute, and in early April, had a wide-ranging discussion on amending rules that covered not only firearms, but also public demonstrations at the Capitol. On Thursday, leaders shifted to a more targeted approach.

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Our direction was simply to reflect as simply as possible the legislation that passed repealing Wyomings gun-free zones, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder told her colleagues on the SBC of the latest rule draft.

There is nothing in the rules that covers those other things discussed, as pertaining to surety bonds or public gatherings, Degenfelder said. We simply looked at how we include the codified language into our rules.

The commission, which includes Degenfelder, Gordon, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, State Auditor Kristi Racines and State Treasurer Curt Meier, must pass rules to govern firearm carry provisions in the public spaces, implementing the new state law, before the new state statutes become effective July 1.

I think (the rules) do an excellent job following the enrolled act, Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, told the commission Thursday via Zoom. In January, the executive branch adopted similar amended rules that applied only to the Capitol and the Capitol Complex in Cheyenne. The new rules will apply to all buildings owned by the state of Wyoming.

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These rules will apply much more broadly, Racines said Thursday.

The rules will not apply to facilities exempted under statute, or buildings the state leases under general services leasing authority. It also excludes spaces in publicly owned buildings that are subject to a lease to a private party.

Rules must be in place by July, and while the board discussed embarking on an emergency rulemaking process to meet that timeline, only Gray advocated for an expedited process. Instead, the commission voted to start the regular rulemaking with an additional meeting planned for June, if necessary, to meet the July deadline.

Today, I do not believe we meet the threshold to pass emergency rules, Racines said.

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Gray referenced what he called a fear of firearms in letters from the Governors office and said that he would prefer to start the emergency rulemaking process immediately.

I am a little bit concerned, because we do have a bill that is going into effect as the law of the land on July 1, Gray said. I think it would be better to start this process now.

Gordon responded that, From my standpoint, we have carry here (in the Capitol), and it is great we are going to expand that.

I want to assure people there is no attempt to try to roll back or walk away from what we have here, Gordon said.

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Leases and insurance rates

Leaders discussed how to handle facilities that are privately owned, but leased by state agencies, and whether the new rules should stipulate that lease negotiations prioritize carrying of firearms.

When you have a lease, what is (the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information) going to do to try and negotiate carry into the buildings? Gray asked. I think that A&I should be asked as a default, as a first method, to try to negotiate that.

Racines responded that lease negotiations could be handled under A&I leasing rules, rather than proposed SBC rule changes. Acknowledging private property rights, the commissioners discussed the possibility that building owners who enter into state leases may not want to allow firearms into their facilities, because such a practice could mean rising insurance costs.

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Gray argued the new law will actually make those facilities safer.

Removing these gun-free zones and allowing for carry protects these areas, he said. I still see a lot of (people) struggling with this concept, but it should lower our liability.

This increases safety, and while it might not fit this CNN-style worldview that schools across our country have tried to build, the research shows that this increases safety, Gray said. If it did increase insurance rates, I think that is something A&I would need to move forward to the insurance commissioner because I think it would be consistent with predatory behavior.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The war of words is heating up between Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon and State Senator Sean Ryan as their political tug of war continues.

Buffalo leaders spoke out on Friday against a state bill proposed by Sen. Ryan that would allow the city to borrow its way out of a budget deficit.

On Sunday, Ryan announced he plans to use bonds to fix the budget shortfall the city is facing. The proposed bill would allow the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority to issue bonds over a four-year period up to $150 million.

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Its reckless, its irresponsible, and quite frankly its not necessary, said Scanlon. This plan flies in the face of financial common sense.

Scanlon said the proposal would force taxpayers to take on decades of debt, including roughly $36 million in interest alone.

It is the equivalent of borrowing $150 million and putting it on a credit card just because you cant pay your mortgage, said Scanlon.

Alongside Scanlon at his press conference were members of the Buffalo Common Council and Barbara Miller-Williams, the citys comptroller. She stood with Scanlon, saying increasing debt and borrowing money is not the answer.

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Miller-Williams also raised concerns about Ryan not communicating his proposal with anyone in city government.

I believe that it is premature to have New York State step in exclusively to make a determination before a thorough, deliberative process has taken place, said Miller-Williams.

In response, Ryan defended his proposal. He said its simply a new tool Buffalo can use to address its financial crisis.

If somehow we think this is a good idea but were not going to back it because Sean Ryan didnt call me personally, that sounds like a weak government, said Ryan.

He accuses Scanlon of spreading misinformation and playing political games instead of taking responsibility for the fiscal challenges.

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City leaders sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul reiterating their strong opposition to the bill and called on legislative leadership to stand with the residents of Buffalo and invest in long-term fiscal health.

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Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A Leander Independent School District assistant principal was placed on leave after she was accused of driving drunk and hitting a bicyclist at a school earlier this week, according to an affidavit from Williamson County.

The assistant principal was identified as 51-year-old Marta Johnson, according to the affidavit. She was charged with a misdemeanor DWI.

Marta Johnson, 51 (Photo: Cedar Park Police Department)

As of Friday, an attorney was not listed for Johnson. We will update this story if that changes.

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Court records said an officer with the Cedar Park Police Department responded to Reed Elementary School in Cedar Park around 7:20 a.m. Monday for the crash.

When the officer arrived on the scene, the bicyclist appeared to have road rash on his arms and small lacerations from the crash, according to the affidavit.

Johnson was reported as having bloodshot eyes and had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. She was given a breathalyzer test, which showed a level of .282  which is three times the legal limit, court records said.

In a letter to families of the elementary school, the principal said Johnson was placed on administration leave Monday, pending an investigation by law enforcement and the district.

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No other details were available 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 KXAN Austin.
WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to exempt shoes from "reciprocal tariffs," warning of serious consequences for consumers and the industry.

"American footwear businesses and families face an existential threat from such substantial cost increases," the FDRA said in a letter to Trump on Tuesday, signed by 76 footwear companies, including major brands like Nike, Adidas America and Skechers.

"We are hit particularly hard by the tariff actions," it said, noting the new "reciprocal rates" are stacked on top of the existing high footwear tariff rates, pushing many American footwear companies to pay a tariff ranging from more than 150 percent to nearly 220 percent.

Hundreds of businesses face the prospect of closure, tens of thousands of jobs are at stake, many orders have been placed on hold, and footwear inventory for U.S. consumers may soon run low, it said.

These tariffs will not drive shoe manufacturing back to the United States, said the letter.

"This is an emergency that requires immediate action and attention," it noted, adding the American footwear industry does not have months to adjust business models and supply chains while absorbing this "unprecedented and unforeseen tariff regime." 
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Have you enjoyed a day out in urban Honolulu then happened to notice a blue ribbon wrapped around the trees around town? If you ever wanted to learn more about the bird that launched the ribbon wrapping now is your chance.

The manu-o-Ku, also known as the white tern, is a seabird that enjoys the hustle and bustle of urban areas of Oahu.

They also happen to be the official bird of Honolulu.

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Why Honolulus trees have blue ribbons

Their range, according to the Hui Manu o Ku, is from the Pearl Harbor area to east Honolulu.

Citizen scientists noticed the birds nesting in busy areas and sustaining injuries during tree trimming since the chicks are hard to spot. And because they dont have traditional nests, they can be easily overlooked.

The idea was hatched to wrap trees with blue ribbon to alert tree trimmers of the presence of the manu.

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Nesting white terns, trim with caution, the ribbons read.

A festival celebrating the manu-o-Ku will be held at Iolani Palace from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the coronation lawn. If you would like to know more about Honolulus official bird, head down to speak with the experts and get more information.

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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 KHON2.
At least seven people have been killed and another 20 injured in an attack on a town in South Sudan, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, has said, as fears grow that the worlds youngest nation will relapse into all-out civil war.

MSF said in statement that it strongly condemned the deliberate bombing of its hospital in Old Fangak on Saturday and that the attack destroyed the last remaining functioning hospital and pharmacy there in the north of the country.

MSF initially urged in an X post: Stop the bombing. Protect civilians. Protect healthcare. It said the attack was a clear violation of international law.

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It was not immediately clear why the facility was targeted. A spokesperson for South Sudans military could not be reached for comment, according to The Associated Press news agency.

 Today, MSFs hospital in Old Fangak, South Sudan, was bombed. The pharmacy was destroyed. All medical supplies lost. There are reports of people killed and injured. This is the only functional hospital in the area. Stop the bombing. Protect civilians. Protect healthcare. pic.twitter.com/2xVtEV0sLp  MSF South Sudan (@MSF_SouthSudan) May 3, 2025

Mamman Mustapha, Head of Mission with MSF in South Sudan, told Al Jazeera from the capital Juba that his team on the ground reported two helicopter gunships attacking the hospital.

Mustapha said the helicopters bombed the hospital and its medical supplies, then continued shelling the town of Old Fangak.

The civilian population has fled and the situation is quite horrific and catastrophic  We are quite shocked. The hospital has been there for 10 years, since 2014, he added.

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A further MSF statement said, The attack began at around 4:30am (02:30GMT) when two helicopter gunships first dropped a bomb on the MSF pharmacy, burning it to the ground, then went on to fire on the town of Old Fangak for around 30 minutesThere are reports of more fatalities and wounded in the community.

Additional attacks took place hours later near a market in Old Fangak, causing widespread panic and displacement of civilians, according to several witnesses.

Fears of renewed civil war

The United Nations has warned in recent weeks that South Sudan, plagued by instability since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, is on the brink of a renewed civil war.

The country descended into conflict in recent months due to the collapse of a power-sharing agreement between rival generals, President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar.

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Kiir and Machar represent the two largest ethnic groups, the Dinka and Nuer, respectively, which fought a civil war between 2013 and 2018 that cost some 400,000 lives before a 2018 peace deal saw the two leaders form a government of national unity.

Now, tensions between Kiir and Machar have boiled over again, the latter placed under house arrest since March for alleged subversion.

Old Fangak, where the attack on the MSF hospital occurred, is one of several major towns in Fangak county, Jonglei State, an ethnically Nuer part of the country that is historically associated with Machars Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) party.

Reporting from Nairobi, Al Jazeeras Catherine Soi said she had been speaking to the Fangak county commissioner, who pointed the finger of blame at the government for the attack. The official, she said, was allied with the SPLM-IO.

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This commissioner told Al Jazeera that only the army has the capacity to carry out such an attack. Weve also been talking to eyewitnesses who say that  the aircraft was a government aircraft, said Soi.

We also know that two weeks ago another MSF facility in that area was also attacked and looted, so we are waiting for the government official to give their version of the story, she said.

Last month, an army base was looted by gunmen in the northern town of Nasir in oil-rich Upper Nile State. Soi said the attack had allegedly been carried out by the White Army, which is said to be allied with Machars SPLM-IO.

He is under house arrest, several of other opposition politicians have also been arrested, said Soi. Weve heard from the government spokesman who says investigations are still going on. And when that happens, these politicians are going to be charged with rebellion.

Smoke rises following an aerial bombardment that led to casualties at the facility run by medical charity MSF, destroying the last remaining hospital and pharmacy in the northern town of Old Fangak in Fangak county, South Sudan, May 3, 2025 [Medecins Sans Frontieres/Handout via Reuters]

The hospital attack is the latest escalation in a government-led assault on opposition groups across the country. Since March, government troops backed by soldiers from Uganda have conducted dozens of air raids on areas in neighbouring Upper Nile State.

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Multiple Western embassies, including that of the United States, said in a statement on Friday that the political and security situation in South Sudan has markedly worsened in recent days.

The embassies urged Kiir to free Machar from house arrest and called for a return to dialogue urgently aimed at achieving a political solution.

An election, which was supposed to be held in 2023, has already been postponed twice and is now not scheduled until 2026.




At least two residents of Donetsk Oblast were killed in Russian attacks on Saturday 3 May.

Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "At least two people have been killed and one person injured as a result of today's attacks on Donetsk Oblast.

In Myrnohrad, the Russians killed a 56-year-old man and damaged six houses. The second person who was killed is a 69-year-old resident of Komar."

Details: Filashkin also reiterated that in Kostiantynivka, one person was injured and numerous houses were damaged.

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Credit: Australian Pool via Reuters Connect

Australias centre-left Labor government claimed victory on Saturday after a tense election shaped by concerns over housing, the cost of living and the shadow of Donald Trump.

Voters swung in favour of Anthony Albanese, the incumbent prime minister, over the opposition Liberal-National coalition, led by Peter Dutton.

Mr Duttons policies and campaigning had been compared to those of the US president, who had loomed over the vote since its earliest days.

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There had been keen global interest over whether Mr Trumps tariff-induced economic chaos would influence the final result, as it did in Canadas election last week.

The Australian Labor Party will now form a majority government. After trailing in the polls as recently as February to the conservative coalition, Mr Albanese was on track to lead his party to its biggest election victory since the Second World War, giving him a strong mandate.

With 70 per cent of the votes counted, Labor led by 55.4 per cent to the oppositions 44.6 per cent, ABC, the national broadcaster, said.

That was a much stronger result than polls predicted, with Labor now projected to win at least 85 of the parliaments 150 seats, improving on its 2022 tally of 77.

Two swimmers cast their ballots at Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club in Sydney - DAVID GRAY/AFP

Mr Albanese declared victory on Saturday evening, saying there was still more to do to help Australians under pressure.

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Thank you to the people of Australia for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on Earth, he told a jubilant crowd at a campaign party in Sydney.

Albo, Albo, Albo, supporters cheered, as ABC projected victory for Labor  including in Mr Duttons long-held Queensland seat of Dickson.

Sir Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, congratulated Mr Albanese on his victory, saying the two countries were as close as ever.

I know that we will continue to work together on our shared ambitions, he wrote on X, while hailing the two nations collaboration on defence, support for Ukraine and joint AUKUS security agreement with the US.

A man shows off a democracy sausage  an Australian election day tradition  in Sydney - DAVID GRAY/AFP

Mr Dutton, who became the first Australian opposition leader to lose their seat in parliament at a federal election, said he took full responsibility for the coalitions defeat.

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He confirmed he had conceded defeat by telephoning Mr Albanese to congratulate him on what he said was an historic occasion for Labor.

Mr Dutton said: I said to the prime minister that his mum would be incredibly proud of his achievement tonight  and he should be very proud of what hes achieved.

He said he was confident Ali France, the Labor MP who defeated him in his own seat, would do a good job as the local member.

Twenty four years is a long time to be in public life and it has been an amazing honour, Mr Dutton said.

Ms France, a disability advocate, pulled off the shock defeat just over a year after losing her son to leukaemia.

Peter Dutton said he took full responsibility for the opposition coalitions defeat - Mick Tsikas/REUTERS

Mr Dutton fell out of favour with voters, especially women, after he promised to stop public servants from working from home  before suggesting that working parents could drop their hours if they needed greater flexibility.

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He later backtracked on the pledge but by then his opponents had seized on the opportunity to point out that he was out of touch with working Australians in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

His image was not helped by revelations that he had made 14 million in property sales, and had also profited off share-market trades made just before the announcement of a government bank bailout during the global financial crisis.

Then came a disastrous press conference in which Mr Dutton invited his 20-year-old son to talk about how hard it was to purchase a house  another move that worked against him after opponents pointed out the familys sizeable trust.

However, in recent weeks, the greatest contributing factor to the swing against him is thought to have been the global uncertainty driven by Mr Trump.

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Opponents cast Mr Dutton, a former policeman who had pledged to sharply reduce immigration and cut thousands of public service jobs, as Temu Trump.

The election came less than a week after Canadas Liberal Party returned to power in a major political comeback, powered by a backlash against Mr Trumps tariffs and comments on Canadian sovereignty.

If you sling enough mud it will stick, said Jacinta Price, a coalition senator for the Northern Territory. Her vow to make Australia great again had fuelled comparisons to Mr Trumps own Make America Great Again slogan.

You made it all about Trump, she said on ABC. Mr Dutton had promised to appoint Ms Price to a ministry of government efficiency, one of several echoes of the US presidents policies, if he won the election.

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Losing Peter Dutton is a huge loss, she added.

Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, and Jodie Haydon, his partner, inspect the food on offer at a primary school polling station in Sydney - SAEED KHAN/AFP

Senator James Paterson, a spokesman for the Liberal Party, defended the conservative campaign, which he said was negatively affected by the Trump factor.

He told ABC: It was devastating in Canada for the conservatives ... I think it has been a factor here, just how big a factor will be determined in a few hours time.

As counting got under way, Jim Chalmers, the Labor Treasurer, said the government had been in all sorts of trouble at the end of 2024 but had got back in the contest because of Mr Albaneses strong campaign performance, policies that addressed concerns about the cost of living, and the Trump effect.

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The party campaigned hard on a promise to protect Medicare, the national universal health insurance scheme, while accusing Mr Dutton of attempting to make healthcare cuts.

Mr Albanese frequently waved around a green Medicare card during the campaign as he promised the government would make it cheaper and easier for Australians to see a doctor.

This card is not Labor red or Liberal blue, it is green and gold, he said on stage during his victory speech.

It is a declaration of our national values, in our national colours. Medicare belongs to all Australians and together we will make it stronger for all Australians.

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Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, speaks with another lawmaker on the House floor during the Governor's Budget Address on Dec. 3, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota citizens have had the right to petition issues on to the ballot since 1898. Some legislators would like to put an end to that.

The prevailing wisdom in the Legislature seems to be that voters here are suffering from ballot fatigue. They claim voters are just sick and tired of all the initiated measures and constitutional amendments on the ballot.

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In reality, ballot fatigue is just a legislative code phrase for lets make it so tough to get an issue on the ballot that citizens will just give up. That was the impetus behind House Joint Resolution 5003, a constitutional amendment thats already on the ballot for 2026.

The measure was sponsored by an irony-impaired Republican representative from Sioux Falls, John Hughes. Hughes didnt think it was at all odd to say that voters were fatigued by the seven 2024 ballot issues, all the while sponsoring his own constitutional amendment for the 2026 election.

Hughes ballot measure calls for constitutional ballot issues to need 60% of the vote to be enacted. Currently those measures have to get just more than 50% to become part of the constitution. (Theres more irony to go around. Hughes placed his 60% amendment on the ballot in chambers where all he needed to do was convince just more than half of his colleagues it was a good idea. In 2026, if the 60% threshold is approved by voters, it will need just more than 50% of the votes cast.)

Lawmakers had quite a time with ballot issues during the 2025 legislative session. They may be suffering from their own version of ballot fatigue as they considered 11 ballot issues, ultimately placing four of them on the 2026 ballot. Theres another legislative session before the next election. Thats another chance for lawmakers to endorse even more ballot measures.

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A check of the Secretary of States website shows there are already six other ballot issues waiting in the wings for the 2026 ballot. Their backers will try to get them on the ballot the old-fashioned way: by collecting the signatures of registered voters. It takes 17,508 signatures to get an initiated measure on the ballot and 35,017 signatures before voters can consider a constitutional amendment.

Theres a stark disparity between the relative ease that lawmakers have if they want to get a measure on the ballot and the drudgery of collecting thousands of signatures for citizen-led ballot efforts.

If voters are suffering from ballot fatigue, perhaps lawmakers are suffering from ballot envy, an anguish rooted in the realization that there are people in the state with far more will and determination than they have when it comes to getting an issue before the voters.

When they talk about ballot fatigue, lawmakers would have you believe that they want to protect voters from the chore of making a few extra choices on Election Day. The real definition of ballot fatigue is that lawmakers are tired of seeing issues appear and reappear on the ballot that dont conform to their worldview. Given the current Republican super-majorities in both chambers, theres no other way than through a ballot initiative for citizens to get issues like abortion and marijuana legalization in front of voters.

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For Republicans, its not the voting thats tiring but the effort it takes every two years to fight off ideas that they find disagreeable. They point to the cavalcade of political commercials as a bad thing rather than celebrating the notion that political messages are just our free speech rights in action.

Of course ballot fatigue is a play on words, substituting the word ballot for battle. But South Dakotans are in a real battle to keep their access to the ballot. Its a battle in which we cant afford to get fatigued.

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Schoolhouse Rock introduced the concepts of American government to a generation of kids using catchy tunes and cartoon animations. Most of the shows aged well, but the first 100 plus days of the Trump administration may force the reimaging of the episode teaching the three branches of government.

If you cant remember the lyrics, Three Ring Government describes the branches of government as working together like a "well-balanced three-ring circus." Each ring  the executive, legislative and judicial branches  has its act, its limit, and its role in keeping the whole show running:

No one part can be more powerful than any other is. Each controls the other you see, and thats what we call checks and balances.

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While some might think the metaphor of a circus is apropos to the current situation in Washington, the original cartoon wasnt describing chaos. It was about our government's dynamic equilibrium: three branches competing, complementing, and ultimately balancing each other out to safeguard democracy.

Letters: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is wrong about autism destroying families. Each has value.

But in this second Trump administration, that delicate balance is teetering. Instead of three functioning rings, we now have an overreaching ringmaster in the executive, an empty ring where Congress should be, and the lion tamers in the judiciary struggling to contain the chaos.

The overreaching executive: Ringmaster or wrecking ball?

In the first months since he took the oath of office, the 47th president has deployed his power in a way that compares to few, if any, predecessors. The last President who initiated this many changes this fast was Franklin Roosevelt, but it's not fair to compare the hopeful tone of the New Deal to the fear itself Trump is creating.

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Consider a small sampling of his actions, including:

And so on. Nearly all his policies have been enacted through one of his 142 executive orders, with no Congressional involvement or authorization.

In "Schoolhouse Rock," the president was one ring in a balanced act. In todays show, the ringmaster wants the spotlight, the microphone, and the final word.

Missing ring in the circus: Congress takes a seat in audience

Of course, Congress is supposed to act as a check and balance on presidential power. In the Constitution, it is the first branch of government. Instead, Republican leadership in the House and Senate have seemingly given up its part in the show and has opted for a seat in the audience.

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While the White House has been busy remaking the federal government, Congress has focused mainly on confirming Trumps cabinet with minimal scrutiny and working on a budget extension that aligns with the administrations priorities.

Congressional Republicans have demonstrated remarkable loyalty to Trump  even at the expense of their own Congressional power, future electoral prospects and, most importantly, their constituents. Members brave enough to host town halls have faced angry crowds pushing back on massive cuts made by unelected hacks.

Congress has done little effort to stop Elon Musk and DOGE from firing federal workers, shuttering executive agencies and revising budget priorities without consulting with them. They did nothing when the White House undermined Congress constitutional budget powers by freezing foreign aid.

A handful of Republican senators did join Democrats in trying to nullify Trumps tariffs on Canada, but House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to even bring it to a vote.

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The biggest abdication of the three-branch vision has been Congress' unwillingness to act as a true check on the executive. Even as Trump flirted with constitutional crises, most Congressional leaders worried more about remaining in the ring master's good graces than institutional integrity.

If this School House Rock episode was updated for the Trump era, the lyric would need to change from "Congress is the legislative branch, they make the laws you know to "Congress is on the legislative bench, theyre sitting out watching the show."

Judiciary in the crosshairs: The lion tamers fight back

Right now, the only meaningful check on executive overreach is coming from the third ring of the circus, the judiciary.

In stark contrast to Congress, it has provided a check-and-balance to interpret the law and block executive orders that violate the Constitution. Last week alone, judges ruled against the Trump administration in at least 11 different lawsuits regarding immigration, elections and anti-DEI efforts.

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Opinion: 'Death & Taxes' is a certainty. Do you know what that actually means for you?

In addition to just ignoring or flat-out defying recent federal court orders, Trump, his attorney general, the head of the FBI, and conservative influencers have also been threatening rogue judges for weeks, calling to impeach judges who rule against them and promising to fight back against the judiciary.

We saw this in Milwaukee on April 25 when the FBI arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, accusing her of directing an undocumented immigrant out of her courtroom through a side door, while federal agents waited in the hallway to arrest him. Whether her actions were criminal is now up to the courts, but the spectacle of her arrest sent a chilling message.

Consider the theatrics: FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest on social media, then reposted a photo of the judge in handcuffs, potentially violating DOJ policy. Dugan was subjected to a public perp walk instead of being allowed to voluntarily surrender. Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News the administration would pursue judges who think theyre above the law.

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We can only hope the courts will remain resilient regardless of intimidation efforts and, like exhausted lion tamers, continue to crack the whip at executive overreach, defending the constitutional order one ruling at a time.

In just 100 plus days, Trumps second term has upended the norms that once preserved our delicate separation of powers.

Schoolhouse Rock taught us that the three-ring government was messy but functional because no single branch can dominate the others.

Today, the executive is overpowering. The legislature is complicit. The judiciary is endangered.

If Americans want to preserve the three-ring balance, we must demand that one act not steal the whole show. Otherwise, were not citizens of a democracy. Were just an audience under the Big Top  waiting for the tent on our democratic republic to fall.

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Kristin Brey is the "My Take" columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump's first 100 days filled with executive overreach | Opinion






Explain yourself, Dr. Armstrong

President Jeffrey Armstrong, why did you refuse to sign onto the public statement signed by 523 of your fellow presidents of universities and colleges across the country condemning unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education?

Opinion

Worried about retribution? You have already had a taste of that, in the form of a $5 million dollar hit in federal grant funding and getting hauled in front of a congressional committee. Do you actually believe that your lack of participation in this effort will protect Cal Poly from future reprisals? Oh, come on. No institution or individual is safe from the wild child in the White House.

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You state that the university has no role in determining public policy. The jackboot attempting to squash academic freedom is not public policy. Public policy is set by lawmakers, not one aspiring dictator. At a time when many of us struggle to find ways to be heard, you could have strengthened a voice for freedom and you have chosen to be silent. I, for one, want an explanation.

Ellen M. Morrison

San Luis Obispo

Resist overreach

Jeffrey Armstrong, the president of Cal Poly, just lost my respect by refusing to sign the statement against Trumps overreach. Giving in to this administrations pressure to give up independence is a huge mistake and Cal Poly deserves more.

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Is it time to find new president for Cal Poly?

Ed Cox

Nipomo

Kudos to Morro Bay Council

As an astute observer on Nextdoor noted, how many on The Tribune Editorial Board drive through the Morro Bay Highway 41 and Main Street intersection daily? How many have a child attending Morro Bay High? The Tribune and Caltrans, which was originally was against this project, may want to maximize vehicular capacity at this intersection; I want to ensure the life of each high school student at this intersection.

The City Council majority who voted for the roundabout two years ago did not have to use this intersection daily. The present City Council majority does. Kudos to our current leadership for putting lives over money.

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Betty Winholt

Morro Bay

Bad decision on roundabout

I am so disappointed in the Morro Bay City Council majority (Mayor Carla Wixom, Jeff Eckles, Zara Landrum) for directing city staff to stop work on the Highway 41/Main Street project, for which all of the funding would come from CalTrans and SLOCOG.

Every study over 20 years has concluded that a roundabout is the only way to fix this intersection, the most dangerous in Morro Bay (10 vehicle accidents and one pedestrian in the past year alone). Traffic signals have been rejected over and over. Every traffic engineer concluded that signals would back up the traffic onto Highways 1 and 41.

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The assertion that a roundabout is unsafe for pedestrians is debunked by experts who study intersection safety all day, every day. What do council members know that dozens of engineers do not? And, the council cut off the work before the design phase of the project, which is required by law to address pedestrian safety.

There is one more step to formalize pulling out of the project, set for May 27, 2025. Contact the council (council@morrobayca.gov) and attend the meeting to show the council that the constituency they serve wants this project to proceed.

Jane Heath

Morro Bay

Why not build a bridge?

In regard to the article about putting in a roundabout at the intersection of Main and Highway 41: The Morro Bay City Council decided not to build one because they had concerns about pedestrian safety. Due to the high school being right there and the number of students needing to cross, I totally agree with them. This may be too simplistic, but cant they just build a pedestrian bridge?

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Frances Smith

San Luis Obispo

Shen Yuns troubling reputation

A few years ago, I attended a Shen Yun performance at our Performing Arts Center and regretted it. What was marketed as traditional Chinese dance turned out to be a politically charged production.

More troubling are recent revelations about Shen Yun performers working conditions. The New York Times reported in August 2024 that dancers in their mid-20s were paid $12,000 or less per year despite performing hundreds of shows. When injured, performers were allegedly discouraged from seeking proper medical care and instead told their spiritual state might be the problem. These young artists appear to face exploitation within the very organization claiming to champion their freedom.

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While Shen Yun representatives have denied these allegations, I believe our community should consider whether we want to support performances with such serious ethical concerns. Im disappointed that our PAC, supported by Cal Poly, the city of San Luis Obispo and community donations, continues to host these performances without addressing these issues. Attending left me uncomfortable with the political messaging woven throughout and learning about the reported treatment of performers has only deepened my concerns.

Debbie Appelbaum

San Luis Obispo

The nerve of Newsom

I just read an article that reported that Gov. Gavin Newsom and the liberal politicians in California are upset that Trumps administration hasnt released $40 billion dollars in funds for LA fire relief. Seriously?

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These are the leaders who thumb their noses at conservatives and vow to Trump proof California, then expect money from the same people they denigrate. They vote to give free health care (among other handouts) to illegal immigrants, something us hardworking, law-abiding citizens have to pay through the nose for.

They advocate not requiring students to pay back their loans. They spend billions on a train that will serve communities that cant afford to ride it. They have the state in a financial freefall, and then beg from the federal government! What is the money for? How about people insuring and paying for their own losses like rest of us would be required to?

The federal government should help when the fires are active to prevent loss of property and life. In the aftermath, California should be on its own. In other words, these arrogant, irresponsible Democratic politicians enact and support policies that run counter to any form of common sense and when it doesnt work out they blame others. Very childish and embarrassing behavior.

Jody Langford

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Templeton

Water woes

Water problems? Not surprised. At the March, 2025, town hall meeting organized by Supervisor Jimmy Paulding in Oceano, I expressed my concerns about water quality problems in South County after Peter Brown, general manager of the Oceano Community Services District, began the meeting by extolling the quality of our tap water.

A few months earlier, a friend from Williamstown, Massachusetts, had alerted me to reports from the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org).

The comparison between my community, Oceano, and his in Massachusetts was disturbing. Comparing zip codes, our Oceano tap water (93445) had 11 contaminants in very serious quantities and his similar sized community, zip, 01267, had none. The most alarming was arsenic.

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I urge more attention to this serious issue.

Bonnie Ernst

Oceano

Ethnic studies bill

Regarding the debate about Assemblymember Dawn Addis ethnic studies bill, AB 1468:

Since the 2023 start of the Israel - Palestine war, our country has been engulfed in an intense and divisive debate about antisemitism. Accusations are being flung around indiscriminately, from Congress, to universities, K-12 schools and elsewhere. Passions must not be allowed to interfere with rational debate.

One fundamental issue missed in most reporting and discussion is an accurate definition of antisemitism. One, used in the House of Representatives Antisemitism Awareness Act, by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and others is the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition. Its been used to equate criticism of the Israeli governments policies and actions with antisemitism.

Another definition is by the JDA (Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism). It states that antisemitism is prejudice against Jews because theyre Jews or are directing a covert conspiracy to undermine society. Antisemitism is not: criticism of Zionism or Israeli government policies or actions, nonviolent protest against them, or treating them differently than those of other countries.

The JDA makes clear that the misuse of accusations of antisemitism is a dangerous attack on free speech.

Criticism of U.S. policy and action isnt un-American. Neither is that directed at Israels antisemitism.

David Broadwater

Atascadero
To the editor: Of all the short-sighted changes being made by the Trump administration, none are more consequential than his attacks on climate change ( "'Its a huge loss: Trump administration dismisses scientists preparing climate report, April 29). By attempting to deny scientists ability to even study climate change and share its effects with others, he is opening the door to further environmental, economic and health-related catastrophes.

As the article points out, we are already spending billions of dollars to address climate-related disasters, and the cost has skyrocketed in recent years. Between 1980 and present day, an average of 8.8 climate events exceeding $1 billion occurred each year, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information . The annual average for the past five years is 23 events. Given Trumps obsession with cutting costs, defunding climate change studies makes no sense. By denying that climate change exists and preventing scientists from studying and sharing the information needed to address its impacts, Trump isnt just fiddling while the planet burns  he is lighting it with a torch.

Lorraine Woodman, Santa Barbara

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..

To the editor: How harmful that the Trump administration is targeting the National Climate Assessment report, "informing them by email that the scope of the report was being reevaluated. President Trump seems not to believe that climate change is a real danger to the United States and the rest of the world. We can see damaging effects even now, earlier than scientists expected, and it will only get worse as the country and the world continues to spew greenhouse gases.

The fires here in Southern California are an example  and there are many more  of the increasing numbers of billion-dollar climate disasters. Im thinking of my children, grandchildren and hopefully great-grandchildren, and what they will face in the coming decades. Trump and the politicians who are backing him should stop and think of their descendants too.

Maggie Wineburgh-Freed, Los Angeles

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To the editor: The stupidity of the Trump administrations firing of climate scientists is astounding. It is clearly a blatant attempt to hide the evidence of the many existential threats facing the world, which teeters on the precipice of tipping points that will condemn current and future generations to unimaginable dangers. Trump is giving away our possibility of a better future in trade for greater profits to a fossil fuel industry that has continuously lied to us for the past 50 years.

It is critical to understand the coming dangers to the fullest extent possible, using the best science available. By the time the consequences of these actions happen, it will be too late to hold the perpetrators accountable for their acts of cruelty.

Phil Beauchamp, Chino Hills

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..

To the editor: I'm sad to say it, but here's another dumb decision by the Trump administration. Why is this administration so afraid to study the climate and the effectiveness of our strategies to mitigate the many negative effects we feel and will continue to feel? There's a lot of magical thinking going on, as if we dont study something, it cant be real.

Gerda Newbold, Santa Monica

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
This weeks episode of The Light Switch focuses entirely on the Angola Prison Rodeo, now in its 60th year at Louisiana State Penitentiary.

While the rest of the state is deep into its unofficial festival season, about 75 incarcerated men take part in a rodeo thats not your traditional apple pie, bucking broncos and fancy horses event.

Its critics describe it more like a sordid gladiator exhibition from peak Roman Empire times. They say this exploitation of inmates reflects outdated views on incarceration in Louisiana, a state where more than 1,000 of every 100,000 residents are behind bars according to the Promise of Justice Initiative.

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But the rodeo also has its supporters  and some of the most ardent are the inmates who are part of the show. Reporter Piper Hutchinson attended the event last month and heard why they see the rodeo as a key part of positive prison culture. Read more about her visit to The Wildest Show in the South.

There are two ways to listen to The Light Switch 

Spotify (listen below on the embedded player or use this link)

Apple (listen with the embedded player or use this link)
LOS ANGELES, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department has approved an F-16 fighter jet training and sustainment package worth 310 million U.S. dollars for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced Friday.

The package included aircraft modifications, flight training, maintenance support, spare parts, ground handling equipment, and specialized software systems, according to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, BAE Systems and AAR Corporation are the deal's principal contractors. However, This package contained no actual aircraft, as the jets would be provided by NATO allies rather than directly from the United States, said the DSCA.

The support package followed an earlier 266.4 million-dollar F-16 sustainment agreement approved in December 2024 under the administration of Joe Biden, which provided mission planning systems and key maintenance equipment.

Several NATO members, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium, have collectively pledged 79 F-16s to Ukraine, with more deliveries expected throughout 2025.

According to FlightGlobal, a Britain-based data, news and industry insights provider to the aviation and aerospace industry, a shrink-wrapped F-16 fuselage was being loaded onto an Antonov An-124 heavy cargo airlifter at a desert airfield.

Flight tracking data revealed the An-124 landed at Tucson, Arizona, airbase on April 25 and departed the next day for Poland.

The Tucson-based Kgun 9 news channel reported Friday that the boneyard at Davis-Monthan air force base near the city was the likely source for old F-16s going to Ukraine in the deal. The report cited a statement from the Department of the Air Force as saying that the old planes stocked there would provide spare parts for F-16s Ukraine received from European nations.

"These F-16s were retired from active U.S. use and are not flyable. Importantly, they lack critical components such as an engine or radar, and could not be reconstituted for operational use," according to the statement. 
Lil Durk performs at Lollapalooza on July 30, 2022, in Chicago's Grant Park. - Credit: Raquel Zaldivar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

A new indictment against Lil Durk has nixed all references to his lyrics in the rappers murder-for-hire case. Federal prosecutors confirmed the lyrics were removed but said it would not affect their case against him.

Defendant Banks has presented a false narrative that he is being prosecuted and detained because of his violent lyrics. This claim is, and has always been, baseless, prosecutors wrote in a separate court filing Friday, per Billboard. Just like every iteration of the indictment before it, the [new indictment] contains significant allegations that show defendants alleged role in the execution-style murder of [the victim] on a busy street corner in Los Angeles. The indictment also included a new charge of stalking.

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The rappers lawyer, Drew Findling, filed a response to the new indictment and claimed it appears that the government has conceded the hotly contested dispute over his music, according to the publication.

In October, Durk (born Durk Banks) was charged for the attempted murder of rival Quando Rondo, allegedly having ordered his own OTF crew to murder Rondo. While Rondo survived the September 2022 shooting at a Los Angeles gas station, his friend Lul Pab was killed in the crossfire.

Durk previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyers attempted to have the case dismissed in April, citing false evidence provided to a grand jury.

Prior to Fridays new indictment deleting the lyrics, prosecutors said in a court filing that Durk was not being prosecuted because of his lyrics, but suggested his lyrics could be cited as evidence in their case against him.

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Unless the government is prosecuting Banks on a theory of extra-sensory prescience, the lyrics could not have soundly informed the grand jurys finding of probable cause, Findling argued in a filing last month.

Earlier this week, the rapper claimed his lyrics were being used against him in the governments murder-for-hire case against him. In a video statement posted on Instagram Wednesday, the artist accused the government of weaponizing his verse on Babyface Rays song Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy.

Durk has always used music to tell stories, to express pain to heal  and yet those same lyrics are now being used against him. We refuse to stay silent as Black artists continue to be criminalized for their creativity. Rap is art, Durk and his family stated in the post. As a family, we are asking the public, the fans and the culture to stand with us. Stand for truth. Stand for fairness. Stand for The Voice.

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Editor's Note: The article previously stipulated that similar restrictions apply to Belarus citizens. The correction indicates that Belarus citizens are exempt from this clause.

Russian citizens who reside in Lithuania will have their residence permits revoked if they travel to Russia or Belarus more than once within a three month period, Lithuanian media outlet LRT reported on May 3.

According to the country's Interior Ministry, a total of 14,652 Russian citizens hold a valid residence permits in Lithuania.

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As of May 3, citizens travelling back to Russia and Belarus must have documented a valid reason for additional trips within the three month timeframe. Exceptions also apply for employees engaged in international freight and passenger transport.

Lithuania's parliament first adopted measures on restricting residence permits on Russian citizens shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Viewed as one of the most likely targets for a future Russian attack on NATO or the European Union, Lithuania has grown increasingly concerned around Russian aggression, sabotage efforts, as well as domestic interference by Russian citizens.

Lithuania borders both Belarus and Russia, including a 227-kilometer stretch along Kaliningrad, a heavily militarized exclave wedged between Lithuania and Poland.

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On April 18, Politico reported that Lithuania will upgrade and fortify a second route through the Suwaki Gap, a strategically critical stretch of land along the Polish border, in response to threats from Russia.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Lithuania has been one of Ukraine's most vocal backers.

The Baltic state ranks among Europe's top defense spenders, allocating 2.85% of GDP to defense in 2024, according to NATO estimates. Vilnius plans to increase that figure to between 5% and 6% from 2026 to 2030.

Read also: Zelensky rejects Putins truce proposal as theatrical, backs 30-day ceasefire plan from US

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Multiple law enforcement agencies gathered in Nashville Friday morning to promote motorcycle safety.

Not only is May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, its also the time of year in which most motorcyclists get back on their bikes and hit the roads.

According to data provided by the state, motorcyclist deaths went down in 2024 from 2023, but 194 lives were still lost to crashes. Just four full months into 2025, there have been 44 deaths involving motorcycles reported in Tennessee.

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APRIL 2025: Motorcyclist dies after crashing into pickup truck in Hermitage

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office, in partnership with Metro police, AAA, Nashville Department of Transportation and many others, spoke Friday on the issue and best practices to follow, like the popular slogan Look Twice.

The list of speakers ranged from a Vanderbilt doctor, to a woman who lost her fiance in a motorcycle crash; many voices with different perspectives, but one shared goal: reduce motorcycle deaths.

One speaker, a Metro police motorcycle officer, was rear-ended last November while stopped at a red light.

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I remember being thrown about 60 feet. I never heard any brakes screeching or anything, so in my opinion, he never hit brakes, said Officer Cory West. And it just shows you how things can happen so quickly. And when riding motorcycles, it can be of no fault of your own.

Motorcyclist killed in Murfreesboro crash

Then theres Nick Daley, who was forced to crash his motorcycle to avoid running into a distracted driver that pulled out suddenly in front of him in Rutherford County.

I was saved by an off-duty Murfreesboro city police officer, who ran out into the road and pulled me to the curb, Daley said. We try and ride as safe as we can. But when something like this happens, medical bills, lost wages, and unbelievable hardships [ensue] for the families. Were often a misunderstood breed. But our lives have meaning.

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The first thought that went through my head whenever she pulled in front of me was whether or not this was going to be the last time I ever ride; the last time I ever come home, Daley continued.

How many friends and people that you know in the motorcycle community have you lost? asked News 2 Sam Chimenti.

So far in the last year, Id say upwards of 10. Or more, answered Daley, spotlighting how close the motorcycle community is in Middle Tennessee.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Events like Fridays are about making sure motorcyclists and drivers dont become another number in a sad tally.

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We try to get our message out as much as possible, said Buddy Lewis, director for the Tennessee Highway Safety Office. Traffic safety is public safety. Anything that we can do to change the behavior to save lives on our roadways, thats what were all about.

Officer West, Lewis, Daley and others stressed the importance of education in helping prevention.

News 2 also asked Daley, who just had his crash in February, what his main message would be to drivers. He replied, Get off your phone while youre driving. You never know how quickly things can change.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  For months, theres been little clarity on the future of federal funding to numerous programs. But one unexpected population being hit? The San Joaquin Kit Fox.

Were very lucky to have a population of endangered foxes living amongst us, said Erica Kelly, a wildlife biologist with the Endangered Species Recovery Program.

The San Joaquin Kit Fox is no stranger to Kern County. As Kelly says, theyre born in Bakersfield and die in Bakersfield.

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Its a subspecies of the kit fox, the smallest member of the dog family in North America.

Trump orders agencies to sunset environmental protections

It used to be people saying Oh, I see foxes all the time everywhere, and now, everyone for the most part says Oh, I used to see them,' Kelly said.

The San Joaquin Kit Fox has been an endangered species since 1967.

Theyre small, about four to six pounds, Kelly noted.

She said theres about 3,000 to 5,000 total of them left, with a few hundred in Bakersfield.

People do worry that theyre dangerous, and theyre not  They eat rodents and insects [if not digging through trash cans], Kelly noted.

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Coyotes are the kit foxes number one predator, then domestic dogs.

Then in 2013 came along mange  a deadly skin disease caused by mites  which decimated the population, as Kelly put it.

Its transmittable among foxes and causes hair loss and thick crusts all over the body.

They get itchy to the point where they will chew through their skin to the bone, Kelly said. They cant maintain their body temperature, and then they cant get enough food  they have open sores all over their body.

Kelly said she hasnt seen a fox recover on its own and that theyll die within three months, if untreated.

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Proposed rule change on endangered species triggers alarm for environmentalists

Foxes needing care are taken into rehabilitation by the California Living Museum (CALM).

But as of March, the primary source of funding thats allowed Kelly and her team to rescue kit foxes has been frozen.

Were still responding to cases as best we can, but even then, in a few weeks, I dont know what that will look like, Kelly said of the ominous reality.

Funding for the Endangered Species Recovery Program overseen by California State University, Stanislaus  has come from the federal government since 1992.

With the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services conservation projects domestically and internationally being halted, kit foxes may now pay the price.

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We are moving into a storage unit. Our staff has all been laid off, Kelly said of her team, adding that their group of five are the only ones locally authorized to handle and interact with kit foxes.

Kelly says volunteers and Bakersfield residents report sick foxes. But now?

Theyll just have to watch it die, Kelly said of the worst-case scenario.

And with these foxes being so urbanized  living in dens near buildings like CSUB, for instance?

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They will die on peoples front lawns, at your school  Kelly stated, adding that these mammals favor open areas, open fields, undeveloped land and stormwater drainages and have learned to coexist with residents.

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Kelly also explained that federal funding was used to research the mange infection, including looking for cures. But theres just no way to stop it, Kelly pointed out.

Funding has also allowed her team for 10 years to conduct a yearly summer study  installing cameras in Bakersfield and Taft to survey the kit fox population and activity.

Kelly and the larger CSUS ESRP team have sent a letter to San Joaquin Valley congressional members including Hanford Republican David Valadao, asking for assistance.

Kellys last day is in late May.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
An Emmanuel College Assistant Admissions Director has been arrested after allegedly soliciting an underage college applicant for commercial sex.

29-year-old Jacob Henriques of Boston was charged with one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor.

According to the charging document, Henriques had allegedly used his position to gain access to the personal information of numerous admitted students to contact them and to attempt to engage in commercial sex with him.

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On one specific date, April 25, after Henriques had met with at least three students, he gained access to their personal information and began to contact them, offering to pay them for some fun by offering to provide them with pornography and, in some instances, send them pornographic videos or images. Henriques began contacting a fourth individual, who committed to attending the college on April 25, and, like the previous individuals, offered to pay her for some fun and sent her pornographic videos.

One victim, a 17-year-old, was a prospective student who was attending a college tour. Just before giving the said tour, Henriques had allegedly reviewed the victims tour registration form, which contained her personal information, such as her date of birth.

Henriques asked the victim what grade she was in, to which the victim responded with what local high school she attended. Shortly after finishing the tour, Henriques began contacting the victim, allegedly offering to pay her $400 for some fun right away, and told her that he had pornographic videos and pictures for her.

Henriques continued to contact the victim throughout the night, refusing to tell her who he was or how he obtained her information. Henriques allegedly told the victim that porn and $ was ready for her, and then sent her five pornographic videos of men and women engaging in sexual acts, then proceeding to ask her if she wanted to partake in a gangbang and have sex with him.

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Despite the victim rejecting Henriques advances numerous times, he continued to text the underage victim, telling her to let him know if she changed her mind, offering to buy her anything she wanted.

Following the incident, between the dates of April 25 through April 28, it is alleged that Henriques accessed the victims profile 47 times, prompting the victim to block his phone number. Henriques allegedly began soliciting the victim via email.

In a statement released by Emmanuel College, they said that they are saddened, angered, and shocked following the allegations of Henriques.

Because the safety and well-being of all is our highest priority, and consistent with established policies, we took strong action upon learning of this issue, immediately contacting law enforcement and launching an investigation that led to the prompt termination of the individual, said an Emmanuel College spokesperson. We have cooperated fully with authorities from the moment this matter came to our attention and will continue to do so.

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The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a minor can lead to a sentence of up to life in prison, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Henriques will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday May 5, 2025.

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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The dust has settled on this years local elections, with Nigel Farages Reform party seeing unprecedented success across the country.

Some 1,650 local councillors were elected in 23 councils, with a further six mayoral races and one by-election in Runcorn and Helsby.

From the unexpected scale of Reforms success to a lack of Labour candidates in some areas, The Independent looks at the most important figures from the 2025 local elections.

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See the results in full here

Hundreds of seats for Reform

Reform entered the local elections this year with zero seats to defend and went on to win 677 council seats.

This easily exceeded expectations, with pollsters predicting around 400 to 450 seats for Mr Farages right-wing party.

Both Labour and the Conservatives, on the other hand, lost hundreds of seats, amounting to two-thirds of their 2021 representation on local councils, far worse for both parties than expected.

The Conservatives had the most to lose, winning some 996 seats in 2021, when these councils last held elections.

Labour barely scraped ahead of independent candidates and Greens, winning just shy of 100 seats.

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The third-party players  Reform and Lib Dems  both ousted Labour and the Conservatives to be the two leading parties in the local elections.

Though their success was somewhat overshadowed by Reform UK, the Lib Dems nearly doubled their council seats from 2021, prompting experts to suggest the UK is moving away from a two-party system to a four- or five-party one.

See where Reform performed best here.

Labour didnt have candidates in dozens of wards

Overall, Labour and the Conservatives both lost hundreds of local council seats.

But Labour faces a further sting when looking at many individual electoral wards, where it failed to provide a candidate for local election.

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No Labour candidate ran in 81 wards, according to data from Democracy Club, mostly within Cornwall and Wiltshire councils.

Anti-Labour sentiment hit Starmers party hard, with the least success of any major party in this years local elections (PA)

This is worse than any other major party, with the Conservatives and Reform fielding candidates in almost every ward.

Turnout

The number of voters showing up for local elections is consistently lower than general elections in the UK.

Voter turnout for this election is still being determined in some councils.

On average, the turnout has been around 35 per cent according to initial estimates; a figure which is moderately high for local elections.

The lowest reported turnout so far is at just 19.5 per cent in Ponteland North, Northumberland, in which the Tories won the seat.

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By comparison, the mean turnout in last years local elections was at 30.2 per cent, while the equivalent races in 2021 saw 34.1 per cent of voters cast ballots.

These figures are subject to change.

Vote share

Initial estimates of the vote share show that Reform received nearly a third of the vote across all councils holding elections, with the Conservatives next at 23 per cent.

With 17 per cent the Lib Dems received a lower vote share overall than the Tories but won more seats. They also overtook Labour in vote share with Sir Keir Starmers party getting 14 per cent.

The combined vote share of both main parties (Labour and the Conservatives) is now at just 37 per cent; the lowest on recent record, and no longer a majority of votes.

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This is nearly half of the 67 per cent vote share won by Labour and Conservatives combined in 2021.

Changing shape of council control

Control of local councils looks far different from its previous form in 2021.

In the 23 councils which held elections, 10 will have a local government with no overall control, meaning that no single party has enough councillors to form a majority.

This is an increase from the last elections, in which seven councils had no majority.

But the biggest change to the electoral map came for the Conservatives, who lost control of all 15 councils they won in 2021.

This includes Kent council, which had been run by a Tory majority since 1997.

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Meanwhile Reform has secured majorities in 10 councils, with Labour dominating none at all.

The Lib Dems won majorities on Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire councils, and took control of Shropshire from the Conservatives.

It remains to be seen how new Reform candidates, inexperienced in local leadership, will manage council budgets and day-to-day activities.

By-election lost by six votes

The by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, declared early into Friday morning, set the tone for Reforms local election success.

The Labour constituency was up for grabs after former MP Mike Amesbury was suspended and jailed, following a physical altercation with a constituent.

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Just last year, Labour had a majority of 14,000 votes in the constituency.

But this weeks by-election saw Reform win by just six votes after a recount.

Runcorn and Helsbys new MP is Sarah Pochin, marking Reforms fifth seat in the House of Commons after Rupert Lowe was suspended.

Labour candidate Karen Shore lost by just 0.02 per cent of the vote.

This was a tighter race than any in the 2024 general election, with the smallest margin in Hendon, where Labour won by 15 votes.

As the first parliamentary by-election since Labour came into power, the result is a blow for Sir Keir party, who are neck-in-neck with Reform in national voting polls.

This article was amended on 22 May 2025. It previously stated that some parties had received no votes in some wards, but this was inaccurate because it referred to wards where no candidate had been fielded.
Severe weather, including two tornadoes, recently ripped through southern Spain, leaving destroyed berry crops and greenhouse wreckage in its wake. With no foreseeable end to similar climate extremes, farmers are scrambling to rebuild  and bracing for what's next.

What's happening?

Storm Laurence swept through the Huelva region of Spain in mid-March, devastating an estimated 300 to 400 hectares  or about 740 to 990 acres  of soft fruit greenhouses across several towns.

Huelva is one of Europe's top hubs for soft fruit production, particularly berries. These crops are typically grown in macro-tunnels and greenhouses, which are vulnerable to strong winds and storm damage.

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Freshuelva  a local growers' association  reports Storm Laurence's tornadoes ripped apart produce coverings, collapsed structures onto growing plants, and twisted greenhouse ironwork. Strawberry farms suffered significant water damage, while blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry bushes were destroyed while the berries were currently in production.

Even before Storm Laurence's destruction, four tornadoes had already been reported in Huelva in recent months, an unusual frequency for the region.

"As far as I know, it's not normal for such an amount of tornadoes or sea sleeves to occur," Freshuelva spokesperson Rafael Dominguez Guillen said in a press release.

Adding to the destruction, Fruitnet reports that 20 days of non-stop rain in the region have delayed fruit ripening and rendered 15% to 20% of local crops unmarketable. And the damage isn't limited to berries  olives, citrus, cereals, and wine grapes have also been negatively affected by recent weather.

Why is the impact of Storm Laurence on agriculture important?

Farmers are increasingly concerned about climate instability  not just in Spain but globally. Regions worldwide are experiencing more unpredictable and severe weather driven by environmental degradation and climate shifts. The consequences are far-reaching, including reduced crop yields, higher produce prices, and serious threats to farmers' livelihoods.

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In Huelva, for instance, Freshuelva noted that strawberries will now require additional quality checks before reaching consumers, increasing prices overall. That is in addition to likely price hikes from reduced availability, given that 15 to 20% of strawberry crops have been rendered unmarketable. And while these price hikes may make some money back for growers, it doesn't offset the cost of lost product  and the high cost of rebuilding infrastructure post-disaster.

Storm Laurence isn't just an unusual weather event  it's a climate warning. Consider it a signal of how urgent and widespread environmental degradation truly is, on your grocery bill and beyond.

What's being done to aid farmers in the wake of Storm Laurence?

A local growers' association is working with agricultural insurance companies to assess the damage from Storm Laurence. Farmers are already rebuilding structures to protect surviving crops, especially with more rain expected in the coming weeks.

"It's raining too much, and this could lead to the appearance of diseases and problems with the harvest," Dominguez Guillen said, adding, "Now we can only hope that these will be the last rains  so that we can have a little more peace of mind than we've had so far this season."

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Freshuelva also highlighted that local growers have been "waiting 25 years for the construction of the Alcolea reservoir, which would have alleviated these floods and overflows." The association says the dam would also supply water to local communities often impacted by water shortages.

Meanwhile, the global agricultural sector is working on making crops, including berries, more resilient to extreme weather and improving growing infrastructure, like greenhouses and macro-tunnels, to be more resilient to wind damage.

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.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  Students from a local school spent their Friday morning participating in a community clean sweep event in Chicopee. These students took to the streets to beautify the city of Chicopee by cleaning up litter and sweeping sidewalks.

Springfield Renaissance School students were not afraid to get their hands dirty as they worked to keep their community clean. Students used donated supplies to clean in areas around Chicopee City Hall, the Chicopee Canal Walk, the Chicopee Public Library, and RiverMills Center.

To be like trying this out and actually cleaning out everything on the sidewalks, its good, it feels cleaner, said Student at Springfield Renaissance School, Kayla Hidalgo.

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Another student at Springfield Renaissance School, Nylene Rodriguez, added, It feels good because like people can walk by and they dont have to see trash everywhere. They can just see like nature.

This is part of the fifth annual Chicopee Clean Sweep put on by the Chicopee Cultural Council & Chicopee Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Chicopee. Student volunteers are able to take part in this cause through the United Way Pioneer Valley program.

These students are spending their time picking up trash and bagging it up to not only help beautify the city, but also protect the environment. Its always important to teach them early. So never, ever, ever litter and be part of, you know, the people who are like not cooperating with Mother Nature, said Community & Special Projects Liaison for the Chicopee Mayors Office, Monica Torres.

And through their selfless actions, the Chicopee officials hope itll inspire others to take care of their surroundings. Its important to have your city looking beautiful and inviting, you know, like you take a walk and its just you feel comfortable in your own setting and be able to, like, navigate your city and say, Im proud of where Im from, expressed Torres.

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At the end of this event, the Chicopee Facilitys department picked up the bags and delivered them to DPW.

There will be another clean sweep on Saturday with another group of volunteers. Theyll be stopping at rivers, parks, and several neighborhoods throughout the city.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Washington County Sheriffs Office in Tennessee honored law enforcement on Friday for their heroic efforts during Hurricane Helene floods, especially two officers dispatched to Bumpus Cove.

On the list of those honored was Johnson City Police Officer Sharrell Dykes and Washington County, Tennessee Sheriffs Office Captain Mike Foster.

Dykes and Foster remembered how they saved other officers who were stranded in Bumpus Cove.

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All the other bridges were blocked, so we had to figure out a way to get back, Dykes said. And between the deputy that was with me, and trying to get through to his dispatch, they contacted Greene County. We figured out a way to get back on the back roads. They ended up on Asheville Highway. We got back across that bridge in front of the dam right before they closed it.

Holston Habitat celebrates 40 years in the Tri-Cities

It was very frustrating knowing that we had officers who were stranded, who were unable to get back home, Foster said. Knowing that we needed those officers to continue working. And if there was no way that we could go pick them up, they would be stranded there with no food, no water, no shelter.

Dykes said he left the sheriffs office at 4 p.m. to help the officers in Bumpus Cove and did not return home until six hours later.

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Dykes and Foster added that the community has played a massive role in recovery efforts since the floods.

Youve seen farmers loan tractors and different things, helping clear up debris and clean up, you know, the wood, everything thats in the rooms they were at or doing their own job, too, he said. So it was just one big effort on everybodys part. And it made me feel good about our area. If you go back and look at it, nobody was griping about us, complaining. Everybody was helping. And thats what we need. Thats what everybody needs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Poland Andrzej Duda, Azernews reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I congratulate you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Poland - the Constitution Day.

I believe that the ties of friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Poland will continue to evolve and expand in line with the interests of our peoples.

On such a remarkable day, I extend my best wishes to you, and wish your friendly people peace and prosperity," the letter reads.
Apart from the overall problems discussed above, the CFPs pointed out some potential issues with some of Ramseys specific guidance .

Dave says, Live like no one else now, so you can live like no one else later. Why cant we do both and plan for it? Sprung said. Joy should be something we are experiencing every day, not just putting off to a later date that we are hopeful to make [it to]. Many of us are not that lucky.

Lawrence Sprung, founder of Mitlin Financial, is adamant that your financial plan should factor in pleasure and fun. His mom passed away relatively young, never getting to experience retirement.

Both popular personal finance advice givers typically advocate for delayed gratification: Live frugally now so you can retire comfortably later. While doing so may be financially prudent, it saps the present of its joy.

Were not all running the same financial race, and were definitely not running at the same pace. The beauty of financial planning is that every single client has a unique financial situation and doesnt package easily into a box, Cox explained.

I started noticing that some of their advice just didnt hold up in real life. Not because it was wrong, but because it was too rigid for the real world, she said.

Melissa Cox, owner of Future-Focused Wealth, championed Ramseys and Ormans personal finance tenets for years, but her view of their policies changed.

Ramsey and Orman often speak in absolutes, advising that you should take a certain action regardless of your circumstances. Their blanket approach might be fine for some, but could be flat-out wrong for you.

Learn More: The Money You Need To Save Monthly To Retire Comfortably in Every State

Both of these experts offer some great advice, but that doesnt mean it applies well to everyone.

However, some of their beliefs could be a total mismatch for your situation. Several certified financial planners (CFPs) weighed in on why retirement advice from Ramsey and Orman may not work for you .

Its natural to seek expert guidance to feel confident youre on the right track. Financial gurus Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman have much to say about retirement, and you might find some of their advice helpful.

Preparing for retirement can be complicated. You must figure out how to maintain adequate insurance coverage, elect to receive Social Security payments and have enough cash to last for the rest of your life.

Story Continues

Not All Debt Is Bad

Being anti-debt is the cornerstone of Ramseys financial platform. However, his view can be extremely limiting.

[Ramsey] does not delineate between good or bad debt. In his eyes, it is all bad, said Sprung.

Sprung believes you should be OK if you avoid taking on bad debt  often considered as credit card or other high-interest debt  and make your payments on time.

He said, Make sure you budget for it and your plan stays on track, but you do not need to be debt-free before you experience joy in your life.

Benjamin Simerly, founder of and wealth advisor at Lakehouse Family Wealth, added that avoiding debt can actually be problematic in some cases.

When some of my clients ask if they should avoid a low-interest car loan and pull funds from investments to pay for the car instead, we have a disconnect, he said.

Paying Off Your Mortgage Early Isnt Always Smart

Ramsey advocates for paying off your mortgage early  though it should be noted that he does acknowledge there are drawbacks.

Homeownership is part of the American Dream, and making that final mortgage payment is an exciting and happy milestone. However, prioritizing paying off your house over other financial goals could backfire.

You can reach a point where youre paying enough extra that youre actually hurting your financial plan. At some point, the interest is mostly paid off on a mortgage, since mortgages front-load the interest. So, additional payments are essentially reducing what can be invested, said Simerly.

Investing 15% of Your Income Isnt Universal

Investing 15% of your income is one of those generic rules of thumb that have been circulating for quite a while. However, that amount doesnt factor in your age, goals and other financial obligations.

Telling everyone to invest 15% of [their] gross income is a helpful starting point, but not a plan. For someone starting late, 15% might be too little. For someone retiring early, its definitely not enough, said Nick Davis, founder of Brindle & Bay Wealth Management.

Meanwhile, if youre in your 20s with limited income and student debt, it may not be realistic. Retirement saving needs to be personalized, Davis added.

Mutual Funds Arent Always Better Than ETFs

Just like your retirement savings amount, your investment strategy must be tailored to your situation. Generally, any investment can be good or bad depending on your risk tolerance, goals and other preferences.

Ramsey often states he doesnt like that ETFs (exchange-traded funds) are often used for day trading and other short-term goals. And he is correct, said Simerly. At the end of the day, its about picking the best fit for you, and often, high-quality funds can be found in similar versions in both ETFs and mutual funds for that very reason.

An 8% Withdrawal Rate Might Not Be OK

You may have heard that its safe to withdraw 4% of your portfolio each year in retirement. Doing so can help ensure that you dont outlive your money.

Ramsey said that, due to historical stock market performance, you can actually withdraw 8% each year and live a richer life without sacrificing security. He suggested that you stay 100% invested in stocks so that your cash continues to grow enough to keep pace with your spending.

Michelle Petrowski, founder of Being In Abundance, said there are two big issues with this strategy. First, most folks probably dont fully understand the level of risk theyre taking with a 100% stock portfolio.

Second, theres the concept of sequence risk  something that doesnt get talked about enough. Thats the risk that your nest egg may not grow as expected  or worse, could shrink  if you experience negative market returns late in your working years or early in retirement, she explained. Selling off investments in a down market (at a loss) to cover living expenses can slow the growth of your nest egg  or worse, cause it to shrink far too fast, said Petrowski.

Taking Social Security Early Isnt Necessarily the Right Move

Youll get the largest possible Social Security payment each month if you delay claiming benefits until you reach full retirement age  66 or 67, depending on your birth year. You can claim benefits as early as age 62, but that can reduce your monthly payment amount by up to 30% for life.

For retirees with longer life expectancies, delaying until full retirement age can be one of the best investments they make. Ramsey assumes people can cover the gap with their nest egg, but who wants to leave that guaranteed income on the table? said Davis.

Long-Term Care Insurance Needs Are Nuanced

Long-term care (LTC) insurance can help you cover expensive care during your golden years, including nursing home stays. Ramsey suggests buying the coverage a few years before retirement, at age 60.

Davis said, This isnt exactly bad advice, but its definitely not universal. LTC insurance can be incredibly expensive and is not always the best solution. Some clients are better off self-insuring, while others may benefit more from hybrid policies. Like many of Ramseys rules, this is overly rigid for such a nuanced issue.

Issues With Ormans Advice

The experts also pointed out some reasons Ormans advice might not work for everyone.

Sometimes Discretionary Spending Is OK

Your avocado toast purchases or Starbucks runs can add up to a tidy sum. Orman believes you should skip them and invest the cash instead.

Suze Orman speaks often about buying a $5 cup of coffee and the fact that if you gave that up and directed those funds to a Roth IRA or retirement account, you could be giving your retirement account a boost, Sprung said. Although this is true, many people derive joy from that cup of coffee, and if they have budgeted for it and they can afford it, I believe they should [have it].

A 3% Withdrawal Rate Might Not Be Enough

Ormans stance on a safe withdrawal rate in retirement is the complete opposite of Ramseys. She encourages you to spend even less than the standard 4% rule.

Melissa Murphy Pavone, founder of Mindful Financial Partners, said the strategy may be prudent for some, but overly conservative for others who have a solid income stream or want to spend more in their early retirement years, while theyre active and healthy.

ETFs Arent Always Better Than Mutual Funds

Orman also takes the opposite view to Ramsey regarding ETFs vs. mutual funds, favoring the former.

[She] notes that ETFs often have lower fees than mutual funds and can provide some tax benefits over mutual funds, as well. And she is correct, given that the ETF in question is the right fit for your portfolio, said Simerly.

However, both ETFs and mutual funds can be a great fit for your portfolio, he explained. The best place to start is [asking] which format has the best of breed in the fund you want? More often than not, doing your research on the best fund of a particular type will answer the question for you on ETF vs. mutual fund.

Guidance You Should Follow Instead

So, should you abandon Ramsey and Ormans teachings entirely? Maybe not.

Ramsey and Orman gave us a solid start. But at some point, we all have to stop following rules made for the average person and start creating a plan that actually works for who we are and what matters most to us on a deeper level, said Cox.

Pavone added, Work with a fiduciary  ideally a CFP  who can assess your full financial picture and help you make decisions that support your long-term goals, not just someone elses rules of thumb. Because at the end of the day, retirement isnt just about numbers. Its about the kind of life you want to live.

More From GOBankingRates

Sources

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 12 Reasons Retirement Advice From Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman May Not Work for You
Elected officials from Frederick County and the city of Frederick on Friday released two separate statements expressing concerns about the abrupt shutdown of a Fort Detrick research facility earlier this week.

Work at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Integrated Research Facility was halted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an agency official confirmed on Thursday.

But information about what led HHS to pause IRF-Fredericks research, which includes studying pathogens that cause high-consequence disease, was not shared with local officials or with The Frederick News-Post upon request.

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Allen Etzler, a spokesperson for the city of Frederick, said on Thursday that the federal government did not make city officials aware of the work stoppage at IRF-Frederick.

Frederick County spokesperson Vivian Laxton said she checked with heads of multiple county divisions and departments that would likely have been made aware of issues at the lab, but none of them had received information from the federal government either.

Representatives of HHS and the National Institutes of Health, which oversees NIAID, declined on Thursday to answer a detailed list of questions about the work stoppage at IRF-Frederick and instead deferred to a Fox News article.

NIH spokesperson Bradley Moss on Friday afternoon said he was still not authorized to release additional information to the News-Post.

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In a joint statement on Friday, Frederick Mayor Michael OConnor and the Frederick City Council said they were deeply troubled by the sudden cessation of operations at the facility, which they called a vital asset in global infectious disease research and a cornerstone of our local economy.

Due to the work stoppage, the city officials wrote, the livelihoods of 168 people who work at IRF-Frederick are now uncertain.

Their statement continued:

Halting research on high-consequence pathogens like Ebola and Lassa fever undermines decades of scientific progress and preparedness. This facility is one of the few in the world equipped to safely study these threats, and its closure represents a setback for both national and global public health.

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Equally troubling is the absence of communication with local leadership and stakeholders from the federal government. Unilateral decisions of this magnitude erode trust and hinder our ability to support our constituents effectively during times of uncertainty.

We are coordinating with our federal delegation members and urge federal authorities to immediately engage with local and state partners to collaboratively develop a path forward that protects both the critical public health mission of NIAIDs IRF and the economic stability of the City of Frederick and Frederick County. We stand ready to be part of that solution.

Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, County Council President Brad Young, County Council Vice President Kavonte Duckett, and Council Members Jerry Donald, Renee Knapp and M.C. Keegan-Ayer also released a joint statement on Friday about the work stoppage at IRF-Frederick.

The recent decision to halt research at the NIAIDs Integrated Research Facility (IRF) at Fort Detrick is deeply concerning for Frederick County, the county officials said. This facility has been at the forefront of studying deadly infectious diseases, including Ebola, and its work is crucial for public health and safety. The indefinite pause in its operations not only jeopardizes ongoing research but also undermines our preparedness for future outbreaks.

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The statement continued:

Frederick County has long been a hub for scientific innovation and research. The IRFs contributions have not only advanced our understanding of infectious diseases but have also brought significant economic benefits to our community. The closure of this lab threatens to disrupt our local economy, potentially leading to job losses and a decline in scientific collaboration.

We urge the federal government to reconsider this decision and recognize the vital role that the IRF plays in safeguarding public health and supporting our local economy. The work conducted at this facility is too important to be halted indefinitely.

As of Friday, it was still not clear how long IRF-Frederick would remain shut down.
Local BOCES students traveled to Albany this week to take part in a forum and meeting with state Education Department officials.

According to a news release from Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES, the annual BOCES Expo took place Wednesday, April 30 at the state Legislative Office Building in Albany. DCMO BOCES was one of 30 BOCES from across the state that participated in the event, designed to showcase programs to lawmakers, staff and representatives from the Education Department.

DCMO BOCES students Sydney Elmendorf and Abigail Gregory, both from Franklin Central School, represented DCMO BOCES and the New Visions Education Program, along with teacher Gabrielle Pedersen and Jennifer Lawrence, director of career and technical education. They spoke with Education Commissioner Betty Rosa, Assemblyman Joseph Angelino and Assemblyman Brian Miller, as well as Kyle McCauley Belokopitsky, executive director of the New York State PTA, the release stated. The students also heard from a number of speakers at the event, including state Sen. Shelley Mayer, chair of the Senate Education Committee and event sponsor; Assemblyman Mike Benedetto, Assembly Education Committee Chair; and David ORourke, chair of BOCES of NYS, an organizer of the event.

The BOCES Expo event is an opportunity for our students to shine in their respective fields, Lawrence said. Our New Visions Education profession students had the opportunity to speak with a variety of stakeholders there, and I was impressed by their professionalism and ability to express the impact their program of study has had on their future goals. Our students are well positioned to take the next steps on their chosen paths.
May 3After years of parents and teachers calling for a new campus to be built in Lodi, a new school has been proposed on the western side of town.

The Lodi Unified School District Board of Education will get its first glimpse of the proposed Samuel M. Gantner Elementary School at Vine Street and Westgate Drive on Tuesday.

The school, named after the first Lodian killed in World War II, will be located on an 11.5-acre site west of GracePoint Church.

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According to Tuesday's staff report, the campus will focus primarily on kindergarten-sixth grades, with the possibility of accommodating seventh- and eighth-grade students, if necessary. The school's capacity would be 850 students. Preschool through third-grade classes would have about 24 students each, while grades 4-6 would have 30 students in each class.

Last year, district officials told the News-Sentinel that the district's student population had dropped around 10%  from 30,000 to less than 27,000  in recent years.

At that time officials said there were two new school sites ready to develop. One was Gantner and the other site was in North Stockton, west of I-5 in the Spanos Park neighborhood.

Superintendent Neil Young said the district works with both county and city officials to anticipate new developments within the district. He says the growth numbers are used to develop the district's long-range plans and to project future student population.

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Behind the name

Gantner was a Lodi High graduate and a young father who was stationed on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor when Japanese forces attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.

As planes approached, Gantner raced to his battle station, a 5-inch anti-aircraft gun on the deck. He fired at the attacking planes but was wounded and taken to the ship's hospital.

Soon after arriving, medics noticed he was no longer in the treatment area. He was later seen back at his battle station with his crew, firing at the enemy.

An official citation read, in part: "He maintained an effective fire with his gun, in local control, despite heavy casualties on his gun, bomb hits, exploding ammunition on deck, and serious fires, and was killed at his station."

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He was 21. His remains were buried at the Punch Bowl military cemetery in Hawaii.

The board unanimously approved naming the campus after Gantner in 2012.

A destroyer-class escort named in his honor was launched at the Boston Navy Yard on July 23, 1943. The ship was later decommissioned and sold to China. Tuesday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the James Areida Education Support Center, 1305 E. Vine St. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the district's YouTube channel.
The chief of the London Police Department and a member of Londons city council have resigned.

Police Chief Jerry Hollon has resigned from his position, the London Police Department confirmed on Friday night.

Assistant Police Chief Bobby Day has been named acting chief, according to the departments public affairs officer, Hobie Daugherty.

We have no further comment on the matter at this time, Daugherty said in an email.

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London City Council member Holly Little resigned on Friday as well, London Mayor Randall Weddle confirmed.

The London Sentinel-Echo also reported on Friday that the city clerk, Katelin McPeek, is resigning to take a position as county treasurer.

Weddle did not immediately respond to a request for a comment on the resignations.

Hollon was named Londons police chief last summer.

The police department said in an announcement on Aug. 1 that Hollon had worked as a 911 dispatcher, deputy sheriff, patrolman, detective, sergeant, captain and communications director during his career.

Chief Hollon has also served as a Task Force Officer assigned to a Federal Drug Task Force and served as the Assistant Commander of the Special Operations Team, according to the statement.

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Day joined the London Police Department as assistant chief in January 2023, according to an announcement shared on the London Police Departments Facebook page at the time.

He has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, having previously worked for the Kentucky State Police and served as chief of police for the Laurel County School System, the police department said in the 2023 social media post.

The London Police Department has been subject to scrutiny in recent months, after officers attempting to serve a search warrant just before midnight on Dec. 23 shot and killed a Laurel County man, Douglas Harless, at his home in Lily.

The officers, who were investigating a case involving stolen lawn equipment, apparently intended to go to a different address nearby.

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They said Harless pointed a gun at them when they breached his door.

Soon after the incident, the city announced that its officers would begin wearing body cameras.

How London, KY police killed an uninvolved man while trying to serve a warrant

London man: 911 officials tampered with package containing records tied to police shooting

Election finance records give inside look of donations from KY mayor to Gov. Andy Beshear

KY man updates defamation suit after London mayor doubles down on claim hes in pedo clan
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tore apart White House border czar Tom Homan on Friday after he questioned whether she was impeding deportation efforts by informing her constituents of their constitutional and legal rights.

The congresswoman  as part of a town hall-style event in New York City  claimed that Homan threatened to refer her to the Justice Department after she gave a Know Your Rights with ICE webinar to those concerned about President Donald Trumps immigration policies.

And he may want to do it again today and to that I say, come for me, youre going to have to come for me, she declared. Do I look like I care?

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Her comments arrive on the same day that Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) responded to Homans chilling suggestion that he could be arrested for issuing guidance to state employees on what to do when confronted by federal immigration agents.

Homan, when asked about Evers guidance outside the White House on Thursday, answered, Wait til you see whats coming.

Evers accused Republicans of lying about the guidance  similar to recommendations made by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) earlier this year  in order to push misinformation and fuel what he described as a fake controversy of their own creation.

His response comes about one week after the FBI arrested a Milwaukee judge over allegations that she helped a man evade immigration agents.

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Homan has previously slammed Ocasio-Cortez for her advice to immigrants, guidance that First Amendment advocacy groups have called plainly lawful.

Homan  in a Fox News appearance in February  said he sent a letter to the Justice Department to ask about the congresswomans efforts, questioning whether she was crossing the line and could be in trouble.

In a separate appearance on the network, he declared that Ocasio-Cortez was trying to teach people how to evade law enforcement.

Ocasio-Cortez would later write to Attorney General Pam Bondi to inquire about Homan threatening political prosecution against her.

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Ocasio-Cortez, in remarks at her town hall, referred to those asking how to protect each other in response to Trumps policies.

We do it by exercising and using our constitutional rights. Our rights are, use it or lose it, so we need to use it, she stressed.

And we need to challenge them so dont let them intimidate you into thinking that youre doing something wrong by telling people what their actual legal constitutional rights are. Theres nothing wrong about it and theres nothing illegal about it.

She continued, And if they want to make it illegal, they can come take me. Thats how I feel about it.

AOC: Tom Homan said he was going to refer me to DOJ because Im using my free speech rights in order to advise people of their constitutional protections to that I say: Come for me Do I look like I care?



Theres nothing illegal about it and if they want to make it illegal, pic.twitter.com/Lzm94e28Cc  Acyn (@Acyn) May 2, 2025

Related...
Lorraine Kelly has revealed she will have her ovaries removed via keyhole surgery.

In a video on Instagram, the 65-year-old television presenter said the operation was all preventative and thanked hospital staff for their care so far, having already undergone scans.

Kelly said: I just wanted to let you know Im having a wee procedure today. Ive not been feeling all that well for a little while, so I had some scans and tests, and I have to have my ovaries and my tubes taken out.

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Its purely preventative, its going to be with keyhole surgery, which is incredible, and Im being very well looked after, and Ill obviously see you really soon, and Im going to be totally fine. See you soon, bye.

In the post, the former Good Morning Britain host said she felt very lucky to be treated so well and received messages from celebrity friends such as Katie Piper, Susanna Reid and Julia Bradbury.

Sending you love

Bradbury, the documentary and consumer affairs presenter, said on Instagram: Wishing you a speedy recovery Lorraine, and good luck with the post op rehab.

Reid, who presents Good Morning Britain, added: Sending you all the love in the world.

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Piper, the former Loose Women panellist, said: Hope you make a speedy recovery.

Kelly celebrated her 40th year in television in 2024, with a special episode of her daytime talk show Lorraine, which she has run since 2010.

She began her journalism career on the East Kilbride News, turning down a university place to study English and Russian to join the newspaper, before joining BBC Scotland as a researcher in 1983.

In 1984, she joined TV-am as an on-screen reporter covering Scottish news and in 1990 she began her presenting career on Good Morning Britain, before getting her own show.

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.
DISCLAIMER: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

SABINE PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Louisiana authorities have arrested a man from Sabine Parish on Thursday for first degree rape of a juvenile and other serious charges.

According to agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, 29-year-old Tyler Delane Weathy was arrested at his home on Solan Camp Road in Noble, for violating:

One count of First Degree Rape

Four counts of indecent behavior with juveniles

Three counts of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13

Three counts of sexual abuse of animals

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Agents initially received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. When LBI agents started working on the case, they became concerned that this might have been a hands-on incident, detailed Attorney General Liz Murrill.

La. teacher arrested for allegedly having sex with student

Louisiana AG reported agents were eventually able to get Weathy in custody at his home. During the investigation, agents were able to obtain a confession from the suspect that he had raped a juvenile.

(Courtesy of Attorney General Liz Murrill)

This arrest was the result of a joint investigation with General Murrills Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the Sabine Parish Sheriffs Office, Lincoln Parish Sheriffs Office, Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office, and the LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

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Huge shoutout to my agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the Sabine Parish Sheriffs Office, Lincoln Parish Sheriffs Office, Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and all our partners across the State who work day and night to take monsters off the street. If you hurt our kids, Louisiana will find you, said Attorney General Murrill.

Weathy was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center. No bond has been set at this time.

The investigation is ongoing.

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LOUISIANA (KLFY)  Pita,the retired K9 trooper, was honored for her service by the Louisiana State Police after passing away due to declining health authorities said.

Before retiring in February 2024, Pita served for nine years for the Troop D area and its agencies as a member of the Criminal Patrol Unit with her keen sense of smell.

When she was not locating narcotics, she could often be found visiting schools and searching for as many belly rubs as she could from the kids. said The Louisiana State Police on a Facebook post.

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During retirement, Pita enjoyed her final years with her handler, Sgt. Moseley.

We thank Pita for her loyalty, dedication, and service to the State of Louisiana. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sgt. Moseley and the entire State Police family. The Louisiana State Police said.

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Key Points

Gold is trading near all-time highs, resulting in it receiving much attention from investors.

Newmont and AngloGold Ashanti are leading gold mining companies.

The VanEck Gold Miners ETF is a great option for cautious investors who are uninterested in assuming the risks of a single gold mining company.

While rare earth minerals and other critical minerals have recently become flashpoints in the escalating trade war between the United States and China, gold has also remained at the top of investors' minds.

But for those interested in becoming gold bugs themselves, where is there to turn? Instead of bulking up on bullion, investors would be wise to consider clicking the buy button on Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE: AU), and the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEMKT: GDX).

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 

A rock solid balance sheet helps make Newmont a glimmering gold stock to gobble up now

Newmont Mining is the only gold mining stock included in the S&P 500. It's the largest gold stock by market cap available on major U.S. exchanges, helping to make it a glittering choice for those interested in a more conservative gold investment. In addition to North and South America, Newmont operates assets in Australia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea.

While some gold companies rely heavily on leverage to fund their various mining operations, Newmont has an investment-grade balance sheet thanks, in part, to its retiring of $1.4 billion in debt in 2024. Moreover, as of the end of first-quarter 2025, Newmont had a net debt-to-earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) ratio of 0.3.

Newmont has numerous growth projects in its pipeline to ensure it continues producing plenty of the yellow metal in years to come.

With the company generating strong free cash flow during this period of high gold prices, it seems likely that the company will be able to fund these projects with organic cash instead of relying on debt or issuing equity to raise capital in the near future.

AngloGold Ashanti is a lustrous choice for passive income-hungry investors

For the most part, those looking to supplement their passive income streams are rushing to gold stocks. Because gold producing operations and activities to identify new resources are incredibly capital-intensive, businesses will often retain the cash they generate to fund future growth. But not AngloGold Ashanti. Instead, the company -- whose stock offers an alluring 3.5% forward yield -- is dedicated to returning capital to shareholders in addition to maintaining its financial health.
Loved ones and detectives in Los Angeles County are seeking help in the search for a missing teenager who suffers from depression.

According to the L.A. County Sheriffs Department, the teen, Noah Joseph, is described as a 14-year-old white male and county resident.

Joseph was last seen around 3 p.m. on Friday, May 2, on the 2200 block of Del Mar Road in the city of Montrose.

Family members are concerned about Josephs safety and well-being, especially as he requires daily medication for his depression.

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Joseph is about 5 feet and 6 inches tall, weighs about 190 pounds and has black hair, brown eyes and glasses.

Noah Joseph, 14, is seen here in this photo taken in April of 2025. (LASD)

He was last seen wearing a green and white striped sweater and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Crescenta Valley Station Detective Ponce or the on-duty Watch Commander at 818-248-3464.

To provide information anonymously, you may call Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  For the second year in a row, Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell has not included funding specifically for license plate recognition technology in his proposed budget. Although OConnell told News 2 he believes there is room in the numbers to include LPRs, not everyone agrees.

Two weeks ago, Metro Councilmember for District 26, Courtney Johnston, was eager to see whether OConnell would fund LPRs in his 2026 budget after no funding for the technology was proposed for the 2025 fiscal year.

Highlights from Mayor Freddie OConnells State of Metro Address and proposed budget for fiscal year 2026

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That shows you his intent, Johnston told News 2 on April 18. If he fails to fund, he has no intention of moving forward the contracts.

In his proposed budget, OConnell set aside $24.7 million dollars for the Metro Nashville Police Department. However, it didnt mention LPRs specifically. OConnell told News 2 that doesnt necessarily mean the technology is entirely out of the question.

If we can get our proposed LPR policy framework through the Metro Council, we believe we could fund that initiative, OConnell said. And I think there would be many different opportunities. Youre not going to see a line item in there for it, but I think the capacity is there.

Yet Johnston said she thinks the omission sends a different message.

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The police department asked for $2.8 million in this years budget in order to fund the LPR program and that is peanuts in a $3.8 billion budget, Johnston said. And I think theres no better way to spend money  taxpayer dollars  than to improve safety.

Johnston added that Metro Council had previously passed an LPR policy. She said the next step is waiting on vendor contracts from the mayors office.

Metro Councilmember for District 32, Joy Styles, was also frustrated to see another year of LPRs not mentioned in the budget.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Representing a district that is majority-minority  I have minority constituents that are begging for it; I have minority business owners that are begging for it, Styles told News 2. To have to explain our mayor is just basically playing games and not valuing what Nashvillians want  its a horrible place to be put in.

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A recent Vanderbilt University poll found more than 80% of Nashville residents polled were for LPRs  as long as there were restrictions on how the data was used.

Both Styles and Johnston hope to see amendments to the budget, specifically funding for LPRs, before it passes.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
This weeks election results should serve as a sobering checkpoint for the Labour Party.

With Labour losing the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform, it is clear the British public is sending a message, and its not the one Keir Starmer was hoping to hear.

Let me be upfront: I supported Labour at the 2024 General Election and still do. I believed then, as I do now, that change was necessary after 14 years of Conservative government.

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There are indeed many areas where Labour is making progress. Cutting outdated civil service bureaucracy is long overdue, and early steps toward planning reform are encouraging. We urgently need more homes, and Labours policies reflect a willingness to act.

But ambition is still lacking where it matters most: business and investment. The party is still falling short on one of the most critical tests of modern leadership: making Britain appear open, competitive and business-friendly.

I believe in low taxes. I am a capitalist with a humanitarian interest in making Great Britain a better, more prosperous place for everyone.

We will not achieve that goal by pushing away success and punishing enterprise. If we want Britain to thrive, we must make it a tax-friendly country, for both those living here and those considering moving here to invest and grow.

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Right now, ultra-high net worth individuals are leaving the UK in droves. Friends and colleagues of mine are choosing to relocate and invest elsewhere, like Monaco and Dubai, because they feel Britain no longer welcomes success.

While this may sound like a niche concern affecting only the very wealthy, the reality is that it has far-reaching consequences for everyone. When a wealthy individual leaves the UK, they take their capital, their taxes, their charitable giving, and sometimes their businesses, along with the jobs and opportunities those businesses create.

Whats worse is that we are not attracting enough fresh talent or investment to replace what we are losing and in truth we shouldnt be losing any unless its for lifestyle reasons. That is the real issue. Britain should be a magnet for entrepreneurs, investors and innovators.

Instead, the signals Labour is sending, especially around taxation, feel defensive, punitive and uncertain. In a world where capital is mobile and competition is fierce, that approach simply does not work.

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Take the plan to scrap non-dom tax status. It might win easy headlines and play well politically but it risks doing far more harm than good. We need to attract investment and talent, not drive it out. Britain should be a place where global capital feels welcome, not one where it feels punished.

Let me be clear: while I am massively against high taxes, I accept that we need to raise a certain amount of tax revenue, but it should be done in the least destructive way, not just the least uncomfortable in the short term.

One clear signal of public sentiment lies in the rise of Reform UK. Their surge reflects deep disillusionment, not just with the Conservatives, but with Labour too. A major swing away from Labour and toward Reform indicates that a serious rethink is needed at the top.

And yet, I do not write this to tear down Keir Starmer.

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On the contrary, I have been impressed with his calm and statesmanlike handling of foreign policy, particularly on Ukraine. At a time when Western unity is under strain and global leadership often feels in short supply, Starmer has shown a steady hand.

He has backed the UKs military and humanitarian support for Ukraine without hesitation, and he has done so with a seriousness and dignity that stands in contrast to the populist posturing we too often see on the world stage today. He has not played politics with it. He has shown real leadership.

In his approach to international affairs, Starmer reminds us that Britain can still be a respected voice in the world: principled, measured and committed to its allies. That kind of judgment is not easy to come by, and it is something I give him full credit for.

At the heart of all this is a simple wish: I want to feel proud to be British.

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Despite our challenges, Great Britain remains an incredible place. We are home to world-leading universities, pioneering businesses, rich cultural heritage and resilient, creative people. From the factory floors of the Midlands to the tech hubs of London and Edinburgh, there is so much potential here. But we need vision and policies that unlock that promise, not stifle it. I want to see a government that believes in Britains future as much as its past.

But goodwill alone will not win elections. This weeks results should be a call to action. Labour must listen carefully to the electorate. It must not assume it has the next general election in the bag.

The British public are watching. They are judging. And they are more than willing to change direction again if they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously.

Labour has time. But not much. Rethink now or risk regret later.

John Caudwell is an entrepreneur and philanthropist

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It has messed our big day up and is causing stress, said Carly Jane. It is a cake I have always loved.



The 35-year-old bride-to-be from Kent was lamenting an unfortunate situation days before her wedding. She and her future husband, Edward Church, had ordered two personalised giant caterpillar cakes from Marks & Spencer: a Colin and a Connie, to serve as their wedding cakes.

Colin, an eternally larval chocolate log, is perhaps the most famous branded cake in the UK, beloved of young, old and birthday-celebrating colleagues alike. While regular and bite-size versions are available in-store, M&S also offers large versions through their website.

But thanks to the crippling cyber-attack which has left the M&S website down for more than a week, leaving the retailer unable to fulfil its orders, Carly and Edward are heading towards marital life without a Colin or Connie to see them off.

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I cannot understand why they cannot get us one, Carly told The Sun. Their bakers are there. The ovens havent stopped.

Carly Jane was heartbroken as a cyber attack left her wedding without the two personalised Colin and Connie caterpillar cakes from M&S she had ordered for her big day

The attack on M&S, which was first reported on Easter Monday, was followed by similar attacks on the Co-op on April 29 and Harrods on April 30. These are only the ones we know about; the vast majority of such incidents never make it to the papers.

The number of cyber attacks is going up inexorably, says Professor Alan Woodward, a professor of cyber crime at the University of Surrey. There must be hundreds a day on organisations like M&S. Most will bounce off, but you only need one to get through. Thats what were seeing with Co-op and Harrods too.

While even a giant, personalised Colin will only set you back 50, the combined cost to British business of the attacks is stretching towards a billion pounds when taking in the nosedive in M&Ss share price, the fall in its profits and the impact on the Co-op and Harrods. The knock-on effects may be greater still, as other retailers take measures to protect themselves from the carnage that has engulfed their competitors.

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The usual view of this kind of cyber crime is that it is something that happens to other people. The Hollywood-endorsed stereotype is that hackers are angry lone-wolf young men in basements who target faceless government agencies or financial institutions: a menace, certainly, but not something that affects ordinary people week to week.

The reality is that cyber attacks today are sophisticated operations run by groups of well-organised criminals, who can target large but vulnerable institutions in the hope of extracting huge ransoms. The National Cyber Security Centres website states that 76 per cent of large organisations have had some kind of cyberattack in the past year. Cybercrime is thought to cost the UK more than 27 billion per year.

While it can be hard for customers to sympathise with attacks on large corporations, when it affects high-street retailers they feel the effects at once. Carly and Edward are among thousands of shoppers who have been affected by the M&S outage. The website processes nearly 4 million worth of business per day, but the crisis has affected in-store business, too. Shelves have been left empty and contactless payments systems have been down, while some of M&Ss 65,000-strong workforce have been unable to use certain IT systems from home. The share price has fallen almost nine per cent, with the company losing more than 700 million in value since the attack.

Data from Similarweb, a digital market intelligence company, showed visitor numbers to M&Ss website had fallen by 18 per cent in the week to April 28 versus the seven days prior to roughly 715,000 per day. Most customers have been unable to check out or complete their orders.

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At the retailers branch in Chelsea on Friday, one shopper, Lucinda Glassey, 55, said that she had been unable to pick up her sons school uniform on Easter Monday.

I had to leave the store without buying anything and come back the next day, she told The Telegraph. It was quite annoying. I also had a click and collect for my sons school uniform which got cancelled. That was stressful because I needed it there and then. I really feel for M&S because I am quite loyal to them but many other customers will leave.

Meanwhile users on X posted pictures of empty shelves in some M&S branches but curiously overstocked ones in others, the result of operations having seemingly gone haywire.

I checked the M&S Aberdeen status online & drew cash as a precaution. I then drove 1 hour, paid for parking, and found an empty M&S on Sunday 27/4. Staff say the cyber attack is the cause.



I appreciate the ongoing issues but M&S need to keep customers better informed. pic.twitter.com/oWtyeXIehh  LittleA  (@SponPlague) April 27, 2025

M&S was the first of three high-profile British retailers attacked in under a fortnight. On Wednesday, the Co-op said it had shut down parts of its IT systems after hackers tried to gain access. Social media users reported that the Co-op app was not working; the retailer replied to say they were working on fixing it.

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Harrods, meanwhile, said that it had restricted internet access at the companys sites after attacks, although its online and physical shops were working as normal.

In a statement issued on its website, the marquee brand said it had experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of its systems, adding that its seasoned IT security team immediately took steps to keep the firm safe and its flagship store and other outlets open to customers.

A desperate scramble for solutions

If a cyber attack is tedious for customers, that is nothing next to the flat-out panic it can induce in businesses. Initially, M&S sought to put a brave face on the incident, even as IT teams scrambled in the background to work out which systems had been compromised.

After contactless systems went down over the Easter weekend, Stuart Machin, the M&S chief executive, said it had been necessary temporarily [to] make some small changes to protect shoppers. On the front line, workers were struggling to get systems running. Bloody nightmare, wrote one worker on a Reddit thread dedicated to the crisis. We werent able to put any new things out [on the shelves] because we couldnt get any labels to print. At head office, though, its technology team was facing a bigger problem. IT experts were racing to understand the extent of the ransomware attack. Systems were initially taken down so tech teams could focus solely on stopping the assault.

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Bosses now believe they are through the first wave. The focus has turned to repairing and recovering IT systems, as experts assess the scale of the damage. In some cases, insiders say the retailer will be forced to simply replace computer systems. Last week, new workaround systems were being rapidly rolled out that would allow M&S to start to get food supplies back up again. But the clear-up will take some time. The retailer is believed to be bracing for weeks of ongoing disruption. Online ordering systems  both those used by customers and businesses themselves  are particularly challenging to get back online because they rely so heavily on automation.

Machin said his team were working day and night to resolve the problem and was really sorry for the disruption, but he could not guarantee when online shopping would be up and running again.

Although the firm has kept its cards close to its chest, M&S employees have been posting on social media about the scale of the fallout. One said systems had been working in slow motion, while another said it was easier to list the things that work than the things that dont.

Technology is great when it works, wrote one employee in West Bromwich. But when it doesnt, the whole world has a meltdown!

Inside the attack: What happened at M&S

The M&S attackers are reported to be a disparate group of teenage hackers called Scattered Spider. Unusually, they are a native English group, rather than from the former Soviet Union or North Korea, as is more often the case. Some experts believe this may have helped them gain access to the M&S system  via a phishing text or email  that let them take control.

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Native English authenticity can sometimes lead to an automatic sense of trust, Nathaniel Jones, the vice-president of threat research at the cybersecurity firm Darktrace, told The Guardian. There is a level of perceived familiarity that might cause personnel or even IT teams to lower their guard slightly.

Cyber crime of this kind is asymmetrical; all it takes is a single crafty teenager  and someone with a motive  to bring a FTSE-100 company to its knees. A cottage industry has arisen of coders who develop malicious software and sell it on to organised criminals, who can then use programmes to target whoever they please. As the ransomware is constantly evolving, the defences need to as well.

Youve got some very clever people creating the actual malicious software, probably only a few hundred who can do that, and then crime gangs will come along and hire it out as a service, says Alan Woodward. You can buy toolkits on the dark web [a harder to trace version of the internet favoured by criminals]. The level of technical understanding you really need to use it is very limited. Thats the reason these attacks are increasing. Why take the risk walking into a bank with a sawn-off shotgun when you can do this?

AI expert Durgan Cooper, chairman of tech solutions provider CETSAT, who has advised the House of Lords on cybersecurity, says AI is making attacks even easier. AI is lowering the barrier to entry for more complex attacks, he says, adding that AI is shortening the time needed for hackers to work out a systems vulnerabilities, after they have gained initial access. At present there is an average of 180 days between access and attack.

Whos behind the chaos?

The assault on M&S follows the increasingly typical pattern of ransom attacks. A hacking group will use malicious software to seize control of a companys computer systems, scrambling data and in effect locking the system until a ransom is paid, usually in the form of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency which cannot be traced.

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At the simplest level this can be a hacker taking hold of a small business or even an individuals social media account and demanding money to return it. Small business owners, for whom social media can be a vital source of customers, are frightened into paying the cost.

You feel total total panic, says Tobias Vernon, of the moment hackers seized the Instagram account of his interiors boutique and gallery, 8 Holland Street, 18 months ago. Our Instagram account and a few pieces of press coverage are basically our whole reputation. A few hundred thousand pounds a year of sales are from Instagram. The direct loss would have been massive.

After agonising over what to do, he transferred $2,000 in Bitcoin to an unknown account and eventually had the site returned to him. A few months later he was contacted by the owner of a cafe in Sydney which had been targeted by the same criminals, asking  perversely  for him to assure her that her account would be returned if she paid, like a kind of criminal TripAdvisor review. I said I hate to say this, but personally, we did get our account back, Vernon recalls. So if its valuable to you, I recommend paying.

The principle scales up. Businesses of all sizes are faced with a choice. They can pay up, write off the cost and hope the criminals stick to their word. Authorities advise companies not to do so, and the number shelling out has fallen, with many preferring to delay instead. In 2019, between 70 and 80 per cent of companies paid out during ransomware attacks, according to cyber insurance provider Resilience. Last year, it was just 30 per cent.

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Still, many have paid. The IT company Capita estimates that its response to a ransomware breach in 2023 cost it between 20-25 million. That does not appear to have involved paying a ransom.

In May 2021, it was reported that the American insurance giant CNA had paid more than $40 million in ransom after attackers stole information and encrypted its network. In June of that year, the meat-packing company JBS said it paid the equivalent of $11 million to hackers REvil, a Russian group, after a cyber attack temporarily halted all its cattle-slaughtering operations in the US.

This was a very difficult decision to make for our company and for me personally, said Andre Nogueira, then CEO of JBS USA, about the payment. However, we felt this decision had to be made to prevent any potential risk for our customers.

Alternatively, firms can battle on, accepting the risk that the hackers will call their bluff and release damaging information. In 2021 REvil targeted the Harris Federation, a group which runs 55 schools in London and the south-east.

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It was an absolute nightmare, Sir Dan Moynihan, who runs the Federation, told the BBC. Their purpose was to blackmail us into paying $4 million (3 million) in cryptocurrency within 10 days. If we didnt pay in 10 days, they wanted $8 million.

Rather than pay up, Moynihan employed a group of cyber-crime specialists including a hostage negotiator. It took three months, and a cost of 750,000 to get his systems working again. But he said there was no question of handing over money intended for disadvantaged young people, and besides if they had paid they would have opened the door for other school groups to be attacked.

Whichever route you take, there is then the matter of rebuilding your systems and safeguarding them against future attack. At least one major supermarket is understood to use penetration testers or ethical hackers, who will regularly try to hack their systems to identify where potential gaps are. Asda last week told staff they were pushing through a forced update of IT systems to make sure all laptops were running the latest software. In a memo to staff who work from home, seen by The Telegraph, it said it was taking the step in light of recent security threats in the retail sector.

Senior executives at M&S are understood to have been concerned over a lack of spending on IT and cybersecurity for some time. At an investor conference last November, Rachel Higham, M&S chief digital and technology officer, said there had been a decade of underinvestment in IT. She said the company did not have enough in-house experts, with a critical internal knowledge gap.

John Allan, the former chairman of Tesco, says cyber threats are a constant worry in boardrooms. While he was at the supermarket, in 2021, it took its website and app down in response to an attempted hack.

You hope that people will realise theres a problem and if they cant solve it, theyll bring in help, he says. It should be all hands to the pump. But, its difficult because, of course, most hands havent got a clue what to do.

I dont think any company on earth can make itself 100 per cent cybersecurity proof but you can take action to make it much more difficult for people to get in, he adds. You hope you have the most difficult system to break into because the criminals tend to go for the softer option.

This week, rival retailers were scrambling to understand what had happened at M&S  and how they could avoid a similar fate. The genuine assessment were hearing is that they are totally f----ed, one insider told The Telegraph. Its very much there but for the grace of god for any of us.

The costs beyond the technical fallout

The rising costs of combatting cyber crime can have a dampening effect on overall business. Analysts at Deutsche Bank estimate M&Ss profits will have taken a 30 million blow from the ongoing turmoil. The retailer insists that it has appropriate and comprehensive insurance in place.

The Deutsche Bank analysts say they expect such protection will cover the majority of the losses, but warn that policies are generally time limited so further costs will likely be incurred by M&S.

There is a human cost to these attacks too, says Professor Danny Dresner, a cybersecurity expert at the University of Manchester.

The M&S attacks will be traumatic for staff, he adds. There will be the technical staff who have to work all hours  and the ones who will worry that it was them who clicked on something that took the company down.

The future of cybersecurity in retail

The practical solution, Dresner says, is greater vigilance and preparation. There are no silver bullets, he cautions. But a combination of factors can help, all the way through to being able to cope when something bad happens.

He emphasises the need for segmentation of systems, so that an attack on one part of the company does not bring down the whole thing. Youve got to put in whatever protective measures you can.

Running a company in 2025 is already a gauntlet of rising costs, staff shortages, tax increases and Donald Trump-induced uncertainty. Just as anyone shipping goods around the Horn of Africa must build the threat of pirate attack into their costs and insurance planning, large organisations must prepare for the risk of cyber attack.

Compared to public sector bodies, financial institutions and other high profile targets, retailers have been slow to realise that the endless whack-a-mole nature of cybersecurity is now a core business cost.

Retail is considered to be a less mature market when it comes to the cybersecurity risk, says Si West, a director of customer engagement at Resilience. Time and time again, we hear from chief information security officers that they just havent got the budget. Its a classic sort of conundrum. That these teams wont get the budget until they actually get hit with a serious attack.

Watching the costly chaos that has engulfed M&S, and threatened Harrods and the Co-op, other retailers will presumably be battening down the hatches. And whatever the security measures, ransoms will remain part of the price of doing business for the foreseeable future. British customers may find it difficult to quantify the threat of cyber crime, but they understand all too well the risk of a missing Colin the Caterpillar cake.

Additional reporting by Jim Norton

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New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman on Friday checked President Donald Trumps wildly inaccurate claims about where gasoline prices stand in his second term.

There is actually a limit to how much he can keep saying that and have his own voters believe him but he right now seems to believe himself, Haberman told CNNs Kaitlan Collins of Trumps boasts of falling prices.

Trump  as part of his University of Alabama commencement address that he used to rant about politics on Thursday  claimed that the price of gas hit $1.88 a gallon in three states.

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Can you believe it? It was at $3.50. It was at $4. Were drilling, oh were drilling, Trump told the graduating class.

The national average for a gallon of gas is $3.18, per AAA, which is $1.30 more than Trumps figure (and $1.20 more than another number he boasted about on his Truth Social platform).

As of Friday, AAA found that Mississippi had the lowest state average for a gallon of gas at $2.66.

Collins asked Haberman whether she thinks Trump is as unconcerned as he appeared to be about the prospect of a recession due to his trade policies.

No, I dont but I think that that is the front that he is putting on, Haberman said.

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[The administration] did get good news today in terms of the jobs front. Yes, the market numbers rebounded somewhat. You are correct that he keeps saying things about prices that just dont comport with reality.

The president has repeatedly boasted about gas prices being lower than $2 under his administration, claims hes rested alongside other baseless assertions about the cost of groceries and eggs.

His recent claims at the University of Alabama arrive as he downplays the possibility of a recession sparked by his tariffs, telling Meet the Press host Kristen Welker that such a scenario would be a transition period.

Haberman told Collins that shes noticed Truth Social users replying to Trumps claims about decreasing prices, telling the president that his figures dont reflect those where they live.

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H/T: Mediaite

Related...
Comedian Bill Maher expressed frustration with the White House on Friday, just over 100 days since President Trump took office, citing economic uncertainty brought to the forefront by President Trumps latest tariffs.

We hit the 100-day mark of the Trump administration, as you know, this week, and ooh, the numbers are kind of in the toilet, Maher said, while pointing to market dips and polls that highlight the presidents dismal 39 percent approval rating since returning to office.

Thats the lowest 100-day mark for a president in 80 years. Its like America remarried their ex and remembered why they got divorced in the first place, he continued in an episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.

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Maher also noted that the U.S.s gross domestic product (GDP) has shrunk by 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025 and that consumer confidence is at its lowest point in five years.

Kind of a high price for getting back plastic straws, he said in a clip highlighted by Mediaite, joking about the presidents executive order targeting paper straws from earlier this year.

His critique comes after Trump last month levied a 10 percent baseline tax on nearly all foreign imports and announced higher reciprocal taxes on many nations. Following backlash, he paused most of the retaliatory tariffs for up to 90 days to allow room for negotiation. But, the administration notably left out one of the nations top trading partners: China.

The Liberation Day fallout has spooked many on Wall Street, with some experts suggesting the U.S. is headed for or is already in a recession. The president has largely brushed off the concerns  even claiming earlier this week that children would be OK with fewer toys.

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But, you know, Trump, he only doubles down, Maher said Friday. I mean, this guy, I got to say, the balls on him, they asked him about whats going to happen Christmas, because  80 percent of the toys come from China, and this is the time theyre starting to plan for that.

The thing is that people in this country now, we dont understand why were doing this, he added later. Why are we fing putting ourselves through this? To bring manufacturing back from China to make the things here that they make in China? Thats the American dream?

Trump has mostly defended his sweeping tariff agenda, arguing it will bring jobs and domestic production back to the U.S. But, after Wednesdays GDP report, he acknowledged that the U.S. may feel some pain from the steep taxes  and asked for time to fix it.

When asked by NBCs Meet the Press in an interview set to air Sunday about whether Americans should be worried about a recession, he said anything can happen.

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GRANGER, Iowa  The city of Granger is now leaning on nearby towns emergency aid departments after the majority of their EMS workers resigned.

This week, the Granger City Council approved the termination of the citys EMS chief, Jess Juhl. In response, 17 of the Granger EMS staff submitted their identical resignation letters, and two more did the following days.

Granger Mayor Tony James and the city council are combining the EMS and fire services under one department going forward, instead of two separate. This also included a $35,000 cut to the EMS budget.

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James said in a statement the city has invested $350,000 for a new ambulance and command vehicle, plus are funding a $3 million public safety building.

The EMS workers dont agree with the decisions being made about how to handle the EMS department. Juhl also said she was told part of the reason for her firing was hours not logged and lack of communication. She says she disagrees with that.

How this came about was just kind of unbelievable. And when I asked in the hearing, can you show me where this is coming from? Theres no answer, no response, Juhl said. And I think that is the most frustrating thing because Im a very reasonable person and I want to do a good job. It was kind of out of the blue. They decided we werent making enough of our calls and that they wanted to combine the departments.

And she had an army behind her.

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Iowa man charged in deadly Appanoose County shooting

She was able to be reached 24 hours a day. I mean, I have seen her come in on days off. Ive seen her work on things outside of work, said Jerry Breneman, who resigned this week as a Granger paramedic. She felt bad and she was frustrated with that because she felt it wasnt fair. I mean, shes a citizen as well. And I also dont think that its fair that now the citizens in Granger may have to wait longer for care to arrive.

The city council defined success as a single responder arriving on scene and I said absolutely not. That should be the exception, not the standard, Juhl said. They didnt want to leave Granger. They didnt want to quit their job. But they were in agreeance that what the city was deciding wasnt in the best interests for the citizens, for the members safety, for the care that we could provide.

Obviously, we dont want anything to happen to the citizens. We want them to have the best care they can. But when we resigned, our goal was to shine a light on whats actually happening instead of having it swept under the rug. We didnt want care to go down, which is what would happen by cutting staffing, Breneman said.

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Mayor James is now trying to recruit new members for their EMS and public safety team.

He also says theyll hold a community open forum May 19th. at 6 p.m.

Iowa News:

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WICHITA COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL)  A man is accused of posting nude pictures of an ex-girlfriend online, leading police to discover what they referred to as child sexual abuse material on his cell phone.

Matthew Oblisk was arrested by the Wilbarger County Sheriffs Office on April 17 for charges of unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material and possession of child pornography, both out of Wichita County.

Woman arrested for allegedly harming exs newborn puppy

Mugshot of Matthew Oblisk, booked into the Wilbarger County Jail on April 17, 2025 (Mugshot courtesy Wilbarger County Sheriffs Office)

Police said a report was made back in February by a man claiming someone was sending him links through Instagram containing nude pictures of his girlfriend.

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According to the affidavit, police spoke to the victim, who suspected Oblisk, her ex-boyfriend, was responsible, later discovering 15 pictures or videos of her on a pornographic website.

Authorities said they traced the uploading account to Oblisk, who admitted to posting the intimate photos and videos during a consent search of his phone.

According to the affidavit, police said they located child sex abuse material on Oblisks phone involving pre-pubescent children and younger.

Oblisk no longer appears in the Wilbarger County jail log.

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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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man wanted on multiple warrants for several violent incidents and featured on the Metro Nashville Police Departments list of Most Wanted fugitives has been arrested and jailed.

Metro police announced Walter Rivera Morel, 44, remains jailed on a $752,000 bond following his arrest on North Natchez Court Thursday.

PREVIOUS | Man sought for aggravated arson added to Metros Most Wanted fugitives list

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Morel was reportedly trespassing on the South Nashville property Thursday, May 1, when he provided police with a fake name. He was arrested for criminal trespassing before officers discovered he was wanted on 10 warrants for various incidents, including aggravated arson, aggravated assault and attempted homicide.

According to police, Morel was identified as one of two suspects involved in a December fire set at a Rio Vista Drive duplex that had a woman and her three children inside. The suspects reportedly poured fuel on the front door before lighting the home on fire. A witness allegedly attempted to confront Morel and his accomplice, but the two fired shots toward the witnesss vehicle and then fled.

For this incident he was added to the MNPD Most Wanted list in January. He spent all of January on the list, according to the MNPD Criminal Warrants Division.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Morel is also charged with beating a man with a wooden 24 during an April 21 argument over a vape on Murfreesboro Pike, police said. As the man Morel was arguing with attempted to flee, he was shot, according to authorities.

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Morel reportedly confessed to his involvement in the December arson during an interview with detectives Friday morning. He is now charged with five counts of aggravated assault, four counts of aggravated arson, and one count of attempted homicide, criminal impersonation and criminal trespassing, according to police.

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He adds: I think the future is quite exciting. If Gen AI was the buzzword of the year in 2024, then this year, the hot topic seems to be agentic AI systems that can essentially operate autonomously. They make decisions and orchestrate specialised AI agents to perform the tasks that you need to achieve a desired outcome. The technology still needs to develop further, quite a bit, but we recommended that bankers should be developing their AI strategy with the anticipation that agentic AI supported workflows will become a viable option in the next five years. But this is still about optimising how the bank operates internally. And of course, in my mind, I think the real game changer is if and when customers themselves start using AI agents that can act on their behalf. Longer term, banks will really have to rethink what customer engagement means for them in this brave new world.

Bareisis says that as regards the areas banks are planning to invest in Gen AI, 44% of banks highlight digital channels as their biggest priority, followed by 32% that reference marketing, and financial crime at 22%.

There are of course different forms of AI, and the one that's been attracting the most attention recently is generative AI. And I think it's fair to say that it's still relatively early days for Gen AI adoption, but our survey shows that already 37% of banks are live with using large language models and Gen AI for things like fraud or process failure detection. 33% use it to support their IT developers and when it comes to actual products and services that use Gen AI, it's 18% of retail banks that now, globally, are already live with at least one of them. A further 54% are experimenting or running a pilot. Interestingly, the European banks appear to be the most active in this area.

At Celent, we work with banks and their technology partners to help them make confident technology decisions. And as part of that, we always track closely where and how banks are investing in technology.

AI and advanced analytics is the biggest technology priority for the industry for the next 18 months, says Bareisis.

These are just some of the key questions addressed in this GlobalData Instant Insights podcast, chaired by RBI editor Douglas Blakey and featuring a stellar group of industry commentators, namely:

What are the biggest near-term opportunities for AI in retail banking? What is the state of the market as regards bank implementation and what are some of the barriers holding banks back from faster adoption?

Story Continues

Democratisation of access to individualised experiences

Curinos strategic hire of Olly Downs as chief technology and AI officer emphasised the firms commitment to innovation and helping financial institutions thrive in an era of mass personalisation. Downs has built his career pioneering the application of the emerging sciences of machine learning and probabilistic reasoning and has been the inventor on 41 US patents spanning machine learning, personalisation, location-based services and quantum computing. He published his first academic paper on generative AI back in 1999, rather highlighting the point that we have witnessed a number of evolutionary stages of AI to date.

I think we're going to see a democratisation of access to individualised experiences, experiences that can really be tailored or personalised to the individual, says Downs.

He acknowledges the appetite of the banking sector to embrace AI, tempered with caution around the need to ensure compliance with the unique challenges of the banking regulatory environment.

When I think about compliance in the AI space, I think about it as finding the right points in automated solutions that use AI to insert a human in the loop and create those right boundaries between AI driven and human intelligence driven decision making and experience creation.

Success requires human + AI: Ryan Cox-Synechron

The journey from good enough AI to yielding great innovation and productivity lies in the synergy of human creativity and algorithmic precision, argues Ryan Cox, head of AI at Synechron.

We're really thinking about how AI can integrate with the human expertise. It means that banks can ultimately help automate those repetitive, boring and mundane tasks. This allows employees to really focus then more on strategy and creative activities. So that then effectively leads to increased productivity and efficiency and contributes to a higher ROI.

On the cost reduction side as well, AI can minimise some of the operational costs and minimise some of the errors that happen at scale. I think secondly, we look at innovation and just overall competitive advantage. Humans have that creativity to bring to the table and AI is just not there yet. AI provides the algorithmic precision. And that's both a combination of Gen AI that everyone's talking about as just well as some of the classic machine learning. That also helps us drive innovation, to think about new products and new banking services.

And then finally, I think the third major area is overall improved decision making. That can be at top of house from the C suite, as well as some of the key lieutenants in the organisations, as they're now able to get data driven insights. That intelligence layer on top of the analytics, really enables banks to make those more informed decisions. That means that you effectively become a lot more data driven and are more accurate and precise in how you unlock that productivity and innovation.

Exciting things ahead including new channels of revenue: Andrew Ellis, KPMG

KPMG research released in the second half of 2024 highlights the extent to which generative AI is already having a significant impact on organisations. According to KPMG, executive management says revenue growth is the top goal for GenAI investment.

Where the industry is going is the path of agentic artificial intelligence, says KPMGs Andrew Ellis. This allows machines to make decisions based on rules, which is really powerful when it comes to looking for new channels of revenue, efficiencies around credit administration and lending, as well as some of the more traditional areas around back-office operations.

There are lots of exciting things ahead. When I look from 2024 to 2025 at the incredible evolution of our clients, such as their [AI] governance and steering committees, they are really making sure they're being very thoughtful in their approach. With all the implementation and execution work that is going on and the way the technology is evolving, there are some very exciting things we're looking forward to in the next few years as we work with our clients.

"AI and advanced analytics  The biggest technology priority for the next 18 months: Celent" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




A Kentucky man is now in a Florida jail after claiming a $167 million lottery prize.

According to WKYT, 50-year-old James Farthing was taken into police custody Wednesday for assault on an officer.

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He was arrested with his girlfriend, 42-year-old Jacqueline Fightmaster, after a fight at a resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida, according to Local 12.

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Farthing won the massive multi-million dollar Powerball jackpot after buying the ticket Saturday, Local 12 says.

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Reports from the scene obtained by WKYT say that officers tried to intervene in an argument between Farthing and another hotel guest when Farthing punched the guest in the face.

The arresting officer claims Farthing kicked him in the face and refused to comply with orders, WKYT says.

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Officers found Fightmaster intoxicated and trying to provoke other people at the bar, Local 12 says.

Farthing is facing charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and two unspecified misdemeanors, Local 12 says, and remains behind bars.

Fightmaster was released, but was charged with public intoxication, according to Local 12.

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St. Paul Police said Saturday that theyve arrested a man on suspicion of murder.

Officers found a woman, who her friends said was in a relationship with the suspect, dead in the couples Frogtown home early Friday. Her 2-year-old daughter was also in the home and not harmed.

Police said they located the suspect in Minneapolis. The 34-year-old is being held in the Ramsey County jail.

Officers responded to a request to check a persons well-being about 5:15 a.m. Friday at a house on Edmund Avenue between Virginia and Farrington streets. A caller reported a woman might have been injured and that a toddler might have been left alone, said Sgt. Toy Vixayvong, a St. Paul police spokesman, said Friday afternoon.

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St. Paul Fire Department medics pronounced the 33-year-old woman dead at the scene. Police did not say Friday how she was killed.

The woman and the man had a child together, she told police who responded to a domestic assault in 2023 at the Edmund Avenue house, which they owned together, according to court and property records.

The suspect was twice convicted of domestic assault against the woman, and once convicted of assault against a woman he was previously in a relationship with, Minnesota court records show.

Help for domestic violence in Minnesota is available 24/7 through the Day One hotline by calling 866-223-1111 or texting 612-399-9995.

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STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A man and a woman have both been charged and arrested after a Thursday pursuit by deputies, according to the Stafford County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies responded to reports of a Nissan blocking traffic at 4:37 p.m. on the Jessica Cheney Bridge due to a driver being asleep behind the wheel.

Parents charged with murder after fentanyl found in 2-year-olds blood, police say

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Deputies said the driver and the passenger appeared to be intoxicated, and while the deputy was speaking with the driver, he attempted to flee but was unable to figure out how to start the car.

The deputy attempted to detain the driver, but he ran from the scene on foot, towards a nearby Buffalo Wild Wings on Stafford Market Place.

The man locked himself in the bathroom before deputies entered and arrested him.

The driver, identified as Jayshon Bates, 23, was charged with driving under the influence, eluding, obstruction of justice, possession of controlled substances, and driving with a suspended license.

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Deputies searched the car and located various THC products and cocaine.

Deputies add that the passenger did not attempt to run away from the scene but did provide a false identity to law enforcement and claimed to be a 50-year-old woman.

Parents charged with murder after fentanyl found in 2-year-olds blood, police say

The passengers true identity was determined, and deputies discovered the passenger, Ajae Jackson, 24, was wanted out of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. She was then transported to the hospital, where she reportedly began acting very disorderly.

Jackson was charged with possession of controlled substances, public intoxication, providing a false identity to law enforcement, identity theft, unlawful name change, disorderly conduct on hospital grounds, and served on her outstanding warrants.

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Both are being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was arrested in Keizer after being accused of possessing stolen guns and psychedelic mushrooms, authorities said.

Wyden calls for inquiry into Trump targeting Harvard

Luis Angel Escobedo-Castaneda, 25, was allegedly high on suspected mushrooms when he was arrested behind a Dutch Brothers Coffee house on Wednesday, following a caller reporting suspicious behavior, Keizer police said.

A man was arrested after being accused of burgling a home for guns and posessing mushrooms. April 30, 2025 (courtesy Keizer Police Department). A handgun found on a person who was arrested after being accused of burgling a home and posessing mushrooms. April 30, 2025 (courtesy Keizer Police Department). A stolen gun allegedly taken from a home in Keizer. April 30, 2025 (courtesy Keizer Police Department). Two stolen guns allegedly taken from a home in Keizer. April 30, 2025 (courtesy Keizer Police Department). A stolen gun allegedly taken from a home in Keizer. April 30, 2025 (courtesy Keizer Police Department).

Mr. Escobedo-Castaneda was found to be in possession, on his person, a firearm and, was in possession of four additional firearms that were taken in a burglary from a residence on Churchdale Ave N that morning, the Keizer Police Department said in a press release.

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Escobedo-Castaneda was booked into the Marion County Correctional Facility and accused of first-degree burglary, four counts of first-degree theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance.

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An investigation is underway after officials found a dead man inside of an RV that caught fire in Concord, New Hampshire, early Monday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshals Office.

The man was found inside of the RV after the Concord Fire Department extinguished the heavy flames at 277 Sheep Davis Road around 3:30 a.m., the office of State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said in a statement. The fire was under control within 30 minutes.

The mans body was taken to the states Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy to confirm his identity and determine the cause and manner of death.

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Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to calll the fire marshals office at 603-223-4289 or email at fmo@dos.nh.gov.

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A man who struck and killed a county deputy with his car Friday is the father of a teen who was shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer a day earlier as officers were responding to a call about a stolen car, police said. Authorities said the crash appeared to be intentional.

The driver of the car, 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., was charged with aggravated murder in the deputys death, police said.

Hinton appeared in court Saturday, with a wall of deputies standing at the back of the room. A prosecutor said evidence and witnesses will show that Hinton drove directly at the deputy in an attempt to kill him. A judge ordered that Hinton be held until another hearing on Tuesday.

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An attorney representing Hilton said in court that he has no prior felonies and understands it's a serious charge, WLWT-TV reported.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement that he was sickened by what appears to be an intentional act of violence.

Just a few hours before the crash, Hinton and other family members met at the police chiefs office Friday morning and watched a police body camera video showing an officer shoot the teen, said Michael Wright, an attorney hired by the family of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton.

Rodney Hinton could not make it through the entire video and did not say a word, said Wright, who is not representing Hinton on the crash charges.

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He was distraught, he was upset, Wright said Saturday.

In a statement issued later on behalf of Ryan Hintons family, the law firm offered heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of the deputy who was killed. The firm called it an unimaginable tragedy for the community and said the teen's family was heartbroken by the events and devastated for the deputy's family.

The Hamilton County Sheriffs deputy was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati on graduation day when he was hit by a car that drove into an intersection, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said.

Authorities did not identify the deputy, who retired from the department a few months ago but was continuing to work off-duty assignments, said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey.

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He was so well-liked and so well-known, McGuffey said. What a tremendous loss we have all suffered."

Authorities said the circumstances of the crash were being investigated.

If the facts show this act was intentional, as the charge suggests, I will throw the full force of the law at the perpetrator, Hamilton County prosecutor Connie Pillich said in a statement Friday.

Ryan Hinton was shot twice and killed by police Thursday during a chase. The officer who fired told investigators that the suspect pointed a gun at him, said Cincinnati's police chief. Police showed photos during a news conference Friday of a semiautomatic handgun that they said he was carrying and another gun that was found in the car.

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One officer could be heard in body camera video released by police saying hes got a gun, hes got a gun" before several shots were fired as Ryan Hinton was running behind an apartment complex.

While the blurred images did not clearly show Hinton pointing a gun as he and the officer were running, Theetge said the officer told investigators that he had the firearm in front of him, it was pointed at the officer and the officer feared for his life.

There was no indication that Hinton fired at police before he was shot, she said.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A man is facing charges of migrant smuggling after he allegedly led Border Patrol agents on a chase earlier this week in east El Paso County, according to court documents obtained by KTSM.

Eddie Gonzalez Jr. is facing federal charges of migrant smuggling after he allegedly led Border Patrol agents on a chase on Monday, April 28, that started west of the Tornillo port of entry.

According to court documents, Border Patrol agents from the Clint Station were alerted to three people who were attempting to illegally enter the country on April 28, about five miles from the Tornillo port of entry in the eastern part of El Paso County.

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As agents approached the area, they saw a car suddenly speed off at a high rate of speed, according to court documents.

A Border Patrol agent exited his vehicle and motioned for the vehicle to stop. The agent was wearing his Border Patrol-issued vest while trying to signal for the car to stop, documents said.

The driver of the car, later identified as Gonzalez, continued at a high rate of speed and almost lost control, court documents said. He suddenly stopped near Texas Highway 20 (Alameda) and Leisure Lane in Clint.

An agent arrived at this location and observed the suspect exit his vehicle and take off running. The suspect was later observed being picked up by a pickup truck, which then traveled down Socorro Road at a high rate of speed, documents said.

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The driver of the pickup pulled over near the intersection of Alameda and Porter Rebb Road. Agents then approached the vehicle, identified themselves as Border Patrol, and questioned them.

The suspect and the driver, a juvenile, were both identified as U.S. citizens, according to court documents.

Both Gonzalez and the juvenile were placed under arrest and transported to the Clint Border Patrol Station.

At the Clint Station, the suspect provided a statement after hearing his Miranda rights. He admitted to having an agreement with a smuggler to pick up migrants and transport them. He told Border Patrol he was going to be paid $180.

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The suspect said he knew he was picking up migrants who were trying to enter the country illegally, court documents said.

He also said it was the second time he picked up migrants under this arrangement, court documents said.

The suspect said he did not know where he was taking the migrants to.

One individual was apprehended in the area where the agents were initially alerted about the alleged illegal entry into the country, documents said.

That person admitted to being a citizen of Mexico and being illegally present in the United States, according to court documents.

It is unclear if Gonzalez will face any charges for allegedly leading Border Patrol on a chase.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police are investigating a homicide after a man was found shot inside an apartment in Northeast on Friday afternoon.

Just after 12:45 p.m. on May 2, officers responded to the 600 block of 21st St. NE for a reported shooting.

DC police continue search for answers one year after three-year-old girl shot, killed in Southeast

There, they found Steven Stewart, 61, of Northeast, suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

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Officers described him as unconscious and not breathing.

Medics responded to the scene, but after finding no signs of life, Stewart was pronounced dead.

Police urge anyone with information to call 202-727-9099 or text a tip to 50411. MPD currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a homicide committed in the District.

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Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Wall Street is partying like it's 2024.

Shares of tech mega-caps soared on Thursday as strong earnings reports from Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms (META) breathed fresh life into the AI trade that's fueled stock market gains for the past two years.

Microsoft and Meta both beat expectations with their quarterly results on Wednesday. Microsoft reported a 21% increase in cloud revenue, while Meta said its AI is approaching 1 billion monthly active users.

The results boosted beaten-down AI and Big Tech stocks. Nvidia (NVDA) stock, which entered Thursday's session down 19% since the start of the year, was up about 4% in recent trading. Nuclear power providers Vistra (VST) and Constellation Energy (CEG), whose stocks soared last year on booming demand for electricity to power AI data centers, were up more than 6% and 8%, respectively, lifting both stocks into positive territory for the year. Networking tech company Arista Networks (ANET), down about 30% year-to-date as of Wednesday, jumped more than 7%.

AI Stocks Hit by Sell-Off Early This Year

AI stocks were hit hard by this year's market mayhem. AI stocks sold off in late January after advances by Chinese startup DeepSeek called into question the economic assumptions underpinning the AI trade. That panic was followed by President Donald Trump's global trade war, which sent investors racing into safe havens amid mounting concerns about a worldwide economic slowdown.

The economic uncertainty appeared to be taking a toll on AI investment. Microsoft's head of cloud operations last month said the company was pausing work on some AI data centers in their early phases, and Amazon was reportedly mulling slowing its data-center expansion.

Microsoft and Meta's results put those concerns to bedat least for now. Microsoft reiterated its plan to spend $80 billion this year, and Meta said it will boost its capital expenditures to between $64 billion and $72 billion to boost AI capacity. Google parent Alphabet (GOOG) also stood by its big AI spending plans when it reported solid earnings last week.



Executives on Wednesday justified their big spending plans by pointing to continued strong demand for AI services. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood told analysts demand was still higher than the company could satisfy, and that it would likely have some AI capacity constraints beyond June.

Earnings Bring Examples of AI Spending Payoffs

The results also gave investors some evidence that AI investments are paying off. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told analysts Wednesday that AI-driven content recommendations had increased time spent on its platforms by between 6% and 35% in the last six months.
WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI)  The man convicted of robbing a Warwick bank at gunpoint and then causing a crash while trying to evade capture will spend at least 18 years behind bars, according to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha.

Roy Mangum, 40, pleaded no contest to three counts of first-degree robbery, eluding police during a high-speed chase, driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury, carrying a dangerous weapon while committing a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by someone convicted of a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license.

Mangum was arrested in January 2024 after he walked into the TD Bank on West Shore Road and threatened three tellers with a handgun.

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Police said Mangum jumped the counter and grabbed more than $5,000 in cash from the drawer before running out of the bank.

Mangum took off in a black pickup truck, which an officer spotted speeding down Warwick Avenue. Police said Mangum refused to pull over and led officers on a high-speed chase down Warwick Avenue onto Airport Road.

The chase, which reached speeds of more than 100 mph at times, ended when Mangum crashed into an oncoming car at the intersection of Airport and Post roads.

Police said Mangum, who still had the stolen cash on him, was taken into custody following the crash. The driver of the other car and his two young children were brought to the hospital with serious injuries.

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Mangum was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years in prison with 18 to serve followed by 35 years of probation.

Neronha said Mangums lengthy sentence matches the severity of his crimes.

Unfortunately, [Mangums] actions are not the plotline of some action movie, but rather real-life crimes which demonstrate an utter disregard for both the law and public safety, Neronha said.

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LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA)  A man injured in a Lakeland shooting outside a restaurant last week is now accused of murder.

Given the nature of the charge at this point, the defendant will be held no bond on that charge, said a judge Friday afternoon.

Nicholas Lue, 26, of West Palm Beach, was in a wheelchair at his first appearance after being shot outside the Cali Rose 15 Kitchen on Ariana Street on April 24.

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According to his arrest affidavit, Lue went to the restaurant parking lot with Jesse Banks, identified by Lakeland police as gang members in common.

Powerball winner visiting Florida kicks Pinellas deputy in face days after hitting jackpot: affidavit

They waited for 23 minutes, according to police, until a man came outside.

Thats when they confronted him, punched him and asked about another man, reportedly telling him they were going to both die tonight, police said.

When an unidentified person opened the door, Lue and Banks attention turned to that person.

Everything is in very close proximity. Its close quarters at that point. Theyre close to the front door. When the front door opens, the attention gets diverted immediately towards the front door. Mr. Lue pulls out a handgun and points the handgun, said Stephanie Kerr, with the Lakeland Police Department.

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When Lue pointed the gun at the person in the doorway, the man whom they confronted shot Lue and Banks and then ran inside the restaurant to hide.

Lue was injured and taken to the hospital. Banks died.

Were not seeking any charges for him. It appears self-defense. Our detectives are still working on this ongoing investigation, said Kerr.

Instead, police arrested Lue, saying Banks was killed while he and Lue attempted to kill someone else.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A 42-year-old Kailua man pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal crime for defrauding a 78-year-old Orange County, Calif., man out of $1.814 million, leaving him homeless.

John Tamahere McCabe pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Central District of California announced Friday.

McCabe initially offered to help the 78-year-old man sell his yacht.

Instead, McCabe used fabricated documents to change ownership of the yacht to his own name and diverted the proceeds of the sale to his own personal bank account, and used most of the proceeds for his own personal purposes, according to the plea agreement.

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McCabe also convinced the man to transfer his $1 million home in Irvine, Calif., to a limited-liability company McCabe controlled.

He told the victim that this would protect his most valuable asset and provide tax benefits.

As sole manager of the LLC, McCabe also took out $1 million in loans secured by the mans house and drained it of all its equity.

He then defaulted on the loans, and the mans house was foreclosed on, leaving the 78-year-old homeless.

U.S. District Judge Fred Slaughter scheduled McCabes sentencing for Oct. 16. The 42-year-old faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

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The FBI, with the help of the Irvine Police Department, investigated this case.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Waier is prosecuting this case.

The Judiciary urges anyone who is 60 years of age or older who has been a victim of financial fraud, or knows someone who has been, to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline : 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311 ). This Department of Justice hot line, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing victims needs and identifying next steps.

Reporting can aid authorities to identify perpetrators of fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud quickly can possibly increase the chances of recovering losses.
Violence erupted in Brooklyn Friday night with a man stabbed and wounded and a second victim, a teenager, shot an hour later roughly a mile away, cops said Saturday.

Responding officers found the first victim, a 41-year-old, with a slash wound on the left side of his face and a stab wound to his left shoulder around 10 p.m. on Dekalb Ave. near Kent Ave. in Clinton Hill.

Medics rushed the man to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where he was in stable condition.

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About an hour later, one mile away in Bedford-Stuyvesant, an 18-year-old youth was shot once each in his left thigh and left shoulder on Willoughby Ave. near Throop Ave.

An 18-year old male was taken to Kings County Hospital after he was shot in the left shoulder and left thigh on Willoughby Avenue in Brooklyn on Friday May 2, 2025. Photos taken on Saturday May 3, 2025. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News) Show Caption1 of 2An 18-year old male was taken to Kings County Hospital after he was shot in the left shoulder and left thigh on Willoughby Avenue in Brooklyn on Friday May 2, 2025. Photos taken on Saturday May 3, 2025. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)Expand

EMS brought the victim to Kings County Hospital where he was expected to survive.

The teen was not cooperative with detectives, and cops did not have a description of the shooter.

Police could not immediately say if the two incidents were connected.

No arrests have been made and the investigation was ongoing Saturday afternoon.
May 2A rainy morning in a North Spokane neighborhood erupted Tuesday with the kind legal reckoning that's uprooting families across Washington and the country.

A series of videos captured the confrontation that started when 35-year-old Martin R. Diaz pulled his SUV in front of his home a few blocks south of Hays Park. Diaz sits in his vehicle for a moment before another vehicle arrives.

Diaz then exits his vehicle and runs into his own yard. He ditches what appears to be a coffee mug as a man gains ground and catches Diaz as he tries to enter the fence gate into his back yard.

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"I caught you (expletive)," said a man who was later identified as a federal agent, as two more run into the yard to take Diaz into custody.

The next video shows Diaz's roommate, Douglas Young, on a camera in Diaz's back yard as the agents struggle with Diaz off camera. "What are you guys doing?" Young asks as the agents wrestle for control over Diaz.

One of the agents says, "Get back, get back," as Young replies: "You have no right to come onto my property. This is his house. YOU get the (expletive) back."

An agent, who is wearing black civilian clothes and what appear to be long shorts, warns Young again to back away. "Do not interfere with us right now."

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Young, the roommate, tells the agents to get off Diaz. "He's a good guy." The agent responds: "No he's not."

The arrest is the latest chapter of a decades-long attempt by Diaz to become a U.S. citizen after his family brought him here from Mexico when he was not quite 2 years old.

"He's been dealing with this since he was 18," said Kendall Diaz, who married Martin Diaz in 2018. He "has lived here his entire life. And, he's done amazing things servicing our community.

"He's tried his best to be a good human," she said. "He's just living the cards he was dealt."

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Roar of silence

Kendall Diaz, 31, a real estate agent, wasn't home when the federal authorities arrested her husband on Tuesday. She watched her husband being taken down on her Ring Home Security cameras.

She later learned from U.S. Border Patrol agents that her husband had been sent to the Kootenai County Jail in Coeur d'Alene. As of Friday afternoon, she had not been able to see Diaz since his arrest.

"He called me on Wednesday and said he had been placed in medical holding. I asked him why. He started crying and then our phone cut off," she said. "All I got was that he had something that placed him in medical holding. I have no idea still to this day what happened."

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Diaz, who is also known in legal documents as Martin R. Diaz-Amezcua, then texted Kendall on Friday.

"So, essentially, he messaged me that he was still in Kootenai County and that he wasn't sure when ICE was going to transfer him. They have now given him privileges to contact me and has been given a book to read," she said.

Kendall Diaz has also been in contact with their attorney, William Frick of Seattle, about what comes next.

Frick "is still trying to formulate a game plan, to be honest," Kendall Diaz said. "He is going to try to push forward with the pending case with the Board of Immigration Appeals so that we can prove that we are working as efficiently and quickly as we can to get him legal status.

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"Things are so different right now in this political climate."

Immigration crackdown

President Donald Trump has promised to swiftly and aggressively deport immigrants with criminal records during his campaign and after the election, although some deportations included a child with cancer and a man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador that the administration has refused to bring back.

Regardless of numerous reports showing some people deported were not criminals or gang members, the president has refused to acknowledge it in prior interviews and press conferences, and said he "could" bring back Garica, but hasn't.

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Trump has also raised the idea of deporting not immigrants, but U.S. citizens, to the mega-prison in El Salvador. He was overheard in a meeting with the country's president, Nayib Bukele, saying "The homegrowns are next."

The Trump administration claimed "record breaking" immigration enforcement levels this month, a news release from the Department of Homeland Security said.

In the Inland Northwest, it appears ICE arrests have increased in the Kootenai County Jail where Spokane detainees are held before being transferred to the immigration detention center in Tacoma, according to previous reporting from The Spokesman-Review.

An effort to interview Diaz in the Kootenai County Jail was not successful on Friday.

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More sightings of ICE are being posted online and Spokane County citizens are reporting federal officials have come to their homes, usually looking for someone in particular.

Immigration agents came to a family's home in Spokane Valley in April. They were looking for a 16-year-old Honduran immigrant for a "welfare check," as part of a new policy under the Trump administration, The Spokesman reported.

In March, ICE agents smashed a window of a car with a pregnant woman inside to try to get to her husband and his brother, who had criminal records and were on their way to the Spokane County Courthouse for a hearing.

Jennyfer Mesa, executive director of Latinos en Spokane, has witnessed numerous immigration arrests, but believes the heightened awareness and increase in ICE presence is "the new normal."

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"We're seeing how the Trump administration has ramped up this mass deportation  and is laying the groundwork to use branches of government that have not been involved in immigration ... We're seeing them use the IRS, the Health and Human Services and other agencies," Mesa said in a previous interview.

As for the case against Diaz of Spokane, efforts reach his attorney, Frick, were unsuccessful last week.

Longtime Spokane defense attorney Jeffry Finer said he is not representing Diaz, but is representing other clients who face many of the same challenges after federal prosecutors recently began taking a harder line on laws that have been on the books for decades.

Given a synopsis of the case for Diaz, Finer said it doesn't look good for the Spokane business owner.

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"It's very dark at the moment," Finer said of the federal actions. "I am afraid for people and their families. It's the darkest I've ever seen this country."

The crossing

Kendall Diaz said her husband's family brought him to the United States from Mexico when Martin was a toddler.

The family fled persecution and gang violence in their Mexican city and attempted to seek asylum, Kendall Diaz said. Her husband even has a letter from a Michoacan government official explaining the dangers the Diaz family faced.

"His family members have been hunted and slaughtered. It's not safe for him to be there," Kendall Diaz said. "That's not an option."

The family initially lived in the Yakima area.

"His parents don't speak English. His family still doesn't have a lot of resources. It's taken him all he has. His mother just got her green card and his sister got citizenship, but it took so much time," Kendall Diaz said. "So when he turned 18, he started every penny to try and get any legal filings paid."

But a week after his 18th birthday, Martin Diaz got arrested in a case that continues to complicate his efforts achieve legal status.

On Nov. 1, 2007, Diaz was initially charged with third-degree rape when a girl alleged that the couple had sex without her consent. Diaz later pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and was sentenced to a couple months in jail.

That prompted what's called an "order of removal" regarding his legal status. In an effort to continue his efforts to get legal status, Diaz and his attorney, Frick, sought to have the order of removal vacated, but have been unsuccessful.

Diaz filed for divorce from his first wife in 2015. But in 2017, Diaz had another scrape with the law that landed him a second felony conviction.

Diaz was charged with felony domestic violence, but the victim was not his ex-wife. It was his ex-wife's father.

Kendal Diaz explained that the ex-wife wanted Diaz to leave her house and he refused. She called her father to help and he and Diaz got into a fight in the front yard.

That further complicated efforts to get legal status. While they met in 2016, Diaz married Kendall in 2018.

Kendall Diaz estimated that couple has spent more than $100,000 on efforts to have Martin Diaz stay in this country. But she said she feels the paperwork is a process "set up to fail."

"We've been constantly filing legal documents. And it's murky, it's always changing," she said. "One ruling happens in Texas one month, another ruling happens in Virginia and then everything changes. It's a difficult process to navigate."

Despite all that, the couple had filed their I-130 form that provides a pathway to citizenship through his marriage to a U.S. citizen.

Then something weird happened on February 1.

Fake collision

On that day, Kendall Diaz said she was home with the couple's roommate, Douglas Young, when she noticed a couple standing in her front yard looking at her vehicle. The couple appeared to be checking Diaz's car for damage.

"They were standing in my front yard, looking at my house," she said.

Kendall Diaz walked out to investigate and asked the couple why they were there.

"They explicitly told me, 'We hit your car.' I'm like, 'What is going on? How bad is it? Can I get your guys' information,'" she said. "They said they slid on ice. It was a woman and a man."

As the unknown woman and Diaz walked around her car looking for damage, Diaz noticed that the man was staring into her home's windows.

"I said, 'What is wrong with him?' She said, 'I think his meds are acting up,'" Diaz said of the woman's comment.

About that time, Young, the roommate walked out the front door. Out of nowhere, two vehicles quickly approached and Border Patrol agents with AR-15 rifles swarmed Young and got him onto the ground.

"I told them over and over again, 'This is a U.S. citizen.,' They ended up leaving after I told them to get off my property," she said.

Kendall Diaz now believes the agents were there for her husband, who was not home at the time.

She noted that the agent with black shorts from the arrest video from April 29, was the same man who was posing as the husband on Feb. 1 during the fake-collision incident.

Despite that earlier encounter, the couple kept up its effort on the I-130 form and finally had a breakthrough. On April 22, the couple got a letter from immigration officials asking them to apply for a visa.

Then a week later, the Border Patrol agent showed back up with other agents.

Take down

On the April 29 arrest video, Young argued during the incident that the agents were violating Diaz's rights by coming onto his property.

But Finer, the defense attorney, said that it appears the agents were within their rights for the actions as they were described to him.

"When you have an order for removal, there's not a lot of protections ... against arrest and seizures," Finer said. "This guy was arrested in public. When he was running to the house, that might fall under the doctrine of 'hot pursuit,' which allows law enforcement in an active chase to go into a private home to make an arrest."

As for the efforts to keep Diaz in the country, Finer said Diaz faces long odds.

"But for the accident of birth, he's American. He's in all respects Americanized," Finer said. "The offenses he committed are common. They are street-level minor in the world of big offenses. It's who he was on the two worst days of his life."

But, those felony convictions will label him as "undesirable, even though a lot of young folks have engaged in similar behavior and become solid people," Finer said.

If deported, Finer expects Diaz will be sent to Mexico.

"He's not alone. A lot of people came over as children and never got around to it, or got around to it slowly, or they are like him, they have a record," he said. "But his circumstances reveal a broad pattern throughout the country."

The current fear and shock caused by the shift in immigration enforcement is personal to an attorney whose grandfather came to the U.S. as a refugee at age 14 and lived his entire life in fear of being removed, Finer said.

"This experience is close to my family. It wasn't just a generation or two ago that my forebearers were trying to get to America to escape tyranny or the Holocaust," he said. "It's shocking."

For Kendall Diaz, the young wife faces an ocean of uncertainty.

"There are U.S-born citizens murdering, raping and terrorizing our community, and they get to stay, because they are on this side of the border," she said. "People will say he is a criminal and should be removed  but how can he go back to a country he hasn't stepped foot in since he was a year old?"

The family has no ties in Mexico, but Martin Diaz's siblings have a friend-of-a-friend with an apartment available if he ends being deported to Mexico, she said.

In the meantime, she will continue the fight the only way she knows how.

"My husband doesn't have a voice or any rights. But I do," she said. "It's my job and my duty to stand up and say what is happening to our neighbors and explain why they are going missing."

The Yakima Herald-Republic contributed to this story.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Manchester police are searching for a man they say shot and killed someone earlier this week.

Manchester police say they were called to a home on Maple Street around midnight on Wednesday where they found 29-year-old Shawn Jackson Jr. from Fayetteville with a gunshot wound.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Jackson died from his injuries on the scene.

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Investigators later learned that Jackson had been shot after an argument between two people in front of the home.

The GBI has now identified the suspect as 21-year-old Kimani Copeland and are asking for the publics help finding him.

TRENDING STORIES:

Once found and arrested, Copeland will be charged with murder and aggravated assault.

Its unclear if Jackson and Copeland were the people arguing before the shooting.

Anyone who sees Copeland or knows where he might be should contact the GBI at 706-565-7888.

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KINSMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Addison Marker struck out 13 and allowed just 3 hits as Maplewood prevails 4-0 over Badger.

Four Rockets finished with two hits  Claire Urchek, Raegan Krieg, Aleesia Woomer and Marker. Urchek scored twice and Krieg drove in two runs.

Maplewood (13-3) will meet Pymatuning Valley at home on Monday.

Badger was led by Samantha Bradburys pitching as she went the distance and struck out 6 batters  allowing just 3 earned runs.

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Kyleigh Hall led the offense with a triple and a single for the Braves.

On Monday, Badger will travel to Mathews.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BERLIN (AP)  Germany's foreign ministry hit back at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after he criticized the decision to classify the Alternative for Germany party as a right-wing extremist organization.

The spat deepened Friday to embroil the foreign office, Rubio, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk. It also occurred at a complicated time for Germany  just days before the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Nazi Germanys unconditional capitulation.

Plus, a coalition deal between the center-right and center-left parties was just approved, and now parliament is set to vote next week to elect conservative leader Friedrich Merz as the countrys new chancellor.

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Merz has not commented publicly on the intelligence services decision.

Oleksii Makeiev, Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, told German news agency dpa that he's concerned about AfD's ties to Russia in light of the classification.

AfD has long faced criticism for Russia-friendly positions, and opposes Germany's stance toward the war in Ukraine. Berlin is Ukraines second-biggest weapons supplier after the United States.

Disregards human dignity

Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution described the party, known as AfD, as a threat to the countrys democratic order, saying it disregards human dignity  in particular by what it called ongoing agitation against refugees and migrants.

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The German domestic intelligence service's move to classify the AfD, which placed second in national elections in February, as a right-wing extremist group means its officials can now use informants and other tools such as audio and video recordings to monitor its activities nationwide.

But it also risks fueling the partys claims of political persecution. Far-right parties have been gaining ground across Europe and the AfD attracts international attention, including support from Musk, who is a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla on Friday condemned the move as a severe blow to German democracy, given that the party has grown into one of the countrys most popular political forces. They alleged that it was politically motivated, a claim the government denies.

The AfD will continue to legally defend itself against these democracy-endangering defamations, they said.

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AfDs second-place finish during the elections cemented the partys status as a factor that other politicians cant ignore, but the so-called firewall, which mainstream German political parties have against working with far-right parties, has held.

Rubio and Vance take to X

In his post on Friday, Rubio called on Germany to undo the classification.

Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. Thats not democracy  its tyranny in disguise, he wrote. What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD  which took second in the recent election  but rather the establishments deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes. Germany should reverse course.

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The foreign ministry wrote this is democracy in a post that replied directly to Rubio.

"This decision is the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law, the foreign office wrote late Friday. It is independent courts that will have the final say. We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped.

Vance, meanwhile, referenced the Cold War in his post on X.

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, Vance wrote. The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt  not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment.

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Musk, who owns X, re-posted Vance's comments and added, fate loves irony.

The Trump inner circle's history with the AfD

Vance met with Weidel in February, nine days before the national election, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. He assailed the firewall in a speech to the conference.

To many of us on the other side of the Atlantic, it looks more and more like old entrenched interests hiding behind ugly Soviet-era words like misinformation and disinformation, who simply dont like the idea that somebody with an alternative viewpoint might express a different opinion or, God forbid, vote a different way, or even worse, win an election, he told the audience.

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Musk has supported the AfD for months, including a chat with Weidel that he livestreamed on X earlier this year to amplify the partys message. Musk told Weidel that he was strongly recommending that people vote for AfD."

The audience for the livestream peaked at more than 200,000 X accounts.
By Aishwarya Jain

(Reuters) -Vacation rental platform Airbnb on Thursday forecast second-quarter revenue largely below Wall Street estimates and signaled softening demand in the U.S. as an erratic trade policy hammers consumer sentiment and sparks worries over growth.

Shares of the company fell more than 6% after the bell, set to add to the year-to-date decline of about 7%.

The company expects second-quarter revenue between $2.99 billion and $3.05 billion, the midpoint of which is below analysts' estimates of $3.04 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Over the last two months, Delta Airlines warned travel demand has "largely stalled", while hotel operator Hilton indicated travelers were in a "wait-and see" mode, as President Donald Trump's on-again off-again tariffs take a toll.

Airbnb Chief Financial Officer Ellie Mertz said on an earnings call that guests were booking trips closer to the check-in date, indicating that the booking window was growing shorter.

Booking window refers to the number of days between the reservation date and actual arrival and a shorter booking window points towards increased consumer uncertainty and caution in travel spending.

Nights and experiences booked during the first quarter rose 8% to 143.1 million on a global basis. Excluding North America, bookings were up 11% from a year earlier.

The U.S. comprises a vast majority of the San Francisco-based company's North America business, which contributes about 30% to nights booked on its platform.

Airbnb said it expects average daily rate, or the rental revenue earned for an occupied room per day, to remain flat in the second quarter and core profit margin to be slightly down from a year earlier.

It also expects moderation in the year-over-year growth rate of the nights booked in the current quarter from the first.

Total revenue for the first quarter rose 6% to $2.27 billion, compared to analysts' estimates of $2.26 billion.

However, net income slumped 41.7% to $154 million due to higher headcount, write-downs of certain historical investments in privately held companies and lower interest income.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
MARION, Ohio (WCMH)  A 28-year-old man was found guilty last week of rape against a child and could spend at least the next 60 years in prison.

A Marion County jury convicted Rakeem Ramere Ginyard on Wednesday of six counts of rape, a first-degree felony. Ginyard was convicted of raping a 10-year-old girl over several weekends between late 2021 and the middle of 2022 at a Marion home.

Each charge carries a sentence of between 10 years to life in prison.

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Ginyard frequently visited the victims Marion home, where the girl lived with her family, according to the Marion County prosecutors office.

This verdict rips the mask off a predator who betrayed a childs trust, Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan said in a press release. Our team poured everything into giving this brave survivor her day in court.

Ginyard will be sentenced at a later unscheduled date, during which the victim and her family will be allowed to offer statements. Should he be released from prison, Ginyard will have to register as a Tier III sex offender for the rest of his life.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) speaks in front of a photo of drag queen Lil Miss Hot Mess during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on March 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Late last month, I was surprised to wake up to a flurry of text messages: Girl, youre all over Congress! As I opened link after link, I was met with a surreal array of photos showing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene leading a DOGE subcommittee hearing, and to my surprise, behind her was an oversized portrait of me. I rolled my eyes and dreamed about going back to bed.

As a drag queen who reads and writes childrens books, this was certainly not the first time I have faced attacks, by politicians and otherwise. My books have been challenged and banned, events have been protested, and my name and likeness have been used in myriad disingenuous attempts to stoke fear about LGBTQ+ people, including by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, it was the first time that I had been directly referenced in the halls of Congress.

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My first thought to myself was: At least she chose a gorgeous photo. Ironically, it was one of my own headshots depicting a friendly smile and red, white and blue sequin stars  a stark contrast to Greenes own scowling face that dominated press photos of her testimony. My second: Its funny that Greene and other MAGA Republicans have yet to learn that its a bad idea to pick a fight with a drag queen.

Still, Greenes comments were no laughing matter: Given her long track record as a conspiracy theorist and anti-LGBTQ+ crusader, Greene unsurprisingly spread not only slanderous hate but also defamatory disinformation. She cited me as a reason to eradicate federal funding for PBS and NPR, contending that NPR and PBS push some of the most radical left positions, like featuring a drag queen on the show Lets Learn.

She continued: [A]s a mother who raised three children, I felt confident that I could leave the room while my own children were watching childrens programming on PBS. But  if I had walked in my living room or one of my childrens bedrooms and seen this child predator and this monster targeting my children, I would become unglued.

Needless to say, her already highly unglued name-calling insinuates claims about me that are patently false. She is correct that I once appeared on the public television program Lets Learn, reading my picture book The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish  a playful parody meant to encourage kids to express their inner fabulousness. But the reality, as PBS CEO Paula Kerger made clear, is that the show was produced by local affiliate WNET, not by PBS itself.

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Additionally, her rhetoric suggesting that LGBTQ-affirmative media is a form of sexualizing and grooming  brainwashing and transing children is not only false, but offensive. As I noted in my initial response: This rerun is tired and boring. That is, it is part of a well-worn playbook that goes back decades, as exemplified by Anita Bryants Save Our Children campaign of the 1970s, and which has sadly been mainstreamed by Republicans in recent years.

In the hearing itself, several Democratic members of the committee playfully poked fun at Greene. Rep. Robert Garcia jokingly inquired: The American people want to know: Is Elmo now, or has he ever been, a member of the Communist Party? ... Because he is red. Such a humorous response, from an openly gay politician no less, earns snaps from me: His silly approach highlights the absurdity of Greenes own questions.

Largely missing from this political circus, however, was a strong defense of diverse public media. While Kerger and NPR CEO Katherine Maher thoughtfully refuted false claims, they did not make a clear case for the importance of featuring diverse voices and stories.

To be clear: I mean no shade to either of these public media leaders, as they were put in a very difficult position. However, I highlight a broader issue: We must do more than react to false claims; we must proactively reshape the narrative to make our case for diversity in public media and institutions.

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Ill say it loud and proud: Drag performers belong on public television, in public libraries and beyond.

Of course, drag performers are not the only example of diverse artists who belong in public media and spaces: We are simply one flavor of the creativity and brilliance that exists among LGBTQ+, BIPOC, disabled, migrant, working-class and other historically marginalized and resilient communities. And we all deserve a pride of place on bookshelves, in television programming, curricula, story hours and more.

It is in this spirit that revered scholar Rudine Sims Bishop famously described childrens literature as offering windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors. In this beautiful metaphor, she acknowledged the need for children to learn about the world around them, see themselves reflected and step into stories through their imaginations. Given that all children (and adults) are a blend of intersecting identities, we need diverse media to offer multiple points of view. Any attempt to suppress such heterogeneity is not only unethical, it is also incorrect and leaves children with a partial story of the world around them.

In my own childhood as a white, middle-class, Jewish, queer and genderqueer person, it was precisely through childrens books and television that I learned about the world. While I often had the privilege of seeing communities that looked similar to mine, I only rarely caught glimpses of queerness and gender diversity. (Still, in retrospect, queer authors and characters have always been present, but recognizing them required skills in reading between the lines.)

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Related: 9 Gay Movies And TV Shows That Are So Criminally Underrated, I Guarantee You've Never Seen Any Of Them Before

Photo Courtesy Of Lil Miss Hot Mess

The author with her newest book.

Related: Marjorie Taylor Greene Showed My Photo In A DOGE Hearing And Called Me A Monster. Here's Why Im Fighting Back.

In my work now as a childrens author, I work diligently to ensure that characters represent a multitude of not only identities and bodies, but also styles and attitudes.

Indeed, most educational and political organizations recognize the importance of access to diverse media not only for young peoples social and emotional development, but for democratic societies to function. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child insists that children have the right to freedom of expression, including freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds  in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the childs choice and specifically defends access to material from a diversity of cultural, national and international sources.

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Inherent in these understandings is a recognition of childrens autonomy  which Greene and her compatriots would rather ignore. Of course, children need guidance and care, but they are also already capable of curious and capacious thinking. It is hardly surprising that a politician like Greene, who seems to lack such skills herself, fails to see the strength of such imagination and independence. Instead, she attempts to bully others to think and act exactly like she does.

What is ironic about Greenes attacks is that while she accuses public media, childrens authors and drag storytellers like myself of brainwashing children, it is Greene who wants to control minds through censorship. But drag can be an antidote. And thats exactly why drag performers belong in public education and media.

As I have written previously for HuffPost, drag is not a form of indoctrination, but a deep practice of imagination. It does not represent gender ideology, but an encouragement to ask thoughtful questions about how and why we categorize people into boxes. It is an historic art form, rooted in queer and trans communities around the world, that promotes self-expression and building chosen family.

Children who are lucky enough to encounter drag performers at their local Drag Story Hours  or in books and on screens  resonate with them because they encourage forms of fantasy and playfulness that many adults have forgotten in their own lives. And it is that ability to imagine something else  whether a different gender expression, or a just a fabulous future for everyone  that threatens those in power.

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To paraphrase a brilliant observation from a friends young child: Drag queens, kings and other fabulous beings arent really royalty; rather, we derive our power through hard work and by promoting pleasure and joy.

Elise Chenoweth

Lil Miss Hot Mess (second from left) performs at a Drag Story Hour's Dragtivity Day at Cheer Up Charlies in Austin, Texas, March 11, 2023, with Ona Louise, Brigitte Bandit, Emoji Nightmare and Black Benatar.

In my books, children are not told what to do; instead, they are invited to try out new tunes, dance steps, ways of being their brightest selves. While haters like Greene might find swishing ones hips or shimmying ones shoulders repulsive, I recommend she give it a try: Kids love it, and it might help her loosen up a bit to express herself more authentically.

In my upcoming book Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queens Guide to Color, young readers are encouraged to color outside the lines by learning the names of unconventional colors and mixing and matching hues to their hearts content. Its a simple enough premise, with a goal to celebrate the beauty in the world around us. And yet, I brace myself for whatever nefarious interpretations critics like Greene might offer, as well as the unfortunate likelihood that in a culture in which rainbow flags are being banned, it too will face book bans.

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Many of the current attacks on art and education are absurd and ridiculous  but, much like the art of drag, that hardly means we should not take them seriously. Since those currently in power claim to support freedom when, in fact, they promote fascism, it is no surprise that they seek to eradicate public institutions and art forms that promote freedom of thought and expression. Weve seen that show, and its finale doesnt end well.

But it is up to all of us to remember that politicians like Greene and President Donald Trump are not queens or kings  theyre bullies. And you never cave in to a bully: Instead, you outwit them, show them the error of their ways and remind them that its more fun on your side. So, its time to stand our ground: not only against homophobia, transphobia and censorship, but for diverse public media, libraries, schools and other institutions.

It just so happens that one of the best ways to do so is to tap into our inner drag queens, get in formation to snap back, stomp our way through the streets  and vanquish the real monsters.

Lil Miss Hot Mess is the author of the childrens books Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queens Guide to Color, If Youre a Drag Queen and You Know It, and The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, and serves on the board of Drag Queen Story Hour. She has appeared on world-class stages like SFMOMA, Stanford University, and Saturday Night Live, was a founding organizer of the #MyNameIs campaign that challenged Facebooks real names policy. When not twirling, Lil Miss Hot Mess is a professor of media studies. Follow her on social media @LilMissHotMess, and learn more at lilmisshotmess.com.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost in April 2025.

Also in LGBT: Today's News Shows Why We Can't Engage With The "Harry Potter" TV Show
A staff member at Emmanuel College was arrested and charged Friday evening after being accused of soliciting an underage college applicant for commercial sex, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foleys office.

Jacob Henrique, 29, of Boston who served as an assistant admissions director at the school, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, the release states. Henrique will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston on May 5.

Henrique is accused of using his position to gain access to personal information of prospective and admitted students and then contacting them to solicit them for commercial sex with him, the U.S. attorneys office states.

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Specifically, on April 25, Henrique met with multiple prospective and admitted students.

During these interactions, he is accused of using their personal information to initiate contact with at least three students, offering to pay them for some fun and providing or offering pornography including sending explicit videos or images in some instances, according to the statement.

Henrique is also accused of contacting a fourth girl after she formally committed to attend Emmanuel College on April 25, Foleys office said. He then is accused of offering to pay her for some fun and began sending pornographic videos to her.

The charge of attempting sex trafficking involves a 17-year-old prospective student. The U.S. attorneys office reports that Henrique is accused of reviewing her tour registration form, which contained her date of birth, just before giving her a tour of the college on April 25. He asked the girl what grade she was in, and she stated she attended a local high school.

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Within hours after the tour, Henrique is accused of texting the number she provided on her admissions form, offering to pay her $400 for some fun and that she had pornographic videos and pictures for her according to the statement.

Although the girl rejected the offer multiple times, Henrique is accused of telling her via text to let him know if she changed her mind and that he would buy her anything she wanted, Foleys office said.

Between April 25 and April 28, Henrique accessed the girls profile 47 times.

He continued to contact the girl that night, refusing the tell her who he was or how he got her number. Henrique is then accused of telling the girl that porn and $ was ready for her.

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Henrique then is accused of sending the girl five pornographic videos depicting men and women engaged in sex acts and asked her whether or not she wanted to participate in a gang-bang and whether or not she wanted to have sex with him, Foleys office wrote.

After the girl blocked his phone number, Henrique is accused of soliciting her via email, Foleys office said.

The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, with a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

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MILTON, Mass. (WPRI)  Massachusetts State Police are investigating after they say a suspected drunk driver struck one of their cruisers early Saturday morning.

A Dodge Durango hit the cruiser around 3 a.m. on I-93 South in Milton while the trooper was investigating a separate two-car crash, according to police.

The trooper, who was not identified, was inside the vehicle at the time and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

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The driver of the Durango, later identified as Charles Keeton, 31, of Dedham, kept driving until another trooper pulled him over just south of Exit 3.

Keeton was arrested and charged with OUI alcohol. He is expected to be arraigned Monday in Quincy District Court.

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A crowd of an estimated 400 people gathered for a May Day protest in Juneau at the Alaska State Capitol on May 1, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

Alaskans rallied in communities statewide for May Day, in support of workers and protesting the Trump administrations policies as anti-democratic, and condemning federal firings and threatened cuts to vital programs and social services.

May Day is recognized by many countries and organizations as International Workers Day, and hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. and the world took to the streets to protest, with many condemning the Trump administration, the administrations aggressive rhetoric toward other countries, fears of global economic turmoil, and hostility toward immigrants rights.

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In Alaska, protests took place in at least 21 communities according to reports on social media, on Thursday and others planned through the weekend, from the Arctic region to Southeast Alaska.

Organizers in several communities spoke with the Alaska Beacon after rallies wrapped up on Thursday, and expressed hope in the unified protest effort and great concern for the impacts of firing federal workers and threatened cuts to essential services, like health care.

In Petersburg, an estimated 75 people rallied downtown around noon, according to Chelsea Tremblay, one of the organizers with the community group, Petersburg Friends and Neighbors. She said speakers focused on the importance of workers rights, and demonstrators called on Alaskas congressional delegation to do more, to stand up for our communities and to keep the separation of powers strong, she said. By fighting for the funds that have been allocated to come to our communities, and to stop the loss of jobs.

Protesters hold signs at a May Day rally in Petersburg on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Chelsea Tremblay)

Tremblay said Petersburg has been impacted by the federal firings and budget cuts to the U.S. Forest Service in the Tongass National Forest, Head Start, and the end of federal telework options, as well as particular concern around further cuts to the National Weather Service. Thats a safety issue, right? Or potential funds being withheld from public broadcasting that have already been dedicated, but thats how people stay connected with the community when theyre out on the boats, she said.

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She said the group also raised funds for local homelessness services. Were stronger together, she added. So it feels good to be in solidarity with so many other communities.

In the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, an estimated 200 people gathered for a rally in Wasilla, said organizer Dave Musgrave, with the activist group Mat-Su United for Progress. This was really to lift up unions, and show that we are standing with working families, he said.

There were speeches, a hot dog roast and a live band that played union songs. And then people stood along Parks Highway with their signs protesting various things from the (Trump) administration. Id say the overwhelming concern was the threat to democracy, and our Constitution.

Protesters rally for May Day in Wasilla on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Connie Harris with Mat-Su United for Progress)

Musgrave said Mat-Su residents are deeply concerned about federal cuts, particularly any proposed cuts to health care through Medicaid, as about one-third of all Alaska residents rely on the program.

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That includes pregnant women, that includes single adults, it includes kids, through the related Denali KidCare program, he said. And the fallout is going to be for all Alaskans, because its not just those on Medicaid. This will cripple our health care system, including hospitals, medical clinics  our whole medical infrastructure is under threat right now.

On the Kenai Peninsula in Soldotna, organizer Michele Vasquez with the activist group Many Voices said residents are also extremely concerned about job cuts and threats to health care, including for those whose jobs dont provide them with insurance.

The folks in between. They work. They work one, two, three jobs, but theyre still working, and theyre still on Medicaid, she said. So the impacts to Alaska overall could be very, very devastating. She said the region is feeling the impacts of job losses, and threatened cuts to services like libraries and public radio sow more uncertainty. There have been a lot of devastating losses of jobs, and any loss of jobs in Alaska is detrimental.

The May Day rally drew an estimated 140 people in Soldotna Creek Park, she said, in support of workers, union and nonunion. She said speakers highlighted the importance of supporting disability rights, reproductive health care, and uniting together to push back against the Trump administration. The crowd also raised funds and gathered donations for the local food bank.

An estimated 140 people gathered in Soldotna for a May Day protest on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Michele Vasquez)

Vasquez said some Republicans and Trump voters have joined their protest events over the last month. Surprisingly, she said, It was just shocking to me that they were willing to admit it. And I dont mean that in a bad way. I think it depends on who they are, what their status is, she said.

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Mainly, Ive talked to seniors who are of all political stripes, who are terrified of losing Medicare, of losing their Social Security or their veterans benefits. My husband and I fall into that category, so I can clearly understand why everyone would be fearful, she said, adding her husband is a retired veteran and disabled.

All across political spectrums, were all a little scared, Vasquez said. Because theyre worried, you know? Were worried about what happens to our house if we cant make the mortgage payments? What if we cant buy food? Its just, its kind of a commonality.

In Talkeetna, organizer Sandra Loomis said a group of 54 people rallied for May Day, and to protest the Trump agenda. We marched down Main Street and got a nice picture right there on the river, where you can see Denali behind and did a nice chant, 8647, she said, referring to the anti-Trump chant to 86, or reject, the 47th president.

People are fed up and just tired of this, all this open corruption from the White House, Loomis said. And taking away all our services, taking away our libraries, taking away research, taking away our rights, taking away economic equity. People are fed up and tired of it. Its way, way, way beyond the pale, and too far, and the blatant disregard of the Constitution and the Supreme Court orders.

As estimated 50 people rallied for May Day in Talkeetna on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Sandra Loomis with Mat-Su United for Progress)

Loomis said Talkeetna residents are also concerned around the federal firings, cuts to programs like Medicaid and the recent cut to Americorps. She expressed outrage and frustration at the Trump administration threatening the press, law firms and universities. Of special concern was Trumps recent refusal to acknowledge that an image of alleged gang tattoos on a man deported to El Salvador was Photoshopped, blatantly lying to everyone, right to our faces and like, we know theyre lying!

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She said the actions go against the core values and principles that the country was founded on. My family, multiple generations of my family, have fought for the freedoms that weve enjoyed, she said. One of the things that has made America such an amazing place to live  its because we have diversity. Its because we accept all religions and respect each other.

In Juneau, roughly 400 people gathered in front of the Alaska State Capitol, despite the rain, for speeches, calls to protect workers, unions and essential social services, and a performance by the Woosh.ji.een Dance Group. Get up! Get down. Juneau is a union town! the crowd chanted, before marching to Marine Park by the cruise ship dock. They also collected donations for the Southeast Alaska Food Bank.

Organizers said residents are continuing to make regular calls and emails to the states congressional delegation, particularly U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who they said has been responsive to their concerns.

Different groups nationally have said the next national day of action is a Peoples Parade planned for June 14, Flag Day.

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Juneau residents rally at the Alaska State Capitol for May Day on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Skip Gray)

Residents rally for May Day in Nome on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Hannah Anderson)

A crowd of an estimated 400 people gathered for a May Day protest in Juneau at the Alaska State Capitol on May 1, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

A protester holds a sign at the Juneau May Day rally on May 1, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

A protester holds a sign to support fired federal workers at a May Day protest in Juneau on May 1, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

A truck carries the U.S. and Canadian flags in a show of solidarity during a May Day protest in Soldotna on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Michele Vasquez)

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Protesters wave signs at a May Day rally in Wasilla on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Connie Harris with Mat-Su United for Progress)

Protesters rally for May Day in Wasilla on May 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Connie Harris with Mat-Su United for Progress)

Protesters hold a rally on the Park Strip in Anchorage on May 1, 2025. (Photo by Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Protesters hold signs at a May Day rally in Juneau on May 1, 2025 (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)

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GRAFTON  After protestors from Tucker and Taylor counties made their displeasure known Thursday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey briefly peeked out of the International Mothers Day Shrine in Grafton.

Morrisey spoke to the group for about a minute, and saluted them for exercising their First Amendment rights. He said his administration was working hard to address the states problems.

His comment earned a hearty laugh from the crowd.

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The governor coming out and citing the Constitution is laughable to me, when he supports what Trump is doing. Taylor County resident Gigi Collett said. Hes already rolling back some of the reproductive rights for women in this state, so who do you trust at this point? They praise us for exercising our rights but are trying to roll them back at the same time? Give me a break.

Morrisey attended an event at the International Mothers Day Shrine in Grafton on Thursday while a group of about 40 people waited outside, all severely critical of the Governors legislative agenda and fawning approval of President Donald Trump. Morrisey recently thanked the president after Trump denied FEMA funds to help seven W.Va. counties that have been damaged by severe flooding in the southern part of the state. Under the states Republican leadership, the states flood prevention fund continues to sit empty.

The protest in Grafton was one of several May Day protests against the President and his policies that took place May 1 not just in West Virginia, but across the country.

Mike Withers, chairman of the Taylor County Democratic Executive Committee, criticized the Republican legislatures focus on culture war issues getting more attention that the states foster care crisis. He especially took Gov. Morrisey to task for using his line item veto to cut $800,000 out of the states foster care program. He also criticized the governor for cutting $25 million out of the states road fund. Morriseys championing of the Hope Scholarship will also cause layoffs in public schools and result in public school closures.

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They need to hear from us that everybody is not happy with this routine, Withers said. I spent a half hour talking with the Republican County Chairman here in Taylor County up on the parking deck, and he agreed with most of what we were saying. I said, but you wont say that publicly.

Withers acknowledged Taylor County is majority Republican, but argued there was real political power in Democrats and Independents coming together to oppose Republican policies. As if to underscore the point, several cars drove by honking in support of the protest. Only one pickup truck slowed down enough to proclaim Trumps name at the protest.

The Republicans have a plurality but not a majority in the county, Withers said. Theres a big difference in that.

A key issue that brought many Tucker County residents was construction of a proposed gas and diesel run microgrid power plant two miles out of the resort and vacation oriented towns of Davis and Thomas. The plan would ostensibly power the data centers Morrisey hopes to eventually build.

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Withers criticized House Bill 2014, which removes all local input from microgrid facilities. He said the bill also takes 85% of property tax collected from the plant away from the towns and gives it to Charleston instead. Under the bill, no funds would reach Tucker County Schools or its county commission. The West Virginia House of Delegates introduced the bill on Morriseys behalf.

The state is trying to pivot toward becoming a high tech powerhouse, by investing heavily in data centers. However, Withers is skeptical of the benefits it will actually bring. He said there were a lot of corporate interests tied up with the project and that data centers dont employ a lot of people. Construction jobs also have an end date. He said a lot of people from Tucker County moved away from Northern Virginia to get away from tech hubs.

Once again, West Virginia is asked to prostitute itself for the carrot of jobs over any other concerns, Withers said. Like, our economy up there, our small livable area, we have a lot of assets up there on the mountain, its not like anywhere else in West Virginia.

Withers said small business are flourishing, but warned that those business owners are already discussing their departure plans if a data center goes in.

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Not all concerns at the protest were focused on local issues. Patrick Docherty, a retired federal employee and member of the Taylor County Democratic Committee, said the way federal agencies were being torn apart by Trump and DOGE was ridiculous. He didnt believe what Republicans had to say when they argued the cuts were being done in the name of government efficiency and eliminating wasteful spending.

They want to make sure the cuts are so severe, they cant possible function the way theyre supposed to, he said. Theyre not going to be able to do the mission that Congress gave them. Theyre cutting 60,000 employees from the VA. Theyre not doing any cancer research. Its all so billionaires dont have to pay taxes.

Taylor County resident Paul Mitchell was at least glad Morrisey took the opportunity to peak out of the shrine before disappearing back inside. Mitchell said it appeared the governor didnt really want to hear what protestors had to say. Mitchell said he felt ignored.

Hes doing away with DEI and Im a brown person, Mitchell said. I remember the civil rights movement back into the 60s. I was a boy of 10 to 12 years old, but I remember that. I dont want to go back to that. I see a trend coming that way again. He kinda leans that way, too. And that upsets me. Thats what I wanted him to hear from me.

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Grafton Police Chief Cole Durrett earned plaudits from some residents for the way he handled the protest as police prepared for the governors arrival. Although some protestors greeted the polices arrival with skepticism, Durrett nonetheless engaged with protestors and made sure they had everything they needed.

He reassured those that felt ill at ease that they were free to protest so long as they stayed on public land. Durrett even helped a photographer out by spelling out where exactly the shrines property line began, so the photographer could roam as freely as possible.

Judy Collett said putting public pressure on public officials has an impact.

Until [Morrisey] changes a few of his positions, perhaps our doing this and more of this going on, I think it changed  it worked a little bit with Trump, Collett said. Trump backed off a few of his positions after a lot of rallies have been taking place. So we keep this up, perhaps the governor will listen and change his mind on a few issues.
With Harambe's tragic death nearly a decade behind us, folks online are now fantasizing about whether 100 men could vanquish single gorilla in mortal combat.

Though there are no official databases tallying up the number of humans killed by gorillas  or any other animal, for that matter  experts suggest that it's exceedingly rare for these "gentle giants" to attack humans.

In fact, after an intensive search, Futurism was unable to find a single reported case of a gorilla killing a human at all. Only two instances of gorilla attacks on humans  both of which involved animals born and raised in captivity  have made waves in the digital age.

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The first occurred way back in 2007, when a male western gorilla named Bokito escaped his enclosure at a Dutch zoo, abducting a woman and injuring her in the process. The other was in 2020, when a zookeeper in Madrid was mauled by a 29-year-old male gorilla when she entered the animal's enclosure, ending up with a head injury and both of her arms broken.

As terrible as both of those instances were, it's striking that neither gorilla actually killed their victims  and that both animals were captive-bred.

In 2016, shortly after Harambe was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo when a small child fell into his enclosure, wildlife biologist Ian Redmond insisted in The Guardian that in all the time he'd spent with gorillas in the wild  from roughhousing with younger males to accidentally startling a territorial female  he'd never once been hurt.

"These were free-living gorillas, though; if they dont like your company they can leave," Redmond, who spent three years with famed primatologist Dian Fossey, wrote. "A captive gorilla doesnt have that option."

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There's a startling assymetry to the violence, though. While there are vanishingly few instances of gorilla attacks on humans even when factoring in the ravages of captivity, humans have killed gorillas and ruined their habitats to such an incredible degree that they're now considered critically endangered.

Poachers in particular are so staunch in their pursuit of bushmeat that they not only killed Fossey's favorite subject, Digit, in 1977, but also murdered Fossey herself in Rwanda less than a decade later.

As folks like Elon Musk and MrBeast join in on the viral debate, the actual record on the subject of man vs. gorilla is very well-documented: large groups of men have been killing gorillas for centuries, and will keep doing so until anti-poaching laws are actually enforced  or until all the gorillas are gone.

More on the gorilla meme: Ape Researchers Evaluate Whether 100 Furious Men Could Bludgeon a Gorilla to Death
A man is dead after a pickup truck collided with an MBTA commuter rail earlier Saturday morning in Cohasset.

Cohasset police say the incident occurred on the Greenbush line in the area of 15 Beachwood Street around 11:20 A.M., when reports came in of an MBTA commuter rail colliding with a motor vehicle.

Upon arrival, police found a 78-year-old man suffering from traumatic injuries.

Despite the immediate response from the Cohasset Fire Department paramedics, the driver was pronounced dead on the scene.

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Neighbors on Beechwood Street heard the collision from inside their homes Saturday morning.

We heard a huge bang, said Kate Struzziero.

Her husband, Phil, added, Kate looked at me and said, We should go out there and see if someone needs help.

The two, alongside other neighbors, found the man to the right of the tracks. They say he was ejected from the car.

We saw the body of a man lying face up, Kate told Boston 25.

Phil continued, The car had been pushed a few yards beyond and down the incline.

The two said other neighbors called 911 while they evaluated the scene.

Phil added, [Police] were asking our neighbor to check for signs of life or offer first aid care. I said, No, its clear this is a fatality. Also, I looked at the wreck that was smoking and said thats fuel and fire. We need to get away.

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The fatality is the latest in a string of commuter rail incidents, many in Abington.

Police blocked traffic until roughly 4:30 pm on Beechwood Street.

MBTA crews were working on the tracks hours after, while those who rushed to help watched on.

Kate finished, A little bit in a fog I would say. Like, did that really happen.

According to the MBTA, initial investigations believe that the driver had gone through the crossing gates, which were fully engaged and functioning properly, alongside other safety warning devices.

Transit Police Detectives, along with representatives from the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office and Cohasset police, are currently investigating the situation.

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MCCOMB, Miss. (WJTV)  A teenager was killed and another person was injured during a shooting at a crowded McComb park.

The Enterprise Journal reported the shooting occurred at Baertown Park just before 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2.

McComb Police Chief Investigator David Cullom told the newspaper that one person was shot in the head and another was shot in the buttocks. Pike County Coroner Rashad Taylor said Gary W. Thompson, 17, was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson where he died from his injuries.

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Ocean Springs mother seeks justice for sons death during Facebook Marketplace transaction

Pike County Sheriff Wally Jones said deputies arrested four suspects in McCombs White Acres neighborhood and recovered weapons inside a vehicle. The suspects have not been identified.

According to Cullom, the event at the park coincided with senior skip day at McComb High School.

The McComb School District shared a statement about the incident on social media.

Our hearts and prayers are with the members of our school family who have been affected by recent events. Though the events did not happen within our school, we feel the impact deeply as a community. During this difficult time, may we surround one another with compassion, strength, and understanding. Together, we will continue to uplift and support each other with love. McComb School District

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welch  Leaders in McDowell County are appealing to both Governor Patrick Morrisey and President Donald Trump for assistance with stream restoration and debris removal efforts.

The Feb. 15 flood caused catastrophic damage across the county, including the loss of life, destruction of homes and businesses and damage to roads and bridges.

There were a number of aggravating factors that contributed to the flood, including a torrential rainfall on the morning of Feb. 15, melting snowfall and a ground that was already saturated.

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Local officials had no control over those factors.

But streams, creeks and rivers across McDowell County also are currently filled with debris, including fallen trees and sediment, which are restricting the natural water flow and increasing the risk of repeated flooding, according to members of the McDowell County Commission.

Litter that some individuals have illegally dumped into streams and creeks also is contributing to the problem.

It has been years, if not decades, since many of those rivers and streams have been dredged, according to McDowell County Commission President Michael Brooks.

A resolution recently passed by the commission is seeking state and federal assistance with that process from Governor Patrick Morrisey, President Donald Trump, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA.

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Weve just got a monumental amount of issues in McDowell County with creeks that are filled with silt, run-off and debris a lot of times diverting water from its natural flow, which ultimately ends up destroying peoples property and their yards, Brooks said. Its been an ongoing problem for decades here.

In many areas, bodies of water in the county are now level with or higher than adjacent roadways, posing a continuous threat a flooding, according to the resolution passed by the commission.

After the back-to-back 2001 and 2002 flooding disasters in McDowell County, some dredging of creeks was undertaken, but it was not nearly enough, according to Brooks.

The county is now seeking expedited approvals, waivers of regulatory red tape and the necessary funding and resources to proceed with the creek and river restoration work.

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After 2001, a couple of places were addressed, Brooks said. And contractors were allowed to do some things. And that is what we are hoping to see take place again.

Brooks said there are several areas of the Tug Fork River and Dry Fork River that are in urgent need of stream restoration and debris removal following the February flood.

We are hoping through this flood mitigation and all of these efforts to do some stream revitalization efforts to aid in getting the waterways back to their natural flow, Brooks said.

Brooks said litter that has been tossed along the streams and creeks is contributing to the problem.

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People basically just being disrespectful, Brooks, a former county sheriff, said. Just too lazy to take it to the dump. We have a free dump day in McDowell County at the last Friday of every month. We are just looking at ways we can ramp up the enforcement effort.

Brooks said the commission also attempts to organize clean-ups throughout the year. For example, he said a group of volunteers recently agreed to adopt a four-mile stretch of roadway near Panther where they will work to remove trash and debris from the highway.

Brooks said the county also attempts to utilize inmate labor when it is available to assist with clean-up efforts in the county.

Copies of the stream restoration and debris removal resolution adopted by the commission are being forwarded to Morrisey and Trump.

Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
By Deborah Mary Sophia and Arriana McLymore

(Reuters) -Amazon on Thursday tried to temper investor concerns about the impact of the Trump administration's tariffs on its e-commerce business, but the company may have few options left to ensure small third-party sellers stay put in the face of crushing levies.

U.S. President Trump has imposed 145% duties on imports from China, a move that has left companies including Amazon, Walmart and Apple scrambling to reassess supply chains and find ways to keep costs down.

Amazon said it has not seen any softness in demand yet, nor much increase in average selling prices of retail items. There had been some "heightened buying in some categories," it said.

On a post-earnings call with investors, CEO Andy Jassy said the company was working with its sellers to move orders to the U.S. earlier to avoid further tariffs on merchandise.

"Our third-party sellers have pulled forward a number of items so they have inventory here as well ... we're encouraging that because we're trying to keep prices as low as possible," Jassy said.

But stocking up was only a band aid, analysts said. As shoppers step up purchases to avoid tariff impacts, the company and its sellers may struggle to avoid price increases in the coming months as they blow through inventory and place new orders.

"I can't imagine that they stocked up on more than six months' worth of inventory," said Gil Luria, analyst at D.A. Davidson.

"If we get past the next six months and we're still as uncertain as we are today ... then Amazon will have to take actions that are less palatable. It's gonna have to let some higher prices flow through, take some lower margins structurally, have to push its merchants to absorb lower margins."

For Apple and Amazon - and other companies including Qualcomm, Samsung and Intel that are exposed to everyday consumers - tariffs have become the crisis that could set them back in a race against rivals Microsoft and Alphabet's Google.

Amazon shares dipped about 1% on Friday. Apple stock fell nearly 4%, as the iPhone maker on Thursday estimated that tariffs would add about $900 million in costs to the quarter ending in June if rates do not change. Apple CEO Tim Cook outlined big changes to the company's supply chain.

Amazon's AWS cloud business, which powers its profits, is usually a bulwark against swings in its e-commerce business, but that segment's performance in the first quarter disappointed the Street after Microsoft's Azure cloud business well outperformed expectations.
GREENE COUNTY, Mo.  People can learn more about the fundamentals of archery and how these skills can be enjoyed by family members of all ages on Sunday, May 11, at a free clinic at the Missouri Department of Conservations (MDC) Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center.

The family archery clinic will be 3-4:30 p.m. and will include classroom and hands-on shooting opportunities. The event is open to all ages, but its designed for families.

The Dalton Range is located near Ash Grove at 4897 N. Greene County Farm Road 61.

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Topics that will be covered in the course by MDC Assistant Outdoor Education Center Manager Steve Govero will include shooting fundamentals and safety.

Archery equipment for the hands-on portion of the workshop will be provided by Dalton Range staff. People can register for this event at: https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/204211

People can find out about other upcoming programs at the Andy Dalton Range by calling (417) 742-4361.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
With congressional Republicans scheming up ways to slash hundreds of billions of dollars n in federal funding for Medicaid, those who have relied on the program are now sharing their stories, highlighting how the program fills critical gaps in the United States social safety net and saves lives.

Earlier this year, House Republicans committed to cutting $880 billion from programs managed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Even if Republicans eliminated all non-mandatory spending from programs managed by the committee, they would still need to cut some $700 billion from Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program, according to one KFF analysis.

Republicans have played coy with their plans to gut the program, with many telling constituents that they dont plan to cut benefits for anyone who legitimately qualifies. As it stands, Republicans are debating ways to adjust how federal funding for the program is allocated. This would, in turn, push the decision of whether or not to cut benefits to state lawmakers, who dont have access to anywhere near the same resources as the federal government. Many states already have trigger laws in place that will automatically cut the program if there is any reduction in federal funding.

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As Republicans hold town halls to convince their constituents theyre not going to cut Medicaid, despite their previous votes, activists like Tim Faust and his organization, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, have been holding their own competing public events, rallying people behind support for the program and sharing stories about how Medicaid has impacted their lives. Three of those town hall attendees have agreed to share their stories with Salon.

Dana Horstmans Medicaid story starts around 12 years ago, when she suffered a major spinal cord injury. She told Salon that, after her injury, I was in the hospital for about five weeks, and then I had outpatient rehab for eight months. Without Medicaid, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Prior to her injury, Horstman said that she was her households breadwinner. During a training at her job in event photography, a supervisor noticed something was wrong and asked her to get cleared by a doctor before returning to work. After about two weeks, Horstman was able to get an MRI and doctors found a bone spur.

I lost my job, my partner actually stayed home with our children, and so now she's taking care of me. We have no income. We have no Medicaid or Social Security yet, you know, because I'm newly injured, and she couldn't go get a job because she had to take care of me. It was terrible. It was scary. And we lived on my kids' part-time job paychecks, yeah, so that's what we lived on for many months, until I finally got disability coming in, Horstman explained. It was about nine months after my injury and surgery and everything that I got into Long Term Care through Medicaid in the state of Wisconsin... Then she, my partner, became my caregiver, my paid caregiver through Medicaid dollars, through the Long Term Care program.

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Given that she lives in one of the few states that hasnt expanded Medicaid under the ACA, Horstman said that she doesnt trust the state legislature to fund the program if congressional Republicans pull back federal dollars. She said that she didnt believe her congressman, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., when he told his constituents that No American citizen who is legally receiving benefits from the Federal Government will see their support cut..

Well, I just, I don't believe them. I mean, there's just no way that they cannot cut people who still legally deserve it if they have to cut it by the $880 billion, Horston said. Its not easy being on Medicaid. You have to reapply every year. You give up your autonomy. Its like Heres all my medical records,  and you have to jump through all the red tape and the hoops.

Max, who declined to give his last name for fear of retaliation, told Salon that he lost his job as an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin during the pandemic. In 2022, he decided to start his own business renovating the exterior of buildings.

"At some point, I had noticed, you know, in the shower that there was an odd lump on my lower abdomen. I thought, you know, 'Huh, that's weird. I didn't see that before.'

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He said he applied for Medicaid and went in to see a doctor, who diagnosed the condition as a hernia, likely related to the heavy lifting he does at work. Because of Medicaid, he was able to get the surgery he needed as treatment.

Flash forward to now, I've had, you know, a variety of other issues, including recently, just the other day  I just turned 50 in February, and so my bones are getting a bit creaky and I have, apparently, some arthritis in my right hip, and I guess... they called it a bursitis, Max said. It's causing issues, most likely as a result of, you know, continued use. I'm a painter, and I'm currently working as a painter and handyman.

Max said that if he had not been able to get a cortisone shot, which was covered by Medicaid, he wouldnt be able to work with his right arm.

I think at this point that the doctor bill would probably consume all of my income, if not more than that, Max said. So I could be working just to simply pay a doctor bill and not rent, food, you know, child support, etc, etc. So it wouldnt make sense to be doing what Im doing.

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Max said that, despite their insistence that they won't technically cut Medicaid benefits, he doesnt trust congressional Republicans. He also said that he would expect state Republicans in Wisconsin to cut the program if the decision is pushed from the federal level to the states.

Oliver Winn told Salon that hes been on and off Medicaid throughout his entire life as a chronically ill individual and the child of two disabled parents. Winns mother lost an eye in an accident and Winns father was exposed to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War.

Winn said that towards the end of his fathers life he had both Medicaid and VA insurance, and towards the end of his life, he started having heart issues, and we found hospitals, they wouldn't take his VA insurance, but they would take Medicaid, and they were able to prolong his life a little bit longer.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

My mother's disability through Medicaid and stuff is what made sure that we could eat at all and pay bills, and Medicaid has saved my life multiple times. At one point, I had pneumonia for six months because I didn't have Medicaid. At the time, I was waiting for the application time, and unfortunately, I was sent by my work to the hospital because I got too sick waiting too long, and they told me that if I would have waited much longer, I wouldve died, Winn said. The visit cost me $4,500 and change. The next time I got pneumonia I was able to go to the hospital right away and my medication was free. The first time I wasn't able to pay rent and I cried in the checkout lane, and the next time I didn't have I didn't have to worry about that.

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Winn said that, in his own life, he suffers from chronic pain and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which made it difficult to hold down a job and, on some days, even get out of bed. However, Winn said, hes not legally considered disabled and Medicaid has been the only reason hes been able to access the treatment needed to retain some semblance of quality of life. Social Security Disability Insurance denies the majority of applications: in 2024, only around 38% of initial applications were approved. Even when applicants decide to appeal their initial rejection, just 16% are accepted..

Because the application process has been too arduous, and because I've managed to hold down a job a couple of times for a few months, you don't consider me disabled enough to qualify for disability despite the fact that I have almost no quality of life, Winn said. You have to get testimonies from physicians. You have to get testimonies from family and friends, and collect all this data to prove that you can't do stuff, which is really hard when you can't do stuff.

Winn said that Medicaid fills in a gap for people who dont qualify for disability insurance but also cant work. Current policy dictates that Americans who are able to do substantial work, defined as earning more than $1,550 in a month, are ineligible for disability benefits. The application process itself is long and arduous, and often results in rejection.

I became homeless for a time when I was trying to pay off the medical debt that I accrued when I didn't have Medicaid. I was homeless for six months while working full time to try and pay off those bills, Winn said. I got sick while I was homeless, but thankfully, I had Medicaid at that point. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone to the hospital. I would have just died to be honest.
During a meeting at the end of April, the St. Johns County School Board selected four finalists for its superintendent position.

The meeting helped narrow the list of candidates down from the previous ten.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

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The final four candidates all have leadership experience either within the St. Johns County School District or another district in Northeast Florida.

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Scott Schneider, Chief of Schools for Duval County Public Schools

Dr. Brennan Asplen, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, St. Johns County School District

Dr. Marianne Simon, Region Superintendent, Duval County Public Schools

Dr. Kyle Dresback, Regional Superintendent for Secondary and Alternative Schools, St. Johns County School District

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To read each candidates application and written interview responses, click here.

The finalists will be interviewed by the School Board during a public meeting on May 13th, before a final decision is made at the May 20th meeting.

The new superintendent is expected to start on or before July 1st.

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A week before a hearing that could be pivotal to the Menendez brothers getting out of prison, the Los Angeles District Attorney today slammed the siblings lawyers for their drastic and desperate step of attempting to recuse the entire Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

The defense conflates a conflict of interest with zealous advocacy, says the 15-page opposition filing Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court by DA Nathan Hochmans office. In our adversarial system of justice, the parties often do not agree These disagreements are neither novel nor improper. They are often necessary hallmarks of our adversarial systems search for the truth.

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Filed on April 25, the Menendezes recusal motion claims it is made on the grounds that, absent recusal, a conflict of interest would render it likely that the defendants will receive neither a fair hearing nor fair treatment through all related proceedings.

Aiming for a May 9 scheduled hearing on the matter, the DAs filing today gets down and dirty in its response document signed by Deputy DAs Habib Balian and Ethan Milius for their boss: The entire defense argument over recusal boils down to the defense not being happy with the current District Attorneys position on resentencing; therefore it concludes the Office and the District Attorney himself must be so biased that they should be thrown off the case. This desperate argument may work in a press interview but fails in a court of law based on an adversarial system of justice. Accordingly, the motion for recusal should be summarily denied as a matter of law, obviating the need for an evidentiary hearing.

Earlier this year, Hochmans withdrew his predecessor George Gascons move to support a reconsideration of the sentencing of Lyle Menendez and Erik Menendez for the shotgun murder of their parents in 1989 and rejected hopes for a new trial. After the Menendez case sat on his desk for ages, Gascon suddenly picked up on it after the success of Netflixs Ryan Murphy series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and some documentaries claiming new evidence and as his re-election prospects dimmed. Wiping the incumbent out in November, failed California Attorney General candidate Hochman promised to carefully look over the files before making his own judgment.

Our 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, Hochman said Friday, repeating his much heard mantra on the Menedenzes and their 1996 sentencing to life without parole.

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In that context, the D.A. and Menendez family attorneys Mark Geragos and Bryan Freedman clashed face-to-face in court on April 17. Long delayed, that gathering was supposed to be a resentencing hearing on the brothers life sentence.

Instead, the packed session in front of Judge Micheal Jesic quickly went off the rails.

Various relatives of the brothers, who were at last months hearing virtually, already wanted the DA removed from the matter because of the unexpected showing in a previous hearing of a brutal and bloody crime scene photograph from 1989 of the siblings father Jose Menendez. That situation was inflamed further by the confusion created from the DAs sudden possession of supposedly completed parole board risk assessment report ordered in February by Gavin Newsom as a part of the clemency petition before the governor.

In the judicial equivalent of throwing his hands up in frustration, Judge Jesic cut the two-day resentencing session short two weeks ago and ordered everyone to return on May 9. That 8:30 a.m. hearing to clear up the confusion of the confidential and unfinished parole board report and accusations against the DAs office could end up being in the judges chambers and out of the public eye. Whether that hearing at the Van Nuys Courthouse will even address resentencing or be preoccupied with motions like this recusal also remains to be seen.

Bryan Freedman (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

What is as clear as day is that the Menendez family lawyers are not too impressed at all by the DAs official response to their recusal motion of last week.

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The only ones honoring the memory of Kitty and Jose Menendez are the victims, which are their 24 family members, Bryan Freedman told Deadline this afternoon with reference to the brothers parents and the two dozen family members who want to see them free ASAP. Rather than do his real job and take steps to stop the looting, smash-and-grabs, record number of burglaries and other rampant criminal behavior in Los Angeles, DA Hochman would rather book appearances on TV and social media to show that he thinks childhood sexual abuse has no impact on human behavior, the lawyer added, with a swing at Hochmans rejection of the Menendez brothers argument they killed their parents in self-defense because of the years of alleged attacks by their music executive father.

Verbally abusing the family member victims is not an example of being tough on crime.

Pulling no punches, Freedman continued: This man is out of touch with reality. His position that if Lyle and Erik admit to purported lies made 35 years ago, that he would change his position is preposterous. It may get his face and name in the media, but obviously that factor is not only wrong but has zero impact whatsoever on whether they are likely to commit a dangerous felony in the future.

Amidst whats going down in LA Superior Court in regard to the Menendez brothers, it is a June 13 session ordered by Gov. Newsom for each sibling in front of the parole board that might end up being the true deciding factor. Those individual appearances by the now middle-age Erik and Lyle Menendez and the resulting recommendation of their rehabilitations efforts that could see them walk free or die behind bars.

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  On Friday, May 9, the Mesa Conservation District (MCD) will host its 2025 Annual Landowner Meeting and Local Work Group from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the CSU Western Colorado Research Center located at 3170 B 1/2 Road, Grand Junction.

At the meeting, the MCD will have a complimentary dinner for attendees, reflections from MCD Board President Michael Lobato and a celebration of local agricultural leaders who have been honored as Colorado State Conservationists of the Year. The Colorado State Conservationists honorees include Lowell King and Philip Frank of Lifetime Ag in the Farmer Category and Harry Jackson of Vineland Enterprises in the Small Acreage Category.

After the Annual Landowner Meeting, the NRCS-led Local Work Group session will give opportunities for producers and community members to give input on regional natural resource funding and program priorities.

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In addition, the event will feature Greg Peterson as a guest speaker. Peterson is a member of the Colorado Ag Water Alliance and will present the lessons he has learned through the Alliances Drought Resilience Program.

To conclude the event, the MCD will cover upcoming events and its initiatives designed to strengthen conservation and support producers across the region.

Attendees must RSVP by May 5th. Event tickets are available online.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX)  On May 1, the Mesa County Assessors Office mailed Notices of Value (NOV) to all taxpayers while concluding the 2025 reappraisal.

The NOV reflects the sales and analyses of a property from Jan. 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Tax bills will be based on the Actual Value this next January.

The Assessors office encourages taxpayers to study their NOV carefully and determine whether a property could have sold for the Actual Value listed as of June 30, 2024. Taxpayers can file a protest if they believe that an error was made.

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In compliance with Colorado Law, the Assessor started hearing objections to the valuation of real property on Thursday. On June 9, all protests must be delivered or postmarked by the end of the business day.

On June 15, appeals for taxable business personal property will be accepted by the Assessors office.

Mesa County taxpayers can file protests in person at the Assessors office in the Mesa County Old Courthouse Annex, located on 544 Rood Avenue between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Protests can also be filed online, by fax at 970-244-1790, or mailed to Department 5003, P.O. Box 20,000, Grand Junction, CO 81502-5001.

If taxpayers cannot appeal in the ways listed, they are encouraged to call the Assessors office at 970-244-1720.

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5/5/25 Editors note: This article has been updated with the correct age of the woman who died in the crash.

A 46-year-old Valmeyer woman died in a single-vehicle crash early Saturday in Monroe County and a man was critically injured, the sheriffs department said.

The names of the victims have not been released.

A preliminary accident investigation shows a 2023 Jeep with two occupants crashed at about 1:24 a.m. on Bluff Road near Harris Lane south of Columbia, according to a news release from Sgt. Justin Biggs of the Monroe County Sheriffs Department.

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Deputies, along with several Good Samaritans who came upon the scene shortly after the crash, immediately began rendering first aid to both individuals, according to the news release.

The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene while the driver, a 53-year-old Valmeyer man, was transported to a St. Louis area hospital and was listed in critical condition.

Out of respect for the families involved, the identities of the occupants are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, Biggs said in his announcement.

At this time, it is unknown what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway, he said.

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The Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to assist in the investigation.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Investigator Jim Vogt of the Monroe County Sheriffs Department at 618-939-8651, ext. 271.

This was the second fatal crash in the past week in the Columbia area. A Caseyville man died after a motorcycle crash in Columbia on Saturday, April 26.
May 2LIMA  Slightly more than 12 hours after being convicted by an Allen County jury on charges of trafficking in methamphetamine and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, Wapakoneta resident Shawn Metzger was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years in prison Friday morning.

A jury returned guilty verdicts late Thursday in the four-day trial after just two hours of deliberation. Metzger was back in the courtroom of Judge Terri Kohlrieser on Friday morning for sentencing on four first- and second-degree felony counts.

Allen County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Thines asked the judge to impose a sentence of 25 years.

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"This defendant has zero remorse for his decisions," Thines said, noting that Metzger is currently serving a prison sentence on charges of possession of drugs and tampering with evidence out of Auglaize County.

Thines also played for the court a video discovered Thursday night that showed Metzger rapping and taunting members of the drug task force and FBI agents who investigated his drug-dealing activities. The video was laced with profanities and referenced confidential informants used in the state's case.

Kohlrieser cited the video when handing out her sentence and referred to what she believed was a "cavalier attitude the defendant displayed during the trial. He treated this all as one big joke," the judge said.

Metzger will serve his sentence concurrently with the Auglaize County prison time. An appeal in the case is likely, his attorney indicated.

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During Metzger's trial, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Cecily Stewart likened the alleged enterprise of Metzger and his co-defendants  who stood accused of selling methamphetamine to confidential informants last February  to a McDonald's restaurant.

Metzger sat atop the enterprise like a manager, with co-defendants Mark Ruvoldt and Paige Snider acting as shift leaders and the confidential informants as fry cooks, Stewart said.

The 'common denominator'

The charges against Metzger arise from three controlled drug buys orchestrated by the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force and Northwest Ohio Safe Streets Task Force last February through confidential informants who purchased suspected methamphetamine from Ruvoldt, Snider and Metzger.

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The transactions occurred at gas stations near Interstate 75 on Feb. 22 and Feb. 27, 2024, totaling a combined 105 grams of methamphetamine tested and weighed by forensic analysts from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

In her closing arguments, Stewart described Metzger as the "common denominator" in each transaction, acting as a supplier to Ruvoldt and Snider and selling directly to an informant.

The four-day trial included testimony from both of the confidential informants who arranged the sales, as well as task force officers, forensic scientists, a co-defendant and a detective who extracted text messages from Metzger's phone.

Testifying for the state Wednesday, Snider identified Metzger as her boyfriend and supplier at the time she sold 14 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant, who contacted her on Facebook on Feb. 22, 2024.

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Investigators, confidential informants and Snider all identified Metzger, the defendant's black Chevrolet pickup truck and his white Cadillac in photographs taken by task force members who surveilled the gas stations.

The state presented screenshots of Facebook Messenger conversations between Metzger, Snider and one of the confidential informants, as well as text messages extracted from the defendant's phone depicting conversations where he discussed transactions with Snider and Ruvoldt.

The jury learned about controls used by the task force from lead investigator Derek Dennis, who testified that the task force pays cash or extends case consideration to confidential informants recruited for their knowledge of the drug trade.

To prevent theft, Dennis said the task force tracks the serial numbers on cash provided to informants.

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Task force members then follow and search informants for contraband before and after each sale, listen to conversations through a recording device worn by the informant and surveil the scene of the transaction, he said.

Defense questions reliability of informants, experts

Defense attorney Kenneth Rexford did not call any witnesses, but his cross-examination raised doubts about a forensic expert's knowledge of the test used to verify methamphetamine, potential offers made to co-defendant Snider and the trustworthiness of the informants.

The first informant testifed that she cooperated in exchange for consideration on criminal charges she anticipated from a traffic stop turned drug bust in Montgomery County, while the other said she was paid $200 for her involvement.

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The second informant, who has worked off and on for the task force since 2013, became the most contested of all the state's witnesses.

Kohlrieser excused jurors for nearly four hours Wednesday so attorneys could discuss newly discovered evidence about the woman, who has an open criminal case in Putnam County tied to Ruvoldt.

The woman is charged with felony drug possession and tampering with evidence following a May 19, 2024, traffic stop conducted in Putnam County.

A sheriff's deputy's report read aloud in court suggests the woman was intoxicated on stimulants when she reportedly threw a methamphetamine pipe out of the passenger-side window during the traffic stop.

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The woman reportedly lied to the deputy before blaming the pipe and suspected meth found under her person on Ruvoldt, with whom she had reportedly performed sex acts in the vehicle prior to the traffic stop, according to a description of the report discussed in court.

The revelation raised concerns about the woman's right against self-incrimination and her right to have an attorney present while questioned under oath about her criminal case.

Kohlrieser questioned the woman outside the presence of jurors, then provided jurors an abbreviated description of the charges agreed to by the defense and state, which omitted the most salacious details and connection to Ruvoldt.

Rexford asked about the charges when the witness testified under oath that she's been sober since she arranged the drug buy last February, to which the woman said she meant sober from fentanyl.

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The woman admitted under cross-examination to using drugs intermittently "her whole life" but insisted her agreement with the task force only required her to remain sober while actively working as an informant.

"This is not a reliable witness," Rexford said in his closing remarks, suggesting the task force did not take sufficient measures to drug test informants or search them with drug-sniffing dogs.

In his closing rebuttal, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Thines said the task force relies on low-level users to infiltrate drug trafficking operations.

"You don't have to like the (confidental informants), but the controls are in place ... to make sure nothing is added, nothing is subtracted," Thines said.

J Swygart contributed to this report.

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Earlier today, I was informed one of my officers was arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI). This news is disappointing and deeply concerning. I want to make it clear no one is above the law, especially those of us who have sworn to uphold it. While my officers are human, and make mistakes, they are also held to a higher standard because of the trust placed in them by the community.

Officer Diaz-Amaya was immediately placed on administrative leave. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. I recognize that incidents like this can damage public confidence, and I will continue to stay committed to holding all my officers accountable for their actions. His conduct does not reflect the values and integrity that define a New Mexico State Police officer. Those who tarnish this badge have no place in this agency.
SYDNEY (AP)  The lustrous, metallic allure of gold has long fueled intrigue and in recent months its market fortunes have also reflected global geopolitical and economic tumult.

As markets have reeled over uncertainty about U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, gold prices have registered record high after record high. Prices eased to a two-week low on Thursday after hitting a fresh peak in April, but gold's price per troy ounce  the standard for measuring precious metals  was still close to $1,000 higher than a year earlier.

The price of spot gold is up more than 30% since the start of 2025, according to the data firm FactSet while stock prices have fallen. Historically, gold sales rise when investors seek so-called safe havens for their money, especially in times of turmoil.

That's keeping miners in mineral-rich Australia busy. It has one of the worlds largest underground gold reserves and the journey of the precious metal from mines  most in the state of Western Australia  to retail stores in the form of gold cast bars with 99.99% purity takes only about a week.

After a year and a half of gains, gold ratcheted still higher after Trump announced steep increases in tariffs on goods arriving to the U.S. from around the world. Geopolitical tensions have also increased demand for gold from central banks.

Prices softened after the U.S. said imports of gold would not be subject to the administration's global tariffs. But analysts say gold could continue to climb.

___

Associated Press writer Charlotte Graham-McLay contributed from Wellington, New Zealand.
May 2The new Trump administration border control tactic of charging certain offenders with additional "novel" immigration-related crimes slammed federal court dockets in Las Cruces this week, while also spurring legal questions.

Swamped with dozens of cases of individuals charged with entering a newly created "national defense area" at the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico, the chief federal magistrate judge in Las Cruces filed an order Thursday asking the U.S. Attorney's Office and defense counsel to explain what evidence is needed to find a defendant guilty.

For instance, would a defendant need to know that the property he or she entered is military property? Does the defendant need to know that the military property was restricted to entry?

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President Donald Trump issued a memorandum in April that authorized military control of a 60-foot-wide strip of federal land along the southern border of New Mexico called the Roosevelt Reservation.

The narrow 170-mile corridor is now considered an extension of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca in southeastern Arizona.

The corridor "is subject to enhanced military patrols and surveillance, with U.S. troops authorized to temporarily detain and transfer individuals to federal law enforcement for prosecution," said a statement issued Thursday by U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison, an Alamogordo native sworn into office April 18.

But whether those crossing into the zone over the past week knew they would be subject to additional criminal charges wasn't so clear.

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The criminal complaints filed in the cases state that "signs were posted along the NM National Defense Areas stating in both English and Spanish that this is a restricted area." However, the complaints don't say how many signs were posted or their size or spacing.

More than 80 people were charged with the misdemeanor offenses of violating security regulations and entering military property on Monday in Las Cruces, and more than 60 defendants packed a courtroom Friday morning to be arraigned, with most facing the new immigration-related charges.

Trump's action has left defense attorneys and a federal judge uncertain how to respond to the new prosecution strategy.

"It just came up this week," said Jessica Insurriaga, an Anthony attorney who represents clients in immigration cases. "We'll probably know more in the next week or so."

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Prosecutors "obviously are just trying to get additional charges" in immigration cases, Insurriaga said. "My thought is they are going to try and detain as they do everybody, but, honestly, I don't know."

The U.S. Attorney's Office said in the statement Thursday that it had charged 82 people with "unauthorized entry into the newly-designated National Defense Area" along New Mexico's southern border.

"The charges mark the first large-scale use of a novel criminal statute targeting unauthorized entry onto federally protected military defense property," the statement said.

Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory B. Wormuth on Thursday ordered federal prosecutors to demonstrate how people charged with entering a "national defense area" are alerted that they are entering an area under military control.

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The order asks prosecutors to "establish that a defendant possesses the requisite mens rea," or a knowledge of wrongdoing, required for any criminal prosecution.

"The scarcity of caselaw relating to these offenses, particularly given the unprecedented nature of prosecuting such offenses in this factual context, leaves the Court unclear about the mens rea standard as applied in these cases," Wormuth wrote in the order.

The U.S. Attorney's Office did not immediately respond Friday to the Journal's request for a response to Wormuth's order.

The apprehensions are being made by Border Patrol agents from the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station, federal court records show.

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Trump's action allows federal prosecutors to charge migrants detained in the corridor with three misdemeanor charges for entry into a military property.

Court records show that dozens of people apprehended in the new Roosevelt Reservation have been charged with three federal misdemeanors. They are:

Entry or attempted entry by an alien of the United States  a charge long used in immigration cases.Penalty for violation of security regulations and orders, described as a "Title 50" violation of defense property regulations.Entering military, naval or coast guard property.

"The newly filed Title 50 charges carry potential penalties of up to one year in prison, supplementing existing immigration-related offenses," Ellison's statement said.

The action is intended "to gain 100% operational control of New Mexico's 170-mile border with Mexico," Ellison said.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama shared in a recent podcast episode what fears she has for President Donald Trumps second term.

Obama appeared on the podcast, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, with her brother, Craig Robinson, on Monday, where they discussed Trumps immigration policies.

I dont know that we will have the advocates to protect everybody and that makes me  that frightens me, it keeps me up at night, Obama told Shetty.

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Earlier in the podcast, the siblings discussed their experiences with racial discrimination.

In this current climate, for me its, you know, whats happening to immigrants, Obama said. So its not the fear for myself anymore...I drive around in a four-car motorcade with a police escort. Im Michelle Obama. I do still worry about my daughters in the world, even though they are somewhat recognizable.

Obama added that she is worried that we have leadership that is, sort of, indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesnt and making decisions without courts and due process.

Knowing that theres so much bias and so much racism and so much ignorance that fuels those kinds of choices, I worry for people of color all over this country, she said. And I dont know that we will have the advocates to protect everybody. And that makes me, that frightens me. It keeps me up at night.

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The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at May 2, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from May 2 drawing

Midday: 5-7-5

Evening: 3-4-9

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from May 2 drawing

Midday: 5-8-8-1

Evening: 3-1-8-8

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from May 2 drawing

02-17-18-33-38, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from May 2 drawing

KD-JH-KS-10C-8H

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from May 2 drawing

03-05-17-24-39

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08-21-29-31-38

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from May 2 drawing

04-13-14-19-22-24-30-33-37-38-40-43-46-50-52-53-55-66-68-69-75-77

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 2, 2025
A Minnesota State Patrol trooper is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison if convicted on child pornography charges.

Trooper Jeremy F. Plonski was charged Friday in U.S. District Court with one count of production of child pornography, with Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick saying there is "zero tolerance for public officials who violate federal lawsparticularly those laws that protect vulnerable children from sexual abuse."

Jeremy PlonskiSherburne County Jail

The criminal complaint detailing the allegations against Plonski has not been made public, but Kirkpatrick accused Plonski of committing "one of the most vile and predatory offenses imaginable" while in his state patrol uniform.

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"This is abhorrentto Minnesota as a whole and to our law enforcement community in particular," Kirkpatrick said in a statement.

Alvin M Winston Sr., a special agent with the FBI Minneapolis, called the allegations against Plonski "horrifying and a gross betrayal of public trust."

Details are limited, but the investigation included assistance from the Minneapolis Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Shakopee Police Department.

The state patrol says Plonski, who was hired in 2022, has been placed on leave amid an internal affairs investigation.

The alleged sexual abuse this child had inflicted upon them is truly unbelievable, Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar said. This office will pursue all potential charges and maximum penalties available to us to hold this individual accountable. I wish to thank all of the law enforcement agencies for their excellent work on bringing this individual in to face justice and protecting our residents, particularly our children.

Plonski was booked into the Sherburne County Jail on May 1.
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Apple (AAPL) reported fiscal second-quarter revenue and earnings that surpassed analysts expectations, with higher-than-expected iPhone sales.

The iPhone maker reported revenue of $95.4 billion, up 5% year-over-year and above the analyst consensus from Visible Alpha. Net income of $24.78 billion, or $1.65 per share, compared to $23.64 billion, or $1.53 per share, a year earlier, topping Wall Streets estimates.

The gains came as Apple's iPhone sales climbed 2% to $46.84 billion, ahead of projections, while Mac sales rose 7% to $7.95 billion, and iPad sales jumped 15% to $6.4 billion. The company's services revenue improved 12% to $26.65, just under expectations of $26.71 billion.

Apple also said its board authorized a $100 billion share repurchase program and increased its dividend by 4% to 26 cents per share.

However, shares slipped in extended trading Thursday as CEO Tim Cook told investors during the company's earnings call that tariffs, if kept at their current levels, would increase Apples costs by about $900 million in the current quarter running through June. Cook said he expects Apple's total revenue to grow by low- to mid-single digits in the current quarter, compared to Street projections of about 4%.

Cook warned the impact of tariffs could change, given the company is uncertain of potential future actions. The majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. this quarter will come from India rather than China, Cook said, with iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and other products coming mostly from Vietnam.

The results come as several analysts have warned the company could be particularly hurt by trade tensions with China, where Apple until recently manufactured an estimated 90% of its products. President Donald Trump has said he expects tariffs on China will come down substantially but not drop to zero. To help mitigate some risk, Apple is reportedly planning to move the assembly of all iPhones it sells in the U.S. to India by the end of 2026.

Apple shares slid about 4% in after-hours trading. The stock was down 15% for 2025 through Thursdays close.



This article has been updated since it was first published to include additional information and reflect more recent share price values.

Read the original article on Investopedia
A paw-fect reunion!

A dog that went missing in California has been reunited with his family after more than four years, and in a location over 1,000 miles away.

Rome, an English Bulldog, went missing in January 2021 when he left his backyard as a puppy, according to Austin Pets Alive (APA).

Per the organization, Rome's family searched all over for him  posting flyers, knocking on doors and filing police reports  to no avail.

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Earlier this year, in February, the animal was found tied to the gate of APA's Tarrytown location in Austin, Texas, alongside a small Chihuahua.

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.



Austin Pets Alive Rome. Rome.

Related: Wiener Dog Lost on Rugged Island for 529 Days Is Safe After 1,000 Hours of Searching, Rescue Says

With no identifying information, APA eventually discovered that Rome was double microchipped, and they were able to track down his original owners, who, the organization said, "were stunned and overjoyed to learn that their long-lost boy had been found alive and safe."

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Romes family then made plans to travel over 1,000 miles from California to Texas and bring their beloved canine companion home.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Austin Pets Alive Rome reunited with his owners. Rome reunited with his owners.

"We are a ball of emotion right now, Rome's family told APA in a statement. We are so excited to see him."

"Words cannot describe the emotion of what we felt when he was gone, so to have that void filled today is absolutely incredible," they added.

According to Human Animal Support Services, pets with microchips are three times more likely to return home after they are lost.



Read the original article on People
The search for a man from Texas who vanished while swimming in Lake Oconee has come to an end.

The Greene County Sheriffs Office reported that the body of Bertram Raymond Foster, 54, from Williamson, Texas has been recovered.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Foster disappeared late Thursday night when he attempted to swim across Collins Cove in Lake Oconee.

Deputies and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources were called to the lake just before 9:45 p.m. and searched until 2 a.m. They resumed their search on Friday.

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Earlier this year, a pair of teachers vanished while boating on Lake Oconee.

Joycelyn Wilson and her fiance, Gary Jones, disappeared in February. Wilsons body was recovered the next day, but crews searched the lake for a month to find Jones body.

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Mississippi lawmakers are still trying to finalize a budget for the next fiscal year. Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) is waiting on both chambers to reach an agreement ahead of a special session.

State House and Senate leaders are responsible for making sure a budget is in place for the next fiscal year. As of Friday, May 2, its uncertain when a budget will be finalized.

If there is a disagreement on other items, they need to set those items aside and be willing to fund the annual operating budget, said Reeves.

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The governor is not pleased that lawmakers could not reach an agreement before May 1, but he is prepared to call them back for a special session.

Gov. Reeves unveils Mississippis Power Play initiative

For the taxpayers to spend $100,000 a day for the two chambers to come to Jackson and stare at each other, well, thats just not a very good idea, Reeves said.

House Speaker Jason White (R-Miss.) and Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R-Miss.) said theyre continuing to hammer out a deal.

Senate leadership has been meeting regularly with the House and made progress on the budget. We hope to finalized it expeditiously, said Hosemann in a statement to WJTV 12 News.

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White said most budget items are ready, but one issue remains. He said the Senate is not agreeing with the House to use capital expense funds for local infrastructure projects across Mississippi.

We can have debate on any expenditures of the capital expense fund. But the annual operating budget will not be used as leverage going forward by anyone, the governor stated.

If we cannot agree on this particular issue, the House is willing and prepared to pass a budget, said White.

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LAWRENCE COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  The Lawrence County Sheriffs Office announced a man was arrested for allegedly subjecting a woman to extreme levels of inhumane treatment.

Lawrence County Sheriff Ryan Everett said deputies responded to a burglary call on QD Smith Lane on May 1. During the investigation, deputies received information and noticed suspicious activity at a residence that was supposed to be unoccupied.

McComb park shooting leaves two injured, suspects arrested

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Everett said deputies made contact with Isaiah Dajion Herring, of Columbia, and an unidentified woman.

During the investigation, Everett said deputies discovered that Herring had held the woman captive for the past several days and subjected her to inhumane treatment. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Isaiah Dajion Herring (Courtesy: Lawrence County Sheriffs Office)

Herring was charged with kidnapping, attempted murder, first-degree murder (unborn child) and burglary of a dwelling.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Missouri State University (MSU) will confer 2,804 degrees to students at its spring 2025 commencement next week.

MSU will confer 1,938 bachelors degrees, 736 masters degrees, 123 doctorate degrees and seven specialist degrees.

Three ceremonies will take place on Friday, May 9, at Great Southern Bank Arena, according to an MSU news release.

The first ceremony at 9 a.m. will recognize students graduating from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and the McQueary College of Health and Human Services.

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Susan Hardy, a former student representative on the Board of Governors and graduating senior, is the featured speaker.

The second ceremony at 1 p.m. will recognize students graduating from College of Education and the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

Tamia Schiele, Student Body president and graduating senior, is the featured speaker for the second ceremony.

The third ceremony at 5 p.m. will recognize students graduating from the Darr College of Agriculture, the College of Business and Interdisciplinary Academic Programs

Retired Sgt. Major Lanny Asepermy will receive an honorary doctorate and speak at this ceremony.

About the graduates

Past the standard expectations, the university will recognize 68 students for their work with a more rigorous curriculum in Missouri States Honors College.

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The university will also recognize students who will graduate with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher:

202 students will graduate summa cum laude (with GPAs between 3.9-4.0 on a 4.0 scale).

236 students will graduate magna cum laude (with GPAs between 3.75-3.89).

383 students will graduate cum laude (with GPAs between 3.5-3.74).

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(KSNF/KODE)  Missouri State Representative, Ben Baker has accepted an appointment by President, Donald Trump.

Baker  who serves as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 160th district  announced his appointment late Friday (5/1) by Trump, to be Director of Missouri Rural Development for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In a post on his Facebook page, Baker said, This is such an honor to serve my state and help Make America Great Again!

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The official announcement Friday came from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins.

In the USDA news release, Baker is said to be, living a life grounded in faith, family, and a relentless drive to serve his community.

When Americas farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trumps America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again, said Secretary Rollins.

According to the USDA, the new slate of Rural Development State Directors will help affirm the mission of the Trump Administration by focusing on finding ways to empower rural America and unleash economic prosperity.

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UPDATE (9:11 p.m.): Three children were injured Friday afternoon in a multi-vehicle crash involving a Mobile County Public School System bus.

According to a news release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, two trucks collided just after 3 p.m. on Ramsey Road near Nelson Road in Mobile County. That collision led to one of the trucks hitting the MCPSS bus.

Three children, who were riding as passengers on the school bus, suffered minor injuries in the crash and were taken to a local hospital, News 5 has learned. There were 32 people on the bus at the time of the crash.

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ALEAs Highway Patrol Division is still investigating.

PREVIOUS REPORTING

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG)  Alabama Law Enforcement Agency officials said they are investigating a school bus crash Friday afternoon.

According to officials, the crash happened on U.S. 90.

This story is developing. News 5 will update this article as more information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  More than 13,000 votes were cast and the results are in: Modern Apizza in New Haven is the winner of the Connecticut Pizza Trail survey conducted by the Connecticuts tourism office.

The survey was launched in order to pick pizza shops that will be included on the pizza trail. Pepes and Sallys came in right behind Modern in the survey. The first twenty pizzerias were announced on News 8s Good Morning Connecticut, with towns across the state notching entries.

Winner of Connecticuts Pizza Capital Trail revealed

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I think it sends a message loud and clear that there is great pie in every corner of the state from New Haven to New London to New Hartford, Anthony Anthony, the state official in charge of marketing tourism efforts, said. You have apizza, Greek style pie and everything in between.

Anthony said the pizza trail is part of the states broader efforts to put its culinary scene front and center as a tourist attraction.

While the Elm City had by far the strongest showing on the pizza trail poll, other towns held their own, too. Middletown notched two entries, including Mondo on Main Street.

Any attention given to the pizza business is great for all of us, Mondo owner Keith Vibert said. Its one of those rising tides lift all boats type of things.

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At least 15,000 Agriculture Department employees have taken the Trump administrations offers to resign, according to a readout of a USDA briefing with congressional staff that was shared with POLITICO.

The departures represent a drastic contraction of a department that handles a diverse portfolio including flagship federal nutrition programs, food safety, farm loans and rural broadband initiatives.

While just 3,877 USDA employees signed up for the first deferred resignation program offered in January, 11,305 agreed to leave under the second round, with potentially more resignations to come, according to the readout. The program allows employees to quit and be paid through September.

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USDA spokesperson Seth Christensen confirmed the resignation numbers in an email.

"President Biden and Secretary Vilsack left USDA in complete disarray, including hiring thousands of employees with no sustainable way to pay them," he wrote in a statement. "Secretary Rollins is working to reorient the department to be more effective and efficient at serving the American people, including by prioritizing farmers, ranchers, and producers. She will not compromise the critical work of the Department."

The resignations account for roughly 15 percent of the departments overall workforce, and USDA is targeting as many as 30,000 job cuts, including through its forthcoming reduction-in-force plans. Many staffers say theyve made the difficult decision to resign rather than face what they describe as a climate of surveillance and fear. The Trump administration already has fired  and then scrambled to rehire  thousands of probationary employees.

Key consumer and farmer-facing programs at USDA were not insulated: The readout notes that 555 employees at the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the agency that handles meat inspections and helps respond to the bird flu outbreak, took the offer to resign. More than 1,000 Farm Service Agency and county office employees will also leave, even though Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that their resignations wouldnt be accepted. And 2,408 staffers are leaving the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which helps farmers manage soil and livestock.

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The U.S. Forest Service took one of the biggest hits, with more than 4,000 employees accepting the deferred resignation option. The Trump administration has signaled its intent to significantly cut the Forest Service's budget and transfer its wildfire responsibilities to a new federal agency by 2026.

More than 1,300 employees at the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 1,255 employees at the Agricultural Research Service, 78 employees from the Economic Research Service, 54 employees from the National Institute for Food and Agriculture and 243 employees from the National Agricultural Statistics Service will also depart.

At least 498 staffers have left the Food and Nutrition Service, which handles 16 nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that serves more than 40 million Americans, school meal programs and federal funding for food banks. Employees are also leaving regional offices, said one person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.

There have been a few departures of people who were most knowledgeable or who had been there for many years, the person wrote in a text message. People who will be very hard to replace.

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However, Rollins plans to continue hiring for 53 positions, despite the ongoing hiring freeze, citing national security reasons, according to Christensen.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated USDA's hiring intentions. The department plans to exempt 53 types of roles from its hiring freeze.
What happened at NIOSH last night is nothing short of shameful. Telling hardworking, dedicated employees that they no longer have a job at 6:30 on a Friday night  after the workday is done and with no forewarning  is cowardly, heartless, and utterly unacceptable.

Let me be clear: this is not just an attack on jobs. This is an attack on the very foundation of worker safety in the United States of America. The dismantling of the Respiratory Disease Division at NIOSH is not just a bureaucratic shuffle. It is the elimination of our nations leading defense against black lung disease and other respiratory illnesses that afflict miners and workers across this country.

This division is responsible for developing life-saving coal dust and silica monitors. It runs the miner X-ray surveillance program. It oversees MSHAs Part 90 program  a program that literally exists to save the lungs and lives of American coal miners.

Now, with the stroke of a pen and the cowardice of an evening layoff notice, those protections are being stripped away. Who is going to monitor dust levels in our mines? Who will ensure the next generation of miners doesnt end up with the same black lungs as their fathers and grandfathers?

The United Mine Workers of America will not stand by silently while decades of progress are gutted overnight. This isnt just detrimental  its catastrophic. Its detrimental to coal miners. Detrimental to American workers. Detrimental to American families.

The UMWAs number one focus has always been, and always will be, the health and safety of our members. We will fight tooth and nail to ensure these programs are restored, these protections are preserved, and that our nation never forgets the sacrifices miners make to power this country.
By Stephen Nellis, Akash Sriram

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Apple on Thursday trimmed its share buyback program by $10 billion, with CEO Tim Cook telling analysts that tariffs could add about $900 million in costs this quarter as the iPhone maker shifts its vast supply chain to minimize the impact of President Donald Trump's trade war.

Cook also said Apple's planned $500 billion in spending to expand its U.S. footprint would involve both capital outlays and increased operational expenses as it builds out server and chip factories with its manufacturing partners. In addition, he outlined how Apple has started to build up a stockpile of products so that the majority of its devices sold in the U.S. this quarter will not come from China.

Taken together, analysts said the moves showed one of the most profitable companies in the history of business battening its hatches as it moves into uncharted waters.

"We were expecting to see more buybacks. Knowing the company, this indicates that Tim Cook is hoarding cash for difficult times," said Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com. "While that's not exactly a problem in itself, it certainly suggests that the company is not as certain about its near-term future as it was in previous quarters."

Apple shares were down 4.3% after the company released quarterly results.

So far, the trade war has not been a problem for Apple's sales, with Cook saying the company did not see consumers rushing to stock up on Apple items.

The Cupertino, California-based company said sales and profit for the fiscal second quarter ended March 29 were $95.36 billion and $1.65 per share, respectively, compared with analyst estimates of $94.68 billion and $1.63 per share, according to LSEG data. Sales of iPhones were $46.84 billion, compared with estimates of $46.17 billion, according to LSEG data.

For the current fiscal third quarter, Apple executives said the company expects low-to-mid single-digit revenue growth, which is in line with analyst expectations of 4.28% growth to $89.45 billion, according to LSEG data.

But Apple predicted a hit to gross margins, which it said will be 45.5% to 46.5% in its fiscal third quarter, which is below analyst estimates of 46.58%, according to LSEG data.

Cook said that for the quarter ending in June, "assuming the current global tariff rates, policies and applications do not change for the balance of the quarter and no new tariffs are added, we estimate the impact to add $900 million to our cost.".

He said the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. in the current quarter will come from India, and that most iPads, Macs and Apple Watches will come from Vietnam. Cook said that the vast majority of Apple products for markets outside the U.S. will continue to come from China.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  More than a hundred additional parking spaces will be made available in San Diegos historic Old Town neighborhood to accommodate the anticipated summertime rush.

In partnership with an organization called Hongos Coastal, the Harold J. Ballard Parent Center, which is operated by the San Diego Unified School Districts Family Engagement Department, will open up 160 parking spaces on the property.

Grand jury rips into San Diegos metered parking program

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Starting this Saturday, the spaces will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to a statement from the district.

This collaboration is about community, said Daniel Scott, co-founder of Hongos Coastal. Were proud to support both local access and educational resources.

People will need to pay for parking at the lot using a mobile app. The district will receive 80% of the funds raised and Hongos Coastal will receive the remaining 20% and reimburse SDUSD for custodial costs.

The funds raised will go toward more services for the families/caregivers of the students within the district, as well as providing more educational opportunities, supplies and additional resources to improve students literacy, math and social-emotional wellness, according to the district.

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The center currently serves as a meeting place for SDUSDs parent groups, such as the District Advisory Council, Down Syndrome Support Group, Autism Parent Network and District English Learners Advisory Council. It also houses the districts DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and Title VII Indian Education offices.

The Ballard Parent Center is located at 2375 Congress St. in Old Town.

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charleston  In a move which he said would increase election integrity, West Virginias governor signed into law Thursday a bill which will require the states voters to show a photo ID when they go to the polls.

During a media conference in Charleston, Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 3016, an action which he said would move West Virginia forward in securing elections and protecting voters rights.

Democratic elections are only as strong as the trust placed in them by the voters, Morrisey said. This commonsense legislation secures West Virginias elections and instills faith in the voting process.

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Morrisey said House Bill 3016 would move the state forward when it comes to securing elections, protecting the right to vote and insuring that every resident who is eligible to vote can do so easily.

I think were here today because we want to make the laws as simple as possible in West Virginia. No photo ID, no vote, Morrisey said.  Let me say this again. No photo ID, no vote.

House Bill 3016 requires voters to show poll clerks a valid identifying document. These documents include:

 A valid West Virginia drivers license or valid West Virginia identification card issued by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.

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 A valid drivers license issued by a state other than the State of West Virginia.

 A valid United States passport or passport card.

 A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by the United States Government or of the State of West Virginia, or by any county, municipality, board, authority or other political subdivision of West Virginia.

 A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by an institution of higher education in West Virginia by a West Virginia high school.

 A valid military identification card issued by the United States with a photograph of the person desiring to vote.

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 A valid voter registration card that includes the voters photograph issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia or the Secretary of State.

Secretary of State Kris Warner later said that if voters do not have one of the approved forms of photo ID as stated in the law, then he or she may qualify for one of the limited exemptions, and those who cannot obtain a drivers license or state-issued ID can apply for a free photo voter ID from their county clerk or the Secretary of States office. The new law also permits registered voters 65 and older to use an expired photo ID if the document was not expired on the voters 65th birthday.

The law goes into effect on July 11, so it will not affect the 100-plus municipal elections taking place this upcoming June, Warner said.

Heading into the 2026 Federal Election cycle, the Secretary of States Office will develop and publish educational materials for voters and election officials to make the changes as seamless as possible, he said.

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Voters who cannot present a valid identifying document can cast a provisional ballot after executing an affidavit affirming his or her identity, according to a statement the govenrors office issued later. The provisional ballot may be counted once the election authority verifies the identity of the individual through signature verification and determines that the individual was otherwise eligible to cast a ballot.

Warner said that he applauded seeing House Bill 3016 get signed into law.

Requiring photo ID to vote strengthens election integrity and protects against fraud, said Warner, who serves as West Virginias chief election official. I am proud of the effort between my office and the Legislature to pass this critical piece of legislation.

West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey said he believed the first portion of voter identification legislation was passed in 2013. With House Bill 3016, only West Virginians can vote in a state election.

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Some election results have hinged on only a few votes, so making sure only eligible citizens vote in state elections is important, he said.

People will know that their vote was not washed out by somebody else who was not eligible, McCluskey said, adding that he hoped the new legislation will increase voter turnout because residents will know that their votes are secure.

Contact Greg Jordan at

gjordan@bdtonline.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Emergency crews are in the area of Route 20 in West Springfield Saturday afternoon due to a four-vehicle accident.

Victim identified in deadly motorcycle crash in Enfield

West Springfield Police said at approximately 10:38 a.m. on Saturday, officers and paramedics arrived at the intersection of Route 20 and Chestnut Street for a four-vehicle crash.

One man involved in the crash sustained serious injuries and was brought to the hospital to be treated. The West Springfield Accident Reconstruction Team is currently in the area investigating the cause of the incident.

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The intersection currently has some portions blocked off to traffic, with detours provided for travelers for the next several hours. West Springfield Police urges travelers to seek alternate routes in the area of Westfield Street from West Street to Chestnut Street. 22News will provide updates as more 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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The New York subway system is saddled with more than three dozen chronically broken elevators, but the MTA would rather fight activists suing to get them fixed than use the money to repair them, critics raged this week.

In the past week, 35 to 43 elevators were out of service on any given day, up to 13% of all elevators, including many at busy stations like Times Square and Union Square, according to the MTAs elevator status page.

Yet the Metropolitan Transit Authority has spent millions of dollars and eight years fighting a federal class-action lawsuit brought by disabled New Yorkers over the broken lifts.

Sasha Blair-Goldensohn is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the MTA. Courtesy of Sasha Blair-Goldensohn

The suit, filed in April 2017 on behalf of three disabled New Yorkers, has seen more than 20 delays, six different judges, 11 lawyers hired by the MTA from four different private firms, 20 depositions, and more than 10,000 pages of motions.

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The transit agency tried to have the case dismissed at least twice  once in 2021 when a federal appeals court ruled against them, and again in August when a Manhattan federal court judge disagreed.

Your case is indefensible and a disgrace, vented Jennifer Van Dyck of the Elevator Action Network at Wednesdays MTA board meeting. Eight years of legal fees is a waste of money, use these millions of dollars to fix the elevators  get it together, MTA.

All we want is an elevator that doesnt break down. What do we have instead? Eight years of the MTAs private lawyers earning seven figures, chimed in Elevator Action Group organizer Jessica Murray.

The state has spent more than $3 million fighting the civil rights case, MTA records show. It has hired boutique law firm Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney to represent it.

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The court has ordered a settlement conference for May 28, but if an agreement cant be reached, the case will likely head to trial.

The plaintiffs are not seeking money  theyre asking for a commitment from the MTA to have elevators that work, or at a bare minimum, a plan for when they dont.

The lawsuit was filed on April 25, 2018, and is still not settled. Donna Grace/NY Post Design

Its apparently too much to ask that the station agent know how to direct someone when an elevator is out of service, said Murray, adding it takes the MTA as long as eight months to fix a single broken elevator.

Its not rocket science, Sasha Blair-Goldensohn, a Google software engineer who uses a wheelchair and is one of the plaintiffs, told The Post. Its astounding that its taken this long. Its deeply infuriating.

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Blair-Goldensohn lives on the Upper West Side, and for many years had to transfer at Columbus Circle to get to his job at Google in Chelsea. One of the elevators at that station has broken down 300 times over a four-year period, he estimates.

Advocates say it can take as much as eight months to fix a single broken elevator. Courtesy of Sasha Blair-Goldensohn

Blair-Goldensohn says outages are never announced, leaving passengers stranded. Courtesy of Sasha Blair-Goldensohn

I always have this anxiety  am I going to show up at an elevator and theres going to be yellow tape across and a paper sign saying its not working.

Blair-Goldensohn said the FDNY has had to be called to carry him up the stairs, or hes had to reroute his trip by getting back on the subway  at least 100 times.

This case should have settled a long time ago, said Daniel Brown, the plaintiffs lawyer whos worked on the case pro bono for law firm Sheppard Mullin. Its unfortunate its taken this long. Its really about doing the right thing.

Passengers relying on the elevators say signs like this one are a daily occurence. Courtesy of Sasha Blair-Goldensohn

Between 25-43 elevators have been out of service in the last week, according to Elevator Action Group. Helayne Seidman

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The MTA settled a related case in 2022 where disability demanded more elevators in the subway system, arguing the Big Apple had one of the least accessible systems in the country. But advocates say theres not much point in building more elevators if theyre always out of service.

The MTA said its quadrupled the pace of installations of elevators from five years ago  a result of the 2022 settlement. It said some elevator outages happen because of replacement projects.

Theres never been a stronger commitment to accessibility in transit, said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo.
ST. LOUIS  The first jury conviction for murderunder new St. Louis County Prosecutor Melissa Price Smithreveals how modern policing is making a difference.

Only FOX 2 reveals the evidence that led to a confession.

Police bodycam video shows the last cigarette smoked in the free world by 35-year-old Rodney Collins. He went with police peacefully after the North County Police Cooperative (NCPC) gathered evidence that left no doubt in the minds of a jury last month.

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No rock can be left unturned, NCPC Corporal Benjamin Santoyo said. Unique to this investigation, this spanned approximately 20 days from the date of the incident to the date of the arrest.

It began with a murder inside a north St. Louis County home near Woodrow and Maywood.

William Gholson was discovered two days after he was killed on Aug. 11, 2023.

Cpl. Santoyo added, You have to go and talk to people who actually met with the victim.

Police reviewed ring doorbell camera videos, revealing an interesting co-worker.

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It was Rodney Collins, Santoyo said.

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They tracked Collins in storesincluding a Dollar Store, in which police say he was buying cleaning supplies.

Police got a search warrant to check the suspects home and found the alleged murder weaponit was inside that drawstring bag.

Im glad justice was served, Gloria Shields-Snulligan said.

She lives nearby where it happened. Shields-Snulligan didnt doubt police would solve the crime.

The evidence gathered led to a confession, which the defendant even wrote out and read to police.

The gun went offhe fell. My phone did too, so I picked it up, thought about what had just happened and panicked and left, Collins said.

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Santoyo says a key is remaining respectful of everyone involvedeven in the darkest circumstances.

Bear in mind, not everybody is a bad person. Some people have just made really horrific mistakes, Santoyo said.

You can even hear that approach, incredibly, after the murder arrest of Collins in the body cam video.

An officer senses the handcuffs are uncomfortable and tells Collins, Its tight, sorry man. Collins responded, Youre fine.

Its not a dramatic takedown, but one that results in a lifelong prison sentence for Rodney Collins.

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Hundreds of people in Murrysville remain without power Friday evening, more than three days after storms caused widespread damage on Tuesday.

A cooler inside Gertrude Laughreys home is filled with milk, yogurt, Ensure, and eggs.

At $5 a dozen, I guess you better save those, Laughrey said to Channel 11s Andrew Havranek.

She and her husband have been without power since Tuesdays storm. Shes tried to save as much as she could from the fridge and has another bin full of ice with waters and meals. Those meals were sent from her husbands health insurance on Thursday. Hes been in and out of the hospital and nursing homes.

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Itll have to do, Laughrey said.

Shes had to cancel nurse visits for her husband because she doesnt have power for them to hook things up.

They also run water from two wells.

Because they dont have power, they dont have running water.

We cant even flush our commodes, Laughrey said. This morning, I took a hanger and fished out the toilet tissue and put it in a bag and put it in the trash. I cant let them fill up like that. Ill never be able to flush them.

Shes not alone. Homes all around her neighborhood off of Sardis Road are dark, including a home where a tree snapped. The homeowner didnt want to share his name or show his face on camera, but he showed Channel 11s Andrew Havranek his basement, where he has a cooler hooked up to a generator to keep 300 pounds of meat fresh.

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Theres turkey, theres deer, [my son] buys from the farm market all kinds of beef, he said.

He was able to get the last generator at a local store in Murrysville on Tuesday night.

On Friday, crews with First Energy were working on a substation in the woods between his house and Laughreys.

The transmission line was damaged, and weve been working very hard to get that back on, said Todd Meyers, spokesperson for First Energy.

Meyers said First Energy has crews from all over the region and other states helping out, and say power should be restored to most people in the Murrysville area either by the end of Saturday or by Monday.

Laughrey cant wait.

Its like living in a primitive world, she said.

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(The Hill)  Tech billionaire Elon Musk reflected on his speech after President Trumps inauguration in January, while lashing out at the media for misportraying what he called a loving gesture as a Nazi salute.

Musk, who has played an influential role in helping Trump overhaul the government during the presidents first 100 days in office, slammed those who have criticized his role as an adviser in the administration and for comparing his rhetoric and mannerisms to Nazi Germany during a recent interview on Foxs My View with Lara Trump.

The Fox host  also the presidents daughter-in-law  invoked the billionaires childhood in South Africa amid the Apartheid regime when asking how he felt about the comparisons.

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Well, I mean, look, its a relentless propaganda campaign, which obviously President Trump has experienced for a very long time, 20 years, maybe longer, he said in the interview, set to air Saturday evening. And politics is a blood sport, so theyre going to come up with whatever attacks they can to destroy the public perception of someone.

Now, obviously, Ive not harmed anyone in my life, so its an outrageous thing to claim that Im a Nazi, the Tesla CEO added, while defending Trump against similar attacks.

Musks comments come after Democrats have lavished criticism on the billionaire for his advisory role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to conduct mass layoffs across the federal workforce and cut funding from various programs. His gesture at the post-inauguration event and influence over the recent German election also raised eyebrows among critics.

The key Trump ally cast at least some of the blame on legacy media, saying its disappointing how well propaganda works.

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If you repeat a lie, you know, the sort of hes a Nazi lie enough times, some people actually believe it, especially people that still believe the legacy news, you know, he told Lara Trump.

He added later, They really are trying every angle to get me if they could press a button and kill me. In reality, they would press that button immediately. But since  Im a little difficult to kill. They are doing character assassination instead.

Some have come to his defense in recent months, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism.

The relationship between Trump and Musk has also been in headlines recently as the tech gurus status as a White House special employee is set to expire on May 30. The president, however, said earlier this week that the billionaire, who also owns SpaceX and the social platform X, could stay as long as he wants.

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Musk, in the interview Saturday, described his friendship with the commander-in-chief.

I do consider the president a friend. I think he considers me a friend and we get along very well, he told Lara Trump, the wife of the presidents middle son Eric Trump.

I think probably if you asked us both the same set of questions in two different rooms, 80 percent of the time we would come up with the same answer, Musk said, adding that, we almost always agree.

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Tech billionaire Elon Musk reflected on his speech after President Trumps inauguration in January, while lashing out at the media for misportraying what he called a loving gesture as a Nazi salute.

Musk, who has played an influential role in helping Trump overhaul the government during the presidents first 100 days in office, slammed those who have criticized his role as an adviser in the administration and for comparing his rhetoric and mannerisms to Nazi Germany during a recent interview on Foxs My View with Lara Trump.

The Fox host  also the presidents daughter-in-law  invoked the billionaires childhood in South Africa amid the Apartheid regime when asking how he felt about the comparisons.

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Well, I mean, look, its a relentless propaganda campaign, which obviously President Trump has experienced for a very long time, 20 years, maybe longer, he said in the interview, set to air Saturday evening. And politics is a blood sport, so theyre going to come up with whatever attacks they can to destroy the public perception of someone.

Now, obviously, Ive not harmed anyone in my life, so its an outrageous thing to claim that Im a Nazi, the Tesla CEO added, while defending Trump against similar attacks.

Musks comments come after Democrats have lavished criticism on the billionaire for his advisory role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to conduct mass layoffs across the federal workforce and cut funding from various programs. His gesture at the post-inauguration event and influence over the recent German election also raised eyebrows among critics.

The key Trump ally cast at least some of the blame on legacy media, saying its disappointing how well propaganda works.

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If you repeat a lie, you know, the sort of hes a Nazi lie enough times, some people actually believe it, especially people that still believe the legacy news, you know, he told Lara Trump.

He added later, They really are trying every angle to get me if they could press a button and kill me. In reality, they would press that button immediately. But since  Im a little difficult to kill. They are doing character assassination instead.

Some have come to his defense in recent months, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism.

The relationship between Trump and Musk has also been in headlines recently as the tech gurus status as a White House special employee is set to expire on May 30. The president, however, said earlier this week that the billionaire, who also owns SpaceX and the social platform X, could stay as long as he wants.

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Musk, in the interview Saturday, described his friendship with the commander-in-chief.

I do consider the president a friend. I think he considers me a friend and we get along very well, he told Lara Trump, the wife of the presidents middle son Eric Trump.

I think probably if you asked us both the same set of questions in two different rooms, 80 percent of the time we would come up with the same answer, Musk said, adding that, we almost always agree.

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Photo: Scott Olson (Getty Images)

Fiscal second-quarter earnings show that the Apple (AAPL) hasnt lost its shine.

Thursday after the bell, Apple reported $95.4 billion in revenue, up 5% year-over-year, and quarterly diluted earnings per share of $1.65, up 8% year-over-year amid robust demand, even as geopolitics threaten its supply-chain wizardry. But while the company beat Wall Streets earnings expectations for the fifth quarter in a row  exceeding estimates of $1.60 EPS and $94.2 billion in revenue  sales from its key services unit and from China disappointed.

Apples second-quarter earnings were buoyed by American consumers rushing to buy Apple products before President Donald Trumps far-reaching tariffs could really take hold. The company also released the iPhone 16e during its second quarter, a lower-end phone that comes with limited AI features.

On the whole, Apple beat expectations across much of its hardware department, reporting iPhone revenue of $46.84 billion (versus $45.84 billion estimated), Mac revenue of $7.95 billion (versus $7.77 billion estimated), and iPad revenue of $6.4 billion (versus $6.20 billion estimated).

Yet its services segment  which includes the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, and other recurring streams  just missed expectations, coming in at $26.65 billion, below the $26.70 billion analysts anticipated. Services revenue was still up 11.65% from a year ago.

Apples stock slid more than 2% in volatile after-hours trading shortly after the results.

Apple was among the hardest-hit tech giants due to its exposure to China, where it currently manufactures 90% of the iPhones it sells in the U.S. Almost every question during the companys earnings call had to do with tariffs. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company saw limited impact from tariff-related effects this quarter, largely due to a temporary exemption for electronics.

We are uncertain of potential future actions prior to the end of this quarter, he said.

But, he added, if current global tariff rates remain the same, the financial impact could be significant next quarter: Apple could see an estimated $900 million added to its costs for the June quarter.

President Donald Trumps trade war has turned into a structural headwind for Apples global operations. To mitigate tariff risks, Apple is accelerating its shift away from China. Now, Cook said, most of Apples third-quarter iPhone sales will come from devices assembled in India, with other products increasingly produced in Vietnam.

Apple sought to get ahead of Trumps tariffs by shipping approximately $2 billion worth of iPhones from India to the U.S.; the company did so to maintain its inventory levels and stave off price hikes. 
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW)  Missouri Western State University will celebrate the achievements of 350 graduates during two spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10.

Ceremonies will take place in the MWSU Fieldhouse in the M.O. Looney Complex. Graduations is free and open to the public.

MWSU will confer 290 undergraduate degrees and 60 graduate degrees. Graduates come from Missouri and 19 other states, as well as seven foreign countries.

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The first ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and will celebrate graduates from the College of Science and Health. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m.

The second ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. and will celebrate graduates from General Studies, the College of Business and Professional Studies and the College of Liberal Arts. Doors will open at 2:15 p.m.

A brief reception will follow each ceremony in the Looney practice gym. The reception is sponsored by the Missouri Western Alumni Association.

Tim Houlne, a graduate from 1986, will be the commencement speaker for the spring 2025 commencement. Houlne graduated from MWSU with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

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The Houlne Center for Convergent Technology was named in appreciation of Houlne's generous contribution to its construction and operation.

Student representatives Viola Toma and News-Press NOW's Kendra Simpson will also speak at their respective ceremonies.

Toma, from Kansas City, Mo., will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and will speak at the 11 a.m. ceremony. Toma has overcome homelessness and battled cancer on her road to success. As a non-traditional first generation student and a single parent, Toma still carved time out to volunteer at Head Start through Community Action Partnership St. Joseph.

Simpson, from St. Joseph, Mo., will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Convergent Journalism and Public Relations and will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony. Simpson served as news editor and editor-in-chief for Griffon Media, and was awarded several state and national awards for her work. Simpson now serves as a multimedia journalist and weekend anchor for News-Press NOW.

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Other public commencement-related activities include

* Physical Therapy Assistant Pinning Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9 at the Kemper Recital Hall in Spratt 101

* Respiratory Therapy Pinning Ceremony at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 at Murphy Hall 2nd Floor

* Nurses Pinning Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10 at the Fulkerson Center
May 2They say all good things come in threes. Apparently, so do popular burger joints.

In-N-Out Burger  a restaurant chain with more than 400 locations scattered primarily throughout the West Coast  has shed light on plans for two potential locations on Albuquerque's West Side.

The restaurant chain confirmed the plans in a series of emails to the Journal on Thursday and Friday. It is still too early in the development process to know if those possible locations will pan out, according to Mike Abbate, In-N-Out Burger's vice president of store development.

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This brings the total number of known planned Albuquerque locations to three. The planned locations include Cottonwood Mall, a vacant lot at 3811 Coors NW and a vacant lot off of Gibson and Interstate 25.

Abbate said in a statement that In-N-Out Burger is still in the development application process for the possible Cottonwood location and in the pre-development process for the potential Coors location. Therefore, he said, "it's too early to say when or if we will be able to obtain the approvals necessary" to open a restaurant at either spot.

The burger chain, known for its burgers, fries and shakes, announced in 2023 that it would be venturing into New Mexico, with plans to open in the Albuquerque area by 2027. Other New Mexico cities could welcome In-N-Out restaurants "in the years beyond," a November 2023 news release said.

The first planned location was revealed shortly after, with the University of New Mexico telling the Journal that In-N-Out would be a tenant in the university's South Campus Tax Increment Development District.

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At the time, In-N-Out had begun the process of purchasing roughly two acres of land from UNM for $2 million with the intention of building a restaurant near the fire station off of Gibson and I-25. Tom Neale, UNM's director of real estate, told the Journal the transaction between UNM and In-N-Out for that location was expected to close in May 2025.

Plans for the additional two West Side locations were revealed in one fell swoop, after screenshots of alleged letters from In-N-Out to the city of Albuquerque's Development Facilitation Team regarding plans for the locations started circulating on the social platform Reddit this week.

According to the Bernalillo County assessor's website, In-N-Out is listed as the current owner of a two-acre vacant commercial lot at 3811 Coors NW. The lot is located near St. Josephs NW and sits in proximity to a Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Blake's Lotaburger and a 7 Brew under construction.

Additionally, the potential Cottonwood Mall location would be a new build located outside the mall itself, an In-N-Out spokesperson told the Journal. The letter circulating in social media says the site has a little over one acre, which is currently made up of surface parking and landscaping.

As the restaurant chain's development plans undergo the steps of gaining approval, Abbate said in a statement the In-N-Out team remains "hopeful to serve the community of Albuquerque and are truly grateful for the support we've received from the state of New Mexico."
SAN FRANCISCO, California  In his first 100 days in office, President Donald Trump has taken a sledgehammer to many of the nations cyber-focused agencies and programs. Now, a normally apolitical community is rising up in protest.

The nations cyber agencies, particularly the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have facedrelentless cuts to programs and personnel, heightening concerns about the stability of the workforce and resiliency of U.S. capabilities.

Major changes to cyber strategy were announced at the State Department and intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency, creating additional confusion about whether there was a unified approach to cyber policy. And President Donald Trump has continued his retribution campaign against top officials he has deemed disloyal to his agenda including ordering an investigation into Chris Krebs, who led CISA under Trump between 2018 and 2020, and firing Gen. Timothy Haugh, who served as the commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and director of the NSA.

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Taken together, these actions by the Trump administration are creating a deep sense of unease among the cybersecurity community, particularly as it sees countries such as China and Russia turning up the heat on attacking U.S. critical infrastructure with little public recourse.

The industry has long held the view that securing the nations most critical networks is a collective national security imperative, with private political opinions mostly kept secondary. But Trump has ushered in an era of hyperpartisanship in Washington and has rewarded public displays of allegiance to the MAGA cause, generating fury among exasperated professionals.

With the politicization of basically everything in government, including cybersecurity, we are seeing what would be the normal course of business come under scrutiny, said one cyber industry leader on the sidelines of the RSAC Conference, one of the largest gatherings of cyber professionals in the world. There are a number of groups, communities if you will, that are trying to take a more aggressive approach to say, Hey, we cant be quiet or complacent anymore on the way we operate, because effectively good faith is no longer the tone that is being taken.

This person and others interviewed for this story were granted anonymity to speak candidly about their concerns amid fears of potential backlash from the Trump administration.

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Prominent cyber leaders, who have voiced displeasure with the nations dwindling cyber strength in private, are finally speaking out in the face of a political divide. Last week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based digital rights group, penned an open letter condemning the Trump administration for its retaliation against Krebs. The letter began with a few dozen signatures, butmore than 400 cyber professionals had signed on as of Friday afternoon.

And just days prior, former CISA Director Jen Easterly, who stepped down from her post on the day of Trumps inauguration, posted afiery missive on LinkedIn calling on the community to mobilize in the face of grave dangers to national security.

As experienced leaders exit and key roles remain vacant, our nation's cyber defenses are at risk of being dangerously degraded, wrote Easterly, who has largely avoided discussing political issues. Thats why its more important than ever for the cybersecurity community, especially the private sector, to step forward.

At CISA itself, one current employee said town halls with agency leaders to discuss recent changes have popped off in recent weeks, as personnel were abruptly asked to either stay and risk layoffs or take deferred resignations.

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I think the sense from myself and my peers is that the ability of this country to deal with cyber threats is being absolutely gutted for political reasons, a second industry expert said.

Outraged whispers circulated the halls of San Franciscos Moscone Convention Center about Trumps reprisal against Krebs, who provoked his ire in 2020 for stating that the presidential election was secure and that claims of fraud were unsubstantiated. Last month, Trump stripped him of his security clearance and ordered the DOJ to investigate his tenure as CISA head. And earlier this week, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed thatKrebs had lost his membership to Global Entry, an expedited customs program for U.S. travelers, because of Trumps probe.

Nobody should be blackballed for doing their job, said a third industry leader. Thats the situation we have right now  widespread anger that it doesnt seem to be getting any better. And where are our industry leaders?

The percolating paranoia was summed up by Jeff Greene, former executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA,who posted on LinkedIn following the conference that while RSA was terrific as always  there was a level of unease and uncertainty I'd never felt before.

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The Trump administration is aware of the pushback, and top officials traveled to the conference this week to smooth ruffled feathers. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem gave a keynote address Tuesday, in which she assured the crowd of the administrations commitment to cybersecurity and to keeping CISA operating  with some significant modifications.

Noem told attendees to just wait to see the administrations grand plans for cyber and promised further investment  though on Friday, the White House released a budget plan that would slash $500 million from CISA if enacted, creating further dissonance between the administrations words and actions.

Im committed to cybersecurity as is the president, recognizing its a national security imperative responsibility that rests on our shoulders and that the national defense comes through a CISA that continues to do its job well but becomes more improved and on mission every day, Noem said.

Alexei Bulazel, senior director for cyber on the White Houses National Security Council, also gave a keynote address at the conference, reiterating that cybersecurity is an important thing for us, and pledged to push back hard on China offensively.

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But these promises have done little to assuage concerns.

Though she said many of the right things, folks are focusing on actions rather than words, including dramatic cuts at CISA, one former official said. Noems response to this criticism that, essentially, people should just wait for whats coming lacked any detail and gave little solace.

Former Republican Rep. John Katko of New York, who previously served as ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, defended the changes to CISA, noting that it was the administrations prerogative to shift budgets and change directives. Still, Katko, who currently serves as senior adviser to cyber company SecurityScorecard, acknowledges that if they did deprioritize cybersecurity, it's borderline suicidal for this country, and I think they realize that.

On a deeper level, experts are also increasingly worried that the chaos and lack of cohesion at the top will hand cyber adversaries like China and Russia an opportunity to capitalize on a perceived distraction from protecting critical networks.

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Ive had meetings in the White House  they are very serious about cyber defense, said Bob Ackerman, co-founder and managing partner at cyber startup company DataTribe. At the same time, they have this kabuki theater going on that would raise the question for an adversary, well whos in charge? And it would appear to create a window of opportunity for misbehavior.

Michael Leland, field CTO at enterprising browser company Island, warned that given the pending personnel cuts across the federal government, were not getting the best work out of red teamers right now because they dont know if theyre going to have a job next week, those are all concerns and adversaries know that.

Brandon Wales, former executive director of CISA and current vice president of cyber strategy at SentinelOne, was careful in noting that while he hopes the new administration, as theyre looking at making changes to CISA, spend some time really understanding what aspects of it are most essential, ultimately, this mission needs a functioning CISA.

Support for Krebs was overwhelming at the conference  he took strong stances against the administration during two panel sessions, and his encouragement to the cyber community to push back received thunderous applause.

To the community that right now is in distress, that's under attack, that's being picked out from all sides, cybersecurity is national security, Krebs said at the end of a keynote panel Thursday. Please stay in the fight. Do not lose faith, don't let it grind you down. We have to win this. We will win this.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  As graduation quickly approaches, Nazareth Universitys BFA Thesis Exhibition opened on Friday, featuring three student artists in the program.

The exhibition titled Who Am I? Who I Am features work of various media, including painting, printmaking, and digital art by Jude Landry from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Rochester native Christina Georgiadis, and Brenna Lancto from Fairport.

All three students expressed excitement to News 8 after seeing their projects shown to the community on opening night at Nazareths Arts Center Gallery.

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Georgiadiss work features a combination of elements from the world and figures to explore the perception of body image. She added a touch of her family history to her artwork.

All of the flowers kind of tie in with Greek mythology, I come from Greek parents, so I wanted to bring in a little personal layer to my art, Georgiadis told News 8.

Lanctos art is expressed through invented mythological beasts that examine the topic of self-discovery and strong emotions reflective of her own emotions when creating.

Eastman students perform for East House residents in recovery

Lancto said, My pieces come to me in a time of high emotion, it doesnt matter if its negative or positive or in between. I see them in my head, and then I try to bring them to life the best I can with my iPad.

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Landry uses his experience as a transgender man in his lithography to encourage his younger self that her dreams live on in him, and, regardless of what dad used to say about her, through him, she is capable of anything she wishes to accomplish. In the time it took him to complete the piece, he was shocked at the progress hed made.

Ive only been doing the work I have up on the wall for a year and a half, Landry said, So, the fact that I have as much as I do, like I kind of shocked myself when I went to go hang it all, but I could not be more proud of myself seeing it all up.

Those interested in viewing the artwork may visit the exhibit Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. until the exhibits closing on May 9.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
Editors Note: This article has been updated to clarify the recipients of the email stated in the story below.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A shocking email was sent to legislators on Thursday, notifying them about an upcoming payroll shortfall for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

The email read in part, They have insufficient funds available to make payroll for Wednesday (May 7) and are $23 million short for the remainder of FY25 (Fiscal Year). This is the first we have heard from the agency about being unable to make payroll.

RELATED: House Committee grills ODMHSAS Commissioner on missing $43 million

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Also in the email, Commissioner Allie Friesen confirmed the information was accurate.

So the reality of our situation is that its chaotic, said Commissioner Friesen in April.

The remark was made after Commissioner Friesen was grilled about the missing $43 million from the ODMHSAS budget.

The Oklahoma Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) discovered money was missing after digging into the agencys books.

I believe the agency does need a new budget, one that reflects reality, said Regina Birchum, Executive Director of LOFT.

Gene Blankenship, the Deputy Director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, was appalled.

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Ive not seen a state agency have an issue like this before to where employees wake up to news that they may not receive a paycheck, Blankenship said.

RELATED: LOFT shares findings of Dept. of Mental Health investigation with lawmakers

Also adding, Im thinking about the majority of folks that live paycheck to paycheck. Im thinking about those that pay rent.

News 4 reached out to Commissioner Friesens office for comment and received a statement back.

ODMHSAS will be making payroll as scheduled. ODMHSAS continues to partner with our legislative and executive partners to ensure no disruption to services or operations. This administration continues to demonstrate our philosophy of uncovering problems and partnering with appropriate stakeholders to fix them in a meaningful way. Our leadership team remains boldly focused on righting the wrongs within a system that has desperately required reform for decades. We are insistent on radically shifting the culture of the agency to allow for transformation into a mental health system that is focused on excellence across all divisions. Oklahomans rely on us in some of their most vulnerable moments and must have 100% confidence in our system. In order for us to become a highly reliable organization, we are forced to unearth and repair the pieces of our system that have been neglected for far too long. As we often see at the federal level, identifying and addressing dysfunction within our systems is a critical step toward lasting improvementand Oklahomans should feel encouraged that these long-standing issues are finally being confronted. They are being resolved in a way that will ensure stability for decades to come, reinforcing confidence in the availability of high-quality mental health and substance use services. Maria Chaverri, Communications Coordinator, ODMHSAS

News 4 was notified by the agency late Friday afternoon, confirming employees will be paid on time, despite the prior email stating payroll would be missed. However, we did not get an explanation of where the money is coming from.

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Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond released a statement, demanding that Commissioner Allie Friesen be terminated.

The financial meltdown at the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is nothing short of government malpractice. The agency serves many of our most vulnerable citizens who are wholly reliant on these services, and these Oklahomans deserve agency leadership capable of meeting their needs. Gov. Stitt should have fired his failed agency head months ago when we first learned of her incompetent leadership. 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. Attorney General Gentner Drummond

Governor Kevin Stitt announced a series of actions to address ODMHSAS in a letter to House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Senator Lonnie Paxton. See part of the letter below.

The troubling issues that have continued to emerge at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services are the result of years of mismanagementthese challenges did not arise overnight. When I appointed Commissioner Allie Friesen, I specifically charged her with shining a light on the agency, rooting out longstanding problems, and building a more accountable and transparent department. What we are seeing now is the necessary, if painful, result of that mission being carried out with integrity and urgency. Governor Kevin Stitt

The Governor has also outlined three immediate actions to stabilize ODMHSAS operations to ensure long-term reform:

A nationally respected, independent financial expert will be brought in to take temporary control of the departments finances. This expert will assess the agencys financial shortfall and produce an accurate and credible supplemental budget request for the Legislature. As previously announced, the Governor will name a well-regarded attorney with experience in complex investigations to conduct a full and independent review of ODMHSAS. The investigator will report directly to the Governors Office and will have full authority to follow the facts wherever they lead. The Governor has directed Oklahoma Healthcare Authority CEO Ellen Buettner, along with ODMHSAS officials, to conduct a top-to-bottom review of all Medicaid and federally funded functions within the agency. This effort will evaluate whether these responsibilities should be administered by a different agency or in a different manner to ensure greater accountability and efficiency.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the remaining $1.4 million in federal funding Thursday meant to help low-income Nevadans pay utility bills.

Nevada was awarded about $15 million in funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) this year, but had not received the remaining 10% of its allocated funding before the Trump administration fired every employee responsible for administering the funds.

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The Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday they would release the nearly $400 million in LIHEAP utility assistance funding that had not yet been distributed to states by Thursday.

I am committed to ensuring that our programs run efficiently. With todays announcement, all available LIHEAP funding for this fiscal year will be released. We will continue to work with our state, tribal, and territorial partners to ensure this funding reaches eligible families, said Andrew Gradison, Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.

Utility advocates and Democrats in Congress raised the alarm about last month, warning that the gutting of federal workers and the program could leave the funds in limbo.

After news of the mass firing last month, Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen and several other Democratic senators sent a letter to HHS demanding the agency release all of the LIHEAP funds that Congress has appropriated.

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By terminating all 23 employees tasked with overseeing LIHEAP, it is now unclear how these funds will be administered. In our view, that is unacceptable, read the letter. Failure to disburse these funds constitutes an illegal impoundment of bipartisan, congressionally appropriated funds and will put the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable people in America at risk.

Nevadas Energy Assistance Program received more than half its funding from LIHEAP last year, making it a vital source of utility assistance funding for the state.

Last year, Nevada received more than $17 million in LIHEAP funding to help 12,000 low-income households in the state keep their power on. A portion of those funds were also used to help low-income households pay for upgrades that improve energy efficiency and lower power bills in the long term.

The Nevadas Energy Assistance Program paid out another $13.8 million in benefits last year from state revenue generated from Nevadas Universal Energy Charge which helped another nearly 6,000 households pay their utilities.

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Still, as temperatures rise there is a growing demand for utility assistance funding in the state. Nearly 32,000 Nevadans had their power disconnected by NV Energy for nonpayment in 2024, according to data from the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

In Southern Nevada, where temperatures reached 100 degrees or higher for 64 consecutive days in 2024, air conditioning is a life-saving necessity.

The states ability to provide energy assistance could be reduced even more in 2026, as LIHEAP was among 60 programs President Donald Trump asked Congress to defund in a budget request Friday.

Nevadas Energy Assistance Program begins July 1st and applications are accepted through June 30th. Applications are evaluated year round or until funding is exhausted. Eligible households receive an annual, one-time per year benefit customarily paid directly to their energy provider.

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Those interested in applying for LIHEAP can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327.

Households can easily identify if they may be eligible for assistance by using the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool on energyhelp.us.
NEWARK, New Jersey (PIX11)  Extensive delays continued for the third day at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday, according to the FAAs website.

Travelers were warned to expect ground delays of up to an hour and a half on Saturday, due to continued staffing issues at the airport, the website said. Sweeping ground delays and flight cancellations began Thursday due to staff shortages.

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United Airlines began canceling 35 daily round-trip flights this weekend due to Newark Airports staffing issues. United CEO Scott Kirby says existing staffing issues at the airport were exacerbated after 20% of FAA controllers walked off the job.

Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years, and without these controllers, its now clear  and the FAA tells us  that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead, Kirby said.

More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State

A spokesperson for the FAA told PIX11 News that the agency would be slowing arrivals and departures at Newark Airport because of multiple factors including equipment issues, runway construction at Newark and staffing issues.

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Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information before heading to the airport.

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.
ATLANTA (AP)  Charlie Bailey won election to chair Georgia's Democratic Party on Saturday, pledging he'll raise the money to help the party win elections in 2025 and 2026.

Bailey was the Democratic nominee in 2018 for attorney general and in 2022 for lieutenant governor, losing both times to Republicans.

He replaces U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, who stepped down after Kamala Harris loss to Donald Trump in the Southern swing state spotlighted discontent with her leadership.

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The party voted earlier to change its bylaws to say that its chair would be paid and full time, instead of the volunteer post it traditionally has been. Williams agreed to the change and stepped down after it was made.

Bailey told the more than 200 state committee members who gathered at a Teamsters union hall south of downtown Atlanta that he would focus on the partys one job, to elect as many Democrats to as many offices across this great state as humanly possible.

Bailey promised to raise a whole heap of money" and to be a strong messenger for Democratic values while holding Republicans accountable. He takes office at a time when many Democrats are alarmed about the early actions of the second administration of President Donald Trump and are pressing for their party to provide forceful opposition before the 2026 election, even though they are in the minority in the U.S. House and Senate.

Bailey said that Democrats have not been fighting enough and that he would begin by clearly communicating what his party stands for.

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The first thing is youve got to be clear about what your values are, which were going to do, and then weve got to win races," he said. I mean, the only way to change this stuff is to take back power. You got to beat these Republicans.

He said his narrow losses in 2018 and 2022 can help him show other Democrats how to beat GOP candidates and that the party will seek to identify the best targets to make gains. While Georgia has two Democratic U.S. senators, its governor and all other statewide officials are Republicans.

I know what it takes to run effective campaigns and cut into those margins," Bailey said.

Seven candidates competed for the chair's position Saturday, including state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes of Duluth, former Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis and former Chatham County Commissioner Jay Jones. After no one won a majority in the first round of voting, Bailey defeated former Rome City Commissioner and longtime Democratic activist Wendy Davis in a runoff.

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Bailey was nominated Saturday by U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath and was endorsed by U.S. Sen Jon Ossoff, among many others. But some who supported Davis and other candidates said they wanted a more grassroots approach.

There is no knight on a white horse whos going to ride in and save the DPG or our democracy," Davis told committee members, saying she would focus on building up county parties and leverage her long relationships.

There was also discomfort with electing Bailey, a white man, after Democrats pushed out Williams, a Black woman. The state party amended its bylaws Saturday to allow the top two offices to be held by men temporarily, allowing First Vice Chair Matthew Wilson to remain in that role. Normally if the chair is a man, bylaws require the first vice chair to be a woman.

Williams exit was one of several among Democratic parties as disgruntled partisans seek change after the electorate embraced Trumps return to the presidency. As a sitting member of Congress, she was legally barred from raising money for the partys state campaign account. Raising money and recruiting candidates are two of the top jobs of any party chair. There were also questions about how much time Williams could devote to being a party chair while also attending to congressional duties.
Laman Ismayilova

Some traditions are not just taught, they are felt, lived, and lovingly handed down like cherished heirlooms. At the Carpet Forum, part of the International Carpet Festival, one such tradition came to life through the words of an exceptional guest.

In her conversation with Azernews, Ajap Bayriyeva, a distinguished Art Historian, Doctor, and ethnographer from Turkmenistan, shared her insights on the role of family traditions in cultural transmission.

With decades of experience studying the cultural fabric of Central Asia, Ajap Bayriyeva brings both scholarly insight and heartfelt passion to the preservation of intangible heritage.

In her presentation titled Family Traditions as the Main Channel of Intergenerational Transmission, she explored how the art of carpet weaving is not just passed down, but lived, but woven into the daily lives, values, and identities of families. Today, she joins us to reflect on that legacy, and on the future of this timeless art.

"I am very pleased to take part in this forum dedicated to carpets. Previously, I had the opportunity to participate in international conferences in Baku. I would like to highlight the highest level of organization of this event, which is truly inspiring.

Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan share a long-standing tradition of carpet weaving. My parents made a significant contribution to the development of carpet craftsmanship in Turkmenistan. My mother continued weaving carpets even at the age of 80.

I truly believe that carpet art must live on and continue to evolve. The Azerbaijani people are doing an excellent job in this regard: they are preserving and developing carpet weaving, passing this art down from generation to generation.

At the same time, special attention is being paid to new technologies. Carpet patterns are now reflected not only in interior design, but also in fashion.

In conclusion, I would like to wish continued growth and prosperity for this ancient art in Azerbaijan," she said.

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 Festival coincides 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.
The suit alleges that AWG did not store the data in an encrypted format and that personal information about the companys employees might still be vulnerable to hackers. Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc.

You can find original article here Supermarketnews. Subscribe to our free daily Supermarketnews newsletter.

A former employee of Associated Wholesale Grocers has filed a class-action suit against the company alleging that it should have taken more precautions to protect employees personal data.

The Kansas City, Kansas-based grocery distributor suffered a data breach in October of 2023 in which hackers stole names, Social Security numbers, and other personal employee information, according to the suit, which was filed by attorneys on behalf of Toriana Patterson, a former employee of one of AWGs manufacturing companies. The suit claims that Pattersons stolen personal information was used by thieves to take out loans in her name.

Patterson realized she was the victim of identity theft when she began receiving calls from loan officers and creditors informing her that she owed money on loans that she did not authorize or take out herself, according to the suit.

The suit alleges that AWG did not store the data in an encrypted format and that personal information about the companys employees might still be vulnerable to hackers. In addition, the suit alleges, the company did not inform employees about the full extent of the breach until April of last yearabout six months after it discovered the breach.

The suit claims that 26,579 individuals had their personal information exposed.

Due to the defendants negligence, cybercriminals obtained everything they needed to commit identity theft and wreak havoc on the financial and personal lives of thousands of individuals, the lawsuit states.

A spokesperson for AWG told Supermarket News that the company does not comment on pending litigation.



AWG has publicly denied the allegations that the employee data on its servers remains at risk, according to the lawsuit.

In addition to seeking class-action status, the suit seeks an injunction against AWG to force it to take steps to safeguard the employee data on its servers. It is also seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Grocer data breach lawsuits

The lawsuit is among several class-action suits that retailers have faced in recent years alleging damages from the theft of personal data. These cases, which have involved the theft of both customer and employee data, include:
Peter Smith

Associated Press

Whoever succeeds Pope Francis will inherit his momentous and controversial legacy of relations with Indigenous people throughout the Americas.

Some found Francis to be a reconciling figure, others a disappointment. Even those who applauded the actions he took during his 12-year papacy said they were just a beginning, and that his successor will need to continue to work toward healing.

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Francis, who died April 21, at age 88 issued a historic apology for the catastrophic legacy of residential schools in Canada and oversaw the repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery  the collective name given to a series of 15th-century papal decrees that legitimized colonial-era seizure of Native lands.

But some Indigenous leaders criticized him as slow to fully recognize the traumatic impact of Catholic missionary efforts and for canonizing Junipero Serra, the 18th-century missionary accused of mistreating Native people in present-day California.

Even Francis' admirers says his work is unfinished

Its 150 years of trauma. Its going to take us a bit of time to recover, said Wilton Littlechild, a residential school survivor and former Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations in Canada. He put us on a real strong path to reconciliation, but it cant stop.

Perhaps the most dramatic of Francis encounters with the Indigenous community occurred on a July day in 2022 in Maskwacis, a small town in the Canadian province of Alberta and the hub of four Cree nations.

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There, Pope Francis paid respects at a cemetery near a former residential school for Indigenous children. He then delivered a long-sought apology for Catholic complicity in the 19th- and 20th-century residential school system for the First Nations, Metis and Inuit people of Canada.

I am deeply sorry, sorry for the ways in which, regrettably, many Christians supported the colonizing mentality of the powers that oppressed the Indigenous peoples, Francis said.

The Rev. Cristino Bouvette recalled being unexpectedly emotional at that moment.

Bouvette, an Alberta priest of Cree and Metis heritage who was liturgical coordinator for the popes Canada visit, recalled hearing the applause and seeing some onlookers weeping.

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Bouvette said his late grandmother had attended a residential school and never felt the pope needed to apologize  but he, too, began to weep.

My thoughts immediately turned to my grandmother," he said. I think she would have been deeply touched had she been alive to hear those words herself, despite her not thinking it needed to happen.

The first pope from the Americas also offered an apology in Bolivia for Catholic complicity in colonialism and he supported the use of Indigenous languages and customs at Catholic liturgies in Mexico.

Francis was a human being who tried to love and respect and honor people, advocating for the poor and migrants, said Valentin Lopez, chairperson of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band in California. But regarding the Native Americans specifically, theres a number of negative items that were pretty much totally ignored by the pope, and for that were disappointed.

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Kenneth Deer  a Mohawk activist from Canada who was part of a Native delegation that urged Francis in 2016 to rescind the Doctrine of Discovery  saw Francis as "very progressive, and he could have been more progressive if the Vatican wouldnt hold him back.

Deer noted that while the church was unwilling to state that the residential schools were an act of genocide, Francis was willing to say that in personal remarks.

Thats who you want to listen to, the unscripted Pope Francis, Deer said.

Francis successor will need to continue working, continue to evolve, said Deer. You have to change.

Mixed messages? Some activists said that was a problem

Visiting Bolivia in July 2015, Francis asked forgiveness not only for the offenses of the church herself, but also for crimes committed against the Native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.

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Later that year in his only U.S. visit, Francis officially declared Serra to be a saint.

Many Native activists lambasted the canonization, calling the missionary priest a prime culprit in what Francis had just apologized for in Bolivia  complicity with destructive colonization.

Serra founded Californias historic missions, where thousands of Native Americans were converted. But some were also whipped for misbehaving or trying to flee. The missions became centers for horrific disease outbreaks, with mass fatalities.

Saintly people are supposed to live lives that we are supposed to emulate, Lopez said. How can those actions be considered saintly?

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Lopez, whose Amah Mutsun Tribal Band includes descendants of those who lived in the spheres of influence of two California missions, had written multiple times to Pope Francis, unsuccessfully urging him to cancel the canonization.

Defenders of Serras canonization said he wasnt perfect but had exemplary qualities. Francis contended that Serra actually defended the dignity of the Native community from the threat of worse treatment by secular Spanish colonial authorities.

Historic Canada trip

In 2022, Francis addressed the Catholic Churchs operation of residential schools, which shattered Indigenous childrens ties to family and culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. Canadas National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation documented more than 4,000 child deaths at residential schools, and some experts believe the number is much higher.

Della Lizotte, whose parents attended a residential school, welcomed Francis' apology.

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For me, it felt genuine, said Lizotte, an elder in Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, Alberta, which the pope also visited. I just wish it had been sooner, because my parents had already passed away and they would have really appreciated hearing that.

The event sparked controversy when Littlechild presented Pope Francis with a ceremonial headdress. Historically, the headdress has been a symbol of respect, worn by Native American war chiefs and warriors. Some Native commentators found the image jarring.

Littlechild said the popes apology enabled him to forgive the church for his own experiences during 14 years in a residential school.

When I gave him the headdress as a gift from our people, I told him, I forgive for what happened to me as a child, he said. And many people have told me since then that it was a new journey for them to heal from the traumas.

Doctrine of Discovery

In 2023, the Vatican formally repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery, which legitimized colonial-era seizure of Native lands by Spain and Portugal. The concept forms the basis of some property laws today in the United States.

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The Vatican said the related decrees, or papal bulls, did not adequately reflect the equal dignity and rights of Indigenous peoples and have never been considered expressions of the Catholic faith.

People protest as Pope Francis meets young people and elders at Nakasuk Elementary School Square in Iqaluit, Canada, Friday, July 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, file)

Fernie Marty, an elder in Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, a parish that uses Native language and customs, said the action showed the pope was moving from words to deeds  what Marty called reconcili-action.

I thought, wow, this is another proof that hes on the right track, he said.

But Lopez said Francis didnt go far enough by not rescinding the papal bulls. To Lopez, that means theyre still technically on the books.

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Not only do Native people have historical traumas, Lopez said, but the church itself needs healing from the soul wound of this legacy. But it has to fully make amends, he said.

We have trouble with the papal bulls, we have trouble with Junipero Serra, we have trouble with Pope Francis not wanting to listen to or ignoring this devastating history and impact on Indigenous people, he said.

AP writer Graham Lee Brewer contributed from New York.

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.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  Lawmakers in Tallahassee are wrapping up the 2025 legislative session. However, with no final budget in sight, the million-dollar question is, what comes next?



The Senate and House failed to meet the 60-day deadline to pass a final budget. Now, lawmakers have the choice of breaking for a week and extending the session, or they can Sine Die today and come back this summer to pass a budget, which seems the likely choice at this time.



The 2025 legislative session has been anything but normal. Lawmakers met for three special sessions to tackle immigration reform, there were Capitol clashes between the Governor, the House, and the Senate, and now a final state budget is still up in the air.



Its special, I think is the best way to say it. At what point is the special session become not so special? said State Sen. Jay Collins (R-Hillsborough County).

With a fiscal deadline looming, lawmakers plan to head home for the week. A special session could then be called before July 1, forcing the Senate and House to finally agree on a state budget.



A lot of bills are going to die today, and a special session would likely be more focused on the budget, which is the biggest issue of contention with us between our two chambers, in addition to the tax package, said State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando).

Political analysts say the state lawmakers have one job: to pass a final budget, but instead, they are extending the part-time legislative session into even more days.



Theres about a $4.4 billion difference between the House and the Senate, and how much tax cuts and what they look like, and really, I think Florida voters are thinking, why are you even wasting our time with that? Please deliver on these other, much more important pocketbook ideas, said Tara Newsom, St. Pete College Political Analyst.

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We hear what people are saying. Were working day and night to get these things done, and were going to keep working till we get it right. Whether its now in an extension or we Sine Die and we come back, were going to get this budget done, Collins said.

No matter what happens, lawmakers will have to return in the next few weeks or later this summer to pass a budget for the governor to sign.

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If New Hampshire teachers graded the state government on its ability to fund education, theyd give it an incomplete at best, the nations biggest teachers union said.

The state ranks toward the bottom nationally in public school teacher pay and other funding categories, yet it has the biggest burden for taxpayers at the local school district level, according to a National Education Association report for the 2023-24 school year published Tuesday.

Average salaries for starting teachers ranked 38th in the U.S. ($42,588), average teacher pay was 24th ($67,170), and the average pay for education support professionals was 28th ($32,762).

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With a minimum living wage of just over $79,000 in the Granite State (for one adult and one child, according to the Economic Policy Institute), districts are seeing teacher shortages as educators seek higher wages elsewhere, NEA-NH President Megan Tuttle said.

The educator shortage is real. It is getting harder and harder to retain and recruit educators in New Hampshire, Tuttle said during a phone interview Thursday afternoon.

Although morale is low, Tuttle said most teachers she talks to are grateful for the support they get at a local level. Thats not the problem; its a lack of funding from the Legislature, which has struggled finding a permanent solution to meet its constitutional obligation and continues to pass measures that harm public schools, she said.

We know that local communities support our community public schools. We know that because we rank in the top 10 on how we pay for them locally. I think on the opposite side of that is as a state, (the report) just clearly shows that we are not funding education in New Hampshire adequately, Tuttle said.

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Through local property taxes, taxpayers in New Hampshire foot a higher percentage of the cost of education than in any other state. Nearly 63% of education funding comes directly from taxes from cities and towns. In contrast, nearby states including Vermont (2.8%), Maine (45.9%), Rhode Island (45.9%), Massachusetts (49.5%) and Connecticut (55.3%) divvy up a higher share of state revenue to offset local taxes. Vermont mostly pays for schools via a statewide education property tax.

New Hampshire hasnt fully funded education statewide after decades of plans that ended up in extended fights in court and the Legislature, yielding a variety of funding formulas that have failed to deliver for communities, Tuttle said.

In 2023, Rockingham County Superior Court Judge David Ruoff said the $7,356 per student standard he set in his ruling in a suit brought by the ConVal School District could still be short of what the state constitution requires and is the bare minimum.

Recently, former ConVal Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders testified before the state Supreme Court that the base adequacy funding of $4,100 per pupil was less than half of what should be required under the courts two Claremont decisions in 1993 and 1997, which ruled the New Hampshire Constitution created a state obligation to provide an adequate education.

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The average cost per pupil in New Hampshire is $22,252, the seventh-highest in the U.S.

State begs to differ

Officials at the state Department of Education disagree with the notion that the state is not doing enough, especially when it comes to teacher pay and retaining teachers.

Over the last three years, New Hampshire has licensed more educators than it has ever licensed in the history of the state, primarily driven by our flexible licensure pathways that we have implemented over the last eight years.

While there are pockets of teacher shortages, New Hampshire has not suffered from the teacher shortages experienced elsewhere in other states. In addition, the 2025 educator renewal period is shaping up to be yet another record year, department officials said in an email.

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New Hampshire has the second-best student-to-teacher ratio (10.5) in the country, trailing only Vermont. During the 2023-24 school year, Granite State school districts employed 15,747 public school teachers while educating more than 162,000 pupils in 166 districts. That said, the NEA estimates the state has lost 1,062 of those teachers this school year.

More than 77% of school districts pay less than $50,000 for a starting salary and almost 34% of support professionals make less than $25,000 a year, according to the NEA report.

Massachusetts and Vermont have higher starting salaries and average salaries. The average starting salary in Massachusetts is $52,616 and the average teacher pay is $92,076. In Vermont, teachers start at an average of $44,524 and the average teacher pay is $69,562 per year.

Maines average pay is more than $5,000 less per year than New Hampshires though, and starting teacher salaries there average about $200 less per year.

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Run for the border?

With most folks in New Hampshire living within an hour of Boston, are teachers leaving for better pay over the state line?

None of our indicators support the idea that New Hampshire educators are leaving the state for positions elsewhere, and in fact, anecdotally, New Hampshire has experienced an inbound migration of educators from Massachusetts, state education officials said in their written statement.

Tuttle said most teachers are moving from district to district within the state, and NEA-NH doesnt have data on the number of teachers who are leaving for Massachusetts or other states.

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However, she said, another reason they might bolt would be New Hampshires longer probationary periods, which make it easier for districts to fire teachers.

In New Hampshire, when youre a new teacher, youre on probation for five years even though you have to do your recertification every three years, Tuttle said. If you switch districts after youve completed the five years, youre on probation for three years (in the new district). It used to be two.

Other states have shorter probation periods.

Room for improvement?

Department of Education officials said they are looking through the NEA report to see if there are areas for improvement.

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While the data in the report establishes New Hampshire in the middle of the pack with respect to teacher pay, New Hampshire taxpayers are generously supporting public education  the seventh most expensive in the country  and it is unclear why those funds are not reflected in educator compensation, officials said.

Public school districts have elected school boards and hold public hearings for their budgets and projects. Taxpayers have a direct say in how their money is spent and how high their taxes. But some towns have bigger business tax bases to offset taxes on homes, and some communities are bedroom communities that rely more on property taxes.

When taxpayers get frustrated by feeling the strain of those local taxes, they focus their anger on educators, not state officials who should take most of the blame, Tuttle said.

Theres been so many political attacks on educators and the job that they do, she said. Public education is the backbone of our democracy. If we dont have an educated public, whats going to happen?

dpierce@unionleader.com
An NHS trust has come under fire for using the derogatory term terf in a guide on how to support transgender staff.

In documents drawn up by the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), the guidance uses the slur, which stands for transgender-exclusionary radical feminist, to describe women who do not want to share single-sex facilities with trans women.

The document also claims that it is unlawful to exclude trans women from women-only spaces around the hospital.

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It comes after the Supreme Court ruled the opposite two weeks ago, declaring that a woman is defined by biological sex under equality laws.

It means those born male are not able to access a women-only space even if they have changed the gender they identify as, and provides clarity following high-profile disputes such as the case of the Dr Beth Upton, in which transgender NHS staff have used womens changing rooms or lavatories.

After the use of the offensive term was flagged to the NHS by The Telegraph, officials warned the trust not to use derogatory or dismissive language, while the trust itself said its guidance was now under review.

Sandie Peggie, a nurse for NHS Fife, claims she was unlawfully harassed after refusing to share a changing room with a transgender doctor - Andrew Milligan/PA

NELFT, which specialises in community and mental health, provides services to people in parts of north and east London as well as Essex and Kent.

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Its staff policy, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, is called supporting colleagues who identify as transgender, non-binary and other gender identities.

Within this document it refers to trans-exclusionary radical feminists, also known by the acronym terf, stating that this group may feel that trans inclusion is an infringement on their beliefs or values.

The term appeared on numerous placards during a protest by trans activists in central London against the Supreme Court ruling last week, with the Metropolitan Police reviewing death threats made against women.

Signs included phrases such as the only good terf is a ---- one, alongside the image of a hangmans noose.

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Fiona, a womens rights campaigner, told The Telegraph the slur was used to silence and incite violence against women.

Given that the term terf has been used to dehumanise and silence women it is particularly egregious that this slur is used in the Equality Impact Assessment which is supposed to be the fair and balanced legal section required under the Public Services Duty in the Equality Act, she said.

Fiona, a womens rights campaigner, has said the word terf is used to incite violence against gender-critical women - David Rose

In regards to the stance taken by NELFT against its female employees who do not want to share single-sex facilities with trans women, she said: [The] Supreme Court has now confirmed that this was just not just a problematic feeling  it is and always was the law.

NELFTs staff guidance was authored by EDI managers and LGBTQ staff network leaders and signed off by two executives.

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It was published in the months after Maya Forstater, the co-founder of charity Sex Matters, won a landmark employment tribunal in 2021 that declared gender-critical beliefs were protected and should be respected in a democracy.

Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at the charity, said the NELFTs attitude towards women reflects the abysmal response from many NHS trusts to the Supreme Court judgment.

Terf is a term used by trans activists to demonise women who are working to restore and protect hard-fought rights to single-sex services and spaces, she said.

By the time this guidance was published, Forstater v CGD had already established that gender-critical views are legally protected, further illustrating the long-standing contempt for the law within the NHS.

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The trusts guidance also makes claims some cisgender people have unlawful discriminatory views of trans people using single-sex spaces such as using gendered toilets.

Like other trusts in London, its single-sex accommodation policy for patients allows trans women to share wards and lavatories with women. It also has a gold award from the controversial charity Stonewall for its commitment to LGBTQ policies.

It comes as a wing of the British Medical Association (BMA), the leading doctors union, has been accused of destroying trust in medicine and perpetuating medical misogyny after some members condemned the Supreme Courts ruling.

Its group of resident doctors  formerly junior doctors  passed a motion last week calling the verdict scientifically illiterate and biologically nonsensical.

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The motion is not yet BMA-wide policy but it is likely to be voted on at its annual meeting in June.

Biology in Medicine, a group of doctors who campaign for patients to be treated according to their biological sex, said: Activists are destroying trust and integrity in our profession. The denial of the biological reality of sex by the BMA is the culmination of a few activists infiltrating key BMA committees and forums.

Dr Louise Irvine, the co-chairwoman of the Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender, said: As a doctor, you need to know sex for accurate diagnoses. Sex matters for NHS service provision and single-sex wards.

It is misogynistic to negate or ignore womens rights. Medical misogyny is a huge problem. The profession has a long, long history of misogyny. Now the BMA is making out that sex is a nebulous concept and category.

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If doctors dont understand sex then I dont think they should be doctors.

Dr Louise Irvine has said it is misogynistic to negate or ignore womens rights in the medical field - Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

An NHS spokesman said: Organisations across the NHS are reviewing their policies and guidance to bring them in line with the Supreme Court judgment, and this will take some time. Guidance for staff should clearly not include derogatory or dismissive language, and trusts must take this into account as part of their reviews.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said: Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this Government, and we expect Trusts to follow the clarity that the Supreme Court ruling provides.

A spokesman for NELFT said: We are reviewing the content of the guidance in light of the recent ruling, as well as the language used to ensure it is respectful and promotes inclusivity, and we will reissue once complete.

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BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Brentwood Police Department closed an investigation into a deadly February shooting, announcing that no charges have been, nor would be, filed against the shooter.

ORIGINAL STORY | Neighbor shoots man accused of stabbing woman in Brentwood neighborhood

Brentwood police said that officers had been called to the area of Lost Hollow Drive at about 1:17 p.m. on February 26 after receiving reports about a man  identified as Julian Porter  stabbing a woman.

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Officers said they responded immediately. However, before authorities arrived on scene, a neighbor armed with a handgun confronted Julian and attempted to physically intervene. However, the neighbor was unable to stop Julian from attacking his mother Nathalie Porter. Police said the neighbor shot Julian multiple times in front of several witnesses.

Julian and his mother were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Though Nathalie was later discharged, Julian died of his injuries.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

On Friday, police said that detectives with the departments Criminal Investigation Division examined the incident and presented their findings to a Grand Jury. The Grand Jury ruled that the neighbor did not commit any crime, allowing police to close their investigation.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  No injuries were reported during a two-alarm fire to an occupied, three-story, multi-family home at 41-43 Pliny Street in Clay Arsenal neighborhood of Hartford on Friday night.

A spokesperson for the Hartford Fire Department said the call was received at 8:11 p.m. and crews were on the scene four minutes later.

Firefighters encountered a working, heavy fire in the rear porches, and escalated the blaze to a second alarm at 8:18 p.m. Firefighters started knocking down the fire at 8:22 p.m. and had it knocked down by 9:22 p.m.

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Assistant Chief Harry Tulier said a total of 17 people were displaced, 12 adults and five children. Flames also damaged the neighboring building at 37-39 Pliny Street.

Lamont directs flags half-staff for National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service

Tulier added that crews from East Hartford and West Hartford were called in to assist.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Special Services Unit is working with the American Red Cross to assist any families who are displaced.

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Marlin, TX (FOX 44)  Its been four days since Marlin residents have had running water.

Residents are expected to go two weeks without a water source in their homes, leaving them to fend for themselves. I spoke with many residents, but one in particular is done being silent.

My husband, to begin with, is 81 years old, Gladys Simon said. Hes a Vietnam-era vet, hes got health issues. Hes got COPD and CHF. Last night I had to have the ambulance come out and pick him up because of all this.

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Marlin resident, Gladys Simon, has been without water for four days and still cannot cook or clean.

You cant flush your toilet because theres no water, Simon said. Its been three or four days now with no water. You cant wash dishes when youre living on social security. Youve got to make choices. So now youre down to, do I pay rent or do I eat?

Simons husband has a lot of health issues, leaving him vulnerable because of these conditions.

Hes on oxygen right now, Simon stated. You know what thats doing? Thats putting all that bacteria into the concentrator right on straight into its lungs.

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I called City Hall and emailed the city manager, but I havent gotten a response yet. the residents are waiting for answers.

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May 2BEMIDJI  The

Northwest Minnesota Foundation

is seeking nominations for the 2025 Virginia McKnight Binger Heart of Community Honor Award. The deadline is Thursday, May 15.

In partnership with the Minnesota Council of Foundations, the awards program celebrates everyday champions from across the state whose compassion and contributions serve as the heartbeat of our communities, and who inspire others to join in creating a more caring and connected state, a release said.

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The award will recognize one individual from each of Minnesota's seven regions, including the Northwest. Each recipient will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Eligible nominees should have made a considerable impact in their community or across the state and have not been widely recognized or awarded for their efforts in the past.

The deadline to nominate individuals is Thursday, May 15. To submit a nomination or learn more, visit

mcknight.org/news-ideas/nominations-open-for-2025-virginia-mcknight-binger-heart-of-community-honor.
May 2SKOWHEGAN  A Somerset County grand jury has indicted the 59-year-old Norridgewock man arrested in connection with the March shooting death of his girlfriend's son.

The grand jury indicted Daniel V. Markey on one count of intentional or knowing murder when it met in April, court records show.

The indictment alleges Markey used a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver to kill Christopher Nickerson, 39, on March 1 in Norridgewock.

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Markey, who is being held without bail at the Somerset County Jail in Madison, has yet to enter a plea. His arraignment was not scheduled as of Friday morning, a court clerk in Skowhegan said.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt, but indicates enough evidence exists for a case to move forward to trial.

One of Markey's court-appointed attorneys, Stephen C. Smith of Steve Smith Trial Lawyers in Augusta, declined to comment on the case Friday.

Police arrested Markey on March 1. The Somerset County Sheriff's Office had responded that morning to a report of a shooting on the River Road and found a man, later identified as Nickerson, dead, the Maine State Police said previously.

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The home at the scene of the shooting, 471 River Road, is owned by Markey and his girlfriend, Kathleen Nickerson, according to a police affidavit filed in court supporting Markey's arrest.

Christopher Nickerson is Kathleen Nickerson's son, according to the affidavit, written by state police Detective Cpl. James Moore.

Moore wrote in the affidavit that Kathleen Nickerson told detectives her son and Markey had a verbal and physical scuffle before the alleged shooting.

Kathleen Nickerson told detectives that after the fight, Markey left for a period of time and then returned. When he did, she saw Christopher Nickerson put up his hands and she heard four or five gunshots before he fell to the ground, and she called 911, the affidavit says.

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Investigators believe Markey then drove a pickup truck to the Skowhegan municipal building at 225 Water St., where the town's police department used to be located. Markey turned himself in to Somerset County sheriff's Deputy Jack LePage.

Markey told LePage that Christopher Nickerson "attacked him and was pounding on him, so he shot him," Moore wrote.

In an interview at the Somerset County Sheriff's Office, Markey told state police detectives a slightly different version of events than what Kathleen Nickerson said, according to the affidavit.

Markey told detectives that after the initial altercation with Christopher Nickerson, he left and then returned to the home because he wanted to retrieve his belongings from inside before leaving. He said he was not angry with Nickerson, but was embarrassed, according to the affidavit.

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"When asked if he was thinking clearly, (Markey) said he did not know," Moore wrote in the affidavit. "(Markey) stated he grabbed the gun so that (Nickerson) would not 'finish him off' and later said he was in fear for his life."

Markey told detectives he entered the residence and saw Nickerson "charging at him" with his right hand in a fist, but with no weapons. Markey said he then fired the gun twice, before leaving and driving to the old Skowhegan police station on Water Street.

Court records show, if the case goes to trial, it would likely be scheduled in August 2026.

In the meantime, a bail hearing would be scheduled at Markey's request, according to an order issued by Superior Court Justice Daniel J. Mitchell, who is assigned the case.

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HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Huntersville Police in North Carolina 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 Nexstars 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.

Upstate twins used grandmas house to distribute drugs: DOJ

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.

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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.

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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By Ariane Luthi and Oliver Hirt

ZURICH (Reuters) -The head of the world's banking watchdog said Switzerland's existing rules on bank capital do not unfairly penalise its lenders versus rivals elsewhere, pushing back on arguments UBS has made to oppose government plans to toughen them up.

Under Swiss proposals to make banks hold more capital to make them safer following the 2023 collapse of Credit Suisse, UBS has estimated it could need $40 billion in additional capital compared to where it stood before the emergency takeover of its former rival.

Neil Esho, Secretary General of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, told Reuters that it was misleading to focus solely on headline capital requirements when Swiss rules allowed for more flexibility than other jurisdictions regarding which financial instruments could count as capital.

The Swiss regulation also permits capital held in subsidiaries to contribute to the parent bank's requirement, enabling a possible double counting of capital that Basel rules caution against, Esho added.

"The higher number is not necessarily more resilient once you take into account the quality of capital," Esho said in an interview. "I wouldn't buy the argument that Swiss banks are necessarily being disadvantaged relative to other banks."

At UBS' AGM last month, Chairman Colm Kelleher said the bank is already hampered by the existing regulatory "Swiss Finish" - the specific implementation by Switzerland of international standards.

"Adding another Swiss Finish on top  while other financial centres are easing regulations  would harm UBS, the Swiss financial centre and the broader economy," he said.

Esho, in a speech in January, said he favoured quality of capital over quantity while briefly mentioning Switzerland, but the comments to Reuters are his most explicit yet and will feed into the debate ahead of the Swiss government formally proposing new capital rules in June.

Esho also stressed that it was not his place to advise on what governments should do.

The Basel Committee, which sets global minimum requirements for banking supervision, revised its standards after the 2007-2009 financial crisis.

The European Union, Britain and the United States have recently delayed the roll-out of Basel III, the latest iteration, increasing the concerns of UBS executives that Switzerland will be imposing uncompetitive demands.

But Esho said he expected major financial centres would all implement Basel III eventually.

MORE CAPITAL

UBS had to hold 14.82% of risk-weighted assets as Tier 1 capital last year, more than Deutsche Bank's 13.20%, but below U.S. rival Morgan Stanley's 15%.
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. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the states first measles case since 2011.

A Williams County child who was not vaccinated is believed to have contracted the illness from an out-of-state visitor, the department said Friday. The child is in isolation at home.

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Health officials are contacting people who may have had contact with the child and advising people who are not vaccinated to quarantine.

The threat to the public is low due to a majority of North Dakotans being vaccinated against the disease, according to the department.

Molly Howell, immunization director for HHS, said vaccination is the most effective defense against contracting measles.

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccination is safer than risking measles illness, Howell said. The MMR vaccine has been safely used in the United States since 1973.

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, eye irritation followed by a body-wide rash.

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Anyone with symptoms consistent with measles should call ahead before visiting a clinic to avoid exposing others, she said.

The department said there is no specific medical treatment for measles, but antibiotics may be used in cases that have developed a secondary bacterial infection.

People who were vaccinated as children and adults born before 1957 are considered protected.

The department said two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing infection. The vaccine is recommended for children at 12-15 months and a booster between 4-6 years old.

The department also recommends that families and individuals consult with their health care provider to discuss immunizations.

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North Dakota has an 81% MMR vaccination rate among toddlers, and a 90% rate among kindergarten students for the 2024-2025 school year.

According to public health data, a 95% vaccination rate is generally needed to prevent wider spread in communities.

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North Dakota Ethics Commissioner Murray Sagsveen, left, and Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, talk while walking in the hall of the Capitol on May 1, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota lawmakers on Friday approved an Ethics Commission budget full of major policy changes  though they abandoned a controversial proposal that would have imposed a deadline for ethics complaints.

The budget, totaling nearly $1.4 million, was forwarded to both chambers for a vote that morning following final amendments from a six-member conference committee. The Senate approved the budget by a 44-2 vote, while the House passed it 71-19.

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The Ethics Commission sought money in Senate Bill 2004 for a fourth staff member for the 2025-2027 budget cycle, which the Legislature ultimately rejected. That employee would have focused on education and communications. The Senate initially approved the request, setting aside $250,000 for a two-year salary, benefits as well as other costs. The House later axed this funding  a move the conference committee sustained.

Legislators did agree to fund a $50,000 case management system to help the commission track filings, which staff say will help them work more efficiently.

Other noteworthy provisions in the budget include a handful of changes intended to fix bottlenecks in the Ethics Commissions complaint process.

Some lawmakers who worked on the budget this session complained that the commission sometimes takes years to resolve complaints. Some complaints are more than two years old.

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Meanwhile, the commission has received a flood of new filings since Jan. 1. As of April 28, the board had received 68 complaints since the start of 2025. Thats more than the commission received in all of 2024.

Some, though not all, of the policy changes in the budget were originally proposed in bills that died earlier this session, like House Bill 1360 and House Bill 1505.

Generally, the Ethics Commission is opposed to adding policy into the budget bill, said Executive Director Rebecca Binstock. She said she worries some of the provisions will add red tape to the commissions work, though she expects at least a few to help the boards work go more smoothly.

The commissions position has always been that we prefer a clean budget, Binstock said.

One provision in the bill approved Friday would allow the commission to informally settle ethics complaints directly with the accused. Previously, the commission could only act as a mediator to broker informal resolutions between the accused and the filer  which sometimes doesnt work if that filers demands were unrealistic. The commission must attempt to mediate between both parties first, however.

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Another requires the commission to develop time management standards for processing complaints, which Binstock said the commission supports and wanted to pursue anyway.

Until Thursday, the budget included a mandate for the Ethics Commission to dismiss complaints after 180 days. It was added as part of an amendment brought by Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, who said it is needed to make sure the commissions investigations dont drag on indefinitely.

Its just a matter of fairness to the accused, Nathe said previously. They shouldnt have to sit there with this hanging over their head for years at a time.

The Ethics Commission opposed the six-month window as a threat to its work, arguing that many complaints cannot be effectively probed within that timeframe and that it would incentivize people accused of ethics violations to obstruct investigations to run out the clock.

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In place of the deadline, the conference committee added a clause that states an individual accused of a violation may petition the commission at any time to dismiss the complaint against them. The Ethics Commission will have to draft a policy implementing this language.

Some lawmakers said the root of the commissions backlog of complaints stems from a lack of resources, and that the budget does not address this problem.

Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, unsuccessfully brought a budget amendment to more than double the commissions staff, arguing that the funding is necessary for the body to do its job effectively.

I think the activity thus far indicates that we have a lack in that we dont have another staff person, Mathern said on the floor Friday. However, weve made some progress, and hopefully by the next time we meet next session, we can get that other staff person to help us all do a great job.

A separate amendment brought by Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, D-Fargo, requires the commission to publish an annual report providing details about its work, including the number of complaints filed and what the commission has done to resolve them.

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The bill also allows people accused of violations to discuss complaints against them.

Another section protects lawmakers from being prosecuted with a conflict of interest crime for voting on bills so long as they observe the proper legislative conflict of interest rules or heed the informal advice of an Ethics Commission staff member.

The bill advances to Gov. Kelly Armstrong for his consideration.

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John Harris, president and CEO of Prairie Public Broadcasting, speaks March 7, 2025, during a legislative committee hearing about state and federal funding for the organization. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

North Dakota lawmakers set state funding for public broadcasting at $400,000 early Saturday, providing money for tower improvements after threatening to cut off Prairie Public funding completely earlier in the session.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong had proposed $2.9 million in his preliminary budget for the 2025-27 biennium, with $1.7 million in one-time funding to assist with transmitter maintenance and replacement.

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A bill mandating that Prairie Public funding be eliminated advanced through the House but was defeated in the Senate.

The Senate vote allowed lawmakers to restore funding in House Bill 1015. Some senators, however, advocated for cutting back on the Prairie Public appropriation.

The bill was amended in the Senate to provide $850,000 for Prairie Public, but did not restore its $1.2 million base funding. A conference committee this week cut the funding to $400,000 for infrastructure.

John Harris, president and CEO of Prairie Public, testified in a hearing that Prairie Public would be spending $4 million to $7 million in the next 18 months to upgrade facilities and buy transmitters.

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Prairie Public leaders testified that the organization could survive without state funding, but that it will mean less local programming. Other funding sources for Prairie Public include charitable gambling, endowment funds and investments.

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Rep. Craig Headland, R-Montpelier, speaks on the House floor during debate on a property tax bill on May 2, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

The North Dakota House and Senate compromised on a property tax package Friday, acting on one of the Legislatures top priorities hours before the session wrapped up early Saturday.

The property tax bill creates a $1,600 primary residence credit, more than triple the amount homeowners receive now.

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But one House member said he plans to promote an initiated measure for the November 2026 ballot that would aim to cut taxes for other property types.

House Bill 1176, sponsored by Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, and backed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, passed with a unanimous vote in the Senate and 86-4 vote in the House.

Lawmakers identified property tax reform as a top priority for the session after voters initiated a ballot measure last year that sought to eliminate property taxes based on assessed value. Although the measure failed, lawmakers said they heard from voters that they expect property tax cuts in the future.

Members of the conference committee for House Bill 1176, chaired by Rep. Craig Headland, center, R-Montpelier, meet at the Capitol on April 25, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

The bill uses earnings from the state Legacy Fund to pay for the program, with the idea that lawmakers could consider even greater property tax relief in the future as the fund grows. Armstrongs vision is that eventually most homeowners would be on a path to paying zero property taxes.

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This bill provides real relief and real reform for taxpayers, Armstrong said in a statement Friday. Its responsible, affordable and durable. It creates Legacy Fund buy-in, and its the single most impactful thing we could do for North Dakota citizens this session.

The legislation also seeks to slow the growth of property tax increases with a 3% cap on how much local governments can increase the taxes annually.

The total amount of property tax relief in the package is estimated at $473 million for 2025-27, Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus said. The bill also includes more money for a disabled veterans tax credit and a renters refund.

This is truly a landmark bill when it comes to property taxes, Nathe said after the conference committee agreed on a final version of the bill. Probably historic.

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Donnell Preskey, government and public affairs specialist for the North Dakota Association of Counties, said counties were not in favor of the caps, but the bill includes an opt-out provision that would allow residents in a taxing district to vote to be exempted from the caps for four years.

Thats one of the elements we worked really hard to get in there, Preskey said. She added there are still concerns about what local budgets will look like with 3% caps over the next two years.

She said the association hopes to educate counties on the new property tax rules, how it will impact their budgets and some of the flexibility options available.

The bill also caps how much school districts can raise property taxes. It contains a provision that if the cap on schools forces some districts to drop below the state-mandated local education contribution level, the Department of Public Instruction would administer gap funding to make the districts whole. An additional $30 million is set aside for that gap funding.

Rep. Scott Louser, R-Minot, speaks on the House floor during debate on a property tax bill on May 2, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Lawmakers removed a so-called skin-in-the-game provision the Senate advanced that would have required homeowners to pay at least 25% of their property tax bill. The Legislature defeated two other property tax proposals that also would have benefited owners of agricultural land, commercial property and centrally assessed properties.

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Rep. Scott Louser, R-Minot, sponsored House Bill 1168, a competing property tax bill that would have had the state pay 100% of public school funding as a way to deliver property tax relief. Louser said he plans to advance that proposal through an initiated measure. He said he plans to gather signatures with the goal of getting it on the November ballot.

I was taught to always fight for what I believe in and, members of the assembly, this may be something you believe in, too, Louser said.

Rep. Craig Headland, R-Montpelier, chairman of the House Finance and Taxation Committee, expressed frustration with the potential ballot measure.

For a legislator to come on and talk about how hes going to lead a petition because he doesnt like the outcome of the property tax relief that the majority of the assembly decided was the way to go is a bit over the top, Headland said.

No gas tax increase

North Dakota motorists wont see an increase in the gas tax.

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Members of the House previously advanced a 5-cent increase to the motor fuels tax to support maintenance of roads and bridges. It would have been North Dakotas first gas tax increase in 20 years.

But the Senate unanimously defeated a separate proposal with a 3-cent gas tax increase. Opponents to raising the gas tax said it didnt make sense to reduce property taxes for citizens while at the same time raising another tax.

In a compromise, the Legislature removed the gas tax increase from the Department of Transportation budget that was approved Friday.

This story was updated at 4:18 a.m. May 3.

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The hiring team at Kraken, a U.S.-based crypto exchange, noticed immediately that something was off about Steven Smith, a would-be IT worker who applied for a software engineering job in early October. But it wasnt until they compared Smiths email to a list of those suspected to be part of a hacker group that their suspicions were confirmed: Smith was a North Korean operative.

Kraken could have just tossed the application. Instead, Krakens chief security officer, Nick Percoco, decided to take a closer look at Steven Smith. He saw this as an opportunity to learn more about the infiltration tactics of North Korea, which have robbed billions from crypto companies, and how he could prevent that from happening at Kraken.

Percoco decided to advance Smith through the hiring process, having him speak with a recruiter and perform a technical test before setting up an interview. We said this is going to be a get-to-know-you, sort of, cultural interview, Percoco told Fortune. That's where he really failed. I don't think he actually answered any questions that we asked him.

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Smith was claiming to have received a bachelors degree in computer science from New York University, according to a copy of his resume reviewed by Fortune. He also claimed to have more than 11 years of experience as a software engineer at U.S.-based companies like Cisco and Kindly Human.

The interview was scheduled for Halloween, a classic American holidayespecially for college students in New Yorkthat Smith seemed to know nothing about.

Watch out tonight because some people might be ringing your doorbell, kids with chain saws, Percoco said, referring to the tradition of trick or treating. What do you do when those people show up?

Smith shrugged and shook his head. Nothing special, he said.

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Smith was also unable to answer simple questions about Houston, the town he had supposedly been living in for two years. Despite having listed "food" as an interest on his resume, Smith was unable to come up with a straight answer when asked about his favorite restaurant in the Houston area. He looked around for a few seconds before mumbling, Nothing special here.

Here is the clip from the interview where Smith was asked about his favorite restaurant.

When asked to produce a physical ID, Smith said he didnt have access to one at the moment, but after a few minutes he shared a photo of a drivers license with his name and photo. The address listed on the ID was over 300 miles away from Houston.

Smiths job application is part of a growing threat facing American companies as thousands of supposed IT workers with ties to North Korea try to get hired for remote work in foreign countries. The network of operatives is part of an effort to fund the countrys weapons of mass destruction program by working multiple jobs at once and gaining access to companies to steal money from inside.

A growing threat

Kraken may have dodged a bullet, but some companies havent been so lucky. The United Nations estimates that North Korea has generated between $250 million to $600 million per year by tricking overseas firms to hire its spies. A network of North Koreans, known as Famous Chollima, was behind 304 individual incidents last year, cybersecurity company CrowdStrike reported, predicting that the campaigns will continue to grow in 2025.

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Crypto has proved to be particularly vulnerable to this type of social engineering. The Lazarus Group, another network of North Koreans, has been linked to some of the largest crypto heists in history including the record-breaking $1.5 billion hack of crypto exchange Bybit in February and the theft of $540 million from the Ronin Network blockchain in 2022.

While Percoco doesnt know exactly what Smiths intentions were, he assumes the operative intended to steal funds at some point. They would get our company equipment; they would get access to some internal systems, Percoco said. What they would do after that, we don't know but most likely try to steal funds.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected an "important" tank factory and touted "great progress in the core technology of Korean-style tanks," state media KCNA said on Sunday.

He said producing cutting-edge tanks and armoured vehicles is key to modernizing the army and reaching the ruling party's plan for "the second revolution in armoured force."

Kims visit comes amid a broader push to modernize North Koreas conventional armed forces in addition to its nuclear and missile arsenals. The North Korean leader recently attended the launch of a new naval destroyer and tests of new drones, among other weapons.

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South Korean and U.S. officials have said they suspect the North is receiving some technical and military help from Russia in return for sending ammunition, missiles, and troops for the war in Ukraine, but no details have been confirmed.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin and Josh Smith; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
May 2Washington's annual northern pikeminnow reward fishery on the Columbia and Snake rivers opened on Thursday, offering anglers a chance to bring home cash for catching the predatory species.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the opening of the fishery in a news release. Funded by the Bonneville Power Administration, the program is meant to help protect vulnerable salmon and steelhead from predation by the northern pikeminnow.

Anglers who participate earn money for each pikeminnow over 9 inches long that's caught either on the Columbia between its mouth and Priest Rapids Dam or the Snake from its mouth upstream to Hells Canyon Dam.

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Anglers get $6 for each of the first 25 fish, $8 for fish 26 through 200 and $10 for every fish over 200. Tagged pikeminnow are worth up to $500.

The fishery will be open daily through Sept. 30 at most locations, according to the release.

Eric Winther, WDFW's pikeminnow program manager, said in a news release that the program is important for salmon and steelhead recovery.

"Since 1991, anglers have logged more than a million trips and removed nearly six million northern pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers  reducing predation on young salmon by up to 40% compared to pre-program levels," Winther said.

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In 2024, more than 176,000 qualifying pikeminnow were turned in, according to the release. Anglers averaged 14.5 fish per day. The top angler earned $164,260 by catching more than 16,000 fish.

Participating anglers must register each day they plan to fish at one of 21 registration stations or by using the pikeminnow registration mobile app. More information is available at pikeminnow.org.
May 3CROOKSTON, Minn.  A provider of mental health and substance use disorder services hosted U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach and members of a regional organization that has concerns about potential federal budget cuts.

The visit allowed a conversation between the organization and Fischbach, R-Minnesota, to address worries from northwest Minnesota, said Michelle Van Camp, chief marketing and communication officer at Alluma.

"She did a lot of listening," she said. "From my perspective, watching it happen, it was great."

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Fischbach visited Alluma's Northwestern Apartments in Crookston. She toured the apartments and spoke with members of the Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives, which is made up of different organizations across eight counties. Education and social services representatives were some of those present for Fischbach's visit, Van Camp said. The council had sent Fischbach a letter voicing worries over the proposed $880 billion in federal budget cuts targeted through the Energy and Commerce Committee. Member concerns focused mainly on Medicaid in rural Minnesota, Van Camp said, though touched on other topics such as education and elder care.

About 60% of Alluma's clients use Medicaid and would struggle without it, Van Camp said. Alluma provides mental health, substance use, crisis and housing support services. The Northwestern Apartments have 14 beds and are used by people in recovery or transitioning between levels of care. Usually, people spend six to nine months at the apartments, she said, but recently the stays have increased up to a year and a half. In a press release, Northwest Apartments Supervisor Amy Hillebrand said people have been staying longer because there aren't enough housing options offering the proper level of care, and some return later because there aren't other available housing options that are safe, affordable and appropriate for the individual.

"Sometimes Northwest Apartments is still the best place for them to be safe, well and supported," she said.

Shauna Reitmeier, Alluma's executive officer, added, "so many people we serve don't qualify for disability benefits. ... Disproportionately, mental health and substance use care depend on that Medicaid expansion to gain access to health care."

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In regards to the $880 billion in proposed cuts, Reitmeier said, "it's hard to see how they will do that without touching Medicaid."

Van Camp said Fischbach spoke to members of the northwest council to try and give them a better understanding of what's been happening, and how there are decisions to be made at federal and state levels. Now is the time to prepare and wait to see what happens, Van Camp said. Alluma is using the time to work on opening up a fourth bed after opening three at a new residential property.
May 2 (UPI) -- Measles cases in the United States climbed to 939 in 29 states this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

With the year only one-third over, the cases are the second most since 2000, when the disease was officially declared eliminated by the CDC.

The highest in 25 years was 1,273 in 2019 with 285 in 2024.

Six states are reporting outbreaks, meaning three or more related cases: Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas. The data include cases reported to the CDC as of noon Thursday.

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Texas has a state-high 663, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas' vaccination rate is 94.3%. West Virginia is the highest at 98.3% and the worst is Idaho at 79.6%.

The deaths are two in Texas and one in New Mexico.

Weekly cases reported peaked on March 30 with 111 reported.

The Chicago area 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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Among the cases this year, the CDC said about 96% are among unvaccinated people or unknown status. Conversely, 2% are among those who have received just one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, and 2% among those who received the required two doses, according to the CDC.

Of the cases, 13% of patients have been hospitalized with most younger than 19 years old.

"This is a disease that was at the level of complete eradication; this should not be happening," Dr. Conrad Fischer, chief of infectious diseases at One Brooklyn Health in New York City, told ABC News. "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."

Measles is the most contagious infectious disease known to humans, and is spread through the air by respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing.

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"For instance, tuberculosis will spread only to 2 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."

Symptoms include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever, and a red, blotchy skin rash. Over-the-counter fever reducers or vitamin A may help.

Six North and South Americas countries have reported 2,318 cases so far this year: U.S., Canada (1,069), Mexico (421), Argentina (21), Belize (1) and Brazil (5), have reported a total of 2,318 cases so far this year, according to World Health Organization.

Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 after the debut of the vaccination program, meaning there is no measles spreading within the country and new cases are only found when someone contracts measles abroad and returns to the country.

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The measles vaccine was first licensed for public use in 1963, according to the WHO.

The first MMR vaccine was administered in 1971.

Before then, nearly every child got measles by the time they were 15.

The CDC estimates that 3 to 4 million in the U.S. were sickened by measles every year before the vaccine. That included 48,000 hospitalized and 400-500 deaths. Also, about 1,000 people suffered encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain.
Key Points

Berkshire Hathaway missed earnings estimates, but the number is highly influenced by stock market movements and does not reflect the health of the business.

Operating earnings, a better snapshot of what is going on inside the business units, was down 14% due largely to insurance payouts and foreign currency fluctuations.

Berkshire did not repurchase any shares in the quarter and ended the period with $347.7 billion in cash.

Here's our initial take on Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.B) (NYSE: BRK.A) fiscal 2025 first-quarter financial report.

Key Metrics

Metric Q1 2024 Q1 2025 Change vs. Expectations Revenue $89.9 billion $89.7 billion -0.2% Missed Earnings per share (Class B) $5.88 $2.13 -64% Missed Operating earnings $11.2 billion $9.6 billion -14% n/a Cash and short-term investments $334.2 billion $347.7 billion 4% n/a

Market Movements Cloud Quarterly Numbers

Berkshire Hathaway's earnings per share fell 64% year over year, missing Wall Street estimates. But it is worth noting that many Berkshire followers -- and Warren Buffett himself -- caution against investors relying too heavily on it. This quarter is a good example of why that is the case.

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 

Berkshire is a mix of operating businesses and a massive investment portfolio. Under accounting rules, the company must include unrealized gains and losses from that stock portfolio. That means the company has to report losses in a weak stock market even if it hasn't sold the stocks.

In the first quarter of 2024, Berkshire booked $1.5 billion in "gains" from its investments. This quarter, on the other hand, that same portfolio recorded a $5 billion "loss." Berkshire Hathaway was a net seller of $1.5 billion of equity securities in the quarter.

Other metrics look better. Berkshire Hathaway grew its Q1 cash balances by 4%, or $13 billion, over the past year. The company did not repurchase any shares during the first quarter of 2025.

Status Quo Among the Operating Units

Berkshire's actual operating businesses did post a slowdown, but it wasn't nearly as dramatic as the per-share number would suggest. The company generated $9.6 billion in operating earnings in the quarter, down 14% from $11.2 billion a year ago. Nearly $1 billion of that decline is foreign exchange losses and income from investments not directly owned by Berkshire.

The company's massive insurance business produced mixed results, with underwriting earnings cut in half but investment income up slightly. Insurance companies have reported soft results this quarter due to payouts related to the California wildfires and other natural disasters.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  After Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, North Carolina, the sound coming from open car windows as residents gathered on a street at the top of a ridge trying to get cell service last fall was Blue Ridge Public Radio. And as they stood in line for water or food, the latest news they had heard on the station was a frequent topic of conversation.

The public radio station was alerting people what was going on, said Lisa Savage, who volunteered at an area church after the hurricane.

Now public radio stations are being targeted for cuts by President Donald Trump. This week, he signed an executive order aimed at slashing public subsidies to NPR and PBS, alleging bias in the broadcasters reporting.

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Public radio stations have been a lifeline for residents during natural disasters that take out power, the internet and cell towers. And in many remote and rural areas across the U.S., they can be a lone source of local news.

About a week after she had volunteered in the Asheville area, Savage recalled driving through another hard-hit community and hearing updates on Blue Ridge Public Radio on where residents could pick up water.

"So that was crucial, Savage said.

In the West Texas desert, Marfa Public Radio provides listeners with a mix of local and national news and music. It is based in Marfa, a city of about 2,000 that draws tourists to its art scene.

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Marfa Public Radio is the only radio service in a lot of the geographic area that we cover, said Tom Livingston, the stations interim executive director. So its really essential in terms of if theres news events, if theres safety things that happen in the community.

Funding has widespread impact

Trump's order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS and further requires that they work to root out indirect sources of public financing for the news organizations. The broadcasters get roughly half a billion dollars in public money through the private CPB, which has said that it is not a federal executive agency subject to Trumps orders.

The heads of PBS, NPR and CPB all suggested Friday that the order was illegal, and a court fight seems inevitable.

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The White House has also said it will be asking Congress to rescind funding for the CPB as part of a $9.1 billion package of cuts. Local stations operate on a combination of government funding, donations and philanthropic grants, and stations in smaller markets are particularly dependent on the public money.

WMMT, based in the eastern Kentucky community of Whitesburg, can be heard in parts of five Appalachian states. The stations general manager, Teddy Wimer, said listeners want to hear people that sound like folks that they know from Appalachia, and the station, which currently operates from a renovated Winnebago called the Possum Den, relies on CPB funding.

Were in an economically disadvantaged area of the country, Wimer said. Most of our listeners who really rely upon our programming dont have the funds to ramp up their support.

Livingston said about 30% of their funding comes from the CPB. Right now, he says, its too early to know if the cuts will actually happen or what they would impact if they do come through.

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Local flavor is a factor in listenership and credibility

Along the West Virginia-Virginia border, more than three hours from Washington, D.C., residents can pick up signals from radio stations far away. But those arent going have the local flavor and impact that we do, said Scott Smith, general manager of Allegheny Mountain Radio. This is the only game in town for that sort of thing.

In his home base of Monterey, Virginia, Smith said theres about a 4 -square-mile (10.3-square-kilometer) area of cell coverage with one cell tower. The station has proven to be a vital source of information during natural disasters. In 2012, residents relied on it after a derecho knocked out power to 680,000 customers across West Virginia and it took nearly two weeks for some areas to get their service restored.

Yeah, we play music. Yeah, we get on the air and joke around," he said. But were here providing basic level services of information, emergency information, that sort of thing, to our communities. And as part of that, were a pretty critical link in this area for the emergency alert system.

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Smith has a staff of 10 people at Allegheny Mountain Radio, which receives 68% of its annual budget from CPB.

What CPB does fund the most is small rural radio, Smith said. When you take 60% of our income away, thats not readily or easily replaceable.

Smith calls it a wait-and-see game on whether Congress will act on the CPB funding.

The answer to how we move forward is vague," Smith said. "We will still continue to be here as long as we can be.

___

Stengle reported from Dallas. Jeffrey Collins contributed to this report from Columbia, South Carolina.
A 23-year-old woman was killed and another man was injured during an attack at a Texas apartment last month

The Daily Mail identified the woman, who often posted on TikTok about her life as a nursing student, as Tamilore Odunsi, and the man as her roommate

Odunsi was described as "a beautiful soul, full of light, ambition and kindness" in a GoFundMe page

Tamilore Odunsi moved overseas to Texas to get her degree, and she gained a following on TikTok for her relatable videos and study tips along the way. She was counting down the days to graduation when, just days before the big day, she was stabbed to death.

A 23-year-old female was killed in a southeast Houston apartment at around 3:50 p.m. local time on April 28, according to Houston Police. The Daily Mail later identified her as the British nursing student. A man  who The Daily Mail identified as Odunsis roommate  was also critically injured in the stabbing, police said.

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Officers found Odunsi and the man after arriving at the Texas apartment complex for a welfare check, police said. According to The Daily Mail, a friend of Odunsi's father had called the police after her family was unable to reach her.

After knocking on the door of the apartment and receiving no answer, the responding officers discovered blood on the rear patio and entered the unit.

Tamilore Odunsi/TikTok Tamilore Odunsi on her TikTok @tamidollars Tamilore Odunsi on her TikTok @tamidollars

Upon entry, they found Odunsi on the kitchen floor. She had suffered multiple stab wounds. Officers then located the man, who had at least one stab wound, in the bedroom, police said.

Odunsi was pronounced dead at the scene, and the man was hospitalized in critical condition.

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Investigation into the stabbing is ongoing, Houston Police said. No suspects have been named.

A spokesperson for the Houston Police Department was not available to respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Saturday, May 3.

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.

Prior to her death, Odunsi had been counting down to her graduation on TikTok, sharing videos about her experience as a nursing student to her over 30,000 followers on her account @tamidollars.

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She also shared study tips and more personal content, including videos about her family and experience as a British student studying in the United States.

In her final TikTok video, posted April 21, Odunsi shared her excitement about her upcoming graduation, dancing alongside text that read: 23 years old, BSN grad in 2 weeks, Vacations booked, Summer is 14 days away, Starting to look human again.

Im readyyyyyyyyyyyyy , she captioned the video.

Odunsis death came just days before she was set to graduate from university, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser that was created to raise money to return Odunsis body to her family in the United Kingdom and cover funeral expenses.

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Her death, the fundraiser adds, is an unimaginable loss at a moment that should have marked the beginning of a bright and promising future.

The page also states that Odunsi  who was described as "a beautiful soul, full of light, ambition and kindness"  moved to the U.S. from the U.K. 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 future work in healthcare, the fundraiser continues. Outside of her studies, she brought joy to others through her love for creating content and expressing her vibrant personality.

Read the original article on People
Voting for New York Citys parent education councils has devolved into chaos  with persistent technical issues, ballot errors and apparent violations of campaign rules, The Post has learned.

Parents in District 1, which covers the Lower East Side and East Village, received notice Friday that a candidate was missing from the ballot.

We have cleared the votes of all those that voted prior to the corrected ballot and are asking you to vote again by entering your NYC Schools Account, an email from the CEC elections team read.

Since voting opened for Community and Citywide Education Councils, multiple errors and glitches have been reported. Obtained by the New York Post

The parent, Rodney Lee, a social worker who served on the advisory council in 2021, was also previously left off the list for the districts candidate forum.

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Theyre disenfranchising the families of District 1, Noah Harlan, the councils president, told The Post.

It comes after voting began last Friday and opened to the system being taken down for maintenance shortly after amid reports of issues.

Those who voted before it was paused received calls this week saying they would also have to re-vote before May 13.

CEC 1 President Noah Harlan, pictured in Brooklyn last year, is calling for an audit of this years election. Gabriella Bass

Harlan blasted the city Department of Educations Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE), which administers elections.

FACE has a history of staggering incompetence, Harlan said. Once again, they have truly dropped the ball.

FACE, which is reportedly riddled with dysfunction, spends upwards of $5 million on the biennial elections, sources say, yet only about 2% of public school families voted in recent years.

Yiatin Chu, co-president of PLACE NYC, is demanding an investigation into the ballot errors. J.C.Rice

Harlan and other parents are calling for an audit of the election.

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The group Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education (PLACE NYC), demanded an investigation into the cause and scope of the ballot errors on the first day of voting.

The integrity of parent representation is at stake, PLACE co-president Yiatin Chu said in a statement.

Candidates received an email Thursday about disparaging flyers that represented an erosion of the election process. Obtained by the New York Post

Meanwhile, FACE emailed candidates Thursday about complaints of flyers disparaging candidates that were hung near schools, including District 2, where far-left trans rights activists are trying to unseat conservative opponents.

These actions represent a serious erosion of the fairness and integrity of the election process, the email read.

The DOE did not immediately respond to an inquiry.
George Miller may not have any memory of Sept. 11, 2001, but it was his hero fathers brave actions on that unforgettable day that inspired him to join the ranks of the NYPD.

Police Officer Thomas Miller had just finished working a shift when planes hit the towers.

He turned back, to go back to help the people of New York City, George Miller said. He was home for five minutes and turned back.

Aracelis Miller presents her son, George Miller, with his fathers shield. J.C. Rice

Thomas Miller died on Feb. 22, 2023, at the age of 56, from 9/11-related bone marrow cancer.

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More than 700 first responders have died from 9/11-related illnesses in the years since the attacks.

He died a hero, George Miller, 24, told The Post.

Miller will graduate on May 8 and start working the following day. J.C. Rice

Thomas Miller served on the NYPD for 21 years. DCPI

Miller is scheduled to graduate from the New York City Police Academy on May 8, and start his career with the NYPD the following day. On May 2, though, during a special ceremony at the academy in Queens, the Long Island resident received a badge bearing the number 31939.

It was his fathers badge number before he retired in 2014 after a 21-year career on the force.

I think my dad would be proud of me, Miller told The Post Friday, as his mother, Aracelis, and two of his siblings proudly looked on. Hed probably be making jokes with his partners.

George Miller said seeing his father help people, both on and off the clock, also inspired his career path. DCPI

I wouldve loved for him to be here, but I know hes watching over us.

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Miller, who was only a baby on 9/11, said his father rarely spoke about that day or the many days hed spend after the terrorist attacks working the pile in Lower Manhattan.

Giving officers their relatives old badge number is a police tradition. J.C. Rice

It was hard for him to talk about, said Miller.

Millers father, who worked in Brooklyns 88th Precinct, was aware his son wanted to join the NYPD, and offered him some valuable advice about the job prior to his passing.

He said, Know the reason you join,' Miller said. He said you join to help people, and to never forget that.
The NYPD is trying to claw back more than $200,000 in overtime paid to the female lieutenant who alleged the OT cash was used by disgraced ex-Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey to coerce her to perform sexual acts, The Post has learned.

Lt. Quathisha Epps, a 19-year-vet who retired in December after The Post uncovered the scandal, was the departments highest paid cop last year.

She was paid for work she did not do, a police source said. She has received notice that she owes this money.

Former NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey, who was the NYPDs No. 1 uniformed cop, abruptly resigned after The Post reported that he allegedly used overtime to coerce an underling to perform sexual favors. Brigitte Stelzer

Epps called the NYPD demand that she pay back $231,890.75 retaliation for her blowing the whistle on the departments No. 2 cop.

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I will not be silenced, she said. This isnt just my fight  its the fight of every woman who dared to speak up and was punished for it. If the department  or anyone  believes they can erase what happened by attacking me, theyve gravely underestimated the power of truth.

The demand was a result of an NYPD investigation into the overtime and involved Epps direct supervisor, former Deputy Chief Paul Saraceno, who was fired last month, sources said. Saraceno was Maddreys second in command and allegedly signed off on Epps overtime retroactively, the sources said.

Epps lawyer, Eric Sanders, said the letter Epps received from the NYPD included no evidence that she didnt work the hours she claimed to work.

The overtime issue is a red herringmanufactured to distract from the real legal and moral crisis inside the NYPD, Sanders said. Under New York labor law, the burden is on the employer to maintain accurate records, not the employee.

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The Post revealed in November that Epps pulled in $403,515 in fiscal year 2024, including $204,453.48 in overtime pay on top of her base salary of $164,477, according to city payroll records.

NYPD top earner, ex-Lieutenant Quathisha Epps, filed a federal EEOC complaint against Maddrey. NYPD

Epps told The Post she had sex with Maddrey in his office multiple times and asked him to stop during their first encounter. LP Media

This kind of gross abuse is a slap in the face to the hardworking men and women of the NYPD who are actually out on the streets putting their lives on the line every day, the NYPD source said. Finally, someone is cracking down on this incredible and illegal greed.

On Dec. 20, Epps, who was an administrator in Maddreys office at One Police Plaza, told The Post that the chief paid her the dough to coerce her to have sex with him in his office at NYPD headquarters.

Sanders, a former cop, filed a federal Equal Employment Opportunity complaint against Maddrey on Epps behalf the next day.

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Maddrey resigned the day The Post story went online Dec. 21. A week later, he held a press conference in Manhattan where his lawyer told reporters that the relationship with Epps was consensual.

He also accused Epps of going after his client because of the investigation into her overtime. Maddrey didnt take questions.

Deputy Chief Paul Saraceno was fired by the NYPD over allegations that he approved bogus overtime slips. 50-a.org

While the NYPD goes after Epps, Maddrey is expected to pull down an annual pension worth around $259,000. When Epps reaches her 20th anniversary this summer, she will receive a pension of less than half the pay of a lieutenant  under $50,000, police sources said. She will also miss out on the variable supplement of about $12,000 per year.

In the wake of the scandal, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch made department-wide changes, including replacing the head of the storied Internal Affairs Bureau and transferring officials at Police HQ to other precincts and divisions.

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Maddreys home was raided on Jan. 2 by agents with the U.S. Department of Justice, which opened an investigation after news of the imbroglio broke. The Manhattan District Attorneys Office also said it was launching a probe but later said it dropped the case. The DOJ has refused to comment on the status of its review.

One retired NYPD officer who worked with sex assault victims said the NYPD demand for repayment from an alleged victim is misguided  especially since her accused harasser, Maddrey, was allowed to retire with a full pension.

If you listen to her, she says she asked him to stop when he had sex with her in his office, the ex-officer said. Shes asserting criminal misconduct.

The NYPD did not return a request for comment.

Additional reporting by Larry Celona.
An Odessa, Missouri, couple is facing multiple child abuse charges after a nine-year-old in their care was hospitalized with fentanyl poisoning earlier this year.

William J. Ellingworth, 31, and Krystal Harris, 33, were charged this week in Lafayette County Court with three counts each of felony child abuse or neglect. Ellingworth was also charged with second-degree drug trafficking, also a felony, according to court records.

First responders in Odessa received a 911 call around 10:40 p.m. on Feb. 19 regarding a nine-year-old boy who had stopped breathing at a house on South Fifth Street, according to court documents. While bringing the child to a local hospital in an ambulance, emergency medical responders gave him a dose of Narcan, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, court documents read.

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According to court documents, the Narcan had a positive effect on the child, who allegedly tested positive for fentanyl, amphetamines and nicotine upon arriving at the hospital. The child told investigators that he had been watching a movie on his mother and stepfathers bed right before the incident, according to court documents.

Officers confiscated drug paraphernalia with cocaine and fentanyl remnants from Ellingworth and Harris home, including from a table directly next to the bed in question, according to court documents. Ellingworth and Harris allegedly told investigators that Ellingworth had used fentanyl in the bed since the sheets were last changed.

Odessa police also noted that the three children in the house, ages 10, 9 and 4, were found among conditions described as neglectful and unlivable, including piles of trash and old food, foul odor and many bugs.

Harris, the childs mother, also tested positive for cocaine and amphetamines at the time of her arrest. Prosecutors noted that Harris had pulled her two older children out of the Odessa School District after staff hotlined her for alleged abuse and neglect in September 2024.

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Ellingworth, the childs stepfather, was arrested on charges of possession of fentanyl about two months before the incident, according to court records. He was also previously convicted of domestic assault, for which he was incarcerated.

Ellingworth is being held on a $50,000 cash bond, and Harris on a $15,000 cash bond, according to court records. Ellingworth pleaded not guilty to all charges Friday, while Harris has not yet entered a plea.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Lawmakers have been working to regulate Delta-8 products since late 2023, largely at the request of Gov. Mike DeWine.

At the end of the day, its about the safety of kids, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said.

Delta-8 is a low-level THC product that can give a high similar to marijuana but is sold in convenient stores with no age restriction or regulations.

Anything that we can do to make sure that these things are safe for consumers is a step in the right direction, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said.

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Ohio State University fraternity suspended for hazing

Senate Bill 86 passed the Senate on Wednesday with no votes against it. The Sente did pass a bill last general assembly too, but that died in the House at the end of 2023. At the end of 2024, lawmakers tried again, but the bill died in committee after disagreement about whether a total ban was necessary.

I think theres some genuine disagreements, but I dont think anything of the problems are unsolvable, Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said.

This new bill, though, requires that any intoxicating hemp product is sold in a licensed marijuana dispensary and only accessible to Ohioans 21 and over. Some leaders said it is a good start but say the state could go further.

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Frankly, if it were up to me individually, but its not, I would probably ban the product, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said.

But some in the hemp industry said banning, or even simply putting the product in dispensaries, will both strengthen the illicit market and negatively impact small businesses in Ohio.

Many of these stores that are offering this were already in business before this product was offered, McColley said. I dont have a lot of sympathy for some of those businesses.

House Bill 160 both changes the states recreational marijuana laws and requires that Delta-8 products be put behind bars. Huffman said he thinks the two issues should be addressed the same way.

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We say the word hemp, but what Ive tried to do is constrict the conversation or the terminology to THC, whether its coming from marijuana, coming from hemp or coming from some chemical alteration of some subject, he said.

Though details like that have held up progress in the past, Huffman said he is confident something can get done by June 30.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
May 3A bill banning intoxicating hemp products from being sold in gas stations, convenience stores or anywhere else outside of a licensed dispensary passed the Ohio Senate 33-0 this week.

The bill, Senate Bill 86, now heads to the Ohio House for further consideration. It's the latest in a growing line of otherwise stalled attempts to regulate intoxicating hemp in Ohio.

The bill targets "intoxicating hemp products," defined as any product with more than two milligrams of delta-9 THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana) or more than 0.5 milligrams of any other "non-delta-9 THC" (like delta-8 or THCA, which can also make users feel high) per package.

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Under current law, those products  derived from hemp and protected under the federal Farm Bill  can be sold just about anywhere in the state and to anyone at the seller's discretion.

Such products are often sold in gas stations, convenience stores or CBD stores, and have frequently been targeted by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and other opponents for their potential appeal to children through colorful packaging and subliminal branding.

Under S.B. 86, those products could only be sold by licensed cannabis dispensaries, with a 10% tax that matches the tax Ohio currently has on recreational marijuana.

"This bill simply closes loopholes that allows these dangerous products to be sold to our children," said state Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, who jointly sponsors the bill.

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Robert McClure, a veteran and owner of a boutique "SunMed  Your CBD Store" in Centerville, told this news outlet that it's frustrating for his business  which doesn't sell to customers under 21 and focuses on wellness  to be lumped in with more problematic retailers.

McClure told the Senate General Government Committee last month that S.B. 86 would make it illegal for him to carry most of his best-selling products and would put him "and many others who are doing it right out of business."

In an interview with this outlet, McClure specifically noted that he would no longer be able to sell his "bread and butter:" tinctures of full spectrum CBD oil sold in monthslong supply. His two-month, 3,000 milligram oil tinctures, for example, contain 75 milligrams of THC  far above the bounds of what S.B. 86 allows to be sold outside dispensaries.

McClure said CBD, which is non-intoxicating, trumps the THC contents in those tinctures by as much as 50-to-1.

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When this outlet talked with Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle, they downplayed McClure's concern about S.B. 86 putting him out of business.

"I still think if they were operating before they'll be able to operate after," said Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon.

"What I will say is that there are legitimate products that they can be selling to make money that will not put our children in jeopardy, and that's where I'll leave that," said Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood.

McClure doubled down on the threat S.B. 86 poses to his business and maintained that shops like his, offering products like his, are an essential part of Ohio's wellness ecosystem and offer a space to educate people on CBD products.

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"(If) you put these in the hands of the dispensaries, they're not selling this stuff. There's no way they're going to sell this stuff," McClure told this outlet. "That's not their bread and butter. Their bread and butter is selling marijuana, that's what they do."

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A fraternity at Ohio State University has been suspended until 2029 following an investigation into hazing, originally reported by our news partner WBNS Columbus.

The fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega (ATO), was suspended in December 2024 after an accusation of hazing. Their student organization registration was temporarily discontinued as the university investigated, WBNS says.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The alleged hazing incident was reported to the university in March of 2024, according to WBNS.

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According to WBNS, a new member was told to drink a substantial amount of alcohol with their Big, and later returned to their dorm sick.

Ohio State recommended an internal investigation for the chapter, which found that no members were found responsible for hazing, WBNS says.

TRENDING STORIES:

The university received another hazing report in October involving ATO. The report said that a male student was having issues with other chapter members, was allegedly assaulted and had some of his possessions damaged, according to WBNS.

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Another report alleged that a male student was beaten by other chapter members and forced to drink a lot of alcohol, WBNS says.

The university suspended the chapter while they investigated the claims in December. The fraternitys national headquarters revoked the chapters charter and members were terminated from the organization, according to WBNS.

Ohio State told ATO in February that they had violated hazing, endangering health or safety, alcohol use and student conduct system abuse, WBNS says.

Ohio State says the fraternity will not be allowed to operate on campus until January 1, 2029, according to WBNS.

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By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway's Geico car insurance unit has made progress in upgrading its technology to better match rates with risk, Berkshire Vice Chairman Ajit Jain said on Saturday.

Jain, who has day-to-day oversight of Berkshire's insurance operations, spoke at the conglomerate's annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska where he, Chairman Warren Buffett and Vice Chairman Greg Abel fielded shareholder questions.

Geico posted substantially improved results in 2024, as it curbed its appetite to issue new policies while reducing the percentage of premiums it used to pay accident claims.

The vice chairman said Geico has made "rapid strides in telematics" and now "is as good as anyone." Jain praised Geico's CEO Todd Combs for reducing the company's workforce. Geico cut more than 2,300 jobs last year.

"All this has allowed Geico to become a more focused competitor," he said, adding it is too soon yet to say "mission accomplished. We have achieved a lot, but we have to do a lot more."

At Berkshire's 2023 annual meeting, Jain lamented that Geico was behind the curve in telematics, where devices installed in vehicles let insurers monitor behavior including speed, braking, mileage and distracted driving including cellphone use.

Insurers can then reward safe drivers with discounts, and price policies appropriately for other drivers.

Then at Berkshire's 2024 annual meeting, Jain lamented that Geico was "still behind" but hoped by the end of 2025 to catch rivals in data analytics including pricing for risk, although Geico still enjoyed lower operating costs than "virtually anybody."

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, in Omaha, and additional reporting by Suzanne McGee; editing by Diane Craft)
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR)  The Cleveland County District Attorney says the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office will determine next steps following an audit of the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office.

Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd released a report on April 24 detailing the findings from an audit of the CCSO after county commissioners accused Sheriff Chris Amason of mismanaging funds.

Following the release of the audit report, the Cleveland County DAs Office said they would determine next steps after reviewing the findings.

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State Auditor releases report on Cleveland County Sheriffs Office budget

The Cleveland County DA now says they will refer the audit review to the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office.

After thorough review of the audit of the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office conducted by the State Auditor and Inspector, and in light of our offices statutory obligation to advise county officials, including the Cleveland County Sheriff, this office will refer this matter to the Office of the Attorney General for re-assignment or prosecution, the Cleveland County District Attorneys Office said in a statement on Friday.

News 4 will continue to bring you the latest updates as this story develops.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Fourth graders at Mark Twain Elementary are helping each others families fight food insecurity through a program they call Food Bag Fridays.

Friday they got a little boost to help them carry on.

Chips, and fruit snacks, said a student packing a bag.

Look! We got those Oreo Minis! said a little boy.

LOCAL NEWS: Hundreds of metro elementary school students fitted for free shoes

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Every Friday, Mrs. Jennifer Reyes-Garcias fourth grade class, at Mark Twain Elementary, files into the library to fill up bags for Food Bag Fridays.

I like to put the liquids in first. The hard stuff, said a student.

This Friday, even OKCPS Superintendent, Jamie Polk, helped out.

Not only do they pack a bag for another fourth grade student, but one of these bags will also be theirs! she said.

I noticed on Monday mornings my students were coming in a little more hungrier than they were other days of the week, and they were ready to eat that breakfast and asking for a double snack, said Mrs. Reyes-Garcia.

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The OKCPS Foundation said 91% of the students in the district live at or below poverty level. More than 8% of those students experienced homelessness.

We might not have enough food to feed everybody in the family, said a student.

A $50,000 from Oklahoma company Paycom will help.

A portion of the donation goes to fund projects for teachers, like Reyes-Garcia, on the Donors Choose Program, a non-profit.

Its the teachers themselves, the educators, that can identify the needs in the classroom, said Kendra Horn, the OKCPS Foundation President/CEO.

LOCAL NEWS: KFORs Emily Sutton educates students at 4Warn Storm School

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Donors Choose helps us out a lot. We get lots of food, said Knai Charles, a 4th grader.

After they finish packing they can read their favorite book. All of this is because you cant feed your brain if you cant feed your stomach.

Were going to give our kids an equitable access to an education. And this is one way to do it, said Reyes-Garcia.

Paycoms donation will also support OKCPS Foundations Teacher Pipeline Program, which provides free education for future teachers and administrators, and its ReadOKC program, which improves literacy and cultivates a love of reading.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT)  Athens Police Department told News 19 crew on scene that one person was injured when an SUV hit a power pole in Athens Friday afternoon during a storm.

The crash happened at about 4:40 p.m. near the intersection of Market Street and Elm Street. A utility crew is working on fixing the power pole.

News 19 is on the scene and is working to get 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 WHNT.com.
Russian forces attacked the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast three times on Saturday 3 May, leaving one civilian injured.

Source: Serhii Horbunov, Head of Kostiantynivka City Military Administration, on Facebook

The aftermath of the Russian strikes on Kostiantynivka on 3 May

Photo: Serhii Horbunov on Facebook

Quote: "The enemy fired five rockets from a Smerch multiple-launch rocket system this morning. The attack injured one civilian and damaged the facades of houses, gas pipelines and power lines.

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The enemy dropped a FAB-250 bomb on the city of Kostiantynivka at 12:15 on 3 May 2025, damaging the facades of houses and an infrastructure facility.

Russian occupation forces attacked the city with a Molniya-2 loitering munition in the afternoon. The facade of a multi-storey building has been damaged."

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Democratic governors are in a tight spot. A notoriously vindictive man is in the White House, a man whose presidency every day imperils the future of American democracy. He has control of vast federal funds, which he uses to punish people (and whole states) he sees as against him, while rewarding loyalists and toadies. And those governors also have an obligation to secure funding and support for their states.

Opposition to Donald Trump for oppositions sake is not the answer. But real leadership is necessary in what is clearly a crisis momentas Trump walks squarely into authoritarian territory, violating long-held democratic norms and the Constitution itselfand is something Democrats should be raising hell about, not ignoring, and certainly not enabling.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has not raised hell. Instead, she has cautiously, and sometimes covertly, worked with Donald Trumpin an effort to get what she needs for her constituents, yes. In doing so, shes raised the ire of a great many Democrats. And while she is getting some wins for some Michiganders, Americans as a whole are losing because of Trump.

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In April, Whitmer traveled to Washington to meet with the president in an effort to get funding necessary to expand Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and to secure support for Michiganders devastated by an ice storm. Trump cunningly exploited the moment, keeping Whitmer in the Oval Office as he signed a serious of odious executive orders targeting people and institutions he feels wronged him. Whitmer was apparently so (rightly) embarrassed to be caught in the Oval that she tried to hide her face from a New York Times photographer.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (far right) is pictured in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump signs executive orders and proclamations at the White House in Washington, D.C. on April 9, 2025. / Nathan Howard / REUTERS

(The governor was surprised that she was brought into the Oval Office during President Trumps press conference without any notice of the subject matter, Whitmer spokesperson Kaylie Hansonand, full disclosure, a personal friendsaid in a statement. Her presence is not an endorsement of the actions taken or statements made at that event.)

Whitmers play for federal dollars isnt her first attempt to make nice with the president. She reportedly wrote Trump a congratulatory letter when he won re-election last November. As Trumps tariffs were roiling the global economy and turning America into some combination of a pariah and a laughingstock, Whitmer took to the stage at an event in Washington, D.C. and argued that, while these particular ones arent working, tariffs can actually be a pretty good idea. (I can tell you, heres where President Trump and I do agree. We do need to make more stuff in America, Whitmer said.) Thats a message that immediately undermined Democrats efforts to organize a unified front against Trumps dangerous experiments with the American economy.

Later that same day, Trump complimented her as a very good person who, he said, has really done an excellent job.

Gretchen Whitmer speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz in Romulus, Michigan on August 7, 2024. / Elizabeth Frantz / REUTERS

And her overtures, though, seem to be working more broadly on a president notoriously receptive to flattery: To mark his first 100 days in office, Trump traveled to Michigan and announced the expansion of the base that Whitmer had championed. For Whitmer, this was clearly a winuntil Trump called her up on stage, and she was again stuck with a moment of uncomfortable optics.

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And so really, it was a triumph for Trump: A moment of bipartisanship he can point to when he faces justified criticism for eroding American democracy and posing an acute threat to the nations very character and its democratic future.

To be clear, I think Gretchen Whitmer is one of the most talented leaders the Democratic party has seen in recent years. Shes smart, polished, and approachable; she is both an advocate for the working class and for womens rights, refusing to fall into the trap of pitting race, class, and gender interests against each other. She is ambitiousa good thingand has, until recently, been someone who sticks to her principles even when its politically inconvenient. I would love for her to run for president in 2028.

And again, I sympathize with the grim position Whitmer is in. Michigan is vulnerable to Trumps whims if he decides shes persona non grata; she needs to weight that concern first, well ahead of her own political future. And when criticized for her relationship with Trump, thats what she says, too.

It doesnt mean Ive abandoned any of my values. It doesnt mean that Im not going to stand my ground, Whitmer said of her position in a Pod Save America interview 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.

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Whitmer added, 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.

President Donald Trump delivers a speech in Warren, Michigan, on April 29, 2025. / JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

It can be easy to slip into the trap of negative polarization, where liberals have a knee-jerk Trump bad response in opposition to everything the president does. When Democrats get wins, we should take them, wherever they come from. But Democratic leaders also have to lead. Giving cover to a truly dangerous man may mean short-term wins, but big losses for the nation as a whole.

Trump and those around him believe in an expansive vision of executive power, of a president who is more a kingor a dictatorthan a democratic leader. This is not a normal presidency, and this is not the normal push-pull of a two-party political system. Its crucial to take a stand against Trump, with whom differences are not simply about policy so much as the fundamentals of the American democratic system and our constitutional rights.

Refusing to cooperate with Trump may also in Whitmers best interests. Trump boasts a long line of past allies and collaboratorsand a shocking number of those people have wound up disgraced, imprisoned, ripped off or all of the above while Trump laughs all the way to the bankand to the White House. Despite her overtures, she could very well see the president turn on her too.

Negotiating with him is, in other words, a profoundly risky endeavor, and one that is rarely mutually beneficial. When Trump is the deal-maker, his ideal outcome is that he wins and you lose. Whitmer and every other state leader would be wise to keep in mind that with Trump, what youre promised is rarely what you get.
The practice of adding small amounts of fluoride to community water sources started in the U.S. in 1945 and  according to the CDC  since then has been a cornerstone strategy for preventing cavities.

The CDC estimates that fluoridated water reduces the cavity burden by up to 25%, thus being a cost-effective way to improve oral health regardless of socioeconomic status. Oral health has changed substantially since the 1940s with the increased availability of dental care and fluoridated dental hygiene products, like toothpaste. However, these resources are not always available to people of low socioeconomic status, and adding fluoride to water can make a significant difference in their oral health.

The benefits of fluoridated drinking water are well known, but there are concerns about potentially harmful effects. The U.S. Public Health Service and World Health Organization (WHO) recommend 0.7 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L, respectively, as the safe limit for fluoride in drinking water. The WHO does state that fluoride levels above 1.5 mg in community water increases risk of dental and skeletal fluorosis  mottling/discoloration of teeth and bone deformities, respectively. The WHO has stated that they have encountered no new evidence since they reviewed their guidelines in 1993 to suggest they need to revisit this guideline number.

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In 2016, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted a meta-analysis of studies across the world looking at the association of neurocognitive development and fluoride and concluded, with moderate confidence, that higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, are associated with lower IQ in children.

It is important to note that this study looked at overall fluoride levels in individuals as opposed to drinking water. The overall levels of fluoride in the body have more to do with environmental exposure. Therefore, communities should be able to appropriately add fluoride to community water to improve public oral health.

While this has been an ongoing public debate, it has made headlines recently with the start of the Trump administration as the new U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is an outspoken anti-fluoridation advocate. Utah became the first state to ban fluoridation of drinking water on March 27, 2025, although anti-fluoridation bills have been submitted in North Dakota, Tennessee and Montana. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has not publicly stated his view on the health concerns surrounding water fluoridation but instead states that there has not been drastically different outcomes in Utah between those who drink fluoridated water and those who do not.

The individuals who stand to lose the most from unfluoridated water are those who cannot afford dental checkups or fluoridated dental products. In 2011, Calgary City, Canada, took fluoride out of their drinking water and saw negative effects in real time.

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City Councilman Gian-Carlo Carra spoke about his experience both removing and reinstating the fluoridation and admitted to not really knowing what fluoridation did for public health, only that his voters wanted it removed from the water. He went on to say, What we know (now) is that the rate of dental (cavities) has increased significantly more than  before (fluoride was removed).

Carra stated the removal was to save on the city budget, but it has been a complex process to get this system reinstated. They initially started the movement to refluoridate water in 2021 but are still working on getting it included in the city budget in 2025.

Calgary is a clear example of what happens when community water is defluoridated. Acting without fully understanding the impact of the removal, the city of Calgary has realized the consequences of their actions and are spending more money to get it back.

This could become a public health crisis in the U.S. for the exact same reasons. Fluoridation of water has come under fire primarily for concerns about its effect on child neurocognitive development, with concerns being largely founded on studies examining overall fluoride levels in a patient accumulating from their overall environmental exposure. Utah was the first state to ban the fluoridation of water, but it is imperative that we stop this movement as soon as possible to avoid the well-known adverse health outcomes.
When it comes to the business of espionage, diversity isnt just a buzz wordits crucial to getting the job done. The CIA operates in every corner of the globe, which means we need intelligence officers who can blend in physically and linguistically. Arguably just as important is the need for diversity of thought and life experience as broad as the targets were pursuing. In order to recruit individuals with access to foreign intelligence, CIA case officers need an ability to connect with their targets on a human level, understanding their motivations, vulnerabilities, and worldview, all with a goal of protecting Americas national security.

President Trumps executive order halting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives across the government and CIA Director John Ratcliffes implementation thereof, then, demonstrate a clear lack of understanding of how the intelligence community works.

Whats more, it risks reverting decades of progress at the spy organization, making the United States more vulnerable to a host of global threats.

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Over the past three years, Ive interviewed dozens of female CIA officers about the often-turbulent road they traversed at the historically male-dominated agencya road I know intimately as a former officer myself. A common theme that emerged during these conversations was a belief that women possess a unique ability to excel in their roles.

There are more options for what women can do (operationally), explained Sue McCloud, a retired CIA officer who was one of six women in her class of about sixty. A woman can get away with murder compared to the guys. They were innocuous on the street corner for dead drops or brush passes. Women also found that targets and recruited assets were sometimes more likely to open up to them than a male counterpart, either because they were oblivious to the possibility of women being spies or because they found women to be more nurturing.

I think women are better listeners and better readers of character right off the bat, McCloud said. We have a natural curiosity about people. Men are often trying to see who is going to out-impress the other one.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe (right) is pictured during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025 in Washington, D.C. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

And yet, for decades, the CIAs workforce was dominated by men, mostly white men, while highly educated and capable women were relegated to secretarial roles. Even the most decorated female spy in history, Virginia Hall, whose intelligence contributions during World War II were instrumental, was confined to a desk at headquarters for fifteen years after the war, answering to managers with far less experience in operations.

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In more recent years, the CIA has made considerable headway when it comes to women in senior roles and across the Agency. In 2018, during President Trumps first term, Gina Haspel was appointed as the CIAs first female director, and later that same year, Elizabeth Kimber became the CIAs first female deputy director for operations. (Both women served in their respective roles until 2021.) Women currently make-up nearly half of the organization and minority employees have steadily been on the rise. As of 2024, women accounted for 40.6 percent of Senior Intelligence Service officers.

Some of the positive changes at the CIA can be traced to efforts of the agencys Diversity Inclusion Office (DIO), which sought to leverage the skills and abilities of CIA officers to ensure an inclusive work environment. The work we were doing helped all officers and made America safer, a CIA employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Daily Beast. The officer and more than a dozen others temporarily assigned to the DIO were placed on administrative leave just days after Trumps inauguration this past January. Combined, they have multiple decades of service to the organization, representing what some fear is the beginning of a brain drain.

And just yesterday, The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration plans to cut an additional 1,200 roles at the CIA.

Other improvements at the CIA have been driven by women themselves, often through employee resource groups. The Directorate of Operations Womens Advisory Council, for example, was started by a group of intrepid women in the eighties. It spearheaded efforts to highlight issues facing women, including the lack of women and minorities on promotion panels and in sexual harassment hearings, among other issues. Later, a separate womens mentoring group arose to encourage women in leadership roles to send the elevator back down, for junior officers. And more recently, internal grassroots efforts led to the creation of lactation rooms and a program to support nursing mothers on travel. These impactful employee resource groups, however, were disbanded earlier this yearanother casualty of the Trump administration that erases hard-fought progress, seemingly in an instant.

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The old boys club environment that Trump is seemingly seeking to recreate at the CIA, and in the government more broadly, is fundamentally mismatched for the world we live in today. We cannot fulfill our international global mission of protecting America and the world without the ability to leverage the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our officersand that includes cultural competencies, a CIA officer directly involved with the Agencys diversity initiatives told me. The only way we can possibly do that is by leveraging the diversity of the nation.

Christina Hillsberg is a former CIA intelligence officer and the author of the forthcoming Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA, available June 24, 2025.
It was a bitterly cold evening when I arrived in Kabul on a U.N.-chartered flight in early 2002. The city, like much of Afghanistan, was in turmoil. The trauma of Al Qaedas deadly Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the United States was still raw, U.S. forces were advancing from the north, the Taliban was retreating south, and ordinary Afghans in the middle were torn between fear and the first flickers of hope.

U.S. airstrikes lit up the sky, but it was Afghans opposed to the Taliban who moved on the ground  risking everything to help the U.S. pursue justice for 9/11. Armed with little more than battered rifles and unshakable hope, they stepped into the fight, driven by a belief in a future they were told the U.S. would help them build.

Youre finally here, an old man outside Bagram Airfield told me. Maybe now my grandchildren will have a future.

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In the weeks that followed, I reported from the front lines as Kabul bureau chief for Turkeys Ihlas News Agency. Embedded with U.S. troops, I watched Afghan civilians  students, farmers, former resistance fighters  step forward to support the U.S. mission.

Now, the United States is telling Afghans who resettled in the U.S. after helping it fight the Taliban that theyve got to self-deport by May 20  back to a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. If America cant honor its word to those who bled for it, a retired U.S. colonel told me, why would anyone trust us again? This isnt just immigration policy  its a test of our moral credibility. And were failing.

The Afghans who aided the U.S. during its war in Afghanistan werent just interpreters or cultural advisers; they were bridge builders in every sense. They helped restore Americas credibility, one act of courage at a time. With their support, the Taliban was driven out  temporarily, at least  and a U.S.-backed government took root.

Ahmad (not his real name) was one of them. Now living in the U.S. under temporary protected status (TPS), he spent years serving in nearly every role imaginable  interpreter, logistics officer, project coordinator  all under the U.S. flag.

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It felt like our chance to shape a better future, he told me. But that future came at a steep cost. As the Taliban turned to guerrilla tactics, we were constantly on the move  new cities, new homes. I tried to stay invisible, but the threats never left.

Another Afghan  Ill call him Murtaza  was a former English teacher I met in 2002 who stepped up. He used his language skills as an interpreter, serving alongside U.S. forces in some of Afghanistans most dangerous terrain.

Murtaza and Ahmad survived countless attacks  but more than 241,000 others didnt, including 71,000 civilians and 2,442 U.S. troops. Still, like many Afghans, they remained committed to the U.S. mission.

That loyalty was shattered on Aug. 15, 2021, when the Taliban seized Kabul and U.S. forces withdrew in chaos, leaving thousands of allies behind. Branded as traitors, many Afghan partners went into hiding before eventually making it to third countries  holding on to the promise of U.S. resettlement.

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Murtaza, like thousands of others, has spent three and a half years stranded in a third country. His special immigrant visa (SIV)  once a lifeline to safety in the U.S.  remains stalled, and the State Departments recent decision to suspend the refugee admissions program has indefinitely blocked his path.

That decision now leaves him  and thousands like him  facing imminent deportation, as their stay in their host countries was based on the promise that theyd eventually resettle in the U.S.

With the SIV pipeline already clogged, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced April 11 that its terminating TPS for more than 9,000 Afghans like Ahmad who are in the U.S. Theyve been given that May 20 deadline to leave or face removal. Some were coldly notified of their fate by email.

Both men  one stuck abroad, the other inside the U.S.  face the same looming betrayal.

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These arent undocumented migrants. They were vetted and approved for resettlement after risking their lives alongside American forces in our longest war. Now, with the deadline fast approaching, theyre being told: Get out  or face consequences.

In doing so, were not just abandoning them; were throwing them to the wolves.

TPS exists for moments like this, said Krish OMara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, a refugee rights group. Its designed to protect people whose return would place them in serious danger. She added, Make no mistake: Afghanistan remains under Taliban control, gripped by humanitarian crisis, economic collapse and brutal extremism.

The latest situation update from the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), covers January to March 2025 and delivers the grim assessment that the Taliban continues to hunt, torture and execute former government officials and military personnel.

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Women are completely erased from public life, and girls remain barred from school beyond sixth grade. LGBTQ Afghans face public floggings, and religious minorities endure constant persecution.

On Jan. 23, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and his chief justice for alleged crimes against humanity, specifically gender persecution.

Is this the regime the U.S. expects our Afghan allies to return to?

Ahmad, whos still in the U.S. but is staring down the May 20 deportation deadline, is terrified. Its not just about me, he said. If Im forced to leave, my family loses our only income  and given our political background, my entire extended family could be in danger.

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The Trump administration claims Afghans in the U.S. under TPS no longer meet the threshold for protection. But Ahmad firmly rejects that. Safety isnt just about bullets, he said. Its the right to live with freedom and dignity, the right to learn, to travel, to speak. I invite President Trump to see what life actually looks like on the ground.

This isnt just about Afghans  its about every partner well need tomorrow. If we abandon them today, future allies in Ukraine, Taiwan or anywhere else in the world will think twice about cooperating with the U.S.

This is cruel and chaotic, Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, a nonprofit supporting the resettlement of Afghan allies in the U.S., told NPR. VanDiver, a military veteran, said, It shatters everything America claimed to stand for when we promised not to abandon our allies.

Theres still time to do the right thing.

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Congress must reinstate TPS, clear the SIV backlog and pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would give Afghans who helped the U.S. in Afghanistan a path to permanent, legal residency. People like Ahmad and Murtaza didnt just work for us; they fought for us, bled for us, believed in us.

We owe them more than empty promises. We owe them protection. We owe them our word.

Because if we fail them now, were not just abandoning Ahmad, Murtaza and thousands like them  were telling the world that Americas word means nothing.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell speaks at a Jan. 19. 2021, commemoration service for those who died of COVID-19 in New Orleans. (City of New Orleans livestream)

NEW ORLEANS  When Congress passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in March 2021, it allocated $350 billion in assistance to state and local governments  providing the largest infusion of cash to local governments since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For New Orleans, that money represented a desperately needed lifeline.

The city had been hit particularly hard by COVID-19. It was an early hotspot for the virus. And Black residents, who comprise about 60% of the citys population, were disproportionately impacted, accounting for more than 75% of COVID deaths in the first few months of the pandemic. As New Orleans went into lockdown, the city watched its economy grind to a halt. Festivals were canceled. Hotels emptied out. Restaurants closed their dining rooms. Thousands were laid off.

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For the city government, this represented a multi-pronged disaster: With tourism all but halted, the city was receiving dramatically less from sales taxes than usual, straining its finances. At the same time, the needs of its citizenry were at an all-time high. The city took out a certificate of indebtedness, which basically provided a $100 million line of credit, and partially furloughed its entire workforce.

But shortly after Congress passed ARPA, city leadership expressed cautious optimism.

This is by no means a silver bullet or a panacea, but this funding will literally buy us time, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said in a March 2021 press release.

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New Orleans would go on to receive nearly $388 million in ARPA funds  among the largest allocations in the country for a city of its size. The money was directly given to local governments and came with few strings attached. The recipient governments had to obligate all of the funding by the end of 2024 and spend it by the end of 2026.

The Cantrell administration would use that money not only to plug substantial holes in the citys revenues and build up its financial reserves, but also to fund a variety of initiatives across the city  from public safety to health to economic mobility.

Cantrell will leave City Hall next year after nearly eight years as mayor. And a big part of her legacy will be about how she handled the pandemic. Not just the lockdown months, the mask mandates and the various phases of reopening, but the huge opportunity that this federal windfall represented for the city, and whether she took it.

ARPA funds were absolutely transformational for New Orleans, a spokesperson for the city of New Orleans said in an email, pointing to a slew of programs the city funded, from catch basin cleaning to workforce development to technological upgrades.

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But not everyone agrees.

Nellie Catzen is the executive director of the Committee for a Better New Orleans, a nonprofit focused on civic engagement, especially regarding the citys budget. She said that federal pandemic aid could have been transformational for New Orleans in meaningfully addressing inequities across the city, but city leadership decided to go another way.

For me, the overarching legacy is one of missed opportunities, Catzen said.

Helping city workers

About $187 million, or nearly half of the $388 million the city was allocated, went to revenue replacement, a purposely flexible spending category authorized in ARPA, which allowed local governments to shore up departments and services while tax revenues were down.

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Dave Kamper at the Economic Policy Institute, a progressive think tank in Washington, D.C., said that for cities of New Orleans size, spending approximately half of ARPA money on revenue replacement is fairly typical.

One of the great successes of ARPA is that they just let the local authorities make the decisions that made the most sense to them, Kamper told Verite News.

Kamper noted that money used for revenue replacement was probably most impactful in its ability to maintain or even build the public sector workforce.

New Orleans City Councilman Joe Giarrusso, who chairs the councils budget committee, agrees that revenue replacement played a key role in helping city workers.

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Under the furloughs, enacted in late 2020, most city employees were being sent home without pay for one day per pay period. Some of them  political appointees often in managerial roles  were made to work through their unpaid furlough days.

So, we were dealing with two issues: the tangible one of [city employees] making less money and then morale issues on top of that  because [employees] are being asked to work under psychological pressure, making less money and being in the pandemic, and being asked to serve the public while doing all of those things, Giarrusso said.

People line up to be tested for COVID-19 outside Andrew H. Wilson Charter School in New Orleans on June 20, 2021. (Jarvis DeBerry/Louisiana Illuminator)

The city used $32 million in ARPA money to unfurlough workers and pay them back for their lost wages, according to a 2022 report by the Bureau of Governmental Research. The money also allowed the city to raise the wages for city workers.

But Catzen said that far too much of that money went to the New Orleans Police Department, which, as it turned out, didnt need it.

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I think the city of New Orleans, like many municipalities, leaned too hard on revenue replacement, specifically revenue replacement for the police department, Catzen said.

In 2021, more ARPA dollars flowed to the New Orleans Police Department than any other city department, BGR found. The money allowed the city to increase the NOPD budget by $17 million, to $181 million from $164 million. The following year, $22 million in ARPA funds initially brought the departments budget above $200 million, though it was later adjusted to about $170 million.

But the department, which had been bleeding employees and was at its lowest officer count in decades, ended up spending far less both years: $155 million in 2021 and $161 million in 2022, according to city budget reports.

Public safety

Catzen noted that the police department didnt only receive federal money through revenue replacement. It also received tens of millions more for things like officer recruitment and police cars, all of which fell into the public safety ARPA expenditure category.

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We did not then  and Im not even sure that we do now  have the officers hired to drive these vehicles, Catzen said.

In fact, public safety was the citys second most-funded category of ARPA expenditures  behind only revenue replacement  at $95.29 million, or about a quarter of the citys ARPA money. This was largely on account of some capital-intensive initiatives, including nearly $30 million toward the modernization of technology in the criminal justice system.

The Sheriffs Office was literally running their programs on MS-DOS, Giarrusso said, referencing an operating system released in the early 1980s. I think somebody said it was the same programming that gave us Donkey Kong.

Giarrusso also noted that the city allocated about $26 million in ARPA funds for public safety vehicles, which paid not only for the new police cars, but also new ambulances.

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So many times, people focus on NOPD, but EMS really got a bunch of money for ambulances, like their fleet was in need of upgrading, Giarrusso said.

The Mayors Office defended the decision to dedicate so much money to public safety.

These investments are vital to ensuring that public employees can efficiently and effectively do their jobs, a city spokesperson said. Upgraded equipment, facilities, and vehicles directly impact their ability to respond quickly, operate safely, and serve the community, leading to better outcomes for residents and safer working conditions for frontline workers.

Kamper, who has studied how different cities and states have spent ARPA money, said that, in his opinion, cities may have chosen to direct their money towards public safety and policing because that is where they are used to directing money.

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To spend it on public safety strikes me as a small-c conservative measure that probably doesnt have as much of a return as getting money in the pockets of working families through housing help or premium pay or through things like setting up community grocery stores or assisting tenants or building housing, Kamper said.

Addressing inequities

Getting money into working families pockets is precisely what a group of local nonprofits asked the city to do in April 2023.

At the time, the city had yet to allocate about $55 million in ARPA money. It was also sitting on about $300 million in surplus funds.

So three nonprofit groups  the Vera Institute of Justice, the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center and the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice  came to the council with a plan: They wanted the city to spend $147 million to build thousands of units of affordable housing, expand youth programming and offer free public transit, among other items.

This was an opportunity cities could use to be inventive and transformative, to do things that they always had on their to-do list and never had the resources to do, Kamper said. I think upgrading vehicles and building new law enforcement facilities isnt particularly inventive.

Kamper pointed to a handful of examples elsewhere that he thought were particularly inventive uses of ARPA money. He said that Charleston, West Virginia, opened a community-run grocery store to address food insecurity. A county in Massachusetts used the federal money to make bus transit free, doubling ridership and cutting complaints in half. Austin, Texas, spent more than $100 million of its ARPA funding addressing homelessness and housing.

Sarah Omojola, center, of the Vera Institute for Justice presents a spending plan for one-time federal pandemic aid and budget surplus dollars to the New Orleans City Council on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Michelle Liu/Verite News)

In New Orleans, the City Council did not adopt the groups $147 million plan.

However, the city did fund a number of equity-minded projects across the city, providing funding for community solar panels and batteries, guaranteed income pilot projects, free transit for youth, and medical debt relief, among other projects. City leaders also dedicated at least $5 million to reducing homelessness in the city, providing funding to close encampments, support low-barrier shelters and rapidly re-house individuals.

And the City Council made substantial investments in affordable housing. The council created a $30 million housing trust fund to help provide gap financing for affordable and workforce housing developments, using $8 million of ARPA money. Voters later approved an amendment to the city charter that made the housing trust fund permanent, this time using money from the general fund, not ARPA.

Despite the many wins, which Catzen happily acknowledges, she still thinks that the city didnt do enough to involve residents in decision-making and address their fundamental needs.

We had an opportunity to really flip that script and say in response to the major desperation that Black and brown people and working people were facing that we are going to invest in equity and choose to put our money towards lessening that disparity, Catzen said. They had the mandate in the federal policy to do that, and they had the data behind that. And the fact that they really didnt do that meaningfully is a real missed opportunity.

But Giarrusso added that everyone wanted a piece of the ARPA pie, and the City Council worked hard to include many different projects in its annual budget. He said that the council was hearing from people on all sides who had big ideas for the money, from poverty reduction to housing to infrastructure to even support for religious communities.

[ARPA] felt like the Stanley Cup in that we had this money and it passed from stakeholder to stakeholder, because everybody had an interest in it, Giarrusso said.

The legacy of ARPA

The impact ARPA had on New Orleans might be a little boring, Giarrusso admits, but it was still a boon for the city: Not only did the city avoid financial catastrophe, but it also managed to build up its financial reserves and bonding capacity.

My view is that the city is as financially healthy as its ever been, Giarrusso said, which then for the next administration gives them way more runway to do bigger, more visionary capital project things and even nuts-and-bolts projects that just need to be done.

But Rebecca Mowbray, president of the Bureau of Governmental Research, cautioned that some of the ARPA spending may have given residents the wrong impression about the state of the citys finances. While she acknowledged that the city did avoid financial catastrophe, she said that it also used ARPA money to fund things it shouldve already been funding, like catch basin cleaning. And by funding so many new initiatives, the city may have created more financial obligations in the future, Mowbray cautions.

Its interesting that this program, which was supposed to give money out to local jurisdictions to help them stay liquid and insulate governments and residents from some of the risks of the pandemic, could actually end up creating some financial risk if were on the hook for new programs even if the city doesnt have the money on a recurring basis, Mowbray said.

But as New Orleans prepares for a number of challenges, including the potential withdrawal of federal funding by the Trump administration and threats of further attacks by the state government, Catzen said she hopes residents still feel empowered to advocate for how they want the city to spend the money it does have.

This period of austerity means that what we do with our money that we raise here  and that we can do whatever we want with  will be all the more important, Catzen said. And so it is within the jurisdiction of the city and within their responsibility to spend the money that we have to meet the needs of the people.

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This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking to erase a Biden-era rule that would ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports.

The consumer protection agency sided with two trade groups  the Consumer Data Industry Association and Cornerstone Credit Union League  in an April 30 motion that asked a federal judge in Texas to vacate the medical debt rule.

The medical debt rule, finalized in the waning days of the Biden administration, would ban medical debt on credit reports and prohibit lenders from using a person's medical debt history to make lending decisions.

The rule was scheduled to take effect in March, but the two trade groups sued the CFPB to halt the rule, and a U.S. District Court judge in the Eastern District of Texas issued a 90-day stay, effectively delaying the rule's start date to June 15.

Rather that defend the rule, the CFPB joined the two trade groups in a joint motion that asked U.S. District Court Judge Sean Jordan to vacate the medical debt rule "because it exceeds the bureaus statutory authority."

Consumers fight to keep medical debt rule

Consumer groups have sought to intervene in the case to defend the medical debt rule. In an order on April 30, Jordan said he would give the consumer groups and the trade groups and the CFPB another week to file legal paperwork before deciding next steps.

The CFPB also is the subject of another court challenge from its employees who are fighting the Trump administration's effort to effectively close the consumer protection agency. The fight over the CFPB's future casts doubt on efforts to rein in bank overdraft fees and oversight of digital payments apps.

Consumers advocates worry the CFPB's choice to abandon the medical debt rule could strip away an important layer of consumer protection.

"I'm disappointed for the 15 million Americans who have medical bills on their credit reports and have to suffer the consequences of poor credit scores because of it," said Patricia Kelmar, senior director of health care campaigns at the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

However, the Consumer Data Industry Association, which represents credit bureaus, cheered the CFPB's choice to not defend the medical debt rule.

The medical debt rule would have "prohibited lenders from considering complete and accurate information when making lending decisions," said Dan Smith, president and CEO of the association. "Our member companies remain committed to providing complete and accurate information to support lenders and help consumers access financial products."
A New Orleans police officer was seriously injured Thursday morning after being dragged by a vehicle while responding to a possible overdose, authorities said.

The incident occurred about 10:37 a.m. in the parking lot of a Walmart on Tchoupitoulas Street, where an officer working a paid detail was flagged down about a man experiencing a possible overdose inside a vehicle, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

While the officer was administering Narcan and rendering aid, the individual allegedly drove away with the officer still physically attached to the vehicle, police said.

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MORE: Rose petals and a blade: Pianist confesses in woman's 2021 stabbing death

During the struggle, the officer discharged her service weapon, striking the suspect, before becoming dislodged from the moving vehicle and landing beneath another vehicle, according to police.

PHOTO: A New Orleans Police Department officer injured after he he was dragged by car during an incident in New Orleans, May 2, 2025. (WGNO)

The suspect continued driving on Rousseau Street before colliding with another vehicle a short distance away. The suspect was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, authorities said.

A female bystander was also struck by the suspect's vehicle as he fled the Walmart parking lot. She was transported to the hospital in stable condition, according to police.

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The officer, who sustained multiple injuries, is currently being treated at a local hospital and is listed in stable condition.

The incident is under investigation by the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau's Force Investigation Team, and the officer has been placed on administrative reassignment, which is standard protocol, police said.

New Orleans police officer dragged by car after responding to overdose call: Authorities originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WESTFIELD  Over 100 area residents showed up for a May Day protest at Park Square Green, holding signs that read Defend Democracy, Hands off Libraries, Unions, Schools and Resist.

Since March, small groups have been holding protests on the green every Tuesday from 4-5 p.m., and those who have been participating were encouraged by the numbers.

Chia Ros-Sibulkin of Russell, one of the organizers for the grassroots group No Kings Westfield, spoke briefly during the event.

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Were here until someone who doesnt want to be king is president, she said, adding that to her, being an American means hearing five different languages singing in her ears when she goes out.

Were fortunate to be protesting in a state where the Revolution was born, she continued, adding that the tea thrown into Boston Harbor would be worth $1.75 million today.

Keep the force of Revolution alive, Ros-Sibulkin said.

People in the group participated for a number of reasons. Westfield cousins Gail Bean, a retired nurse, held a sign that read, Livable Wages for all Workers, and Mary Ann Babinski, a retired school teacher, Hands Off Libraries, Unions, Schools.

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Kate and Ross Powell of Southwick were there to protect and defend democracy, and Kate McElligott of Ludlow, was advocating for the National Parks.

At one point, Lois Pare of Westfield spread her arms wide to embrace the crowd; at another, she was proudly waving the American flag. Im 73 and this is my first rally, Pare said, adding, Weve got to do something.

Many cars drove by honking loudly in support of the protesters, while others showed their displeasure in various ways. The group was not deterred.

Jordan of Westfield stood next to a banner that read, Join Us Every Tuesday 4 to 5 p.m. People Over Kings. 
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) celebrated a record number with over 150 graduating seniors awarded the New Mexico State Seal of Bilingualism and Biliteracy.

On Thursday, May 1, a record 162 State Seals were awarded, including seven students earning the distinction in two different languages, according to Las Cruces Public Schools.

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The New Mexico State Seal of Bilingualism and Biliteracy is a testament to the profound impact of language and its power to connect us, Aine Garcia-Post, executive director of Bilingual Education, Translation and Interpretation/Community Outreach, said. It is a privilege to recognize the outstanding achievements of our students through this honor.

According to LCPS, this year is the highest number of students recognized with the achievement since the programs inception.

The State Seal of Bilingualism and Biliteracy is awarded to graduating seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one other language, LCPS said.

The school district offered the State Seal to students in the following languages:

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English

Spanish

Arabic

Hakha Chin (primarily spoken in Myanmar)

Korean

French

Romanian

Russian

Ukrainian

Swahili

Vietnamese

In addition, the State Seal certifies a students ability to use another language meaningfully in college, a career or in service to their local community. The seal is also noted on the students official high school transcript, according to the school district.

LCPS remains committed to fostering a multilingual environment that reflects the diverse backgrounds and bright futures of its students, the school district said in a news release.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A woman who had been shot to death was found in a car by her family, according to the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office.

Just before midnight on Friday, deputies were dispatched to the 3000 block of Riverside Road, where they found a 40-year-old woman dead behind the wheel of her 2021 Honda Accord, a news release said.

The woman had been shot as she was traveling alone from her home to Rock Hill, according to the release. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide.

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When the woman, who has not yet been identified by the Lancaster County Coroners Office, lost contact with her family, they began searching for her and eventually found her dead in her car, the release said.

An investigator with the Lancaster County Multijurisdictional Violent Crime Task Force responded to the scene and began speaking with witnesses as other investigators collected evidence, the release said.

Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile is encouraging anyone with information to come forward. Theyre asked to call 803-283-3388 and select Option 4 or submit a tip using www.p3tips.com/983 or through the P3Tips mobile app.

If anyone saw or heard anything or knows anything that might be related to this shooting, please contact us immediately, he said. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims family and friends during this difficult time.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The owner of Kristana Estates in Dewitt Township has apologized for the way residents were directed to move from the mobile home community.

If youre looking for somebody to point the finger at, at the end of the day, its going to be me because Im the owner, Ara Darakjian, owner of TIR Equites and Kristana Estates, says.

While Darakjian says he has taken responsibility for his actions, but residents still arent satisfied.

Ara Darakjian, owner of TIR Equites and Kristana Estates. (WLNS)

That doesnt solve anything. He owes us for what hes done, says Tina Riggs.

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Hes denying us our basic human rights, says Jason Eldridge.

Darakjian tells 6 News he purchased the property  his sixth mobile home community in the state  through a receiver.

The mostly empty mobile home community has 9 remaining residents, Darakjian says.

We were just given a stack of documents in there that, in those documents are, you know, theres bills, titles, theres notices, theres all kinds of stuff, Darakjian says. That jumble of items led to some of the current issues in the community.

The mobile home community has not been licensed to operate in the state of Michigan since 2023.

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It fell through the cracks with the people that were responsible for doing that, he says of the failed licensing process. That persons no longer in play with my company.

On March 28, residents in the community found letters taped to their doors notifying them that the community was closing April 1, and they needed to move within 30 days.

I didnt really spend the time to read it completely, Darakjian says of the letter that uprooted the lives of residents in the community  providing just a few days warning to move.

Under Michigan law, when a property owner wants to remove a renter, they have to go through specific legal processes. This includes providing a 30-day notice to quit and court hearings for eviction. Darakjian says he didnt want to go that route,

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Im not going to look at it from an eviction perspective because that wasnt our goal. Our goal was to help people find a place to live and to move to, you know, in this situation where the water couldnt be turned back on, he says.

But that goal was missed. He tells 6 News he had intended to have community meetings back in January or February to begin discussions with residents about how the community was going to have to be shut down to perform widespread upgrades and improvements.

He says his directives to a manager were not carried out appropriately. That failed communication resulted in residents receiving late notice of the plan to shut down.

Darakjian says the manager responsible was terminated from their position this week.

Poor water infrastructure led to shutdown

The propertys infrastructure was in poor condition, leading to Darakjians decision to shutter the mobile home community and restructure it. Specifically, he says the water lines serving the mobile homes are part of a connected loop of a water main, with individual service being delivered by offshoots from the main line.

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He says the water infrastructure was too aged and in too poor a condition to continue operations in the mobile home community. He says he owes the Lansing Board of Water and Light over $100,000  although he has also received a credit for the poor infrastructure. Darakjian says the lines would burst in cold weather and it was difficult to identify where leaks were occurring. As a result, the community was struggling with water leaks, jacking up costs for the service.

Because of the lack of maintenance for the last 30 years plus or so, he says. Literally, at every weather change, the pipes break, and sometimes we can find the leak, and sometimes we cant find the leak.

It was unsustainable, he says.

However, residents 6 News spoke to feel differently.

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The only reason its failing is because when the water leaks are reported to him, says Eldridge. He does not come out in a timely fashion to fix them.

Hes just a liar. He could do it if he wanted to, says Riggs. He just doesnt want to.

Darakjian acknowledged that he shut the water to the community off on April 2. He tells 6 News he is paying for alternative sources of water for the remaining residents to compensate for the water shutdown.

Sewer system shut down

Residents also raised concerns in mid-April that he had shut down the communitys sewer systems. He was in the community talking to residents and says he was unaware of the situation. On further investigation, he learned the power to the sewer system had been shut off by the BWL for nonpayment approximately six months previously.

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The lender just hands you a box, and there were bills for that specific electric meter, Darakjian says. We werent aware of that. We  those bills didnt become our responsibility, or the past-due amount didnt become our responsibility.

Generally, overdue utility bills are not assigned to a new property owner or resident, but all utilities are supposed to be transferred into their name.

He says the community was unaware that the sewer systems power was cut because the water from the community itself was enough to push sewage out of the lines and into the larger sewer system. When he learned of the electrical issue, he was required to have an inspection of the electrical system controlling the sewer system, delaying the ability to re-establish operations.

In the interim he says, he rented a generator that was connected to the control box to power the sewer system on a temporary basis.

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Sewer service has been restored, he says.

Moving woes and compensation

Darakjian says he has offered residents $2,000 and hotel accommodations to assist in relocating.

According to Apartments.com, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Lansing is $978 a month. The website also reports that a two-bedroom apartment averages $1,197 a month, while a three-bedroom apartment averages $1,450.

We didnt know that the market was this tight, he says. We assumed it is because every market is tight. But we didnt know just how constricted Lansing was by itself, and we didnt know that the communities were full.

He says no community member has challenged the offering or asked for more, he says.

Current condition and future plans

Residents told 6 News they were worried about people illegally dumping at the park, and 6 News drove through the community Friday afternoon, finding a pile of tires at the end of one street.

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Just an hour earlier, Darakjian told 6 News he was unaware of dumping on the property.

At this point, we havent seen any dumping occurring, he said.

6 News sent a photo of the tires to the spokesman representing Darakjian.

After a meeting with 6 News in which the owner of the mobile home community said he was not aware of dumping in the community. Through a spokesman he says the tires are scheduled for removal in 1-2 weeks. (WLNS)

He [Darakjian] said tires have already been contracted to be picked up in 1-2 weeks, the spokesman told 6 News via text on behalf of Darakjian.

At least two of the unoccupied homes had doors to the interior open. In one instance, someone ripped the sheet metal side of a shed up to crawl into an enclosed breezeway and to an unsecured interior doorway.

The other structure had a doorway open to the elements. The branches of a small maple tree were spread over the deck of this structure, their green buds abundant.

Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS) Kristana Estates (WLNS)

Darakjian says he is aware of allegations of people breaking into the uninhabited structures. He called it looting and says he only learned of it hours after the one instance he was aware of, preventing him from acting.

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In a follow-up conversation with his spokesman inquiring as to why the buildings were not secured, the only answer provided by text was The homes were like that when the property was acquired from the receivership and at this point the plan is to demolish them as quickly as possible.

The plan is to demolish all the structure on the property in 30 to 60 days to make way for a new and improved mobile home community, Darakjian tells 6 News. He provided the team with a copy of his plans for a new community.

Kristana-Proposed-Site-PlanDownload

He says he is preparing to submit the plans to the DeWitt Township planning teams for approval. If approved, he will remove and replace the leaking water lines and place 145 brand-new mobile homes on the property.

Taking ownership

Ultimately, he says, the failures in communication and the turmoil caused by the abrupt notices and water shut-offs are his responsibility.

I had management in place that were supposed to deal with these issues. And, so, since they didnt deal with it, one got terminated, he says, sitting in the conference room of the public relations firm her has hired to help him address the crisis. And Im the one sitting here, and Im the one who went and did the door knocking campaign, Im the one who talked to everybody. Im the one who wanted to work through everything with everybody myself. I didnt put anybody else in there. No lawyers, no one, nobody. It was me.

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ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  UPDATE: ARDOT says the accident at the Exit 83 on-ramp has been cleared.

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  UPDATE: ARDOT says the southbound accident with at least one injury has been cleared.

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  UPDATE: ARDOT says the accident in the northbound lanes has been cleared.

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  UPDATE: ARDOT reports a third accident in the same traffic jam.

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The accident is in the southbound lanes on the Exit 83 on-ramp. There are no injuries.

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  A pair of accidents block traffic on Interstate 49 in Rogers on May 2.

According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, both accidents happened near Exit 82.

One accident is in the southbound lanes and has at least one injury. The other is in the northbound lanes and does not have injuries.

The southbound accident affects all lanes, while the northbound accident affects the left shoulder.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Two people are in jail after allegedly breaking into a laundromat and then barricading themselves inside a home.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As reported on News Center 7 at 11, Police responded to the break in at The Laundry Room around 6:45 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the Greenville Police Department.

While investigating, officers determined Leroy Brock Crawford and Celeste Marie Julian allegedly broke into the laundromat at 4:30 a.m., the spokesperson said.

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Crawford and Julian allegedly used tools to get into restricted areas of the building and steal multiple items.

You would never think anything like that would happen in Greenville, Taylor Reed said.

Reed has lived in Greenville for years, but this laundromat break-in was a surprise.

Its supposed to be safe. But like I said, Greenville surprises you, Reed said.

Police found the pair in a home on E Fifth Street. They had barricaded themselves inside.

However, thanks to the efforts of the departments hostage negotiator, both individuals surrendered safely and without incident, the spokesperson said.

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I mean, I feel like people will do anything for money at this point, but its just, its shocking that its a laundromat, Reed said. Its just wild that the police had to come and force them out.

Crawford and Julian were arrested and booked into the Darke County Jail. Both are facing charges of breaking and entering with additional charges pending.

I pray that they all get help, but its wild that it happened so close to home, Reed said.

This incident remains under investigation.

Greenville Police Chief Ryan Benge encourages anyone with information about this incident to come forward.

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ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistan test fires a ballistic missile as tensions with India spike following a gun massacre in disputed Kashmir.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistan test fired a ballistic missile Saturday as tensions with India spiked over last month's deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region.

The surface-to-surface missile has a range of 450 kilometers (about 280 miles), the Pakistani military said. There was no immediate comment about the launch from India, which blames Pakistan for the April 22 gun massacre in the resort town of Pahalgam, a charge Pakistan denies.

Pakistan's military said the launch of the Abdali Weapon System was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features.

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Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated those behind the successful test. Missiles are not fired toward the border area with India; they are normally fired into the Arabian Sea or the deserts of southwest Balochistan province.

Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali said Saturday's missile was named after a prominent Muslim conqueror of India, underlining its symbolic significance.

The timing of this launch is critical in the current geopolitical context, Ali told The Associated Press. He said the test was intended as a strategic signal to India after it had threatened to suspend a crucial water-sharing treaty.

India's navy said on April 27 that its vessels had successfully undertaken anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long-range precision offensive strike.

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Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in India's Foreign Ministry, said there was anger across the country following the gun attack. The 26 victims came from 13 different states.

Internationally, there is enormous sympathy for India and little patience with Pakistan," said Malik. "I dont believe anybody in India wants a full-fledged war. Even so, there is domestic pressure and diplomatic space for a sharp, targeted, and limited response.

The ongoing muscle flexing by both countries' troops was reflective of the tense mood and also apparent in the unremitting hostilities on the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Kashmir, he said.

Kashmir is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety.

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They have fought two of their three wars over the stunning Himalayan region and their ties have been shaped by conflict, aggressive diplomacy and mutual suspicion, mostly due to their competing claims over Kashmir.

The latest flare-up led the two countries to expel each others diplomats and nationals, as well as the shuttering of airspace.

On Saturday, India suspended the exchange of all mail from Pakistan through air and surface routes and slapped an immediate ban on the direct and indirect import of all goods from its neighbor.

India has also banned Pakistani-flagged ships from entering its ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from visiting Pakistani ports.

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India's military said Saturday that Pakistani troops had fired at positions across the border for a ninth consecutive night. The statement called the firing unprovoked and said Indian troops responded promptly and proportionately.

Pakistan did not confirm the exchange of fire at the Line of Control.

The incident could not be independently verified. In the past, each side has accused the other of starting border skirmishes.

Passions ran high among the Pakistanis who traveled to the Wagah crossing with India to see the famous flag-lowering ceremony.

The spectacle involves Pakistans Rangers and Indias border Security Force in a dramatic parade on either side of the crossing, with just a gate between them, their high kicks stretching skyward.

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Shoaib-ur-Rehman said no other experience stirred such powerful feelings of patriotism in him and that he witnessed extraordinary emotions during Saturdays ceremony.

Rehman expressed his opposition to a war with India, but said he would fight alongside Pakistans military if one broke out.

Sundas Batool wanted India to provide evidence about Pakistans involvement in the Pahalgam attack.

The other side must have seen our energy, our spirit, said Batool, referring to the crowds on the other side of the border. My message to India is: We are ready for anything.

___

Associated Press writers Aijaz Hussain, Rajesh Roy, and Babar Dogar contributed to this report from Srinigar, India; New Delhi, and Wagah, Pakistan.
Pakistans military says it has successfully test-fired a ballistic missile as tensions with neighbouring India over a deadly shooting attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month remain high.

The surface-to-surface missile, named the Abdali Weapon System, with a range of 450km (280 miles), was successfully tested as part of an exercise on Saturday, Pakistans government said.

It added that the launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features.

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The tactical missile, which can carry conventional and nuclear warheads, is named after Ahmad Shah Abdali, the 18th-century founder of modern Afghanistan who led numerous invasions of the Indian subcontinent.

Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the scientists, engineers and those behind the successful missile test.

Pakistan conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometers, as part of Ex INDUS. The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including pic.twitter.com/1CHHy9djhn  Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 3, 2025

The ballistic missiles test-firing came three days after Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Islamabad had credible intelligence that India intends to launch a military strike within 24 to 36 hours in response to the killing of 25 male tourists and a Kashmiri last month in Indian-administered Kashmir.

India and Pakistan both stake a claim on the entire Kashmir region, but rule over parts of it. They have seen tensions spike over the issue frequently since their independence from British rule in 1947.

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New Delhi accuses Islamabad of backing the April 22 attack in the scenic Pahalgam area by suspected Kashmiri rebels, and alleges that Pakistani nationals were involved in the killings. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he has given his military full operational freedom to respond as he promised to pursue those who had supported the attack to the ends of the Earth.

Pakistani minister Tarar said the Indian leaders want to use the Pahalgam attack as a false pretext to potentially strike Pakistan.





On Friday, Pakistans Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir presided over a meeting of his top commanders about the current Pakistan-India standoff, a military statement said.

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Munir underscored the critical importance of heightened vigilance and proactive readiness across all fronts.

Since the attack  the deadliest in Kashmir on civilians in years  India and Pakistan have exchanged tit-for-tat diplomatic barbs and expulsions, and shut border crossings. India also suspended its participation in the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.

The two nuclear-armed countries have also exchanged gunfire along the militarised Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing Kashmir between them, while Pakistan has threatened to suspend its participation in the 1972 Simla Agreement that underpins the LoC.

People in Indian-administered Kashmir have been concerned about the devastating ramifications of a potential military conflict between the two nations.
Bitcoin (BTC) is trading above $97,000 during the Asian morning hours as the market breathes a sigh of relief that the U.S. and China are said to be working on a trade deal, even if the market is also skeptical that a deal will be reached this month.

(CoinDesk)

"The U.S. has proactively reached out to China through multiple channels, hoping to hold discussions on the tariff issue," China state media posted on social media.

Dogecoin (DOGE) led gains among majors with a 4% rise in the past 24 hours. Cardano's ADA, XRP, ether (ETH) and BNB rose between 1-3%, with the broad-based CoinDesk 20 (CD20) rising 2.2%.

Movement's MOVE extended losses to 21% as the company confirmed founder Rushi Manche had been suspended following a CoinDesk expose of possible token manipulation involving the 21-year-old.

On Polymarket, bettors are skeptical that a deal will come this month, giving it only a 20% chance of happening by June. Bettors are likely concerned that the hawkish rhetoric from the White House means a deal may take longer than a month to be reached.

The speed and intensity of the tariffs the White House announced earlier this year panicked the market, leading to a significant drop in BTC's price, but with this apparent trade detente, $100,000 bitcoin is back on the agenda.

Other crypto metrics are looking healthy, market observers say, putting $100K bitcoin in sight.

"Momentum continues to build across crypto with spot flows broadening, alt activity heating up and subtle but meaningful shifts in market structure," trading and technology group Flowdesk said in a recent market note.

"As BTC ranges above $90K, undercurrents of risk appetite are growing stronger within both spot and derivative markets. Liquidity remains strong with rising volumes, surging weekend activity, and improving altcoin depth. At the same time, broad-based spot buying continues, led by speculative alts and AI tokens, alongside $1.5B in Bitcoin ETF inflows as institutional demand grows," Flowdesk also wrote.

The market is also likely optimistic about Strategy's continued BTC buys, and push towards further institutionalization.

As CoinDesk recently reported, Michael Saylor announced that Strategy is raising $21 billion for more BTC buys.

In a recent note, Presto Research said investors are increasingly impressed by Strategys growing institutional sophistication, highlighted by new valuation frameworks like BTC Torque and a strong focus on accurately pricing its fixed-income instruments.

Kava milestone pushes AI tokens higher

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tokens are in the green on Friday as the market reacts positively to news from Kava Labs that it hit 100K users of its decentralized AI platform.
Pakistan said on Saturday it had test-fired a new weapons system as tensions with arch-rival India remained high over Kashmir following a deadly terrorist attack in the disputed region.

Pakistan conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System  a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres, the militarys media arm said.

The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features, the statement added.

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The move comes as the nuclear-armed neighbours stand on the brink of a military standoff. They have already closed border crossings, blocked trade, downgraded diplomatic relations and ordered the expulsion of each other's citizens in tit-for-tat measures.

On April 22, at least 26 tourists were killed in the town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi pointed the finger at Islamabad for being behind the killings.

Pakistan denied the accusation and offered to hold an independent investigation.

However, border forces of both countries have exchanged fire several times since then and on Wednesday Pakistan said it had credible intelligence that India would soon carry out some kind of military action.

Pakistan and rival India conducted nuclear tests days apart from each other in May 1998. Both have since been developing stockpiles of nuclear warheads and a missile-based delivery system.
Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi called his recent release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention a victory for democracy.

Mahdawi recounted the day he was detained by federal immigration authorities in mid-April while he was at a naturalization interview to become a U.S. citizen.

The Department of Homeland Securitys plan did not go smoothly, as we missed the flight to Louisiana by minutes, he wrote in an op-ed published by The New York Times on Friday. Those few minutes changed the course of my legal case and, ultimately, led to my freedom from detention because I was able to fight for my rights on fair ground.

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Unlike other students who continue to languish in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, Ive been afforded the privilege to seek justice while not in prison, Mahdawi added.

He was released from detention on Wednesday after U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford said it was in the publics interest for the student, a green card holder, to be freed. He was being held in the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, Vt.

Mahdawi is the first international student to be released from custody amid President Trumps crackdown on immigration and perceived retribution for pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses. The White House has looked to deport him and other protestors, arguing they are actively undermining U.S. foreign policy.

In his op-ed, the student said he never lost hope.

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Despite spending 16 nights in a jail cell, I never lost hope in the inevitability of justice and the principles of democracy, Mahdawi wrote. I wanted to become a citizen of this country because I believe in the principles that it enshrines.

He added that his freedom is intertwined with the freedom of the other students, who exercised the same free speech rights as I did yet languish in jail, and is intertwined with that of the Palestinians, who are fighting for their right to life and justice, too.

Mahdawi also argued that by attempting to deport him, the Trump administrations message is that there is no room for dissent, free speech be damned.

It seems willing to shield an extremist Israeli government from criticism at the expense of constitutional rights, all while suppressing the possibility of a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis, a future free of trauma and fear, the Columbia University student said.

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During another recent interview, Mahdawi said the U.S. is the first country where he has experienced freedom. In Fridays piece, he noted that those same liberties are under attack today.

Once the repression of dissent, in the name of security, becomes a key objective of a government, authoritarian rule and even martial law are not far off, Mahdawi wrote.

The student added, When they look at my case, all Americans should ask themselves: What is left of our democracy, and who will be targeted next?

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Palm Beach County woman who prosecutors said was the ringleader of a scheme to defraud the governments Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic has been sentenced to five years in federal prison.

A jury in February convicted Raisha Kelly, 44, of Loxahatchee, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, a total of 16 counts, federal court records show. Her sentencing was held Friday.

Kelly, a resident of both Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County, was the registered agent of a Pembroke Pines company called iWink Minks Lash Bar, according to an indictment. Federal prosecutors in a news release Friday said she recruited and worked with multiple people to submit PPP loan applications, falsely representing that the people applying had owned their businesses by themselves and the amount of money they earned each year.

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Kelly submitted fraudulent tax returns with the applications and charged a 25 percent kickback from the people she submitted the applications for, prosecutors said. She used dummy email accounts for herself and each of the loan applicants in order to hide her involvement in the fraudulent applications.

She also applied for her PPP loans for herself, fraudulently representing her business revenue, prosecutors said. Proven at trial, Kelly made more than $100,000 by working with 13 people in the conspiracy.

Kelly received more than $40,000 in receiving PPP loans for herself based on fraudulent applications personally, in addition to more than $90,000 in kickbacks from the people she obtained the loans for, including from the five co-conspirators charged in her case and seven people identified only by their initials, according to a preliminary order of forfeiture filed by prosecutors.

She received an additional nearly $100,000 from 14 other loans linked to her as part of the same conspiracy, prosecutors said in the order, making the total proceeds related to the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge about $230,000.

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Using the money from the scheme, Kelly leased a 2023 BMW 740i in the name of her business, the indictment said.

After her release, Kelly will be on supervised release for three years and was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Federico A. Moreno to pay more than $440,000 in restitution, federal prosecutors said in the news release.

The five co-conspirators in Kellys case were Widny Thibaud, Ann Gilchrist, Cortira Gray, Ricky Norwood, and Tarrance Lightbourn. Thibaud was sentenced in April to 9 months in prison and ordered to pay over $63,000 in restitution.

Gilchrist, Gray, Norwood and Lightbourn were all sentenced in November 2024. Gilchrist was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay over $34,000. Gray was sentenced to 4 months in prison and ordered to pay over $43,000. Norwood was sentenced to one year and ordered to pay over $23,000. Lightbourn was sentenced to 6 months and ordered to pay over $44,000.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Officials said they are now investigating the death of a 2-year-old girl as a murder after medical examiners found fentanyl in her blood.

The Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) arrested the toddlers parents Thursday, charging them both with felony murder.

The charges stem from an incident that happened just before 4:30 p.m. on April 16, when officers were called to a Red Roof Inn in Dumfries to investigate a death. Once there, first responders said the victim, a 2-year-old girl, was dead.

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PWCPD said there were no immediate signs of trauma or medical concerns, and that the girl was in the care of her parents leading up to her death.

USAO: No criminal charges filed for DC officers who fatally shot suspect in February

There was a second young child in the hotel room at the time, but they were not hurt.

A gun was also found in the room by investigators.

The toddler was taken to the Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy and, on April 29, detectives learned the child had fentanyl in her heart blood.

Their investigation revealed that the father removed items from the hotel room while the mother contacted emergency services.

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Detectives found the parents in the Dumfries area on May 1, where they were arrested without incident. 28-year-old William Nathaniel Fuller was charged with felony murder, felony child neglect, possession of schedule I/II drugs, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm while in possession of illegal drugs. 25-year-old Markita Ayanna Williams was charged with felony murder, felony child neglect and possession of schedule I/II drugs.

As of Friday, May 2, they were both being held without bond.

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NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD)  A local middle school had students and staff celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Parkside Junior High School in Normal held a half day for students to celebrate 50 years in the community.

Students spent the day playing games, learning about the different decades in the schools history, and ending it all with an assembly

Parkside alumni, former staff, and Unit 5 officials were all in attendance at the assembly. The schools Principal, Sarah Crowder, said the entire student body sang Happy Birthday to the school.

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I hope that the students see the pride that Parkside has had for 50 years. When I called every single administrator who has preceded me, thats what I got from them was pride. And I want our students to take that with them to high school and beyond, said Crowder.

The school stayed open until 5 p.m. so the community and alumni could walk through the halls.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  In an effort to tighten security along New Mexicos southern border, the Trump Administration last week turned a stretch of borderland into a military zone. Now, dozens of people have been charged for entering that zone, sparking mixed reactions from New Mexico lawmakers.

I think the message will be sent that its not okay to come across the border illegally, said Representative Jenifer Jones (R-Deming).

Story continues below

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In a move thats supposed to strengthen border security in New Mexico, a long strip of borderland is now military property. This means anyone caught trespassing could face military prosecution, in addition to illegal immigration charges. Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the southern border in New Mexico, with a warning for potential trespassers.

The National Defense area, formally known as the Fort Huachuca annex zone, is federal property. Any illegal attempting to enter that zone is entering a military base, a federal protected area, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. Dept. of Defense.

The 170-mile stretch of land known as the Roosevelt Reservation was under the control of the Department of the Interior until the Trump Administration transferred it to the Department of Defense.

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New Mexico U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said this gives the feds better leverage to detain and prosecute people crossing the border illegally, saying 82 people have already been charged for trespassing in the zone. Those caught can face up to a year in prison.

Rep. Jones, who oversees more than 140 miles of that border in Dona Ana, Hidalgo, and Luna counties, said theyve needed additional manpower to secure the border for years. These changes have been really well received. I feel like its going to make our communities safer, especially those folks that live right on the border, said Rep. Jones.

But Las Cruces Democratic Representative Sarah Silva worries about the potential for unintended consequences. I hope that these 80-plus people arent citizens who just happen to cross into a military zone and not know it and now are in some sort of detention, said Representative Sarah Silva (D-Las Cruces).

The U.S. Attorneys Office said all 82 people who were charged were foreign nationals crossing into the zone from Mexico. When asked for comment, the Governors Office referred KRQE News 13 to a statement issued when the military zone was announced, calling it a waste of resources and military personnel.

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Contentious bordering on hostile might be the words to describe the tenor at Palm Coast City Hall on Thursday afternoon.

But as the query into Mayor Mike Norris' alleged ethics misconduct made its way well past three hours, one thing was clear to the small group in the room  from Norris' supporters and opponents, to fellow council members and to residents  most seemed embarrassed that the situation had reached this point.

Palm Coast vice mayor Theresa Pontieri looks on as Mayor Mike Norris speaks, Thursday, May 1, 2025 as an independent investigation on ethics complaints against Mayor Norris is delivered to the council and the public.

The purpose of Thursday's meeting was to review the 57-page report released April 21 investigating Norris' alleged ethical misconduct, unprofessional behavior in dealing with city staffers and an attempt to force two top city employees to resign, which is not allowed under the city charter.

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On April 22, after reading the report, the City Council unanimously approved a vote of no confidence for the mayor and agreed to censure him.

Meeting turns into public spectacle

That report was based on an investigation into the allegations  prompted by the Palm Coast City Council  by Tallahassee attorney Adam Brandon, who was on hand Thursday to summarize his findings.

However, the proceedings quickly devolved into partisan name-calling, including a speaker who compared Councilman Charles Gambaro to a puppet and brought his own toy to the dais to make his point.

Attorney Adam Brandon presents the independent investigation of ethics complants against Mayor Norris, Thursday May 1, 2025 to the council and the public.

Lawyer: Mayor Norris speaks 'sometimes without a filter'

Brandon appeared before the council Thursday to summarize his report and explain its methodology, including how people were chosen to be interviewed.

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The investigation speaks for itself, Brandon said, describing Norris as someone who speaks authentically, sometimes without a filter," referring to one circumstance where the mayor called the live stream of the city's Christmas parade "garbage," and twice when he openly criticized the appearance of two female employees.

Palm Coast City Council members L/R, Ty Miller- District 1, Theresa Carti Pontieri - District 2 & vise mayor, Mike Norris-Mayor and Charles A. Gambaro Jr. District 4 looking at the city attorney, Thursday May 1, 2025 as the independent investigation of ethics complants against Mayor Norris is delivered to the council and the public.

On the allegation of trying to force acting City Manager Lauren Johnston and City Chief of Staff Jason DeLorenzo to resign, Norris said he did "not mean" for the way he handled the situation.

Norris supporters at the meeting accused the council and administration of ganging up on the mayor for a building moratorium he earlier supported. Others suggested that Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri was trying to "dirty" Norris' reputation so she could take his seat by default. Pontieri flatly denied the accusation.

Brandon said that while Norris can be abrasive, those the laywer interviewed who know him well said that he had the right intentions.

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"He speaks very candidly almost without a filter," Brandon reiterated.

Mayor Norris says he was an Iraq war hero

At one point during the meeting, Norris, who is retired from the U.S. Army, made a claim that he was personally credited with killing 75 terrorists in Iraq, and in the same breath described himself as a passionate human being whose team "rescued 26 malnourished children, special needs children, in Iraq."

The News-Journal was unable to confirm Norris' statements.

After Brandon's presentation, Gambaro motioned for the council to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to remove Norris for malfeasance." Pontieri persuaded her colleagues except Gambaro, to hold off on "asking the governor to remove a duly elected official, at least at this time."

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City Attorney Marcus Duffy tried at many turns to redirect the discussion in order to focus on next steps.

"We are not rehashing this investigation, Duffy said, looking at the mayor. I do not want this to be an interrogation. I do not want witnesses being asked questions right now."

The discussion will continue 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 160 Lake Ave., Palm Coast.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ethics investigation of Palm Coast mayor devolves into partisan attacks
PRINCETON, Ind. (WEHT)  Every year, there are a number of farmers who get stuck in grain bins  and some do not make it out alive.

Here in the Tri-State, Patoka Township firefighters are one of the several agencies that have tools to save lives.

Only three people have been rescued from a grain bin in Gibson County within the last 20 years. Patoka firefighters are offering a rescue demonstration on how they save lives when disaster strikes, however.

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Outside the USDA-Gibson County Farm Service Agency, Patoka Township firefighters say some farmers are likely to become stuck once grain is wet and cannot feed correctly.

That grain may crust  and if a farmer breaks the top  they will find themselves stuck with nowhere to go. If they struggle, they will only sink themselves deeper, creating a lot more pressure.

You got extremely large bins at a large number of farms with a lot of grain and a lot of weight. So, the more pressure you put on someone  kind of imagine a hug  someone squeezes you tighter and tighter when theyre giving you a hug, its going to be harder to breathe, harder to move, everything like that, says Patoka Township Firefighter Sam Hagerty.

Firefighter Dillion Murray demonstrates being waist deep in grain. If the grain were at stomach level, breathing would be incredibly difficult, and he would continue to sink.

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Thats why time is of the essence.

After getting information like how long the person has been inside, these firefighters will put in a rescue tube and auger to push out the grain, corn or soybeans.

Though Firefighter Murray can pull himself out in knee deep of grain, its already a tiring task.

To prevent emergencies, Patoka Township Firefighters recommend farmers letting others know that theyll be working on grain bins when going out.

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One week ago, President Trump attended the funeral of the late Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday.

Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Since then, he's "joked" that he's interested in becoming the next pope. "I'd like to be pope," Trump said to reporters. "That'd be my No. 1 choice."

Reporter: Who do you want to be the next Pope?Trump: I'd like to be Pope. That'd be my number one choice. pic.twitter.com/gTIUBhXjMG  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 29, 2025

FOX News / Twitter: @RpsAgainstTrump

Now, he's taken it a step further. Trump recently took to Truth Social to post a now-viral AI image of himself dressed as the pope.

@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social / Via truthsocial.com

Related: "We Don't Import Food": 31 Americans Who Are Just So, So Confused About Tariffs And US Trade

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To make matters worse, the image was then reposted by the official White House X account, receiving over 20 million views.

In response, many have criticized Trump's post as deeply insulting to the Catholic community.

Related: Ted Cruz's Daughter's Priceless Reaction To Her Dad's Trump Praise Is Going Viral

"Quite possibly the most disrespectful post in a sea of disrespect. Im not Catholic amd Im sickened.." one person wrote.

Another person described it as "deeply insulting & deranged."

"this is literally the President of the United States of America while the Vatican is still grieving the loss of Pope Francis and trying to pick his successor," this person pointed out.

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"Is this what the White House thinks is okay now?" another user questioned.

And this person summed up what many are feeling about this Trump post: "actual antichrist shit"

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.

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

Also in In the News: Everyone Is Applauding Olympian Ilona Maher After She Roasted A Body-Shamer In The Best Way

Also in In the News: Everyone Is Absolutely Losing It Over This Canadian Newspaper Mocking Donald Trump
May 2The Personnel Board has temporarily stopped the longtime practice of making all applicants for city jobs take a test as part of the hiring process.

The city started requiring a test, which was based on the old civil service exam, when the merit system began in the 1970s.

However, Human Resources Director Richelle Sandlin said it's now costing them potential employees because it drags out the process.

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Sandlin estimated the hiring process, from the application deadline to the hire date, takes up to eight weeks, for classified (hourly) employees.

This process includes submitting an application, taking a test, an interview with a subsequent background check and drug test before an offer is made. This doesn't include the time when the new hire gives notice of two weeks to 30 days that he or she is leaving their current job.

"Most folks won't give notice until they're confident the drug screen is clean," Sandlin said.

She said the city loses 50% of its applicants because the hiring process takes so long.

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"It creates a pretty high loss rate in a very competitive market," Sandlin said. "We have several hard-to-fill positions."

She said other cities and private companies who are competing out of the same pool of applicants "just interview and hire." Each test costs $450 or $500.

Examples of difficult positions to fill are laborer vacancies like truck driver, parks maintenance associate and specialized professional positions like support administrators, she said.

"We're losing a number of quality applicants because of the length of our process," Sandlin said. "

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She said the public safety departments  Police and Fire  are different because they have to attend school that's paid for by the city before they can start work.

Interim Police Chief Nadis Carlisle said police officers have to take a basic skills assessment on basic skills like math and reading "to make sure they're intelligent enough."

She said the city has 59 vacancies out of about 300 full-time employees. She requested the Personnel Board approve temporarily eliminating the pre-employment test to expedite the time it takes to fill job openings.

"It's just too long," Sandlin said of hiring process. "And when you look at these positions, a majority of those folks aren't interested in coming in and taking a test."

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Sandlin said they modified the examination so that "it's very basic" with service, math and reading.

Personnel Board member Darius Crayton pointed out that taking a test "is scary" to some people.

Board member Pam Werstler said taking the test isn't always the problem. Sometimes it's the length of time between applying and getting hired, she said.

"They find another job in the meantime," Werstler said. "They can't wait around for two months.

"You obviously want the best people you can get, but if you string it out too far, then the fish gets off the hook and goes swimming off."

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Crayton agreed, "If it takes two months for me to get (hired) and I've got bills that are due, I've got to have some money coming in from somewhere."

Sandlin said she wants to stop testing for two or three months and go straight from application to interview to speed up the process.

Personnel Board attorney Richard Lehr suggested they might look at other options. He said the merit system rules provide two exceptions that allow the board to end tests temporarily.

One is the system doesn't require an exam for entry level positions. The other is when "there's an insufficient number of applicants necessary to justify a competitive exam," Lehr said.

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Board member Nora Vanderploeg said hiring managers can include in their interview questions "key aspects that they presume are shown in the test."

Sandlin said they recently added an online application process that tripled the number of applications for city jobs. She said they could add an online assessment with this online application process, but they need time to research and get a cost estimate on this addition.

The Personnel Board voted unanimously to temporarily halt pre-employment testing for selected classified employee positions until Sandlin can find a new online system.

 bayne.hughes@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2432
(KRON)  A Petaluma man who erupted into a jealous rage and strangled a victim 20 times inside her home was handed a maximum sentence on Friday, prosecutors said.

Daniel Thomas Beadle, 43, was convicted of domestic violence for a brutal and prolonged assault that unfolded in 2022, according to Sonoma County prosecutors.

Judge Troye Shaffer gave Beadle the maximum punishment allowed under California law  four years and eight months in state prison.

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During Fridays sentencing hearing, Judge Shaffer described Beadles trial testimony as lacking in credibility. The judge said Beadle clearly has a pervasive thought he is a victim, at all times, by all people, according to the district attorneys office.

On March 6, 2022, Beadle attacked the victim inside her home while her two young children slept upstairs.

Beadle erupted into a jealous rage after learning the victim had communicated with her ex-husband. Over the next several hours, Beadle strangled the victim approximately 20 times, issued repeated threats to her and her family members lives, and forcibly restrained her to prevent escape. To prevent the victim from calling for help, Beadle seized her phone and removed the landlines in the home, the DAs office wrote.

The judge found that Beadles lack of insight and remorse make him a danger to others, and called his conduct chilling and haunting.

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A jury found Beadle guilty of false imprisonment and domestic violence on March 26 following a trial.

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez said, The number of victims of domestic violence who suffer in silence as their attackers continue to walk free is profoundly unjust. My office is committed to

supporting all victims of domestic violence and ensuring that their assailants are held accountable. I admire the courage of the victim in this case who was strong enough to stand up for herself throughout the lengthy court process. The jury and court made sure that the victim received justice in this case, and I hope she may enjoy tranquility in her life as she moves forward from this dark episode.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Matthew Hobson.

Resources and support for victims of domestic violence can be found at the Family Justice Center of Sonoma County by calling 707-565-8255. The YWCA Sonoma County runs a 24/7 hotline and confidential Safe House shelter. You can call the hotline at 707-546-1234 for help, the DAs office said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Signal-jamming drones that generate phantom aircraft are set to be deployed by the Royal Air Force to protect manned fighter jets from air defences.

Swarms of the British-made StormShroud devices, which fly autonomously, will be sent into contested territory ahead of crewed F-35s and Typhoons to create confusion using cutting-edge electronic warfare systems.

They are capable of blinding enemy radar or even simulating fake aircraft by creating phantom electronic signatures, helping the real, manned platforms to go undetected.

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On Friday, the RAF revealed that StormShroud had entered operational service with 216 Squadron, based at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, following a procurement process that lasted just a year.

The drone platform is based on Tekevers AR3, which is made in Wales and Southampton, and has been used extensively by Ukrainian forces fighting Russia. The onboard electronic warfare technology, known as BriteStorm, was developed by Leonardo UK engineers in Luton.

StormShroud has been rushed into service under the autonomous collaborative platforms programme, which aims to revolutionise the RAFs advantage in the most contested battlespaces.

Credit: X/@RoyalAirForce

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On Friday, Sir Rich Knighton, chief of the air staff, said: This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in air combat and national security.

The RAF is committed to exploring cutting-edge technologies that can enhance its lethality and survivability in a more contested and dangerous world.

Autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionise how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support.

We are excited to be at the forefront of this innovation and are working closely with industry partners to explore the possibilities.

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The RAF said the new capability meant that electronic warfare capabilities could now be deployed without needing to put human pilots at risk, freeing them up for other missions.

An initial 24 StormShroud drones have been ordered at a cost of 19m, supporting 200 skilled manufacturing jobs.

However, British-Portuguese defence company Tekever said it was preparing to invest 400m over the next five years to expand its UK presence, ahead of further anticipated orders of the AR3 from Britain and its Nato allies.

An RAF source said the air force was also likely to order more StormShroud drones and would continue to iterate the platform with Tekever and Leonardo.

Sir Keir Starmer discussed StormShroud in a visit to Leonardos Luton base on Friday - Henry Nicholls/PA Wire

On Friday, Sir Keir Starmer visited Leonardos site in Luton to meet staff and discuss the new StormShroud capability.

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He made the visit against the backdrop of grim results for Labour in the local elections and the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, where Nigel Farages Reform UK stormed to victory.

The Prime Minister said: Investment in our defence is an investment in this countrys future.

Putting money behind our Armed Forces and defence industry is safeguarding our economic and national security by putting money back in the pockets of hard-working British people and protecting them for generations to come.

Together with our allies, this Government is taking the bold action needed to stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security, which is vital for us to deliver our Plan for Change and improve the lives of working people up and down 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.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Platte Valley School District assured the community on Friday that there was no concern after a school threat was reported.

The district posted about the investigation on Facebook Friday morning. The district said an elementary student reported a school threat made by another student in Wyoming. Its unclear when this threat was made.

The schools within the district in Kersey include Platte Valley Early Learning Center, Platte Valley Elementary School, Platte Valley High School, Platte Valley Middle School and Platte Valley School District.

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The district said the threat was investigated by school administration and the school resource officer, and the information was shared with individuals in Wyoming. The district said it was determined that this threat wasnt a concern.

We want to make sure all know there is no credible threat or concern for our schools related to this situation, the district said in a Facebook post.

At this time, its unclear the threat made, which school the threat was made to, the repercussions for the individual who made the threat, and when the threat took place.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Families of students at Pleasant Lea Elementary School received a letter notifying them of an incident on Friday morning. The letter, from Principal Leslie Mott, says that a parent boarded one of our buses and made a threat towards their students bus driver.

It is a little concerning, said Pleasant Lea Elementary parent Mike Reese.

I dont think that the parents really need to get on the bus anyway.

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Kansas City honors firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman at funeral

He said that he thinks the situation couldve been handled better by the parent.

To me, its something they could have called the school, maybe addressed it that way and said, Hey, this is our concern, and then go on from there.

The letter continues to say, the incident was frightening to all who were present, and explained that the school had been working with the Lees Summit Police Department.

FOX4 was unable to reach the department for their report on the incident.

As long as his children have attended Pleasant Lea Elementary, Reese said theres never been a safety concern.

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To me, it seems like the teachers are pretty good at communication with parents on whats going on, he said.

If there is any issues, they say hey, this is what happened, you probably heard about it, so heres whats going on.

Two Pettis County deputies shot while serving search warrant Friday

Its the first time that something like this has happened for Reese.

Not since my kids have definitely been in school have I heard about something like this.

What the letter doesnt mention are the questions on Reeses mind.

I was just curious on what they were threatening them with and why.

He said hes confident that the school will make the right decisions.

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But hopefully it gets addressed and that they, you know, do the right thing and make the calls and everything gets resolved.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Polish Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has announced the launch of a new military operation to strengthen security and control over the airspace in the Baltic region, given provocations by Russia.

Source: European Pravda, citing Polish news agency PAP

Details: During the ceremony of conferring general ranks on Friday, Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that in response to incidents involving Russian aircraft in the Baltic region, the Polish Armed Forces launched a new operation.

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The operation, which began this week, has deployed additional planes and helicopters to patrol Polish airspace in the north.

PAP, citing unofficial information, says the operation involves, among other things, the transfer of additional military helicopters from different regions to bases in the Baltic Sea region and the border with Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast.

"This is a response to the threats we're dealing with, in particular incidents involving us or our allies - the countries of Northern and Baltic Europe," the Polish defence minister said.

NATO air forces are currently taking part in the ongoing Baltic Air Policing mission, rotating aircraft to protect the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, which do not possess their own air forces.

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Background: In April, Swedish Gripen fighter jets, which began patrolling NATO airspace from Poland, were scrambled for the first time due to the presence of a Russian warplane.

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(FOX40.COM)  A California man accused of attempted murder after he allegedly shot a woman was arrested in Mexico, according to the Vallejo Police Department.

 Video Above: How to report a public safety threat

Around 1:50 p.m. on June 9, 2024, the Vallejo Police Department responded to multiple reports of gunshots heard on the 900 block of Amador Street. When officers arrived at the scene, witnesses reportedly directed them to a nearby yard on the 1300 block of Alabama Street. There, police found a woman suffering from at least one gunshot wound.

Northern California on list of $2.3 million in unclaimed property, find out if youre owed

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The victim identified the suspect who shot her as Hector Placencia-Gazmuri before being transported to a local hospital for emergency care, according to VPD. Multiple witnesses also reported that they saw the victim exit a moving vehicle moments after shots were fired from inside.

VPD said it confirmed Placencia-Gazmuri, 41, of Antioch, as the suspect. Following their investigation, officers said they secured an arrest warrant for Placencia-Gazmuri for alleged attempted murder and kidnapping.

Popular Sacramento brewery abruptly closes all three of its area locations amid lawsuit

In April 2025, Placencia-Gazmuri VPD said he was apprehended in Mexico and extradited to the United States. On April 29, officers said they contacted Placencia-Gazmuri at the Martinez Detention Facility in Contra Costa County, where he is being held on unrelated charges.

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Placencia-Gazmuri will be subsequently transported to the Solano County Jail and booked for attempted murder and kidnapping.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information can contact VPD officer Zach Horton at Zach.Horton@cityofvallejo.net.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Police have released the name of Topekas most recent homicide case Saturday and made one arrest.

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) announced in a press release that officers were called shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2 to the area of Southwest 13th Street and Southwest Boswell Avenue on reports of gunshots. Officers arriving in the area found one person suffering from life-threatening injuries.

Medical personnel declared the wounded individual dead at the scene. Police identified the victim as 27-year-old Treveon Carrington of Topeka. The TPD said this is the sixth homicide investigation of the year.

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The TPD arrested Derrick Mitchell, 30, of Topeka in connection to the killing. He was taken to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a charge of murder in the first degree.

Derrick Mitchells mugshot. (Photo Courtesy/Shawnee County Department of Corrections)

Judge sentences man to 21 years in prison after killing Topeka father of 2

People with information related to this investigation are encouraged to contact the TPD by sending an email to telltpd@topeka.org or by calling 785-368-9400. You can leave an anonymous tip through Shawnee County Crime Stoppers by calling 785-234-0007 or by clicking here.

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.
Key Points

Brookfield Asset Management is a Canadian investment company.

The asset manager has a particular focus on alternative assets, notably infrastructure.

Brookfield Asset Management's dividend yield is an attractive 3.3% and the dividend is growing quickly.

Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM) has an $88 billion market cap, which isn't huge in the world of finance. But the asset manager has an over 100-year history of successfully investing on behalf of itself and its clients. That kinda success tends to attract investors who want to get in on what Brookfield is doing.

And yet, the stock is currently trading down about 12% from its recent highs, working its way back from a decline of more than 25%. What was weighing on this stock, and is it a buy after the partial recovery?

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 

What does Brookfield Asset Management do?

Brookfield Asset Management manages money for other people (and for itself). It makes money by charging clients fees for the services it provides. At the end of 2024, the asset manager had over $1 trillion in assets under management and roughly $500 billion or so of fee-bearing capital. In 2024, Brookfield Asset Management generated $2.5 billion in fees.

Image source: Getty Images.

The company's investment profile spans five areas: renewable power, infrastructure, real estate, private equity, and credit. It is a sizable player in each segment, with the smallest of these businesses being renewable power, with roughly $125 billion in assets under management. Notably, the company's investments span the globe, with operations in 30 countries.

In addition, Brookfield Asset Management also has notable access to capital. It breaks down its capital sources into four groups: institutional investors, insurance solutions, private wealth, and public markets. The first two categories are basically large financial entities. Private wealth is really a way to say rich customers. Public markets, meanwhile, is composed of a collection of controlled businesses that trade on public exchanges and represent permanent capital.

All in, Brookfield Asset Management is a well-diversified business with a well-diversified customer base. Now add in an attractive dividend yield of 3.3%, which is well above the market's average 1.3% yield and the average finance company's yield of 1.4%. This is a pretty compelling investment story, but it gets even better.

Brookfield Asset Management is about growth

So far, the description of Brookfield Asset Management has focused on what it is today, which is a logical starting point for any investment conversation. But the really interesting story here is about what this asset manager plans to become in the near future. The answer is bigger -- much bigger.
A gunman who allegedly opened fire at the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood, injuring two employees, on Friday has been arrested, authorities said.

The Inglewood Police Department responded to a call reporting a shooting at 8911 Aviation Blvd. at 3:39 p.m. Two women were taken to a trauma center in Long Beach in critical condition, a spokesperson for the L.A. County Fire Department said.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. said that a male suspect was taken into custody in Koreatown around 5:45 p.m. The Los Angeles Police Department made the arrest after police in Inglewood shared a description of the suspect's license plate and vehicle with partner agencies, he said.

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The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, is believed to be a former employee, Butts said. The man was reportedly wearing clothing that resembled a security guards uniform and was armed with a rifle, he said.

Both women were employees at the college, but their specific roles and what led to the shooting was not clear.

"The crime motive was related to the employment at the school," said Butts, a 19-year veteran of the Inglewood Police Department. "It was not a random act of violence."

A 9mm shell casing was recovered from the campus, he said.

Situations like this are very jarring for a community because it promotes a sense of randomness and threatens safety, Butts said. This is a college campus; you see no reason that there would be this type of crime at school.

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Police spent more than an hour going from room to room on the campus in search of a suspect or additional victims, but did not find anyone, authorities said. Inglewood police said they cleared the campus about 5:15 p.m.

A student at the school told ABC7 News that he and his classmates were told to shelter inside a campus building for about 90 minutes.

"Everybody kind of got terrified at once and I just feel like we really couldn't panic," he told the station. "We really had to just kind of stay cool and the police were here to do their job and we just didn't want to intervene, so I hope everybody that was involved is safe."

Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology's Inglewood campus is a trade school specializing in aviation maintenance education. Located a mile from Los Angeles International Airport, the campus offers an 18-month diploma and a 22-month associate degree to teach students how to repair and overhaul aircraft components and systems in preparation for Federal Aviation Authority certification exams.

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Campus President Christopher Becker told ABC7 that there is 24/7 security on campus and regular safety drills, fire drills and earthquake drills.

"We're an aviation school, so safety is one of the things that we focus on the most," Becker told the outlet. "It's a nice community of students and teachers and staff. We all get along really well, care about one another deeply and so this is hard on all of us."

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MENOMONIE, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in western Wisconsin are asking for the publics help after a public restroom was damaged in a suspected vandalism.

According to the Menomonie Police Department, the vandalism happened on Thursday, April 24, between 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. at Point Comfort Park.

Wisconsin woman convicted for deer poaching gets 30 days in jail, barred from hunting license for 3 years

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Officials say someone lit a towel dispenser and a soap dispenser on fire inside the public bathroom, causing significant smoke damage and other destruction.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Menomonie Police Department at 715-232-1283.

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A man is recovering from non-life threatening injuries after he was shot by police in South Los Angeles on Saturday morning.

The L.A. Police Department confirmed the shooting with a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday. At about 9 a.m., officers responded to the 900 block of E. 118th Drive after reports of domestic violence.

The caller said the male suspect was armed with a gun and was possibly suicidal.

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When officers arrived, they shot the man. As of Saturday afternoon, its not yet clear if the man fired his weapon first, or aimed it at officers.

He was transported to a local hospital where he remains in stable condition. He is expected to survive.

No officers or other community members were injured.

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FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO)  Freeport Police arrested a wanted 16-year-old boy who had an active warrant and made threats to shoot another student at Freeport High School.

On May 2, officers responded to Freeport High School on West Moseley Street and found the teenager two blocks away from them.

The suspect fled on foot to a house in the 600 block of West American. He was eventually taken into custody after a struggle.

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A crowd gathered and started interfering with the arrest, authorities reported.

Alonzo Green and Kamaria Rucker were also involved during the incident.

Green is charged with aggravated resisting arrest.

Rucker is charged with obstructing and resisting an officer.

The 16-year-old was taken to the Kane County Jail.

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Police are warning the public about a growing trend of virtual kidnapping scams that are targeting Hispanic communities in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Police Department issued an alert Friday on behalf of its Robbery-Homicide Department, spreading awareness of how these scammers operate and how to stay protected.

When carrying out these scams, the suspect(s) claim to have a loved one held captive and extort money from the victim for a safe release of that loved one, when in fact no kidnapping has occurred, explained LAPD.

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This scam typically starts with a phone call or text message on a private messaging app where the suspects, speaking in Spanish, will claim to be holding a loved one captive.

They will start to list reasons why, the LAPD explained, such as money owed to the cartel for lost narcotics, or something like they were involved in a traffic collision they caused, etc.

The scammers then demand that money be sent or delivered to a specific location in exchange for the release of the loved one.

In most cases, the victim is told they are being surveilled and to remain on the phone until the money is paid and warned not to call the police or answer any incoming calls, said LAPDs release. In some instances, the suspect(s) contact two family members (such as a husband and wife or a parent and child) at the same time, orchestrating a simultaneous scam that makes each person believe the other has been kidnapped.

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LAPD gave the following recommendations for community members:

Beware of answering incoming calls from unknown phone numbers, especially with prefix numbers originating from Mexico (+52) and in some cases local area codes.

Beware of responding to text messages from unknown numbers on private messaging apps.

Beware of using social media platforms to enlist the communitys help in finding a missing loved one. The suspect(s) take this as an opportunity to contact the user and attempt to extort money using any of the above scenarios.

If you answer a call with any of the above scenarios, hang up and call or go to your local police agency for assistance.

For more information, police said to contact the Robbery-Homicide Divisions Robbery Special Section at 213-486-6840.

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Reforms strength now poses perhaps a greater threat to Labour even than to the Conservatives. Contained within Thursdays results, however, is another threat to the party  but one which, unlike the Reform surge, builds on a development evident since last years general election. That threat is the rise of independent Muslim candidates on platforms designed to appeal to their fellow Muslims.

Last July showed the pattern when Gaza independent MPs won in Leicester South, Blackburn, Birmingham Perry Barr and Dewsbury and Batley, after similar candidates had won two months earlier in local elections in Blackburn, Bradford and Oldham. That pattern was confirmed on Thursday.

In the general election Labours vote fell by over 14 per cent from 2019 in constituencies where the Muslim population was above 15 per cent. Overall, 37 constituencies have a Muslim population of over 20 per cent, and in another 73 seats the Muslim population is between 10 and 20 per cent. Thursdays results demonstrate again that sectarian Muslim candidates can either win or secure enough votes in such seats to pose a real threat to Labour.

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In Burnley Central East, for example, Maheen Kamran won with 38 per cent of the vote, beating Reform on 30 per cent. Labour trailed in third with just 14 per cent  down from 49 per cent in 2021. Ms Kamran says she wants segregated areas to prevent free mixing between men and women. She is joined on Lancashire County Council by her fellow independent Usman Arif from Burnley North East, who left Labour over the Gaza war.

Azhar Ali, dumped as Labours candidate in last years Rochdale by-election, won in Pendle. Ali was removed by Labour after he had been recorded making insinuations about certain Jewish quarters in the media and had said Isael allowed the October 7 Hamas massacre to happen to justify a war in Gaza.

It is no longer a prediction but a statement of fact that Britain has sectarian politics. The rise of Reform has led to much commentary about the shattering of political assumptions. But Reform merely challenges the existing party system. The emergence of sectarian politics challenges the foundations of our democratic norms. It is not so much identity politics as theocratic politics.

This is not some organic development in the wake of the Gaza war, in the narrative pushed by the independents, but rather a long-planned and well co-ordinated move to push Islamist politics into the mainstream. Gaza energised it and gave it cut through, but the real story is the creation of The Muslim Vote, an umbrella alliance of 24 activist groups which promotes and endorses selected candidates. The Muslim Vote has a long policy agenda, of which Israel and Gaza is merely one. Others  there are eighteen in all  include the legal adoption of a new definition of Islamophobia and reform of Ofcoms rules on extremism.

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Labours huge majority in 2024 masked how fragile many of its wins were, but Thursdays local elections have put the fear of God into Labour MPs. It is going to get worse. Next year there will be London-wide elections. Aspire (a de facto Bangladeshi party) already controls Tower Hamlets; last July Labours Rushanara Ali clung on narrowly in Bethnal Green. Boroughs like Redbridge and Newham are also prime territory for sectarian candidates. Health Secretary Wes Streeting only just held his seat by 528 votes in July and in Birmingham, which will also vote, Jess Phillips scraped home by around 700 votes.

The insidious impact of sectarian politics is that MPs with small majorities will tack to embrace their demands to try to head off the threat  and thus start to act as sanitised advocates for Islamist ideas, pushing them into the mainstream and changing not just politics but our country itself.

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A train of people following Team Kentucky signs walk pass the Paddock area of Churchill Downs. Team Kentucky is a Beshear administration slogan. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

LOUISVILLE  While most of Churchill Downs spectators watched thoroughbreds race the track, jockeying of a different kind unfolded in the stands.

The Kentucky Derby  the most famous sporting event annually held in the Bluegrass State on the first Saturday in May  draws a spate of celebrities and business executives. With the amount of influence in attendance, its no wonder Kentucky politicians come out to the races.

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Despite Saturdays rainy weather, horse racing fans gathered at the track early to take their seats and place bets in ticket booths. Some high-profile guests, including Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and his family, walked a red carpet to talk with local and national media outlets about the Derby. Others, like Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer shared photos from the red carpet and grandstand online.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said on X he planned to attend the Derby with his wife, Kelley, on Saturday.

While youre enjoying mint juleps and hot browns like we are, remember to thank all of those working to make the Derby possible! Paul said, referring to a classic Derby cocktail and a dish that orignated in Louisville.

Stephen Voss, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky said theres so many reasons a politician may want to be seen at the Kentucky Derby. The event historically attracts many of the states power brokers, giving candidates and elected officials a chance to network in a way thats festive with the people whose support they need.

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Beshear, the states top Democrat, said during his Thursday press conference that the Derby is our premier day for talking to businesses that either are looking at Kentucky or could potentially look at Kentucky. The governor added that the event brings a boost of tourism to the state.

I typically see about two races on Derby day  one if Im just lucky enough to be standing next to the window and one, the Derby race itself, Beshear said. But I mean, this is a date where we dont just see celebrities and athletes, which are great, it raises the profile of the event, but we see international CEOs enjoying the best of the best of hospitality.

Horses race at Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday May 3, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

Beshear himself had a viral moment from during an interview he did at Churchill Downs earlier in the week. He told Louisville TV station WDRB that running for president in 2028 is something I would consider if he could be someone who could bring the U.S. together. That quote was picked up in national media reports.

Ahead of the main race, Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman shared on X that the Derby is a a tradition that brings the eyes of the world to the Commonwealth.

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The Derby is more than a race. Its a symbol of our history and culture, Coleman said. From the thundering hooves to the hats and hospitality, this day reminds ustheres no place like the Bluegrass.

Voss said one advantage for politicians who make news at the Derby is that media coverage of the event reaches a lot of people who do not like politics and who basically avoid political news.

This is a chance for those politicians to get name recognition with people who are usually very difficult or expensive to reach, and theyll be reaching them for free. Well, minus the cost of attending, Voss said. As political ads go, thats cheap. Whats not to love, right? They get to go to this event, have a good time and theyre probably doing more for their political careers than they accomplished at the average boring or riskier outing.

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican who is now seeking to replace Mitch McConnell in the U.S. Senate in 2026, made an appearance at Churchill Downs Thursday  also known as Thurby. While the Kentucky Derby is the last race on Saturday, horses run the track throughout the week at Churchill Downs.

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Politicians even celebrate the Derby outside of the Bluegrass State. On Thursday, McConnell held his annual Pre-Kentucky Derby Luncheon in the U.S. Capitol with a menu that included Kerns Kitchen Derby-Pie, fried chicken and biscuits, fried okra and corn pudding.

President Donald Trump issued a statement Saturday calling the Derby an iconic American institution and an elegant celebration of our culture, customs, and unwavering competitive spirit. The Republican last attended the races in 2022.

The Derby also is an opportunity for politicians to be seen in a personable way, Voss said.

Sometimes we talk about it as the Which candidate would you want to have a beer with? but its more general than that, Voss said. People trust more the representation theyll get from a politician who seems more like them in certain ways, seems to have common sense, and being seen having fun, doing something like going to the Derby, makes the politician seem like less of a politician. Seems more like someone able to deliver the sort of representation a regular voter would like.
While President Donald Trump does battle in federal courts over his blizzard of executive orders  including with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell  a new poll shows U.S. adults are more likely to believe the president is the one overstepping his power rather than the courts.

Although Republicans largely think the opposite.

In the new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll about half of Americans say the president has too much power in the way government operates these days.

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Meanwhile, the polls respondents said theyre more likely to believe the federal courts have an appropriate amount of authority. Only about 3 in 10 U.S. adults say that federal judges have too much power.

Republicans see it the other way: Roughly half say the federal judiciary has too much power, and only about 2 in 10 say the president does, according to the poll.

The AP-NORC poll of 1,260 adults was conducted April 17-21, with a margin of error of 3.9%.

The survey comes as Trump has issued a record number of executive orders and pushed the boundaries of presidential power, wresting from Congress its constitutional authority to determine spending levels and defying court orders on immigration.

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The Republican president has directed the Department of Justice to go after his enemies, pressured law firms he sees as antagonistic and used the threat of federal prosecution to coerce officials and others to support his agenda.

Hes also doing battle with Harvard University, with billions of dollars in federal funding and the universitys autonomy at stake. On Friday, Trump said he intended to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status, prompting a new round of fighting.

State attorneys general, including Democrat Campbell, have proven an aggressive check against the White Houses sweeping executive actions.

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Last month, for instance, Campbell and a coalition of 19 attorneys general nationwide sued the Trump administration over the U.S. Department of Educations threat to not fund state and local education agencies that do not shut down diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

The courts have generally been the only branch of government to push back on Trumps plans, while the GOP-controlled Congress has mostly deferred to him.

Only about 3 in 10 Americans say Congress has too much power, and just 17% of Democrats say federal courts have excessive power. On the other hand, the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court fares better with Republicans  only about one-quarter think it has too much power, while one-third of Democrats believe that.

The AP-NORC poll is only the latest of several surveys showing that Trumps actions have sparked widespread anxiety.

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A Pew Research Center poll found that about half of U.S. adults say Trump is setting too much policy by executive order, while about 3 in 10 say hes doing about the right amount. A CNN-SSRS poll found that 46% of Americans have a lot or some confidence in Trumps ability to use the power of the presidency responsibly, which is down from 54% in December.

The findings indicate a rising sense of panic among Democrats as Trump takes aggressive actions to implement his agenda. According to the AP-NORC poll, the share of U.S. adults who say the president has too much power in the way the U.S. government operates has jumped significantly since last year, when Democrat Joe Biden was in his final year in office. It has risen from 32% in a March 2024 AP-NORC poll.

Other polls also show that Americans are broadly more concerned about presidential than judicial overreach.

A Fox News poll, for example, found that about half of Americans are more concerned about the president ignoring rulings from the judicial branch, while about 3 in 10 say theyre more worried about the judicial branch going beyond its authority.

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Associated Press reports are included in this story.

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This story is reported by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. Find more in-depth reporting at www.sdnewswatch.org.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (SDNW)  Nearly three-quarters of Republican voters in South Dakota approve of President Donald Trumps leadership in the first 100 days of his second White House stint, but there are pockets of discontent with some of his policies, according to a poll co-sponsored by South Dakota News Watch.

The survey of 500 registered GOP voters showed that 73% approve of Trumps presidential leadership so far in 2025, while 25% disapprove. The statewide survey was also co-sponsored by the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota.

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When asked if they have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Trump, a question about general political popularity, 68% of Republican voters said favorable, a rating higher than any South Dakota politician.

What goes into getting an honorary degree in SD?

He said what he wanted to get done and hes setting out to do it, said Lee McInroy, 84, of Dell Rapids, a Trump supporter who attended Republican Jon Hansens campaign kickoff event for governor on April 24 in Sioux Falls.

People voted for Trump to get in the White House and do these things (immigration crackdown and tariffs), and now hes doing them and the other party is going after him for it.

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Trumps popularity is strongest in South Dakotas rural areas, matching a national trend.

Of the states two highest population centers, Republican voters in the Sioux Falls metro area responded with 64% approval, while West River (Rapid City) was at 62%, both below the national average for Trumps favorability among Republicans.

Fewer than half of voters support DOGE

Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy conducted the poll April 9-11, using random selections from a telephone-matched state voter registration list that included both landline and cellphone numbers.

The poll also included a survey of South Dakota registered voters regardless of party, with a breakdown of 255 Republicans, 126 Independents and 119 Democrats.

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Those voters showed mixed support for Trump administration policies, including fewer than half (49%) who approve of the efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut federal spending under the direction of billionaire Elon Musk.

The poll showed that 48% of overall South Dakota voters disapprove of the efforts, which have led to cuts in programs involving the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, tribal initiatives, nonprofit organizations and other agencies.

Theres a stark party breakdown, with 70% of Republican voters supporting the DOGE spending cuts, as opposed to 45% of registered Independents and 7% of Democrats.

The poll showed that men (54%) are more supportive than women (44%), which Michael Card, emeritus professor of political science at the University of South Dakota, said could be attributable to DOGEs potential impact on schools and public health.

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Musk said recently that hell be spending less time in Washington slashing government costs and more time running Tesla after his electric vehicle company reported a big drop in profits.

South Dakotans lukewarm on tariffs

Trump carried South Dakota with 63% of the vote in the 2024 election, consistent with his 62% showings in 2016 and 2020.

But one of the presidents signature policies, tariffs, is less popular in a state whose reliance on agricultural trade makes it more susceptible to the risks of trade wars with China, Canada and Mexico.

The News Watch poll showed that 50% of South Dakota voters support Trumps tariff policies, compared to 47% who disapprove.

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The party breakdown of support was 73% Republican, 45% Independent and 6% Democrat.

Trump has imposed hundreds of billions of dollars a year in new import taxes  some of them partially suspended  while launching a trade war against China and pledging to wrap up deals with other countries that are temporarily facing tariffs of 10%. Financial markets are swinging with every twist and turn from Trumps tariff pronouncements.

Theres a balance between wanting to negotiate strong trade agreements and asking those countries to come to the table to negotiate in good faith while theyre being slapped with tariffs, DaNita Murray, executive director of South Dakota Corn, told News Watch.

Card said much of the unease in South Dakota likely stems from Trumps first term, when China retaliated with a 25% tariff that greatly reduced farm exports to that country.

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If youre in corn, soybeans and hogs, its very clear because you have a memory from less than a decade ago of what happened to your market, said Card. And even though its a subsidized industry, those protections are going to be gone unless they get bailed out again, and its not clear thats going to happen this time around.

Republicans: Election integrity is restored

When it comes to confidence in elections, Trumps victory over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in 2024 appears to have changed some perspectives.

The News Watch poll showed that 82% of South Dakota voters were confident in the accuracy of the 2024 election vote count, including 55% who said they were very confident.

Of Republicans polled, 59% said they were very confident, compared to 56% of Independents and 46% of Democrats.

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Its a sharp contrast from a November 2023 poll co-sponsored by News Watch and the Chiesman Center, which showed 56% of South Dakotans confident in the accuracy of American elections, including 20% who said they were very confident.

Just 7% of Republicans in that poll said they were very confident, and nearly half (49%) said they did not accept the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, when Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Theres plenty of recent experience to show that the losing party is sort of inoculated to believe that the elections arent fair, and vice versa, said Card.

As for general outlook of the country, 68% of overall poll respondents said they were optimistic in the future of the United States, including 22% who were very optimistic.

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Nearly 9 in 10 Republicans (89%) said they were optimistic, compared to 60% of Independents and 33% of Democrats.

Madison rally planners to emphasize due process

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As the May 7 papal enclave draws near, questions intensify as the world anticipates a successor to Pope Francis: Who will emerge as the new Pope? How long will the process take? And will that process resemble the current Hollywood film dramatizing the subject?

OK, that last question may not have as much global reach. But it is firmly planted in my mind since I joined the audiences streaming Conclave to see if its accuracy is as praiseworthy as its performances.

The answer appears to be: not really. While Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow and a superb cast combine with stellar direction to create a diverting movie experience, it is no way a documentary. While the setting and process are represented reliably, church officials and historians say there is considerable dramatic license added in the form of scandals, politicking and polarization.

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So while the real conclave will not feature those spectacles (nor, one presumes, the plot twists at the end which have divided many viewers), the coming days will surely feature ample curiosity, speculation and dramatic tension until a plume of white smoke emerges from the Sistine Chapel chimney to signal the arrival of the momentous decision.

The roughly 60 million American Catholics and 1.3 billion more around the world will be the most ardent observers, anticipating the ways in which the new pope will affect internal issues from liturgical practices to local church procedures. But as the single most visible figure in the Christian world, the pope crafts positions and priorities that are significant to all followers of Christ.

So, as a non-denominational evangelical, I offer my wish list.

The unifying qualities are easiest. I hope the new pope echoes the personal humility, authenticity and approachability that made Pope Francis so deservingly popular.

A photo of Pope Francis is displayed during an official diocesan memorial Mass for Pope Francis at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 28, 2025.

I will leave to the Catholic congregations the various liturgical and doctrinal issues that have filled many internal discussions. I will say Ive evolved on my outsiders view of the traditional Latin Mass. I used to think it made little sense to have a church service filled with words many attendees did not understand. But there is something poetically elegant about worship services around the world conducted in the same language. In fact, the portions of Conclave that showed cardinals from multiple countries following Latin procedures underscored that quality.

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Which brings us to the unavoidable topic of politics. If both Catholics and non-Catholics can find significance in a Popes moral and scriptural teaching, it follows that those inside and outside the church would have a reaction when a pope chooses to inject doses of political content into his spiritual pronouncements. Francis did this with regularity, to the chagrin of some and the delight of others.

A pope can obviously weigh in with clear biblical views regarding issues around the world. God would have an obvious view of acts of objective sin; Jesus can be quoted on matters of personal behavior of everyone from world leaders to everyday people.

But when the bishop of Rome joins the voices of climate extremism, that is another matter. When the vicar of Christ tries to tell me that Jesus would disapprove of America managing its borders, we have a problem.

Obviously, this was not a problem for many liberal Christians who shared those views. Having the Holy Father join your side of a political debate is considerable wind in the ideological sails. The South American leftism Francis brought to the Vatican was divisive not just because it injected the papacy into political skirmishes, but also because it blurred the proper boundaries surrounding what is and is not a popes business.

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Popes are human, entitled to whatever personal views they wish to express. But attempts to wrap those views in the robes of church authority are not helpful to the goal of clarity over what God and Jesus actually say.

Of course, the Lord and his son want us to value the planet that was created for us. But it is a secular fabrication to claim scriptural support for the increasingly contested claim that human productivity is heating if not outright destroying that planet.

On immigration, there are plentiful verses about treating foreigners with grace and kindness, but no basis whatsoever to extrapolate that God requires porous national borders.

This cuts both ways. I cant find Bible verses that argue for President Donald Trumps tariffs or tax cuts, so I would not advocate for the new pope to cheerlead for those, either.

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I do hope for the 267th pope to give voice to various truths central to rediscovering what those who follow Christ are called to do. I have noted a variety of quotes curated from various cardinals mentioned as possible successors. I offer a few:

The church is not made to please the world. She is made to convert it, to open the gates of eternity. Without heaven, all our work is in vain.

The greatest poverty is the loss of God. The worst violence is the refusal to speak about eternity. If we do not live for heaven, we live in despair.

And my favorite: Let us not be afraid of being a few. Let us be afraid of being lukewarm. Christ saved the world with 12 apostles, not with crowds.

Ive reviewed a lot of quotes, but those standouts are from the same man: Cardinal Robert Sarah of the west African nation of Guinea. His courageous scriptural focus on issues from salvation to the earthly debates over sexual morality and the right to life have earned him a growing rooting section as the conclave prepares to meet.

One problem: He will turn 80 in a few weeks. Since we have not had a pope younger than 75 for 30 years, that might be an obstacle. But I hope whoever is chosen carries those views, and Ill bet I have a lot of Catholic company in that wish.

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Mark Davis hosts a morning radio show in Dallas-Fort Worth on 660-AM and at 660amtheanswer.com. Follow him on X: @markdavis .

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By Sheila Dang

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Chevron on Friday reported first-quarter earnings that met Wall Street estimates, but said it would spend less on share repurchases in the current quarter, reflecting the shaky economic outlook faced by Big Oil.

The company's share repurchases this year could be between $11.5 billion and $13 billion, said Chevron Chief Financial Officer Eimear Bonner, which would be in the lower end of the company's guidance of $10 billion to $20 billion.

Shares of Chevron rose 1.4% in afternoon trading.

Chevron and other oil producers have been contending with falling crude prices since April 2, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs that are expected to reduce global economic growth.

An unexpected decision by OPEC+ to increase output has further pressured oil prices, which hit a four-year low last month.

The lower crude prices have raised questions about whether producers will meet their goals for paying dividends and repurchasing shares - a cornerstone of Big Oil's strategy to woo investors - or cut capital expenditure budgets.

Chevron said it paid $3 billion in dividends and repurchased $3.9 billion in shares during the quarter.

In the second quarter, the company said it expects to repurchase between $2 billion and $3.5 billion in shares. If rolled forward, that would mean Chevron could land between $11.5 billion and $13 billion in repurchases for 2025, Bonner said in an interview.

"We're still buying back a significant amount of our shares annually, on top of a dividend that's growing faster than our peers," she said.

The second-largest U.S. oil producer posted adjusted earnings of $3.8 billion during the three months ended March 31, or $2.18 per share, matching analyst estimates, according to LSEG data.

Chevron's global oil production totaled 3.35 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), flat from the same period last year. Earnings from oil and gas production were $3.76 billion, down from $5.24 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Refining profit improved from the previous quarter, when Chevron's downstream operations reported the first loss in four years.

During an earnings conference call, analysts repeatedly asked Chevron about its production in Kazakhstan and Venezuela, which has been caught in geopolitical crosshairs. Kazakhstan has consistently exceeded OPEC+ oil production quotas, raising questions about whether Chevron will curtail output from the Tengiz oilfield, while the Trump administration hit the company with an order to wind down operations in Venezuela.
Popular Kansas City restaurant Waldo Thai is going through some changes.

After the general manager said Friday morning that the spot would close, at least for a little bit, the restaurants chief financial officer said that evening that it would remain open at 8431 Wornall Road under different management.

Ted Liberda, who helped to open the spot in 2018, told The Star on Friday morning that he and his wife, Pam Liberda, are leaving the concept May 17 to focus on their other two restaurants: Buck Tui BBQ at 6737 W. 75th St. in Overland Park and MuNi at 316 Delaware St.

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Its gonna be operating under new management, possibly, but its gonna take some time for the turnaround, so itll be closed for at least a little bit, he said of Waldo Thai on Friday morning.

Later Friday, however, Scott Keithly, the restaurants chief financial officer, said it will remain open.

(The Liberdas) made the decision this week that they were gonna move on, but we never told them we were gonna close the place, Keithly said. Were just gonna hire a new chef and keep operating.

Ted said theyre looking forward to another restaurant project. He cant announce when, where or what it will be just yet, but he did say it will be in a prominent location on the Missouri side.

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The Liberdas opened the restaurant in 2018 after Pam told her husband she wanted to open a restaurant that served the same dishes she grew up enjoying, specifically the Lanna Thai cuisine from Northern Thailand.

Such menu items include gaeng hung lei  a curry with braised pork belly, palm sugar and spices  and nam prik orng, which has pork-based relish, tomatoes, serrano peppers, and fermented soy beans and shrimp paste.

While its sad for the Liberdas to leave Waldo Thai, Ted said theyre excited for whats to come.

Heartfelt thank you to everyone whos supported us throughout the years  So many wonderful memories and relationships in that place, Ted said. We look forward to the next chapter of our life.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Mayor Keith Wilsons State of the City speech, held at Franklin High School in Southeast Portland, comes as the city faces a $93 million budget shortfall and a persistent homeless crisis. Hes not sugarcoating the situation.

Portland woman dies after snorkeling trip in Hawaii

Mayor Wilson said he is releasing his budget proposal on Monday, and he says it includes significant layoffs along with increases in fees for some city services.

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Regarding the housing crisis, the mayor and Gov. Tina Kotek are pushing to suspend system development fees to build 5,000 new housing units over the next three years.

Portland man who stabbed woman, set apartment on fire receives 20-year sentence

In an interview with KOIN 6 News Eye on Northwest Politics that will air on Sunday, Wilson said the plan will help solve two of the citys other major problems in addition to housing.

We have population decline, and we have the worst job creation in the nation, he said. What this will do is to bring good paying jobs back into Portland and start that transformation, or that revitalization that we need, so not only does it address our housing crisis, but it addresses our job creation crisis as well.

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During his speech Friday night, Mayor Wilson vowed to keep his campaign promise of ending homelessness.

The trend of increasing deaths year over year is clear. If we do nothing, we will let people suffer by the thousands. As your mayor, I cannot and will not accept this crisis as our new normal, Wilson said.

The mayor also brought up violence in the Rose City.

KOIN 6 caught up with Portland Police Chief Bob Day after the address, who said in part increasing response times and cracking down on crime is among the top priorities of himself and Mayor Wilson.



[Theres been a] double-digit decrease in shootings, fatal and non-injury shootings, but also still 100% higher than we were back in 2019. So Im not resting on those numbers, Chief Day said.

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Mayor Wilson also addressed the hard decisions ahead for balancing he budget amid the citys $93 million deficit, saying in part:

Theres no easy way to say this, but were entering a period of layoffs. I hate layoffs and Im going to work like hell to keep as many people at Portland as I can.



Wilson added that he vowed to bring forth a budget where Every park, swimming pool, community center stays open, ushering in a round of applause.

Mayor Wilson said the following about the housing crisis in his speech:

Last month, Multnomah County released their by name homeless database. It confirms what weve seen on the streets. Our unsheltered homeless population now stands at nearly 7,000 today, far higher than it was just a few short years ago.

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Emergency sheltering hasnt kept pace, and the shelters we have are effectively full. Legally, logistically, morally we are the responders. We are responsible for what happens on our streets. If we fail to act, my greatest fear is that well see yet another year of record-setting deaths on our streets. That rate was 456 in 2023, the most recent year where we have data. The County Medical Examiner has not yet released numbers for 2024, and 2025 remains unwritten.

These are our neighbors, our classmates, and for so many of us, our loved ones. The trend of increasing deaths year over year is clear. If we do nothing, we will let people suffer by the thousands. AS YOUR MAYOR, I CANNOT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS CRISIS AS OUR NEW NORMAL. Thats why I ran for Mayor, and why Portland voted for me. We have a moral and political mandate, and we must act.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
LISBON, Portugal (AP)  Portugals caretaker government plans to expel some 18,000 foreigners living in the country without authorization, a minister said Saturday in the buildup to a national election.

Minister of the Presidency Antonio Leitao Amaro said the center-right government will issue approximately 18,000 notifications to people in the country illegally to leave. The minister said officials will begin next week by asking some 4,500 foreigners to leave voluntarily within 20 days.

Portugal will hold an early general election on May 18. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro called the snap ballot in March after his minority government led by his conservative Social Democratic Party lost a confidence vote in Parliament and stood down.

Portugal has been caught up in the rising European tide of populism, with its far-right Chega party surging into third place in last years election.
May 2A Post Falls resident was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for aiming a laser pointer at a Kootenai County Sheriff's Office helicopter last summer.

Aspen A. Schaffer, 31, was out with friends Aug. 16 when he pointed a bright green laser at the helicopter as it flew overhead, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho.

The laser struck the helicopter multiple times and impaired the vision of the pilot, a sergeant and a deputy who were on board, the release said. The helicopter lost altitude, but the pilot regained control and brought the helicopter back up to the appropriate altitude.

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Law enforcement tracked the car Schaffer was in and arrested him. Schaffer had a blood alcohol level of 0.11, above the 0.08 legal limit in Idaho, when he was booked into jail, according to the release. Schaffer has prior felony convictions.

Schaffer was indicted by a grand jury in September and charged with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, the release said. He pleaded guilty in December to that charge. U.S. District Judge Amanda Brailsford sentenced Schaffer on Thursday to 35 months in prison, according to court records.

Schaffer will serve three years of supervised release after he is released from prison.

The FBI recently reported in a news release that the agency has noticed an increase in people illegally pointing lasers at aircraft in the Seattle and Spokane areas since March.

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In 2023, a federal grand jury indicted 43-year-old Johnny Blackstock on two felonies in connection to aiming a laser at an aircraft. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced last year to time served, according to court documents. Last month, Spokane County Sheriff's Office said its helicopter was on a regular patrol flight and reported two green laser strikes northwest of the Spokane International Airport. Rusty A. Flett, 45, was taken into custody in connection with the laser strikes hours later, the sheriff's office said in a news release.

The maximum federal sentence for pointing a laser at an aircraft is five years in prison with a $250,000 fine.
Disturbing footage appears to show a postal service worker in Ohio brutally beating a 10-year-old girl while still wearing her full uniform.

In the video, obtained by WOIO, the grown woman hurls the child to the ground and grapples with her outside an elementary school in Cleveland.

According to a police report obtained by the outlet, the child told authorities that the violent incident had begun after another student had attacked her with a book bag while she walked to the bus.

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The youngster said that the other girls mother, the postal worker, had then gotten involved.

According to the report, the unidentified woman jumped into the fight and called her a B-word and pushed her to the ground causing (her) to hit her head on the tree, WOIO reported.

In the report, the officer states he believes the woman should be charged with several offenses: criminal activity on school property, delinquency of a child, assault and endangering a child.

US Postal worker caught on camera beating young girl in Ohio (WOIO)

However, though the incident happened seven months ago, no charges have yet been filed.

Investigations by WOIO revealed that the charges had been mistakenly sent to the county prosecutors office instead of the Cleveland Prosecutors office. The county prosecutor declined to review the charges as they were not felonies, the outlet reported.

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The city prosecutors office added that it had not received any information about the case before being contacted by the outlet.

In response to a request for comment, Ian Ortega, a U.S. Postal Inspector with the Cleveland Field Office, stated that they would not be getting involved.

This incident falls outside of our purview and would be a local law enforcement matter, as the employee was off the clock merely still wearing her postal uniform, Ortega said in a statement to WOIO.
CHEYENNE  Should Congress follow through with a proposed $880 billion cut to Medicaid, Wyoming hospitals and nursing homes stand to lose significant funding on top of an already fragile health care system, stakeholders told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle this week.

Congress is having ongoing discussions about how to cut $880 billion in program spending. There is a current deadline of May 9 for congressional committees to make their budget recommendations, but this deadline is not set in stone, according to reporting by Politico.

To get to that number, Medicaid would have to take a pretty big hit, said Wyoming Hospital Association Vice President Josh Hannes.

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States with expanded Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act are going to feel the brunt of these cuts. Although Wyoming is one of a handful of states that didnt opt in to Medicaid expansion, the Cowboy State is far from being in the clear, according to sources.

Wyoming didnt expand Medicaid, so that wouldnt touch us. But that also doesnt get them to $880 billion, Hannes said. So, what else are they gonna do?

One potential area that has health care officials concerned is the looming expiration date of premium tax credits. These are a federal subsidy that makes insurance policies more affordable on the health insurance marketplace. Around 42,000 Wyomingites depend on these tax credits, Hannes said.

If those go away  rates on the marketplace are going to jump dramatically, he said.

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This is a significant concern for Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, said Cheyenne Regional Health System Chief Financial Officer Yvonne Wigington. First and foremost, hospital associates are worried about the impact the loss of these credits will have on patients, she said.

People will either have to forgo their health insurance or choose a plan that doesnt fully meet their health care needs. More people will be at risk of losing their health coverage and delaying treatment, Wigington said.

We really dont ever want patients to feel like they have to delay their care, she said.

On the financial side, CRMC would lose between $9 million and $18 million in annual revenue if the tax credits were to expire.

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We care for any patient, regardless of their ability to pay for their services, Wigington said. If those individuals did not have health care insurance and did not have a way to pay for their health care, that would be $9-18 million that we dont get paid for.

Hospital officials are currently evaluating many different scenarios for potential cuts at CRMC, Wigington said. However, its difficult to pinpoint what the actual impact would be, with so many cuts being proposed at the federal level.

Were not sure exactly which cuts may actually be implemented, Wigington said.

In addition, the hospital is facing stress from another major federal action  increased tariffs. Wigington said President Donald Trumps tariffs affect the hospitals vendor contracts, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals and the information technology area. However, with the percentage of these tariffs constantly changing, preparing for financial impacts has been a moving target.

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Were in the preliminary stages, but we definitely have seen price escalations, Wigington said. Some of our vendors have notified us that theyre not able to honor quotes that theyve given us previously until they are better able to evaluate the impact of tariffs.

Wigington said tariffs have not impacted services or employment at CRMC so far.

The (tariffs) percentages have changed a few different times, Wigington said. We, like probably every other hospital, are really just trying to plan with what we know now and anticipate those things that are being proposed.

Uninsured rates in Wyoming

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The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported that 59,400 Wyomingites, or 10.5% of the states population, were uninsured in 2023. By comparison, 8% of the entire U.S. population was uninsured that same year.

We already have struggling hospitals and nursing homes, and Medicaid is a lifeline for a lot of those facilities, Hannes said. Medicare and Medicaid together represent way over half of total revenue for our hospitals in the state.

A 2022 contribution analysis conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Analysis at the University of Wyoming found that Wyomings hospitals and nursing homes directly contribute a combined $47.5 billion to the gross state product.

The hospital and nursing home industry made up 3.5% of Wyomings total economic contribution, as well as provided 19,370 jobs, according to the analysis.

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If youre not investing in our health care infrastructure, youre doing harm, and if youre going to pull away investment, thats even worse, Hannes said. So its certainly concerning, the discussions that are going on at the federal level.

Adding to the number of uninsured patients increases cost of care, Hannes said. When a patient is unable to pay for services, hospitals eat that.

Our industry is different from so many others, because we dont get to decide what we get paid, and we have to serve everyone who comes in through the door, he said.

About 7% of CRMCs total patient population is on Medicaid, Wigington said. The potential $880 billion cut in funding to Medicaid, equivalent to about an 11% spending reduction for the program, would expand the local hospitals funding gap by $1.8 million.

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The payments already that we receive for caring for our Medicaid patients dont cover our cost to care for those patients, Wigington said. In the 2024 fiscal year, there was a $10 million shortfall in Medicaid payments, which the hospital tries to alleviate through other funding sources, she said.

That is a lot of money, Wiggington said.

In January, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., brought up Wyomings challenges with rural health care to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. Barrasso said six Wyoming hospitals are at risk of closing, two are in immediate risk of closing in the next two years, and 10 have had to cut available services, according to a news release from his office.

We have 33 hospitals in Wyoming. Twenty-six are located in various locations often hard to get to, or weather impacts them, Barrasso said. This is a concern of rural hospitals in both Republican and Democrat states. Its bipartisan. It is critical that the financial, workforce challenges that we are facing are addressed.

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Nursing homes at risk

Most states finance at least a portion of their Medicaid spending through taxes collected from health care providers, which generates additional federal matching payments to the states, according to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis. States return the collected taxes to those providers in the form of higher Medicaid payments.

Wyomings had a hospital provider tax since 2017 and a nursing home provider tax since 2011, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive think tank based in Washington, D.C. These mechanisms help draw down federal dollars to the state, Hannes said, and nursing homes are a huge benefactor of these programs.

There is currently a 6% provider tax cap. The CBO estimated a 5% cap on the provider tax would reduce the deficit by $41 billion from 2024 to 2032. A 2.5% cap would reduce the deficit by $209 billion over that period.

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Critics of restricting provider taxes argue this will create financing gaps for states that could result in higher state taxes, reductions in Medicaid eligibility, lower provider payment rates, and fewer covered benefits, according to KFF.

If they dial back these provider loopholes, thats a direct reimbursement reduction to the nursing homes, said Wyoming HealthWorks CEO Tracy Brosius. Theyre almost entirely dependent on that.

Around 70-80% of patients in nursing homes are reliant on Medicaid, Brosius said. People are there because they have a high clinical need and no one to take care of them. She questioned where these people are supposed to go once nursing homes start shutting down.

What happens if they cut the provider taxes and now the nursing homes start to fold? Brosius said. What happens to the 80 people that are there?
OXFORD  A Marshall County man caught with child pornography four years ago will spend the next 15 years in a federal prison.

James Thomas Arnold, 38, of Potts Camp, pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material in January and was sentenced Thursday by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills to 180 months of imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release. He is required to register as a sex offender and ordered to pay restitution of $41,500 to the victims who could be identified.

The investigation into Arnold began when law enforcement discovered he had used a peer-to-peer network to download videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including minors under the age of 12. When detained, law enforcement found a USB drive containing the images.

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Arnold was indicted in August 2023 for distributing child pornography and possession of child pornography. In January, he agreed to change his plea on the possession charge. In exchange, the government agreed to dismiss the distribution charge.

Protecting children always has been and always will be a top priority of this office, said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. We are proud of the partnership with the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office and the FBI that has yet again produced a lengthy sentence for an individual who views children as sexual objects.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said her office is committed to holding individuals who exploit children accountable for their crimes.

Thanks to the diligent work of our cyber-crime investigators, we successfully stopped a predator from doing more harm, Fitch said I am grateful to our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their work to secure this sentence. Together, we are making Mississippi a safer place for everyone.
By Carolina Mandl

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Citadel's flagship fund Wellington was up 1.3% in April, as it navigated a tumultuous month, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Other Citadel funds also posted positive performances last month. The tactical trading fund rose 1.9%, while the global equities fund gained 2.2%, and the global fixed income fund rose 1.2%.

For the year through April, the Wellington fund is up 0.5%.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Citadel's funds performance.

Citadel founder Ken Griffin at a conference last week, when asked about President Donald Trump's new trade policy and the president's cricism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, warned about potential damage to the creditworthiness of U.S. Treasuries and how the "U.S. brand" could be hurt.

"We put that brand at risk," he said. "The president, the secretary of Treasury and the secretary of commerce need to be very thoughtful that when you have a brand you need to behave in a way that respects that brand, that strengthens that brand, because when you tarnish that brand, it can be a lifetime to repair the damage that has been done."

Citadel declined to comment on the firm's performance.

(Reporting by Carolina Mandl in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Renewable energy sources are growing at a rapid pace around the world, prompting power grid operators, such as Italy's Terna, to invest in necessary infrastructure upgrades.

According to a recent Reuters report, Terna announced a 23 billion ($26 billion) investment over the next 10 years to support the country's electricity network.

"Investing in planning, modernizing and digitizing electricity grids will be essential to cope with the growing demand for energy and the integration of renewable sources," said Chief Executive Giuseppina Di Foggia, per the article.

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She added that the goal was to "ensure that the country has a reliable, resilient and sustainable system."

Around 80% of the world's energy is still produced using dirty fuels like oil, gas, and coal, but renewable sources are making headway.

Ember electricity and data analyst Euan Graham told Reuters that in 2024, a record 32% of global electricity was powered by renewables. At the same time, electricity demand grew by 4% due to factors such as data center expansion and increased cooling needs amid rising global temperatures.

The combination of growth in sources like wind, hydro, and solar has helped the world improve upon the previous year's record of 30% for renewable-based energy generation.

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Terna predicts that this new investment will increase the energy-exchange capacity between markets from 16 gigawatts to 39 gigawatts, resolving congestion issues and further securing and stabilizing the power grid.

Grid modernization is occurring around the world, helping to keep up with the influx of these greener energy sources, as well as increased demand. This will help reduce energy costs for consumers and decrease planet-warming pollution at the same time.

The Department of Energy announced that it would tackle Puerto Rico's dirty fuel problem by building out more sustainable sources to power the region. Several other U.S. systems are upgrading their power grid to accommodate both utility-scale additions and increased homeowner use of solar panels and battery storage systems.

Terna added that its investments would help support the Italian government's goals to increase both solar and wind capacity by 65 gigawatts by 2030 and 94 gigawatts by 2034.

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"23 billion (euros of investments) is an important thing, because clearly this is the backbone of the national energy (system)," said Italy's Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin in the report.

"Countries are thinking about their security and energy security more than ever before and I think that means homegrown renewable power like wind and solar becomes more and more attractive," said Graham in a separate report.

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.
Prince Harry wants to return to the royal fold, but that possibility remains out of reach as his father, King Charles, continues to keep him at arm's length.

In a surprising interview, the former senior royal expressed his desire to reconcile with his family but claimed that the monarch has refused to speak to him over his downgraded security lawsuit.

Prince Harry was previously pursuing an appeal in the case, with the final hearing taking place last month. The appeal was dismissed on May 2 in favor of the Home Office.

Prince Harry Says It Would Be 'Nice To Reconcile,' But Claims King Charles Won't Speak To Him

MEGA

Shortly after losing his appeal over downgraded security, Prince Harry gave an unexpected interview in which he admitted he is open to reconciling with his family.

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The Duke of Sussex's relationship with the royal family has been quite strained since stepping back as a working royal in 2020 and taking part in a bombshell interview with Oprah, where he discussed several personal family matters. The rift deepened further with the release of his Netflix documentary with Meghan Markle and his memoir.

Now, the Invictus Games founder believes that "there's no point in continuing to fight anymore," especially with his father's health having declined since last year.

"Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," Harry said about King Charles, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer last year.

However, the possibility of reconciliation appears to be hindered by the fact that the monarch has refused to speak with Harry, something the duke believes is due to his decision to take the Home Office to court over his security issues.

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"He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile," Harry added, per People Magazine.

The Duke Of Sussex Believes King Charles Could Help Resolve His Security Issues

MEGA

With Harry losing his appeal over the downgraded security, it means no changes will be made to the ongoing arrangement the Home Office has in place for him.

Still, the duke believes that his security issues "could be resolved" if King Charles allows for some leeway.

"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."

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According to the Daily Mail, despite Harry's belief, the Firm has previously stated that while a member of the King's staff sits on RAVEC (the government's Royal and VIP Executive Committee), the King himself does not have the power to grant police protection.

Prince Harry Intends To Write To The Home Office

MEGA

According to reports, Harry also intends to write to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to make complaints about RAVEC.

The duke did not specify what exactly his grievances would be in the proposed letter, but hinted it would be about reviewing the RAVEC process.

"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," per The Express.

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Meanwhile, the royal palace has released an official statement about Harry's appeal, seemingly scolding him for making an attempt to overturn the previous court decision.

"All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion," per Hello Magazine.

Why The Duke's Appeal Was Dismissed

MEGA

The hearing for Harry's appeal occurred last month, with the court finally issuing a decision on May 2.

At the center of the argument made by Harry's lawyer during the hearing was that RAVEC failed to obtain a risk analysis before arriving at their decision to downgrade the duke's security.

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This particular claim formed the core of the court's statement about its decision to dismiss the appeal, in which the court noted that obtaining a risk analysis would not have impacted the decision made by RAVEC.

"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," said Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos, per People Magazine.

"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 Won't Bring His Wife Back To The UK

MEGA

In an interview for ITV's documentary "Tabloids on Trial," which premiered on July 25, 2024, Harry voiced his concerns about his family's safety and expressed his apprehensions about returning to the UK with Meghan.

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"It's still dangerous," Harry stated, per People Magazine, emphasizing that "all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read."

The duke continued: "Whether it's a knife or acid, whatever it is, these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It's one of the reasons why I won't bring my wife back to this country."

In 2022, Neil Basu, the former counterterrorism chief for the Metropolitan Police, confirmed that there were credible threats to Meghan's life during her time in the UK.

"We had teams investigating it. People have been prosecuted for those threats," Basu noted at the time, seemingly corroborating Harry and Meghan's fears.
Prince Harry might be done with the United Kingdom for good this time!

The father-of-two details his thoughts in an interview after the court tossed his appeal to reinstate his security in the United Kingdom.

Prince Harry's fully funded security was withdrawn after he relocated from the United Kingdom to California with his family following a contentious battle with the United Kingdom media.

Prince Harry Is Disappointed About His Kids Never Experiencing Life In The U.K.

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"I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point," those were the words of Prince Harry to the BBC right after receiving the verdict.

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He admitted that his family would miss "everything" about the U.K. as he emphasized his love for the country despite what his family went through.

"I miss parts of the U.K and I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland," the Prince declared amidst a nervous chuckle.

The former working royal continued that the security committee switched overnight from presenting him as a "high-risk" entity to "low-risk" without properly evaluating his situation.

The Father-Of-Two Is Open To Mending Fences With His Father, King Charles

As the interview went on, Prince Harry expressed a desire for reconciliation with his family in light of his father's health challenges. He acknowledged the preciousness of life and conveyed concern for King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment at 76.

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Prince Harry highlighted that the ongoing security issues affecting him could potentially be resolved through his father, suggesting that more direct involvement from King Charles could help facilitate a solution.

"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," he noted.

Despite a positive meeting between them in February 2024 following the announcement of the King's cancer diagnosis, communication has since broken down. The king reportedly stopped answering Harry's calls or responding to his letters.

Friends of Harry noted his frustration, as his attempts to reach out about the King's health have also gone unanswered. This ongoing estrangement marks a painful chapter in their relationship, with Harry yearning for a deeper connection despite the current barriers.

Critics Flood The Comments Of The Duke Of Sussex's Interview

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The recent interview has gathered over 55k views and nearly 4,000 comments from supporters of Prince Harry and his critiques. "So he's smarter than the judges and the court? Narcissism 101," this viewer commented, slamming the prince for his statement on the outcome.

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Another commenter called him a "gaslighter," adding: "Abuse your victims, then claim you forgive them, and they are at fault for not speaking to you."

One other person reacted to his claim of never being subjected to thorough risk assessment by the security board, adding: "Never been given a risk assessment board? OMG - think of the people who were never given shelter, food, or safety on the streets!"

A fourth commenter chastised him for refusing to respect his grandmother, the late Queen, by dragging "her lifelong reputation through the mud of slinging racism charges."

This critic reminded the King's youngest son that he is "no longer a working member of the royal family," adding "Get over it harry." Another commenter declared:

"The loss of security was his own doing when he stopped being a working royal and left the country. He also publicly trashed his family many times over, so no wonder his father isn't talking to him. If he stayed in the palace and kept his mouth shut, he'd have it made."

Inside The Prince's Appeal Loss

MEGA

The situation surrounding Prince Harry's security reached a critical point today, as shared by The Blast. After appealing for the restoration of automatic, state-funded security during his visits to the U.K., his plea was dismissed by Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos on May 2, with the support of two other judges.

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Vos clarified that the Duke of Sussex was only covered by the security framework provided by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) when in the country.

The judge stressed that while Prince Harry and his family were outside the U.K., he was ineligible for such protection. This decision comes after Prince Harry's April two-day hearing at the Royal Court of Justice.

Following the conclusion of the hearing, the expressed feeling was "exhausted and overwhelmed." He added that the direction of the case confirmed his worst fears. Prince Harry highlighted the importance of the specific case, stating that it is crucial for both his and Meghan's future.

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Left The U.K. For Their Sanity

MEGA

The Duke of Sussex was reportedly active during the court proceedings, as he collaborated with his legal team to stay informed on the proceedings.

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In early 2020, the prince and Meghan envisioned a new life abroad that would balance their royal duties with a greater sense of independence, and void of media toxicity.

Harry expressed their aspiration to create a "happy house" during discussions with Queen Elizabeth before their exit. Things looked uphill after the Sandringham Summit in January 2020, when he felt they had reached an understanding about maintaining security for their family.

However, court documents later revealed that while Queen Elizabeth had supported their need for "effective security," the RAVEC, responsible for security decisions, changed its position a few weeks later.

This move was the final straw that broke the camel's back, ultimately leading to Harry and Meghan losing their protection.

Will Prince Harry's wish for reconciliation with King Charles come true?
Prince Harry unloaded in a "bombshell" statement and interview about his father, family, and security risks and threats. In a written statement, he said he had uncovered "shocking truths."

The prince opened up to the BBC, and then on the website that he shares with his wife, Meghan, after he lost a legal action seeking government security.

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," Prince Harry wrote on May 2, 2025.

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To BBC, Harry said he would "love a reconciliation" with his family but revealed his father, King Charles, "won't speak to me because of this security stuff."

He added of his cancer-stricken dad that he did "not know how much longer my father has."

Buckingham Palace responded, according to BBC, "All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion."

In the statement on the website, Harry said the 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.

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Harry wrote that the courts ruling confirms that the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC and comprised of senior officials from the Royal Household, Home Office and Metropolitan Police, has failed to follow its own mandated processes for me, which are applied to all other high-risk and high-profile individuals.

He said he was going to write to the Home Secretary to ask her to urgently examine the matter and review the RAVEC process.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Time100 Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Midtown on April 23, 2025 in New York City. TheStewartofNY/Getty Images

Prince Harry said his legal action has uncovered shocking truths, starting with the fact that the Royal Household are key decision-makers on RAVEC and my sole representation for matters regarding my safety. In this process, Ive also learned the names of all those involved, many of whom retired immediately after playing their part."

In November 2017, before the Royal Households role on RAVEC was known, this "secretive committee concluded that when my wife would join the royal family, she should not receive protection. Only when I asked for the name of the person willing to carry that risk, did they reverse the decision," Harry wrote.

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He claimed that, in 2020, RAVEC refused for the first time to conduct the "required annual risk, threat, and impact assessment that their own policies demand.

The result was stripping me of the protection Ive had since birth, whilst signalling to all other governments to do the same. This reckless action knowingly put me and my family in harms way. Life is precious, and I understand the fragility of it," said Harry.

Harry said that he tried to resolve this issue privately in 2020 and 2021, even "offering to independently cover the costs of necessary and effective police protection in order to keep me and my family safe. But he said no one responded directly to me about my offer.

Prince Harry wrote that, in recent years, my family and I have been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats, including Al-Qaeda. There are individuals in prison on UK soil because of such threats.

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He said there was a failure to conduct a proper risk assessment that was a dereliction of duty.

The stark difference is I was born into lifelong circumstances that create inherent security risks. My decade of military service, particularly two tours of duty in Afghanistan, as well as social and tabloid media frenzy, have only intensified those threats," Harry wrote.

He said it was truly devastating to discover that his immediate familys safety was knowingly put at risk, as well as who was behind it and who sanctioned it.

He said that he and his wife wanted to maintain his role, but that this was ultimately refused.

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"The UK is my birthplace and will always be part of who I am. It is a place I love and the country where my son was born," Harry wrote. "Ive only ever wanted to continue my charitable work in supporting the causes and people that mean so much to me, and for my children to know the beauty of my homeland.

Related: Prince Harry's 'Life is at Stake,' Lawyer Warns
Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday signed legislation authorizing a private school voucher program into law, marking the grand finale of an oftentimes ugly conflict that has largely defined Texas politics this decade.

Senate Bill 2 will allow families to use public taxpayer dollars to fund their childrens education at an accredited private school or to pay for a wide range of school-related expenses, like textbooks, transportation or therapy. The program will be one of the largest school voucher initiatives in the nation.

When I ran for reelection in 2022, I promised school choice for the families of Texas. Today, we deliver on that promise, said Abbott during the bill's signing before hundreds of applauding supporters gathered outside the Governor's Mansion. Gone are the days that families are limited to only the school assigned by government. The day has arrived that empowers parents to choose the school thats best for their child.

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The law will go into effect on Sept. 1, with the program expected to launch in late 2026.

The laws passage follows years of discord in the Legislature over school vouchers. The Democrats and rural Republicans who fought against it argued that the program would harm already-struggling public schools, a major employer for working families and a resource center for many Texas students  the majority of whom reside in low-income households.

Remember this day next time a school closes in your neighborhood, state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, said a few hours before at a news conference with other voucher opponents. Remember this day next time a beloved teacher quits because they can't support their family on their salary. Remember this day next time your local property taxes rise because the state government is not doing its fair share of school funding. And if recession comes and we are forced to make even deeper cuts to public education, remember this day.

Top Republicans like Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have forcefully rebutted, saying parents needed more schooling options for their children in the face of COVID-19 health restrictions and frustrations with public schools efforts to foster a more inclusive environment for all students. They have insisted that a voucher program and the states public education system can coexist.

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[School choice, vouchers and the future of Texas education]

Those arguments came as voucher programs in other states have largely benefited wealthier families who already had their kids enrolled in private schools and led to disappointing academic outcomes for students.

Heres a breakdown of how the program will work.

Families can receive about $10,000 to send their children to private school on taxpayers dime

Most participating families will receive an amount equal to 85% of what public schools get for each student through state and local funding  roughly somewhere between $10,300 and $10,900 per year for each child, according to a legislative budget analysis, which included financial projections for the next five years.

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Children with disabilities are eligible for the same funding as other students, plus up to $30,000 in additional money, an amount based on what the state would spend on special education services for that student if they attended a public school. Home-schoolers can receive up to $2,000 per year.

The money will flow to families through education savings accounts, which essentially function as state-managed bank accounts. In Arizona, for example, which has a program similar to the one Texas is rolling out, families can make education-related purchases through an online platform by the software company ClassWallet.

Texas will spend $1 billion on vouchers in the first two years, but costs could skyrocket

The state can spend no more than $1 billion on the program during the states next two-year budget cycle, which begins Sept. 1, 2025, and ends Aug. 31, 2027.

It is not clear how much the programs costs will rise after the spending cap expires  lawmakers will likely make that determination in future legislative sessions  but state budget experts predict that the tab could escalate to roughly $4.8 billion by 2030.

Most families can participate, including some of the wealthiest Texans

Almost any school-age child in Texas can apply for and participate in the voucher program, including students already attending private schools. Up to 20% of the programs initial $1 billion budget could flow to wealthier families who earn 500% or more of the poverty rate  roughly $160,000 or above for a family of four.

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Families cannot have their children simultaneously enrolled in the program and a public school. The program excludes students whose parents cannot prove their child is a U.S. citizen. Lawmakers are also considering a bill that would bar the kids of any statewide elected official from signing up for the program.

If public demand for the voucher program exceeds the funding available, it will prioritize applicants in this order:

Students with disabilities from families with an annual income at or below 500% of the federal poverty level, which includes any four-person household earning less than roughly $160,000

Families at or below 200% of the poverty level, which includes any four-person household earning less than roughly $64,300

Families between 200% and 500% of the poverty level

Families at or above 500% of the poverty level (limited to 20% of the programs budget)

The voucher program also prioritizes students exiting public schools over kids already in private ones.

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The priority system does not guarantee access to the program, however. The legislation does not require participating schools to change their admissions processes, meaning they can still deny entry to any student they determine does not meet their standards. Private schools are also not required to follow state or federal laws regarding accommodations for students with disabilities.

The program launches next year, but other specifics are still unclear

The voucher program will officially launch at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.

The comptroller  the states chief financial officer, who will oversee the program  has until May 15, 2026, to establish the rules and procedures it must follow. In addition to setting up the application process for Texans who want to enroll their children, the finance chief will select up to five organizations that will help Texas administer the program.

Private schools can choose whether they want to participate. The law requires participating schools to be accredited and to have operated for at least two years.

Participating students wont have to take the STAAR test

Enrolled students must take a nationally recognized exam of the private schools choosing. Private schools, however, are not required to administer the same standardized tests currently issued to public school kids each year  the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR.

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The state must produce an annual report that includes data on participants test results, satisfaction with the program, and college and career readiness. It will include information on how the program affects public and private school enrollment. Lawmakers will also get a report every year with demographic data on each participating child, including students age, sex, race or ethnicity and zip code.

State officials will also be required to work with a private auditor responsible for helping ensure program participants follow the law. The bill directs the state to suspend the accounts of people not in compliance with the legislations guidelines and refer to local authorities any organizations or individuals who use taxpayer funds fraudulently.

Sofia Sorochinskaia contributed to this report.

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.

Correction, May 3, 2025 at 3:55 p.m. : An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Gov. Greg Abbott said, Today, we deliver on Texas' youth, during the signing of a school voucher bill. Abbott said, Today, we deliver on that promise.
A Radiohead star has been deplatformed after pro-Palestine activists claimed his gigs would whitewash an alleged Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Jonny Greenwood, lead guitarist of the British band, was scheduled to perform at two concerts in Britain alongside Dudu Tassa, an Israeli musician, next month.

But the gigs will no longer go ahead after anti-Israel activists demanded their cancellation because of the IDF military operation in Gaza.

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The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign, claimed that the performances would whitewash an alleged genocide in the Palestinian territory.

It said Greenwood had previously performed in Israel and that Tassa, a Jewish Israeli, had played a private gig for IDF soldiers in November 2023.

Palestinians welcome the cancellation of both of their UK shows, the campaign said. We reiterate our call for all venues to refuse to programme this complicit event that can only art-wash genocide.

Israel emphatically denies committing genocide in Gaza. The number of Palestinian civilian casualties released by the Hamas-run health ministry is strongly contested by the Israeli government.

Intimidation, not activism

Anti-Semitism campaigners said that the concert cancellations amounted to racist conduct.

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Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel, told The Telegraph: The cancellations are probably in breach of contract and appear to contravene section 29 of the Equality Act by subjecting these musicians to detriment because of their association with Israelis.

A spokesman for the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA) said the pro-Palestine activists were seeking to punish anyone who dares to engage with Israel.

This isnt activism, its intimidation, the spokesman said. More than four fifths (84 per cent) of British Jews agree that boycotts of Israeli artists, academics or businesses selling Israeli products constitute intimidation, according to our representative polling.

Event organisers acquiescing to fanatics obsessed with Israel should bear in mind that tactics like these do nothing to bring peace to the Middle East.

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They only disrupt the lives of people in Britain. Venues must not capitulate to pressure campaigns seeking to bully those simply for standing with the worlds only Jewish state.

Concerts cancelled

The concerts would have taken place at the Bristol Beacon on June 23 and Saint Church, an Anglican church in Hackney, east London, on June 25.

The Diocese of London, of which Saint Church is a part, said the concert there was cancelled by the promoter, Form, and that the church had no role in the decision. Form was also the promoter for the gig in Bristol.

Saint were informed yesterday by the promoter that the event wouldnt be going ahead and were instructed by the promoter to inform those who had bought tickets that they would receive a full refund, a spokesman said.

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Form, the Bristol Beacon and the representatives of Greenwood and Tassa were approached for comment.

In 2024, Greenwood responded to a similar boycott campaign against him and Tassa by branding his critics unprogressive.

Others choose to believe this kind of project is justifiable, and are urging the silencing of this  or any  artistic effort made by Israeli Jews, he said.

But I cant join that call: the silencing of Israeli filmmakers, musicians [and] dancers when their work tours abroad  especially when its at the urging of their fellow Western filmmakers, musicians [and] artists  feels unprogressive to me.

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He added that silencing Israeli artists for being born Jewish in Israel doesnt seem like any way to reach an understanding between the two sides of this apparently endless conflict.

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  About a year after pro-Palestine protests at the Alma Mater statue, a group of student demonstrators returned to campus Friday afternoon.

Similar to last year, theyre demanding the University of Illinois divest from companies backing Israel and the war in Gaza. This year the group also voiced their concerns around visa revocation for international students and asked the U of I to provide stronger protections for international students.

Champaign-Urbana MTD bringing on help to push through development

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WCIA talked with one protester who did not want her name shared and the Chabad Center for Jewish Life on campus.

Its sick and disgusting how our university is ignoring it, how they refuse to stand behind their students even though they pride themselves about diversity, equity, inclusion and how they want to be forward or future leaning or whatever they want to say, the protestor said. But were here for many reasons, but most of all its to fight against imperialism.

Everyone should have the right to demonstrate and to protest, but also everyone has to follow the rules thats done within the rules of the university or within the rules of our cities and states, and thats about balance, said Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel. We want to make sure that everybody feels safe, everyone feels secure and everyone feels welcome.

The CU Muslim Action Committee is also planning a protest at the next Champaign City Council meeting on May 6.

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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 WCIA.com.
It was supposed to be the first week of a sprint toward passing Republicans massive domestic policy bill. That sprint, however, has quickly become strewn with hurdles  and the House GOP has already stumbled over a few.

The early days of legislative drafting and debate that took place across several House committees this week revealed that Republicans are struggling to unify around some of their most consequential decisions, including how deeply to cut spending and overhaul safety-net programs. But theyre also dealing with a host of unexpected controversies  like one committee chair who tucked a contentious car tax into a legislative draft and others who are seeking to use the party-line megabill to move forward with pet priorities .

The overall picture is already clear: President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill is nowhere near ready for prime time.

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Competing factions are drawing fresh red lines that could be impossible for House leaders to reconcile, and that is all before their counterparts across the Senate start making their own changes to the emerging plan. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on Speaker Mike Johnsons self-imposed deadline to get a bill through the House by Memorial Day  a deadline that is looking increasingly unrealistic.

I don't think we're on the same page  even inside the House, much less between the House and the Senate, said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a leader of the hard-right bloc pushing for deep spending cuts.

Already Johnsons rough plan for May has started to fray. This past week, committees handling relatively minor parts of the bill stayed on track by releasing and advancing legislative text. Next week, the hope was that committees handling major provisions dealing with taxes and benefit programs would be able to finish their work, allowing final votes in the Budget Committee and on the floor in the following two weeks.



But major brewing policy debates are delaying action, and GOP leaders pushed back a trio of key votes they were hoping to finish next week. The Energy and Commerce Committee is still grappling with politically toxic proposals to roll back Medicaid spending. The tax-focused Ways and Means Committee is locked in a standoff over a key deduction disproportionately utilized in swing blue-state districts. And the Agriculture Committee is struggling to reach the $230 billion in spending cuts its targeting for the countrys largest anti-hunger program amid backlash from centrists.

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Part of the reasons for the disarray is that while some GOP leaders and committee chairs might have had a good sense of the shape of the bill, many rank-and-file members have not. Tensions have flared as lawmakers have been briefed on key details of the developing legislation  some of which could have profound impacts in their states and districts.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), for instance, walked out of an Agriculture Committee GOP member briefing this week over a proposal that would push some federal food aid costs onto states for the first time, according to two people granted anonymity to describe the private outburst.

What staffer thought of this? Van Orden said as he left the briefing. He later issued a public letter blasting the proposal, which would burden state budgets.

In another closed-door meeting, Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) faced pushback from the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus as he tried to explain the vagaries of potential Medicaid cuts. When he and others explained that some states have passed so-called trigger laws that would throw hundreds of thousands of residents off benefit rolls if federal funding levels are cut, Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) shot back, Thats not our problem.

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Meanwhile, Republicans from Virginia and other Medicaid expansion states privately warned GOP leaders the proposals they were pursuing to reduce the federal share of payments into the joint state-federal program didnt have the votes to pass.

And when Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) unveiled an annual $20 national passenger vehicle fee in his portion of the bill, members across the House GOP were blindsided. There was a collective WTF, said one senior GOP aide granted anonymity to describe the behind-the-scenes reaction. Graves reversed course less than 24 hours later.

As House Republicans muddle through their disarray, GOP senators are making clear they have no intention of automatically swallowing major pieces of what the House is considering. They also took note of the Houses U-turns this week, including on the car tax, concluding that their GOP counterparts will modify their plans if the backlash is intense enough.

While the House is batting around sweeping proposals such as unraveling the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and sharing food-aid costs with states, Senate Republicans are discussing drastically narrower changes.

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During a closed-door briefing this week, Senate Republicans focused their discussion on enacting new work requirements for Medicaid, as well as requiring states to beef up eligibility requirement checks and removing undocumented immigrants, who largely already arent eligible to begin with. Though some in the Senates right flank are backing the Freedom Caucus effort, several GOP senators said steeper benefit cuts are not on the table.

Ive talked to a number of House members, a number of whom actually reached out to me and said  and by a number I mean upwards of a dozen  who said, Were not going to vote for Medicaid payments cuts, said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).

That, in turn, is creating a political problem for Johnson, with many House Republicans wary that they will be forced to vote on spending cuts that would end up DOA in the Senate  and still have those votes used against them in their 2026 elections.

But scaling back changes to Medicaid stands to frustrate the same House conservatives whose votes Johnson ultimately needs to get a bill through the House. Roy warned that he would openly, on the microphone, on TV, laugh at the United States Senate if they think theyre going to come back and say, Sorry we couldnt deliver on Medicaid reform, but we still want our tax cut permanence.

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Senate Republicans are taking a similar approach to changes to food aid. While House leaders are talking about a major overhaul that would shift costs to states, one member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said the only major ideas the panel is now discussing for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are enacting stricter work requirements and ensuring accountability for how states administer the assistance.

And thats one of the lesser fault lines between the House and Senate approaches: Senators are on a wholly different timeline, hoping to wrap things up by July 4  though even Majority Leader John Thune has called that target aspirational. They are holding off on convening committee meetings to debate the bill as they see how close the House can come to a product that can pass the Senate.

The Senate GOP has their own fiscal hawks to contend with. A swath of Republicans want to ensure more than $2 trillion in deficit reduction, the number Johnson is aspiring to, and they are sending up fresh red flags that their votes are at stake. One, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, reiterated this week he wanted to return to pre-pandemic levels of spending  a roughly $6 trillion cut  saying the country is in deep doo doo fiscally.

Even those who think the disputes all eventually get settled acknowledge it wont be pretty.

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We will not reach a consensus. There will not come a point where all Republicans  stand up and say, Im happy, said Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana. He predicted Trump will ultimately need to mediate disputes and pressure holdouts and that settling the disputes will be a job for alcohol, not coffee.

Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.
Project Success has expanded its before and after-school programming to more schools throughout Vermilion County thanks to new grants from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority.

The organization offers after-school and summer programming to help empower area children and families to achieve their highest potential, according to the organizations website.

Among the programs offered at 21 schools in six school districts across the county, the organization provides academic assistance, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), art, cooking clubs, credit recovery, service learning, social emotional learning supports, and more.

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In March, the organization was able to re-open its afterschool and summer programs at six schools across the county where the organization had previously lost funding, according to Kimberly David, CEO of Project Success.

Programs were re-opened at Meade Park Elementary (also serving Mark Denman students), South View Upper Elementary, North Ridge Middle School, Westville High School, Oakwood Grade School, and Oakwood High School.

Among the new programming offered is an increase in violence-prevention programming at the after-school programs in Danville schools, said Jamie Nightlinger, director of the programming.

The violence prevention programming aims to cultivate a positive, inclusive environment by equipping the students with empathy, conflict resolution skills and respect for diversity, while also providing them with strategies for managing their emotions, resolving disagreements in a peaceful manner, and becoming active bystanders, Nightlinger said.

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The goal is to help students notice the warning signs that someone is about to become violent, such a withdrawing or lashing out or generally behaving differently than they normally do.

We hope that if we can increase the awareness of the warning signs and make strong connections between the students and the adults, we hope that were able to empower the students to seek support, Nightlinger said.

They are also teaching students to notice warning signs within themselves that self-harm may occur, Nightlinger said.

We are teaching them to figure out what works for them, whether it be exercise or music or breathing exercises, taking some kind of brain break to get your mind off of it, she said. [And] recognizing when they feel like theyre gonna spiral and kind of being proactive and letting somebody know, Hey, Im not okay right now.

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Another key skill students are learning is the ability to discern when a real threat is happening.

We teach the kids the difference between making a report because something unsafe is going on, as opposed to tattling when a behavior might be occurring that isnt a threat, Nightlinger said.

The new programming includes future planning and goal setting for students, as well as offering supports for students and families that have been affected by violence.

Those supports include quarterly educational family events, a parent support group for those affected by violence, and daily contact between parent mentors and families to help connect them to community resources.

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Theyll be calling families more often, seeing if theres any resources they need and seeing how they can help and connecting them to Vermilion County resources, David said.

Depending on funding sources, Project Success summer programming will be offered during summer break at schools all across the county for between four weeks and the entire break, David said.

Were able to go all summer in Danville this year. We havent done that in the past with all [Danville] schools, David said. We have some really, really cool things coming up.

Among those cool offerings includes Say it With Music  a musical summer camp where students will learn to produce a music video, David said.

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Its going to explore with the kids how music can affect us emotionally in a negative or in a positive way, Nightlinger said. It will be a heavy focus on kids who resonate with that coping skill, giving them a space to learn how to create the music, and then theyll end up doing a music video at the end of it.

To learn more about Project Success or to enroll your child, check out their website at vcprojectsuccess.org.
This story was originally published on Fashion Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Fashion Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

The European Commission has prioritized textiles, especially clothing, in its five-year working plan for implementing legislation outlined in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, or ESPR, which will begin this year, according to a press release.

According to the plan, the commission will now, over the next five years, begin laying down specific requirements for product labeling and design. Those requirements will include minimum standards for a products durability and recycled content, as well as mandatory digital product passports, per the press release.

For clothing, these requirements need to be adopted in 2027, and apply to all products placed on the European market, regardless of their country of origin, or the size of the company producing them.

Dive Insight:

ESPR was formally adopted by the European Commission last year, and the regulation is intended to help the European Union meet its environmental, circularity, and climate goals. The measure also harmonizes sustainability requirements and will level the playing field across the EUs 27 member countries, which include 450 million consumers, per the working plans details.

Textiles, especially clothing, emerged as a top priority in the plan. The European market size for the sector, excluding footwear, is estimated at 78 billion euros, or about $88 billion. Although footwear is not included in the working plan currently outlined, a study will be commissioned to evaluate improving footwears sustainability, to be completed by 2027.

The current plan is intended to build up experience and capacity of ESPR to reach its full regulatory potential, eventually expanding to other products, per plan documents.

By setting clear priorities, we are providing legal certainty and predictability for the concerned industries, fostering innovation, and driving investment to support the transition to a circular economy, Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said in the press release.

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One of Britains biggest fare dodgers, who owes 30,000 in unpaid fines for train fare evasion, was allegedly stopped without a ticket on the morning of his court appearance.

Charles Brohiri has been caught without a train ticket at almost every station across the Thameslink, Southern and Greater Northern network.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates court on Wednesday afternoon to be sentenced for 36 counts of travelling on a railway without paying, having previously been convicted in absentia.

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Despite promoting himself on social media as the rapper Rvre Dean, the 28-year-old told the court he was homeless, owned no mobile phone and could only access the internet through public libraries.

Gareth Ring, prosecutor for Thameslink, told magistrates: At 8.16 this morning, Mr Brohiri was stopped on one of our trains without a valid ticket.

Mr Ring handed the magistrates a dossier which he said contained details of 180 previous instances where Brohiri had been caught without a ticket at Thameslink stations or aboard its trains.

The prosecutor added that the 28-year-old owes the court an awful lot of money.

Three times higher than previous record

An arrest warrant against Brohiri for over 30,015 in unpaid court fines was issued in February.

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This is three times higher than the previous record for a rail fare evasion fine, which was issued for 10,000 last year in southern Essex against an unnamed defendant.

Although rail offenders have voluntarily paid back higher sums as an alternative to prosecution, it is unusual for fines of more than a few hundred pounds to be issued for fare evasion.

Greater Anglia announced in 2019 that it had secured the imprisonment of Stefan Jaworski, then 37, of Rayleigh in Essex after he was caught evading train fares on some 55 occasions.

Although the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 allows offenders to be imprisoned for a second or subsequent offence of fare evasion, the power  which allows sentences of up to three months  is very rarely used.

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The huge number of charges and convictions Brohiri has racked up sheds fresh light on the controversial private prosecution system for fare evasion.

Criminal cases brought against train passengers over fare discrepancies as small as 1.90 triggered a public scandal last year.

It ended with 75,000 wrongfully-brought fare evasion cases being nullified by the Chief Magistrate amid public concern that train company bosses were misusing a law dating back to Queen Victorias reign as an extra revenue stream.

All of those fines are now being repaid to wrongly-convicted defendants. Meanwhile, cases such as Brohiris continue progressing through the courts.

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Judges heard that he was arrested by police and brought to court on March 30 before he was bailed to reappear for sentencing.

The court heard that since then, he had been spoken to 13 times without a valid ticket.

Claims of homelessness dismissed

Julie Mills, presiding, was told that Brohiri clearly disregarded whatever happened in March and continued to board Thamselink trains.

Brohiri, who had repeatedly said to Thameslink over the past year that he lived at an address on Cloverland, Hatfield, told the court that he has been homeless since 2019.

An online profile on a music website states: Caleb Lewis Brohiri, better known by his stage name, Rvre Dean, hails from Croydon, south London.

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According to the L-Hit website, the would-be rapper recorded a single in 2019, but the profile added: Before the singles release however, trials and tribulations surfaced which left a big mark on Dean since then.

When asked how he supported himself without a job, Brohiri claimed to have been living a bit crazy of a lifestyle, saying: Sometimes people give me money, or I go charities, I go a few places and whatnot and I just go there to get food like Pret and these places, I just go there.

In court, he was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, plain black trousers, clean black Puma trainers with white detailing and a black hat.

Mr Ring asked him: Mr Brohiri, youre clearly well-presented appearance-wise. Did the charity give you help here?

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He replied: Nah, these are, like, some things I had.

Brohiris sentencing has been adjourned to August 20, pending probation reports.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A proposed bill that aims to protect California schools from defunding caused by low attendance rates amid the recent immigration raids passed out of the Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday.

California uses a school districts Average Daily Attendance to determine its funding. The ADA is calculated by taking the total number of days of student attendance and dividing it by the total number of school days.

If a school districts ADA decreases, the state can cut back on funding for that particular school district.

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New findings on January Border Patrol Operation show agents didnt go after said targets

The amended Assembly Bill 1348, proposed by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains, seeks to protect California school districts from defunding during recent and future immigration raids.

The proposal, if passed, would add immigration enforcement activities to the list of emergencies that are eligible for funding protections.

The list originally included events like fire, flood, an epidemic, earthquake, a major safety hazard determined by the local law enforcement agency and more.

Many fear separation from their families, despite their status as citizens or documented residents, the California Association for Bilingual Education said in a letter of support for the proposal, according to a press release by Bains office.

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The proposal, first read in February, came to be in consideration of President Donald Trump signing executive orders that rolled back protection of schools, churches and hospitals from immigration enforcement activities as well as birthright citizenship, according to the release.

Lets be honest about whats happening here  this administration isnt just enforcing immigration law, Bains said in the release. Its waging psychological warfare against immigrants which the President has claimed, quote, poison the blood of our country.

The bill will move on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Some Providence City Council members are clashing with Mayor Brett Smiley over a pair of bills that would make reforms to the so-called 8-Law.

The City Council was presented a resolution during Thursday nights meeting that opposed certain sections of the new bill. The resolution stated the bill contained provisions that would have significant consequences on low-income housing, community stability, and revenue collection in Providence.

Providence City Councilor Justin Roias called those sections of the bill a blank check for developers.

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It doesnt strengthen the 8-Law. What it does, in my view, is it guts it and then hands the remains to luxury developers wrapped in a language of equity, Roias said at Thursday nights City Council meeting.

Rep. June Speakman, a sponsor of the bill, explained in a March 4 hearing of the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing that the 8-Law has been on the books since the mid-1990s. She said it offers some tax stability to affordable housing developments by limiting property taxes on units to 8% of the propertys gross rental income from the previous year.

Smiley spokesperson Anthony Vega told Target 12 that the legislation clarifies the targets for affordability within buildings who qualify, ensuring that more affordability is developed in buildings.

The law, as currently written, does not include thresholds and as a result, buildings can have very little affordability and still qualify, Vega said.

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The bill states that at least 40% of units in the property would need to be at or below 80% the statewide area median income (AMI) or at least 30% of units need to be at 60% the AMI.

A second part of the bill would expand the relief to residential units that are created by converting commercial buildings to housing.

We have empty commercial and a need for residential. Thats what that part of the bill seems to facilitate, Speakman said at the March 4 hearing. She added that the provisions of the bill were aimed at facilitating the construction of housing not just in Providence, but statewide.

Mayor Smiley said at the March hearing that a surplus of vacant commercial office buildings was a looming crisis.

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This is a slow iceberg that we are headed towards where empty commercial office buildings will lose value; they will start to create tax crises, Smiley said. At the same time, we have a housing crisis and a shortage of housing that we want to develop.

ALSO READ: New RI tax credit program aims to incentivize affordable housing development

Rep. David Morales, who represents Providence, asked the mayor if the the potential properties being converted from commercial to residential had to have an affordability requirement to receive the treatment.

There is no affordability requirement in this portion of the bill, Smiley said.

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Vega added that the tax benefit is limited and phases out over time with most buildings paying close to full taxation in the final years.

The bill was held for further study after the March 4 hearing. To date, no hearing to vote on the bill has been scheduled yet.

The lack of an affordability requirement struck the ire of some city councilors. The City Council resolution also recommends an amendment be added to the bill in order to strengthen affordability requirements for all properties benefiting from the 8-Law treatment.

Roias said while he believed the sponsors of the bill were well-intentioned and shared many concerns about the the housing supply, affordability, and the urgent need to reform 8-Law, that the bill as written did not reflect those values.

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It opens the door to abuse, undermines local authority, and offers long-term tax breaks without adequate public benefit in return, Roias said. To make matters worse, this bills moving forward at the exact same time that this city is preparing to ask working class residents, homeowners and small business to shoulder a potential tax increase.

Ward 3 Councilor and Deputy Majority Whip Sue AnderBois said she was wary of the bill passing as is, and cited concerns with the lengths of potential tax breaks.

There are so many things baked into our budgets that our colleagues from 20 years, 30 years ago did that have put us in a bind now, AnderBois said. We dont want to be those people when future versions of us are in these seats are looking back and be like, What the heck were they thinking? Why did they rope us into this terrible deal and now were stuck with a difficult budget and not enough money from these commercial properties?'

RELATED: Smileys $624 million budget proposal raises property taxes, makes cuts

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Ward 6 Councilor Miguel Sanchez called the 8-Law reform bill the most important one that residents should be paying attention to.

The conversation of commercial conversion should be its own separate bill, Sanchez said. What 8-Law was intended to do was create affordability incentives and to have language in that bill that has no affordability components at all, is ludicrous, in my opinion.

Separately, some councilors were concerned that the resolution came before them without having had a chance to discuss it in committee first. Ward 5 Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan said she wasnt willing to vote on something that hadnt been vetted.

I was adamant before that we needed to find a solution to 8-Law and I am willing and hope to work toward that end, Ryan said. But this is rushed, to me. We need to send it to committee and allow the council folks in this room, my colleagues, the opportunity to debate it, to discuss it, and try to get it right.

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Ward 9 Councilor and President Pro Tempore Juan Pichardo said he would have also preferred that a discussion was held in committee before taking a vote on Thursday night, and pushed for that to happen.

I think we have some time to bring this to the committee and have the administration or even the mayor come in and testify and start having that dialogue, Pichardo said.

Roias said he agreed in process, but argued that it could also get in the way of genuine progress.

Theres nothing more that these high-profile developers would like is for us to get stuck in process, Roias added.

Ward 1 Councilor and Senior Deputy Majority Leader John Goncalves and Ward 11 Councilwoman Shelley Peterson said they felt the council didnt get a chance to have input on the bill before it was taken up at the State House.

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When we talk about transparency, when we talk about coming together, its critical that we also have an opportunity to weigh in on something that the General Assembly is deliberating on, Goncalves said.

Goncalves added that the council should have conversations about adaptive reuse outside of the 8-Law reform bill, too.

Im asking for that collaboration to happen going forward with the administration, our state delegation and this council so that we can put forward something thats actually more effective for this community, Peterson added.

The councils resolution ultimately passed 9-3-2-1. (Councilors Althea Graves and James Taylor were absent, and Councilwoman Helen Anthony recused herself from the vote.)

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A copy of the resolution will be sent to Smiley, in addition to members of the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing, R.I. House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, Senate Majority Leader Val Lawson, and Gov. Dan McKee.

RELATED: Smiley vetoes 8-Law tax break ordinance

Thursdays discussion wasnt the first time councilors and the mayor clashed over the 8-Law.

Almost exactly a year ago, Smiley issued his first veto since taking office when he rejected an 8-Law Ordinance that the council approved in a 13 to 2 vote.

Council leadership argued the ordinance would tighten regulations surrounding tax breaks granted to developers who create affordable housing, while the mayor argued the ordinance was poorly crafted and would have placed a strain on city resources.

State legislation related to the 8-Law also did not pass last year.

Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.

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Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, standing with Alaska Public Media President Ed Ulman, at left, accepted a "champion of public broadcasting" award in 2020 from a coalition of public television stations. Amid efforts to strip federal funding of public media, Sullivan calls NPR "overly partisan" but says he "understands that Alaskas public radio stations are essential to our state." (Photo courtesy of America's Public Television Stations)

Should public media be spared the budget cutting axe of President Donald Trump and the congressional allies of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE?

Im not going to directly answer that question myself, because Im not an unbiased observer: Ive worked for years as a reporter and contractor for Alaska Public Media, Anchorages public radio and television station. I also have close friendships and working relationships with many of the reporters across the state whose jobs could be at stake.

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I do, however, feel confident in saying that theres another, related question thats objectively interesting and less problematic for me to try to answer, which is: Will Alaskas elected officials vote to buck Trump and preserve public medias federal funding?

That question has become increasingly urgent with the Trump administration plan to end the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB.

That nonprofit organization, in turn, grants money to both NPR and PBS, as well as to stations across the country  including more than 20 in Alaska, from Utqiagvik on the North Slope to Ketchikan near the Canadian boarder.

Alaskas stations received more than $12 million from CPB last year, which can amount to 40% or more of their annual budgets.

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NPR, which Trump and his allies have attacked as biased towards liberals, derives roughly 1% of its budget from CPB, though it also collects money from individual stations that run its programs.

Alaskas public media leaders told me they believe Trumps proposal is more likely to pass the Republican-controlled U.S. House.

Theyre counting on the U.S. Senate  where only a few GOP votes would be needed to sink the plan  to be their firewall.

They describe Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski as a rock solid ally in preserving the funding. And they expect Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, a longtime supporter of public media, to come to their defense, too.

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But they also say they wont know for certain until the votes are cast.

I dont want to say that Im fully confident of their votes, said Tom Abbott, general manager of KFSK in the Southeast Alaska fishing town of Petersburg, which gets some 30% of its budget from CPB.

But, Abbott added: Weve had very strong support from both of our U.S. senators, for several years now.

I was curious to know where Sullivan, Murkowski and Alaskas sole member of the U.S. House, Republican Nick Begich III, stood on whats reported to be an impending proposal from Trump to rescind $1.1 billion, or two years of funding, for CPB.

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I asked each of their offices Wednesday.

Begichs spokesperson didnt respond by my deadline. Murkowskis spokesman, Joe Plesha, was unequivocal, saying that she is a fierce advocate for Alaskas public broadcasting and vehemently opposes this reported rescission.

While the administration might be targeting NPR and PBS by rescinding this funding, the real casualty will be local public broadcasting, which is vital for Alaska, Plesha said.

Sullivans spokesperson, Amanda Coyne, also sent a statement: While Sen. Sullivan believes that NPR has become overly partisan and has veered far from its mission to include a diversity of voices in its coverage, he understands that Alaskas public radio stations are essential to our state, especially in rural areas.

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Sullivan has also, in recent days, responded to constituents who have emailed in support of public media funding, saying in a form letter that he will continue to work with the current administration to stress the importance of public broadcasting in Alaska and nationwide.

Sullivans position is particularly interesting because of his politics: Unlike Murkowski, hes rarely publicly criticized Trumps policies.

But while Trumps White House has ripped into public media  saying this month that the NPR, PBS grift has ripped us off for too long  Sullivan has long recognized its value, at least as far as the services it provides in rural communities.

In 2020, he accepted a champion of public broadcasting award from a coalition of public television stations. He also joined with Murkowski in recommending an Alaskan, Diane Kaplan, for a seat on CPBs board of directors, and former President Joe Biden appointed her in 2022.

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Kaplan is now in the news this week for a lawsuit she and CPB filed against Trump, alleging that the president is illegally attempting to fire her and other board members.

Begichs vote will be interesting to watch, as well.

The representative, whos just a few months into his first term, has aligned himself closely with Trump.

But hes also sent constituents correspondence about public media funding that references the challenge of communication and information sharing in Alaskas rural communities, saying that public media plays a crucial role in residents access to news and emergency alerts.

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I support fiscal responsibility and efforts to reduce wasteful government spending, he said in one recent message. I also recognize that certain investments provide valuable returns to our communities. I will continue to advocate for policies that enhance infrastructure, improve broadband access, and support communication networks that serve all Alaskans, including those in our rural communities.

Republicans have targeted federal funding of public media for years. But those efforts have never gained as much traction as theyre getting now.

Abbott, in Petersburg, describes the current threat to federal funding as by far, the most serious in his 28 years as general manager. With the proposal from Trump expected, though still not yet introduced, it puts us all in an uneasy position.Were kind of waiting for the ax to drop, he said.

Nathaniel Herz welcomes tips at natherz@gmail.com or (907) 793-0312. This article was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter from Herz. Subscribe at this link.

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EVANS, Ga (WJBF)  Local first responders gave people the chance to learn how they keep their community safe.

Hundreds were at the fair Saturday morning to meet with emergency workers and learn more about what they do.

This is the 3rd year of the Public Safety and Preparedness Fair, and dozens of organizations were there.

Shepeard Blood Center, The Red Cross, The Gold Cross, AU Air Care and more were able to give the public a glimpse into what they do every day.

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Even Georgia Power, the Corps of Engineers, everybody is here, everybody that serves the public is here to showcase what they do for the public. said Danny Kuhlmann, Operations Chief of Columbia County Fire Rescue.

There was live music, carnival rides, food trucks a rock wall and more at the festival.

Kids were able to get inside the emergency vehicles, explore a dive boat, and learn more about the equipment our first responders use on a daily basis.

Kuhlmann says members of the community were showing sympathy for the events that occurred this weekend killing Deputy Brandon Sikes and injuring Deputy Gavin White.

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I was by the sheriffs office tents and they were getting a lot of condolences from the public. said Kuhlmann.

The event was free to the public and is always one for the whole family to enjoy.

Kids are a big part of who we like to talk to, everybody gives them toys and swag and stuff to carry around and they like that. Kuhlmann said.

Organizers say while the events of last week are heavy on everyones minds, this event was meant to uplift the community and show their support for our local heroes.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
For the past 45 years, Chicagos Little Village neighborhood has celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a parade featuring Mexican bands, floats and dancers, and a festival at a local park.

But this years celebration, which attracts up to 300,000 people annually, has been canceled.

Chicago is among several communities across the country that have canceled or scaled back cultural events due to President Donald Trumps crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

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Event organizers said many Latinos, whether legal or undocumented, fear being arrested if they gather publicly in large crowds. Advocates also report that some are afraid to attend church, go to work or take their children to school.

Since January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has carried out raids in so-called sanctuary cities like Chicago, which limit cooperation with the federal government in enforcing immigration law.

Trump has also authorized ICE to target schools and churches, as well as deport undocumented immigrants for alleged gang ties, often based on limited evidence.

ICE has arrested nearly 66,500 undocumented immigrants and removed about 65,600 in the presidents first 100 days, according to newly released agency data.

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We dont want to take a chance and put our community at risk, Hector Escobar, president of the Casa Puebla and Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce, said. Its a loss economically, but we put safety over money.

UnidosUs, the nations largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, found that 43% of Latino voters fear immigration authorities will arrest people, even if they are US citizens.

The city of Philadelphia also canceled its El Carnaval de Puebla festival this year, an annual event in April that celebrates Mexican culture.

Festival organizer Olga Renteria said people in the community were concerned that ICE officers might show up at the event and target attendees.

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We are not going to take a chance, Renteria told CNN. Everyone is being cautious, no celebrating, no big gatherings.

In central Oregon, organizers have canceled the annual Latino Fest, which was scheduled for September in Madras.

Catalina Sanchez Frank, executive director of the Latino Community Association, said the event typically attracts 3,000 people and features parades, musical performances and booths representing different countries in Latin America.

Organizers feel compelled to protect the community from ICE, Frank said.

Its a celebration of joy, and when people are experiencing anxiety around possible fear of deportation, then we feel its more responsible and ethical to not celebrate this year, Frank said.

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Many immigrants came to the US seeking a safe haven that would allow them to work hard, provide for their families and live a better life, Frank said.

Now, those same people, some of whom are legal or have a pending citizenship case, fear they could be profiled, arrested and deported without due process, said Daniel Altamirano Hernandez, executive advisor of policy & partnerships for the Latino Community Association.

It becomes an environment where folks are judging folks based on the color of their skin or the language that they use and that doesnt necessarily correlate with someones immigration status, Hernandez said. So, if we cant provide a genuine space to authentically celebrate our culture  then we cant commit to the genuine mission of this festival.

Clarissa Martinez De Castro, vice president of the Latino Vote Initiative at UnidosUS, said its understandable that organizations are canceling cultural events to prioritize safety for their communities. De Castro said it remains unclear whether the Trump administration will respect the right to due process before deporting people.

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UnidosUS is encouraging Latino Americans to be aware of their constitutional rights and to stand together if they are targeted by ICE, De Castro said.

She noted that 80% of Latinos living in the US are legal citizens.

When the administration is taking actions that fail to distinguish, that sends a message to the community that the community as a whole is in the crosshairs for actions that, already, some courts have said are illegal, De Castro said.

Juneteenth events are scaling back

The Latino community isnt the only group scaling back its cultural and identity celebrations.

Annual Juneteenth events have also been downsized this year due to the Trump administrations effort to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

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Reggie Johnson, president of the NAACP Metuchen Edison Piscataway Area Branch in New Jersey, said he had to move his organizations annual Juneteenth celebration to a smaller location after staff at the federal site where it was previously held expressed uncertainty about hosting it there.

The staff was concerned that Juneteenth was considered a DEI event banned by the Trump administration, Johnson said.

The contractors misinterpreted our event as a DEI initiative, so they didnt want to risk having it and losing it because of Trumps interpretation of Juneteenth, Johnson said.

The federal staff called back five days later to say the Juneteenth event would be allowed, but by then, Johnson had already secured another space.

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The new space is smaller and may not accommodate the 3,500 people that typically attend the event, Johnson said.

In Denver, the annual Juneteenth Music Festival has been reduced to a one-day event instead of two days after several major sponsors either pulled out or decreased their contributions this year.

Norman Harris, the festivals lead organizer, said the loss of support was abrupt and came without a clear explanation.

It also came as many major companies rolled back their DEI programs earlier this year in response to conservative backlash.

Harris said he was tremendously disappointed to learn that he would have to downsize the music festival, which has been held since 2012. The event typically attracts roughly 30,000 people each year, he noted.

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He said Juneteenth celebrations are critical for acknowledging the nations history and healing from the trauma some of that history has caused.

I say this sincerely, that we are a community and one of our founding values is resilience and unity, Harris said. So, we thoroughly believe that we can overcome the challenges that we are facing. There have been generations of our communities that have dealt with so much more and have had to figure out how to support themselves without the support of outsiders.

CNNs Taylor Romine contributed.

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U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke to U.S. Vice President JD Vance on May 2, during which the two leaders discussed Russia's war against Ukraine.

Following intensified efforts to broker a peace settlement to end Russia's war against Ukraine, the U.S. has said it will scale back its role as a mediator. "We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat... that is now between the two parties," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on May 1.

Lammy condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for failing to engage in meaningful talks to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

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"Putin has stalled and hampered discussions for long enough. The world is losing patience," Lammy said.

The U.S. and the U.K. are committed to ending Russia's war against Ukraine, Lammy said. Ukraine's allies met in London on April 23, where they discussed reaching a peace settlement.

"(W)e reaffirmed our shared desire for an end to Russias barbaric invasion of Ukraine and our commitment to a lasting peace," Lammy said.

Lammy and U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey met with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the London meeting on April 23.

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"We are grateful to the U.K. for its leadership and support. We will discuss ways to strengthen Ukraine and guarantee long-term peace and security," Sybiha said.

The Kremlin has shown signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations brokered by the U.S.

Putin is insisting that any deal to end Russia's war against Ukraine must include full Russian control of four Ukrainian oblasts that Moscow only partially occupies, three Moscow-based sources familiar with the talks told Bloomberg.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia attacks Kharkiv with drones, injuring at least 40

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NEW YORK (PIX11)City officials are rolling out a new campaign to address a spike in rabid raccoons in several neighborhoods. Special vaccine baits are being placed in parts of Queens and Brooklyn to help curb the spread of the virus and protect residents and pets.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is stepping up efforts to vaccinate raccoons against rabies in Queens and Brooklyn. Residents in affected neighborhoods like Laurelton are reacting to the news with concern and curiosity.

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If theres rabies shots to give, you gotta be concerned. I dont wanna get sick, says Anita, a Laurelton resident.

Anita lives just blocks from where a rabid raccoon was recently found. She and other residents say they havent seen raccoons in the area, but have noticed other wildlife. I just see like possums running across, but no raccoons. No raccoons, says Anita, a Laurelton resident.

Another resident added, Raccoons could be dangerous, carry diseases, so theres no real reason for them to be around.

The citys springtime vaccine campaign comes in response to a spike in rabid raccoons, with six confirmed cases in Queens so far, the highest of any borough. Oral rabies vaccine baits, which look like small, fish-scented ketchup packets, are being distributed in targeted areas to immunize raccoons and help prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

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Sally Slavinski, Assistant Director of the Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Disease Unit at the citys Health Department, explains: If it seems like its in a place where it might be problematic, like in their yard, they can certainly use gloves to pick it up and toss it into a wooded area or potentially dispose of it in their trash can.

She says the increase in rabid raccoons this year is part of a natural cycle and encourages residents to take simple precautions and keep their pets vaccinations current.

Vaccination is a great tool that we have to vaccinate these raccoons to protect wildlife, people, and pets from rabies and encourage folks to respect wildlife, avoid any kinds of interactions, and certainly keep their pets updated on their rabies vaccines as well, says Slavinski.

The bait is not harmful to people or pets, but in rare cases, contact with the liquid inside may cause a rash. Residents are advised to wash their hands, contact the Poison Center, or call 311 if exposed.

Residents are urged to:

Avoid feeding or approaching wild animals, especially raccoons.

Keep garbage in sealed containers.

Ensure pets are vaccinated and not left unattended outdoors.

Report animals acting aggressively or unusually friendly by calling 311.

Report animal attacks or bites to the Health Department at 212-676-2483.

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For more information on raccoons and rabies prevention, click here.

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The Raleigh County Commission will convene in regular session at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6.

The commission will address a full agenda of items during the meeting, which will be staged in commission chambers at 116 12 N. Heber St. in Beckley.

Among the new business items on the agenda are the following:

 Introduction of a new employee for Raleigh County Sheriff Law Enforcement. Edward D. Vaught will be an animal control officer;

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 Consideration of an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Beckley, the Raleigh County Commission and the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority;

 A resolution authorizing Gregory A. Duckworth to apply for and use the funds from the Courthouse Security Grant to upgrade cameras at the Judicial Annex;

 Open bids on a new vehicle for the Raleigh County Day Report Center to be reimbursed by a grant from the West Virginia First Foundation;

 Consideration of an O&M agreement with Segra for the airport broadband project;

 Consideration of renewal of Delta Dental insurance for Raleigh County employees;

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 Estate of Margaret Dare Bailey;

 Consideration of increasing the annual allocation to the WVU Extension Service to $22,000;

 Consideration of a grant of $72,650 for the Harper/Eccles sewer project;

 Consideration of a $10,000 grant to the Trap Hill Little League;

 Consideration of a $10,000 grant to Raleigh County Crime Stoppers;

 Consideration of a $3,000 grant to Raleigh County Special Olympics;

 Consideration of a $2,000 grant to Chornwood Trout Unlimited for a veterans fishing retreat;

 Consideration of drawdown No. 14 on the Piney View sewer extension for the North Beckley PSD in the amount of $673,458;

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 Consideration of a proposal from Enterprise Fleet Management; and

 Consideration of a litter pickup program with the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority.

To join the meeting, call 978-990-5449. The access code is 623858. Callers are asked to mute their phones.

The next regularly scheduled commission meeting will be Tuesday, May 20, at 10 a.m.
As tuition costs climb and artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce, a growing number of young Americans are questioning whether a college degree still offers a meaningful return on their investment. For Gen Z and millennials, the traditional value of higher education is under scrutiny  especially in an economy where degrees no longer guarantee job security or career growth.

A Generational Divide in College Value

A recent survey by Indeed found that 51% of Gen Z professionals consider their college degree a waste of money, compared to 41% of millennials and just 20% of baby boomers. For many younger graduates, the cost of education, combined with student loan burdens and an uncertain job market, has made them question whether college was the right path.

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According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a bachelor's degree has doubled over the past 25 years, now exceeding $38,000. Meanwhile, student loan debt in the U.S. is nearing $2 trillion. These financial strains are shifting how young professionals view their degrees: nearly four in 10 say student debt has slowed their career growth more than their diploma has helped it.

AI Adds to the Uncertainty

Artificial intelligence has introduced another layer of doubt for recent grads. About one-third of college-educated workers believe AI has already made their degree irrelevant, according to Indeed  a figure that climbs to 45% among Gen Zers.

Yet some experts argue this fear may be overstated. "AI is not going to take your job," Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told The New York Times last year. "The person who uses AI well might take your job."

Similarly, Kyle M.K., a career expert at Indeed, told Fortune that while some technical roles are more exposed to automation, areas like nursing and creative strategy remain relatively insulated.

The key, he says, is adaptability: "AI won't invalidate a solid education, but it will reward those who keep upgrading their toolkit."

Trending: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm  invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now.

Degrees Without Distinction?

Even as more young people earn degrees, the job market doesn't always reflect that value. Researchers suggest the "college wage premium"  the extra income typically earned by degree holders  has plateaued. And with more graduates than ever before, competition for skilled jobs has intensified.
President Trump doesn't even help his friends

It didnt shock me to learn that Mr. Trump, who won our states vote for president, advised Arkansas and its true believer, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, that her request for disaster relief after damaging storms in her state was denied. Well see how many other poor red states will suffer the same fate after damaging, life threatening, fatality involving storms affect those states. Of course, Oklahoma is one of those.

Weve heard Mr. Trump disparage FEMA, wanting to eliminate its mandate. Weve heard that from others in the Trump administration. Our government institutions are not perfect, but FEMA has contributed to Oklahomas recovery more than once. As we enter into tornado season as a state that suffers from yearly damaging weather events, we should watch how Gov. Sanders' appeal and plea for federal help plays out. After all, like the governor of Arkansas, our governor is also a true believer.

 Penny Barber, Edmond

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More: Oklahoma voters  Is this the Trump you had in mind? | Opinion

We don't have to buy things from China

What happens after we get into a hot war with a near peer adversary like China? Well, what you see right now with the trade tariffs is what you will see if we get into a hot war instead of an economic trade war. China is not going to continue to supply the U.S. with anything that would help the U.S. in war with them. Just plain fact. And if they did supply us with anything, it will be of a poor grade of quality.

I recently thought I had bought a two-drawer metal file cabinet that was U.S.-made. It turned out that it was made of wood that was not worth buying. One of those assemble-it-yourself things. I ended up trashing it and going shopping in the office supply brick-and-mortar stores and found one that was far better than that piece manufactured in China. It was metal and came with rollers so that it could be moved around without having to physically pick it up to move it. Guess what! It was slightly cheaper than the Chinese-made piece which online was depicted as having rollers and being Made in the USA.

That purchase has been loaded up and taken to the trash station for disposal. People, do not be in a hurry to buy stuff online. You might get the same thing, a piece of junk from China. Go to the brick-and-mortars stores and find acceptable things that are U.S.-made. If enough of us do that, we will reclaim our manufacturing base. We need to do that because as Americans we can beat the Chinese in quality any day of the year. That IS one thing we as Americans can be proud of.

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 Andre Snodgrass, Norman

More: Imagine this  A Freedom Brigade of young Gen Z women bucking the Legislature | Opinion

Stop trying to make women criminals

Institutions have been trying to control womens bodies since we were born with the intangible societal norms and now with very tangible legislation that criminalizes the use of our autonomy.

Oklahoma currently has three overlapping and inconsistent state abortion bans that were enacted around the overturning of Roe. These bans cause confusion about clinicians ability to provide care during obstetric emergencies, even when the lives, health and safety of pregnant people are at stake. And now state senators are trying to pass more legislation. SB-456, The Abolition of Abortion Act, states that abortion shall be considered and prosecuted in the same and usual manner as a homicide. It would further criminalize a medical procedure and put the lives of countless Oklahoma citizens at risk.

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The increase in fear and confusion on the part of the providers increases the stigma surrounding abortions and reproductive health in general. Of course, we are more prone to fear the things that we do not know. Instead, why not put more time and effort into resources that could help prevent these procedures from being necessary in the first place? Creating policies that enforce more thorough and comprehensive sexual education programs in schools, workplaces and health care institutions would mitigate the spread of misinformation and promote healthy/safe relationships and sex practices; therefore, we would be better equipped to resolve the issue at the source.

Experts say that utilizing culturally relevant sexual education that is respectful of local customs is the most effective way to prevent teenage pregnancies. The main focus is fostering an open, supportive dialogue that eliminates the stigma and shame usually associated with reproductive health. This is not just relevant for children, but it is also crucial that parents actively participate in educational programs to provide further support and feedback related to specific values. Showing acceptance from major supports like parental figures removes even more of the stigma surrounding sex and reproductive health and leads to better physical, mental/emotional, and social outcomes. We need to change the dialogue from that of criminalization to open understanding and learning if we hope to navigate such a complicated issue together.

 Nia Robinson, Oklahoma City

'Christ is King' legislation is actually anti-Christ

The "Christ is King" legislation being pushed by the Oklahoma GOP is explicitly anti-Christ. Jesus Christ numerous times insisted and proclaimed (as he did with Pontius Pilate) that: "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). He rejected Satan's temptation to rule over all the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4: 1-11) and walked away when his followers wanted to make him their king (John 6:15). And he certainly would reject the GOP's temptations!

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Jesus wanted nothing to do with worldly, profane things. Certainly not with nation states. The doctrine of separation of church and state set down by the Founding Fathers reflects and respects this, but Oklahoma's GOP apparently does not. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin responded to a member of the clergy when questioned about it by saying: If your religion has to have government to hold it up, it must really suck! (a paraphrase of Franklin's words).

Oklahoma GOP Christians have a profoundly spiritual problem. They worship a deity in their own image: White, male, American and perpetually terrified of just about everything  immigrants, gay people, drag queens, Starbucks coffee cups, Big Bird, science, everything. Their God cannot protect them from the encroaching monsters they are certain lurk around every corner. They want to use government power to change other people into who the GOP thinks they should be.

 John Karlin, Oklahoma City

More: Jesus has been betrayed again. This time by Oklahoma legislators | Opinion

We can learn from Presidents Kennedy and Lincoln

I was in Mr. Mantooths senior English class, when the loudspeakers reported  President Kennedy has been shot and killed in Dallas today, November 22, 1963. Kennedy was the first president baby boomers could relate to  handsome, young, energetic and appearing nightly on television. Almost 62 years later many of us still get chill bumps reading his inauguration address:

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Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. And further challenging us all: And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you  ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

One hundred and twenty-four years earlier, in 1838 an unknown 28-year-old attorney spoke to the Young Mens Lyceum of Springfield Illinois. (Members of the Lyceum came together only to present, discuss and learn). Typically, Lincolns address was brief ending with this warning:

All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track in the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the danger to be expected? If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.

President Kennedys immortal words were a trumpets call for America to rise to the worldwide challenge, along with our allies, of preserving freedom for all citizens. While Kennedys invitation was worldly focused, Lincolns attention was devoted to domestic concerns for the preservation of Americas freedoms, which he believed could only be threatened by internal strife. Fast forward to 2025 and consider how prescient each man was in his vision, and what is at risk for our children and grandchildren.

 Jack Riley, Ardmore

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Disaster relief, Chinese purchases and criminalizing abortion | Letters
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisiana is less than a month away from hurricane season, and the state climatologist said an above-average stretch is likely.

You need to be prepared, said Jay Grymes, Louisianas State Climatologist.

Early forecasts from Colorado State University and others suggest at least 15 named storms could impact the United States from June 1 to Nov. 30. A portion of those will develop to Louisianas south.

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Five or six storms in the Gulf of Mexico means theres a pretty good chance Louisiana has to deal with one, Grymes said.

Grymes said Louisiana is used to getting hammered by storms, and the state is doing a good job of getting the word out and responding when hurricanes make landfall. He said the last 24 years have spawned 29 named storms, which stands out when compared to previous stretches in the states history.

Twenty years is more than a blip, Grymes said. The question becomes, is this the new norm?

Some industries are beginning to adapt to the possibility that it is. Construction is one.

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Its all about being proactive, being prepared, said Rachael Gauthier, a meteorologist for the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety Research (IBHS) in South Carolina.

For more than a decade, IBHS scientists have studied how to strengthen building construction to handle strong storms. They run controlled tests against artificially-produced, hurricane-force winds, and they concluded the roof and garage door are the two biggest areas to focus on.

The nonprofit has a program called FORTIFIED, which includes recommendations to strengthen buildings to withstand Mother Nature.

A big, important part of the fortified roof is just keeping the rain out, Gauthier said. It also includes other things like special nailing patterns to keep the roof attached to your house.

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Gauthier said a grant program called Louisiana Fortify Homes could help qualified applicants afford to upgrade their roofs. People could pay as little as $500 under the right circumstances.

If you qualify, you could receive up to $10,000 to upgrade your roof to a fortified roof, Gauthier said.

Gauthier said some easy ways to prepare are to trim overhanging tree branches, seal up cracks around windows and doors, and clean the gutters.

You want any rain that hits your roof and goes into those gutters to be able to travel away from your house, Gauthier said.

Grymes said now is the time to start preparing.

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Be ready for at least one storm, Grymes said.

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May 2A man jumped off the Hudson Memorial Bridge on Wednesday evening, according to Decatur police, and the Morgan County Rescue Squad confirmed Thursday the search had become a recovery mission as they sought to find his body.

Decatur police spokeswoman Irene Cardenas-Martinez said officers responded about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday after a report that an individual had jumped from the Hudson Memorial Bridge. Decatur police, the Morgan County Rescue Squad, and Decatur Fire & Rescue arrived shortly after the call came in.

Rescue squads from surrounding counties also searched for much of the night, resumed their search at daybreak Thursday and as of Thursday evening had not found the body.

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On Thursday morning, the search from a staging area at Ingalls Harbor included the Athens-Limestone Rescue Squad, Childersburg Rescue Squad, Huntsville-Madison County Rescue Squad, Morgan County Emergency Management Agency and Christian Aid Ministry from Vanleer, Tennessee.

Morgan County Rescue Squad Capt. Ben Davis remained on scene Thursday as four divers from the Huntsville-Madison County Rescue Squad prepared to search the cold backwaters of Wheeler Lake.

Davis said the individual was an older white man wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. He said the man had driven a white Ford truck to the bridge alone before exiting the vehicle and a witness told him he jumped headfirst into the water, which is about 30 feet deep at that point.

"We had a team go out earlier this morning with side-scan sonar and a device called AquaEye, which helps identify objects underwater," Davis said. "They've had several positive hits in the same area where he went in. We're going to do another sweep to confirm those hits."

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Davis said based on witness accounts and the nature of the jump, the search has now become a recovery mission, as it is assumed the man did not survive.

He added that crews do not believe the body had drifted far from the point of entry, but cold-water temperatures are likely preventing it from surfacing.

"Usually, when someone doesn't resurface, even with strong currents, they sink and stay in the same area until body gases begin forming and causes them to float," Davis said. "With colder water, that process slows down because the body doesn't swell as quickly."

Davis said sonar equipment is helping speed up the search.

"Sonar gives us a detailed map of the river bottom, and you can actually make out the outline if there is a body," he said.

 wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.
NYU law professor Melissa Murray, former Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary McCord, and former FBI General Counsel and Mueller probe prosecutor Andrew Weissmann join MSNBCs Ari Melber for an in-depth conversation on President Trumps first 100 days in office and his legal battles. This clip includes the majority of the panel discussion that aired on MSNBC. (The Beat's YouTube playlist: https://msnbc.com/ari Beat merch: www.msnbc.com/Beat5)
Its been another extraordinary political week. The light blue wave has come way further up the beach than most Tories expected. It has washed away many seemingly solid Conservative strongpoints far from the waters edge.

The stunning Runcorn result is almost the least important thing from Friday. Across Britain, many very good Conservatives, decent people who have worked hard for conservative values, have been unceremoniously booted out. In Lincolnshire, just 14 Tory councillors remain. In my own home county of Derbyshire, a bellwether Middle England area, there are 12. And in Kent, just five are left from the 62 in office on Thursday morning.

Many wondered whether Reforms polling was robust and whether it could deliver on the day. We now know it was, and it can. Rupert Lowes dissent turned out to be irrelevant and the organisational changes brought in by much-criticised party chairman Zia Yusuf proved their worth.

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Many things can, of course, still go wrong for Reform. But so they can for the Conservatives too. The current reality is that, in the projected national-level results, Reform is scoring at twice the Tories levels. This week, with the sole exception of Peterborough, the Conservative Party melted away.

At its peak, Ukip had 496 councillors and brief control of one council. On Friday, Reform won 677 seats and 10 councils in one go. A few months back I said the Tory party was in a street fight with Reform. So far the Reform gang has bullied the Conservatives right off the electoral map.

Conservatives wont change this just by relying on Labour unpopularity. Thats baked in now. Keir Starmers threatening message, to go further and faster, tells us that, because it really means, I intend to do even more damage to the country, more quickly, while I still can.

The Starmer offer of authoritarian managerialism is unappealing, to put it mildly. But there is no consensus alternative in Labour circles either. Some want Blue Labour tax and spend, some progressive Europhile legalism, some Islamo-Leftism. None has mass appeal. Voters can see that. They will not vote Labour if they are given any credible alternative.

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The question is, what party represents that alternative? And, crucially, will voters believe it can deliver? For the British electorate keeps voting for change and doesnt get it, and the mood in much of the country is sulphurous as a result. The pollster Luke Tryl of More in Common, reporting on his recent focus groups, noted, The disillusionment is the worst Ive heard; in every group, it was anger; despondency or misery about the state of Britain.

Any political proposition that doesnt respond to this is going to be a non-starter. This weeks vote was another attempt to get politicians to listen.

This is why it is not only unbelievably patronising, but extremely stupid for mainstream politicians to say, Theres an anti-politics mood, people want easy solutions, theyll soon realise that Reform isnt offering anything serious. People have had enough of being told why things cant change. They want politicians who can make change happen.

Voters can see that the revealed preference of both main parties, apart from a short period under Boris Johnson, has been to care more about international commitments, legal constraints, the quango state, the judges and the bureaucracy than about doing what voters want. They see parties that find it easier to turn against the people rather than fix the countrys real problems (one reason, by the way, why the winter fuel cuts were so damaging to Labour).

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The dividing line at future elections will be between parties that accept all these constraints and those who dont. Reforms big advantage is that everyone can see which side of the line they sit on. Sure, they may well find it harder than they think to get rid of diversity and climate change officers in their new councils thanks to the Equality and Climate Change Acts.

But if they fail, it will not be because their elected representatives secretly arent very bothered about trying. The consequent legal and political friction will have the same effect as Johnsons prorogation of Parliament over Brexit: it gets the establishment huffing and puffing, but convinces voters that MPs actually want to achieve their declared goals.

Thats why it makes no sense for Conservatives to say, as their chairman Nigel Huddleston did after the results, that Reform are not a conservative party. For one thing, given the record of mass migration, net zero madness, nannying and banning, and the highest tax-and-spend levels in our history, many can reasonably doubt the Tories are conservative either. But it also misses the bigger point: it doesnt matter how beautiful your policy prescription is if you cant actually implement it.

Yes, I want to see a small state, public sector reform and as much free-market economics as we can get. I also want to see the borders controlled, crime reduced, defence and national resilience taken seriously, and our history and achievements as a country taught and respected. There is plenty of room for debate about the right mix between these things. But unless the next government of the Right can recover agency  the ability to act to deliver them  this is all going to be irrelevant.

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So the precondition for any successful political party of the Right now is to make a firm commitment to get a grip on the mess and to take back control. That not only means committing, publicly, to get back any powers handed over by Starmer in his ghastly EU reset this month. It means seeing that commitment as part of a bigger process to restore power and sovereignty: to sweep away the Windsor Framework, get out of the ECHR, override the Refugee Convention, scrap the Climate Change Act, end the Equality Act and restrict the powers of the courts at all levels to stymie government action  so that it can actually govern and do what voters want it to do.

Its taken as read, I think, that Reform wants to do this  though it would still be good if they could say so in concrete terms soon. If the Tories could commit to it too, it might just start to show people that they get whats going wrong. Will they? Im afraid Im not holding my breath.

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HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala (WDHN)A local high school student has received the opportunity of a lifetime: to develop a project in zero gravity and break barriers while doing it.

Rising Rehobeth High School senior Charlee Chandler was one of just four people selected to conduct a research project in micro-gravity.

Over 150 students from across the country applied for a chance to be selected for an internship at the University of Texas at Austins student enhancement in earth and space science program, which NASA sponsors.

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Chandler can now work closely with other mentors from the internship to help perfect her experiment.

One that she says will help with eye motions and reflexes when ones head moves while in space or a parabolic aircraft.

Im using a device called a galvanic vestibular stimulation, Chandler said. Im applying low-level electrical currents to the inner ear to simulate the vestibular system.

The four students will be able to conduct their research project in a specially modified plane, where they will experience 11 minutes of true weightlessness.

Chandler says that while this internship is an amazing opportunity, she hopes her story can inspire others from the Wiregrass and, most importantly, the future generation of women in space studies.

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Coming from a rural area in Alabama, I havent had the fanciest opportunities, Chandler said. I havent had access to educational opportunitiesI want to ensure the next generation of young girls, regardless of where they come from, can pursue it and make the most of all opportunities theyre given.

Chandler says that when she arrives at the research facility in Kansas, she and the other students will undergo multiple days of prep and test readiness before beginning their research.

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Companies in three countries actively campaign to block policies that reduce polluting gases, despite the adverse health effects for their consumers.

According to Grist, a report from a think tank based in London, InfluenceMap, showed that dirty energy companies in the U.S., EU, and Australia are using "similar lobbying tactics."

"They've also developed tailored narratives for each region to mislead consumers and promote gas use, according to the report," per Grist.

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In 2019, Berkeley, California, announced the first ban against gas in the country. Other cities followed. These policies prompted the dirty energy companies to sue and campaign against the bans.

Trade groups, including the American Gas Association, have also pushed for laws to prevent bans from happening.

Companies also argue that they want consumers to have a choice, while they control consumers' options.

EU lobbyists have even successfully gotten incentives for hybrid models to keep gas in the mix.

While these companies and groups push hard against electrification, it benefits people.

For example, switching to an induction stove will provide better air quality for your family because it doesn't release toxic gases, like benzene and methane.

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Cooking with an induction stove will also save you time  it boils water 50% faster than a traditional stove. It uses magnetism to heat up just the pan and food, so it's cool to the touch, which makes it safer for your family. That also means easier clean up because food doesn't get baked on.

If you rent or can't afford an entire kitchen revamp, induction plug-in stoves cost as little as $50, which makes it very easy to switch from your gas stove.

In addition to these benefits, it's also better for the environment. According to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, "renewables and 'technology-specific' policies have lowered emissions worldwide," per Grist.

Unfortunately, "fossil fuel and utility industries employ highly coordinated and planned attacks against one of the most important climate and public health measures," said Energy and Policy Institute researcher Itai Vardi.

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There is a glimmer of hope since a small number of companies are looking to science and backing electrification.

Report co-author Vivek Parekh said, "These voices are being overwhelmed by the fossil fuel industry. The overwhelming opportunity here is for those voices to strengthen their advocacy for building electrification and the phaseout of gas."

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Members of the European Union are set to bolster their renewable energy capacity by a record amount in the coming year. Reporting by Reuters says that EU countries are projected to add 89 gigawatts of renewable energy across the bloc in 2025.

Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine has been a catalyst for the European Union's push toward renewable energy. As members of the bloc have pledged to divest entirely from importing dirty energy sources from Moscow by 2027, though, as the Guardian reports, actually keeping that promise has proved difficult. Still, a firm plan for excluding Russia by 2027 will be presented in May.

The surge in renewable energy capacity will primarily come from solar (70 GW), with wind accounting for the remainder (19 GW). Across the continent, EU member states are implementing innovative approaches to increase renewable energy sources. For example, France has mandated that any car park larger than 1,500 square meters must have solar panels installed, per pv magazine.

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Germany, the EU's most populous member state and one that has been heavily reliant on Russian dirty energy, has adopted an innovative approach to solar energy. Solar panels are typically installed on rooftops, but in Germany, they're now being placed on balconies. According to Canary Media, over half a million were installed in 2023.

Spain and Italy are particularly well-suited for solar energy due to their sunny climates. The former has tripled its wind farms and increased its solar capacity eightfold since 2008. Spain is the fourth-largest country in population but the second-largest producer of renewable energy on the continent.

As the BBC reports, Madrid is producing so much renewable energy that it could hinder investment by utility companies. Southern Italy is another literal hotspot for solar energy, as Rome punches well above its weight in clean energy production.

While the overall picture is certainly moving in the right direction, several challenges lie ahead, and Europe still needs to increase its clean energy capacity to meet its climate goals. One issue is the lengthy application and legal process, which can delay the construction of wind farms by years. Another aspect is the uncertainty in the global market and disruptions to supply chains.

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Conagra Brands is set to divest its legacy Chef Boyardee shelf-stable pasta business to Hometown Food Company for $600m in cash.

The US-based frozen foods and snacks maker said in a statement the deal includes all related assets of the brand, including a production facility in Milton, Pennsylvania.

Hometown Food Company, a portfolio business of private-equity firm Brynwood Partners, said the transaction, including the 820,000 square-foot plant, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

However, Conagra said the frozen skillet meals under the Chef Boyardee brand are not part of the sale and will instead be licensed to Conagra by Hometown Food Company.

Chef Boyardee offers products in canned and microwave formats including items such as beef ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, mini ravioli, and 'beefaroni'.

The products are distributed primarily through grocery stores, mass retailers, and dollar store chains in the US, with an additional market presence in Canada and Puerto Rico, Hometown Food Company said.

Chef Boyardees shelf-stable products generated approximately $450m in net sales for Conagra in fiscal year 2024, the US frozen-meals business said.

Hometown Food Company said the Milton facility, which employs approximately 500 people who are included in the deal, will operate alongside its three existing manufacturing sites.

Conagra president and CEO Sean Connolly said: The Chef Boyardee divestiture marks another milestone in reshaping the Conagra Brands' portfolio for better long-term growth, while also paying down debt.

Despite the uncertain external environment, Conagra remains proactive in its pursuit of shareholder-value creation. By deepening our focus on our leading, growth-oriented frozen and healthy-snacking businesses, we continue to build a more focused company with modern consumer brands.

Brynwood Partners CEO and chairman Henk Hartong described the Chef Boyardee acquisition as the single largest in the firms 40-year history.

He said that the shelf-stable meal brand will join the Hometown portfolio, which has grown by nearly twofold since its inception, adding that the company will reinvigorate the Chef Boyardee brand and extend into new formats.

Hometown Food Company was formed by Brynwood Partners in 2018 to acquire a selection of bakery and desserts assets from the US food group JM Smucker.

It went on to purchase the Arrowhead Mills baking assets from Hain Celestial in 2019, the pancake and waffles business De Wafelbakkers in 2022, and Birch Benders from Sovos Brands in 2023. Sovos Brands is now owned by The Campbells Company.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has cut short a visit to the United States and returned to Serbia after feeling sudden chest pain apparently caused by high blood pressure, doctors said on Saturday.

Vucic, 55, suddenly fell ill during a meeting in the U.S. on Friday and decided to return home against the advice of U.S. doctors, said cardiologist Dragan Dincic, from Belgrade's Military Hospital, where Vucic was treated upon arrival.

Dincic said Vucic took additional therapy after the incident and was now in stable and satisfactory condition." Dincic added that Vucic won't be hospitalized but cannot be expected to return to his regular activities for several days.

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Vucic was previously in Miami, Florida, where he had met with former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Vucic had said he also was hoping to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Richard Grenell, U.S. presidential envoy for special missions, expressed hope that Vucic would recover. Sorry to miss you but hope all is ok, Grenell wrote on X.

Serbias populist leader also has said he would travel to Russia later this month to attend a Victory Day parade in Moscow, despite warnings from European Union officials that this could affect Serbias bid to join the bloc.

Vucic has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. He also has been under pressure at home following six months of persistent anti-corruption protests triggered by the collapse of a roof at a train station in the country's north that killed 16 people.
Beyond the obvious characters at the very top of the establishment, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more contentious political figure than Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman.

Sporting a Carhartt hoodie and Steve Austin-style goatee, Fetterman rocketed to the national spotlight in 2022 during a closely-contested race for Pennsylvania Senate against quack celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz. Fetterman eked it out with just under 300,000 votes  and then the controversies began almost immediately.

Though he platformed progressive causes like worker's rights and a minimum wage increase, the working-class darling quickly flip-flopped on issues that helped win his election, like fracking and police reforms.

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He was also soon hit with a near-fatal stroke, which only seemed to accelerate his transformation from progressive idealist to right-wing yes-man  a fact he bragged about to edgelord pundit Bill Maher, of all people.

"Its just freeing in a way," Fetterman said of the medical episode, which left him with auditory processing issues. "And I just think after beating all of that, I just really want to be able to say the things that I have to really believe in and not be afraid of if theres any kind of blowback."

Since that interview, the Democratic senator has only lurched farther from his original base. Fetterman was among the seven Democrats who voted to confirm Trump's pick of Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security. He's likewise a staunch ally of the ultra-right Israeli government, which he "fully supports" reinforcing with US troops. Earlier this year, the senator called Trump's widely-decried plan to forcefully displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip a "provocative part of the conversation."

Now a searing profile in New York Magazine by political writer Ben Terris exposes deep new concerns, often from the people closest to Fetterman, that he's struggling with long-lasting psychological or neurological issues that could explain at least some of his erratic public behavior. As such, the piece raises classic tough questions  not unlike some faced by former president Joe Biden over a similar period  about the fuzzy lines between cognitive wellbeing, mental health, and the ways that crises in both can cause ideological beliefs and personal behavior to shift in ways both subtle and not.

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It was already known that in 2023, Fetterman was diagnosed with clinical depression, for which he spent six weeks in inpatient care.

"An aide found Fetterman wandering on Capitol Hill a short time later," during the runup to that incident, Terris wrote. "Worried that he had suffered another stroke, the staffer whisked him to George Washington University Hospital. Doctors there determined there had been no new stroke, but that the 'dizziness and confusion' hed experienced was partly owed to severe dehydration."

"He could barely string two sentences together, talking so quietly that everyone in the room had to strain to hear him," Terris' account continued. "Fetterman then stood up and began walking around the office in tight loops, a move the two staffers described as doing 'figure eights'... At one point, one of his aides said, he walked into the hallway peering over his shoulder, as if he were being followed by shadowy figures."

Eventually, the senator's chief of staff at the time, Adam Jentleson, penned an urgent letter to the medical director in charge of Fetterman's traumatic-brain-injury and neuropsychiatric care.

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"I think John is on a bad trajectory and I'm really worried about him," Jentleson wrote, adding that Fetterman was showcasing a number of red flags that demanded immediate intervention, ranging from not taking his meds and buying a gun to a near-obsession with fast food, which the senator ate "multiple times a day" in spite of his recent stroke.

"He engages in risky behavior," noted Jentleson. "He drives recklessly: he FaceTimes, texts and reads entire news articles while driving  and I don't mean while stopped at a light or something, he reads and FaceTimes while driving at high speeds."

Less than a month after writing the letter, Terris notes, Fetterman caused a collision in Maryland involving speeds of "well over the 70 mph speed limit." His Chevy Traverse was destroyed, and his wife suffered spinal fractures.

Throughout 2023 into 2024, Fetterman was likewise exhibiting signs of growing dependence on social media, despite his doctor's urging him to minimize screentime for the sake of his health. "I think he's on essentially all day now," said Eric Stern, a consultant who worked for Fetterman, adding that the politician was prone to constant "doomscrolling."

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As Fetterman's mental and physical health deteriorated, his political statements became overtly violent. "Let's get back to the killing," he said in response to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire earlier this year, advocating to "kill them all." When Israel eventually broke the ceasefire with a salvo that killed over 400 Palestinians  women and children included  Fetterman declared on X-formerly-Twitter, "I will continue to support whatever Israel needs to confront this cowardly terrorism."

Fetterman declined to comment on the record about whether he was still taking his meds or taking "more serious" ones for conditions beyond depression, though he did go off record with Terris for a mysterious four-minute period when pressed on the issue.

How far the rabbit hole goes is anyone's guess, in other words. There are increasing calls for Fetterman to step down from his role as senator, and growing opposition from the voters who put him in office to begin with. Fetterman's term in Congress isn't officially up until 2029, but at the current rate of decay, it would be at least moderately surprising if he lasted long enough to seek reelection.

Time will tell.

More on brains: Man Alarmed as His Cognitive Skills Decay After Outsourcing Them to AI
The Israeli armed forces are sending call-up notices to tens of thousands of reservists ahead of a decision on whether to expand their attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to media reports.

A major offensive could begin in the coming days, ynet Israeli news site reported.

The Israeli security cabinet is set to discuss an expansion of the Gaza war on Sunday. According to Israeli media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already agreed in principle to such plans.

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The 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 the coastal strip.

According to Israel, of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza, 35 are no longer alive.

Israel is looking to increase its attacks to pressure Palestinian militant organization Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages.

After a ceasefire lasting almost two months, the Israeli military resumed its attacks in the Gaza Strip on March 18.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the planned mobilization is massive, but still significantly smaller than the one launched immediately after the October 2023 attack.

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Some reservists are to replace regular troops currently deployed on the northern border or in the West Bank so that they can in turn be sent to the Gaza Strip, ynet said.

An expansion of the attacks is likely to further exacerbate the desperate situation in the Gaza Strip, with conditions described as catastrophic by aid organizations.

Israel has stopped aid supplies from entering the sealed-off area, home to around 2 million Palestinians, for two months.

Israeli attack kills 11 in Gaza

An Israeli air attack on a building in the south of the Gaza Strip has killed at least 11 people, including women and children, a spokesman for the Hamas-controlled civil protection agency said on Saturday.

An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed that there had been an attack in the area targeting what she termed Hamas terrorists.
The Israeli armed forces are sending call-up notices to tens of thousands of reservists ahead of a decision on whether to expand its attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to media reports.

A major offensive could begin in the coming days, ynet Israeli news site reported.

The Israeli security cabinet is set to discuss an expansion of the Gaza war on Sunday. According to Israeli media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already agreed in principle to such plans.

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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 the coastal strip.

According to Israel, of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza, 35 are no longer alive.

Israel is looking to increase its attacks to pressure Palestinian extremist group Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages.

After a ceasefire lasting almost two months, the Israeli military resumed its attacks in the Gaza Strip on March 18.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the planned mobilization is massive, but still significantly smaller than immediately after the October 2023 attack by Hamas.

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Some reservists are to replace regular troops currently deployed on the northern border or in the West Bank so that they can in turn be sent to the Gaza Strip, ynet said.

An expansion of the attacks is likely to further exacerbate the desperate situation in the Gaza Strip, with conditions described as catastrophic by aid organizations. Israel has prevented aid supplies from entering the sealed-off area, home to around 2 million Palestinians, for two months.
CHICAGO  A new report is challenging Chicago to do better by Black men and it is already driving change.

The report, called Breaking the Chains: Reclaiming Wealth, Power, and Dignity for Black Men, offers some insight into the barriers that Black men and fathers face in securing stable employment.

Co-author Dr. Clinton Boyd Jr. joined WGN News on Saturday to discuss the findings.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Gene Migneault goes by the flight name Magoo.

I told my family that when they bury me, theyd better put Magoo on my headstone, or else no ones going to know who is buried there, Migneault said.

The diminutive, sharp-as-a-tack, 91-year-old is a retired Air Force master sergeant who flew 50 night missions as a tail gunner aboard a B-29 high-altitude bomber during the Korean War.

Migneault, decked out in an olive drab flight suit, received the Ambassador for Peace medal from the Republic of Korea on Thursday night in a touching ceremony at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise.

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Im here today not only to commemorate your service, but to offer our deepest gratitude on behalf of the Korean people and the Korean government, said Seo Eunji, consul general of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in Seattle. Korea will always remember you and your sacrifice in securing our freedom.

Migneault flew in 200 missions over his 22-year career in the Air Force, including 150 missions as a refueling technician in Vietnam.

He grew up in a small town in Massachusetts, and as a teenager, he was making 10 cents an hour on a turkey farm. He told me he tried joining the Marines when he was 16 years old by using a typewriter to change a number on his drivers license. But his father caught him and agreed to let him join the military when he turned 17, which is what he did.

He graduated from gunnery school when he was still 17 and agreed to be a tail gunner because no one else wanted to.

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We talk a lot about the Greatest Generation and have rushed these past 20 years or so to honor World War II veterans, and weve made great strides in atoning for our national sin of spitting on Vietnam War veterans.

Forgotten war in Korea

The Korean War veterans get even less attention, so much so that the conflict is often called the forgotten war.

But the truth is, its not forgotten, Mark Tschampl, chief administrator for the Idaho Division of Veteran Services, said at Thursdays ceremony. Its not forgotten because our allies, the Republic of South Korea, have never forgotten the wonderful deeds that some of you here in America did to help them in their greatest time of need.

Also honored at Thursdays ceremony was Keith Holloway, who was in the Coast Guard during the Korean War and whose son, Rick Holloway, the administrator of the Boise Veterans Home, accepted the medal on his behalf.

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Two other Idaho veterans were honored Thursday night but were not present:

Joseph J. Katancik, who served in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Donald Lee McDowell, who served in the Navy aboard the third USS Los Angeles, a heavy cruiser.

Members of We-Woori (woori in Korean means us or together), the community service youth group of the Idaho Korean Association, perform Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise as part of a ceremony honoring Korean War veterans.

Thursdays ceremony also included a musical performance by We-Woori (woori in Korean means us or together), the community service youth group of the Idaho Korean Association.

To our veterans: Because of your courage and selflessness over 70 years ago, the lives of millions of Koreans, including our parents, our grandparents and now us were forever changed, said Jaden Kwak, 16, a student at Renaissance High School in Meridian. You helped lay the foundation for the peace and opportunities we are blessed with today. As Korean American youth, we understand that our ability to grow up in freedom and to stand here performing tonight is possible because of the path you helped create.

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It was a moving speech.

And a wonderful way to keep the Korean War from being forgotten.

Id do it again in a minute, Migneault told me before Thursdays ceremony. Im just proud that I was a part of history.

Scott McIntosh is the opinion editor of the Idaho Statesman. You can email him at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com or call him at 208-377-6202. Sign up for the free weekly email newsletter The Idaho Way .
Florida's American crocodiles are back from the brink of extinction and are now 2,000 strong. But these days, they're showing up in some unexpected places. As more crocs are spotted in suburban neighborhoods, scientists are tracking their movements to better understand how they're adapting to urban life, yet not everyone is thrilled by their return.

What's happening?

As reported by Mongabay from lead researcher Frank Mazzotti and the University of Florida, a surprising new pattern has emerged  crocodiles are adapting to city life. Florida researchers have tagged 15 crocodiles with satellite trackers to find out how they're adjusting. Initial findings show that crocodiles in more developed areas stick to smaller zones, likely because they're boxed in by roads and homes.

Those with access to natural waterways appear to roam more freely. The famous Melbourne Beach crocodile made headlines when it returned to a residential spot in Melbourne Beach, traveling more than 100 miles from its release point just eight months earlier.

Why is this issue important?

Although American crocs rarely act aggressively toward people, residents aren't eager to share their streets and backyards. If people start seeing wildlife as a threat instead of something worth protecting, it could stall conservation wins that communities fought hard to achieve  not just for crocodiles but also for other species making a comeback.

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In Miami-Dade County, over 300 people signed a petition calling for officials to act on the "growing safety concern" after multiple sightings, including one near a playground. The residents are calling for the immediate removal and stronger safeguards to avert potentially tragic incidents in the future.

This issue raises serious questions about safety and how we share spaces with wild animals in the middle of modern life. As wild spaces shrink and urban sprawl expands, communities and officials must figure out ways for humans and wildlife to safely coexist.

What's being done about urban crocodile sightings?

Conservationists are urging residents not to panic. While monitoring the situation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission disseminates information, including a guide to living with crocodiles.

Supporting balance by reporting sightings, staying informed, and making space for nature helps preserve biodiversity. And making space for wildlife where we live supports a cleaner, safer future for all by reducing climate pressures caused by habitat loss.

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.
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCBD)Residents in the city of Georgetown are weighing in on what theyd like to see at the site of the former paper mill. On Tuesday, members of Citizens for Georgetown surveyed residents weighing on whether they think a biomass plant would benefit the community.

We conducted a poll this week, and many of the people in that poll said three things: we dont want a biomass plant, we dont support elected officials who support a biomass plant, and we support a vision for Georgetown that does not include heavy industrial on the waterfront, said Tom Swatzel, the board chairman of Citizens for Georgetown.

78% of the respondents preferred the facility to be transitioned into a mixed-use, clean development with higher-paying jobs, and 70% of the voters said officials should prioritize attracting clean industries even if it means moving beyond traditional industrial plants.

News 2 spoke to one county official who told us that no official plans were in place and that whatever ended up at the site would benefit the community.

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Georgetown is set to explode right now. I mean, weve got two mills that are gone. They took away a lot of jobs. We all recognize that, but there are other areas in the county where were trying to come and replace those jobs, so were looking at Georgetown now as a remodel. Were hoping the remodel will bring in some good things for Georgetown, said Clint Elliot, Chairman of Georgetown County Council.

Officials from Georgetown County told us owners are still in the bidding process, but they plan to release more details in the coming weeks.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
DENVER (KDVR)  Firefighters in Westminster are recognizing a dog for its role in helping a household safely evacuate without injuries from their burning home overnight Thursday into Friday.

The Westminster Fire Department said in a post on Facebook that it responded to the fire in the 9000 block of Cody Court. North Metro Fire Rescue District assisted in the response.

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When crews arrived, the department said the garage attached to the home was fully engulfed.

The fire did not spread to the rest of the house and was contained to the garage.

Firefighters in Westminster are recognizing a dog for its role in helping a household safely evacuate from their burning home overnight Thursday into Friday. Firefighters in Westminster are recognizing a dog for its role in helping a household safely evacuate from their burning home overnight Thursday into Friday.

According to the fire department, the residents dog first alerted them to the fire early on, and their smoke alarms activated once the smoke reached the living areas.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, the fire department said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Key Points

British American Tobacco has a huge 7% dividend yield.

The dividend has been growing in recent years as the company has increased prices.

British American Tobacco is a safe harbor for today, but there are long-term issues to consider.

The big draw with British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) today is its huge 7% dividend yield. That's nearly three times the consumer staples average yield of 2.5%. And the dividend looks safe, suggesting that investors worried about market turbulence might want to consider British American Tobacco today. But could buying this tobacco giant set you up for life?

British American Tobacco is a high-yield rock in stormy seas

The defining feature of Wall Street today is heightened volatility. Geopolitical issues and tariff uncertainty have investors whipsawing between deep sell-offs and rapid recoveries. Sometimes the market goes up and down by roughly the same percentage in just a couple of days. It's enough to keep a conservative investor up at night with worry.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue 

Image source: Getty Images.

That's why British American Tobacco's 7% dividend yield is so attractive. Most investors expect a return of around 10% from the market over time. This tobacco company's yield gets you 70% of the way to that goal. And the dividend has been increased annually since it switched to a quarterly cadence in 2018. (British American Tobacco is European, and prior to 2018 it paid on a semi-annual basis, as do most other European companies.)

The dividend payout ratio was around 55% in 2024, which is completely reasonable for a consumer staples company. That's doubly true given the addictive nature of British American Tobacco's most important product, cigarettes. If you are looking for a stock to own to help ride out today's stormy market, this could be a good choice.

The long term is the problem with British American Tobacco

That, however, is a short-term view of the situation. Stocks frequently get volatile, and regularly have corrections and even fall into bear markets. Historically, the long-term trend has always returned to a steady upward climb after the volatility subsides. Investors that think long term usually prefer to buy companies with good businesses. This is a trouble spot for British American Tobacco.

The main product British American Tobacco sells is cigarettes. To put some numbers on that, smokable products account for roughly 80% of the company's top line. Cigarettes account for just about 97% of the volume in the company's smokeable products group. Cigarettes are by far the most important product for British American Tobacco.
NINNEKAH, Okla. (KFOR) A retired Oklahoma man who spent 31 years working for the Federal Aviation Administration says he had trouble getting a federal agency to help him restore some of his canceled insurance benefits until News 4 stepped in.

Rob Helms told News 4 he worked as a programmer, systems analyst, and eventually a manager at the Mike Moroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. Helms retired in 2018 and currently lives in Ninnekah.

Homeland Security admits Oklahoma raid targeted wrong people

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It was hard to leave, but 31 years and the ability to have a retirement from the government made it where it was something I wanted to do, said Helms.

Helms said he hadnt had any issues with his retirement package over the past several years, but when he turned 62 a few months ago, he was contacted by an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) affiliated benefits group.

He said the group advised him that he would need to change over to a different Blue Cross Blue Shield federal plan for part of his insurance plan. Helms said he did his part in February, but months later, he received a letter saying that despite our best attempts we have not successfully confirmed your affiliation with a federal agency. After calling the benefits group, he learned part of his insurance had been canceled because the federal agency had been slow to verify his past employment.

I contacted the benefits group, who is the one doing the dental, to find out what was going on, and they said theyve tried many, many times to contact OPM and theyre not getting anything, any responses back, said Helms.

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Helms says he was told by the benefits group he could not verify his former employment himself, and he called OPM on April 11.

They said they would get back with me, said Helms. Ive heard nothing from them since then.

Helms said he even reached out to U.S. Senator James Lankfords office.

Theyve been unable to get a response back from OPM either, said Helms.

News 4 learned on Wednesday that the Office of Personnel Management was hoping to close out Helms case shortly, with sources familiar calling the fact that its taken so long unacceptable, but adding that, under President Joe Bidens administration, cases like Helms took 60+ days to close.

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News 4 reached out to Senator Lankfords office on Wednesday and Thursday for comment, but never heard back. Helms said he was contacted by a spokesperson for Lankford on Wednesday to let him know they were looking into the matter.

News 4 learned from Helms on Thursday that the situation had been worked out, with him adding that he believed News 4s calls had helped to get this moving.

Its very frustrating, said Helms. Thats a fairly simple task to be able to call the group thats in charge of my personnel records and be able to say, yes, he did work for the federal government and is now retired.

Helms said hes worried that, despite the coverage in question being tied to services his family only uses a few times a year, this delay could open the door for future problems for other Americans.

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Buying a home or possibly buying a car, anywhere where they want to find out that what youre saying is legitimate, said Helms. Theyre going to want to call and verify that information, and right now, theres going to be no response back from OPM.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Money exchange shops on Britains high streets are working directly with human smugglers who move migrants across the English Channel.

An undercover investigation by Telegraph reporters found UK-registered money transfer shops working with global smuggling networks in order to evade police.

One shop in Birmingham agreed to deposit cash into the accounts of a suspected smuggler when requested by reporters posing as foreign nationals with a relative in Calais.

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The broker called the suspected people smuggler to receive instructions for the payments in a scene filmed covertly by The Telegraph.

Sir Keir Starmer made breaking up the smuggling gangs and stopping the small boats a central pledge of his election campaign last year.

Over 10,000 have arrived so far this year

More than 10,000 people have arrived via boats this year, and pressure is growing after Labours defeat in the Runcorn by-election to Reform.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has launched a crackdown on the hawala money transfer system, which the shop in Birmingham is suspected of exploiting to send money to people smugglers. But experts believe the authorities are fighting a losing battle.

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According to the European Commission, the business of trafficking migrants is worth as much as 5.2 billion a year, and authorities have struggled to police these informal money transfer networks through which an estimated 2 billion is laundered annually.

The hawala system allows funds to be sent abroad without cash physically crossing borders, and is regularly exploited by criminals. The usual paper trail and records simply do not exist, as it sits entirely outside of the traditional banking system.

A Telegraph reporter covertly made contact with a Calais-based smuggler, who goes by the name Sangari, and passed detailed directions to a Telegraph reporter, who posed as an Afghan national looking to send a relative from France to the UK.

The reporter asked Sangari about the potential journey and was initially directed to arrange payment with the help of a money exchange broker based in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan and a key node of the hawala system.

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But when told that the reporter was based in the UK and needed to make payment in Britain, Sangari shared a contact in Birmingham.

The contact, a man who called himself Esmat, confirmed he worked with Sangari and gave instructions to make a cash payment of 1,500 at a Birmingham shop.

Credit: Sophia Yan and Akhtar Makoii for The Telegraph

Two undercover Telegraph reporters visited the shop under the pretence of making the payment. The premises was marked with a large red, black and white sign, and also sells mobile phone accessories, toiletries and snacks imported from the Middle East.

Two brokers sat in the back, typing on keyboards, surrounded by highlighters and calculators, and protected behind glass screens. At least eight security cameras were counted inside the store.

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One of the brokers at the counter asked the undercover reporters to call their smuggling contact, Esmat. The broker, who never gave his name, spoke briefly to Esmat using the undercover reporters phone to confirm his identity.

After the broker recognised Esmat, who he appeared to know by a different name, he then called the latter directly on his own phone  a clear indication that they knew each other.

Which Esmat are you?, the broker said to Esmat on the phone. Oh, yes  Fahims friend. Aha, they were talking about depositing it and I was wondering what they were talking about.

On that call, covertly filmed by the reporters, the Birmingham broker received instructions from Esmat to put the payment the undercover reporters were expected to make for the migrant journey directly into his account.

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Ok, thats good. Should I add it to your account? the broker continued on the phone. Do you have my WhatsApp? Send me a hi.

Its ok. You give me 1,500 and its all right, the broker said to the reporters when he hung up. You need to bring the money and a passport, then we will give you a paper record.

You can bring this girls passport, the broker said, referring to the other Telegraph reporter.

He later said he would ensure the equivalent amount was sent to the right recipient in Afghanistan, though declined to give specific details of the final destination.

Esmat also refused to divulge who would receive the money, and would not say whether the cash would be returned if the attempted crossing failed  a guarantee other Calais-based smugglers offer.

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The shop is just one node in the global hawala system exploited by human smugglers to move criminal proceeds around the world.

0305 Hawala payment system (V2)

The informal money transfer system is thought to have come from the days of the ancient silk road trading route to facilitate payments and protect against theft.

The NCA says that the amounts being transferred to and from the UK via the hawala system have surged with hundreds of millions of pounds a year generated by Channel crossings.

In February, the NCA visited more than 40 money brokers in the UK to warn them that they were putting migrants lives at risk and faced up to 14 years in jail for handling dirty money.

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But tackling these informal money networks is challenging for authorities partly because they also process legitimate transactions, and perform a necessary function that regular banking cannot. Many transactions funnelled through are legal, and enable millions of immigrants worldwide to send money back home to their families.

This is particularly important for people sending money to relatives living in countries, such as Afghanistan and Iran, that are excluded from regular global banking due to international sanctions and poor financial infrastructure.

In the UK, such brokers are required to register with HMRC; some are also subject to rules issued by the Financial Conduct Authority, depending on the type of transactions they manage. But in practice, many brokers are not appropriately licensed, though the government is seeking to change this.

It funds serious organised crime

The hawala network provides vital services that we want to protect from criminal exploitation, Louise MacDonald, HMRCs deputy director for economic crime, said in a statement.

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When criminals launder money through these networks, it funds serious organised crime that directly harms the very communities these services support.

Yvon Dandurand, a fellow at the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy, based in Canada, said: The beauty of this for the smugglers is that they dont have to move the money [themselves] across borders, transfer it or send it.

Part of it is paid to the smuggling chain in one country, and the other part is in the destination country. It... goes into different pockets.

The payment networks between Afghanistan and the UK to support human smuggling have likely strengthened in recent years to support a growing demand amongst Afghans to flee the country after the Taliban resumed power in 2021.

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Afghans have represented the single largest nationality to arrive in the UK via small boats for the last two consecutive years, with 5,919 people landing ashore last year, according to government data.

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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Kansas City man who served decades in prison for a crime he was later exonerated for has reached a settlement with the Kansas City, Missouri, Board of Police Commissioners.

The police board has agreed to settle with Ricky Kidd for $14 million.

Federal prosecutors want Kansas City Tesla arson suspect sent back to jail

The Board of Police Commissioners says this is not an admission of wrongdoing.

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The lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleged that Kidd was denied his right to a fair trial and that his civil liberties were violated.

Kidd was just 21 years old when he was convicted of a 1996 double murder and sentenced to life in prison. He spent 23 years behind bars before he was released in 2019.

An anonymous tip led investigators to Kidd, who had a solid alibi, and there was no physical evidence connecting Kidd to the murders. His attorneys said evidence pointing to other suspects was not turned over by the prosecution.

A judge found the original court proceedings involving Kidd were deeply flawed. Jackson County prosecutors dropped the murder charges in 2019, adding they would not proceed with another trial.

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View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4

Michael Abrams, Kidds attorney, released to FOX4 on Friday, saying, We are pleased for our client Ricky Kidd as he heads into this new chapter of his life. It was a great honor to represent Ricky.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, and racing fans are celebrating early

This is River Mills first year of running a Kentucky Derby Party for its members. Members came out dressed in their best Kentucky Derby attire, ready for a day of fun.

Each member got to enjoy a variety of snacks and games like a horse race, a ring toss, and Jenga. They also got to watch highlights from previous races and try to win a Best Kentucky Derby hat contest.

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The program coordinator told us this was a chance for members to come out and socialize and visit their friends at the center. We spoke to some members who were excited to be part of this event today. Darlene Lajeunesse told 22News, We are enjoying ourselves. Its nice not to be sitting at home. Its nice to be somewhere doing something different and meeting new people and having a good time.

Members say theyd like to see this event continue for years to come, and youll be able to watch the Kentucky Derby Saturday right here on 22News. Post time is 6:57 pm.

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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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
WEBSTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A local volunteer organization held an event to raise money for Ukraine on Saturday evening.

RocMaiden is a volunteer organization in Rochester that provides Ukraine with medical and humanitarian aid. The organization and members of the Greater Rochester community have been able to support by donating and shipping medical beds, crutches, walkers, medical backpacks, and wheelchairs.

Proceeds from Saturdays event, The Spring Fling will go towards an ambulance.

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The Spring Fling was held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center of Rochester at 1040 Jackson Road in Webster.

Strike Out ALS raises money to support individuals with ALS

The event focused on including children with hands-on activities led by Roc Maidan volunteers, where they created bracelets, pendants, taught dance lessons, and hosted a Bubble Show.

As the children enjoyed the fun, adults participated in a silent auction.

Information about the organization and ways to donate can be found on the RocMaidan website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  As Romanians vote Sunday in one of the European Union members most important elections in decades, MAGA-style hard-right nationalist George Simion says its his duty to restore democracy and the will of the people after the previous vote was annulled.

Romanias political landscape was upended last year when a top court voided the previous election after the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped first-round polls. The decision followed allegations of electoral violations and a Russian campaign promoting Georgescu, who is now under investigation and barred from Sunday's redo. Moscow has denied it meddled.

We didnt go from communism to democracy in 1989, Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the hard-right nationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, told The Associated Press. The Romanian people lived the lie that we are a democratic country.

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Eleven candidates are vying for the presidency in Sunday's vote, which is expected to go to a May 18 runoff. The presidential role carries a five-year term and significant decision-making powers in national security and foreign policy.

A communist state until the end of the Cold War, Romania has spent decades trying to build strong democratic institutions. But last years failed election plunged the EU and NATO member country into unprecedented political turmoil.

They voted for the change, and they were not allowed to make this change, said Simion, who came fourth in last years race and later backed Georgescu. Im running again as a duty towards democracy, toward the constitutional order, to restore the rule of law, to restore the will of the Romanian people.

MAGA-style populism paves way to runoff

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While data from local surveys should be taken with caution, a median of polls suggests Simion will enter the runoff, likely pitting him against incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, or the governing coalitions candidate, Crin Antonescu.

Like other EU countries, votes for nationalists and far-right figures in recent years have grown in Romania, fueled by widespread anti-establishment sentiment.

Simion said his AUR party is perfectly aligned with the MAGA movement, capitalizing on a growing wave of populism in Europe after U.S. President Donald Trumps political comeback. AUR rose to prominence in a 2020 parliamentary election, proclaims to stand for family, nation, faith, and freedom, and has since doubled its support.

Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who founded the Save Romania Union party (USR) in 2016, is running on a pro-EU Honest Romania ticket. He says Romania needs a president who has the will and the ability to reform the system.

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Veteran centrist Antonescu, 65, has campaigned on retaining Romanias pro-Western orientation, while Victor Ponta, a former prime minister between 2012 and 2015, has also pushed a MAGA-style Romania First campaign and boasts of having close ties to the Trump administration.

Another hopeful, Elena Lasconi, came second in last years first round ballot and is running again on Sunday. She has positioned herself as a staunchly pro-Western, anti-system candidate, railing against what she describes as a corrupt political class.

I will use every tool I have so that peoples voices are heard, in government, in Parliament, in the judiciary, she told the AP. Institutions must serve the people.  We need to stay close to Brussels.

However, her chances dimmed in the rerun after her USR party withdrew its support for her in favor of Dan, claiming he had a better chance of winning. Lasconi labeled colleagues who moved against her as coup plotters. Her critics accuse her of being unprepared for high office.

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Criticism from the US and Russia

The election redo is a pivotal moment for Romania as it seeks to restore its democracy and retain its geopolitical alliances, which have become strained since the canceled election fiasco.

The decision to annul the election and the ban on Georgescus candidacy have been strongly criticized by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, and Russia, which publicly supported his candidacy in the rerun.

Without directly addressing Sunday's election, the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest posted a comment on Facebook, attributed to Vance, saying: To believe in democracy means to recognize that every citizen has the right to an opinion. We should not be afraid of our people, even when they express opinions that disagree with our leadership.

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Distrust in the authorities remains widespread, especially for those who voted for Georgescu, a sizeable electorate whose votes Simion has sought to capitalize on.

However, a Simion presidency would pose unique foreign policy conundrums. He is banned from entering two neighboring countries, Moldova and Ukraine, over security concerns. It is in their interest to have good relations with us, he said.

His critics have long accused him of being pro-Russian, warning that his presidency would undermine both Brussels and NATO as the war rages on in Ukraine. He refuted the accusations as a smear campaign and said Russia has been the main threat" to Romania in the last 200 years and remains so today.

This is why we need a strong NATO and we need troops on the ground in Romania, in Poland and in the Baltic states, he said, although he was against sending further military aid to Ukraine. On the EU, Simion said, We want more power to the 27 states, not toward the European institutions."

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Opponents have accused Simion's AUR party of being extremist. In 2022, Israels ambassador to Romania condemned AUR for opposing a mandate for studying the Holocaust in Romania, which it deemed a minor issue, and later softened its stance.

Critical moment

Cristian Andrei, a Bucharest-based political consultant, says a Simion presidency would turn Romania upside down because he will use and weaponize this social and economic political discontent, potentially triggering a crisis within all the political parties."

He will try to introduce and reshape the public conversations on issues regarding more conservative problems or populist issues ... and at some point, he will try to grow on this skepticism against the EU and the West, he said. In the longer term, "he will probably open the door to a conversation about new alliances to the East.

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For Rares Ghiorghies, 36, who works in the energy sector, Simion's appeal lies in his patriotic-conservative vision that puts family and faith first, and his promise to rid Romania of a political class dominated by corruption, incompetence, and servility towards all other partners.

This change can only be achieved through a fundamental overhaul of the political class and its outdated principles, he said, adding that Simion is a patriot whose vision of foreign policy is definitely oriented towards the USA and not towards Russia.

Lidia Cremenescu, a 34-year-old shop owner in Bucharest, says she will vote for Dan, and lists her main concerns as the war in Ukraine, a flailing economy and higher taxation, and corruption.

I think he can make real changes in this country, she said, adding that as Bucharest mayor, Dan has tackled important projects that previous mayors neglected. You can see changes.  You want someone who will take power and in case anything goes wrong.
By Luiza Ilie, Elizaveta Gladun

BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Hard-right eurosceptic George Simion won the first round of Romania's presidential election re-run on Sunday, final results showed, after a ballot seen as a test of the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union.

Ballots from 100% of voting stations, early Monday, showed Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, 55, was in second place at around 21%, behind Simion's 41%. They will meet in a runoff on May 18.

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A Simion victory could isolate Romania, erode private investment and destabilise NATO's eastern flank, where Ukraine is fighting a three-year-old Russian invasion, political observers say.

It would also expand a cohort of eurosceptic leaders in the EU that already includes the Hungarian and Slovak prime ministers at a time when Europe is struggling to formulate its response to Trump.

"This is not just an electoral victory, it is a victory of Romanian dignity. It is the victory of those who have not lost hope, of those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country," 38-year-old Simion said.

Simion secured victory in 36 out of Romania's 47 electoral districts, showcasing strong domestic support.

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He also captured 61% of the diaspora vote while Dan managed 25% despite securing wins in 68 out of 94 countries where votes were cast. Ballots from one overseas station were still being awaited but would have no bearing on the overall outcome.

Simion's international performance was bolstered by robust backing from Romanians in Western Europe, Nordic countries, several Middle Eastern nations, as well as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Benefiting from a wave of popular anger against mainstream leaders, Simion opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine, is critical of the EU leadership and says he is aligned with the U.S. president's Make America Great Again movement.

"We are a Trumpist party which will govern Romania and which will make Romania a strong partner in NATO and a strong ally of the United States," Simion told foreign media shortly before polling stations closed.

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Dan, an independent running on an anti-corruption platform, overtook former senator Crin Antonescu, 65, a centrist candidate backed by the three parties in the pro-western coalition government for his spot in the runoff.

After confirming his runner-up status, Dan expressed gratitude to his supporters  especially those in Moldova, where his camp secured over 50%  and outlined his challenge against an isolationist candidate.

"A difficult second round is going to follow with the isolationist candidate. It will not be a debate between individuals, it will be a debate between a pro-Western direction for Romania and an anti-Western direction for Romania," he said.

"It is our task to convince Romanians that Romania needs the pro-Western direction and that is what our campaign will focus on, these two weeks."

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Observers said he would struggle to beat Simion in the runoff more than Antonescu due to rivalries between him and mainstream parties that make it harder for voters to switch. Many in the ruling Social Democrat and Liberal parties shared more beliefs with Simion than Dan, they said.

Victor Ponta, a former leftist prime minister who has shifted to conservative nationalist politics, could play a pivotal role following Sunday's vote after finishing in fourth place with 1.22 million votes, and could leverage his electoral strength to become a kingmaker in the political landscape.

"Simion has a bigger pool of votes than Dan at the moment," said Cristian Pirvulescu, a political scientist. "Romania can now shift the power balance in Europe towards extremism."

RUSSIAN MEDDLING

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Sunday's vote came five months after a first attempt to hold the election was cancelled because of alleged Russian interference in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, since banned from standing again.

Simion who then only scored 14%, appears to have ridden an upswell of support for the far-right driven by Georgescu.

On Sunday he voted alongside Georgescu, who called the election a "fraud" and urged people to take their country back. As dozens of people thronged outside the voting station chanting "Calin for president", Simion said his vote was "to restore democracy".

Simion is not the only MAGA-style politician seeking election in central Europe. Karol Nawrocki, the presidential candidate backed by Poland's main nationalist opposition party in a presidential election on May 18, met the U.S. president this week.

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"Romania and Poland are two important countries for the United States," Simion told Reuters on Friday.

"We represent partners and we represent allies, both military and politically, to the current (U.S.) administration. This is why it is important for MAGA presidents to be in charge in Bucharest and Warsaw."

Romania's president has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the security council that decides on military aid. But Simion has said that, if elected, he could seek to elevate Georgescu to some kind of a leadership role.

Observers say the country's leftist-led governing coalition might buckle if Simion becomes president.

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To date, Romania has donated a Patriot air defence battery to Kyiv, is training Ukrainian fighter pilots and has enabled the export of 30 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain through its Black Sea port of Constanta since Russia's invasion.

The country's president can also veto important EU votes and appoints the prime minister, chief judges, prosecutors and secret service heads.

The Trump administration has accused Romania of suppressing political opposition and lacking democratic values after November's election was cancelled on what Vice President JD Vance called "flimsy evidence".

(Editing by Giles Elgood, Marguerita Choy, Diane Craft and Saad Sayeed)
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Ronald McDonald House of Dayton is expanding their facilities, and a special guest took a tour of the new facility to give his stamp of approval.

Ronald McDonald himself toured the new 38,000 square foot facility to see the new additions being added to RMHC Dayton.

Dayton Childrens breaks ground on new facility in west Dayton

The building currently offers 21 guest rooms, and is working to double capacity to 42 rooms, allowing more families to stay close to their child while theyre in the hospital.

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Ronald ensured the new upgrades to the facility will help those families in need.

The Ronald McDonald House of Dayton is here for you, so when youre coming to the hospital, and youre looking for that place to call home while youre here, were here for you, said Ronald McDonald.

To learn more about the location or donate and volunteer, 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.
By Vallari Srivastava

(Reuters) - DuPont beat Wall Street expectations for first-quarter earnings on Friday and left its full-year profit outlook unchanged, although it warned of a hit from tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump has upended the global order through tariffs, forcing companies to assess the potential fallout from his chaotic trade policies.

DuPont expects tariffs to have a net cost impact of roughly $60 million, or 10 cents per share, primarily in the second half of the year.

"(We) are working on a number of tariff mitigation actions including production shifts, sourcing alternatives, surcharges and product exceptions," CEO Lori Koch said.

DuPont continues to expect adjusted profit of $4.30 to $4.40 per share in 2025, excluding the potential tariff impact.

"For DuPont and its peers, the larger risk comes from a secondary impact from an economic slowdown as a result of tariffs," Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said.

DuPont - which plans to spin off its electronics business, its biggest by revenue, by November 1 - reported its latest-quarter results under the new company structure.

Total sales grew 4.6% to $3.07 billion, beating expectations of $3.04 billion, per data compiled by LSEG, though they were partially offset by flat sales at the industrials segment, which will remain with DuPont post spinoff.

Net sales in the electronics segment rose to $1.12 billion from $984 million a year earlier, driven by AI technology applications and strong volumes in China.

Demand for semiconductors is booming due to the proliferation of AI-powered technology, benefiting companies such as DuPont, which supports advanced chip manufacturing, packaging and assembly processes.

For the current quarter, DuPont expects adjusted profit of $1.05 per share, which is slightly below expectations of $1.08 per share.

DuPont posted an adjusted profit of $1.03 per share for the three months ended March 31, compared with analysts' estimates of 95 cents per share.

Shares of the company rose more than 1% in morning trade.

(Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
Russia has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of making a direct threat to its World War II commemorations on May 9, after the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not take responsibility for ensuring safety on the day.

On Monday, Putin declared a three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9  when Putin will host international leaders, including Chinese president Xi Jinping  and May 10.

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But Mr Zelensky on Friday dismissed the truce as theatrics and said Ukraine wont be playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putins exit from isolation on 9 May.

This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war, Mr Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president added that we cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore, we will not give you any guarantees.

Russia responded by calling his statement a direct threat.

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He is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and celebrations on the holy day, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Leaders of around 20 countries have accepted invitations to join this years celebration, according to the Kremlin. Russian officials have promised grand celebrations for the occasion, during which Putin will seek to rally support for his troops fighting in Ukraine.

Armoured vehicles rehearse for a Victory Day military parade - Yulia Morozova

The Kremlin spokesperson said that Russia wanted a definitive response from Kyiv regarding the ceasefire, and that Putins three-day offer was a test to assess Kyivs readiness for long-term peace.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias security council and a former Russian president, also weighed in, calling Mr Zelenskys statement a verbal provocation.

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(Mr Zelensky) understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10, Mr Medvedev said.

The Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and Washington in March, and has since made only slim contributions to US president Donald Trumps efforts to broker an end to the three-year Russian invasion.

The United States has warned it could abandon efforts to broker a ceasefire if it does not see progress towards an end to the war.

Washington is seeking a complete, durable ceasefire and an end to the conflict, rather than a three-day moment so you can celebrate something else, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said this week.

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In a meeting with journalists, Mr Zelensky said that Mr Trump had started looking at things a little differently following their one-to-one Vatican meeting.

He added that the brief 15-minute meeting, which took place on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral, was the best that the two men have had together.

I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently. Well see. Thats his vision, his choice in any case, the Ukrainian president told journalists.

Mr Zelensky spoke to journalists at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday - HANDOUT

Mr Zelensky said that he and Mr Trump agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards peace in the war in Ukraine.

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He also said he raised the topic of sanctions, and that the response of the US president to this question was very strong.

Russia and Ukraine continued tit-for-tat exchanges on Friday night and Saturday. A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, wounded 47 people and damaged residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles, officials said.

Meanwhile, Russias defence ministry said its air defences shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.

In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to mayor Andrey Kravchenko.

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On Saturday, Kyiv destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, Ukraines GUR military intelligence agency announced on Saturday, in what it said was the worlds first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone.

Its statement on social media said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiisk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea.

Outmanned and outgunned by its larger, wealthier Russian adversary, Ukraine has turned to drone warfare in the air and at sea as a way to fight back throughout more than three years of full-scale war.

Ukraines seaborne drones, which are much cheaper and smaller than conventional ships, have wrought havoc on Russias Black Sea fleet.

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Ukraine has previously said it shot down a Russian military helicopter in December 2024 using a missile fired from the same type of seaborne drone.

The Russian defence ministry did not comment on the Ukrainian claim, but an authoritative Russian blogger believed to be close to the ministry said the jet had been shot down.

Ukraine also worked to repel an overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, officials said early on Sunday.

Witnesses told Reuters they heard several explosions which sounded like air defence systems.

05:08 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following our coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The live blog is now closed.

04:08 PM BST

Explainer: Why Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9

Victory Day is one of Russias most important public holidays. For Vladimir Putin, it is an opportunity to project to his people an image of Russia as a powerful nation of winners, standing on the right side of history in defeating fascism.

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Nazi Germanys unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 pm on May 8, 1945, marked as Victory in Europe Day by France, Britain and the United States.

In Moscow it was already May 9, which became the Soviet Unions Victory Day.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin decreed a holiday, and the first victory parade on Red Square, featuring captured German insignia, was held on June 24, 1945.

Under Putin, Victory Day increasingly became a muscular display not only of marching battalions but also of Russias latest weaponry, including warplanes, tanks, and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

03:12 PM BST

Zelensky hails Albaneses election win and calls for stronger ties

Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese on his election win on Saturday, saying he hoped to further strengthen ties between Kyiv and Canberra.

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Ukraine sincerely values Australias unwavering support and its principled stance on ending Russias war and securing a dignified and lasting peace. We look forward to further strengthening our productive partnership, Mr Zelensky said in a post on X.

02:57 PM BST

Watch: Ukraine claims first in the world destruction of manned enemy aircraft with sea-based drone

Credit: Telegram/@DIUkraine

02:26 PM BST

Ukraine says it shot down Russian fighter jet from sea drone for first time

Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, Ukraines GUR military intelligence agency said on Saturday, in what it said was the worlds first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone.

Its statement on social media said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiysk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea.

Outmanned and outgunned by its larger, wealthier Russian adversary, Ukraine has turned to drone warfare in the air and at sea as a way to fight back throughout the three years of full-scale war.

Ukraines seaborne drones, which are much cheaper and smaller than conventional ships, have wrought havoc on Russias Black Sea fleet.

01:55 PM BST

Watch: Huge blaze as Russian drone strikes Velykyi Burluk

Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

01:36 PM BST

Trump sees things differently after Vatican meeting, Zelensky says

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Donald Trump has started looking at things a little differently following their one-to-one Vatican meeting.

I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently. Well see. Thats his vision, his choice in any case, the Ukrainian president told journalists.

He added that the brief 15-minute meeting, which took place on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral, was the best that the two men have had together.

Mr Zelensky said that he and Mr Trump agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards peace in the war in Ukraine. He also said he raised the topic of sanctions, and that the response of the US president to this question was very strong.

Volodymyr Zelensky meets with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Franciss funeral at St Peters Basilica at the Vatican - Telegram /@ermaka2022/AFP via Getty Images

The White House had earlier described the meeting as very productive.

It was the pairs first face-to-face encounter since Februarys disastrous Oval Office showdown. During that meeting, Mr Trump had told Mr Zelensky, you dont have the cards, and that he was not winning against Russia.

On Friday, the United States also said it would no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after Vladimir Putin refused to sign up to a ceasefire.

The State Department said it was 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.

01:16 PM BST

Kremlin says it wants a definitive Ukrainian response to Putins offer of a three-day ceasefire

The Kremlin has said it wanted a definitive response from Ukraine to Russian president Vladimir Putins offer of a three-day ceasefire to coincide with World War Two victory commemorations this month.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky already appears to have ruled out such a ceasefire, saying he is only ready to agree if the ceasefire will last at least 30 days, an idea Putin has said needs a lot of work before it can become a reality.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putins three-day offer was a test to assess Kyivs readiness to search for a peaceful settlement to end the war.

Putin on Monday declared the three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 - when Putin will host international leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping - and May 10.

12:56 PM BST

Russia accuses Zelensky of making direct threat to May 9 events

Russia on Saturday accused Volodymyr Zelensky of threatening the security of its World War II commemorations on May 9, after the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not take responsibility for ensuring safety on the day.

He is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and celebrations on the holy day, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram. His statement ... is, of course, a direct threat.

12:39 PM BST

In pictures: Latest from Ukraine

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky talking with journalists during a press conference in Kyiv - UKRAINE PRESIDENCY/AFP via Getty Image

Firefighters try to extinguish fire broke out after Shahed drone attack on a residential apartment in Kharkiv - tate Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

Debris from a Russian drone in Kharkiv - Viktoriia Yakymenko/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

12:17 PM BST

Putins three-day truce is theatrical performance, says Zelensky

Earlier we reported that Volodymyr Zelensky had dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin as theatrics but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.

In new comments published online, Mr Zelensky also reportedly said: This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war.

11:58 AM BST

Medvedev says nobody can guarantee Kyivs safety if Ukraine attacks Moscow on May 9

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias security council, said nobody could guarantee that Kyiv would survive to see May 10 if Ukraine attacked Moscow during World War Two victory celebrations on May 9.

Russian president Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 - when Putin will host international leaders including Chinese president Xi Jinping - and May 10.

Responding to Moscows offer of the three-day ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready as long as the ceasefire would be 30 days in length, something Putin had already ruled out in the near term.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine, given the continued war with Russia, could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries who came to Moscow for the traditional May 9 victory parade.

We cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore we will not give you any guarantees, he said.

Mr Medvedev, a former Russian president who has emerged as one of Moscows most outspoken anti-Western hawks since the start of Russias war in Ukraine, called Mr Zelenskys statement a verbal provocation and said nobody had asked for Kyivs security guarantees for the May 9 events.

(Zelensky) understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10, Mr Medvedev said.

11:47 AM BST

Watch: Moment Russias Novorossiysk hit by Ukrainian drone strike

Credit: Reuters

Video footage shared on social media Saturday captured the moment of a Ukrainian drone attack on a building in the Russian port city of Novorossiysk.

Reuters was able to confirm the location by the building structures and road layout seen in the video which matched file and satellite imagery. Reuters was not able to independently verify the date of the video however the incident was confirmed by statements from local authorities and corroborating aftermath videos from the location.

Andrei Kravchenko, the mayor of Novorossiysk, declared a state of emergency on Saturday after he said the attack had damaged residential buildings and injured at least five people, including two children.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, whose air force said Russia had attacked Ukraine overnight with 183 drones and two ballistic missiles.

11:33 AM BST

Russia says it shot down 170 drones overnight

Russias defence ministry said it shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.

In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to mayor Andrey Kravchenko.

11:22 AM BST

Zelensky says wont play Putins games with short truce

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin coinciding with Moscows World War II commemorations, but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.

Ukraine wont be playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putins exit from isolation on 9 May when some international leaders are expected in Moscow, he said.

11:09 AM BST

US State Dept approves possible sale of F-16 fighter jets

The US Department of State has approved a possible deal to provide training and equipment for F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine.

It includes the potential sale of F-16 training and sustainment, along with related equipment, to Ukraine for $310 million, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The sale could include aircraft modifications and upgrades, flight training, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts, repair, ground handling equipment, classified software, classified publications and support.

11:05 AM BST

In pictures

A Ukrainian military unit takes part in the rehearsals of the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London - Chris J Ratcliffe

A fire burns at the site of a drone strike near a residential building in Kharkiv - SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

At least 47 people were injured, including one child, according to the National Police. Scores injured in drone attacks in Kharkiv - SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

10:50 AM 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.

We will continue to help, but we will no longer fly around the world as mediators in meetings, said Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson.

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.

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.

Read more here

10:41 AM BST

Russian drone attack wounds 47 in Kharkiv

Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv - REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova

A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, wounded 47 people, local officials said.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations in the city late Friday. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles were damaged in the assault, according to Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Following the attack on Kharkiv, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged stronger, more decisive support from the countrys allies.

While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defence. Strong and real decisions are needed from our partners  the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace, he wrote on social media.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Saturday that Russia fired 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight. Of those, 77 were intercepted by Ukrainian defences, while a further 73 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. The Air Force also reported that Russia launched two ballistic missiles.

10:39 AM BST

Russias Medvedev says Trumps statement about US World War Two role was pretentious nonsense

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, has said that president Donald Trumps assertion that the US had done more than any other country to win World War Two was pretentious nonsense.

Mr Trump posted on social network Truth Social late on Thursday that nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance in both world wars, and that we did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II.

Mr Medvedev, a former Russian president who has emerged as one of Moscows most outspoken anti-Western hawks since the start of Russias war in Ukraine, made his own statement.

Trump recently announced that the US made the biggest contribution to victory in World War Two and that he will introduce a special holiday on May 8. A holiday is not a bad thing, but his first statement is pretentious nonsense, Mr Medvedev said.

Our people sacrificed 27 million lives of their sons and daughters in the name of destroying accursed fascism. Therefore, Victory Day is ours and it is May 9! So it was, so it is, so it will always be! wrote Mr Medvedev.

10:37 AM BST

Welcome to our live blog

Good morning and welcome to our Ukraine-Russia live blog.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
On May 2, 2014, a tragic incident occurred in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa, becoming one of the most widely exploited narratives in Russian propaganda.

That day, as more than 1,000 Ukrainian activists gathered in the city to show support for the Ukrainian government, a group of pro-Russian protestors showed up to meet them  many armed with clubs, axes, and guns.

They began violently attacking the Ukrainian activists, two of whom were shot and killed as the events unfolded. The activists and those outraged by the attack began to fight back.

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"It began with them throwing cobblestones at us," Victoria Sybir, a former secretary of a volunteer civilian defense group formed in Odesa to repel attacks on protesters, told the Kyiv Independent, recalling the events back then.

"We fought back as we could, but then two (Ukrainian activists) were killed after being shot," she said.

As tensions mounted, the Ukrainian activists dismantled a tent encampment set up by the other side, forcing the pro-Russian group to barricade themselves in Odesa's Soviet-era Trade Unions Building.

It was from there that the pro-Russian protestors began throwing Molotov cocktails and explosives to fight off those standing outside, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found in an investigation following the event. The activists began launching Molotov cocktails at the building in response.

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The building caught fire, resulting in the deaths of 42 people, most of them pro-Russian protestors. Another six people were killed that day during the clashes.

Since the fire, Russia has continued to use the tragic events in its propaganda. From the start, Russian media alleged that the real number of casualties in the fire was much higher, and many conspiracy theories were circulated to exploit the tragedy, a 2014 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) committee report found.

The events of May 2, 2014, also figure in Russia's justification for its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, falsely portraying the events as a "massacre, during which aggressive 'Ukrainian Nazis' had locked peaceful pro-federalists in the Trade Union Building and had burnt them alive," the European court said in its findings of the events.

A scene from the deadly clashes between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian activists in Odesa, Ukraine, on May 2, 2014. (Maksym Voytenko/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

A common refrain in Russian propaganda used to legitimize its aggression against Ukraine is the baseless and fabricated notion that Ukrainians are "Nazis" and that the Ukrainian government is a "Nazi regime."

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The scene  while a flashpoint in the political chaos in Ukraine at the time  was no isolated event. As Ukraine's EuroMaidan Revolution evolved from a small protest movement to a full-blown uprising from late 2013 through the early months of 2014, Russia seized on the tense moment to sow unrest in the country.

From the outset of the revolution, the Russian-linked violent groups that would become known as the "AntiMaidan" began appearing at protests, both in Kyiv, the epicenter of the EuroMaidan, and in other cities across Ukraine, including Odesa, the eastern cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

Russia was found to be behind some of the AntiMaidan groups around the country, according to a PACE fact-finding mission in 2014.

The revolution reached a bloody climax in February 2014, when security forces backing pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych opened fire on protestors, killing over 100 people.

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Yanukovych shortly thereafter fled to Russia, and Moscow quickly capitalized on the power vacuum by annexing Crimea and arming Russian-controlled proxy forces in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts.

Russia similarly tried to foment anti-government, Russia-sympathetic protest movements in Kharkiv and Odesa in the months after the revolution, but to little avail. Local activists formed civil defense groups that fought back against  at times violently  Russia's moves to recreate its success in Donetsk and Luhansk with the help of proxies and local collaborators.

Moscow's attempts in Odesa were not insignificant. The Kremlin had deployed its agents to undermine local authorities, backed street clashes, and fueled the spread of disinformation about the revolution. At the time, roughly 30% of Odesa's population identified as ethnic Russians. Some local officials also held sympathetic views toward Russia.

In an interview with Radio Svoboda, Serhii Dibrov, a Ukrainian reporter and expert from the public organization "The May 2 group," said the Russian consulate in Odesa was one of the biggest in the world, used as a getaway for Russian money lobbying its interests in the oblast through local political parties, media, and NGOs.

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The European Court of Human Rights concluded in a 2025 ruling that pro-Russian activists in Odesa were aided by some local authorities and police during the attack on the rally.

The role of the local government in the day's events

During the clashes in Odesa on May 2, dozens of policemen were found to have stood idly by in a line with their backs to the attackers, enabling them to pull out firearms freely, the court ruled..

Some police even ignored the fact that protestors had been shot.

"A pro-Russian activist wearing a balaclava, who was standing behind and, at times, next to the police, was seen firing numerous shots in the direction of pro-unity supporters" around the time when the first pro-Ukrainian activist was shot, according to the ECHR investigation.

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After the fires in the building started, the local State Emergency Service department ignored numerous calls to the building for about half an hour per their chief's order, who was present at the scene.

Instead of waiting for first responders to arrive at the scene of the fire, some activists jumped out of the building's windows. Others were evacuated with the help of activists outside.

After the fire was extinguished, the local police arrested sixty-three people who were still in the building.

Two days later, on May 4, several hundred pro-Russian activists stormed the local police building where the arrested protesters were held. The acting regional police chief, who helped the pro-Russian movement and subsequently fled to Russia, ordered their immediate release.

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International observers found that Ukrainian authorities, many of whom were part of Yanukovych's pro-Russian Party of Regions, did little at the time to investigate the events and prosecute those responsible, partly explained by Ukraine's tumultuous transition after the revolution.

The ECHR ruled on March 13, 2025, that the Ukrainian government failed to prevent and properly investigate the deaths of 48 people in the clashes.

The court found that there was not enough conclusive evidence to prove that Russia had orchestrated the clashes  "especially given the covert nature of the alleged involvement." It acknowledged, however, Russia's involvement in instigating the violence through information warfare and, possibly, Russian-controlled saboteurs on the ground.

"The relevant (Ukrainian) authorities failed to show sufficient thoroughness and diligence in initiating and/or pursuing the investigations (of the clashes)," said a 2015 report of the International Advisory Panel of the Council of Europe cited by the court.

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Read also: Could Ukraine have stopped Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014?

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Russian forces have killed another four people in Donetsk Oblast and one person in Kherson Oblast.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration; Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Details: In particular, the Russians killed three people in Novokhatske and one in Klynove in Donetsk Oblast on 2 May.

Another eight people in the oblast were injured.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and five injured due to Russian aggression in Kherson oblast.

The Russians targeted residential areas of settlements in the oblast, damaging 10 houses. They also destroyed cars.

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Russian forces used drones armed with thermobaric warheads in a mass attack on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv that injured at least 51 people, including two children, Ukraines regional prosecutors said on May 3.

The Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors Office said in a statement that the strike late on May 2 involved at least 15 loitering munitions, likely the Shahed-type Geran-2 drones. Four districts of Kharkiv came under fire, igniting numerous fires across Ukraines second-largest city.

Investigators found that Russian drones carried thermobaric munitions, a type of weapon known for generating powerful blast waves and high-temperature clouds, causing severe destruction and posing extreme risks to civilians. Prosecutors said their use may constitute a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law.

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"There were not and could not be any military targets," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 2. "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."

The injured included two children, aged 11 and 16. The attack damaged residential buildings, educational institutions, businesses, vehicles, and shops. At least eight victims were hospitalized, according to local authorities.

The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutors Office has launched pretrial investigations into war crimes under Ukrainian criminal code Article 438, in coordination with local police.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said 12 locations were struck across the city. Firefighters and emergency crews worked through the night to extinguish fires and assist residents.

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While Moscow continues to publicly express readiness for peace talks, Ukrainian officials have dismissed such rhetoric as manipulation, pointing to intensifying attacks across the country. Kharkiv has faced repeated airstrikes throughout Russias full-scale invasion.

Zelensky renewed calls for Ukraines partners to urgently strengthen air defenses. "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," he said.

In March, 164 Ukrainian civilians were killed and 910 injured, according to UN data  nearly all in areas under Kyivs control and primarily due to missile and drone strikes. Russian forces have ramped up aerial attacks in recent weeks on cities including Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv.

Read also: Trumps first 100 days marked by deadlier Russian attacks on Ukraine

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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian forces launched drone attacks on the city of Kherson on May 3, killing one person and injuring two others, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.

The attacks, launched throughout the day, struck homes, outbuildings, cars, as well as a multi-storey residential building, officials said.

No information was immediately available as to the identities of the victims, nor was information provided on the status of the injured victims.

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The attacks caused three separate blazes across the city, with emergency crews successfully extinguishing the fires.

Kherson, situated directly on the eastern front line, is a frequent target of Russian attacks.

Russian strikes against Ukrainian cities come as Kyiv offered a 30-day pause on strikes against civilian areas. Moscow signalled it would take the proposal under consideration, but continued in its strikes.

Russian President Vladimir Putins proposed a three-day ceasefire for Russia's Victory Day commemorations between May 7-9  a proposal that President Volodymyr Zelensky has called a "theatrical performance," designed to ease Russias international isolation and create a favorable atmosphere for Moscow.

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Read also: Zelensky rejects Putins truce proposal as theatrical, backs 30-day ceasefire plan from US

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Russian forces have launched 50 attempts to breach Ukrainian defences on the Novopavlivka front since the start of the day, with 28 combat engagements still in progress.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 16:00 on 3 May

Details: Overall, 123 combat engagements have occurred throughout the war zone since the beginning of the day.

On the Kharkiv front, Russian forces launched two attacks near the town of Vovchansk.

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On the Kupiansk front, Russian troops mounted assaults near the settlement of Zahryzove, while one combat engagement is still unfolding.

On the Lyman front, Russian soldiers carried out nine attacks near the settlements of Ridkodub, Yampolivka, Kolodiazi, Torske and Hryhorivka.

On the Kramatorsk front, the Russians conducted three attacks near the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Maiske and Bila Hora. One combat engagement is ongoing.

On the Toretsk front, Russian forces launched an attack near the settlement of Krymske.

On the Pokrovsk front, 46 attacks of varying intensity were recorded, with 10 combat engagements still underway.

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On the Kursk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled five Russian attacks, while four combat engagements are ongoing.

On the Huliaipole front, the Russians fired rockets at the settlements of Malynivka and Huliaipole.

On the Siversk, Huliaipole and Prydniprovske fronts, Russian forces conducted no offensive actions.

Background: On 2 May, 139 combat engagements took place throughout the war zone, including 53 on the Pokrovsk front.

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MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on Saturday that nobody could guarantee that the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv would survive to see May 10 if Ukraine attacked Moscow during World War Two victory celebrations on May 9.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in May in the war with Ukraine to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 - when Putin will host international leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping for celebrations to commemorate victory over Nazi Germany - and May 10.

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Responding to Moscow's offer of the three-day ceasefire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was ready as long as the ceasefire would be 30 days in length, something Putin had already ruled out in the near term, saying he wants a long-term settlement not a brief pause.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine, given the continued war with Russia, could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries who came to Moscow for the traditional May 9 victory parade.

"We cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore we will not give you any guarantees," he said.

Medvedev, a former Russian president who has emerged as one of Moscow's most outspoken anti-Western hawks since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine, called Zelenskiy's statement a "verbal provocation" and said nobody had asked for Kyiv's security guarantees for the May 9 events.

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"(Zelenskiy) understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10," Medvedev said on his official Telegram channel.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
(FOX40.COM)  New details surrounding the circumstances of a man who was shot by Sacramento police after being accused of domestic violence and attempted molestation have been revealed.

 Video Above: What happens when you call 911?

Around 11:50 a.m. on Friday, the Sacramento Police Department responded to a report of a domestic violence incident that involved a weapon. The caller told police the suspect threw a knife at him, attempted to molest him, and stole his property.

Popular Sacramento brewery abruptly closes all three of its area locations amid lawsuit

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Additionally, the suspect, identified as Johnny Balcorta, 37, of Sacramento, reportedly had the callers BB gun. At the time, Balcorta had a felony no-bail warrant for his arrest.

Around noon, officers arrived on the scene and found Balcorta. SPD said he fled on foot from officers with what appeared to be a firearm in his hand. Officers pursued Balcorta, but lost sight of him near the waterline near Matsui Park. Additional officers responded, and a large perimeter was established.

A domestic violence suspect who was shot by the Sacramento Police Department was allegedly in possession of two replica firearms./Sacramento Police Department

Shortly after 1:00 p.m., officers located Balcorta and reportedly gave him multiple commands to surrender. A police K-9 was used to help apprehend Balcorta, and an officer-involved shooting occurred. SPD said two officers fired their handguns and struck Balcorta at least one time.

Balcorta sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital by the Sacramento Fire Department, where he remains in stable condition, according to SPD. Balcorta will be booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail once he is medically cleared.

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This incident is under investigation. Witnesses or anyone with information can call SPD at (916) 808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

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SALINA, Kan. (KSNW)  The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, to begin the process of filling two upcoming judicial vacancies in Saline and Ottawa counties.

District Judge Rene Young is set to retire from her Saline County position on August 1, and District Magistrate Judge Jason Parks will resign from his Ottawa County post effective June 6.

Man arrested for gun threat against teens in Garden City

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The meeting will take place by conference call and is open to the public. To listen in, call 1-845-361-8917 and enter conference code 3872788 followed by the pound key.

The 28th Judicial District covers both Saline and Ottawa counties. The nominating commission is responsible for reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and forwarding a list of nominees to the governor. For the district judge vacancy, three to five nominees will be submitted, and the governor will have 60 days to make an appointment.

Applicants for district judge must be at least 30 years old, licensed to practice law in Kansas, and have at least five years of legal experience. They must also live within the judicial district.

For the magistrate judge position, nominees must be Ottawa County residents, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and either be a licensed Kansas attorney or pass a certification exam within 18 months.

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Newly appointed judges must stand for a retention vote after one year and, if retained, serve four-year terms.

The nominating commission includes Justice K.J. Wall as the nonvoting chair and members David Stanley, Jay Macy, Lance Cochran, Robert German, Donald Merriman, Russel Prophet, Christine Ritter, and Robert Martin.

Anyone requiring disability accommodations to access the meeting can contact the judicial branch ADA coordinator at ADA@kscourts.gov or 785-296-2256. TTY is available at 711.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Endeavour Silver has completed the acquisition of Compania Minera Kolpa (Minera Kolpa) and its primary asset, the Huachocolpa Uno Mine (Kolpa), in Peru for a total consideration of $145m (C$200.2m).

The acquisition follows the signing of a share purchase agreement in April 2025.

This strategic move aligns with Endeavour's objective to become a senior silver producer and marks its third producing mine and first venture in Peru, a top silver-producing country.

The transaction includes $80m in cash and $65m in Endeavour common shares. An additional $10m in contingent payments has been agreed upon, subject to certain events, and approximately $20m in net debt will be assumed by Minera Kolpa.

To finance the cash portion of the acquisition, Endeavour has closed a $35m copper stream with Versamet Royalties, complemented by $50m in bought deal equity financing.

Versamet CEO Dan O'Flaherty said: "Versamet is very happy to partner with Endeavour Silver on this transaction, and we congratulate them on this important step towards becoming a premier senior silver producer.

With Versamet on the cusp of listing its shares on the TSX Venture Exchange, we are excited to add Kolpa and its immediate production to our portfolio, which as a whole is expected to produce between 14,000 and 16,000 gold equivalent ounces in 2026."

Minera Kolpa is a well-established mining operation focused on silver, located in the districts of Huachocolpa and Santa Ana, approximately 490km south-east of Lima, Peru.

In 2024, Kolpa produced two million ounces of silver, contributing to a total of 5.1 million silver-equivalent ounces.

Kolpa has a current capacity of 1,800 tonnes per day (tpd), which is expected to be expanded to 2,500tpd.

With the environmental permit secured for the expansion, Endeavour is now progressing towards obtaining the necessary operating permit, expected in the third quarter of 2025.

The company has allocated $13m for sustaining capital for the year, including expansion of the tailings dam and mine infrastructure, with an additional $8m planned for exploration to expand recent discoveries and publish a resource estimate. These expenditures will be covered by operating cash flows.

"Endeavour Silver completes $145m acquisition of Minera Kolpa in Peru" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  More than four million shipments worth less than $800 enter the country tariff-free, according to The White House.

The loophole allowing those packages to enter the United States without the extra tax expires Friday.

International stores like Vien Dong Supermarket face some of the biggest impacts from the tariffs, but this store owner says hes doing what he can to keep prices stable for his customers.

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A trip to the grocery store can take you across the world.

When youre lonely and youre homesick for your country, if you can eat a dish thats from your country, then you feel a little bit of your country, and so thats why were very passionate about food because its the quickest way to our hearts, store owner Nicholas Tran said.

But, the taste of home costs customers at least 10% more.

95% of my store is up 10%, but 10% you can work with, Tran said.

Tran says the company will absorb the cost of the tariffs for now to support the customers who live paycheck to paycheck in the area.

In the short term, we decided as a company to do this for the community, he explained.

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Still, customers like Emilio Danque feel the pinch every time he shops, forcing him to make some tough choices.

Crabs here is $5.99 for dungeon crabs, Danque said. Now, its $10.99, so forget that, Im not eating that.

While some shoppers began loading up on the essentials before prices increase, not everyone can afford to shop in bulk.

I can afford that, but my neighbors, they may have some hungry nights, shopper Shismar Johnson said.

On Friday, a tariff loophole expired that allowed shipments worth less than $800 to enter the country duty-free.

The reason it was put in place because it was just too complicated to try to put a tariff on something that is of low value, said Alan Gin, an economics professor at the University of San Diego.

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The Trump administration claims this would hold China accountable for their role in the opioid crisis, but Gin says that the elimination of this policy could create a more strenuous workload for Customs and Border Protection officers.

If neither side yields, it could be a long-term situation to see who blinks first, Gin explained.

Tran says if tariffs stick around long term he could have to raise prices.

Its up 52%, so I had to raise it. We were at six bucks, Tran said showing FOX 5/KUSI the price of his top-selling fish sauce, which increased to $8.99.

Plus, hes already looking to find products from other countries to replace Chinese items.

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All this is short-term strategy, so its on the fly, he said.

Tran says business has increased in the last month because people are rushing to the store to stock up before prices rise, but the cost of these same items in the near future could change very quickly.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  An elderly man has been sentenced to prison for killing his wife and dismembering her more than 20 years ago, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced.

Jack Potter, 72, was sentenced Friday to 15 years-to-life in state prison, a couple decades after the remains of his wife, Laurie Diane Potter, were found in a dumpster of an apartment complex in Rancho San Diego in 2003, Stephan stated in a news release.

Chula Vista man sentenced to prison for robbing ATF agent during machine gun sale

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Potter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in February, admitting he had smothered his wife to death.

In October 2003, a maintenance worker at the Country Hills apartment complex in Rancho San Diego came across Lauries severed legs in the dumpster, authorities said.

The case went cold for 18 years before new investigative genetic genealogy helped the San Diego County Sheriffs Office crack the case in 2021.

According to Stephan, this was the first time investigators had used the technique to identify an unknown homicide victim.

Investigators learned the legs belonged to Laurie, 54, who lived in Temecula in 2003 but had also previously lived in the Country Hills apartment complex.

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Authorities said Potter was previously indicted by a grand jury last August when they learned he became obsessed with a woman he met at a strip club, also named Laurie.

Then, he opened multiple credit accounts and bought a new pick-up truck.

He also gifted his new girlfriend with a Hummer SUV and a ski boat, in addition to renting her an apartment in Corona Hills and providing her with a high-limit credit card, authorities stated.

Potter continued to open credit cards using his wifes name and proceeded to file Family Court documents, eventually selling their home in Temecula and keeping all profits, Stephan said in the news release.

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This case is a stark reminder that the pursuit of justice never stops, and neither does the grief of those who lose someone to violence, Stephan stated. Today, we honor Lauries memory and stand with her family in their long-awaited moment of justice.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)The City of San Diegos Planning Commission has advanced 24 proposed changes to its Bonus Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) program.

The proposed changes come as residents in neighborhoods like Clairemont express frustration over the impact of bonus ADUs on their communities.

The Bonus ADU program allows single-family homeowners to build additional units if some are reserved for low to moderate-income residents.

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City leaders view ADUs as a solution to the ongoing housing shortage.

We had privacy in our backyard, and now I have eight units whose only windows face my house and yard, said a Clairemont homeowner, who asked to remain anonymous. We moved here because we didnt want to wonder where our kids would park to get into the house.

Driving down a stretch of Jicarillo Avenue in Clairemont, residents can see ADUs being constructed that overshadow existing homes, with signs protesting their presence. One sign reads, Winner! Voted worst ADU in San Diego.

Unfortunately, the one contest I win is the one contest I dont want to win, to have the worst ADU next to your house, said the resident.

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The proposed changes include higher penalties for violations, requirements for off-street parking for ADUs located more than half a mile from major transit stops, and additional fire safety measures.

Despite these proposals, some residents feel the damage has been done.

The citys planning director stated, These amendments will help us create more housing opportunities for San Diegans while ensuring that new development is consistent with the scale and character of San Diegos neighborhoods and addressing public safety concerns.

SDRE owns the property on Jicarillo. It said in part, At SDRE, we believe everyone deserves access to quality, attainable housing in neighborhoods theyre proud to call home. Clairemont is the kind of neighborhood where people want to live, and we approach each project by asking what future residents would value most. This property offers the potential for open space, access to strong amenities and connection to the areas natural beauty. We understand that change can raise concerns, and we always do our best to communicate with neighbors as much as possible. At the same time, San Diego continues to face a serious housing shortage, and we remain committed to being part of the solution.

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The Planning Commision will revisit the issue at its next meeting on May 15.

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.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Among the many changes the city of San Diego is considering to close a more than $250 million budget deficit is a proposal to shut down the San Diego Police Departments Northwestern Division and merge it with other branches.

The decommissioning of the division, which serves North City communities like Carmel Valley and Sorrento Valley, was one of a handful of measures pitched to shave down the departments overhead while preserving core services.

However, under Mayor Todd Glorias draft budget proposal released earlier this month, the department will see a budget increase of $23 million.

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SDPD launches new tool for community feedback on officer response

SDPD says most of the officers currently assigned to the division would be relocated to the Northeastern Division in Rancho Penasquitos and the Northern Division in University City under the proposal, although they would continue patrolling their same areas.

Meanwhile, the department plans to repurpose the Northwestern Division building in Carmel Valley for other uses in support of other commands.

San Diego Police Department division map. (Courtesy of San Diego Police Department)

A handful of supervisory positions  including one captain, one lieutenant and one sergeant  would also be eliminated with the consolidation, according to Mayor Todd Glorias draft budget proposal released earlier this month.

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The proposed decommissioning of Northwestern is not about reducing service  your officers will still be in your neighborhoods, and response times will remain a priority, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said in a statement. This strategic decision protects frontline services and allows us to focus resources where theyre needed most.

The proposal, while still in the early stages of being ironed out, has already drawn pushback from law enforcement and residents over concerns about how it may impact response times to calls for service, given the distance officers would need to travel from remaining substations.

The San Diego Police Officers Association plans to hold a rally on Sunday outside the Northwestern Division to call for the substation to be preserved.

Grand jury rips into San Diegos metered parking program

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Lyndsay Winkley, a spokesperson for Wahls office, said the possible decommissioning of the division would not negate the departments commitment to ensuring public safety for communities currently served by the Northwestern Division.

Even so, the department acknowledged there may be adverse impacts like slower response times and a weakening of collaboration between police and residents, in its budget proposal.

Winkley cautioned there are still a lot of details that need to be ironed out in the coming months as the City Council finalizes the budget, a process that begins on Monday.

The Northwestern Division was established in 2007 and currently fields about 1,000 calls per month  one of the lowest loads in the city. In comparison, the Eastern Division receives about 4,000 calls per month, while the Mid-City division gets about 8,500.

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SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Tickets for Savannahs Premier Derby Party at the Olde Pink House are sold out, but you dont have to attend the event to buy raffle tickets for some great prizes.

Proceeds raised from the derby party benefit Park Place Outreach, a local nonprofit that supports programming for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth in the Savannah community.

The raffle items range from Tiffany champagne flutes to a Traeger Grill to a barrel of bourbon. You can check out the list by clicking here.

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Act fast, the raffle will close at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

There is also a silent auction that features trips to two fantastic destinations for unique experiences. You could win a trip to Jalisco, Mexico and visit one of the largest tequila distilleries. The other trip is a journey to the Woodford Reserve distillery in Versailles, Kentucky.

Both distilleries make craft custom spirits for the Olde Pink House.

Click here for more details about the trips and to register to bid.

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South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick touts GOP wins in the Palmetto State Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, following the 2024 General Election (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  The state GOP chairman fended off challenges Saturday from a former senator and an Upstate GOP officer to win a fifth term leading South Carolinas dominant political party.

Chairman Drew McKissick of Columbia won in the first and only round of voting needed at the state GOP convention. He was backed by 56% of the 907 delegates attending the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Former state Sen. Lee Bright of Spartanburg County challenged incumbent Drew McKissick to be chair of the state GOP on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Chornobroff/SC Daily Gazette)

Former Sen. Lee Bright of Spartanburg County came in second with 41%, followed by Denny Floyd, longtime treasurer of the Anderson County GOP, at 3%.

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Weve proven we know how to win in South Carolina, McKissick told delegates gathered in South Carolinas capital.

Chairman since 2017, McKissick has presided over a red wave that has given the Legislature its biggest Republican majority since Reconstruction.

A Democrat hasnt won a statewide office in South Carolina since 2006, and Republicans hold six of the states seven U.S. House seats.

Nominating McKissick was 7th District Rep. Russell Fry of Murrells Inlet, who in November won his second term in the seat anchored by fast-growing Horry County.

We need to keep mobilizing the grassroots, and theres no stronger person to do that than Drew McKissick, said Fry, a former state legislator.

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In the last eight years, 20 elected officials have switched parties from Democrat to Republican. The latest was Solicitor David Pascoe  chief prosecutor for Calhoun, Dorchester and Orangeburg counties since 2004  whos considering a 2026 run for state attorney general.

Others include freshman state Rep. Harriett Holman, who changed parties in 2022 while she was on the Dorchester County Council. She ousted a 20-year Democratic incumbent in the Statehouse last year  among 11 House seats and seven Senate seats flipped since 2020  to become the Legislatures only female Black Republican.

Holman, of Ridgeville, said she never wouldve been able to flip the seat held by Rep. Joe Jefferson for two decades if not for McKissick.

Other freshmen flipping a seat in November include state Sen. JD Chaplin of Hartsville, whose ousting of 22-year incumbent Sen. Gerald Malloy stunned even political observers. If not for McKissick, Chaplin told the crowd Saturday, that seat would still be blue.

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If it wasnt for the support that Drew McKissick gave me, we would not have a supermajority in the Senate, he said to applause.

But both Floyd and Bright, a firebrand former senator, argued the state has become too liberal. They argued the party needs to elect Republicans further to the right on the political spectrum.

Republican delegates hold up a red card to cast votes during the South Carolina Republican Convention on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Chornobroff/SC Daily Gazette)

The vote showed most delegates rejected hard-liners push to fire McKissick.

Bright, a Freedom Caucus-like legislator before the archconservative Republican caucus existed, lost a bid last year to regain the Senate seat he lost in 2016.

One thing thats so discouraging: People are so trusting that if I elect a Republican, Im going to get conservative government, and we dont, he said.

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Attendees included two people considering a 2026 bid for governor: Lt. Gov. Pam Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, who was a delegate for Lexington County.

McKissick was the national Republican Party co-chair for more than a year before announcing his resignation in February 2024.

His decision came as then-former President Donald Trump called for new leadership on the national level. Though Trump had not yet become the partys official nominee, hed won every state contest, including a 20-percentage-point win against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state.

Trumps picks as the new co-chairs of the Republican National Committee were Michael Whatley, chair of the North Carolina GOP, and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

State GOP Chairman Drew McKissick speaks with Mike Burkhold, a one-time candidate for Congress, at the South Carolina Republican Convention on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by Shaun Chornobroff/SC Daily Gazette)

As McKissick was announced Saturday, one delegate in the crowd shouted, He was fired by Trump.

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But McKissick said the suggestion that he has anything but a good relationship with Trump is false.

People will try to mislead and lie to some folks about people coming into our party  trying to make it to be that they are more MAGA than someone else or they are more America First, McKissick said to the SC Daily Gazette, referring to Trump Make America Great Again slogan.

Trump carried South Carolina by 18 percentage points over Vice President Kamala Harris.

Everybody in this room supports Donald Trump. Everybody in this room voted for Donald Trump, McKissick said. Anybody here claiming they are more this or more that  makes no difference.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for the defence and preservation of a united Europe at a commemoration ceremony in Hamburg on Saturday marking the liberation of concentration camps and the end of World War II.

His comments come ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, and were made against the backdrop of Russia's war on Ukraine and growing autocratic tendencies worldwide.

Germany has a special responsibility in this regard due to its history, said Scholz at the Neuengamme concentration camp memorial in Hamburg.

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"One of the very central lessons from the war instigated by Germans, from the National Socialist tyranny, from the murder of millions of innocent women, children and men is our deep conviction that our continent, that we Europeans must leave war between our peoples behind us once and for all," Scholz said to hundreds of international guests, including Holocaust survivors and relatives of victims.

It is all the more tragic that Russian President Vladimir Putin has brought war back to Europe, said the departing chancellor. "We must not and will not resign ourselves to this."

With freedom, democracy and the rule of law, Europe is "the living and breathing antithesis to the murderous horrors of war" and therefore incompatible with belligerent imperialism and contempt for international law, he said.

"And so it is no wonder that autocrats, extremists and populists around the world and also in our countries want to attack and destroy this peaceful and united Europe," said Scholz, in his last major public appearance as chancellor.

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Germany in particular must not allow this to happen, "because we must be aware of the depths that imperialism, disenfranchisement and racial hatred can lead to," he said.

Scholz is to be replaced by Friedrich Merz, who is to be sworn in as chancellor next week.
ST. PARIS, Ohio (WDTN)  A St. Paris school administrator has been terminated and charged after allegedly choking a 13-year-old student.

A Champaign County Grand Jury charged Emilio Valdez with strangulation and endangering children this week.

Death of man in custody ruled homicide: Coroner

According to the Champaign County Sheriffs Office, Valdez assaulted and strangled a student back in February while working at Operation Rebirth, a private Christian academy for boys.

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The school says they placed Valdez on leave when they learned about the incident. School officials later terminated Valdez on March 31 after an internal review.

Officials say another student has also come forward with allegations, with an additional investigation now underway.

Valdezs spouse, who also worked at the school, is also said to have voluntarily resigned.

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(FOX40.COM)  A dance at Fairfield High School abruptly came to an end Friday night after reports of students fighting and a gun threat.

 Video Above: How to report a public safety threat

Around 10 p.m., the Fairfield Police Department responded to the Banda Dance at FHS to help staff shut down the event after a fight broke out. Additionally, police said they swept the area but did not find any weapons.

Major crash in San Joaquin County kills two people

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All students were sent home, and no injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation.

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By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -The U.S. financial regulator's approval last month of a proposal by the world's largest meatpacker JBS to list on the New York Stock Exchange is drawing strong criticism from climate and animal rights groups but praise from Wall Street.

In multiple statements after April 22, when Brazil's JBS said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) greenlit its dual-listing plan to broaden its investor pool and raise its valuation closer to peers, environment activists and animal rights lobbies have unleashed a campaign condemning it.

They cited sprawling criminal investigations into JBS or its controllers in Brazil and in the U.S., as well as concerns over the deforestation of the Amazon and the company's outsized role as a large global emitter of greenhouse gases in the course of its operations.

"Given the company's long rap sheet of illegal and corrupt conduct, it's hard to see how the SEC could have confidence that JBS won't deceive U.S. investors," Glenn Hurowitz, CEO of Mighty Earth, a Washington D.C.-based advocacy group, said in a statement.

JBS was deeply implicated in a bribery scandal in 2017 that shook Brazil's political and economic landscape. In the U.S., the company or related parties were fined millions of dollars in 2020 for corruption in Brazil and for bribery related to its 2009 acquisition of Pilgrim's Pride, another top U.S. meat company.

U.S. lawmakers have also raised concerns over the listing and JBS's criminal and environmental track record.

The SEC did not respond to several requests for comment.

JBS said it believes its U.S. listing presents a compelling investment option and increased opportunities for farmers and ranchers, employees, consumers and the communities where it operates.

The company, which partly funded its aggressive global expansion by issuing bonds traded internationally, pointed out that it has been subject to the information and reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and other U.S. federal securities laws for years.

Global Witness, a London-based organization which investigates industries' links to climate change, called SEC's approval of the listing "a disaster" for both the planet and its people. Other groups have alleged that JBS purchases cattle grazed on deforested areas of the Amazon.

In a statement to Reuters, JBS rejected that claim, citing a "rigorous, zero-tolerance agricultural commodity sourcing policy with strong anti-deforestation measures."
May 2Despite the massive successes of immunotherapy, which utilizes the body's immune system as a tool to fight cancer, therapy resistance is still a common treatment obstacle for many patients with solid tumors.

With a new paper in the leading scientific journal Cell Metabolism, the lab of Vivek Verma, PhD, assistant professor at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, outlines a pharmacological method to boost mitochondrial function in cells that could be easily translated to clinics, enhancing immunotherapy treatments for better outcomes in patients.

"This study has huge implications in reversing the resistance of cancer patients to various immunotherapies," Verma said. "Our study provides a direct link between cell metabolism and gene expression, especially in mitochondria."

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The cancerous tumor microenvironment is a hostile one, especially to an immune cell's powerhouse: the mitochondria. Signals given off in this microenvironment can interfere with nutrition, inhibit mitochondrial function, and lead to immune cell exhaustion. With little to no energy, immune cells are unable to actively fight off pathogens, infections, and cancerous cells. Mitochondrial function is also essential for the process of T cells transitioning from their naive phase to the effector phasewhen these immune cells begin actively fighting off pathogens or cancerous cells.

Currently, there are not yet any clinically viable strategies that can be used to target mitochondria to ensure it retains the power necessary to fight off disease, including cancer.

In the Cell Metabolism paper, Verma and the team found that activating the enzyme PKM2 helped boost mitochondrial metabolism in anti-tumor CD8 T cells. Additionally, the team learned that CD8 T cells with activated PKM2 also displayed better efficacy in adoptive cell models and in combination with immune checkpoint-based immunotherapy.

"Surprisingly, the roles of PKM2 in CD8 T cells had not yet been established. In this study, we show for the first time that pharmacological activation of PKM2 leads to mitochondria-mediated enhancement of effector functions in CD8 T cells," Verma said. "Also surprisingly, we found that PKM2 modifies cell metabolism that regulates the expression of genes located on mitochondrial DNA. Our study provides a direct link between cell metabolism and gene expression, especially in mitochondria."
Australian biologists have bred and released genetically modified Guthega skinks  a type of small lizard  into an outdoor enclosure in hopes that their offspring will be better adapted to handle the changing climate.

This type of lizard is only found in the country's Bogong High Plains in Victoria and on Mount Kosciuszko in New South Wales, and they're currently on the endangered species list.

The latter has better genetic health, and conservationists are bringing these two populations that have been separated for millions of years together to perform a type of "genetic rescue," as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

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"What we've been trying to do in captivity is introduce those beneficial genes from NSW into the Victorian population," said Snowline Ecology conservation biologist Zak Atkins in the interview with ABC.

"Those reproductive trials have been underway for multiple years now  and have been hugely successful in their breeding."

The habitat for these skinks is a combination of rocky alpine fields and subalpine woodlands across mountainous areas, but the changing climate is impacting their numbers in these areas, prompting the researchers to take action.

Guthega skinks have long held significance to the local Jaithmathang people, an Aboriginal people who see the creature as a sacred totem.

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"It goes to describing how we are represented in Dreamtime [and] it is sacred not only to our culture, but also sacred to the individual," said Jaithmathang Traditional Ancestral Bloodline Original Owners Corporation chief executive Scott Allen.

The researchers developing the Healesville Sanctuary, as the outdoor enclosure is called, have been collecting genetic samples from the skinks' local habitat with the help of the Jaithmathang people. This will help them further understand where the lizards have previously lived and how they can help them survive in a changing landscape.

While the skinks hold a sacred connection with local people, they're a food source for some, and as omnivorous creatures, they help maintain a balance in the ecosystem.

Human activities have helped to drive rising temperatures, extreme weather, droughts, and other environmental factors that are forcing some creatures to adapt or go extinct. To combat this, it's important to work toward securing biodiversity and wildlife habitats in order to maintain an ecological balance.

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"When we see the type of stuff that's going on in regard to the destruction of habitats, it's very personal for the Jaithmathang," said Allen.

"We need a balance  and in 50 years' time when my little girl is on the top of a mountain, I still want her to ski as well as seeing a Guthega skink."

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A group of researchers studying a nature reserve in the Tibetan Himalayas set up a trail camera in hopes of spotting elusive species. What they found was as exciting as anything they could have imagined.

The Himalayas contain some of the highest peaks and some of the most unforgiving environments on the planet. But life is remarkably resilient, and it finds a way to thrive even in the harshest climates. That's why you'll find an array of amazing creatures inhabiting this iconic mountain range.

The native clouded leopard, however, is unlikely to be among those creatures; it is believed there are less than 6,000 adults left on the planet.

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Imagine the research group's surprise, then, when just one month after the trail cameras were installed in the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve, a clouded leopard was spotted twice.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documentation of the clouded leopard in Jilong County, [about 620 miles] from the species' previously recognized habitat in Medog County," researchers say, per The Sacramento Bee.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, the dwindling clouded leopard population is largely the result of habitat loss and poaching. Deforestation has wreaked havoc on these beautiful creatures' natural habitats, and illegal hunters looking to sell their pelts, teeth, and bones have only worsened things.

These sightings are a huge moment for clouded leopard conservation efforts. They offer evidence that there may be more of the creatures inhabiting more areas than estimated.

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Preserving endangered species is crucial to maintaining biodiversity and protecting delicate ecosystems. The loss of one species can discombobulate an entire food chain, potentially threatening the global food supply.

A report released by the research group states that the sightings are a stepping stone toward preventing such chaos in the Tibetan Himalayas.

"This discovery suggests there may be other potential clouded leopard habitats in China beyond the four currently recognized sites," it reads. "Further research in this region will promote international collaboration for the conservation of this species."

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Physicists say they've built the first-ever "black hole bomb"  an ominous-sounding concept that dates back to the late 1960s, but that serves as little more than a harmless proof of concept.

As New Scientist reports, the idea is to boost energy with a black hole, then trap it with mirrors until you get an explosion. However, what the team created in a lab is a harmless test, without a real black hole that could suck the planet into oblivion.

And instead of looking for ways to wipe enemy alien civilizations off the map, the goal of the research is to study how black holes drag and accelerate the fabric of space-time around themselves, a phenomenon first theorized by physicist Roger Penrose in 1969.

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In 1971, Belarusian physicist Yakov Zel'dovich came up with a spinning system to investigate whether the rotational energy of a black hole could be extracted by exploiting the extreme conditions inside it without breaking the laws of conservation of energy. At the scale of a real black hole light-years away, the energy generated and released could be as much as a supernova, according to existing theories.

In the latest experiment, detailed in a draft paper awaiting peer review, coauthor and University of Southampton physics professor Hendrik Ulbricht and his colleagues investigated the "Zel'dovich effect," using a cylindrical mirror to amplify energy and create a positive feedback loop.

Starting in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Ulbricht built an early proof of concept out of a rotating aluminum cylinder and magnetic fields.

"Everything was closed, and I was really bored and I wanted to do something, so I built the setup and started to do these experiments, and I saw amplification," he told New Scientist. "I was so super excited that, actually, you could say it rescued me during COVID."

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With the help of a team he assembled, the researchers built on his vision, rotating magnetized metal coils around a cylinder at high speeds. And surprisingly, the team ended up with an even larger magnetic field than they started with.

"You throw a low-frequency electromagnetic wave against a spinning cylinder, who would think that you get back more than what you threw in?" University of Lisbon professor of physics Vitor Cardoso, who was not involved in the research, told New Scientist. "Its totally mind boggling."

Even without a magnetic field being generated by the coils, the setup would still generate a signal, indicating the experiment seemingly confirmed existing theories about how energy behaves near a black hole.

"Were basically generating a signal from noise, and that is the same thing that happens in the black hole bomb proposal," Ulbricht told New Scientist.

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The team hopes that their research could allow us to get a better idea of how black holes energize nearby particles, and could even shed light on dark matter, the mysterious stuff believed to make up about 27 percent of the matter in the universe.

While we're still far from harvesting energy from a real black hole  or even capturing or creating one in the first place  the team hopes their research is a small step in the right direction.

"A challenge for the future remains the observation of spontaneous [electromagnetic] wave generation and runaway amplification seeded from the vacuum," the team wrote in their paper. "However, based on the results presented here, this now remains a purely technological (even if very hard) feat."

More on black holes: Scientist Says He Found Evidence Our Entire Universe Is Trapped Inside a Black Hole
What if your mind was changed online, not by a person, but by a machine pretending to be one?

Thats exactly what happened in a now-controversial experiment conducted by researchers at the University of Zurich, The Atlantic reported.

Over four months, more than 1,000 AI-generated comments were posted in r/ChangeMyView, a popular Reddit forum where users debate social issues and give out points to posts that successfully shift their opinion. The catch? The Redditors had no idea they were part of an academic study or that they were engaging with chatbots.

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The AI didnt just argue  it persuaded. When researchers tailored responses to a users gender, age, and political leanings (inferred from post history via yet another AI), the bots outperformed most human users in earning persuasion points.

Some bots claimed to be trauma counselors. Others posed as victims of abuse. Their backstories, designed to make arguments more relatable, added to their credibility. One even made a case for 9/11 conspiracy theories. And many Redditors bought it.

Science reported that experts believed the experiment was unethical. Once the moderators found out, outrage followed. Users called the deception disturbing, unethical, and violating.

The researchers refused to apologize or halt publication, citing the need for a realistic setting to test persuasive AI. The University of Zurich is now reviewing the study, but it stopped short of condemning the methodology used in the experiment.

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AI ethics experts have compared the scandal to Facebooks emotional contagion experiment  but say this goes deeper. Deceiving close-knit communities, especially on a platform built on trust, feels personal. And with chatbots becoming more persuasive than most people, the implications go far beyond Reddit.

The study suggests that AI can influence human decisions, potentially without users being aware of the impact.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 3 that Ukraine's military destroyed a second Russian military aircraft within a 24-hour time period, having struck a military airfield in occupied Crimea.

The strike follows the downing of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet earlier on May 3 by a sea drone, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said. The attack marked the "world's first destruction of a combat aircraft by a naval drone," HUR claimed.

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The multi-role Su-30 fighter, valued at approximately $50 million, was reportedly hit in midair and crashed into the sea.

"I thank our guys who are increasing Ukrainian long-range capabilities  both in the sky and at sea. The shooting down of a Russian military aircraft by our naval drone was brilliant  proof of Ukrainian capabilities," Zelensky said during his evening address.

Zelensky did not provide additional information on the newly destroyed aircraft, only adding that military depots were also destroyed in the attack. Ukraine's military has not publicly released details on the attack.

Ukraine launched a series of drone attack towards occupied Crimea on May 3, with Russia's Air Force claiming it had intercepted 89 drones over the region, as well as another 23 drones over the Black Sea.

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Kyiv regularly launches drone and missile attacks towards occupied Crimea, a region that Moscow annexed in the midst of the EuroMaidan revolution of 2014.

Read also: Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian fighter jet in world-first strike, intelligence says





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A man suspected of shooting two women at an aviation maintenance college in Inglewood was identified Saturday as Jesse Figueroa, 40, of Monterey Park, who had recently been hired as a security guard at the campus.

The gunman walked into an office at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology on Friday and opened fire on the two victims with a handgun, said Inglewood Mayor James Butts, a former police chief for the city of Santa Monica.

"This was not any act of random violence in the city," Butts told The Times. "This was an act of workplace violence."

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The suspect drove away from the campus in his car, but was taken into custody by Los Angeles police Friday night in Koreatown after Inglewood police shared a description of the suspects license plate and vehicle with partner agencies, according to Butts, who said Figueroa was in custody in Inglewood's city jail.

He is being held on a $1-million bail in connection to the shooting, according to jail records.

The two victims were taken to a trauma center in Long Beach, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which didn't release their names.

Butts said one of the victims was a dean at the college and was in critical condition. The other works at the college as a receptionist and she was taken to the hospital and was stable, he said.

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"We feel terrible for the families of these two ladies," the mayor said.

Butts said there wasn't a clear motive for the shooting, but noted Figueroa has been employed at the Inglewood campus for a short time as an unarmed security guard.

The handgun believed to be used in the shooting is in Figueroa's vehicle and police plan to search for the weapon once they secure a search warrant Saturday, Butts added. A 9mm shell casing was recovered at the campus.

Situations like this are very jarring for a community because it promotes a sense of randomness and threatens safety, Butts said. This is a college campus; you see no reason that there would be this type of crime at school.

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Police spent more than an hour going from room to room on the campus in search of a suspect or additional victims, but did not find anyone, authorities said. Inglewood police said they cleared the campus about 5:15 p.m.

A student at the school told ABC7 News that he and his classmates were told to shelter inside a campus building for about 90 minutes.

Everybody kind of got terrified at once and I just feel like we really couldnt panic, he told the station. We really had to just kind of stay cool and the police were here to do their job and we just didnt want to intervene, so I hope everybody that was involved is safe.

Campus President Christopher Becker told ABC7 that there is 24/7 security on campus and regular safety drills, fire drills and earthquake drills.

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Were an aviation school, so safety is one of the things that we focus on the most, Becker told the outlet. Its a nice community of students and teachers and staff. We all get along really well, care about one another deeply and so this is hard on all of us.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
While the first 100 days of the Trump administration were rough on equity ETFs, among those taking the biggest hits were ESG exchange-traded funds.

Investors have pulled a net $623.9 billion from the 10 largest ESG funds over the past three months, a period beginning shortly after Trumps January 20 swearing-in.

The largest, the $12.5 billion iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU), has bled $420.1 million, according to FactSet data. The BlackRock fund is down 8.7% over the past three months, slightly underperforming the 7.9% dip in the firms flagship S&P 500 fund, the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV).

ESG ETFs Under Attack

As President Donald Trump cut government spending on a range of programs promoting environmental, social and governance causes, such as diversity and social improvement, and pushed for further development of fossil fuels, investors have fled the ESG funds that collectively hold billions in assets.

The funds surged in popularity in previous years, offering investors and institutions opportunities to bet on companies that promoted social and environmental well-being. Still, they came under attack by conservative politicians and state officials beginning in 2022, and President Trumps gutting of international aid, lawsuits against liberal institutions and promotion of fossil fuels has further eroded their popularity.

The Trump administration's public disdain for the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) movement certainly hasn't helped the ESG investing theme, said Kent Thune, CFP, etf.com senior research analyst. While I don't think socially responsible investing is dead, I don't see it returning to its peak, either.

Attacks Against ESG

Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky and Oklahoma have taken aim against ESG, in some cases banning government pension money from being invested in the funds.

Seven of the 10 biggest ESG funds come from New York-based BlackRock, whose CEO Larry Fink has downplayed the role of ESG as its come under fire. Most of the top ESG funds have had small inflows since Trumps swearing in, with the second-largest, the $9.5 billion Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF (ESGV), adding $64.6 million.

Three-Month ESG Fund Net Flows

3-month ESG ETF net flows

Source: FactSet

Still, they were more than cancelled out by the $234.3 million in net outflows from the iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) and $185.3 million in outflows at the iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI).





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SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WPRI)  A Providence veteran was honored Saturday morning for his service during WWII.

Carmine Lombardi, 96, received military honors by ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, Senator Jack Reed.

Lombardi joined the navy in 1946, just four months after turning 17.

He was medically discharged from the navy in 1947, and was then a part of Providences jewelry industry.

Todays ceremony was held at the Heritage Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation center in Smithfield.

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is currently in hospital and had been due to attend Putins Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May, is unlikely to be able to perform his duties fully in the coming days, cardiologist Dragan Dincic has said.

Source: Dincic, quoted by RTS, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The doctor noted that the president has had similar problems on three occasions over the past ten years, mostly related to extremely high blood pressure.

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"I can't go into the details, but while he was in America, the president [Vucic] experienced a severe chest pain that lasted for a short time  only a few seconds according to him, which is not quite consistent with the account of other people present in the room, who say the pain lasted a little longer," Dincic said.

Dincic said that after conducting the necessary examinations and tests, doctors had concluded that Vucics current state of health is "stable and satisfactory".

The doctors have adjusted his treatment and recommended that Vucic continue with further regular monitoring and treatment.

The president is expected to leave the hospital within the next hour.

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Quote from Dincic: "It is certainly unrealistic to expect that the president will be able to fully return to his normal activities within the next few days."

Background:

Vucic had promised Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin that he would attend the 9 May parade in Moscow.

Vucic was suddenly taken ill during a visit to the United States. He sought medical attention and, after being examined, decided to return to Serbia.

Upon returning to Serbia, Vucic was admitted to the Military Medical Hospital in Belgrade.

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It was a simpler time. Youd drive to your local shops, find that elusive parking space and take time to sort your bags out, get your children out and put everyones coats on. A gentle stroll across the car park later, armed with 20 pence pieces, youd drop the right amount into the meter for the time you wanted and collect your ticket to display. Sometimes, and its incredible to think of this in 2025  you might even pay an actual, real-life parking warden. Or, of course, your local supermarket, shopping centre or hospital might not even charge you at all.

Certainly there werent automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras giving you five minutes to gather your stuff and pay. There were no apps requiring correct parking codes, sign ups, credit card numbers and  crucially  mobile signal. No complicated machines requiring your exact number plate, or multiple buttons that never seem to work. No hidden signs saying how much youll be charged if you overstay your free welcome.

Yes, there were abuses of any system and yes, people still got fines, but the numbers are now staggering. As widely reported last week, were on course to receive 14.5 million private parking charge notices this year.

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Its inconceivable that in recent years tens of millions of drivers have set out purposefully to flout the rules and run the risk of getting a ticket for 100, says Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, a transport policy and research organisation.

The numbers still look implausibly high

Its about four times the number doled out a decade ago, which cant be explained by increases in car parking spaces, traffic volume, population or number of cars; the numbers still look implausibly high.

That means either the rules are not clear to motorists when they park, or the rules are being over enthusiastically enforced in the interest of making as much money as possible.

Yet it wasnt ever this way. Private car parking management companies  and their charging systems  only really took off in 2012 after the introduction of the Protection of Freedoms Act. Ironically, this was supposed to stamp out the widespread and unpopular process of clamping and vehicle removal that was rife on private land.

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But it was what came next in the Act  consequently many private landholders will rely primarily on ticketing to enforce parking conditions on their land by sending a ticket to the vehicles registered keeper  which actually made managing car parks for the likes of Parkingeye, Euro Car Parks, Horizon Parking, Smart Parking and APCOA Parking even more enticing.

It allowed parking companies to go after the registered keeper of a vehicle, where in the past they needed to prove who the driver was. Combined with the introduction of remote camera enforcement via ANPR, a modest investment in technology could lead to quick and big returns.

Its telling that most of these companies are backed by private equity  Parkingeye, the market leading private sector operator of ANPR car park management, might be based in Chorley, Lancashire but theyre owned by Macquarie Capital (an Australian multinational investment banking and financial services group) and funds advised by international private equity firm MML Capital Partners.

Ironically, given their name, its only Euro Car Parks out of the top five companies who are a privately owned British company. In its last accounts, it posted a 22m profit and its website quite clearly states: Euro Car Parks is passionate about increasing revenue on your car parks. Quite.

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Just how lucrative the sector has become is evidenced by the number of firms accessing vehicle keeper data from the DVLA, says Gooding. Pre-pandemic it was 137, today it is 180.

No wonder so many consumer groups suspect parking management companies  who, lets not forget, dont actually own these car parks  are incentivised to increase the number of parking charge notices; in the famous Parkingeye Ltd v Beavis case which ended up in the Supreme Court in 2015, it was actually revealed that Parkingeye paid a fixed weekly amount to the landowners, and retained any charges it recovered. Though, the appeal from Billericay chip shop owner Barry Beavis over his 85 fine was eventually dismissed.

Andy Taylor, from the 47,000-strong Facebook campaign group Private Parking Tickets Help and Advice has literally seen it all, from people fined for taking too long to pay, to misleading or simply faulty machines. A popular complaint concerns hidden or unclear signs saying free parking when the small print says its only free for a set period (at which point a fine of up to 70 is automatically imposed).

Faulty technology

Then there are minor infractions which the cameras pick up, like briefly stopping in a designated area, or literally driving in and out of a full car park but still being captured. Or the double dip as its known in the trade, where people get charged for 36 hours in a car park when actually theyd visited twice for short periods of time, and the ANPR system hadnt spotted them leaving.

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And its the language used when you get the parking charge notice which can be just as intimidating, too. These are not parking fines, and they shouldnt be termed as that  or penalty charge notices. Technically only a council or other statutory authority can issue a fine  a private company cant. But they certainly sound like they are. Technically they are actually an invoice for a breach of contract you entered into when you drove into the car park. Which means you should never automatically pay the charge, but interrogate the invoice carefully to see whether you think its correct, and dispute it if you deem it unfair.

There are so many traps and wheezes, says Taylor. They set the motorist up to fail, but they also set the vulnerable up to fail, and thats a real issue. Take any minor keying error that people make when they enter their registration plate.

Taylor is talking about cases like Donna Nashs, who was ordered to pay Excel Parking 282 earlier this year after losing a court case when she only entered the first two letters of her registration plate in a Worksop car park before paying.

I just feel sick to be honest with you, she said. Its taken a lot of our time. Its just been very stressful and hard.

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Then there was Debbie Dinckal, who received a parking charge notice after the final three letters of her registration plate were missing, again despite having paid for her ticket. Euro Car Parks rejected her appeal, before being made an offer to settle for 20. When she declined that, a debt collection company demanded 170 from her.

You feel bullied and frustrated, she said.

Rosey Hudson was taken to court for 1,906 after she took longer than five minutes to pay for her parking - Rosey Hudson

Euro Parks have also been criticised by Guy Falkenau, 80, after they sent him two penalty charges when he parked in the car park at the local theatre, The Glasshouse, in Newcastle upon Tyne. Even though he showed a blue badge on the cars dashboard, he was fined 200 because of a technical fault. Its potentially discriminatory, he said.

Andy Taylor knows that 20 to forget about it trick better than most. Sometimes he will even recommend people pay it if they really cant be dealing with the stress a potential court case might entail. But for him, its another element of what he sees as an exploitative practice.

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The car parking companies might say that it will be cancelled if you appeal but they should never be issuing these kinds of charges in the first place, he says. Its very much a case of issue first and then do everything you can to avoid cancelling.

Late last year, for example, Rosey Hudson hit the headlines when she was taken to court for 1,906 by Excel Parking after she took longer than five minutes to pay for her parking in Derby on a series of occasions due to poor mobile reception  even though she did actually pay for the parking (and even paid the first parking charge notice  at which point Excel sent her nine more).

This claim was absolutely ludicrous it gives you a lot of stress. Im very worried, she said at the time, to which Excel somewhat coldly responded: it seems that Miss Hudson is the author of her own misfortune.

Unreasonable and outside of the norm

Yet one month later, after Derby MP Catherine Atkinson called it a five minute rip-off charge in the House Of Commons, Excel quietly dropped the case. But in a very similar incident in Darlington, where Excel Parking demanded 11,390 in parking charges from Hannah Robinson (who had also paid each time) the judge dismissed the claim last month as unreasonable and out of the norm and told the firm to pay 10,240.10 in costs to charity. Excel are appealing.

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Id been begging to speak to them I was asking for so much help to sort this out, Robinson told the BBC.

Catherine Atkinson, Derby MP, labels the parking charge issue a five minute rip-off - Belinda Jiao

Taylor reckons his group have won 93 per cent of the appeals theyve dealt with since 2019. He takes the process seriously, providing advice initially for appeals where theres been a clear error in charging, then helping to write defences, take witness statements and even attending court as a lay representative if necessary.

And he does so completely voluntarily. Why?



Well, in this increasingly strange world in which we seem to be losing control of everything, this is the one thing I can do to help redress the balance, he says.

The frustration from Taylor and Gooding is that this balance should already have been redressed by government. In 2019, a Private Members Bill enabled the introduction of a Parking (Code of Practice) Act for private parking companies; it included halving the cap on tickets for most parking offences to 50, creating a fairer and independent appeals service, higher standards for signage and banning the use of aggressive language on tickets.

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It also contained some of the voluntary codes of conduct industry body the British Parking Association (BPA) had developed, and yet some of the BPAs members began a legal challenge, concerned that the price charge cap and the removal of the operators ability to make additional charges for non payment could cause a reduction in revenue.

The Code of Practice was withdrawn in June 2022.

Hannah Robinson faced 11,390 in parking charges before a judge dismissed them - SWNS

Still, Alison Tooze, the BPAs chief engagement and policy officer is  perhaps surprisingly  just as keen that the Government get a move on.

Before 2012 and the Protection Of Freedoms Act it was effectively a Wild West of unregulated parking and clamping, she says. It was bad, and we were talking to government back then about a code of practice, if only because you needed to have some oversight if the DVLA were going to hand over keeper details.

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But the government didnt want to regulate it themselves, which is why we began our approved operator scheme. Thats the deal now; if youre a car parking operator and you want details from the DVLA you have to be in one of the two accredited trade associations  of which we are one.

The problem though, as Steve Gooding points out, is that self-regulation isnt going fill us with confidence that appeals will be considered even-handedly and sharp-practice stamped out.

I can see why it looks like were marking our own homework, admits Tooze, that were just protecting our own members. Its not a comfortable place to be and weve always said that it would be better if there was some government oversight on this, a proper regulatory framework that doesnt involve us.

The BPA itself has done nothing to block the Code of Practice Act; were waiting for the government to go and do an impact assessment, lay down the code and get independent bodies overseeing it. Thats where were going and what we welcome  I just cant tell you the timescale.

Motorists must be protected

So we asked a Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson what it might be. They can only say theyre continuing to engage with consumer groups and trade associations to raise standards.

Motorists must be protected when using private car parks, and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry, says the spokesperson.

We know how much of an issue this is for drivers, which is why we will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible.

How many millions more parking charges will be issued before that time is a moot point. The figure bandied about is 41,000 a day.

It sounds a lot, doesnt it? admits Tooze. But like it or not, theres just a lot more places being monitored now, she says. And thats because private landowners want more control of who is parking on their land. 99.7 per cent of cars parking every day do so with no issues at all.

All of which means Andy Taylor from Private Parking Tickets Help and Advice is likely to be busy for some time to come.

That number sounds about right, he says. And quite frankly, theyre relying on you either paying the charge to make it go away, ignoring them, or challenging them to a negotiation. Whichever way, they end up getting paid. So, absolutely, we need legislation.

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Video above: This Nexstar Media video provides a timeline of the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The family of Ashli Babbitt, the San Diego woman fatally shot during the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, has reached a preliminary agreement to settle a wrongful death lawsuit against the federal government. Thats according to an Associated Press report released on Friday that cited attorneys involved with the case.

Lawyers for Babbitts estate and the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly informed a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that a settlement has been reached in principle. However, they noted that specific terms are still being finalized, and no agreement has been formally signed. The financial details of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed at this time.

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Babbitts estate filed the $30 million lawsuit after her death, alleging that she was wrongfully killed by a Capitol Police lieutenant as she tried to climb through a broken window near the Speakers Lobby inside the U.S. Capitol.

Vista woman sentenced to prison for striking cyclist during human smuggling attempt

At the time of the incident, Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was unarmed. As reported by AP, the officer who shot her was not in uniform and was later cleared of any wrongdoing by both the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Capitol Police, who found that he acted in defense of lawmakers and others present.

Despite these findings, the lawsuit claims the officer failed to issue any verbal warnings or attempt to de-escalate the situation before opening fire. It also accuses the Capitol Police of negligence, stating they should have known the officer was prone to behave in a dangerous or otherwise incompetent manner. The suit maintains that Babbitt posed no threat to the safety of anyone.

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In a televised interview, the officer said he viewed the shooting as a last resort and had no way of knowing whether the person attempting to breach the barricade was armed.

As of Friday, Capitol Police officials and representatives for Babbitts estate had not responded to APs requests for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
GAYS MILLS, Wis. (WFRV)  Numerous adults in Wisconsin were arrested after a narcotics search warrant revealed several drugs and a child who was safely removed from the residence.

The Crawford County Sheriffs Office reported that a narcotics search warrant was performed at a home in the 100 block of Main Street in Gays Mills on Friday around 6:15 p.m.

Do not use oven for storage: De Pere officials issue reminder after burnable materials cause smoke to fill apartment

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Several adults were inside, along with a child, who was safely brought out of the building. Seven adults were reportedly detained:

25-year-old Ariel Tiderman of Gays Mills

29-year-old Jourdan Womack of DeSoto

33-year-old Randell Strametz of Gays Mills

38-year-old Nicholas Cullen of Boscobel

43-year-old Chad Munson of DeSoto

45-year-old Douglas Smith of Gays Mills

76-year-old Richard Wickard of Gays Mills

Deputies on the scene searched and recovered methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, scales, money and drug paraphernalia.

Cullen, Tiderman, Smith, Womack and Munson were all arrested and booked at the Crawford County Jail.

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Cullen faces charges of child neglect, possession of methamphetamine and delivery of methamphetamine. Tiderman is charged with possessing methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and marijuana, as well as maintaining a drug trafficking place and violating probation.

Womack was charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and medication, possession of methamphetamine and a probation violation. Munson is charged with possessing methamphetamine as a party to a crime and a probation violation.

Smith faces a charge of possessing methamphetamine. Strametz was referred for possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Cyclist in critical condition after sudden collision with deer on Wisconsin trail

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Wickard was charged with possessing marijuana, drug paraphernalia, psilocybin mushrooms, possession with intent to deliver marijuana and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

No additional details were provided.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of Massachusetts as spring storms are moving into the state.

This watch is in effect in Worcester, Middlesex, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Berkshire counties until 8 p.m.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH until 8pm for parts of our area. Storms could contain damaging wind and hail, even an isolated tornado is possible across parts of New England this evening. pic.twitter.com/Air3TTiZtD  Vicki Graf (@VickiGrafWX) May 3, 2025

WATCH THE FORECAST | INTERACTIVE RADAR | DOWNLOAD THE APPS

Storms could contain damaging wind and hail, even an isolated tornado is possible across parts of New England this evening.

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Follow our Boston 25 Meteorologists on Twitter for updates:

Kevin Lemanowicz | Shiri Spear | Tucker Antico | Vicki Graf

Stay Informed:

Utilize MEMAs real-time power outage viewer to stay informed about current power outages in your community and region, and across the state, including information from utility companies about restoration times.

Utilize MEMAs live weather radar and forecasting tools.

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Online Resources:

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PORTLAND, Ore. (Columbia County Spotlight)  The sexual abuse charges levied against a retired St. Helens High School teacher have been downgraded from felonies to misdemeanors.

Along with former SHHS choir teacher Eric Stearns, retired teacher Mark Collins was arrested in November for alleged sexual abuse of students. Collins was originally indicted on two counts of second-degree sexual abuse  which are felony charges  and one count of third-degree attempted sexual abuse. Each charge involved a different accuser, whose names are redacted from the indictment. All three were minors at the time of the alleged abuse.

In January, the two second-degree sexual abuse charges were downgraded to third-degree sexual abuse charges, and the third-degree sexual abuse charge was downgraded to third-degree attempted sexual abuse. A fourth charge involving a fourth accuser was also added, alleging third-degree sexual abuse.

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On April 29, the charges levied against Collins were updated once again. The third-degree attempted sexual abuse charge was dropped, and that accuser is no longer represented on the charging instrument. Brady said the charge was dropped because the incident was outside the statute of limitations.

With the newest change, Collins faces three third-degree sexual abuse charges, which are misdemeanor crimes.

Read the full story here.

The Portland Tribune and its parent company Pamplin Media Group are KOIN 6 News media partners

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Uniquely is a Modesto Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Central Valley so special.

Modestos McHenry Museum is looking to add space to honor a late historian whose biggest legacy may be discovering that the venues famed namesake actually was an impostor.

But more on that impostor thing later.

The city of Modesto, which owns the museum, is raising funds for a Janet Lancaster History Center in the downtown historic building, according to Cultural Services Program Manager Jessica Flores, who runs the museum.

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The history center would offer new services and programs for the community, Flores said in an email interview.

At this point, the addition is just an idea that would need to be fully funded by community donations, she said. Its too soon in the process to know how much it would cost, but the effort already has received $8,500 in donations.

The hope is to create three connected areas for the Lancaster center, she said. Again, its too early to tell how much of the around 17,000-square-foot museums space it will occupy, Flores said. It wont cut into any of the exhibit areas.

The first area would be a research room on the museums first floor to house reference books and the most requested research material.

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A second area would be used for workshops and classes to help people with their own preservation projects, such as digitizing photo negatives or family history research.

The third would be a staff workspace.

Asked about construction, Flores said, Most of the space we need already exists. The idea is to create enough space to support research, provide education, and preserve the collection.

There are thousands of items to view and use at the museum, she said.

We began acquiring in the late 1960s, and by the mid-1970s there were already about 30,000 objects cataloged by hand. Staff are currently undertaking a collection assessment, and part of that is to digitally catalog everything. At the end, well have a searchable database, which will help us support the public with research efforts.

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The collection consists of a little bit of everything, she said, including photos and documents, but we also have more obscure artifacts like hair jewelry and used Civil War bandages.

Most of the museums collection has come from community members.

Who was Janet Lancaster, and what about Robert McHenry?

Janet Lancaster was a Modesto native and teacher who started her career at El Vista School in 1957, according to David Seymour, executive director of the McHenry Museum and Historical Society.

Janet Lancaster is pictured in 2024.

She also was an avid historian. She volunteered at the museum for more than 20 years, organizing archives, photos and documents in the basement, Seymour said.

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Every Friday, you could find Janet Lancaster at the McHenry Museum, he said. She didnt have a lot of space to work, which is part of the goal for the citys plan.

While Lancaster, who died in September 2024, was an extremely private person, she did much for the community, Seymour said, including discovering that the famed Modesto McHenry family members werent actually McHenrys.

According to a 2013 story in The Modesto Bee, everything McHenry in Modesto began when Robert McHenry arrived here sometime around 1850. That, McHenry Museum researcher Janet Lancaster ... discovered, includes the invention (or reinvention) of McHenry himself.

Her project to learn more about his personal and family histories became a three-year investigation that ultimately changed some of what local historians believed for more than a century, according to The Bee story.

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Robert McHenry no doubt helped transform the Valley and build Modesto. But, Lancaster found, he wasnt the man folks thought he was back then, the story said.

Born Robert Henry Brewster in Vermont in 1827, he was a direct descendant of Mayflower elder William Brewster, The Bee story recounted. He signed up for a five-year hitch as a rifleman in a newly formed Ohio Army regiment in 1846, told hed be guarding forts along the Oregon Trail. But when the Army commandeered his regiment to fight in the Mexican-American War, he deserted.

A few years later, Lancaster found that Brewster surfaced in Stockton as Robert McHenry, dropping Brewster and adding Mc to his middle name, according to the story. Within a couple of years, he settled along the Stanislaus River, became one of Modestos most influential citizens, and the rest is, well, history. Or legend.

Seymour said Lancasters work on Robert McHenry was her biggest legacy.

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Perhaps that was meant to be.

She actually grew up on McHenry Avenue. Its like her entire life (was) McHenry, Seymour said.

Fundraisers planned for the project

Community money is needed for the Lancaster space, and an upcoming Historic 14th St. Walking Tour of Modesto is among the fundraisers, Seymour said.

The tour is set for 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 30, and includes a look at the history of four former homes on 14th Street:

 The Hatton-Davis house at 909 14th, which is now home for Love Stanislaus

 The DeLappe house at 914 14th, now Provident Care

 The Elias-Haris house at 1015 14th, now Hawks and Associates

 And the Maddux-Morgan house at 1126 14th, now the Queen Bean.

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Tickets for the tour are $25, available at the museum.

In addition, the Modesto Art Museum is offering a $5,000 matching contribution for the Lancaster center, according to Bob Barzan, treasurer and member of the groups board of directors.

The match comes with the dissolution of the Modesto Art Museum, Barzan said. It has been website-based with no building, but has done pop-up events in the city over the years.

The art museum is dissolving because it has not been able to attract new board members, according to Barzan.

This (matching challenge) is part of our going away, he said. We have a fair amount of money and have been giving it away to various nonprofits.

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Those who want to donate for the matching challenge can do so payable to McHenry Museum, with the memo 101479 JLancaster and sent to the McHenry Museum, Attention: Jessica Flores, PRN at P.O. Box 642, Modesto, CA 95353.

We wanted to do something for the McHenry Museum and this seemed like a good way before we closed, Barzan said.

What youll find at the museum

The museum features history from across Stanislaus County, with each city having its own archive, Seymour said.

Admission to the museum is free.

According to its website, www.mchenrymuseum.org, visitors will see a number of exhibits, such as gold mining artifacts, the founding of Modesto by railroad, irrigation development, agriculture and re-creations of a general store, a blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, a barbershop of days-gone-by, a 1950s diner setting and more.

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The museum also has temporary exhibits that change periodically.

Theres a McMobile Museum that takes Stanislaus County history to various community events, as well as periodic historic CemeTours of local cemeteries. Both are programs of the museums historical society. The next CemeTour will be on Memorial Day, May 26.

The Lancaster center would make the McHenry Museums historical resources more available to the community, according to Flores.

A lot of times people think that archives are off-limits, or you need to be a serious scholar to access them, but really, were here to serve as a resource to all who are interested in local history, she said.

Lancaster worked extremely hard to make the McHenry Museum the central place for local historical information, Flores said. ...We are continuing to build on her efforts to establish something she would be proud of.

Janet Lancaster worked as a volunteer and archivist at the McHenry Museum since the late 90s. The city is looking to create new space at the museum to make information more accessible to the public and honor a late historian. Photographed in Modesto, Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Vintage Modesto City directories at the McHenry Museum in Modesto, Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Janet Lancaster, right, helping helping Henry Solario in 2023.
Rheinmetall wants to evolve into an American-style, all-purpose contractor. It recently acquired U.S. vehicle maker Loc Performance, ammo recovery firm Stascheit, and software developer blackned, and bid for Thyssenkrupps warship arm, which was rejected in favor of a spinoff.

The clear, first step to fix this is producing more of what Europe already makes: ammunition. After the EU failed to deliver one million artillery shells to Ukraine by March 2023it took until Novemberofficials in the bloc allocated 500 million to scale output. A quarter went to Rheinmetall, which targets output of 1.1 million 155mm shells a year by 2027, and tripling annual revenue to 30 billion by 2030.

This has created a negative feedback loop, with NATO members increasingly channeling off-the-shelf purchases toward American contractors, which remain capable of large-scale production. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, only 22% of the EUs procurement boost remained in Europe, according to the European Commission.

Because European countries slashed military budgets a lot more than the U.S. after the Cold War, their domestic defense suppliers became niche, low-volume producers with high unit costs. Airbuss military arm was the highest-grossing one in 2024 with 12 billion in revenuebarring BAE Systems, which gets half its sales from the U.S. By contrast, Lockheed grossed $71 billion.

Of course, much of the windfall will flow to prime U.S. contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics. But Brussels wants at least 50% of European military procurement to go to domestic firms. Achieving that requires major industrial reformsomething investors are eager to capitalize on as the U.S. growth story loses its shine.

This week, Germany asked the European Union to invoke an emergency clause exempting defense investment from spending rules, as part of the blocs five-year rearmament plan . Global defense expenditure experienced the highest year-over-year rise since at least the end of the Cold War in 2024, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data showed this week, with Europe as the main contributor. Analysts estimate NATO members could add 700 billion ($798 billion) to 2 trillion in extra military spending by 2030.

Americas vast military-industrial complex has many critics. For Europe, it is now something to aspire to.

Story Continues

However, investor enthusiasm has pushed its forward price-earnings ratio to 43, from 17 six months ago. Such extreme valuations argue for diversification, but it is hard to spot other clear winners in an industrial base wastefully fragmented across national lines.

Germany is a leading manufacturer of tanks but, where the U.S. fields the Abrams main battle tank, the Bradley infantry vehicle and the Stryker personnel carrier, Europe has several competing models for each tank class. Ditto for frigates, submarines and planes.

In jet fighters, the Eurofighter Typhoon, backed by Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K., competes with Frances Rafale and Swedens Gripen. But the most popular choice among European NATO members is the F-35, which boasts stealth capabilities and triple the production rate. This locks countries into U.S. systems for two decades. Next-generation fighter development is split too, between a Dassault-Airbus program and a BAE Systems-Leonardo-Mitsubishi team.

Ideally, these firms would merge into two giants, each bidding for a unified contract, with only one aircraft ultimately developed, just as Boeing and Lockheed did with the U.S. Air Forces F-47 project.

In practice, top-tier mergers remain unlikely. National governments retain stakes in most defense firms and are reluctant to cede control.

A more realistic model is missile maker MBDA. Jointly owned by Airbus, BAE and Leonardo, it functions as one company while retaining national subsidiaries. This allowed simplification: The Aster missile familyEuropes closest equivalent to the U.S. PAC-3 MSE, used in the Patriot systems that have proven vital in Ukrainehas replaced legacy systems such as the Crotale, Masurca, Spada, Aspide and Sea Dart. MBDA plans to double production this year from 2023.

Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters are backed by Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. - JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

This model could extend to other sectors. Rheinmetall is developing the Panther KF51 tank, aimed at replacing the Leopard 2, and has now joined forces with Leonardo to build a variant for Italy. Naval capabilities could be consolidated across BAE, Frances Naval Group, Germanys Thyssenkrupp, Italys Fincantieri and the Netherlandss Damen.

Investors could spread bets across listed players, hoping to reap the benefits of their networks of specialized subsidiaries.

Still, the MBDA blueprint remains vulnerable to national divergence. MBDA Germany and France, for example, make competing land-attack cruise missiles: The Taurus KEPD 350, now restarting production after a five-year pause, and the SCALP EG. This reflects premerger legacies, but highlights the challenge of scaling with stale, legacy lines. University of Oslos Fabian Hoffmann estimates combined annual capacity is just 100 units, which is far below Lockheeds 700 JASSM-ERs.

Meanwhile, Europe lacks a high-altitude missile defense like the U.S. THAAD or Israels Arrow 3, which can take 20 years to build. It also depends on the U.S. for software and satellite intelligence.

Lockheed Martin jet fighters being manufactured in West Fort Worth. - Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Getty Images

It is best to first fix the procurement system, then have these companies compete with each other and then see which winners are emerging and drive consolidation. It is what happened with Rheinmetall, said Hoffmann.

Indeed, the EU seeks to replicate the Pentagons power as a centralized buyer. It will make 150 billion in loans available for joint defense procurement and has set up a target for 40% of purchases to be collaborative by 2030. That may not be enough.

With many countries still reluctant to spend even under the auspices of Brussels, though, there will still be a lot of capital stepping in to finance smaller defense deals, usually involving assets owned by unlisted companies.

Private-equity firms such as London-based Tikehau Capital and Paris-based Weinberg Capital Partners are now focusing on security-related small and medium companies, and larger players such as CVC Capital Partners are perfectly positioned to do even more.

Then there is venture capital, which should help address some of the capability gaps that EU officials have identified, including drones, artificial intelligence and cyberwarfare. The models are the many Silicon Valley upstarts currently vying for Pentagon contracts, such as Anduril Industries, Palantir and Shield AI.

According to a recent report by NATO Innovation Fund, a 1 billion vehicle launched by NATO in 2023 to provide early support to strategic military technology, European VC funding in this area was at a record high last year. The success of Ukrainian producers of small drones, sprouted out of necessity, have also pointed the way.

There is another straightforward way to play the trend: The top European investment banks, such as BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank, are set to receive a fee windfall in the form of advisory services for mergers and restructurings, as well as equity and debt issuance to fund expansions.

The European military-industrial complex wont rival the U.S.s anytime soon, but there is money to be made as it wakes up from a long slumber.

Write to Jon Sindreu at jon.sindreu@wsj.com

Most Read from The Wall Street Journal
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she rejected an offer from her United States counterpart, Donald Trump, to send US troops to Mexico to help combat drug trafficking.

Speaking at a public event on Saturday, Sheinbaum said Trump had asked her during a call how he could help fight organised crime and suggested sending US troops.

The Mexican leader said she declined, telling Trump, We will never accept the presence of the United States army in our territory.

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Sheinbaum added: I told him, No, President Trump, our territory is inviolable, our sovereignty is inviolable, our sovereignty is not for sale.'

Her comments come a day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was pressuring Mexico to allow deeper US military involvement in the fight against drug cartels.

Citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, the news outlet said tension rose during an April 16 call between the two leaders as Trump pushed to have US armed forces take a leading role in battling Mexican drug gangs that produce and smuggle fentanyl to the US.





Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly hit out at Mexico and the USs other neighbour, Canada, over drug trafficking.

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He has accused the two countries of allowing illegal drugs, most notably fentanyl, to flow over their borders into the US.

Trumps administration has also tied its push to impose steep tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods to fentanyl trafficking, among other factors.

On Saturday, Sheinbaum said she had offered to collaborate with the US during her talks with Trump, including through greater information-sharing.

At the same time, the Mexican president said she had urged Trump to stop the cross-border arms trafficking that has contributed to a wave of violence that has killed more than 450,000 in Mexico over nearly two decades.

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She added that Trump issued an order on Friday to ensure that everything necessary is in place to prevent weapons from entering our country from the United States.

A spokesperson for the US National Security Council told the Reuters news agency that Trump had been crystal clear that Mexico must do more to combat these gangs and cartels and the United States stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries.





The spokesperson added that Trump had worked closely with Sheinbaum to achieve the most secure southwest border in history.

But dangerous foreign terrorist organizations continue to threaten our shared security and the drugs and crime they spread threaten American communities across the country, the spokesperson said.

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Meanwhile, Trump has continued to push forward with his plan to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history, despite several legal challenges against his hardline anti-immigration policies.

The US Department of Defense said earlier this week that it designated a second stretch on the border with Mexico as a military zone to enforce immigration laws.

The newest area is in the US state of Texas and is attached to the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso.

Like the first zone established last month in New Mexico, military personnel are authorised to take custody of migrants who irregularly cross the border until they are transferred to civilian authorities in the US Department of Homeland Security.
By Lucinda Elliott

(Reuters) -Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump had proposed sending U.S. troops to Mexico to combat drug trafficking, but said she had rejected that offer because "sovereignty is not for sale."

Sheinbaum's comments were in response to questions about a Wall Street Journal report published on May 2 that said Trump was pressuring Mexico to allow deeper U.S. military involvement against drug cartels to combat trafficking across the shared border.

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"In one of the calls, (Trump) said, 'How can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the U.S. Army come in to help you,'" said Sheinbaum, who was speaking at a university event near the capital on Saturday.

"And you know what I told him? No, President Trump, the territory is sacrosanct, sovereignty is sacrosanct, sovereignty is not for sale, sovereignty is loved and defended," the president said, adding that while the two countries can collaborate, "we will never accept the presence of the United States military in our territory."

A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) said in response to a Reuters request for comment that Trump had been "crystal clear that Mexico must do more to combat these gangs and cartels and the United States stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries."

The council spokesperson added that Trump had worked closely with Sheinbaum to achieve the "most secure southwest border in history", however, "dangerous foreign terrorist organizations continue to threaten our shared security and the drugs and crime they spread threaten American communities across the country," the spokesperson said.

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The White House did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters whether Trump had raised troop deployments with Sheinbaum.

Trump has said publicly that the U.S. would take unilateral military action if Mexico failed to dismantle drug cartels. The two leaders have had several calls in recent months to discuss security issues, trade and immigration.

Sheinbaum went on to explain that during one of the calls she had asked Trump for help to prevent weapons from entering Mexico from the United States that fuel violence and trafficking.

"We can collaborate, we can work together, but you can do it in your territory, we can do it in ours," Sheinbaum said.

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The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that tension between the two leaders rose towards the end of an April 16 telephone conversation when Trump pushed to have U.S. armed forces take a leading role in tackling Mexican drug gangs that produce and smuggle fentanyl to the U.S.

In February, the U.S. designated the Sinaloa Cartel and other Mexican drug cartels as global terrorist organizations, which some analysts have warned could be a stepping stone to such military action.

Airborne surveillance of Mexican drug cartels by the U.S. military has also increased, as part of efforts to collect intelligence to determine how to best counter their activities.

Sheinbaum has since proposed a constitutional reform aimed at adding protections to Mexico's national sovereignty.

(Reporting by Lucinda Elliott; Editing by Diane Craft and Daniel Wallis)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Skies are sunny and blue this Saturday, lets get a check on the latest in news and weather for KELOLAND On The Go.

A search is underway in Nebraska for a man involved in an officer-involved shooting in western South Dakota.

Investigation underway in Fall River officer shooting

The global trade war is having an impact on this years SculptureWalk in downtown Sioux Falls.

Canadian sculptors create tariff carve-out

Thanks to someone weve come to know well in our KELOLAND Newsroom, a Huron man has been able to see video of himself serving in 1971 in the Vietnam War.

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Daughter helps find 1971 Vietnam video for grateful SD veteran

It was a chilly start to the day across KELOLAND as temperatures fell into the 30s for lows. As a high pressure system moves off to our south, winds have stayed light with clear skies.

Storm Center AM Update: Mild Weather Returns

New parking rules go into effect for downtown Sioux Falls starting today.

Downtown Sioux Falls parking changes: What to know

A new initiative is incorporating zoo animals and other creatures into literacy and science education.

How zoo animals are part of a literacy initiative

For the latest in news and weather, use the KELOLAND News app.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A woman was shot on Norton Street Saturday morning before being involved in a vehicle accident while being transported to the hospital.

According to police, officers responded to Norton Street near Saint Paul Street for the report of a person shot and found a 28-year-old Rochester woman with a gunshot wound to the lower body.

Police said although the shooting happened on the sidewalk of Norton Street, the woman was found inside a vehicle at the intersection of Norton Street and North Clinton Avenue.

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Police said family of the woman attempted to drive her to the hospital after the shooting happened but only made it about one block before crashing into another uninvolved vehicle.

From the scene of the accident, the woman was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital by AMR to receive treatment for what police are calling non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the other vehicle was transported to RGH after he complained of pain. There are no additional injuries reported at this time.

This shooting is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  If youre over 18 and plan to grab a flight out of town on or after May 7, youll need a REAL ID.

The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 in the wake of 9/11 to set a strict new standard for issuing drivers licenses, and other ID cards.

Anyone 18 years old and older who plans to fly needs a REAL ID to enter commercial aircraft, certain federal facilities, and nuclear power plants.

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You shouldnt have waited too long, Bakersfield resident Mickey Mahoney said.

California DMV urges residents to get a REAL ID before upcoming deadline

I went into Walmart one time to pick up some ammunition cause I was going to the range, and they wouldnt sell it to me because I didnt have the REAL ID card.

Mahoney said that was two years ago.

Californians have been able to upgrade to a REAL ID since the California DMV began offering it in January 2018, according to the California DMV.

After that I went, and applied. It was really simple, Mahoney said.

Mahoney went to the DMV website to find out more, but it wasnt so easy for Leslie Michael.

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Im almost in tears trying to figure it out. You make a mistake you have to go back to the beginning, and go all the way through again, Michael said.

To get a REAL ID in California, you need to prove your identity with a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or permanent resident card.

You need to provide your Social Security number with a card, W-2 form, or paystub.

Flying without a REAL ID? Heres what to expect

You need two proofs of California residency like your utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement.

If youve legally changed your name, youll need a name change document like a marriage certificate.

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Finally, you need to visit a DMV office and pay the $35 application fee.

I didnt need to get mine yet because I can still apparently, I heard you can still get around with your passport on domestic flights, Michael said. I will be getting a REAL ID. Michael said.

Other forms of acceptable IDs include:

A passport

Drivers license or state ID that meets REAL ID standards

U.S. Military ID

Permanent resident card

Border Crossing card

DHS-designated enhanced drivers license

Native American tribal photo ID

An airline or airport-issued ID

Canadian Provincial drivers license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

Transportation Worker Identification Credential

DHS Trusted Traveler cards

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As of May 1, 2025, almost 19.5 million Californians have a REAL ID drivers license or identification card  thats 58% of all cardholders, according to the DMV.

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Remember, the easiest way to check if your license meets REAL ID requirements is to look for the star on the corner no matter what state it is.

The DMV is offering extended hours in 18 select offices from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays (except Wednesday) and other offices will be open Saturday, May 3, to assist customers who want to get a REAL ID before the May 7 federal enforcement date.

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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 KGET 17 News.
SIDNEY, Ohio (WDTN)  Sidney is looking to keep its roads safe and up to date this election day, with a street levy that would also help balance the citys budget.

On May 6, residents in Sidney will vote on a recurring levy that will help the city invest in its infrastructure.

You can just look out the window and see orange barrels and scaffolding and things here at work are where your tax dollars are going, said Andrew Bowsher, Sidney city manager.

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Sidney leadership says theyre looking for voters to invest in streets, alleys, gutters and bridges  for what they say is the cost of a cup of coffee per month.

Its been nearly six years since the last levy passed, and over a decade since a similar one was passed. Leaders say they are trying to play catchup with their infrastructure.

The levy itself isnt new to voters  in 2014, a five-year levy was passed at 0.25 percent levy on income, expiring in 2019. A 0.15 percent levy was then approved instead of another 0.25.

Taxpayers in the city of Sidney have really gotten a tax break, said Bowsher.

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But that decrease slashed the budget by almost half, which has been a big hit to the citys finances.

Were taking about a million dollars, a little less than a million dollars, around $900,000 of our general fund away from other departments, said Bowsher.

This year, the city is looking to return to the status quo by bumping the tax back up to 0.25 percent.

We need to consistently have these dollars set aside, pushed into our infrastructure, so our roads, bridges, alleys, potholes can be consistently taken care of, said Bowsher.

Opposition to levies like this one are concerned about their economic future, worried about the uncertainty of extra costs.

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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.
As Silicon Valley and Washington build closer ties, tech leaders offered advice on how the government can innovate better and faster. Founders and investors of defense tech startups said the Pentagon should cut down on lead times and raise its levels of risk tolerance in order to develop new weapons.

After years of trying to make inroads into the notoriously byzantine defense sector of the U.S. government, Silicon Valley is finally getting its chance.

A crop of new defense startups from the Valley are making their way to Washington at a time when the Pentagon is eager for new tech. Many leading figures from tech backed President Donald Trumps reelection, cementing a new bond between an industry that had previously been known for supporting Democrats.

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A recent conference in the nation's capital highlighted the new close ties between tech and government. The Hill and Valley Forum on Wednesday featured CEOs of top defense tech firms like Palantirs Alex Karp and Andurils Brian Schimpf, rubbing shoulders with government officials like then-national security advisor Mike Waltz as well as members of the Senate Armed Services Committee such as Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).

Against the backdrop of the U.S.s deepening geopolitical rivalry with China, the tech leaders entreaties for the government to take a page from its playbook found a welcome audience.

The White House is absolutely dedicated to reforming the way we acquire technology in order to modernize the U.S. military, Waltz said, a day before he left his role as national security adviser.

Trump signed several executive orders that would streamline how the Department of Defense acquires new defense systems. Defense tech startups had long maintained that current methods left them unable to compete with existing military contractors they viewed as having inferior products but deeper relationships at the Pentagon.

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The executive orders are going after things that always seem to cost too much, deliver too little and take too long, Waltz told the audience during a panel titled The Arsenal Reimagined: Designing the DoD for the 21st Century Battlefield. We can fill this auditorium with defense and acquisition reform think tank pieces, but you have a president and you have a leadership team that are all gas, no brakes, and sometimes we get to help them steer.

At the center of the talks was the Pentagons inclination for long, extended bidding processes and research projects, and a risk-averse culture that made it harder for the DoD to take chances on experimental tech.

There's a fundamental reality that innovation is messy and chaotic, said Palantir chief technology officer Shyam Sankar.

On Friday, the White House submitted a 2026 federal budget that included $1.01 trillion in funding for the DoD. Defense tech startups find themselves in an odd position of both being frustrated with the DoDs operations, which they view as stodgy and anti-meritocratic, and, at the same time courting its business. Now, given Silicon Valleys close relationship with the Trump administration, it appears to have found the political allies for the reforms it seeks.

'You're still shooting uphill'

But even as the DoD opens up its procurement process to tech companies and startups, they will still face a difficult marketplace, according to Palantir's Karp.

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You're still shooting uphill, but shooting uphill and shooting like to Mount Everest while they're dropping grenades on you is a different story, said Karp, whose company successfully sued the U.S. Army in 2016 for blocking it from bidding for a government contract. That move is widely considered to have opened the Pentagons doors to Silicon Valley.

Anduril's Schimpf suggested that the Pentagon should place large orders with defense startups. If you buy things, capital will flow into defense, he said. Buy things at scale that matter, that move the needle and create opportunities to actually onboard.

Without the guarantees of large contracts, Anduril has just written off developing new versions of products like air-to-air missiles it doesnt believe will ever find a buyer, Schimpf added. I don't think in 20 years anyone would buy any air-to-air missile we made, because they've already committed to buying from someone else, he said.

Emil Michael, Trumps nominee for undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, believes the Pentagon could be less reliant on tailor-made defense systems and more open to existing commercial products when looking for new tech to buy. We don't need things that are always bespoke, he said.

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Michael, who is not yet confirmed for his role in the Pentagon, said the DoD could also benefit from looking at opportunities to save time, not just money. Saving time is not something that's inherent in the DoD business model, [which is] about reducing risk to its smallest possible component at the expense of moving as fast as possible.

Fail fast, fail often

In discussions about developing new technologies, the conversation often turned to one of Silicon Valleys mantras: fail fast, fail often. The idea, which is a staple of tech culture, is that the many failed iterations of a product dont matter so long as the final version works.

Failure doesn't matter. Its the magnitude of the success that matters, said venture capitalist Vinod Khosla when asked about how to make the government more comfortable with risk-taking.

Palantir's Sankar suggested increasing competition between Defense Department employees to create, so they would have an incentive to beat the bureaucrat two doors down the corridor. He considers the DoD to be a monopsony that stifled innovation by being the only buyer of defense systems in the marketplace.

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Instead, Sankar proposed having multiple program managers tasked with overseeing the same project, with the contract ultimately going to the one who delivered a better outcome. They would wake up every day like hyper-competitive Americans trying to murder each other, he said. There would be an incentive like yeah let's go faster. Let's do this better.

Speakers at the conference said the ongoing geopolitical tensions and AI arms race with China has only added more urgency to the issue.

And when you're in an AI race when every innovation could lead to tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions, worth of value creationand you think of value creation as a better defense, shield, more deterrenceevery minute you're losing is costly, said Michael.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
May 2Six people turned themselves in to the Morgan County Jail on Thursday morning after they were charged with misdemeanors following a chaotic City Council meeting Monday night, according to the Decatur Police Department.

The Decatur Police Department on Thursday evening said all of the charges stemmed from actions taken by the defendants Monday night.

"Following the adjournment of the City Council meeting due to repeated outbursts from several attendees, individuals began exiting the chambers but continued to cause alarm in a disruptive manner. Police were called to the council chambers to assist in maintaining order," the Police Department said.

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The disruptions were largely in the form of protests against the Decatur Police Department in connection with the recent death of John Daniel Scott Jr. and the fatal police shooting in 2023 of Steve Perkins.

According to Morgan County Jail records, Sierra L. Taylor, 35, was charged with disorderly conduct and unreasonable noise; Derrick Taylor, 36, was charged with loitering; Terrance R. Adkins, 37, was charged with resisting arrest and third-degree criminal trespass; Alvin Grandville Moseley, 39, was charged with third-degree trespass and disorderly conduct; William Landers, 28, was charged with third-degree trespass; and Billy Bruce Kennedy, 66, was charged with disorderly conduct.

Kennedy is the father of Perkins' widow.

Adkins, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, is the co-founder of social justice group Standing in Power.

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The police statement said the trespassing charges also stemmed from Monday night.

"Several individuals were instructed to leave the premises but subsequently returned toward the chambers, including William Landers, Terrance Adkins, and Alvin Moseley," according to the statement. "An altercation occurred when Landers began loudly confronting officers and was taken into custody on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest."

Mayor Tab Bowling said in a statement that the six individuals have now been barred from entering City Hall.

"Following events at this past Monday night's Council meeting, it remains our primary responsibility to ensure safety and comfort inside City Hall," Bowling said. "Actions and behaviors demonstrated by several attendees violated law and order and jeopardized the safety of those in attendance, including small children present. As such, several arrests have been made along with trespass warnings for the building."

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All six defendants bonded out shortly after they were booked at the Morgan County Jail.

The City Council work session Monday night ended early after disruptions during the public comment period. The meeting was paused after a speaker used profanity, and when Council President Jacob Ladner attempted to address the issue, some attendees began shouting. After several unsuccessful attempts to restore order, Ladner ended the meeting.

Morgan County NAACP President Rodney Gordon was outside the jail on Thursday morning, filming video of some of the defendants speaking with police. He said the individuals who were arrested were notified of their warrants before they arrived to be booked.

"We called the police over there and they came over with the warrants," Gordon said. "We didn't want anyone to be killed. We went and turned ourselves in because we were afraid to call the police because of what happened to John Scott."

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Scott was arrested April 15 after a violent struggle that included him being Tased as he resisted police. The arrest was captured on bodycam footage which the Police Department released to the public. Scott exhibited medical problems shortly after being booked into the Morgan County Jail. He was transported to the hospital and died a week later in Huntsville Hospital.

 wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442.
By Rupam Jain

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - At least six people were killed and 55 were injured in a stampede at an Indian temple in the western coastal state of Goa where hundreds of devout Hindus had assembled, police official said on Saturday.

The stampede occurred on Friday night during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival in Shirgao village, which is popular for its events including fire-walking.

"Devotees were witnessing a religious ceremony and the frenzy caused during the rituals triggered a stampede," said V.S. Chadonkar, a police officer in Goa's state capital Panjim.

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"Six people lost their lives and at least eight were critically injured," he said.

Stampedes during large Hindu religious gatherings are routinely reported in India, as huge crowds gather in tight spaces often ignoring safety protocol.

(Reporting by Rupam Jain; Editing by Kim Coghill)
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.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  Fidgeting, shifting, needing to move  for many neurodivergent individuals, its a daily struggle. But what if your clothes could stop this? For one Syracuse University startup, fashion isnt just about style  its about inclusion.

What started as an idea in Syracuse Universitys Intelligence++ class, aimed at creating inclusive products, soon evolved into a real-world business: Solace Collective, a clothing brand designed to help neurodivergent people manage their fidgeting.

We wanted to set out and find a solution that reassures the wearer. Whether they want to fidget discreetly, it allows them to feel grounded and empowered so they can go through their day, said Aiden Turner, CEO of Solace Collective and SU student.

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Turner says that a lot of clothes on the market have itchy tags, seams, and collars that can impact how a neurodivergent person feels and goes throughout their day. Solace Collective aims to fill that gap in the market. Not only are they trying to bring sensory comfort, but theyre helping those find reassurance in themselves. After all, clothes go with you all day, so feeling confident in what youre wearing can go a long way.

In recent years, fidget toys have been all the rage. But, according to Turner, not only can they be distracting to others, due to social media trends, they are also marketed to everyone and do not meet the universal needs of all neurodivergent people.

Thats why, when Solace Collective was founded, Carolyne Fernandes, SU senior and co-founder, was excited to see the impact it would have  she knows.

For me, having a solution where I can regulate my daily life without it being a distraction or unprofessional is I mean, its life-changing for me, she said.

Courtesy of Solace Collective

Fernandes is neurodivergent, having OCD, ADHD, anxiety, and autism. She says a lot of products on the market are pseudo solutions and place all neurodivergent people under one solution.

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Turner agreed, acknowledging the vast needs of the neurodivergent community.

We understand its not one size fits all and theres a vast range of spectrum needs, and we are going to do our best to continue developing products and continue developing those needs as we can, said Turner.

Solace Collective currently has four prototypes. They plan to keep expanding to meet the needs of the community.

Were trying to address thatby having some things that are very weighted and some things that are very light, to be able to compromise for all of the different neurodivergent people, Fernandes said when talking about some of her goals to expand the products Solace.

The Journey

Courtesy of Solace Collective

When asked what she wished her younger self had known, Fernandes paused, considering the weight of the question. She reflected on her 22 years of living, considering the totality of both her successes and challenges.

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I would tell my younger self, no matter who I am and the conditions I have, I need to do what I need to do to regulate myself on a daily basis, she said. And if I cant find those things, then make those things.

Thats exactly what she did. Her creativity has followed her throughout her life. Combined with her passion for solving these issues, it led to the creation of the Solace Collective.

Ive always wanted to be creative and solve these problems, she said. Putting myself in that sweatshirt as a child, understanding that this is something thats going to make you proud of who you are, but also give you the solutions you need for your daily life.

Walking into their future

Throughout the school year, the team has gone above and beyondnot only putting in hard work to meet their goals but also putting their hearts into it.

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Putting all our passions and skills together has been amazing, said Turner. We have been able to accomplish some great things, and everybody has their talent. Weve been able to come together and create a truly meaningful brand.

Thats what makes the approaching end of the school year bittersweet. Most of the team members are seniors and will be leaving to start their careers. However, that roadblock isnt stopping the team from continuing to do what they love: improving lives.

Turner told NewsChannel 9 that starting next year, the team plans to launch a research division, led by rising senior Bella Tabak. The division will focus on gathering more data on people who are neurodivergent to help create new prototypes that address different needs.

As Turner and Fernandez walk across the stage to receive their diplomas on May 11, they wont be looking back on what they accomplishedtheyll be looking ahead.

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We are not leaving it behind. We are going to take it with us and bring it out into the world, said Turner.

Turner is confident that because they were able to accomplish so much in just a year, the momentum will continue after graduation. Fernandez agrees.

I cant not see this company taking off and really blowing up, she said. So for me at least, this is going to be my future.

Solace Collective plans to launch their website in June.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Jan Richter, an MP from the Smer ruling party in Slovakia, has stated that Prime Minister Robert Fico is still planning to travel to the Russian capital, Moscow, for the 9 May Victory Day parade. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.].

Source: Slovak news outlet Dennik N, citing Richter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Richters statement comes amid rumours about Ficos health after the prime minister cancelled his 1 May schedule.

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While the reason for the cancellation has not been disclosed, Richter insisted that Fico remains in good physical and psychological condition.

Quote from Richter: "Perhaps it has something to do with the approach of 15 May [Fico survived an assassination attempt on 15 May last year  ed.], perhaps there is a psychological problem, he's beginning to realise that anything could have happened."

Details: He confirmed that Fico's trip to Moscow on 9 May remains on track.

Fico will be the only Slovak politician to attend the celebrations in Moscow, according to the chairman of the Smer parliamentary faction.

Background:

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has been forced to cut short his visit to the United States due to a health concern.

Earlier, Vucic said he would travel to Moscow on 9 May, as he had given his word to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

On 14 April, Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on European leaders not to participate in military celebrations in Moscow on 9 May but instead to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine.

The European Union has also given a clear instruction to EU candidate states not to attend the 9 May parade in Moscow and not to visit Russia.

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America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country, declared Mark Carney in his victory speech, after Canadas general election this week delivered his Liberal Party a plurality of seats in parliament. These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us, Carney continued, promising that Trumps oft-repeated plans to absorb Canada as Americas 51st state are never, ever going to happen.

Trumps apparent designs on Canada, which appeared to begin with a social media post calling Carneys predecessor Justin Trudeau governor Trudeau, weighed heavily on the countrys election. The Conservatives still polled their best results since the 1980s, and Carney will have to lead a minority government, but the spectacle of a foreign leader looming so decisively over the elections of a major democracy is Ruritanian to the point of comedy.

Next weeks meeting between Carney and Trump at the White House could well be an awkward affair.

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But Canadian statehood might not be such a great idea for our home and native land. Doubling the size of the country is not unknown in the annals of American history. Thomas Jefferson did it in one vast real estate deal in 1803, when he purchased the Louisiana Territory from Napoleonic France. That was before the rest of the American West came into US ownership via settlement, conquest, annexation, and purchase.

Absorbing Canada would double the amount of territory America would have to defend, however, while only increasing its population by about 12 per cent. Canadas military contribution would be even smaller. According to the global firepower index, America has almost 20 times the number of active duty servicemen that Canada deploys and spends about 22 times more on its military budget. Canada, long a beneficiary of Americas leading role in both Nato and North American continental defence, ranks roughly on par with Argentina and Algeria.

With extended Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic coastlines, and vastly extended proximity to Russian and Chinese forays in those regions, a supersized America would have to stretch its existing resources to stand on guard with relatively little help from its new citizens.

It would also face the financial burden of having to care for them. Canadas economy is in the doldrums of a long-term economic slump, with cost of living, housing affordability, and opportunities for financial advancement fading for younger Canadians. Election polling suggested that their glowing hearts cared far more about improving their lives and prospects than electing another Liberal government with little to recommend it beyond a jingoistic promise to stand up to Trump.

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Since 2010, Canadian growth has languished at European levels, averaging at about 1.6 per cent annually, compared to over 2 per cent for the United States, with nothing even close to US levels of high-tech innovation. Canadas unemployment rate sits stubbornly at 6.7 per cent, compared to 4.2 per cent for Americans. The mercy mission of taking over Canadas flagging economy would mean a disproportionately higher number of welfare payments going out to our new fellow citizens, with likely more to come as Canadas expensive social services are harmonised with American policies and priorities.

For Trump, adding Canadas politics anywhere outside of staunchly conservative Alberta would also be a disaster. As the election results revealed, Canadian voters skew considerably to the Left of their American counterparts. This is the case even within its Conservative Party, which claims to be a big tent accommodating both national populists and so-called Red Tories, who  in line with the British rather than the American political concept of Red  lean far enough Left on economic and social issues that they would fit more comfortably within the US Democratic Party than among Republicans.

If Canada were to enter the US as one large state, in other words, it would almost certainly elect Democrats or politicians aligned with Democrats to the expanded US Congress. That would mean two more Democratic senators in Washington. Matters would be even worse in the House of Representatives, where at current levels there would be one new congressman for roughly every 780,000 Canadians, or at least 51 new legislators, most if not all of whom would also likely be Democrats or Democrat-aligned. In the tight congressional balance Republicans now face, it would be like adding a second California, whose population is of roughly equal size.

Trump could be having an extended joke that has seriously unnerved Americas northern neighbours. But he may want to limit his expansionist goals to Greenland and Panama.

Paul du Quenoy is president of the Palm Beach Freedom Institute

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Former Labor Minister and staunch conservative Kim Moon Soo won the presidential nomination of South Koreas main conservative party, facing an uphill battle against liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung for the June 3 election.

Observers say Kim will likely try to align with other conservative forces, such as former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, to prevent a split in conservative votes and boost prospects for a conservative win against Lee.

In a party primary that ended Saturday, Kim won 56.5% of the votes cast, beating his sole competitor, Han Dong-hun, the party said in a televised announcement. Other contenders have been eliminated in earlier rounds.

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Ill form a strong alliance with anyone to prevent a rule by Lee Jae-myung and his Democratic Party forces. Ill push for that in a procedure and method that our people and party members accept, and Ill ultimately win, Kim said in his victory speech.

The June 3 election is meant to find a successor to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, a People Power Party member who was impeached by the opposition-controlled National Assembly in mid-December and dismissed by the Constitutional Court in early April over his ill-fated imposition of martial law.

Yoons impeachment is a major source of feuding at the PPP and a hot topic at the partys primary.

Kim, who served as labor minister under Yoon, has opposed parliaments impeachment of Yoon, though he said he disagreed with Yoon's decision to declare martial law on Dec. 3. Kim gained popularity among hardline PPP supporters after he solely defied a demand on Dec. 11. by an opposition lawmaker that all Cabinet members stand up and bow in a gesture of apology for Yoon's martial law enactment at the National Assembly.

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Han Dong-hun, Kim's main contender in the PPP's primary, served as Yoons first justice minister. Han leads a reformist yet minority faction at the PPP who joined the liberal opposition in voting to overturn Yoons martial law decree and later impeach him. Without the support of Hans faction members, an opposition-led impeachment motion on Yoon couldnt have passed through the National Assembly because opposition parties were eight votes short of a two-thirds majority to approve it.

Shin Yul, a politics professor at Seoul's Myonggi University, said that public awareness of the conservatives campaign could have risen more sharply if Han had won, as he could have appealed to moderate, swing voters more.

Kim, 73, was originally a prominent labor activist in the 1970-80s but joined a conservative party in the 1990s. Kim recently said he gave up his dream to become a revolutionist after observing the collapse of communist states. He has since served as a governor of South Koreas most populous Gyeonggi province for eight years and a member of the National Assembly for three terms.

Kim has said that if elected, he would push to fight corruption, overhaul financial regulations, reform pension systems and increase government spending on Artificial Intelligence infrastructure. He said he would maintain a solid military alliance with the U.S. and introduce nuclear-powered submarines as a way to increase deterrence against North Korean nuclear threats.

Lee, who won the Democratic Party nomination last Sunday, is the clear favorite to win the election. But Lees campaign suffered a setback due to a recent Supreme Court decision to order a new trial on his election law charges. Its unclear if he will face a court sentence that requires the suspension of his campaign before the June 3 vote, but hell likely grapple with an intense political offensive by his election rivals.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP)  Southern California mayor says 2 women were shot on a college campus and hospitalized.
Tanisha Thomas was homeless, bouncing from friend to friend for housing. She was unemployed, had no car, and had no family to help her and her son Kingston.

Everyone told her to get a job. But without a car, money to pay for child care, or any kind of plan, she felt stuck.

In 2023, she was depressed and even suicidal. With few options, she called the 2-1-1 hotline, which connects people with local services.

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Thomas was referred to the Center for Transforming Lives for on-site emergency homeless shelter at the organizations downtown office at 512 W. 4th St. Thomas was nervous about what she would find there but once she arrived it was a community of sisters, she says.

Thomas said she felt only kindness and support and never felt shame. The organization provided her free child care, counseling, and placed her in its economic mobility program, which helps mothers with financial literacy.

On Friday, May, 2, Thomas fought back tears as she recalled where she had been in life. Now, she has a car, a home, and a healthier view of life, which she said she owes to the Center for Transforming Lives.

They really gave me hope, Thomas said, crying. They told me I could, when I didnt think I could.

Tanisha Thomas, a client of the Center for Transforming Lives, becomes emotional talking about the challenges she had to overcome in her life. She spoke following the grand opening ceremony of the organizations new Riverside Campus in the Morningside neighborhood of Fort Worth on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Supp orting women and children experiencing poverty

The Center for Transforming Lives, a nonprofit organization that supports women and children experiencing poverty and homelessness, held a grand opening of its new location Friday at 3001 S. Riverside Drive. Thomas was in attendance.

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One-third of single mothers with children under the age of 5 live in poverty, without access to child care or support for financial stability in Tarrant County, according the organization. The Center for Transforming Lives meets the needs of 3,000 women and children annually and describes its system as a comprehensive, two-generation and trauma-informed model. It provides housing, early childhood education, economic mobility and counseling.

City officials and families affiliated with the Center for Transforming Lives cut the ribbon for the grand opening ceremony of the organizations new Riverside Campus in the Morningside neighborhood of Fort Worth on Friday, May 2, 2025.

The organizations new 65,000-square-foot building  a former Montgomery Ward store  is on a 14-acre property on the northeast corner of East Berry Street and South Riverside Drive. The property had been vacant since the mid-1990s. The Center for Transforming Lives new campus is projected to increase the number of families served by 30 percent in the first year.

No longer will mothers with young children be shut out of opportunities simply because they are mothers, said Carol Klocek, CEO of the Center for Transforming Lives, speaking to dozens of people at the grand opening.

Ariel Vasquez, a client with the Center for Transforming Lives, plays with her daughter Maddison Ledesma, 4, in the Child Development Center of the organizations new Riverside Campus in the Morningside neighborhood of Fort Worth on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Childcare slots will be expanded from 72 to 106 children. The new child care center, open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for children 6 weeks old to 5 years old, includes a playground and outdoor learning area that is about 10 times larger than the nonprofits current outdoor space. Drop-in care for up to 20 children no older than 10 will also be available for parents who are on-site receiving services. The number of rooms available for on-site therapy services is being increased from two to eight.

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The new center has a state-of-the-art economic mobility center with a content creation studio, commercial kitchen, business education offerings, and child care to foster entrepreneurship among mothers. The space will also be available for use by outside groups on a sliding scale.

Downtown building will be new library

The Center for Transforming Lives had operated out of its downtown Fort Worth building for almost 70 years. That space will become the citys new downtown library branch after the Fort Worth City Council unanimously approved in August to purchase it for $6.4 million.

Mayor Mattie Parker told the crowd Friday that the way a community treats its women and children is a reflection of who it is as a city. This new space will provide a home for women to find purpose, hope and healing, she said.

We are reaffirming our commitment to build in Fort Worth, where every single family, no matter their ZIP code, has a better shot at life, and we can all agree this is possible in this amazing space, Parker said.

Carol Klocek, right, CEO of the Center of Transforming Lives, hugs a Tanisha Thomas, a client of the organization, while Thomas son Kingston, 3, watches in one of the family play rooms after the grand opening ceremony of the Center for Transforming Lives new Riverside Campus in the Morningside neighborhood of Fort Worth on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Tanisha Thomas was provided therapy at the Center for Transforming Lives, which helped her understand she was not being the best mother. It helped her to get her life in focus.

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She returned to school, studying social work at Tarrant County College to become a professional counselor. She plans to continue her studies in mental health and social services. She wants to help women, especially Black women, who often feel they have to be the strongest and help others even when they themselves need help.

In order to help, you need to be helped sometimes too, Thomas said.
BROWNSVILLE  Elon Musks wish to create his own city just came true.

On Saturday, voters living around SpaceXs rocket testing and launch facility in South Texas approved a measure to incorporate the area as a new city. Soon after polls closed at 7 p.m., Cameron County election officials confirmed that overwhelming support among early voters clinched the election in favor of creating the City of Starbase.

Unofficial results later in the night showed the election was a landslide: 212 voted in favor; 6 opposed.

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After the county certifies the results, the new city will be official.

Musk celebrated the vote Saturday night with a single word posted to X: S T A R B A S E.

But there were no signs of a celebration at Starbase itself. After a gray, rainy Election Day, the soon-to-be-city had a quiet night. No fireworks. No street parties. A few folks gathered at the Astropub, a bar for SpaceX employees, late into the evening.

Only 283 people, those who live within the boundaries of the proposed city, were eligible to vote in the election. A Texas Newsroom analysis of the voter rolls showed two-thirds of them either work for SpaceX or had already indicated their support.

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The three unopposed people who ran to lead the city also have ties to SpaceX.

Its not clear if Musk, whose primary residence is here, cast a ballot.

The vote clears the way for Musk to try to capture more control over the nearby public beach, which must be closed for launches. On Saturday afternoon, a few dozen activists who say the company has harmed sensitive habitats and ignored the cultural importance of the land rallied on the beach  with an Elon Musk pinata in tow.

These hills here are sacred to us, Juan Mancias, chair of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, told The Texas Newsroom. They dont know the history of the land, and theyre trying to erase that.

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Creating a city in Texas is not unusual. New ones are formed all the time. Company towns are also an undeniably American feature.

But Musk may be the first entrepreneur in modern history to incorporate his own town almost solely for his employees. And the effort may not be his last. Hes also floated the idea of founding another city at his corporate compound outside Austin.

Musk and SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the election.

The City of Starbase

On Saturday morning, voters wearing SpaceX and Starbase T-shirts and baseball hats strolled in and out of the special polling place set up on the companys campus. Most declined to speak about the election.

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A man leaving the polling place cautioned that he was not authorized to speak to the media but said he supports the new city.

I think its a net benefit for everyone, he said, but not a lot of people will understand why.

Unlike other tech leaders, who built their campuses in Silicon Valley, SpaceX Starbase is perched on the far edge of Texas, about 20 miles outside Brownsville. Next to SpaceXs main building are the remnants of an old beach village. Nearly all of the houses are now owned by the company.

One couple, who live in the village and said they dont work for SpaceX, were among the few opposed to the new city.

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I voted no. Im sure were the only ones out here who did, said the woman, who did not want to give her name because of negative past experiences with the media.

Musk has been open about his desire to create a city here for years. By February, enough SpaceX employees had signed a petition to force a vote on the issue.

The new city will have approximately 500 official residents.

Starbase leaders have said incorporation will help the area continue to grow while giving them more control over functions it already managed, like roads and utilities.

City leaders could also adopt zoning ordinances that are more lenient than those of the county, allowing them to build more homes on the lots they already own.

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Incorporating Starbase will streamline the processes required to build the amenities necessary to make the area a world class place to live  for the hundreds already calling it home, as well as for prospective workers eager to help build humanitys future in space, Starbase Manager Kathryn Lueders said in a letter to Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino.

Starship, the rocket Musk means to eventually take humans to Mars, launches from here.

The vote may also force SpaceX to be more transparent. As a governmental entity, Starbase will be subject to state laws that require open meetings and the release of public records.

Starbase and the future of Boca Chica Beach

Just down the road from the SpaceX launch site is Boca Chica Beach. A public strip sandwiched between South Padre Island and the Rio Grande, the beach is popular with locals who fish, drive and camp on its windy dunes.

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The area has become less accessible in the years since SpaceX arrived. Thats because it must be evacuated for safety each time a rocket is tested. SpaceX is asking for approval to increase its launches from about five to 25 times a year.

Right now, Cameron County commissioners decide when to close access to the beach. That may soon change.

SpaceX is backing a bill making its way through the Texas Legislature that would shift the beach closure authority to Starbase city commissioners on weekdays. It has already been approved by the Texas Senate and is pending a vote by the full House.

State Sen. Adam Hinojosa, a Republican from Corpus Christi and the bills author, said the purpose of handing over that power to the soon-to-be city was to streamline the current process.

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Cameron County commissioners, who have publicly opposed the bill, said they worked well with SpaceX and found no reason to change the process.

At the beach on Saturday, the protesters said local politicians have not properly protected the land. Environmentalists, indigenous leaders and local fishermen said the beach needs to remain out of SpaceXs control.

Its just such a disgrace on whats happening out here, said Rene Medrano, who grew up going to this beach. Theres a lot of upset community people who are seeing theres a great chance that we may lose this beach.

And now theyre starting to raise their voices a little bit, which is what we need.

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Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

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.
May the fourth, er, Force be with SpaceX.

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a SpaceX rocket launch from Floridas Space Coast could be visible from Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to Vero Beach and West Palm Beach. When theres a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, theres an opportunity for unique photos  the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo.

Below is more information on rocket launches from NASA and Cape Canaveral and suggestions on where to watch them from this part of Florida.

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Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all the missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot)

For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.

When is the next Florida rocket launch? Sunday, May 4: SpaceX Starlink 6-84

Mission: SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket on another mission deploying Starlink broadband satellites, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows.

Launch window time and day: 4:48 a.m. to 9:29 a.m. EDT Sunday, May 4, 2025

Location of rocket launch : TBA

Sonic booms: No

Trajectory : Southeast

Live FLORIDA TODAY Space Team coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space.

Why is May the 4th considered Star Wars Day? Is May the Fourth an official holiday?

As most "Star Wars" fans know, the fourth day in May became Star Wars Day because of the franchise's iconic phrase, "May the force be with you," which is used by Jedi masters (a specially trained group of leaders and peace-keepers). Sounding similar, the date has become a pun  as in May the 4th be with you.

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Sorry, young Padawans, May the Fourth is not an official holiday in Florida or most of the United States. Only in California. California's legislature voted in 2019 to officially turn May 4 into "Star Wars Day" after Disneyland opened Galaxy's Edge in its theme parks in Anaheim.

Where to see a Florida rocket launch in Palm Beach County: What does a West Palm Beach rocket launch view look like?

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, some rocket launches from the Space Coast can be visible in Palm Beach County. When theres a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, with a southeast trajectory, theres an opportunity for unique photos. Some examples include United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket launch and SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

From Cape Canaveral, Florida, to West Palm Beach, Florida, it's about 150 miles.

What the views look like: Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral spotted in West Palm Beach

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Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral can often be seen from Palm Beach County, and it can be as easy as walking out of your house and looking north. Try to get away from any obstructions, such as trees, tall buildings, and bright lights. Obviously, cloud cover can also get in the way.

If the forecast is for clear skies and you want a better view, some good places to watch the rocket launch from Palm Beach County include:

Contributing: Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network-Florida

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Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: SpaceX rocket launch on Star Wars Day: What time is liftoff in Florida
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Regional Day School of the Deaf students in Ector County ISD spent the day celebrating with a picnic at the YMCA in Odessa.

With the end of the school year approaching the students of the program spent the day with family and friends expressing themselves and signing freely.

I see them happy, Director Carmen Castro Triano said. See them being able to be themselves, being able to socialize, and being able to tease each other. Not in an ugly way, but just have fun, be kids.

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The picnic did not go as planned due to the cold and rain. However, the event moved inside the YMCA, and everyone still kept their spirits high.

Program director said the students may be deaf, but they are just like everyone else and that a little effort goes a long way to reaching this special student population.

Triano encourages everyone to take the time to learn to sign the basics, like hi and how are you? because it will make someones day.

The Regional Day School Program of the Deaf serves 22 districts across West Texas. If you know anyone in need of special services, reach out to them so they can see how they can help.

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You might recognize her as @TheBudgetnista on TikTok, sharing money wisdom with warmth and wit. But Tiffany Aliche's impact goes far beyond viral videos. Before the books, the interviews and the online following, she was on the ground teaching women, particularly women of color, how to navigate financial systems not built with them in mind.

You have to own something, she recently told Glamour Magazine. That might mean owning a business, buying into an index fund or simply taking ownership of your financial boundaries. Her latest book, Get Good With Money Challenge, offers readers a step-by-step roadmap to building wealth with intention  not just adjusting your budget, but shifting your mindset.

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And Aliche isnt handing out hypothetical advice. She lived it. Years ago, she found herself buried under more than $300,000 in debt. Her journey back to stability wasnt just about paying down numbers on a spreadsheet. It started with a much harder task: creating boundaries.

Boundaries before budgets

Aliches financial transformation started with a boundary. After losing her husband in 2021, she found herself saying yes to everyone and everything. But as she began to rebuild her life, she learned the value of saying no  not just to others, but to financial patterns and mindsets that no longer served her.

When youve grown up in survival mode, especially in communities where poverty is generational, it is hard to emotionally accept that you are no longer broke, Aliche said.

At her lowest point, Aliche was grappling with student loans, credit card debt and a mortgage she couldnt afford. Then came a recession, a layoff and a slow-motion collapse that left her bouncing between her childhood bedroom, her sisters couch and eventually a rented room. Her finances werent just strained; her identity was in crisis.

And while much of her people-pleasing was shaped by her upbringing, research suggests these behaviors may run even deeper. A University of Michigan study found that children as young as five show emotional reactions to spending and saving that influence their real-life financial choices  reactions that arent always modeled by their parents. In other words, your relationship with money might not just be inherited, it might be instinctual. But that doesnt mean it cant be reprogrammed.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Danielle ONeil was named 2025-26 Teacher of the Year for Springfield Public Schools (SPS) on Friday, May 2, during Celebrate SPS, an event hosted by Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.

ONeill, courtesy of Springfield Public Schools.

According to a press release, ONeil is a physical education teacher at Sherwood Elementary School.

She started her career with SPS in 2016 and taught at Pershing Middle School until 2018. She then taught for a year at Delaware Elementary School from 2018-2019 before transitioning to her current role at Sherwood.

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I believe that movement is for everyone and PE should be a bridge between school, home and the larger community, ONeill said in the release. I want my students to know that they are seen, valued and supported, and I want their families to feel that same sense of belonging.

Four additional finalists were also celebrated during the event:

Amanda Brown, Sunshine Elementary, third grade teacher

Rachelle Peak, Launch Virtual Learning, communication arts teacher

Tanner Schmidt, Jeffries Elementary, second grade teacher

Heidi Stagner, Field Elementary, art teacher.

ONeil will continue on to compete in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations regional competition.

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Winners at the regional level will advance to the Missouri State Teacher of the Year competition.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ST. MARTIN PARISH, La. (KLFY)- The St. Martin Parish School Board has an important item on the ballot to renew an existing tax aimed at completing upgrades at schools parish wide.

The Parish wide School District Proposition States:

Shall St. Martin Parish School District, Louisiana (the District), incur debt and issue bonds to the amount of not exceeding $30,000,000, in one or more series, to run not exceeding 20 years from date thereof, with interest at a rate of not exceeding 7% per annum, for the purpose of financing capital expenditures for school purposes for the District, including constructing, acquiring and/or improving schools and other school related facilities, together with equipment and furnishings therefor, including, to the extent feasible, those specific school projects set forth in the Capital Improvement Plan to be approved prior to the election, title to which shall be in the public; which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with no estimated increase in the millage rate to be levied in the first year of issue above the 21.50 mills currently being levied to pay General Obligation Bonds of the District?

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The item on the ballot for the May 3rd election includes funds to continue essential school operations at in St. Martin Parish. The St. Martin Parish Superintendent, Frederick Wiltz, said the tax renewal will focus on improving the infrastructure all seventeen schools in the parish.

The primary purpose of this tax renewal is to help us to support maintaining our facilities, said Wiltz.

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The $30 million dollar bond would allow for renovations to deteriorated educational buildings, and facilities, expand technology in the school system, and strengthen security systems used to increase safety of school staff.

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Some of our facilities are 20 plus years old, so maintaining our facilities and making sure that we are able to use them for the next 25 to 30 years is something that we want to ensure we can do, because the cost of actually building a new facility is probably more than $30 million, said Wiltz.

Wiltz said though people will be enjoying the Crawfish Festival this weekend, he encourages voters to head to the polls.

Were the largest educator in St. Martin Parish, said Wiltz. So having the support of the community is something thats very vital to us, as a system we dont want to waste, we want to make sure that we use the money very wisely and take care of the items that need to be taken care of throughout the district.

Polls will open at 7am and will close at 8pm on Saturday.

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To learn more about the proposed projects, visit the St. Martin Parish School Board Facebook Page.

To find your nearest polling location, click 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 KLFY.com.
Law enforcement agencies across the Miami Valley are offering condolences after a Hamilton County Sheriffs deputy was hit and killed by a car on Friday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

>>RELATED: Tremendous loss; Deputy dead after being hit by father of man shot by officer day prior

The deputy was struck while he was working a traffic detail for the University of Cincinnati commencement ceremony. His name has not been released at this time.

TRENDING STORIES:

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38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr. was the driver of the car and has since been arrested and charged with aggravated murder, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

Hinton is the father of the 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was shot and killed by a Cincinnati officer a day prior.

Authorities across the area are showing their support for the fallen deputy and his department.

Greene County Sheriffs Office:

"Words cannot express the depth of our sympathy for the loss of the Hamilton County Sheriffs Deputy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the deputys family, friends and all members of the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office."

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Butler County Sheriffs Office:

"A Hamilton County Sheriffs deputy tragically lost his life on Friday, May 2, 2025, after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during commencement ceremonies. The deputy had recently retired from the department in December and was working a special detail.

Our hearts are heavy as we extend our deepest condolences to the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office and the family of the deputy who lost his life in the line of duty.

Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten."

Vandalia Police Department:

"Earlier today, a Hamilton County Sheriffs deputy was tragically and intentionally struck by a vehicle while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati for a commencement ceremony. The deputy, who had just retired from service in December, was working a special detail at the time. This was a completely senseless act of violence against law enforcement.

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The Vandalia Division of Police extends its heartfelt condolences to the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deputies, staff, and the family and friends affected by this profound loss."

Bellbrook Police Department:

"BPD shares the sadness and grief for the Hamilton County Deputy. Our thoughts and prayers are with all members of the HCSO during this difficult time."

Englewood Police Department:

On behalf of the men and women of the Englewood Police Department, we extend our deepest condolences to our colleagues at the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office and the family of the deputy who was killed in the line of duty earlier today.

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Centerville Police Department:

On behalf of the officers and staff of the Centerville Police Department, we extend our deepest sympathy to the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office and the family of the deputy who was killed in the line of duty this afternoon. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

Franklin Division of Police:

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, Family and friends of the Deputy who was killed on duty earlier today.

Kettering Police Department:

A deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office was killed in the line of duty tonight. On behalf of KPD, we extend our deepest condolences to the HCSO and the family of the deputy who tragically lost his life. Our hearts are with you during this time. We stand with you.

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Tipp City Police Department:

"A deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office was murdered in the line of duty yesterday in Cincinnati while working a traffic detail. On behalf of The Tipp City Police Department we extend our deepest condolences to the HCSO and the family of the deputy who was tragically killed. Our hearts are with you during this time.

We stand with you."

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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It's no secret that Starbucks is a global superpower. What started as a simple coffee shop has become one of the biggest restaurant chains on earth, as well as selling various branded food and drink items and coffee-related, non-food products such as mugs and coffee makers. That growth doesn't seem like it's going to slow down anytime soon. As of 2023, Starbucks boasted over 17,000 stores in North America and over 20,000 stores across nearly a hundred international markets, with goals to expand its total number of stores to 55,000 by 2030. That equates to an average of eight stores per day.

But with all that growth and expansion, there are bound to be some problems along the way. Like plenty of retailers its size, Starbucks has been struck by multiple recalls in its time. From mugs to canned coffee, a range of issues have popped up in Starbucks products over the years. These recalls are the worst of the bunch, having impacted millions of Starbucks fans around the world.

Read more: 6 Fast Food Chains That Use Real Whole Eggs And 7 That Don't

Metallic Mugs Were Recalled In 2024 After A String Of Injuries

Starbucks holiday gift set - Nestle

How many coffee lovers have received one of those Starbucks gift sets around the holidays? Back in 2023, some fans may have received a gift set containing a shiny metallic mug and some packets of hot cocoa or coffee. A few months after the festive period came to a close, Nestle recalled the mugs, which came in two sizes and four different gift sets.

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The sets had been sold at Target, Walmart, and Nexcom military outlets. At the time of recall, there had been reports of 12 incidents in which the mugs had broken when microwaved or filled with very hot liquids. This, of course, posed the threat of burns or lacerations, with 10 of the 12 consumers who reported the issue also reporting some degree of injury. One of these injuries even required medical attention. About 440,500 gift sets were impacted in total, with Nestle asking that consumers contact the company for a full refund.

Starbucks Frappuccino Bottles Were Pulled Over The Risk Of Glass In 2023

Bottled vanilla frappuccinos - HappyAngel 888/Shutterstock

In early 2023, PepsiCo issued a recall for its vanilla-flavored bottles of Starbucks Frappuccino, claiming that they could contain un unwanted ingredient: broken glass. The company recalled over 25,000 cases of the drink, adding up to over 300,000 bottles sold at the likes of Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Safeway.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes recalls by the potential threat that the organization believes the recalled food or drink poses to the public. In this case, the FDA defined the recall as a Class II incident, meaning it thought there was a possibility that the Frappuccino bottles could cause temporary health issues. Luckily, while many recalls aren't issued until a consumer is actually harmed by a product, this was one of the lucky instances in which no injuries were reported to PepsiCo at the time of the recall. While the company didn't explain exactly how the glass made its way into the bottles, foreign objects often end up in food products due to issues during the manufacturing process.

Metal Fragments Sparked A Recall Of Starbucks Tripleshot Espresso In 2022

Can of Starbucks Tripleshot Espresso - Robson90/Shutterstock

Another cold Starbucks beverage sold in grocery stores was recalled in 2022, again due to the possible presence of foreign objects in the beverages. This time, the foreign object in question was fragments of metal, while the beverage was the vanilla-flavored Starbucks Tripleshot Espresso.

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Over 200 cases of the drinks featuring a best buy date of March 20, 2023, were recalled. The cans were distributed across a very large area, spanning Arkansas, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas. Again, it was never explained how the metal fragments made their way into the drinks. It also wasn't the first recall for the brand's espresso-based canned beverages. No report was made as to whether anyone was injured by the metal fragments, but PepsiCo urged anyone who thought they may have encountered the fragments to seek medical care.

Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso Cans Were Recalled In 2021 Due To Inadequate Sealing

Hand pulling can of doubleshot espresso from cooler - Rofidd/Shutterstock

Just one year before Starbucks Tripleshot Espresso cans were pulled from shelves, Starbucks and PepsiCo saw another recall of espresso canned beverages. This recall extended much further, impacting over 250,000 cases of the Espresso & Cream, Espresso & Light Cream, and Espresso & Salted Caramel Cream variations of the Doubleshot beverage, all of which had been inadequately sealed.

While this certainly seems like it would be less of a worry than finding glass or metal in your drink, the inadequate sealing could have potentially led to the drinks -- and, more specifically, the milk in the drinks -- spoiling far faster than anticipated, meaning that the expiration dates on each product package were null. While drinking spoiled milk isn't likely to kill you, so long as you're a generally healthy individual, it can result in some unfortunate gastrointestinal distress. Again, PepsiCo and Starbucks did not say if anyone had reported any adverse effects along these lines.

Starbucks Pulled Its Chicken, Maple Butter, And Egg Breakfast Sandwich After A Month In 2022

Hand holding chicken, maple butter, and egg breakfast sandwich - Chris Escobar / X, formerly known as Twitter

In June 2022, Starbucks introduced a new chicken breakfast sandwich. Just a few days later, the company withdrew it from its stores. The Chicken, Maple Butter, and Egg Breakfast Sandwich wasn't strictly recalled, with Starbucks instead insisting that the sandwiches were pulled from the menu due to a quality concern.

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Reports circulated that Starbucks baristas had eaten the sandwich and fallen ill. Others online claimed that the Chicken, Maple Butter, and Egg Breakfast Sandwich had given them severe gastrointestinal distress, too, with some also adding that they had bitten into bones and that the sandwich was cold in the middle.

Starbucks denied that the sandwiches could have caused illness. Like a lot of its food, the sandwiches were shipped to stores pre-cooked and frozen. That meant that stores just needed to reheat them, making foodborne illness less likely. Still, that quality concern was serious enough that Starbucks told employees to throw out the sandwiches and not donate them.

Bodum Coffee Presses Were At Risk Of Breaking In 2019

Starbucks coffee press - umitc/Shutterstock

Remember when coffee presses were all the rage? Back in the late 2010s, it was pretty common to walk into a Starbucks and find coffee presses on offer. However, in 2019, Starbucks had to recall its recycled coffee presses as it was discovered that the plunger handle on the coffee presses was at risk of breaking, having already done so for nine customers.

Produced in partnership with Bodum, the coffee presses were sold online and in Starbucks stores across North America for about three years before the recall was issued, impacting over a quarter of a million units. Consumers were urged to stop using the presses immediately and return the presses via mail to receive a store credit refund. Out of an abundance of caution, Starbucks also issued another recall for the same coffee presses in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, despite the fact that no incidents were reported, and Starbucks had only been selling the presses in those regions for about a year.

Starbucks Withdrew Its Stainless Steel Straws In 2016 After Three Children Were Injured

Starbucks cup with stainless steel straw - Muhammad Qadri Anwar/Shutterstock

For a time, Starbucks sold reusable, stainless steel straws in packs of three or to accompany grande and venti stainless steel cups. The chain sold nearly 3 million of these straws across the U.S. and Canada, but they ran into one little problem: The rigid construction of the straws posed an injury risk to children. Starbucks received reports of at least three children cutting their mouths on the stainless steel straws, and so, in 2016, it issued a recall.

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In this instance, Starbucks didn't tell consumers that they would get their money back if they brought their straws in for a refund or that they should throw out their straws. Instead, the brand simply advised consumers not to allow children to use the straws in question and added that it would issue new instructions for the product. Starbucks also began selling the cups with acrylic straws, which pose less of a risk.

Breakfast Sandwiches Were Removed From Stores In 2016 Over Listeria Fears

Sausage, egg, cheese sandwich - Keith Homan/Shutterstock

In 2016, Starbucks made the decision to remove certain breakfast sandwiches from 250 locations across Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. While its Sausage, Cheddar, and Egg Sandwiches had not been shown to contain anything harmful, its manufacturer informed Starbucks that it had found Listeria monocytogenes in its manufacturing plant. The slight risk that bacteria could have contaminated the sandwiches prompted a swift recall.

Listeria is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, but it is particularly dangerous to those with weakened immune systems, children, the elderly, and pregnant individuals, with some cases even proving fatal. Additionally, it can be difficult to track what exactly gave you listeriosis, as it can take as long as 70 days for symptoms to appear after eating contaminated food. While no cases of illness were connected to the sandwiches, consumers were urged to return the sandwiches to stores for a refund.

E. Coli Forced Starbucks To Recall Its Holiday Turkey Panini In 2015

Hand holding Starbucks holiday turkey panini - Grobusteats / Facebook

The festive season leaves plenty of opportunity for foodborne illness. Holiday enthusiasts attempt to make eggnog without understanding the risks that come with raw eggs, leftovers sit out for too long as the family chows down in the dining room, and snack spreads that really could use some refrigeration end up sweltering under the heating system at the office party. While you may think you're safer in the hands of your local Starbucks, one of the chain's holiday treats posed its own risks in 2015.

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In December, Starbucks recalled its Holiday Turkey Panini from over 1,000 stores after discovering that the paninis contained celery from a producer that had already been linked to an E. coli outbreak. The outbreak simultaneously affected products sold at Costco, namely a rotisserie chicken salad that had been sold in seven states. E. coli typically causes gastrointestinal symptoms about three to four days after consumption, and contaminated beef, milk, and produce are among the most common carriers of the bacteria.

Bodum Rose Gold Glass Coffee Presses Were Recalled En Masse In 2014

Bodum coffee presses - umitc/Shutterstock

The 2019 Bodum coffee press recall wasn't the first time that Starbucks had to recall products from this line. In 2014, it was forced to do so when it was discovered that the glass carafe part of the coffee press, which holds your hot water and coffee, could fall out of the overall frame and base, potentially breaking. The broken glass, obviously, could cut consumers, and the hot coffee could cause burns.

About 28,000 presses were recalled after the manufacturer received reports of more than a dozen carafes breaking, causing four injuries. The coffee presses had been sold at Starbucks stores nationwide, but only for about a month from November to December 2013. Still, with these rose gold coffee presses being sold so close to the holiday season, it's not out of the question that quite a few were given as gifts, only for the unlucky recipient to never know the product was recalled.

Two Varieties Of Bistro Boxes Were Recalled Thanks To Listeria In 2011

Starbucks snack box - Smith Collection/gado

In 2011, Starbucks recalled two varieties of its Bistro Boxes: the Chipotle Chicken Wraps and Chicken & Hummus. The reason? Over 200 pounds of the chicken used in the boxes had been linked to Listeria monocytogenes, according to the Georgia manufacturer that had supplied the chicken. The recall was limited to Starbucks stores in Georgia and Alabama.

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Listeria has sparked other chicken recalls in the past, impacting millions of pounds of meat distributed nationwide. Other potential sources of listeria include unpasteurized milk, certain cheeses, raw produce, and highly processed meats like hot dogs and deli meat, with the latter reportedly causing over 90% of listeria cases. While listeriosis is most likely to severely impact those with reduced immune function, it's particularly a risk for pregnant individuals, who are 10 times more likely to contract the illness than the average adult.

Thousands Of Glass Water Bottles Were Recalled By Starbucks In 2010

Bottles for sale at Starbucks - FarisFitrianto/Shutterstock

In January 2010, Starbucks sold a glass water bottle outfitted with a stopper that, when removed or inserted, had been found to potentially cause either the stopper or the entire bottle to shatter. A total of 10 individuals experienced this happening for themselves, with eight of those customers noting that the broken glass had cut their hands.

Luckily, Starbucks had only been selling the glass bottles for a month before the recall was issued for the 12,000 or so bottles that had been offered at locations in the U.S. and Canada. Consumers were asked to return the bottles to their point of purchase for a full refund and a free beverage of their choice. Starbucks isn't the only store to face necessary recalls due to shattering glass water bottles. Years later, in March 2025, Trader Joe's also had to pull bottles of Gerolsteiner sparkling water due to a risk of cracking glass and subsequent laceration.

Starbucks Coffee Grinders Caused Random Injuries In The 2000s

Cups of Starbucks whole beans - Donato Fasano/Getty Images

Using a coffee grinder -- or any kitchen countertop appliance outfitted with a blade -- does come with some level of risk, but you don't expect the type of risk that came with the Starbucks Barista coffee grinders. In an issue that sounds more or less like the start of a scary movie, the grinders were reported to turn on randomly or refuse to turn off at all.

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In total, over 170 people had reported this issue, including three individuals who experienced hand lacerations when the grinders mysteriously turned on during cleaning. The recall impacted approximately 530,000 grinders, sold at Starbucks between 2002 and 2009. The affected grinders came in several colors and were produced in China. While Starbucks did not offer to give consumers a refund for the impacted products, it did offer to give consumers a new coffee grinder.

Starbucks Coffee Mugs Were Recalled In 2007 When The Handles Started Falling Off

Starbucks mug on ground coffee - Anthonyrosenberg/Getty Images

One might think that offering operational coffee mugs was a prerequisite for running a coffee shop chain. In 2007, Starbucks proved that this isn't always the case. The brand recalled about 167,000 coffee mugs sold at stores throughout the U.S. that same year. Consumers had reported that the mugs had a tendency to lose their plastic handles when filled with hot beverages. Nearly two dozen consumers had reported the same issue, with some also reporting minor burns.

The exact explanation for why the mugs were falling apart wasn't detailed in the issued recall. However, if we had to hazard a guess, we would say that the adhesive on the plastic handles was warmed by the hot liquid inside the mug, causing them to detach. That's not exactly the surprise you want when you're enjoying your morning cup of joe.

Children's Plastic Cups From Starbucks Caused Several Injuries In 2007

Colorful plastic cups and a stack of bowls - 36106/Shutterstock

Another plastic cup issue occurred in 2007 when Starbucks recalled a line of colorful plastic cups geared toward kids and featuring colorful turtle, chicken, ladybug, and rabbit designs. The brand reported that when the cups were dropped, there was a chance of some parts breaking and falling off. The resulting pieces could pose a choking risk for kids, or children could cut themselves on the broken pieces' sharp edges. In fact, there was a report of a child choking on a piece of a broken cup, and several more reports of the cup breaking in general.

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Considering how common it is for children to drop things, it should come as no surprise that Starbucks was quick with its recall. About 250,000 plastic cups sold at stores nationwide between 2006 and 2007 were impacted in total. Starbucks advised that consumers take the cups away from children immediately and then return them to stores for a refund and a free beverage.

Starbucks Withdrew Its Barista Aroma Stainless Steel Coffee Brewers In 2007 Due To A Fire Risk

Starbucks coffee brewer - Sharon Davis / Facebook

Technically, the majority of countertop appliances in your kitchen could pose a fire hazard if used incorrectly. That being said, you'd like to think that they're pretty safe to use, as long as you follow best practices and don't do anything outright dangerous, such as leaving a dish towel next to a hot plate. However, in 2007, Starbucks had to recall its Barista Aroma stainless steel coffee brewer after it found that roughly 73,000 of the units had defective electrical wiring that caused them to overheat and possibly even burn. While no fires were reported, Starbucks did receive nearly two dozen reports of the brewers melting.

Starbucks isn't the first company to produce a coffee maker that put it (and its consumers) in hot water. Keurig has been accused multiple times of selling brewers that pose a fire risk, as was the case in 2018 when a couple said a Keurig brewer destroyed their kitchen and a good amount of their personal belongings. Another incident occurred in 2015 when a couple said they became homeless after a Keurig coffee brewer severely damaged their apartment. Needless to say, faulty brewers can be dangerous, hence the urgent recall by Starbucks.

Starbucks Bearista Bear Tumbler Cups Posed A Potential Choking Hazard In 2003

Child bear sippy cup - street-racing-apparel / eBay

Over two decades ago, Starbucks recalled another children's product -- an incident that you would think may have inspired them to test cups and straws for breakage and laceration risks before rolling out any other products designed for kids. As we now know from more recent recalls, that unfortunately wasn't the case.

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In 2003, the brand recalled its Bearista tumblers. It claimed that if children chewed on the straws, it was possible that they could accidentally bite off some of the plastic, creating a choking hazard. Nearly 40,000 cups were recalled, and there was one instance of a child needing the Heimlich maneuver after using the cup. Another less dramatic instance of the straw falling apart in a child's mouth was also reported. While it was retailed in stores throughout the U.S., Canada, and Taiwan, the cup was luckily only on shelves for about a month before the recall was issued.

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California wildlife officials will shut down a state-run fish hatchery in Humboldt County, ending more than 50 years of operations due to rising costs, aging infrastructure and federal limits on steelhead production.

The Mad River Fish Hatchery, which raises a modest number of steelhead and rainbow trout and serves as an access point to the picturesque Mad River for recreation and fishing, will close in June after decades of financial challenges, said Peter Tira, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Its a bit of a sad day for us here, Tira said Friday from the hatchery near Arcata, about 200 miles northwest of Sacramento. In addition to financial woes that led the hatchery to be briefly closed during a state budget crunch in 2004, the facility needed $40 million in repairs to fix old wells, broken concrete and other infrastructure, he said.

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The hatchery, the smallest of the states 21 hatchery facilities, opened in 1971 and initially raised Chinook and inland salmon in addition to steelhead and rainbow trout, the agency said in a news release about the planned closing.

Water flows through one of the few active raceways at the Mad River Fish Hatchery near Arcata on Friday, May 2, 2025. The state-run hatchery, in operation since 1971, will cease fish production in June under a closure plan by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Because the Northern California steelhead found in the Mad River are federally protected as a threatened species, the hatchery is limited to raising only 150,000 fry per year under regulations meant to preserve the wild DNA of fish that breed naturally in the waterway, the agency said. By comparison, it raises and releases 450,000 steelhead and 4.6 million salmon every year at its Trinity River Hatchery near Lewiston, some 60 miles inland.

The hatchery stopped breeding salmon years ago because the fish were not returning to the Mad River to spawn, Tira said. The reason turned out to be inherent in the structure of the hatchery: it was built to operate with well water rather than river water. This led the baby fish to imprint on the well water; when the time came to come back from the ocean to spawn, they did not know where to go.

In addition to $10 million in immediate repairs and $30 million in longer-term infrastructure fixes, the department estimated that it would need an additional $1 million a year to continue to operate the hatchery. The facility also required upgrades to meet federal requirements, including the development of a genetic management plan for the steelhead, Tira said.

Concrete raceways sit dry and rust-streaked at the Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County on Friday, May 2, 2025. The state plans to shut down the aging facility in June, citing escalating repair costs and federal steelhead production limits.

While most of the states other hatcheries are owned by the federal government or other entities, the Mad River facility is owned by the state, so California is on the hook for any needed repairs, Tira said.

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Quite simply, the steelhead program is no longer viable, said Jason Roberts, inland fisheries program manager for the departments northern region. The Mad River Fish Hatchery is no longer providing much, if any, conservation benefit to the species nor the intended recreation or sport fishing benefits in the Mad River.

The hatchery will release its remaining steelhead into the river later this spring, and cease operations in June, Roberts said in the statement.

The Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County will close in June of 2025 amid financial and regulatory woes, officials said.

The hatchery property will remain open for tourists and local residents for whom it is a popular place for picnics, birding and river access, CDFW officials said. Its parking lot is often used by people spending a day hiking or fishing in the area.

A few people have pointed out the irony of a government agency complaining about government regulation, Tira said Friday. Its the reality here.
Yesterday, we found out that Cleveland-Cliffs will be idling the Steelton mill, impacting more than 500 employees and signaling a deeply challenging time for our borough. While this decision is being described as temporary, its effects on our families, economy, and legacy are immediate and significant.

Steelton has long been defined by its hardworking peoplemany of whom have poured generations of labor, sweat, and pride into that mill. I want to extend my heartfelt concern and unwavering support to every worker and family affected by this decision. I see you. I stand with you. And we will navigate this seasontogether.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to our local, county, and state partners who have already stepped forward to offer support. We are committed to working collectively to create immediate solutions and long-term strategies to support displaced workers and protect the economic stability of Steelton. While the idling of the mill is not the same as a permanent closure, it is a wake-up call.

We must act decisively and compassionately to stabilize our community and begin the work of building economic resilience beyond a single industry. Steelton has always been a town of fighters.

We were built by steel, but we are powered by peopleand our people are strong.

#SteeltonStrong
Gov. Josh Stein and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green visited Hillcrest Elementary School in Burlington on Friday to highlight Stein's budget proposal for North Carolinas public schools, including a $4 billion bond issue to address aging school buildings and facilities across the state.

Too many schools across our state are overcrowded or need repairs, which often hinders students ability to learn and thrive, Stein said. We must ensure that our schools are well-built and our teachers are well-paid so that our students can receive the high-quality education that they deserve.

Green called the proposed bonds package "a practical step toward the goal of investing fully in public education and ensuring that our students have safe, secure, and supportive learning environments.

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Our state is growing, and our public schools need the facilities and resources to be able to meet that demand and to successfully prepare each student for their next phase in life," he said.

Although Stein is seeking to build public support for his budget proposals, they stand little if any chance of making it into the state budget in the General Assembly, where the Republicans are just a single vote shy of having a veto-proof majority in both houses.

Steins budget proposal for the two-year fiscal 2025-27 biennium includes the proposed $4 billion bonds package. The Office of State Budget & Management estimates that North Carolinas public schools need $13 billion to address school facility needs to keep up with the states growing population.

Steins budget also would raise starting teacher pay to the highest in the Southeast and retain veteran teachers by raising their pay, providing advanced teacher career pathways, and investing in professional development. It also invests in student safety and well-being by hiring more school nurses and social workers, providing free breakfast in public schools, upgrading school security, and removing the distraction of cell phones from classrooms.
The Florida House chamber on May 2, 2025, during a break in legislating. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)

The Florida Legislature went home from their 60-day legislative session on Friday night without passing a budget, but did vote to extend the regular session no later than June 6.

The Senate and House voted on a resolution (HCR 1631) that lists 16 bills that they will consider when they return, likely beginning in the week of May 12, with only bills related to the budget on the agenda.

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Senate President Ben Albritton said on the floor of the Senate that the House and Senate had reached a framework for a budget plan, which will include $2.8 billion in tax relief, the most historic tax relief package in the history of our state.

Floridians expect and deserve a balanced budget that reduces state spending, lowers per capita spending, and reduces the growth of state bureaucracy, he said. I am committed to working with our partners in the Florida House to pass a budget that reduces debt, accounts for significant, broad-based tax relief, and maintains historic state reserves for emergencies.

There remains about a $4 billion gap between the proposed budgets passed by the House and Senate last month. The new fiscal year opens on July 1.

Fridays session included several hour-long breaks sprinkled throughout the day as lawmakers worked to prepare bills that could still win approval in both chambers. In some cases, they couldnt find common ground, and those bills died on the floor.

Hurricane recovery

One measure they did pass on Friday (SB 180) is aimed at strengthening hurricane relief and recovery and enhance response efforts in Florida. Pinellas County Republican Nick DiCeglie, the bill sponsor, cited the ways local governments in his district handled (or mishandled) recovery efforts following the devastating one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall.

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The bill prohibits local governments from increasing building permit or inspection fees for six months after a hurricane or tropical storm emergency declared by the governor or federal government.

It requires local governments to develop post-storm permitting plans that provide for special building permits and inspection procedures. It also says that local governments must ensure sufficient personnel are prepared and available post-storm for expeditious building inspections, permitting and enforcement tasks.

Local governments must lay out multiple locations where building permit services will be offered in person during regular business hours at a minimum.

Multiple major hurricanes ravaged Florida last year, leaving extensive damage statewide, said DiCeglie.

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After a storm, Floridians need a clear path to recovery. Were fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes. Working with our state and local emergency responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm.

Earlier in the day, the Senate quickly voted on one of the most controversial bills of the session  making it more difficult for citizens to place constitutional amendments on the state ballot. The two chambers had bounced the bill back and forth between them for three days before passing it mostly along party lines (with newly independent Sen. Jason Pizzo joining the Republicans in supporting it).

The Senate voted final passage at 1:44 p.m. The governor signed it at 7:57 p.m., according to legislative records.

The Speaker said that good things come to those who wait, said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell. Well, Floridians have been waiting an awful long time, and they want us to get property insurance costs under control. They want us to make sure that they have housing affordability, affordable healthcare costs.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Stillwater Police Department is looking for leads after someone broke into a womans car and swiped her wallet out of her purse.

Terri Bernhardt went to drop off her granddaughter at daycare on Monday morning.

Her purse was sitting in the front seat of her car, but when she returned, she noticed her purse had been moved to the back seat.

Which is not normal for me, and I looked in my purse, that was pretty light, and my wallet was gone, said Bernhardt.

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Edmond Police identify suspect in officer-involved stabbing

Bernhardt said she wasnt in the daycare for longer than 10 minutes.

Its been a little disheartening, to say the least, said Bernhardt.

Bernhardt said she immediately contacted the daycare and Stillwater PD.

She also made sure to close her bank accounts, but shortly after, she was contacted by her bank notifying her that her account was overdrawn.

I was like, No, Im not $23,000 overdrawn. She goes, I know, those checks that we were worried about, somebody has used them and cashed them,' said Bernhardt.

Bernhardt and her husband recently lost their house after large wildfires swept through Stillwater back in March, so this couldnt have happened at a worse time.

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Stillwater has been very good about helping all the fire victims, and then this just kind of ruins it all, she said.

After hearing this isnt the first time vehicles have been broken into during daycare drop offs, Bernhardt now wants to warn others.

Even if its a quick trip just to drop your child off at daycare and youre not going to even be in there longer than 10 minutes, lock your doors, dont have any checks on you, said Bernhardt.

The Stillwater Police Department is asking anyone with information to give them a call.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WEBB CITY, Mo.  A Webb City school employee is placed on administrative leave after a sting operation by the online vigilante group Bikers Against Predators.

We knew the severity of this case, that he is working in the schools and he is a part of the school system, that this video needed to be out, said Boots, Bikers Against Predators president.

PREVIOUS: Webb City Schools employee arrested after clash with anti-predator bikers

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Boots, the alias he goes by, runs the non-profit organization Bikers Against Predators, which helps take down online child predators. Through popular apps, like Snapchat, Instagram, and dating apps like Grindr, the group sets up decoy profiles with the location and waits for individuals to contact them.

We had an individual reach out to one of our accounts, and we told them that we were 13 years old, and he continued that conversation, wanting a phone call with her to see if she was real, said Boots.

That led to a meet up with Logan Duncan, 25, who Boots says wanted to meet at his job, the Webb City Junior High.

At that time, we got to the school, we waited. We had our live decoy go out, stand outside the school. He came outside from the school and met with her in person, said Boots.

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In the video, they play a recorded conversation where they say Duncan asks the decoy if she received the semi-nude photo of him, and if she liked it.

Also in the video, Duncan acknowledges he knew he was chatting with a 13-year-old.

Making them feel comfortable and making them feel that, you know, this is not that serious. And downplaying it sometimes gets them to open up where I think these guys feel its their last resort, said Boots.

While they disagree with the moniker of vigilante, the team does employ some of the same techniques as law enforcement.

Just me and them talking and we are recording it and that video is used in court and played in in front of juries at times, said Boots.

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Boots says they have caught close to 500 predators so far, in 33 states.

The groups overall mission is not just to catch predators, they hope their message will prevent children from becoming victims.

Just checking our childrens phone, making sure we know who theyre talking to is very crucial in todays society, said Boots.

Logan Duncan, 25, is charged with enticement or attempted enticement of a child.

Logan Duncan, 25

Hes being held on a $150,000 bond.

The Webb City School District took quick action, placing him on leave after they were notified about the incident.

In the last few days, the group has helped police arrest alleged predators in Joplin, Neosho, and Winfield, Kansas.

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Ford Motor Co. reported a record sales month for April, with U.S. sales climbing 16% as the company offered employee pricing across its lineup to all customers as uncertainty loomed about President Donald Trump's tariff plans and the prospect that they would soon increase vehicle prices.

Ford reported on May 1 that it sold 208,675 new vehicles in April, compared with 179,588 sold in April 2024. Sales of electrified vehicles, which includes hybrids, rose 8.4% to 28,190, although sales of the all-electric F-150 Lightning, Mach-E and E-Transit trucks dropped, due in part to inventory constraints. Ford's total U.S. sales for 2025 are up 3.2% to 709,966 vehicles sold.

Ford-150 pickup trucks are displayed for sale at a dealership on March 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas.

Ford's real sales glory was in trucks, which accounted for nearly half of the company's total sales. Ford said it sold a total of 116,955 trucks, a 19% jump from a year ago April. Ford reported that total sales of its F-Series pickups surged 13% to 72,765 trucks sold. Breaking out retail sales of the F-Series, sales of the pickups rose 17% in April. A Ford spokesman said the company only provides figures for total sales, not retail sales.

The Maverick pickup hit a sales record, Ford said, with sales of 20,183 Mavericks in April, a 67% increase from April 2024. Sales of the Ranger small pickup rose 62% to 7,006 sold for the month.

CEO Jim Farley had suggested the company would have strong April sales following gains in March as well, in part due to the employee pricing sale Ford launched on April 3  which Ford extended to run through July 4  but also on the chance that consumers want to get ahead of anticipated price increases once tariffs kick in.

First look at a beast: Ford's new F-Series Platinum Plus Super Duty truck offers a unique ownership experience

"Were seeing double digit sales increases since March and April and we ran this employee pricing," Farley told CNN host Erin Burnett on April 30. "There may be a lot of customers going out and buying cars before what they fear is the import tariffs increasing prices. That may be a dynamic. Were certainly seeing our inventories are shrinking at the dealerships."

GM says its sales were up, too

Meantime, General Motors also said it had a strong April despite low incentives and tight inventory. The automaker does not typically report monthly sales, but GM spokesman Jim Cain told the Detroit Free Press that GM's U.S. sales rose 20% to 267,051 vehicles delivered, also led by strong sales of pickups. Cain said GM sold 82,537 full-sized Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in April.

Ford did see sales dips in its all-electric vehicles. The F-150 Lightning sales plummeted by 17% to 1,740 sold in April. For the year, Lightning sales are down 9% to 8,927. Sales of the E-Transit also tumbled in April by 81% to 192 sold. Year-to-date, E-Transit sales are flat at 3,948 sold.
CHEROKEE CO., Kan.  The investigation continues into nearly a dozen guns stolen from a Galena business this week.

We had a pawn shop thats broken into in Galena, Kansas earlier this week, burglary that occurred overnight, said Cherokee Co. Sheriff Brian Henderson.

Cherokee County Sheriff Brian Henderson says a total of 10 guns were taken from the overnight break in at Galena Liberty Pawn.

He says that the shop was properly secured and monitored, which isnt always the case in a retail or residential gun theft.

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Henderson adds that stolen guns are a priority since they are often associated with more crime down the road.

Our concern is people usually arent stealing guns to just sell them. Theyre stealing them for a purpose and use them for illegal or illicit activities. And so we want to just remind people to make sure that your guns arent left unsecured in your cars, said Henderson.

Henderson says that unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.

Recently, were seeing an uptick, not just in Cherokee County, but across our area, of guns being targeted and burglaries. Guns being targeted through business burglaries and people looking to get the guns, said , said Henderson.

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Henderson adds that its also important to lock up guns in the home  both to keep them out of the hands of house breakers but also for safety sake when children are in the home.

Just because your children are trained and you trust your children not to mess with them when their friends come over, they may not have had the same training or the same same respect for a firearm, and so making sure that you have them locked up to protect protect those children as well, said Henderson.

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Showers and storms have been popping up across parts of New Mexico today. A chance for rain and thunderstorms will continue through the weekend and even into next week.

Northern, central, and western New Mexico have been seeing scattered showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon. Some snow has even been falling across the mountains in northern New Mexico! These showers and storms will continue through Friday evening, bringing a chance for an isolated storm or two in the Albuquerque Metro before midnight tonight. The rain will end overnight as sunny skies return for Saturday morning. Another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms will return to the western two-thirds of New Mexico Saturday afternoon. There is a Flash Flood Watch in effect for the Ruidoso area burn scars Saturday afternoon. These storms will continue through late Saturday night.

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 north and east. More showers and storms will develop Sunday afternoon across northern, central, and eastern New Mexico. Some of these storms will produce heavy rainfall in northern and northeastern New Mexico, which could cause flash flooding. A couple strong to severe storms may also be possible from the northern mountains to southeast New Mexico. Another round of strong storms and heavy rain will return Monday afternoon across parts of New Mexico, especially in the eastern part of the state. Flash flooding may be possible over some northern mountain burn scar areas. Albuquerque will see chance for isolated showers and storms both Sunday and Monday.

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Rain and thunderstorm chances will continue across New Mexico next Tuesday and Wednesday as a storm will sit and spin across the state. This will also keep temperatures below average all across New Mexico. Some storms will continue to bring a threat of heavy rain and flooding, mainly in eastern New Mexico. Drier and warmer weather starts moving in late next week.

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Florida lawmakers wrapped up the scheduled last day of the regular session May 2 without a budget and with several major policy bills crashing before the finish line.

The dispute means lawmakers will need to return to the Capitol to resolve it. Late in the evening, House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said they reached a deal on a "framework" for a final 2025-26 spending plan.

Perez said the details still need to be worked out in formal talks, but there would be a $1.6 billion cut to the state sales tax. He had pushed for a cut from 6% to 5.25%, which produced a large gap in the budgets of the House and Senate, leading to the deadlock.

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Lawmakers agreed to extend the session until June 6 to reach a final agreement. The budget and Albritton's signature Rural Renaissance initiative to infuse rural areas with more revenue, health care, education and transportation options are included in the extension.

Despite the emergence of a "framework" for a budget deal, lawmakers in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle say the lengthy fight over the budget isn't ideal and not usual.

Its a strange session. Probably the strangest one Ive been involved in, said Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, a staunch Gov. Ron DeSantis ally who was first elected to the House in 2014 before winning a Senate seat in 2022.

After squabbling with DeSantis for much of the session, lawmakers passed many of his top priority bills in the final days. On May 2, they passed HB 1205, which imposes new restrictions on the process of gathering petitions to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. DeSantis believes it is needed to stop fraud rampant in petition drives, but Democrats said it was a move to stamp out the citizen initiative process entirely.

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More: Gov. DeSantis signs bill for tougher citizen amendment process in Florida

Bills to give condo owners more leeway to pay assessments for inspections, repairs and maintenance (HB 913) and require law enforcement to have probable cause before inspecting boats and vessels  something DeSantis dubbed the Boater Freedom bill  were passed on May 1.

DeSantis agenda had cooler reception in Legislature this year

But for much of the session DeSantis agenda, which typically steamrolled through the Legislature during the first six years of his tenure, faced a rockier ride.

Many of his other priorities didnt gain traction, such as rolling back gun control laws. He also saw House leaders probe a charity connected to First Lady Casey DeSantis and the Senate refuse to confirm several of his appointees.

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More: Hope Florida probe halted as DeSantis allies refuse to testify

DeSantis frequently lashed out at the House, saying the GOP majority was stabbing voters in the back by not moving forward with his agenda, especially on property tax cuts. Perez in turn accused DeSantis of throwing temper tantrums and lying about the House budget.

Still Perez, while pushing an overall reduction in the sales tax from 6% to 5.25%, this week convened a select committee to review proposals to cut property taxes next year.

The budget gridlock also stymied the priorities of the GOP legislative leaders. A set of bills backed by Perez and favored by the trial bar lobby, including one to roll back a 2022 law eliminating one-way attorney fees in property insurance claim disputes, failed to pass.

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The deadlock over the budget centered on a disagreement over how much to cut taxes. Perez wants a reduction in the sales tax from 6% to 5.25%, while Albritton believes the $5 billion in revenue loss it will mean each year will prevent the state from paying for needed services for a growing state. The Houses preferred budget is $113 billion, while the Senates is $4.4 billion more.

Democrats, mired in superminority status in the Legislature, reveled in the GOP dysfunction.

Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman of Boca Raton said she was disappointed the chambers couldn't pass a budget  the one bill the constitution requires lawmakers to pass each year  in 60 days but said the infighting among Republicans was a boon to her party.

There were a lot fewer bills than weve seen in other sessions. But Im happy that here in the Senate that we did not see many of the divisive bills, Berman told the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. The dysfunction worked in the Democrats favor in that a lot of the really awful bills" didnt pass.

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Bills backed by DeSantis to remove child labor protections failed to pass, as did other bills to erase programs in state law perceived as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and ban governments from displaying gay pride, Palestinian and other flags on its properties.

Heres a look at a few of the major bills that failed to pass this session:

Attorneys fees/property insurance

Bills dealing with property insurance failed to move this year, even as homeowners continue to grapple with large premiums.

And a bill (HB 1551) to restore Floridas one-way attorney fee statute for property insurance claim disputes advanced in the House but wasnt heard in the Senate. DeSantis slammed the bill as going backwards on the 2022 changes to the law he says have helped stabilize the market.

Gun bills

A bill to allow guns on college campuses (SB 814) was voted down in a Senate committee on March 25. The bill was likely doomed anyway because it was sponsored by then-Sen. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach, who left the Legislature on March 31 to win a U.S. House seat.

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Another measure to lower the age to buy a rifle from 21 to 18 (HB 759) passed the House on March 26, but the Senate version was never heard in that chamber.

The votes on the gun bills came before Phoenix Ikner, 20, killed two people and wounded five more on the Florida State University campus on April 17.

More: On YouTube, Phoenix Ikner backed racist conspiracy theory that inspired other mass shootings

Labor bills

Two bills backed by big business lobbies to undercut Floridas minimum wage law and remove restrictions on child labor also failed to pass this year.

The bill (HB 1225) to allow employers to schedule 16- and 17-year-olds for unlimited hours in a week and for 14- and 15-year-olds who are homeschooled, attend virtual school or who have already graduated to be scheduled to work more hours in a week. The bill passed the House but only advanced through one committee in the Senate.

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Other legislation (SB 676/HB 541) to give workers in work training, pre-apprenticeship programs or internships the ability to opt to be paid below the minimum wage  which currently sits at $14 per hour in Florida  advanced in both chambers but never made it to the floor in either.

Hope Florida

The revelation that $10 million from a Medicaid settlement with the state, made as a donation from a Medicaid vendor to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity supporting the program championed by Casey DeSantis, put intense scrutiny on the program.

That money was then funneled to nonprofits that then gave more than $8 million to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee run by James Uthmeier, DeSantis chief of staff at the time who has since been named attorney general.

The committee was used to oppose Amendment 3 on the ballot last November, which would have legalized recreational marijuana.

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The scrutiny on the program helped kill bills backed by DeSantis that would have codified the Hope Florida program into law and permanently set up a Hope Florida office within DeSantis office.

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: Strangest session: Infighting forces Florida Legislature into OT
STUART, Iowa  Stuart police arrested a man on Thursday in connection with a sexual abuse investigation involving an 11-year-old.

According to the Stuart Iowa Police Department, the incident happened in late April 2025 at a residence in Stuart. Authorities arrested 20-year-old Wilson Erwin Elverildo Choc Cuc in connection with the incident on Thursday.

Court documents state that the parents of the 11-year-old told police that their child had snuck out to hang out with an older man. The parents told police they suspected their daughter had been sexually assaulted.

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Iowa man charged in deadly Appanoose County shooting

During his meeting with police, Choc Cuc allegedly provided a false date of birth, claiming to be 16 years old. Choc Cuc admitted to committing the offense during an interview with investigators, according to Stuart police. A Guatemalan national, authorities say Choc Cuc is believed to be residing in the U.S. illegally.

Choc Cuc is charged with sexual abuse in the 2nd degree and providing false identifying information to law enforcement.

This case remains under investigation, and no further information will be released at this time. No identifying information will be released due to the victims age.

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Choc Cuc is being held at the Adair County Jail. Choc Cuc is being held on a $100,000 cash bond and is set to appear in court at the end of May.

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Two men from China and one from California pleaded guilty this week in Charlottes federal court to using suburban Charlotte banks to launder drug trafficking money as part of a $92 million scheme.

Maoxuan Xia, a 29-year-old from China, was personally responsible for laundering more than $30 million of those funds in less than two years, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. He and two other men involved in the Chinese money laundering organization deposited more than $700,000 into Charlotte area banks, according to court documents.

The trio told investigators they knew the operation to be a $30 million- to $40-million operation, according to court documents. In the news release, federal prosecutors say they were a part of an organization that laundered more than $92 million laundered by the organization.

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All three pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina Wednesday. None have been sentenced.

Court documents do not specify what kind of drugs the scheme trafficked, referring to the substances only as narcotics.

Charlotte and Waxhaw men tied up in 8-person, $17M banking scam scheme

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, people working for Chinese money laundering organizations pick up bulk cash made from selling illegal drugs and move those funds abroad, often to Mexico. The scheme increasingly involves cartels wanting to launder funds. The operations violate federal money laundering and drug trafficking laws and currency controls.

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Court documents show that the three men used shell companies and several bank accounts to launder the money.

Xia deposited more than $300,000 in drug-trafficking money into a Bank of America outside Carolina Place mall on Pineville-Matthews Road, using a fake New York drivers license to deposit the money into one of several shell companies operated in the scheme.

Xias codefendants, Zhou Yu, 42, of China, and Shao Neng Lin, 58, of Baldwin Park, California, similarly deposited money at a Huntersville Chase Bank on Lindholm Drive.
TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A suspect accused of soliciting sexual material from a teen has been arrested in Taylor County.

David Saenz, of Sweetwater, was arrested by the Taylor County Sheriffs Office Thursday, April 1, at the conclusion of an investigation that began when the FBI received a cyber tip about alleged abuse.

The tip states a 16-year-old victim, who was known to Saenz, made an outcry saying that Saenz had been requesting lewd photos and videos and claiming he also sexually abused her.

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A press release reveals Saenz admitted to the allegations in a subsequent interview.

Sanez was booked into the Taylor County Jail for Promotion of Prostitution, Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact, Online Solicitation of a Minor, and Sexual Performance of Child.

No further information is available at this time.

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BEIRUT (AP)  Syria on Saturday detained a prominent Damascus-based Palestinian official whose group was close to the government of ousted president Bashar Assad.

Talal Naji, 79, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, or PFLP-GC, was detained Saturday morning shortly after he left his house with a driver and two guards, a Palestinian official told The Associated Press.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, added that shortly after Naji was detained near his home in the Mazze neighborhood, security officials came to his home and questioned two unarmed guards for about an hour.

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A Syrian government official told the AP that Naji was taken for questioning and should be released later. The official spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The PFLP-GC became known for dramatic attacks against Israel, including the hijacking an El Al jetliner in 1968 and the machine gunning of another airliner at Zurich airport in 1969. In 1970, it planted a bomb on a Swissair jet that blew up on a flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv, killing all 47 on aboard.

Najis arrest comes nearly two weeks after Syrian authorities detained two members of the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. The group identified the two officials arrested at the time as its leader in Syria Khaled Khaled and another senior official Yasser Zafari. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that triggered the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Under Assad, several Palestinians factions were based in Syria and some of them remained after the fall of his 54-year Assad family in December.
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's government said on Saturday that it had concluded its first round of "substantive" tariff talks with the United States, describing the atmosphere as frank and cordial.

A semiconductor powerhouse that runs a large trade surplus with the U.S., Taiwan had been due to be hit with a 32% U.S. import tax until President Donald Trump last month put all his "reciprocal tariffs" on pause for 90 days.

In a statement, Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations said the talks in Washington had concluded on Thursday, and focused on tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers and various other U.S.-Taiwan issues, which it did not elaborate upon.

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"The atmosphere of the talks was frank and cordial, and both sides expressed their common expectations for strengthening Taiwan-U.S. economic and trade cooperation and their hope for a mutually beneficial relationship," it said.

The office did not say with whom the talks were conducted.

It added that both sides also agreed to continue consultations on various issues in the near future, "with a view to actively seeking consensus and exploring further steps".

The United States is Chinese-claimed Taiwan's most important international supporter and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations.

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Taiwan has responded to Trump's tariffs by proposing a zero-tariff regime and offering to massively ramp up purchases from and investment in the United States.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; editing by Mark Heinrich)
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israels total blockade of Gaza is entering its third month, and food and medical supplies in the aid-dependent Palestinian territory are running dangerously low.

Acute malnutrition among children is increasingly prevalent as hospitals hang by a thread, forced to prioritize deadly emergencies from mass casualty attacks. The price of what little food is still available in the market is exorbitant, unaffordable for most in Gaza, where the United Nations says more than 80% of the population relies on aid.

Israel's longest blockade on Gaza, which began March 2, has sparked a growing international outcry. But that has failed to convince Israel to open the borders. More groups accuse Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war. Israel, for its part, insists the blockade is necessary to pressure Hamas to release the hostages it still holds. Of the 59 hostages still in Gaza, 24 are believed to be still alive.

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Israeli authorities did not immediately respond when asked to comment on accusations that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, but have previously said Gaza had enough aid after a surge in distribution during a two-month ceasefire, and accuse Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes. Humanitarian workers deny there is significant diversion, saying the U.N. monitors distribution strictly.

Here are some takeaways from APs reporting:

No food coming in, no way to produce it locally

A lack of supplies means the distribution of food parcels has stopped. Community kitchens, a lifeline for hundreds of thousands for their daily meal, are shutting down one after the other. At those still open, chaotic scenes of desperate men, women and children fighting to get meager rations are common. Bakeries have closed, while water distribution is grinding to a halt due to lack of fuel.

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The war has rendered farmland mostly inaccessible, while fishermen have reported being shot at when trying to catch fish along Gazas coastline. Looting has been reported at warehouses with few remaining supplies.

Meanwhile, supplies languish at the borders, prevented by Israel from entering Gaza.

Malnutrition stalks the most vulnerable

U.N. agencies have documented a rise in acute malnutrition among children since March. They are finding low immunity, frequent illness, weight and muscle mass loss, protruding bones or bellies, and brittle hair.

Since the start of the year, more than 9,000 children have been admitted or treated for acute malnutrition, UNICEF said. The increase was particularly dramatic in March, with 3,600 cases  an 80% increase compared to the 2,000 children in February.

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And conditions have only worsened. UNICEF says supplies to prevent malnutrition, such as supplements and biscuits, have been depleted. High-nutrition food used to treat acute malnutrition is running out.

Nearly half the 200 nutrition centers around Gaza have shut down because of displacement and bombardment.

It is absolutely clear that we are going to have more cases of wasting, which is the most dangerous form of malnutrition, said UNICEF spokesperson Jonathan Crickx. It is also clear we are going to have more children dying from these preventable causes.

In the pediatric ward

At 9 months old, Khaled, weak and dehydrated, is barely 11 pounds (5 kilos)  half of what he should be. Diarrhea has plagued him for half his brief life.

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In Gazas main pediatric hospital ward, as doctors try to save her son, Wedad Abdelaal, 31, can only watch and agonize over her four other children back in their tent who have nothing to eat.

This border closure is destroying us, she said.

A low-weight baby at 4 1/2 pounds (2 kilos) but otherwise healthy at birth, Khaled began suffering from malnutrition at 2 months old. His mother, herself malnourished, cant produce enough milk.

Breastfeeding needs food, and I am not able to give him enough, she says.

Two of Abdelaals other children, Ahmed, 7 and Maria, 4, are also showing signs of malnutrition. At 17 pounds (8 kilos), Ahmeds bones pierce his skin. He gets no supplements at feeding centers, which serve only children under 6. Maria has also lost weight, but there is no scale to weigh her.

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My kids have become so frail, Abdelaal laments. They are like chicks.

Struggling hospitals

Only critical malnutrition cases are admitted to hospitals, and just for short periods so more children can be treated.

If we admit all those who have acute malnutrition, we will need hundreds of beds, says Dr. Yasser Abu Ghaly. We cant help many, anyway ... There is nothing in our hands.

While the lack of food can decimate even previously healthy children, for those with pre-existing conditions and genetic disorders, the outlook is dire.

They are sentenced to death, said Dr. Ahmed al-Farrah, head of the pediatrics and obstetrics ward at Nasser Hospital.

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The youngest pay the price

We are breaking the bodies and minds of the children of Gaza, said Michael Ryan, executive director of emergencies at the World Health Organization. Because if we dont do something about it, we are complicit in what is happening before our very eyes. ... The children should not have to pay the price.

___

El Deeb reported from Beirut.
Five years ago, Heidy Sanchez Tejeda crossed the U.S. southern border.

Last week, she was deported to Cuba after she was arrested during an immigration interview in Tampa, separating her from her husband, Carlos Yuniel Valle, and their 1-year-old daughter, Kailyn.

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, DTampa, met privately with Valle to affirm her support and explore possible legal and humanitarian avenues to help Sanchez Tejeda return. Castor also met with two other women whose partners were deported to a prison in El Salvador in March.

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Castor sent a letter this week urging President Donald Trump to grant humanitarian parole for Sanchez Tejada. Castor denounced the way immigration authorities arrested Sanchez Tejeda during a regularly scheduled check-in at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Tampa on April 22.

The separation of mother and daughter was so sudden and traumatic that their infant daughter was taken to the hospital, Castor wrote. 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.

Castor said the treatment of the Sanchez Tejeda-Valle family was a deep stain and is repugnant to American values and constitutional protections.

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, wrote Castor. 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.

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Sanchez Tejedas case has drawn the attention of local leaders, advocates and nonprofits who defend immigrant rights. Last weekend, dozens of supporters gathered in downtown Tampa to show solidarity with Sanchez and her family.

One of the organizers, Ruth Beltran, an advocate with the Tampa Bay Immigrant Solidarity Network, said the demonstration was a call to action for justice and dignity.

No mother should be ripped apart from their child like Heidy was. It is inhumane and unacceptable. Too many immigrant mothers are now faced with this reality, said Beltran. We stand together to demand dignity for mothers and children confronting the cruelty of family separation and violation of basic human rights.

Sanchez Tejeda first came to the United States in 2019 under a temporary stay permit known as the I-220B form, a permit that does not grant legal status or provide protection from deportation. She missed an immigration hearing while she was waiting in Mexico and was ordered deported in absentia. When she later entered the United States, Sanchez Tejeda was detained for nine months in an immigration facility.

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She was released under the condition to regularly check in with immigration authorities, an order she complied with and followed. Sanchez Tejeda married Valle, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, four years ago. He filed a petition for permanent legal status for his wife, but Valle said he never received a response from immigration authorities.

Sanchez Tejedas attorney, Claudia Canizares, launched a campaign on MoveOn to collect 3,000 signatures in solidarity with Sanchez Tejeda. So far, it has gathered 2,100 signatures.

Canizares said the issue is not only about immigration.

It is about compassion, family unity, and a childs right to her mothers care, Canizares wrote in her petition drive. We ask that you act swiftly to correct this tragic separation and allow this family to heal together.

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Valle said his family also tried to reach out to the office of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott last week through one of Sanchez Tejedas cousins, Alonso Rodriguez, whos fluent in English. But Scotts office said in a letter that they were unable to assist.

You may wish to speak with a private attorney, who can best answer any legal questions or concerns you have, the letter stated.

The emotional toll of the separation is growing by the day. During an interview through WhatsApp with the Tampa Bay Times on Friday morning, Sanchez Tejeda, who is living at her mothers house in Havana, said she cant sleep thinking about her daughter.

Its very difficult to live this way, far from my daughter and my family, said Sanchez Tejeda. My daughter needs me. My daughter is still breastfeeding.

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Sanchez Tejeda described the pain of separation not only for herself, but for her daughter, who is too young to understand why her mother is gone.

I am suffering, but so is my daughter, and thats what worries me the most. Its very hard because every time she sees me on the phone, she says, Mama come, Mama come! Sanchez Tejeda said. I cant explain to her that Im far away and cant be with her. It breaks my heart.
Officials with the Tarrant County Public Health Department reported the countys first two cases of measles on Friday.

The new cases come amid a statewide outbreak that has sickened almost 700 people since January, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The two new cases were reported in an unvaccinated adult and child who live in the same household, Tarrant County Public Health said.

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While contagious, the adult and child visited the Methodist Mansfield Hospital emergency room, at 2700 E. Broad St., between 8 p.m. on Tuesday April 29 and 3 a.m. on Wednesday April 30, according to the countys statement.

Tarrant County Public Health officials are working to determine any other locations the patients may have visited, according to the statement.

Other people who were at the Mansfield emergency room during the same time as the infected residents, especially those who are unvaccinated, pregnant or immunocompromised should monitor for symptoms until May 20, officials said.

Earlier this week, the Denton County Public Health Department announced that a sick resident visited Texas Live! and Globe Life Field in Arlington while contagious.

Collin County health officials also reported a new case of the measles virus on Friday.

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Collin County Health Care Services was notified that a county resident has tested positive for measles and visited Walmart at 16066 Texas 121 in Frisco between 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. on April 29.

 More top stories from our newsroom:

 Texas, Fort Worth officials warn of dire impacts of Head Start cuts

 2 arrested in North Texas triple homicide. 3rd man exonerated

 Woman assaulted on American Airlines flight files federal suit

[Get our breaking news alerts.]

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the statement.

Symptoms include a high fever over 101 degrees, a cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes, and a red blotchy rash that begins on the face and moves down the body.

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If you develop symptoms, stay home and away from others and contact your healthcare provider for guidance. If you must visit a clinic or hospital, call ahead of time to prevent possible exposure to others.

Texas Measles Cases in 2025

This interactive map tracks the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas and across the United States. It features real-time data on reported cases, county-level vaccination rates (where available), and outbreak details. Tap on any county for more information. The map is developed and maintained by the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI). View the CORI Measles Scenario-based Risk Assessment here.

Open

SOURCES: Center for Outbreak Response Innovation, ESRI




Lawmakers are seen in the Missouri Senate chamber in Jefferson City, Mo. Missouri may become the first state with an income tax to exempt capital gains, but several states have considered tax cut proposals that would benefit the wealthy during this years legislative sessions. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

Missouri Republicans may take their tax-cutting efforts to new heights this year as lawmakers consider exempting profits from the sale of stocks, bonds and real estate from state income taxes.

Part of a broader push to eliminate the state income tax altogether, legislation making its way through the Capitol would provide an unprecedented benefit to the wealthy by excluding capital gains, the long-term earnings from the sale of assets. If approved, tax experts say, the legislation would mark the first time a state with an income tax has eliminated capital gains tax.

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The Republican sponsors say the move would make the state more attractive for businesses and families.

This bill is intended to energize Missouris economy, Republican Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins said upon introducing the measure.

But state Democrats  and even some of their GOP colleagues  have criticized the measure as being overly favorable to the wealthy. Most states tax systems already put a higher tax burden on lower-income households. That trend only accelerated in this years legislative sessions, worrying advocates who want to see the rich pay a larger share.

It is so egregious in just how grossly concentrated the benefits of the [Missouri] proposal would go to the richest people in the state and shift the states tax system to really privilege the owners of wealth over people who are earning a regular paycheck, said David Cooper, an analyst at the left-leaning think tank Economic Policy Institute.

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The institute advocates for progressive state taxes  those that put the proportionately largest tax burdens on the highest earners. While Cooper advises against eliminating state income taxes, he said the Missouri move would be more harmful than eliminating the income tax outright.

If youre wiping away the income tax altogether, theres at least some tax benefit going to lower-earning folks who are still paying income taxes, he said. If youre just eliminating capital gains income taxes, you are just giving away money to the wealthiest people in the state, period.

Some Democratic-led states, including Maryland and Washington, have moved to increase taxes on the wealthy this year. But several states  including Kansas, Kentucky and Mississippi  have made more regressive tax changes.

Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects at the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation, noted that states still prioritize progressive spending through social service programs aiding the most vulnerable residents.

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He said states compete against each other for business and residents in much more immediate ways than the federal government competes against other nations.

So states are very focused on the competitive advantages associated with a pro-growth tax regime, he said, and that has led to less of an emphasis in many states on achieving progressivity through the tax code.

Generational change to taxes

While several states have enacted high-profile tax cuts this year, the momentum is actually slowing, Walczak said.

With booming economies and an influx of federal cash in recent years, conservative and liberal states alike passed significant tax cuts. Of the 43 states that have some sort of income tax, 28 have made rate reductions since 2021, Walczak said.

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In many states, lawmakers simply accomplished much of what they had set out to do, he said.

Economic uncertainty and the prospect of reduced federal aid also have made many lawmakers more cautious this legislative season, he said.

But lawmakers in several states  including Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia  have continued their march to eliminate state income taxes.

Taxing peoples wages is bad because it undermines liberty, Oklahoma state Sen. Dusty Deevers, a Republican, said this month in support of a proposed income tax cut, the Oklahoma Voice reported. It undermines peoples freedoms. If government controls income, then it controls your life.

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This session, Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill cutting the state income tax rate from 4% to 3.5%. Republican lawmakers have been slashing rates for years with the ultimate aim of eliminating the income tax altogether, despite concerns that more reliance on sales tax would disproportionately burden the poor. To partially offset the income tax reduction, the legislature expanded sales taxes to more services in 2018.

And Republican lawmakers in Kansas overrode a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to move away from the states graduated income tax toward a flat tax of 4% that will mostly benefit the highest earners.

Last month, Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed legislation granting another cut in the state income tax. Officials there aim to phase out the income tax altogether over the coming years with gradual rate reductions, which Reeves characterized as a generational change for the state.

The Mississippi law also reduces the sales tax on groceries and increases the gas tax. Though the governor is already celebrating the end of state income tax, the law provides for incremental reductions in the coming years only if the state hits certain revenue targets.

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Republican state Rep. Trey Lamar, a legislative sponsor, said income taxes disincentivize work  a particular problem for the state with the nations lowest workforce participation rate.

A tax on work is a tax on productivity, he said.

The left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy says the law will make the states tax system more inequitable. Its analysis found that when fully implemented, the top 1% of households, who have average annual incomes of $1.4 million, will receive an average cut of $41,420, or roughly 3% of their annual income. But the bottom 20% of earners, who have average annual incomes of $13,400, would realize a tax cut of just $42 per year.

Lamar noted the legislation did not increase sales taxes across the board. With average sales tax burdens already lower than neighboring states like Alabama, he said the income tax elimination will only help Mississippi workers.

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We need more people working, he said. So if helping the working man is somehow seen as regressive, then Id have to say I dont fully understand that.

Walczak, of the Tax Foundation, said the state can afford the initial rate reduction. But its unclear whether state revenues will hit the targets needed  and whether lawmakers will reassess the aim of eliminating income taxes.

As one of the nations poorest states, Mississippi is heavily reliant on federal funding and would be particularly vulnerable to an economic downturn.

Theres not a guarantee that the state could afford that in the future, and Mississippi does not have a large budget to begin with, so that would be harder than in most other states if the economy slid, he said. It does require a willingness on lawmakers parts to be honest with themselves if the economy changes and decide whether a pause might be necessary.

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An uneven tax burden

Economic uncertainty and slowing revenues have put many states into budget holes this year, forcing lawmakers to consider spending cuts or tax increases.

To close budget gaps, some conservative and liberal states have considered new or higher taxes on marijuana, tobacco and soda.

But some liberal-led states are looking to taxes more focused on the wealthy. In Rhode Island, Democratic Gov. Daniel McKee has proposed a 10% tax on digital advertising revenue.

In Washington state, lawmakers approved raising capital gains taxes and business taxes to close a looming deficit, though its unclear whether Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson, who has voiced skepticism, will sign off on those measures.

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Maryland lawmakers, facing a $3 billion deficit, recently approved $1.6 billion in new taxes and fees. That includes two new high-income tax brackets and a new 3% sales tax on information technology and data services.

Moves like those that ask more of the wealthy could make some state tax systems more progressive, said Aidan Davis, the state policy director at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. But most state tax proposals approved this year have primarily benefited the highest earners.

Thats particularly concerning because most state systems already favor the wealthy. In 41 states, the top 1% of earners pay a lower effective tax rate than any other group, according to an institute study.

In Missouri, the fate of the first-of-its-kind capital gains tax elimination remains up in the air.

Though versions of the proposal have passed both chambers, there are differences between the Senate and House legislation. That means the bill could go back to conference committee for further negotiation or go on to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, who has identified capital gains among his tax cut priorities this year.

Missouris Department of Revenue estimated the exemption could cost $111 million per year. But an Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy analysis of IRS data projects the change could cost $600 million or more.

If approved, the top 5% of Missouri households  those making more than $273,000 per year  will receive more than 80% of the benefit from capital gains exemption, Davis said.

Doing so would let wealthy people collect tax-free passive income while youre continuing to tax middle class workers and people with savings, Davis said. Its just a really extreme proposal.

Stateline, a States Newsroom affiliate, produced this story.
tazewell, va.  Residents of Southwest Virginia impacted by the Feb. 15 flood are being afforded additional time to file their state taxes.

According to the Virginia Department of Taxation, the tax filing and payment deadline for victims of the February flooding in Southwest Virginia has been extended to November 3. The new deadline applies to taxpayers located in 36 counties, including Tazewell, Bland, Buchanan, Giles, Smyth, Russell, Dickenson, Washington, Wise and Wythe.

Taxpayers located in the impacted areas do not need to take any action, as extensions and waivers are automatic as long as missing returns and payments are made by November 3, according to the state tax office.

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U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., who represents Virginias 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced the deadline extension Thursday.

After the February winter storms, I sought to help deliver tax relief to the impacted Southwest Virginia communities, Griffith said. After weeks of advocacy and extensive talks, I am glad that we reached this milestone. Todays announcement is significant help for Southwest Virginia, but I will continue to advocate for access to more recovery services.

Griffith said the extension applies to individual income tax returns and payments that are normally due in mid April.

A number of factors contributed to the Feb. 15 flood, including a torrential rainfall that morning, melting snowfall and a ground that was already saturated by prior rains.

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The flooding caused significant damage and problems across the region, including in neighboring West Virginia.

Griffith joined the regions congressional delegation in asking for President Donald Trump to approve Governor Glenn Youngkins request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the region, which was later approved by Trump.

Griffith said other impacted taxpayers, including businesses, which can demonstrate a hardship attributable to the February flooding in Southwest Virginia should submit a written request for penalty and interest waivers for any state taxes due on or after the flooding to the Virginia Department of Taxation at Customer Service Section Severe Storm Relief, P.O. Box 1115, Richmond, Va. 23218-1115.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., also confirmed the filing deadline extension Thursday.

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Good news for Southwest Virginians, Warner said. After my advocacy, folks impacted by severe flooding have until November 3 to file their taxes  essential breathing room for folks that are still rebuilding from heartbreaking destruction.

Contact Charles Owens at

cowens@bdtonline.com
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blasted the Defense Department following an incident this week where an Army helicopter in D.C. airspace forced two commercial passenger jets landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to shift course.

Unacceptable. Our helicopter restrictions around DCA are crystal clear. In addition to investigations from @NTSB and @FAANews, Ill be talking to the @DeptofDefense to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded, Duffy wrote in a post on X on Friday. No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber - besides most VIPs have black car service.

The remarkable public brushback to another Cabinet agency from Duffy comes amid intense scrutiny around the airspace around Washington and in particular Reagan National, an airport popular with lawmakers flying in and out of the city.

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The Federal Aviation Administration flagged this weeks incident in a notice Friday, which took place roughly three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into a passenger jet and killed 67 people in January. That accident marked the first deadly crash of a U.S. passenger airliner in nearly two decades and still remains under investigation.

The helicopter  also a Black Hawk  took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport, FAA assistant administrator for government and industry affairs Chris Senn wrote in an email obtained by POLITICO. The route forced air traffic controllers to call for two go-arounds for the two commercial passenger jets. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

The incident is currently under investigation. The United States Army remains committed to aviation safety and conducts flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures, U.S. Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib wrote in an email to POLITICO.

The FAA restricted non-essential helicopter operations, with some exemptions, near Reagan National airport in March, but it is not clear whether or not the helicopter involved in Thursdays incident was flying in restricted airspace.

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Safety must ALWAYS come first. We just lost 67 souls! Duffy wrote in his social media post.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Commerce Committee, also condemned the incident Friday in a post on X.

The Army and FAA need to reevaluate their operations and return to Capitol Hill to explain what needs to be done to make certain the DCA airspace is safe, Moran wrote. We already had a tragedy that should not have happened.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A recent slapping incident at a local school sparked anger and controversy among parents. But is this type of punishment allowed in Kansas?

27 News reached out to the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) to find out what state law says about teachers physically punishing their students. General Counsel Scott Gordon for the KSDE responded, summarizing what is currently on the books in Kansas.

Physical discipline of children, also known as corporal punishment, is still allowed in some parts of the nation. Occasional incidents make national headlines, prompting debates over whether or not this type of discipline should be allowed. While some nearby states such as Missouri have included corporal punishment in official school discipline policy with specific rules for its implementation, Kansas is a little more gray on the topic.

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What new Kansas laws go into effect on July 1, 2025?

Gordon said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) defines corporal punishment in its regulations as it pertains to preschools and child care centers, but not to K-12 schools. He said the KDHE prohibits corporal punishment within any facility it licenses.

(A) Corporal punishment, including hitting with the hand or any implement, slapping, swatting, shaking, pulling hair, yanking the arm, excessive exercise, exposure to extreme temperatures, and any other measure that produces physical pain or threatens the childs health or safety;

(B) mental and emotional cruelty, including verbal abuse, threats, derogatory remarks about the child or the childs family, or statements which tend to shame, humiliate, or frighten the child;

(C) binding or tying the child to restrict movement;

(D) confining the child in a high chair, a play yard, a crib, a closet, a locked room or area, a box, or a similar enclosure;

(E) withholding or forcing foods, toilet use, or rest; and

(F) placing soap or any other substances that stings, burns, or has a bitter taste in the childs mouth, on the tongue or on or in any other part of the childs body. 28-4-132 Child Care Practices excerpt

Do you still have to slow down for work zones on the weekend in Kansas?

Gordon said the current criminal code of Kansas includes within its definition of abuse of a child the infliction of cruel and inhuman corporal punishment against those under the age of 18. However, it doesnt give a definition of what corporal punishment is.

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As for K-12 schools, there are no state laws that address corporal punishment, Gordon said. Any complaints sent to my office alleging that a licensed educator inappropriately engaged in corporal punishment would be looked at on a case-by-case basis to determine if the conduct fell within the Kansas State Board of Educations definition of professional misconduct found in K.A.R. 91-22-1a and 91-22-1b.

The last time the issue of corporal punishment popped up in Kansas Legislature was during the 2014 session with House Bill 2699. The bill died in committee but would have, if approved, created an exemption for corporal punishment under the crimes of battery, domestic battery, endangering a child and abuse of a child.

Found an arrowhead in Kansas? Archaeologist urges you to leave it alone

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) collects statistics on the use of corporal punishment in schools nationwide. The most recent publication from March 2023 shows that instances of corporal punishment are falling with 100,000 reports in the 2013-2014 school year and just under 70,000 in the 2017-2018 school year, a nearly 35% decrease.

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The OCR publication noted that Kansas is one of many states that do not have an outright ban on corporal punishment. The majority of students who received corporal punishment were in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.

OCR data on Kansas schools from the 2020-2021 academic year shows that out of the 290 school districts, there were no reported uses of corporal punishment. You can learn more about corporal punishment use across the nation by heading to the OCRs website.

Why legalizing weed in Kansas isnt working

For more Kansas 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.
(Reuters) -Frontier Group, the parent of U.S. discount carrier Frontier Airlines, forecast an unexpected second-quarter loss on Thursday, even as it said demand for May and early summer travel has now stabilized.

Trump's trade policy and sweeping tariffs have sparked a global trade war and raised the odds of the world spiraling into recession, making customers hesitant to spend on travel.

Frontier said it is now targeting a return to profitability in the second half of the year on the back of moderating industry-wide capacity, aggressive cost and capital expenditure management.

The economic downturn is creating headwinds for major U.S. airlines, which, just two months ago, were benefiting from strong travel demand and solid pricing across their networks.

Frontier forecast a second-quarter adjusted loss per share in the range of 23 cents to 37 cents, compared with analysts' average expectations of a 15 cent profit, according to data compiled by LSEG.

It reported a wider-than-expected adjusted loss in the first quarter as its total revenue per passenger declined 6% from a year ago.

The company has reduced planned capacity for both the second quarter and the balance of 2025 to be down from a year ago, with adjustments focused on off-peak days of the week.

Frontier on Thursday said it will closely monitor the demand environment and make any further adjustments to capacity and related costs, as appropriate.

It refrained from providing a full-year financial forecast, citing the uncertainty in the demand outlook for the balance of the year.

It reported a first-quarter adjusted loss of 19 cents per share, compared with analysts' expectations of 9 cents per share.

(Reporting by Shivansh Tiwary in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
CLEVELAND (WJW)  More than a decade after Aliza Shermans death, her divorce lawyer has been arrested and charged in her mysterious murder.

Investigators now believe they have solved the mystery behind the suspect in a big disguise.

In 2013, Sherman went downtown to meet her divorce lawyer. She died outside the building, stabbed to death.

Aliza Sherman

For 12 years, the case remained unsolved. Police struggled to identify the person seen getting away.

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I-TEAM: Arrest made in murder of Aliza Sherman

On Friday, Cuyahoga County prosecutors indicted Gregory Moore on several counts, including aggravated murder and conspiracy.

The indictment said the shadowy figure was an individual who was either Moore or an unnamed co-conspirator and the alleged killer stabbed her over ten times.

In 2016, the FOX 8 I-Team confronted Moore. He later pleaded guilty to charges tied to calling in bomb threats to local courts. Now, Moore has to answer to murder charges.

Gregory Moore (Credit: Williamson County, Texas, Jail)

The indictment spells out the motive, saying Moore did not want to start a trial on the divorce case, so he carried out the killing to make Sherman unavailable.

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The I-Team learned the case took so long, in part, because it involved a high-tech investigation involving the suspects phone and electronic devices.

Unsolved for 12 years: A timeline of Aliza Sherman murder case

Friday, even after the filing of the charges, the I-Team found state agents still investigating. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was gathering evidence at Moores home, even going into the backyard to search.

The indictment said, on the day of the crime Moore disconnected his phone from the cell phone network for three hours. That way, records would not track his location.

Investigators said, after the murder, Moore kept texting Sherman even though he knew what happened to her, according to the indictment.

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Gregory Moore was taken unto custody by U.S. Marshals Friday in Austin, Texas.

Attorney Kevin Spellacy, who previously represented Moore, says Moore was at his fathers home when he was arrested. Moore is now in jail in Texas.

Authorities are hoping he will be brought back to Ohio soon to face the charges.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
(FOX40.COM)  A 16-year-old boy was shot multiple times in West Sacramento Friday night for what police believe is retaliation for another teen who was fatally shot during a marijuana deal gone wrong two days before.

 Video Above: How to report a public safety threat

On Wednesday, WSPD responded to Summerfield Park after several calls of possible shots fired. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a 16-year-old boy, Adrian Carter, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. On Thursday, a suspect was arrested and booked into the Yolo County Jail.

Sacramento police shoot suspect accused of attempted molestation, domestic violence

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Around 10 p.m. the next day, Friday, WSPD responded to a shooting near Linden Road and Allan Avenue. There, another 16-year-old boy from West Sacramento was found with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the hospital, where he is currently in critical condition, according to WSPD.

Police said an investigation led them to a suspect, a juvenile in Sacramento County. A search warrant was served at the suspects residence, and the juvenile was arrested. Police said he will be transported to Yolo County Jail.

School dance in Fairfield ends abruptly after fight, gun threat

Based on the investigation to this point, this appears to be a retaliation shooting related to the homicide from Wednesday which occurred during a marijuana drug deal gone bad, WSPD said.

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The department added, We understand how unsettling these incidents are for our community. Please know that we share in your concern and are actively working to bring those responsible to justice.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Texas will implement a $1 billion school voucher program, one of the largest in the country, that uses public dollars to fund private school tuition under a bill Gov. Greg Abbott signed Saturday, capping off a yearslong effort by Republicans.

School voucher supporters have long targeted the state, where past efforts buckled for decades against resistance from Democrats and rural Republicans. Last month President Donald Trump called lawmakers before a key vote needed to finally get the bill to Abbotts desk.

Texas joins more than 30 other states that have implemented a similar program, of which about a dozen have launched or expanded their programs in recent years to make most students eligible.

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School vouchers have been Abbotts primary focus this year, coming off a 2024 election cycle in which he led a campaign to oust GOP lawmakers who voted against a similar bill last session.

Republican lawmakers and bill supporters say it will give parents more choice by letting them pull their children out of poor-performing public schools.

Gone are the days that families are limited to only the schools assigned by government, Abbott said before signing the bill at the governors mansion. The day has arrived that empowers parents to choose the school that is best for their child.

Democrats and Republicans in rural districts have criticized the program, saying it will drain financial resources from Texas more than 5 million public school students and subsidize the private education of wealthy families.

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Beginning next school year, Texas families can receive $10,000 per year to help pay for students private school tuition. Children with disabilities can qualify for as much as $30,000 a year. The program will be capped at $1 billion for the first year and cover up to 90,000 students but could cost up to $4.5 billion a year by 2030.

___

Lathan 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.
May 3AUSTIN  State Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa, announced May 3 that the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill aiming to outlaw "golden parachutes" for government employees.

House Bill 762 prohibits cities, counties and other government entities from making any severance payments to a government employee who is terminated due to misconduct, gross mismanagement, fraud, or violation of law, a news release said.

Additionally, the bill bans local governments from entering into a contract with an employee that would give the government employee a golden parachute, which is an excessive payout upon termination.

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Specifically, HB 762 caps severance payments at no more than 38% of one year's salary. As an added transparency measure, the bill would also require that any severance agreement be posted online for all taxpayers to see.

"This legislation is about restoring trust in local government and protecting the hardworking taxpayers of

Texas," Landgraf added.

"No public official who violates the public's trust should walk away with a golden parachute on the taxpayers' dime."

Filed by Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen) and jointly authored by Landgraf, House Bill 762 now heads to the Texas Senate for consideration.
A high-speed police pursuit in Los Angeles County ended in a violent collision on the 210 Freeway on Friday, killing the 26-year-old driver who reached up to 115 mph during the chase.

Paramedics with the Los Angeles County Fire Department said the driver died at the scene at 11:18 a.m. on Friday, according to a California Highway Patrol spokesperson. The driver was the only one in the car, and no one else was injured in the crash, authorities said.

The driver was identified as 26-year-old Matyes Getachew, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.

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Read more: Police pursuit ends dramatically with SWAT team and armored vehicles on home's front lawn

Initially, officers responded to a call about a grand theft in a large department store in Camarillo at around 10 a.m., according to Sgt. Monica Smith with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. Responding deputies identified a vehicle they believed to be involved in the theft and attempted to make a traffic stop. The suspect refused to pull over for officers.

The pursuit began in Camarillo with deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and continued through Thousand Oaks and into Simi Valley, where CHP officers took over.

The suspect was driving at speeds higher than 115 mph, according to helicopter footage from KTLA, and came to a violent crash eastbound on the 210 Freeway, just west of State Route 2.

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Getachew plowed into the back of a truck in La Canada Flintridge, with the front driver side of the car making a hard impact with the rear passenger side of the truck. Parts of the front and side of the suspect's vehicle were torn off of the car.

CHP officers attempted to treat the suspect before paramedics responded and pronounced the driver dead.

The CHP and the Ventura County Sheriff's Department did not provide any additional details about the suspect.

Traffic was closed Friday along the 210 Freeway near the crash scene. One lane of traffic was opened Friday afternoon, but three lanes on the eastbound side remained closed. The transition road from the 210 to the 2 also had three lanes of traffic closed for an unknown duration, CHP officials said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DENVER (KDVR)  A driver accused of shooting at a vehicle with three people inside, including a juvenile, is wanted by police in Thornton.

The Thornton Police Department said its officers were dispatched to the intersection of 104th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard at about 5:50 p.m. Friday for a reported shooting.

2 of 3 killed in Weld County crash identified; community mourns middle school teacher

Preliminarily, officers learned there had been a verbal road rage incident between two drivers. One pulled a handgun and shot at the other driver, hitting him in the arm, according to the Thornton Police Department. The man who fired the gun is described as a short, chubby Hispanic male with long hair.

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The victim, also an adult man, was transported to a hospital for his serious but non-life-threatening injury. Police said there was also a woman and a juvenile in the car who were not injured.

Police said the suspect fled the scene in a red or maroon Jeep Grand Cherokee with black rims and an unknown license plate number.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Thornton department tip line at 720-977-5069. Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Thousands of supporters of an Islamist group rallied in Bangladesh's capital on Saturday to denounce proposed recommendations for ensuring equal rights, including ones related to property, for mainly Muslim women.

Leaders of the Hefazat-e-Islam group said the proposed legal reforms are contradictory to the Sharia law. More than 20,000 followers of the group rallied near the Dhaka University, some carrying banners and placards reading Say no to Western laws on our women, rise up Bangladesh.

The group threatened to organize rallies on May 23 across the country if the government didn't meet their demands.

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Mamunul Haque, a leader of the group, demanded that the interim government's reforms commission be abolished and its members punished for the proposed changes. He said they hurt the sentiments of the majority of the people of this country by labeling the religious laws of inheritance as the main cause of inequality between men and women.

The group's leaders also demanded that the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad punus ban the Awami League party led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in August. Hasina's opponents accuse her government of killing hundreds of students and others during the uprising that ended her 15-year rule. Hasina has been in exile in India since her ouster.

Islamist groups in Bangladesh have increased their visibility since Hasina's ouster, and minority groups have complained of being intimidated.
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.
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You will not believe how much politics happened this week. President Donald Trump pissed off Canada so much that they elected another lib, and Trump is delighted. Amazon had a chance to break Trump politically, but got scared. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has the chance to take a committee chairmanship at long last, but committee chairmanships are for pikers. And Mike Waltz is taking on the Big Apple!

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Lets begin with the fight over Medicaid cuts in the House, and what this big bill is really all about.

Congressional Republicans have reached the moment theyve been waiting forwriting up their sprawling bill to enact Trumps legislative agendaand are, at this moment, stuck. They cant settle on a way to enact hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts that doesnt scare the crap out of both moderate members and Trump. On SNAP benefits, another major target for cutting, theyre running into the same issue. It raises the question: Why are they forcing themselves to spin their wheels like this? They could find a way to get their tax cuts through accounting tricks or less controversial cuts. Thats what the Senate will end up doing, anyway.

The thing is, there are varying interpretations of the purpose of the one, big beautiful bill. The popular understanding is that Republicans want to renew trillions in tax cuts, and they need to find some spending cuts to lessen the deficit impact. But for conservatives, like Texas Rep. Chip Roy and other deficit hawks, the purpose of the bill is to rein in mandatory federal spending programs. They see this moment as a generational opportunityperhaps the last theyll get before a debt crisis hitsto do so. In a letter to their colleagues on Thursday trying to salvage proposed Medicaid cuts, Roy and other conservatives wrote, If the House budget reconciliation package does not include structural Medicaid reform that achieves desired Republican outcomes, we will be setting up massive tax increases and benefit cuts in the future. Theres been an intraparty battle brewing between those who view tax cuts as the point and those who view spending cuts as the point, and now its reaching a crescendo. Wed observe that the path of least resistance almost always wins in the end, which is why Roy is so distraught in the first place.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney won a full term in the countrys election this week, completing a shocking turnaround for the countrys Liberal Party, which looked doomed as recently as a few months ago. He defeated Conservatives supposed PM-in-waiting, Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre represented the closest thing to major-party MAGAism in Canada, and until recently, he appeared to be cruising to power. In the end, Poilievre didnt even hold on to his seat. What changed over the past few months was Donald Trump, whos infuriated a nation of largely polite people with his strange efforts to destroy Canada economically and then annex it. This didnt create a receptive electoral environment for Trumpian right-wing populism in the country.

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Did Trump feel rebuked? Of course not. In an interview with the Atlantic published this week, Trump was bragging about his effect. You know, until I came along, remember that the conservative was leading by 25 points, he said. Then I was disliked by enough of the Canadians that Ive thrown the election into a close call, right? I dont even know if its a close call. Hes simply pleased with his ability to have shifted a race so quickly. The direction of the shift doesnt matter.

Early in the week, Punchbowl News reported that Amazon would soon show how much Trumps tariffs are adding to the price of each product. We dont know that theres a single more powerful move a private sector company could make to destroy Trumps presidency right now than Amazon breaking out tariff costs at checkout. The White House would treat it as a declaration of warand it did, at first, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt immediately calling the move a hostile and political act while a pissed Trump called up Amazon chairman Jeff Bezos to complain.

But the report didnt make sense. Dont get us wrongit would make great sense for Amazon to allow retailers to show consumers why their prices are up. But this is not the path Bezos has chosen. Instead, hes chosen to protect his business interests and federal contracts by sucking up to Trump personally, whether thats through Mar-a-Lago visits, inauguration appearances, donations, or muzzling the major newspaper he owns. Hes not going to abruptly change course while Trump still has years left in his term. The whole dustup ended quickly, with Amazon saying such a plan was never in consideration for its main site. One subsidiary had thought about making this change, but wont, and will be imprisoned in CECOT for its thought crime. A decent pen simply costs $399 now, and there is no reason for it.

Late last fall, veteran Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly defeated New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a closely watched race to serve as top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. It left a bad taste in the mouths of those Democrats who felt the party needed a young, galvanizing face in this prominent positionwhich involves an equal mix of serious investigative work and flashy cable news appearancesrather than a septuagenarian in poor health. Connolly announced this week, though, that he would step aside from the post after a few months (and wouldnt run for reelection) because his cancer had returned.

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So, is AOC now a lock to take control of the committee? The biggest issue is whether shes still interested. Since the last committee election, AOC has been touring the country to packed audiences in the tens of thousands, serving as a primary face of the reawakening resistance to Donald Trump. Her star has arguably never been brighter. So does she really want to commit herself to serving atop a House committee, and all of the duties that entails, when she could be selling out the Superdome? Or laying the groundwork for  you know  a bigger job in a few short years?

Knives were out for national security adviser Mike Waltz well before he invited a journalist onto a group chat to discuss classified bombing plans in Yemen. Waltz always stuck out as too hawkish for the MAGA national security team; Signalgate, more than anything, provided his enemies an opportunity to push him out. But in the immediate aftermath, Waltzs job was spared because Trump didnt want to give the media a win so early in his administration. Now that its been more than a month since the episode, though, Trump can finally eject him from the building and argue that it was an independent decision. Trump did so on Thursday but gave Waltz a soft landing, announcing that he would nominate him to serve as ambassador to the United Nations. (Thats the job that was originally given to New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, before Trump decided to keep her voting in the House of Representatives for eternity.)

This works out all right for everyone involved: Trump gets to provide some accountability for Signalgate without fully giving in to the haters; his MAGA foreign policy team has taken out potentially the last Russia is bad buzzkill in the building; and Waltz gets a Senate-confirmed position and a nice apartment in Manhattan. Oh, and while were talking about his Senate confirmation? Democrats will get a lengthy, televised opportunity to run through Signalgate again.

Shri Thanedar is a second-term Congressman representing Detroit. He is a wealthy Indian American in a plurality Black district, and he is constantly getting primaried. He already has two primary challengers, one a former state senator and another a state representative. What this means, then, is that its time for Thanedar to attempt some stunts. On Monday, the same day that state Rep. Donavan McKinney announced his primary campaign in the district, Thanedar introduced seven articles of impeachment against Trump. This was a significant source of irritation to House Democratic leaders, who view it as a distraction, as well as to a few members who were surprised to see theyd been listed as co-sponsors. Thanedar has further used his official office budget (i.e., taxpayer money) to advertise his impeachment efforts on billboards in his district. Thats not a new tactic for him, either; he was by far the top spender of official office money on ads in 2024. In an interview with the Detroit News, Thanedar said of his impeachment articles that my duty to my constituents is that I speak out when injustice happens and not wait for what is politically right or whats the opportune time to do it. We dont know, it seems an awful lot like he waited for the opportune time to do it.

Senate Democrats had a troubling episode earlier this week. They were forcing a vote to kill the national emergency Trump invoked for his Liberation Day tariffs. This is something they had a majority for; a similar resolution addressing the Canada tariffs passed earlier this year with four Republican votes. This, time, though, it didnt work. The vote failed in a 4949 tie as two supporters missed the vote. Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse was at a conference in South Koreasomething Democratic leaders knew aboutwhile Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell was out sick. Not only did that vote fail, but then Vice President J.D. Vance showed up to cast a tiebreaker on a subsequent vote to ensure the resolution couldnt get a revote later on. Democrats tried to spin this afterward as a secret political win for them, because theyd forced Republicans to go on the record owning the tariffs. But losing a vote you were supposed to win looks an awful lot more like a screwup to us. The vote came a week after the Democratic whip, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, announced that he would retire at the end of the term. Well, how should we put this? Some of the quotes he gave after the voteI dont think anything went wrong. We just needed more votessuggest that he may already have one foot in a Fort Myers timeshare.
Heres a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 3, according to the Tribunes archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

High temperature: 92 degrees (1955)

Low temperature: 30 degrees (2004)

Precipitation: 1.59 inches (1919)

Snowfall: 0.8 inches (1907)

1973: Ironworkers bolted the last girder into place, making Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) the worlds tallest building. Sears Tower ended the Empire State Buildings four-decade reign as the worlds tallest and transformed the West Loop into a glittering office corridor.

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The 1,451-foot Willis Tower lost its crown as the worlds tallest when it was surpassed in 1996 by Malaysias Petronas Towers, and the American title in 2013 when New York Citys One World Trade Center was completed. After decades of construction in Asian countries, its now the 25th tallest in the world.

Chicago Tribunes 28 Pulitzer Prizes: A list of all the winners

1976: The Tribune won a Pulitzer Prize in special local reporting for two major investigations, one demonstrating the devastating effect of FHA loans on inner-city neighborhoods, the other exposing shoddy conditions and practices at several Chicago hospitals.

2009: The Chicago Cubs retired the No. 31 jersey worn by Hall of Fame pitchers Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux at Wrigley Field.

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If Jenkins had his druthers, hed have worn No. 30 when he joined the Cubs after a trade with Philadelphia in 1966.

Column: Fergie Jenkins soaks up the adoration as the Chicago Cubs unveil his statue outside Wrigley Field

That was my number with the Phillies, but Yosh Kawano informed me that was Mr. Ken Holtzmans number, Jenkins recalled. He offered me 31, and I said, Fine.

Kawano, the colorful longtime potentate of the Cubs clubhouse, was still around when Maddux showed up 20 years later. Perhaps he knew something when he gave Maddux No. 31. They told me it was Fergies number, Maddux said. I thought, Thats pretty cool.

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Jenkins was the fifth Cubs player to have a statue unveiled outside Wrigley Field.

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In an emotional interview hours after Prince Harry lost his latest court battle over his security protection, the Duke of Sussex spoke about his future in the U.K., his relationship with his father and the U.K. High Court's ruling on Friday.

Harry's security detail has been an issue between him and his family after protection was downgraded in 2020 when Harry chose to no longer be an official "working member" of the royal family and moved to the United States.

Harry spoke to CBS News partner network BBC News on Friday in Southern California, where he lives with his wife, Meghan, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. Here are the highlights from Harry's interview:

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Harry says King Charles "won't speak" to him, but Harry still wants "reconciliation" with royal family

"I would love reconciliation with my family," Harry said. "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."

King Charles is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Harry doesn't "see a world" where he "would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K."

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Harry told the BBC that in the last five years, he has only visited the U.K. for funerals, court hearings or charity events.

"I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point," Harry said. "The things that they're going to miss is, well, everything. I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done."

Harry has argued that he and his family could be vulnerable to potential attacks when visiting the U.K. because of threats and hostility aimed at him and Meghan on social media and through British tabloids invading his family's privacy. Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a 1997 car crash in Paris while the vehicle she was riding in was being pursued by paparazzi.

Harry said that he misses the U.K. and "it's quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland."

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Harry says the U.K. High Court's ruling sets a "new precedent that security can be used to control"

On Friday, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales dismissed Harry's case, which involved how an official committee decided to remove his full publicly-funded security protection in 2020.

"I think what really worries me more than anything else about today's decision, depending on what happens next, is that it's set a new precedent that security can be used to control members of the family and effectively what it does is imprison other members of the families from being able to choose a different life," Harry said.

Harry called the legal fight over his security detail "a family dispute" and said he didn't plan on seeking further legal challenges.

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"I can only come to the U.K. safely if I'm invited," he said. "There is a lot of control and ability in my father's hands."

Daughter reflects on iconic photo that shows reunion with her father, a Vietnam prisoner of war

Mike Waltz leaving post as Trump's national security adviser | Special Report

Extended interview: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on deportations involving children and more
May 3Year 70 of ALAH High School's senior trip to the East Coast involves a new twist.

Some 54 high school students and five adults will leave Arthur at 5 a.m. today so they can make it to Pittsburgh in time to catch the Pirates and the Padres at PNC Park. Afterward, they'll zip over to nearby Duquesne Incline, spend the night at a hotel and travel to the Flight 93 Memorial on Sunday morning. They'll reach their destination  Washington, D.C.  around lunchtime.

"Any time we can get our students to a new city and a new experience, it's awesome," ALAH Principal Steffanie Seegmiller said.

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The annual trip is a big deal for the students, who have been fundraising since junior high and benefit from "phenomenal community support," Steegmiller said. They'll be in D.C. through Wednesday, visiting everything from the U.S. Capitol to the Holocaust Memorial Museum to the Supreme Court. "Some day when a big decision comes down, they'll be able to say 'I was there. I know what it looks like,' " Seegmiller said.

Another highlight: Each senior writes a letter to a veteran whose name is on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. "We drop those off when we visit the memorial," Seegmiller said. "Many of the students sketch their soldier's name to take it back with them. To be honest, it is pretty emotional."
Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker criticized Donald Trumps 2026 budget proposal, saying it didnt provide enough to counter foreign threats.

Earlier Friday, the Trump administration unveiled its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, boosting defense spending by 13 percent to a total of just over $1 trillion.

Wicker called that insufficient.

President Trump successfully campaigned on a Peace Through Strength agenda, but his advisers at the Office of Management and Budget were apparently not listening, Wicker said in a statement.

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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, he went on. The Big, Beautiful Reconciliation Bill was always meant to change fundamentally the direction of the Pentagon on programs like Golden Dome, border support, and unmanned capabilitiesnot to paper over OMBs intent to shred to the bone our military capabilities and our support to service members."

Wicker pointed to an Axis of Aggressorschief among them, Chinawho would benefit from the decreased negotiating leverage that Trump would hold through his proposed budget.

Drew Angerer / Getty Images

We need a real Peace Through Strength agenda to ensure 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 Mississippi Republican urged.

When asked about Wickers criticism, Office of Management and Budget head Russ Vought called the 13 percent number a very, very healthy increase, per The Hill.

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Wicker wasnt the only Republican senator to make their concerns public.

Mitch McConnell similarly called the defense portion of the budget part of OMB accounting gimmicks, adding that they wont fool Congress.

Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

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 or in other critical instruments of national power, he said in a statement.

.@SenMcConnell Statement on FY26 Budget Request Defense Topline pic.twitter.com/MMIe2BltIC  Senator McConnell's Press Office (@McConnellPress) May 2, 2025

Maines Susan Collins took issue with the proposed freeze in our defense funding as well.

The moderate senator also had serious objections to... the proposed funding cuts toand in some cases elimination ofprograms like LIHEAP, TRIO, and those that support biomedical research, she said, referring to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and several Education Department programs for low-income and otherwise disadvantaged students.

Also included in Trumps budget are cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
May 3 (UPI) -- South Korea's defense industry is gaining global interest, as demonstrated by high-profile visits from U.S. figures like Donald Trump Jr., who met with business leaders in Seoul Tuesday. Reportedly, among them was Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan.

Vice Chairman Kim also hosted US Navy Secretary John Phelan Wednesday at Hanwha's shipyard in Geoje, roughly 200miles southeast of Seoul.

"Working with leading shipyards like Hanwha Ocean Shipbuilding and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is essential to ensuring deployed U.S. ships and systems remain fully operational in the Indo-Pacific," Secretary Phelan said.

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"Leveraging the expertise of these highly capable shipyards enables timely maintenance and repairs for our vessels to operate at peak performance. This level of large-scale repair and maintenance capability strengthens our combat readiness, sustains forward deployed operational presence, and reinforces regional stability," he stated

Observers point out that such visits reflect growing global recognition of South Korea's defense capabilities.

Hanwha Group operates such subsidiaries as Hanwha Aerospace, known for the K9 self-propelled howitzers, and Hanwha Ocean, a manufacturer of warships and submarines.

As the eldest son of Chairman Kim Seung-youn, Vice Chairman Kim is regarded as the heir apparent of South Korea's seventh-largest conglomerate.

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"For the United States, South Korea is indispensable to reviving its shipbuilding industry, as President Donald Trump has stressed," Seoul-based consultancy Leaders Index CEO Park Ju-gun told UPI.

"Washington is likely to seek South Korea's capital and technology as the country is a global leader in naval vessel construction. Hanwha Ocean is well-positioned, having already invested in the U.S. last year," he said.

In June 2024, Hanwha Ocean and its sister company channeled $100 million to acquire Philly Shipyard, which has delivered about half of the large U.S. Jones Act commercial ships since 2000.

Hanwha Ocean was soon awarded a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contract for the U.S. Navy's dry cargo and ammunition ship Wally Schirra.

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The task was completedin Geoje and Hanwha Ocean is now working on another MRO deal for USNS Yukon, a replenishment oiler assigned to the Navy's 7th Fleet.

Beyond the U.S., the traditional weapons of South Korea gained popularity after the war between Russia and Ukraine started in early 2022.

According to South Korea's defense ministry, arms exports more than doubled from $7.73 billion in 2021 to $17.3 billion in 2022. The figure dropped to $13 billion in 2023 and $9.5 billion last year, but is projected to rebound to $24 billion this year in consideration of ongoing negotiations with multiple countries.

In addition to Hanwha, several other South Korean defense corporations have proactively entered the global market, including Hyundai Rotem, Korea Aerospace Industries, LIG Nex1, and HD Hyundai.

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"South Korean firms are favored by global buyers for their quick delivery and cost-effectiveness, the advantages shaped by the country's continued weapons production amid North Korean threats," Jeonbuk National University professor Jang Won-joon said in a phone interview.

"Their international rivals are also trying to expand facilities to better meet demand. Against this backdrop, South Korean players will need to innovate to maintain their edge in the long run," he commented.

However, some critics take issue with the Seoul administration's lack of transparency in arms exports.

"The Korean government vows to become one of the world's top four arms exporters. Yet, it does not disclose related information transparently," attorney Lim Jae-sung noted in a local newspaper column.
Hello, quotes readers. Did you miss us?

Well, its May and you know what that means  May Day!

Thousands rallied downtown on Thursday to commemorate the annual celebration with Chicago roots. Organized labor and activist groups marched from Union Park to Grant Park, calling for workers rights and fair wages and protesting President Donald Trumps policies targeting immigrants, federal employees and workplace diversity programs.

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The president, meanwhile, marked his first 100 days in office this week and released his 2026 budget plan, which would slash most domestic spending while increasing expenditures on national security.

Bringing to an end an almost five-year ordeal, the Chicago Park District announced Thursday they reached a deal to end a lawsuit brought over the removal of Christopher Columbus statues from city parks during the 2020 protests. In the burgeoning race for Illinois Sen. Dick Durbins seat, Sen. Tammy Duckworth endorsed Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, giving her backing from two of the states highest-ranking Democrats. Plus, in an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he has not made up his mind about a third term and demurred on a 2028 presidential run.

Downstate, three children and a teenager were killed and several others injured Monday afternoon when a vehicle plowed through an after-school facility just outside Springfield. A Plainfield landlord was sentenced to 53 years in prison Friday for the murder of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the attempted murder of the boys mother in October 2023, an attack a jury found to be a hate crime spurred by the war in Gaza. And former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, the one-term leader who halted the states death penalty before being imprisoned on federal corruption charges, died Friday in hospice in his hometown of Kankakee. He was 91.

During Wednesday nights game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, a fan fell from the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right field. The man remains in critical condition.

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In other news, the 2025 Tony Award nominations were announced Thursday, including several nods for Chicagos Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Portillos is giving away free sandwiches in May and a local science teacher was named Illinois Teacher of the Year.

Without further ado: the Tribunes Quotes of the Week quiz for the week of April 27 to May 3. Good luck!

Looking for more quotes? Check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.
Amid a wave of unprecedented tariffs, anxiety is running high for truck drivers like Helen, who makes her living delivering cargo containers from the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors to warehouses and other customers around Southern California.

After a strong start to the year, the number of jobs has started to slip in recent days and truck drivers have heard reports predicting a sharp decline in incoming cargo for May and June.

Helen, a 38-year-old mother of three, said her family has to stretch to make ends meet even under normal conditions.

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Theres real concern that were going to be struggling, said Helen, a Downey resident who declined to give her last name for fear she might lose work if she is considered disgruntled. If ships are not coming in and there are no loads, then there is no work. If there is no work, theres no money."

Read more: Traffic at the Port of Los Angeles set to plunge amid tariffs

As President Trumps aggressive tariffs rattle business owners and shake the foundation of American importing, the men and women who work on the ground at the countrys busiest port are feeling the effects too.

Thousands of dockworkers, heavy equipment operators and truck drivers support a flurry of activity at the Port of Los Angeles, which covers 7,500 acres on San Pedro Bay and processed more than 10 million 20-foot-long cargo units in 2024. The neighboring Port of Long Beach moved 9.6 million 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, last year.

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With a 145% tariff on China, a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico, and 10% tariffs on dozens of other countries, the flow of goods into the U.S. is expected to slow drastically.

Fewer shipments into the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach mean less work for the Californians who move cargo, said Raman Dhillon, chief executive of the North American Punjabi Trucking Assn.

The truckers are scrambling right now, he said. They are at the verge of collapsing. The administration needs to move quickly, or its going to be chaos and price hikes and empty shelves.

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California and two other Democratic senators called a news conference Thursday to decry Trump's tariffs, predicting lost jobs, higher prices and stores bereft of merchandise.

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Dozens of agricultural exporters also held a conference call this week to express their fear about how the tariffs, and retaliatory levies by other countries, will affect overseas markets.

The drop in cargo volume caused by Trumps tariffs will mean empty shelves when products dont reach our stores, rising prices on everything from groceries to clothes to cars, and undoubtedly, more Americans out of work, Padilla said.

Read more: As a center of global trade, L.A. could be in for a bumpy ride after Trump tariffs

A 2023 report found that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach contributed $21.8 billion in direct revenue to local service providers, generating $2.7 billion in state and local taxes and creating 165,462 jobs, directly and indirectly.

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A decline of just 1% in cargo to the ports would wipe away 2,769 jobs and endanger as many as 4,000 others, the study found.

Last week, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said arrivals could drop by 35% over the next 14 days.

This threat looms large for members of ILWU Local 13, a union representing longshoremen who unload cargo and support port operations.

Read more: From Bratz dolls to Krusty the Clown: How Trump tariffs are hurting L.A. toy makers

Theyre just wondering whats going to happen, ILWU Local 13 President Gary Herrera said of his members. Some of the workforce will not be getting their full 40 hours a week based on the loss of cargo. Job loss is definitely a concern.

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According to Herrera and port officials, there will be more than 30 blank sailings in May at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, which occur when cargo ships cancel planned trips. That will mean 400,000 fewer containers will be shipped through the ports, officials said.

The impending downturn at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles comes not long after the twin facilities reported booming activity, tied to a labor dispute that shut down major ports on the East and Gulf coasts. Nearly one-third of all cargo containers delivered to the U.S. travel through Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Navdeep Gill, who owns the Northern California trucking company Ocean Rail Logistics, said his business is already moving 60% to 70% less cargo as a result of the tariffs.

Gills truckers, who haul goods from the Port of Oakland, typically move 50 containers a week. Recently, they have been moving 10 to 15, Gill said.

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When we are not doing anything and the trucks are not working, then we lose money, he said. His company hauls industrial goods, paper and food products.

We have fixed expenses like insurance that we cannot bypass, so were losing money, Gill said.

Over the three-day period ending Sunday, 10 container ships are expected at the Port of Los Angeles. Thats a decline from the 17 container ships that typically arrive every three days at this time of year, according to a memo from a trade group that represents shippers.

"That is going to have an effect on the work opportunities for not just us, but for truck drivers, warehouse workers and logistics teams," said Herrera, the union president. "This is the ripple effect of not having work at the waterfront."

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Read more: Tariffs chill Southern California's vast industrial property market

Helen said that some of her fellow drivers had hoped for a better economy under Trump. Her own exposure is doubled because her husband also drives trucks to and from the ports. Because she is paid per load, Helen's income does not meet the minimum wage when there are too few jobs available.

"We feel like its going to get worse before it gets better," she said. "You feel this looming uncertainty. Its hanging over everybody."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
General Motors (GM) has revised its 2025 profit forecast downward due to an anticipated $5bn tariff impact and plans to increase production of its battery modules made in the US.

This adjustment follows recent developments and a reprieve from the White House regarding automotive tariffs.

GM CEO Mary Barra informed shareholders that the company will continue discussions with the Trump administration on evolving trade policies.

The Detroit-based automaker released this updated forecast after retracting a previous one issued in January, which did not account for the automotive tariffs.

Following modifications by the Trump administration, GM now expects an annual adjusted core profit of $10bn to $12.5bn, factoring in a tariff exposure of $4bn to $5bn.

To mitigate the tariff impact, GM is collaborating with suppliers to increase US content, enhancing compliance with the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement.

General Motors chief financial officer Paul Jacobson statement reported by Reuters: "Since the election, our manufacturing and supply chain teams have been focused on developing strategies to help mitigate the impact of potential tariffs. 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."

Barra highlighted efforts to boost production of US-made battery modules as a cost-effective strategy to increase US content.

GM's earlier guidance for earnings before interest and taxes was between $13.7bn and $15.7bn.

The company now forecasts annual net income of $8.2bn to $10.1bn, a reduction from the prior range of $11.2bn to $12.5bn.

Additionally, GM projects 2025 full-year capital spending to be between $10bn and $11bn.

Reuters reported GM's decision to boost light-duty truck production at its Fort Wayne, Indiana, assembly plant.

Barra was quoted by the news agency as saying that the company is "assuming a pricing environment that's similar to what it is today," despite industry estimates predicting potential price hikes due to tariffs.

The Trump administration's 25% automotive tariffs were implemented in April.

After lobbying efforts by automakers, the administration announced measures to alleviate some tariff costs while companies expand their US operations.

These changes allow automakers to offset tariffs on imported parts used in US-assembled vehicles, exempting them from other tariffs such as 25% levies on steel and aluminium and 10% duties on imports from most other countries.
He has now said it right out in the opennot once but twice. In two major interviews, President Donald Trump openly declared that he has the power to bring the wrongfully deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the United States. And on both occasions, Trump said straight out that he is not doing so because administration lawyers have told him he doesnt have toor that he shouldnt.

This has been widely seen as an admission that Trump is defying the Supreme Court, which has directed the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return. Yes, it is that. But these two moments are also their own story. They offer a unique glimpse into the deep rot of bad faith infesting Trump and Stephen Millers broader project to expand the presidents removal powers into something extraordinarily vast and entirely unaccountable. They also show how Trump is inadvertently sabotaging his case against Abrego Garciaand that broader project as wellwith his bumbling incompetence.

Bringing him back and retrying him wouldnt bother me, Trump told Time magazine, admitting that he has this option. But I leave that decision to the lawyers. At this moment, they just dont want to do that.

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Trump was even more direct in a recent interview with ABC News. I could, Trump shrugged when asked if he could pick up the phone and get Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to release Abrego Garcia from the prison in that country where he is currently wasting away.

If he were the gentleman that you say he is, I would do that, Trump continued. But hes not. Trump added that we have lawyers that dont want to do this.

By saying these things, Trump hasnt just revealed that he is ignoring the Supreme Courts directive. He has also opened up a new line of inquiry wide enough to drive a Tesla Cybertruck through.

Abrego Garcias lawyer, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, says he will now pursue answers to the many questions these admissions raise. This is doable because the federal district judge overseeing this case, Paula Xinis, has initiated discovery designed to reveal what steps, if any, the government has taken to facilitate his return, opening the way for depositions of administration officials.

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The president has now said on two occasions that he could easily bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the United States, but hes been told not to do so, Sandoval-Moshenberg emailed me. Were going to keep moving forward with the discovery process, with document requests and depositions, peeling back layer after layer of the onion, until we find out exactly which government officials gave him that instruction.

Which lawyers have told Trump that he is not required to facilitate Abrego Garcias return? What exactly transpired in these communications? Which top officialaside from Trumpis internally directing the lawyers to advise Trump this way? Are that officials initials S and M?

These lawyers appear to be obeying Stephen Miller and not the Supreme Court, says Chris Newman, an attorney for the Abrego Garcia family. Miller himself should be deposed under oath in federal court to determine his role in this ongoing affront to due process.

Admittedly, it will be tough to get such answers. But as David Kurtz and Josh Kovensky of Talking Points Memo detail, Judge Xinis, who has also ordered Abrego Garcias return, has taken a stern line against the administrations refusal to be forthcoming on what its doing toward that end. She seems determined to establish a blow-by-blow account of government malfeasance. So its plausible she will try to direct the administration to fill in unknowns about why Trump is refusing to act, given his open admission that he can do so at any time.

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Trump keeps saying that he has the power to bring Abrego Garcia back but that the only hangup is his lawyers, Roger Parloff, a senior editor at the Lawfare website who has closely tracked this case, tells me. Trump is saying he can do it, and he wont. I think Judge Xinis will try to get to the bottom of that.

At the very least, this opens a major new story line for reporters to plumb. And heres why this matters: Trumps admissions along those linesand whatever more we learn about internal deliberations over thisbadly sabotage the administrations larger case for not bringing Abrego Garcia home.

The administration keeps arguing that Trump does not have the power to command Bukele to release Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran himself. Thats already a weak defensewe are paying El Salvador to hold people at Trumps pleasurebut Trumps admission that he can bring Abrego Garcia back anytime he wants makes it even weaker. If Trump genuinely conveyed to Bukele that he wants Abrego Garcia back, it would happen tomorrow.

Whats more, Trump and other top officials refuse to do this by insisting Abrego Garcia is a public safety menace based on his alleged MS-13 gang ties. The case for MS-13 ties is incredibly weak on its merits. But Trumps admission that he can bring Abrego Garcia back and retry him for removal anytime he wants makes it even weaker. Trumps rendition of him to El Salvador, which violated his withholding of removal status, was illegal. There is no reason whatsoever not to return him and then try to remove him through more lawful channelsby contesting that status or deporting him to a third countryas opposed to doing so illegally.

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Trump has now admitted he can take this alternate path anytime he wants. So who is telling Trump not to? Who is directing that overall strategy? The more we learn along these lines, the more Trumps whole case will collapse.

All this deals a blow to Trumpworlds arguments in a deeper sense. Millers bigger argument is essentially that the presidents powers to remove people should be above challenge and unreviewable by definition. Miller appears to want Trump to have the power to declare undocumented immigrants to be terrorists and gang members by fiat; to have the power to absurdly decree them members of a hostile nations invading army, again by fiat; and then to have quasi-unlimited power to remove them, unconstrained by any court.

The judicial process is for Americans, Miller has said. Immediate deportation is for illegal aliens. He appears to want to dispense with due process for migrants entirelythe Constitution be damned.

Drunk with hubris and high on his sad little fascist fantasies, Miller believes he can bury Americans in propaganda about criminal migrants, seducing them into embracing unchecked presidential power as essential to securing public safety. But Trumps blithe admission that he can follow the law on Abrego Garcia anytime he wants toand is not doing so because someone, somewhere told him he doesnt have toreveals this as entirely unmoored from anything resembling public order and the rule of law. Its lawless, arbitrary, and dictatorialproudly so, in fact.

The more transparency we have gained into the rot of corruption and bad faith at the core of this whole saga, the worse it has come to look. Trump himself is exposing it all for what it truly is: the stuff of Mad Kings.
The Trump administration filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday seeking to obtain access to Americans Social Security data by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency.

The administration argued that DOGE needs to analyze the data to eliminate waste.

Social Security has been a target of the administration, as both former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have falsely claimed that millions of deceased individuals are receiving checks from the agency.

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DOGE has yet to detail a single instance of waste or fraud, leading U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander to accuse the DOGE staff of attempting to launch a fishing expedition into the private data of millions of Americans with no evidence of problems.

U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer told the court that Hollanders recent injunction against the work had halted DOGEs perusal of private information and dared to interfere with the executive branch.

Left undisturbed, this preliminary injunction will only invite further judicial incursions into internal agency decision-making, Sauer wrote.

President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to the press as they sit in a Tesla vehicle on the South Portico of the White House in March (AFP via Getty Images)

Sauer asked the Supreme Court to block Hollanders order while the appeal proceeds. It remains unclear whether the administration will succeed, as a previous appeals court declined to lift the block on the departments access.

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Hollanders order permits department employees to access only anonymized data. The administration has argued it cannot carry out its work effectively under those constraints.

Access to such data could jeopardize the security of private, personal information, said Elizabeth Laird of the Center for Democracy and Technology, a nonprofit group.

If DOGE gets 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 told The Associated Press.

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed over the departments actions, which have led to thousands of federal job losses amid large-scale layoffs. Since Inauguration Day, at least 200 legal challenges have been brought against the Trump administration.

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Before assuming his role at the top of DOGE, Musk said he aimed to save the government $2 trillion. He claims the agency has cut $160 billion to date, though its impossible to ascertain that figure since DOGEs receipts posted on its website is riddled with errors.

Despite DOGEs draconian cuts of federal agencies, jobs, services, grants and contracts, federal spending by the Trump administration has actually increased more than 6 percent over the same period last year when Joe Biden was president,
DENVER (AP)  The Department of Justice sued Colorado and Denver on Friday for allegedly interfering with federal efforts to enforce immigration laws, the latest attempt by the Trump administration to crack down on what some call sanctuary cities and policies.

The lawsuit claims the state and its most populous city, Denver, have passed sanctuary laws violating the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The United States has well-established, preeminent, and preemptive authority to regulate immigration matters, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Denver.

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There is no strict definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities, but the terms generally describe limited local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE enforces U.S. immigration laws nationwide but seeks state and local help, particularly for large-scale deportations, and requests that police and sheriffs alert ICE to people it wants to deport and hold them until federal officers take custody.

The Department of Justice has filed similar lawsuits against Chicago and Rochester, New York.

Justice Department attorneys argue Colorado's sanctuary policies allowed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to seize control of an apartment complex in the Denver suburb of Aurora.

Local officials have called Trumps claims that the gang had taken over large swaths of the city exaggerated, but acknowledged the apartment complex was terrorized, including by people linked to Tren de Aragua.

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Fridays lawsuit lists as defendants Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, the state Legislature, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.

Polis spokesperson Conor Cahill said in an email that Colorado is not a sanctuary state and regularly works with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid then we will follow the ruling, he said. We are not going to comment on the merits of the lawsuit.

Republicans in Congress have pressured officials in Democratic-led cities to cooperate with the Trump administrations immigration agenda. Lawmakers summoned the mayors of Denver, Boston, New York and Chicago to testify last month before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The mayors pushed back, defending their communities as welcoming places, not lawless danger zones, and called on Congress to pass immigration reform.
Funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting accounts for about 20% of Boise State Public Radios annual budget.

At Idaho Public Television, it accounts for $2 million, or 17% of its budget.

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to cut public subsidies to PBS and NPR, which would affect Idahos local affiliates.

Trumps executive order doesnt make it so, as the money for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is approved by Congress.

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But congressional approval hasnt stopped Trump before, and given the way this Congress has kowtowed and ceded power to the executive branch, its worth worrying about.

If Congress follows through with Trumps order, the effect likely would be felt most acutely in Idahos rural communities.

Public radio and public TV stations all have independent control, and they are located in hundreds of towns across the country, and this would be devastating to lose that support, Boise State Public Radio general manager Tom Michael told me in a phone interview. I think ultimately it would probably reduce support in rural areas.

Idaho Public Television, for example, reaches 99% of Idaho households and is the states only free media service that provides programming to every Idaho community, reaching all 44 counties and serving nearly 830,000 unique viewers, with 7.3 million overall views every month.

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Boise State Public Radio has 27 transmitter sites all over the state.

Its largest share of audience and members is obviously right here in Boise, but the station has made big investments recently in Salmon, Challis and Stanley to reach as many Idahoans as possible.

We do that because we have this nonprofit mission of service, he said. The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 points to universal service, so I feel a lot of that would unravel.

Michael said that beyond the direct CPB grant funding of $600,000 that Boise State Public Radio receives, cuts to shared services with NPR and CPB would mean the impact of cuts could be closer to $1 million.

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NPR and PBS get about $500 million in public money through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, according to PBS News. That amounts to $1.60 per person per year.

Michael said hes always planning for contingencies, but for the time being, both Boise State Public Radio and Idaho Public Television are proceeding with plans based on current funding levels.

At this point we have not experienced any disruptions in funding, and we cant speculate on anything at the federal level, Jeff Tucker, Idaho Public Television general manager, wrote to me in an email. This is a matter for Congress to decide. We need to respect the process.

Blame the media

Trumps attacks on NPR and PBS News, among the most trusted news sources in the country, is just another tired page from his tired playbook of attacking the media.

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Trump said NPR and PBS spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as news.

This is from an administration that attacked the credibility of a journalist who accurately reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared attack plans on a Signal messaging app chat.

Anytime a journalist reports something that paints Trump in a bad light, regardless of the fact that its true, he attacks the journalist, which is just a ploy to discredit people who are holding him accountable for his abuses of power and his lies.

Blame the messenger.

It reminds me of a sign I saw at the Boise May Day rally: Truth is not fake news.

What you can do

Both Boise State Public Radio and Idaho Public Television have pages on their websites that provide the public with more information about what they do and the services they provide.

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In addition, Michael encourages listeners to go to ProtectMyPublicMedia.org to urge Congress to save the public media funding.

In general, I think the independence of public media is under attack, Michael said. When I think of public media, it serves 99.7% of the country. Its congressionally approved. Its bipartisan, its widely supported, and its been around for 50 years.

Scott McIntosh is the opinion editor of the Idaho Statesman. You can email him at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com or call him at 208-377-6202. Sign up for the free weekly email newsletter The Idaho Way .
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  President Donald Trump made new appointments to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, which oversees the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Several Jewish advocacy organizations said its something that should not be politicized.

Its a controversial move after the president removed several Biden appointees on Tuesday.

Community pushback at forum opposing Commanders stadium deal

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There are 68 members on the council, and 55 are appointed by the president. They serve staggered five-year terms that are meant to carry over from one administration to the next.

Late Thursday night, President Trump announced eight new members of the council, including conservative media personalities and the son of Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

It is my pleasure to announce the appointments of Betty Schwartz, Fred Marcus, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, Sid Rosenberg, Ariel Abergel, Barbara Feingold, Alex Witkoff, and Robert Garson to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. This Council has the important task of preserving the memories and stories of the loved ones whose lives were robbed in one of the darkest moments in History. NEVER FORGET! Trump posted on Truth Social.

Jarvis Slacks is against this move.

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I dont like it, and I think all of us should be upset by it, Slacks said.

It comes two days after Trump fired eight members appointed by former President Biden in January.

LGBTQ community celebrates Pope Francis legacy of compassion and understanding

That included his former chief of staff, Ron Klain, and former second gentleman Doug Emhoff.

Let me be clear: Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized, Emhoff stated.

Slacks said it is absolutely terrible.

Its obnoxious. Thats not what these museums are about, Slacks said. The government funds them and then they independently do their job, which is educate the public.

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Ron Halber is the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.

The sudden dismissal of trustees well before their terms expired  without any apparent cause and just days after Jewish people around the world commemorated Yom Hashoah  is an unwarranted intrusion into the museums operations, which by design and in practice are strictly nonpartisan, Halber said.

Howard University Mini-Med program inspires next generation of doctors

DC News Now asked the White House why Bidens appointees were terminated and the press office said to check Trumps Truth Social.

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a statement, At this time of high antisemitism and Holocaust distortion and denial, the Museum is gratified that our visitation is robust and demand for Holocaust education is increasing. We look forward to continuing to advance our vitally important mission as we work with the Trump Administration.

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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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
Donald Trump has proposed eliminating funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, as his administration also has taken steps to pull back grants that have already been awarded.

The NEA received an appropriation of $207 million in the most recent fiscal year.

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Meanwhile, some arts groups have reported getting notice that grants that have already been awarded are being withdrawn. Portland Playhouse said that the NEA informed them on Friday evening that a $25,000 grant to support a production of Joe Turners Come and Gone was being rescinded.

To receive this news on the eve of opening night is deeply disappointing, the playhouse said in a statement. While we have no plans currently to cancel our production, moving forward without the support of this critical funding presents a significant challenge for our company.

We know were not alone. Arts organizations across the country are grappling with reduced support at a time when the need for community, connection, and cultural expression is vital. Your support of our cultural institutions is more crucial now than ever before.

The New York Times first reported on the withdrawn grants. Earlier this year, the NEA announced a shift in grant priorities to projects in support of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The NEA also canceled another grant program, Challenge America. That program had an emphasis on small organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities.

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In his first term, Trumps budgets repeatedly called for the elimination of NEA funding, but Congress, which sets the budget, ignored that proposal. Instead, NEA funding steadily increased during his first term.

Trumps latest budget proposal also calls for eliminating funding to the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, along with a host of other small agencies.

Trump already singed an executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, but that dismantling has been challenged in court. On Thursday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from doing so, per the AP.

The president also signed an executive order this week ordering the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding PBS and NPR. The CPB and the public media outlets said that the president did not have the authority to do so and are weighing their next steps. The corporation already is suing the administration over its effort to fire three of the five members of the CPB board, including Sonys Tom Rothman. Trumps latest budget proposal also calls for zeroing out CPB funding.

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Erin Harkey, the CEO of Americans for the Arts, which advocates for federal arts funding, called the moves a systematic effort to undermine the nations cultural fabric. She also noted administration efforts to reduce staff of the National Endowment for the Humanities by 70% and to cancel current and future grants.

A spokesperson for the NEA did not immediately return a request for comment.

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In his latest draconian budget proposal, Donald Trump called for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Trump previously attempted to eliminate the agencies during his first term in office, but was thwarted by bipartisan support for both.

The budget described the potential changes as consistent with the presidents efforts to decrease the size of the federal government to enhance accountability, reduce waste, and reduce unnecessary governmental entities.

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In March the National Endowment for the Arts removed Trumps gender ideology requirements from grant funding applications in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU. The move allowed arts organizations to apply for funding without following Trumps anti-woke guidelines.

The National Endowment for the Arts provides funding to arts-related organizations, events, and projects in every congressional district in the United States. Though most grants are not large in size, they can be leveraged to attract major donors, the lifeblood of many small organizations.

The agency was previously led by Maria Rosario Jackson, who announced her resignation after Trump took office for a second time. In her apolitical resignation letter, Jackson praised the organization for the experience and the honor of working alongside a dedicated and talented team of public servants committed to ensuring all Americans can benefit from the arts.

Trumps attacks on the arts and public broadcasting have increased in recent weeks. In February he announced plans to fire several board members of the Kennedy Center for the Arts; in April the organization quietly cancelled a slew of events planned as part of the WorldPride Festival in Washington, D.C., in June.

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On Thursday, May 2, Trump issued an executive order that slashed funding for PBS and NPR. The move was met with a wide range of criticism, including from documentarian Ken Burns. While speaking to Anderson Cooper Friday, Burns insisted, Public broadcasting is the Declaration of Independence applied to broadcasting. I couldnt have made, Anderson, any of the films Ive made, nearly 40 films over the course of the last 45 years, at any other place than PBS.

The post Trump Calls for National Endowment for the Arts to Be Eliminated in Latest Budget Proposal appeared first on TheWrap.
The US Department of Justice defied a court order to unseal documents in Mayor Eric Adams historic corruption case on Friday  withholding records that would have given the public an inside look at the prosecution that will never see the inside of a courtroom.

The court filings were expected to be unveiled before 11:59 p.m. Friday after The Post and other outlets demanded access to the cache of evidence and documents, including a warrant for Hizzoners cellphone that was seized by agents on a New York street.

The DOJ did not immediately respond to The Posts request for comment.

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Manhattan Federal Judge Dale Ho granted the release of documents last week based on the public interest of the upcoming election for mayor, with no objection from the DOJ or Adams camp.

The federal criminal case against Adams was dismissed for good in early April by a judge who said it would ensure the prosecution couldnt be held over the mayors head by the Trump administration as he runs the city.

Hos ruling broke with the Department of Justice, which sought to halt the case for the time being, but wanted to keep the ability to resurrect it in the future.

Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions, Ho wrote in the 78-page ruling.

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Adams had faced a five-count indictment, including bribery and fraud, accusing him of pocketing more than $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and travel perks from people seeking to buy influence with him, including a Turkish official.

The mayors criminal case was killed for good in early April.

Prosecutors said they had also been preparing an expanded indictment charging Adams with lying to the FBI and destroying evidence before the DOJ offered its stunning reprieve.

Adams has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Ho, in tossing the case, didnt address the merits of the feds evidence  which had remained under wraps pending the anticipated trial.

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The judge approved the release of the sealed documents last week after motions from The Post and the New York Times, along with other third parties.

Eric Adams was the first sitting mayor to ever be indicted in New York City. REUTERS

The dismissal of his case sparked a political firestorm for Adams as Democrats accused him of cutting a deal with President Trump in exchange for helping with the federal governments immigration crackdown, leading to a mass exodus of his deputy mayors.

Adams ally in the statehouse, Gov. Kathy Hochul, even publicly kept the door open to boot him from office in the wake of the controversial dismissal request from then-Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove.

Bove argued the case needed to go away so Adams could properly assist with Trumps immigration plans, not because of a lack of evidence.

Mayor Eric Adams has been cozying up to Trump admin for months. Paul Martinka

The filing led to a series of resignations from inside the DOJs DC office and in the Southern District of New York, including the interim head of the prestigious office, Danielle Sassoon, who had also alleged a quid pro quo in the dismissal.

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Ho tossed the case about six weeks later.

The political fallout forced Adams not to seek the Democratic nomination of his party in his re-election bid, but instead opt to run in the November general election as an independent.

Adams had been cozying up to the incoming president in the months after his September 2024 indictment.

In February, he promised to reopen ICE offices on Rikers Island after a closed-door meeting with border czar Tom Homan.

Adams fulfilled that vow last month, but the plans have been put on hold with the City Council suing to stop the executive order, which was oddly signed by First Deputy Randy Mastro.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is in the process of formulating guidelines for overseas networks, with a particular focus on consulting services, reported The Times of India.

This initiative is aimed at providing a structured framework for Indian firms to join networks and enhance their global presence.

The ICAI Council will deliberate on the detailed norms towards the end of May 2025, the report added.

The Council, comprising 40 members, with 32 elected by chartered accountants and the remaining eight nominated by the Central Government, will discuss these guidelines.

The institute, responsible for regulating auditors, has previously issued revised guidelines for mergers, demergers, and the aggregation of audit firms structured as limited liability partnerships.

These measures are intended to facilitate partnerships among firms.

However, the proposed norms may lead to disputes with global audit and consulting firms, the Big Four, who have expressed opposition to such regulations.

The Big Four which operate through Indian firms are said to be concerned that the new guidelines might impose registration requirements on their overseas partners and introduce other regulations, including bans on advertising and sponsorships.

Both the government and the ICAI are said to be eager to establish norms and a regulatory framework that allows domestic firms to compete with international counterparts as well as build a global footprint.

Moreover, the intention is to enable smaller firms, some with only one or two partners, to expand their services beyond their current city of operation.

This expansion could be facilitated by allowing these firms to align or partner with other similar-sized or larger firms, thus also benefiting local businesses through access to a broader range of services.

In April 2025, the ICAI signed a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

This partnership is designed to enhance the capacity development framework within the CAG through structured training and continuing education, contributing to the advancement of public sector audits.

"Indias ICAI to set overseas network guidelines " was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.




President Donald Trump made nationwide headlines on Friday when he vowed to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, further escalating tensions between the elite university and the Republican White House.

We are going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Its what they deserve!" Trump declared in a post to his Truth Social site.

But Trumps typically brazen tactics could end coming back to haunt him, legal experts told NBC News.

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Read More: Lawsuit against Trump balloons in size as foreign students face rising risks

Because while its true that the Internal Revenue Service has the power to carry out Trumps promise, that post could throw a wrench in the works.

Theres a way they could do this, Genevieve Lakier, a First Amendment expert at the University of Chicago Law School, told NBC News. But Lakier added, it cant be at the behest of President Trump.

Lakier, who told NBC News that Trumps post was dumb and not helpful, pointed to a law that bars the president and other government officials from directing the IRS to investigate taxpayers as a major obstacle.

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Edward McCaffery, a tax law professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, agreed, telling NBC News that it does not help that the president is politicizing this.

It raises the question that hes directing this, which suggests the move is about retribution and vengeance instead of public policy. And thats something Harvard could use in its defense in court, he told the network.

Jeffrey Tenenbaum, a Washington, D.C., attorney who specializes in nonprofit organizations, said the IRS would face an uphill climb if it decided to move ahead against Harvard. And that fight could potentially take years, the network reported.

On Friday, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, both Massachusetts Democrats, joined by some of their Senate colleagues, called on a government watchdog to investigate whether Trumps call for action against Harvard had crossed legal lines.

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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.

A spokesperson for Harvard said the school would fight any action to change its tax-exempt status.

The U.S. government has long exempted universities from taxes in order to support their educational mission, the spokesperson told NBC News, adding that revoking its status would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission.

The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America, the spokesperson said.

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President Donald Trump is being ripped to shreds after he braggedby all accounts, erroneouslythat gas prices had cratered to less than $2 per gallon.

Gasoline just broke $1.98 a Gallon, lowest in years, Trump wrote on Truth Social this morning, touting the unsourced claim as evidence that the economy was flourishing under his tariffs.

Fact-checkers at CNN, PolitiFact, and CBS News were quick to undercut the president, observing that the lowest average gas price of any state was $2.66, in Mississippi, while the national average was $3.19, according to the American Automobile Association.

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Trump has repeated the figure several times over the past few weeks. On Thursday night, speaking to graduates of the University of Alabama, the number hit its lowest point yet: $1.88.

Trump: Gasoline prices just hit 1.88 a gallon in three states. Can you believe it? pic.twitter.com/NT5LS98AQr  Acyn (@Acyn) May 2, 2025

You cant believe it, or at least you shouldnt, CNNs Daniel Dale wrote, while Laura Doan of CBS News observed that gas prices are around the same as when the president took office in January.

Social media users had a field day with the $1.98 claim.

It must be in the middle of nowhere because GasBuddy still has zero price reports of this mythical $1.98 gas station, wrote Patrick De Haan, a gas analyst for the site GasBuddy.

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X user Baddie posted a photo of a Phillips 66 station selling gas for $2.89 a gallon and wrote, Brb. Gonna go tell these guys Trump says gas is under $1.98.

Brb. Gonna go tell these guys Trump says gas is under $1.98 pic.twitter.com/NeK9Tww2Z7  Baddie (@tinfoilbaddie) May 2, 2025

Some online commentators, like @CombatEngDC, suggested that Trumps insistence on pushing the number would make him seem out of touch to Americans.

Saying gas is 1.98, groceries down, etc. when the working person knows its bullsh-t, is not a winning strategy, they wrote. No matter how many times its repeated.

Some users defended Trumps seemingly outrageous claim, arguing that he was actually referring to gasoline futures, which on Friday were trading at around $2 a gallon, rather than the price at the pump.

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The only number that is standard is to look at wholesale and/or futures prices, wrote user @dmitchellrep. And thats the language of business, To consumers it varies WILDLY based on corporate profits, state taxes, federal taxes, local market demand, etc.

For those not understanding.

Gas really is at $2

Eggs really are down to $3

Sugar is even down, etc....



The only number that is standard is to look at wholesale and/or futures prices.



And that's the language of business.



To consumers it varies WILDLY based on corporate pic.twitter.com/UObIrLzTaB  Dan_TheSPEAR_Man (@dmitchellrep) May 2, 2025

Nowhere has the president indicated that he was referring to anything other than the consumer gasoline price.

The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Beasts request for comment.
Donald Trump, who was raised Presbyterian and does not attend church regularly, would apparently like to crown himself the next pope.

Late Friday, the president posted an AI image of himself sitting on a gold throne wearing the traditional attire including a white cassock and a cross necklace. He has a serious expression and is holding up a finger. The White House shared Trumps AI portrait on social media as well.

Id like to be pope. That would be my number one choice, Trump told reporters following Pope Francis death, when asked who should replace him. Trump added that he actually had no preference, but that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, who is not on the list the Vatican is considering for the next pope, is very good.

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On Thursday, Trump named Dolan to serve on his new Religious Liberty Commission. Were bringing religion back to our country, and its a big deal, Trump said, who last year endorsed his very own version of the bible. Devotees can purchase a God Bless the USA Bible with Trumps signature for $1,000. Trump considers himself non-denominational.

Trumps play for the Vatican all seems to be tongue in cheek, although some MAGA faithful are taking it as a moment to suck up to Trump.

I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) posted on X. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility!

The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke. Trump MMXXVIII! added Graham, who is Southern Baptist.

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, Trumps antics have drawn criticism. An Italian newspaper slammed Trumps AI image as an expression of his pathological megalomania. Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said on X that the post, made during the period of mourning, affirms how unserious and incapable he is. At 78 he remains a 10yo child, emotionally scarred and broken while desperate to prove he could be somebody. His problem: he cant grow up to prove it.

Republicans Against Trump called the image a direct insult to Catholics around the world.

According to Reuters, Matteo Bruni, a Vatican spokesman, declined to comment on the image during a press briefing.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday shortly after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, an adult convert to Catholicism. The first Latin American pope used his Easter blessing to call for mercy for migrants. He had often made statements that appeared to be criticisms of Vance and the Trump administration. In 2016, Francis said that anyone who supports building walls is not Christian during a visit to Mexico near the U.S. border.

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Trump stood out for wearing a blue suit to Pope Francis funeral.

This is not the first time Trump used AI to boost his image on social media. For example, last August, he posted AI images of Taylor Swift fans endorsing him, including one marked satire. I accept! he wrote on Truth Social. In February, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich shared an AI image of Trump as a king with Manhattan in the background.

Also in February, Trump shared an AI video of Gaza transformed into Trump Gaza, a glitzy place where he and Elon Musk are shown partying as money seemingly falls out of the sky.

Cardinals are set to begin their election of the next pope this coming week.

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President Donald Trump waded into a historical minefield this week with a plan to rename a beloved holiday that rips a page from Russias authoritarian playbook, according to published reports.

In a post to his Truth Social site on Thursday, the Republican president proclaimed that hat 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.

The problem? World War II only ended in Europe on May 8, 1945. The U.S. globe-spanning war didnt formally come to an end until Aug. 14, 1945, when Japan finally surrendered.

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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. 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.

Critics were quick to point out that marking the May 8 holiday would disregard the contributions of tens of thousands of the American Greatest Generation who continued to fight and die in the Pacific against Japan.

They also argued that eliminating the Veterans Day holiday would disregard the contributions of American servicepeople who fought in the nations other military conflicts, from the Korean War through the most recent wars in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and elsewhere.

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The Atlantics David Frum noted that Trump is following Russias practice in celebrating the end of the war on May 8.

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 in a post to X.

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.

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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.

If he carries through on the move, Trump would be "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 [expletive] 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.

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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, D-Minn., wrote on X.

More political news

Read the original article on MassLive.
Hello its the weekend. This is The Weekender 

President Trump wants to send to Congress a chunk of the DOGE federal funding cuts that Congress, in a properly functioning democracy, should have voted on in the first place. Its called a rescissions package, and it is a mechanism for Congress to vote to approve a small sliver of the cuts that the executive branch has already enacted without the legislative branchs permission, as well as a request to, essentially, end all federal support for PBS and NPR, the nations most-well-known public media organizations. As my colleague Emine Yucel reported this week, Trumps constitutionally backwards approach to a pretty standard executive branch-legislative branch request is designed to give an air of legitimacy to the whole DOGE operation, while also allowing Trump to get some revenge on the news media.

Reports surfaced earlier this week indicating that the White House might delay sending its formal rescissions request to Congress for a few weeks  ostensibly so that Trump could focus on strongarming House and Senate Republicans into passing his massive budget bill (with drastic cuts to Medicaid). But new reporting from WaPo Friday suggests a second problem: that some Republican members of Congress are unnerved by the idea of swallowing sweeping foreign aide cuts that the White House has lawlessly enacted on its own, some of which will reportedly be in the recessions package, without having the time to thoroughly inspect the potential ramifications of making those funding freezes law.

Democrats have, of course, been making noise about the fact that going about rescission in this manner is not only backwards constitutionally, it, more specifically, puts Trump in the position of doing Congress job for it. It is one of many themes of Trumps power-grabbing second term weve been watching closely.

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Whether Trump is truly exercising patience, allowing Congress to pass his massive fiscal agenda before he shoves some DOGE cuts down members throats, or whether hes reacting to pushback from Republican members wary of ceding their authority to the executive, will likely remain unclear for a bit. What is clear is his pettiness will always win out in the end. Not content to wait on Congress to formalize his war on the press, Trump signed an executive order late Thursday night supposedly striking down federal funding for NPR and PBS. Experts are already saying that the executive order, much like the DOGE work of freezing congressionally authorized funds, is unlawful.

 Nicole Lafond

Heres what else TPM has on tap this weekend:

Emine Yucel walks us through the options for gutting Medicaid that House Republicans are currently weighing, as they negotiate over how exactly to make sweeping cuts to the program without too many Americans noticing.

Kate Riga debunks the notion of teflon Don in the face of public opinion polling and other breaking news this week that serves as evidence for the idea that the Trump administration is not impervious to public will.

Josh Kovensky weighs in on the government reaching a settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt in their wrongful death suit, and the broader belief among those running the government that any transfer of power away from Trump is illegitimate.

Lets dig in.

Tensions Over Medicaid Cuts Might Take Over The Reconciliation Process

As House Energy & Commerce Committee Republicans have begun their work of finding $880 billion in cuts to programs in their jurisdiction  a huge chunk of which will likely come from massive targeted cuts to Medicaid - several different options are being floated.

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One that many Republicans are getting behind is enacting Medicaid work requirements. That currently seems to be the only politically palatable option.

Other options that Republicans are mulling include reducing the federal matching rate for the Medicaid expansion population and implementing per capita caps.

The first option would reduce the current 90% federal matching rate for the expansion population, leaving states in the position of needing more funding if they want to continue covering the expansion population. Some states, which enacted trigger laws, would end their expansion coverage immediately if the federal government contribution drops. The second option would turn the federal governments contribution into a block grant. States would receive a fixed amount from the federal government, limiting the federal governments contribution for each Medicaid enrollee. That would mean if a states spending per enrollee exceeds the cap, they would be responsible for the cost.

Both options would likely result in millions of low-income and disabled Americans losing their health care coverage as states will have to figure out a way to take on the costs that the federal government has been covering up until this point.

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A group of swing-district House Republicans and some GOP senators have been publicly against these two options as they say it will strip the constituents of benefits they heavily rely on.

Even with these options on the table, it appears the Republican conference is at an impasse. Following a White House meeting with President Trump and key committee chairs, House GOP leadership decided they will delay the markup for the E&C committee (as well as Ways and Means and Agriculture panels), which were initially scheduled for the upcoming week.

House GOP leadership now wants all three committees to mark up their sections of the reconciliation package the week of May 12. Unless something changes that would mean all three would mark up in the same week the Budget committee is expected to put together the massive reconciliation package using pieces from the individual panels.

For House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who is adamant the House will meet their Memorial Day deadline, the timing is getting tighter with less room for error.

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 Emine Yucel

The Trump White House Is Not Impervious To Public Opinion

The Trump administration loves the machismo of the teflon Don idea  the notion that President Trump is immune to the political gravity that controls, sometimes wounds, lesser mortals.

Its not a total fantasy: Do the old imagine Barack Obama doing x and sub in Trumps attempted election theft or sexual assaults or general buffoonery, and it holds up.

But his assholery being part of his appeal is different from his supposed political invincibility. This week in particular showed that he is tethered to public opinion, even when he tries to obfuscate that reality.

A few weeks after Signalgate (the first), National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is out, shuffled over to UN Ambassador. Good Politico reporting at the time showed that even as the scandal unfurled, Trump was determined to delay the potential firing, the better to deprive liberals and the media of a scalp.

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Then there was the administrations freakout over reporting that Amazon intended to break out tariff increases from the base price of the product, providing transparency about how Trumps policies were increasing costs. After White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a hostile and political act, Amazon tripped over itself to assure the administration that it never planned to feature such transparency on its main website.

These are not the actions of a godlike administration, untouchable by the wrath of the huddled masses. They are moves you make when youre trying to clean up a big scandal and downplay a burgeoning one.

 Kate Riga

When The Government Admits Fault

Attorneys for the family of Ashli Babbitt and the government told a federal judge on Friday that they had reached an agreement in principle to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by relatives of the woman who was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer as she tried to break through an inner barrier of the Capitol on January 6.

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The amount of money the government will pay the Babbitts is unknown; attorneys only said at the hearing that all counts of the wrongful death suit would be covered by the settlement, and declined to disclose terms.

In the months and years after Jan. 6, Babbitt became a martyr for the far-right. Her sacrifice isnt so much for those who regard Trump as the real victor in the 2020 election and more for the view that underlies it all: that any kind of loss or transfer of power away from him and his movement was, by its nature, illegitimate.

That movement is now in control of the government. Its not surprising, in a way, that theyre setting up a situation where this government can try to ratify Babbitts martyrdom by repudiating the position of its predecessor. The question is where it leads. There were many officers on Jan. 6 who, in the process of defending the Capitol and the constitutional transfer of power, inflicted injuries on rioters. What happens to them?

 Josh Kovensky
CHICAGO  President Donald Trumps administration has filed a lawsuit alleging the state of Illinois is undermining federal immigration laws with a measure passed by the General Assembly last year aimed at protecting the privacy of workers who are non-U.S. citizens.

The lawsuit is the latest challenge to Illinois progressive immigration policies from Trumps Justice Department. Earlier this year, the department sued the state and city of Chicago over so-called sanctuary policies that limit the cooperation of local police with federal law enforcement on immigration matters.

The lawsuit filed Thursday challenges amendments the state made to the states Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, which lays out a number of privacy-related workplace requirements including guidelines that govern employers use of systems to check workers employment eligibility, such as the federal E-Verify program.

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The measure was signed into law in August by Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker after being passed by the General Assembly largely along party lines, although three moderate GOP senators, party leader John Curran, Donald DeWitte and Seth Lewis joined Democrats in voting in favor of the measure.

The federal lawsuit alleges that changes made to the state law last year violate the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars state and local governments from impeding the federal governments ability to enforce federal laws. The Justice Department accuses the state of Illinois, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Jane Flanagan, the head of the Illinois Department of Labor, of unlawfully carrying out changes to the E-Verify portion of the privacy and workplace law meant to protect workers without U.S. citizenship. Pritzker was not named as a defendant.

The Justice Department is requesting the court to halt enforcement of the state laws amendments.

The United States has preeminent authority to regulate the administrative processes governing Form I-9 (federal employment eligibility verification forms) documentation and inspection, and E-Verify, the Justice Department wrote. Illinois therefore has no authority to enforce laws that obstruct or otherwise conflict with federal immigration enforcement efforts by imposing additional regulations, requirements, and possible sanctions on employers that seek to participate in the federal E-Verify program.

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Raouls office said it was reviewing the lawsuit and had no further comment. A spokesperson for the states Labor Department said in an email the agency is committed to protecting the employment rights of all Illinoisans and upholding federal and state laws but declined further comment.

Two Chicago Democratic lawmakers who sponsored the amendments issued statements Friday defending the measures and calling the lawsuit politically-motivated.

The Illinois law I sponsored was crafted to provide workers and employers with a clear process. Nothing in that law restricts the use of the e-verify system, said state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado. I have full faith in the judicial process and expect the law will be upheld.

States have always maintained the authority to regulate working conditions and employment rights when not in conflict with federal statutes  a fundamental principle that the DOJ seems determined to ignore, said state Sen. Javier Cervantes. What our law does is ensure transparency and fairness in employment verification while fully respecting federal authority.

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An employer can use E-Verify to electronically compare the information the employer enters from an employees Form I-9, or employment eligibility verification form, to records already available to the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The verification check would notify the employer of a mismatch and prompt further action by the employee to confirm employment eligibility.

The amendments to the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, which took effect Jan. 1, include a provision that requires employers to let workers know within 72 hours of any inspections being conducted by federal immigration enforcement of Form I-9s or other employment records.

The amendment also states that employers shall not impose work authorization verification or reverification requirements greater than those required by federal law. Employers found to be in violation are subject to fines.

The lawsuit takes issue with the civil penalties as well as the advance notice requirements.

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Not only are these fines inconsistent with federal law, but such advance notice requirements could prompt an alien employee to not show up to work on the day of inspection or avoid detection by immigration authorities, the lawsuit states.

_____
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Public broadcasting organizations, including PBS and NPR, may face significant funding challenges following a new executive order from the Trump administration that seeks to end federal financial support for both outlets.

Blaze devastates newly revamped playground at Wahiawa park

The move has sparked strong reactions from media leaders across the country.

Meredith Artley, president and CEO of Hawaii Public Radio, said the executive order continues what she called a pattern of harassment by the federal government, which began earlier this year when leaders from NPR and public television were summoned to testify before lawmakers.

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Artley questioned the legality of the order, noting that public broadcasting organizations are not federal agencies.

Ultimately, its up to Congress to decide, she said. So for right now, for Hawaii Public Radio and local media around America, the executive order has no impact.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

She added that the concern centers around future funding.

What everybody is waiting forand what has been predicted and talked aboutis a possible request from the White House to officially rescind money that is already planned for public media for the years 2026 and 2027, Artley said.

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Hawaii Public Radio receives just over $500,000 in federal support annually, she noted.

In a statement, PBS Hawaii acknowledged that any funding cuts would have operational impacts but reaffirmed its mission.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

All decisions at PBS Hawaii are made locally, with our community in mind, the organization 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 KHON2.
Not content with being the leader of the free world, Donald Trump has again jokingly suggested that he would also like to be the next pope.

On Friday evening, the US president published a spoof AI-generated photograph of himself dressed in papal regalia on his Truth Social platform.

The picture depicted the president draped in white robes, wearing a gold crucifix pendant and mitre hat, while pointing his right index finger to the sky.

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It comes days ahead of the conclave, where cardinals at the Vatican will elect the successor of Pope Francis, who died on April 21.

It also follows a joke made by Mr Trump on Tuesday. When asked who he would like to succeed Pope Francis, he said: Id like to be pope, that would be my number one choice.

Credit: Reuters

The president went on to say he did not have a preference for Pope Franciss successor.

But he added: We have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who is very good, in comments thought to refer to Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York.

Mr Trumps picture, which was published without a caption, quickly went viral.

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But not everyone saw the funny side. Melanie DArrigo, a former Democratic congressional candidate, said: The guy who broke all Ten Commandments is posting pictures of himself cosplaying as the next pope.

The Republicans Against Trump account wrote: Trump just posted a photo of himself as the pope. Its full-on lunacy at this point.

Last week, Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator, also weighed in, telling the papal conclave to keep an open mind about Mr Trump as pope and saying he was excited by the prospect.

Mr Trump attended the funeral service of Pope Francis last week, his first foreign trip since returning to power.

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Pope Francis had arguably been one of the most powerful voices on the world stage critical of Mr Trump.

The Catholic pontiff once told reporters: Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian.

About 20 per cent of Americans declare themselves Catholic, and exit polls indicated that around 60 per cent of them who voted in Novembers presidential election favoured the Republican.

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President Donald Trump had a meltdown Saturday after a federal judge banned him from using a centuries-old wartime act to deport men without due process.

Can it be so that Judges arent allowing the USA to Deport Criminals, including Murderers, out of our Country and back to where they came from? Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday. If this is so, our Country, as we know it, is finished!

President Donald Trump has already deported hundreds of individuals to El Salvador without due process. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

The presidents temper tantrum comes less than two days after U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., whom Trump appointed during his first term, struck down his use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to expel hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. The administration had argued that the lawlast used during World War II to justify carting Japanese-Americans off to internment campsallowed it to deport migrants without due process because the country is at war with gangs and drug cartels.

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Americans will have to get used to a very different, crime filled, LIFE, Trump added. This is not what our Founders had in mind!!!

President Donald Trump bashed judges for ruling against his use of the Alien Enemies Act, adding that the country is

Rodriguez said in a ruling Thursday that the law can only be used during wartime, or when an organized, armed force is coming into the United States.

The Proclamation makes no reference to and in no manner suggests that a threat exists of an organized, armed group of individuals entering the United States at the direction of Venezuela to conquer the country or assume control over a portion of the nation, he wrote.

President Donald Trump deported alleged members of Venezuelas Tren de Aragua gang and sent them to El Salvadors notoriously tough mega-prison. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

Thus, the Proclamations language cannot be read as describing conduct that falls within the meaning of invasion for purposes of the AEA, he added.

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Trump has been on a tear against judges who have defied him, calling for their impeachment over rulings he disagrees with. When D.C. Judge James Boasberg first ruled that the administration could not deport suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang in March, ordering the Department of Justice to ground planes filled with migrants set to take off for El Salvador, Trump labeled him a radical left lunatic.

On Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned of relentless attacks on judges and an environment of harassment that ultimately risks undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.
(Reuters) -American International Group reported lower first-quarter profit on Thursday, as the inferno that scorched more than 16,000 structures in Los Angeles in January led to higher catastrophe losses.

The company - one of the world's largest commercial insurers - posted catastrophe losses of $525 million in the three months ended March 31, with $460 million related to the wildfires before reinstatement premiums.

AIG had earlier anticipated net losses from the wildfires to be roughly $500 million, before reinstatement premiums.

Global insured losses from hurricanes, storms, floods and other natural disasters could jump to $145 billion in 2025, from $137 billion last year, reinsurance company Swiss Re said on Tuesday.

The wildfires, which killed more than two dozen people and charred an area bigger than Paris, cost the industry $40 billion in insured losses, Swiss Re added.

Underwriting income was $243 million, a 59% slump from a year earlier, hurt by higher catastrophe charges.

AIG reported an adjusted after-tax income attributable to common shareholders of $1.17 per share, compared with $1.25 a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected 99 cents per share, according to estimates compiled by LSEG.

GROWING UNCERTAINTY

Insurers are looking at an extended period of uncertainty sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with China.

"While the broader macroeconomic and geopolitical environment remains uncertain, AIG is navigating these challenges from a position of strength...," CEO Peter Zaffino said in a statement.

General insurance net premiums written came in at $4.5 billion, flat from the prior-year quarter on a reported basis, but increased 8% on a comparable basis, AIG said.

Adjusted general insurance accident year combined ratio - a measure of underwriting performance - was 87.8% in the quarter, compared with 88.4% a year earlier. A ratio below 100 signifies that the insurer earned more from premiums than it paid out in claims.

Insurance bellwether Travelers beat first-quarter profit expectations last month as strong underwriting gains helped soften the hit from more than $2 billion of catastrophe losses driven by the Los Angeles wildfires.

(Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
The headquarters of Nebraska Public Media on the University of Nebraska-Lincolns East Campus. (Courtesy of Nebraska Public Media)

LINCOLN  President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Thursday seeking to end federal funding for public media.

It marks the White Houses latest escalation in its political battle with the media, as Trump and some congressional Republicans fulfill a pledge to cut funding to the organizations. Unlike other executive orders that he signed in public ceremonies, Trump signed this one behind closed doors while flying on Air Force One, Politico reported.

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Initial reactions to the order from Nebraskas all-GOP federal delegation have been mixed. U.S. Reps. Mike Flood, who represents eastern Nebraskas 1st Congressional District, echoed Trumps criticisms of NPRs national bias but defended the unique value Nebraska Public Media provides locally. U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, who represents the largely rural 3rd District and U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts had no immediate comment Friday. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, who represents the Omaha-based 2nd District, highlighted how crucial Nebraska Public Media remains to the state.

Gov. Jim Pillen also offered no immediate comment through a spokeswoman while visiting Washington, D.C., to see the president this week. If Trumps order withstands promised legal challenges, PBS could lose nearly 15% of its annual revenue and NPR could lose 1% of its budget. While federal funding is a fraction of the budget for the national independent public news organizations, federal funding does help smaller, often rural, local affiliate stations of both afford to operate in places the free market might not serve as well.

Closer to home, the impact could be significant. Nebraska Public Media could lose up to 16% of its annual budget, which could put essential services at risk, including emergency alert systems. The timing creates a budget hole that the state might be hard-pressed to fill during a budget shortfall.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb, addresses a business forum in Ashland as, from left, Sen. Pete Ricketts, Rep. Adrian Smith, Rep. Mike Flood and Rep. Don Bacon listen. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

Trumps order calls for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit corporation authorized by Congress to receive federal funds and distribute them to support public broadcasting, 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 reads. What does matter is that neither entity presents a fair, accurate or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.

Trump also has claimed that NPR and PBS produce biased and partisan news coverage.

The heads of NPR and PBS have defended their federal funding and coverage before a U.S. House Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, subcommittee meeting in March.

Bacon said, he respects the great job that NPR and PBS have done in Nebraska.

Congress allocates more than $500 million annually to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and specifies its intended use. The funding is administered in two-year cycles, scheduled in advance, a structure designed to shield public media from political pressure.

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CPB officials questioned the legitimacy of the presidents new order. The private nonprofit is already suing the Trump administration over another executive order seeking to fire three of its five board members.

PBS and NPR have called the order unlawful, saying it infringed on the freedom of the press. Both plan to challenge it in court.

Order limits Nebraska Public Media

Nebraska Public Media, which is responsible for most public TV and radio stations in the state, receives approximately $4 million in federal funding, representing roughly 16% of its annual budget. NPM General Manager and CEO Stacey Decker said that while the station is still evaluating the impacts of Trumps latest executive order, NPM is deeply disappointed.

It limits Nebraska Public Medias ability to make independent and locally focused decisions about the programming and resources we provide to Nebraskans, Deckers statement reads. It also severs the strong local-national partnership that is the backbone of public media, delivering trusted, valued and essential programming and services to all Americans.

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The state funds roughly 44% of the NPM budget, according to information published on the NPM website. Nebraska Public Media is tasked with live-streaming the legislative session and public hearings on bills. NPM also is among the few Nebraska news organizations staffing the State Capitol with reporters daily during the session.

Even during this challenging time, we are steadfast in our commitment to provide every Nebraskan with trusted, valued and essential programs and services, Decker said. Just as we have for more than 70 years.

NPMs unique value

Flood said the Trump executive order is an opportunity for America to scrutinize the work of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop the liberal bias that has infected National Public Radio, and to rethink how federal funding works for local public broadcasting networks.

But Flood, who runs his own private media company that includes News Channel Nebraska, emphasized Nebraska public medias unique value for rural communities in the state and how it operates independently of CPB.

Nebraska reporters gather to cover Gov. Jim Pillens press conference at the Governors Mansion. April 28. 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner)

[NPM] is the backbone of our states emergency alert system, and they have gone all-in on delivering quality coverage of youth sports, Flood said.

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Nebraska Public Media broadcasts and streams local high school and college sports, including from the Nebraska School Activities Association and the University of Nebraska and Creighton University. It also issues essential vital alerts for severe storms and other emergencies. A cut in federal funding could jeopardize those services, according to the NPM website.

Flood added that he would ensure [Nebraska] public broadcasting network remains strong by visiting with NPM leaders to discuss how the order impacts them.

The Legislatures Appropriations Committee has a proposal to increase the funding of the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission, the state agency responsible for overseeing and licensing the public television and radio stations that make up Nebraska Public Media, for the next two years.

Still, the state budget shortfall has grown by $190 million, and lawmakers have less than a month to balance the budget. The committee this week made attempts to close the gap by taking another $135 million from cash funds held by various state agencies and reducing the funding state agencies would get for the next two years.

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If NPM loses funding, Bacon said, their absence would leave a void.

Editors Note: Nebraska Examiner Reporter Juan Salinas II previously worked as a news intern at KERA, an NPR station serving North Texas.

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President Trump lashed out at judges early Saturday after a recent court ruling barred his administration from continuing to use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members.

Can it be so that Judges arent allowing the USA to Deport Criminals, including Murderers, out of our Country and back to where they came from? Trump wrote on Truth Social.

If this is so, our Country, as we know it, is finished! Americans will have to get used to a very different, crime filled, LIFE, he continued. post on Truth Social. This is not what our Founders had in mind!!!

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The presidents criticism comes less than two days after U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., an appointee of Trump, ruled that the AEA does not allow the commander-in-chief to quickly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to a jail in El Salvador, extending an existing block.

Rodriguez Jr. said in his ruling Thursday that the 18th century law can only be utilized when an organized, armed force is coming into the U.S., therefore rejecting the administrations assertion that the law can be used against alleged members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang.

The Proclamation makes no reference to and in no manner suggests that a threat exists of an organized, armed group of individuals entering the United States at the direction of Venezuela to conquer the country or assume control over a portion of the nation, the judge wrote in a 36-page ruling.

Thus, the Proclamations language cannot be read as describing conduct that falls within the meaning of invasion for purposes of the AEA, he added.

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With just over 100 days since Trump returned to the White House, the administrations reliance on AEA has been key the crackdown on illegal immigration. Earlier in the year, over 100 men were deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador, alleging that their tattoos were evidence of their gang affiliation.

The move has sparked heavy backlash, primarily from Democrats, as many argue the deportations were done without due process.

Also on Thursday, the administration asked the Supreme Court to do away with deportation protections, also known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), for more than 600,000 Venezuelans, looking to lift a separate federal district judges decision to pause the push as the litigation continues.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Donald Trump has gone from the presidency to the papacy.

With just days left before the start of the papal conclave  where a new leader of the Catholic Church will be selected  Trump took to his Truth Social platform to share an AI-generated image of himself dressed up as the pope. It shows him adorned in the traditional attire, complete with papal hat, white robes and a large crucifix around his neck.

The White House later reposted the image on X, inspiring many memes and even more backlash.

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Trump, as someone outside the U.S., I find your post utterly disrespectful to the Catholic community worldwide, one social media user wrote. The papacy is a sacred institution for millions, and this mockery is an affront to their beliefs.

Another begged: Please take this down. Many Catholics, myself included, find this as a great disrespect to the past and future leader of our church.

The Republicans Against Trump account also shared the image on X, writing: Donald Trump just posted a photo of himself as the Pope. Its full-on lunacy at this point.

Someone else noted: Bro isnt right in the head.

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Others, meanwhile, were more amused and offered up their own imaginings of Pope Donald, including one video that sees him serving up McDonalds at the Vatican and shooting holy water out of a water gun.

Donald Trump stuns the world by posting a picture of himself as the next Pope, the MAGA Voice account commented. Donald Trump would be one of the BEST Popes to ever live.

At least President Trump would hold as a lot less sinful internally then 90% of all the popes, cardinals, bishops, pastors, priest, deacons, nuns, monks, brothers, of many churches of many denominations as we know the rot within the churches institutions, another said. Maybe its time Make The Church Greater Again.'

The social media tizzy comes after Trump jokingly told reporters earlier this week that hed like to be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church in wake of Pope Francis death. That would be my number one choice, he said.

Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21. He suffered from a stroke and heart failure, and Trump was among the thousands in attendance at his funeral.
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

In today's edition, we have the first comments from Kristen Welkers exclusive interview with President Donald Trump. Plus, were looking at another U.S. ally  after Canada  that has seen its upcoming election roiled by Trump as he reshapes not just American politics but global politics as well.

Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.

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 Scott Bland

Trump downplays recession fears, saying the U.S. would be OK in the long term

By Alexandra Marquez

President Donald Trump on Friday downplayed concerns about potential economic trouble, saying everything would be OK in the long term, even if the U.S economy experienced a recession in the short term.

Asked twice by Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker whether it would be OK in the long term if there was a recession in the short term, the president said, Look, yeah, its  everythings OK. What we are  I said, this is a transition period. I think were going to do fantastically.

Following up, Welker asked Trump if he was worried about a recession, to which he responded, No. Asked whether he thinks one could happen, Trump replied, Anything can happen, but I think were going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country.

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The remarks come as analysts on Wall Street are increasingly worried that the country could face a recession due to Trumps changing tariff policy.

Well, you know, you say, Some people on Wall Street say  well, I tell you something else. Some people on Wall Street say that were going to have the greatest economy in history. Why dont you talk about them? Trump said during the interview at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

There are many people on Wall Street say this is going to be the greatest windfall ever happen, the president added.

According to initial measurements released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, the U.S. economy shrunk by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, a reduction largely driven by a fall in exports and a boost in imports ahead of Trumps expected tariffs.

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On Wednesday, while meeting with members of his Cabinet, Trump deflected blame for the first-quarter gross domestic product numbers, saying that it was a result of the economy former President Joe Biden left behind.

You probably saw some numbers today, Trump said, and I have to start off by saying, thats Biden.

Read more 

After Canadian election, Trump could drag down conservatives in Australia too

By Mahalia Dobson

Days after a Canadian election that hinged on who would best stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump, he is at the center of an election in another liberal democracy.

Trust in the United States is plummeting in Australia, which votes Saturday amid global financial turmoil sparked by tariffs Trump has imposed on trading partners around the world including Australia, a U.S. ally and vital security partner in countering China.

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As in Canada, Australias opposition conservative party, the Liberal Party, was primed to win before Trump returned to office, thanks to public anger over the cost of living and record-high home prices. But it has since lost support among voters increasingly concerned about how their government will handle Trump.

A poll released last month by the Lowy Institute, a research foundation, found only 36% of Australians expressed any level of trust in the United States  the lowest in the annual polls two-decade history.

While 81% of Australians disapprove of Trumps tariffs, the vast majority (80%) continue to say the U.S. alliance is important for Australias security.

Those numbers reflect the economic and security dichotomy Australia faces: how to balance its security ties with the U.S. and its trade interests with China.

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Read more on Saturdays election in Australia 

 Today's other top stories

 Trumps wish list: Trump released a budget proposal calling for cuts to programs related to public health, education and clean energy, and boosts in spending for the military and border security. Read more 

 Trump vs. Harvard: Trump said in a Truth Social post that his administration is going to be taking away Harvards Tax Exempt Status. Read more 

 Trump vs. NPR & PBS: Trump signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS. Read more 

 Trump vs. law firms: Attorneys who have been critical of law firms striking deals with Trump are forming their own firm to represent clients targeted by the White House. Read more 

 Rubios world: Secretary of State Marco Rubios new role as national security adviser is the latest example of his swift rise in Trumps orbit. Rubio has sought to establish his role as a close Trump ally after being initially caught off guard by some of Trumps early foreign policy announcements. Read more 

 Eyes on 2026: Trumps strategy for the 2026 midterms is taking shape, with the White House in close consultation with congressional leaders, his political operation raising millions for aligned outside groups, and his party looking to energize his core supporters. Read more 

 Meme coin murmurs: Some Senate Republicans are raising concerns about Trumps offer of a private dinner and White House tour to investors in his meme coin. Read more 

 Sounding the alarm: Democratic senators issued a letter calling on the Trump administration to investigate deals between Elon Musks Starlink and foreign countries, alleging Musk used his perch at the White House to further the agreements. Read more 

 DOGE in the states: More than 20 states have established their own Departments of Government Efficiency, but the state-level versions have taken more modest approaches to cutting government programs and jobs. Read more 

 Not throwing away his Schatz: Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, has been racking up some early endorsements from fellow senators as he vies to be the next Democratic whip. Read more 

Thats all From the Politics Desk for now. Todays newsletter was compiled by Scott Bland and Bridget Bowman.

If you have feedback  likes or dislikes  email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com

And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Mexico's leader said Saturday that she rejected an offer by President Trump to send U.S. troops into her country to fight drug cartels.

Speaking at a public event, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed a report published Friday in the Wall Street Journal that said that Trump had pressured Mexico to allow more U.S. military involvement in the drug war.

"It's true," Sheinbaum said. She said that on some private calls with the American leader in recent months, Trump said: "How can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the United States Army enter to help you."

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Sheinbaum said she rebuffed his proposal, saying: "No, President Trump, our territory is inalienable, sovereignty is inalienable. ... We can collaborate, we can work together, but with you in your territory and us in ours. We can share information, but we will never accept the presence of the United States Army on our territory."

This remains an extremely sensitive topic for Mexicans, given previous military occupations by the U.S. and the strong sense of nationalism that resulted

Gustavo A. Flores-Macias, Cornell University professor

A statement released by the White House on Saturday said that Sheinbaum and Trump had worked closely "to achieve the most secure southwest border in history," but it did not directly address her comments on U.S. forces in Mexico.

"The President has been crystal clear that Mexico must do more do combat these gangs and cartels and the United States stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries," the statement said.

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Since Trump returned to the White House in January, his administration has ramped up CIA surveillance drone flights over Mexico, formally designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist groups and has repeatedly floated the possibility of deploying troops there to fight organized crime. He has massed U.S. troops on the northern side of the U.S. border with Mexico to crack down on unauthorized immigration and drug smuggling.

Mexico is essentially run by the cartels, Trump said earlier this year, insisting that the United States should wage war against them.

Sheinbaum has rejected Trump's characterization that Mexico is under cartel domination, and has vowed to defend her nation's sovereignty against violations "by land, sea or air."

Read more: U.S. official says drone flights over Mexico may signal future strikes

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But the Mexican president's latest comments confirm that Mexico remains under intense pressure from Washington to accept greater U.S. involvement in the anti-drug fight, noted Gustavo A. Flores-Macias, professor of government at Cornell University.

"This remains an extremely sensitive topic for Mexicans, given previous military occupations by the U.S. and the strong sense of nationalism that resulted," Flores-Macias wrote via email.

That gives Sheinbaum "little room to maneuver" as Trump continues to insist on dispatching U.S. troops south of the border. "The Mexican government would be wise to take the threat of unilateral U.S. strikes against the cartels very seriously, while making it clear to the White House that the costs in terms of the economy, security and migration would be steep," Flores-Macias wrote.

Unilateral U.S. strikes, experts say, could result in Mexico being obliged to take retaliatory measures, such as cutting back on bilateral cooperation on key issues such as security and immigration. U.S. attacks that result in civilian casualties could even force Mexico to cut diplomatic ties with its major trading partner.

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Read more: 'The United States is the villain of our story.' Nationalism surges in Mexico amid Trump threats

No administration in modern times has taken such a militaristic approach to Mexico, a U.S. ally that Trump blames for producing the fentanyl that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Trump's stance upends recent U.S. policy, which emphasized beefing up the rule of law in Mexico, and stands at odds with Mexicos security strategy, which has veered away from the sort of fierce cartel confrontations that drove record levels of bloodshed.

Trumps fixation on organized crime in Mexico has put Sheinbaum in a difficult position. She has tried to appease him to try to avert the potentially catastrophic tariffs that he has threatened unless Mexico cracks down on fentanyl trafficking. She sent thousands of National Guard troops to fortify the northern border and is transferring dozens of suspected cartel members to the U.S.

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But she has also had to show fellow Mexicans that she is defending national sovereignty. Since Trump took office in January, nationalism has surged here.

On TikTok, users have demanded a boycott of American products, filming themselves pouring Coca Cola down the drain. Companies have embraced the red, green and white of the Mexican flag in ad campaigns.

A U.S. unilateral attack, some fear, could return Mexican politics to the gringo-bashing tendency that was once prevalent among Mexican politicians. But official dumping on the United States has generally diminished in recent years as economic, cultural and other U.S.-Mexico ties have strengthened and millions of Mexicans have emigrated to the United States.

Remittances to Mexico from people of Mexican ancestry in the United States now top more than $60 billion annually, comprising a key pillar of the Mexican economy.

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Cecilia Sanchez Vidal in Mexico City and Michael Wilner in Washington contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Valley Public Radio and Valley PBS are at risk of losing more than $1 million in federal funding.

On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and all executive departments and agencies to cease federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. Trump has repeatedly called the public media outlets biased.

Its unclear whether Trump has the authority to order the cuts.

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Theres still a lot of questions about exactly what this means for stations, if it holds up legally, said Joe Moore, president and general manager of KVPR / Valley Public Radio. Federal grant funding makes up about 7% of the stations annual budget, he said.

If this executive order moves forward, it will significantly impact Valley PBS, said President and CEO Robert Mollison. Federal funding makes up about 20% of the stations budget.

National public media executives pushed back against the order Friday morning, calling it unlawful and an affront to the First Amendment rights.

NPRs President and CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement that it would challenge the executive order using all means available.

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Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB said in a statement that CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the Presidents authority.

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 said, citing federal law on federal interference in telecommunications.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced that it planned to ask Congress to rescind $1.1 billion, or about two years of funding from CBP, according to PBS.

CPB is a private nonprofit that was created by Congress in 1967 to support non-commercial, high-quality independent public broadcasting so that Americans can have access to public media.

Valley Public Radio opened a 10,000-square-foot state-of-the-art broadcast studio in Clovis in 2016.

How much of KVPRs budget comes from federal grants?

Founded in 1975, Valley Public Radio is the NPR station of the San Joaquin Valley serving residents of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Mariposa and Tulare counties. Valley Public Radio operates two stations: KVPR, which features news/talk programming and KVPR Classical, which broadcasts classical music, 24/7.

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About 7% of KVPRs funding comes from a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, though the exact amount fluctuates from year to year, Moore said.

Next years CPB grant for KVPR would be around $175,000.

Its a small, but important part of our overall funding mix, Moore said.

Moore stressed that even if the federal funding is eliminated, KVPR 89.3 and 89.1 would NOT go off-the-air.

But the station could face significant cuts to local programming, national programming, news and music services unless it raises funds to offset the federal grant.

Its a very challenging time to be in public media, Moore said. (But) were not going anywhere.

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KVPR is hosting its biggest fundraising event of the year on Sunday May 4 at 3:30 p.m. in Fresno.

The event will feature wine and beer tasting along the San Joaquin River, live music, a silent auction and a raffle to win either $1,500 or a 2-night stay at the coast. Tickets are available here.

Its even more important now, Moore said.

What about Valley PBS?

Valley PBS could also be facing the loss of $900,000 a year in grant funding.

The television station got its start in 1977 and provides a combination of educational and entertaining programming to homes from Merced to Bakersfield. Its the Central Valleys only community licensed public television station, according to its website.

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Mollison said Valley PBS raises most of its funding locally but the federal grant is a substantial portion of its operation budget, or about 20%.

We are currently in the process of rebuilding after the Bear Mountain fire destroyed our transmitter last year. It has been a long, challenging, and costly journey. To now face the potential loss of federal support makes our situation even more difficult, Mollison said.

In a statement Friday morning, PBS CEO Paula Kerger said the station was exploring all options to allow PBS to continue to serve its member stations.

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.

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In 2023, Valley PBS was forced to pay back $300,000 in federal funding following an audit conducted by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting discovered the station overstated its revenue and failed to complete required financial and employment reports.

Trumps attack on media

Trump has long targeted the media since he was first elected to office, calling it the enemy of the American people.

He said in Thursdays executive order that neither PBS nor NPR presents accurate or unbiased reporting and previously said they spread radical, woke propaganda.

Katherine Jacobsen, program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement on X Friday morning that the accusations of bias were unsupported and undermine First Amendment rights.

"It is disturbing that, on the eve of #WorldPressFreedomDay, the Trump administration has dealt major blows to journalists and the public they serve. The president's order seeking to end funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting on unsupported accusations of bias pic.twitter.com/3NUJM02BjN  Committee to Protect Journalists (@pressfreedom) May 2, 2025

Local media leaders say their goal is to democratize access to information.

Valley PBS is not here to promote any specific agenda, Mollison said. Public media was founded on the principle that everyone deserves access to education and information, regardless of their location or financial situation.
President Donald Trump has reached the 100-day mark of his second term, spending nearly a third of that time in Palm Beach County. With nine visits totaling 31 days and another four-day trip the weekend of May 2, Mar-a-Lago continues to serve as a political command center, a social stage and a site of consequential decision-making.

Here is some of what Trump has been up to over the past 100 days.

Donald Trump spent 1/3 of his first 100 days in Palm Beach County

Americans may be a bit sour about President Donald Trump's first 100 days, but his visits to Mar-a-Lago were momentous nonetheless.

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The president traveled to his Palm Beach County residence and private clubs nine times, spending all or parts of 31 days of his first hundred days in office here. He plans another four-day sojourn this weekend, May 3, with a Federal Aviation Administration alert suggesting he will arrive Thursday and depart Sunday.

Florida is Trump's home state and a poll released in late March showed him still retaining a 52% favorable approval rating versus 44% not favorable across the Sunshine State. The Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey, at the time, indicated some slippage in popularity given Trump carried the state in November with 56% of the ballots cast.

Tap here for the full story

Diamond Walker is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at dkwalker@gannett.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump 100 days: News from President's Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida
djr-2025-05-03-news-depot-arp2

Area residents arrive for the grand opening celebration at The Depot, a new venue in Downtown Tupelo, on May 2, 2025.

TUPELO  Friday night saw the culmination of months of effort by city officials and contractors with the opening of The Depot in Downtown Tupelo.

The city held a ribbon-cutting in conjunction with the first day of the Blue Suede Cruise, making an event of the evening that included music, food and speeches.

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Mayor Todd Jordan opened the ceremony with a history of the project from its conceptualization to construction.

It's a great addition to downtown, he said, noting that the project will go a long way in alleviating stress on downtown when events take place that typically shut the streets down. Im proud of it. I hope youre proud of it.

The building will be multi-purpose, with the city envisioning The Depot as an event space for all manner of festivities. It is equipped with a stage, electricity and restrooms.

djr-2025-05-03-news-depot-arp1

Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan cuts the ribbon for The Depot during a grand opening ceremony on May 2, 2025, in Tupelo, Miss.

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Not only is Blue Suede Cruise happening alongside the $2.2 million venues opening, but The Depot opened just in time for the farmers market season to begin on May 17. The market, which will move to The Depot, is held each Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon from May to October.

Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association Director Lucia Randle said she was glad the project is finally complete, noting The Depot is a facility she hopes everyone in the city, both residents and visitors alike, can enjoy.

Its complete elation, such satisfaction in a job well done by so many people, she said. (I can) hardly believe Im standing in this gorgeous facility. It has been so fun to watch it through the months as it came up from the ground.

She said The Depot is based upon the downtown areas original train depot, with an architectural design that evokes its origin, including a replica of the dome structure of the original train depots building.

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Construction contractors Master Craft Builders handled the projects dirt work and Tek 1 Studio oversaw the architectural design.

Greg Pirkle of Phelps Dunbar, which has an office next door to the new facility, said he was proud to see the project complete, adding that he is also proud the city revitalized the area that once was a deteriorating parking lot downtown.

djr-2025-05-03-news-depot-arp4

Members of the Tupelo Ballet perform a patriotic dance during the grand opening and ribbon cutting for The Depot in Downtown Tupelo.

We are very excited to see The Depot open, Pirkle said. It is good for us, and it is good for the area.
LONDON (Reuters) - Investors sold U.S. stocks in the week ending Wednesday and bought Japanese and European shares, BofA Global Research said on Friday.

U.S. equities saw an $8.9 billion outflow in the week, BofA said in its regular round up of flows in and out of world markets that uses data from EPFR, but this follows large inflows.

BofA said for every $100 inflow to U.S. stocks since the 2024 election, there had been a $5 outflow in the past three weeks.

In contrast, Japanese shares saw their biggest weekly inflow since April last year, worth some $4.4 billion, while European shares saw inflows of just over $3 billion in a sign that investors continue to diversify exposure away from U.S. assets.

But BofA said there was no sign of dumping of U.S. assets by foreign owners. U.S. stocks saw a nearly $4 billion inflow from foreign buyers, and while there was "tiny foreign selling" of U.S. Treasuries, that followed six weeks of inflows.

Turmoil unleashed by U.S. President Donald Trump's April 2 tariff announcement has put the spotlight on whether foreign investors would continue to sell U.S. assets.

Still, U.S. Treasuries saw their biggest outflow since late 2023, of some $4.5 billion, the BofA report showed. Gold meanwhile had its first weekly outflow since January.

(Reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe, editing by Alun John)
ISTANBUL (AP)  Sirri Sureyya Onder, a key figure in Turkeys latest effort to end the four-decade Kurdish conflict, died Saturday. He was 62.

Onder died of multiple organ failure 18 days after he was hospitalized following a heart attack, the Florence Nightingale Hospital in Istanbuls Sisli district said in a statement reported by Anadolu news agency.

Onder was a member of parliament for the pro-Kurdish Peoples Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM Party, and was one of several politicians to visit jailed Kurdistan Workers Party leader Abdullah Ocalan in a bid to find a path to peace.

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Onder and fellow DEM Party lawmaker Pervin Buldan met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month as they sought to build a framework to end fighting that has caused tens of thousands of deaths.

The political push for peace was given added impetus in February, when Ocalan called for the Kurdistan Workers Party to disband. The group, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey and most Western states, announced a ceasefire days later.

Erdogan at the time described developments as an opportunity to take a historic step toward tearing down the wall of terror between Turks and Kurds.

We offer our condolences to the people of Turkey, his family and loved ones, the DEM Party said in a statement. It is a requirement of loyalty to his memory to achieve success in the struggle for peace that he waged at the expense of his life.

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Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus described Onder as a valuable person who earned everyones respect with his political stance, kindness and modest personality.

Onder, a former film actor and director, also served as deputy parliament speaker, where his calm demeanor and sense of humor marked him out in Turkeys often highly charged politics.

Although not an ethnic Kurd, his political life was spent serving pro-Kurdish parties, first entering parliament in 2011.

He spent spells in prison, including a seven-year stint as a young man for protesting a 1980 military coup. He was jailed again in 2018 over a speech he gave five years earlier.

Onder was part of a delegation to take part in a previous effort to end the Kurdish conflict between 2013 and 2015.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will temporarily close several Eastern Washington recreation spots and reduce services at others.

The news is a blow not just to people who enjoy the outdoors on long summer days, but also to the regions tourism economy.

Local leaders, community groups, businesses and outdoor advocates need to engage with the Corps to see if theres anything that can be done to reverse course.

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The Fishhook Park RV campground, Levey Park and Illia Dunes Recreation Area will sit empty behind locked gates.

The full-service RV campground at Fishhook Park draws tourists and their dollars to local businesses.

Levey Park, with its access to the Snake River, hosts boating, swimming and picnicking for countless families.

Illia Dunes provides a unique landscape for day trips and its sandy beach on the Snake River is especially popular with college students from both Washington and Idaho. They are synonymous with summer fun, family outings and the joy of the outdoors.

The Corps closure list includes some less-prominent sites, too. Ice Harbor Dam and Lock, with its fish viewing room; the Lambi Creek and Willow Creek recreation areas near Illia Dunes; and a few sites in Whitman County near Lower Granite Dam also will not open.

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The official explanation for the closures cites limited resources in the Corps Walla Walla District. That is the politically correct way of saying that Washingtonians can thank President Donald Trump for this.

The limited resources are the direct impact of shortsighted spending cuts enacted by Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk.

Under federal workforce reduction efforts and hiring freezes, the Corps Walla Walla district lost about 50 experienced employees and cannot fill those vacancies. They simply do not have enough trained people to keep everything open.

Trump and Musk enjoy pointing to dubious, agenda-driven programs that they eliminated to save a few dollars. Those play well in conservative media and at rallies. But there are far more cuts like this that are affecting communities.

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The administration prioritizes austerity and tax cuts over the well-being of citizens and the maintenance of public resources.

The effects will ripple throughout the region. Fewer tourists will mean less revenue for hotels, restaurants, wineries and shops. Families will have fewer affordable recreation options during the summer. And the sense of community fostered by shared outdoors spaces will diminish.

The people of Eastern Washington should view this setback as a call to action.

Start by contacting Rep. Dan Newhouse and Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. Tell them that federal cuts are affecting lives here, not just the federal workforce in far-off Washington, D.C. Congress is supposed to be responsible for setting spending. It needs to act like it. Newhouse, a Republican, especially needs to hear how cuts are harming his constituents.

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Then, people should act more directly to address the problem. This isnt the first time the Corps has gone through something like this. In 2011, it reduced recreation facility maintenance and open times due to budget limitations. But then, it invited local volunteers and organizations to help fill the resource gap. This time, the announcement lacked such outreach.

The community therefore needs to step up.

Local governments should immediately reach out to the Walla Walla District to explore partnerships. Community groups, from environmental organizations to local service clubs, and businesses should offer their assistance.

And the Corps should facilitate opportunities for individuals to volunteer with a clear, accessible process for registration and task assignment.

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Volunteers could handle trash collection, landscaping and minor repairs, freeing Corps staff to focus on safety and key operations. Local governments could provide logistical support for volunteer efforts, provide equipment and trash pickup. Businesses could sponsor volunteer teams, donate supplies or offer discounts to volunteers.

Levey Park, Fishhook RV campground, Illia Dunes and the other sites might be federal property, but they are precious to local residents and visitors who return year after year to experience the beauty of Eastern Washington.

By working together, communities can turn disappointment into action and reclaim their parks.
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK)  Trinity Valley Community College and Abilene Christian Universitys online program partnered on Wednesday to further employee development.

City of Jacksonville asks voters to add district near city limits in May 3 election

This collaboration will give TVCC employees access to tuition discounts for ACUs fully online degree, according to TVCC. A formal signing ceremony between the ACU Online leadership team and TVCC representatives set the partnership in motion. TVCC Vice President of Instruction Dr. Spencer Wagley was at the ceremony and commented on the opportunity.

Photo collage from the signing ceremony, courtesy of Trinity Valley Community College

Were excited about the doors this partnership will open for our employees, said Wagley. We are proud to provide opportunities to cultivate lifelong learners. This is an incredible opportunity to continue learning, expand professional skills, and deepen the impact they make both inside and outside the classroom.

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TVCC said the initiative reflects their commitment to investing in team members and they look forward to the positive impact the partnership will bring to their faculty.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Two men were stabbed in separate attacks on subway trains in Brooklyn and Manhattan only hours apart on Friday afternoon, police said.

At least one of the assaults is believed to be random, according to police.

In the first incident, a 53-year-old straphanger was stabbed in his head, apparently unprovoked, by an unknown assailant aboard a southbound R train around 2 p.m. as the subway approached the Jay St.-Metro Tech station in downtown Brooklyn, cops said.

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The victim staggered off the train and into the station, where EMS medics treated his wound. He declined to go to the hospital and is expected to recover, according to police. Cops have a suspect in custody.

A short time later, around 4:45 p.m., a 46-year-old man was stabbed in the abdomen on an uptown F train near the W. Fourth St.-Washington Square subway station in Greenwich Village after quarreling with his attacker, police said. EMS took the victim to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition, according to police.

They brought him out on a stretcher. He was cut, but he was still conscious, an MTA employee who witnessed the aftermath said. Its crazy out here. You never know whats going to happen.

Its unclear if the victim knew his attacker beforehand. Police have a suspect in custody, they said.

Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
Prostate cancer radiotherapy can be reduced to two weeks and still save lives, a study has shown.

Currently, men with prostate cancer who opt for radiotherapy are given between four and eight weeks of treatment which can comprise around 40 sessions.

But a 10-year trial by Swedish researchers has found the same benefits can be achieved from over two weeks of treatment of higher-dose radiation.

Even though the individual dose is higher, it works out at around half the amount of radiation over time, so brings no more side effects.

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Prostate cancer charities said the results were fantastic for men.

Delivering fewer, higher doses over a shorter period works just as well as the standard approach, not just in theory, but in real-world clinical practice, said Prof Per Nilsson, senior radiation physicist, at Skane University Hospital and Lund University.

For patients, this means less disruption to daily life and potentially lower healthcare costs  without compromising outcomes and safety.

One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, with 50,000 given the bad news every year.

Prostate cancer is the second-biggest cancer killer of men in the UK, causing 12,000 deaths a year. There are around 510,000 men who are living with the disease or who have survived.

For many patients, radiotherapy is a standard treatment option that offers outcomes comparable to surgery, particularly for localised disease but schedules typically span several weeks, which can be burdensome for patients and put pressure on healthcare systems.

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For the new trial, 1,200 men with localised cancer were given either a short course of seven sessions over two and a half weeks, or a standard course of 39 sessions over eight weeks.

Results showed that 72 per cent of men having the shorter treatment did not see their cancer return and did not need more treatment within the next 10 years, compared to 65 per cent of men in the standard group.

Overall survival for the two-week group was 81 per cent compared with 79 per cent for traditional treatment. For both groups four per cent of men died from their cancer in the 10-year follow up.

The shorter treatment group needed a total radiation of 42.7 gy (the unit for absorbed dose) compared to 72 gy for the eight-week group.

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Side effects were similar in both groups and were mostly mild to moderate.

These findings confirm that the shorter course does not increase long-term side effects and provides equally durable cancer control, added Dr Camilla Thellenberg-Karlsson, of Umea University.

A major win for patients

The findings were welcomed by charities.

Simon Grieveson, assistant director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: We welcome these results. Its fantastic news for men that this has shown the long-term benefits of a shorter course of radiotherapy, meaning that they could still receive the best possible treatment with fewer visits to the hospital.

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Weve previously seen similar results from the UK-based PACE B trial, which has shown that using stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy  a form of radiotherapy which delivers high doses of radiation directly to tumours, reducing exposure to healthy tissue around the cancer  can cut down the number of treatment sessions to just five over a two-week period.

These studies show us that shorter courses of radiotherapy can be just as effective for men compared to the more extensive radiotherapy regimes more commonly used.

The research was presented at ESTRO 2025, the annual congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology.

Prof Matthias Guckenberger, president of ESTRO, added: Shorter treatment schedules mean patients can return to their normal lives more quickly.

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Reducing treatment time to just two and a half week is a major win for both patients and health systems.

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Russian forces dropped explosives from a drone on the heart of the city of Kherson on the afternoon of Saturday 3 May, injuring two civilian women aged 55 and 83.

Source: Kherson Oblast State Administration; Kherson Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Quote: "The Russian army attacked a central street in Kherson with a first-person view drone at around 12:50. Two women aged 55 and 83 have been injured as a result."

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Details: Doctors report that the women have sustained explosive and craniocerebral injuries, contusions and shrapnel wounds. An emergency medical team has taken them to hospital. Their condition is assessed as moderate.

Kherson Oblast Prosecutor's Office noted that Russian troops targeted the settlement of Antonivka on Saturday morning, causing shrapnel wounds to a 74-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man.

A pre-trial investigation has been launched into these incidents under Article 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war).

Background: On 2 May, Russian troops launched a drone attack on the central part of Kherson, injuring two men aged 52 and 60.

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May 2Faced with a budget crunch, Washington state lawmakers opted not to fund a program launched by country music legend Dolly Parton that provides free books once a month to children younger than 5.

Parton started Imagination Library in 1995 in her hometown in Tennessee. It has provided more than 200 million books to children free of charge over the past 30 years. Across the country, more than 2 million children receive books monthly through the Imagination Library.

The program currently serves 9,800 kids in Spokane County, and has provided more than 200,000 books to nearly 15,000 kids in the county since it began.

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As the program expanded statewide in Washington, Parton joined a collection of elected officials for a reception in Tacoma to promote it.

The day was hailed as a day of celebration for the state, with a formal proclamation signed by the governor declaring Aug. 15 as "Dolly Parton Day." The event included a discussion with the music legend, as well as a performance of her 1971 hit song "Coat of Many Colors."

During the event, Parton said the program helps "instill a love for reading and the love for books."

"I do other things, but I don't think I'll ever do anything more important or more personal to me than this," Parton said.

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With the expansion, Washington became the 11th state, and the first on the West Coast, to allow any child to sign up for the program free of charge.

Less than two years later, legislators did not include a request for $7 million to help fund the program over the next two years in the operating budget adopted by the House and Senate over the weekend.

"This is a heartbreaking loss to our team, our 46 local Imagination Library partners, and, most importantly, the 121,000 children across Washington, who receive the gift of a free book each month," Brooke Fisher-Clark, executive director of Imagination Library of Washington, said in a statement.

According to the Imagination Library of Washington, the program is funded equally through public funds and local Imagination Library partners.

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Chris Reykdal, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, hosted the on-stage chat with Parton during the 2023 event. In an emailed statement Thursday, Reykdal said the Imagination Library "is an effective and cost-efficient program to engage our youngest learners and their families in reading."

"The Legislature unfortunately had to make tough budget choices this session, and I am disappointed that funding for this program was not prioritized," Reykdal said. "Because the program is funded by a 1:1 state and local partner match, a total elimination of state funding has a deep impact."

Reykdal said his office is still reviewing what the funding cut means, and how it will impact the children currently enrolled, though he pledged to work with the Legislature to restore the funds.

The Dolly Parton Library is also asking the public to donate money to fund the program. Information about how to donate can be found at imaginationlibrarywashington.org/donate.

"With the loss of state funding, our statewide programmatic framework has been altered, and we must now pivot to address this funding challenge. We need the public to rally and help us preserve this impactful program for young children. Please act and contribute now to ensure its survival," Fisher-Clark said in a statement.
Testimony resumed on the sixth day of the Tyre Nichols state criminal trial on May 3.

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.

Defense rests case, motions and deliberations

The defense rested its case just before 4 p.m. Saturday. The jury was excused, and evidence will be prepared for them to review once motions, jury instructions and closing arguments are delivered.

Former Memphis Police Department officer Justin Smith Jr. takes the stand to decline to testify on his own behalf during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

The case closing means jury deliberations could start as soon as May 5, and a verdict may be rendered early in the week.

Motions for acquittal are going to be taken up in the morning on May 5. Court adjourned just before 4 p.m. on May 3.

Defendants will not testify

With the jury outside the courtroom, Bean, Haley and Smith took the stand Saturday afternoon. It was the first time any of them had spoken publicly since the indictments.

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Each of their attorneys advised them of their right to testify if they so chose, but each declined to testify. They were also asked if their counsel was adequate, and each said they were satisfied with their legal counsel.

Former Memphis Police Department officer Tadarrius Bean takes the stand to decline to testify on his own behalf during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Defense attorneys call character witnesses for ex-Memphis cop

Martin Zummach next called Garrett OBrien, a former Memphis police officer who currently works at a suburban department. He met Smith during their time with the Organized Crime Unit.

He was a stand-up guy, OBrien said of his experiences with Smith. He added that Smiths reputation was a step above other officers.

OBrien added that Smith cared about the citizens of Memphis and cared about keeping them safe.

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Zummach then called Brian Nemec, a former Memphis police officer. He spent his last 18 years with the Organized Crime Unit before retiring in April. He was one of Smiths supervisors when Smith first joined the Organized Crime Unit.

I saw a lot of qualities in him that I liked, Nemec said. He was a hard worker. I liked the way he wrote, which was an important part of the job.

Former Memphis Police Department officer Justin Smith Jr., looks on as a video of him being sprayed with pepper spray when he was a trainee at police academy is shown during the fifth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Nemec added that Smith was courteous with his coworkers and the public. Zummach asked if he ever saw Smith disrespect armed felons. Nemec said he never saw that. He also said he never saw Smith have a temper.

Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman cross-examined Nemec, opening by saying he and Nemec had known one another for at least 18 years. He then asked about how many people had secret, hidden weapons on them.

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Nemec said that his percentage was high, about 70 to 80%, because of the plain clothes units he worked in. Hagerman asked about the old-school style of talking and policing that the two of them saw when they first started working organized crime.

I dont remember a meeting where we said if you saw someone on the ground, soccer kick the guy in the head. I dont remember a meeting where they said if you see excessive force, dont stop it. I dont remember a meeting where they said if someone is hurt, dont tell medical about it, Hagerman said.

Nemec agreed with each statement. Nemec also ended up agreeing with Hagerman when he said someone should be held accountable for using excessive force.

Zummach, when he returned to ask questions, asked if Smith was polite. Nemec said that was the case. He also asked if Smith would have stopped the force if he had seen it, and Nemec said he would stake his reputation on it.

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Zummachs next witness was Mark Wojcicki, a former Memphis police lieutenant and currently a pastor. While at MPD, Wojcicki said he supervised the training academy for two years. He was also in charge of the Criminal Apprehension Team.

Smith was assigned to Wojcickis unit in 2020, he said.

Justin Smith was a highly professional, proficient, dedicated officer. He was the kind of office youd want living right next door, Wojcicki said, adding, Hes an honorable, dedicated husband and dad.

He said he does not believe Smith changed the way he did his job after Wojcicki left the Organized Crime Unit.

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Wojcicki testified during the federal trial. Zummach asked the same question Saturday that he asked back in the fall: Would you trust Justin Smith to arrest your children? Wojcicki said he would.

Zummach closed with asking if Smith was capable of abusing a suspect. Wojcicki said it was not in his nature. When Hagerman cross examined him, Wojcicki said that we are all capable of things, even when its not in our nature.

We can disappoint each other, Wojcicki said. He added that if Smith were to see the excessive force used on Nichols or willingly and knowingly taken part in the force, he should be held accountable for not intervening. But if his perception is diminished and his goal is to get someones hand behind their back and get them into custody, even for myself I would be concerned about myself.

Hagerman emphasized that his question was contingent on the assumption that the defendants saw the force and did not intervene. A key part of Hagermans argument during the defenses case is that the jury will come to the conclusion as to if the defendants saw the force.

'Can he put this suspect's life above his own?' Defense attorney asks expert

Martin Zummach started his questioning after lunch at 2:37 p.m. Zummach's questioning focused on what each officer saw, and he asked Cameron if he knew what the officers saw or did not see.

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Zummach asked if the pepper spray used by Desmond Mills, Jr. could have made it much more difficult for his client, Smith, to see.

If they cant see it, they cant intervene, Cameron said.

Cameron said the heavy use of spray implied to him that the spray was ineffective on Nichols or that Nichols was on some kind of narcotic. He also said that officers should be able to trust that another officer would use their training and only the force necessary to arrest someone.

Don Cameron, a use of force expert, watches the body camera footage of former Memphis Police Department officer Preston Hemphill as attorneys for both sides and the defendants look on during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Was there anything to stop Tyre Nichols from saying, Woah, woah, woah, Im done? Zummach asked. Cameron said there was nothing stopping him. This was Zummach countering Hagermans questioning about the officers not stopping the beating.

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Zummach also brought up arrests and said officers in the SCORPION Unit made about 1,000 felony arrests each, annually. He added that 80 to 90% of those arrests involved an individual with a hidden firearm. It was not clear where those statistics came from.

John Keith Perry, representing Bean, followed up with questioning of his own. He started by asking if Bean and Cameron knew one another and if Bean and Nichols knew one another. Both answers were no.

He then went on to ask Cameron if Bean getting out and tackling Nichols was in line with policy. Cameron said it was, and agreed the tackle was an appropriate use of force.

Does Mr. Bean have that luxury that the news has to look and say, Oh, they have him in custody at this point, when he has (pepper) spray in his eyes? Perry asked.

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Cameron said he did not have that luxury and that Bean had no time to analyze the situation.

Can he put this suspects life above his own life, above the life of his fellow officers? Perry asked, voice raised.

Michael Stengel and Stephen Leffler, defense attorneys for former Memphis Police Department officer Demetrius Haley, speak with Haley during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Cameron could be heard saying, No, but Perry continued speaking. You didnt have to ask him about that, you knew that from your own experience, didnt you?

That line of questioning was objected to by Hagerman, and all attorneys ended up approaching the bench for a sidebar conversation. After returning, Perry asked if Nichols was a persistent threat until he was in handcuffs. Cameron agreed with that.

Back questioning the witness, Hagerman asked about the duty to intervene again.

Its really a question of if they saw that or not, I think we agree on that, Hagerman said. Cameron said he agreed with that statement.

During Perrys questioning, Cameron said he saw officers kicking at Nichols, but he said that he did not see with certainty that those kicks connected. Hagerman asked, targeting Camerons credibility, if he said he did not think Haleys kick contacted Nichols. Cameron said he just could not be sure.

Defense attorney continues to point finger at ex-officers who pleaded guilty

On re-direct examination, Michael Stengels first question was to ask what type of traffic stop this was. Cameron said it was a dangerous one. He also said that, for the people on the scene, it does not matter if Nichols actually grabbed the gun.

You dont ask those questions, Cameron said, adding that if you hesitate, and he gets an officers gun, someone gets injured or killed.

Cameron also reaffirmed that Haleys kick was calculated in order to get Nichols arm to loosen up. In addition, he said verbal judo is a way to coerce someone into custody.

Don Cameron, a use of force expert, answers a question while on the stand as a witness during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Stengel also redirected the attention from Haleys kick, and instead to Emmitt Martin IIIs punches and kicks and Desmond Mills, Jr.s baton strikes. He also asked how many head shots Haley saw Nichols receive. Cameron said he was not present or aware of any of those hits.

Based upon your training and experience, does it take more than watching a video to have a professional opinion regarding police training standards and use of force? Stengel asked, following up with asking what goes into forming an opinion.

Cameron said the direct testimony of an officer, along with what they knew at the time of the incident, is a primary source for making that decision.

'Isn't he allowed at that point to try to survive?' Prosecutors ask policing expert about Nichols reacting to force

Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman led the prosecutions cross-examination and started with a joke about getting haircuts at the same place. Both have shaved, or bald, heads.

Hagerman asked Cameron if he was here to offer facts or conclusions of law. He said his only responsibility was to offer his opinion on the force used.

Are there limitations to your opinion? Hagerman asked.

Its my opinion, so I guess, Cameron responded.

For instance, you werent there, right? Hagerman said.

Thats correct, Cameron replied.

Don Cameron, a use of force expert, listens to a question from Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Hagerman then went on to explain that the charges against the officers are only from the second scene. They do not extend to the traffic stop. Hagerman is pushing back on the idea that Martin ever said that Nichols grabbed his gun, a reference to Martin telling Hemphill that he did not actually say it.

Much of Hagermans questioning followed the truthfulness of Martins statements about Nichols speeding and weaving through traffic. Those were statements later recanted during the federal trial, but the defense objected to Hagermans questioning because that had not been introduced as evidence in the state case. Hagerman reframed the argument as Hemphill not seeing Martins allegations for himself.

Cameron, in the end, agreed that was a limitation to his opinion on the use of force.

As Hagermans questioning went on, he began to play a combination of SkyCop footage and audio from body cameras. The audio included Nichols screaming for his mom repeatedly and officers asking for his hands aggressively. Several jurors appeared momentarily uncomfortable.

Hagerman paused the video after Haley kicked Nichols. He asked if the force was excessive." Cameron said it was unnecessary. He agreed that the kick was to the head or neck area and that it could be considered deadly force and officers who saw that kick had a duty to intervene.

Hes reacting to being kicked, Cameron said when asked what Nichols was doing after being kicked.

He did, however, maintain that Nichols was still not handcuffed.

We agree that the first kick was unnecessary and excessive deadly force, correct? Hagerman asked. Isnt he allowed at that point to try to survive?

Cameron agreed that Nichols does.

Hagerman asked if Nichols' reacting in pain and in fear would be viewed as natural to anyone seeing the video. Cameron agreed with that.

Should he try to get away at this point? Hagerman asked, after Nichols was punched by Martin multiple times.

Doesnt seem prudent to get away with all the officers there, Cameron replied.

Cameron went on to say the punches were excessive force, and each officer could have had a responsibility to intervene. At that point in the video, Cameron admitted he had not heard any officer say stop.

The next paused section came after Haley arrived on the scene and yelled, Beat that mans a**. Cameron seemed unsure about whether Haley said that or not.

Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman looks down as Don Cameron, a use of force expert, watches footage of the traffic stop of Tyre Nichols during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

He gets out of the car and yells, Beat that man, correct? Hagerman said. Cameron nodded, and Hagerman acknowledged that police talk rough.

But, Beat that man, is totally different, right? Hagerman asked. Cameron said it couldve been a way of Haley asking to put them in custody. Or, maybe hes just saying, Beat that man.

Hagerman goes on to say, in order to believe that Haley kicked Nichols to get him in custody, the jury also has to believe that Haley saying, Beat that man, was not Haley reacting out of anger but rather Haley reacting to the need to get Nichols in custody.

We agree that we see officer Haley kick and that he kicks Mr. Nichols while Mr. Nichols is on the ground? Hagerman asks.

Cameron agrees and Hagerman then listed the number of punches, kicks, baton strikes that Nichols had received at that point.

Hagerman goes on to ask if Haley attempted to handcuff Nichols after the kicks. Cameron agreed and noted that Martin walked up after and kicked Nichols again. Cameron called Martins kick excessive and agreed that nobody ever intervened. He also agreed the officers should have informed medical personnel that Nichols had been hit in the head.

They could even make up a story  say he fell and hit his head  just so medical personnel knew he took shots to the head? Hagerman asked.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy looks on during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Cameron said that could have been done, and that he had trained officers to give information to medical personnel.

Hagerman, despite saying he believed he was done with the substantive questioning of Cameron, introduced footage that had not been played up to this point through Camerons verification. The first video was Haleys body camera, which started after Nichols was handcuffed.

Haleys body camera showed him talking with supervisors after putting him in custody, saying he was high as a kite.

Could you tell what we saw a flash of? Hagerman asked, referencing Haley taking a photo of Nichols after he was beaten and then sending it to people. Cameron said it was common to take pictures of a suspect, but that it was not proper to send them to multiple people.

Cameron was asked if it seemed like the picture was taken to document injuries, and Cameron said that Haley had said in a report that it was taken to document injuries. Hagerman, in response, questioned to whom the photo was sent. Cameron acknowledged that the photo was sent to a girlfriend and other Memphis police officers.

At one point in the video, officers ask Nichols what he took. His voice was slurred, but it sounded like he said nothing. When they asked again, he said nothing. An officer walked away and said Nichols had to be on something strong.

The next video they played was Smiths body camera. This footage picked up with Smith helping drag and lean Nichols up against the car after he was handcuffed.

Haley's attorneys call California-based policing expert

Michael Stengel, one of Haleys attorneys, called Don Cameron as the first witness Saturday. Cameron was a police officer between 1966 and 1982. He became a police trainer from 1982 until he retired in 2020. He now runs a police training, policy and tactics consulting firm.

Most of Camerons work, he said, has been done in California. He has, however, done work across the country. He testified during the federal trial last fall.

Judge James Jones Jr. listens to Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman as he questions a witness during the sixth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Cameron did confirm that he had reviewed the Memphis Police Departments policy manual and the training files.

The first video played in court is of Haley being pepper-sprayed and doing the Bad Bob training. This training features trainees elbowing and kneeing a training dummy, dubbed Bad Bob, at close range. Cameron said this training exercise is used to prepare officers for potentially being sprayed while trying to arrest someone.

This training, Cameron said, is common across police agencies.

Cameron said he reviewed footage from the scene where Nichols was beaten, training footage, statements made by officers from that night, training footage, policy manuals, use of force policies and all reports related to the Nichols case in preparation for his testimony.

It was a high-risk stop, Cameron said. Mr. Nichols failed to yield to blue lights. He was traveling at a high rate of speed. He changed lanes without signaling. He ran a red light. He refused to stop and then he stopped suddenly. Thats unusual after fleeing from officers.

Cameron said he believes that Haley used the correct force at the traffic stop, including the "verbal judo," or profanity, toward Nichols. He added that the control techniques, from pulling Nichols out of the car, pushing him into the side of the car, and attempting to handcuff Nichols, were proper.

Former Memphis Police Department officer Justin Smith Jr., looks on as a video of him being sprayed with pepper spray when he was a trainee at police academy is shown during the fifth day of the trial for the death of Tyre Nichols at 201 Poplar on Friday, May 2, 2025.

"Mr. Nichols refused to get on his stomach, despite saying, 'I'm on my stomach, I'm doing it,' he was not doing it," Cameron said.

Cameron went on to say that pulling Nichols to the ground was warranted once former officer Emmitt Martin III told Nichols to let go of his gun.

From then, all bets are off, he said, adding that officers had not searched Nichols and could not know if he had a gun of his own.

Verbal judo and soft hands, a type of force that does not include strikes or using weapons, were justified because of the circumstances leading to the stop, Cameron said. He also said pepper-spraying Nichols was appropriate to try and get control of Nichols because it comes before hard hands techniques on the use-of-force continuum, he said.

Cameron also said Nichols was not complying with officers' demands that Nichols get on his stomach, saying he was on his side and had the ability to hurt officers from that position.

Its not necessarily ideal, youd want one officer to give commands, Cameron said of Haley, Martin and former officer Preston Hemphill all giving commands. Cameron said this would be confusing if they were each giving different commands, but that it was fine because they were essentially saying the same thing.

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.

Cameron also said the behavior at the first scene, following the traffic stop, was in line with Haleys training and MPDs standards.

After watching continued footage of Haley trying to recover from getting pepper-sprayed, Cameron said Haley was obviously still debilitated by the pepper spray.

When Haley put on his vest to respond to a call for help with detaining Nichols, Cameron said that was the correct response for a fellow officer to make. Cameron reinforced the lack of knowledge about what Nichols could have been carrying when describing what Haley knew about Nichols at the second scene.

When somebody goes for an officers gun, it becomes a deadly force situation for the officers. Its a deadly force for the officers, and the officers have to use deadly force. Its not routineit immediately jumps to a deadly force incident, Cameron said.

He did say, however, that Haley never used deadly force.

Haley, upon his arrival at the second scene, kicked Nichols in the upper body area. His attorneys have argued Haley kicked Nichols arm and not his face.

Moving ahead to that second scene, Cameron referenced Nichols only having one arm handcuffed again. This, multiple experts have testified, is a dangerous stage, and the handcuff can be used as a weapon.

Mr. Nichols is continuing to resist. Officer Haley can see that when he arrived at the scene with Nichols having one hand handcuffed. Mr. Nichols had his other arm under his body and thats consistent with reaching for the waistband and pulling a gun, or seriously, a knife, Cameron said.

Upon Haleys arrival at the scene, Cameron said Nichols is not in control.

He takes the time to aim and kick the area he wants to kick, Cameron said, adding that was in line with his training.

What happened on the fifth day of the trial?

The fifth day of trial saw testimony from an independent forensic consultant and a use-of-force expert, both of whom also testified during the federal criminal trial.

You can find full updates from day five in this story.

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.

You can find all our updates from the fourth day of the trial in this story.

Former Memphis Police Department officer Demetrius Haley walks into the courtroom 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.

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.

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.

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.

Sentencing for all five officers has been postponed until after the state criminal trial is completed.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Defense rests case in Tyre Nichols state trial, closing arguments Monday
Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, has come out in favour of the domestic intelligence agency's designation of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a confirmed "right-wing extremist" organization.

While as a diplomat, he respects all Germany's domestic decisions, the decision by the domestic intelligence agency regarding the AfD "deserves particular respect," Makeiev told dpa on Saturday.

He expressed concern at the fact that the AfD does not "clearly condemn the brutal Russian war of aggression" and instead seeks friendship with Russia.

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"Russians rape, torture and murder. The AfD plays down, relativizes and denies this," he said.

His comments come after Germany's domestic intelligence service (BfV) determined in a lengthy report that there was now concrete evidence that the anti-immigrant AfD party pursued efforts that threaten Germany's democratic order and that its understanding of the German nation as based on ethnicity and descent was incompatible with Germany's free democratic order.

The BfV 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.

Debate over ban

The BfV's move to designate the far-right party as extremist has reignited debate in Germany about whether to ban the AfD.

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State interior ministers are set to discuss the designation and its implications at their next conference in June.

Specifically, they plan to weigh possible consequences for AfD members in the civil service, state party funding and a possible AfD ban, according to Ulrich Maurer, Bremen's interior senator, who is chairing the meeting.

The interior ministers of Germany's 16 states hold different views on a possible ban of the party, according to some of the comments made to the media on Saturday.

Thuringia's interior minister, Georg Maier, said "initiating a ban procedure is the logical consequence of this decision and must now be tackled consistently as the next step," in comments to the Bild newspaper.

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But his counterpart in Hamburg, Andy Grote, said a court would need to confirm the designation first - though warned this would not be sufficient as a precondition to issue a ban.

Such discussions are premature in the view of Felor Badenberg, justice senator in the city of Berlin and a former vice-president of the BfV.

Badenberg said she expected the AfD to take legal action against the designation, which has implications for how the party is monitored by the intelligence services.

Speaking to national public radio Deutschlandfunk, she noted that this could drag on for years. Politicians should start considering the issue only after the courts had ruled on the designation, Badenberg said.

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The AfD has charged that the BfV's decision is not based on evidence.

Germany's Constitutional Court has been reluctant to ban political parties in the past. After banning two communist parties in the 1950s, the court ruled in 2017 against banning the far-right National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD). An earlier attempt to ban the party was dropped on procedural grounds in 2003.

Calls for clarity

Looking ahead, the police union (GdP) called for a unified approach nationwide. The chairman for the federal police, Andreas Rokopf, told the Rheinische Post newspaper that the federal states and the federal government must agree on a common approach.

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"No procedures have yet been issued from the Interior Ministry or the leadership of the federal police," Rokopf said.

US administration keeping close eye on Germany

Berlin's Badenberg rejected criticism of the BfV decision from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said on Friday: "Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That's not democracy - it's tyranny in disguise."

She told Deutschlandfunk that she could see nothing anti-democratic in the BfV designation.

Noting that the AfD had taken second place in the February elections, Rubio said it was the German establishment that was extremist in backing an open-border immigration policy that the AfD vehemently opposes. He called on Germany to "reverse course."

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Immigration was a key issue in the elections in February that will return the conservative Christian Democrats to power at the head of a coalition government next week.

The leader of a German populist party on Saturday also slammed the BfV's decision as "authoritarian."

The outgoing government has done German democracy a serious disservice, said Sahra Wagenknecht, who heads a breakaway faction of The Left party called the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW).
Ukraine has captured two Togolese nationals who were fighting alongside Russian forces, a Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent on April 3.

Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said the two individuals are in Ukrainian custody.

Togos Foreign Ministry earlier said the detainees had been misled into leaving the country with promises of scholarships allegedly offered by entities claiming to represent Russian institutions. The ministry said most of those involved were young students who ultimately ended up in combat.

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The ministry is actively working with certain diplomatic partners to shed light on this situation and to provide, as far as possible, the necessary assistance to the people concerned, the ministry said in a statement, urging citizens to verify any scholarship offers through official channels before committing to study abroad, particularly in Russia.

The Kyiv Independent has interviewed foreign POWs in Ukrainian custody before. They often cite being misled by their recruiters.

Recently, over 1,500 foreign mercenaries from 48 countries were identified in an April 23 investigation by independent Russian outlet Important Stories.

Despite earlier claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that foreign fighters were not needed, leaked documents from Moscows military recruitment system show mass enlistment efforts. Among the top nationalities are Nepalese, Sri Lankan, Chinese, and several Central Asian citizens.

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In early April, two Chinese nationals were captured in Donetsk Oblast while fighting for Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky later said that "several hundred" Chinese nationals were taking part in the war on Russia's side. One detainee reportedly paid a middleman 300,000 rubles (about $3,500) to enlist in exchange for Russian citizenship.

China has denied involvement, claiming it urges its citizens to avoid armed conflicts. Moscow has also used some 12,000 North Korean army troops dispatched by Pyongyang to counter the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk Oblast, involvement of which it firstly confirmed on April 26.

Read also: Kremlin says Russia ready for mass mobilization like in WWII at any moment

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 183 loitering munitions and various types of decoy drones on the night of 2-3 May. Ukrainian air defence units have downed 77 of them, while a further 73 have disappeared from radar.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Details: Reports indicate that 77 Shahed loitering munitions are confirmed to have been shot down in Ukraine's east, north, south and centre.

The Russian attack has affected Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk and Mykolaiv oblasts.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend Russias Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9, warning that any incidents on Russian territory fall solely under the Kremlins control, Interfax Ukraine reported on May 3.

Our position is very simple for all countries traveling to Russia on May 9: We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation, Zelensky said during a briefing with journalists. They are responsible for your safety. We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates.

Zelensky cautioned that Russia could orchestrate provocations, including arsons, explosions, or other actions, and then attempt to blame Ukraine. He said Kyiv has advised visiting delegations accordingly.

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Russian President Vladimir Putins government has reportedly invited numerous foreign leaders to attend commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Unions victory over Nazi Germany. Among the invited guests are leaders from EU member Slovakia, EU candidate Serbia, as well as China, India, and Brazil.

I told the foreign minister that when countries reach out to us, we must clearly state: We do not recommend visiting Russia from a (security) standpoint. And if you choose to go, that is your personal decision  do not ask us for guarantees, Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Ukraine has shown respect toward nations that have remained neutral or aligned with Russia due to historic ties, including China, and that Kyiv continues to engage in diplomatic dialogue with those states.

But Ukraine bears no responsibility for what happens inside Russia. That is a fact, Zelensky added. Moreover, I am sure that other countries engage in the same diplomacy with the Russians when they come to us, and experience shows that we have had many different leaders, and during their visits there were various formats of attacks, assaults, intimidation.

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In March 2024, Russia launched a missile strike on Odesa during a visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, killing five people. The explosion occurred just moments after Greek PM and President Zelensky toured the citys port.

Russia celebrates the end of World War II in Europe on May 9, marking the occasion with pompous military parades. Most other European nations, including Ukraine, mark May 8 as Victory in Europe Day.

Read also: Zelensky rejects Putins truce proposal as theatrical, backs 30-day ceasefire plan from US

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Ukraine wants to hold a meeting of national security advisers with the participation of the United States, the UK, France and Germany, which play a leading role in the "peace process" with Russia.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists about this; European Pravda reported, citing Bloomberg

Details: Zelenskyy spoke about preparations for meetings at the national security adviser level, which will follow up on the latest talks in London and Paris last month.

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"I am not ready to tell you the date now as there were some changes in the US. Secretary of State Rubio has the powers of the national security adviser, and I dont think anyone will wait for a new appointment," Zelenskyy said, referring to Mike Waltz's dismissal.

The president of Ukraine also noted that advisers from the US, Europe and Ukraine are in regular contact.

Background:

On 23 April, talks at the level of foreign ministers of Ukraine, the US, France, Germany and the UK were expected to take place in London. However, the ministerial-level talks were postponed, and meetings were held at the level of senior officials instead.

The Ukrainian delegation met with US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg, among others.

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Ukraine said on Saturday it had shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Russian port city of Novorossiysk using a naval drone.

The Russian Su-30 jet was hit by a missile and crashed into the sea, Ukrainian military intelligence said, publishing a video of the alleged launch over the Black Sea.

Russian military bloggers confirmed the incident, saying the pilots survived the crash and were rescued by a civilian ship.

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However, Moscow has not officially confirmed the jet was brought down. The Ukrainian account could not initially be independently verified.

If the downing of the jet is confirmed, this would be the first time the Ukrainian armed forces have brought down a Russian jet with a naval drone.

In December, Ukrainian military intelligence said it had shot down two Russian helicopters using naval drones.

Black Sea coast hit by drones

Earlier, Kiev's forces attacked a series of targets on the Black Sea coast with drones.

Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev wrote on Telegram that the region came under attack, with the city of Novorossiysk particularly badly hit. There had been a fire at a grain terminal and damage to three blocks of flats, he said.

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According to the Novorossiysk mayor, Andrei Kravchenko, five people were injured, including two children.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that 170 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over five Russian regions and the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

The military data cannot be verified in detail, but the numbers allow conclusions to be drawn about the scale of the attacks.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years.

As part of its defence campaign, it also repeatedly attacks targets in Russia. The damage and casualties are far smaller than the devastating consequences of the Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine reports large-scale drone attack on Kharkiv

Ukrainian authorities in the city of Kharkhiv said overnight that almost 50 people had been injured in a large-scale attack.

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Regional military administrator Oleh Syniehubov said that Russia used 11 bombs and 52 drones of various types to hit the Kharkhiv region.

The strikes hit 12 locations in four separate districts of the city itself.

According to Syniehubov, residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and cars were damaged. The information from the Ukrainian side could not initially be independently verified.

The Ukrainian air force wrote on Telegram in the morning that Russia had fired two ballistic missiles and used 183 drones. Of these, 77 had been shot down.

"There were no military targets, nor could there have been," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a social media post reacting to the attack.

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"While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives," he added.

Zelensky warns of security threats at Moscow's WWII parade

Zelensky warned those set to attend World War II commemorations in Moscow on May 9 that Ukraine could not guarantee their safety.

"We cannot bear responsibility for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation," he told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Saturday, warning that Russia could carry out arson attacks or set off explosives and blame them on Kiev.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed Zelensky's remarks as a "classic threat from a terrorist of international stature," in a post on Telegram.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral ceasefire for May 8 to 11 to coincide with the annual Victory Parade on Moscow's Red Square to mark the end of World War II, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9.

Moscow rejected a proposal by Kiev to extend the ceasefire to a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire.
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.

According to Ukrainian officials, the version of the deal signed Wednesday is far more beneficial to Ukraine than previous versions, which they said reduced Kyiv to a junior partner and gave Washington unprecedented rights to the countrys resources.

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 U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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We have formed a version of the agreement that provides mutually beneficial conditions for both countries. This is an agreement in which the United States notes its commitment to promoting long-term peace in Ukraine and recognizes the contribution that Ukraine has made to global security by giving up its nuclear arsenal, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed the deal for Ukraine, said in a post on Facebook.

The signing comes during what U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said would be a very critical week for U.S.-led efforts to end the war that appear to have stalled. Ukraine sees the deal as a way to ensure that its biggest and most consequential ally stays engaged and doesnt freeze military support, which has been key in its 3-year-old fight against Russias full-scale invasion.

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, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who signed for the U.S., said in a statement.

Here is a look at the deal.

What does the deal include?

The deal covers minerals, including rare earth elements, but also other valuable resources, including oil and natural gas, according to the text released by Ukraines government.

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It does not include resources that are already a source of revenue for the Ukrainian state. In other words, any profits under the deal are dependent on the success of new investments. Ukrainian officials have also noted that it does not refer to any debt obligations for Kyiv, meaning profits from the fund will likely not go toward paying the U.S. back for its previous support.

Officials have also emphasized that the agreement ensures full ownership of the resources remains with Ukraine, and the state will determine what can be extracted and where.

It does not mention any explicit security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression that Ukraine has long insisted on.

The text of the deal lists 55 minerals but says more can be agreed to.

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Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in Ukraines rare earth elements, and some of them are included in the list, as are other critical minerals, such as titanium, lithium and uranium.

What are rare earth elements?

They are a group of 17 elements that are essential to many kinds of consumer technology, including cellphones, hard drives and electric and hybrid vehicles.

China is the worlds largest producer of rare earth elements, and both the U.S and Europe have sought to reduce their dependence on Beijing, Trumps chief geopolitical adversary.

They include elements such as lanthanum, cerium and scandium, which are listed in the deal.

How will the fund work?

The agreement establishes a reconstruction investment fund, and both the U.S. and Ukraine will have an equal say in its management, according to Svyrydenko.

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The fund will be supported by the U.S. government through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation agency, which Ukraine hopes will attract investment and technology from American and European countries.

Ukraine is expected to contribute 50% of all future profits from government-owned natural resources into the fund. The United States will also contribute in the form of direct funds and equipment, including badly needed air defense systems and other military aid.

Contributions to the fund will be reinvested in projects related to mining, oil and gas as well as infrastructure.

No profits will be taken from the fund for the first 10 years, Svyrydenko said.

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Trump administration officials initially pushed for a deal in which Washington would receive $500 billion in profits from exploited minerals as compensation for its wartime support.

But Zelenskyy rejected the offer, saying he would not sign off on an agreement that will be paid off by 10 generations of Ukrainians.

What is the state of Ukraines minerals industry?

Ukraines rare earth elements are largely untapped because of state policies regulating the industry, a lack of good information about deposits, and the war.

The industrys potential is unclear since geological data is thin because mineral reserves are scattered across Ukraine, and existing studies are considered largely inadequate, according to businessmen and analysts.

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In general, however, the outlook for Ukrainian natural resources is promising. The countrys reserves of titanium, a key component for the aerospace, medical and automotive industries, are believed to be among Europes largest. Ukraine also holds some of Europes largest known reserves of lithium, which is required to produce batteries, ceramics and glass.

In 2021, the Ukrainian mineral industry accounted for 6.1% of the countrys gross domestic product and 30% of exports.

An estimated 40% of Ukraines metallic mineral resources are inaccessible because of Russian occupation, according to data from We Build Ukraine, a Kyiv-based think tank. Ukraine has argued that its in Trumps interest to develop the remainder before Russian advances capture more.

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The Russian region of Krasnodar on the Black Sea has come under attack, local Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said early on Saturday, hours after Ukraine reported a large-scale drone strike on the city of Kharkhiv.

The Russian port city of Novorossiysk had been particularly badly hit, Kondratyev wrote on Telegram. There had been a fire at a grain terminal and damage to three blocks of flats.

According to the mayor Andrei Kravchenko, five people were injured, including two children.

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The Russian Defence Ministry said that 170 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over five Russian regions and the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

The military data cannot be verified in detail, but the numbers allow conclusions to be drawn about the scale of the attacks.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years.

As part of its defence campaign, it also repeatedly attacks targets in Russia. The damage and casualties are far smaller than the devastating consequences of the Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian authorities in the city of Kharkhiv said overnight that almost 50 people had been injured in a large-scale attack.

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Regional military administrator Oleh Syniehubov said that Russia used 11 bombs and 52 drones of various types to hit the Kharkhiv region.

The strikes hit 12 locations in four separate districts of the city itself.

According to Syniehubov, residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and cars were damaged. The information ffrom the Ukrainian side could not initially be independently verified.

The Ukrainian air force wrote on Telegram in the morning that Russia had shot two ballistic missiles and used 183 drones. Of these, 77 had been shot down.

"There were no military targets, nor could there have been," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a social media post reacting to the attack.

"While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives," he added.
Ukrainian armed forces will take part in the UKs military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK service personnel from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force in London on Monday.

This joining together will symbolise the global support for Ukraines continued fight for freedom against Russias unprovoked, illegal invasion, the MoD said.

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Victory in Europe Day, known as VE Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year to mark the day the Allies formally accepted Germanys surrender in 1945.

The representatives of the Ukrainian armed forces taking part in the procession will comprise those deployed to the UK on Operation Interflex  the UK armed forces training programme for Ukrainian recruits, delivered with 12 partner nations.

The UK and its allies have trained more than 54,000 Ukrainians in frontline combat skills since the programme was established in the summer of 2022, following Russias full-scale invasion.

The operation has been extended to at least the end of the year, with an enhanced training programme to ensure the Ukrainian forces are equipped with vital battlefield skills.

Volodymyr Zelenskys forces have been fighting the Russian invasion for over three years - Getty Images/Virginia Mayo

The Ukrainian armed forces representatives will join the UK military personnel, including soldiers on horseback and seven military bands.

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The MoD said Second World War veterans will be at the heart of the celebrations, watching the procession from the royal box at the Queen Victoria Memorial.

D-Day veteran Jack Mortimer, 101, who will be watching the procession, said: People from all over the world joined forces 80 years ago to defend freedom  we must remember all of their sacrifices.

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.

Mr Mortimer will join Second World War veterans at the Royal British Legions tea party and service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum on May 8.

VE Day was celebrated across the UK when the Allies formally accepted Germanys surrender in 1945 - Getty Images/Hulton Deutsch

The VE Day 80 commemorations will begin on Monday with the military procession, expected to be viewed by thousands of people along The Mall.

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The procession will conclude with The Mall being filled by members of the public, and a fly-past featuring the Red Arrows and 23 current and historic military aircraft.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said: Eighty years after VE Day, we will celebrate our wartime veterans, our greatest generation.

We will ensure their spirit lives on, not just in our armed forces but also in our values and commitment to strength through unity.

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 front line of freedom are represented in Mondays event.

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Major Pavlo, an officer of the Ukrainian marching contingent, said: The participation of Ukrainian service personnel in the VE Day parade in London symbolises our strength, courage and resilience.

It is a recognition that Ukraine and its heroes stand at the forefront of the fight for freedom and peace in the world. We are grateful to our allies for their support and solidarity.

A number of events will be held across the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day  one commemoration sees the return of 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

A variety of events are scheduled to take place around the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The King and Queen will host a tea party for Second World War veterans as part of the celebrations.

Historic landmarks across the country will be lit up in the evening on May 6, while a VE Day Anniversary Concert will be held by the Parliament Choir at the Palace of Westminster the following day.

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A Russian Su-30 fighter jet was destroyed by a sea drone strike carried out by Ukraine's military intelligence, marking the first time a sea drone has taken down a jet, Ukraine's military intelligence said on May 3.

The intelligence agency, HUR, said the unprecedented operation took place on May 2 near the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea and published the video of the strike. The strike was carried out by Group 13, a special unit within HUR, using a Magura sea drone equipped with a missile warhead.

"This is the world's first destruction of a combat aircraft by a naval drone," the statement read.

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The Kyiv Independent can't independently confirm the Ukrainian intelligence report.

The multi-role Su-30 fighter, valued at approximately $50 million, was reportedly hit in midair and crashed into the sea.

The operation was conducted in coordination with Ukraines Security Service (SBU) and the countrys defense forces, according to the intelligence agency.

Ukraine had previously used the Magura V5 drone to down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters on Dec. 31, 2024, in what was then considered a world-first drone strike on airborne targets from the sea.

Overnight on May 3, local Russian officials claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack on Krasnodar Krai injured four people, and damaged homes and a grain terminal in Novorossiysk. A state of emergency was declared in the city, while the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that over 170 Ukrainian drones and several naval drones were intercepted across Crimea and the Black Sea.

Read also: Ukraine to increase drone, robotics production, Zelensky says

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By Yuka Obayashi and Katya Golubkova

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese trading houses from Mitsubishi to Sumitomo Corp promised healthy shareholder returns this year amid cautious profit forecasts, trying to keep investors, including Warren Buffett, happy amid U.S. tariff uncertainty.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is a large minority shareholder in Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Itochu and Marubeni. It has been recently raising stakes in the companies which trade everything from gas to food.

Mitsubishi expects net profit for the year ending next March to fall 26% due to the absence of one-off gains from asset sales it enjoyed last fiscal year. But it still plans to increase its dividend by 10 yen to 110 yen ($0.76) per share and to continue with its 1 trillion yen share repurchase programme, it said on Friday.

Chief Executive Officer Katsuya Nakanishi told a briefing he believes that his company has gained trust from Buffet, citing the recent increase of Berkshire Hathaway's stake in Mitsubishi.

"We understand that he (Buffet) has placed trust in our strategy and management approach," Nakanishi said on Friday.

Itochu, which targets net profit to hit another record high this year of 900 billion yen thanks to non-resource businesses, plans to continue with a shareholder payout ratio of 50% and will spend 150 billion yen to buy back up to 2% of its own shares.

Both Marubeni and Sumitomo set aside loss buffers of 30 billion yen and 40 billion yen, respectively, for the possible negative impact from U.S. tariffs which Japan is trying to avert.

Marubeni plans shareholder distributions of 210 billion yen as it aims for a shareholder return ratio of around 40%, and will buy back up to 4.2% of its shares worth 70 billion yen, it said on Friday.

Sumitomo plans to increase its annual dividend to 140 yen for the year ending next March, from 130 yen now, and to buy back up to 2.9% of its shares worth 80 billion yen, it said on Thursday.

($1 = 145.1800 yen)

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi and Katya Golubkova; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Ukrainian soldiers will join a military parade in the UK on Monday 5 May to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day in London.

Source: Sky News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The UK Ministry of Defence has announced that Ukrainian troops will take part alongside around 1,000 British soldiers in a march through central London.

This will symbolise global support for Ukraine in its "continued fight for freedom against Russia's unprovoked, illegal invasion", the UK Ministry of Defence said.

Rehearsal of the procession.

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Photo: UK Ministry of Defence

The Ukrainian troops participating in Monday's procession are those currently in the UK under Operation Interflex, a training programme for Ukrainian recruits led by the UK in cooperation with 12 partner nations.

The UK and its partners have trained over 54,000 Ukrainians for combat since the launch of Interflex in the summer of 2022.

For reference: VE Day is celebrated annually on 8 May to mark the official acceptance of the German capitulation by the Allies in 1945.

Background: Meanwhile, a military parade is being prepared for 14 June in the United States, which is expected to involve more than 6,600 troops, at least 150 vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven bands and possibly several thousand civilians.

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Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) equipped with R-73 air-to-air missiles are reported to have hit a Russian Su-30 fighter jet near the port of Novorossiysk.

Source: Mezha Media, a technology and IT news platform within Ukrainska Pravda's holding company; Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU); a number of Russian military bloggers

Quote from DIU: "A historic strike has been carried out by soldiers from Group 13, a special DIU unit, using a missile from a Magura uncrewed surface platform. A multi-purpose fighter jet belonging to the aggressor state of Russia, with an estimated cost of about US$50 million, burst into flames in the air and eventually crashed into the sea, to the bottom of the ruthless Neptune's domain."

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Background: Last year, DIU officially announced the integration of Soviet-era R-73 air-to-air missiles with infrared guidance onto MAGURA uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). This upgrade enabled Ukrainian forces to destroy two Russian Mi-8 helicopters in December.

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HARASTA, Syria (AP)  The United Nations special envoy for Syria on Saturday condemned an intense wave of Israeli airstrikes as Israel said its forces were on the ground in Syria to protect the Druze minority sect following days of clashes with Syrian pro-government gunmen.

The late Friday airstrikes were reported in different parts of the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, as well as southern and central Syria, local Syrian media reported. They came hours after Israels air force struck near Syrias presidential palace after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by Syrian Druze.

Israels military spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, wrote on X that the strikes targeted a military post and anti-aircraft units. He also said the Israeli troops in Southern Syria were to prevent any hostile force from entering the area or Druze villages" and that five Syrian Druze wounded in the fighting were transported for treatment in Israel.

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The Israeli military issued another statement later Saturday saying that 12 warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes targeting infrastructure components and weapons across Syria, including anti-aircraft cannons and surface-to-air missile launchers.

Syrias state news agency, SANA, reported Saturday that four people were wounded in central Syria, and that the airstrikes hit the eastern Damascus suburb of Harasta as well as the southern province of Daraa and the central province of Hama.

U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, denounced the strikes on X.

I strongly condemn Israels continued and escalating violations of Syrias sovereignty, including multiple airstrikes in Damascus and other cities, Pedersen wrote Saturday, calling for an immediate cease of attacks and for Israel to stop endangering Syrian civilians and to respect international law and Syrias sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence.

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Four days of clashes between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters have left nearly 100 people dead and raised fears of deadly sectarian violence.

The clashes are the worst between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters since the early December fall of President Bashar Assad, whose family ruled Syria with an iron grip for more than five decades.

Israel has its own Druze community and officials have said they will protect the Druze of Syria and warned Islamic militant groups from entering predominantly Druze areas. Israeli forces have carried out hundreds of airstrikes since Assads fall and captured a buffer zone along the Golan Heights.

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.

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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.

____

Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.
SUNSET BEACH, N.C. (WNCN)  For the third time in just a month, an alligator at the North Carolina coast surprised folks and the animal had to be removed by officers.

Twice in April, alligators caused problems in the Brunswick County town of Southport. In one case, a small alligator climbed a fence and headed toward a busy road.

About three weeks later, a large alligator  up to 14 feet long  was on a Southport street when officers were called. But, when police arrived, the big gator was in a homes backyard and was eventually caught.

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Now, in another Brunswick County town, a small alligator surprised a Sunset Beach homeowner on Oyster Pointe Drive, police said Thursday.

NC alligators stirring as weather warms; 12 spotted so far along Brunswick County river

The alligator was discovered hiding under a car inside a garage, the Sunset Beach Police Department said.

The gator removed in Sunset Beach this week (left). The large alligator (top right) and small gator (bottom right) removed in Southport last month. Photos from Sunset Beach Police and Southport police.

Several young ladies visiting from out of town happened to witness the event, police said. It was an unexpected and unforgettable first alligator sighting!

Sunset Beach had several alligator sightings last summer, with gators found in the police parking lot and a Food Lion parking lot.

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Police in the island town had to remind residents and visitors not to approach gator nests.

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Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday in response to a reporters question about upcoming shortages of consumer goods. Maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more. As the New York Times reported this week, in a piece featuring interviews with many concerned toy shop owners and CEOs of companies that manufacture blasters and bubble guns, Trump tariff-related shortages will hit the toy industry quite hard; China produces 80 percent of toys sold in the United States, and the tariffs, one toy industry analyst told the Times, are putting Christmas at risk.

The presidents let-them-eat-cake reply was almost too easy of a target. X and Bluesky users responded with images from that famous golden penthouse photo shoot, like this one featuring Melania with a gilded baby carriage. Even the New York Post piled on with a characteristically great front-page headline: Skimp on the Barbie. Trump, it seemed, wants minimalism for thee, but not for he. Later that day, White House aide Stephen Miller argued that American dolls would be better to buy for children anyway, because of the environmental and regulatory standards applied to their manufacturea response that made critics howl with bitter laughter, given how many environmental and regulatory standards have been slashed and burned by this administration.

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Thats all true. But this particular line is a Trump hit, not a Trump miss. I am speaking in terms of pure politics, not in terms of right or wrong. The president is trying to sell something highly unpopular. Higher prices on consumer goods are going to affect our purchases of things like lawnmowers, mattresses, shoes, clothes, knives, paper towels  the list goes on. Everyone knows Jimmy Carter tried to tell people in the 1970s that piling up material goods cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose, and although at first (as historian Kevin Mattson wrote for Slate a few years ago) Americans wrote Carter letters responding well to that sentiment, later Ronald Reagan took the idea, spun it around, and used it as a knife to Carters heart. This dilemma Trump finds himself inhow to sell scarcity when you promised abundanceis why 30 dolls is a genius bit of diversionary rhetoric. As Reagan said, in response to Carter, theres nothing wrong with the American people. But there can always be something wrong with American children!

The idea that kids dont need that many toys has roots in the thoughts of real, actual parents, not all of whom are MAGA. My most regretted early-parenthood essay, written right after my childs first Christmas, was about the dream of toy limitation. Back then, before my child developed opinions and joined the world of other children at school, I followed a lot of influencers and read a lot of books by people who were in the Waldorf, Montessori, and kids should be outdoors more worlds. These people are pretty trad in a bunch of waysadvocating less screens, unprocessed food, and so onand one core belief of that entire parenting sphere is that kids are better off with fewer playthings of higher quality, so they could keep an uncluttered mind and experience flow in their play. Basically: two dolls, not 30, and the two dolls cost more.

As I wrote back then, I found this quite convincing; I wanted my beautiful, pure baby to have a better relationship with stuff than I had. For those first Christmases and birthdays, I bought toys like these wooden forest animals that I thought were so cute and so wholesome, sold at a price point that shocked my husband. All this idealism got dashed to pieces by my actual, living child, who (I wrote in a follow-up in 2023, after Marie Kondo made the bombshell admission that having actual, living children had made her house untidy) didnt give a crap about minimalism or higher-quality dolls. She wanted 30 dollsno, she wanted 50and whats more, she wanted every single plastic trinket that came home in every single goody bag, and no, she did not want to get rid of the old trinkets to make room for the new ones.

We have turned a bit of a corner now; shes 8 and recently admitted that the top of her bureau looks better after I made it into a getting ready stationwith only a few organizers for scrunchies, necklaces, and headbandsthan it did back when it was an undifferentiated mosaic of dusty Legos, crappy novelty books brought home from free libraries, and tiny keychain Kooshes. My utter failure to teach her, through example or lecture, about the virtues of owning less crap has been an important lesson in parental humility. Maybe one day shell agree with me, but it certainly didnt happen easily, the way the Montessori influencerswho promised me that children are naturally orderlysaid it would.

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The experience of being subject to this trinket floodalong with parallel and related floods that had more to do with our buying choices than with her lust for plastic, involving baby gear and inexpensive childrens clotheswas formative for me in another way. American parenthood is an intense encounter with the excesses of the consumer economy, where the acquisition of stuff feels like its not in your control, and rarely seems to redound to your benefit. Thats why the fantasy of toy limitation is so appealing. It just seems right, even if its entirely unrealistic in practicelike all the best anti-modern parenting philosophies.

No, two dolls instead of 30 was an almost perfect thing to say to defend these disastrous tariffs. Rare is the middle-class parent who hasnt had the same thought, surveying a house cluttered with cheap, crummy junk. If I had one note, itd be that Trump should have said stuffies instead of dolls. My daughters stuffie population approaches 100. Something must be done.
Editors note: This video aired in a previous newscast.

NEW YORK (PIX11)United Airlines is canceling dozens of round-trip flights from Newark Airport, blaming FAA staffing issues, it announced Friday evening.

United CEO Scott Kirby announced the airline will cease 35 daily round-trip flights starting this weekend.

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In the past few days, on more than one occasion, technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed, resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights, and worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans. Unfortunately, the technology issues were compounded as over 20% of the FAA controllers for EWR walked off the job. Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years, and without these controllers, its now clear  and the FAA tells us  that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead. United CEO Scott Kirby

The announcement comes days after a ground stop was issued at the New Jersey airport. Officials cited construction and staffing shortages for the delays.

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The impacts on flights are still ongoing, with a ground delay still in effect as of Friday evening, according to the FAA website.

Kirby noted that it was disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark, but since the near-term structural FAA staffing issues could not be resolved, the company had no other choice but to protect our customers.

PIX11 News contacted the FAA, but they were unavailable for immediate comment.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(NewsNation)  United Airlines is eliminating 35 round-trip flights per day out of Newark Liberty Airport beginning this weekend due to technology issues with the airports air traffic control system and staffing issues, United officials announced Friday.

United CEO Scott Kirby announced the daily cancellations in an online statement to customers posted on the airlines website. Kirby wrote that on more than one occasion over the past few days, the technology that Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers use to manage flights failed.

Kirby said the failures caused hundreds of delayed and canceled flights. He said that the issues were worsened by the fact that 20% of air traffic controllers working at the Newark airport walked off the job due to the continued issues.

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Jobs solid, confidence down: The economys mixed message

Kirby also wrote that the air traffic control facilities at the New Jersey airport have been chronically understaffed for years.

Without these controllers, its now clear  that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate in the weeks and months ahead, Kirby wrote in the announcement.

Kirby said that United is doing everything it can to minimize the impact on customers, which led to the 35 daily flights being canceled, he wrote.

Its disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark, but since there is no way to resolve the near-term structural FAA staffing issues, we feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers, Kirby said, according to the statement.

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Multiple media reports, citing data from the flight-tracking site, FlightAware, reported that as of Friday, more than 300 flights in and out of Newark were either delayed or canceled. That was added to more than 1,400 flights that were affected by the difficulties earlier this week.

The FAA announced Friday that staffing issues were affecting airport operations in Newark, CNBC reported.

Kirby said that United has been urging the government to limit the number of flights that the airport can realistically manage due to staffing. The Wall Street Journal reported that United accounts for about 75% of the Newark airports traffic. The report also said the airline plans to add five new nonstop international flights out of the airport this year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
United Airlines will cancel 35 daily round-trip flights from Newark Liberty International Airport.

CEO Scott Kirby cites the airport's inability to handle the scheduled flight volume.

The decision comes after more than 20% of FAA staff members walked off the job.

United Airlines is canceling dozens of daily flights to and from Newark Liberty International Airport because the airport "cannot handle the number of planes" coming in and out.

CEO Scott Kirby made the announcement on Friday, citing a staff shortage at the airport's air traffic control.

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"Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead," Kirby said in a letter to customers. "We feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers."

Air traffic control issues have plagued Newark in recent weeks, causing major delays. In response, many airport workers walked off the job, exacerbating the problem.

"Technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed, resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights, and worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans," Kirby said in a statement to customers on Friday.

Kirby blamed a "chronically understaffed" air traffic control facility and a lack of intervention as the root causes.

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The airline operates around 300 daily round-trip flights on average.

United, which operates as a major hub there, has long pushed the government to reclassify Newark as a "Level 3" airport, which would allow the FAA to limit the number of scheduled flights based on capacity and infrastructure constraints.

Several factors have contributed to the ongoing air traffic controller shortage in the United States. A 2023 report from the Department of Transportation found that the FAA still faced staffing challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause on training. The report said the FAA "lacks a plan to address" the staffing issues, which "in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations."

Air traffic controllers are also hard to staff because they have specific age requirements. The FAA requires that air traffic controllers retire when they turn 56, and the agency is now only accepting applications from people under the age of 31.

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In a call with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, however, Kirby expressed optimism: "We're pleased that the new administration has put together a proposal for a large, systemwide investment in FAA technology, infrastructure and staffing," he said.

Duffy said Thursday the FAA is on track to hire 2,000 new air traffic controllers this year. His plan also includes monetary incentives of up to $10,000 for academy graduates who are assigned to "hard-to-staff" air traffic facilities. The proposal would also provide financial incentives to staff, reward academy graduates, and expand the number of instructors.

"Today's actions will supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both retention and hiring side of the equation  bringing us one step closer to reversing decades of staffing declines," Duffy said in a statement.

Duffy added on X: "We are working to harden the system. But this is why it's critical that we build an all-new air traffic control system."

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United's CEO unveiled a three-point plan in March to reduce delays. The plan focused on investing in staffing, technology, and facilities, after the company announced it would cut back on its domestic flight schedule by 4% in July.

Newark Liberty International Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The nations leading universities are locked in an unprecedented battle with a president and an administration that have chosen to withhold billions of dollars in vital federal research funding in order to take control of institutions for which freedom of thought and expression are among their most essential values.

For many, including me, this has eerie echoes of the MAGA-admired campaign by Hungarian President Viktor Orban to rid his country of the Central European University. The school had been founded specifically to help revitalize civil society and its values, including academic freedom, in the regions transition from dictatorship to democracy after decades of Nazi and then Communist control. Silencing and capturing universities and the free pressboth of them crucial sources of knowledge essential to democratic self-governance and morehave long been at the top of the authoritarian to-do list.

[From the May 2025 issue: Americas future is Hungary]

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But the roots of American higher education, and the essential role of our colleges and universities in the nations rise to global leadership, run deep. Indeed, in the case of Harvard University and several peer institutionssuch as the one I used to lead, Columbia Universitythose roots predate the founding of our republic. These institutions have contributed enormously to the countrys development for centuries.

It is especially ironic that, just as we began the countdown to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with commemorations at Lexington and Concord, this contemporary battle over the future of universities took a dangerous new turn in nearby Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the Trump administration sent a shocking list of demands for ideological and political control over core matters of Harvards academic governance and freedom.

That earlier battle to establish the United States as a free, self-governing republic was itself a product of the 18th-century Enlightenment, in which the search for truth according to norms of reason, objectivity, and scientific experiment was asserted as a primary end of life and society. Many have noted the Enlightenments influence on our Founders, represented most significantly in the First Amendment, with its deceptively simple words: Congress shall make no law  abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.

This was a revolutionary moment in human history. It upended the political universe, declaring that sovereignty lies in the people, not in the divine right of kings. It was equally profound in declaring that a good life and a good society require an ongoing search for understanding and knowledgenot a mentality of obedience or submission, but one of active engagement with the myriad ideas that emerge from a system of extreme openness.

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The connection between a good society and the quest for understanding became the principal theme when the Supreme Court finally got around to interpreting the First Amendment, more than a century after its ratification. Public protests against American involvement in the First World War, including against military conscription and anti-Bolshevik intervention in Russia, had led to federal enactment of the Espionage Act of 1917, amended by the Sedition Act of 1918. In Abrams v. United States (1919), pro-Bolshevik activists were convicted under these laws for distributing pamphlets urging a general strike against U.S. munitions factories. In another case, the Socialist Party presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs was convicted and jailed for giving an anti-war speech praising draft resisters (while carefully avoiding encouraging others to join them).

In what would turn out to be the seminal dissenting opinion in Abramsone of the most compelling and commanding statements ever made about the meaning of freedom of speechJustice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. began by describing how difficult it is, given our natural impulses, to align ourselves with our higher interests in seeking truth.

Of the impulse to censorship, he wrote: Persecution for the expression of opinions seems to me perfectly logical. If you have no doubt of your premises or your power and want a certain result with all your heart you naturally express your wishes in law and sweep away all opposition. To allow opposition by speech seems to indicate that you think the speech impotent, as when a man says that he has squared the circle, or that you do not care whole heartedly for the result, or that you doubt either your power or your premises.

[Read: The end of college life]

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From this central observation about the logic of intolerance, Holmes then continued with a stirring expression of what a good life is and of how the Constitution reflects that understanding. He explained that when people have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct that the ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideasthat the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market, and that truth is the only ground upon which their wishes safely can be carried out. It is worth emphasizing that in the First Amendment, Holmes found not just a simple limit on government power, but also a way to create a good lifein other words, he offered us a path toward the meaning of life subsumed within a constitutional check on government power.

Finally, as if to demonstrate a mind always prepared to see the contingent nature of beliefs, Holmes modestly asserted: That at any rate is the theory of our Constitution. It is an experiment, as all life is an experiment. Every year, if not every day, we have to wager our salvation upon some prophecy based upon imperfect knowledge. While that experiment is part of our system I think that we should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions we loathe and believe to be fraught with death, unless they so imminently threaten immediate interference with the lawful and pressing purposes of the law that an immediate check is required to save the country. From this cogent statement has come our rich, intricate, and far-reaching First Amendment jurisprudence.

Holmess foundational opinion about the meaning of the First Amendment has been challenged and amended in the decades since, most notably by scholars such as Alexander Meiklejohn, who wanted to substitute the idea that free speech is related only to the process of self-governance in a democracy, and not to the broader conception of a search for truth. But politics, after all, is only part of life. So while other theories of the First Amendment have also sprouted up over the past century (including my own, rooted in the idea of tolerance), none has ever supplanted that of the search for truth, which remains the lodestar for the First Amendment to this day.

If the pursuit of knowledge and truth is embedded in our founding document and, in particular, the First Amendment to the Constitution, then it is the broad network of American colleges and universities that represent the organized means by which we achieve this fundamental human goal. Universities, and especially our research universities, are charged with the mission of discovering, preserving, and passing on knowledge. They pursue this task with a unique set of qualities, securing a lifelong commitment from some of the best and brightest of each generation. These individuals work in a physically discrete spacea campusunder extraordinary intellectual norms that demand a depth of expertise in their field, a focused determination to expand that knowledge, and a host of special character traits, including an exceptional (some would say abnormal) openness to ideas, full attribution to others when appropriate, comprehensive explanations of ones ideas, and a continual readiness to reexamine whatever conclusions have been reached. I have called this the scholarly temperament, noting its intense intellectual discipline, and how it is the absolute condition of membership in the academic community. It is also a matter of entrenched culture, reinforced by the specific and intimate spatial and institutional character of the typical university. Colleges and universities are created in unique ways in order to maximize the fundamental human value of the need to know. You sense this immediately when you walk onto a campus.

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And, as such, the Supreme Court has over time acknowledged that these qualities entitle universities to a special standing within First Amendment jurisprudence. In a well-known opinion (Sweezy v. New Hampshire, 1957), Justices Felix Frankfurter and John Marshall Harlan II concurred in the decision to protect a professor whose lectures prompted a sweeping investigation by the attorney general of New Hampshire into possible links to communism. The Court recognized academic freedom as a core constitutional interest and offered this caution, clearly mindful of McCarthyisms damaging impact on academic life during those years: Scholarship cannot flourish in an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust. Teachers and students must always remain free to inquire, study and to evaluate.

Going further, Justice Frankfurter warned of the grave harm resulting from governmental intrusion into the intellectual life of a university. Citing a statement by senior scholars at two open universities in South Africa, Frankfurter and Harlan proclaimed: It is the business of a university to provide that atmosphere which is most conducive to speculation, experiment and creation. It is an atmosphere in which there prevail the four essential freedoms of a universityto determine for itself on academic grounds who may teach, what may be taught, how it shall be taught, and who may be admitted to study.

The idea that universities have special standing is not a fully developed doctrine. The most apt analogy is to how we have come to think about the role of the press within First Amendment doctrine. There has been a long-standing debate in First Amendment jurisprudence over whether the press should be regarded as playing a distinct systemic role, which begins with a notable argument made by Justice Potter Stewart in the 1970s about how we should understand the First Amendment. Certain major casessuch as The New York Times v. Sullivan (1964), a libel case, and The New York Times v. United States (1971), the Pentagon Papers casearguably were decided with the special concerns for the press and its role in public debate very much in mind. However, several major Court decisions, notably Branzburg v. Hayes (1972), rejected a specific claim by the press for a special privilege against having to testify in a grand-jury proceeding about sources. Several other decisions denied a special right of access for the press to government facilities (prisons, in those cases).

[Nicholas B. Dirks: Academia needs to stick up for itself]

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This is a very complicated debate. Yet the fact that this is a serious issue with respect to the press supports the proposition that we should be thinking similarly about universities. It is true that the press is explicitly mentioned in the First Amendment, and universities are not, but there are many reasons consistent with First Amendment jurisprudence to justify affording universities a comparable special role. Above all, universities have a distinctive mission consistent with the principal First Amendment rationale: the search for truth.

So, here is my thesis: American universities are rooted in the bedrock of human nature and the foundations of our constitutional democracy. They are every bit as vital to our society as the political branches of government or quasi-official institutions such as the press (often even referred to as the fourth branch of government). Universities, as institutions, are the embodiment of the basic rationale of the First Amendment, which affirms our nations commitment to a never-ending search for truth.

In some ways, universities are a version of the press: They make a deep inquiry into public issues and are always on call to serve as a check on the government. But if their deadlines are far longer, the scope of their work and remit in pursuing truth reach to everywhere that knowledge is or may yet be. Their role in society touches the full panoply of human discovery, never limited by what may be newsworthy at a given moment. And, as many have noted in todays debate over federal funding, the results of academic research and discovery have benefited society in more obviously utilitarian ways, including curing disease, cracking the atom, and creating the technologies that have powered our economic dynamism and enhanced our quality of life.

Universities and university leaders need to become more deliberate about undergirding and explaining this special role. The outlines are therethey trace a major theorybut there is no doubt that the interior must be filled. What we need is a decision or two by the Supreme Court affirming this direction. This is what happened with the idea of the press having a unique role to play within the American political system. The New York Times v. Sullivan and The New York Times v. United States breathed life into the notion that the press deserves a special solicitude under the Constitution. The press seized the moment and thereafter portrayed itself as having this identity.

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I do not know the right moment or issue for universities to make their casebut it may be right now. The Trump administrations threats to withdraw substantial funds from Harvard and exert governance across the university provide myriad strong claims of substantial constitutional violations. In times of high crisis, one can often find the opportunities to delineate more sharply our doctrines and values. By filing its own lawsuit against the administration, Harvard has seized that opportunity.

Here is another concrete example to show the potential for what I am talking about. When I was president of Columbia, there was an inquiry as to whether we might take and hold the Snowden papersmillions of official documents relating to national security. Under the Pentagon Papers decision, there was, I believed, a very strong argument that the pressa newspaper, for instancewould be protected if it held on to those documents and then was subjected to criminal action under the Espionage Act of 1917. In my view, the same philosophy should extend to a university keeping possession of that same material for scholarly purposes. For a variety of reasons, we chose not to proceed with the acquisitionbut that could have been an interesting case in which to establish a favorable precedent. Others may appearfor instance, university resistance to turning over tenure files to a congressional committee investigating protests and alleged discrimination. In any event, this process may well take years, or even decades, as developed jurisprudence typically does, but the key point is that we need to be thinking about and planning for this.

Universities are most certainly under assault, and the risks appear likely to grow. I am not naive. There is no question that when facing a determined and hostile government, it is difficult to win in the end, whatever the courts ultimately rule. Even with solid protections, constitutional or otherwise, the tactics of initiating investigations, filing lawsuits, and freezing or revoking funding can make life unbearable and unsustainable. In these circumstances, maintaining your sense of self and your integrity is crucial. Strategies of appeasement never work out. And at some point, when sanity returns, you will be seen as having sacrificed your principles when under pressure, and that will undermine your case forever.

[Franklin Foer: Trump has found his class enemy]

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Two more points are worth noting. The first is that receiving federal funding does not necessarily give the government the legitimate power to take it away or use it as a lever to strip you of otherwise valid constitutional rights. The Supreme Court once held, for example, that the federal government could not create the system of public broadcasting and at the same time forbid those broadcasters from engaging in editorializing on controversial public issues. This area of so-called unconstitutional conditions is painfully complex, but there should be no license under the First Amendment for the government to use its funding as leverage to try to bring universities to heel. The second point, looking ahead, is that in this time of rising authoritarianismwhere the playbook, again, is always to go first after the press and then the universitiesthose of us who have led these institutions should acknowledge the mistake of not having taken financial steps to better insulate them from this kind of vulnerability by setting aside financial reserves to withstand the storm. The fears of those who worried decades ago about the political risk of federal funding have clearly been borne out under this administration.

Finally, we must come to some working resolution over how to think about political perspectives within the academic mission. (I am not here speaking of faculty participating as citizens in a public forum, where traditionally we have protected their rights to the same extent as all other citizens.) Although an argument might be made that a professor should never take a political position, I think that is both unrealistic and undesirable. Just as with the professional press, a natural and, indeed, expected role of a university is to be a societal critic, to bring flaws to our attention and to urge us to be better than we have been.

I remember a very famous journalist, a paragon of the profession, saying of himself that he would get up every morning asking the question, I wonder what the bastards are up to today. Universities, like the press but even more so, explore every facet of existence, including questions of justice, fairness, and the character of our political and social life. It is entirely appropriate for points of view to emerge from this work, on subjects big and small, so it is wrong to say the work of universities should never become involved in controversial issues of public importanceand we should defend that. Universities at their best will at times serve, like the press, as the publics check on government, but they will also serve as a check on the public itself. It takes a mature and wise society to accept a robust system of criticism (like the best kings and queens and their jesters). But that is the ambition.

To be sure, that is not always a welcome role. There is a long tradition of populist disdain for the unconventional thought and progressive values of many university campuses and college towns. Todays political right has, as in earlier eras of our history, skillfully elevated and made an easy target of the most extreme picture of the academic world. And the academic world has undoubtedly provided fodder for that image, especially in not responding more forcefully to the anti-Semitism that too often manifested on campus after October 7, well beyond constitutionally protected political debate and public protest of Israels government.

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Above all, we should understand that government efforts to control the core academic decision making of universities, as the Trump administration has demanded be done with Harvard, are in profound conflict with Americas traditions. Nothing could be in sharper contrast with the Enlightenment values of our Founders. Nothing could be more threatening to our nations continued global leadership in research and education, which attracts the best minds from here and from around the world to discover and disseminate knowledge. Thats one essential part of what makes America great that we cannot afford to squander.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
We recently published a list of 10 Jim Cramer Stocks to Watch Amid Trump Tariff Wars. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discussed.

Jim Cramer in a latest program on CNBC talked about the latest signs of de-escalation in trade wars between the US and China and told investors that even bear market rallies could be a positive sign. Cramer, however, believes the US government has yet to give any clarity on its policies on China.

Theres a great misunderstanding about how real recoveries get started. They always start as bear market rallies, for heavens sake. Theyre rarely based on hard facts. When you get this kind of rally, it doesnt happen because someone gave you the green light to start buying. You dont get a statement from the president that the trade war is over and everythings back to normal.

In addition to positive reports on the US-China tariff front, Cramer also mentioned the latest reports on President Trumps stance on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, saying that the possibility of Trump firing the central bank chief seems to be off the table.

READ ALSO: 7 Best Stocks to Buy For Long-Term and 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In.

For this article, we picked 10 stocks Jim Cramer recently talked about during his latest programs on CNBC. With each stock, we have mentioned the number of hedge fund investors. 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).

Jim Cramer Says He Likes Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) More Than Merck Due to Schizophrenia Drug

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY)

Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 70

Jim Cramer in a latest program on CNBC said that he likes Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) more than Merck because of the companys schizophrenia drug:

Im going to say something that could get me in trouble, but I, I like the market at this level. I really do. But Ive got to tell you, and Michael, you know I play it straight, I like Bristol Myers a lot moreBMY. I like it a lot more because the schizophrenia drug is on the come.

Overall, BMY ranks 5th on our list of stocks that Jim Cramer discussed. While we acknowledge the potential of BMY as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that under the radar 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 BMY but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The Aliza Sherman case has been in the headlines for more than a decade.

I-TEAM: Arrest made in murder of Aliza Sherman

There were plenty of twists and turns leading up to Friday.

Heres a timeline:

Police survey the scene where 53-year-old Aliza Sherman was found. (Photo Credit: Fox 8 News)

March 24, 2013: Just after 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2013, Aliza Sherman arrives at 75 Erieview Plaza in Downtown Cleveland. She was there to meet her divorce attorney but never made it inside. Someone stabbed her 11 times and left her on the sidewalk. The 911 caller said it was clear Aliza was trying to speak, but the only thing he could make out was: Im dying. Aliza was rushed to Metrohealth Medical Center where she died at 6:14 p.m.

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March 26, 2013: The scheduled court date for the Shermans contested divorce trial. Instead, her loved ones spent the day planning her funeral.

March 28, 2013: A crowd of more than 600 people, including Alizas family, friends and Cleveland Clinic colleagues, packed into a Cleveland Heights chapel to remember the mother of four.

Friends of Aliza Sherman gather in front of the Galleria to bring attention to her murder case; April 9, 2013. (Photo Credit: Fox 8 News)

April 9, 2013: Two weeks later, another crowd gathered at the scene of the crime. A group of Alizas loved ones raised $23,000 in reward money to add to the $2,000 offered by Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest.

April 22, 2013: Two weeks after that, police released a 10-second surveillance video of the person believed to be the killer leaving the scene.

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May 12, 2013: Alizas family gathers for the first of many Justice for Aliza rallies. The rallies continued for the next few years.

December 2013: When Alizas divorce attorney, the one she was going to see the day of her murder, was indicted on three counts of inducing panic. Prosecutors say Gregory Moore made bomb threats at courthouses in both Geauga and Lake County.

March 24, 2014: Every March 24, Alizas supporters showed up in a crusade to keep her memory and the case alive. But the investigation went dark.

Additional coverage of the Aliza Sherman case

June 2014: Alizas daughter, Jennifer Sherman, filed a $2 million lawsuit against her father. Jennifer claimed Dr. Sanford Sherman forged documents to make off with money from an account in Alizas name. The family was estranged.

Gregory Moore (Credit: Williamson County, Texas, Jail)

January 28, 2016: Moores name popped up again in 2016 when he was charged once again, this time in connection with Alizas case. Moore was indicted on multiple felonies, including obstruction and lying to investigators.

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May 2017: The next year, Moore pleaded guilty to one charge related to the murder investigation and two charges regarding bomb threats. He got six months in jail, probation and court-ordered community service.

June 2021: The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation took over the Sherman case in the summer of 2021 bringing new hope to her loved ones.

July 2024: Alizas estranged husband, Dr. Sanford Sherman, passed away last summer in Florida. Although never named a suspect by police, the Shermans pending divorce was always front and center in the investigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV)  The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) hosted volunteers courtesy of Professor Shauna Froelich and Feed My Starving Children to pack meals for those in need.

Professor Froelich and Feed My Starving Children teamed up to host the meal-packing event at the Kress Events Center from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., as everybody was invited to attend.

Green Bay Botanical Garden unveils animal sculptures made from trash & debris found in the Pacific Ocean

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Students were invited to take a break from studying for finals, along with the entire Green Bay community.

The event continues from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  New shows are coming to the stage this month at 52 Sumner, Springfield Performing Arts Ventures local music venue.

The venues ROCK REWIND Series includes two shows in May, with bands performing classic rock favorites. On May 30, Refugee brings the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to life. You can come back the next day, on May 31, to see Fleetwood Macked, a group that takes the heart, soul, and style of Fleetwood Mac to the stage for a legendary experience.

Gift shop in Holyoke expands to new location

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52 Sumner will also be hosting several other events earlier in the month. On May 8, the Springfield Preservation Trust Awards will be hosted at the venue, recognizing individuals and organizations that work to preserve the architecture and culture of the city.

On May 18, the Champlain Trio featuring Springfield Symphony Orchestra cellist Emily Taubl will perform a selection of classical and contemporary chamber music. This stirring program is sure to provide a unique experience that will not be something to miss.

Formerly a portion of Faith United Church, 52 Sumner is located in the heart of Forest Park in a renovated 125-year-old historic landmark. Since late 2023, it has now been a beacon of music and culture for the Springfield community.

For more information on upcoming events, visit 52sumner.com.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Frederick police said officers were assaulted as they tried to break up a destructive downtown protest on Thursday night in which a group obstructed traffic on North Market Street and used umbrellas to strike passing vehicles.

About a dozen people wearing all black  some also wearing protective goggles and gas masks  were involved in the protest, Frederick police said in a news release Thursday night.

Charging documents in the cases of the four people arrested placed the group at various sizes ranging from 10 to 12 people to 10 to 20.

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The activity followed a separate peaceful event held earlier in the evening in Frederick in Baker Park that drew several hundred people.

There were multiple groups holding protests and marches around the city Thursday night, Frederick Police Department spokeswoman Samantha Long wrote in an email Friday. The group on Market Street is currently believed to have been separate from the event in Baker Park, she wrote.

The Frederick Police Department was aware of the possibility of additional demonstrations occurring that evening and had prepared accordingly. Officers were briefed in advance and actively monitored the situation to ensure public safety and maintain the free flow of traffic throughout the city, Long wrote.

Officers responded around 8:45 p.m. to the 200 block of North Market Street for reports of a crowd of people walking southbound against traffic and striking passing vehicles, according to charging documents against four people arrested and charged with crimes including assault, rioting and failure to obey a lawful order.

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While ignoring polices commands to get out of the street, the group began to chant anti-police comments and resist officers attempts to make arrests, charging documents say.

Police said officers who responded to the downtown disturbance recovered fireworks, laser pointers, spray paint and other tools commonly used to destroy property or interfere with police. A nearby window was also discovered shattered. The nature of the items recovered, along with the coordinated behavior of these protesters, clearly indicates the group arrived with the intent to commit crimes, not to peacefully protest.

Police Chief Jason Lando said in the press release: Peaceful protest is a constitutional right we will always protect. But when individuals show up with a plan to assault officers and damage property, and bring the tools to commit those acts, thats not protected speech, thats a crime.

Police have asked anyone with information, photos or videos of the incident to call them at 301-600-2102. Anonymous tips can be submitted at 301-600-8477 (TIPS) or fpdcrimetip@frederickmdpolice.org.

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The four people charged were:

 Joseph Eastwood, 34, of Frederick

 Andromeda Weir, 26, of Reisterstown

 Joshua Louis Gainey, 39, of Frederick

 Jayla Maddison Draghici, 25, of Gaithersburg

All were charged with rioting; disturbing the peace/hindering passage; disorderly conduct; and failure to obey a lawful order.

Eastwood, Gainey, and Weir were also charged with obstructing and hindering.

Eastwood was charged with one count of second-degree assault, while Gainey was charged with three counts of second-degree assault.

Gainey and Eastwood were released on $5,000 and $2,500 bail, respectively, while Weir and Draghici were released on their own recognizance.

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Gainey declined to comment when contacted Friday evening, while a number for Eastwood was not in service. Contact information for Weir and Draghici was not available Friday.

Some of the details in a police press release issued late Thursday night did not match what is reflected in charging documents. The press release said all four defendants live in Frederick. It also said three of the four were charged with second-degree assault on a police officer and all four were charged with obstructing and hindering.

According to charging documents in the cases, Weir allegedly attempted to pull another protester away from police while they were trying to arrest the person, and threw an unknown liquid on an officer while she was being arrested, while Draghici interfered with the arrest of a fellow protester.

Gainey allegedly hit two officers with an umbrella and kicked another in the face while being arrested, while Eastwood allegedly interfered with Gaineys arrest and struck an officer in the groin with a flag pole, according to the documents.

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The officers injuries were minor and did not require hospitalization, Long wrote Friday.

However, we want to emphasize that any assault, whether against law enforcement or members of the public, is taken very seriously. This incident remains under investigation, and we are committed to ensuring accountability and justice, she wrote.
As the effects of President Trump's tariffs begin to ripple through the global economy and delivery industry, the U.S. Postal Service and UPS will be employing thousands of fewer workers this year as they continue to slash expenses and streamline operations.

But what that means for people who have a package to ship or who are waiting for an important bill or letter may depend on where they live.

Here's what we know so far:

How many jobs are being cut?

Last week, the chief executive of United Parcel Service announced that the company will cut 20,000 jobs this year, or about 4% of its global workforce, and plans to close 73 distribution facilities by the end of June.

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"We are executing the largest network reconfiguration in UPS history," the company said in a statement. "This strategic initiative will optimize the capacity of our network to align with expected volume levels and enhance productivity through additional automation."

The closures are part of a long-term plan to modernize the operations of distribution centers, including adding automation, either fully or in part, to 400 of its facilities, according to CNN. Earlier this year, UPS announced that it had reached a deal with Amazon, its largest customer, to reduce business-related operations by more than 50% by the second half of 2026.

"Further, the actions we are taking to reconfigure our network and reduce cost across our business could not be timelier," UPS Chief Executive Carol Tome said during a recent conference call. "The macro environment may be uncertain, but with our actions, we will emerge as an even stronger, more nimble UPS.

For its part, the Teamsters union, which represents thousands of UPS workers, said it would fight any cuts that harm its members.

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"The United Parcel Service is contractually obligated to create 30,000 Teamsters jobs under our current national master agreement," Sean M. O'Brien, president of Teamsters General, said in a statement.

"If UPS wants to continue to downsize corporate management, the Teamsters wont stand in its way," he said. "But if the company intends to violate our contract or makes any attempt to go after hard-fought, good-paying Teamsters jobs, UPS will be in for a hell of a fight.

In March, then-Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced that the U.S. Postal Service would soon eliminate 10,000 positions through an early retirement program as part of a long-term restructuring, according to a letter sent to members of Congress. The letter also said that, in addition to ongoing restructuring efforts  including the elimination of nearly 30,000 positions since 2021  the Postal Service was happy to have the help of Elon Musks' Department of Government Efficiency.

The move comes as the Postal Service has experienced close to $100 billion in losses and was projected to lose an additional $200 billion, DeJoy stated in his letter.

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USPS employed 533,724 people as of 2024.

The Postal Service has been working toward modernizing its operational efficiency, service reliability and financial stability with its Delivering for America plan, introduced in 2021.

The 10-year plan was updated last year to revisit initial goals, highlight changes and lay out plans for future initiatives. Within the updated report, the Postal Service stated that the number of pieces of mail collected through its post offices and by carriers on their routes has sharply declined over the last decade.

The number of collected letters and postcards dropped from 57 billion pieces in 1997 to just 12 billion in 2023, an 80% reduction.

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Now, the Postal Service is reconfiguring its collection and transportation processes to address that decline. Mail is currently transported to and from processing facilities and post offices twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Those deliveries will be cut to a single daily trip in the morning, according to the report.

"This will optimize our regional transportation, cut unnecessary routes and expedite processing," the report stated.

How will this affect estimated delivery time?

Despite cutting 20,000 positions and automating work at 400 facilities, UPS says the changes to its operations will not affect the experience of customers.

But for the U.S. Postal Service, some changes should be expected.

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These changes will be implemented in two phases. The first phase began April 1 and the second will begin July 1.

Delivery times for first-class mail, which includes letters and postcards, will remain between one and five days.

The delivery time for priority mail express, a service that allows customers to ship packages up to 70 pounds to any state, will now take one to three days. Previously, it was one to two days, depending on how late in the day the item was dropped off.

Delivery of end-to-end marketing mail, what most people call junk mail, along with magazines and newspapers, will be faster, but USPS did not provide specifics.

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"As with mail, most competitive shipping products will retain the same service standard, some packages will have a faster standard, and some will have a slightly slower standard," the report stated.

You can learn more about how long a package will take to arrive by visiting your local post office or checking the "Service Commitments" tool online. The tool asks for the ZIP Code of where the package will be sent from and mailed to, on which date and at what time; it generates the average expected delivery time based on that information.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA)  Six people were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to involvement in a methamphetamine ring in the Upstate.

MORE INFORMATION: 6 plead guilty to meth trafficking ring in the Upstate

The investigation started in July 2023, when officers arrested Brenda Mincey after officials found meth and more than 100 pills containing fentanyl.

Related video: What do the different schedules of drugs mean?

Investigators said the drugs were sourced through twins Mikayluh and Mikenzi Walker, as well as Jonathan Adam Sarratt.

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In early 2023, evidence obtained in an investigation revealed that Sarratt was facilitating and supplying the ring with at least 250 kilograms of methamphetamine for distribution in the Upstate while incarcerated in the SC Department of Corrections.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, court evidence indicated the Walker twins had been distributing drugs through the Upstate region since 2022. Authorities said the pair would take trips to Atlanta, Georgia to get meth.

The twins, officials said, used two stash houses while operating the drug ring. One home was rented by Mikayluh Walkers girlfriend, Aalyah Tukes.

The second home was the Walker twins grandmother, Sondra Walkers, home. She, according to law enforcement, let the twins use her home to store meth, but also participated in the drug ring by distributing the meth.

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On January 10, 2024, officials began surveilling one of the stash locations and saw Christopher Biggerstaff appear to pick up drugs. After stopping Biggerstaff in his car, investigators found 421 grams of meth and two .45 caliber pistols.

Biggerstaff, officials added, had a lengthy criminal history at the time of his offense. The investigation determined that he distributed more than 26 kilograms of meth supplied by the Walker twins and carried a 9mm pistol during the drug ring.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sondra Walkers home on April 12, 2024. In the home, investigators found:

26 kilograms of meth;

5,000 fentanyl pills;

a 12-gauge pistol grip shotgun.

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On the same day, officials searched Tukes car and found more than $129,000 worth of drug profits. A search of Tukes apartment led law enforcement to an additional $21,000 in drug proceeds.

In total, law enforcement said Mikayluh Walker distributed 250 kilograms of meth, more than 600 grams of fentanyl and had multiple firearms as part of the drug trafficking ring.

Mikenzi Walker, detectives said, distributed 86 pounds of meth and 10 grams of fentanyl.

The six were sentenced to the following for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine:

Mikayluh Walker , 26, of Gaffney  276 months, followed by a five-year period of court-ordered supervision;

Mikenzi Walker , 26, of Gaffney  180 months, followed by a five-year period of court-ordered supervision;

Christopher Biggerstaff , 42, of Chesnee  192 months, followed by a five-year period of supervision; he also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furthering drug trafficking;

Brenda Mincey , 34, of Gaffney  85 months, followed by three years of supervision;

Aalyah Maulana Tukes , 29, of Simpsonville  32 months, followed by three years supervision;

Sondra Walker, 67, of Gaffney  48 months, followed by two years of supervision.

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Sarratt, the DOJ said, is still awaiting sentencing.

Seven law enforcement agencies assisted with the investigation into the drug ring, including the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office, Greenville County Sheriffs Office and Cherokee County Sheriffs Office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Saturday blocked a ruling that had ordered the Trump administration to return more than 1,000 Voice of America employees back to work.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on April 22 ordered the administration to "take all necessary steps" to restore employees and contractors to their positions at the U.S. news service and resume radio, television and online news broadcasts and some grants.

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The appeals court in a 2-1 decision suggested Lamberth lacked jurisdiction to order the employees to return to work and to require the restoration of $15 million in grants for Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media placed over 1,000 employees on leave and told 600 contractors they would be terminated after the agency abruptly shut down the broadcasts in March under a directive from Trump.

The appeals court noted the government did not challenge the aspect of Lamberth's ruling requiring it to restore Voice of Americas "statutorily required programming levels." Numerous reports on Friday said VOA was preparing to resume broadcasts next week. USAGM did not immediately comment Saturday.

U.S. Circuit Judge Cornelia Pillard dissented from the ruling, saying it "all but guarantees that the networks will no longer exist in any meaningful form by the time this case is fully adjudicated."

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She added that it would result in "silencing Voice of America for the foreseeable future and eliminating Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks ability to see this case through to the end."

Under Trump's directive, Voice of America is not reporting the news for the first time in its 80-year existence. Its website has not been updated since March 15 and radio stations abroad relying on its programming have gone dark or only air music.

Congress made the broadcasts mandatory and did not allow the executive branch to unilaterally terminate or defund them, Lamberth ruled.

Trump advisor Kari Lake announced the shutdown on March 15, placing nearly all USAGM employees on leave, saying the agency was "irretrievably broken" and biased against Trump. She said on social media Saturday the decision was a "huge victory for us."

(Reporting by David Shepardson)
The US State Department on Friday designated two criminal gangs from Haiti responsible for brutal attacks in the Caribbean nation as foreign terrorist organizations.

The gang coalition Viv Ansanm and its ally Gran Grif "are the primary source of instability and violence in Haiti," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

"They are a direct threat to US national security interests in our region," Rubio said.

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"These gangs have killed and continue attacking the people of Haiti, Haitian security forces, and Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission personnel, and are committed to overthrowing the government of Haiti," Rubio said, adding that "the age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over."

By designating the gangs as terrorist organizations, Washington can take tougher action against individuals or companies that support the gangs financially or in other ways.

Haiti is considered a key transit country for international drug smuggling, especially for cocaine from Colombia to the United States and Europe.

The weapons used by Haitian gangs are primarily smuggled in from the US.

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The Caribbean state of Haiti is suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis. Violent gangs have taken control of more than 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince.

With a population of around 11.6 million, Haiti has been plagued by political instability, poverty and violence for decades. Since the assassination of president Jovenel Moise in July 2021, Haiti has not had a head of state.

According to UN figures, over 1,600 people were killed between January and March 2025, while more than 1 million remain displaced within the country.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The United States has given initial approval to sell $3.5 billion worth of air-to-air missiles for Saudi Arabia's fighter jets, the latest proposed arms deal for the region ahead of President Donald Trump 's planned trip to the region later this month.

The sale, announced early Saturday, likely will be one of several heralded by Trump on his visit to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has already said it wants to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years, likely as a way to woo Trump to again pick the kingdom for his first formal trip as president. Trump traveled to Italy briefly for Pope Francis' funeral.

Trumps 2017 trip to Saudi Arabia upended a tradition of modern U.S. presidents typically first heading to Canada, Mexico or the United Kingdom for their first trip abroad. It also underscored his administrations close ties to the rulers of the oil-rich Gulf states as his eponymous real estate company has pursued deals across the region.

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The arms sale involves 1,000 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles, guidance sections and other technical support. The missiles will be built by RTX Corp of Tucson, Ariz.

The Royal Saudi Air Force has the world's second-largest fleet of F-15 fighter jets after the U.S.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

The proposed sale now goes to the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers typically weigh in on such sales and, in some cases, can block them.

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Saudi Arabia has faced intense Congressional scrutiny for years, first for launching a war on Yemen's Houthi rebels back in 2015 that saw the kingdom's airstrikes kill civilians. Then a Saudi assassination team killed Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

The U.S. intelligence community concluded the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who likely will meet Trump on his visit this month and met with President Joe Biden in his term, ordered the operation against Khashoggi. The kingdom insists the prince was not involved in the killing.

Trump maintained close ties to the Gulf states after leaving office. His second administration has already given initial approval for the energy-rich Mideast nation of Qatar to buy eight armed MQ-9B Reaper drones for its military, a purchase estimated to be worth nearly $2 billion.
A US judge ordered Apple (AAPL) to immediately decrease its App Store fees and asked for criminal prosecutors to review the company's alleged "cover-up," jeopardizing billions in revenue for the tech giant.

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, in a blistering 80-page decision, said Apple circumvented her 2021 order that was first issued in an antitrust case brought by "Fortnite" developer Epic Games. That order said Apple must allow App Store developers to direct customers to app purchases outside the store.

"Effective immediately Apple will no longer impede developers' ability to communicate with users nor will they levy or impose a new commission on off-app purchases," wrote Gonzalez Rogers, a judge of the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

She accused the tech giant's vice president of finance, Alex Roman, of lying under oath during testimony before the court in February and referred the case to state criminal prosecutors to investigate whether criminal contempt proceedings would be appropriate.

Internally at Apple, the judge added, Apple fellow Phillip Schiller had advocated for Apple to comply with her 2021 injunction, but that was ignored by CEO Tim Cook.

"Cook chose poorly," Gonzalez Rogers wrote.

Apple CEO Tim Cook. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)  Cooper Neill via Getty Images

Her mandate raises new questions about the financial impact on a major revenue stream for Apple as the tech giant prepares to report second quarter earnings after the bell on Thursday.

The iPhone maker, which holds roughly 19% of the global smartphone market, earns fees on in-app purchases created by iOS app developers.

The Ninth Circuit said in a court document that the App Store generated an estimated $100 billion in annual revenue. As of February 2025, the store hosted roughly 2 million downloadable apps.

In 2024, according to Statista, the store earned nearly $92 billion globally, a 14% increase over 2023.

'Apple believed that this court would not see through its obvious cover-up'

The legal drama that unfolded this week started in August 2020, when Epic first challenged Apple with a lawsuit.

It was eventually decided in part in Apple's favor, finding that the company did not hold a monopoly in the market for "digital mobile gaming transactions."

However, in a major victory for Epic  and app developers at large  the judge held that anti-steering provisions contained in the App Store's rules violated California's antitrust law.

Essentially, Gonzalez Rogers' 2021 order said Apple must allow developers to include links and buttons in their apps that can lead users to pay for in-app purchases outside the App Store.
Donald Trumps administration has hit out at Germany after the US ally designated the far-Right Alternative for Germany party as an extremist group.

JD Vance, the US vice-president, was joined by Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, in condemning the move by Germanys domestic intelligence service, which gives authorities greater leeway to monitor the group.

On Friday, Mr Vance wrote on X: The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt  not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment.

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He described the Alternative for Germany party (AfD), which has aligned with the current US administration on key issues including immigration, as the most popular party in Germany.

Mr Rubio, who is Mr Trumps national security adviser, wrote on X: Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. Thats not democracy  its tyranny in disguise. Germany should reverse course.

He added: What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD, which took second in the recent election, but rather the establishments deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes.

This is democracy

Germanys foreign ministry replied to Mr Rubio on X, saying that the country had learnt from its Nazi history.

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It wrote: This is democracy. We have learnt from our history that Right-wing extremism needs to be stopped.

The designation makes it easier to use surveillance methods, including recruiting informants, audio and video recordings, and financial probes against the AfD. Authorities can monitor party communications with parliamentary authorisation.

The move followed months of investigation and 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.

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It is thought that the party will take legal action against the reassessment.

Mr Trump and his aides have repeatedly targeted Germany, denouncing former chancellor Angela Merkels decision to welcome refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war and other conflicts a decade ago, which Mr Trump labelled a catastrophic mistake.

The US vice-president criticised the exclusion of the AfD from mainstream politics during his speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, arguing that such measures undermine democratic principles.

He also met with Alice Weidel, the AfD leader, during the visit.

The US was accused of attempting to meddle in the German vote by Friedrich Merz, the incoming chancellor, on election night.

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That night, the AfD achieved its best-ever result, coming in second place with 20 per cent of the vote - nearly double its previous tally.

According to some polls, the AfD is now Germanys most popular party, while others have it equal or slightly behind the centre-Right Christian Democrats.

The AfD has since shifted sharply to the far-Right since it was founded by Ukip-style Eurosceptic academics in 2013, adopting pro-Russian positions and a hardline anti-migrant stance.

It has experienced a sharp rise in support in recent years as public anger grows in Germany over mass migration and terror attacks involving asylum seekers.

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Pastor Mark Burns, the man described as U.S. President Donald Trumps spiritual advisor, said he believes he played a small part in strengthening U.S.-Ukraine relations after briefing Trump on what he witnessed during a recent visit to Ukraine.

I shared with the president and the White House what I experienced in Ukraine, Burns told the Kyiv Independent. The atrocities done to Ukrainian women, children, senior citizens, and civilians at the hands of the Russians. I shared stories of the 20,000 kidnapped children and the 700 places of faith that were targeted by the Russians.

Asked how Trump responded to his account of the war, Burns said: The president always shows concern and care for innocent people dying and suffering. Which is why you see him putting more pressure on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and expressing his displeasure with Putin.

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Burns, who once backed Trumps pause on military aid to Ukraine, dramatically shifted his stance after witnessing the aftermath of a Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih that killed 20 people, including nine children. In an earlier interview, he told the Kyiv Independent that supporting Ukraine is America first.

Read also: Putin is pure evil  Trumps spiritual advisor on Russias war against Ukraine

Now, after meeting with Trump in recent days, Burns says the president is taking action.

In fact, President Donald Trump has recently approved the first round of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, sending a powerful message that the United States will not back down in supporting Ukraines right to defend itself, Burns said.

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He also highlighted the creation of a U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, calling it a monumental step in providing Ukraine with the resources it needs to rebuild and grow. The fund was created after the U.S. and Ukraine signed the long-awaited minerals agreement on April 30.

American officials have prepared several options for Trump to ramp up economic pressure on Russia in response to Putins continued refusal to end the war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on May 2. Though Trump initially threatened tariffs and sanctions after taking office, none have materialized so far.

With Russia intensifying its strikes and rejecting U.S.-backed ceasefire proposals, Trump has reportedly begun questioning Moscows intentions.

Read also: Vance says war in Ukraine wont end any time soon, urges sides to agree on peace terms

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Reuters has reported that US officials have prepared some new economic sanctions against Russia.

Source: Reuters, citing US officials and a source familiar with the matter

Details: Reuters noted that the targets are the Russian state energy giant Gazprom, as well as major companies operating in the natural resources and banking sectors, according to an administration official who, like the other sources, requested anonymity to discuss the matter.

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The official did not provide any further details.

However, Reuters pointed out that it is unclear whether this package would be approved by Trump, "whose sympathy for Moscow's statements and actions have given way to frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin's spurning of his calls for a ceasefire and peace talks". [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda doesn't recognise Putin as president  ed.]

The US National Security Council "is trying to coordinate some set of more punitive actions against Russia", a source familiar with the matter said. "This will have to be signed off by Trump."

"It's totally his call," a second US official confirmed.

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"From the beginning, the president has been clear about his commitment to achieving a full and comprehensive ceasefire," National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt said. "We do not comment on the details of ongoing negotiations."

The US Department of the Treasury, which implements most American sanctions, did not respond to a request for comment.

Quotes from Reuters: "An approval by Trump of new sanctions, which would follow the Wednesday signing of a US-Ukraine minerals deal that he heavily promoted as part of his peace effort, could signify a hardening of his stance towards the Kremlin."

Background:

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In recent weeks, Trump's administration has been trying to accelerate the "peace process" between Ukraine and Russia. Earlier, they handed over a one-page document to Ukraine in Paris, presented as a "final proposal" for a peace settlement.

Among other things, the US is prepared to recognise Russia's control over Ukrainian Crimea and ease sanctions against Moscow.

Later, Reuters published the text of the proposals to end Russia's war in Ukraine which Ukrainian and European officials had handed to the American side during the talks in London.

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U.S. government officials have prepared a new sanctions package against Russia. However, it is unclear if President Donald Trump will approve the sanctions, Reuters reported on May 2.

According to a U.S. official who spoke anonymously to Reuters, the U.S. National Security Council "is trying to coordinate some set of more punitive actions against Russia." However, the sanctions package "will have to be signed off by Trump."

"Its totally his call, a second U.S. official confirmed.

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The sanctions will target Russia's energy sector, including state-owned energy giant Gazprom. Major entities in the natural resources and banking sectors will also be targeted.

In the first few months of his second term, Trump has taken a friendlier approach toward Russia than his predecessor while simultaneously damaging relations with Ukraine and pushing for a peace deal between the two countries.

Trump's sympathetic approach toward Russian President Vladimir Putin has cast doubt on whether he will sign off on a new sanctions package against Russia.

However, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russia. He recently questioned Putin's intentions to achieve peace, given ongoing Russian attacks against Ukraine.

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Ukraine and the U.S. also recently signed a historic minerals deal, signaling a potential reset of U.S.-Ukraine relations and renewed partnership. The sanctions package, if approved by Trump, would also signal that the U.S. is prepared to increase pressure on Russia.

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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Were closing out Friday with wide, blue sunny skies across the state and kicking off the weekend on a gorgeous note, but that pattern will soon change.

Temperatures will stay very warm for Saturday. Daytime highs should be similar to Fridays in the south and even warmer in the north. Highs will be in the low to mid-80s for the Wasatch Front and St. George, while most other valleys range from the mid to upper 70s.

Although itll be warm, plenty of moisture will be moving in through southern Utah. A large Pacific system will drag moisture across the Great Basin and into the Beehive State, spelling scattered showers and thunderstorms for southwest Utah and the West Desert by the late afternoon.

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Northern Utah will see an increase in moisture as well, but only enough to introduce a mix of sun and clouds for now. By Sunday, the entire Beehive State, including the north, will be battling scattered showers and thunderstorms.

Murray Museum reopens in the historic John P. Cahoon Mansion

This slow-moving system will keep showers and thunderstorms locked in through Tuesday for the vast majority of the Beehive State. Temperatures will also take a serious drop, tanking all the way into the lower 60s for valleys by Monday, including in St. George.

Well keep you posted on the latest updates in our 4Warn Weather forecast, both on-air and online, we are Good4Utah!

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Vice President JD Vance defended President Donald Trump after he posted an AI image of himself as pope on Truth Social, dismissing the post as a joke.

As a general rule, I'm fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen, Vance wrote in a post on X on Saturday responding to a question from Bill Kristol, editor-at-large at The Bulwark, on whether or not Vance was fine with this disrespect and mocking of the holy father.

The church is set to begin the papal conclave on May 7 to choose a new pope, following the death of Pope Francis, who was 88, on Easter Monday. Vance is a Catholic and was one of the last people to meet with Francis before his death.

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Trump posted the image a few days after he joked that hed like to be the next leader of the Catholic Church, saying that he would be his own number one choice for the position. He then proceeded to recommend Timothy Dolan, a cardinal based in New York, for the papacy. A U.S. cardinal has never held the position.

The official X account for the New York State Catholic Conference criticized Trumps post, which was also reposted by the White House X account.

There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President. We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us, they wrote.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) seemingly joined in on the joke, showing his support for Trump as head of the Catholic Church in a X post Saturday.

Glad to report there is very positive reception and strong momentum for President Trump to be the next Pope. But I will be first to admit there has been some resistance!, Graham wrote. Must keep your head down and plow forward  cant let the naysayers win the day. Next week is crucial as the papal conclave convenes.  More updates to come!
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Springfield Patrol Post of OSP is investigating a vehicle submersion that occurred Friday evening.

According to OSP, troopers were dispatched around 11 p.m. to the area of Clarence J. Brown Reservoir in Clark County. Troopers were notified of a vehicle that had reportedly ended up in the water.

Once on scene, troopers located a pickup truck in the reservoir.

An initial investigation suggests that the vehicle was traveling north on Buck Creek Lane before it failed to navigate a curve and breached the water.

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The driver and passenger of the pickup truck were not present when troopers located the vehicle. The pair had already been taken to a local hospital by a friend of theirs.

The driver reported injuries, but they are not believed to be life-threatening. The passenger was uninjured.

Alcohol impairment is a suspected factor in the crash.

The Clark County Sheriffs Office, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Moorefield Township Fire and Rescue all assisted at the scene.

Into Saturday morning, crews were working to extricate the truck from the water, so, in the meantime, the Buck Creek boat launch remained closed.

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WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTNH)  65 veterans were honored at the Honor Flight Connecticut at Bradley Airport on Saturday.

The veterans, along with 70 guardians and staff, took off from Bradley International Airport for Washington D.C.

Veteran volunteers hold service project at Boys & Girls Club of Hartford

The group included veterans from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force who served in WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War and Cold War.

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Ive never seen anything like this before. this is such a great honor, said Vietnam War veteran James Thompson. I feel so small, I have tears in my eyes walking through the group.

The group will visit Arlington National Cemetery, the WWII Memorial Korean War Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

65 veterans were honored at the Honor Flight Connecticut at Bradley Airport on Saturday. 65 veterans were honored at the Honor Flight Connecticut at Bradley Airport on Saturday. 65 veterans were honored at the Honor Flight Connecticut at Bradley Airport on Saturday. 65 veterans were honored at the Honor Flight Connecticut at Bradley Airport on Saturday. 65 veterans were honored at the Honor Flight Connecticut at Bradley Airport on Saturday. 65 veterans were honored at the Honor Flight Connecticut at Bradley Airport on Saturday.

Everybody says thank you for your service now and I tell them honor the ones who didnt come home, Thompson said.

They are scheduled to return Saturday night.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
(Reuters) -Kleenex tissue maker said on Thursday it would invest $2 billion over five years to expand its manufacturing capacity in the United States amid a push for local manufacturing under U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration's efforts to impose import taxes on goods from major U.S. trading partners are prompting companies to reconsider their supply chains to avoid increased costs.

The company said the investment will focus on two facilities: an advanced manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio, and an expansion of a distribution center in South Carolina.

The company, which also produces Huggies diapers, expects to create more than 900 jobs in industrial automation and advanced manufacturing. Kimberly-Clark employed about 38,000 people globally as of December 31.

Last week, Kimberly-Clark cut its annual profit forecast and said it would incur about $300 million in costs due to tariffs.

While the company manufactures the vast majority of its products domestically, imports from Canada, Mexico and China represent less than 10% of the U.S. cost of goods sold, Kimberly-Clark has said.

(Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
(KRON)  The Alameda County Coroners Office has identified the victim of a mid-April crash that marked Fremonts third fatal traffic collision of the year.

Video: Watch Waymos avoid disaster in new dashcam videos

Daniel Erick Jaramillo, 47, was struck on April 15 at 7:40 p.m. while crossing mid-block in the area of Mission Boulevard and Mohave Drive, said Fremont police. After police and fire personnel performed life-saving measures at the scene, Jaramillo was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injures ten days later.

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The cause of the crash is still being probed, but police do not believe that drugs or alcohol were factors.

Police said the driver of the vehicle was not injured, stayed at the scene and is working with investigators.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Fremont polices traffic unit at (510) 790-6760. Anonymous tips can be sent by texting Tip FremontPD accompanied with a short message to 888-777.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam has sent diplomatic notes to China and the Philippines to protest against their activities in contested South China Sea waters, and urging them to respect its territorial claims, it said on Saturday.

The statement follows activities by China and the Philippines in Sandy Cay, which Vietnam considers part of its territory, Vietnam's foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV last week said its coast guard had landed on Sandy Cay as part of maritime control operations to exercise its sovereignty, while the Philippines sent a team to the sandbars and found no one there.

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"Vietnam requests that relevant parties respect Vietnam's sovereignty, comply with international law, and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea," Hang said in the statement, using Vietnam's name for the South China Sea.

"Vietnam has communicated and sent diplomatic notes protesting relevant countries regarding activities that violate Vietnam's sovereignty over Sandy Cay and related entities of the Truong Sa," she said.

Truong Sa is the Vietnamese name for the Spratly Islands.

The Chinese and the Philippine embassy in Vietnam did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comments during the weekend.

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Sandy Cay is close to Thitu Island, the largest and most strategically important of the nine features the Philippines occupies in the Spratly archipelago, where China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have a presence.

China claims more than 90% of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea via a U-shaped "nine-dash line" on its maps that stretches into Southeast Asia and cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

(Reporting by Phuong Nguyen; editing by Barbara Lewis)
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  An Abilene Vietnam veteran was laid to rest at the Abilene Veterans Cemetery as the rain surprisingly stopped before the funeral was to begin.

Honoring our fallen veterans is a notion that we here in the City of Abilene take very seriously. As one Big Country veteran was laid to rest at the Texas Veterans Cemetery, the ceremony was looking bleaker than normal due to rainy conditions.

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Stanley Merrill Sterling served for 20 years in the Marine Corps and conducted three tours in the Vietnam War. Sterling was a family man who played the role of Mr. Mom when his wife, Gail Sterling, fulfilled her career in the U.S. Air Force. Following his military career, Stanley Sterling continued his public service by working for the Sheriffs Office and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. At the service, it was said that Stanley carried his Marine Corps Semper Fi Spirit throughout his life.

The weather for the event consisted of pouring rain that was present in the area all morning, but just minutes before the funeral was set to begin, the rain miraculously let up. Stanleys wife, Gail Sterling, says it was the relief she prayed for.

I didnt want the Marines getting wet in uniform, and I didnt want it to be ruined by the Texas thunderstorms that we get. So, it was kind of nice. I felt like it was an answered prayer, Gail said.

Stanley Merrill Sterlings legacy includes three sons, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Washington (DC News Now)  In Virginia, Republican John Reid says hes staying in the race for Lieutenant Governor despite calls for him to step down.

On Wednesday, he addressed a few hundred people in Henrico less than a week after Gov. Glenn Yougkin (R) urged him to withdraw.

Dr. Stephen Farnsworth joins Capitol Review this week. Dr. Farnsworth is a professor and director, Center for Leadership and Media Studies at University of Mary Washington. He discusses what this controversy means for Reid and Virginias Republican Party.

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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.
Matt Moran, a top political advisor to Gov. Glenn Youngkin, stepped away from his role at the governors PAC, Spirit of Virginia, this week, Youngkin confirmed Friday.

He understood that with all of this going on, it was really hard for him to dedicate 100% of his focus to the really important work going on in Spirit of Virginia, Youngkin said of the controversy within the Republican Party over John Reids candidacy for lieutenant governor.

The governor said Becca Glover, who previously served as deputy chief of staff in his administration, would replace Moran as executive director of the PAC.

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It was the latest aftershock after the quake that fractured the Virginia Republican party last week. Heres a look at how we got here:

___

Monday, April 21

Pat Herrity drops out of the race for lieutenant governor, citing health concerns. That means the GOP no longer needs to hold a primary for the position because Reid, a conservative talk radio host, is the only other candidate. As such, he automatically became the Republican nominee. Reid is the first openly gay candidate to run for statewide office in Virginia. The Republican candidate for governor, current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, posts her congratulations on social media.

___

Tuesday, April 22

Moran begins conducting vulnerability research into Reid through an outside group, according to his sworn affidavit.

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___

Friday, April 25

According to the affidavit, Moran received a written summary of the study on the morning of April 25. It included a Tumblr account bearing the same username Reid uses on other social media. The Tumblr account had reposts of images of men in various states of undress, which would paint John in a negative light and impact the viability of his candidacy regardless of its veracity. Moran said he informed Reid of the findings soon after.

By that Friday afternoon, The Richmonder reported that Youngkin had called Reid and asked him to withdraw as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, citing the photos, none of which contained Reid. The Tumblr page was removed shortly thereafter. Later the same day, Reid posted a five-minute video, where he said he will stay in the race and accused Republicans of attacking him because of his sexuality.

___

Sunday, April 27

Moran met with Reids long-term partner, Alonzo Mable; his campaign manager, Noah Jennings; and his friend, Virginia Beach attorney Tim Anderson. Moran categorized this meeting as communicating what he truly believed was in (Reids) best interest in my judgment.

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But later that day, Reid posted on X a video accusing members of the governors PAC of extortion and threatened legal action. He said that the campaign communicated that if he dropped out of the race, the report findings would go away.

These guys are openly trying to extort me to make me quit! he wrote at the time. I wont stand for it!

In an audio recording from that meeting, first reported by The Virginia Mercury, Moran can be heard referencing how the report findings could get out.

If he stays in the race, it is going to continue, Moran said. That hurts our candidates up and down the ticket. Him getting out of the race is the only way it stops.

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___

Tuesday, April 29

Youngkin canceled an event scheduled for Wednesday featuring the Republican statewide ticket, though Reid said he would go forward with the rally alone.

Later the same day, Reids attorney sent a cease and desist letter to Moran, demanding that he retract what it categorized as defamatory and malicious statements. The letter also accused Moran of releasing the reports about the Tumblr account to the media.

Youngkin and Earle-Sears spoke for the first time on the controversy and said it was up to Reid whether he continues the race.

This week, focus on the lieutenant governor nominee distracted from that mission and cannot continue, Earle-Sears said in a statement. John Reid is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. It is his race, and his decision alone to move forward. We all have our own race to run.

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___

Wednesday, April 30

Moran launched a legal attack of his own, publishing the aforementioned affidavit and a letter from his lawyer to social media. The letter reiterated that Moran never attempted to extort, coerce or pressure Mr. Reid.

Two hours later, Reid held a rally outside Richmond, where hundreds of supporters gathered. Reid said he will be a unifying candidate, but he accused the Richmond swamp of holding back Virginia and targeting his campaign.

___

Thursday, May 1

The Virginia Mercury published a story featuring the audio of Sundays meeting. Moran posted on X that the audio corroborates his version of events. He later posted a statement from his lawyer.

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For a full understanding of the meeting, one should have the full recording, the statement read. But even the selective couple of minutes is consistent entirely with Matts statement in his affidavit that he was giving sound political advice to a candidate as to what was in his best interest and that of his party.

Later that night, Politico reported that Moran had left his role as director of Youngkins PAC.

In a statement, the Virginia Republican party of Virginia said it would unite behind the nominees for all positions up for election.

All the attention in this race should be on the extremism of Virginia Democrats and their far-left vision for our Commonwealth, the statement said.

Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com
National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), happening May 4-10, 2025, shines a spotlight on the U.S. travel industrys essential role in driving economic growth, creating jobs and enhancing the nations global competitiveness, according to a news release.

Travel is one of our nations most powerful economic engines  supporting millions of jobs, fueling businesses and propelling industries forward, said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman. National Travel and Tourism Week reinforces the pivotal role travel plays in building a stronger, more prosperous America.

Visit Quad Cities is celebrating the power of travel with the unveiling of its refreshed website on Thursday, May 8, at The Last Picture House in Davenport. During the event, Visit Quad Cities will showcase the updated VisitQuadCities.com, highlight new features and enhancements, and provide attendees the opportunity to review their organizations information to ensure it is accurate and current.

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The new website will be unveiled from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 8, at The Last Picture House, 325 E. 2nd St., Davenport. The public is welcome to the free event, and you can register here.

Visit Quad Cities (visitquadcities.com)

The Quad Cities total visitor spending increased by 5% in 2023, reaching a record level of more than $1.3 billion, with local tax generation growing to more than $76.61 million and state tax generation to more than $85.62 million. Rock Island County grew year-over-year in direct visitor spending by 7.2%, beating the state average of 6.5%. Scott County realized an increase of 6.2% in direct visitor spending year-over-year against the state average of 5.1%.

Travel drives economic opportunity for all and simply strengthens our community, said Dave Herrell, president and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. This National Travel and Tourism Week is the perfect moment to celebrate the positive impact of tourism and the importance of a strong and vibrant visitor economy. Its also a chance to amplify our unique story and showcase our refreshed website, which plays a critical role in how we inspire, attract, and engage visitors to choose the Quad Cities region as their destination. VisitQuadCities.com is a comprehensive resource for potential new and repeat visitors, along with residents. Our website, coupled with multiple and integrated social media channels, continues to help drive brand awareness and connectivity for the Quad Cities in a meaningful way.

Since 1983, NTTW has underscored the travel industrys contribution to U.S. economic strength, community vitality and quality of life. In 2024, the 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.

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Travel drives economic opportunity for all and simply strengthens our community, said Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. This National Travel and Tourism Week is the perfect moment to celebrate the positive impact of tourism and the importance of a strong and vibrant visitor economy. Its also a chance to amplify our unique story and showcase our refreshed website, which plays a critical role in how we inspire, attract, and engage visitors to choose the Quad Cities region as their destination. VisitQuadCities.com is a comprehensive resource for potential new and repeat visitors, along with residents. Our website, coupled with multiple and integrated social media channels, continues to help drive brand awareness and connectivity for the Quad Cities in a meaningful way.

Visit ustravel.org/NTTW to learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week.

About Visit Quad Cities

Visit Quad Cities, established in 1990, is the regions official destination marketing organization (DMO). Through tourism, Visit Quad Cities generates economic growth, fosters the visitor economy, and elevates the regional destinations global presence. An accredited DMO through Destinations Internationals DMAP program, Visit Quad Cities promotes the regional brand, drives economic opportunities, invigorates visitor experience, and enhances quality of life and place for all Quad Citizens. For information, visit here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
May 3 (UPI) -- The taxpayer-funded Voice of America is scheduled to resume broadcasting next week for at least a little while longer.

The Department of Justice emailed VOA staff on Friday to tell them a "phased return" of the radio broadcast will occur next week while a federal appeals court weighs the matter, Politico and The Guardian reported.

"The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) currently expects staff to begin to return to the office next week, as security, building space and equipment issues require a phased return," U.S. Attorney Brenda Gonzalez Horowitz said in an email to attorneys who are representing VOA employees in the federal legal challenge, The Washington Post reported.

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Thursday temporarily stopped the Trump administration from blocking USAGM's and VOA's funding, but affirmed the administration could continue withholding funds from Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

The VOA is a federal entity, but the other broadcasting platforms are privately owned non-profits that mostly were funded by Congress.

Thursday's ruling enables the VOA to resume broadcasting while he appellate court weighs the merits of the case, which might take several weeks or months to decide.

President Donald Trump on March 14 signed an executive order to reduce the scope of the federal government, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees the VOA.

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A day later, the White House newsletter published an article called "The Voice of Radical America," which says "taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda."

The unattributed article quotes former 34-year VOA correspondent Dan Robinson in an earlier opinion piece saying the VOA "has essentially become a hubris-filled rogue operation often reflecting a leftist bias aligned with partisan national media."

Robinson argues the USAGM and VOA "are rightly in budget cut bull's-eye" and accuses VOA of "violations of journalistic standards and mismanagement."

The VOA began as an international radio broadcast more than 80 years ago and more recently included television, mobile, internet and social media formats in more than 40 languages.
May 2AUSTIN  Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dr. Dawn Buckingham announced the next installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program May 2. This week, they highlight the service of Colonel John Zink who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force.

Zink, the son of a World War I Veteran, decided to join the military after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II. He went into the service in June 1942 while attending flight school. Even though Zink had never ridden in an airplane before flight school, his love of aircraft began as a young child.

"Well, as far back as I can remember, I was always interested in airplanes. One of the car dealers in my county had a Stenson Reliant. He used to land it in my neighbor's pasture field, and every time he did, I'd run down there and drool over the airplane  I guess that's the right term  and I always wanted to fly."

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Like his peers, Zink felt that joining the military at this pivotal moment for America was the "right thing to do." He also recognized that the emergency circumstances created by Pearl Harbor's bombing would allow him to fly in the military without attending college. When discussing his first flight, Zink said he had two feelings. "Number one was I'm gonna do it, and the other one was, I'm sort of scared to do it. And I guess the joy overtook the other one."

Zink graduated with the rank of second lieutenant and was extremely pleased to go on to fly fighter aircraft, specifically the Lockheed P-38 Lighting.

Zink described this historic fighter, saying, "A P-38 was a twin-engine fighter plane built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. It was designed in the late 1930s by Kelly Johnson and his engineering staff. Kelly was the head of engineering at Lockheed in those days. And first flew in late 1940 [...] The first ones were probably delivered to the Air Force in mid-1941 in very small quantities. And then, when the war broke out, the contracts were increased."

At an Air Force base in Rabaul, near the Solomon Islands, Zink recalled that the Japanese had six airfields with over 400 planes. He was a part of the 13th Air Force, and they were to cover 24 Douglass SBD Dauntless dive bombers and 24 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers on a dive-bombing mission.

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"We had 16 P-38s on the mission, and as they started the dive-bombing run why, the Japanese fighters attacked from above. We don't know exactly how high they were, but we were about 16,000, so they were probably 20,000. There was a thin deck of cloud above us, and we couldn't see 'em. And so, we followed the dive bombers down, and as we went down, I saw several P-38s crash in the water."

Zink also described the dangers of compressibility that afflicted the P-38 and how one pilot was rescued after being shot down during that mission.

"As you gain speed in a P-38, the lift point would move back on the wing, and if it got to a certain point, it would actually blank out the elevator, and you couldn't pull out of the dive. Whether these airplanes got into compressibility or actually were shot down, we'll never know for sure, but we did see three of 'em go down in real tight formation and hit the water [...] there were 16 P-38s  8 of them shot down or lost. We picked up one pilot seven days later, and, by the way, he's 90 some years old and still living. We escorted the bombers back out off the target, and then we headed home."

Zink spoke about the difficulty of losing friends and people he had attended flying school with and how combat was a rough experience as they fought the numerous Japanese forces. However, as they learned, Zink said, "We became more mature [and] gained experience from the mistakes that we made. We stopped losing airplanes, losing our fighters to the Japanese fighters. One of the things we've always been very proud of is that we never lost a bomber we were escorting to the Japanese fighters."

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The P-38 pilots flew several bombing missions themselves, and Zink recalled being proud of the accuracy of their bombing with relatively little experience. He flew missions near northwest New Guinea, the Celebes, the East Indies, and Borneo for nine months. Zink recalled participating in long-range missions that cover over a 700-mile radius. He flew an incredible 157 missions over the Pacific Ocean while being deployed for 20 months.

Though he was discharged and needed rest due to combat fatigue, Zink's military career did not end after his service during World War II. He would also make an impact during the Korean War as a top-notch pilot.

Click here to listen to Colonel John Zink tell his story.
It's been nearly two years since devastating wildfires swept across the Hawaiian island of Maui, and one group of volunteers is still sorting through a massive backlog of clothing donated amid the disaster.

Circular Hawaii is an organization "committed to reducing landfill waste," advising individuals and businesses and educating school children about generally sustainable living.

Recently, Circular Hawaii volunteers gathered in Lahaina, a town impacted severely by the climate change-driven fires, to deal with a shipping container's worth of what the retail sector calls "soft goods"  clothing, linens, and other fabrics.

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Hawaii Public Radio profiled the group's efforts, shedding light on the impact of clothing donations and their ultimate fate in the wake of a disaster.

Circular Hawaii volunteers sifted through "hundreds of pounds of clothing" on a hot spring day with one goal in mind  keeping all salvageable textiles out of landfills. Kiera Harder was one of several participants inspecting donations, and she spoke about how the group assessed them.

"Is it usable? So is it in good condition? Does it have a stain? Does it have a rip? Would somebody wear it again?" Harder said of the tops, bottoms, and bedding donation piles.

Donated clothing in good condition is set aside for local aid groups, hospitals, and organizations that work with people experiencing homelessness. But even items that didn't meet that criteria weren't necessarily headed for the landfill.

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"We take them to an industrial shredder, where we shred them up into little pieces, and then from there we can make them into new things, like pillows and dog beds," Harder explained.

In all, Hawaii Public Radio reported that Circular Hawaii diverted 600 pounds of clothing that would have otherwise been discarded in a two-week span.

A staggering volume of lingering donations is not uncommon in the aftermath of a disaster, and the practice came to issue following January's Pacific Palisades fires in Los Angeles.

At the time, The Guardian covered an "overwhelming influx of textiles donations" in the disaster's aftermath, highlighting its link to "everyday consumption and disposal habits"  particularly the outsized impact of fast fashion on the proliferation of clothing waste.

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Nicole Huguenin is one of Circular Hawaii's founders, and she told Hawaii Public Radio that the fast fashion and overconsumption cycle is harder to ignore when you live on an island. "We have to put some time into a sustainable, circular solution. And we have even more now because of the fire," Huguenin observed.

She added: "I can safely say all of this would have gone to the landfill."

One of the group's volunteers, Rona Martin, pointed to tradition when discussing Circular Hawaii's mission. Martin said learning to "reuse everything" was a big part of her youth. "We would repurpose everything, like Grandpa would make goggles out of wood, and it was just pretty amazing. My great grandma made her own underwear out of rice bags," she explained.

Another volunteer, Gretchen Losano, surveyed the "amazing" volume of fabric kept out of landfills that day, calling it a "huge win for Maui."

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Photo via Getty Images.

Ricky Wassenaar killed three men at an Arizona State Prison near Tucson on April 4. Two were serving life sentences for sexual conduct with a minor. The third had raped and killed a 15-year-old girl.

Wassenaars only regret was that he didnt kill more.

Child molesters: I wanted to kill them all. Thats all I can say, he told the Arizona Mirror in a recent phone call.

But he did say more.

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The taxpayers no longer have to pay for them, he continued. Im paying my debt to society.

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Re-entry is investigating what happened that day. No charges have been filed yet, and a spokesperson for the Pima County Attorneys Office said that Corrections has not yet referred its investigation to their office. The Corrections Department has not commented on the matter, other than to condemn the violence and note that it was quickly curtailed.

Wassenaar, who is known in prison as Rooster, is already serving 16 life sentences for his part in a 2004 jail-break attempt that ended in a 15-day hostage stand-off at the Lewis Prison in Buckeye. He has spent 38 of his 62 years in Arizona prisons, with just a four-month stint on the outside. And the Pima County Attorney, Laura Conover, has written newspaper op-eds declaring her aversion to the death penalty.

Wassenaar also claims he killed a fourth prisoner last November because he didnt want to share a cell. He says he strangled the man with his bare hands, but Corrections didnt believe him and the autopsy conducted by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner could not definitively determine that the man  also a sex offender  was murdered.

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Nonetheless, he insisted that he killed the man, telling an investigator from his last trial and a prison advocate who relayed the information to Corrections that he would kill anyone else they assign to his cell.

Youve got to give him an A for effort, said Carlos Garcia, the president of the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association.

The Corrections Department was playing chicken with Wassenaar, Garcia said: He told them he was going to kill someone. They didnt listen, and he did it.

Im a killer now

I last spoke to Wassenaar 20 years ago, while he was defending himself in trial for the attempted escape and prison takeover. I distinctly recall the sheriffs detention officer escorting me to a holding cell, locking me in with Wassenaar and then leaving.

Ricky Wassenaars Arizona inmate photo

Like many accused and convicted criminals I have interviewed, Wassenaar was a paradox: a grab-bag of hatreds and loyalties, with a strict code of honor despite his lawlessness.

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On the day I interviewed him, he fretted over the fact that it was my wifes birthday; shouldnt I be home with her? He talked about his own mother, how he wanted to be imprisoned close enough to his native Michigan so that she could visit him. And when she died, he told me, he wasnt sure he still wanted to stay alive. He is still close to his sister, Rhonda, who talks to him regularly, and who was herself convicted of a conspiracy to spring him from custody when he was to be transferred to Ohio to serve his sentence.

What I remember most vividly is his account of why he was sent to Lewis Prison in the first place.

In 1986, Wassenaar was arrested for armed robbery and aggravated assault. I know nothing about those crimes, but after 10 years, he was released on home arrest and was staying with a family in Tucson.

He had a whole list of people he was angry at when he got out, and he told me the anger buzzed in his head like a hive of bees.

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He had been out more than four months when he walked into a Tucson video shop with the intent of renting a pornographic video. The shop clerk asked him for a phone number and Wassenaar didnt want to give the only number he had, which belonged to the people he was staying with.

The clerk ridiculed him. So, the next night, Wassenaar came back with a gun and held up the shop. Then he took off in a car and led police on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash.

Wassenaar said he woke up on a hospital gurney. There was a TV set right above him showing the evening news and flashing his photograph. Suddenly, the buzzing had stopped, he told me, and he realized he was going back to prison.

Last week, during our phone call, I reminded him of our earlier conversations.

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I was a whole different person then, he said. And when I asked him how so, he answered, Im a killer now. I was never a killer before.

The 15-day siege

In January 2004, Wassenaar almost escaped from prison. But instead of making it outside the prison walls, he and his prison mate ended up starting the longest ever hostage situation at a prison.

He had worked in the prison legal library and felt he was discriminated against by prison management in ways he was punished, a belief that has been a running theme throughout his prison life.

He now worked in the kitchen as a cook, and he put together a plan with another inmate in the kitchen, Steven Coy. On a January morning, when they knew the mess hall would be understaffed, they sprung the plan. Wassenaar overpowered a correctional officer, handcuffed him and took his uniform. He shaved off his own beard to more closely resemble a correctional officer. He asked the other prisoners in the cafeteria if they wanted to join him, but they refused. So, he headed out the door to a nearby guard tower. The guard tower was a short stop on the way to the prison administration building and a door outside of the prison to freedom.

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One of the guards on duty in the tower, Jason Auch, mistook Wassenaar for the officer he had overpowered and buzzed him in. Wassenaar pulled his cap down until Auch reached him, then pulled a metal paddle from one of the kitchens industrial mixers out of the pocket of his cargo pants and smacked Auch across the side of the head, knocking him nearly senseless. The second guard in the tower, Lois Fraley, charged him, but he subdued her and handcuffed her. Then, taking an automatic rifle from the tower, he went to see what was holding up Coy.

Wassenaar later said he knew little about why Coy had been in prison. Coy was a convicted rapist, and while Wassenaar was taking the tower, Coy was raping a female civilian worker in the kitchen. Otherwise, they might have pulled off an escape.

When Wassenaar stepped out of the tower, other correctional officers had Coy spread-eagled on the ground. Wassenaar sprayed bullets over their heads. One of them asked who he was shooting at, to which Wassenaar answered, You! The officers retreated and Wassenaar pulled Coy into the tower.

The next 15 days were high drama as Wassenaar negotiated with prison officials and other law-enforcement agencies. At one point, during a whispered phone call, Wassenaar told negotiators that he had sent Coy to the tower where they could get a shot at him. Sharpshooters drew a bead on a person in the tower they thought was Coy, then held fire when they realized it could be Auch. Wassenaar made demands for Philly cheesesteaks, Coke, cigarettes and meatball subs, and raged if he didnt get them. He screamed at the hostage negotiators, once while he held a shotgun to Auchs head and another time when he threatened to cut off one of Fraleys fingers.

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Coy raped Fraley. Wassenaar was also charged and convicted of sexual assault for an incident that took place during the early hours of the siege. They were on the floor of the tower, below the windows to avoid the snipers, and Wassenaar was pulling off Fraleys pants to give them to Coy to wear as a disguise. Her underwear came off with her pants, and Wassenaar allegedly put his finger in her vagina at that moment and made remarks. He denied it happened, but the jury concluded that it did.

Eventually, Coy and Wassenaar surrendered after getting assurances that they would be transferred to prisons out of Arizona. They had a last meal with a couple of beers before they left the tower.

Courtroom drama

The trial began a year and a day after the start of the siege. It was a circus. Wassenaar chose to defend himself, and he was well matched by the prosecutor, Deputy Maricopa County Attorney Jeanette Gallagher, a tough-talking Chicagoan with a glare and a growl that was just as intimidating as Wassenaars.

Coy had already pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences, to start after the 185 years he was already serving. He was whisked off to a prison in Maine.

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Wassenaar had attended the pretrial proceedings in shackles and jail stripes. But during the trial, he was dressed out in civilian clothes with a stun belt under his shirt and nylon bands binding his legs to his chair.

At times it was amusing, and admittedly, the media who attended the overflow courtroom was at times charmed by Wassenaar. Once, when he took the witness stand before the jury came in, Wassenaar grabbed the microphone and pretended he was a club DJ, asking for song suggestions and then saying he was going to play the Lynyrd Skynyrd song Free Bird. On multiple occasions, Gallagher would storm out of the courtroom and utter angry epithets that journalists could not report.

When Judge Warren Granville asked Wassenaar how far he had gone in school. Wassenaar answered, DOC documents will tell you I have a GED. Others will tell you I have a Masters Degree in being a dumbass.

Auch, the male correctional officer taken hostage, withered on the stand under Wassenaars questioning. Fraley, however, was confident and unyielding. She told the jury how Wassenaar would make her mop blood and urine off the floor. She fantasized about dumping the buckets over his head and jumping from the tower.

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A couple of broken legs, I would have been satisfied with, she said.

On another day, Wassenaars withering gaze was countered by Maricopa County Sheriffs Sgt. Kip Rustenburg, who had been one of the hostage negotiators during the siege. When Wassenaar said something offensive, she flashed her eyes and smiled at him slyly, without saying a word. He had to turn away, half laughing, but clearly intimidated.

And though he denied the sex assault charges and attempted murder charges for shooting at correctional officers, the jury found him guilty of 19 counts. He was sentenced to 16 life sentences, a harsh enhancement for committing the crimes while he was already in prison.

Wassenaar was sent to a prison in Ohio. He was later transferred to New Mexico, out of sight and out of mind, before coming back to a prison in Tucson in 2016, and housed in a sex-offender unit. In Wassenaars mind, he was sent back because Charles Ryan, then the Corrections director, Wanted his pound of flesh. Wassenaar had embarrassed the department. Ryan, he said, wanted revenge before he died.

I wanted to kill them all

Much of the following account comes from my recent conversation with Wassenaar. He was calling from prison, limited in time. The phone cut off in mid-sentence. Other information comes from court records and from conversations with Donna Hamm, of the prison advocacy organization Middle Ground. Hamm has spoken to various people with knowledge of the events. None of it, other than the victims names, has been confirmed by the corrections department or the Pima County Attorneys Office.

Wassenaar told Hamm that he didnt want to share a cell with another prisoner. When they moved Joseph Desisto into the cell, Wassenaar told Hamm he tried to block the door to keep him out.

Desisto, 81, had been convicted of multiple counts of child sex abuse and sexual conduct with a minor.

Desisto was found dead in the cell on Nov. 5, 2024, which Wassenaar made a point of reminding me was Election Day. Wassenaar said he strangled Desisto.

I choked him with an arm bar, and then with my hands, he told me. And he said that he was dripping sweat all over Desisto from the effort, something he told Hamm as well, and said he left DNA evidence on Desistos body.

Desistos autopsy noted Wassenaars allegation, but the medical examiner found no signs of strangulation: there were no marks on Desistos neck and his hyoid bone  an indicator of strangulation if broken  was intact. He had broken ribs, according to the report, a common injury that occurs during CPR, and Wassenaar volunteered that prison EMTs had in fact broken Desistos ribs.

The cause of death was inconclusive.

Wassenaar told Hamm and me that he got the equivalent of a 30-day time-out even though he confessed to killing the cell mate.

He called his former trial investigator. He called Hamm. He wanted to be implicated in Desistos death. He thought Desistos family would want to know what happened to him.

Hamm asked him, Why would you kill someone if youre so concerned about their family?

He said he just wanted to be alone. But he insisted on his guilt. I gave a detailed account, he told me.

He told Hamm he had made it clear to his keepers that, if they put anyone else in his cell, he would kill them, too.

He wants to do his time the way he wants to do it, she said.

In the meantime, in December, on the anniversary of his mothers death, he said, he picked out a good-sized rock from the prison yard and saved it in his cell.

By the morning of April 4, prison authorities had put an inmate named Saul Alvarez in Wassenaars cell. Alvarez had kidnapped a 15-year-old girl in 1998, raped her and killed her. Hamm had been told that Wassenaar suffocated him and stabbed him to death with a shank and arranged Alvarezs body on his bed to make it look like he was asleep. He took the rock he had saved and put it in his fishnet laundry bag and headed out to the prison yard.

In the yard, other prisoners were starting to assemble in line for breakfast. Outside the mess hall door was a long passageway enclosed in chain-link fence that the prisoners call the cage. Wassenaar came in and started swinging his rock.

He felt he had jumped the gun.

If I had waited until they were all locked in that cage, I would have killed ten or twelve, he said.

Instead, he killed two, Thorne Harnage and Donald Lashley, both of whom were serving life sentences for sexual conduct with a minor. Another prisoner tried to stop him, and Wassenaar said he stabbed him.

He was overpowered before he had finished, he told me.

I wanted to kill them all.

Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com.

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Warren Buffett said Saturday he plans to step down as Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B, BRK-A) CEO at the end of this year, and that he will recommend Greg Abel succeed him.

"I think it's the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year-end," said Buffett, who was chairing his 60th annual meeting. "And I want to spring that on the directors, effectively, and give that as my recommendation."

Berkshire's board is set to meet on Sunday, May 4.

Abel, currently vice chairman at Berkshire Hathaway who oversees the company's non-insurance businesses, had been tabbed as Buffett's successor back in 2021.

Buffett added that "I would still hang around and could conceivably be useful in a few cases. But the final word would be Gregs."

Ahead of his announcement on Saturday, Buffett said he'd only discussed the decision with two members of the Berkshire board, his children Susie and Howard. Which means Abel was not clued in on the plan, either. The balance of the board will begin the discussion Sunday.

Warren Buffett and Greg Abel. (screenshot/CNBC/YouTube)

Buffett said that he has no plans to sell any of his shares of Berkshire Hathaway as part of this transition. Buffett has served as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway since 1970. The company takes its name from the textile mill Buffett's investment partnership acquired in 1965.

Since Buffett's takeover of Berkshire, per-share value of the company has compounded at a 19.9% rate, almost double the 10.4% average annual gain of the S&P 500, and resulted in a 5,502,284% return for shareholders. Meaning $10,000 invested in Berkshire in 1965 is now worth over $500 million.

Called "Woodstock for Capitalists," the weekend's main event kicked off with the legendary investor taking questions from CNBC's Becky Quick and Berkshire shareholders.

Check out the updates below for full coverage.

Buffett, Greg Abel, and Ajit Jain took questions for a little over two hours; just Abel joined Buffett for a final two-hour stretch that wrapped up around 2:00 p.m. ET. This year's meeting was a somewhat shorter edition of Q&A with shareholders than in prior years.
As KTLAs Carlos Herrera reported Saturday morning on the previous nights shooting at an Inglewood college campus, police officers took a person into custody in the background.

This is just unfolding right now, Herrera said at 8:04 a.m. as officers filed out of squad cars behind him.

The officers appeared to be holding rifles, although its unclear if they were non-lethal.

KTLA reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department about the incident. The department said officers were following an allegedly stolen vehicle in the area of Aviation and Century Boulevards.

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The suspect, who remains unidentified, was taken into custody without incident.

Herrera spotted the suspect, who appeared to be male, exiting the vehicle with his hands raised in the air. He then laid on the asphalt while officers cuffed him.

Its not yet clear if he was armed. No additional details were immediately made available.

The arrest was not related to Fridays shooting, which left two people hospitalized.

Luis Zuniga contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
As rained poured down, hundreds of protesters lined the streets on May 3 in downtown Nashville to rally against President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.

The group grew from roughly 150 people to 400 along James Robertson Parkway as the rally unfolded from noon to 2 p.m. Signs, flags and banners were held high with messages like "eat the rich," "stop fascism" and "we are not OK." There was even someone dressed in a dinosaur costume holding a sign that read "SOS: Don't let rights go extinct."

Demonstrators cheered as a steady stream of cars honked in support while they drove past. Some scoffed as a Tesla rolled by the crowd.

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Volunteers with megaphones led the crowd in chants, while others walked around handing out water, sandwiches and extra signs along both sides of the block in front of the Historic Metro Courthouse.

For 19-year-old Shyanna Graves, of Franklin, Kentucky, the protest was about Trump slashing education funding, along with his threats toward immigrants. Draped in a rainbow banner that read "love always wins," Graves said her empathy for others drew her to make the one-hour drive to Nashville.

"I'm tired of laying in my bed, watching TikToks and crying about what's going on," she said. "I grew up broke. I'm broke. We need help. I've not been to college, but I want to go to college and I'm not going to be able to if he takes all the funding away."

A passing motorist and passenger express their support with a crowd of people participating in a May Day protest against the Trump administration on James Robertson Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

May Day: Thousands rally against Trump, Musk in nationwide protests

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Further down the line of protesters, a man in a hat, sunglasses and a mask held a large, faded American flag. He said he didn't want to be named because he feared retribution from his employer for protesting.

"We're about 250 years from our independence and we're on the verge of turning to a king again," he said. "That's unacceptable."

Hannah Baker, 24, drove up from Tullahoma, Tennessee, for the rally. She deals with chronic illness and is troubled over Trump's proposed cuts to health care funding. She believes it's important that people make their voice heard and stick together.

"I feel like everyone should have their rights," Baker said. "I don't like corruption and I feel like unfortunately that's where we're at."

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The rally was part of a nationwide series of "May Day" protests, many of which happened on May 1  historically known as May Day or International Workers' Day. More than 1,000 rallies were planned across the U.S. throughout the week to protest Trump's policies and Musk's influence on the White House. Grassroots group United Volunteers of Tennessee organized the Nashville rally. The group was also part of facilitating a protest in April where thousands turned out to Centennial Park.

Ethan Thorpe participates in a May Day protest against the Trump administration on James Robertson Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

'Nashville is fighting back': Thousands attend Hands Off Nashville protest against Trump, part of national day of action

Ethan Thorpe, a volunteer organizer with the group, said he was moved by how many came out on a Saturday despite the rain.

"Whether it's for immigrant rights, for civil rights, for LGBTQ rights, whatever the reason they're out here, it's just about building community and making people feel like we're all in this together," Thorpe said.

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Rachel Wegner covers education and children's issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at RAwegner@tennessean.com. You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle RachelAnnWegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville May Day protests: Hundreds rally against Trump, Musk
LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS)  It was a day to remember at the end of a strenuous academic journey for some medical students.

Three Rivers Avian Center and Moonstruck Maple holding joint open house

A total of 209 students walked across the stage at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine 48th commencement ceremony. 185 of those graduates matriculated with a degree in Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or a D.O. The other 24 graduates received their Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. This is the first WVSOM class to receive this masters degree through the school.

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These grads hail from all over the country, like Utah native Jason Mitton.

[Graduation Day] is always a day you are kind of fighting for hoping that you will get to, but to actually be here feels kind of surreal. So [I am] just excited and grateful to be here really, and grateful that WVSOM gave me the opportunity, said Mitton.

Mitton worked rotations at Beckley ARH and Raleigh General Hospital, where he found himself drawn more to the field of anesthesiology.

The next step for those graduating with a D.O. is their residency. Mitton will be continuing his training at UPMC Lititz in Pennsylvania.

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Hira Cheema, another graduate, will be continuing her training at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

Being in Lewisburg, West Virginia was amazing. Everybody was very welcoming. Everybody was very nice. The community is very friendly. It was my first time in West Virginia. I am from Oklahoma, but it felt like home [in WV], and I will miss it. Everybody at the school  faculty, the friends that I made, everybody was very supportive and very helpful, said Cheema.

Cheema said she hopes to move back to Oklahoma to be a physician after she finishes up at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

WVSOM President Dr. Jim Nemitz was thrilled for his 37th commencement ceremony with the school. He left one final message to the graduates.

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Congress honors WWIIs All-Black, All-female battalion with Gold Medal

We are so very proud of each and every one of you go out there and do good, said Dr. Nemitz.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  A Westerville man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for his role in four armed robberies against postal carriers, according to prosecutors.

Cameron D. Newton, 21, was given a sentenced of 240 months and one day for aiding and abetting aggravated robberies of mail and use of a firearm during the crimes of violence, according to prosecutors.

Newton was on probation and wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the robberies. Prosecutors said he recruited two juveniles to rob a postal carrier on Dec. 22, 2022, in German Village and arranged the use of the gun used during the crime.

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A month later, Newton was in his vehicle nearby during a robbery on East Columbus Street, prosecutors said, and provided surveillance. Newton was pretending to be making DoorDash deliveries to evade home confinement.

Columbus ATF seizes guns bound for Mexico

That same day, he provided surveillance for a third armed robbery, and arranged buyers for the stolen postal keys, according to prosecutors.

In another robbery on May 11, 2023, Newton got a firearm for a co-conspirator to use, and picked up accomplices near Goodale Park after the robbery, which involved an elderly female postal worker.

Newton paid several hundred dollars via CashApp for the robberies.

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During a search of Newtons home, detectives found $590,000 in altered checks and money orders, $22,000 in cash, hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, and two postal keys.

Newton and his accomplices terrorized postal workers in an effort to steal their keys and loot mailboxes, FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola said in a statement. Through the hard work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, local police, and the FBI, we were able to arrest those responsible for these violent crimes and ensure they are held accountable.

In total, six people have been charged in connection with six armed robberies in central Ohio involving postal workers.

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On May 3, 2007, Madeleine McCann vanished from a vacation apartment in Portugal while her parents dined at a restaurant just 130 feet away. She was never seen again.

The case sparked a media frenzy that initially painted Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, as suspects after forensic tests found traces of their daughters blood in a car they rented 25 days after she went missing. They maintained their innocence and were officially cleared in 2008.

In 2020, German prosecutors named Christian Brueckner as a suspect in Madeleines disappearance. Two years later, Portuguese prosecutors confirmed to the Associated Press that they had identified an official suspect in the case, but did not reveal a name.

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Brueckner, who was convicted in 2019 for raping a 72-year-old woman, has denied any involvement with the missing toddler.

My private opinion is that he relatively quickly killed the girl, possibly abused her and then killed her, said German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters in a 2020 interview with The Times.

So, where is Christian Brueckner now? Heres everything to know about what happened to the suspect in Madeleine McCanns disappearance.

What happened to Madeleine McCann?

Handout/Getty Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann

In 2007, Kate, Gerry and their three children  Madeleine and her 2-year-old twin siblings  went on holiday to Portugal. The family was visiting from the United Kingdom, where they resided, and rented a vacation apartment in the resort town of Praia da Luz.

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On May 3, the parents put their kids to bed and had dinner with friends at a restaurant less than 200 feet away. They left the apartment unlocked so they could periodically check on the kids.

During one of those check-ins, Kate noticed an open window and found that Madeleine was missing from her bed. The toddler, who was just a few days shy of her 4th birthday, was never seen again.

Who is Christian Brueckner?

Carabinieri Milano via Getty Police mug shot of Christian Brueckner Police mug shot of Christian Brueckner

Brueckner  whose real name is Christian Fischer, according to The Times  was born in 1976 and adopted as a baby, but his adoptive parents allegedly sent him away. He was later taken in by Brigitte Bruckner and Fritz Bruckner in Wurzburg, Germany, where he grew up.

In 1993, he started committing sexual offenses against children and was caught molesting a 6-year-old girl on a playground. Brueckner was extradited from Portugal to Germany in 2017, where he spent 15 months in jail for sexually abusing a child and was sentenced to seven years in prision in 2019 for raping a 72-year-old woman in 2005.

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In February 2024, he went to trial in Germany for three counts of rape and two counts of sexual abuse of a child that he allegedly committed in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. His alleged victims include an elderly woman, a 14-year-old girl and a 20-year-old Irish woman, all of whom he tied up, whipped and sexually assaulted, per AP.

He was also accused of exposing himself to a 10-year-old and an 11-year-old girl in separate cases that occurred during that time period.

Brueckner was named a suspect while he was appealing his sentence for the 2005 rape, though authorities havent confirmed how they linked him to Madeleines disappearance. He was also serving a 21-month sentence for dealing drugs.

A German investigator testified in June 2024 that they had allegedly discovered two email accounts of Brueckners that he used to share evidence of child abuse. One of those accounts allegedly contained information that related to the killing of the toddler, The Times reported.

Has Christian Brueckner been charged in Madeleine McCann's disappearance?

JULIAN STRATENSCHULTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Christian Brueckner in court in 2024 Christian Brueckner in court in 2024

No, Brueckner has not been charged in relation to Madeleines disappearance. In 2020, Wolters told Sky News that there wasnt enough hard evidence to take him to trial and that finding the toddlers body was crucial.

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All indication we have got that I cant tell you points in the direction that Madeleine is dead, he told Sky News. Weve got things we cannot communicate that speak for the theory that Madeleine is dead, even if I have to admit that we dont have the body.

However, his investigation did allegedly find some evidence that points to Brueckner, including that he lived in the area where Madeleine went missing from 1995 to 2007.

Has Madeleine McCann been found?

LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Kate and Gerry McCann pose with an artist's impression of how their daughter might look now at the age of nine on May 2, 2012. Kate and Gerry McCann pose with an artist's impression of how their daughter might look now at the age of nine on May 2, 2012.

No, Madeleine has never been found. Despite thousands of alleged sightings over the years, Wolters told Sky News in 2020 that the toddler is presumed dead. Her parents, however, havent given up hope.

We welcome the news that the Portuguese authorities have declared a German man an arguido [suspect] in relation to the disappearance of our beloved daughter Madeleine, they wrote on the website Find Madeleine in 2023, BBC reported.

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Kate and Gerry continued, Even though the possibility may be slim, we have not given up hope that Madeleine is still alive and we will be reunited with her.

Where is Christian Brueckner now?

MICHAEL MATTHEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Christian Brueckner in court in 2024 Christian Brueckner in court in 2024

In October 2024, a German court acquitted Brueckner of two counts of rape and two of sexual abuse that he had been accused of committing in Portugal between 2000 and 2017. His lawyers cited a lack of evidence and claimed that their client might not have been charged if he hadnt been named as a suspect in Madeleines disappearance, per AP.

Prosecutors said they would appeal the ruling, and the German native will remain in prison until September 2025 to finish out his seven-year sentence for raping a woman in 2005.

Wolters told Sky News in January 2025 that there was no prospect of an indictment in Madeleines case.

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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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Donald Trumps White House social media accounts posted an image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the administration illegally deported to a prison in El Salvador, in the blue-and-red theme of President Barack Obamas first presidential campaign. Instead of the word HOPE, it says MS-13.

Ah yes, a true classic. We call this one Not a Maryland Dad, the White House posted on X and Instagram on Saturday.

The picture doesnt make much sense, though it certainly fits within the Trump administrations broader social media strategy of being inflammatory and cruel toward immigrants.

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What the fuck is this account, an Instagram user commented under the post.

The White House, the official account replied.

Abrego Garcia was deported from Maryland to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador in March in violation of a protection from removal order barring his deportation to the Central American nation.

A federal judge, followed by the Supreme Court, ordered that the Trump administration bring him back, which it has not done, raising the prospect of a full-blown constitutional crisis. The administration originally alleged that Abrego Garcia was deported in error. Instead of bringing him back to America, the administration has led a smear campaign against him, and the Department of Homeland Security has claimed he is a member of the MS-13 gang.

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DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told CBS last Wednesday that if Abrego Garcia were brought back to the U.S., the Trump administration would deport him a second time.

[Abrego Garcia] is not under our control, she said. He is an El Salvador citizen. He is home there in his country. If he were to be brought back to the United States of America, we would immediately deport him again.

Noem said that the next steps were up to El Salvador.

President Trump and his administration has adhered to the court and respects the court and its decisions, she said. This individual is not under the United States of Americas jurisdiction and he is not one of our citizens. He is home in his home country. And thats up to that country to decide what to do.

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Noems department recently exposed where Abrego Garcias wife lived when DHS made a civil protective order public that included her address, forcing her to move to a safe house with her three children.

I dont feel safe when the government posts my address, the house where my family lives, for everyone to see, especially when this case has gone viral and people have all sorts of opinions, his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, an American citizen, told the Washington Post. So, this is definitely a bit terrifying. Im scared for my kids.

On Saturday, Noem claimed on Fox News that Abrego Garcias wife may not even want him returned home to America, and is only arguing so publicly because she is afraid of him, based on her past claims of domestic violence.

Under the social media post depicting Abrego Garcia in the style of the Obama campaign, the White House linked to a press release from DHS that alleged Abrego Garcia is a suspected human trafficker. The basis of this claim is that in 2022 he was pulled over for speeding and had eight other people in the car with no luggage. He told the state highway trooper they were returning from a construction job. In bodycam footage from the traffic stop, the man in the passenger seat appears to be covered in paint. There were no charges filed.

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The facts speak for themselves, and they reek of human trafficking, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. The medias sympathetic narrative about this criminal illegal gang member has completely fallen apart. We hear far too much about the gang members and criminals false sob stories and not enough about their victims.

Abrego Garcia, 29, came to the U.S. at age 16 after a gang threatened him and his family. In 2019, he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on allegations that he was a gang member. He married his pregnant wife in a detention center, and he was still in jail when she gave birth to their child. An immigration judge then allowed him to live and work legally in the U.S. on the basis that he could face gang violence if he were to return to El Salvador.



The original image of Obama was created in 2008 by activist Shepard Fairey and featured the word HOPE at the bottom. It became an iconic portrait of the then soon-to-be president.

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The White House on Friday called for significant cuts to nondefense programs as part of President Trumps fiscal 2026 budget request, while proposing to beef up funding for defense and the presidents border priorities.

The so-called skinny budget is not as detailed as usual presidential budget requests, which is not uncommon for a presidents first-year proposal. However, some budget hawks are already grumbling about what they say are key missing details.

Republicans have said they expect more information about the presidents preferred spending direction in the coming weeks. The request is a wish list from the president, rather than a bill that would be enacted. But the latest request from the White House provides a critical look into the presidents funding priorities for the coming fiscal year as Republicans look to significantly reduce federal spending.

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Heres five things to know about the budget request.

Dozens of programs on the chopping block

Trump proposed eliminating or zeroing out funding for dozens of federal programs the administration says are either duplicative, underperforming or are out of line with the administrations priorities.

The wide-ranging list of programs includes the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education program, Job Corps, the Community Development Block Grant program, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the 400 Years of African American History Commission, and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which the administration said is similar to the mandatory Personal Responsibility Education program.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media, the U.S. Institute for Peace and the National Endowment for Democracy would also see the chopping block, as development agencies find themselves in the administrations crosshairs.

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The budget proposes a nearly $27 billion reduction for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 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.

The Budget would also newly institute a two-year cap on rental assistance for able bodied adults, and would ensure a majority of rental assistance funding through States would go to the elderly and disabled, the request said. A State-based formula program would also lead to significant terminations of Federal regulations.

A widening gap between defense and nondefense

The budget request unveiled Friday included a cut to nondefense discretionary spending amounting to $163 billion, or about 23 percent. Defense funding, meanwhile, would rise by about 13 percent, the White House said.

That builds on the funding bill the government is currently operating under, which kept funding for 2025 roughly level with 2024, while increasing defense spending by $6 billion and cutting nondefense spending by $13 billion.

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A breakdown in the Friday request outlines the proposed cuts by agency, with the administration calling for cuts of about 18 percent for the Department of Agriculture, 17 percent for the Commerce Department, 15 percent for the Education Department, 9 percent for the Energy Department, 44 percent for the HUD, 31 percent for the Interior Department, 8 percent for the Justice Department, 35 percent for the Department of Labor, 84 percent for the Department of State and international programs, and 19 percent for the Treasury Department.

At the same time, increases are proposed for several agencies, including a roughly 13 percent boost for the Department of Defense, a nearly 65 percent boost for the Department of Homeland Security, a roughly 6 percent jump for the Transportation Department, and an increase of about 4 percent for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Defense hawks are still unhappy

Administration officials touted the request at putting defense spending above $1 trillion, but the budget assumes some of the increases for defense and the administrations border plans would be provided through Trumps big, beautiful bill that Republicans are working to assemble in Congress and that is crafted separately from the appropriations process.

Republicans are using a process known as budget reconciliation to advance the presidents tax agenda, while also making further cuts to spending and boosting funding for defense and the presidents deportation plans. While the process can be time-consuming and restrictive, it would ultimately allow Republicans to jam through such a package without having to worry about likely Democratic opposition in the Senate.

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But some Republicans have come out against the gambit of counting funds from the reconciliation bill toward fiscal 2026 defense spending.

President Trump successfully campaigned on a Peace Through Strength agenda, but his advisers at the Office of Management and Budget [OMB] were apparently not listening, Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said in a statement Friday. 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 added that he has said for months that reconciliation defense spending does not replace the need for real growth in the militarys base budget.

Head Start not mentioned amid education cuts

While the proposed budget does call for cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), OMB Director Russell Vought said Friday that the reductions do not include changes to Head Start programs, which provide early childhood education to low-income families.

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His comments come as the Trump administration is already facing legal challenges after previous reports that Head Start funding was set to be cut in the HHSs budget amid office closures.

However, the request does also outline notable reductions on the education side, including proposals to eliminate Preschool Development Grants and cuts funding for the Education Departments Office for Civil Rights.

More than $1.5 billion in spending reductions under a line item for TRIO programs and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) are also proposed for the Education Department.

TRIO and GEAR UP are a relic of the past when financial incentives were needed to motivate Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to engage with low-income students and increase access, the request stated. The lack of action by IHEs also meant that States and local school districts needed additional support to prepare low-income students for college.

Tax cuts TBD

While proposing a cut of more than $2.4 billion to the IRS in a move it said would end weaponization of IRS enforcement, the budget request also states that the elimination of certain complex tax credits and technology improvements would increase IRS efficiency.

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Pressed about the proposal on Friday, White House officials said all of the administrations proposals would be included in the more detailed budget plan expected later in the year.

Congressional Republicans are negotiating trillions of dollars in tax cuts as part of their reconciliation plan, which seeks to permanently lock in expiring provisions enacted as part of Trumps signature 2017 tax law, and could include further tax cuts the president has proposed in recent months.

While Maya MacGuineas, head of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, 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.

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WESTFIELD  Westfield Career Services Counselor Patricia Healy was recognized this week as the Western Massachusetts recipient of the General Colin L. Powell Service Award. The award is presented to one high school counselor from each of the eastern and western half of the state that best supports young adults in making their individual educational and career choices in high school and upon graduation.

I could not think of a more deserving person for this award, said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski in making the announcement.

I was shocked. I was just doing my job, Healy said.

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Healy said this is only her second year as a career counselor after eight years as a school counselor at Westfield High School, but she has spent her entire career in education since graduating from college. She taught second grade at Munger Hill Elementary and sixth grade at the then-South Middle School for 17 years, and before that worked for four years as a college admissions counselor.

Healy was nominated by Tech. Sgt. Brian Whitman of the Air National Guard 104 and AT2 Micaela Veronese of the U.S. Navy, and was told this is the first time a counselor has ever been nominated by two different recruiters in the same year.

I know Sgt. Whitman told me he nominated me. Its wonderful to be nominated for doing your job, you dont always get acknowledged at that level, she said.

Healy said the Career Center at WHS has an open door policy where she meets with students one-on-one, in small groups, or addresses entire classes.

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If they ask for something, we try to make sure we help them get there, she said, whether it is to meet with a recruiter, apply for jobs or experience a particular career through a job shadow. Currently, she has 48 students participating in internships in the community.

Healy said if a college or military service recruiter wants to come to WHS, or if a student wants to meet with them, she will facilitate an appointment. She called the two recruiters that nominated her very friendly, easy to talk to, no pressure.

I always sit with them when theyre here. Theyre fabulous about it, Healy said, adding that the recruiters always tell the students after meeting with them that if they are interested in joining the service, then they will meet with their parents. She said her office will also administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test to students that wish to take it, and students can then choose whether to report their scores.

Healy agreed that Westfield has a strong relationship with the military, through the presence of the Air National Guard at Barnes-Westfield and a strong American Legion Post. She said there are also two staff members with military experience at WHS  Michael Ingraham, retired, and Stephania Biza, who is active military  who actively acknowledge students who join the service.

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So far this year, Healy knows of three students who will be entering the military, one U.S. Navy, one U.S. Army, and one in the Air National Guard. She said every year about a dozen students enlist.

In the letter announcing the award, signed by Our Community Salutes Co-chairs Andy McCarty, Air Force veteran and Robert Notch, Army veteran, they said the nominations come from military recruiters who rely heavily upon counselors to help find and attract intelligent, upstanding and physically capable individuals. Doing so without your partnership and steadfast devotion to student development and success would make this task infinitely more challenging, wrote McCarty and Notch.

Healy is also invited to be recognized at the Enlistee Recognition Ceremony at 3 p.m. on May 10 at Gillette Stadium, which she said she will gladly attend. She said the majority of the ceremony is to honor and acknowledge students who are among the one percent of their peers to enlist. I feel very blessed, very lucky, she said.

The Career Center is funded in part by a state Connecting Activities grant, which helps to provide transportation for certain events, and also offsets salaries in the office.

Read the original article on MassLive.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Flags will be at half-staff across Florida this weekend, May 3- 4.

Gov. DeSantis made the order in observance of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, which honors those who died in the line of duty.

A tribute will be held at the National Fallen Firefighters Monument in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where 140 firefighters will be recognized for the ultimate sacrifice they made for the safety of their communities.

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There will be a candlelight service this evening, Saturday, May 3, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and the memorial service will be held Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

For more information or to watch the service, visit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Spain suffered one of Europes biggest ever blackouts six months after deadly floods that killed 235 people. If these crises had taken place under any other leader, theyd probably be gone by now. But not Pedro Sanchez.

The latest scandals have only cemented Mr Sanchezs reputation as the hardest to tarnish of Teflon Dons  or as his detractors call him: Perro (the dog).

Soon after the massive power cut this week which grounded flights, halted trains and brought modern life to a juddering halt, Mr Sanchez dug in.

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He has been accused of imposing an information blackout on the cause of the incident and batting away criticism that he put net zero ideology ahead of energy security.

The 53-year-old has coolly dismissed critics of his plans to close Spains five nuclear plants as being either ignorant or liars.

Even before the blackouts and the floods, the slick-haired leader was ripe for toppling.

The latest scandal is proof he is able to swallow anything, said Dr Astrid Barrio, a political scientist from Valencia University on why hes likened to a dog.

He survives because he is prepared to give way on anything to stay in power. His principles are negotiable, she told the Telegraph.

Credit: Reuters | @agusssgtf

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He lost the 2023 election to the centre-Right Partido Popular (PP) after calling a snap vote in heatwave-stricken summer after desperately poor local election results. Last year he spent five days hunkered down behind closed doors in his Moncloa official residence, claiming to be considering his future, after a corruption investigation was begun against his wife.

Begona Gomez was placed under criminal investigation by a judge in what Mr Sanchez considers a Right-wing plot to smear his reputation.

She denies using her influence to gain posts in academic institutions, while, in return, favouring associates in their dealings with the government.

Ms Gomez wasnt the first member of his family to come under suspicion. David Sanchez, his musician brother is accused of conniving with PSOE officials in Extremadura to secure a position allegedly created specially for him.

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Then there is the case of his one-time political cornerman and former number two Jose Luis Abalos.

He is being investigated over kickbacks for public contracts and placing his girlfriends in non-existent government jobs while he was infrastructure minister.

Before the 2023 elections, the polls pointed towards the PP forming the next government, perhaps in coalition with the far-Right Vox party, who were predicted to attain record results.

Vox ultimately underperformed. The PP won but fell short of a majority, which was unattainable even in alliance with Vox.

Mr Sanchez cobbled together an almost ludicrously broad coalition of the Left to stay in power.

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It included everyone from his centrists to Catalan separatists, former terrorists and communists.

The pact was only possible after he offered an amnesty to the leaders of Catalonias illegal independence referendum, some of whom were jailed while others remain on the run.

Mr Sanchez made a U-turn on his promise not to give amnesty to Carles Puigdemont and the other Catalan separatist leaders, wiping out the crimes committed during the illegal bid to secede from Spain in 2017.

It was not the only taboo he smashed. He now routinely negotiates with Bildu, the heir to terrorist group Etas political wing, before parliamentary votes.

Credit: X/@Luisllanovsk

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David Jimenez, a journalist and former editor of the conservative newspaper El Mundo, expressed grudging admiration for Mr Sanchez, who he described as a highly unscrupulous politician with a great instinct for survival.

He is capable of adapting to adverse circumstances and even making them work in his favour, benefited, it has to be said, by a somewhat incompetent opposition.

An example of this is how he took the name Perro Sanchez, which began as an insult intended to dehumanise him.

He managed to flip it so that ahead of the July 2023 elections it became a positive element of his personal brand; many people on the Left wore badges and T-shirts with the slogan.

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But such an unwieldy coalition has made it almost impossible to legislate. The government has suffered dozens of parliamentary defeats amid the mounting allegations of corruption.

Spains government is running on a twice-prorogued budget from 2023, and this year in a new snub to democratic tradition, Mr Sanchezs administration is not even deigning to fulfil its constitutional duty to present a finance bill.

Mr Sanchezs defeated rival Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the leader of the PP, lacks his charisma and canny marketing skills.

But he is every bit as embroiled in polarised Spains bitter culture war between Left and Right, where mudslinging and insults are commonplace in a battle that evokes the ghosts of the Spanish Civil War.

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Those divisions have been supercharged by Mr Sanchezs divisive transgender law which infuriated Spanish conservatives.

Pot-shots at Trump

He was forced to apologise when a loophole in a only yes means yes rape law led to hundreds of rapist having their sentences cut but resignation was never on the cards.

Internationally his recognition of Palestine has alienated the US, which is well aware that Spain is Europes laggard when it comes to Nato defence spending targets and that its leader has taken pot-shots at Donald Trump to score domestic political points.

But is there political life in the old dog yet?

Experts said that the polarised nature of Spanish politics made it impossible for any member of the rag-tag coalition to break ranks and bring down Mr Sanchez.

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Doing so would risk handing power over to the Right and very likely the far-Right, which is simply unacceptable to the Left.

The best conservatives can hope for is that Mr Sanchez, an inveterate gambler, calls another snap election. It would be his third staged resignation to reassert his power after the last election and a similar gambit to rise to the leadership of his party while in opposition.

Or Mr Sanchez, an inveterate Europhile who studied in Brussels, worked in the European Parliament and has called for an EU army, could perhaps be tempted one day to take one of the top jobs in the EU he has occasionally been linked with.

Until then, he may be ineffectual at best or incompetent at worst but he is also, until it is time for the next election, invulnerable.

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He seems to have made a deal with the Devil, an exasperated source from the PP headquarters in Madrid told the Telegraph.

Every time he experiences a political or legal setback, something even bigger happens to cover it up. Last Monday a judge in Badajoz prosecuted his brother and then there is a blackout in the whole of Spain thanks to his governments negligence.

The source added, But ultimately Sanchez is like Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense: he thinks he is dodging all the bullets, such as his defeat in the 2023 elections, but since then he has been a zombie president.

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Alan Jackson ended his cross-examination of the government's star witness against his client Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman who is charged with driving into her boyfriend during a blizzard and leaving him to die in the cold, a charge her attorneys call preposterous, with a hard-hitting question.



Her brother-in-law Brian Albert, who owned the house at 34 Fairview Road in Canton, MA where the body of his friend and coworker John O'Keefe was recovered in a snowbank during a Nor'easter, was a trained first responder. Why didn't the government's witness, Jennifer McCabe, run into the house where her sister Nicole slept alongside Albert, to ask for help?



On Friday afternoon, during McCabe's third day on the stand in Norfolk County Superior Court Jackson asked her what happened after she pulled up to her sister's home and found O'Keefe's bloodied body covered in snow with Karen Read and another woman, Kerry Roberts. McCabe testified to calling 911 for help, which prompted Jackson to ask whether she knew if anyone on the property knew CPR or had any life-saving training that could help O'Keefe. "Yes, my brother-in-law Brian Albert," McCabe said.



Did she go inside, Jackson asked, and wake up her sister and brother-in-law? Did she fetch warm blankets?



"The reason you didnt go inside the house is because you knew better," Jackson exclaimed. "You knew what really happened, didnt you?"



"At that moment, I didn't know that (O'Keefe) was hit by a vehicle and there was tail light found next to him," McCabe responded as part of the heated exchange that occurred between the L.A.-based defense attorney and the married mom from Canton.

Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe was found dead in a snowbank on Jan.29, 2022. His girlfriend Karen Read's retrial is underway in connection with his death in Massachusetts. Boston Police Department

Read, 45, has long argued that she was framed for O'Keefe's murder by law enforcement officers who she alleges killed her boyfriend during an altercation that occurred after she dropped him off at the Alberts' home. Her first trial ended in a hung jury in 2024.



As part of that defense, Jackson confronted McCabe with text messages he suggested showed 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.



Kerry talked to cops and kept simple, McCabe wrote to her sister at 7:54 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2022. On Feb, 1 in a group chat between Jennifer and 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, Brian's brother. A third sibling Kevin Albert is also a Canton Police Officer.



Eating I assume, McCabes husband responded in the chat. Ask Chris to ask some questions. Tell them the guy never went into the house. Then Jackson asked McCabe who the guy was, prompting her response; John.



In that chat, Brian Albert responded, Exactly.



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."

Karen Read's first trial last year ended in a hung jury Charles Krupa via AP Photo

The contentious cross-examination of McCabe by Jackson is more drama in what has become a bombshell retrial that has seen allegations of perjury, and clips of Read's own remarks from an HBO documentary. After McCabe stepped down from the stand, special prosecutor Hank Brennan, a former defense attorney for notorious Boston gangster James "Whitey" Bulger, who was captured in Santa Monica before he was murdered in a federal prison, played a series of clips from Reads various interviews with the media.



In one clip, Read said she suspected OKeefe might have been cheating on her when he didnt return home the morning of the 29th, noting he had dated other women in the Fairview Road neighborhood. In another, she said OKeefe looked like the buffalo on the prairie as he lay blanketed in snow. She had also made questionable derogatory remarks about O'Keefe's mother.



The jury has also visited the crime scene, heard testimony from first responders and experts about the excessive drinking that Read, and others engaged in at two bars in Canton, along with admissions from both McCabe and Kerry Roberts that they have lied. McCabe even admitted to lying to the FBI about who she was, and phone calls she made, when agents approached her in April 2023.



McCabe's testimony is critical in Read's case because she told police officials that Read told her "I hit him. I hit him. I hit him," after O'Keefe's body was found, which prosecutors argue is an admission of guilt. Jackson, however, repeatedly pressed McCabe on a Google searcy, hos long to die in cold, search which she says she made the morning of the 29th.



But Reads lawyers insist McCabe made the search at 2:27 a.m., long before O'Keefe's body was found.



Are you denying that you made a Google search at 2:27 a.m.? Jackson asked toward the end of his questioning Friday, while presenting her with evidence recorded of the search. She responded: The paper says it, McCabe said of the 2:27 a.m. timestamp. I dont.



The trial will resume on Monday.
NEWTON FALLS, Ohio (WKBN)  Friday, the Newton Falls Fire Department kicked off summer with a coloring contest all about safety.

Parents and students, kindergarten through fifth grade, were at the elementary school cafeteria Friday evening to see if they were winners.

The panel of judges included WKBNs Trumbull County Reporter Nadine Grimley. While fun, it serves as a reminder to the kids about how to stay safe when they swim and play this summer.

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Safetys important year-round, so were just trying to hit it this time for this season. Do a different season, different things, as we move outdoors and start riding bikes, things like that, wearing our helmets and stuff for safety, being smart, thinking first  things like that, said Lt. Ben Kittle.

Lt. Kittle thanked those who donated to make the event possible. The first-place winners each got a new bike and helmet.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Wisconsin man arrested for fourth operating while intoxicated after road rage incident, drugs found in car

WEST BEND, Wis. (WFRV)  A 45-year-old Wisconsin man was arrested on Thursday evening after a road rage incident in which deputies deemed he was intoxicated while driving.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office reported that deputies responded around 6:43 p.m. on Thursday to a report of a pedestrian struck on Highway 45 near Pleasant Valley Road.

Marinette County man sentenced to prison in crash that killed infant

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Investigations initially deemed that the suspect brake-checked a vehicle behind him before stopping in traffic. He reportedly got out of the vehicle, approached the drivers window and threatened him.

The other driver, in fear for his safety, reportedly hit the suspect in the face and fled. The suspect driver reportedly drove aggressively again until the other stopped on U.S. 45 near Paradise Drive.

Another witness stopped with the driver and spoke with deputies as well. Another deputy reportedly saw the suspect vehicle and pulled him over, detecting signs of impairment and the scent of marijuana and other intoxicants.

According to the release, the driver denied involvement but admitted to drinking earlier and showed signs of intoxication during a field sobriety test. A vehicle search revealed marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

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Fox Cities community, officials reflect on 10 years since Trestle Trail shooting

The man currently faces charges of:

Operating while intoxicated, fourth offense

Disorderly conduct

Possession of THC, second and subsequent offense

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Felony parole violation

No additional information was provided.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
KING, Wis. (WFRV)  A beloved four-legged veteran received a heros welcome Friday as the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King unveiled a statue honoring Brownie the War Dog  a World War II service dog who later found a new mission comforting veterans on the very grounds where hes now memorialized.

The event, called Brownies Bark in the Park, drew crowds of veterans, families and dog lovers for an afternoon of celebration. Highlights included a puppy parade, costume contest and activities for all ages.

Marian University professor honored for creative teaching, student earns leadership award

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At the heart of it all was the statue unveiling  a permanent tribute to a dog whose service spanned both the battlefield and the home front.

Kelly Nelson, author of Brownie the War Dog, led the charge to bring Brownies story to the public and fund the statue project.

Immediately, I was struck by just the bravery of the dog, the bravery of the young boy who donated him, Nelson said. There are so many things that I think are heartfelt and heartwarming about the story.

Brownie was donated to the war effort by Oren Kendley, a Waupaca boy who was just 10 years old at the time. The dog was trained as a sensory scout and shipped to the Pacific Theater during World War II.

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Brownie was donated by Oren Kendley when he was ten years old  eleven when Brownie was shipped off to the Pacific Theater  and he was a sensory dog, Nelson said.

Brownie suffered an injury to the eye during his service, which required a glass eye substitution. After Brownie was injured, he returned to Wisconsin.

Soon after, his family began bringing him to the Veterans Home at King, where he quickly became a familiar and comforting presence among residents.

I thought Brownie deserves to be recognized, said Nelson. So I started reaching out to businesses, individuals who are dog lovers, who believed in the project and we were able to raise enough money and have the statue created.

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The bronze statue now stands as a symbol of Brownies loyalty and service  both in war and in peace  and honors the profound impact animals can have on the lives of veterans.

The profound bond that animals have with humans  and giving every dog their day  I hope this is Brownies day, Nelson said.

Chilton Area Community Foundation awards more than $80K in grants to local nonprofits

Organizers say they hope Brownies story continues to inspire future generations and are considering making Bark in the Park an annual tradition.

Brownie was laid to rest in 1949 with full military honors at the Veterans Home at King.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Armed groups and others have looted warehouses of supplies in northern Gaza as desperation spikes after more than two months of Israels blockade of the territory, locals and aid workers said Saturday as Israels latest airstrikes killed more than a dozen people.

Unidentified people, both armed and unarmed, have been looting U.N. and aid groups' warehouses, as well as bakeries and shops since Wednesday, according to witnesses, organizations in Gaza and messages that were circulated among security officials for aid groups and were seen by The Associated Press.

Israel has blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended the latest ceasefire with Hamas in March, throwing the territory of over 2 million people into what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war.

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Israel has said the blockade and its renewed military campaign are intended to pressure Hamas to release the remaining 59 hostages it still holds, most of them thought to be dead, and to disarm the Palestinian militant group.

The U.N. high commissioner for human rights previously warned that starving civilians as a military tactic is a war crime.

Aid groups have said Gazas civilian population is facing starvation, and there is concern that the desperation could lead to a breakdown of law and order. Although there have been incidents of looting by armed gangs throughout the war, aid workers say this week's looting marks an escalation, as it was less organized and reached urban areas.

Looting ramps up

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The ransacking in Gaza City began Wednesday evening after reports that aid trucks had entered the north from the south, said one aid worker who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to address the media. A security report circulated among aid agencies that night saying a group of armed people had broken into a bakery, driven by rumors that it held food supplies.

The storage was empty and the group then looted a soup kitchen affiliated with an international aid group in the al-Shati camp, the report said.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency said its staff were safely evacuated on Wednesday after thousands of Palestinians breached its Gaza City field office and took medications. Louise Wateridge, a senior emergency officer at UNRWA, called the looting the direct result of unbearable and prolonged deprivation.

The ransacking continued through Friday night. Three witnesses told the AP that dozens of armed men stormed into at least two U.N. warehouses, pushing past police and local security guards who were protecting the facilities. The warehouses were nearly empty before the men arrived.

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There were organized gangs, said Ahmed Abu Awad, a resident of western Gaza City, where some of the looting took place.

Yahya Youssef, another witness, said that for two straight nights on western Gaza City's streets, he saw dozens of men engaged in gunfights with police and security guards who protect U.N. and aid groups facilities.

Curfew is enforced

Both men said Israeli drones and aircraft were flying over the area while looting was underway.

An Israeli strike Friday night killed three people  two tasked with guarding the area in western Gaza City and a child  the Hamas-run interior ministry said in a statement. Staff at Shifa hospital, which received the bodies, confirmed the deaths.

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The Israeli military said it couldn't comment on the strike without being provided with its exact coordinates.

Gaza's interior ministry said Saturday that over the past two days, it killed six suspects and wounded 13 others over looting activities. The ministry also enforced a curfew starting Friday along some of Gaza City's main streets.

The al-Najjar family, one of Gaza City's most prominent, condemned the pillaging and called for respect and the protection of public and private property. We categorically reject the chaos that harms the interests of the nation and its citizens," it said in a statement.

In Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza, desperate families pushed and shoved at food distribution sites to reach steaming vats of soup.

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We are eight people. I need to provide them with a bite of food, said Faten Al-Sabbagh. "I wish I can find even bread, but there is nothing and we are unable to. The prices are high and there are no salaries.

The top U.N. court on Friday wrapped a week of hearings on what Israel must do to ensure that desperately needed humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Israeli strikes on Gaza continued overnight Friday, leaving at least 17 people dead, including children, in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to hospital records.

Among the dead were 11 people from the same family, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Another strike killed two newly married couples, one of their families said.



Magdy reported from Cairo, Egypt. Associated Press reporter Wafaa Shurafa contributed from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
A woman has died following an accident in the south-western German city of Stuttgart, where a car drove into a group of people at a tram stop in the city centre.

A 46-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries, police and public prosecutors said late Friday. At least eight people were reported injured in the incident.

The public prosecutor's office confirmed it was a traffic accident, Stuttgart city spokeswoman Susanne Kaufmann said.

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Earlier, police and the public prosecutor's office had issued a joint statement, saying there were "currently no indications that this was a deliberate act of violence or an attack."

Mayor Frank Nopper and Public Order Mayor Clemens Maier said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by this tragic traffic accident."

Three people are in critical condition, a spokesman for the fire brigade said. One person had to be resuscitated, according to police.

Five children were among the injured, according to the Stuttgart hospital.

The driver of the vehicle, a 42-year-old man, has been detained and is being questioned, a police spokeswoman said.

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The exact circumstances of the incident, which occurred at the Olgaeck tram stop in the city centre 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.
LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Authorities are investigating after a woman was found dead in her car, according to the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office.

Just before midnight on Friday, May 2, deputies were dispatched to the 300 block of Riverside Road. When they arrived, they found a 40-year-old woman dead with a gunshot wound in the drivers seat of her 2021 Honda Accord.

The Lancaster County Coroners Office identified the victim as Larisha Thompson of Lancaster.

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Officials said she was alone and left her house nearby earlier in the night to go to Rock Hill. Family members were unable to contact her and found her in her car.

CMPD investigating early-morning homicide in south Charlotte

This investigation is just beginning, and we have multiple personnel interviewing witnesses, collecting evidence, and running down leads to determine what happened on Riverside Road last night, Sheriff Barry Faile said.

The womans car has already been towed for processing, and an autopsy has been scheduled.

If anyone saw or heard anything or knows anything that might be related to this shooting, please contact us immediately. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims family and friends during this difficult time, Sheriff Faile said.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Some women who have changed their name through marriage or divorce are struggling to get Real IDs.

Several women told BI they've had to make multiple trips to try and get the right marriage documents.

Americans are scrambling to get Real IDs ahead of the deadline to get the identification for flights.

At the end of last summer, Debra Kohn became very well-acquainted with her local Pennsylvania DMV.

She ended up making three trips there, along with one to the clerk's office, to obtain a valid Real ID  and all because her marriage certificate from 1986 was from a justice of the peace, not the county.

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Starting May 7, anyone getting on a domestic flight will no longer be able to use an old driver's license. Instead, they will need a Real ID or other form of valid identification.

Like Kohn, Americans need to bring a slew of documents to the DMV, including an original marriage certificate for those who have changed their names. Getting an original marriage certificate from the state usually takes weeks and costs a fee.

Kohn isn't alone in her Real ID difficulties. Though many married or divorced women have the necessary documents handy or can get them relatively easily, others have taken to social media to share their difficulties. Business Insider spoke to four women about the lengthy, often confusing process.

Representatives for the Transportation Department, TSA, and Department of Homeland Security did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

'Extremely frustrating'

Kohn, 68, told Business Insider she probably spent six hours getting the necessary certificate  one with an official raised seal  between her many trips and time spent at the DMV. She hasn't heard of any of her friends having similar issues.

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Jessiqua, a 34-year-old in Oklahoma who asked to go by her first name for fear of retaliation from her ex-husband, said lengthy divorce proceedings made it difficult for her to get a Real ID in 2020 and 2021, even though she wasn't even switching back to her maiden name.

"When I went to get my Real ID, they wanted my marriage certificate and they wanted my divorce document," she told BI. "I was in the middle of a divorce. I didn't have a divorce document, I had to fight for one."

Eventually, she got a legal separation document from her lawyer.

Julie Anderson, a 58-year-old in Massachusetts, said she got "lucky" when applying for a Real ID in April of this year. Divorced but with her ex-husband's last name, she only brought a copy of her marriage license (along with a divorce decree). The DMV employee talked to his supervisor and, somehow, they accepted her copy.

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"The person at the desk said, 'I'm really surprised they did,'" Anderson told BI. "Luckily they did, because I went to my files and I went through everything, I don't even own a copy of my original marriage license."

Diane Wagner, 53, wasn't as fortunate and found the whole process "extremely frustrating." She visited her DMV office in St. Louis, Missouri, three times in one day to try and get the right marriage certificate, because the copy she had at home wasn't enough.

"It was a whole day running around, between waiting in line and finding all my items and going back and waiting in line again."

Eventually, she paid a fee and applied for a certified marriage certificate online, which arrived about two weeks later.

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"Had I known there was gonna be all these hoops, I maybe never would've changed my name," Wagner said.

People are scrambling to get their IDs

The Real ID Act, passed in 2005, was a response to the September 11 attacks. It was initially meant to go into effect in 2008, but the deadline has been pushed multiple times. Now that it's actually here, it seems many Americans are scrambling to get their Real IDs.

Business Insider checked availability at some DMV offices on May 2. Some offices, like the one in Fort Benton, Montana, had openings in early May, whereas others were totally booked. In the Louisville, Kentucky, offices, for example, the earliest appointments were on July 1. And Illinois' DMV website displayed a pop-up: "Due to the federally-mandated Real ID requirements, our facilities and website have been overwhelmed with requests for Real IDs."

Illinois has set up a "walk-in Real ID Only Supercenter," according to the pop-up message, and some local municipalities are hosting their own events to deal with the overflow. People can still get their Real ID after the new rules go into effect.

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The day she spoke to BI, Wagner tried to finally get her Real ID. She showed up at 4:40 p.m. to an office that closed at 5 p.m.

Even so, she was turned away. There were too many people in line.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Were learning the name of the truck driver accused of hitting and killing two Florida Department of Transportation surveyors then driving away on I-95 Friday morning.

FHP says Hassan Abdirahaman Sheikh Ali is facing two counts of hit and run involving death.

Hours after allegedly driving away from a deadly crash site on I-95 in Palm BayFlorida Highway Patrol troopers nab their guy. 130 miles away from the scene.

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The subject came to a stop, so he obviously had knowledge that he had hit somebody. He stopped for a second and then took off and just kept going, and he put the pedal to the metal, said Lt. Channing Taylor

The crash happened just before 10 Friday morning near mile marker 172 on the southbound side. Florida Department of Transportation saying late Friday afternoon it was two of their surveyors doing work for a planned resurfacing project.

Theyre out there trying to do survey work, trying to make a living, and its just no need for this, said Lt. Taylor.

Debris from the crash helped them track down Ali and his tractor trailer in Palm Beach County. Investigators say hes not cooperating.

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Hes not being very cooperative with us. The company, on the other hand, is being very cooperative. Theyre very cooperative with us, theyre incredibly sorry about the loss of the two workers, said Lt. Taylor.

Dangers lurk on the side of the road for many people. Stranded drivers. First responders. And tow truck drivers.

Nobody pays attention. You know youre supposed to slow down and move over, said Adam Clark, owner of Junk Mans Towing.

Clark says its sad knowing people were killed while doing their job. A fear he has knowing hes always in potentially, harms way.

Getting somewhere two minutes earlier is not worth somebodys life, said Clark.

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His message to drivers slow down.

Theres not always room to get over, to get out of the way, but slowing down, paying more closely attention, moving six or eight inches over or ten inches over, is, could mean someones life, said Clark.

Ali will be in court Saturday morning for his first appearance.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
A Tokyo-based tech giant claims to have created the first drone in the world to induce and guide lightning strikes.

Like Zeus on his winged chariot, or  more realistically  a flying lightning rod, the drone can trigger bolts of electricity from underneath thunderclouds, absorbing their incredible energy while taking little damage, and staying airborne throughout the experience, according to the company.

These claims are not peer-reviewed, but if the drone can do what the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) group claims, the technology could theoretically protect cities and infrastructure from lightning damage the world over.

Each and every minute, about 6,000 lightning bolts strike the ground around the world. The power of a single lightning strike can set forests ablaze, split concrete, trigger steam explosions in trees, and cause power surges that can trigger widespread outages, melt electrical wiring, or fry electronic systems and devices beyond repair.

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While putting lightning rods on buildings offer some protection, the NTT group has been working for years now on a better solution to protect their communications equipment.

Their drone might not look like much, but the company claims to have tested an iteration this winter in the Northern Hemisphere under an actual thundercloud.

As a storm approached a mountainous area of Japan's Shimane prefecture on December 13, 2024, the company's drone allegedly flew to an altitude of 300 meters (984 feet), carrying a conductive wire with it.

This wire attached the drone to a switch on the ground, and when flicked, this switch caused a surge of electrical energy through the wire, grounding the drone electrically. As a result, this supposedly increased the strength of the drone's surrounding electric field, triggering and attracting a lightning strike.

Principle of electric fieldbased lightning triggering technology. ( NTT Group

According to the NTT group, the drone survived the lightning strike and kept flying, although its protective covering did somewhat melt.

Experimental setup for the drone-based lightning trigger. ( NTT Group

This isn't the first time that scientists have used something other than a lightning rod to trigger and attract an electric bolt from the skies.

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Recently, some other scientists figured out that they could guide lightning bolts away from critical infrastructure if they shot lasers into the sky.

This laser 'decoy' was first proposed way back in 1974, and it took decades of lab work and several failed attempts with real lightning to get it to work.

Unlike a laser, however, a drone that attracts lightning must be protected from the electrical damage it absorbs. To get around that problem, the NTT group encased its device in a metal Faraday cage, which guides electricity around the device, reducing electromagnetic interference.

The Faraday cage protecting the NTT group's lightning-inducing drone. ( NTT Group

In lab tests, the drone was mostly protected by this cage, even when scientists at NTT say they hit it with artificial lightning that was five times more powerful than natural lightning.

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"NTT aims to protect cities and people from lightning damage by flying drones  designed to withstand direct lightning strikes  to accurately predict lightning-prone locations, actively trigger strikes, and safely guide them away," reads a translation of a recent company press release on the drone technology.

Nations in the tropics tend to experience more lightning strikes than other parts of the world, but recent studies suggest pollution and climate change may also increase the risk of lightning damage in the years to come.

New technologies to reduce the harm of lightning storms are more than welcome, however, the NTT group goes a step further and says it is looking at ways to harness lightning energy, directed to the ground by their drones.

That sounds like a great idea, but at this point, it is entirely theoretical. The batteries to catch such vast amounts of energy and slowly release them into our current energy systems do not yet exist. In the past, some scientists have called the whole concept of harvesting energy from lightning "hopeless".

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It remains to be seen whether the NTT group's new drone announcements stand up to scientific scrutiny.

Related News
If Part 1 of this series was about the mindset shiftgetting off the hamster wheel of the spot marketthen Part 2 is all about the muscle: the actual steps to build, pitch, and maintain shipper relationships that bring consistency to your business.

This is where the rubber meets the road.

In the Playbook Masterclass, we dont just tell you that you need direct freightwe show you how to go get it. And we keep it real about whats working and whats just noise. Because while most carriers are still praying for spot market rates to bounce back, the ones who are winning are out here hunting shippers, not waiting for brokers to throw them crumbs.

And if you havent already, go listen to the episode of The Long Haul podcast I recorded with Justin Lu, CEO of Truckpedia. That man broke it down perfectlyyou cant build a stable freight business waiting on inbound loads. Youve got to roll up your sleeves and go find the freight. Period.

Lets get into Part 2.

Step 1: Build Your Lead Tracker

You cant grow what you dont track.

Before you ever pick up the phone or send an email, build yourself a simple lead trackerwe provide one inside the Masterclass, but heres the structure if youre building your own:

Your goal is to work this like a systemnot a wishlist. 10 calls per day. Every day. Rain or shine.

Most carriers make the mistake of calling 3 or 4 places, getting discouraged, and stopping.

You dont need 100 shippers. You need 2-3 good ones who move consistent freight. But to find those, you might need to talk to 30-40.

Track the work.

Step 2: Refine Your Cold Call Game

Lets stop calling it cold calling like its punishment.

Its freight prospecting. Its how you build a pipeline. And in trucking, the ones with pipelines win. The ones waiting on boards lose.

Heres what we teach in the Masterclassand what Justin and I hit hard in our podcast convo:

Start with:

Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] with [Company Name]. Were a small carrier based in [City] running [equipment type] in your area

Then qualify:

We noticed your company has distribution in [location] and weve got availability in that lane three times a week. I wanted to reach out and see if theres an opportunity to support your team either now or in the future.

Then ask:

Would it make sense to send over our carrier packet so were on file if anything opens up?

Keep it calm. Keep it confident. No begging. Youre a solution, not a solicitation.

Step 3: Master the Follow-Up

The fortune is in the follow-up.

One call doesnt do it. One email wont cut it. You need to have a structured process:
CORTLAND, Ohio (WKBN)  People from across the globe are in Trumbull County this weekend for the International Firewood Expo.

It is the worlds largest firewood trade show.

Seven countries were represented at this years event at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

There was a ton of machinery to see, some as big as a school bus.

Organizer Joe Nay says the event started as an open house at his wood yard and the idea kept growing.

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He says its a great way for people from all over to experience Northeast Ohio.

This is not only a celebration of the firewood industry, but really for Northeast Ohio because we asked a lot of these people to bring these big machines from all over the U.S., to come here but when you talked with people, they love this. They love the lake, they love the area. Theyve had a great time down at the mall, eating at restaurants and you dont really appreciate, sometimes, where you live until you see it through the eyes of other people who come here, Nay said.

There were vendors from Canada, Slovenia, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Finland on hand for the expo.

The event wraps up Saturday.

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Katherine Simon contributed to this report.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
NEW DELHI (AP)  At least six people are dead and dozens injured after a stampede at a religious gathering in the western Indian state of Goa early Saturday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

The stampede broke out as thousands of devotees thronged narrow lanes leading to a temple in Shirgao village, some 40 kilometers from the state capital of Panaji, the agency quoted police as saying.

Tens of thousands of devotees from Goa and neighboring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka attended the annual Hindu festival at Sree Lairai Devi temple.

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The stampede was caused as people standing on a slope near the temple fell over, pushing more people to fall onto each other, Director General of Police Alok Kumar said, according to the news agency.

The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities ordered a probe into the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the loss of lives and expressed condolences to the victims families.

The local administration is assisting those affected, Modi said on social media.

Deadly stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds often gather in small areas.

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In January, at least 30 people died and many more were injured in a stampede as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river at Indias massive Maha Kumbh festival, the worlds largest religious gathering.

In July, at least 116 people died, most of them women and children, when thousands at a religious gathering in northern India stampeded at a tent camp in Hathras town.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is joining three of his Senate Democratic colleagues calling for an investigation into the Trump administrations potential criminal activity against Harvard University after threatening the schools tax-exempt status.

On Friday, the group of lawmakers  including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)  sent a letter to Heather Hill, the acting treasury inspector general for tax administration, demanding an immediate investigation into whether President Trump is targeting Harvards nonprofit status for political purposes.

The lawmakers said they question Trumps motive after his social media post stating, 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?

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Police arrest 9 after home taken over by squatters while the sick owner was away

It is both illegal and unconstitutional for the IRS to take direction from the President to target schools, hospitals, churches, or any other tax-exempt entities as retribution for using their free speech rights, the senators wrote in their letter to Hill.

It is further unconscionable that the IRS would become a weapon of the Trump Administration to extort its perceived enemies, but the actions of the President and his operatives have now made this fear a reality, the letter continues. We request that you review whether the President or his allies have taken any step to direct or pressure the IRS to take politically-motivated actions regarding the tax-exempt status of the Presidents political targets.

The lawmakers note the Internal Revenue Service can only revoke the tax-exempt status after a careful review and an opportunity for the school to appeal the decision, not at the arbitrary and erratic whims of one person.

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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 senators warned.

Oregon has the top wine destination in the world, VinePair says

As reported by the Associated Press, most colleges and universities in the United States have tax-exempt status, noting Trump has questioned Harvards status after the school challenged the administrations demands for leadership changes, updates to its admissions policy and audits of how diversity is viewed on the campus.

Harvards challenge against the presidents demands led the Trump administration to block $2 billion in federal grants for the school. Harvard has since filed a lawsuit to unlock the grants.

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On Friday, Harvard said that there is no legal basis to revoke its tax-exempt status.

Such an unprecedented action would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission, the school said in a statement. 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.

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May 2The sole homeless shelter in York County is shutting down because it can no longer cover the cost of running its programs.

York County Shelter Programs, a nonprofit in Alfred, laid off 20 of its 70 employees on Thursday and is working with other agencies to try to find new housing for the 65 people still staying at the shelter. The decision to suspend operations comes as shelter providers across the state push for additional state funding to cover the cost of operating homeless shelters.

Kelli Deveaux, spokesperson for the agency's board of directors, said the decision to close is "gut-wrenching," especially as the need for shelter services grows.

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"Despite our collective efforts, and the gracious support of many donors, volunteers and partners in York County, the challenges faced by the organization have become insurmountable," she said.

The news was devastating to residents staying in the shelter, who said they were notified Thursday and told they have to be out by noon on May 9.

"I was just heartbroken. I was shocked because I didn't think a homeless shelter would close. I assumed I had a safe place to be," said Joanne Goodreau, 62, who has been staying at the shelter since she lost her housing in the Sanford area last November.

The leaders of the program, along with directors of other shelters, have been trying to raise the alarm about the lack of funding for homeless shelters and other services. Emergency shelters in Maine receive $7 per night per bed in state funding, although a recent study by MaineHousing found the actual cost per bed is $102 per night.

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That widening gap must be covered by fundraising donations, an increasingly difficult task, Deveaux said. The York County shelter has an annual budget of $5 million.

"We are in a financial situation in which it is impossible to cover even basic expenditures," Deveaux said.

The board has not yet decided if the organization's food pantry will continue operating. The pantry feeds about 6,000 people each month and provides special food distributions for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

FUNDING CHALLENGES

The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that proposes a $5 million annual increase to the state's Emergency Shelter and Housing Assistance Program, used to help cover operating expenses and services at 40 emergency shelters around the state. The increase would bring state funding to $19 per bed per night.

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The program has been flat-funded in the state's general fund at $2.5 million since 2016. Shelter providers say the increase in funding is needed to sustain operations amid rising costs and the state's persistent housing crisis.

Diane Small, executive director of the Sanford Housing Authority, testified in support of the bill, telling legislators that "a stable shelter network is essential for our work."

"Without adequate emergency shelter options in York County, many individuals and families will have nowhere to go. This would lead to increased homelessness on our streets, greater strain on hospitals and first responders, and additional pressure on an already overburdened housing system," she said. "Our ability to help people transition into stable housing depends on having a functioning shelter system that ensures individuals are safe while we work to secure them permanent housing solutions."

Deveaux said the board knows the closure will leave a gap in services in the county and hopes it can reopen at some point with additional funding and partnerships.

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"The primary concern for all involved was how do we best support our clients with what can be an incredibly difficult notification that can be absolutely anxiety causing, especially when they're already in very precarious circumstances and in need of our support," she said.

There are currently 37 residents in the adult shelter, 16 in the family shelter and 12 at Layman Way, a recovery program run in partnership with the county. The shelter program is working with York County Community Action, Caring Unlimited, Sanford Housing Authority and United Way of Southern Maine to find alternative housing for residents.

Deveaux was not able to say exactly when the programs will shut down because the board and staff are still working to determine next steps.

York County Shelter Programs was established in 1980 and serves approximately 650 people facing homelessness each year. In addition to emergency shelter, the program combines support services for mental health, substance use treatment and employment training to help people move into affordable housing in the community.

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Biddeford Mayor Martin Grohman said losing the shelter is "a huge blow" that will impact communities across the county. Since Biddeford closed a major encampment last summer, the city has been working to address homelessness by bringing together outreach workers and service providers to assist people in need. It also partnered with Seeds of Hope to open an overnight warming shelter, but it does not offer beds for people to sleep in.

At least three Biddeford residents are currently staying at the Alfred shelter, Grohman said.

Grohman said the York County shelter has done a nice job of providing case management and support to residents to help them find stability and permanent housing.

"Many people stay there 12 to 18 months, get really recalibrated and have a chance to bounce back," he said. "That's a key part of the ecosystem that we'll be missing. There's nobody else that does that."

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'WHAT DO WE DO?'

Goodreau, who arrived at the shelter last year, said this is the second time she has stayed at the Alfred shelter. Unlike some others who are staying there, she said she is lucky to have a car she can sleep in if she can't find somewhere else to stay. She has been working with a housing navigator, but has not been able to find an apartment she can afford and there are no housing vouchers available.

"It's scary. I'm afraid for myself, but more so for the sick and the elderly who are here," she said. "They can't tent it. I don't want to go to an encampment and tent it."

Goodreau said everyone at the shelter "is in chaos." They've been calling campgrounds and other shelters, but most are hesitant to go to the shelter in Portland, she said.

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"What do we do next Friday when they lock the doors and we have to get out?" she said.

Lacey Merrifield and her husband, Chris Libby, see leaving the shelter next week as a devastating step back on their journey to overcome substance use issues, find good jobs and regain custody of their 5-year-old daughter. Before connecting with an outreach worker and moving into the shelter in February, they had been living in a tent in Sanford for eight months.

They recently started working for the shelter as part of a program that trains people to work in kitchens. They were told Thursday that those jobs have ended.

Libby, 46, said everyone at the shelter has become like family. He doesn't know what they'll do next Friday when they have to leave, but will figure it out.

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"This was really the light at the tend of the tunnel for us," Merrifield, 41, said. "We were so hopeless when we were homeless. Now we're starting again from scratch."

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The blast radius from the controversy surrounding Virginias Republican lieutenant governor candidate expanded this week, when a top political aide to Gov. Glenn Youngkin stepped down from his post. His departure was the latest event in a week of turmoil that has pitted Republican leaders in the state against the GOPs grassroots, upending a party that was already confronting a difficult election year.

The conflict centers on the political future of lieutenant governor candidate John Reid, who resisted a week of pressure from some Virginia Republican Party leaders to step aside over allegations that he maintained a social media account with sexually explicit images of men. Reid, the first openly gay candidate for statewide office in Virginia, denied that he was connected to the photos and has argued that efforts to remove him from the Republican ticket are rooted in discrimination against his sexual orientation.

When Republican Party leaders in Virginia became aware of the photos, some tried to force Reid out of the race. Youngkin asked Reid to drop out last week, confirmed by POLITICO. But the attempts to oust him backfired. Matt Moran, who ran Youngkins political operation, stepped aside as he was accused of pressuring Reid to remove himself from the GOP ticket  something Moran has denied publicly.

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Moran did not respond to a request for comment. A representative for Youngkin pointed to comments from the governor Friday where he declined to say if he would campaign on behalf of Reid but said he will support the nominees and their ticket. And at the end of the day, Republicans need to win. And that's the bottom line.

The fallout has created a rift within the state party as it faces an uphill battle in November. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk's war on the federal workforce has hit hard in a state where more than 150,000 federal employees live. The controversy, Republicans conceded, could tarnish Youngkins efforts to position himself as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, and it is widely viewed as a misstep.

If John Reid is conservative and he's being trashed by his own political party, you need to go out there and support him, said Scott Pio, who chairs the Loudoun County GOP, which has started selling In John Reid We Trust mugs, with proceedings going toward Reids campaign. You need to lean in and support the guy instead of run away from him.

One Virginia Republican operative, who like others in this article was granted anonymity to speak freely, shrugged off the photos as just a bunch of penises, while another said of the episode, This is insane.

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The second operative said the day before Morans departure became public, The only winners here are Democrats and then a bunch of losers who are Republicans and starting with the governor and going on down to the rest of the ticket.

Yet GOP consultant Rory Cooper dismissed the drama as a purely Virginia thing that has mainly captured the attention of political insiders and likely wont have any impact on an election six months away.

Candidate choice matters, the party being united matters, and I think theyll get this stuff behind them because they really have no choice, Cooper said. A fractured party is not going to be able to beat a moderate Democrat who has high favorables going into the general, and so they'll figure it out.

That message of unity appears to be echoed by Reids campaign.

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"John is proud to be the Republican nominee and he looks forward to campaigning across the state over the coming months," Reid's campaign said in a statement. "He has been very clear that he welcomes the support of the governor, full ticket, and all Virginians who are committed to unity around our ticket and a positive future for our home."

Fear that the controversy could weaken the GOP ticket is not limited to strategists inside the GOP. Winsome Earle-Sears, the presumptive GOP gubernatorial nominee, in a public statement Tuesday quoted from the Book of Matthew and called the focus on Reid a distraction from what she cast as a mission of uniting Virginians. It is his race and his decision alone to move forward, she said. Earle-Sears did not respond to questions.

Earle-Sears, who authored a Christian self-help book, holds socially conservative beliefs. In 2024, when fulfilling her duties as lieutenant governor to sign legislation, she handwrote her personal objections to a bill that prohibits officials from denying marriage licenses based on sex, gender or race.

Reid held a solo rally in Henrico, Virginia, on Wednesday evening, after plans for Youngkin and the entire GOP ticket to appear together were scrapped. Facing a large crowd, Reid railed against the Richmond swamp that does not like it when they encounter a different type of person who they can't control."

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The fact that Reid is drawing fervent grassroots support in the GOP represents another marker in the ongoing populist transformation of a party that, for decades, made social conservatism and, in particular, opposition to same-sex marriage, a key part of its platform. This shift, embodied by the election of Trump, a thrice-married New York reality television star, has led to Republican primary voters focusing more on fighting than on family values.

The attempt to oust Reid, and the turmoil that followed, may in part be because the operative class has not quite caught up to the grassroots on this issue. A third Republican operative familiar with the situation said there was the sense that some Virginia Republicans were panicked that Reids sexual orientation would be an electoral drag and then used the social media account to work backward and justify dropping him from the ticket.

U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Republican, said that having a diverse GOP ticket  a Black woman, an openly gay man as well Attorney General Jason Miyares, the son of a Cuban refugee  should help Republicans odds in November. That's a good, feel-good story, no matter what, he said, referring to the candidates' backgrounds. And that story should override, assuming that those pictures aren't a whole lot worse than it was depicted.

On Thursday morning, Reid guest-hosted a four-hour conservative radio show, and a series of callers spent their morning bashing Youngkin and his allies. Reid, who said he had secured the guest spot before he was asked to leave the race, was filling in for host John Fredericks, who described Reid as "a friend."

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Everyone who is trying to come out against you really learned a lesson last night of what not to do, said a Virginia caller named Casey. Another caller went straight after Youngkin, calling the governor nothing more than a RINO.

The backlash doesn't bode well for Youngkin, who is term-limited in the state and looking for his next opportunity. How he navigates this situation with his own state party could have major implications for his political future.

Reids only primary opponent, longtime Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, dropped out of the race late last month due to health concerns, locking in Reid as the nominee.

If you were that worried about (me being gay), why didnt you run a bunch of other people? Reid said on the radio show Thursday morning.

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But staying on the ticket is one thing. Winning in November is another.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents part of Northern Virginia, said it doesnt matter who the GOP nominates for lieutenant governor, because the Trump administrations overhaul of the federal government has created a tough environment for down-ballot Republicans in a state where many federal employees live.

Virginians are mad right now, Subramanyam said. Whoever the Republican nominee is in November is going to pay a price for what's going on in D.C. right now.

Ally Mutnick contributed reporting.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Saturday is World Press Freedom Day.

Members of the Youngstown Press Club observed the day in Austintown Park, where 15 people read the names of the 103 journalists who were killed last year practicing their profession. Its the most journalists killed in a year since the Committee to Protect Journalists began tracking those numbers in 1992.

Were remembering those who have pursued ethical journalism and then were slain because of that, said co-chair Jonathan Cambouris. When someone is committed to truth and theyre exploring truth and theyre looking for ethical truth, now theres reason to believe that this is, theres something disturbing about this.

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The event had representation from all parts of the world, including Gaza. The Youngstown Press Club has been recognizing World Press Freedom Day for the past five years.

Nick Rich contributed to this report.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  A year after spending nearly five million dollars to buy an old motel off I-40, the city is close to finishing work on that property, building one of Albuquerques first teen and young adult homeless shelters.

The old San Mateo Inn is slated to house dozens of young men and women ages 18 and older.

Down to the studs. This will be one of the bedrooms, said Jennifer McDonald, Gateway operations officer.

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Crews are pouring concrete floors, gutting bathrooms, fixing up electrical systems, and a lot more as the city remodels the old San Mateo Inn near I-40, creating the new Youth Gateway Center. I think its a sigh of relief and a little bit of excitement. Just knowing that this resource will be available, said McDonald.

The Danger Zone: Albuquerque penalized $500,000 for willful safety violations

A room that used to welcome tourists and guests will now have a new layout serving a bigger purpose, housing young adults between 18 to 25 years old. They will eventually move on to permanent housing in Albuquerque.

Were starting to see the work come from the study that was done in 2021 about the need for this facility. So the study showed us that we had at least 2,000 youth in our county that could benefit from this sort of housing navigation and treatment center, said McDonald.

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Roughly 30 young adults will live there in phase one, getting a place to stay for six and 18 months along with help ranging from sober to learning financial literacy or finding a job.

City of Albuquerque to open new pallet homes to help people recovering from addiction

Phase two of the project is expected to include upgrades to nearby Kimo Park. Were looking at community spaces, outdoor rec spaces. So thats all going to be part of phase two. So its, the architect is working with us right now to understand what we want as far as programming, said McDonald.

The city is still working to finalize a contract with a third-party group that will operate the facility, which is expected to open by the fall.

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The city says that phase two of the Youth Gateway Center should also include rooms for independent living for people who need less support from social workers.

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By Anastasiia Malenko and Max Hunder

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he discussed air defence systems and sanctions on Russia with Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral at the Vatican, in what he called the best meeting the two had ever had.

In comments released by his presidential administration, Zelenskiy also said he and the U.S. president agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards ending the war in Ukraine.

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He said he raised the topic of sanctions with Trump at the impromptu meeting last week, and that Trump's response on this question was very strong. Zelenskiy did not give specifics.

He also said the critical minerals deal signed by the two countries on Wednesday was mutually beneficial, and that it would allow Ukraine to defend future U.S. investments, as well as its own territory and people.

The accord, heavily touted by Trump, will give the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals deals and unleash U.S. investment in Ukraine's reconstruction.

Zelenskiy said that the money would, at least initially, be reinvested and not leave Ukraine.

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"Only if the parties then, in the future, agree that in 20 years the fund is fine, things are being built, there is production," he said, appearing to refer to the possibility of withdrawals in the longer term.

The deal aims to establish a fund to manage investments and hold profits. Zelenskiy said there will be a 3-3 split between Ukrainian and U.S. appointees on the plan's supervisory board, which would choose its director.

On the security element of the deal, Zelenskiy highlighted the importance of more effective air defences that have remained one of Kyiv's main requests to its allies throughout Russia's three-year-old full-scale invasion.

AIR DEFENCES

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"And so we are ready for air defence systems to be a contribution (to the fund). I told him about the number (of systems that we need) - he told me that they will work on it, (that) these things are not free."

Zelenskiy said that $30 billion of military aid allocated in 2024 by the U.S. Congress was due to be supplied in 2025 and 2026, $15 billion of it each year. It was not clear if his remark included aid already supplied in 2025.

His comments raised the issue of whether the amount allocated for 2026 could, as a result of the minerals agreement, be brought forward to this year, and then counted towards the U.S. contribution to the deal's fund.

"Ukraine will then return its half bit by bit, and this is what the agreement is about," Zelenskiy said. "What is historic about this event is that the Americans can come to the Ukrainian market for the first time."

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The minerals agreement was reached at a time when the U.S. says it is growing increasingly frustrated by the failure of Moscow and Kyiv to come to the table for peace talks.

Kyiv says it wants an immediate unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he agrees in principle, but that there are many issues that need to be clarified before that can happen.

Responding to Moscow's offer of a three-day ceasefire around May 9, when Russia celebrates its World War Two victory over Nazi Germany, Zelenskiy said he was ready as long as the truce would be 30 days in length.

He said Ukraine, given continued war with Russia, could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries who came to Moscow for the traditional May 9 victory parade there.

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"We cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore we will not give you any guarantees."

In response, Dmitry Medvedev, hardline deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said nobody could guarantee the Ukrainian capital Kyiv would survive to see May 10 if Ukraine attacked Moscow on May 9.

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko;writing by Max Hunder; editing by Frances Kerry and Mark Heinrich)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putins proposal for a three-day ceasefire from May 79 as a "theatrical performance" designed to ease Russias international isolation and create a favorable atmosphere for the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Interfax Ukraine reported on May 3.

Speaking to journalists in a closed-door session, Zelensky reportedly said the proposal was not a serious attempt to end the war and reiterated Ukraines support for a U.S.-backed strategy calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

Zelensky warned that Moscows history of violating short-term truces undermines any trust in its latest offer.

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"They kill until the 7th, pause for a couple of comfortable days, then start attacking again on the 11th," he said.

Putins announcement, presented as a "humanitarian truce" from midnight May 8 to midnight May 11, came as the Kremlin continues to reject Ukraines calls for a complete cessation of hostilities. More than 50 days ago Ukraine has accepted the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, but Moscow rejected it, demanding a complete halt on military aid to Ukraine.

"An unconditional ceasefire is a model that the Americans have proposed. We are following it. From this date or another date, preferably earlier," Zelensky said. "Yes, let's try 30 days. Why a 30-day ceasefire? Because it is impossible to agree on anything in three, five, seven days."

He suggested Putins initiative was a gesture intended to simulate goodwill in response to peace signals reportedly delivered by U.S. President Donald Trumps Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

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"This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because it is impossible to build any plan for the next steps to end the war in two or three days, Zelensky added.

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv is willing to begin the 30-day truce at any time  "the 1st, 3rd, 5th, or if he needs the 7th  fine, then from the 7th for 30 days." He emphasized, however, that without proper monitoring, any temporary pause risks being exploited by Russia.

Zelensky said Ukraine had shared its position with the U.S., U.K., and France, and that Washington understood Russias proposal was unserious. "At least the official position of the White House is that they see this as just games on his part," Zelensky said.

The Victory Day ceasefire is the latest in a series of truce initiatives announced by Moscow, which it has itself repeatedly violated.

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Earlier this month, Russia declared a ceasefire over the Easter holiday, though Zelensky accused Moscow of nearly 3,000 violations between April 19 and April 21. Ukraine has also said that Russian forces repeatedly breached a partial truce on attacks against energy facilities brokered on March 25.

Russia has repeatedly proclaimed its supposed readiness for peace talks while simultaneously pushing for maximalist demands. Kyiv has dismissed these declarations as a propaganda stunt, noting that Russian forces have only intensified their attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns.

Read also: Witkoffs negotiation approach with Putin sparks concern in White House, NYP reports

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described his widely publicized conversation with US President Donald Trump in the Vatican ahead of pope Francis' funeral as "the best of all to date," Interfax Ukraine reported on Saturday.

"I'm sure that President Trump started to see everything a bit differently after our meeting in the Vatican," Zelensky is reported as saying. The conversation may have been the shortest, but it was also the best with respect to its content, he added.

The two leaders met for 15 minutes on the sidelines of the pope's funeral on April 26. The White House subsequently described the meeting as "very productive."

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On his return flight from Rome to the United States, Trump questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was seriously interested in ending the war, and threatened Moscow with fresh sanctions.

The Vatican meeting was the first between Trump and Zelensky since a meeting in the White House in February ended after a spat in front of live television cameras.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.
MBA Employers Want AI Skills  And They Say Universities Must Step Up

Lecturer Faye Manning of the Medical Imaging Department of the University of Exeter. A new UK survey shows that 85% of businesses see skills gaps as a threat  and many prefer collaborating with researchers over hiring externally. Photo by Theo Moye

A new report finds that UK businesses are increasingly eager to work with university researchers to close widening skills gaps  particularly in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis  but struggle to access the expertise they need.

The report, Equipping Researchers for Impact: Unlocking the Potential of University-Business Relationships, commissioned by the Developing Business-Aware Academics project at the University of Exeter Business School and authored by CBI Economics, warns that skills shortages are now seen as a major threat to UK competitiveness.

In a survey of 235 UK businesses across all sizes, sectors, and regions, an average of 85% identified skills gaps as a top concern  with shortages in AI among the most pressing.

BIZ WANTS AI EXPERTISE  AND ITS TURNING TO HIGHED ED TO FIND IT

As AI continues to reshape industries and accelerate business transformation, nearly half (44%) of large companies say they would prefer to engage with academic experts in universities to address AI talent shortages rather than relying solely on external hires or outsourcing. Yet businesses often find the pathways to collaborate with academia overly complex, opaque, or poorly aligned with their immediate needs.

Businesses are expressing a clear wish to work with universities, says Louise Hellem, chief economist at the CBI. At a time when the UK is seeking to go further and faster in its pursuit of economic growth, as well as address chronic skills shortages and embed cutting-edge technologies across its economy, the role of universities as connectors between academic research and business innovation has never been more vital.

The findings fit into a broader trend emerging across business education. As Poets&Quants has reported, the 2025 Graduate Business Curriculum Summary Report shows that AI is no longer treated as a niche topic, but is being embedded deeply into MBA and masters programs. Schools are revamping curricula to prioritize AI-driven decision-making, data analytics, and predictive modeling alongside traditional leadership training. Two years ago, in fall 2023, BGC reported that three of four surveyed B-schools had already integrated AI into their curricula.

Employers are demanding it, after all. According to the 2024 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey, global employers now seek MBA graduates who possess AI and machine learning expertise  but they equally want professionals who can combine technical savvy with strategic thinking, communication skills, and leadership.
Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of representatives from other countries at the World War II commemoration ceremony in Moscow on May 9, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.

"We cannot bear responsibility for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation," he told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

He warned that Russia could carry out arson attacks or set off explosives and blame them on Kiev, emphasizing that Ukraine behaves "very prudently and respectfully towards other countries."

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed Zelensky's remarks as a "classic threat from a terrorist of international stature," in a post on Telegram.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral ceasefire for May 8 to 11 to coincide with the annual Victory Parade on Moscow's Red Square to mark the end of World War II, which is celebrated in Russia on May 9.

Moscow rejected a proposal by Kiev to extend the ceasefire to a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for engaging Ukraine in the Hungarian elections and doing "very dangerous things".

Source: European Pravda; Interfax-Ukraine news agency; Zelenskyy during a conversation with journalists on Saturday

Details: Commenting on Orban's statements about the impossibility of Ukraine's accession to the EU, Zelenskyy mentioned a poll of the Hungarian opposition, indicating that "70% are in favour of Ukraine's accession to the EU" [in fact, almost 60%  ed.].

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The president of Ukraine believes that the Hungarian PM's actions are related to Ukraine's involvement in the internal political struggle amid the upcoming 2026 elections.

"Just don't drag us into your elections. He [ Orban - ed.] is actually doing it by blocking our accession to the EU. In the end, this strategy will not be a success. Why? Because people there are still supporting Ukraine," Zelenskyy is convinced.

The president also said that Orban is doing "very dangerous things" for the European Union, and Ukraine is informing its partners about it.

"He may be against it, but he has no right to take steps to block our accession [to the EU], because it is the choice of another state. Just as we have no right to interfere in Hungary's fate," Zelenskyy explained.

Background:

Ukraine's leadership and the European Commission had ambitious plans for the pace of accession negotiations in 2025, but the Hungarian veto prevented them from proceeding.

On 29 April, Ukraine and Hungary agreed to hold regular consultations in Budapest to unblock the accession negotiations.

Budapest organised a consultative poll on Ukraine's accession to the EU, and Viktor Orban has already publicly voted against it.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that signals are pointing to a possible US withdrawal from the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Source: Zelenskyy in a comment to journalists on Saturday 3 May, as reported by European Pravda, citing the Interfax-Ukraine news agency

Details: Zelenskyy pointed to the difficulty of reaching a ceasefire agreement with Russia.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Imagine, everyone understands how difficult it will be with the issue of territories and sanctions. That's why there are signals that, probably, after a ceasefire is agreed upon, some countries will want us to be left face to face with the Russians."

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Details: Meanwhile, he expressed confidence that Europe "will be there for us because there are many interconnected issues".

Background:

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would withdraw from its role as mediator between Russia and Ukraine if no progress is made towards peace.

The same position has recently been confirmed by Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US State Department.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described an initiative by Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin to declare a three-day truce from 7 to 9 May as a theatrical performance to create an atmosphere of Moscow's exit from isolation. Instead, Zelenskyy has insisted on a 30-day ceasefire, as proposed by the US.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing Zelenskyy during a private conversation with journalists

Quote from Zelenskyy: "An unconditional ceasefire is the model proposed by the Americans. We're following it. From this date or another  preferably as soon as possible.

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So let's try for 30 days. Why a 30-day ceasefire? It's impossible to agree on anything in three, five, or seven days."

Details: Zelenskyy noted that if Russia is genuinely prepared to discuss a real ceasefire, "we should support the American strategy and agree to a 30-day truce".

He also noted that complete silence cannot be achieved without quality monitoring.

Quote: "This is more of a theatrical performance on his [Putin's] part. It's impossible to build any plan for the next steps to end the war in two or three days.

And so it just doesn't look very serious but very frivolous. No one is going to play around in order to give Putin a soft atmosphere of coming out of isolation on 9 May and to make everyone feel comfortable and safe  those leaders, or friends or partners of Putin who will come to Kremlin Square on 9 May for one reason or another  no one is going to help Putin. We're simply either at war, or Putin is showing that he's ready for a ceasefire and for the first part of the end of the war. We're ready to start on the 1st, 3rd or 5th [May]. If he needs it to be the 7th, we don't care. It should be 30 days from the 7th, then."

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Background: The Kremlin reported that Russian leader Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared a "truce" on the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, as the Russians call World War II.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign representatives during their planned trips to Moscow for the Victory Day parade, as Russia has the right to take any action against the guests, while Kyiv cannot be held responsible for what happens in Russia. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May  ed.].

Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency, citing Zelenskyy during a private conversation with journalists

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Our stance is very simple to all the countries that have travelled or are travelling to 9 May: we cannot be responsible for what is happening in the Russian Federation. They provide you with security; therefore, we won't give you any guarantees. Because we don't know what Russia will do these days.

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It may take various steps on its part, let's say, arson, bombings and so on, only to blame us. As president, I told the foreign minister about it. I believe that we should advise people who contact us: We do not recommend you visit Russia from a security standpoint. And if you do so, don't ask us. It's your personal decision'...

... Ukraine is definitely not responsible for what is happening in Russia today. That's a fact. We're accountable when we're there. Moreover, I'm sure that other countries are engaged in the same diplomacy with the Russians when they come to us, and experience shows that we have had many different leaders, and during their visits, there were various formats of attacks, assaults and intimidation."

Background: In the same conversation, Zelenskyy has rejected Putin's idea of a three-day ceasefire.

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Big tech ETFs jumped on Tuesday after Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Meta Platforms Inc. (META) delivered strong earnings and reiterated their bullish outlooks for artificial intelligence.

Big Tech Earnings

Microsoft reported fiscal third-quarter earnings per share of $3.46, beating analyst estimates of $3.21. Revenue came in at $70.1 billion, ahead of the expected $68.5 billion. Growth was broad-based, with total sales rising 15% year over year on a constant currency basis.

The companys cloud and AI businesses stood out. Azure revenue surged 35%, up from 31% in the prior quarter, with AI accounting for 16 percentage points of that growth. Demand is running so hot that Microsoft now expects to face AI capacity constraints beyond June, according to CFO Amy Hood.

Meta also topped expectations, reporting first-quarter EPS of $6.43 versus estimates of $5.25 and revenue of $42.3 billion versus $41.4 billion expected. That marks a 19% increase in sales year over year on a constant currency basis.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said nearly a billion people now use Meta AI across the companys suite of apps. Our focus for this year is deepening the experience and making Meta AI the leading personal AI, he said.

Meta lifted its full-year capital expenditures guidance to a midpoint of $68 billion, up from $62.5 billion previously, highlighting the scale of its AI infrastructure investments. The company also reassured investors by guiding second-quarter revenue in line with expectations, easing concerns that President Donald Trumps escalating trade war might dampen growth.

NVDA, QQQ Boosted

Together, Microsoft and Metas strong results and AI-fueled commentary sparked gains across the broader tech landscape. Chipmaker Nvidia Corp. (NVDA), which benefits from rising AI infrastructure demand, was among the notable winners.

The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), which counts Microsoft (8.1% weighting), Nvidia (7.4%) and Meta (3.3%) among its top holdings, climbed about 2% as of midday Tuesday. The ETF has rallied 16.5% since its April lows and is now just 10% below its all-time highs set earlier this year.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) (8.9% of QQQ) and Amazon.com Inc. (5.4%) are set to report their earnings after the bell today, potentially adding more fuel to the tech rally.





Permalink |  Copyright 2025 etf.com. All rights reserved
Sean Gallup / Getty Images





Key Takeaways

Microsoft shares rallied Thursday after the company's quarterly results beat Wall Streets expectations.

Several analysts raised their price targets for the stock and Morgan Stanley called it one of the company's strongest quarters in recent memory.

Microsoft reiterated its plan to spend $80 billion on infrastructure in fiscal 2025.







Microsoft (MSFT) shares surged Thursday after the company posted what Morgan Stanley called one of their strongest quarters in recent memory, on growth fueled by demand for cloud computing and AI.

Microsoft shares were up nearly 9% in recent trading to about $430, pushing them into positive territory for 2025.

Morgan Stanley raised its price target to $482 from $472 following the results, which beat Wall Streets revenue expectations across all segments. We remain strong buyers of this GenAI winner, the analysts said. Bottom-line, while the macro presents uncertainty, Microsoft appears poised to yield on GenAI investments which should support share gains and more durable growth ahead.

Bank of America maintained a $515 target, and noted earlier-than-expected returns on Microsofts infrastructure investments. During Microsofts earnings call Wednesday, CFO Amy Hood reiterated the company's plan to spend $80 billion on infrastructure in fiscal 2025. Hood said demand for AI has continued to grow, to the point Microsoft expects to have some AI capacity constraints beyond June.

Meanwhile, Jefferies boosted its target to a more bullish $550 and Wedbush moved to $515, both from $475 previously. We are laser focused on the AI piece of this MSFT story, Wedbush said. All metrics were ahead of expectations which give us added confidence in the AI Revolution bull thesis.



Read the original article on Investopedia
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is one of the most sacred pilgrimages in the world, drawing thousands of devotees, adventurers, and spiritual seekers each year. Located in the remote reaches of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, Mount Kailash is revered in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon religion. Pilgrims believe that undertaking the journey brings spiritual enlightenment, blessings, and a chance to wash away sins.

If you're planning to embark on this life-changing journey, heres everything you need to know about the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra  from its religious significance to routes, costs, preparations, and travel tips.

Spiritual Significance of Kailash Mansarovar

Hinduism: Mount Kailash is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Circumambulating the mountain (Parikrama or Kora) is considered an act of devotion and penance.

Buddhism: Buddhists associate the mountain with Demchok, a deity symbolizing supreme bliss.

Jainism: Known as Mount Ashtapada, this is where the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva, attained liberation.

Bon religion: Followers of this ancient religion believe Mount Kailash to be the spiritual center of the world.

Next to the mountain lies Lake Mansarovar, a high-altitude freshwater lake that is equally sacred. Taking a dip in its waters is said to cleanse the soul.

Yatra Routes

There are two main routes to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra:

1. Via India (Organized by MEA, Government of India)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) organizes the Yatra through two main routes:

Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand Route)

Duration: 23 days

Mode: Trekking and road journey

Highlights: Pithoragarh, Gunji, Lipulekh Pass

Tougher route with high-altitude trekking

Nathula Pass (Sikkim Route)

Duration: 21 days

Mode: Entirely by road

Highlights: Gangtok, Sherathang, Nathula

Easier but longer; less physically demanding

2. Via Nepal (Popular Private Route)

Most pilgrims now prefer this route due to its shorter duration and more comfortable logistics.

Kathmandu  Syabrubesi  Kerung  Mansarovar  Kailash

Duration: 1014 days

Travel by road and optional helicopter access (up to Hilsa)

Requires a Chinese group visa and Tibet permit

Best Time to Visit

May to September is the official Yatra window due to favorable weather.

Avoid traveling during heavy monsoons or early/late winter due to harsh terrain and climate.

Eligibility & Requirements

Age Limit: 18 to 70 years

Medical Fitness: Mandatory health check-ups and high-altitude fitness certification

Passport: Valid for at least 6 months

Visa/Permits: Chinese visa and Tibet travel permits are required

Essential Packing List

Warm clothes (layers, thermals, jackets)

Trekking shoes with good grip

Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm

Water purification tablets, personal medications

High-energy snacks (dry fruits, protein bars)

Trekking poles, sleeping bag (if camping)

Passport, ID proofs, permits (photocopies too)

Travel Tips

Acclimatize Properly: Spend a couple of days at high altitudes before the Parikrama to prevent altitude sickness.

Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water, even if you dont feel thirsty.

Train Your Body: Prepare with walking, cardio, and breathing exercises at least 2-3 months in advance.

Respect Local Customs: The area is deeply spiritual for multiple faiths  maintain decorum and modesty.

The Parikrama (Kora)

The Kailash Parikrama is a 52-km circumambulation of the mountain, typically done in 3 days.

The trek includes crossing the Dolma La Pass (5,630 m)  the highest point of the Yatra.

Some pilgrims complete it on foot, while others opt for yaks or ponies.

A Journey Beyond the Physical

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not just a physical trek  its a test of endurance, faith, and inner strength. Pilgrims often return transformed, carrying stories of peace, struggle, and spiritual growth. Whether you seek divine blessings or simply want to experience one of the worlds most profound journeys, this Yatra offers an unforgettable path into the heart of the Himalayas.

(This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.)
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable on Saturday has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national.

The CRPF stated that Munir Ahmed's actions were found to violate service conduct and were detrimental to national security.

"In a matter of serious concern, CT/GD Munir Ahmed of 41 Battalion of CRPF has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national and knowingly harbouring her beyond the validity of her visa. His actions were found to be in violation of service conduct and detrimental to national security," CRPF said.

In a matter of serious concern, CT/GD Munir Ahmed of 41 Battalion of CRPF has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national and knowingly harbouring her beyond the validity of her visa. His actions were found to be in pic.twitter.com/7xgQTuzskx  ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who announced the decisions on April 23 after meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security, stated that Pakistani nationals will not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas.

Any SVES visas issued in the past to Pakistani nationals are deemed cancelled. Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa was given 48 hours to leave India.

Meanwhile, following the steps by the Indian government, a total of 786 Pakistani nationals have left India via the Attari border within six days beginning April 24, said 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.

(With ANI inputs)
Former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi's statement over the Indian armed forces' surgical strike of 2019, after the Pulwama attack, has sparked a controversy and prompted reactions from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

Speaking in Hindi, the Congress MP stated that no one saw the surgical strike anywhere.

He said, "If a bomb falls in our country, will no one know about it? They say that we carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan. Nothing happened, no one saw the surgical strikes anywhere, no one came to know about it."

Delhi: Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi says, "Hamare desh mein aakar koi bomb gire pata nahi chalega. Kehte hain ji Pakistan mein humne surgical strike kiye the. Kuch nahi hua, kahin nahi dikhe surgical strike, kisi ko nahi pata chala..." pic.twitter.com/RS8K2QO6hf  IANS (@ians_india) May 2, 2025

CWC's Meeting On Pahalgam Terror Attack

The Congress MP's statement on the surgical strikes came after the Congress Working Committee (CWC), in a post on the social media platform X, said that it stands in solidarity and support with the 26 families who lost their loved ones in the Pahalgam terror attack.

CWC added that the Indian National Congress believes this is not a time for politics and wrote, "We must rise above partisan divides and send out an unambiguous message that India stands together, and will not be broken."

The Congress party urged the Central government to act with firmness, strategic clarity, and international coordination to isolate and penalise Pakistan for its "continued export of terror" into India's territory and wrote, "The masterminds and perpetrators of this cowardly attack must face the full consequences of their actions."

Also Read: Congress Deletes 'Gayab' Poster Targeting PM Modi After BJP Backlash

BJP Hits Back At Charanjit Singh Channi

The Congress MPs remarks did not go down well with the BJP. The saffron party MP Sambit Patra claimed that the Congress party planned this press conference to take place right after the CWC meeting, where Mallikarjun Kharge would speak about the resolution, while Channi would hold another press conference.

"After the proposals were passed in the meeting, the Congress party held another press conference. This conference was led by former Chief Minister of Punjab and current MP from a bordering state, Charanjit Singh Channi. Strategically, Congress planned this press conference to take place right after the CWC meeting, where Kharge would speak about the resolution, while Channi would hold a parallel press conference," Patra said.

"During the press conference, Channi stated that the surgical strike by the Indian Air Force on Pakistan in 2019, after the Pulwama attack, was wrong and never actually happened," he added.

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Friday said that MP Channi's remarks reflect the 'old mindset' of the Gandhi family and Rahul Gandhi.

"Once again, the Congress party has questioned our armed forces. Congress leader and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi has said he doesnt believe in the surgical strike. This reflects the same old mindset of the Gandhi family and Rahul Gandhi, repeatedly casting doubt on our Army and Air Force, accusing them of lying, while trusting Pakistans narrative," he said.

Delhi: On Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi's remarks on the surgical strike, Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa says, "Once again, the Congress party has questioned our armed forces. Congress leader and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi has said he doesnt believe in the pic.twitter.com/bT04PMpJ2x  IANS (@ians_india) May 2, 2025

Also Read: 'Disturb Sleep Of Many': PM Modi's Dig At INDIA Bloc In Tharoor's Presence During Kerala Visit

Speaking to IANS, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that Congress should be renamed to "Anti-National Congress."

He said, Today, the Congress party should be renamed from INC to ANC, Anti-National Congress. The only identity of the Congress is to continuously insult the Army, 'Sena ka karo lagataar apmaan, Pakistan ko bulao apna bhaijaan (insult the Army continuously and call Pakistan your brother)'. In the all-party meeting, they say they stand with the nation and the Army and demand strict action. But the moment they step out, they let vote bank politics override national interest.

This controversy comes days after the Congress shared a post on X with an apparent jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which the grand old party deleted later following the backlash amid border tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

(with IANS inputs)
As tensions continue to prevail at the border over a week after the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister on Saturday said that India is committed to initiating firm action against terrorists and their backers. This comes as the Pakistani Army continues unprovoked firing at the LoC for the ninth consecutive day.

The ties between India and Pakistan have been strained following the heinous attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of at least 26 people, mostly tourists, and left several others injured.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, PM Modi reaffirmed New Delhis resolve to act against terrorism and give Pakistan a befitting reply to Islamabad.

"We are committed to take firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them. We thanked Angola for their support in our fight against cross-border terrorism," he said.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "We are committed to take firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them. We thanked Angola for their support in our fight against cross-border terrorism." pic.twitter.com/M3t3IqjHZJ  ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025

Also Read: Pakistan Resorts To Unprovoked Firing On LoC In J&K For 9th Consecutive Day

"We are of the same opinion that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity. I thanked President Lourenco and Angola for their condolences to the people killed in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam," he added.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "We are committed to take firm and decisive action against terrorists and those who support them. We thanked Angola for their support in our fight against cross-border terrorism." pic.twitter.com/M3t3IqjHZJ  ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025

PM Modis statement also comes after India banned direct or indirect imports from Pakistan.

Also Read: Prez Murmu, PM Modi Expresses Condolences Over Goa Temple Stampede

Pahalgam Attack And Its Aftermath

The Pahalgam attack was carried out by four armed terrorists, linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. In addition, two of the assailants were confirmed to be Pakistani nationals, according to IANS.

In response to the Jammu and Kashmir terror attack, the Indian government conducted a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on April 23, chaired by Prime Minister Modi.

After the meeting, New Delhi announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and ordered the closure of the Attari border. India also cancelled all visas issued to Pakistani nationals and initiated a crackdown on Pakistani YouTube channels and X handles.

After the meeting, PM Modi had warned that India would identify and punish terrorists and their supporters.

"We will identify, trace, and punish every terrorist and their supporters. We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth," the PM had said.

(with agencies inputs)
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, Pakistan is reportedly accelerating the recruitment of terrorists under the supervision of its army and intelligence agencies.

According to the Zee News after a terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has launched a large-scale recruitment drive. The plan is allegedly being executed under the guidance of Hafiz Saeeds son, Talha Saeed, with direct support from the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.

In today's episode of DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, decoded the ongoing terror recruitment drive led by Talha Saeed.

Watch Today's Full Episode

According to sources, Hafiz Saeed convened a high-level meeting with Lashkars top terror commanders after the Pahalgam attack. During the meeting Talha Saeed, who was instructed to lead the recruitment initiative. Notably, discussions also included ISI's role in funding this expansion. Hafiz further directed Talha to intensify activities of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, the political front of Lashkar-e-Taiba.

This political front operates much like Jamaat-ud-Dawa did in the pastproviding recruitment, logistical, and financial support to Lashkar. Hafiz has also reportedly ordered the reactivation of Lashkars old terror network to increase its manpowercompensating for the lack of recruits in the Pakistani Army due to public distrust and political disillusionment in provinces like Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
By Mike Scarcella and Tom Hals

(Reuters) -Microsoft is switching the law firm representing it in a shareholder case, replacing one that settled with the Trump administration to avoid a punishing executive order with one that is fighting the White House.

Court documents showed Microsoft has hired Jenner & Block to replace Simpson Thacher in a Delaware Chancery Court lawsuit over its $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. The filings did not give a reason.

Microsoft, without elaborating, said in a statement to Reuters that Simpson Thacher continues to represent it on other matters. Companies can have many reasons for switching legal teams, including to save money or avoid attorney-client conflicts.

Simpson Thacher did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jenner & Block, which has done prior work for Microsoft, declined to comment.

Jenner and three other firms are suing President Donald Trump's administration over his executive orders that stripped their security clearances, restricted their access to government buildings and sought to cancel federal contracts held by their clients.

Wall Street firm Simpson Thacher is among nine firms that have collectively pledged nearly $1 billion in free legal services to the White House since Trump launched his pressure campaign on firms that he accused of "weaponizing" the legal system against him.

The New York Times first reported Microsoft's change in counsel.

Jenner's lawsuit against the Trump administration called the executive order an unconstitutional abuse of power that sought to drive away its clients.

It said the order was retribution for its past employment of a prosecutor involved in the U.S. special counsel probe into Russian contacts with Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

A former top lawyer at Microsoft and dozens of other current and former general counsels at major U.S. companies said in an April 11 court brief backing Jenner and other firms that Trump's orders force companies "to choose counsel to avoid the Presidents retribution rather than based on independent business judgment, experience, skill, or expertise."

Simpson Thacher represented Microsoft in its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, maker of the popular video game Call of Duty. The deal, announced in 2022, was the largest ever in the gaming industry.

The lawsuit in Delaware claimed Activision improperly approved a draft merger agreement and not the final version. Microsoft in 2024 asked a judge to validate the acquisition and deny a $15 million fee request from lawyers who represented an Activision shareholder.

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario and Cynthia Osterman)
A Special NIA court in Delhi on Saturday monitored the collection of voice and handwriting samples of Pakistani-Canadian national Tahawwur Rana in the Mumbai terror attack case of 2008.

The fresh samples will be matched with recordings of Ranas telephonic discussions with 26/11 co-accused David Coleman Headley, an official said.

His handwriting sample is also likely to be matched with the notes that Rana has been making in a diary provided to him by NIA during its custody, said a source.

Rana, who was recently extradited from the US, is suspected to have passed on to Headley handwritten notes sharing instructions, coordinates, and maps which were used to scout 26/11 targets.

The NIA is also preparing to take Rana to Mumbai and other cities to reconstruct the chain of events preceding the terror attack that left 166 people dead.

On April 28 last week, the Special NIA court extended Ranas NIA custody by 12 more days to allow investigators to question him.

Special Judge Charan Jit Singh accepted Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnans plea that the investigating agency needs more time to uncover Ranas role in the Mumbai attack of 2008.

Ranas 18-day remand ended on Monday, and he was presented in court for an extension of his NIA custody.

During the court proceedings, the Special Judge was informed by the NIA about the alleged evasive technique adopted by Rana during questioning.

The NIA also expressed its desire to take Rana to various other cities to reconstruct the chain of events during the accuseds India visits preceding the terror attack.

The court had earlier directed the NIA to conduct a medical test of Rana every 24 hours and allow him to speak to his lawyers every second day.

During his 18-day remand, Rana was also questioned by Mumbai Police officers. During the interrogation, Rana claimed that he had "no connection whatsoever" with the planning or execution of the attack.

He also claimed that his childhood friend and co-accused, David Coleman Headley, was solely responsible for the reconnaissance and planning aspects of 26/11. Headley is currently in a US jail.

Headley, who turned approver in the case, had earlier admitted to conducting recce missions across India, including in Mumbai, on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

During questioning, Rana said that apart from Mumbai and Delhi, he had also travelled to Kerala. When asked about the purpose of his visit to Kerala, he claimed he had gone there to meet a known acquaintance and had provided the individual's name and address to the agency.

Rana, a former officer of the Pakistan Armys Medical Corps, was extradited to India from the US recently to face justice in the Mumbai attack case.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss the security situation in the Union Territory in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed.

This is Omar Abdullahs first meeting with the Prime Minister after April 22, when terrorists killed innocent civilians after segregating them on the basis of religion in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

The meeting, which took place at the Prime Minister's residence, lasted approximately 30 minutes.

Sources said the two leaders discussed the evolving situation in Jammu and Kashmir and reviewed security measures to prevent future attacks.

While no official statement was issued, it is believed that both stressed the need for maintaining law and order and ensuring justice for the victims.

The Pahalgam attack, targeting civilians in a tourist hub, has led to heightened security across sensitive regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Tensions have mounted between the two countries after Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists sponsored and aided by Pakistan killed 26 innocent civilians, including 25 tourists, 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 he chased and hunted down to the ends of the earth.

The Prime Minister has given a free hand to the countrys armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam killings.

Earlier to the PMs decision to give operational free hand to the armed forces, 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 CDS on the preparedness of the countrys armed forces to meet any eventuality.

Continuing diplomatic and other measures against Pakistan, India has now stopped all postal exchanges with Pakistan. This is in addition to the closure of the Attari-Wagah border crossing point, putting the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance and deporting all Pakistani nationals from the country.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor 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 (OGWs) 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.

A massive crackdown with all technical resources is still going on in the south Kashmir mountains to hunt down the Pahalgam terror attack culprits.
Pahalgam Terror Attack: Over a week after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 and on the day 12 of the investigation into it, the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may return to Delhi today with a preliminary report on the attack, which will be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the gruesome attack, 26 people were killed and several others were injured.

The preliminary report indicates that the attack was the result of collusion between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Lashkar. Following the completion of this report, the NIA has expanded its investigation into other regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Teams from the agency have interrogated two Over Ground Workers (OGWs), Nisar Ahmad alias Haji and Mushtaq Hussain, at Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu. Both individuals are from Bhata Durian in the Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district.

During the interrogation, the NIA attempted to gather more information regarding the Pakistani terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack and inquired about their possible hideouts in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir so that they could be cornered at the earliest.

Forces in the Kashmir Valley have also escalated their efforts to dismantle a terror support network, booking around 80 Over Ground Workers (OGWs) under the UAPA. These individuals face a minimum of two years' imprisonment unless a court intervenes.

Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with the Army and security forces, launched a series of raids, targeting approximately 100 locations linked to the arrested OGWs. Among the properties searched was that of Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar, alias Latrum, the founder of the banned Al-Umar terror outfit, who gained notoriety after being released in a 1999 hijacking incident.

As part of ongoing operations, security personnel are actively combing the forests surrounding Pahalgam, focusing on areas in Dachigam, Kulgam, Shopian, and Anantnag. They are also monitoring areas along the LoC where ceasefire violations were reported overnight for the eighth consecutive day, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor.

A multi-agency team comprising NIA, forensic experts, and intelligence representatives is currently stationed in Pahalgam. Since the attack, around 2,500 individuals have been interrogated, with approximately 220 under preventive detention for further questioning. Investigators have identified 15 OGWs with direct connections to the attack, some of whom have already been apprehended.

Advanced 3D mapping technology has been utilized to aid in questioning detainees and gathering critical information about the circumstances surrounding the attack. Forces remain on high alert, as they believe the four terrorists responsible for the gruesome attack are still hiding in the nearby forested areas of Pahalgam.

Intelligence sources indicate that these assailants are well-prepared and self-sufficient, equipped with provisions that allow them to evade capture for extended periods.

Reports suggest that the attackers are armed with sophisticated weaponry, including US-made M4 carbine rifles and AK-47 assault rifles. Forensic analysis confirmed the recovery of used cartridges at the site, aligning with ballistic data indicating the use of these weapons.

One of the most alarming aspects of this attack was the reported use of GoPro cameras mounted on the terrorists' caps, likely intended to document the assault. This tactic is reminiscent of previous attacks conducted by terrorist outfits such as the Peoples Anti-Fascist Front and Kashmir Tigers, which operate as proxies for Pakistan-based terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Sources indicate that while the attack was primarily executed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), it received backing from various major terror outfits like Jaish and Harkat.

Additionally, intelligence officials are investigating the potential use of Huawei satellite phones and encrypted messaging platforms that may have facilitated secure communication among the terrorists, allowing them to avoid detection by the forces.
For the ninth consecutive day on Saturday, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing on the Indian posts along the Line Of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

A Defence Ministry statement on Saturday said, "During the night of May 2 and May 3, Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked smallarms fire across the LoC opposite the Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir."

"The Indian Army responded promptly and proportionately."

Pakistan has been continuously targeting Indian army positions on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir for the last nine days as tensions reach a new high in India-Pakistan relationship after the cowardly murder of 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, on April 22 in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam by Pakistan sponsored, aided and backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists.

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.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a 40-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday.

The Defence Minister met PM Modi after he received a detailed briefing by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on the preparedness of the country's Armed forces to meet any eventuality.

Prime Minister Modi has given the country's Armed forces complete operational freedom to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.

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.

India has closed the Attari-Wagah border crossing point, deported Pakistani nationals, kept the Indus Water Treaty in Abeyance, and closed its airspace for Pakistani commercial flights.

Pakistan has reacted by announcing that it will not abide by the Shimla Agreement thereby deciding to disregard the LoC in J&K, which is the de-facto border in Jammu and Kashmir between the two South Asian neighbours.
Goa Stampede: President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed condolences to the people who lost their lives in the stampede that occurred during the annual Jatra procession at the Shirgao temple in Goa.

In a post on the social media platform X, President Murmu extended her condolences to the bereaved families.

Sad to know about the unfortunate incident of a stampede in Shirgao, Goa which claimed several lives. I extend my condolences to bereaved family members and pray for quick recovery of the injured, the President said

Sad to know about the unfortunate incident of a stampede in Shirgao, Goa which claimed several lives. I extend my condolences to bereaved family members and pray for quick recovery of the injured.  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 3, 2025

The Prime Minister's Office also posted on X and wrote, Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected: PM @narendramodi.

Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede in Shirgao, Goa. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 3, 2025

According to IANS, PM Modi spoke with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and reviewed the Goa stampede situation in detail. He also offered full support from the Centre.

Also Read: 7 Killed, Over 30 Injured In Stampede At Goa Temple

On the other hand, CM Sawant, in a post on X, informed that he had visited the hospital where the injured were receiving treatment and added that he is "personally monitoring" the situation.

The CM said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken."

Goa Stampede

The Goa stampede occurred during the Shri Lairai Yatra, an annual religious event that draws thousands of devotees to the temple in North Goa. During the ritual, 'dhonds' participate barefoot and walk across a bed of burning embers.

The number of devotees and a sudden surge in the crowd reportedly led to the Goa stampede. The situation turned chaotic due to a downward slope on a stretch of the route, where the crowd reportedly surged forward rapidly, leading to a crush, IANS reported.



According to preliminary reports, severe overcrowding and insufficient crowd management arrangements could have been the probable causes behind the stampede.

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has confirmed that all district hospitals are on high alert.

Health Minister Rane added that the hospitals are fully equipped to handle the emergency, and that the medical infrastructure at Goa Medical College (GMC) and other district hospitals has been strengthened.

Helpline Number

North Goa Collector Sneha S. Gitte has released a helpline number to assist families affected by the Goa Temple Stampede.

The press note read, "In view of the unfortunate incident during the Devi Lairai Jatra at Shirgao on 03/05/2025, the general public and affected individuals are informed that for any assistance or information..."

The affected may contact the following:

1. Deputy Collector and SDM, Bicholim: +91 8806562152

2. District Control Room (North Goa): 0832-2225383

(with IANS inputs)
MOSCOW: The Foreign Affairs Ministry on Saturday said in a statement that Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S V Lavrov in a telephonic conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the terrorist attack near Pahalgam. Lavrov in his call with Jaishankar called for the settlement of disagreements between Delhi and Islamabad.

"On May 2, a telephone conversation took place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S V Lavrov and the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India S Jaishankar," the statement read. Lavrov called for settlements by political and diplomatic means on a bilateral basis.

"The heads of the foreign policy departments discussed current issues of Russian-Indian cooperation, as well as the aggravation of Indian-Pakistani relations after the terrorist attack near Pahalgam. S.V.Lavrov called for the settlement of disagreements between New Delhi and Islamabad by political and diplomatic means on a bilateral basis in accordance with the provisions of the Simla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Declaration of 1999," the statement read.

"The ministers discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts at the highest and high levels," the statement added. As the world leaders continued their condemnation of the attack, MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi, while speaking on the state visit of President of Angola Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenzo to India said on Saturday that he condemned the terror attack.

Ravi said that Lourenco affirmed support to India in tackling terrorism. "During the press briefing, there was a very strong message and also during the delegation level talks, President Lorenzo condemned the heinous cowardly act, terrorist act in in Jammu and Kashmir and there was condemnation of it," he said.

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India on Saturday decided to suspend exchange of all categories of all inbound mails and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, a statement by Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiradita Scindia said.

The statement by the Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts was also tweeted by India Post.

The suspension follows another ban by the Centre earlier in the day on Pakistani imports. India has imposed an immediate ban on the direct or indirect import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, regardless of their import status, effectively halting bilateral trade flows.
The Waq Amendment Act 2025 has evoked a mixed reaction in India with some organisations protesting against it and some supporting it. The Tamil Maanila Muslim League (TMML), a Tamil Nadu-based Islamic Organisation representing Muslims, have supported the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Act, 2025. Enacted on February 24, 2025 (Press Information Bureau, 2025), this landmark legislation seeks to harness the vast potential of Waqf properties-valued at over Rs 9 lakh crore and spanning 9.4 lakh acres across 8.7 lakh endowments-to uplift India's 200 million Muslims and marginalized communities.

"Grounded in the Quranic ethos of universal charity (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:177), Waqf is a sacred trust intended to serve society. Yet, vested interests driven by self-serving motives are obstructing this reform. TMML stands resolute, exposing their resistance and advocating for UMEED's full implementation to ensure justice and empowerment," said TMML chief Ameerul Millat S. Sheikh Dawood.

UMEED Act: A Bold Step Forward

Waqf properties hold the promise of funding education, healthcare, and welfare initiatives, but chronic mismanagement has undermined this potential. The Sachar Committee Report (2006) revealed that only 13% of Muslims benefit from Waqf revenues due to a lack of accountability. UMEED addresses this with:

* Transparency: Digitized records for 8.7 lakh properties and audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) (The Hindu, Feb 25, 2025).

* Inclusivity: Representation for Muslim women, non-Muslims, and diverse sects on Waqf boards.

* Justice: Fast-track dispute resolution in district courts, with High Court appeals within 90 days (PRS Legislative Research, 2025).

* Fraud Prevention: Verified ownership for new Waqfs.

* Empowerment: Prioritization of widows, orphans, and divorced women, with 68% of Muslim women in Tamil Nadu living below the poverty line (NITI Aayog, 2023).

This reform is a lifeline for the people-yet it faces fierce opposition from those who fear losing their grip on power.

Why Some Political Actors Oppose UMEED

Ameerul Millat S. Sheikh Dawood says that critics of UMEED hide behind claims of protecting faith and federalism, but their true aim is to safeguard personal gain. "State Waqf boards, often controlled by politically connected individuals, have misused Waqf funds for personal enrichment. Reports (The Indian Express, Mar 10, 2025) show these boards fear UMEED's transparency, which would expose their exploitation of resources meant for the poor. Their defense of "religious autonomy" is a mask for corruption," he said.

UMEED's reforms align with this Islamic principle, ensuring Waqf serves the community as intended, not the whims of the corrupt, said the TMML leader. He further highlighted some key factors:

* Fearmongering Over Non-Muslim Roles:

Some argue that non-Muslim representation on Waqf boards violates Article 26 (religious autonomy). This misreads the law. The Supreme Court's Shirur Mutt (1954) ruling allows state oversight of secular aspects of religious institutions-UMEED's precise focus. Non-Muslim involvement ensures fairness, reflecting Waqf's universal mission. Critics stir communal tensions to maintain control, not to preserve faith.

* Distorting 'Waqf by User' Changes:

UMEED eliminates "Waqf by user" for new endowments to prevent fraud, while protecting existing properties. Opponents claim this threatens historic sites, citing the Ayodhya judgment (2019). This is a distortion-UMEED clarifies ownership moving forward without altering the past. Their alarmism is a tactic to mobilize support.

* Hiding Behind Federalism:

Detractors argue UMEED oversteps Entry 28 (State List) and federal principles per S.R. Bommai (1994). This is a diversion. With 8.7 lakh properties nationwide, Waqf demands national oversight-state failures have proven costly. The federalism plea shields local profiteering, not state rights.

Supreme Court: Seeking Truth, Not Delay

On April 17, 2025, the Supreme Court took up UMEED's constitutionality in "In re: Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025". An interim order paused:

* Denotification or alteration of Waqf properties.

* Appointments to Waqf boards until May 5, 2025.

Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna questioned the Collector's role in disputes, but TMML trusts the court will see UMEED's intent: curbing corruption, not curtails faith. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's assurance of compliance signals the Centre's commitment.

Tamil Nadu's Reality Check

Two incidents highlight the stakes:

* Vellore (April 2025): 150 families, mostly Muslim, faced eviction threats despite valid titles. UMEED's transparency will prevent such injustices (The Indian Express, Apr 12, 2025).

* Thiruchendurai (September 2022): The Waqf Board claimed 480 acres, including a Hindu temple, sparking unrest. UMEED's removal of Section 40 ensures fair investigations.

Critics ignore these victims, revealing their focus on power, not people. Claims of exclusion are unfounded-UMEED's diverse boards foster trust and align with Digital India.

TMML's Call to Action

TMML urged the opponents of the Act to stop blocking reform-embrace accountability for the Ummah and all Indians. It urged the government to accelerate digitization and fix WAMSI gaps. "The 9 lakh crore Waqf legacy belongs to the people, not profiteers," said TMML's Dawood.
After meeting the family of N Ramachandran, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday urged the nation not to allow terrorists to divide or define India's identity along religious lines.

Speaking to ANI, Tharoor lauded the family of N Ramachandran for their composure and resilience.

"The family has conducted themselves with such grace, dignity and decency that this must be acknowledged and praised. They made a very, very moving statement during the funeral. They have done something which is so important for all of India to understand that we cannot let the terrorists decide who we should be. We cannot let the terrorists who want to divide us on the grounds of religion succeed in dividing us," Tharoor said.

"I think for our country and for the future of our country, we cannot let the terrorists change us. We cannot let the terrorists make us into what they want us to be and what they want to show the world," the Congress MP asserted.

A total of 26 tourists were killed by terrorists in the Baisaran valley of Pahalgam on April 22. This included 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen.

On April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was also present. The Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir killed 26 people, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack, where 40 CRPF jawans were killed.

The sources said PM Modi expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian armed forces. They said that PM Modi stated that the Indian Armed Forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India's response.
A video of Karnatakas Minister for Housing and Waqf, B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan, declaring that he was ready to become a suicide bomber for India and walk into Pakistan with explosives to wage war, went viral on social media on Saturday.

Speaking to the media earlier, Minister Zameer stated, I have said this repeatedly: We are Indians, we are Hindustanis. We have no connection whatsoever with Pakistan. I repeat, we have no relationship with Pakistan. I am ready to wage war if needed. Even as a minister, if I am sent to the battlefield, I am prepared to go and fight against Pakistan.

I will personally go to the battlefield to fight for India. Let all of us do it for our country. If necessary, I will become a suicide bomber for India. I am not saying this lightly or out of emotion. If the country requires it, I am ready to sacrifice myself as a suicide bomber, he added.

Let Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah give me the opportunity to become a suicide bomber. I swear by Allah  I will have explosives wrapped around my body and I will go to Pakistan, Minister Zameer declared.

The video has garnered widespread attention and is being shared widely across social media platforms, receiving praise from various sections of society.

Minister Zameer, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, represents the Chamarajpet constituency in Bengaluru.

He rose to prominence in state politics with the support of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. After leaving the JD(S), he joined the Congress party.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had sparked controversy with a remark advocating against war with Pakistan.

His statement drew criticism at the national level and was reportedly highlighted by the Pakistani media.

Following the backlash, CM Siddaramaiah clarified that he has no objection to waging war against Pakistan if necessary.
New Delhi: Actor Vijay Varma has officially wrapped up the shoot for his highly anticipated series Matka King, expressing his heartfelt gratitude and connection to the project in a recent Instagram post. Sharing pictures from his final day on set, the actor wrote, Matka King wrapped! Never been so immersed in a story/character for this long. It's been a great journey... You'll all get to witness it when it releases on @primevideoin. Big love to the entire crew. Missed you on the last day @nagraj_manjule sir.

Take A Look At The Post Here:

Directed by Nagraj Manjule, Matka King delves into the world of a gambler rising through the ranks in post-independence Mumbai, promising a gripping and authentic narrative. Vijays portrayal of the central character is expected to captivate audiences, showcasing his unique ability to bring both intensity and depth to his roles.

Vijay Varma, known for his breakthrough performance in Gully Boy and subsequent roles in Darlings, Mirzapur, KaalKoot, and IC814, continues to make a mark with his versatile performances. Whether playing twisted characters or morally complex figures, Vijays approach to acting has earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the most promising talents of his generation.

With upcoming projects like Matka King and Gustaakh Ishq, Vijay is poised for a new chapter in his career, blending mainstream appeal with his commitment to delivering meaningful, impactful performances.
THE WRITE STUFF: Montblanc has promoted Stephanie Radl to the new role of director, brand relations and communications, WWD has learned.

Radl reports directly to Giorgio Sarne, who joined as chief executive officer of the Hamburg, Germany-based company last September. She will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive communication plan, according to Montblanc.

More from WWD

Her remit also includes managing relationships with global brand ambassadors and journalists, overseeing global PR efforts, media planning and content creation.

Montblancs current slate of brand ambassadors include Wes Anderson, Rupert Friend, Zinedine Zidane, Xin Zhilei and Jing Boran.

Radl joined Montblanc seven years ago as international PR director, ultimately becoming director of brand relations.

A graduate of London College of Fashion, Radl started her career as communications manager at Cos, the fashion brand owned by H&M.

She also managed luxury fashion clients such as Calvin Klein and Moncler in subsequent roles and PR agencies Purple and BCPM, gaining expertise expertise in strategic planning, client relationship management and new business development.

Her specialties include media facilitation, event production and crisis management.

Controlled by Compagnie Financiere Richemont, Montblanc is best known for its luxury writing instruments, along with leather goods, accessories, fragrances and eyewear. In recent years the brand also ventured into personal tech with smartwatches, headphones and other digital devices.

Rupert Friend and Maude Apatow in a Montblanc campaign.

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New Delhi: Social media star Apoorva Mukhija recently faced intense scrutiny and backlash following her comments on the show Indias Got Talent. In a recent interview with Yuvaa, the influencer revealed that amidst the trolling and even death threats, she spoke with actor Rhea Chakrabortysomeone who had undergone a similar experience after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

In her conversation with Yuvaa, Apoorva shared the constant security concerns she faced during the controversy. "Ganesh didnt let me step out without four bouncers and a driver. Even at the airport, I had a bouncer with me. I couldnt go back home for six to seven days because people knew my address. I was getting pictures of my building saying, We know where you live. I cried every day. My mooh-boli sister Suman Didi was supposed to attend a wedding, but I had to cancel a fake award show appearance and rush back from Jaipur to Delhi. I was terrified."

She said she video-called Rhea Chakraborty, believing she would understand what she was going through. I spoke to her on a video call for an hour. She got it. She knew what I was going through.

Apoorva also revealed that she wanted to publicly acknowledge the controversy but was advised to stay silent. I talk about everything, right? But people told meif you speak now, theyll twist your words, and itll start another media cycle. I had no choice but to stay silent.

She went on to discuss how the situation affected her professional life: I didnt realize how much I loved working until I couldnt. I hadnt taken a day off in yearsalways vlogging, creating, thinking of brand posts. And suddenly, it was all gone. I lost so much business. Brands said it wasnt a good time to be associated. In one second, everything disappeared.

Rhea Chakraborty also faced intense media scrutiny in 2020 when she was accused of abetment of suicide following the death of her then-boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Zayed Khan lauded the entrepreneurial spirit of Odishas women at the National Womens Business Mela 2.0, calling them boss ladies and praising their drive and energy.

New Delhi: Actor Zayed Khan recently attended the National Womens Business Mela 2.0 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, where he lauded the entrepreneurial spirit and determination of women business leaders from the state.

Organised by the Indian National Women Entrepreneurs Council (INWEC), the event brought together over 200 women entrepreneurs from across India, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurating the platform. The two-day event aimed to celebrate and support women-led ventures, fostering collaboration, networking, and recognition for women in business.

Zayed interacted with several entrepreneurs during the event and later took to social media to share his appreciation. Hello People , wanted to thank all the people of Odisha , #bhubaneshwar thank you for the warmth and hospitality . Great admiration for the boss ladies of Odisha who i had the pleasure of interacting with . I was amazed to see the entrepreneurial spirit in these young women , who seemed so motivated and energised . Thank you @patnaik.preeti for empowering these woman , I really enjoyed the numerous Interactions . #womenempowerwomen #girlpower #blessed #gratitude ."

He also extended gratitude to INWEC President Preeti Patnaik for championing women empowerment in the region. His presence at the Mela added encouragement and visibility to the event, which highlighted womens growing influence in the business landscape.

On the professional front, Zayed Khan is set to make his OTT debut in the upcoming film The Film That Never Was (TFTNW).
In a shocking remark, a former Bangladesh army officer and close aide of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Thursday suggested that Dhaka should collaborate with China to occupy Indias northeastern states if New Delhi attacks Pakistan in retaliation to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of at least 26 people, mostly tourists, and left several others injured.

On Friday, Yunus' interim government distanced itself from the remarks made by Major General (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman on his Facebook account. In a post on the social media account, 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 said.

Yunus, in December 2024, was appointed by the Yunus-led interim government 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." Earlier in March, Yunus, during his visit to China, had urged Beijing to make the ocean-facing part of Bangladesh an extension of the Chinese economy.

In a video that went viral on social media, Yunus urged the Chinese government to set up its economic base in the country while saying that Dhaka was the only guardian of the ocean in that region.

"Seven states of India, the eastern part of India called the Seven Sisters, are landlocked countries. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. We are the only guardians of the ocean in this region. This opens up a huge possibility. This could be an extension of the Chinese economy  build, produce and market things, bring them back to China, and export them to the rest of the world," said Yunus.

The comments did not go down well in New Delhi and 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.
Pakistan carried out a test launch on Saturday of the Abdali surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which has a range of 450 kilometres, Zee News TV reported.

After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 people, the tension between India and Pakistan has ramped up considerably with almost daily incidents of gunfire exchange along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.

In response to India's diplomatic actions following the terror attackincluding suspending visas for Pakistani nationals, ordering staff cuts at the Pakistani High Commission, and closing the Attari borderPakistan has repeatedly issued NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) signalling potential missile tests in the region as a display of strength.

Breaking: Pakistan tests fires surface-to-surface Abdali missile. pic.twitter.com/DPhM6V4MjN  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 3, 2025



ANI source said that the planned missile test in such volatile conditions was a "desperate attempt to whip up tensions with India."

Since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan issued the first NOTAM on the night of April 23 with less than 24 hour notice for test firing, however, no ballistic missile firing was observed. Soon thereafter notifications were issued on April 26th-27th of firing by Pakistani Naval ships off the coast of Karachi, however, no firing drills were conducted. After two non-attempts, Pakistan repeated a third attempt on April 30th- May 2nd of firings close to India's Exclusive Economic Zone, but again, no firings were conducted.
United Nations: While Kashmir has been called a "nuclear flashpoint", Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has said that "we should not contemplate a situation like that" as both Pakistan and India are responsible countries.

"Kashmir is often termed as a 'nuclear flashpoint', but I believe that, you know, Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state. I assume that India also exhibits that same kind of responsibility, and we should not contemplate, you know, a situation that would move in that direction," he said on Friday.

However, he did not deny that Pakistan does not subscribe to a no-first-use nuclear policy. Ahmad was asked several times during his news conference here about the nuclear factor in a confrontation between the two neighbours.

"Pakistan is a responsible member of the international community. (How) we are responding to this situation that has evolved is also reflective of a responsible member state," he said at first. Asked again about the nuclear factor, he said that he "deliberately did not mention" it because both nations "exhibit the same kind of responsibility".

Pressed again over Islamabad's position on no-first-use of nuclear weapons, he evaded giving a straight answer. "I mean, it is stated policy, I mean Pakistan's policy on nuclear disarmament and all the related issues are all in the public realm. It is very well known."

His reluctance is because Pakistan has not adopted the policy of not being the first to use a nuclear weapon  a public position  that gives it the option to use it first. India, on the other hand, declared a no-first-use policy.

A reporter asked Ahmad about the situation on the western border with Afghanistan and the Balochistan conflict and how they would affect a possible conflict with India. He said, "I don't believe that that's going to have an impact in terms of our readiness and preparedness to counter anything that comes across the Line of Control in Kashmir." "The Western borders are under total control," he said.

"There is some counterterrorism and enforcement operations and law enforcement operations that are going on there," he added. Pakistan and Afghanistan forces have clashed repeatedly along their border, and Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out cross-border attacks. In addition, Pakistan is facing an insurgency by Balochis seeking independence.

Ahmad denied that there had been "dogfights"  aerial combats  which a reporter claimed had taken place. "There were some reports about some podcopters or drones, you know, shot down or something," but no aerial combat, he said. "If the situation deteriorates, and some, you know, some kind of 'kinetic action' comes into play, this kind of a situation, a scenario is very much possible," he added.
That said, the fortunes of Big Tech megacaps may be diverging. Apple disappointed the Street overnight after it noted the high costs associated with shifting its supply chains, and its stock was down about 4% ahead of Friday's bell. And Amazon shares were also down 2% as its cloud business and income guidance fell short of expectations.

Signs of some rowback in the extreme U.S.-China trade standoff could be more of a boost, coming as they do alongside the week's impressive Microsoft and Meta earnings beats.

Meanwhile, the broader economic picture continues to be less a cause for cheer than a case of "it could have been worse". ISM's manufacturing survey on Thursday showed an ongoing contraction in factory activity in April, but by slightly less than feared.

April's employment report on Friday will tell us a lot about the durability of this rally, as last month's jobs market picture remained mixed. A big jump in jobless claims last week was put down to seasonal quirks related to a late Easter.

The U.S. stock rebound has gathered steam as the new month gets underway, confounding the old 'sell in May' adage, largely due to trade war de-escalation hopes and some selective tech optimism.

* 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 contained erroneous details, such as incorrect names and addresses and outdated information.

* The Trump administration ended U.S. duty-free access for low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong on Friday, removing the "de minimis" exemptions availed of by Shein, Temu and other e-commerce firms as well as traffickers of fentanyl and other illicit goods.

* Apple CEO Tim Cook told analysts on Thursday that tariffs could add about $900 million in costs this quarter as the iPhone maker shifts its vast supply chain to minimize the impact of the trade war.

* Japan could use its $1 trillion-plus holdings of U.S. Treasuries as a card in trade talks with Washington, raising explicitly for the first time its leverage as a massive creditor to the United States.

* Beijing is "evaluating" an offer from Washington to hold talks over U.S. President Donald Trump's 145% tariffs, although it warned the United States not to engage in "extortion and coercion."

It's Friday, so today I'll provide a quick overview of what's happening in global markets and then offer you some weekend reading suggestions away from the headlines.

Story Continues

Pharma stocks were also hit on Thursday. Even though Eli Lilly results topped expectations, its shares tumbled 12% after CVS Health said it was dropping Lilly's obesity drug Zepbound from some lists of medicines covered for reimbursement.

And yet the more positive mood music around the trade war seems to have encouraged the broader market nonetheless.

Beijing is "evaluating" an offer from Washington to hold talks over President Donald Trump's steep tariffs, China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday, signalling a potential breakthrough in the severe faceoff.

The pressure to talk has been building as the Trump administration ended U.S. duty-free access for low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong, removing "de minimis" exemptions.

Taking it all in, however, S&P 500 futures were up another 0.5% ahead of Friday's open, adding to yesterday's cash market gains. Futures on the small cap Russell 2000 were up 1%.

All of which means the main Wall Street indexes have recovered most or all of the losses seen since the April 2 tariff sweep, even though they remain deeply negative for the year.

Given the unusually negative start for the year, many strategists wonder if seasonal trends captured in the "sell in May and go away" quip will hold this year. And most reckon the huge macro uncertainties mean it's equally impossible to apply it in reverse.

Flipping back to Friday's diary, the payrolls report will dominate early on, with consensus set for a drop in job growth last month to 130,000. 'Big Oil' dominates the earnings slate.

With next week's Federal Reserve meeting set to leave interest rates on hold for now, Treasury yields backed-up sharply on Thursday on a combination of relief at the ISM survey results and the stock market rally.

The Trump administration was not short of advice for the Fed.

Renewing his attack on Fed Chair Jerome Powell as "a guy in the Fed that I'm not a huge fan of", Trump said: "He should reduce interest rates. I think I understand interest a lot better than him, because I've had to really use interest rates."

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said the Fed should cut.

"We are seeing that two-year rates are now below fed funds rates, so that's a market signal that they think the Fed should be cutting," he said.

Maybe even more alarming for the bond market, Japan finance minister Katsunobu Kato said the country could use its $1 trillion-plus holdings of U.S. Treasuries as a card in trade talks with Washington, raising explicitly for the first time its leverage as a massive creditor to the United States.

The dollar fell back across the board, as the yen recouped some of its losses and China's offshore yuan hit its highest since March.

Elsewhere, Britain's FTSE 100 is heading for its 15th straight consecutive daily gain, which would be the longest winning streak since the index was first compiled in 1984.

Weekend reading suggestions

Here are some articles away from the day-to-day headlines that you may find interesting.

1. TRADE DEFENSE: In a videoed conversation this week with Council on Foreign Relations President Michael Froman, Donald Trump's first term Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer shared his take on the current administration's trade agenda, sketching out the rationale for these policies.

2. TARIFF ILLUSION?: In an article published on CEPR's VoxEU site, geopolitics and economics professors Simon Evenett and Marc-Andreas Muendler examine the extent to which U.S. import tariffs could fund the government.

3. PARADISE LOST: Pacific archipelago Palau, the site of some brutal World War Two clashes, is once again on the frontline. Reuters correspondents Pete McKenzie and Hollie Adams show how China and the United States and its allies are preparing forces in an intensifying contest for control over the Asia-Pacific region.

4. TAX WEDGES: The annual OECD report on take-home pay shows that as inflation fell last year, the average worker's post-tax income rose in real terms in almost three quarters of the 38 countries surveyed after two years of declines for a majority of them.

5. ENDURING TAILWINDS: In an article for Project Syndicate, economist and professor Nouriel Roubini - once known as "Dr Doom" - takes a positive long-term view of the U.S. economy amid a blistering critique of the current administration. He argues that American private sector leadership in tech and other sectors will see it resume its 'exceptional' performance over the coming decade despite this year's policy shocks.

6. AI AND MINERALS: Reuters correspondent Ernest Scheyder shows how control of a U.S. government-created artificial intelligence program that aims to predict the supply and price of critical minerals has been transferred to a non-profit organization, helping miners and manufacturers strike supply deals.

7. RE-ARM, RE-GREEN: As Europe juggles defence and climate priorities, Bruegel Senior Fellow Simone Tagliapietra outlines seven converging interests between both agendas.

8. TRIPLE HEDGING: In another Project Syndicate article, economist and author Dambisa Moyo discusses how investors hedge against "worse case" scenarios of economic, financial and rule-of-law breakdowns, with the last of the three likely to require holding real, physical, portable assets.

9. RIGHT OFF: Reuters correspondents Anita Komuves, Andrew R.C. Marshall and Krisztina Than explain how U.S. tariffs have undermined hopes among Europe's far right leaders that Trump's presidency would usher in a golden era for them.

Chart of the day

It was a rollercoaster April for the so-called "Magnificent Seven" U.S. big tech megacap stocks - Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta and Tesla. Exchange-traded funds invested in the group plunged as much as 13% after April 2's tariff sweep only to regain all that ground by May 1. First-quarter earnings from three of the seven were greeted favorably by investors in the past week, though Apple and Amazon were snubbed again overnight. Despite the wild swings, the Mag 7 remain down 12% for the year so far. Excluding these huge stocks, the rest of S&P 500 is effectively back to where it started 2025.

Today's events to watch

* US April employment report (8:30EDT), March factory orders (10:00EDT)

* U.S. corporate earnings: Exxon, Chevron, Dupont De Nemours, Franklin Resources, T Rowe Price, Cigna, Apollo, Cboe

Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

(By Mike Dolan; Editing by Anna Szymanski and Joe Bavier)
We recently published a list of Billionaire Jim Simons RenTechs 10 Small-Cap Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH) stands against Billionaire Jim Simons RenTechs other small-cap stock picks with huge upside potential.

Jim Simons was (and still is even after his death in May 2024) one of the biggest names  if not the biggest  in the hedge fund space. He was a gifted mathematician and had a successful career in academia before making a bold pivot to finance in the late 70s.

In 1978, he founded Monemetrics (a currency trading firm) and Limroy (a hedge fund), which were collapsed into one entity in 1982 and renamed Renaissance Technologies Corporation. This entity had one major objective: to use quantitative, computer-driven models to exploit market inefficiencies. In other words, Simons and his team were committed to making investment decisions based on sophisticated algorithms.

Renaissance Technologies (RenTech) began as a hedge fund but later morphed into something bigger. It is now an investment management firm that operates several hedge funds. Its flagship offering is the Medallion Fund. The Medallion Fund is known for extraordinary returns. During the dot.com crash (early 2000s) and the financial crisis (2007-2011), Medallions returns were 56.6% and 74.6%, respectively. Following the first two years of operation, the lowest annual return was 31.5%.

READ ALSO: Billionaire Seth Klarmans 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential and Billionaire Andreas Halvorsens 10 Stock Picks With Huge Upside Potential.

The Medallion Funds track record in the market, and by extension RenTechs, made Simons a lot of money. At death, he was worth $31.4 billion and ranked among the top 100 richest people in the world. And, as Simons often said, all of the success he had in the market comes down to the love of mathematics. Accordingly, the Medallion Fund has been capable of extraordinary returns mostly because the investment team  led by Simons  leveraged mathematics.

The fund utilizes algorithm-based methods to identify patterns and leverage past data for investing decisions. That is why RenTech invested (and continues to invest) billions in intellectuals and professionals from fields like Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics. In one of his last interviews, he said: We hired statisticians, physicists, astronomers, mathematicians  the important thing was that they were very smart.

Jim Simons was a generational talent when it came to investing. He started an investment business and led to heights that others can only dream of. And because his legacy lives in RenTech, it makes sense to want to know what companies theyre invested in.
By Priyanka G

(Reuters) -Roku trimmed its annual revenue expectations and forecast second-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates on Thursday, due to economic uncertainty and tariff-related concerns, sending its shares down 4.9% in after-hours trading.

Roku faces tough competition from tech giants such as Amazon and Apple, which offer similar streaming devices: the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Apple TV, respectively.

This intensified competition continues to pressure Roku to defend its market share.

The company's devices segment  which includes Roku-branded TVs and streaming players  is projected to see a revenue decline of about 10% year-over-year.

Roku also said it is challenging to forecast tariff-related impacts in its devices segment.

"While there is more macro uncertainty than normal, we are providing our best outlook based on our current visibility and what we are observing in our business," the company said in a letter to shareholders.

The company expects net revenue of $4.55 billion for the full year, compared to its previous forecast of $4.61 billion. Analysts, on average, expect $4.57 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

However, quarterly revenue from Roku's platform segment  its largest business, which generates income from advertising sales and subscriptions  grew 17% to $881 million.

"Despite global headwinds, we expect Roku to achieve positive operating income by 2026, supported by its strong market position," said Kenneth Leon, director of equity research at CFRA.

Separately, Roku said on Thursday it has agreed to acquire Frndly TV  a subscription streaming service offering live TV, on-demand video and cloud-based DVR  for $185 million in cash.

"This acquisition supports our focus on growing platform revenue and Roku-billed subscriptions," said Roku CEO Anthony Wood.

It expects revenue of $1.07 billion for the second quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate of $1.09 billion. However, Roku's first-quarter revenue of $1.02 billion was slightly above estimates of $1.01 billion.

(Reporting by Priyanka.G in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
We recently published an article titled Billionaire Ken Fisher's 10 Technology Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) stands against the other technology stocks.

Technology stocks have faced heightened volatility in 2025, with market sentiment swinging sharply in response to President Donald Trumps aggressive trade policies. On April 3, tech shares endured their worst day since the COVID-19 pandemic as Trump announced sweeping tariffs on all imported goods, including a 34% duty on Chinese imports, exacerbating fears of a global trade war. An iPhone maker led the steep declines among the "Magnificent Seven," plummeting over 9% due to its reliance on Chinese manufacturing. Other tech giants also fell between 8% and 9%, while semiconductor and PC companies recorded double-digit losses. The tech-heavy NASDAQ tumbled 6%, marking its worst session over five years and deepening its year-to-date loss to more than 14%.

Despite the recent turmoil, broader optimism about technology and growth stocks remains underpinned by longer-term trends. Notably, Ken Fisher of Fisher Asset Management has emphasized that while mega-cap tech firms often face headwinds, they tend to outperform during bullish cycles and reflect broader market confidence. He argues that 2024s rally was more expansive than many recognize, with tech and communication services stocks leading growth across the board. While tech stocks often decline more in bearish periods, their historical track record of resilience and growth during recoveries continues to make them attractive for long-term investors. This underscores why, even amid significant volatility, tech stocks retain strategic value for portfolios, particularly when the market regains momentum.

Signs of a potential rebound appeared later in April, as major indexes recovered modestly on April 24, with tech shares helping lead the rally. Investors responded positively to reports that the U.S. and China had resumed trade talks, despite earlier denials from Beijing. Trumps announcement that some tariffs might be rolled back helped ease immediate fears, although uncertainty remains high. Analysts noted that the recent tech selloff had left the market oversold, setting the stage for short-term gains. However, mixed earnings reports and rising costs across industries continue to fuel caution, reinforcing the unpredictable nature of trade policys impact on tech and broader equity markets.

Our Methodology

For this article, we scanned Fisher Asset Managements Q4 2024 13F filings to identify billionaire Ken Fisher's technology stock picks with the highest upside potential. We compiled the tech equities with upside potential higher than 27% at the time of writing this article and discussed why they stood out as sound potential investments. Finally, we ranked the stocks based on the ascending order of their upside potential. To assist readers with more context, we mentioned the hedge fund sentiment around each stock using data from 1,009 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the fourth quarter of 2024.
By Shadia Nasralla

LONDON (Reuters) -Shell exceeded analyst expectations on Friday, reporting a 28% drop in first-quarter net profit to $5.58 billion, while holding steady the pace of its share buyback programme despite falling oil prices and lower refining margins.

That contrasts with rival BP that cut its buybacks this year to try to strengthen its balance sheet and win back investor confidence.

"The main (opportunity) for me is, at the moment, the ability to buy back my shares," finance chief Sinead Gorman said in a call.

Shell said it would buy back shares worth $3.5 billion over the next three months, the 14th consecutive quarter of a buyback programme of at least $3 billion.

Its gearing, a debt-to-equity ratio, of 18.7% is lower than the level of 25.7% at BP, whose shares have lost a third over the last 12 months, versus a 13% drop for Shell.

When asked about a possible takeover bid for BP, whose market capitalisation is less than half of Shell's, Chief Executive Wael Sawan told the Financial Times he would rather buy back more Shell stock. A Shell spokesperson confirmed the comments.

Shell's adjusted earnings, its definition of net profit, reached $5.58 billion in the first quarter, above an average forecast of $4.96 billion in a company-provided analyst poll, but below $7.73 billion a year ago.

Shell's shares were up 2.2% by 1218 GMT, outperforming a broader index of energy companies that rose 0.9%.

Its indicative refining margin stood at $6.2 per barrel, up from $5.5 per barrel at the end of last year, but down from $12 per barrel a year ago, reflecting a downturn across the industry.

Global benchmark Brent crude prices averaged around $75 a barrel during the January-March quarter, compared with around $87 a year earlier. Brent traded around $62 on Friday.

Shell has a dividend breakeven point of $40 a barrel and has promised to continue buying back shares even if the oil price falls to $50 a barrel.

At a strategy update in March, Shell said it would return more cash to shareholders on expectations of higher liquefied natural gas sales, trimmed its investments through 2028 and raised the prospect of reviewing its chemicals business.

When asked about closing or selling some of those assets, Gorman said the group had given itself until the end of the decade to decide.

Shell on Friday reiterated its reduced annual investment budget of $20-$22 billion for this year.

Shell said its gas trading business was in line with the previous quarter despite a hit from expiring hedging contracts.

That contrasts with BP, which said that a weak result in its gas trading business weighed on its first-quarter results that missed expectations.
In an economy that feels unsteady, making money reliably might feel more important than ever  but employees are worried their jobs are unsteady.

According to a recent report from MyPerfectResume, 81% of American employees are concerned about losing their jobs this year, and 76% believe that layoffs will go up in 2025. Employees are hesitant to switch jobs, as well, a trend the research noted is known as The Great Stay.

Read Next: 9 Things the Middle Class Should Consider Downsizing To Save on Monthly Expenses

Try This: The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing

With 92% of respondents mentioning recession fears in 2025, its understandable why many may want to remain in their current roles. This means that employees may choose to stick with a stable job that theyre confident they wont be laid off from over accepting a higher-paying job that could be less stable in a possible recession.

Heres a look at the idea of sticking with a stable job compared to pursuing a higher paycheck as concerns over a recession remain.

The Case for a Stable Job

There are two major benefits to sticking with a stable job that youre confident you wont get laid off from.

Consider This: Heres How To Use AI To Quickly Start a Side Gig, According to Codie Sanchez

Stability Comes With a Sense of Security

Kraig Kleeman, an accomplished entrepreneur and founder of The New Workforce, noted that job stability comes with an emotional payoff.

He added, In unpredictable times, that often outweighs the financial bump of a higher, yet unstable, paycheck. Especially when youre juggling a mortgage, caring for a family or simply trying to get a decent nights sleep, predictability holds real worth.

If you have significant expenses and a family to support, you may not want to take on unnecessary risks, especially as fears of a recession loom.

For some individuals, stability is much more important than increased upside, said Robert R. Johnson, Ph.D., CFA, CAIA, professor of finance at Heider College of Business at Creighton University. The stable job may be the wiser move if youre providing for others, managing substantial debt or just prioritizing peace of mind.

A reliable income will help you gain control of your finances and allow you to make long-term plans, since you dont have to stress about a possible job loss during a recession. When the economy falls into a recession, it can be challenging to recover, especially if your industry is particularly sensitive to economic fluctuations.

A Stable Job Will Make Financial Planning Easier

Its better to have a stable job making less than a better-paying job with less stability, said Melanie Musson, a finance expert with Clearsurance. If your income is lower, you can live a more modest lifestyle, but you can still enjoy time with your friends and family, have vacations and save for your future.
The Mining Association of British Columbias (MABC) independent 2025 economic impact study has highlighted 27 advanced-stage mining projects in British Columbia (BC) that could collectively inject more than C$90bn into the economy amid global instability and fiscal challenges.

The construction of these 27 projects could represent an investment of more than C$41bn, which is in turn expected to create thousands of jobs, generating C$27bn in labour income and contributing more than C$12bn in tax revenues.

Furthermore, the procurement of goods and services from local suppliers is estimated to reach C$20bn.

MABC president and CEO Michael Goehring said: BC has the minerals, precious metals and steelmaking coal the world needs. Mining has the potential to drive a new wave of economic growth  creating jobs, strengthening local and First Nations communities, and generating revenues for government services.

The operation of these mines over the coming decades is projected to contribute up to C$984bn in economic activity.

BC's mining industry is recognised for its low carbon footprint and as a leading supplier of responsibly produced materials crucial for modern technologies, including electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines, says MABC.

Mansfield Consulting conducted the study, assessing the impact of 18 critical mineral projects, six precious metal projects and three steelmaking coal projects, which are in advanced stages of development.

Data for the study was gathered through interviews, technical and feasibility studies, and economic assessments published by the proponents and accessible on the SEDAR (System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval) website.

The study builds upon previous analysis from 2024, which evaluated the impact of 17 proposed critical mineral mines.

Goehring added: The responsible development of BCs critical minerals, precious metals and steelmaking coal resources can secure BCs economic future, resiliency and long-term prosperity. It is time to get more mines built.

The mining sector in BC supports more than 35,000 jobs and nearly 4,000 businesses, including those owned by First Nations. It accounts for $18bn in annual economic activity and represents nearly 30% of the province's goods exports.

In February 2025, the Government of BC fast-tracked 18 mining and energy projects with an estimated value of C$20bn.

"Study reveals $65.1bn activity from 27 mining projects in BC, Canada" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors reported a 6.15% decline in total sales, including both domestic and international markets, with 72,753 units sold in April 2025 compared to 77,521 units in April 2024.

This decline includes a 7% drop in domestic sales, which fell to 70,963 units in April 2025 from 76,399 units in the same month of the previous year.

Commercial vehicle sales also saw an 8% decline, with 27,221 units sold in April 2025 compared to 29,538 units in April 2024.

Medium and heavy intermediate commercial vehicles (MH & ICV) domestic sales decreased by 4.94% to 12,093 units in April 2025 down from 12,722 units in April 2024.

Total MH & ICV sales for both domestic and international markets fell by 3.45% to 12,760 units in April 2025 from 13,218 units in the same period previous year.

Passenger vehicle sales, including electric vehicles, dropped by 5% to 45,532 units in April 2025, down from 47,983 units in April 2024.

In, March, Tata Motors begun trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks in India, aimed at long-haul transportation.

This initiative aligns with India's goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

Tata Motors also launched a vehicle scrapping facility (RVSF) in Guwahati, Assam, in February 2025.

The facility, named Re.Wi.Re  Recycle with Respect, is capable of dismantling up to 15,000 end-of-life vehicles annually through eco-friendly processes.

Operated by Tata Motors partner Axom Platinum Scrappers, it handles scrapping for both passenger and commercial vehicles from various brands.

This marks the seventh such facility in India, joining others in cities like Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, and Pune.

"Tata Motors vehicle sales decline by 6.15% to 72,753 units" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




By Helen Reid

LONDON (Reuters) -With the end of a U.S. tariff exemption for small parcels on Friday, some retailers have stopped selling to customers in the United States while others are seeking temporary workarounds in the hope the tariff rate may be reduced.

The removal of "de minimis" - duty-free treatment of e-commerce packages worth less than $800 - for products originating from China and Hong Kong exposes those goods to tariffs of 145% on most Chinese goods following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision last month. The move upended global trade and triggered retaliation from Beijing.

British beauty products retailer Space NK has paused e-commerce orders and shipping to the United States "to avoid incorrect or additional costs being applied to our customers' orders", the company said in a notice on Wednesday.

It is not alone. Understance, a Vancouver-based company that sells bras and underwear manufactured in China, told customers in an Instagram post that it would no longer ship to the United States due to the tariffs, saying it will resume once there is clarity.

"We're going from zero to 145%, which is really untenable for companies and untenable for customers," said Cindy Allen, CEO of Trade Force Multiplier, a global trade consultancy.

"I've seen a lot of small to medium-sized businesses just choose to exit the market altogether," she added.

PRICE HIKES UNDERWAY

Players willing to continue to access the U.S. market are forced to hike their price tags.

Oh Polly, a British clothing retailer, has increased prices in the U.S. by 20% compared to its other markets, and may have to consider further price increases because of the higher tariffs, said managing director Mike Branney.

Singapore-based fast-fashion giant Shein sought to reassure customers in a post on its U.S. Instagram account on Thursday, saying: "Some products may be priced differently than before, but the majority of our collections remain as affordable as ever." Shein sells clothes mostly manufactured in China, and the U.S. is its biggest market.

Temu, the international arm of Chinese e-commerce giant PDD Holdings, prominently featured products already in U.S. warehouses on its website, labelled 'Local', and a pop-up informed customers there would be no import charges for local warehouse items.

"All sales in the U.S. are now handled by locally based sellers, with orders fulfilled from within the country," Temu said in a statement, adding that its pricing for U.S. customers "remains unchanged".
BOSTON (AP)  Tariffs weren't on the agenda of this week's Robotics Summit, where thousands of tech industry workers mingled with humanoid and other robot varieties and talked about how to build and sell a new generation of increasingly autonomous machines.

Not on the official agenda, at least.

Jump up to the microphones, said keynote speaker Aaron Saunders, chief technology officer of Boston Dynamics, inviting a standing-room-only crowd to ask him questions. "And Im the CTO, so dont ask me about tariffs."

The crowd laughed and complied. But as they streamed onto the show floor at Boston's convention center, greeted by a remote-controlled humanoid made by Chinese company Unitree, it was hard to ignore the shadow of President Donald Trump's far-reaching global tariffs and retaliatory measures from Trump's biggest target, China.

Tariffs are the No. 1 topic that were discussing in the hallways and at the water cooler with people that Ive known for a long time, said event organizer Steve Crowe, chair of the annual Robotics Summit & Expo. I think its definitely top of mind, because theres so much uncertainty about what is going to come.

That concern is rooted in a robot's complex anatomy of motors and actuators to move their limbs, computers to power their artificial intelligence, and sensing devices to help them react to their surroundings. Sensors, semiconductors, batteries and rare earth magnets are among the array of components most sensitive to global trade disputes.

Tesla CEO and billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk warned investors last week that China's countermeasures restricting shipments of rare earth magnets will delay Tesla's development of its Optimus humanoid robots.

At the summit on Wednesday and Thursday, some humanoid makers were looking at a potential bright side to the geopolitical shifts as American businesses look harder for domestic supplies of parts and the development of U.S.-based robots that can automate factories and warehouses.

Its added some inconveniences to our own supply chain. But its also opened up opportunities, said Pras Velagapudi, chief technology officer at Oregon-based Agility Robotics, in an interview. The company is starting to deploy its humanoid robot, called Digit, at a U.S. plant run by German manufacturer Schaeffler, a maker of ball bearings and other components key to the auto industry.

Al Makke, a director of engineering for Schaeffler's chassis systems, said tariffs could push many companies toward onshoring production of a variety of items in the U.S.
Investors must understand that such outperformance is not just a short-term phenomenon, as historical data indicate that growth stocks have been consistent deliverers of massive returns over a longer period. From 2009 onward, growth stocks have dominated many investors portfolios, except for a short period in 2022 when interest rate hikes affected their performance. According to CNBC, this long-term trend adds value to the investment strategy of focusing on growth.

The forefront of this resurgence is that many growth stocks, including small caps, have outperformed their value counterparts in 2023. It does not undermine the value equities but projects the current preferences of the market for companies with significant growth prospects. Akre Capitals selections are in a perfect position to capitalize on this growing trend.

The performance of the market indices in the recent week suggests renewed investor confidence in equities. As per a report by the Wall Street Journal, this performance reflects optimism despite the economic data releases and corporate earnings reports showing adverse growth. Such market movements stress the significance of adopting a strategy when selecting a stock. The most often used and favored strategy involves letting yourself be guided by experienced investors like Akre.

The current market environment of the U.S. has volatility as its new norm, and prudent investors are seeking refuge in the guidance of seasoned experts. Among these experts is Charles Akre, the founder of Akre Capital Management . Charles Akre has curated a list of stocks poised for notable appreciation using his disciplined investment approach. He stepped away from PM role in 2020, however, even today Akre Capital's 9 of the top 10 stock holdings were initiated before 2020. Only one of the top 10 stocks was picked by John Neff who is in charge of portfolio management at Akre Capital. Today, we will be looking at 10 of the stocks picked by Charles Akre and John Neff, but we will also take a look at their upside potential. Before we dive into our picks, it is necessary to understand the market context that makes these stocks more attractive.

We recently published an article titled Charles Akre's and John Neff's 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) stands against the other stocks with huge upside potential according to Charles Akre and John Neff.

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Additionally, the need to identify high-quality growth stocks is further emphasized with the market gains concentrated on a select group of mega-cap stocks. For instance, the Magnificent Seven has a collective market value of $11.5 trillion. Akre Capitals investment philosophy underpins this principle of making portfolio decisions by considering high-quality growth stocks.

In this context, the ten picks we have brought you here from Akre Capitals portfolio are not just random selections but a list that is put together after going through the companys fundamentals and long-term growth potential with a keen eye for details. Akre Capitals approach remarkably aligns with the current market environment, where discerning investors tend to overcome market challenges by strengthening their portfolios using growth-oriented companies.

Before we take a look at our top picks, it is imperative for investors to appreciate the strategic considerations that helped us in putting together our list. Our choices are not about merely capitalizing on current market trends. We ensured that our list results from a deep understanding of the factors driving sustainable growth.

Our Methodology

We compiled our list of Akre Capital's 10 stock picks with huge upside potential by following a few criteria. All the stocks in our list are part of Akre Capitals portfolio. Following this crucial criterion, we looked for stocks with a high percentage holding in the portfolio. This is to ensure that the article covers the top picks from renowned investors. Then, we looked at the upside potential of the stocks since they represent the future appreciation value of the investors capital. We have used this upside potential to rank our picks as well. All the data in the article was taken from financial databases and analyst reports, with all information updated as of April 26, 2025.

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 newsletter's 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 Visa Inc. (V) the Best Stock to Buy and Hold for 20 Years?

A close-up of a modern payments terminal with a pile of credit cards on the side.

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)

% holding in portfolio: 8.94%

Upside Potential: 15.76%

A California-based company, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is renowned as a global digital payment technology leader. The company focuses on facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments across more than 200 countries. Its portfolio includes credit, debit, and prepaid card processing, with extensive risk management systems and scalable infrastructure. Though Mastercard and American Express put up tough competition, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) benefits from a strong brand network and data-rich analytics capabilities. It is also known for its strategic contactless and cross-border payment innovation investments.

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) forms 8.94% of holdings in Akre Capitals portfolio, representing a strong faith in the long-term wealth-building potential of the company. Its current growth also suggests strong capabilities, with the company having generated a net revenue of $9.5 billion in Q1 2025, reaching a year-over-year increase of 10%. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) also saw positive international growth, with its cross-border volume, excluding intra-Europe, experiencing an increase of 16% in constant dollars. Having successfully renewed and expanded various key partnerships worldwide, the company aims to bring generative AI into the payment environment and achieve revenue growth of $39.6 billion in 2025.

Bolstered by a 15.76% upside, Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) attracts investors focused on restructuring their portfolio with high-growth potential equities with the added value of Akres confidence.

Overall V ranks 5th on our list of Charles Akre's and John Neff's stock picks with huge upside potential. While we acknowledge the potential of V as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. 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 V but 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 Invest In According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
(Reuters) -Volkswagen on Friday said its first-quarter operating profit for the core brand group, which includes its best-selling VW brand, declined by 46.3%, impacted by EU carbon provisions and write-downs on inventory related to U.S. tariffs.

The operating profit for the core brand group fell to 1.12 billion euros ($1.27 billion) from 2.08 billion a year ago, while its VW passenger car unit saw an 84.9% drop to 112 million euros. The core brand also includes Skoda, Seat and Cupra.

In April, Volkswagen said it included a 600-million-euro provision for potential fines for missing European carbon emissions targets in its first-quarter result.

However, if a new proposal is approved by the European Parliament, automakers may benefit for three years, instead of one, to boost sales of low emission vehicles and meet the EU emissions targets for cars and vans.

($1 = 0.8820 euros)

(Reporting by Amir Orusov, editing by Thomas Seythal)
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said Saturday that he wants to step down as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year. The revelation came as a surprise because the 94-year-old had previously said he did not plan to retire.

Buffett, one of the world's richest people and most accomplished investors, took control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965 when it was a textiles manufacturer. He turned the company into a conglomerate by finding other businesses and stocks to buy that were selling for less than they were worth.

His success made him a Wall Street icon. It also earned him the nickname Oracle of Omaha, a reference to the Nebraska city where Buffett was born and chose to live and work.

Here are some of his best and worst investments over the years:

Buffetts Best

 National Indemnity and National Fire & Marine: Purchased in 1967, the company was one of Buffetts first insurance investments. Insurance float  the premium money insurers can invest between the time when policies are bought and when claims are made  provided the capital for many of Berkshires investments over the years and helped fuel the companys growth. Berkshires insurance division has grown to include Geico, General Reinsurance and several other insurers. The float totaled $173 billion at the end of the first quarter.

 Buying blocks of stock in American Express, Coca-Cola Co. and Bank of America at times when the companies were out of favor because of scandals or market conditions. Collectively, the shares are worth over $100 billion more than what Buffett paid for them, and that doesnt count all the dividends he has collected over the years.

 Apple: Buffett long said that he didnt understand tech companies well enough to value them and pick the long-term winners, but he started buying Apple shares in 2016. He later explained that he bought more than $31 billion worth because he understood the iPhone maker as a consumer products company with extremely loyal customers. The value of his investment grew to more than $174 billion before Buffett started selling Berkshire Hathaway's shares.

 BYD: On the advice of his late investing partner Charlie Munger, Buffett bet big on the genius of BYD founder Wang Chanfu in 2008 with a $232 million investment in the Chinese electric vehicle maker. The value of that stake soared to more than $9 billion before Buffett began selling it off. Berkshires remaining stake is still worth about $1.8 billion.

 Sees Candy: Buffett repeatedly pointed to his 1972 purchase as a turning point in his career. Buffett said Munger persuaded him that it made sense to buy great businesses at good prices as long as they had enduring competitive advantages. Previously, Buffett had primarily invested in companies of any quality as long as they were selling for less than he thought they were worth. Berkshire paid $25 million for Sees and recorded pretax earnings of $1.65 billion from the candy company through 2011. The amount continued to grow but Buffett didnt routinely highlight it.
With billionaire Warren Buffett stepping down from his role as chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025, he'll relinquish control of a company he's led for six decades.

Buffett, 94, made the announcement during Berkshire's annual meeting on May 3, adding that he'll hand over the reins to vice chairman Greg Abel.

"I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive of the company at year end," Buffett said at the Saturday meeting. Although he won't be a part of the holding company's day-to-day operations, Buffett said he has "zero" intention of selling any of his Berkshire stock.

After springing the announcement he told CNBC's Becky Quick "he still plans to go into the office every day."

Buffett began buying shares of Berkshire in 1962, which led to him acquiring a majority stake and eventually taking control of the once-failing textile company, according to CNBC's bio of the billionaire.

Although the announcement came as a surprise, even to Abel, who Buffett said had no prior knowledge of his plans, the businessman and investor noted that his children are aware of his decision.

Here is what to know about Buffett following the news of his soon-to-be departure.

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett attends the Berkshire Hathaway Inc annual shareholders' meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3, 2024.

Warren Buffett: The Oracle of Omaha, a life in photos

Who is Warren Buffett?

Renowned as an immensely successful investor with an estimated real time net worth of more than $160 billion  nicknamed "the Oracle of Omaha"  Buffett has come a long way from growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, with his two siblings, mother and father, a former congressman, according to his CNBC bio.

Buffett's father, Howard Buffett, was in the investment business and served on the Omaha school board before being elected to Congress in 1942 as a Republican, the bio reads.

It didn't take long for Buffett to follow in his father's footsteps because by age 11, he had already purchased his first stock, three shares of Cities Service preferred at $38 per share. When the stock plunged and then increased to $40, Buffett sold his holdings, only to later see it surge, according to the CNBC bio.

Since then, Buffett applied the lessons learned from his first investment, his bachelors in business administration from the University of Nebraska and the teachings of value-investing guru Benjamin Graham to create an empire.

"Warren Buffetts enormous financial success, along with his middle-American common sense, modest lifestyle and self-deprecating sense of humor, have helped make him one of the worlds most famous, and admired, billionaires," his CNBC bio reads.

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett walks through the exhibit hall as shareholders gather to hear from the billionaire investor at Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., May 4, 2019.

How did Warren Buffett become a billionaire?

Buffett has primarily amassed his fortune through Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio of investments, which includes 44 different publicly traded stocks and dozens of private companies and nonmarketable securities, The Motley Fool, a Virginia-based private financial and investing advice company, reported in March.

Throughout his financial career, Buffett and his late Berkshire business partner, Charlie Munger, invested in a multiplicity of businesses and ventures including Coca-Cola, Heinz ketchup, IBM computers, Dairy Queen, Duracell, insurance companies, media companies, railroads and real estate, according to his CNBC bio.

While Buffett's and Berkshire's portfolio can be considered diversified, of the roughly $283 billion the company currently holds in publicly traded equities, 47% of it is centered around three stocks, according to The Motley Fool. Apple (22.7%), American Express (14.3%) and Bank of America (10.1%) are all big winners for Berkshire and are being heavily invested in by the holding company.

In 2024, Berkshire reached a $1 trillion market value, making it the first U.S. company outside of tech to do so.

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett attends a news conference after the opening ceremony of Tungaloy Corp's new plant in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture on November 21, 2011.

Did Warren Buffett pledge to donate 99% of his fortune?

In 2010, Buffett and fellow billionaire Bill Gates founded The Giving Pledge to encourage wealthy people to donate half their net worth to charity. Following the creation of the campaign, Buffett promised to pledge 99% of his fortune to philanthropy.

Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks (Berkshire Hathaway stock certificates) on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others," Buffett said, per The Giving Pledge's website.

Buffett attributed his wealth to "a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest," according to his bio on the campaign's website.

"My luck was accentuated by my living in a market system that sometimes produces distorted results, though overall it serves our country well," Buffett said, per the bio. "Ive worked in an economy that rewards someone who saves the lives of others on a battlefield with a medal, rewards a great teacher with thank-you notes from parents, but rewards those who can detect the mispricing of securities with sums reaching into the billions. In short, fates distribution of long straws is wildly capricious."

What will Warren Buffett do next?

It is unclear what Buffett will do next, but it may include enjoying time with his family and his wife of nearly 20 years, Astrid Menks. The two met following Buffett's separation from his previous wife, Susie Thompson.

"She takes care of me, it's terrific," Buffett told interviewer Charlie Rose about his wife in 2007. "You couldn't find a better person in the world."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about Warren Buffett, the exiting Berkshire Hathaway CEO
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter.

More than half of the business leaders who laid off workers because of artificial intelligence had regrets, while a similar share of employees said the technology had led to errors in their work.

Heres a look at some of the numbers making headlines in the HR world.

By the numbers

12 times

The likelihood that candidates who received job offers were to be described as having a great personality than those who were rejected, according to a report by Textio.

35%

The percentage of employees in March who said theyre worried about layoffs, up from 30% in February, according to a survey by Perceptyx.

55%

The percentage of business leaders who have laid off employees as a result of deploying AI and said they made the wrong decision about it, according to a survey by Orgvue.

57%

The percentage of employees who have admitted to making mistakes at work because of AI errors, according to a KPMG study.

75%

The percentage of workers who said employers should offer micro-retirement policies, such as unpaid sabbaticals or extended paid time off, according to a report by SideHustles.com.

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Key Points

Booz Allen Hamilton and other government contractors got a lift as expectations around government spending cuts fell.

The company is not out of the woods yet, but for long-term focused investors, this could be an opportunity.

Defense contractors, and in particular the specialists that run information technology (IT) systems for the federal government, have been under pressure as the effort known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) looks for ways to cut costs.

In April, DOGE began to walk back some of its initial goals, and the defense stocks moved in the other direction. Shares of Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH), a top IT specialist, gained 14.8% for the month, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, as investor concerns about cuts began to ease.

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Questions about contracts

In theory, DOGE could be either a revenue drain or a windfall for IT specialists like Booz Allen Hamilton. On one hand, the government spends a lot of money on contractor services, and DOGE is looking for contracts to cut.

However, a lot of the business these companies do today involves work that at one time would have been done by full-time government employees. As agencies streamline, it arguably could create more opportunities for companies like Booz Allen Hamilton.

Booz shares were down about 20% for the year heading into April due largely to this uncertainty. But the stock jumped on April 2 after reports surfaced that DOGE head Elon Musk would soon be returning to his job as CEO of Tesla. Musk is still on the job in Washington but announced during Tesla's late-April earnings call that he would soon be scaling back his government work.

There has also been a dialing back of expectations for DOGE from an initial target of about $2 trillion in annualized savings to a more modest $150 billion goal. While some of that total is still likely to come at the expense of Booz Allen Hamilton and other contractors, the smaller number is much more manageable when spread over a broad contractor base.

Is Booz Allen Hamilton stock a buy?

The truth for these companies is likely somewhere in the middle: Efforts to streamline government will both create opportunities and lead to contract cancellations. The impact could be good or bad in the near term, but over time, the growth trajectories of these businesses will be sustained.

Booz Allen, thanks to its large share of classified defense and intelligence contracts, which tend to be more sticky than basic contracts, is probably more insulated than most from massive losses.
Key Points

Huntington Ingalls has been a laggard for years, weighed down by low-margin contracts.

Washington is increasingly focused on shipbuilding, which should create opportunities for the company in the years to come.

The U.S. shipbuilding industry has been in a lull since the height of the pandemic, with companies tied to pre-COVID contracts that are not nearly as profitable now.

But the budget winds in Washington appear to be shifting, and Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) is likely to be one of the primary beneficiaries if they do. Shares of Huntington Ingalls traded up 12.9% in April, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, as investors begin to climb on board for what they believe will be a profitable voyage.

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Full steam ahead

Huntington Ingalls has long been considered one of the most vulnerable among the largest defense contractors. The company is one of the two primary shipbuilders for the U.S. Navy, but unlike its vertically integrated peers, Huntington relies on ships for nearly all its revenue.

The company's shares took a plunge in February after missing earnings expectations. But investors have been slowly warming to the shares as the Washington budget process heats up.

In early April, Navy Secretary John Phelan said domestic shipyards and shipbuilding are "a big, big priority for the president," and the Navy upped its long-term goal for fleet size. Late in the month, Huntington Ingalls and General Dynamics were awarded massive contracts to construct Virginia-class submarines, reinforcing the boats as a top U.S. government priority.

Is Huntington Ingalls stock a buy?

The good news continued into the first day of May, with Huntington Ingalls announcing first-quarter results that topped analyst expectations thanks to shipbuilding margins that came in 90 basis points ahead of expectations. The company also reiterated full-year guidance, though second-quarter projections are a bit below what analysts had expected.

Huntington Ingalls appears to have wind in its "sales" for the first time in years, and investors have every reason to be excited about the prospects. Trading at just 16 times earnings, Huntington Ingalls has the potential to make up ground in the quarters to come against other defense primes like General Dynamics (18.9 times earnings) and Lockheed Martin (20.7 times earnings).

But as the saying goes, it takes time to turn a battleship. Investors buying in now need to be aware that these contracts can take years to play out, and funding trickles in as milestones are met. Even if the company does even better than expected when the new budget is finalized, some of those funds will only reach Huntington Ingalls' bottom line toward the end of the decade.
Q1 growth offers little cheer as tariffs, uncertainty weigh on eurozone

Xinhua) 15:54, May 01, 2025

BRUSSELS, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The eurozone economy expanded by 0.4 percent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, surpassing analysts' expectations, according to a flash estimate by Eurostat on Wednesday.

This growth was partly driven by a surge in exports to the United States ahead of anticipated tariffs. However, economists warn that this boost may be short-lived due to rising U.S. trade barriers, weak domestic demand and delayed fiscal stimulus.

EXPORT SURGE FUELS GROWTH

The eurozone's GDP grew by 1.2 percent in Q1 from a year earlier on a seasonally adjusted annual basis. The broader European Union economy also increased by 1.4 percent, maintaining the same pace as the prior quarter.

Some economists attributed the better-than-expected economic growth to a surge in exports to the United States ahead of the higher tariffs.

Germany, the EU's largest economy, saw a 0.2 percent uptick in Q1, partly due to the U.S. tariff policy, said Timo Wollmershauser, deputy director for macroeconomics and surveys at Germany's ifo Institute.

The tightened trade measures prompted advance purchases of German goods, in turn supporting exports and industrial production, Wollmershauser added.

Ireland experienced a notable 3.2 percent GDP increase, likely influenced significantly by front-loading of exports ahead of U.S. tariffs, said Franziska Palmas, senior Europe economist at Capital Economics.

However, Palmas added that beyond Ireland, the impact of front-running U.S. tariffs appeared limited. Goods exports declined in both France and Spain during the same period, while Italy's official GDP release also indicated a drop in net exports.

UNCERTAIN OUTLOOK

Economists cautioned that despite Q1's GDP growth, the data is "already ancient history" and offers little guidance for the economy's trajectory.

According to consulting firm Trading Economics, economic momentum is expected to weaken in the coming months. The rollout of new U.S. tariffs is likely to weigh on EU exports, while elevated uncertainty could dampen both investment activity and household consumption.

In response to these challenges, many European governments are introducing fiscal measures to stabilize growth. Germany, for instance, has amended its Basic Law to allow for higher levels of public borrowing. An expected 500 billion-euro (566 billion-U.S. dollar) fund, spearheaded by the incoming government, aims to address the country's persistent infrastructure deficits and help spur economic recovery.

Palmas noted that any boost from Germany's fiscal stimulus is unlikely to materialize before late in the year. She projected that U.S. tariffs could shave around 0.2 percentage points off eurozone GDP growth in the next six months.

Palmas also believed the recent nationwide blackout in Spain could cut as much as 0.4 percentage points from the country's GDP growth in Q2. Her forecast shows eurozone GDP stagnating in Q2 and expanding by just 0.1 percent in Q3.

Looking ahead to the full year, Peter Vanden Houte, chief economist for the Eurozone at ING, projected that eurozone GDP growth in 2025 is likely to reach just 0.7 percent at best -- roughly in line with 2024.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Kou Jie)
STATEMENT ON THE RECENT TERROR ATTACK ON TOURISTS IN THE KASHMIR REGION

We stand with the world in condemning in the strongest terms the recent terror attack on tourists in the resort town of Pahalgam in the Kashmir region and in demanding justice and accountability for this unconscionable assault on innocent civilians.

We join India and the Filipino-Indian community in commiserating with the families of those who lost their loved ones in this brutal attack as they mourn the lives of 26 people shot dead by terrorists. Our thoughts are with them and to those who survived this mass murder.

As investigation is underway, let calm and peace prevail to de-escalate the tension in that region and allow the wheels of justice run their course.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero

03 May 2025
Key Points

A media report stated that the company could make a play for a tasty asset.

So far, however, this is just speculation.

Speculation about a niche technology company possibly changing hands pushed up Oracle's (NYSE: ORCL) stock price on Thursday. The database king was mentioned by more than one speculating party as a potential buyer of the company, which has posted some impressive top-line growth numbers in its time.

Oracle shares ended the day's trading session up by over 3%, comparing quite favorably to the S&P 500 index's 0.6% bump higher.

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Order up?

After market hours Wednesday, Bloomberg published an article stating that restaurant software specialist Olo (NYSE: OLO) is considering a potential sale.

Citing unidentified "people familiar with the matter," the financial news agency said that Olo management is working with a financial advisor to help it ascertain interest from prospective buyers. They said Oracle could be one of these, as could Olo's rival restaurant tech solutions provider, Toast.

The article's sources stressed that the situation is at an early stage and might not result in Olo chasing a deal. The company has not yet officially commented on the article, nor has Oracle or Toast.

A billion-dollar-plus price tag

Oracle was surely mentioned as a potential suitor because the tech sector mainstay has been here before -- Bloomberg pointed out that in 2014, it purchased Micros Systems, a developer of solutions for the restaurant and retail industries, for $5.3 billion.

Additionally, Oracle has deep pockets, and while Olo doesn't have a monster market cap ($1.2 billion), it might be too costly for a would-be acquirer that lacks sufficient financial resources.

Of course, none of this has been officially acknowledged by the companies mentioned in the article, so investors shouldn't trade any based on speculation. This could develop into a very interesting story, however, so it's worth tracking for any Oracle or Toast investor (and Olo shareholder, of course).

Should you invest $1,000 in Oracle right now?

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Global broking and advisory company WTW has acquired credit insurance operator CFS International for an undisclosed sum.

The company will be integrated into Willis, a WTW business.

This purchase is part of WTW's strategy to invest in trade credit business and increase its footprint on the US West Coast.

Set up in 1990, CFS focuses on offering trade credit insurance coverage to global companies.

WTW Risk & Broking business head of corporate mergers & acquisitions Scott Burnett said: The acquisition of CFS is our second in as many months. The first, Global Commercial Credit, expanded our trade credit footprint in the Midwest, while CFS enhances our coverage and service for clients and prospects on the West Coast.

CFS aligns with our focus on specialised industries, expanding our resources and services nationwide. This deal strengthens our position as a leading trade credit provider and demonstrates WTWs strategic investments to optimise our global portfolio and pursue high-growth broking businesses.

CFS president Ralph Clumeck stated: This world-class organisation is a perfect strategic fit for our clients as the transition will provide them with broader access to the markets, a wider range of products and solutions, and the strength of one of the industrys most respected names.

As I step away from the business, I do so with confidence and gratitude, knowing that our clients are in excellent hands. Bridget Clumeck is excited to lead this next chapter, and she will continue to provide the exceptional service and support our clients have come to expect.

This move follows WTW's acquisition of Michigan-based Global Commercial Credit (GCC) last month, which is also integrated into Willis.

GCC also offers trade credit, along with political risk insurance and credit information services.

"WTW expands trade credit services with CFS International purchase " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




For years, people have debated why there aren't enough skilled workers to fill all the open trade jobs in the U.S. A Reddit thread this week on r/jobs asked a simple question: Is the skilled labor shortage because everyone was told to go to college?

The College Push Was Real, But Not the Whole Story

Plenty of commenters said yes, the college push was intense. One user recalled, Graduated HS in 06. Anything outside of the college pipeline was painted as a bad idea to me. Trade work and apprentice programs were talked about as if they were slave labor/scams.

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Another said, As a 2007 graduate, all we were told in school was to go to college. The trades were not discussed at all.

But that's just one part of the puzzle. Many pointed out that skilled labor jobs come with real downsides: physically punishing work, inconsistent hours, and pay that often doesn't reflect the toll it takes on the body.

One user shared, Worked in the trades for 5 years out of college. Ruined my back and wrists. Have a cushy office design job now... I will never go back.

You'll Look 50 at 40

The most upvoted comment came from a user who said, People hear the just join a trade, you'll make 6 figures meme and don't realize your first few years you don't make much, the work is hard, and the hours are brutal. They added, You'll look 50 at 40 and 75 at 55. Your knees, back, and hands will be a disaster by 50.

Trending: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement  How do you compare?

Others echoed that. One said that the risk of injury is so much worse than in an office job: It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when, depending on the severity of your job, and the carelessness of others around you.

No Shortage, Just Bad Offers

A recurring theme was that employers often blame a labor shortage when they just don't want to pay better. There is no skilled labor shortage. Only an abundance of resume farming, one user wrote. Employers hold the power to frame the job market the way they see fit.

Another added that their company laid off half the maintenance crew, kept production running with forced overtime, and then claimed they can't find any skilled labor.
For more than three decades the annual Gazette Charities Foundation Best and Brightest Scholarship Program has recognized 20 local high school students for their outstanding academic achievements, leadership and contributions to their community.
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.
You are the owner of this article.
Members of the Statehouse are sworn in during the opening day of the 2017 Colorado State Legislature at the State Capitol in Denver.
In the Court of Nineveh, Knowledge Was Power

Ancient Assyrian clay tablets held at the British Museum in London. ( Alamy) Ashurbanipal is having a moment. Some 2,600 years after his death, the King of Assyria has been the subject of a major exhibition in London, featured in Elif Shafak's best-selling novel, There Are Rivers in the Sky, and now has the shelves of his library opened up for inspection in Selena Wisnom's new study.

The library of Ashurbanipal is now stored in the British Museum (hence its marvellous survey in 2018), but it has taken almost 180 years for its secrets to be revealed through painstaking scholarship. Wisnom's book recounts the labours of the excavators who uncovered more than 30,000 clay tablets and fragments in the mound of earth that covered the ancient city of Nineveh (not far from the city of Mosul in modern day Iraq) and its magnificent royal palace. Austen Henry Layard (later known as "the Lion of Nineveh") led the digs, but it was his less celebrated colleague Hormuzd Rassam who made the most important discoveries. Wisnom also gives attention to the linguistic experts who deciphered the cuneiform script and the Akkadian language that the tablets were written in. It was their work that made it possible to understand in detail the mental world of this ancient ruler.

Given the great antiquity of Ashurbanipal's library, we know an extraordinary amount about it, not just of its contents, but the way in which it was managed, in part thanks to many letters that were also uncovered from the ruins of Nineveh. We know, for example, that it was formed from the libraries of his immediate ancestors, Sargon II, Sennacherib and Esarhaddon, but that Ashurbanipal was the first of his dynasty to have a real scholarly interest in its contents. He actively sought to add new texts, and even wrote material to add to the library's riches himself.

The books -- clay tablets -- were kept in Temple libraries, especially those dedicated to Nabu, the god of scribes, and the custodians of these collections were temple priests. The library was essentially the personal resource of the King and his closest advisers, all of them men. No women had access.

This librarian wanted to know much more about the organisation of knowledge in Ashurbanipal's library, as there is a fair amount of evidence, but Wisnom does not attempt a reconstruction. Her strength lies in taking a walk along the shelves of the library and discovering what the books tell us about the ideas circulating in the court of Nineveh. Prediction of the future featured heavily: astrology, medicine and divination, trying to make sense of an unpredictable world and to impose some kind of control over it.

We learn that the Mesopotamian civilisations kept data on celestial movements for more than 600 years. All this careful observation and information gathering was there to help the astrologers advise the King. So too with healthcare: the library's extensive collection on the subject, now known as the Nineveh Medical Compendium, has been made available online by the British Museum. This Mesopotamian link between personal health and the prediction of the future has now come full circle. Anyone who tracks their biometric data via a wearable device to help predict their future health is following a millennia-long tradition.

There were large sections devoted to lamentation, as a way of expressing emotions regarding the profound events that affected their lives -- death, conflict and natural disaster. There is also a sizeable section on literature. Perhaps the most famous literary work to survive from ancient Mesopotamia is the Epic of Gilgamesh, a story that survives today because of the copies discovered in Ashurbanipal's library. Other fragments of the story would appear in other excavations, but in Nineveh were found the most important copies and the best preserved.

Ashurbanipal inherited the core of the collection, but he was assiduous in adding to it, in part through seizures from the libraries of his great enemy, the Babylonians. He understood the connection between knowledge and power: he built his library to make himself more powerful, and by taking texts from his enemies, he made them weaker. Ashurbanipal's library is a useful reminder that authoritarian rule has always meant controlling knowledge, whether by seizing clay tablets or deleting websites.

The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History by Selena Wisnom, Allen Lane 30/University of Chicago Press $30, 448 pages.

Richard Ovenden is Bodley's librarian and author of 'Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack' (John Murray).
The race for governor will not be a cakewalk | SONDERMANN
After months of negotiations, business, labor and Gov. Jared Polis failed to reach a compromise on a bill seeking changes to Colorado's 80-year-old law that governs a key requirement before unions can impose fees on non-union members, sources said.

The sources earlier said the business community moved a lot in their efforts to find a compromise. A second source said the labor coalition had accepted an offer, though it was not clear exactly which one, although it was likely the governor's position.

In an emailed statement late Saturday, Dennis Dougherty, co-chair of Colorado Worker Rights United and Colorado AFL-CIO executive director, said that business had "walked away from a meaningful compromise" and that labor would push ahead with the legislation.

Senate Bill 005 seeks to repeals the Colorado law's requirement for a second election in order for a union to establish a "union security" agreement at a workplace. Once agreed to by the company and the labor group, non-union workers would be required to pay union fees.

Federal law governs union formation. In an election, a labor group must receive a simple majority to unionize  a related but separate issue than what's before Colorado lawmakers.

Specifically, Colorado law requires a second election to allow a unionized workplace to negotiate over fees on non-union members. That election requires a higher threshold of a 75% "yes" vote to pass. The unions want to get rid of that second election.

Business and labor have been divided on the measure since it was introduced early in the session. Polis told both groups he would not sign the measure into law unless they could reach a compromise, but as the end of session loomed, the governor pushed for a deal.

All three sides  business, labor and the governor's office  each put forth their own proposals:

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The business community agreed to lower the vote threshold in order to permit a union to begin negotiating over what labor groups called "representation fees"  the dues on non-union members. Under this offer, if, in the election to form a union, a simple majority of employees eligible to vote or 66% of workers who show up to cast a ballot say "yes," then the labor group automatically gets the permission to negotiate over the fees. No second election is necessary. This position moves business from its starting point of a 75% threshold.

The labor coalition wanted a lower threshold: If 53% of the workers who show up to vote in the first election say yes, then the labor group is authorized to negotiate over the fees. Under that scenario, a second election is also unnecessary. If the labor group failed to clear that threshold in the first election, a second election is necessary, under which the union must only secure a simple majority  50% plus 1  of the workers who show up to vote.

The governor's final offer has not been made public, but sources said it's very similar to his previous offer, with some tweaks. For bargaining units of under 50 employees, 66% of those workers must show up to vote in the first election to unionize and 66% of ballots cast must vote in favor. For units with over 50 members, the threshold changes to 55%. If the thresholds are met, then a union is automatically permitted to pursue "union security." That also applies if 50% plus one of the total workforce, regardless of workforce size, supports unionization.

Dave Davia, president and CEO of Colorado Concern, which opposes Senate Bill 005, said he appreciates the work put in by all parties in trying to find a compromise.

"We appreciate all the work by all parties that went into trying to find a compromise," he said. "We thank the Governor and Speaker for their leadership and for trying to find a responsible compromise."

He added: "Business put several material offers on the table, that were generous and addressed the unions stated objectives since our first meeting last November. One of our principles from the beginning, that a true compromise must mean a simple minority cannot compel mandatory payroll deductions from the majority of employees. We again thank the Governor, and ask that any bill that lands on his desk that doesnt protect the majority of workers be vetoed.

The Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, which also opposes the bill, said its executive committee stands in "unanimous opposition" to the governor's offer.

"We remain committed to Colorados current Labor Peace Act that has served our economy so well for so many years," said J.J. Ament, the chamber's president and CEO.

Senate Bill 005 is scheduled for debate on the House floor on Saturday afternoon. It passed through the Senate in February on a 22-12 party line vote.
The Colorado Springs man found guilty of multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, for killing a parole officer with his car in 2023 was sentenced to 48 years in the Department of Corrections Friday.

Justin Kula, 42, was accused of killing Pueblo parole officer Christine Guerin Sandoval with his car after he attempted to flee from her and two other parole officers who were attempting to make contact with Kula on Sept. 28, 2023, in Colorado Springs.

Kula was sentenced to 48 years in prison for leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious bodily injury. He was also sentenced to another 24 years for the merged counts of manslaughter and vehicle homicide to run concurrently. A sentence of 364 days for the misdemeanor assault will run consecutive, 4th Judicial District Judge David Shakes ruled.

In February, Kula's claims of self-defense were ultimately unsuccessful and a jury found him guilty on all charges just 45 minutes after the conclusion of closing arguments, according to prior Gazette coverage.

There was not a single empty seat in the courtroom Friday with family members, friends and members of law enforcement filling up each bench. Many wore blue shirts bearing the "Blue Lives Matter" flag.

Tears streamed down the faces of many in attendance as victim statements were read aloud. Sandoval's husband and her two children both took to the microphone to urge Shakes to impose the maximum sentence possible.

Sandoval's children were only teenagers when they lost their mother.

Sandoval's husband, Rodney Sandoval, spoke first, calling the death of his wife a "senseless act."

"I don't think (Kula) realizes how much pain and heartache he has caused," Rodney Sandoval said. "I find it difficult to go on without her."

"Nothing is ever going to be the same. Christine was a big part of our family," he said after the hearing. "We were high school sweethearts and she was the greatest person ever. It was 33 beautiful years."

Reana Sandoval described her mother as her "best friend," saying she doesn't know how to live life without her.

"(She was) the best mother I could ask for...she was so kind, loving, she made every room she walked into light up," Reana Sandoval said. 19 years wasnt enough.

Sandoval's son said she had a "heart of gold and a soul like no other."

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"The pain I felt that day is something that can never be matched," Rodney Sandoval Jr. said. "To this day, I still cannot believe my mom is gone."

A group of Sandovals closest friends also stood up in front of the courtroom to talk about the person she was and the hole they now feel in their life without her.

"She was an angel, and she was a great person ... she did not need to die that day," Sandoval's friend Dassity Miller said.

Please, please give Christine the justice she deserves," Miller asked of Shakes.

After the victim impact statements and ahead of sentencing, Kulas defense counsel argued for a "lenient" sentence due to Kulas childhood trauma, highlighting his addiction issues related to meth, heroin and cocaine as well as several diagnosed mental health disorders.

His defense also argued Kula has shown a great deal of remorse and had no intention of anyone dying. The courtroom was shown a video that was never seen in the trial of Kula realizing he killed Sandoval.

Oh my god, Kula is heard saying several times after the news is broken to him. He is seen immediately bursting into tears and putting his head in his hands.

No way she's dead, no way, Kula is heard saying. Oh god, no ... I didn't mean to hurt anybody."

Kula gave a short statement of only a few sentences apologizing for his actions.

"I didn't mean to kill her, I promise you," Kula said while crying. "I do take accountability, and I am really sorry."

Shakes said he took Kulas prior felony convictions in Texas and Colorado, many of which are drug and domestic violence offenses, into account with his sentencing.

"I have no optimism whatsoever of rehabilitation for this defendant," Shakes said before imposing the sentence.

In a statement, 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen thanked the judge for imposing the maximum sentence available under Colorado law. He also thanked the prosecutors, Chief Deputy District Attorney Rachael Powell and Senior Deputy district Attorney Shelby Crow for the outcome.

Friends and family of Sandoval hugged each other in relief upon the conclusion of the sentencing.

"We are going to continue to advocate for changes to happen in the law so violent criminal offenders are held accountable for their actions," Miller said after the hearing.
A man suspected in a carjacking earlier this month was arrested Wednesday, according to an online blotter entry by Colorado Springs police.

Police say 40-year-old Charles Jackson carjacked a woman on April 16 at South Chelton Road and South Academy Boulevard and forced the victim to drive.

According to the arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette, the victim stopped at a Loaf N Jug for gas on her way to an appointment. When she was getting back into her car, Jackson opened the passenger door and got in.

The victim told police around 10 a.m. she was instructed to drive her car at a fast speed on Interstate 25 and recklessly through city streets. She said Jackson threatened her with a gun in his waistband if she didn't comply. She told police Jackson over took the vehicle and crashed into another car on Northgate Road. Jackson then ran off into a nearby neighborhood.

Police responded to the rollover crash at the Northgate Boulevard and Old Northgate Road intersection around 11 a.m. Two people were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.

A man contacted police and told them Jackson broke into his house and called his mother to pick him up. Officers through research, located Jackson's mother and her address. They went to the address Wednesday, April 30 on the 1700 block of Fallen Pines Grove by Voyager Parkway and arrested Jackson.

Jackson was previously charged with two counts of felony theft and crimes against an at-risk person in May 2023. According to the arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette, Jackson assaulted a victim and took his wallet May 31, 2023 outside a bank located at 3659 Austin Bluffs Parkway.

A witness told police Jackson went into a 'Check into Cash' bank for a loan, then went outside and assaulted a man outside of his car.

Jackson's next court appearance is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 7.
Update: The El Paso County Sheriff's Office announced around 3 p.m. Friday that Donald has been located.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office is asking for help in finding missing 12-year-old Donald Cooper who was last seen Thursday around 1:30 p.m. near Sproul Jr. High School in the Security area.

Deputies say Cooper is about 5-feet tall and 100 pounds.

He is described as having black hair, brown eyes, and medium tan skin. He was last seen wearing a light blue hoodie and glasses.

If anyone has seen or knows of Cooper's location, call 719-390-5555.
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.
"This is a typical bug-kill, blow-down mess that should have been harvested 20 years ago," says Mark Morgan as he surveys a tract of lodgepole pine on a slope of national forest land west of Fort Collins.

Once his criteria is pointed out, it's not hard to see why the forest is drawing the veteran logger's frustration. Most of the trees are long dead from beetle infestation, lying where they fell. The trees that remain are sparse, unprotected. A matter of time before the full stand must regenerate from the ground up.

The scale of Colorado's national forests  more than 13 million acres  is hard to wrap one's head around. For a person like Morgan, who has been cutting trees on public land since he was a Colorado State University student in the 1970s, he tends to organize the forest into countless different trees stands: lodgepole, ponderosa pine, mixed conifers, riparian patches of aspen.

Bumping along logging roads he built and rebuilt over the decades, Morgan points out examples that start to blur together, but the philosophy of forest management gains some clarity. A lodgepole stand he once spent a summer cutting fenceposts from as a young man is now undergoing a fire mitigation clean-up. Most of it will be cleared, like other bare patches driven by.

"What is right silviculture for the land is not necessarily what is aesthetically pleasing," he said, referring to the term for growing forests to harvest for wood products.

Morgan thinks about the forest as an asset in the long term, a perspective most involved with the public lands managed under the U.S. Forest Service they may have found hard to maintain in recent months.

Substantial changes to staff and policy under the administration of President Donald Trump have produced turmoil, as major agency heads have resigned or taken early retirement while the state of on-the-ground work remains murky.

One of the strongest indicators of the Trump administration's position toward the country's national forests so far, and perhaps the most pressing to a person like Morgan, may have come in the form of the Trump-signed executive order in March, "Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production."

The answering USDA memo directs land management agencies to increase timber production on a wide swath of public lands.

The map of areas covered by the executive order on logging could lead an observer to think major changes are ahead for the industry in Colorado. With an extensive wildland-urban interface, where forests at high wildfire risk are encroached by human development, much of Colorado fits the stated criteria.

Still, industry voices say the public shouldn't expect major logging operations to crop up in its wake. Unlike the high-value timber in regions like the Pacific Northwest, Colorado has never had a robust timber industry.

"Were not a timber state; were a stewardship state," said Colorado State Forester Matt McCombs.

The logging order is one of many changes coming fast at Colorado's public lands, leaving stakeholders to untangle both the near and long-term consequences.

Reduction in force

Other major changes to the Forest Service's staffing and mission may be on the horizon.

In February, at least 90 Colorado Forest Service staff were fired from probationary positions in a mass email orchestrated by the Department of Government Efficiency, according to Gov. Jared Polis' office. Those firings were contested in court, then halted by a ruling from the little-known Merit Systems Protection Board at the beginning of March for a period of 45 days.

At the same time, the U.S. Forest Service has not released information on how many employees may have taken the option of deferred resignation, leaving their positions but receiving pay and benefits until the fall. One of them was David Fitzwilliams, the supervisor of the White River National Forest. Russ Bacon, the supervisor of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grasslands, has also announced his retirement.

The biggest changes may be ahead. The Forest Service is currently undergoing a reduction-in-force review that could result in thousands of firings and agency consolidation. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who oversees the Forest Service, said in March she would work with DOGE to "streamline inefficiencies across the Department."

According to Politico, Trump also is separately considering an executive order to create a new federal firefighting agency, currently a key mission of the Forest Service.

Holding the line longer

Fighting a large-scale wildfire in Colorado shares some similarities with staging a war. In addition to the troops in action, the effort requires support and supplies to sustain people in the field, from portable toilets and showers to food services.

Historically, the responsibility has fallen to federal firefighters through the Forest Service to organize and deploy those resources, says Four Mile Fire Protection District Chief Chris Hawkins. He said the whole operation looks like a "mini-subdivision."

"They bring a whole team," said Hawkins. "Logistics and payroll and food services and laundry, everything you need to run a large incident."

His district encompasses some of the most fire-prone areas in Teller County, surrounded by public lands under the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. A large-scale fire is, for him, an almost yearly event. A federal response can usually be expected within 48 hours.

Hawkins says the message this year from the federal government is to hold the line longer. A possible consolidation of incident response teams nationwide may delay deployment by a matter of days.

"What Ive been told is were going to have to hold our own for three to five days, maybe seven," he said.

The Forest Service recently announced a hiring period for up to 1,100 permanent firefighters and adjacent positions  130 in the Rocky Mountain region. But Hawkins says the overall trend has been downward for firefighter staffing and resources in the federal lands near him, especially in the past year.

More info Interested in what's happening in your local public lands? The Colorado State Forest Service and the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, both based in Colorado State University, have launched a tracker to log information on the status of forest management projects. The tool shows detailed maps of forest restoration, fire mitigation and other types of projects, along with dates of completion and funding information. The tracker also shows historical data on the final burn area of wildfires. The Colorado Forest Tracker can be found here.

He said the changes have prompted a "ramp-up" in operational capability and equipment purchases for his district, which employs only three full-time firefighters in addition to 34 volunteers. He said a support effort for a large fire may be the domain of retirees and volunteers this season, as fire districts countywide divert most resources to the incident.

"We still have to run medical calls, we still have to run traffic accidents along with running a large incident. It's going to be tough to do."

Fire season

Firefighting may be the most visible mission of the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado. Each of the state's three largest wildfires occurred in the past five years, while all of the top 20 have occurred since 2001, according to records from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

The largest on record, the Cameron Peak fire of 2020, burned more than 200,000 acres of the Arapahoe and Roosevelt national forests. All three of 2020's record-setting fires began on federal lands.

At the same time, the Forest Service has shifted its budgetary and staffing resources drastically in the past two decades into fighting wildfire. The firefighting portion of the agency's budget passed the 50% mark in 2015, up from 16% at the end of the 20th century.

The employment cuts started in fall of last year with the announcement that the Forest Service would not be hiring seasonal workers and accelerated by the Trump administration's firings in February were not officially meant to affect firefighters. They were exempted in the official statements on both actions.

The Forest Service has declined to provide detailed employment statistics on its firefighting force. In March, a spokesperson said that the Rocky Mountain region employs over 750 "permanent and temporary" wildland fire employees.

"We boost wildland firefighting capacity with other agency staff and administratively determined emergency workers who are qualified to support fire management activities," a spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement.

About 75% of the agency's staff are trained to respond to wildfires, according to Politico reporting, most of whom were not exempt from the staffing cuts.

Local fire chiefs like Hawkins say that leaner times must be upon his federal partners. He was hearing about reductions as high as 40% in lower-level firefighting positions like hand crew members, who set fire lines to contain spread.

"I think once we hit May, June  that's when fire season really kicks off in the West," said Hawkins. "We'll see then how taxed we get as an industry, come those months. It's going to be interesting, for sure."

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In the gap

Trump's logging executive order may not entirely reflect Colorado's timber industry realities, but trees do need to be cut  and at very large scale.

Loggers like Morgan take as many fire-mitigation and management contracts as they do commercial contracts. Colorado's trees are low quality for construction purposes. At his mill outside of Fort Collins, Morgan chips or pulps a good portion of the material he removes. In some cases, he would rather just leave it on the ground.

While full operations like Morgan's are rare, the appetite is high in Colorado for tree and vegetation removal. If left alone, a stand of lodgepole pine in the Roosevelt National Forest will grow thick  about 1,100 trees per acre, according to Morgan. The natural life cycle of the tree will then involve fire, promoting cones to drop and restart the stand.

Interrupted by human development, long-term fire suppression and beetle die-off, the lodgepole can no longer be allowed to follow this process in much of Colorado's forests.

That's especially the case when a watershed is involved, since forest management and the prevention of catastrophic wildfires can be vital to protecting waterways and infrastructure like reservoirs.

"We don't grow trees in Colorado, we grow water," said McCombs, the state forester.

To get the work of forest management done, the Forest Service relies on a patchwork of contracts with the state, private companies, and nongovernmental organizations like the National Forest Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

A big part of that work is through the Good Neighbor Authority, which allows the Forest Service to contract states with major fire-fuels projects. According to the Forest Service website, it currently contracts with the state in the White River and San Isabel national forests.

Implementation of the order could be years out, but McCombs is bracing for how changes to the Forest Service could impact the state's involvement in public land management.

"We might be able to stand in the gap," said McCombs.

Whether fire mitigation gets done is up to the contracting budget for the Forest Service, based on diminished overall funding this year.

"I think youre going to see fewer of the service contracts," said Megan Maxwell, executive director of the Colorado Timber Association.

She said Colorado's existing timber industry is working under commercial capacity based on the availability of timber product in the state, but roadblocks exist to implementing Trump's logging executive order in a meaningful way.

One of the major issues may be Forest Service staffing to identify projects and inspect sites, staffing that has already been reduced and could face another wave of cuts in the near future.

"Those are the types of people that the Forest Service is going to lose," Maxwell said.

"Were not exactly sure what things will look like when the dust settles," said McCombs.

Stepping up

As confusion hits the agencies in charge of Colorado's federal land, some of the nonprofits entrenched in national forests have been preparing to expand their missions.

The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) was running out of 14,000-foot peaks in the state without routes maintained by the nonprofit by the time Loretta McElhiney, the organization's longtime Forest Service liaison, retired last year.

With a pool of trail builders uniquely skilled to work in the high alpine, CFI has carved a niche within the state's national forest system.

"Individual ranger districts aren't doing projects on fourteeners because they know Colorado Fourteeners Initiative is there," said Executive Director Lloyd Athearn.

Without sustainable maintenance, Athearn said that trails would naturally braid out and widen, disturbing fragile alpine environments under the boots of hikers.

"A big part of protecting those mountains is maintaining those trails," said Athearn.

The CFI is one of a network of nonprofits heavily involved in trail maintenance and conservation in Colorado national forests. With the announcement that no new non-firefighting seasonal workers would be hired to the Forest Service in fall 2024, they are also the only stakeholders conducting trail work on some heavily trafficked routes this year.

While volunteer and private donations are up, Athearn said that the presence of the Forest Service has been withdrawing for longer than just the scope of the Trump administration.

"It seemed over the years there were just fewer agency people," said Athearn.

Kim Gagnon, the director of marketing and communications for Volunteer Outdoor Colorado (VOC), said that her organization was also seeing an uptick in volunteer interest this year. With federal grant payouts still frozen from the Forest Service, she said VOC was looking at ways to balance its budget long-term without federal money as it continues projects in the national forests.

"If we need to step in any additional spaces, we will," she said.

The Friends of the Dillon Ranger District runs a ranger-patrol program with 650 volunteers who greet visitors to one of the most popular parts of the White River National Forest, among other projects. Doozie Martin, the district executive director, said the nonprofit was trying to save space this year to be "more nimble" with its programming as Forest Service needs evolve.

Still, the nonprofits cannot do some of the work essential to managing public access to the forests. District volunteers cannot enforce Forest Service policies. And some jobs are not likely to attract volunteers.

"A bathroom-cleaning program would be a tough sell," said Martin.

Lawmakers react

Since the February cuts, some members of Colorado's congressional delegation have been critical.

"The USFS is already critically understaffed, and further employee cuts will have real and immediate consequences for Colorados economy, rural communities, and wildfire resilience," wrote U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse, Brittany Pettersen and Jason Crow in a joint statement in February.

Last week, Neguse, a Democrat representing the 2nd Congressional District that includes four national forests, said that the "gutting" of the Forest Service would have real-world consequences on Colorado communities.

"To see the way in which this administration is gutting the federal workforce, not just, of course, with respect to the Forest Service, but the National Park Service [and] a variety of other agencies in the land-management context is unconscionable," he said.

Not all have been in opposition to the direction of the Trump administration on federal lands. Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank of Colorado Springs, who represents the 5th District, said he has faith that actions taken would make for a more efficient and effective government.

It remains to be seen whether the Forest Service under the Trump administration will alter or accelerate the management trajectory of Colorado's national forests, which mean a livelihood to loggers like Morgan, iconic ski resorts in places like Vail and Breckenridge, essential grazing land for ranch operations, the West's most important watersheds, and the hiking, biking, rafting, fishing and other draws to support the states $13.9 billion outdoor recreation industry.

But it's certain to say the many stakeholders in the maintenance and use of Colorado's forest wealth are watching closely.

"In this moment where it's all hands on deck, we have moved into this mindset of shared stewardship," said McCombs.
Actors Taylor John Smith, Charles Melton and Alex Brockdorff portray members of a U.S. Navy SEAL platoon in the film Warfare. (Credit: Murray Close / A24)
Blair Greiman appeared to have turned his life around after being sent to prison as a teen for the kidnapping, rape and attempted murder of a young woman he abducted in 1981 from the Mason City Kmart parking lot.

The Garner resident, now 60, was released on parole in 2017. He established a woodworking business and even became a deacon at his church.

However, Greiman is behind bars again following an attempted abduction this week that was similar to the Kmart kidnapping.

At around 1:17 p.m. Wednesday, he approached a 20-year-old woman from behind while she was loading groceries into her vehicle in the parking lot of the Mason City Aldi grocery store, pulled out an air soft handgun, shoved it into her abdomen and demanded she come with him, according to a Mason City Police Department criminal complaint.

As Greiman was taking the woman to his vehicle, she fought him off and was able to get away and run to a bystander, the complaint states.

Greiman fled the scene, discarding the handgun and a pair of handcuffs into a nearby dumpster, according to the complaint.

A short time later, officers took Greiman into custody without incident after he and his vehicle were found in Hancock County.

Greiman made his initial appearance before a magistrate Thursday morning on a charge of second-degree kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon, a Class B felony.

He is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $250,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 9.

An earlier abduction

On the morning of Dec. 2, 1981, Greiman, a 16-year-old junior at Garner-Hayfield High School, skipped class and drove to the Mason City Kmart.

Armed with a BB gun, he forced an 18-year-old woman into his car and drove to his family's Garner farmhouse where he raped her. He then drove her to a rural area south of Ventura where he stabbed her and dumped her body in a ditch, leaving her for dead.

The young woman survived the attack.

The following year, a jury convicted Greiman on charges of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree sexual abuse and attempted murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that life without parole was unconstitutional for juveniles found guilty of non-homicide crimes.

Greiman appealed and was re-sentenced to life with the possibility of parole by Judge Stephen Carroll in 2012.

After the Iowa Board of Parole denied Greiman's release three times, Greiman filed a lawsuit against the board and the Iowa Department of Corrections. The Iowa Attorney General's Office moved the lawsuit to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

Greiman was granted work release status in May 2017 and was transferred to the Fort Dodge Residential Center a few weeks later. He was released on parole in September of that year. By agreement of all parties, Greiman's federal lawsuit was dismissed the following month.

Richard Tompkins, who was an assistant Cerro Gordo County Attorney in the early 1980s and was the prosecutor in the Greiman case, told the Globe Gazette Friday he thinks he should never have been released from prison.

"I did not agree with that U.S. Supreme Court decision," he said. "He (Greiman) had written to me several times while he was in prison, and I would continually say that I would never support him getting out because of the really heinous crime that he committed."

Tompkins said the woman only survived "by the grace of God."

From her hospital bed, the woman was able to tell officers crucial details about Greiman's route after he abducted her.

Tompkins said the victim "was amazing in leading law enforcement to where he took her."

According to Tompkins, Greiman's crimes would have continued if the woman hadn't survived because "no one would have known who the perpetrator was."

He said another alarming fact about the case, which shows the attack would not have been a one-time incident, is that Greiman and his victim did not know each other.

Greiman's arrest this week seems to demonstrate he hasn't been reformed despite outward appearances, according to Tompkins. He said he would not be surprised if he has committed other crimes since being released from prison.

In April 2023, Greiman applied for removal from the sex offender registry. The application filed in Hancock County District Court stated that Greiman received all required treatment and "has been classified as a low risk to reoffend."

Six people submitted letters to the court in favor of Greiman's name being removed from the registry, including Garner City Council member Glen Juhl.

"I have seen firsthand how his life has changed in a very positive way," Juhl's letter stated.

Juhl wrote that he was involved in Bible studies with Greiman and worked with him at a food bank.

"He has a thriving cabinetry business and has been accepted into this community," he stated in the letter. "He also speaks openly about his youth and wants to help kids make good choices while they are young."

Judge DeDra Schroeder granted Greiman's petition in June 2023.

A post from the Peace Reformed Church Facebook page from Jan. 28 of this year that included several photos noted his installation as deacon.

Tompkins said he's not surprised Greiman was able to get his name removed from the sex offender registry "because he presents a very positive picture," just as he did at the time of his arrest as a teen.

He noted Greiman was an A+ student, president of the local FFA chapter, and from a well-known family in Garner. He said that's one of the reasons he believes Greiman would have been able to continue committing brutal crimes if he hadn't been caught.

Wednesday's press release from the MCPD states that the department "would like to recognize the bystanders and witnesses who assisted the victim in this incident as it unfolded and also those who provided information to arriving officers. The quick work by everyone involved helped law enforcement to quickly track down and apprehend the suspect."

The MCPD was assisted by the Mason City Fire Department, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office, the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Lieutenant Brett Hollander at the Mason City Police Department at (641) 421-3636.

Sentenced to life for kidnapping and rape, inmate sues for parole MASON CITY | Former Cerro Gordo County Attorney Richard Tompkins believes a man serving a li
Winston-Salem shoppers appeared divided on the strategy and current impacts of the Trump administrations tariffs Friday as a growing number of companies and e-commerce platforms announced price increases for many products.

Many shoppers in the Thruway Shopping Center on South Stratford Road in downtown Winston-Salem expressed concern about price increases, but some defended President Donald Trumps strategy of imposing tariffs on imports from other countries.

On Friday, the Trump administration eliminated a loophole that previously allowed American shoppers to buy cheap goods, $800 or less, from China without paying tariffs.

According to the New York Times, President Donald Trump called the loophole a scam that hurt the ability of U.S. manufacturers to compete with a wave of low-cost Chinese products.

Its a big scam going on against our country, against really small businesses, he said. And weve ended, we put an end to it.

As a result, China-founded e-commerce sites Temu and Shein have raised prices for U.S. customers.

Other companies such as Stanley Black & Decker, Procter & Gamble, Hasbro and Adidas have also said they are raising prices on products to mitigate the effects of higher tariffs.

On Friday, shoppers at the Thruway Center and in Cloverdale Plaza in Winston-Salem shared general concerns about price increases, with many who said they are tired of months of jumps in price for groceries and gas.

Ive seen a lot of price increases, at the pumps and in the grocery stores, said James Hamilton, a Winston-Salem resident of seven years.

Hamilton, who was shopping at Rack Room Shoes Friday morning, said he wished the Trump administration could have come to some other kind of agreement rather than being hasty about its tariff policies.

The shoes that I bought today I couldve got two years ago for 49 dollars, Hamilton said. Now theyre 69 dollars.

Hamilton, who said he is a father of a 15-year-old highschooler, also expressed he was worried about the effect of tariffs on costs for schools. Hamilton said he is worried that it would be more expensive for his daughter, who is buying clothes, shoes and take-out lunch on a regular basis.

With fuel prices for the buses, thats going to make it hard on the school system, Hamilton said.

But other shoppers said they have faith in Trumps strategy.

A longtime Winston-Salem resident named Marie, who did not wish to give her last name, said that Trump is just trying to make up for all the things Biden did wrong.

It was bad before Trump got in, she said. Im for Trump. I believe I have to trust him to do what he says hes going to do.

Jay Smith, a Trader Joes shopper, said Trump is just trying to correct the ship.

Im hoping it will bring industry back to the U.S., Smith said. We need to support our own people.Smith added that he believes the big push to send everyone to college isnt right and that not everyone should go to college.

There are other countries where if you dont have the aptitude to get into college you dont go, Smith said. You go to a trade school.

Several other shoppers who wished not to be named declined to comment and expressed general feelings of ambivalence about the tariff policies.

Most shoppers shared that whatever their opinion on tariffs was, they didnt want to see prices rise.

Over at the Harris Teeter in Cloverdale Plaza, grocery shoppers were also split on tariffs.

I personally dont know anyone who is supportive of them, said Sheryl Jordan.

ordan, who said she disagreed with tariff policies because she believed they were driven by Trumps self-interest, said the tariffs didnt have anything to do with people who live and work in America.

Ive seen businesses warning folks, Jordan said. Its a fire sale type thing.

I wasnt aware of shipping price increases, said M.J. Plitt when asked about e-commerce price hikes. Of course, you never want to see prices go up.

Dell Curling, another grocery shopper at Harris Teeter, said he was generally supportive of the tariffs because it was something that he believes could bring businesses back to the U.S.

In my lifetime weve seen essentially the majority of manufacturing move overseas, Curling said. Tariffs, I think, are a necessary evil to bring back some of the manufacturing back to the United States.

Another Thruway shopper, Donna Hayek, said she has seen price increases on Amazon and heard that toys may be harder to find this year during the upcoming holiday season.

Despite her feeling that the tariffs would be a good thing in the long run, Hayek said she has seen other general price increases.

When asked about the ideal benefit of the tariff policies, Smith and Hayek both said they want to see the return of American industry.

But none of the price increases made Hayek feel the need to order things early, even toys, she said.

Kids are just too unpredictable, Hayek said.
(Photos by Ichiro Katayanagi)



Take a break and leave behind the hustle and bustle for the simple life.

Mother Farm, a dude ranch in Chiba Prefecture, is where city slickers can head for a taste of the wild west.

Getting there requires about a two-hour drive from most Kanto Plain bases to Futtsu City. The farm promises fun for children big and small, so make plans to get some fresh air and enjoy a day outdoors.

The farm offers great views, seasonal flowers, fruit picking, and a bunch of activities including bungee jumping, ziplining and more!

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)



About the farm

The farm opened in 1962 by Hisakichi Maeda, founder of Tokyo Tower. Originally, the land on which Mother Farm sits was intended for Tokyo Tower, which instead was constructed in Minato in downtown Tokyo. High above on Mt. Kano in Chiba, Mother Farm is surrounded by great views of the mountains in Chiba, Tokyo Bay, and Yokohama, and Mt. Fuji, if the weather cooperates. This working farm is spread across over 600 acres and is home to 16 different types of animals.

How to get there

There are various ways to get to Mother Farm. Public transportation, if you are able to take, is probably the quickest. Ferries depart from Port Kurihama to Port Hamakanaya in Chiba daily. From the port in Chiba, there is a direct bus to the farm, which will bring your total transit time to about 90 minutes. Buses run on weekends and Japanese holidays from February to November only.

From around Kanto, taking the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line by car will get you there in a few hours time. I live in Chiba and do not have a car, so I took a train to JR Kimitsu Station, one of the nearest stations to the farm, and took a bus from there. It was an about half an hour ride. The bus runs about every two hours, so plan ahead.

Shows and Events

When I arrived at Mother Farm, I was surprised at just how many shows and events they have to entertain their visitors. I looked over the schedule and made a plan for what I wanted to watch and when so I could take in as much as possible.

First, I took in Ducks Parade, a cute show featuring 20 waddling ducks trained to parade around at the sound of the MCs bell. Part of the show involves the ducks walking through the audience. It was exciting that the flock of the ducks was marching toward me.

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)



After the cute ducks, I headed to a comedic show in the Agrodome section called The Sheepdog and His Friends featuring 12 animals, including an alpaca and llama. Then, I caught Sheeps Grand Parade, which was the best of the shows and featured a sheepdog herding no less than 200 sheep.

At the end of the show, the audience was allowed to touch sheep. Surprisingly, none of the sheep were afraid of the audience or tried to escape. Though I expected a sheeps coat to be soft like a sweater, it was the complete opposite.

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)



Still sheeping around, I caught the Sheep Show, where a shepherd introduced the 19 different types of sheep they have at the farm. Part of the show included a sheep-shearing demonstration where the shepherd skillfully completed a shearing in under five minutes.

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)



Mother Farm Tour DX

This 1.5-mile course requires an extra admission fee and a reservation when you arrive at the farm. I was lucky enough to get a reservation, so I enjoyed a tour of the entire farm. First, you hop on a tractor which zigzags up a slope, allowing you to see the farms cows, some of which, like Scottish Highland Cattle, are unfamiliar in Japan. On the hill, youll see farm hands milking calves and another little sheepdog show. Here, visitors can also feed sheep, goats, and alpacas.

Feeding the animals was my favorite part of the tour. When they ate feed, their tongue touched my palm. It was ticklish and funny, but the animals were all business. As soon as licked the feed from my hand, theyd move to the next person. This was also my first time meeting alpaca up close, but I avoided feeding them because they spit a lot.

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)



Mutton BBQ

Spending a day on the farm more than likely means youll also be eating there. Fortunately, Mother Farm has three restaurants for hungry visitors. The most popular dish served at all three restaurants is the mutton BBQ, which, Im not sure why, is called Ghengis Khan, after the first emperor of the Mongol Empire.

The Ghengis Khan is a Hokkaido dish cooked in a slotted dome grill featuring mutton flavored with the farms secret soy sauce-based sauce recipe. They use a soy sauce from Miya Soy Sauce Brewery, a long-established Futtsu City institution founded back in 1834.

I enjoyed my Ghengis Khan from my table at the Cafe & Genghis Khan Farm Diner with a beautiful view of Tokyo Bay and Kanagawa. The scenery made the food even more delicious. The sauce had a good body and was well matched with the mutton. Avoid going there at peak lunch hours, as the restaurants tend to get crowded.

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)

(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi)



While I waited for my bus to the station at the end of my time on the dude ranch, I checked out the gift shop. Among the many items for sale, I found some made from milk produced on the farm, including the milk cookies and milk candies I purchased to enjoy at home later.

There was much more to see and do at Mother Farm that I couldnt fit into a one-day visit. If youre traveling from far, the farm offers cottages and camping so you can take full advantage and really enjoy the simple life.

Mother Farm

Location: 940-3, Tagura, Futtsu City, Chiba

Hours: Feb  Nov 9:30 a.m.  4:30 p.m. (weekdays) 9 a.m.  5 p.m. (weekends and holidays)

Dec  Jan 10 a.m.  4 p.m. (weekdays) 9:30 a.m.  4 p.m. (weekends and holidays)

TEL: 0439-37-3211

Website
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.
Balanced Nutrition Inc., a defunct Greensboro nonprofit run by the wife of former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, has not returned $101,142 in federal funding it was paid while operating a child nutrition program

The failure to return the payments has led to the group and three of its officials being barred from participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Affected are Yolanda Hill, Robinsons wife who was listed as owner and chief financial officer of Balanced, and the couples daughter, Kimberly Cephas, who was operations manager.

They, along with chairwoman Renee Matthews-Jones, are cited by N.C. Department of Health and Human Services as being responsible for the organizations lack of compliance.

The women also have been placed on a U.S. Department of Agricultures National Disqualification List.

Being on the national disqualification list includes a prohibition on serving as a principal in any institution or facility, or as a daycare provider in the federal program.

The officials will remain on the list for up to seven years unless the USDAs Food and Nutrition Services division and DHHS determine that the serious deficiencies have been corrected.

They will not be reinstated as long as the payments have not been returned.

Attorneys representing Balanced Nutrition could not be reached for comment on the termination and disqualification determinations.

DHHS said in its reports that Balance officials were notified of the potential termination on April 7 and were told they had 15 days to submit appeal requests, which they failed to do. A final notice was sent April 24.

The nonprofit group is required to return $101,142 in federal funding to the state Office of Administrative Hearing. DHHS said no payment has been received as of April 29.

The affected federal funding was provided in February-March 2023, June-October 2023 and January-March 2024.

According to the OAH report, the nonprofit received $1 million in federal funding for fiscal 2024 and more than $2 million in fiscal 2023.

The Associated Press has reported  based on tax filings and state documents  that Balanced Nutrition collected roughly $7 million in government funding since 2017.

The nonprofit paid at least $830,000 in salaries to Hill, Robinson and other members of their family, according to the tax records and state documents.

Serious deficiencies

Before being voluntarily closed on April 30, 2024, Balanced Nutrition served as a conduit between federal agencies and child care centers seeking grant funds to provide free- and reduced-cost meals.

The nonprofit participated in the Child and Adult Care Food Program with its latest contract starting on Sept. 6, 2019.

A notice of serious deficiency, disclosed by DHHS on July 24, is at the heart of the state and federal investigations of Balanced Nutrition.

The serious deficiencies included: failure to operate the program according to performance standards; not retaining all records to support reimbursement claims for three years; failing to retain income eligibility applications and enrollment and meal count documentation.

According to the DHHS report, Balanced Nutrition did not report expenses accurately and unallowable expenses were claimed for four different child care centers.

CACFP sponsoring organizations are bound by legal and contractual obligations to participate in compliance reviews, DHHS said. Per federal regulations, reviews are conducted every two to three years at a minimum, depending on the size of an institution and previous findings.

DHHS officials determined Balance Nutrition is seriously deficient in its participation, and that the three officials are responsible for the serious deficiency.

The USDA disclosed in September its investigation of Balanced Nutrition.

At that time, DHHS confirmed it had provided documentation to USDAs Southeast Regional Office of the Food and Nutrition Service division.

It is standard practice to provide an email copy of any notice of serious deficiency to the Southeast regional office, DHHS said in September.

Among the areas cited as being in serious deficiency and requiring corrective actions were administration, recordkeeping, income eligibility applications, enrollment documentation, civil rights, program training, monitoring, meal counts, meal review, fiscal integrity and verification of a valid claim.

Of those areas, four were listed as repeat findings from a 2022-23 review of the group.

DHHS said that when there are findings from the review that do not rise to the level of serious deficiency, the institution must complete a corrective action plan to address the findings in order to avoid the issuance of a notice of serious deficiency.

DHHS said the frequency of reviews increases for programs who have had findings in prior compliance reviews to ensure the sponsoring organization has corrected the findings and is complying with state and federal rules.

Following the standard 2022-23 review of Balanced Nutrition, DHHS offered the option of completing a corrective action plan to address the findings from the compliance review.

After the nonprofit fulfilled that requirement, DHHS put the nonprofit back on the review schedule for the next federal fiscal year to ensure continued compliance with state and federal rules.

The 2022-23 findings led to the 2023-24 review, DHHS said.

High-profile topic

The operations of Balanced Nutrition became a high-profile topic during Robinsons unsuccessful campaign for governor.

Robinson described in his memoir, as reported by AP, how the operation brought fiscal stability to his family, giving him the ability to quit a furniture manufacturing job in 2018 and begin a career in conservative politics.

There was heightened criticism and scrutiny paid to Balanced Nutritions operations and financial status, both by Democrats during the general election and by Republican primary challengers that the DHHS review addresses in part.

Robinson owes North Carolinians an explanation about his involvement in this series of major failures and exactly how this organization was using taxpayer dollars, Devon Cruz, national press secretary for the Democratic Governors Association, said in a statement.

Mike Lonergan, communications director for Robinsons governor campaign, issued a statement in July that claimed an independent auditor issued a report on Balanced Nutrition with no material findings.

Lt. Gov. Robinson is proud of the work his wife has done to help needy children get nutritious meals, Lonergan said.

Yet as soon as Mark Robinson announced his campaign for governor in April 2023, the Democrat-run state agency started moving the goalposts.

Just as they are doing against President Trump, Democrats are weaponizing the bureaucracy to grind a political ax against their opponents.

However, the Balanced Nutrition controversy was overshadowed by CNNs explosive Sept. 19 report on comments Robinson allegedly wrote on the porn website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012.

In the posts, CNN alleged Robinson called himself a Black Nazi and advocated for the return of slavery.

Robinson denied the claims in the CNN report, filed a lawsuit in October seeking at least $50 million in damages and a retraction from CNN, only to drop the lawsuit in January.
RAYMOND  Community members are again calling for the Raymond School Board president to resign, but she has no plans to do so.

During the public comment portion of the April 22 Raymond School Board meeting, two people said Audrey Kostuch, Raymond School Board president, should resign, and one person said Raymond School Board member Ed Robinson also should step down.

Raymond Schools three-year, $2.25 million nonrecurring operational referendum failed on April 1, with 62% voting against it.

That money would have been spent on staff pay and benefits, stabilizing the districts budget, paying debts, repairs, and technology infrastructure like cybersecurity, among other areas.

As a result of the failed referendum, the board on April 22 approved several staff cuts for the 2025-26 school year.

In a letter to families, Superintendent Michael Leach said the district has to make significant budgetary adjustments totaling 12% of our operational budget (estimated at $428,000) in 2025-26.

The cuts will impact kids negatively, Leach said on April 22. Period, end of story.

In November 2024, voters rejected a Raymond School four-year, $3 million nonrecurring operational referendum, with 61% voting no.

Public commenter Jennifer Hribar, a former Raymond School Board member who unsuccessfully ran to be on the board in February 2024, said the failed referendums mean there is a lack of confidence in board leadership, and she called on Kostuch to resign.

The actions of the board do not reflect the community, Hribar said. The complete failure of the referendum speaks clearly to the lack of confidence in the board, and in particular its complete lack of financial management and oversight. The community is not against the students in the community, but quite the opposite. We keep bringing this to the attention of the board, not because we are toxic, as we are told by Audrey Kostuch, but (because) no one takes accountability. A referendum will not pass unless the board is totally disbanded and people with experience are brought in to turn this around. The community is clearly calling upon Audrey Kostuch to resign. Our financial picture is in a crucial state. Her resignation will provide one of the first steps to moving forward as a community.

In an email, Kostuch said she will not resign.

I am focused on moving this district forward, and I believe we are on our way, Kostuch wrote. Although our referendum did not turn out as we had wished, we will restructure and keep moving forward. There are so many good things happening in our district, and that should be our only focus. I prefer to think positive and leave all the negative in the past where it belongs.

In summer 2024, community members called on Kostuch to resign because they believed she supported a discriminatory organization and violated board policies.

Kostuch did not resign, and board members chose her to remain board president in July 2024.

Public commenter Dorrae Moonen, who unsuccessfully ran to be on the Raymond School Board in April 2024, said Kostuch and Robinson, the board treasurer, should resign because they have financially mismanaged the district.

We have to look at whats in front of us, and it shows us that you two are incapable of making financial decisions for this district, Moonen said. You have put us so far in the hole.  You dont take a job that youre not qualified for.

Robinson did not respond to a request for comment.

He said during the April 22 board meeting that tonight was not a good night for me.

I didnt like this at all, Robinson said. Sitting here doing this is not good, but it is what it is, and Im sorry.

Contrary to Hribar and Moonen, public commenter Joe Hren said board members should be thanked for their work, and he believes they will rise to the occasion to meet the districts challenges.

Kostuch and Robinson were both elected to three-year terms in April 2024.

Raymond is a K-8 school with about 400 students.

Finances will remain a challenge at the school, especially with Aprils failed referendum.

The districts fund balance is at about 3% of its annual operating costs. A healthy fund balance is around 20% of annual operating costs.

Raymond School also needs to pay back its one-time, $600,000 trust fund loan from the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands that helped cover essential operational expenses this school year.

Because of these funding challenges, Leach said on April 2 that the school might again ask referendum questions in the coming years.

The needs havent gone away, just because I can reduce my budget, Leach said. We will have some major fiscal challenges in the future as well.

Seven photos of the Nov. 4 Raymond School Board meeting Leach Raymond School District Superintendent Michael Leach said an application to the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands for a $600,00 Ed Robinson Raymond School Board member Ed Robinson said a one-time state loan application for $600,000 makes sense as a one-time action to try to help wi Hren, Kostuch Board members Patty Hren, left, and Audrey Kostuch talk during a Raymond School Board meeting Monday at Raymond School. Kostuch Board President Audrey Kostuch listens during a Raymond School Board meeting Monday at Raymond School. Wise, Pauers Board members Janell Wise, left, and Mike Pauers listen during a Raymond School Board meeting Monday at Raymond School. Ed Robinson Board member Ed Robinson talks during a Raymond School Board meeting Monday at Raymond School, 2659 76th St. Janell Wise, Mike Pauers Raymond School board members Janell Wise, left, and Mike Pauers won a February recall election. Raymond School Board Nov. 4, 2024
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Historian and ethicist Nigel Cameron discusses his article, C. Everett Koops fearless fight against the tobacco industry, drawn from his biography of the former U.S. surgeon general. He recounts how C. Everett Koop, initially facing ridicule and expected to be ineffective, strategically used the 1982 Surgeon Generals report on smoking to dramatically reshape his public image and intensify the fight against Big Tobacco. Nigel details the pivotal press conference where Koop forcefully presented the reports findings, overshadowing his superiors, declaring smoking societys chief cause of preventable death, and refuting industry claims. This event marked a turning point, transforming Koops relationship with the press, establishing his bully pulpit, and escalating what Koop viewed as an all-out war against the tobacco industrys sleaze, fundamentally altering the governments stance on smoking.

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Transcript

Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome Nigel Cameron. Hes a historian and ethicist, and hes the author of the book, Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon General. Theres an excerpt from that book on KevinMD titled, C Everett Koops fearless fight against the tobacco industry. Nigel, welcome to the show.

Nigel Cameron: Great to be here.

Kevin Pho: All right, so just briefly share your story and tell us a little bit about the excerpt that you decided to share with us today.

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Nigel Cameron: Obviously Im British, you can still tell from my accent. I spent almost 30 years stateside. In the process, I got to know Koop back from the mid-eighties on, and so I ended up working on the book because I discovered just a few years before COVID hit that nobody was writing a biography. So thats a quick version of how I came to be doing this.

What interested me in the book, of course, was partly the number of different things he got involved with: his many lives. But the excerpt about tobacco is very interesting because it was very deliberate.

In some ways he was politically naive, but sometimes he could be very smart. He was a curious sort. This was very smart. He was trashed by everybody when he was being confirmed as Surgeon General because he was conservative for life. He wasnt a public health person; he was a pediatric surgeon.

The one thing the Surgeon General had to do, the only thing, was to sign off on the smoking report every year. He didnt write it, but he signed off on it. And so he sat around working out how to use that to get himself back in the picture and get rid of all this negative press. And it worked because the press fell over him, because the press hated Big Tobacco. And so did he.

Kevin Pho: So give us the context in terms of the history behind just signing off on this legislation and the opportunity that this presented to Dr. Koop.

Nigel Cameron: When he was nominated, well, he was fingered for the job back in early 1981 after Reagan came into power. The actual confirmation took about nine months for various reasons. Finally, he was confirmed, interestingly, even with the majority of Democrats voting for him. But he was very unpopular, and the public health people were very much against his appointment.

And hed inherited the Surgeon Generals job. Until the mid-1960s, it was enormously important. Its astonishing looking back: he was in charge of the NIH, of CDC, of FDA. All that stuff was reporting to the Surgeon General. Under Lyndon Johnson, the role was stripped of all those responsibilities, and they were all made to report separately in HHS. The Surgeon General ends up with about five staff and a travel budget to go around making speeches.

Koop, when hes first approached about the job, thinks hell be in the cabinet. The Surgeon General has never been in the cabinet. But he thinks this is a real big job and then discovers theres not much to it. But the one thing that remained was the anti-smoking role. And so that was the one thing he really began to work on.

Kevin Pho: Tell us about the tobacco climate and the politics around it during that time in the early 1980s.

Nigel Cameron: For a long time the U.S. had earlier Surgeon Generals who had produced reports on tobacco. There was this feeling that tobacco should be constrained; it was a bad thing. And Koop himself was a pipe smoker into the seventies, so he wasnt a natural anti-tobacco person.

He became persuaded. And yet Big Tobacco was enormously powerful, very powerful in Congress. Jesse Helms, who I call the patron saint of Big Tobacco, was one of whose major backers because he was also a social conservative. And tobacco smoking in the U.S. was somewhere in the mid-30 percent. It had been going down a little, but it was still high like that.

And there was a gentlemanly rivalry, as one writer put it, between Big Tobacco and the U.S. government on this issue. And that same writer went on to say that Koop turned that, through one press conference, into all-out war and really changed the dynamic of a major U.S. industry and its relation to the U.S. government.

Kevin Pho: Take us back in time to that press conference. You wrote that its on February 22nd, 1982. So tell us the events leading up to that historic press conference.

Nigel Cameron: Koop had only been confirmed for about three months. This was pretty new. And his boss, Brandt, who was the assistant secretary responsible for the FDA and NIH and all that, and who in fact had not really supported Koops nomination because he thought the job was an anachronism, it was really his deal. He came in and presented the report and then called on his subordinate, the Surgeon General, to make a follow-up speech, a sort of second toast.

And Koop, big guy, booming voice, immediately dominates the proceedings.

He makes this very powerful speech saying there will be irreparable loss to the U.S., huge economic damage, and so on, because of all these things that we can prove that tobacco does.

And of course, the tobacco industry had kept saying, You cant prove causal connections. Its just correlations we dont really know, and so on. And Koop became contemptuous. And I think it was his contempt for the industry that has as much to do with his impact as the actual arguments he used.

And, as I say in the book, you look at the Washington Post or the New York Times for the next day: hes on the front page. His pictures all over the place. I think in one of them, his boss Brandts name isnt referred to until three paragraphs down; in another one, its not until six paragraphs down. Koop is in. Koop really had changed the dynamic, not simply of the tobacco debate, but of the role of the Surgeon General within HHS. This person with this random little office was now a major player because, of course, politics is ultimately all about the press and perception.

Kevin Pho: Now, was this the first time that such a public figure had such a contemptuous, direct opposition to the tobacco industry in such a theatrical manner?

Nigel Cameron: I think the answer is yes, certainly in a theatrical manner. Earlier Surgeons General, and in fact several of them, had been quite active on this front.

People often forget how far back actual evidence of the harms of tobacco goes. In 1952, Readers Digest published a famous article called Cancer by the carton.

So this has been going for a long time, but it was gentlemanly. There were reports, there were debates, things were kept down. There are pictures of people writing Surgeon General reports all sitting around in conference rooms with ashtrays all over the table.

At one point, there are four officials testifying before Congress, NIH sort of people, every one of whom actually was a smoker, even if they were giving evidence against tobacco.

So it was a situation of a high degree of tolerance. Looking back, it seems strange, as these things do, but like looking back on the fifties and sixties, having no seat belts in cars; notions of risk were handled very differently.

And Koop, one of his greatest strengths, which runs throughout his life and throughout the book, ends up also as one of his greatest weaknesses: it is his ego. He had an enormous ego. And when youre a pediatric surgeon, that really helps. When you get into politics, it maybe doesnt, but sometimes it did.

And on this one occasion, this one hour in a press conference, Koop was really organized. He changed many things.

And of course, during his time in office, over around eight years, smoking dropped in the U.S. by almost 25 percent. You can track it decade by decade, and this was a far, far bigger drop than in earlier and following decades.

And the tobacco industry was huddling together, having their secret meetings to work out what to do about this. Because Koop really had made a difference. And it was his personality and his booming voice and his ego, which comes across in these accounts.

Kevin Pho: So you mentioned that the day after this historic press conference, he made the front page of the New York Times and the Washington Post. What was some of the public reaction to his press conference?

Nigel Cameron: There was shock. It was just shock. The press were delighted because they, for all sorts of reasons, were against Big Tobacco. Sure, these journalists were still smoking, but this was a target. This was big industry with a lot of issues of subvention, government underwriting, tobacco farmers, and so on. An obvious target for the generally rather liberal press. And so there was a deep concern that all of a sudden this industry was under threat.

And this industry, of course, was politically very powerfully connected. Interestingly, Koop says that Jesse Helms, who was their patron saint on the hill, actually he and Koop stayed very friendly on a personal level for quite a long time. This didnt always happen. Koop could be very fractious and fall out with people. That relationship apparently survived.

Immediately the tobacco industry was under huge pressure. And then of course, you run through a few years and you have this effort to produce this big deal with them, which would have removed liability from the tobacco industry, and they wouldve paid a huge amount of money to the states to cover costs of Medicaid, Medicare, and so on. But of course, that would all be built into their pricing package, so it wouldve been a brilliant insurance deal for the industry. It finally didnt work out then, but Koop had put the ball in play.

And then if you go forward eight, 10 years, he and Dave Kessler were running this committee called the Koop-Kessler committee, the two Ks, trying to do some sort of broad deal in which essentially Big Tobacco is on the outs of American public life.

Kevin Pho: So after this press conference, you said Big Tobacco huddled up, decided what to do next. So what eventually was their response?

Nigel Cameron: Interestingly, we have all these minutes of their secret meetings which I went into. First of all, they really wanted to go after people really hard whove come out taking his kind of view in the political realm.

At the same time, Koop said that he was more than once invited to a secret meeting to try and sound him out, seeing what his price was. We dont have other evidence of that, but he said he had several approaches of that kind.

At the same time, of course, the issue really was one of litigation.

In the states and in parallel with that, efforts to obviously, we have the health warnings, which were already there. They were going to get more serious. There were big debates about advertising on television and whether that should be continued. At one point, rather curiously, because of the so-called fairness doctrine in the U.S. media: for every three ads that were shown by the tobacco companies, they had to show a free ad which was anti-smoking. And the dynamics of this piece worked their way through the system. And in fact, the tobacco companies ultimately agreed to withdraw from television advertising.

Partly, some suspect, because the anti-smoking ads which were required were doing damage to them, and they would prefer not to be exposed like that. But it was Koop who really ratcheted the whole thing up and put it on that level.

Kevin Pho: So now that Koop had this proverbial bully pulpit that now garnered so much attention, increased the power of the Surgeon General after that press conference and after his confrontation with Big Tobacco, how did he leverage that platform afterwards?

Nigel Cameron: He had a series of projects. One of the things Koop says is that because he spent so long waiting to be confirmed, he had a lot of time on his hands. He overdid it a bit because he was really quite busy. But think about what you can do as Surgeon General when you really have almost no actual power, but you could make speeches. And theres a phrase we use in Washington: the power to convene. You can get people together, and that really can make a difference.

So he dreamed up this notion of what he called Surgeon General workshops. And Koop did everything with great flair. These were Surgeon General workshops. These basically were day-and-a-half, two-day conferences. And he did seven or eight of these over his time in office, and he just brought all the key players together.

So, for example, he obviously was getting into AIDS later on, but he was looking at disability issues. He was looking at domestic violence issues. Ultimately he was looking at drunk driving; he was pushed into that.

But he had this notion that you organize a meeting, you pull people together, you have some federal advisory group working on it. Theres a little cost involved, but not much. And you could have a press conference or, in one case at the end of the workshop, everybody went and testified on Capitol Hill.

And he put his imprimatur on these things. And so he could have these stories running which required not a lot in the way of staff support and funding, but because his name was on them, they would get press. And he bundled together a series of issues.

For example, this notion of self-help groups. He did a whole workshop on self-help groups. Its worth looking at these stories because they show ways in which his soft power was put to really very good use as he assembled these groups.

And I think he was said, by one writer talking about the domestic abuse issue, basically it was Koop who turned this into a public health issue. It was simply regarded as a criminal issue, but it was also a public health issue because he framed the question and brought the players together.

Kevin Pho: So this event happened more than 40 years ago. As of talking to you now and learning about it, how should we remember this event in the proper historical context?

Nigel Cameron: One way to look at the significance of what Koop did exposing the tobacco companies was his honesty, the rigor of his thinking, and his scientific honesty. The story is that the Surgeon General would sign this thing. He didnt write it; a big department at HHS wrote these documents. He wasnt even in charge of it.

And so a guy called Don Shopland, whos still around and recently edited a book about these debates, Shopland was the guy sent along to help him with the report and say, This is where you sign.

And he said he got into Koops office, and this big document, hundreds of pages, he annotated it page by page by page. He had questions. And Shopland said if there was ever a press conference where a speaker thoroughly knew his subject matter, it was that press conference.

So it was the thoroughness. It was his attention to detail, his scientific honesty in a political environment, which then, as now, is even more fraught. Typically people have briefing papers, they have talking points, everything is summarized. But Koop wanted to get to the facts. He was concerned about the detail. And it was partly because he knew his subject that he was taken so seriously.

That event set in motion the kind of role which really is extraordinary and of which there are few examples in American public life: a tiny office becoming highly significant. Towards the end of the eighties, pollsters said Koop was the second best known member of the U.S. government after Ronald Reagan.

Kevin Pho: Were talking to Nigel Cameron. Hes the author of the book, Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon General. His excerpt from that book is on KevinMD, C Everett Koops fearless fight against the tobacco industry. Nigel, lets end with some takeaway messages that you wanna leave with the KevinMD audience.

Nigel Cameron: Washington is in an interesting state at the moment. Notions of science, notions of integrity, notions of people cowering because of political pressures on them Koop, partly because God gave him this ego, was protected from a lot of that.

And he was a man whose integrity was on the line every time and who was really quite fierce. And he wouldve happily lost his job rather than be made to do something he thought wasnt right. And for a time that made him a very powerful figure in Washington. And we need people like that in public science.

Kevin Pho: Nigel, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight and thanks again for coming on the show.

Nigel Cameron: Good to be here.
Representatives from Lake Geneva Ministries are honoring a milestone anniversary with a world record attempt.

The ministry's Lake Geneva Youth Camp is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

Lake Geneva Ministries officials are highlighting the anniversary by hosting an open house event Sunday May 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Lake Geneva Youth Camp, W2655 W. South St. in Lake Geneva.

The event will feature recreational activities, wiffleball games, grilled food for purchase, archery tag, bounce houses, church-versus-church attendance competitions and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the recently-opened Carrera Welcome Center & Youth Gathering Place.

"We're opening it up to the community," Christiaan Snedeker, executive director for Lake Geneva Ministries, said. "Come out and see what Lake Geneva Youth Camp is all about and how it's continuing to change lives for decades to come."

One of the highlights of the event is a world record attempt for the most s'mores eaten at a single time, which currently is about 1,500 s'mores. The world record attempt will begin at 3 p.m.

"What says camp more than s'mores?," Snedeker said. "We're encouraging everyone to show up by 2 p.m., because it takes a little time to drive in and park and check in."

Parking for the open house event will be available at the youth camp facility, Badger High School, 220 E. South St., and Lake Geneva Middle School, 600 N. Bloomfield Road.

"We're using several parking areas down South Street including our property. Badger High School has allowed us to use their parking there and even Lake Geneva Middle School," Snedeker said. "So, we have plenty of parking and even some shuttle options with those different parking lots."

After the open house, a ticketed banquet event will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Carole & Don Smith Administration Building located on the youth camp campus.

The banquet will include guest speaker Dwight Knight, camp alumni, with worship being led by Thomas Tobolski of Discover Church.

Officials from the Lake Geneva Ministries have been planning the anniversary event for about a year.

Snedeker said he is excited about honoring the camp's 75th anniversary.

"It was founded in 1950. It opened for boys and girls camps, and here we are 75 years later, three quarters of a century, of life-changing experiences in Christ," Snedeker said. "So, that's very exciting. It's exciting to continue a legacy too, because we have a big vision for the future to continue to grow and refine the ministry for decades to come."

Youth camp offerings

Lake Geneva Youth Camp offers year-round camp programs for elementary school age-children through college-age students. The camp serves about 20,000 people a year.

Some of the activities the camp programs offer include boating, water sports, archery, paintball, wiffleball, tubing, boat tag and ziplining.

"Offering a place for life-changing activities in Christ is what we do," Snedeker said.

The youth camp also offers leadership-development and church-related activities.

"Our main function is we want to bring people to know the gospel of Jesus Christ, so we do chapel services which include Bible studies, Bible memorization times, worship and fun games of all sorts," Snedeker said. "A lot of people's lives have been changed here. Spouses have been met here. People have founded and developed leadership skills here, and, most importantly, people have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ here and that's what we're all about."

Lake Geneva Youth Camp features a welcome center, canteen snack shop, chapel, gymnasium, dining facilities, activity fields, rock-climbing wall and lodging facilities.

"All of our lodging is pretty redefined as a camp," Snedeker said. "It's not the camp that you see in the movies where there's no heating or air conditioning. Our buildings are air conditioned and winterized for year-round use."

Officials from Lake Geneva Ministries also operate Conference Point Center, 300 Conference Point Road in Williams Bay, which offers adult and family camps.

Snedeker said the camps offer activities that allow people to enjoy nature and interact with each other.

"It's times to connect with people without screens and phones disturbing you. There's a lot of fun activities we offer," Snedeker said. "But the benefits we offer are actually connecting with human beings, having a full conversation, looking someone in the eye and shaking someone's hand. We're present with one another without the distraction of cellphones and other things that tend to get in the way of human interaction these days."

For more information about Lake Geneva Youth Camp, visit www.lgyc.org or the camp's Facebook page.

"Those are great ways to follow all the different things we offer. We're open 50-plus weeks a year to minister to people. If they're interested in booking or inquiring, our website is typically the best way to get all the information," Snedeker said. "Summer camp registrations are filling up, so we encourage people to get their summer camp registrations done. As long as we have space open, we will try to get people in at the last minute, but there's less and less last-minute space available. Some summer camps have waiting lists, and it may be hard to get them in."
Want to comment or attend a workshop?

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has scheduled a workshop, customer hearing and written comments deadline regarding an application submitted by Idaho Power to update the credit rate customers who installed on-site generation systems receive for excess energy they contribute to the utilitys grid.

Commission staff are hosting a public workshop on Wednesday, May 7, to present information on Idaho Powers application and answer questions. The workshop will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the commission offices, 11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Building 8, Suite 201-A, Boise.

To participate online, visit idahogov.webex.com, and enter meeting number 28686141367. Then, click on the green Join button. At the next window, please enter this password: IdahoPower. Next, please click on the green Join Webinar button. At the next window, please enter your name and e-mail address, and then click on the Next button. Then click on the green Join Webinar button.

To participate over the phone, call 1-415-655-0001 and enter meeting number 28686141367 when prompted.

A customer hearing will be held May 20 to take testimony for the record. The hearing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. or until all customer testimony has been received, whichever comes first. It is at the commission offices, 11331 W. Chinden Blvd., Building 8, Suite 201-A, Boise.

Those interested in submitting testimony can do so in person or telephonically. To submit testimony over the phone, call 1-415-655-0001 and enter meeting number 28636922927 when prompted.

To listen to the hearing remotely without submitted testimony, call 1-415-655-0001 and enter meeting number 26308966223 when prompted.

The commission is accepting written comments on Idaho Powers application until May 15. Comments are required to be filed through the commission website or by e-mail unless computer access is not available. To comment electronically, visit puc.idaho.gov and click on the Case Comment Form link on the upper left side of the page. Use case number IPC-E-25-15 when filling out the form.
Dr Mahathir says he regrets antagonising Anwar, claims PM now seeking revenge after failed 2020 power transition

KUALA LUMPUR, May 3  Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly expressed his regrets over antagonising Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which he has accused of trying to seek revenge now.

In an interview with TIME magazine, Dr Mahathir this may have been exacerbated by the fact that a power transfer in 2020 did not happen after the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government he led collapsed.

Before he could take over from me, the government collapsed, so I lost my position ... I cannot give to him something that I myself no longer had, he was quoted saying.

In February 2020, Dr Mahathir resigned as prime minister, after two days of intense speculation that he would lead Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia to exit the ruling coalition PH and form a new government with new coalition partners.

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The move came after a PKR faction led by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali planned to join forces with Bersatu, Umno and PAS to form a new coalition government. They would later form the Perikatan Nasional administration.

In the interview, Dr Mahathir also labelled Anwar as cut from the same cloth as Datuk Seri Najib Razak  which he lambasted for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption scandal.

This comes as the Malaysias Anti-Corruption Commission launched several investigations against Dr Mahathirs sons Tan Sri Mirzan and Tan Sri Mokhzani, and late ally Tun Daim Zainuddin.

Anwar is a smart operator, Dr Mahathir said, as he accused those under Anwars administration of being corrupt.

TIME noted that Anwar has denied targeting Dr Mahathir and any graft allegations, saying his government is doing everything we can to combat corruption, no apologies about that.

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The interview also suggested that Dr Mahathir has spectacularly fallen out with every single one of his successors, saying the fact begs uncomfortable questions.

Dr Mahathir and Anwars bad blood started during the formers first stint as prime minister, when he sacked his then deputy in 1998.

Anwar later faced corruption and sodomy charges in 1998, which resulted in jail time until the convictions were eventually overturned. He would later face a second sodomy charge and convicted in 2015, before given a royal pardon in 2018.




El Lissitzkys iconic Civil War poster Beat the Whites With the Red Wedge is perhaps the single most recognisable piece of artwork to emerge from the entire Russian Revolution. Its influence is widespread even today. In this article, Nelson Wan and James Kilby explore how The Red Wedge came into being, how it captures the essence of revolution, and how a work of propaganda such as this can be considered great art.

[This article was originally published as part of issue 47 of In Defence of Marxism magazine  the quarterly theoretical journal of the Revolutionary Communist International  get your copy here!]

In Moscow in 1918 there flashed before my eyes the short-circuit which split the world in two. This single blow pushed the time we call the present like a wedge between yesterday and tomorrow. My efforts are now directed to driving the wedge deeper. One must belong on this side or that  there is no mid way.[1]  El Lissitzky, 1918

The Russian Revolution of 1917 ushered in a wave of artistic and creative genius that stirred the depths of society. For the first time in their lives, the oppressed masses of Russia had the doors of art and culture flung open to them. Meanwhile the best and brightest of the Russian artists and intelligentsia aligned themselves with the revolution.

One of the greatest of these artists was the virtuosic Eleazar Markovich Lissitzky, known commonly as El Lissitzky. El Lissitzky was, amongst other things, a photographer, designer, typographer, and architect. El Lissitzky revolutionised almost every field of art that he worked in, and following the October Revolution, he identified heart and soul as a communist.

Whilst his contributions in other fields have been seminal, the work that El Lissitzky is perhaps best known for is his Civil War poster Beat the Whites With the Red Wedge, which was produced to aid the Bolshevik struggle against the White armies of reaction.

Intense struggle

Beat the Whites With the Red Wedge is a brilliant depiction of the revolutionary process at one of its most intense phases: that of civil war.

In the course of this struggle, society is polarised to the highest degree. There is no escaping the question: which side are you on?

This was precisely where the Russian Revolution found itself in late 1919, when El Lissitzky likely produced The Red Wedge. Although the October Revolution of 1917 was largely a bloodless affair, by March 1918 the intervention of the worlds imperialists to finance, arm, and supply forces to the counter-revolution, opened up the bloodbath of the Civil War.

In the course of this struggle, society  and indeed the world  was split into two opposing camps, the Reds and Whites. Despite being referred to as a civil war, it was in fact an international war, spread over a vast number of territories, and involving many more nations.

At one point or another, all the petty-bourgeois parties in what was the former Russian Empire either split, or lined up behind the Whites. The peasantry fractured between the poor and middle layers on one side, who gained from the Bolsheviks land policy and were prepared to defend it, and the rich peasants, or kulaks, most of whom were hostile to the revolution.

Beat the Whites With The Red Wedge very graphically depicts this process, as the struggle between two sides internationally: light and dark. There is no middle camp.

Here we see a struggle between the revolution, represented on the left in brightness, overcoming the counterrevolution, depicted as darkness on the right. The red wedge itself clearly communicates the spearhead of the revolution  the Red Army, under the leadership of the Bolsheviks  smashing the White armies of reaction.

As with many great revolutionary artists, there have been efforts by the bourgeoisie to separate El Lissitskys art from his revolutionary beliefs, but this is impossible. As Trotsky said, an artist is not an empty machine. [2] They are a living person with a psychology shaped by the society around them.

The imagery of The Red Wedge tells us that El Lissitzky was not a mere fellow traveller, viewing the revolution as a blind process from without, but he in fact had an appreciation of the internal dynamics of the revolutionary process, and the totality of what a revolution represents.

It is abundantly clear that El Lissitzky understood the Russian Revolution from within, as a communist. To the naked eye, revolutions are chaotic and formless. To a petty bourgeois there is no reason or scientific rationality behind a revolution. But El Lissitzky is not depicting chaos. The Red Wedge expresses clarity, unity of purpose and action, consistency, and the class struggle itself; all with mathematical precision. Trotsky described Marxism as the algebra of revolution, which happens to be a fitting description of what The Red Wedge depicts. [3]

Driving a wedge

As an artwork The Red Wedge is highly abstract, and yet the simplistic forms provide an even deeper clarity in meaning. With the exception of some smaller triangles and rectangles, the composition is made entirely of two-dimensional shapes, and yet there is dynamism and movement expressed.

A highly likely influence for The Red Wedge was Nikolai Kollis Monument to the Red Army / Image: public domain

The form of the red wedge is sharp and forceful. With all its strength concentrated into one point, it penetrates the inert white circle. The smaller red wedges express motion to burst into the picture and shatter the smaller grey rectangles. The text aligns itself with this movement. And whereas smaller contingents of the Red Army are depicted in the rear as a series of orderly rectangles; the additional forces of the White Armies are depicted in disarray as they are confronted by the Reds.

By using abstract shapes and colours to depict the forces of revolution and counter-revolution, there is no hint of any nationalism to this struggle. There is simply a struggle between the two decisive classes of modern day society: the international working class, and the capitalists of all countries.

A highly likely influence for The Red Wedge was Nikolai Kollis Monument to the Red Army, which was built in 1918 in Moscow to celebrate the defeat of general Krasnovs attempted military coup of November 1917.

Simply titled The Red Wedge, Kolli's monument consisted of a red triangle vertically inserted as a wedge into a white rectangular block. A very visible crack snakes downward from the tip of the triangle, suggesting that the force of the red wedge has succeeded in breaking the solidity of the white structure.

The abstract metaphor of this red wedge was intended to signify the victory of the Red Army over the White counter-revolution. The monument managed to convey a narrative, which would have been comprehensible to all levels of Russian society, as would have undoubtedly been the case with El Lissitzkys transmutation of Kollis monument into his Red Wedge.

The red wedge itself is indeed a fitting metaphor for the vanguard of the revolution. On one level, it represents the military forces of the Reds: sharp enough to pierce the defences of the Whites and overwhelm them. But on another level, it represents the red programme of revolution: expropriation of the capitalists and landlords, workers power, and land to the peasants.

The Bolsheviks skillfully used their programme to drive a wedge into the armies of the counter-revolution, splitting their forces between the military tops  and the capitalists and landlords that they served  and the ranks, many of whom were won politically to the side of the revolution.

Indeed, of the 21 armies of foreign intervention that were sent by the imperialists to help crush the revolution, nearly all of them had to be withdrawn following mutinies, or the danger of rebellions, from within the ranks.

The red wedge therefore is effective in defeating the White Armies from within, something that El Lissitzkys poster excellently conveys.

The impact of October

The Red Wedge is also noteworthy in that it reveals the profound impact that the Russian Revolution had on a layer of artists and their art.

The entry of the masses onto the stage of history unleashed a massive pent-up desire to conquer the world of culture on their part. The struggle to transform society produced a sense of spiritual uplift, which of course found its reflection in the art of the day.

The revolution attracted a wide layer of artists, who connected with the new spirit of the times. The old traditions and routines of the past were thrown out, in favour of new ideas, and new techniques.

The Red Wedge is clearly a product of the Suprematist school of art, pioneered by El Lissitzkys friend and mentor Kazemir Malevich in 1915. Malevich created some of the worlds first completely abstract paintings. He rejected the imitation of natural forms, and demanded the creation of abstract geometric compositions, in limited colours, in order to demonstrate the supremacy of pure feeling in creative art.[4]

Malevich correctly pointed out that art that simply reproduces a faithful likeness of material objects does not in itself make for great art. It is the feelings that a work of art produces in people that are most significant.

Whilst this certainly contains a profound truth, Malevich, as a philosophical idealist, exaggerated the world of non-objective feelings and emotions as primary to the material world. His philosophy of Suprematism was therefore shrouded in a cloak of mysticism.

Malevichs Black Square  and other works  opened the door to a genuine revolution in art / Image: Kazimir Malevich, 1915, Black Suprematic Square, oil on linen canvas, 79.5 x 79.5 cm, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

One of Malevichs most famous works, where he took abstraction to its most extreme form, was his painting of a black square (to depict pure feeling) on a white background, which he made in 1915. From this he proceeded to more complex arrangements of geometric forms, such as his Suprematist Composition (Blue Rectangle Over the Red Beam), painted in 1915.

Malevichs Black Square  and other works  opened the door to a genuine revolution in art, which based itself upon abstractions as a way to conjure feelings. Some of the best art of this period emerged from this trend.

Malevich, following 1917, fully embraced the revolution, becoming a member of the Collegium on the Arts of Narkompros (the People's Commissariat for Education). Despite being philosophically hostile to Marxism, he was encouraged to take up teaching roles at a number of prestigious art schools, and afforded wide opportunities to display his works. This is testament to the culture of freedom of artistic expression that characterised the early years of the Bolsheviks rule, before it was suffocated by the rise of the Stalinist bureaucracy.

In October of 1919, El Lissitzky persuaded Malevich to join him teaching at the Peoples Art School in Vitebsk, Belarus. In addition to teaching graphic design, printing, and architecture, El Lissitzky had spent the summer at Vitebsk designing and creating propaganda posters.

It was at Vitebsk that Malevich converted El Lissitzky to his Suprematist style. El Lissitzky produced Beat the Whites With the Red Wedge soon after, in either late 1919 or early 1920.

Despite his enormous contributions to the art of this period, Malevich was described by El Lissitzky as being trapped in a world devoid of real objects. [5] It was therefore left to El Lissitzky to undertake a more practical application of Malevichs Suprematist ideas in The Red Wedge and other works.

The Red Wedge was a mass-produced poster, as opposed to a painting or a sculpture. It moved into the realm of typography, graphic design, and postering. And unlike Malevichs attempts to convey pure feeling (something that cannot exist), it intentionally sought to tap into and help develop a very specific feeling: the revolutionary optimism and determination of the working class and poor in their struggle to transform the world.

Agit-prop

It was no accident that El Lissitzky decided to produce his Red Wedge as a poster, rather than a traditional canvas or sculpture. According to El Lissitzky, typographic design underwent a radical change following the Russian Revolution:

"It is the great masses, the semi-literate masses, who have become the audience. [] The traditional book was torn into separate pages, enlarged a hundred-fold, coloured for great intensity, and brought into the street as a poster.[6]

There was an explosion of street art in the years following the October Revolution, of which posters played a large part. According to art historian Mikhail Guerman:

The poster stimulated thought, expressed indignation, bubbled over with enthusiasm, provoked laughter, responded to events on the instant, and communicated news without delay. Posters were drawn at night, to be pasted up on the streets in the morning. Although the sheets were devised with the knowledge that their life was but a day, in the history of art they have lasted down the years. They have lasted not merely as witnesses of great events, but also because of their great and rigorous perfection. [7]

Such was the spirit of the Agit-Prop art that was produced by El Lissitzky and other avant-garde artists in this period.

Indeed, in the years following his creation of The Red Wedge, El Lissitzky and Malevich co-founded UNOVIS (Exponents of the New Art), a collective of Suprematist artists. Rather than create art works for display in galleries or private homes, they decorated the walls and interiors of public buildings with Suprematist designs, posters, and signs. Their intention was to disseminate Suprematism as the visual language of world revolution.

Can propaganda be great art?

What is also remarkable about El Lissitzkys Red Wedge is that it was produced as a propaganda poster, and yet this fact does not diminish its artistic quality.

The greatest art is that which deals with the biggest questions, those of life and death, which move the lives of millions / Image: Kazimir Malevich, Suprematist Composition (blue rectangle over the red beam), 1916

The greatest art is that which deals with the biggest questions, those of life and death, which move the lives of millions. It is art that has something to say about the world we live in, that stirs the emotions, and moves people to action.

Much of the greatest art is therefore political, as it deals with the conditions of life, struggles, and aspirations of the oppressed. But politics alone does not make art great. Whilst it is certainly possible for artists to convey a political message in their art, the message should emerge organically from the art, and not be something forced.

Generally speaking, works of propaganda rarely amount to great art, if they are even considered art at all. This is since propaganda is mainly concerned with delivering a message that is entirely external to the art-form used. The artistic element is secondary; it is a mere hook to convey a political point.

But whilst El Lissitzkys Red Wedge is undoubtedly a work of propaganda, its artistic and political intentions harmoniously align. The propaganda present in the work is not shallow demagoguery; it is the distilled essence of the Russian Revolution and all that it sought to achieve.

The Red Wedge is as clear an expression of the revolutionary struggle to change society as any artist could ever produce. There is a universality to it, in that it could be understood in any class society, where the revolutionary class is fighting for its future, and for the future of humanity as a whole.

As such, this artwork instantly connects with the aspirations of the exploited and oppressed everywhere to overthrow their oppressors, and begin the transformation of society. It taps into the burning sense of anger that millions feel about their conditions of life, and the hatred felt towards their rulers. It shows that together, if organised, we can fight back  and win. It is a true inspiration.

Conversely, the image strikes fear into the hearts of the ruling class, who are terrified of a mass movement sweeping them from power.

The Red Wedge therefore cannot but help to stir peoples emotions, wherever they are. It is this that makes it a truly great work of art.

A spur to action

El Lissitzky did not regard the propagandistic elements of The Red Wedge as an externally imposed compromise. If there remains any further doubt on where El Lissitzkys convictions lay, one need only look at the personal confessions that were published in his biography:

Every piece of work I did was an invitation, not to make eyes at it but to take it as a spur to action, to urge our feelings to follow the general line of forming a classless society.[8]

Whilst some petty-bourgeois philistines, who see only themselves and their own narrow interests, may baulk at the idea of artistic creation for a political purpose, there was clearly no contradiction present for El Lissitzky, as he tirelessly dedicated his art to the revolution and the building of a new society.

To this day, millions of people worldwide are inspired by The Red Wedge. It stands as a striking reminder that it is indeed possible for the oppressed and exploited to take power into their own hands, and defeat the forces of reaction. In a world of intolerable suffering and chaos, it is a symbol that a new world is possible.

References

[1] S Lissitzky-Kuppers (ed.), El Lissitzky: Life, Letters, Texts, Thames and Hudson, 1992, pg 329

[2] L Trotsky, Literature and Revolution, University of Michigan Press, 1960, pg 171

[3] ibid., pg 104

[4] K Malevich, Suprematism, The Non Objective World, Paul Theobald and co., 1959, pg 67

[5] E Lissitzky, Russia: An Architecture for World Revolution, M.I.T. Press, 1930, pg 29

[6] E Lissitzsky Our Book, Twentieth Century Art Theory, Prentice-Hall, 1990, pg 295

[7] M Guerman, Art of the October Revolution, Harry N Abrams, 1979, pg 76

[8] S Lissitzky-Kuppers (ed.), El Lissitzky: Life, Letters, Texts, Thames and Hudson, 1992, pg 326
Morocco is gearing towards the establishment of a university entirely dedicated to deaf people and deaf-related professions, in partnership between the Lalla hasnaa foundation and the Washington-based Gallaudet University.

The announcement was made Friday during the visit Princess Lalla Hasnaa paid to Gallaudet University and that was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of understanding between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and the Gallaudet University, the only institution in the world that is solely dedicated to the education of the deaf and hard-of-hearing persons from early childhood up to PhD level.

The University, to be the first in Africa and in the Middle East, will be fully dedicated to the education of deaf and hard of-hearing children, providing a complete educational pathway, from early childhood to doctoral studies.

Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, chaired the signing ceremony of the MoU that was initialed by the Foundations Deputy President Karim Essakalli and President of Gallaudet University Roberta Cordano, at the National Deaf Life Museum located within the University.

The MoU reflects the Princesss firm and steadfast commitment to improving the livelihoods of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Morocco, through providing an educational environment that respects their uniqueness, while guaranteeing their full integration into society, karim Essakalli said, during the signing ceremony, emphasizing that the Lalla Asmaa Foundation has endeavored for over fifty years to ensure access of deaf children to a dignified education, to acknowledge their language and culture, as well as their access to specialized, affordable and sustainable care.

Essakalli added that the University project is part of a wider dynamic promoted by King Mohammed VI, aimed at building an inclusive society, where everyone, regardless of any difference, can learn, evolve, thrive and contribute fully to the development of society.

President of the University Roberta Cordano, on her part, affirmed that this MoU is a statement of mutual respect and recognition, and embodies our shared commitment to promoting a future of excellence in deaf education in Morocco.

She also emphasized that the University is honored to be at the Foundations side at this historic and auspicious time.

Based on trust and shared values, the relationship between the University and the Foundation highlights the Kingdoms rich heritage and inclusive vision, while drawing on Gallaudets global experience and expertise, said Cordano.

Before the MoU signing ceremony, Princess Lalla Asmaa toured the university, visited a classroom at the Sorenson Leaving Center, learned about students academic projects and the quality of teaching at this university, which offers a range of educational and scientific programs adapted to the needs of deaf people.

At the Sorenson Leaving Center, she also visited the Motion Light Lab, a unique space that utilizes innovative methods and a blend of sign language and visual aids to support the cognitive and linguistic growth of children.

Princess Lalla Asmaa then visited the Student Academic Center, which provides facilities adapted to the specific needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including technological tools such as the Communication Access Realtime Translation system.

She afterwards explored the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University, a center of excellence with educational programs adapted to deaf and hard-of-hearing children, from pre-school up to high school.

Princess Lalla Asmaa also attended a teaching session of young deaf children, accompanied by their parents. It was an opportunity to discover the Family Learning approach, which educates parents to be active partners in their childrens linguistic and social development.

Two Moroccan students who are attending Gallaudet University, namely Zahra Ketoun, a PhD student, and Zakaria El Kantaoui, an undergraduate and alumnus of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, were among the officials and faculty that greeted Princess Lalla Hasnaa and her accompanying delegation.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco was represented at the investiture ceremony of President-elect of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi El Alami.

During the ceremony, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema was sworn in as President of Gabon for a seven-year term. The provisional leader won the April 12 presidential election with a landslide majority of 94.85% of votes.

The investiture ceremony took place in Libreville Saturday in the presence of several heads of state and government, speakers of parliaments, representatives of international organizations and foreign delegations.

King Mohammed VI had sent a message of congratulations to Oligui Nguema on his election to his countrys supreme office.

In this message, the Monarch had assured the President-elect of Moroccos readiness to continue its determined work with Gabon to strengthen the special ties existing between the two countries and expand the scope of bilateral cooperation in areas of common interest.

The Monarch had pointed out that Morocco and Gabon offer a model of fruitful, lasting and solidarity-based South-South and inter-African cooperation, and that the two peoples are united by a rich and deep friendship.

Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema won the April 12 presidential election with a landslide majority of 94.85% of votes.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: cdd20 / Unsplash

"Theories are like toothbrushes," it's sometimes said. "Everybody has their own and nobody wants to use anybody else's."

It's a joke, but when it comes to the study of consciousnessthe question of how we have a subjective experience of anything at allit's not too far from the truth.

In 2022, British neuroscientist Anil Seth and I published a review listing 22 theories based in the biology of the brain. In 2024, operating with a less restrictive scope, US public intellectual Robert Kuhn counted more than 200.

It's against this background that Nature has just published the results of an "adversarial collaboration" from a group called the Cogitate Consortium focused on two prominent theories: global neuronal workspace theory and integrated information theory.

Two big theories go head to head

With so many ideas floating around and inherently elusive subject matter, testing theories has been no easy task. Indeed, debate between proponents of different theories has been vigorous and, at times, acrimonious.

At a particularly low point in 2023, after the initial announcement of the results Cogitate has formally published today, many experts signed an open letter arguing that integrated information theory was not only false but doesn't even qualify as scientific.

Nevertheless, global neuronal workspace theory and integrated information theory are two of the "big four" theories that dominate current discussions of consciousness. (The others are higher-order representation theories, and the local re-entryor recurrencytheory.)

The theories are hard to summarize, but both tie consciousness to the activity of neurons in different parts of the brain.

Advocates of these two theories, together with a number of unaligned theorists, generated predictions from the two theories about the kinds of brain activity one would expect to be associated with consciousness.

Predictions and results

The group agreed that integrated information theory predicts conscious perception should be associated with sustained synchronization and activity of signals in a part of the brain called the posterior cortex.

On the other hand, they said global neuronal workspace theory predicts that a process of "neural ignition" should accompany both the start and end of a stimulus. What's more, it should be possible to decode what a person is conscious of from activity in their prefrontal cortex.

These hypotheses (among others) were tested by "theory-neutral" teams from across the globe.

The results were not decisive. Some were in line with predictions of one or other of the theories, but other results generated challenges.

For example, the team failed to find sustained synchronization within the posterior cortex of the kind predicted by integrated information theory. At the same time, global neuronal workspace theory is challenged by the fact that not all contents of consciousness could be decoded from the prefrontal cortex, and by the failure to find neural ignition when the stimulus was first presented.

A win for science

But although this study wasn't a win for either theory, it was a decisive win for science. It represents a clear advance in how the consciousness community approaches theory-testing.

It's not uncommon for researchers to tend to look for evidence in favor of their own theory. But the seriousness of this problem in consciousness science only became clear in 2022, with the publication of an important paper by a number of researchers involved in the Cogitate Consortium. The paper showed it was possible to predict which theory of consciousness a particular study supported based purely on its design.

The vast majority of attempts to "test" theories of consciousness have been conducted by advocates of those very theories. As a result, many studies have focused on confirming theories (rather than finding flaws, or falsifying them).

No changing minds

The first achievement of this collaboration was getting rival theorists to agree on testable predictions of the two theories. This was especially challenging as both the global workspace and integrated information theories are framed in very abstract terms.

Another achievement was to run the same experiments in different labsa particularly difficult challenge given those labs were not committed to the theories in question.

In the early stages of the project, the team took advice from Israeli-US psychologist Daniel Kahneman, the architect of the idea of adversarial collaborations for research.

Kahneman said not to expect the results to change anyone's mind, even if they decisively favored one theory over another. Scientists are committed to their theories, he pointed out, and will cling to them even in the face of counter-evidence.

The usefulness of irrationality

This kind of irrational stubbornness may seem like a problem, but it doesn't have to be. With the right systems in place, it can even help to advance science.

Given we don't know which theoretical approach to consciousness is most likely to be right, the scientific community ought to tackle consciousness from a variety of perspectives.

The research community needs ways to correct itself. However, it's useful for individual scientists to stick to their theoretical guns, and continue to work within a particular theory even in the face of problematic findings.

A hard nut to crack

Consciousness is a hard nut to crack. We don't yet know whether it will yield to the current methods of consciousness science, or whether it requires a revolution in our concepts or methods (or perhaps both).

What is clear, however, is that if we're going to untangle the problem of subjective experience, the scientific community will need to embrace this model of collaborative research.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Staff at the Putnam Museum and Science Center in Davenport are preparing for a busy summer full of 24 summer camps for students and spearheading upcoming projects for the institution.

In early April, the museum was moving full speed ahead towards summer preparations after receiving a grant of almost $23,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities toward pop-up exhibits and updating some of its Civil Rights Movement walking tours.

But two days after receiving the grant award, museum president and CEO Cindy Diehl Yang received notice that it was terminated.

And with the recent news of AmeriCorps cuts leaving the institution with two fewer staff members, the museum is still figuring out how to chart a path forward.

Our education programs are not, you know, profit centers per se  how can we keep that education going in the community? Diehl Yang said. One of those spokes on the wheel of what keeps our funding whole has just been taken off.

The wave of federal funding cuts hitting the Putnam Museum and Science Center is not unique. Impacts of the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency-driven staff layoffs and grant cuts at federal institutions that support arts and humanities, including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, are trickling down to museums across Iowa

And a proposal to zero out the National Endowment for the Arts in President Donald Trumps recently released budget blueprint could further expand these funding cuts in the state.

The effects are stretching to every corner of Iowa in both rural and urban areas.

In Des Moines, the Science Center of Iowa had a $196,000 grant for expanding the museums accessibility to members of the Latinx communities cut last month. In Waterloo, the Grout Museum District lost a $20,000 grant to support its collection of video oral histories in the museums Black Stories Collective permanent exhibit.

In Dubuque, the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium had a $31,000 grant for its interpretive master plan terminated.

And a joint exhibit between the Des Moines Art Center and the Waterloo Center for the Arts showcasing Haitian art saw a $11,275 NEH grant cut.

Des Moines Art Center Director Kelly Baum said their grant, like many federal grants, was reimbursement-based, meaning the museum has to incur the costs before it receives the funding. Baum added that the museum was able to absorb the cost of the money it had already spent, but thats not possible for every institution.

I would just hope that people would understand that these grants are given for the public good and when they disappear, that means that the public good is no longer being served, Baum said.

These funding cuts could lead to closures for small-town museums in Iowa, said Heather Plucar, executive director of Humanities Iowa. Many federal grants that go to museums and arts organizations in the state go through Humanities Iowa. Over the last month, Plucar said, she has been having tough conversations with smaller museums about filling funding gaps.

Those places are typically run by a large amount of volunteers who put together grant applications on their own time, Plucar said. Not having a federal lifeline for some of those smaller places means immediate closure.

A source for our public and our communities to engage

Beyond its regular programming, the Grout Museum District in Waterloo has a slate of partnerships with local organizations, including one with the YMCA that promotes STEM education for preteen girls and another with an agency that works with foster families in the community.

Museums across Iowa host educational programs for schools and families that supplement what students learn in classrooms, said Chawne Paige, executive director of the Waterloo Center for the Arts said.

I don't know a museum across the nation that doesn't have a direct connection to public school, and private schools, providing a kind of supplement to the experience that's in a classroom by taking and providing an immersive experience for students, Paige said. Oftentimes it's a make-or-break if you have the funds or you have to dial back on the type of training you have for the docents.

But grant terminations could impact direct funding for specific programs alongside indirect funding for things like research on making museums more accessible or on traveling exhibits.

At the Science Center of Iowa, federal grants have helped underwrite the development of numerous programs at the museum, including a space and astronomy exhibit geared towards students and finding new ways to engage kids in STEM education, according to museum President and CEO Curt Simmons.

People, schools, teachers, administrators, look to the science centers of the world to enhance their science education, and, frankly, to get students really excited about science, Simmons said.

It's really hard to get in line and be able to survive

Museums across Iowa are funded by multiple sources, including admissions fees, donations and federal and state grants.

Now that federal funds, a large revenue source for these museums, are being terminated, remaining state and private grants will only become more competitive, Plucar said.

I'm sure there will be a bottleneck during grant cycles of more applicants than usual for this main piece of pie, Plucar said. It's going to be tough. You're always looking for private donations, but there are so many needs right now, it's really hard to get in line and be able to survive the weight, to get to the front to make the ask.

Diehl Yang, with the Putnam Museum and Science Center, said that with multiple organizations beyond museums, including food pantries and other nonprofits, facing federal funding cuts, private donations across local communities are going to be stretched even thinner.

"We now have a larger number of people reaching out for that same pot of funds," Diehl Yang said. "(...) But the number of people who will need to be able to pull from that will be greater."

Despite the wave of changes caused by federal funding cuts, Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium President and CEO Kurt Strand said the institution has received an outpouring of support from the local community. He still fears the grant terminations they are experiencing will fall to the wayside amid the other impacts from federal changes that Iowa is facing.

There's so many other things going on, from tariffs to different cuts here and all these other layoffs and things like that, there's just so much noise out there, Strand said. In a quieter world, I believe we would be getting a lot of attention and concern and care on this, but I think given all the other things going on, it's hard to find a path.
KATHMANDU, May 3: The government has recognized Ncell as the highest income taxpayer in Nepals Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. The recognition was awarded during a special ceremony held on Friday in Kathmandu to mark the 8th National ICT Day 2025.

Observed annually on May 2, National ICT Day promotes the growth and advancement of the ICT sector in Nepal. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli presented the certificate of honour to Punam Singh, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Sustainability at Ncell, at the event.

The accolade acknowledges Ncells substantial contribution to the nation by paying the highest amount of income tax in the ICT sector for the fiscal year 2023/24. This recognition highlights the companys continued commitment to the development, expansion, and prosperity of the countrys ICT landscape.

Related story LMC honors Ncell for being largest institutional taxpayer in la...

We are grateful to the government for recognising our contributions to the ICT sector on this special occasion of National ICT Day 2025. As one of the major taxpayers, Ncell has consistently made significant tax contributions across various categories. We are proud to support the growth of ICT and the countrys economic development. At Ncell, we remain committed to the Digital Nepal vision, aligned with our theme Here for You, Here for Nepal, a press statement issued by Ncell quoted Jabbor Kayumov, CEO and Managing Director of Ncell, as saying.

Ncell has received similar accolades in the past, including recognition as the highest income taxpayer and overall highest taxpayer. In December last year, Lalitpur Metropolitan City also honoured Ncell as the top institutional taxpayer for the fiscal year 2023/24.

Since its inception, Ncell has contributed over NPR 340 billion in taxes and fees to the government. In the fiscal year 2023/24 alone, it paid NPR 20.30 billion.

Beyond its financial contributions, Ncell continues to invest in impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives through the Ncell Foundation. The company has invested over NPR 2 billion in CSR programs, reaching all seven provinces and benefiting more than 13 million people directly and indirectly across Nepal.
New Programs prioritize Education Healthcare and Economic Growth

KATHMANDU, May 3: The government unveiled its policies and programs for Fiscal Year 2025/26 on Friday, with President Ramchandra Paudel presenting the agenda in a joint session of Parliament.

The policy emphasizes good governance, rapid economic growth, and the protection of constitutional achievements. Key priorities include education reform, improved healthcare access, job creation, and strengthening the federal system. The government also pledged to counter misinformation and destabilizing activities targeting the constitution.

Aimed at fulfilling the national vision of Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali, the programs promote inclusive development, economic reform, and democratic governance. Parliament will debate the policies from May 5 to 9. Speaker Devraj Ghimire urged parties to submit names of participating lawmakers in advance.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the federal democratic republic, upholding constitutional achievements, and pursuing consensus-based reforms. It also emphasized political stability, administrative efficiency, and enhanced service delivery through digital transformation. A zero-tolerance policy on corruption and impunity remains a cornerstone.

Related story Local govts intensify preparations for budget, policies and pro...

Economically, the government plans to revitalize growth through high-level reforms, private sector investment, and harmonized fiscal and monetary policies. Structural tax reforms, efficient public spending, and an Alternative Development Finance Fund are part of this strategy.

Education is a top priority, with plans for legal and institutional reforms, modernized curricula, and a greater focus on technical, vocational, and research-based learning. The President Educational Reform Program will be transformed into the National Educational Reform Program, aiming for universal basic education by 2084 BS. Youth-focused startup programs and a study while working initiative will help address unemployment and promote entrepreneurship.

In healthcare, access and affordability will be expanded through a restructured health insurance system and integration of fragmented services. Specialized care, traditional medicine, and climate-resilient health infrastructure are also planned.

The agricultural sector will be modernized to enhance food security and self-reliance. The government will promote organic practices, improve insurance coverage, and encourage youth participation. Infrastructure development, including roads, tunnels, and expressways, will support regional connectivity and economic expansion.

Energy development will focus on hydropower, solar, and other renewables. Initiatives include promoting electricity use, reducing fuel imports, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. Conservation efforts and climate finance strategies will also be implemented.

Labor policy will prioritize domestic employment, expand social security, and improve vocational training. Reforms in foreign employment aim to make overseas work safer and better regulated.

Tourism will be developed as a key economic sector, with focus on wellness, cultural, and adventure tourism. Aviation sector reforms and heritage conservation will complement this strategy.

Inclusive development remains a priority, with targeted programs for women, children, senior citizens, and marginalized communities to enhance protection, empowerment, and access to services.

To support federalism, coordination among the three tiers of government will be strengthened. The Nagarik App will serve as a central digital platform to streamline service delivery. Administrative and civil service reforms will promote more efficient governance.

Legal and judicial reforms will ensure better access to justice and aim to conclude the transitional justice process. Foreign policy will adhere to non-alignment and balanced diplomacy, while national security will be reinforced through the modernization of the armed forces and defense infrastructure.

The government also plans to reform development practices by reprioritizing infrastructure projects. Feasible projects will be completed within the fiscal year or parliamentary term, while non-viable initiatives will be suspended or canceled.

The education policy outlines 12 key reform areas, including curriculum standardization, promotion of scientific research, improved university governance, and integration of traditional knowledge with modern innovation.
Xi Story: From grit to greatness, hard work builds a nation

Xinhua) 09:08, May 03, 2025

BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Prior to International Workers' Day 2025, the Great Hall of the People in Beijing -- the heart of China's political life -- welcomed a proud assembly: over 2,000 exemplary representatives drawn from the country's vast workforce of hundreds of millions.

In a ceremony on Monday, President Xi Jinping joined technicians, judges, nurses, and farmers to recognize not only their vital contributions, but also the spirit of dedication and hard work that fuels a nation.

Hailing the honorees as exemplars of the people and pillars of the country, Xi called on citizens to draw inspiration from them -- staying grounded and working hard -- so that, step by step, they can turn the grand vision of national rejuvenation into reality.

Xi sent the message at the gathering marking the 100th anniversary of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. It drives home a point he has long emphasized -- great dreams are not achieved by waiting or chanting slogans; they are earned through hard work and determination.

A LEADER FORGED THROUGH HARD WORK

Xi's respect for hard work is built on his own past.

In 1969, just shy of 16, Xi arrived at Liangjiahe, a rugged village on the arid Loess Plateau in northwest China, to work the fields alongside the farmers who called the rural community home.

He took on nearly every kind of task, but spent an especially large number of hours on one in particular: building the dams by compacting the earth layer by layer with heavy stone pounders.

Xi threw himself into the labor. Day one left his hands blistered; day two saw them bleeding. Still, he kept working without complaint.

"What a fine lad," remarked the locals.

The hard work did not end when Xi was elected Party chief of Liangjiahe in 1974. He rolled up his sleeves and led villagers in digging wells, building terraced fields, and installing biogas pits -- gradually transforming the community.

Living and working alongside the farmers for seven years, Xi grew from a slightly bewildered teenager into a man determined to serve the people.

"Most importantly," he later said, "I learned from my fellow farmers the values of respecting facts and working hard with perseverance."

Those formative years left an indelible mark on Xi, shaping the strong work ethic that has been his character either as village Party chief or general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

He works tirelessly, juggling domestic meetings, inspections and overseas visits -- his schedule always packed to the brim.

In a rare reflective moment during a foreign media interview, Xi was asked about life as China's leader. His candid reply laid bare his sacrifice. "My personal time? It's all consumed by work," he said. "Entrusted by the people ... I must put them first, serving with unwavering diligence."

MODEL WORKERS AS STARS

"What a galaxy of stars," Xi said at a conference room ahead of International Workers' Day in 2013.

By a "galaxy of stars," he was referring to the 65 role models before him, those honored for their hard work in their industries over the past decades.

Liang Jun, one of the earliest model workers, recounted how she helped turn northeast China's barren land into a national granary.

After listening to Liang's story, Xi told the then 84-year-old lady, "Your deeds are well known to our generation. As the first female tractor driver in China, you are truly remarkable."

As a leader who emerged from the ranks of the working people, Xi not only respects them but is also committed to ensuring that their needs are met.

Since Xi took the helm of China in 2012, the country has introduced more measures, laws and regulations to safeguard workers' rights and interests.

Moreover, Xi often visits workers during domestic inspection tours to personally assess their working and living conditions.

In 2023, he inspected a residential community in Shanghai built to house workers such as construction laborers, delivery drivers and sanitation staff.

He stepped into their homes and shared facilities -- public kitchens, laundries -- and spoke with them to understand their living conditions firsthand.

"Migrant workers, who come to contribute to Shanghai, are equally the city's masters," he stressed. "It is our responsibility to ensure they can arrive, settle down, live comfortably, and thrive here."

INVESTMENT IN SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE

At Monday's celebration ceremony, Xi underscored the importance of adapting to the new wave of technological and industrial transformation and enhancing the workforce's capabilities.

"High-quality development cannot be achieved without high-quality work and innovation," he said.

This resonates with his consistent emphasis on the crucial role of skilled talent in advancing the manufacturing sector.

Over the years, Xi's passion for craftsmanship has taken him to factory floors across the country, where he encouraged engineers, technicians and workers to hone their skills and push boundaries.

"Times may change and missions may shift, but the spirit of hard work, unity, and unyielding effort should never change," he said at Monday's ceremony.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
During the meeting, the minister highlighted India's fast-growing middle class, strong manufacturing base, and rapidly expanding digital economy. He said these factors make India a unique and promising place for global investors.

In a social media post, the Minister said, "Met Navroz D. Udwadia, Co-founder and Partner of Alpha Wave Global in London. Highlighted how India's rapidly expanding middle class, manufacturing capability and rise of digital economy offer a unique opportunity for investment and growth".

Alpha Wave Global is a well-known investment firm, and the meeting focused on how India's economic growth and policy reforms are creating new opportunities for international businesses and investors.

Earlier, Minister Goyal also held a joint meeting with Belgium's Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade, Theo Francken, and the Minister-President of Flanders, Matthias Diependaele. The leaders discussed ways to strengthen the India-Belgium partnership, especially in the areas of trade and investment.

The discussions were described as productive and wide-ranging, aimed at deepening bilateral relations between the two countries.

On Friday in Belgium, India and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to address pending issues regarding their ambitious proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the next round of negotiations scheduled to take place in New Delhi from May 12-16.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal and Maros Sefcovic, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, met in Brussels and discussed the progress of discussions aimed at navigating global trade challenges and solidifying their resolve to achieve this significant milestone.

During the meeting, India stressed the importance of giving equal attention to non-tariff barriers (NTBs) alongside tariff negotiations to ensure meaningful progress.

The meeting highlighted the progress achieved across various negotiating fronts.

Both sides emphasised the critical need to maintain the current momentum through regular monthly negotiating rounds and continued virtual engagement.

Union Minister Goyal is currently on a three-nation tour of Europe, covering key trade partners. In the UK and Norway, he held discussions with his counterparts on trade and investment. (ANI)
Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) [India], May 3: In a proud and defining moment for the institution, BSM Dnyananand School, Thane was recognized as the Most Emerging School of the Year 2025 at the prestigious ArdorComm Educational Summit & Awards held in Bhubaneswar.

Adding to the celebration, Anjali R. Pandey, Principal of BSM Dnyananand School, was honored with the coveted title of Outstanding Principal of the Year. Her visionary leadership, commitment to academic excellence, and unwavering dedication to nurturing young minds were celebrated by educators and thought leaders from across the country.

The ArdorComm Educational Summit & Awards is renowned for recognizing institutions and individuals who are driving meaningful change and innovation in the education sector. The accolades bestowed upon BSM Dnyananand School and Pandey highlight their exemplary contribution toward fostering a future-ready generation.

Speaking after receiving the award, Pandey said,

"This recognition is not just a personal honor, but a reflection of the collective efforts of our dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and inspiring students. At BSM Dnyananand School, we believe in nurturing curiosity, creativity, and character -- the true pillars of education. This award motivates us to continue pushing boundaries and shaping leaders of tomorrow."

The entire BSM Dnyananand School community joins in celebrating this significant achievement, looking ahead with renewed passion for setting new benchmarks in education.

Here's to a future filled with excellence, innovation, and many more milestones.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], May 3: In a landmark move to deepen the strategic partnership between India and the European Union, The Dialogue and Grayspace Law and Policy Consulting officially launched STRIDE-EUI (Strategic Research, Innovation & Dialogue for EU-India Engagement) through a high-impact discussion. Located in Brussels and New Delhi, STRIDE-EUI will build a bridge between the two political capitals--connecting policy and practice, government and business, ambition and action. Through thematic convenings, expert whitepapers, and collaborative programs, STRIDE-EUI will serve as a catalyst for shaping resilient and future-focused EU-India relations. The launch event convened dozens of participants and brought together prominent voices from, industry, civil society, the international community, and academia to chart the future of EU-India cooperation across the intersecting pillars of technology, trade, and security. Set against the backdrop of growing geopolitical shifts and a shared commitment to democratic values, STRIDE-EUI was positioned as a timely and strategic platform to drive bilateral collaboration through policy research, and multi-stakeholder dialogue. The discussion expressed strong optimism for deepening India-EU collaboration. The panel emphasized bridging theory and practice, embracing strategic partnerships, and finding pragmatic solutions to regulatory challenges. Synergies in technology, trade, and workforce needs were further highlighted, positioning India as a key partner for the EU. Panellists also underlined the importance of differentiated strategies and mutual understanding. Specific recommendations included focusing on sector-specific engagement to navigate regulatory complexities, strengthening India's and EU's role in global supply chains and the ICT workforce, and promoting mutually rewarding associations in emerging areas like digital technologies and AI. The session closed with a call for continued dialogue and active engagement to sustain the momentum and build concrete outcomes. "STRIDE-EUI is a timely and necessary platform that will shape the future of EU-India collaboration. It's not just about aligning policies--it's about anticipating global shifts and co-creating solutions. STRIDE-EUI will drive meaningful, multi-stakeholder dialogue in areas that define tomorrow's world." said Sagar Singamsetty, Founder and Managing Partner, Grayspace Law and Policy Consulting "STRIDE-EUI is a timely and important initiative that seeks to strengthen the evolving EU-India partnership by bridging the critical domains of trade, technology, and security policy. In a rapidly shifting and politically dynamic global landscape, STRIDE-EUI will serve as a catalyst for multi-stakeholder dialogue, fostering collaboration through events, workshops, and research focused on business-relevant and strategic contexts. By addressing emerging technology policy considerations and associated risk considerations, this platform will contribute meaningfully to shaping a resilient and forward-looking EU-India engagement" said Sundar Narayanan, AI Ethics and Governance Expert "The launch of STRIDE-EUI signals a new momentum in the India-EU relationship. At The Dialogue, we believe in creating platforms that enable knowledge exchange and shape progressive policy. STRIDE-EUI will act as a bridge between regions, ideologies, and priorities rooted in shared values and geared towards future-ready cooperation." said Kazim Rizvi, Founding Director, The Dialogue This initiative aims to foster deeper engagement between key players from both regions, especially with developments pertaining to the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The Council meeting recently reaffirmed their shared commitment to resilient supply chains, interoperable digital infrastructure, and innovation-driven growth. The launch of STRIDE-EUI also aligns with a critical juncture in EU-India trade relations, as the two countries continue negotiating a landmark free trade agreement. Featured Speakers -Amb. Gurjit Singh, Former Ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, ASEAN & the African Union - Malathi Narayanan - Director-General, Indian Beauty & Hygiene Association (IBHA) -Eric Pol, Chairman, MyData Global - Gautam Kamath, Associate, Digital Economy & Governance, ECDPM - Kazim Rizvi, Founding Director, The Dialogue - Sundar Narayanan, AI Ethics and Governance Expert - Sagar Singamsetty, Founder and Managing Partner, Grayspace Law and Policy Consulting - Bhoomika Agarwal, Senior Research Associate, The Dialogue With its formal launch completed, STRIDE-EUI will initiate a robust calendar of dialogues, roundtables, and policy publications. The platform will also serve as a strategic interface for governments, businesses, and civil society to co-create solutions to shared global challenges from digital governance to supply chain resilience and ethical tech innovation. Looking ahead, STRIDE-EUI will also prioritise collaborative initiatives addressing AI governance, cybersecurity frameworks, investment facilitation, and responsible technology innovation to shape a sustainable future for the EU-India partnership. For more information, please visit - https://www.linkedin.com/company/strideeui/ The Dialogue The Dialogue, based in New Delhi, fosters informed discussions and policy initiatives. It aims to facilitate dialogue between various stakeholders, including policymakers and experts. Grayspace Consulting and Policy Grayspace Consulting and Policy, based in Belgium, is a law and policy consultancy firm. It provides expert advice on regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, and policy matters. For media queries and additional information, please contact: Nikesh Gupta | Contact No.: +91 90047 07739 | Email: nikesh.gupta@kaizzencomm.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
SMPL New Delhi [India], May 3: In an era where cities are expanding rapidly and environmental consciousness is paramount, architecture has assumed a new significance--one that blends aesthetics, function, and responsibility. At the forefront of this evolution is the Nitte Institute of Architecture (NIA), located in the coastal city of Mangaluru, Karnataka. As a constituent college of Nitte (Deemed to be University), NIA is redefining architectural education by focusing not just on structures, but on shaping the minds that will design a sustainable tomorrow. Established in 2015, NIA has swiftly grown into a centre of excellence for architectural education. It offers a comprehensive 5-year Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) programme, recognised by the Council of Architecture (COA), India. This degree marks the first step towards a professional career in architecture and equips students with the technical know-how, creative thinking, and ethical grounding needed to excel in today's competitive and ever-evolving industry. Nitte University, ranked 66th in the NIRF 2024 by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and accredited with an A+ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), is known for its global perspective. With a strong portfolio of international academic collaborations and student exchange initiatives, the University provides its students with a broad and inclusive worldview. At NIA, the curriculum is carefully crafted to foster curiosity, experimentation, and critical thinking. Students at NIA are encouraged to think beyond conventional boundaries, exploring design as a tool for solving real-world problems. Here's what makes NIA distinctive: 1.Engaging teaching methodology to design with purpose At NIA, classrooms come alive with dynamic interactions, collaborative studios, and students deeply immersed in creative projects. Learning goes beyond the studios of architecture--our diverse extracurricular programmes, including Summer/Winter Schools, the Masterclass Series, and arts and crafts courses, provide endless opportunities for skill enhancement and personal growth. Furthermore, say goodbye to exam stress. At NIA, we prioritise practical skills and creative thinking over traditional written examinations, allowing you to showcase your architectural talents with confidence and clarity. 2.Curriculum with Choice NIA's flexible, choice-based curriculum allows students to chart their own academic paths. By selecting elective courses that align with their interests--be it urban design, conservation, or digital fabrication--students can personalise their learning journey. 3.State-of-the-art facilities for hands-on learning NIA's technologically advanced facilities, including well-equipped workshops, fabrication labs, 3D printing facilities, and an integrated digital and building science lab, ensure that you will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on projects, prototyping activities, and real-world design challenges from day one. 4.Learn from renowned industry experts across the globe Join a community of diverse minds and learn from experts around the world. With a remarkable 1:10 faculty-student ratio, NIA offers a close-knit learning environment where students benefit from the rich academic and practical experience of renowned experts. 5.Entrepreneurial outlook In a profession that rewards initiatives, NIA integrates entrepreneurial training into its pedagogy. From idea incubation to execution, students are mentored to launch design practices and social ventures, preparing them for leadership roles in the creative economy. Architecture today offers a myriad of career avenues--from urban planning, interior and landscape design to emerging areas like digital modelling, sustainability consulting, and even graphic and product design. With opportunities for internships and choice-based learning, NIA prepares students to confidently navigate this dynamic professional landscape, nurturing not just architects, but thinkers and changemakers. In alignment with its mission of creating a humane and equitable society, Nitte University supports deserving students through merit-based and excellence scholarships. These are awarded based on Class 12/Diploma and NATA performance, ensuring that talent and passion find a way. In alignment with its mission to create a humane and equitable society, Nitte University supports deserving students through merit-based and excellence scholarships. These are awarded based on Class 12/Diploma and NATA performance, ensuring that talent and passion find their path. To know more about admissions or scholarship opportunities at NIA, visit apply.nitte.edu.in or call +91 94808 12312 / +91 95131 88844. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 3: In an exclusive, high-octane celebration that blended grandeur with cutting-edge craftsmanship, Kuche7, the homegrown marvel that revolutionised Indian kitchens, unveiled its brand new product--a spectacular new addition to its elite line of luxury stainless steel interior solutions. The event was graced by none other than the inimitable Farah Khan, who took an immersive tour of the space, echoing the sentiment of "Made in India, Designed for the World." From the visionary mind of Naeem Chauhan, Kuche7 was born in 2016 with one bold mission: to disrupt and elevate the traditional Indian kitchen experience. Today, Kuche7 is not just a brand; it's a benchmark of style, sustainability, and smart design. We saw the presence of Dheeraj Gehani, Nakul kanchhal, Hitesh Sakariya, Tapan Acharya & Many More. " At Kuche7, our vision has always been to transcend traditional design and craft solutions that are not only aesthetically elevated but engineered for a lifetime. Stainless steel is the future of Indian interiors--sustainable, resilient, and remarkably elegant. With this launch, we continue to empower discerning homeowners with choices that are globally inspired yet deeply rooted in Indian innovation"_ says Naeem Chauhan, Founder & Visionary Behind Kuche7. With the launch of its 23rd retail destination, the brand continues to set new standards in the realm of stainless steel modular kitchens, wardrobes, and vanity units, stamping its dominance across cities like Mumbai (F, A, W), Pune, Surat, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Delhi, Raipur, Indore, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Kolkata--and even reaching international shores in Dubai. Upcoming destinations include Lucknow, Guwahati, and Chennai, further broadening their footprint. In a market saturated with imported European giants, Kuche7 stands tall as a pioneering Indian brand, embracing 304-grade food-safe stainless steel--a material synonymous with hygiene, strength, and endurance. It is weather-proof, moisture-resistant, pest-free, and noise-reducing. This self-healing metal is not only recyclable but also comes with resale value, making it the most future-ready choice for modern Indian homes. Key Highlights of Kuche7's Latest Launch: Design Innovation: Kuche7 introduced India's first curved stainless steel modular kitchen, fusing ergonomic excellence with contemporary flair. Customization Galore: With over 20,000 colour and finish options, each Kuche7 creation is tailored to reflect individual aesthetics. In-House Mastery: Backed by a high-tech manufacturing unit, the brand assures scale, precision, and consistent quality. Sustainability at the Core: By eliminating wood and championing stainless steel, Kuche7 leads the movement towards eco-conscious living. Customer First: Every kitchen is accompanied by a lifetime warranty, a testament to the brand's unwavering trust in its products. With a dedicated R&D team constantly pushing boundaries and a stringent quality control mechanism in place, Kuche7 ensures that luxury never compromises on durability or function. Their solutions are not just visually striking--they're engineered for everyday resilience and timeless performance. As the brand continues to chart an ambitious course across India and beyond, Kuche7 stands as an icon of innovation, offering bespoke modular kitchens, wardrobes, and vanities that resonate with the tastes and lifestyles of discerning millennials, Gen Z homeowners, and seasoned luxury connoisseurs alike. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], May 3: The Indian Institute of Management Kashipur (IIM Kashipur), one of India's leading/ premier management institutions, hosted its 12th Convocation Ceremony, marking a major milestone with its largest-ever graduating cohort. This year, 598 students were awarded degrees across five prestigious programs at IIM Kashipur, marking a 36.5% increase in batch size over the previous year. The program-wise distribution of graduating students is as follows: 319 students from the MBA program, 161 students from the MBA (Analytics) program, 34 students from the Executive MBA (E-MBA) program, 72 students from the Executive MBA in Analytics (EMBAA) program, and 12 students from the Doctoral (Ph.D.) program. The convocation was graced by Alok Agarwal, Senior Advisor at Reliance Industries, who delivered the convocation address as the Chief Guest, alongside the institute's senior leadership and faculty members. Agarwallauded the graduates for their resilience and readiness to lead in a fast-changing world. Recounting his days at IIM as he addressed the graduating students, their guardians and the faculty, Alok Agrawal said,"Coming back to an IIM convocation brings back memories - telex machines at Bank of America, the early days of computer science and the signature Vadilal icecreams.In just one generation, we've moved from punch cards to AI, from waiting days for a reply to being surrounded by satellites. Most things remain the same, except for the advancements in technology and its rapid growth." "This incredible pace of innovation is both humbling and empowering. But as graduates of an IIM, part of the most privileged 0.01%, the real measure of success lies not just in what you achieve, but in the impact you make. Use your education not only to build careers, but to shape a more inclusive and equitable society.", he urged on. Reflecting the institute's ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, approximately 33% of the graduating cohort comprised women. Notably, the MBA (Analytics) program recorded an impressive 70% representation of women, highlighting the increasing presence of women leaders in the fields of analytics and data-driven management. In recognition of outstanding academic and holistic achievements, 10 medals comprising 5 Gold, 4 Silver, and 1 Bronze were awarded across the MBA, MBA (Analytics), E-MBA, and EMBAA programs. Additionally, 24 students were honored with certificates under the prestigious Director's Merit List for their exceptional academic commitment and excellence. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Somnath Chakrabarti, Director (I/C) and Dean of Academics, IIM Kashipur, said, "At IIM Kashipur, we believe management education must stay rooted in the realities of the world it seeks to lead. We are aligning academic practice with global shifts--from AI-driven analytics and sustainable development to India's rise as a skill-building and manufacturing hub. Our students are being prepared to navigate not only business complexity but also societal change. As educators, we believe that fostering ethical, empathetic, and responsible leadership is as important as building strategic and analytical capability. Staying true to its distinctive academic philosophy, IIM Kashipur continues to redefine management education by seamlessly blending academic excellence with real-world immersion. Embodying the spirit of "Bharat meets B-School," the institute's pioneering Experiential Learning (EL) Program places students at the heart of rural and semi-urban India. Through field-based consulting projects with over 90 grassroots organizations across Uttarakhand, students engage directly with initiatives in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and rural development, transforming management knowledge into meaningful societal impact. "The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) is a rich repository of traditional wisdom spanning fields like philosophy, Ayurveda, mathematics, astronomy, agriculture, and architecture. Rooted in ancient texts such as the Vedas and Upanishads, it offers deep insights into life and nature. Complementing this is India's vibrant cultural heritage--reflected in its music, dance, literature, festivals, and crafts." Prof. Somnath Chakrabarti highlighted. "Through the IIM Kashipur education system, we try to instill a robust value system among students, which is essential for shaping responsible, ethical, and empathetic individuals who contribute positively to society.", he concluded. Beyond academics, leadership development is woven into the fabric of campus life. Students play an active role in managing various operational, cultural, and administrative functions of the institute, gaining hands-on experience that mirrors real-world institutional leadership. Complementing its flagship programs, IIM Kashipur has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to future-ready education. The institute offers a diverse portfolio of executive certifications and short-term programs in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare Management, and Rail General Management, delivered in collaboration with leading industry partners including NSE Academy, Nulearn, Times Edutech and Events Limited, Teamlease Edtech Limited and Max Healthcare. On the international front, IIM Kashipur expanded its partnerships through long-term exchange programs, reaching out to over 450 global universities, launching STEP 2025 in collaboration with ALBA (Greece) and the Technical University of Munich, and progressing towards new MoUs, including one with Brazil's COPPEAD. With prestigious AACSB membership, a consistent presence in the Top 25 of National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings, and accolades from the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA), IIM Kashipur is steadily strengthening its position as one of India's most forward-looking and respected B-schools. The 12th Convocation is not just a celebration of academic milestones; it is a reaffirmation of IIM Kashipur's growing role in shaping future leaders who are grounded, innovative, and ready to make a lasting impact in India's dynamic economic and social landscape. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 3: On Maharashtra Day, Drimo, the next-generation ride management platform powered by Indian Drivers, has announced the opening of its new Mumbai office at Office No. 11, 1st Floor, Bismilla Building, 12 Ranade Road, Dadar West, Mumbai - 400028 (beside Dadar West Station). This move marks a strategic expansion of its existing Mumbai operations, reaffirming the brand's commitment to serving the city with even greater efficiency and presence. The new office was officially inaugurated by Suresh Kote, Managing Director of Lijjat Papad and Chairman of Red Swastik NGO, whose presence underscored the significance of the moment. Kote extended his best wishes to the Drimo team, recognizing their role in transforming urban mobility and employment generation across India. With a legacy spanning over 16 years through its parent brand Indian Drivers, Drimo continues to scale new heights while delivering trusted, safe, and professional driver services to millions. Operating with a network of over 55,000 verified drivers across India, the company has built a strong foundation in Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru, with this new Mumbai office set to further streamline local operations and customer service. Drimo prides itself on delivering a seamless, secure, and responsible commuting experience. Every driver on the platform is thoroughly verified and trained, ensuring users can rely on professional service with complete peace of mind. The modern, intuitive app interface makes booking, tracking, and managing rides effortless for individuals and businesses alike. More than just a tech platform, Drimo is deeply committed to creating dignified employment opportunities for thousands of drivers across India. At its core, the company champions Responsible Commuting--combining safety, sustainability, and service excellence to make urban mobility better for everyone. Drimo's range of services includes: * On-Demand Drivers * Monthly Drivers * Chauffeurs * Corporate Driver Solutions * Cab Rentals with Driver As mobility needs in Indian cities continue to evolve, Drimo is focused on combining convenience, technology, and professionalism to meet the dynamic expectations of individuals and enterprises alike. To learn more about Drimo, click at https://drimo.in/ or mail at info@indian-drivers.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], May 3: Business owners and investors choose Dubai as one of their top international investment locations. With low tax rates, excellent business conditions, and favourable geographical conditions, there is no doubt that the city is in demand. The UAE government continues to transform its regulatory framework into a more welcoming environment for international investments until 2025. Every business owner needs to know the ways to establish a business setup in Dubai, regardless of the company size. The following steps provide an easy reference to help you understand. 1. Consult With a Business Setup Advisor The process of establishing business operations in an international location becomes complicated because countries maintain specific laws and cultural traditions. Your business adviser assists with selecting your company type (including LLC and sole proprietorship) and locates ideal business premises while ensuring legal compliance. They will also help with the documentation, timelines, and costs of setting up your business. A good adviser will help you avoid many mistakes that could result in costly delays. 2. Choosing the Right Jurisdiction Choosing the right area to set up your business is very important. The main options in the UAE are: * Mainland: Not only can you open your business throughout the UAE, but you can also deal directly with the local market. Recent changes allow 100% foreign ownership in many sectors without a local partner. * Free Zones: 100% foreign ownership and no taxes are some of the perks here. They are great for international trade, consulting, and tech businesses. Also, Dubai has over 40 free zones. * Offshore: These companies are used to protect assets and do not operate in the UAE market. They offer privacy and tax benefits. 3. Trade License Application To operate a business, you are required to apply for a trade license from the Department of Economic Development (DED) or a free zone authority. There are three types of licenses: * Commercial License: For trading goods. * Professional License: For service providers and consultants. * Industrial License: For manufacturing. To apply, you must: * Reserve a company name * Choose the legal form * Prepare an (MoA) * Submit passport copies of the owners * Get initial approvals and a tenancy contract 4. Initiating Visa and Emirates ID Applications Next, you are eligible to apply for residency visas for yourself, your employees, and your family after successfully getting your trade license. Steps include: * Entry Permit: A temporary visa. * Medical Fitness Test: To ensure health standards. * Biometric Data: Fingerprints and photos. * Emirates ID: An ID for all residents. 5. Corporate Bank Account Setup It is essential to open a corporate bank account for your business setup in the UAE. You need to provide documents like: * Trade license copy * Memorandum of Association (MoA) * Shareholder passport copies * Office lease agreement Different banks have different rules, so your advisor can help you choose the right bank. Conclusion Business setup in Dubai leads to a positive transformation of one's professional path. The combination of favourable business regulations, sophisticated facilities, and taxation benefits makes Dubai an excellent environment to conduct business operations. Professional and competent consultants dedicated to assisting you will position your business to achieve the best possible outcomes. Businesses that seek growth and market entry through innovation must select Dubai as their starting point. Since you need expert assistance, consult with DhanGuard to get started! (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Software giant Zoho has decided to put its ambitious $700 million (approximately Rs5,800 crore) semiconductor manufacturing plan on hold, which came across as a notable setback for India's efforts to build a domestic chip manufacturing ecosystem. Co-founder and CEO of Zoho, Sridhar Vembu, stated the reason for pause as not sure of the right technology path and significant capital investment required for semiconductor fabrication Plant. Vembu posted on social media 'X', "On our semiconductor fab investment plan, since this business is so capital intensive, it requires government backing, we wanted to be absolutely sure of the technology path before we take taxpayer money." He added, "We did not have that confidence in the tech so our board decided to shelve this idea for the time being, until we find a better tech approach," As part of the plan, Zoho had planned to invest USD 400 million in a semiconductor facility in Karnataka, it was expected to create 460 new jobs. Currently, India does not hold a single operational chipmaking facility. The Indian government has been actively promoting domestic chip production through various incentives and it would have come as a huge blow for the government. Adani Group too has reportedly paused its USD 10 billion plans to enter the chip manufacturing sector through a venture with Israel's Tower Semiconductor. However, a report by NITI Aayog, the cost of semiconductor chips used in vehicles is expected to double from the current average of USD 600 to USD 1,200 per vehicle by 2030. Last year, Maharashtra approved Adani Group's proposal to set up a semiconductor manufacturing plant with Israel's Tower Semiconductor, which was expected to create 5,000 jobs. Earlier on March 6, in a significant milestone for India's semiconductor industry, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL), and Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited (TSMPL) signed a Fiscal Support Agreement (FSA) in the presence of Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel for India's first commercial semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat. This breakthrough agreement, reached at the Gujarat Semi Connect Conference 2025, represents a decisive step forward in strengthening India's technological self-reliance under the modified program for the semiconductor & display manufacturing ecosystem in India. Tata Electronics' semiconductor fab in the Dholera (SIR) commands a total investment of over Rs 91,000 crore with a capacity of 50,000 wafers starts per month (WSPM). The Government of India, through the India Semiconductor Mission, has committed 50 per cent fiscal support on a pari-passu basis for eligible project costs--demonstrating unwavering national commitment to building a world-class semiconductor ecosystem within Indian borders. (ANI)
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale expressed his wholehearted support for the biographical film 'Phule' during a special screening held on May 1, 2025, in Mumbai. The film, directed by Ananth Mahadevan, highlights the inspiring lives of two of Maharashtra's most influential social reformers, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and his wife, Savitribai Phule, who were pivotal in challenging social injustices like caste and gender discrimination in India. Ramdas Athawale praised the film for its cultural and social significance, emphasising that it is a must-watch for everyone, including lawmakers. Athawale called for the film to be made tax-free across India, suggesting it should be shown to all Parliamentarians and even President Draupadi Murmu. "This movie is a good attempt to highlight the contributions of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule. It should be watched by everyone, especially our lawmakers, to understand the social issues it addresses. I recommend this film even to the President of India," said Athawale in a press note, underlining the historical importance of the social reforms by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and his wife, Savitribai Phule and their relevance in modern-day India. The film 'Phule', starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa, was released on April 25, 2025, after it faced objections from certain groups concerning its portrayal of caste-based discrimination. Director Ananth Mahadevan, who was also present at the screening, shared his gratitude for Athawale's support. "The film is a true to history and we have made it with all our heart. I am glad AthawaleJi has endorsed the film today. Today, I am as happy as I am grateful to him for his wholehearted support for the film," Mahadevan said. The film's core narrative is rooted in the struggles of the Phules, who fought against caste discrimination, illiteracy, and gender biases in 19th-century India. 'Phule' is produced by Dancing Shiva Films and Kingsmen Productions, with Zee Studios handling its distribution. The film also features Vinay Pathak, Suresh Vishwakarma, and Darsheel Safary. (ANI)
Over 30,000 devotees visited the Kedarnath Temple on Friday, according to official data. As per the official data reported at 7 pm on May 2 -- 19,196 men, 10,597 women, and 361 visited the Kedarnath. The Kedarnath Dham doors opened on Friday, and a band of the Indian Army's Garhwal Rifles played devotional tunes on the occasion. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, also attended the Dham portal opening ceremony. CM Dhami also distributed prasad to the devotees at the Mukhya Sevak Bhandara organised at the Kedarnath premises. He stated that the Badrinath doors will open on May 4. "The state government is fully prepared to welcome devotees from all over the country," the minister remarked, adding, "The state government continuously monitors the pilgrimage at every level. Various basic facilities have also been established on the pilgrimage routes. The Char Dham Yatra is also the lifeline of the state. This pilgrimage is a means of livelihood for millions of people," he said. The Chief Minister further assured that the state government is determined to ensure that the Char Dham Yatra continues throughout the year, for which winter pilgrimage has also been started. Dhami confirmed that Rs 2000 crores have been allotted for "the reconstruction work of Kedarnath." Additionally, the central government has approved the installation of the Gaurikund to Kedarnath ropeway. Earlier, while addressing the gathering on the occasion, CM Dhami stated that the Char Dham Yatra commenced on April 30, and two days after May 2, the doors of Lord Badrinath Dham will also open for devotees. He emphasised that the government has managed to ensure a safe journey for the devotees and has made appropriate arrangements so that they don't face any problems. "Char Dham Yatra has started on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on 30th April...Two days from today, the doors of Lord Badrinath Vishal will also open, and the yatra will start in full swing. We have tried to ensure that the journey of the devotees is safe and they do not face any kind of trouble during the journey, and for this, we have made appropriate arrangements", CM Dhami said. (ANI)
Congress MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi stoked controversy by demanding proof of the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan territory in the past under the BJP government at the Centre. Casting doubts over the strikes, the former Punjab CM said that he has always demanded proof of it. "...Till date, I could not find where the (surgical) strike took place, where men were killed at that time, and where this happened in Pakistan. Will we not find out if a bomb is dropped in our country? They say that they did a surgical strike in Pakistan. Nothing had happened. Nowhere was a surgical strike seen. Nobody came to know...I have always demanded (proof). But today, people's wounds need to be tended to. We demand that the Government do something. Tell people who they (perpetrators of the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack) are and punish them," Channi said at a press conference. Responding to Channi's remarks, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh said that the Congress leader's comments reflect the "dirty mentality of the Gandhi family". "Congress has again raised questions on the Indian Air Force. Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi has once again said that he does not believe in the surgical strike, and he wants proof of the surgical strike. What kind of mentality is this of the Congress party, the Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi, that they keep questioning the army, the Indian Air Force?" Sirsa said. "Pakistan itself is saying that India has caused a lot of damage by conducting surgical strikes ... Charanjit Singh Channi has again shown the dirty politics and dirty mentality of the Gandhi family, who always question the army and demoralise the forces. I condemn this," he added. Meanwhile, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took a swipe at the Congress, saying that the party has become "Pakistan Prast Party." Earlier, Congress in its CWC meeting called on the government to act against those who have spread terror in the Pahalgam attack, saying that the party is committed to the country's unity and oneness. The government had announced that caste enumeration would be included in the next Census. Former Punjab government Charanjit Singh Channi also urged the government to work for the rehabilitation of the family members of the victims in the Pahalgam attack. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth assured that a time-bound investigation would be conducted in the Nainital rape case and that the accused would face stringent punishment. The state's top cop also assured that law and order in Nainital was under control, with additional police deployed at sensitive locations. Speaking to ANI, DGP Seth said, "On 30th April, an incident of rape with a minor girl in Nainital came to light. Immediately, an FIR was registered in the matter. The accused had been arrested and sent to jail. Police have taken all measures to protect the victim and her family. We will ensure that the investigation is conducted in a time-bound manner and the accused gets a stringent punishment." Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to the family of the rape victim from Nainital on Friday and assured them of his full support. "In view of the seriousness of the Nainital rape case, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has spoken to the victim's family over the phone and consoled them deeply. The Chief Minister assured all possible help to the affected family and said that the state government stands firmly with the victim and her family," as per an Uttarakhand CMO release. Chief Minister Dhami also vowed that the culprits would face the strictest punishment "The Chief Minister said that the culprits will not be spared under any circumstances and they will be given the strictest punishment. He talked about ensuring a quick investigation and speedy justice in the case. He said that the state government will impose strict punishment on the criminal who committed this inhuman act. We all stand with the victim with full sympathy," the release read. On Thursday, National Commission for Women condemned the horrific crime reported from Nainital involving the alleged rape of the girl. "The National Commission for Women strongly condemns the horrific crime reported from Nainital involving the rape of a Class 7 girl. NCW has taken cognizance and Hon'ble Chairperson has sent a letter to the DGP of Uttarakhand to ensure swift action, victim support, and a time-bound, fair investigation," NCW posted on X. Tension gripped the city after a girl was allegedly raped in Uttarakhand's Nainital. Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Narayan Meena on Thursday said that the accused was arrested and the situation is under control. (ANI)
University Grant Commission has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Nageshwar Rao, to look into the recent alleged suicide deaths at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar. The committee will examine the circumstances surrounding these incidents and ensure compliance with student welfare and safety regulations, and further suggest measures to prevent such incidents. The committee also includes Shashikala Wanjari, Vice Chancellor, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), and HCS Rathore, Former Vice Chancellor, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, as a member and Sunita Siwach, Joint Secretary of UGC as the coordination officer, according to an statement from UGC on Friday. This comes after a Nepali student was found dead in her hostel room in KIIT on Thursday evening, making it a second case of a neigbouring country student found dead in the institute within three months Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh on Friday said that following preliminary findings in the case related to the death of the Nepali girl at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), "Prima facie, it appears to be a suicide case," as she was found hanging in her hostel room on Thursday evening. Speaking to ANI on the matter, Singh said the girl's body was transferred to Bhubaneswar for post-mortem, and a probe on the matter was currently underway. "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," Bhubaneswar CP said. Providing more insights on the matter, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhubaneswar Jagmohan Meena stated the girl was found dead during a routine attendance check on Thursday and was found hanging inside her hostel room. "During the investigation, it was found that when the hostel warden was taking evening attendance, one student did not respond. On checking, the girl was found hanging inside her room. She was immediately shifted to a local hospital. The body is now kept at AIIMS, and the girl's parents have been informed. The girl hailed from Nepal. She was studying B.Tech and was in the first year. No note was found in the girl's room Earlier in February, Prakriti Lamsal also died by suicide at the same university. (ANI)
Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that there has been nothing "concrete" from the government in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to media persons after the CWC meeting on the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir said, "The incident occurred on 22nd April and we held a CWC meeting here on 24th. In the resolution we passed that day, the Congress party said that now it is time for the Government of India to take an account these people. Whatever action they take, the Congress party will completely support it. We said the same in all the party meetings. It has been 9-10 days now. But there has been no such indication from the Government of India." "There has been nothing concrete. So, even today through the Congress Working Committee, it has been said that we stand with the Government of India in whatever action they take. But it is up to the Government. So, what Rahul Gandhi said regarding martyr status for those who died, he reiterated it today, that this is the demand of their families so that the deceased are honoured," he added. Earlier on Friday, asserting a collective will as a nation to teach Pakistan a lesson, the Congress Working Committee urged the Government of India to act with firmness, strategic clarity, and international coordination to isolate and penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror to our country. The CWC, which met here under the chairmanship of the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, passed a resolution expressing solidarity and support with the 26 families who lost their loved ones in the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam. In his opening remarks, Kharge said that the Congress has expressed unambiguous support to the government to deal with the situation. However, he pointed out, even after ten days of the gruesome incident, the government has not taken any action. "The pain of these families is the pain of the entire nation," it noted, while adding that the CWC stands with them not only in words but in enduring solidarity. At the same time, the CWC asserted that the entire country "awaits accountability, answers, and justice". In the face of such an unforgivable provocation, the Indian National Congress believes this is not a time for politics but a moment that calls for unity, strength, and national resolve, it said, adding, "We must rise above partisan divides and send out an unambiguous message that India stands together and will not be broken." The CWC resolution asserted, "This is a time for demonstrating our collective will as a nation to teach Pakistan a lesson and curb terrorism decisively. The masterminds and perpetrators of this cowardly attack must face the full consequences of their actions." (ANI)
National Human Rights Commission member Priyank Kanoongo has said that the NHRC has taken cognisance of the death of a Nepalese student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar. "In yesterday's (May 1) incident, we have taken cognisance, issued a notice, and sought a report from the DGP and the chief secretary, which is to be submitted within 7 days. We will take further action after the report comes... If needed, our team will go there," Kanoongo told ANI. Speaking on the previous incident where another girl student was found dead on the KIIT campus, Kanoongo said the university administration tried to suppress the issue. "On March 27, we submitted a report - when we had this information of a Nepali girl committing suicide, our team went there and in the investigation, it came out that that student was sexually assaulted, pornographic content was filmed, and then she was blackmailed. When the girl complained to the college administration, instead of informing the police, the university administration tried to have a compromise and suppress the issue. Prima facie, the university administration was the culprit, so we asked the UGC to take strict action, as the environment was not conducive there," he said. Meanwhile, Central Committee member of the Mool Pravah Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaja Committee, Giriraj, demanded a fair investigation into the case. "They did not allow us to meet the parents of the deceased...We want justice, a fair investigation should be conducted, and action should be taken against those responsible," Giriraj told ANI. Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das on Friday demanded an investigation into the death of a Nepalese student at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar. He said that there was a need to investigate the reason behind suicide, and preventive measures must be ensured, given that it was the second case of a student dying by suicide. "This is the second case. The reasons behind suicide should be found out. Preventive measures need to be taken. An inquiry needs to be conducted. Without investigating the reason behind suicide, it was wrong to comment on the issue. However, there is something to it. There must be conversations among students around this to prevent such incidents further," Das told ANI. Amid chaos over the death of a student, KIIT expressed grief over the demise of a student from Nepal, who was found dead inside her hostel room. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer participated as Chief Guest at the Gujarat and Maharashtra Formation Day celebrations held in Durbar Hall at Raj Bhavan on Friday, under the 'Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat' programme, according to a statement issued by Raj Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, Governor Abdul Nazeer said the people of Gujarat actively participated in the country's freedom movement and made a significant contribution to India's freedom struggle. The Governor said that Maharashtra also gave the country many prominent freedom fighters and social reformers like Vinoba Bhave, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Nanaji Deshmukh, and others. After the formation of separate States, both Gujarat and Maharashtra have prospered immensely and achieved tremendous progress, while contributing to the country's economic development to a large extent, said the Governor. He said the 'Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat' programme aims to enhance interaction and promote mutual understanding between people of different states and Union Territories through the concept of 'One Nation One People.' Earlier, video messages of Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat and CP Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra, were played. Dr. J.M. Bhagwat of the School of Planning and Architecture, Deepak Desai, President of Vijayawada Gujarat Samaj and N. Tanisha of Vijayawada Maratha Mandal spoke on the occasion, followed by a patriotic song sung by Sri Navin Patel and a Garba dance performance by Hansaben Patel and the group. 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)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma extended his greetings on Saturday on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day. He emphasised the essential role of independent journalism in a democratic society. In a message shared on X, Sharma said, "Heartfelt greetings to everyone on World Press Freedom Day. Independent journalism is the cornerstone of democracy, playing a vital role in empowering society. On this occasion, let us all come together and pledge to uphold the dignity and freedom of journalism." World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. May 3 acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. On 7 May 2025, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2025, Brussels will host a high-level global event at the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts, focusing on "Information as a Public Good in the Age of AI." The one-day gathering will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism, with global experts discussing challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology and media freedom. Additionally, from 5 to 6 May, the city will feature Days of Action events, independently organised by civil society groups, universities, and international organisations to promote media freedom and access to information. (ANI)
With persisting tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, refugees from the 1971 Indo-Pak war, now settled in the border areas of Kutch, Gujarat, have strongly condemned the incident and expressed unwavering support for the Indian Armed Forces. Many refugees or their family members have served in Indian border forces, and they say they remain committed to assisting the Army and police if tensions escalate. Speaking to ANI, Chota Bhanji, a resident of Tharparkar village and a 1971 war refugee, said that the retired border agents staying in the village should be given a weapons licence for the protection of the village. "The people who are living here and are retired from the army should be given a gun licence. There are a lot of people like that, people who were in BSF, in other forces, who have been trained and are now retired. If we give them weapons, it would be good. Otherwise, routine things are already going on, we are anyway with the armed forces," he said. He said that currently there are no tensions in his village and surrounding area, but everyone is ready and fully supporting the Army and police if the need arises. "For now, there are no such tensions in the Kutch border area. Maybe if we get closer to the border, then there might be tensions. We had come here after the Indo-Pak war, the Hindu people. War has happened 2-3 times before, it is not that, but people believe in themselves now. Our soldiers are trained, and even when we came here, the government gave us land and the men were given jobs in a border force too," he said. "If something happens in the future, then the people at the border will be with the army, with the police," he added. According to him, there are a total of 14 settlement villages in the area, with thousands of 1971 war refugees having settled there decades ago. Another villager, Khetaram Ojha, while condemning the Pahalgam attack talked about that even though there are tensions in certain other border areas, he fully believes in the Army to do its job, and believes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he has given a free hand to the Armed Forces to reply to the Pahalgam attack. "We migrated here to India after the 1971 Indo-Pak war, and now we have been given citizenship and settled here. The thing (Pahalgam attack) which has happened is very bad, it should not happen. Our enemy country has been sending terrorists, it has been happening since Independence. The feeling of a war has been going on since then, but our country, India, has changed now," Khetaram Ojha told ANI. Also affirming his support for the forces, he added, "India is capable now, there are tensions now, but there is full confidence in our armed forces and our Prime Minister, that nothing will happen to us. He has given a free hand to them and our forces are very capable. We are at the border, but we are also alert and ready to support the forces." On April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, and the three service chiefs. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was also present. The Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir killed 26 people, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama attack, where 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The sources said PM Modi expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian armed forces. They said that PM Modi stated that the Indian Armed Forces have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India's response. (ANI)
The grieving parents of the Nepalese student who was found dead at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar arrived at the mortuary centre in AIIMS hospital. The visibly upset mother of the deceased female student from Nepal said, "We received information (about her demise) at 8:00 PM." Meanwhile, the father of the Nepalese student informed that his daughter had talked to them in the afternoon, on the day of the incident. "On the day of the incident, we had a telephone conversation with her at 3:00 PM. She talked to us nicely," he said. In response to the tragedy, the University Grant Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Nageshwar Rao, to look into the recent alleged suicide deaths at KIIT. The committee will examine the circumstances surrounding these incidents, ensure compliance with student welfare and safety regulations, and suggest measures to prevent such incidents. The committee also includes Shashikala Wanjari, Vice-Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), and HCS Rathore, Former Vice Chancellor of Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, as a member and Sunita Siwach, Joint Secretary of UGC as the coordination officer, according to a statement from UGC on Friday. This comes after a Nepali student was found dead in her hostel room in KIIT on Thursday evening, making it the second case of a student from a neighbouring country found dead in the institute within three months. Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh on Friday said that following preliminary findings in the case related to the death of the Nepali girl at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), "Prima facie, it appears to be a suicide case," as she was found hanging in her hostel room on Thursday evening. Speaking to ANI on the matter, Singh said the girl's body was transferred to Bhubaneswar for post-mortem, and a probe on the matter was currently underway. "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," Bhubaneswar CP said. Providing more insights on the matter, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhubaneswar Jagmohan Meena stated the girl was found dead during a routine attendance check on Thursday and was found hanging inside her hostel room. "During the investigation, it was found that when the hostel warden was taking evening attendance, one student did not respond. On checking, the girl was found hanging inside her room. She was immediately shifted to a local hospital. The body is now kept at AIIMS, and the girl's parents have been informed. The girl hailed from Nepal. She was studying B.Tech and was in her first year. No note was found in the girl's room," he said. Earlier in February, Prakriti Lamsal also died by suicide at the same university. (ANI)
Normal life came to a standstill in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Saturday as the Joint Student Body (JSB) called for a total shutdown to mark the second anniversary of the ongoing ethnic crisis in the state. Shops, markets, and educational institutions remained closed, and the roads appeared deserted during the bandh. On the other hand, a press note from Manipur police on Friday said that the situation in the state had been tense but under control in the last 24 hours. Search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. During the operation, several arms were recovered, and an illegal arms smuggler was also detained, as mentioned in the press note. Apart from this, the movement of 346 and 158 vehicles carrying essential items along NH-2 and NH-37, respectively, has been ensured. Strict security measures are taken in all vulnerable locations, and a security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches to ensure the free and safe movement of the vehicles, added the press note. The ethnic conflict, which began in May 2023, resulted in dozens of deaths and the displacement of thousands of people, deepening communal fault lines in the northeastern state. Later, following the prolonged conflict in the state, the President's rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025. This action followed the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. (ANI)
Ten residents of Mendhar town in the Poonch district, who were recently repatriated from the Attari border three days ago, have been permitted to remain at their homes following an order by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir. The individuals, who had been residing in Mendhar for over 40 years, expressed gratitude to the Indian government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for implementing the court's directive and allowing them to stay in India. They also condemned the recent terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people and injured many. One of the residents said, "We thank the government of India for this. We were all brought back. Our only request to the government is for it to let us live as we used to. I thank PM Modi and Amit Shah. We condemn the Pahalgam attack. Such incidents should not happen, and those behind them should get the strictest punishment." This development comes after the Indian government revoked all categories of visas issued to Pakistani citizens, except long-term visas and diplomatic and official visas, with immediate effect from April 27. This came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 26 individuals at the popular tourist destination in Baisaran meadow. Meanwhile, Sharmeen Irfan, an Indian passport holder, is seeking to return to Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border crossing in Amritsar and has appealed to Indian authorities for assistance in reuniting her with her family. Married to a Pakistani national in Karachi, she travelled to India to visit her ailing mother, bringing her small children along. However, her plans have been disrupted, and she's now facing difficulties returning to her family in Pakistan. Pakistan has reportedly closed its check post at Attari Wagah border and refused to take back its citizens being deported from India. India has closed its airspace to all Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, including military flights, from April 30 to May 23 (estimated duration). India and Pakistan have blocked each other's airlines from using their airspace, as the neighbouring country announced this step six days ago. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday launched a blistering attack on MP Charanjit Singh Channi, after the latter had stoked controversy as he claimed that he has "not found proof where surgical strike took place." "Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi, who is known to be quite close to Rahul Gandhi, has said in a press conference that he has not seen proof of a surgical strike. The armed forces had announced it. Today, when the whole country is demanding and standing with the forces and saying that terrorists should get a strict punishment, just like the Balakot surgical strike had happened, but Congress is hurting the morale of the forces," Poonawalla told ANI in the national capital. Calling for the Indian National Congress (INC) to be renamed as "Anti-National Congress (ANC)," he added, "In the all-party meeting, they say that they are with the government and the armed forces and outside the meeting, on the instructions of Rahul Gandhi, they put vote back above the nation and they will give Pakistan a clean chit on the Pahalgam terrorist attack." He claimed that the morale of the Indian armed forces is being attacked at the direction of the party's Parliamentary Party chairperson, Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi. "There is a direct attack on the armed forces at the direction of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. One after the other, there have been statements giving a clean chit to Pakistan, from Robert Vadra (businessman) to Siddaramaiah (Karnataka CM). Just like Dinesh Gundurao. The Congress social media posts the 'sar tan se juda,' there has been no investigation," the BJP spokesperson said. He also accused Rahul Gandhi of undermining Indian institutions during his visits abroad. "There is no use to this, this is not support. This is the Congress' support to Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi has said before itself that he wants to fight the Indian state. He goes and attacks and questions Indian institutions in a foreign land, and his politicians are trying to break the morale of the armed forces by giving these statements," the BJP spokesperson added. On May 2, Congress MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi cast doubts over Balakot surgical strikes, saying that he has always demanded proof for it. Channi had said in a press conference, "Till date, I could not find where the (surgical) strike took place, where men were killed at that time, and where this happened in Pakistan. Will we not find out if a bomb is dropped in our country? They say that they did a surgical strike in Pakistan. Nothing had happened. Nowhere was a surgical strike seen. Nobody came to know." (ANI)
Amid the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday said that politics should not be done in the name of drinking water. He expressed dismay over the issue being politicised, stating that Haryana is merely asking for its rightful share. Saini said that he didn't know that politics can go to such an extent that it will be done in the name of drinking water and stated that the state government is not asking for canal water for just one person but for the society and 2 crore 80 thousand people of Haryana. "Politics shouldn't be done in the name of drinking water...we didn't know that politics could go to this extent that a question mark arises on drinking water...we are not asking this canal for one person but it is for the society and 2 crore 80 lakh people of Haryana...we are not asking any extra water...we are asking same ratio of water which used to be given to Haryana earlier...we will sit and talk with all the leaders. It is unfortunate that drinking water is being stopped", CM Saini told reporters. The statement comes after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann raised concerns on May 1 over decreasing water levels in key reservoirs. He mentioned that the water levels in Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam, and Ranjit Sagar Dam are 32 feet, 12 feet, and 14 feet below last year's levels, respectively. Mann also lashed out at the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for directing Punjab to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. CM Mann strongly opposed the directive, stating that Punjab is already grappling with its own water needs due to the upcoming paddy sowing season and declining groundwater levels. Amidst the escalating concerns over Punjab's water rights, Bhagwant Mann had called an all-party meeting on May 2 to discuss Punjab's water rights. Additionally, the Punjab government is likely to call a special session of the Assembly on Monday to table a proposal addressing the issue. Furthermore, the state unit of the Congress party has extended its support to the Punjab government. "We never stopped the water for 10 years... But if there is a water shortage in Punjab, it is natural that we will prioritise Punjab... Maybe Delhi and Haryana need more water, but we have already released their share of water. We are with the people of Punjab and the Punjab government on this topic. If they will steal our water too, then what will be left of the state?", Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said on Thursday. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh police have arrested an accused, who opened fire at a head constable of Jaitwara police station, Satna district, following an encounter in the early hours of Saturday, an official said. The accused has been identified as Achchhu alias Adarsh Sharma (20), a resident of Mehuti village in the district. He sustained injuries in his leg and is undergoing treatment at district hospital. The accused had opened fire on the head constable of Jaitwara police station, Prince Garg while he was sleeping inside the police station on the intervening night of April 28 and 29, the police said. Since then, the accused was on the run and the police were continuously searching for him. Upon receiving a tip-of the reach to nab him but the accused opened fire and in retaliation, the police fired back and caught him. Satna Superintendent of Police (SP), Ashutosh Gupta said, "On the intervening night of April 28-29, an unidentified person opened fire on our head constable, Prince Garg of Jaitwara police station when he was sleeping in the barrack inside the police station. Garg was admitted to Rewa (Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital) and undergoing treatment. Currently, his health is stable." After the incident, the police made efforts to identify the accused as Achchhu alias Adarsh Sharma (20), a resident of Mehuti village. It also came to light that a few days ago, this accused had set his one house on fire and abandoned his parents and grandparents from the house, the officer said. "Over a dozen police teams were continuously searching for the accused Sharma and trying to trace his location. We received an intel at around 2:00-2:30 am that the accused was spotted near a brick kiln located on Tikuri Akona road. Acting on the info, the police team surrounded him but in the meantime, the accused opened fire on the police team. The bullet hit one of our police personnel who wore a Bulletproof jacket. In self-defence, the police fired back and a bullet hit in the leg of the accused. Thereafter, he was admitted to the district hospital late at night and undergoing treatment," he said. After the treatment, the accused will be interrogated in detail to probe the case further. The police also recovered a gun and two cartridges from the possession of the accused. Additionally, there are three prior cases registered against him in two different police stations in the district, he added. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi welcomed the Centre's decision to include caste-based data in the national census, calling it the fulfilment of a long-standing demand. While speaking to the media on Saturday, Azmi said, "This was our demand and it has been fulfilled. We pressurised them. Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav demanded it. There should be no discrepancy in this." Earlier on Thursday, Azmi credited SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for continuously arguing for a caste census. He urged the central government to conduct the census with "honesty." "Due to the efforts of our leader, Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the government has accepted this. The census should start as soon as possible. But there should be no wrongdoings, and the correct stats shouldn't come forth. This should be conducted with complete honesty... If there is equal behaviour with every person in the country, I will believe the caste census was successful," Azmi told ANI. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also said they (Samajwadi Party) are very happy that a step has been taken towards establishing social justice. "The government has just made a decision. We are happy that a step has been taken towards establishing social justice. The decision of the caste census is a 100 per cent victory for 90 per cent 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," Yadav said. According to Article 246 of the Constitution of India, the Census is a Union subject listed at item 69 in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule. On Wednesday, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, also highlighted how, while some states conducted their own caste census, he worried about their transparency or intent, 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 also implemented a 42 pc Backward Classes reservation for people in the state. (ANI)
A ten-member delegation from Nepal's Far West Province, led by Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his official residence on Saturday. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing ties between the neighbouring regions, officials said. Chief Minister Dhami shared details of the interaction on social media platform X, stating, "Honourable Chief Minister of Far Western Province of Nepal, Mr. Kamal Bahadur Shah met with respected ministers and officials at the Government residence. On this occasion, various contemporary issues related to India and Nepal were discussed with them." Highlighting the deep-rooted ties between the two countries, Dhami further noted, "There is a deep similarity between the people of India and Nepal from cultural, religious and social point of view. There are many similarities in the traditions, customs, language, food and lifestyle of both the countries, which have been strengthening mutual bonding and trust over the years. This is the reason why the relations between India and Nepal are not only political or geographical, but are also deeply connected emotionally and culturally." (ANI) Earlier, CM Dhami, also attended the Kedarnath Dham portal opening ceremony. CM Dhami also distributed prasad to the devotees at the Mukhya Sevak Bhandara organised at the Kedarnath premises. He stated that the Badrinath doors will open on May 4. "The state government is fully prepared to welcome devotees from all over the country," the minister remarked, adding, "The state government continuously monitors the pilgrimage at every level. Various basic facilities have also been established on the pilgrimage routes. The Char Dham Yatra is also the lifeline of the state. This pilgrimage is a means of livelihood for millions of people," he said. The Chief Minister further assured that the state government is determined to ensure that the Char Dham Yatra continues throughout the year, for which winter pilgrimage has also been started. (ANI)
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a jibe at the INDI alliance during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala. Tiwari claimed that the 'conduct' of the PM was shown clearly in two separate events where he criticised the Opposition, once while being in Bihar and another in Kerala. "I am unhappy about his statement. The Prime Minister has two types of conduct in two places, once. One, you call an all-party meeting. There has been a terrorist attack in the country. The ashes of the pyre of twenty-six people did not cool down and you are giving an election speech in Bihar and grabbing Nitish Kumar's hand," Tiwari told ANI in Delhi. Expressing disappointment over PM Modi's comments at the port inauguration, Tiwari said he was shocked to hear the Prime Minister claim that the INDI alliance would be worried seeing Modi, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on the same stage. "Then he goes to Kerala, talks less about the inauguration in an inaugural program. He says that the INDIA bloc will be worried about the presence of local parliamentarians and the Chief Minister. Prime Minister, are you seriously understanding this pain of terrorism or mocking it? I am saddened by you, Prime Minister. This was not expected from the Prime Minister of India," Tiwari added. Earlier, on May 2, during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, PM Modi stated that the presence of Shashi Tharoor and the Kerala CM on stage "would disturb the sleep" of many people. "I want to tell Chief Minister (Pinarayi Vijayan), 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", Prime Minister Modi said. While the translator who translated the Prime Minister's message in Hindi to Malayalam did not deliver the exact translation, PM Modi said, "The message has gone wherever it has to go." Tharoor, a four-time Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, had recently praised the PM Modi-led Central government over his remarks on the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Tharoor had also been criticised by his party colleagues over PM Modi's diplomatic tasks with US President Donald Trump. PM Modi inaugurated the 'Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport' worth Rs 8,900 crore in the presence of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, Union Minister Suresh Gopi and Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandreshekar among others. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra on Saturday objected to the West Bengal government naming a newly constructed Jagannath temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham." He argued that it is impossible to call any other place Jagannath Dham because there is only one in the world, located in Puri, Odisha. In a press address, MP Patra said, "I strongly object to one thing. There is only one Jagannath Dham in the world, and it is not possible to call any other place Jagannath Dham because there is no other place. There are four Dhams in India, and among them, one is a very important Dham- Jagannath Dham, Puri, and there should be no doubt that no other place can be called Jagannath Dham." "I think that as an MP from Puri and also as a politician from Odisha, I should wait to see what investigation the temple administration does and what is the report of that investigation," he further stated. Earlier in the day, Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan claimed that the West Bengal government is creating confusion by naming a newly constructed Jagannath temple in Digha as "Jagannath Dham." He firmly stated that no temple can ever become a Dham. Minister Harichandan further informed that an internal investigation is being conducted. He said he has written a letter to the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, to conduct an internal inquiry into the naming of Digha Temple as 'Jagannath Dham', the participation of Puri Temple sevayats in the consecration ceremony, and the use of "Daru Katha" for idol construction. The Minister believes these actions have offended the sentiments of Lord Jagannath's devotees and the people of Odisha. On Saturday, BJP MP Pradip Purohit also objected to naming a newly constructed Jagannath temple in West Bengal's Digha as "Jagannath Dham." He said only one Jagannath Dham exists, and CM Mamata Banerjee cannot build another. Speaking to ANI, Purohit said, "The temple has been named Jagannath Dham. There is a Jagannath Dham in Puri and everywhere else there are temples. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee can't build a Dham. There is only one Jagannath Dham in Puri. We welcome the Jagannath temple built in West Bengal but she can't name it as Jagannath Dham." Renowned Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik requested West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to immediately issue an order not to call the newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple a "Dham." Pattnaik pointed out that this creates confusion among the devotees of Lord Jagannath. The Rs 250-crore temple in Digha, which spans over 20 acres, was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday. The temple is architecturally inspired by the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and enshrines the same deities. (ANI)
During his address the Chief Minister emphasised the critical role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in strengthening grassroots democracy and accelerating rural development, according a statement released by his office.

Saha highlighted various state government initiatives aimed at empowering local self-governance and ensuring last-mile delivery of welfare schemes.

He urged the panchayat members to actively participate in development planning, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and public service.

The programme also included presentations on successful panchayat models, digital initiatives, and awards for outstanding contributions by local bodies. Cultural performances and community exhibitions marked the occasion, celebrating the spirit of self-governance and rural empowerment.

National Panchayati Raj Day is observed every year on April 24 to commemorate the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1993, which gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions in India.

The event was attended by senior officials, panchayat representatives, and community leaders from across the state.

Earlier on May 2, CM Saha inaugurated several newly constructed school buildings in the West district, including Ramnagar Higher Secondary School (English Medium) in Agartala.

He highlighted that the main goal of his government is to provide quality education to students, with special emphasis on the digital education system.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also given special importance to vocational education. Teachers must stay updated to teach students, keeping pace with technology," the Chief Minister said.

Along with inaugurating the newly constructed building of Ramnagar Higher Secondary School, the Chief Minister also virtually inaugurated the new buildings of Barakantal Higher Secondary School, Darogamura High School (English Medium) under Hejamara RD Block, Khudiram Basu English Medium School, and Sukanta Academy English Medium Higher Secondary School. (ANI)
Goa's Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, on Saturday assured that the government is providing the best possible medical care and support to all those affected in the Shirgaon stampede. A tragic incident took place during the annual Lairai Devi festival at the Shirgaon temple in Goa on Saturday, leading to the deaths of six people and injuries to more than 50 others. According to the latest report shared by the Odisha health minister, 74 people have been treated at government hospitals. These include Asilo Hospital in Mapusa, CHC Bicholim, CHC Sankhali, and Goa Medical College (GMC). Currently, 22 people are still in hospitals. Asilo Hospital is treating 18 patients, CHC Bicholim has 3, and CHC Sankhali has 1 under observation. In a social media post, X, Vishwajit Rane wrote, "As per the latest reports, a total of 74 patients have been attended to across government healthcare facilities, including Asilo Hospital (Mapusa), CHC Bicholim, CHC Sankhali, and Goa Medical College (GMC). Currently, 22 patients are undergoing treatment: Asilo Hospital is treating 18 patients, CHC Bicholim has 3 patients under observation, and CHC Sankhali is monitoring 1 patient. Sadly, 6 individuals were brought in dead -- 4 at Asilo Hospital (2 males and 2 females), and 2 at CHC Bicholim." https://x.com/visrane/status/1918553530408788340 Rane said that the emergency teams from CHC Bicholim and CHC Sankhali quickly reached the spot after the incident and gave first aid. Ten advanced life support (ALS) ambulances were used to take seriously injured patients to Goa Medical College, which is on high alert. "Our first responders from CHC Bicholim and CHC Sankhali acted swiftly at the site, ensuring timely triage and stabilisation of the injured. Ten ALS ambulances were deployed, and patients requiring advanced care were referred to Goa Medical College, which continues to operate on high alert. The Department is closely monitoring the condition of all admitted patients and has ensured the availability of emergency medicines, adequate medical personnel, and psychological support for victims and their families," the post further reads. Minister Rane also said a meeting will be held with health officials to make sure all patients get the best care. He thanked all healthcare workers for their hard work during this difficult time. "A meeting with the heads of DHS and GMC, along with the Secretary (Health), will be held shortly to ensure that no stone is left unturned in providing timely and effective treatment. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to public health and to supporting every healthcare worker tirelessly serving on the frontlines," the post reads. (ANI)
The Meghalaya government, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, inaugurated the Strawberry Festival 2025 edition on Friday. The Strawberry Festival, which started on May 2, will conclude on May 3. This vibrant celebration, aimed at supporting local farmers and highlighting the state's renowned strawberries, commenced with great enthusiasm at Sohliya in Ri-Bhoi district, Syntung in East Khasi Hills district, and Darechikgre in West Garo Hills district. A senior official of the Department of Tourism of the Meghalaya Government said that the Strawberry Festival promises an immersive experience for residents and visitors alike. "The event showcases Meghalaya's agricultural excellence, cultural heritage, and tourism potential through a variety of engaging activities. Visitors can participate in strawberry picking, explore scenic strawberry fields, and enjoy activities such as a workshop on winemaking and local cuisine, trekking, baking with strawberries, local strawberry wine tasting, and culinary tasting. The festival also features live music performances by artists launched by the MGMP. Traditional music, dance performances, and workshops on local beverages offer a rich glimpse into the state's vibrant cultural heritage," the official said. During the inauguration at Sohliya, Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi, IAS, Abhilash Baranwal, congratulated the pioneer of strawberry cultivation in the region, Bah Ostander Lyngkhoi. He noted that strawberry cultivation is a highly profitable venture and emphasised the government's support for farmers through initiatives like drip irrigation and the provision of planting materials. However, he acknowledged that challenges persist, particularly regarding access to quality planting materials and marketing infrastructure. Ostander Lyngkhoi, recognised as the pioneer of strawberry cultivation in the state and the village headman of Sohliya, underscored the profitability of strawberry farming compared to other crops. He mentioned that his journey began with an initial investment of Rs 80,000 and emphasised how the practice has now expanded to multiple villages across Ri Bhoi. He stressed that strawberry cultivation yields substantial returns, making it a lucrative agricultural venture. Strawberry cultivation had first been introduced in Sohliya in 1988 as a trial with 50 saplings. By 2004, efforts were enhanced by introducing drip irrigation systems and equipment to expand production. It may also be noted that Ri Bhoi currently produces approximately 175 to 280 tonnes of strawberries annually. Sharing thoughts on the Strawberry Festival held at Syntung, Additional Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, Peter T Passah observed that the Strawberry Festival will boost the income of the people. By banking on tourism potential, he spoke of opportunities in agro-tourism, besides ongoing adventure tourism. Through agro-tourism, people can set up farm-stays. He assured that the government will assist the Sordar in setting up a check-dam this year, which will be used by farmers during winter for strawberry plantation. Joint Director Horticulture, S Rani, recalled the time when he was the Horticulture Development Officer in Umsning Block, Ri Bhoi, where initiation for strawberry cultivation was first started at Dewlieh Horticulture Farm, Ri Bhoi District in the year 2004. Later, from Dewlieh, the strawberry cultivation then moved on to Sohliya village, Ri Bhoi, known as "Strawberry village" and other places. He informed that the total planting materials distributed across the state through Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is 10,28,400, the total farmer beneficiaries is 1,176, and the total area under strawberry cultivation in the state is 51.5 hectares (2024-25). Sordar of Syntung, Robert Pale, informed the audience that marketing of the strawberries has gained traction following the intervention of the marketing board. He further said that strawberries from Syntung are being distributed to the Institute of Hotel Management and have also found a market in Guwahati. Terming strawberry cultivation in Garo Hills as a unique initiative on the part of the Directorate of Horticulture, Vibhor Aggarwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner West Garo Hills, during the inauguration at Darechikgre, stated that this can go a long way in ensuring that the people have a livelihood, and more avenues of utilizing their potential. Due to this reason, the government has increased the number of strawberry farms in Garo Hills under cultivation from 3 to 14 due to an increasing demand for strawberries. Vibhor Aggarwal encouraged an increase in farming techniques as well as market access for the strawberries, which will prove to be beneficial to the people of the area. Stating that strawberry cultivation in Garo Hills will greatly boost tourism in the region and also boost the livelihoods of the people, he urged the people as well as the officials of the Directorate to motivate the farmers to continue strawberry cultivation despite the challenges that could come on the way, as strawberry cultivation has a bright future in the region. (ANI)
Haryana Minister Anil Vij lashed out at Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi over his statement of demanding proof regarding the 2019 air strike conducted by the Indian armed forces in reply to the Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF soldiers. Anil Vij said that this 'traitor' neither trusts nor believes that the Indian Army, but only believes what Pakistan say. "This traitor neither trusts nor believes the Indian army. He believes what Pakistan says more", he told reporters. On Friday, Charanjit Singh Channi invited controversy by demanding for proof of the Balakot air strike and stated that he has been doing it from very beginning. BJP MP Sambit Patra also launched a scathing attack against the Congress after its leader Charanjit Singh Channi demanded proof for the surgical strikes carried out by the armed forces, labelling the party's working committee (CWC) as the Pakistan Working Committee. "From the outside, they are the Congress Working Committee (CWC), but from the inside, they are PWC (Pakistan Working Committee)," Patra said in a press conference. He said that it was the planning of the opposition party to hold a parallel press conference and cast doubts over the surgical strike carried out by the armed forces in retaliation against the 2019 Pulwama attack. "CWC meeting was held yesterday, and some proposals were passed. Hathi ke daant dikhane ke aur, khane ke aur (A wolf in sheep's clothing). Right after that, a press conference was held, and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi said that the surgical strike had never been conducted after the Pulwama terrorist attack," Patra said. Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also condemned the statement given by the Former Punjab Chief Minister and said that the Gandhi family and Congress have consistently betrayed the country. He added that sometimes they speak China's language by demanding proof of a surgical strike and it is very clear that Congress is speaking Pakistan's language. "I strongly condemn the statement given by Charanjit Singh Channi...Gandhi family and people of Congress have always betrayed the country. They sometimes speak the language of China and when you are asking for proof of surgical strike, it is clear that you are speaking the language of Pakistan...Congress was never loyal to the country and will never be", he told reporters. Former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi stoked controversy by demanding proof of the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan territory in the past under the BJP government in the centre. Casting doubts over the strikes, the former Punjab CM said that he has always demanded proof. "To date, I could not find where the (surgical) strike took place, where men were killed at that time, and where this happened in Pakistan. Will we not find out if a bomb is dropped in our country? They say that they did a surgical strike in Pakistan. Nothing had happened. Nowhere was a surgical strike seen. Nobody came to know...I have always demanded (proof). But today, people's wounds need to be tended to. We demand that the Government do something. Tell people who they (perpetrators of the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack) are and punish them," Channi said at a press conference. (ANI)
The meeting focused on the party's strategies ahead of upcoming electoral challenges in the state, party sources said.

Tamil Nadu BJP State President Nainar Nagendran, BJP State Co-incharge P. Sudhakar Reddy, BJP National Mahila Morcha President Vanathi Srinivasan, and senior leader and former Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan were among the key leaders who attended the meeting. Several other state-level functionaries also participated in the discussions.

The meeting reportedly reviewed the party's organisational preparedness, booth-level outreach, and alliance dynamics as the BJP seeks to expand its presence in the southern state.

Sharing the details of the meeting, Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagenthiran said, "During the meeting, our National President, Shri JP Nadda, provided various strategic suggestions on further strengthening the party in Tamil Nadu, working tirelessly on the ground to defeat the anti-people DMK government in the upcoming assembly elections, and ensuring that a greater number of BJP candidates are elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly."

Later in the day, JP Nadda attended the 6th International Saiva Siddhanta Conference organised by the Thirukayilaya Paramparai Dharmapuram Adheenam's International Institute of Saiva Siddhanta Research and SRM Institute of Science & Technology.

Dharmapuram Aadhinam continues to work for the Shaiva Siddhanta. Shiva sidhandha is not merely religious philosophy but it's a civilization ethos.that teaches the sacred relationship between the soul (jeeva), God the pathi and the world the vasu," Nadda said.

At the event, Nadda said, "Tamil Nadu is a blessed land and the sangam of poets and Shaivism. To understand the 'Shaiva Siddhanta' is to understand Mount Kailash itself, the abode of Lord Shiva, symbolising the stillness, purity, and ultimate liberation. The message of Shaiva Siddhanta is the message of humanity."

After this, Nadda is scheduled to visit the Golden Temple, Vellore. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday category denied any claims of a Bangladeshi student being enrolled at Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. CM Sarma said that a "thorough inquiry" had been conducted and it has been confirmed that no such student has been enrolled. The CM's denial comes after an account on X claimed that at student from Bangladesh had been enrolled at the college. The original post has since been deleted, but the handle posted a follow up claiming that Bangladeshi people were using photos of other Hindus with fake names. "We have conducted a thorough inquiry and can categorically confirm that no such student from Bangladesh is enrolled at IIT Guwahati. IIT Guwahati is a hugely responsible and internationally respected institution," read a post by the CM. https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1918548949692235828 He further urged everyone to "rely on verified facts rather than assumptions." "We urge all to rely on verified facts rather than assumptions. Let me state unequivocally: Assam is not--and shall never be--a safe haven for anti-India activities," the CM's post added. The original post by posted by a handle "bloody media," after deleting the original post, they had then claimed that certain accounts are using photos of other people are using fake names. "Bangladeshi Jihadis are using photos of Hindus with fake Muslim names to spread misinformation and create confusion. The real person in this picture is a Hindu named Chandan Dey. We have deleted our previous tweet. We're also glad to see how the Assam govt is working 24x7 to tackle Bangladeshi infiltrators!!they took instant action to trace the details," read the post by the X handle. Earlier on May 2, CM Sarma trained his guns at Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his children, claiming that the latter's children are not Indian citizens. Speaking to mediapersons, 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." (ANI)
Following the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Saturday condemned the brutality, called for unity against terrorism, and sent a heartfelt message of solidarity to the victims. Speaking to ANI, declaring that "the pot has overflowed," Abdullah said it was time to uproot terrorism once and for all, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir has never stood with Pakistan and never will. "Those who lost their lives here, I want to tell that bride who was married just six days ago, to the child who saw his father soaked in blood, that we also cried. We also didn't eat. Such demons are still there who murder humanity. They are not human. They call themselves Muslims, but I think they are not Muslims. We are all with those families who have suffered because of terrorism," he said. "I want to assure them that these sacrifices will not go in vain, all will be avenged... 'ab ghada bhar gaya hai'. We now need to uproot it (terrorism). We have been witnessing it for 35 years. But, they have never won, they'll never win," Farooq asserted. He also criticised the Indus Waters Treaty, called for stronger action against cross-border hostility, and urged the nation to come together, not just in grief, but in defiance. "When the Indus Waters Treaty was signed, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were not even consulted. The region that has suffered the most from this treaty is J-K. We cannot build power stations without their permission. We cannot even take a bucket of water without their approval. Today, I appeal to the Government of India to bring some of that water for the people of Jammu," the National Conference Chief said. "India is the land of Gandhi. Yes, we have given them (Pakistan) a warning today that we will stop the water, but we will not kill them. We are not as cruel as they are. They have committed atrocities on their own people. Just look at the situation in Balochistan and Sindh. They could not save their own country, and now they are trying to destroy ours," Farooq Abdullah said. The former J-K Chief Minister emphasised that he has gained a lot of courage after meeting tourists in Pahalgam following the deadly attack. "I gained a lot of courage when I met with tourists. Children told me, 'Uncle, we are here to stand with you.' What can be greater than that? I say to the whole country -- come here and give a strong answer to terrorism and to that nation (Pakistan)," Farooq said. Abdullah further stressed that they will never stand with Pakistan. "Who were they who killed Kashmiri Pandits. Being the CM, the places where I couldn't go, Mehbooba Mufti used to go to the houses of terrorists. We have never been with terrorism, and we have never been a Pakistani - neither we were nor we will be. Kashmir is the crown of India. Amarnath Ji is here, and he will protect us," he said. Further, speaking on Congress leader Charanjeet Singh Channi's remarks, Farooq Abdullah said that it is not right to discuss these kinds of things. "This is not the time to say such things. If we talk like this now, we will strengthen our enemy. Let us end this matter first; everything else can be discussed afterwards," he called. Speaking on the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, the NC Chief said, "Those coming on the Amarnath Yatra cannot be scared because He (Lord Amarnath) is here to protect them. Only those who do not have Amarnath Ji in their hearts will feel fear. You all should come and have darshan. Come, everyone come, and seek blessings from Bhole Baba." (ANI)
Amid the ongoing water-sharing dispute between Haryana and Punjab, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday appealed to the people of both states to maintain peace and said that in the all-party meeting, a resolution was passed that the Punjab government should implement the decision taken by Bhakra Beas Management Board to release Haryana's share of water. Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Haryana CM said that the state is facing issues related to drinking water. "I want to tell Mann sahib (Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann) that this water doesn't belong to Punjab only but to the whole country...On 23rd April, the Bhakra Beas Management Board decided to give 8,500 cusec water to Haryana, but the Mann government did not honour this decision. On 30th April, in the BBMP meeting, a resolution was passed to implement the 23rd April decision. 12.55 MAF water is allotted to Haryana against 10.67 MAF given to the state...Punjab is using more than its share of water. Haryana is getting 17 per cent less water than originally allocated to it...At least don't do politics on water meant for drinking purposes...Today, in Haryana, we are facing issues related to drinking water," Haryana CM said. Haryana CM said that the Punjab government should release Punjab's share of water. "In the all-party meeting today, it was decided that the Mann government (Punjab government) should release our share of water. We have also passed a resolution that the Punjab government should implement the decision taken by BBMP on 23rd April to release Haryana's share of water. We also appeal to the people of both states to maintain peace," Haryana CM said. The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) recently ordered that an additional 8,500 cusecs of water be released to Haryana. Earlier today, the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government called an all-party meeting in Haryana in Chandigarh. The statement comes after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann raised concerns on May 1 over decreasing water levels in key reservoirs. He mentioned that the water levels in Pong Dam, Bhakra Dam, and Ranjit Sagar Dam are 32 feet, 12 feet, and 14 feet below last year's levels, respectively. Mann also lashed out at the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) for directing Punjab to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. CM Mann strongly opposed the directive, stating that Punjab is already grappling with its own water needs due to the upcoming paddy sowing season and declining groundwater levels. Amidst the escalating concerns over Punjab's water rights, Bhagwant Mann had called an all-party meeting on May 2 to discuss Punjab's water rights. Additionally, the Punjab government is likely to call a special session of the Assembly on Monday to table a proposal addressing the issue. (ANI)
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday inspected the ongoing redevelopment work at Vidisha Railway Station, emphasizing the importance of modernizing railway infrastructure as part of India's vision for development. Speaking to reporters after the inspection, he stated, "A 'Viksit Bharat' is our goal, and for a developed India, railway stations should also be developed." Chouhan highlighted that an amount of Rs 24 crore was approved for the first phase of the station's redevelopment, aimed at improving public amenities and the overall station environment. "The work is ongoing, some parts are completed, and others are nearing completion. The platforms should be clean and neat, and one should feel a positive difference when entering," he said. He also stressed that the experience of travellers should be comfortable and pleasant, with facilities like clean toilets, proper seating arrangements, and well-maintained waiting halls. "The first phase of work is still ongoing, but we are working to ensure that all basic necessities are fulfilled for the public," he added. Chouhan further mentioned that the second phase of the redevelopment has been planned and approved. "From the development of platforms to creating a pleasant entry experience and ensuring good waiting facilities, all amenities will be expanded," he said. He assured, "By adopting it, all the facilities will be expanded on the other side of the Vidisha railway track as well." The Union Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the redevelopment, noting that the improvements are aimed at providing better facilities for passengers. Meanwhile, while reacting to the Centre's decision for caste census Union Minister Chouhan said that the decision will become the basis of public welfare, and the decision has been taken for social justice. "The census is in the domain of central government. Some states did their own surveys, but at some places it caused trouble. Today it has become necessary that accurate figures are needed to formulate policies for public welfare. I believe that this caste census will become the basis of public welfare and the foundation of social justice," he said. "The census is in the domain of central government. Some states did their own surveys, but at some places it caused trouble. Today it has become necessary that accurate figures are needed to formulate policies for public welfare. I believe that this caste census will become the basis of public welfare and the foundation of social justice," he said. The government decided to Wednesday to include caste count in the forthcoming population census. The decision was taken at a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
Two days after a Nepalese student was found dead at the KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, the relative of the deceased on Saturday urged authorities for a thorough investigation, and said that the girl student had showed no signs of distress before her death. Speaking to ANI, Rajesh Ranjan, the relative of the deceased, said that the victim's post-mortem examination was underway and that the family of the student would cremate the mortal remains in Puri. Sharing information, Ranjan said that the girl had recently spoken to her father and was looking forward to returning home. "She asked her father to book a ticket to come back. She was happy to have finished her exam. There were no signs of depression," Ranjan said. Describing her as "bright, ambitious, and courageous," Ranjan emphasised that the student would have communicated with her parents had she been facing any difficulty. "People are interpreting it wrongly," he said, urging the public to refrain from drawing premature conclusions. The family plans to cremate the girl in Puri and has expressed satisfaction with the cooperation extended so far by the authorities. "The authorities are cooperating fully, and we hope this will continue through the investigation," Ranjan added. Highlighting the importance of open communication between students and their families, he said, "Children should share everything with their parents so that if there is any problem, they can resolve it." He also called upon the government to ensure a transparent and comprehensive probe. "I want to demand from the government that the investigation is done properly, and it should be ensured that such incidents do not happen again in the future," he said. Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the Nepali student, who died in KIIT University, were handed over to her family for the last rites to be held in Puri, Odisha. The grieving parents of the Nepalese student who was found dead at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar arrived at the mortuary centre in AIIMS hospital. Earlier in the day, a visibly upset mother of the deceased female student from Nepal said, "We received information (about her demise) at 8:00 PM." The father of the Nepalese student informed that his daughter had talked to them in the afternoon, on the day of the incident. "On the day of the incident, we had a telephone conversation with her at 3:00 PM. She talked to us nicely," he said. In response to the incident, the University Grant Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Nageshwar Rao, to look into the recent alleged suicide deaths at KIIT. The committee will examine the circumstances surrounding these incidents, ensure compliance with student welfare and safety regulations, and suggest measures to prevent such incidents. The committee also includes Shashikala Wanjari, Vice-Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), and HCS Rathore, Former Vice Chancellor of Central University of South Bihar, Gaya, as a member and Sunita Siwach, Joint Secretary of UGC as the coordination officer, according to a statement from UGC on Friday. A Nepali student was found dead in her hostel room in KIIT on Thursday evening, making it the second case of a student from a neighbouring country found dead in the institute within three months. Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh on Friday said that following preliminary findings in the case related to the death of the Nepali girl at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), "Prima facie, it appears to be a suicide case," as she was found hanging in her hostel room on Thursday evening. Providing more insights on the matter, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhubaneswar Jagmohan Meena stated the girl was found dead during a routine attendance check on Thursday and was found hanging inside her hostel room. "During the investigation, it was found that when the hostel warden was taking evening attendance, one student did not respond. On checking, the girl was found hanging inside her room. She was immediately shifted to a local hospital. The body is now kept at AIIMS, and the girl's parents have been informed. The girl hailed from Nepal. She was studying B.Tech and was in her first year. No note was found in the girl's room," he said. Earlier in February, Prakriti Lamsal also died by suicide at the same university. (ANI)
On the second anniversary of Manipur's ethnic violence, Kom Tribes Organisation - Valley (KTO-V) president Haopu Kom on Saturday stressed that understanding among different communities in Manipur is essential to find a solution to the ongoing situation in the state. He called for unity among the 26 indigenous tribes of Manipur, stressing its importance in overcoming challenges and ensuring peace. Speaking to ANI, Kom said, "Unity is very important for us. Until and unless we are united, we will face dangers. We need to unite to safeguard our land. Some people have sacrificed their lives for the motherland. Only understanding between us will bring solutions." Kom said unity among the 26 indigenous tribes living in Manipur would help establish peace in Manipur. "There are 26 indigenous tribes living in Manipur. If there is unity, it will be easy to establish peace here. After peace is established, development will also take place here," he said. Kom suggested that the Central government's involvement could expedite the peace process in the state. "If the Central government is interested, peace will be established here. If peace and unity come, every problem will be solved easily," he said. Manipur has been under President's rule since February after the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, as announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs. President's Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13 under Article 356 of the Constitution, five days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned from office. Violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3, 2023, following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. Violence had gripped the entire State and the Central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control. (ANI)
In a bid to accelerate development in the districts of Gwalior, Guna, Ashoknagar, and Shivpuri, Union Minister for Communications and Development of the Northeastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, held a meeting with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi on Saturday. During the discussion, Scindia requested approval of development projects worth Rs 250 crore for these districts. According to a release, issues related to the development of Northeast India were also discussed. In the meeting, Scindia emphasized the need for a drainage system to resolve the long-standing issue of waterlogging in Gwalior, along with the installation of a new sewer line. He proposed projects worth approximately Rs 60 crore for this purpose. For the development of Shivpuri, Scindia requested financial assistance to expedite pending works under the AMRUT-2 scheme. Discussions also included the construction of AMRUT Park, the renovation of Bhujariya Talab, the conservation of Jadhav Sagar, and the need for improved sanitation infrastructure in the city. Jyotiraditya Scindia submitted proposals for enhancing the development and beautification of Guna, which included the creation of a 5-hectare Oxygen Park, construction of a modern bus terminal, and the aesthetic development of Madhavrao Scindia Road as a themed road. He sought approximately Rs 80 crore for these initiatives. Demonstrating his commitment to his parliamentary constituency, Scindia briefed the Union Minister on plans to renovate and beautify the Tulsi Sarovar in Ashoknagar, as well as to develop the road from Guna Tiraaha to Tridev Mandir as a themed stretch. During the meeting, Scindia also invited Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to the upcoming North East Rising Investor Summit 2025, scheduled for May. He expressed hope that the summit would open new avenues for investment and development in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed Northeast. (ANI)
On Gujarat Foundation Day, a cleanliness campaign was conducted at religious sites across the state under the 'Swachhta Mein Sahakar' initiative. "On the occasion of Gujarat Foundation Day on May 1, 2025, a special cleanliness campaign was organised as part of these ongoing efforts. Conducted at various religious sites across the state, the campaign reflected the Government of India's vision of 'Swachhata Mein Sahakar'," as per a Gujarat Chief Minister's office release. This initiative was also aligned with the celebrations for the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC2025). Under the leadership of Gujarat's Minister of State for Cooperation, Jagdish Vishwakarma, the State Cooperation Department, along with various cooperative institutions, carried out a series of cleanliness-focused activities across these locations. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Where there is cleanliness, there is divinity." He envisioned a Clean India, and to realise this vision through public participation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2, 2014, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. "Over the years, this national initiative has grown into a mass movement, with Gujarat making significant contributions toward a Cleaner India by first ensuring a cleaner Gujarat. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state has been implementing various cleanliness-driven initiatives to support this mission," the release read. It is noteworthy that the United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025). The theme for this global observance, "Cooperatives Build a Better World," highlights the crucial role of cooperative institutions in driving socio-economic development, reducing poverty, and creating employment opportunities. "On the occasion of Gujarat Foundation Day, a large-scale cleanliness campaign was carried out under the statewide 'Swachhata Mein Sahakar' initiative. Cleanliness activities were conducted at 25,000 religious sites across 13,000 villages in 252 talukas," the release read. To ensure the effective execution of the campaign, around 1,50,000 rural residents--including school teachers, principals, sarpanches, deputy sarpanches, and other community members--actively took part in various cleanliness-related efforts. "Additionally, nearly 15,000 cooperative institutions extended their support and played a key role in the programme's success. Using five lakh cleaning tools such as tractors, shovels, brooms, dustbins, and handcarts, the campaign successfully collected 50,000 kilograms of waste," the release read. This programme was organised to raise awareness about cleanliness and instil a sense of responsibility among citizens to preserve the sanctity of religious places, while also promoting unity through cooperative efforts. "On this occasion, religious leaders, local representatives, and cooperative leaders came together and pledged to bring about positive change in society through cooperation," the release read. The campaign saw enthusiastic participation from the Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Nilesh Upadhyay, all district registrars, and a wide range of cooperative institutions operating at the district, taluka, and village levels. "Active involvement was also witnessed from cooperative leaders, stakeholders, and members and employees of the Gujarat State Milk Marketing Federation (Amul), Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Gujarat State Cooperative Union, milk unions, milk societies, and primary agricultural credit societies," the release read. To further ensure the success of the campaign, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Narhari Amin, along with several Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), corporators, senior officials, more than 3,000 cooperative leaders, and nearly 200 APMC chairpersons, also participated actively in the drive. As part of the 'Swachhata Mein Sahakar' campaign, large-scale cleanliness activities were carried out at various religious sites across the state. Members of rural and urban cooperative institutions, along with youth and women, played a crucial role and made significant contributions to this collective initiative. "Through this campaign, Gujarat not only celebrated its Foundation Day in a meaningful way but also powerfully reinforced the message of cleanliness among the people," the release read. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday lauded Union Cabinet's decision conduct caste census, calling it a "historic decision" under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It (Caste Census) is an historic decision taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji," Dhami said. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census. CM Dhami further talked about implementation of Uniform Civil Code implemented in the state and said we have fulfilled our promise. "People of Uttarakhand blessed us with a huge majority in 2022 elections, to implement UCC in the state. Under the leadership of PM Modi, we had promised the people of Uttarakhand. We have fulfilled our promise. UCC has been implemented." Dhami said. Earlier in the day, Dhami lauded effective implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, saying that Muslims women have been "freed from social evils." The Chief Minister was attending a workshop in Haridwar on the effective implementation of UCC. "UCC has freed Muslim sisters from social evils. Now all women will get justice in inheritance and property rights as well," CM Dhami said during his speech. He mentioned that many people are creating "confusion" about UCC, but the law is not against any religion or sect. In fact the law is an effort to establish harmony in equality by eradicating the evil practices of society. "UCC is not against any religion or sect. Many people are creating confusion about it. This is an effort to establish harmony in equality by eradicating the evil practices of society. This is such a necessary reform which will benefit the entire society," CM Dhami said. Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami-led Uttarakhand government had implemented UCC across the state in January 27 of this year. Uttarakhand is the first state to implement the law in the country. (ANI)
Ahead of Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari's visit to Telangana on May 5, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the development of national highways and roads has been progressing rapidly in the state. "Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the development of national highways and roads has been progressing rapidly in Telangana in the last 10 years. On 5 May, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, will come to Telangana to develop national highways-related projects worth Rs 7,000 crores," Reddy told reporters. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, along with Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy, will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple development projects in Telangana on May 5. The programmes are tentatively scheduled to be held in Adilabad and Hyderabad, where projects worth Rs 5,413 crores will be inaugurated and foundation stones will be laid. The Adilabad leg of the programme covers the inauguration of 123 kilometres of roads worth Rs 3,694 crore, and foundation stones would be laid for 8.1 kilometres of new road projects valued at Rs 168.47 crore. Similarly, in Hyderabad, the event will see the inauguration of 22.57 kilometres of roads worth Rs 895.64 crore and the laying of foundation stones for 20.87 kilometres of road works amounting to Rs 657.27 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has, in principle, agreed to declare the Hyderabad Regional Ring Road (Southern Portion) as a National Highway, subject to the State Government bearing 50 per cent of the land acquisition cost. The cost of construction is pegged at about Rs 13,000 Crore, and 50 per cent of the land acquisition cost is estimated at about Rs 2,230 Crore. Additionally, G Kishan Reddy has requested early Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) and Cabinet approval of the project and signing of a financial tripartite agreement for "Greenfield Regional Express Highway on Northern side of Hyderabad (HRRR-NP)." (ANI)
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for focusing on personal attacks instead of addressing the pressing issues of children in the state, including rising school dropout rates, child labour, and worsening government education standards. Speaking to the media, Gogoi responded to recent remarks made by the Chief Minister, who had controversially stated he would resign if Gogoi could prove that his child holds Indian citizenship. Dismissing the statement as a political diversion, Gogoi focused on what he termed the real crisis affecting Assam's future, its children. "The Chief Minister is concerned with my children. That is his choice, his prerogative. I am concerned with the welfare of the children of Assam. Today, dropout rates are increasing. Children are being sold into slavery. The condition of government schools is deteriorating every day. Children are so impoverished that they are being forced into labour. I take responsibility for addressing these issues as a member of the Congress party," Gogoi said. The Congress MP criticised the BJP for politicising personal matters rather than focusing on governance and social welfare. He emphasised that such distractions serve no purpose while fundamental issues in the education and social sectors remain unaddressed. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday claimed that the Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi's children are not Indian citizens.. Speaking to mediapersons, 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." Gaurav Gogoi also weighed in on the recent tensions with Pakistan and the Indian government's stance on national security. Amid growing concerns over terrorism and border security, Gogoi expressed support for a firm diplomatic response from New Delhi. "We want this government to give a strong and befitting reply to Pakistan, and we support the central government and the Prime Minister in any initiative they take against Pakistan," he said. However, he accused the BJP of misusing national issues to target opposition leaders. "Instead of taking strong action, they are venting their fury and frustration on the opposition. This is not what the country needs right now," he said. The comments come amid heightened political activity in Assam during the panchayat election. The Chief Minister's remark on Gogoi's family sparked a wave of reactions across party lines, with the Congress calling it a "desperate personal attack." (ANI)
According to police sources, the two accused have been identified as Rasuan Devi (25) and Ranju Devi (30), both residents of Katihar district in Bihar were attempting to smuggle the contraband to Delhi via train using the Agartala Railway Station as a transit point.

The duo was caught in possession of a total of 4 kg 405 grams of dry cannabis (ganja), neatly packed in eight packets and concealed in two handbags.

This marks the first such incident reported at the station, although the duo reportedly confessed to having carried cannabis on five previous occasions via train.

According to the initial police interrogation, the seized contraband is estimated to fetch around Rs 50,000 in the Delhi market.

Following the arrest, a case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Agartala GRP Police Station. Authorities suspect the involvement of a larger network, and more arrests are likely to be made in connection with the case.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)
Following the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, Swiss Federal Councillor and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis reiterated Switzerland's condemnation of the incident and called for restraint to prevent any regional escalation. https://x.com/ignaziocassis/status/1918375712962097404 In a post on X, Cassis said, "In a conversation with my Indian colleague EAM S Jaishankar following the tragic attack in Pahalgam, I reiterated Switzerland's condemnation, expressed condolences to the victims' families, and called for restraint to avoid regional escalation. Switzerland stands ready to support dialogue." The statement follows a telephonic conversation between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Swiss counterpart, during which both leaders discussed the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. In his own post on X, 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." Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed grief over the incident and affirmed American cooperation with India in the fight 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," said US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. According to the same statement, Rubio also "encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia." Jaishankar, in a separate post on X, stated, "Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers, and planners must be brought to justice." (ANI)
Addressing the gathering at Norway's national day celebrations, Stener said, "Here in Delhi, particularly tonight, the terror attack in Pahalgam last week shocked us all. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of India. There can never be any justification for terror and attacks on innocent lives. Norway condemns terrorism in all its forms."

The terror attack in Pahalgam left 26 people dead and has drawn sharp condemnation from Indian leaders and foreign governments.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed grief over the incident and reaffirmed America's cooperation with India on counterterrorism.

"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.

The statement added, "He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia."

Jaishankar confirmed the conversation via a post on X, writing, "Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers, and planners must be brought to justice."

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)
An essay competition jointly organised by a Taipei-based literary group and a publishing entity linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may have violated Taiwanese law governing relations with China, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said on Thursday, Taipei Times reported. The event, which involves sending Taiwanese students to China under fully funded arrangements, could contravene Article 33-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. "In this case, the partner organisation is clearly an agency under the CCP's Fujian Provincial Committee," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh said at a news briefing in Taipei. "It also involves bringing Taiwanese students to China with all-expenses-paid arrangements to attend award ceremonies and camps." Liang said those two "characteristics" are typically sufficient to constitute a "cooperative activity" under Article 33-1 of the act, which prohibits collaboration with organisations of "any political nature." His remarks followed a MAC statement issued Monday, which said the Ministry of Education would begin investigating whether the competition -- titled "Reading a Good Book Together" -- violates the law. The competition is co-hosted by the Republic of China Zhang Fa Society in Taipei and the Straits Publishing and Distributing Group, which operates under the CCP's Fujian Provincial Committee. According to the Zhang Fa Society's website, the competition is part of a broader cross-strait reading and writing exchange aimed at "promoting cultural exchange and emotional connection between teachers and young students across the Taiwan Strait." Participants are given a list of books and asked to submit a reflective essay, with about 100 awards available. The total prize pool is NTD 200,000, and the top prize is worth NTD 6,000. The competition also offers selected participants the opportunity to join a study tour in Fujian Province, and the deadline for submissions has been extended to May 15, reported Taipei Times. Liang noted that achievements from the first edition of the competition, held last year, are listed on the official website of the 16th Straits Forum -- a platform the MAC has previously described as part of Beijing's "united front" strategy aimed at influencing Taiwan. Asked to explain what constitutes "cooperative activity" under the law, Liang said China's "united front" tactics are constantly evolving, making it impractical to publish a fixed list of banned actions, as such a list could be used to devise workarounds. He emphasized that not all student exchanges violate the law, pointing to reciprocal programs where schools in Taiwan and China host each other's students as legally acceptable. "That would be considered a reciprocal arrangement between the two sides," he said. However, he added that some events are "clearly one-sided," with all costs covered by the Chinese side and often featuring speeches by CCP officials or United Front Work Department representatives promoting unification to Taiwanese youth, Taipei Times reported. "These are instances that the MAC believes warrant further investigation," Liang said. In response to Monday's MAC statement, the Zhang Fa Society released its own, stating that the contest is a goodwill-based cultural exchange and a form of "normal cross-strait interaction." The group added, "We urge against overinterpretation or unnecessary assumptions." (ANI)
Bangladesh is celebrating World Press Freedom Day as the media face serious challenges. Political changes have shaken the media landscape in Bangladesh. More than two dozen outlets changed leadership positions following the July uprising last year. Some journalists are facing murder charges. The authorities concerned are also investigating their bank accounts. The government has cancelled the accreditation cards of the journalists. Some journalists faced job cuts. The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in 1993, marking an important milestone in the protection of freedom of expression and media freedom. "Since the changeover in Bangladesh last year, July-August, we find that there are changes in the media sector. We also find some of the editors were removed from the position of the newspapers and televisions and some new people joined there," said Golam Rahman, Editor of Ajker Patrika, a Bengali daily newspaper of Bangladesh. According to The Daily Star report, Editors at least eight newspapers and heads of news in 11 private television channels have been either dismissed or forced to resign, while some left their jobs. "We find there is a silent crisis in the media that is going on because the media is writing and reporting matters, but many of our editors or many of our key people in the media are not facing or feeling safe to write to express their opinion. They are a bit shaky to express their opinion in full length," Rahman told ANI in an interview. "We understand, some people were in prison, some people were arrested, and some key editors of the newspapers were also arrested. Those are stumbling blocks in the freedom of expression," he added. The interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus claims the government neither helped anyone nor intervened in changing the ownership or leadership in any privately owned media houses. The government says private news organisations have changed their leadership on their own. "But in reality, we find some representatives of the present government who ordered some media people to be removed from some television stations. They were also instructed to change for the editorship of newspapers. There are hidden things that we find on social media and also in international media. Our media has some blockades where they don't express their own opinions. There are hidden censorships," Rahman said. "This is a legacy that we are inheriting from ages. Most of the time, it is written that media freedom is there. But the reality, we have not seen full freedom of the media in times. Media freedom is always being curtailed, threatened. Some restrictions are always there. Sometimes it is by law, sometimes it is by order, sometimes it is by practice; all these things are there. Full freedom of the media is still a far cry in the country. Because of political influences and political interferences, even sometimes top political parties or top political leaders also put pressure on the press. That is the legacy, that is the historical reality we faced," he said. Rahman further said, "It is the recent practice that some journalists were put into jail. They are behind the bar. They are facing charges of killing people. But I should say those are not real arguments for them, those are not real cases for them. It is just because they are putting pressure on the press, pressure on some specific journalists, they are doing that. Without that, they can not keep them in prison. That is the main serious problem. Journalists should be free in their writing." (ANI)
The Angolan President also signed the visitors' book after laying a wreath, paying homage at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial.

Earlier in the day, Lourenco received a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and others were also present.

A day earlier, Lourenco arrived in New Delhi on a State Visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation.

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.

Several MoUs are expected to be signed in the fields of traditional medicine, agriculture, and cultural cooperation during Lourenco's 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 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)
Pakistan's proposed testing of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles this week has escalated tensions with India and is being perceived in New Delhi as a "reckless act of provocation". Since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians, hostilities between India and Pakistan have ramped up considerably with almost daily incidents of gun fire exchange along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. Following India's diplomatic countermeasures since the terror attack--which included the suspension of Indian visas for Pakistani nationals, a directive to reduce staff at the Pakistani High Commission, and the closure of the Attari border--Pakistan has been consistently issuing NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) threatening missile test launches in the region as a show of force. Sources told ANI that Pakistan was preparing to test fire surface to surface ballistic missiles which would be perceived in New Delhi as a "reckless act of provocation and a dangerous escalation in its hostile campaign against India." The sources also went on to say that the planned missile test in such volatile conditions was a "desperate attempt to whip up tensions with India." Since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan issued the first NOTAM on the night of April 23 with less than 24 hour notice for test firing, however, no ballistic missile firing was observed. Soon thereafter notifications were issued on April 26th-27th of firing by Pakistani Naval ships off the coast of Karachi, however, no firing drills were conducted. After two non-attempts, Pakistan repeated a third attempt on April 30th- May 2nd of firings close to India's Exclusive Economic Zone, but again, no firings were conducted. With continuous exchange of gunfire on the border in Jammu and Kashmir and the dangerous ratcheting up of tensions by Pakistani politicians sabre-rattling, this fourth provocation of a proposed surface to surface missile test by Pakistan has the potential of dramatically escalating tensions with India. (ANI)
China's Ministry of Commerce on Friday said that the country is currently evaluating the situation after the United States made multiple recent attempts to initiate dialogue over tariffs through various official channels, according to a report by Xinhua. In a statement, a ministry spokesperson said that 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 Stating that China has noticed the US 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," Xinhua reported. Earlier on April 28, the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had called him, reiterating that no talks were held between the two nations to resolve the tariff war, CNN reported. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun's statement came after Trump in an interview with Time magazine last week, said that Xi had called him. While addressing a regular news conference, Guo Jiakun said, "As far as I know, there has been no recent phone call between the two heads of state." He added, "I want to reiterate that China and the United States are not engaged in consultations or negotiations on the tariff issue." According to publicly available records, Xi and Trump last spoke on January 17, days before the US leader assumed office for his second term. According to a White House fact sheet, China's retaliatory actions have resulted in up to a 245 per cent tariff on imports to the United States. Prior to the latest revision, a 145 per cent tariff was being levied on Chinese exports to the United States. (ANI)
As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has raised serious concerns over the increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in the country. According to a report by Dawn, in a joint statement, PFUJ Acting President Khalid Khokhar and Secretary General Arshad Ansari criticised the federal and Punjab governments for enacting laws that stifle press freedom. Dawn reported that the controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025 and the newly passed Defamation Law by the Punjab Assembly have sparked widespread alarm among media watchdogs and civil society. PFUJ leaders argue that these laws are aimed at muzzling the media and controlling independent journalism. As per the report, the union also expressed frustration over the non-implementation of the long-awaited Journalist Safety Act. Despite its passage in Parliament, no commission has been constituted, nor have its rules been notified. Further highlighting the economic pressures faced by independent media, PFUJ accused the government of selectively issuing advertisements only to pro-government outlets. The situation of press freedom particularly, has been deteriorating in Pakistan over the last few years due to increased censorship, journalist persecution, and government media witch hunts. Journalists are consistently tortured or beaten, and even killed, with complete impunity. Critics say that the government deliberately intimidates media outlets through legal mechanisms like the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Journalistic dissent is stifled and independent news agencies are coerced to disseminate government propaganda or face harsh consequences. Out of fear of retribution, a number of journalists resort to self-censorship. According to several past reports, media companies also face financial punishment, such as a ban on government-funded advertisements. This has created a climate of fear, where many media outlets choose to align with government narratives to ensure their survival, rather than reporting independently. The erosion of press freedom has further undermined public trust in the media and hampered the democratic process in Pakistan. (ANI)
Taiwan is rapidly developing its drone industry with twin goals: strengthening defence against a potential Chinese invasion and expanding exports to global markets. Officials and manufacturers say international orders are essential for scaling production and sustaining growth in the face of fierce competition from China, Taiwan News reported. In his 2024 inaugural address, President Lai Ching-te vowed to make Taiwan "the Asian hub of UAV supply chains for global democracies," according to The Economist. His pledge follows a 2022 remark by former president Tsai Ing-wen, who highlighted how drones provided a significant tactical advantage to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Former US officials have also pressed Taiwan to expand its drone capabilities, calling for the creation of an "unmanned hellscape" across the Taiwan Strait. The vision includes deploying thousands of drones and other unmanned systems to deter and complicate any potential invasion by China, reported Taiwan News. To meet defence needs and build export capacity, Taiwan has set an ambitious target of producing 15,000 domestically made drones per month by 2028. The government has established a dedicated research centre, awarded procurement contracts for military drones, and provided subsidies to firms working on key technologies such as flight controllers and AI-powered imaging chips. Alongside its defence priorities, Taiwan's drone sector is eyeing international opportunities. Manufacturers are marketing themselves as part of a "zero-red" supply chain, aiming to appeal to buyers wary of Chinese technology. The US, for example, has banned the use of Chinese drones by its government and armed forces, further opening space for Taiwan in the global market. Still, the industry faces significant challenges. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has acknowledged that domestic companies struggle with scale and must secure more international orders to become globally competitive. China's dominance--holding 80 per cent of the global drone market--allows it to keep prices lower, Taiwan News reported. Coretronic manager Andy Hsin said Taiwan-made drones cost 25 per cent more than Chinese models. Thunder Tiger, another Taiwanese drone company, has responded by planning to manufacture some components in California. (ANI)
On World Press Freedom Day, concerns over media independence in Bangladesh have resurfaced, with journalist Golam Rahman, Editor of Ajker Patrika, a Bengali daily newspaper of Bangladesh, voicing alarm over growing censorship and lack of transparency in the country's media. Speaking about the political shift that occurred in 2024, Rahman pointed to a pattern of editorial reshuffles and arrests, describing it as a "silent crisis." While speaking with ANI, Rahman said, "Since the changeover in Bangladesh last year, July-August, we find there are changes in the media sector. We also find that some of the editors were removed from their positions in newspapers and television, and some new people joined them. Their process of joining is not very transparent." He added, "Because of a lack of transparency, the selection of those key positions in the media is challenging. We find there is a silent crisis in the media that is going on because the media is writing and reporting matters, but many of our editors and key people in the media are not feeling safe to write and express their opinions. They are a bit shaky to express their opinion in full length... We understand some people were in prison, some people were arrested, and some key editors of the newspapers were also arrested. Those are stumbling blocks in the freedom of expression..." More than two dozen outlets changed leadership positions following the July uprising last year. Some journalists are facing murder charges. The authorities concerned are also investigating their bank accounts. The government has cancelled the accreditation cards of the journalists. Some journalists faced job cuts. The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in 1993, marking an important milestone in the protection of freedom of expression and media freedom. According to The Daily Star report, editors of at least eight newspapers and heads of news in 11 private television channels have been either dismissed or forced to resign, while some left their jobs. The interim government headed by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus claims the government neither helped anyone nor intervened in changing the ownership or leadership in any privately owned media houses. The government says private news organisations have changed their leadership on their own. (ANI)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], May 3 (ANI/WAM): Under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Abu Dhabi is set to host the inaugural Governance of Emerging Technologies Summit (GETS 2025) on May 5-6 at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. Organised by the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) in strategic partnership with the UAE Public Prosecution, this landmark event aims to shape the future of technology governance on a global scale. GETS 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment as the world grapples with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and Web3 technologies. The summit seeks to establish robust governance frameworks that balance innovation with the protection of societal rights, bringing together over 500 leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society to foster inclusive dialogue and collaborative solutions. Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs and Secretary-General of ATRC, emphasised the summit's significance: "Innovation without ambitious governance lacks sustainability. Through GETS 2025, the UAE reaffirms its belief that technological leadership must be coupled with ethical and inclusive policies that build trust and advance global human progress." Echoing this sentiment, Chancellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, UAE Attorney General, stated, "Amidst the global technological surge, we bear the responsibility of constructing a smart judicial system capable of safeguarding rights and ensuring justice. GETS 2025 presents an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to developing responsive legislation and innovative governance that support societal advancement and uphold human dignity in the digital age." Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, highlighted the role of youth in shaping technological governance: "The future of technology governance should be crafted by minds attuned to its evolution. Our youth possess the creativity, confidence, and responsibility required for leadership. At GETS 2025, we aim to empower young individuals to lead discussions and make decisions that will lay the ethical foundations of our digital future." The summit aligns with the UAE's strategic investments exceeding AED13 billion to accelerate AI and digital economy initiatives, reflecting a clear commitment to integrating AI into legislation, procedures, and government services. Distinguished attendees include Faisal Al Bannai; Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs and Secretary General of ATRC; Chancellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, UAE Attorney General; Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of Education; Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications; Maryam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the UAE Cabinet, Dr. Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; Dr. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, Head of UAE Cybersecurity Council; Maqsoud Kruse, Chairman of the National Human Rights Institution; Dr. Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Judicial Department; Dr. Amin Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Health Regulation Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The summit will feature over 50 prominent experts, including Salem Ali Jumaa Al Zaabi, Head of Public Prosecution at the UAE Attorney General's Office; Dr. Najwa Al Araj, CEO of the Technology Innovation Institute, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali; CEO of Trends Research & Advisory, Hamad Saif Al Kaabi; Director of Hazardous Materials Incidents and Official Spokesperson for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority; Dr. Hamad Abdullah Al Mutairi, Director of Archives Department at the National Library and Archives; Ambassador Mamuka Jgenti, Senior Expert in Justice and Civil Society at the EU Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism; Lt. Col. Dana Hamid Al Marzouqi, Chair of the Governance Committee at INTERPOL and Director-General of the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior; Changpeng Zhao, Founder of Binance; Christophe Legrand, Executive Vice President of PASQAL; Marc Rotenberg, Founder of the Center for AI and Digital Policy; Gabriele Mazzini, Principal Architect of the EU AI Act; Naima Hizir Al Falasi, Senior Vice President of Portfolio Strategy at Mubadala; Ali Haidar, Head of Legal and Government Affairs at Microsoft UAE; Nabil Cheqroun, Chief Commercial Officer at Honeywell; Prof. Rabii Madi, Director of Robotic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic; Dr. Ibtisam Al Mazrouei, Founder and CEO of AIE3, and Chair of the UN AI for Impact Initiative; Dr. Nasser Al Rashidi, Director of Space Policy and Legislation at the UAE Space Agency, Advisory Board Member at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and CEO of 5IR Consultancy. Key topics to be addressed include AI governance, digital privacy and rights, cross-border enforcement, cybersecurity in the post-quantum era, and the role of emerging nations in setting global standards. GETS 2025 represents a strategic initiative to unify efforts across governments, academia, and the private sector, aiming to develop practical and ethical solutions that protect communities and foster technological advancement in an ever-evolving world. (ANI/WAM)
The Kingdom's participation underscores its commitment to strengthening its cultural and intellectual presence on both regional and global stages. The Saudi pavilion offers visitors and exhibitors a window into the nation's dynamic transformation in literature, publishing, and translation.

Presenting a modern approach to book production, the pavilion features contributions from major cultural and educational institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, King Fahd National Library, King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, King Saud University, Umm Al-Qura University, King Faisal University, and the King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex.

A diverse range of activities is scheduled within the pavilion, such as workshops, panel discussions, book signings, and a wide selection of publications spanning history, literature, science, and Islamic studies.

In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Bassam Al-Bassam, General Manager of Publishing at the Saudi Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, emphasised that this year's participation reflects the deep cultural ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

He highlighted the Kingdom's focus on supporting the publishing industry, fostering literary dialogue, and promoting the role of translation in broadening cultural exchange and enabling joint international distribution.

"We were keen to participate this year with a strong institutional identity by collaborating with key government entities involved in the book industry," Al-Bassam said. "We've developed a diverse cultural programme that reflects the Kingdom's heritage and civilisation. The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is a distinguished platform that blends tradition with openness, aligning perfectly with our vision to amplify Saudi presence on the global cultural stage."

Saudi Arabia's participation in the Fair reflects the Kingdom's rapidly evolving cultural landscape, showcasing significant progress in literature, publishing, and translation. It also reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leading cultural destination, contributing to global cultural dialogue and the exchange of knowledge. (ANI/WAM)
During a joint press meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Lourenco said, "Both our nations combined can help establish a significantly expanded foundation for business opportunities."

He added, "I have come to India, to convey a message of admiration and friendship that will hold with your country. I have also come to India with the intention of showcasing a new vision for relations between our countries."

Meanwhile, PM Modi reaffirmed India's deepening strategic and economic engagement with Africa, describing Angola's leadership of the African Union as pivotal to advancing the shared goals of the Global South.

Speaking during the Angolan President's State visit to India, PM Modi outlined India's expanding cooperation with African nations--highlighting USD 100 billion in trade, USD 12 billion in credit lines, and growing collaboration in defence, maritime security, and digital infrastructure.

While addressing a joint press briefing with Angolan President, PM Modi said, "India and the African Union are partners in progress and pillars of the Global South. Under Angola's presidency, the strength of India and the African Union's partnership will strengthen further. In the last 10 years, India has gained speed in cooperation with African nations. Trade has reached almost USD 100 billion. We've improved defence cooperation and maritime security. Last month, India and Africa had their first naval maritime exercise."

He added, "In the last 10 years, we've opened 17 new embassies in Africa. Credit line worth USD 12 billion have been opened for Africa. African nations have also been provided USD 700 million in grants. We have opened vocational training centres across eight countries in Africa. We are aiding in building digital public infrastructure across five countries."

Earlier in the day, PM Modi met President Lourenco at Hyderabad House.

PM Modi, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, also held a bilateral meeting with President Lourenco at Hyderabad House. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco to India--the first such visit in 38 years--underscoring a renewed commitment to deepen bilateral ties and expand cooperation across sectors. Marking 40 years of diplomatic relations, PM Modi hailed the historic solidarity between the two nations, and outlined a roadmap for future collaboration in energy, defence, digital infrastructure, healthcare, and cultural exchange. At a joint press statement with Angolan President, PM Modi said, "I welcome President Lourenco and his delegation. This is a historic moment. After 38 years, the President of Angola has arrived in India. His visit is not only going to give a new direction to the relationship between India and Angola, but also going to strengthen India-Africa ties. India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their political relations. However, our relationship goes way back. When Angola was fighting for its freedom, India was standing beside it with faith and friendship." Speaking about the partnership between the two nations, PM Modi stated, "We are partnering across sectors. India is one of the largest buyers of oil and gas from Angola. We have decided to widen our energy partnership. India has approved a USD 200 million credit line for the modernisation of Angola's defence forces. We will share our experience in digital public infrastructure, space tech and capacity building with Angola." He added, "We would be happy to assist in training Angola's armed forces. Taking forward our development partnership, we will share our capabilities with Angola in digital public infrastructure, space technology and capacity building. Today, we have also decided to further strengthen our ties in healthcare, diamond processing, fertilizer and critical minerals. The popularity of yoga and Bollywood in Angola is a symbol of the strength of our cultural ties. To strengthen our people-to-people relations, we have decided to start a youth exchange programme among our youth." Earlier in the day, PM Modi met President Lourenco at Hyderabad House. PM Modi, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, also held a bilateral meeting with President Lourenco at Hyderabad House. (ANI)
The index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned that Pakistan is becoming increasingly repressive, as global press freedom hits its lowest point in history.

The drop places Pakistan just one spot above the lowest category in RSF's rankings. Pakistani media reports attribute this decline to mounting political interference, financial strain on media organisations, and a surge in violence against journalists.

Recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) are widely blamed for exacerbating the situation. Critics argue the changes are intended to suppress dissent and restrict independent journalism.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the amendments, calling them "black laws" aimed at controlling the press. According to Geo News, these changes have triggered strong backlash from journalist bodies and civil society, who see them as a threat to fundamental rights.

The downgrade comes on the heels of a stark report by the Freedom Network titled Free Speech and Public Interest Journalism Under Siege, which described Pakistan's media landscape as facing an "existential threat.

Media outlets have also reported that the revised PECA law empowers a new regulatory authority with sweeping powers to remove content deemed contrary to the vague and politically charged "ideology of Pakistan"--a move heavily criticised by civil society and rights advocates.

Last year, global press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also called on Pakistan's federal and provincial governments to take immediate steps to reverse what it described as "an alarming deterioration in press freedom," as reported by Dawn. (ANI)
MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi, while speaking on the state visit of President of Angola Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco to India said on Saturday that he condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Ravi said that Lourenco affirmed support to India in tackling terrorism. "During the press briefing, there was a very strong message and also during the delegation level talks, President Lorenzo condemned the heinous cowardly act, terrorist act in in Jammu and Kashmir and there was condemnation of it," he said. In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India on Saturday decided to suspend exchange of all categories of all inbound mails and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes, a statement by Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiradita Scindia said. The statement by the Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts was also tweeted by India Post. https://x.com/JM_Scindia/status/1918612063683055936 The suspension follows another ban by the Centre earlier in the day on Pakistani imports. India has imposed an immediate ban on the direct or indirect import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, regardless of their import status, effectively halting bilateral trade flows. The Indian import from Pakistan will come down to zero from the current level of about half a million US dollars between both neighbouring countries, following a fresh ban announced by the Centre, Ajay Srivastava, Founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), said in a note. The move comes amid the growing tension between India and Pakistan following the dastardly attack in Pahalgam in which 26 tourists lost their lives. He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and solidarity with India in tackling terrorism in all its forms, including the cross-border terrorism. "India's already minuscule imports from Pakistan--barely USD 0.5 million a year--will now drop to zero. No one in India will miss anything except perhaps Himalayan pink salt (Sendha Namak), extracted from salt deposits of Pakistan," Ajay Srivastava, Founder of GTRI, told ANI. Srivastava said that the move to ban the import from Pakistan is mostly symbolic, as India had already imposed 200 per cent tariffs after the 2019 Pulwama attack. The heavy tariffs post the Pulwama attack reduced imports to around USD 0.42 million between April 2024 and January 2025. (ANI)
India and Angola have decided to boost their defence cooperation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering $200 million worth of lines of credit in defence during the visit of Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco. Briefing reporters about the visit, Secretary (Economic Relations), Dammu Ravi said defence is another area of cooperation that has attracted a lot of attention. "During this visit, the Prime Minister has offered 200 million dollars worth of lines of credit, defence line of credit in Indian rupees. They will be sourcing defence equipment from India. Already they are in touch with the private companies and also public sector companies for various items to be sourced from India," he said. "Important aspect is there is a commonality. They have a large number of Soviet equipment, defence equipment, which needs to be serviced, overhauled, and do the maintenance. So in the days to come, both sides will be engaging, expert-level interactions as to how to take forward this particular cooperation," he added. PM Modi had delegation-level talks with the visiting leader. In his remarks during the press statements, PM Modi said it is a historic moment and that President of Angola is visiting India after 38 years. "His visit is not only giving a new direction and momentum to India-Angola ties, but also strengthening India-Africa partnership.This year, India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. But our ties are much older and deeper than that. When Angola was fighting for its freedom, India stood by it with unwavering faith and friendship," PM Modi said. "Today, we have close cooperation in various sectors. India is one of the largest buyers of Angola's oil and gas. We have decided to expand our energy partnership. I am pleased to announce the approval of a $200 million defence credit line for the modernization of Angola's armed forces. We have also discussed the repair and overhaul of defence platforms and supplies. India would be glad to cooperate in the training of Angola's armed forces," he added. PM Modi said India will share its capabilities with Angola in Digital Public Infrastructure, Space Technology, and Capacity Building. "Today we have also decided to further strengthen our relations in the sectors of Healthcare, Diamond processing, fertilizer and Critical minerals. The popularity of Yoga and Bollywood in Angola reflects the deep cultural connection between our two countries. To strengthen our people-to-people relations, we have decided to start a Youth Exchange Programme among our youth," PM Modi said. He said India welcomes Angola's decision to join the International Solar Alliance. "We have also invited Angola to join India's initiatives Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Big Cat Alliance and Global Biofuels Alliance," PM Modi said. He said both agree that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity. "I thanked President Lourenco and the people of Angola for their condolences on the loss of lives in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We are committed to take firm and decisive action against the terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for their support in our fight against cross-border terrorism," he said. PM Modi extend my best wishes to Angola for its chairmanship of the African Union. "It is a matter of great pride for us that the African Union was granted permanent membership of the G20, during India's G20 presidency. India and African countries raised their voices in unison against colonial rule, inspiring one another in the process. Today, we stand united in advocating for the interests, hopes, expectations, and aspirations of the Global South," he said. "Our cooperation with African countries has gained momentum in the last decade. Our mutual trade has reached nearly $100 billion. There has been progress on defence cooperation and maritime security," he said. Last month, the first naval maritime exercise between India and Africa, "AIKEYME" was conducted. PM Modi said that over the past decade, India has established 17 new embassies across Africa. "Credit lines worth more than $12 billion have been allocated for Africa. Apart from this, grant assistance of $700 million has been given to African countries. Vocational training centres have been opened in 8 African countries. We are collaborating with five African countries in the development of Digital Public Infrastructure. In times of disaster, we have been privileged to serve as 'First Responders', standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of Africa," PM Modi said. "India and the African Union are partners in progress. We are pillars of the Global South. I am confident that under Angola's leadership, the relationship between India and the African Union will reach new heights," he added. (ANI)
India and Angola on Saturday signed MoUs in a range of areas to boost bilateral cooperation with the government also approving the Angolan request of Line of Credit of US$ 200 million for defence procurement. The two countries exchanged MoU on cooperation in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine, cooperation in agriculture and in the domain of culture for the period 2025 -29 during the visit of Angola President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco. Angola signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and became the 123rd member of the ISA. Briefing reporters about the visit, Secretary (Economic Relations), Dammu Ravi said defence is among the areas of cooperation that have attracted a lot of attention. "During this visit, the Prime Minister has offered 200 million dollars worth of lines of credit, defence line of credit in Indian rupees. They will be sourcing defence equipment from India. Already they are in touch with the private companies and also public sector companies for various items to be sourced from India," he said. "Important aspect is there is a commonality. They have a large number of Soviet equipment, defence equipment, which needs to be serviced, overhauled, and do the maintenance. So in the days to come, both sides will be engaging, expert-level interactions as to how to take forward this particular cooperation," he added. PM Modi on Saturday held delegation-level talks with the visiting leader. In his remarks during the press statements, PM Modi said it is a historic moment and that President of Angola is visiting India after 38 years. "His visit is not only giving a new direction and momentum to India-Angola ties, but also strengthening India-Africa partnership.This year, India and Angola are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. But our ties are much older and deeper than that. When Angola was fighting for its freedom, India stood by it with unwavering faith and friendship," PM Modi said. "Today, we have close cooperation in various sectors. India is one of the largest buyers of Angola's oil and gas. We have decided to expand our energy partnership. I am pleased to announce the approval of a $200 million defence credit line for the modernization of Angola's armed forces. We have also discussed the repair and overhaul of defence platforms and supplies. India would be glad to cooperate in the training of Angola's armed forces," he added. PM Modi said India will share its capabilities with Angola in Digital Public Infrastructure, Space Technology, and Capacity Building. "Today we have also decided to further strengthen our relations in the sectors of Healthcare, Diamond processing, fertilizer and Critical minerals. The popularity of Yoga and Bollywood in Angola reflects the deep cultural connection between our two countries. To strengthen our people-to-people relations, we have decided to start a Youth Exchange Programme among our youth," PM Modi said. He said India welcomes Angola's decision to join the International Solar Alliance. "We have also invited Angola to join India's initiatives Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Big Cat Alliance and Global Biofuels Alliance," PM Modi said. He said both agree that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity. "I thanked President Lourenco and the people of Angola for their condolences on the loss of lives in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We are committed to take firm and decisive action against the terrorists and those who support them. We thank Angola for their support in our fight against cross-border terrorism," he said. PM Modi extended his best wishes to Angola for its chairmanship of the African Union. (ANI)
Angola President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco condemned the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and expressed his solidarity with the people of India. "Angola was one of the first to react immediately after the sad events in the Kashmir region, where human lives were victimised. In due time, we made the Indian authorities realise our feelings of sorrow to the Indian people and their families. Since it was an act of terrorism and Angola obviously condemns any terrorism, regardless of where it is committed," Angolan president said. The terror attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam targeted tourists, killing 26 people, including one Nepali citizen. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India has taken strong measures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism. Meanwhile, India and Angola have decided to boost their defence cooperation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering $200 million worth of lines of credit in defence sector during the visit of Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco. Briefing reporters about the visit, Secretary (Economic Relations), Dammu Ravi said defence is another area of cooperation that has attracted a lot of attention. "During this visit, the Prime Minister has offered 200 million dollars worth of lines of credit, defence line of credit in Indian rupees. They will be sourcing defence equipment from India. Already they are in touch with the private companies and also public sector companies for various items to be sourced from India," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Lourenco, at Hyderabad House. PM Modi, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, also held a bilateral meeting with President Lourenco at Hyderabad House. (ANI)
AMHERST  After just more than an hour of deliberating Friday, a jury found a Lexington man guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of his wife, Elsie Mae Wiggington, who prosecutors believe was killed on or around June 24, 2023.

Frederick Lewis Wiggington Jr., 38, also was found guilty of using a firearm in commission of a felony at the end of a three-day jury trial in Amherst Circuit Court. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 30 and he could face life in prison.

On Aug. 14, 2024, Fred Wiggington Jr. was arrested the same day his wifes remains were found wrapped in a blue tarp in a shallow grave beneath a concrete slab by the side of the couples trailer at 673 Pendleton Drive in Amherst.

Amherst County Commonwealths Attorney Lyle Carver said Elsie Wiggington, 45 at the time she was last seen alive, was shot in the back of the head execution-style. Fred Wiggington Jr. hid her body in the hole and poured concrete over it, Carver said.

The truth didnt stay buried, Carver told the jury. The truth is the defendant planned to execute his wife, Elsie Wiggington.

He described Elsie as a mother, grandmother, friend and director of nursing at the Fairmont Crossing Health and Rehab Center in Amherst whose foster sister was expecting her in Maryland on June 23, 2023, and she didnt show. Carver asked the jury why Fred Wiggington Jr. would call the Amherst County Sheriffs Office on June 26, 2023, to say she was missing if she ended the relationship and left as he had claimed.

He was interviewed again July 7 and Aug. 6 by law enforcement and said she packed her belongings, except for some items that were left behind, left him and may have come back between June 26 and July 27 to get some items, Carver said.

Sativa Rucker, Elsies daughter, testified she received a text from whom she believed was her mother on June 25, 2023, but the last time she was seen alive was two days prior, according to the testimony of neighbor John Wayne Goff, Carver said.

Goff, who lived next door on Pendleton Drive, testified he saw Elsie in a white T-shirt and black shorts carrying wood in her yard when her husband said something that made her drop the wood and say in a loud tone: What the [expletive] did you say to me, Fred? She went inside, Fred Wiggington Jr. followed, and Goff testified he never saw her again after the exchange.

That is the last time anyone saw her alive, Carver said.

Carver said the clothing found on Elsies body 14 months later matched up with Goffs description of what she wore when the neighbor last saw her. The commonwealths best evidence is she was fatally shot on or about June 24, 2023, Carver said.

Carlos Hutcherson, Fred Wiggington Jr.s attorney, in closing arguments asked multiple times Wheres the evidence? He said no DNA, fingerprints, hair fibers or any other physical evidence ties his client to the homicide and called the commonwealths case a series of allegations.

The thing in this system we have is allegations arent enough, Hutcherson said.

He said the defense doesnt have a second attorney like the commonwealth, a fancy power point presentation as Carver used in his closing argument or the burden of proof. All the defense has is its faith in the legal system and that the jury will hold the commonwealth to meeting its burden of proof, which Hutcherson argued wasnt met in proving Fred Wiggington Jr. in premeditation killed his wife.

Hutcherson said Goffs own testimony is he did not hear a gunshot from the Wiggington property around that time or the pouring of concrete.

Carver said Goff gave specific details that were crucial to the cases timeline, and it was Fred Wiggingtons lies that delayed an investigation into the killing for nearly a year. The defendant left Amherst County to live in Lexington after Elsie Wiggington was last scene, according to testimony during the trial.

His lies helped him, Carver said. He created this delay  and now his lies have caught up with him, Carver said.

With a slide in the prosecutions power point during closing arguments entitled Freds deceit, Carver said the defendant lied to law enforcement, his wifes employer, family members and co-workers who testified he told them his wife was murdered at Virginia Beach, she emptied their account of $50,000 and her body was placed under a pier.

Carver said Fred Wiggington Jr. changed his story multiple times to law enforcement and told a Virginia state police agent he didnt make claims about her being murdered in Virginia Beach.

The only thing that holds up to scrutiny is truth, Carver said.

Carver said the bullet and fragments used in the killing were consistent with a .22 caliber target pistol that the defendant sold at a pawn shop in Lexington and the Amherst County Sheriffs Office recovered during the investigation. The gun matched the testimony of a jail inmate who was housed with Fred Wiggington Jr. in Halifax County in September 2024 and testified to exact details about it no one would know because they werent released to the media when the case was attracting much attention, Carver said.

Fred Wiggington Jr.s confession to the inmate confirmed much of law enforcements investigation, Carver said. He knew certain details he couldnt know any other way, Carver said, adding the informants assistance was icing on the cake and incredible for the prosecution.

The inmate testified Friday that Fred Wiggington Jr. told him he shot his wife in the head, sold the .22 caliber target pistol at a Lexington pawn shop and the killing was on a Saturday night in June, indicating June 24, 2023. Hutcherson objected to that statement, stating Judge Jeff Bennett previously ruled certain statements from the inmate after an initial Sept. 3, 2024, interview with law enforcement was inadmissible and the jury shouldnt have heard it.

Bennett ruled the commonwealths question was appropriately asked and met the intent of his previous ruling. He denied a motion by Hutcherson for a mistrial pertaining to that legal aspect of the case.

In a video recording played in court, the inmate testified Fred Wiggington Jr. wouldnt shut up in telling him how he killed his wife, wrapped her in blue tarp under the slab he covered with concrete, and he screwed up by pawning the firearm in Lexington and stated he should have destroyed it.

It seemed like he planned for it to happen, the inmate told Amherst County Sheriffs Lt. Greg Jones in the video, later adding: The man aint right in the head.

Hutcherson argued to jurors the jailhouse informants story wasnt corroborated and questioned what his clients motive was. He said the medical examiner who performed the autopsy couldnt say how long the body had been dead and no evidence was presented that pointed to a time of death or location of the homicide.

The defense did not call any witnesses after the commonwealth rested its case Friday after putting on roughly 30 witnesses.

Dont hold that against him, Hutcherson told the jury of the defendant not testifying. Its my decision. If anything, hold it against me.

He said the case lacks evidence and the defense argues the commonwealth didnt meet the burden of proof in various aspects.

Is it the murder weapon because they say so? Is that all it takes, Hutcherson asked the jury.

Hutcherson said the defense also didnt have a burden of proof in calling Patricia Wiggington, the defendants ex-wife, to testify. She is facing charges of accessory after the fact to homicide and obstruction of justice in connection with the case and awaits a preliminary hearing this summer on those charges.

Amherst County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Adam Stanley said Fred Wiggington Jr. in a text wrote to Elsie Wiggington you dont know what Im planning, a statement Hutcherson argued was out of context and a response to a text from his wife being concerned he would leave her.

Carver said Fred Wiggington Jr. thought he was smarter than everyone else and could get away with his wifes murder by lying about it for more than a year. The prosecutor said it was lunacy to think anyone else than the defendant, who had a construction background instrumental in creating the concrete slab that concealed his wifes body for more than a year, could have done it.

He bought a year of freedom, Carver told jurors. We ask you, dont let Elsies truth be covered up again.

Mary Jordan, Elsie Wiggingtons older sister, said she was happy justice was served and hopes Fred Wiggington Jr. gets life in prison.

Im very proud and pleased with the outcome from today, Jordan said.

She said she also awaits the prosecution of a third charge against the defendant, concealing a dead body, that will proceed later. Jordan described Fred Wiggington Jr. as controlling when asked about his motive.

He didnt get the last laugh today, Jordan said.
TOKYO, May 03 (News On Japan) - Japan and the United States held a second round of negotiations over tariffs, with discussions lasting 130 minutes. Economic Minister Akazawa described the talks as substantive, yet many officials believe the outcome hinges on the trajectory of U.S.-China relations.

Japan is taking a strategic posture described as slowly but urgently, a phrase that has drawn attention for its paradoxical tone. What exactly does it mean? We take a closer look.

The phrase suggests that Japan is deliberately not rushing into a conclusion, while still aiming to reach an agreement by June. Rather than outlining concrete details, Japan is carefully monitoring how other countries like India and South Korea are navigating their own negotiations with the United States, assessing where it can yield and where it must hold firm.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent appears close to striking a deal with India, and with South Korea facing a presidential election, Washington is likely accelerating those talks. Japan, however, is signaling that it is not in a hurry. It aims to take cues from South Koreas cooperation with the U.S., particularly how far Seoul is willing to compromise on tariff reductions.

From the perspective of former bureaucrats and lawmakers, the U.S. approach remains rooted in America Firsta stance not unique to the Trump administration. This has been evident in recurring issues like U.S. demands for Japan to adopt American standards for electric vehicle charging ports and rear signal lights. For example, while Japan uses orange rear turn signals to avoid confusion with brake lights, the U.S. continues to promote its red-only standard.

One symbolic incident cited by Trump involved a claim that if a car hood dented from a head impact, it would fail safety testsan assertion debunked by fact-checkers. In reality, Japans testing involves dropping a head-like object from two meters to assess pedestrian protection in collisions. The U.S. has no equivalent standard.

Japan has long tried to explain such differences in regulatory values, holding to its own principles since the 1980s. Negotiators stress that it is crucial to stand firm, while also understanding which American officials wield real influence. Japan has been sending frequent delegations to Washington, aiming to read "the American wind"a metaphor for identifying key power brokers and aligning strategy accordingly.

This became particularly important after White House National Security Advisor Walton faced effective dismissal following mishandling of classified material and inappropriate use of personal email for official duties. Another key figure, Ilon Skuth, known for his symbolic hat-switching to represent policy shifts, is also reportedly stepping back amid tension with the administration and declining Tesla shares.

At present, Bessent is seen as the most influential figure in the Trump administrations trade team. But with as many as five competing factions within the administration, Japan must constantly reassess who holds sway. Moreover, reading Chinas wind is equally vital.

Akazawa has emphasized that Tokyo is watching U.S.-China relations closely, as Japans trade ties with China remain deep. U.S.-China tariffs have surged to 145% and 125%, respectively. Recently, Trump has hinted at softening tariffs, but China is taking a hard linehalting imports of U.S. aircraft and tightening rare earth exports, which are vital to both military and high-tech sectors. While other nations can mine rare earths, China dominates processing and refining, and the U.S. currently relies on China for about 70% of its supply.

China, too, appears to be seeking a major deal but is reluctant to concede. Last month, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a Cold War-era video quoting Mao Zedong: "We will never surrender until we achieve complete victory over America." While intended for domestic audiences, it reflects the broader standoff.

For Japan, striking the right balance is crucial. Lawmakers warn that if U.S.-China tensions escalate further, Japans economyand global marketscould suffer. Yet from a security standpoint, stronger U.S. attention to China may promote stability in East and Southeast Asia. Japans diplomatic posture could influence the regions balance of power.

As a middle power, Japan is also being closely watched by ASEAN, the EU, and other stakeholders to see how it positions itself between the two superpowers. In other words, while Japan is reading the wind from Washington and Beijing, the world is now reading Japans wind in return.

Source: YOMIURI
PARIS, May 03 (News On Japan) - Reporters Without Borders has released its 2025 World Press Freedom Index, ranking Japan 66th out of 180 countries and regions surveyed, just behind Timor-Leste (65th) and Fiji (64th).

The Paris-based organization published the index on May 2nd, based on questionnaires sent to media professionals worldwide. It evaluates the state of journalism by analyzing the environment in which news outlets operate in each country.

Japan moved up four spots from the previous year but remained at the bottom among G7 nations.

The report criticized Japans longstanding press club system, saying it contributes to self-censorship and fosters discrimination against freelance and foreign journalists. It also noted that political pressure and gender inequality have undermined the media's role as a public watchdog.

Among G7 members, the United States ranked second-lowest at 57th. The report cited restrictions on Associated Press reporters during the Trump administration as part of what it called "a latent threat to American journalism."

The report also highlighted worsening conditions in conflict zones. Palestine ranked 163rd, with around 200 journalists reported killed in Gaza since fighting escalated two years ago. The region was described as the most dangerous in the world for journalists.

Iran remained at 176th, Syriawhere the Assad regime has collapsedranked 177th, followed by China at 178th and North Korea at 179th. Eritrea was ranked last at 180th, with the organization noting the absence of any independent media and a reputation for detaining journalists longer than any other country.

Globally, the report warned that media independence is increasingly threatened by economic pressures. It noted that outlets are struggling to balance editorial freedom with the financial demands of advertisers, calling the economic index a record low.

Website: https://rsf.org/en/index

Source: TBS
The chief executive officer of a company doesn't generally worry that their subordinates  or shareholders or the general public  will be able to scrutinize their decisions after reviewing the same information and confidential advice.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is arguing the same standard should apply to her office, including intraoffice communications, and that by extension the taxpayers don't have the right to review records "intended to be confidential," according to a lawsuit the governor filed last week against the state's largest newspaper.

Reynolds sued the Des Moines Register on April 25 over a public records request, asking the court to shield certain emails from her employer  that is, the public.

The Associated Press reports that a Register reporter submitted the request in February to Reynolds' office, according to the complaint.

In response, the Republican governor's office provided 825 pages of relevant documents and withheld four emails, asserting they were protected because they were intended to be confidential, and disclosure would inhibit the governor's ability to receive candid, fulsome, and robust information in the future," according to the office's response included in filings.

An attorney followed up on the Register's behalf, according to court filings, arguing that so-called "executive privilege" is not an exemption in Iowa's open records law and, even if it was, there was no indication the governor sent or received the emails. The attorney, Susan P. Elgin, called the withholding legally indefensible and asked the records be produced in a week's time.

Instead, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird asked the court to intervene, as Iowa law allows, and force the Register to halt its pursuit of the records.

It is in the publics interest that governors can receive candid advice from their closest advisors, Mason Mauro, the governor's spokesperson, said in a news release. We are confident that the judicial branch will recognize that governors have a constitutional executive privilege in Iowa, just as they recognized a legislative privilege last year, and have used a deliberative privilege to protect the communications of Iowa Supreme Court justices.

What is executive privilege?

The governor's office states that "executive privilege allows a chief executive to receive confidential communications and work product from their closest advisors."

While the Iowa Constitution makes no explicit reference to such a privilege, the U.S. Supreme Court has established such a privilege extends to the president. Reynolds' office claims it has been used by Republican and Democratic governors, saying it is "a nonpartisan issues that is well recognized."

Elgin, as quoted in the Register's reporting on the lawsuit, said in a letter filed as an exhibit with Reynolds' complaint that state lawmakers did not choose to allow executive privilege as a reason to withhold records

"For the past 50 years, the Iowa Legislature has had ample opportunity to incorporate 'executive privilege' as a legitimate defense within the open-records law," Elgin wrote. "The absence of such an amendment unmistakably indicates the Legislature's intent to exclude this basis from the law."

Black's Law Dictionary defines executive privilege as an example of evidentiary rule that allows for disclosure to be avoided, especially "when the information was originally communicated in a professional or confidential relationship." The dictionary cites "national security or foreign policy" as examples of where the federal government might cite executive privilege in court.

The Iowa case involves records related to Reynolds' initial unwillingness to say whether or not she agreed with a social media post by two advisers to President Donald Trump  pardoned felon Michael Flynn and billionaire Elon Musk  that Lutheran Services of Iowa is part of a "money-laundering operation," according to the Register.

The governor eventually said she didn't agree with Flynn and Musk, but she was attacked over the delay. (Raygun released a line of "Lutheran Crime Syndicate" merchandize after the gaffe.)

ACLU sues over invoking of privilege

In a separate case, but also last Friday, the ACLU of Iowa sued Reynolds over the use of executive privilege to deny the release of records related to the decision to block The Satanic Temple of Iowa from holding a winter celebration event at the State Capitol Building.

Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers requested records last June related to the decision to cancel the event in the Capitol rotunda. The denied records, according to the ACLU, were an executive agency report and documents related to media preparation.

"The Governors office has repeatedly refused to respect the rights of Iowans by unjustly and flagrantly asserting executive privilege in order to avoid accountability in matters of public interest," IAF President Jason Benell said in a news release. "Iowans deserve to know if the government is intentionally discriminating against them, and the current executive in Iowa has shown an unwillingness to respect these fundamental rights."

Thomas Story, a staff attorney for ACLU of Iowa, said the unprecedented claim of executive privilege seeks to "defy Iowa law."

"For more than half a century, the Iowa Open Records Act has ensured that the work of the state happens in the open," Story said in the release. "Now, the Governors Office has decided it alone gets to decide what the public sees. The Iowa Constitution does not give it this authority."

Story said the requested records don't touch on "sensitive matters of national security and foreign diplomacy" recognized as protected by the courts.

"It may be embarrassing to the Governors Office to reveal its role in denying a religious group equal access to the state capitol building, but that does not give it the right to hide what it did and why it did it," Story said.

Local lawmakers discuss transparency

The Nonpareil posed a question to local lawmakers about executive privilege last weekend during the final installment of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Coffee series.

Without referencing the governor's lawsuits directly, lawmakers were asked if media prep emails should be a public record and, if not, whether legislation was needed to establish an executive privilege.

House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl said that, as far as he knew, "everything the governor has in paper document or electronic document" can be requested under the state's open records law.

"The only people that have privilege right now are us legislators," Windschitl said, clarifying that lawmakers' emails and phone records are protected to shield constituents' privacy. "But I don't know that any of (the governor's) communications are kept privileged."

The Republican lawmaker said he expects anything he sends to the governor  by email, by text, whether it's to her or her staff  can be requested as a public record.

"Everything that goes to the governor's office, to my understanding, anybody can go out and request," he said. "It's routine that state officers, whether it be the governor or others, they get asked all the time for that information."

When an audience member mentioned the news reports coming out about the lawsuits the previous evening, Windschitl said he was not aware of them.

Democratic State Rep. Josh Turek said transparency can help prevent corruption, regardless of political party.

"It's important that we have as much transparency as we possibly can throughout all forms of government, from the federal level to the state level," Turek said.

Windschitl said that he agreed with Turek: "You want to have transparency. You want to know what's going on. So I agree with Josh. You want to know what your government official is doing."
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
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has issued a poignant plea for the protection of civilians trapped in El Fasher, the capital of Sudans North Darfur state, where over 500 lives have been lost in just three harrowing weeks.

The region, long scarred by conflict, has once again become the epicenter of violence, with reports of indiscriminate shelling and fierce clashes between rival factions endangering the lives of thousands.

The UN call comes as the humanitarian situation in El Fasher rapidly deteriorates, with civilians caught in the crossfire between warring parties showing little regard for international law or human rights conventions. Vital infrastructure, including hospitals and water sources, has reportedly been damaged or destroyed, leaving the local population without access to essential services. Aid agencies have warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe should hostilities persist unchecked.

The High Commissioner emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access, and a recommitment by all parties to international humanitarian law. The appeal underscores a deepening frustration within the international community over the continued failure to protect Sudanese civilians from cycles of violence that have plagued Darfur for decades. As diplomacy falters and violence escalates, El Fasher stands as a haunting reminder of the consequences of inaction in the face of war.
The Mauritanian Government has officially disassociated itself on May 1 from the controversial visit of Mohamed Al-Mukhtar, a senior political and legal adviser to the commander of Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF), clarifying that the Sudanese official entered the country on a strictly private mission.

During a press briefing held in Nouakchott, Minister of Culture and official Government spokesperson, El-Houssein Ould Meddou, underscored that Al-Mukhtars presence in Mauritania was not state-sanctioned. The government did not invite the political adviser to the commander of Sudans RSF, he stated unequivocally, adding that the visit was based on a personal invitation and lacked any formal diplomatic bearing.

Al-Mukhtar is reported to have participated in religious activities hosted by a spiritual institution under the Qadiriyya Sufi orders general caliphate in West Africa. His attendance at a major religious ceremony last Friday in the village of Nimjatt, in the western Trarza region, has, however, triggered widespread condemnation across Mauritanian society.

The outcry stems from Al-Mukhtars alleged involvement in atrocities linked to Sudans brutal conflict. As a high-ranking figure within the RSFan armed group widely accused of orchestrating grave human rights violations, including genocidal acts against civiliansthe optics of his unopposed presence on Mauritanian soil has provoked moral and political consternation.

Public voices, including civil society actors and political commentators, have since mounted pressure on the government to expel Al-Mukhtar, with calls echoing across media platforms demanding accountability and moral clarity in light of Sudans ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The governments distancing maneuver is seen as an attempt to contain reputational risk while reaffirming Mauritanias official neutrality in the volatile Sudanese conflict. Still, the episode has spotlighted the intricate intersection of religion, diplomacy, and justice in West Africas fragile security architecture.
Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, on Friday visited Washingtons Gallaudet University, the only institution worldwide solely dedicated to the education of the deaf and hard of hearing from early childhood up to PhD level.

The visit highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Gallaudet University and the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, which reflects the Princesss firm and steadfast commitment to improving the livelihoods of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Morocco, through providing an educational environment that respects their uniqueness, while guaranteeing their full integration into society.

The MoU signing ceremony, chaired by Princess Lalla Asmaa, was held at the National Deaf Life Museum. The document was inked by the Foundations Deputy President Karim Essakalli and President of Gallaudet University Roberta Cordano.

Speaking on the occasion, Essakalli emphasized that the Lalla Asmaa Foundation has endeavored for over fifty years to ensure access of deaf children to a dignified education, to acknowledge their language and culture, as well as to specialized, affordable and sustainable care.

This visit to Gallaudet University paves the way for a very large-scale project to create the first university in Africa and the Middle East entirely dedicated to deaf people and deaf-related professions, Essakalli said.

The projected university in Morocco will be fully dedicated to the education of deaf and hard of-hearing children, providing a complete educational pathway, from early childhood to doctoral studies.

Essakalli added that this project is part of a wider dynamic promoted by King Mohammed VI, aimed at building an inclusive society, where everyone, regardless of any difference, can learn, evolve, thrive and contribute fully to the development of society.

President of the University Roberta Cordano, on her part, affirmed that this MoU is a statement of mutual respect and recognition, and embodies our shared commitment to promoting a future of excellence in deaf education in Morocco.

She also emphasized that the University is honored to be at the Foundations side at this historic and auspicious time, particularly with the visit of Princess Lalla Asmaa.

Based on trust and shared values, the relationship between the University and the Foundation highlights the Kingdoms rich heritage and inclusive vision, while drawing on Gallaudets global experience and expertise, said Cordano.

Before the MoU signing ceremony, Princess Lalla Asmaa toured the university, visited a classroom at the Sorenson Leaving Center, learned about students academic projects and the quality of teaching at this university, which offers a range of educational and scientific programs adapted to the needs of deaf people.

At the Sorenson Leaving Center, she also visited the Motion Light Lab, a unique space that utilizes innovative methods and a blend of sign language and visual aids to support the cognitive and linguistic growth of children.

Princess Lalla Asmaa then visited the Student Academic Center, which provides facilities adapted to the specific needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including technological tools such as the Communication Access Realtime Translation system.

She afterwards explored the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University, a center of excellence with educational programs adapted to deaf and hard-of-hearing children, from pre-school up to high school.

Princess Lalla Asmaa also attended a teaching session of young deaf children, accompanied by their parents. It was an opportunity to discover the Family Learning approach, which educates parents to be active partners in their childrens linguistic and social development.

Two Moroccan students are attending Gallaudet University, namely Zahra Ketoun, a PhD student, and Zakaria El Kantaoui, an undergraduate and alumnus of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation.
The President of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), Carlos Rene Hernandez, said a recent visit to Laayoune has reaffirmed the blocs support for Moroccos territorial integrity and its sovereignty over all its territories.

Hernandez, who led a Parlacen delegation to Morocco in mid-April, said, on the sidelines of Parlacens General Assembly in Santo Domingo, that the trip confirmed to the Parlacen members the relevance of their backing for Moroccos territorial integrity, and provided opportunity to reaffirm that the autonomy plan is a realistic and credible solution to the decades-long dispute over the Sahara.

Hernandez thanked the Moroccan House of Councilors for its role in organizing a regional migration forum and for the hospitality extended during the delegations April 1417 visit.

The visit included high-level meetings with Moroccan officials and culminated in the Laayoune 2025 Declaration, which praised the stability and development of the southern provinces and reaffirmed Parlacens position on the Sahara.

Morocco has an observer status in Parlacen.
Microstate, dwarf, artificial countrythese were but a few insults to the UAE by the Algerian state TV, which reflects the official position of the country.

These insults came in a statement on national TV in reaction to an interview by an Algerian historian and University Professor Mohamed Lamine Belghit who spoke about his own opinion regarding Algerias history during an interview conducted by his countrywoman on Skynews Arabia, a UAE-funded media.

If the Algerian regime disagrees with what the interviewee said, it should have addressed corrections to the man instead of targeting a whole country and its leadership.

Just because the man said so on Sky News Arabia does not justify such a heinous attack against the UAE, as a country, people and leadership.

The verbal attacks on state media against the UAE show the state of mind of the regime in Algeria, which has isolated itself in Africa and the Mediterranean as well as in the Arab World.

This Saturday May 3, the public prosecutor at the Dar El Beida court ordered that Mohamed Lamine Belghit be put in pretrial detention, and a judicial investigation was opened against him following his remarks on Sky News Arabia channel, deemed by the prosecutors office as a blatant attack on national unity and on the symbols and core values of the nation.

Impulsive Algerian decisions have recently led to hostile acts that worsened ties with the Sahel. Last month, Algeria downed a Malian drone tracking terrorists, triggering a diplomatic crisis.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso recalled their ambassador and accused Algeria with backing terrorist groups. Algeria responded by banning Malian aircrafts from crossing its airspace.

With Morocco, Algeria has cut ties, halted the flow of gas, banned Moroccan flights from its airspace, and imposed visa on Moroccans, to mention by the main measures.

With Spain and France, Algeria attempted self-destructive measures such as weaponizing gas and economic war to push them to volt face on their recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara in vain.

With its arms supplier Russia, Algeria has tense ties due to its hostility to Wagner militias.

Now, the UAE has not responded to the insults as Algerias voice becomes irrelevant in the Arab World, Africa, and beyond.

Impulsiveness has become the modus operandi of Algerian diplomacy.
UPDATED, May 2, 2025, 11 am: Adds details from Oct. 8 city press release and Mitchell comment after original e-edition publication.

***

North Platte city officials have issued a notice of violation and corrective order against the current owner of the Canteen Districts 1929 Hotel Pawnee.

The notice, issued April 8, gives California historic redeveloper Jay Mitchell until May 8 to correct violations found in an Oct. 25 inspection that render the eight-story hotel an unsafe and dangerous building and a nuisance.

That inspection followed an Aug. 28 condemnation suit by the city against Mitchell, which District Judge Michael Piccolo dismissed "without prejudice" Oct. 1 at the city's request.

"The City of North Platte has announced that it has dismissed the condemnation proceedings against the Pawnee Hotel, owned by HPNP, LLC," city officials said in an Oct. 8 press release. "The decision follows productive discussions with Mr. Jay Mitchell, the owner of HPNP, LLC.

"To ensure the safety and integrity of the historic building, the city and Mr. Mitchell have agreed to conduct a comprehensive building inspection before the end of October 2024."

Mitchell did not return a text and voicemail message seeking comment on the April 8 notice before an earlier version of this story appeared in The Telegraph's Friday e-edition.

In a text Friday morning, Mitchell declined to comment regarding the latest notice. He said the city dismissed its lawsuit before reaching agreement on the inspection eventually conducted Oct. 25.

The April 8 notice cites graffiti on internal walls; dead pigeons and their feces throughout the hotel; inoperable or boarded-up windows and fire exits; and trash and debris stored or scattered throughout the building.

If Mitchell should fail or neglect the necessary repairs and improvements, the city will take such further action as is authorized under city codes, it says.

Any such action shall be charged against the real estate upon which the structure is located and shall be a lien upon such real estate.

City Hall could in time move to acquire title to the hotel at East Fifth Street and Bailey Avenue if the lien isnt settled, said Mayor Brandon Kelliher, who provided The Telegraph a copy of the notice Wednesday.

The notice says Mitchell, who acquired sole ownership of the Pawnee in 2019, has the right to appeal the violation notice to the citys Board of Adjustment.

Kelliher said city building inspectors posted copies of the notice Wednesday morning on the Pawnees main south and east doors after the citys previous efforts to notify Mitchell had failed.

The city forwarded to Mr. Mitchells known representatives in the area this notice around the original date of (its) generation, the mayor told The Telegraph. But both notices were returned (as) undeliverable.

In addition, city officials have reached out to Mitchell with two letters and had no response, Kelliher said.

The notices were gone from both doors when a Telegraph reporter walked by them late Wednesday afternoon. The photos accompanying this story were taken by city inspectors, Kelliher said.

We know they were there around lunchtime Wednesday, he said, when he attended a Nebraska National Guard event at Venue 304 catty-corner from the Pawnee. During the event, people were commenting on it.

The Pawnee is one of 42 properties on North Plattes property resolution list of structures or vacant lots considered to have unsafe conditions.

Kelliher and City Administrator Layne Groseth said for an April 23 Telegraph story that a City Hall property resolution team first seeks voluntary repairs before considering other action.

I can say that normally, if we have contact with the owner at this point (in the process), we would work with them to resolve the issue, Kelliher said Wednesday.

The Pawnee, which opened as the Hotel Yancey on Oct. 16, 1929, has not been occupied since the National Register of Historic Places structure closed as a retirement center in August 2013. It operated as a hotel until 1973.

The North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corp. bought a county tax sale certificate related to the closure in March 2019. Mitchell, who had earlier bought a defaulted bank loan, bought out the chambers interest that July.

He and a small team spent much of the fall and winter of 2020-21 working inside the Pawnee and held a public open house that Christmas. Little external progress has been evident at the hotel since fall 2021.

The citys since-dismissed lawsuit cited conditions noted by city inspectors on Sept. 13, 2020. They were detailed in a notarized letter to Mitchell dated that Oct. 13, as his team began work.

Reinspections in May 2021 and April 2022 noted little to no progress, as did a March 2022 Lincoln County Assessors Office inspection for tax purposes.

After the city filed its suit last fall, Mitchell texted The Telegraph that the Pawnee restoration is going very well and the hotel was a solid, secured, safe structure.

The county issued a fresh tax sale certificate on the Pawnee in March after the hotels 2023 property taxes went delinquent. Mark Van Ronk of Windsor, Colorado, bought the certificate for $5,550.36 plus 14% annual interest.

The hotels $3,704.78 tax bill for 2024 cant be paid until the tax sale certificate is paid off, the County Treasurers Office said Thursday.

The Pawnees 2020, 2021 and 2022 tax bills also had languished until Mitchell paid them up in February 2024. He told The Telegraph last fall that the timing of his payments is simply part of smart money management.
Beyond infrastructure concerns, there are also worries about societal breakdown and civil disorder in the event of a prolonged power outage, emphasizing the need to address both physical and social vulnerabilities.

Blackouts across the Iberian Peninsula have exposed the fragility of our highly-connected infrastructure  and Britain is uniquely ill-equipped for a similar incident, says James Price

In Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged, society comes crashing down because the most talented people are not respected or rewarded for their endeavours, so they go on strike. Quickly, things fall apart. He said that we had to extinguish the lights of the world, and when we would see the lights of New York go out, we would know that our job was done.

Well, this week we saw the lights of the whole of the Iberian Peninsula go out for a day, and for a moment the curtain was pulled back on the utter fragility of modern society. The cause may not have been the self-removal of Spain and Portugals elite, (though that is certainly a trend in Britain and across Western Europe), but the consequences are similar.

In Spain, the socialist prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, hardly inspired confidence, when he admitted: This has never happened beforeand what caused it is something that the experts have not yet established. There have now also been reports of failures in British power networks, notably at the Keadby 2 gas-fired power plant in Lincolnshire, and then the Viking Link interconnector between Britain and Denmark.

This leads to the question: What if this had happened in Britain? How would you have fared without access to power, water or food? We saw how one substation managed to take out all of Heathrow Airport for a day, and with increasingly complex, brittle, and fragile modern systems, its worth reflecting on how poorly prepared we are for a similar incident. Unless our competence is addressed, things could get very dark very quickly.

Skills shortages

For starters, in a trend also seen across the Atlantic, Britain will face a cliff edge of skilled engineers retiring and not being adequately replaced. One report by the ECTIB in 2018 suggested that a fifth of the engineering workforce would be retiring or close to retiring by next year. Given much of our legacy infrastructure was built in the Victorian period, this augurs ill for our resilience against even general wear and tear.

So, things seem bad enough before we even start to factor in malign actors. MI5 already has over 50,000 people on terrorist watchlists  the overwhelming majority of which are Islamists, intent on murder and mayhem on a mass scale. But academics are now also starting to predict increasing civil disorder from other groups.

Dr David Betz, a well-respected professor of war studies at Kings College London, grimly predicts increasing levels of behaviour akin to a Latin American style dirty war, as tensions caused by mass migration and economic failure begin to radicalise many. Betz sees much of this conflict as between the urban and the rural, with much of Britains urban life supported by poorly maintained, poorly defended, infrastructure outside the cities.

Even one day without power in Spain brought people close to panic, and 30,000 civil guards were brought in to keep the peace. What if this outage lasted longer and people started to get truly hungry and thirsty? Even without an ideological or any other active reason behind the blackout, Spain and Portugal must have felt fairly scary, certainly according to reporting on the ground.

Now imagine a Southport-style mass murder, rioting following it, and then active damage to critical infrastructure causing panic and looting to set in. Big cities are, at best, balancing acts between different strata. But coordinated attacks by one or even two sides and suddenly the final pages of Atlas Shrugged, with complete societal breakdown, dont seem quite so far-fetched.

How to fix this? There are two problems that must be addressed. Investment in securing and modernising infrastructure is one, and that will require seriousness in government, and a sense of mission to make Britain feel like the secure fortress it should.

But there is another, deeper malaise  one of communities living side by side with no connection or love for one another. A village can survive a blackout, but a sprawling, roiling city like London? The tearing social fabric will need more than infrastructure to weave it back together.

By City AM

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As companies worldwide race to increase their green hydrogen production capacity to power heavy industry and transport in support of a green transition, others are looking to naturally occurring hydrogen, also known as white, gold or geologic hydrogen, as the solution. Since the energy source was discovered in Mali in 2012, interest in its development has been slow due to the lack of knowledge about how much white hydrogen there is around the globe and exactly where to find it. However, the development of several new projects, in Europe, Africa, and the Americas, has raised hopes among energy producers.

Researchers first found naturally occurring hydrogen in Mali in 2012 when they discovered that a borehole, which had been drilled several decades earlier, was emitting white hydrogen. The hydrogen is thought to have been produced through water and iron-rich mineral reactions under the Earths surface. The great thing about white hydrogen is that it is continually renewed, making it highly sustainable. Following the discovery, geologists have been looking for ways to extract the clean energy source.

Dr Michael Webber, a professor in energy resources at the University of Texas, explained, The earth has many locations where the right conditions co-exist to naturally produce and accumulate hydrogen, which can then be extracted for societal use. He continued, The good news is that by letting the earth do the work for us, this source of hydrogen is likely much cleaner to produce than current methods of gasifying coal, reforming methane, or electrolysing water.

After several years of exploration, researchers worldwide are hopeful that they may be able to finally exploit the naturally occurring energy source to support a green transition. In recent months, investor interest in white hydrogen has increased. Some major mining and energy companies have backed investment in white hydrogen research and development activities over the last year, including Rio Tinto, Fortescue, Russias state-owned energy company Gazprom, and BP. Several exploratory projects are now taking place around the globe, including in Canada, the U.S., and France. Thanks to greater investment, researchers expect the next year to be critical for understanding the energy source better and assessing its viability.

Some energy experts are less optimistic about the potential to exploit white hydrogen, pointing out that it is scattered around the world with little understanding about where to find it and how to tap into it. Rystad Energys head of research, Minh Khoi Le, said the future of white hydrogen is hard to predict at present while suggesting that a white gold rush is currently taking place.

I guess last year was the year that things got really interesting for the natural hydrogen space because thats when many companies started to plan drilling campaigns, extraction testing and we started to see some major players start to get involved as well, said Le. Since then, I would say the progress has been relatively slow. There are only a few companies that have actually started drilling.

This uncertainty has not stopped some major players from backing white hydrogen. In 2024, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos were just two of the financial backers of the U.S.-based clean fuel startup Koloma, which has raised over $400 million to date. Aaron Mattson, the CEO of Mafic Consulting Group, stated, Koloma announced over six months ago, through High Plains Resources, that they had found significant concentrations in one of their wells in Kansas The degree to which it can be commercially extracted remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Eric Toone, the chief technology officer at Breakthrough Energy, believes that white hydrogen deposits are far more abundant than many researchers think. We know its out there and not just in isolated pockets. Early exploration has identified natural hydrogen across six continents. The challenge now is figuring out how to extract it efficiently, move it safely, and build the systems to put it to work, explained Toone.

One area being explored is France, following the discovery of white hydrogen in abandoned mines in the Lorraine region in 2023. Further exploration in March this year in the nearby Moselle area revealed additional reserves. The deposits are thought to have a combined 92 million tons of hydrogen, with a value of approximately $92 billion. Now, the question is how to extract the energy source safely, as neither France nor other countries undertaking assessment activities have a clear regulatory framework in place for natural hydrogen exploration and production.

The exploration of naturally occurring hydrogen reserves is in the nascent phase, with very little known about where the energy source exists and why it is there. While there are high hopes around the renewable nature of white hydrogen, it could take years of more research and development in various locations around the world to properly understand the extent of the reserves, as well as how to extract and sustain the energy source.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Ukraine is seeking to maintain preferential trade conditions with the EU, warning of significant economic losses if existing trade flows are disrupted.

Several EU border states are pushing for stricter regulations on Ukrainian agricultural imports, citing market disruption and unfair competition for local farmers.

The EU's temporary trade liberalization measures for Ukraine are set to expire, leading to negotiations for a new trade regime under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

Since June 2022, the European Union has granted Ukraine full trade liberalization to help support the war-torn countrys economy. These measures -- suspending import duties and quotas -- are known as Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs), and they appear to have benefited Kyiv.

In 2024, Ukrainian exports to the EU reached nearly 60 percent of total exports, up from 39.1 percent in 2021. However, the ATMs, which have been renewed annually by a majority vote of EU member states, are set to end definitively on June 5. They were always intended to be temporary and could only be extended twice.

Now, negotiations are under way between Brussels and Kyiv on what will replace them.

The fallback option is a return to the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which came into force in 2017 (though provisionally applied from 2016), and includes a free trade component.

The current talks focus on Article 29 of that agreement, which outlines a framework for potential reciprocal tariff liberalization.

Border States Push Back

But it is far from smooth sailing, as time is running short, and the effects of the ATMs arent universally liked in the bloc.

Farmers in so-called frontline EU border states, such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, have long lobbied their governments to get rid of them, arguing that a glut of Ukrainian agricultural goods has overwhelmed local storage and pushed down prices for local food producers.

At various times in 2023 and 2024, these farmers blocked the borders with Ukraine to prevent goods from entering the EU. In response, the European Commission, which oversees EU trade policies, tried several solutions, including sealing agricultural shipments from Ukraine to divert them away from frontline countries and toward other EU destinations or ports for export beyond the bloc.

In the end, the commission agreed to limit inflows of the most popular agricultural goods by enacting emergency brakes. These brakes could be pulled if certain imports exceeded the average import numbers recorded between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2024. And the brakes have been used readily in the past year on Ukrainian exports of oats, eggs, sugar, and honey.

The official line of the European Commission is that it is finalizing the work on the proposal to ensure a seamless transition to a new trade regime with Ukraine after the expiry of the ATMs and that this proposal will soon be presented to Kyiv.

A Political Hot Potato

The question is when. Many EU officials in Brussels are worried that any new proposal could become a political hot potato in the Polish presidential election campaign when the country goes to the polls to select a new head of state on May 18, and a likely second round on June 1.

But it is not only the political sway of Polish farmers that needs to be heeded.

A joint letter by the agriculture ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia addressed to the European Commission and seen by RFE/RL has also raised the stakes.

The letter states that the ministers firmly believe that the upcoming expiration of the ATM regime must serve as an opportunity to reassess and recalibrate our trade relations with Ukraine. It is essential to ensure that future trade arrangements reflect a balanced approach that accommodates the interests of all parties without disproportionately harming the economies of neighboring member states.

It then goes on to highlight several new proposals, all of which would be disadvantageous to Kyiv.

These include:

A return to prewar tariff quotas;

Bilateral safeguard provisions for all agricultural products;

Frontline member states being able to impose extra safeguards; and

A review clause to reassess the agreement two years after its application -- aimed at preventing future market distortions and ensuring fair competition for EU farmers.

But it doesnt end there.

The ministers also argue that in parallel with Ukraine's accession process, relevant sanitary and phytosanitary, animal welfare, public health, and environment-related regulations in line with EU standards should be introduced for Ukrainian agricultural production.

A Temporary Fix?

While such reforms are indeed necessary for eventual EU membership, its notable that one of the letters signatories, Hungary, is currently blocking that very accession process.

The ministers also propose a minimum import price threshold for selected items, which could play a deterrent role in terms of importing agricultural goods into EU Member States at prices below the cost of domestically produced agricultural products -- effectively another trade barrier and a clear move to shield local farmers.

So, what does Ukraine want?

Simply put, almost more of the same. In a letter to the commission, seen by RFE/RL, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal writes that, without substantial guaranteed and ongoing multi-industry trade liberalization, Ukraine will simply be unable to rebuild its industries, create jobs and livelihoods for its citizens to recover its economy. Simply put, Ukraine needs your trade. First to survive, then to thrive.

Shmyhal also warns that, failing to strike a preferential trade deal with Brussels could cost Ukraine 3 billion ($3.4 billion) annually, potentially leading to a 1 percent reduction in Ukraines gross domestic product.

While accepting that any new deal is likely to come under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Shmyhal says that it should contain a minimum number of exceptions and points out that we are obviously aware of concerns of European farmers, but we emphasize that the share of Ukrainian products on the European market remains relatively small. For many product groups, even those considered sensitive, it's less than 1 percent of total EU consumption.

He also suggests that the safeguard measures introduced for certain products in 2024 should become the starting point for gradually liberalized tariff quotas on agricultural goods.

Given the looming June 5 deadline, Shmyhal has also hinted at some sort of bridging solution -- something that I have heard might happen.

If it is impossible to reach a solution in time before the 5th of June, we need to find a joint short-term solution so current Ukrainian exports can continue until the Association Agreement is updated, he said.

Otherwise, there is a risk of returning to higher tariffs and lower quantities under the tariff quotas of the prewar period, and this would cause significant damages to the Ukrainian economy.

By RFE/RL

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For a nonprofit organization, theres never a good time for funding cuts.

But the $400 million in cuts to AmeriCorps recently ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, hit Omaha-based Partnership 4 Kids just as the 300-plus students its AmeriCorps volunteers serve are preparing to move on to the next stage in their education or enter the workforce.

It couldnt have happened at a more critical time, said Deb Denbeck, president and CEO of the education mentoring program.

The organizations seven AmeriCorps members are stationed on college campuses and in high schools and middle schools, she said. They work to form relationships with students, helping to keep them engaged in school, graduate on time and pursue careers. Depending on their roles, they help students navigate everything from college applications and financial aid to first exams and resume writing.

AmeriCorps, for its part, is a national volunteer program that provides some 30,000 participants nationwide who work in education, mentoring, agriculture and disaster relief with a living stipend and an education stipend they can use to further their education or pay off federal loans. Three of the AmeriCorps members currently working with Partnership 4 Kids are graduates of the program, now in its 36th year.

But Denbeck learned last week that both of Partnership 4 Kids grants, totaling $240,000, were terminated immediately as part of the larger national grant cuts that ended support for more than 1,000 education-focused agencies across the country.

That leaves the nonprofit with a $130,000 funding gap for the remainder of the year, Denbeck said. The organization is seeking to raise funds to fill that void and hire the terminated AmeriCorps members on a contract basis, although that amount still would not cover all of the hours members had been working.

Were trying to put together the best plan we can within our own financial means, she said.

At the national level, about two dozen states sued the Trump administration earlier this week over the dismantling of the 30-year-old federal agency for volunteer service and over the cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding for state and community projects across the U.S.

The federal lawsuit was filed against the agency and its interim head by Democratic state officials. Nebraska is not among the states involved in the lawsuit.

It alleges that President Donald Trumps cost-cutting efforts through DOGE illegally gutted the agency created by Congress and reneged on grants funded through the AmeriCorps State and National program, which was budgeted $557 million in congressionally approved funding this year.

The White House on Tuesday pointed to improper payments reported by AmeriCorps, totaling over $40 million in 2024 and attributed to insufficient documentation from grantees, calculation errors and miscoded expenses.

President Trump has the legal right to restore accountability to the entire Executive Branch, Anna Kelly, White House deputy press secretary, said in an email.

Denbeck said Partnership 4 Kids was assured by ServeNebraska, which funds the program in Nebraska, that it was in full compliance with its grant.

Two other programs in Nebraska lost Vista volunteers, who provide indirect service, she said. Partnership 4 Kids has been involved with AmeriCorps for the past seven years.

And Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, wrote in an editorial published this week in the Washington Post that while he has cheered Trumps efforts to identify and eliminate fraud and waste in Washington, AmeriCorps has been one of the most effective public service initiatives of the post-Vietnam era.

We can and should focus on eliminating waste, he wrote, but we must also protect what works. AmeriCorps is not a bloated bureaucracy  its a lean, high-return investment in service, leadership and community resilience. With every dollar spent, the return in lives changed and communities improved is undeniable.

If Partnership 4 Kids is not able to raise the needed funds, Denbeck said, it would be unable to carry out most of its programing, particularly at the post-secondary level. Some 88% of students in its post-secondary program are enrolled in Nebraska colleges, with more than 66% at schools in the University of Nebraska system.

When we talk about keeping young people in the state to develop our workforce, thats what were talking about, she said. These are the young people that can do those type of things.

But Denbeck said the organization is not giving up. It is preparing to graduate nearly 97% of its students from high school on time. Nearly 80% will go on to some kind of post-secondary education.

This report contains material from the Associated Press.
After watching their teacher meticulously draw the alphabet in cursive on a whiteboard, students in Patricia Durellis fourth-grade class pulled out their pencils to practice writing the letters in workbooks.

With their heads bowed, the students carefully followed instructions from Durelli to write the lowercase letters. They traced a word already printed in the workbook and then tried writing it freehand in their own penmanship.

Take your time, Durelli instructed. You want to make it nice and neat.

Cursive writing is included in the curriculum at Indian Mills School in Shamong, New Jersey, where students begin learning it in third grade. Though it's not mandated by the state, the Burlington County school decided to keep it in the curriculum when many districts stopped teaching cursive.

Its a dying art, Durelli said. I think it needs to come back.

Bills penned

A bill introduced by New Jersey State Sens. Angela McKnight and Shirley Turner would require school districts to incorporate instruction on cursive handwriting into the curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The bill recently cleared the Senate Education Committee.

A similar version is pending in the state Assembly, McKnight said.

Right now, we have a large generation of young adults who cannot sign their names, McKnight said. We need to get ahead of the curve and go back to our roots.

McKnight introduced a similar measure several years ago as an assemblywoman, but it never gained traction in the legislature. She believes there is a growing interest nationwide and this effort will yield a different outcome.

If McKnights bill becomes law, New Jersey will join Delaware and 23 other states that require schools to include some type of cursive instruction, according to MyCursive.com.

A bill introduced in Pennsylvania in 2023 would have required it, but that legislation did not advance. Many Catholic schools in the region kept the tradition to promote good penmanship.

Tracing the benefits

Experts say cursive writing has several benefits, such as improving fine motor skill development and eye-hand coordination more than printing. It is also believed to boost spelling and writing skills and overall learning and to encourage discipline and patience.

McKnight believes students should be able to write in cursive to sign legal documents and read personal keepsake letters and historic documents such as the Declaration of Independence. It also helps students better retain information when they write it, she said.

Critics, in a National Education Association article on The Great Cursive Writing Debate, say times have changed with more focus on technology, and incorporating cursive lessons would take valuable time from other subjects. They also contend that students would be better served by learning typing.

McKnight said cursive could be incorporated during writing or spelling lessons beginning in third grade. You dont have to have this as a stand-alone subject, she said. It doesnt have to be disruptive.

Without a law, districts decide whether it should be taught.

Shamong and other South Jersey districts, including Cherry Hill, Burlington Township, and Winslow, provide cursive instruction to elementary students. Because it was eliminated from the states common core standards in 2010, it is unclear how many other New Jersey districts offer it.

Different strokes

At Indian Mills School, Durellis fourth graders began the school year with cursive writing instruction twice a week and then shifted to independent learning later in the year. Durelli used a program called Handwriting Without Tears to teach them basic strokes and how to connect letters. During a lesson recently, she cautioned them not to hold their pencils too tightly. Another teacher, Linda Waters, walked around the room checking their work.

I like the way youre taking your time, Durelli told one child. Were always in such a rush.

Her students had mixed feelings about cursive writing. For now, they have the option to print or use cursive for their assignments.

I feel like for me it takes longer, and it just hurts my hand, said Shane McWilliams, 9. Its too much to memorize.

Its like relaxing, and its a lot easier because you can just keep going," said Lilly OBrien, also 9, "and you dont have to keep picking up your pencil to go to each letter.

Durelli wants her class ready to use cursive writing by the end of the school year. Students also spend time typing on their Chromebooks during grammar and writing to lessons to incorporate technology.

We have to try to fit it all in, Durelli said. They need all of it.
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

The media put in their headlines that the May Day protest was peaceful.

But not all May Day protests were peacefull

 As the top photo shows:

 A David Medina PDX report showing that people at the rally had no problem calling for the killing of both Trump or Elon Musk (see here).

 An Eugene Reddit page showed a protestor climbing someones car from the May Day protest. See here.

 A Portland protestor had a sign that read Maga is murder

Also at the May Day protest were these symbols of terrorism:

Previously reported photos from the May Day protest:

Was this helpful? Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
BLOOMINGTON  Traditionally, when a group of Peace Corps volunteers leaves Fiji, they gift their hosts something of cultural significance that commemorates their time together.

When it was time to leave for Group 97, the first volunteers to visit the island nation since the COVID-19 pandemic stalled all Peace Corps operations, they gifted custom rugby jerseys.

"Everyone wore rugby jerseys, and we loved the saying 'Mighty 97,' so, it was perfect on the back," said Elia Ballantini, a Peace Corps volunteer who recently returned to Bloomington after two years in Fiji.

Below "Mighty 97" were the words Matthew 5:9, a Bible verse that reads, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

Two years ago, Ballantini talked to The Pantagraph before boarding a flight to Los Angeles to start training. Many might find the whole process of traveling around the world daunting, but Ballantini was more worried about his luggage choices.

Fiji is in the South Pacific Ocean and is much closer to the equator than Bloomington, by about 1,500 miles, making it much more tropical than the Midwest.

"I actually over-packed," said Ballantini, 25. "A lot of the stuff that I brought I never used. Like, I brought khakis. That was a huge mistake. Never wore those. Way too hot," he laughed.

Ballantini returned stateside this March and sat down with The Pantagraph to share his experiences in April.

Economic mission

The Mighty 97's mission was part of the Community Economic Empowerment Project, Ballantini said.

However, some people Ballantini met on his travels accused him and his fellow volunteers of forcing American economic ideals on the people of Fiji, he said.

"I think it's a really important thing that people get that we were invited to these communities. ... So, these communities are welcoming us with open arms," he said.

Volunteer groups for the project are responsible for teaching locals how to start a business, Ballantini said.

"Teaching income generating activities, project design and management and personal money management, so learning how to save money, learning how to start a project and, you know, assign roles  basically getting a project done," he said.

The village where he stayed, Wailotua Village No. 2, decided to start a homestay business, like an Airbnb, Ballantini said.

In fact, travelers will soon be able to book a stay in the village using Airbnb, he said.

"They have an Airbnb account, I believe already. And then once they're ready, ... it'll be someone's house, and they'll have a separate room that's clean with a bedroom and whatnot," Ballantini said.

But the project takes time to complete and was not finished when Ballantini left Fiji, he said.

With a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, they were able to complete training for 30 village members on how to run a homestay, but they were not able to schedule the necessary first aid training.

"We had to put that on pause because USAID got dismantled," Ballantini said.

Unforeseen roadblocks

His time in Fiji was smooth sailing, for the most part, until the Trump administration started cutting funding to USAID, Ballantini said.

"I had spent two years trying to get my funding for the project, and as soon as I got the money ... we got an email saying, 'All projects have to be halted,'" he said.

That was in February, right as village scheduled their homestay training, Ballantini said.

The village had already supplied funds equal to 25% of the total grant funds, something necessary for this particular grant, he said.

"We got an email, maybe on a Thursday afternoon, and our bus was leaving Friday (at) 7 o'clock in the morning. You can't go to people  you can't tell the whole village, like, 'Hey, we have to completely pause this.' Can't tell the driver, 'We can't do this anymore'," Ballantini said.

Using those village funds, though, Ballantini's completed the homestay training, but it's up to his successors to complete the first aid training, he said.

"At the end of the day, it really worked out," Ballantini said.

"And it really, I think, impacted the village in a very helpful way. ... I was able to sign over my project to one of my good friends, another volunteer, who's in a group after me. She has more time left, and she's going to finish the first aid portion, and then the project's done, and then the village can start building their homestay business."

Life on the island

Besides the climate and time zone difference, life on the island had a much different flow than the States, he said.

"How they define time is completely different  the way that they experience time ... it's different than the way that Americans do," he said.

While Americans live on rigid schedules with hard deadlines, Fijians are more relaxed with their punctuality, Ballantini said. If a finance lesson was scheduled at 9 a.m., for example, "people wouldn't show up till 10, 10:30. The lesson wouldn't start till 11, 11:30," Ballantini explained. "But that's something you just have to get used to. That's just how it works."

Still, there were some tools that Ballantini knew he could bring to help the communities around Wailotua Village No. 2 with their business and education endeavors.

Last year, he helped secure 30 laptops for Fijians through Normal Gadgets and the Bloomington-Normal Sunrise Rotary.

The rotary was more than happy and honored to help, said Glenn Harbin, rotary club president.

"These laptops did more than provide access  they helped build lasting connections between our community of Bloomington-Normal and the people of Fiji. Its a small example of how service can spark opportunity and strengthen global relationships," he said.

Originally, the plan was to give all 30 to the local primary school, but the village came up with a better plan, Ballantini said.

They gave 10 to that primary school, five to another village's primary school, five to the administration for the region's secondary schools, and the final 10 computers were divvied up between local community heads so their neighbors could have access to the internet and tools for building resumes, he said.

"I think it was a really, really good idea instead of giving it all just to one school," Ballantini said.

Lessons learned

There are many lessons that Ballantini takes from his time abroad, things that helped him grow as a young man, he said.

"I needed that development. I needed that experience. And I wouldn't trade that for anything," he said.

The biggest thing, though, is learning to slow down and be present in the moment, because that's how they live in Fiji.

"All you have to do is just be there and just be there with the other people. That's all they really want. They just want you to be there, and that's all you end up loving is just being able to sit there with them."
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:

Flourishing is more than just being happy, and a new global study finds some countries are doing better than others when it comes to overall well-being.

Take it from researchers at Baylor and Harvard universities, who unveiled a study Wednesday that included more than 207,000 people from 22 countries and Hong Kong. The study is published in the journal Nature Mental Health.

Their Global Fluorishing Study looked at six areas of well-being: happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships and financial security, CNN reported.

Indonesia ranked the highest for flourishing, followed by Mexico and the Philippines.

Surprisingly, many countries that usually rank high in the World Happiness Report, like Sweden and the United States, were only in the middle when it came to flourishing, the report showed.

"The uniqueness of the Global Flourishing Study is the size: We are following 207,000 participants around the world in over 40 different languages on the six inhabited continents," said study leader Dr. Byron Johnson, professor of social sciences at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. "This gives a voice to approximately 64% of the world's population."

Researchers plan to follow participants every year for five years to learn more about what goes into a "good life," CNN said.

One major finding? Younger folks around the world are struggling more than older adults.

"Perhaps one of the more troubling features of this data is that we find that when we aggregate across the 22 countries, flourishing tends to increase with age, so that the youngest individuals are reporting the lowest levels of flourishing," study leader Tyler VanderWeele, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told CNN.

In most countries, younger adults said they lack a strong sense of purpose. Countries such as Tanzania and Poland saw better scores among younger people.

Experts suspect there may be several reasons for this. In developed countries, youths may face more competitiveness to get better jobs, which can cause stress.

"Young people are telling us something is wrong," Felix Cheung, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, told CNN. He's a co-author of a chapter in a separate study called the World Happiness Report.

While richer countries scored higher in financial security on the flourishing scale, they ranked lower in areas like relationships and meaning.

"This raises important questions with regard to how we can carry out economic development without compromising meaning and purpose and relationships and character," VanderWeele told CNN.

Some of the most-flourishing countries, like Indonesia and Nigeria, didn't even crack the top 20 of the World Happiness Report.

Flourishing was measured by asking 12 questions:

Overall, how satisfied are you with life as a whole these days? In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel? In general, how would you rate your physical health? How would you rate your overall mental health? Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile? I understand my purpose in life. I always act to promote good in all circumstances, even in difficult and challenging situations. I am always able to give up some happiness now for greater happiness later. I am content with my friendships and relationships. My relationships are as satisfying as I would want them to be. How often do you worry about being able to meet normal monthly expenses? How often do you worry about safety, food, or housing?

"One approach to reflecting on one's own flourishing is simply to go through our 12 core flourishing questions," VanderWeele said.

"One respondent said that she had been thinking about committing to a volunteering activity for some months, and after going through and realizing she was missing a deeper sense of purpose, she decided to make a commitment to this volunteering activity," he added.

Although people can work on parts of flourishing, Cheung noted that things like conflict or natural disasters are out of our control.

"When one person is unhappy, that's an individual issue," he added. "But when the population isn't happy, that's a structural problem, and a structural problem requires structural solutions."

More information: Tyler J. VanderWeele et al, The Global Flourishing Study: Study Profile and Initial Results on Flourishing, Nature Mental Health (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44220-025-00423-5 Harvard University has more on how to flourish. Journal information: Nature Mental Health

2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
China assessing U.S. messages of hoping to hold tariff talks: commerce ministry

Xinhua) 09:16, May 03, 2025

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.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Quad-Cities organizations are scrambling to fill gaps and find new funding after receiving notice their AmeriCorps members had their grants terminated this week.

The cuts come after DOGE terminated more than $400 million that had been doled to state and local agencies, terminating the service of 30,000 members nationwide. Around 80% of AmeriCorps state and national programs received notice of termination, according to Americas Service Commissions, a national nonprofit.

AmeriCorps is an independent federal agency that funds more than 200,000 individuals each year to serve with local, state and national organizations in educational, environmental service-oriented organizations. AmeriCorps members often receive pay at or below the federal poverty level. The agency was started in 1993 under the Clinton administration, and has since received bipartisan support by Congress.

Jay Justin, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, said these federal cuts have come down with a sledgehammer, not a scalpel.

The nonprofit is one of several Davenport organizations that abruptly lost personnel this week. On Wednesday, the city of Davenport announced the end of its AmeriCorps partnership, impacting 22 AmeriCorps year-round members and six others who were weeks away from beginning summer service.

Those members served the city of Davenport, as well as Common Chord, the Putnam Museum and Science Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley had four AmeriCorps positions terminated Wednesday, Justin said. Justin said the nonprofit received notice of the terminations at 8 a.m. that day, and by 2 p.m., the four members were departing the organization.

Justin said the AmeriCorps members had signed active contracts with the federal government funding their positions through September. He compared the terminations to cutting the contracts of military personnel. With these cuts, the federal government has acted without integrity, Justin said.

Its just really sad, Justin said. "Yesterday, the domestic Peace Corps was eliminated.

Justin said the cuts will not cripple Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, but that the cuts will strain existing employees and make it harder to fulfill their duties.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley had already provided matching dollars to fund each position through the end of the members terms, Justin said. He has no idea if the nonprofit will recoup those funds, he said.

On Tuesday, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit as part of a coalition of 25 states challenging the Trump administrations termination of AmeriCorps grants and dismantling of the agency. Iowa has not joined the lawsuit.

The gutting of AmeriCorps is the latest example of the Trump administrations disregard for the Constitution to achieve their political goals, Raoul said in the press release announcing the lawsuit.

Justin said if the lawsuit is successful, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley would still not recuperate its losses, because the nonprofits AmeriCorps members have already departed.

Doug Maxeiner, city administrator of Davenport, said most Davenport AmeriCorps members were facilitating youth summer camps with Davenport Parks and Recreation, the Davenport Junior Theatre and the Putnam Museum and Science Center.

AmeriCorps members also helped run community-wide events like Party in the Park, and the firework display Red, White and Boom. Davenport is currently determining how to recover lost manpower to staff these events.

Well have to use resources wisely, Maxeiner said.

Maxeiner said he received notice of the grant terminations Monday and that the AmeriCorps members must depart their positions by the end of Friday, May 9.

The abruptness was unnerving, Maxeiner said.

Brian Ritter, executive director of Nahant Marsh Education Center, said the organization lost funding for two year-round AmeriCorps members and one summer staffer. He said the organization received three days notice, and the members are required to cease working Friday, May 2.

Its devastating, Ritter said. Were scrambling.

Nahant Marshs AmeriCorps members fall outside of the 22 positions cut by Davenport, because the nonprofit does not have an AmeriCorps partnership with the city.

The two year-round members, as well as the summer staffer, were part of five-person Nahant Marshs educational programming team. Without the AmeriCorps members, Nahant Marsh will have only three educators, Ritter said.

The cuts seriously impact Nahant Marshs ability to host educational programming for the public. If Nahant Marsh does not find supplemental funding, Ritter said the nonprofit will have to cut some educational programming, or raise prices.

Nahant Marsh had employed AmeriCorps-funded staffers for 25 years, Ritter said.

The notice of the cuts were sudden and came at the worst possible time, Ritter said. Nahant Marsh draws the highest number of visitors in the summer, and the summer staffer was set to begin in mid-May.

In 2024, Nahant Marsh educators provided services, including after-school programs and classes for adults, to over 26,000 people.

Ritter said Nahant Marsh keeps reserve funds for emergencies and worst-case scenarios. The nonprofit has not used reserved funds yet, but Ritter said the organization will be required to draw from reserves starting Monday, if the organization wants to keep the grant-funded members.

I would consider this a worst-case scenario, Ritter said.
One in four Indigenous South Dakotans report experiencing sexual violence in their lifetimes, according to the state Department of Health. An Indigenous-led organization on Pine Ridge works to end the problem but is losing millions because of federal funding cuts.

Peaceful Means has provided service to more than 1,000 Indigenous youths on the Pine Ridge Reservation through self-defense courses, educational programming and support services.

As of May 2, principal investigator Katie Edwards said her lab lost eight federal grants and is having others withheld. The grants were worth roughly $13 million, with some of that money used at Peaceful Means.

Her lab received a $439,999 grant in April 2024 for a Teen Connection Program, aimed at expanding services to help transgender youth, including two-spirit youth, by connecting them with transgender adults. The program was the target of March 12 cuts, according to documents shared by Edwards. In March and April 2025, Edwards, a University of Michigan professor, received documentation that the organization would be losing 10 different grants due to various federal funding cuts.

The organization has lost grants or had funding withheld from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.

This award no longer effectuates agency priorities, a March 12 termination letter from the NIH reads. Research programs based on gender identity are often unscientific, have little identifiable return on investment and do nothing to enhance the health of many Americans.

(The documents) literally say your work no longer effectuates agency priorities, and your work does little to benefit the American people, Edwards said.

The move comes as organizations across the United States report withheld and frozen federal funding. Its part of a larger action led by the Department of Government Efficiency to cut down on federal spending.

Many cuts are aimed at limiting programs that support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Edwards said the groups work with two-spirit youth has been part of this targeting of DEI though its unclear if the groups focus on Indigenous youth has been deemed DEI.

They're (NIH) withholding two of our grants involving Native Americans without (granting) the awards when they should be and they've also canceled requests for proposals that are Native American-specific, Edwards said.

A loss of funding will lead to layoffs in an already poverty-stricken area.

Lakota people living on Pine Ridge already experience some of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, with a roughly 80% unemployment rate, according to tribal data.

If staff members dont come up with more funds through fundraising and donations, the organizations work will be greatly impacted and staff will be laid off. Of the 50 staff members, 25 are local, and 90% of local staff are Lakota people.

Weve lost so much, she said. Im trying to support everyone on this pot of money and its running out fast. Its really bad, were in a really bad situation.

The organization opened in the tiny Wakpamni district on Pine Ridge in the fall of 2023, started by a $3.2 million grant from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and IMpower United, which is an Indigenous-focused research lab. In January, Peaceful Means moved from UNL to the University of Michigan.

Since opening in 2023, Peaceful Means has continued to grow. The organization provides sexual assault prevention services to youth on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City. It also provides support to two-spirit and LGBTQ+ youth.

The youth and families we serve are going to suffer, Edwards said. This work is giving kids so much hope. Kids are going to be harmed. What kind of message are we sending to children, to Native kids, to two-spirit kids?

The group has taught self-defense classes to over 1,000 kids across Pine Ridge so far and are scheduled to teach 2,000 more this year. Classes utilize Lakota values and tradition to help kids protect themselves.

The organization was also planning to expand efforts to other tribes, with 80 different tribes across the nation expressing interest in the program, Edwards said.

Edwards said shes joined an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit, but time is running out, and the organization needs help.

In the near future were going to have to start layoffs, Edwards said. Were not looking at months and months, we need funding within the next month or were in deep trouble.

Its the hardest thing shes ever been through, Edwards said. Its a pain shes never felt before.

If people think, well, this work on Indigenous youth, or this work on LGBTQ+ youth doesn't impact me  I hope people have a caring heart and and see why it's so important that we help some of the most vulnerable youth in our nation, she said.

Even if you yourself are not impacted, a loved one likely is, Edwards said. Federally funded research has contributed to groundbreaking research on depression, cancer, diabetes, substance abuse disorder and many other public health concerns.

All of these things are things that the NIH, CDC and other federally funded agencies supported, she said.
The film Sinners was a must-see for Grace Gipson, given her familys roots in the bluesy Mississippi Delta.

Gipson, an assistant professor of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, is among the people whove felt compelled to see the Ryan Coogler film more than once to peel away the considerable layers of a story we didnt know we needed.

Just being able to hear a story from the South that doesnt get told often was another thing that really drew me in, she said of Sinners, set in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Often, such films are set in places such as Atlanta or Florida, she said. Were not getting those stories like the backwoods of Mississippi, of towns that people may not have even heard of. So it was a lot of the location, the region, the genre that really drew me in.

And here, let me provide readers with a flashing SPOILER ALERT: If you havent seen Sinners yet, you might want to put your newspaper down for later reading. Because theres an aspect of this cinematic discourse on race, religion, migration and music that neither Gipson nor I saw coming.

The vampires.

Sinners is the latest in a burgeoning genre of horror cinema as a metaphor for the Black American experience. Scary movies arent everyones jam. But when Gipson, in her first Sinners viewing, saw that vampires were in the mix, That got me even more interested, she recalled. I was like, Oh, were doing this? Yes! Because it made me think of Octavia Butler, the renowned African American science fiction author whose subject matter included Afrofuturism and yes, vampires.

So I was even more intrigued, the fact that its the South, youve got vampires, and I was like, Well, youre going to need to bring in Hoodoo or Voodoo. It was Hoodoo they brought in. So, I was like, Im all the way in now.

The film, set in 1932, stars Michael B. Jordan in his latest collaboration with Coogler, the director of Fruitvale Station, Black Panther and Creed.

Coogler has an uncanny ability to tap into the subconscious mind of our powerful Black historical culture, reminding us of a rich and awe-inspiring heritage that brings a smile to our faces  even within the realm of horror, says Richmond native Jesse Vaughan, an Emmy-award winning director of commercials, television shows and films.

Sinners features twin-brother gangsters who migrate from Clarksdale to Chicago, only to leave the Windy City after finding Jim Crow in the form of skyscrapers instead of plantations. Another protagonist is a preternaturally gifted blues guitarist who brings to mind Delta bluesman Robert Johnson, whose talents, legend had it, were sourced from the devil.

A central motif of the film is blues music, and the way in which it has such a powerful impact on different cultures, Gipson said. So it wasnt just Black folks that were loving the blues and the music. ... Clearly we see with the Remmick character, he wanted it. Thats what he was coming for.

Remmick is a banjo-picking Irish folk musician who happens to be the lead vampire in a trio who attempt to finagle an invitation into a Black juke joint with talk of the money theyll spend and the racial unity they represent.

Everybody loves Black music and everybody wants Black music, Gipson said. They dont want the pain with it, they dont want the struggle with it. But they want that music, and to do with it whatever they want to do with it. So its not about even sharing. Its about, How can I use this and commodify it for me and make money for me, and be profitable off of it.

The blues, the film suggests, is a more authentic expression of the Black experience than the white mans religion. The traditional African folk spirituality that is Hoodoo is also juxtaposed against Christianity. Its no accident that the young bluesman in the film is the son of a preacher.

We definitely see with the opening scene and the church and his father trying to get him to come back, this prodigal son kind of thing, and how the blues is of the devil, Gipson said. A lot of people still feel that today: Blues, R&B, hop-hop  its not of God.

But in a scene midway through the film, music is breathtakingly presented as a sort of spiritual portal connecting ancestors, cultures and continents.

The film  whose ranks of the historically oppressed include Chinese Americans, Irish Americans, Native Americans and a mixed-race person  raises questions about identity, family and allyship. The presence of the Ku Klux Klan is an ever-present subtext. But one of the remarkable aspects of Sinners is that it doesnt mire its subjects in victimhood, even as it portrays their harsh reality.

Black folks inhabit see-through shanties, labor in roadside chain gangs and struggle to meet cotton-picking quotas as sharecroppers. Still, When they got to this juke joint, that was the moment that everybody was like, Im free, for at least how many hours there are until daylight, Gipson said. It was less about woe is me. It was less about Im so down on my luck, I dont have any money. Its more about, How are we celebrating? How are we finding joy even in these moments of distress?

Cotton  a catalyst of Black enslavement  is beautifully shot in panoramic takes of vast white fields framed by blue skies and billowy clouds.

Coogler was able to reclaim spaces and ideas that have been often villainized and seen as ugly, and he was able to make them beautiful, Gipson said. Thats hard to do when youre talking about that era, that time, those events.

Sinners, though depicted in a setting nearly a century ago, has cutting-edge relevance at a time when white Christian nationalism has been weaponized against the marginalized, the souls of Black folk are under attack, and immigration  color-coded for most of Americas history  has been vilified.

We have to do something thats going to be better for us. And if that means leaving behind what we knew as home, we have to create a new home, Gipson said of those who migrate. And for my family ... what they felt they had to do was leave the South for better opportunities; to pursue a dream they could find and catch.

Are the yearnings of migrants today terribly different?

The film provides more to unpack here than I can jam into one column. Gipson says shes already exploring how to incorporate it into her classes. The blues angle alone could fill a syllabus.

Sinners is more than the movie we need at a time when government is censoring art, history, books and speech. Movies like this, Gipson said, announce that youre going to see me, whether you like it or not.
Tripadvisor awards Cozumel beaches Best of the Best

Cozumel, Q.R.  Cozumel reaffirms its place among the worlds most spectacular destinations after being recognized with two important awards. The Best of the Best awards were presented during Tripadvisors 2025 Travelers Choice Awards in Rosarito, Baja California.

According to Cozumel Mayor Jose Luis Chacon, Best of the Best is a distinction given to only the top 1 percent of destinations and properties globally.

In this edition, the iconic El Cielito beach was named among the five best beaches in Mexico, while the idyllic Isla de la Pasion received special recognition for Tripadvisors 25th anniversary after accumulating more than a thousand positive reviews over the past year.

This award is a source of pride for the people of Cozumel. Everyone promotes it, visits it and cares for it. Its an opportunity to reflect on the importance of protecting our beaches and continuing to promote them with love, said Mayor Jose Luis Chacon Mendez upon receiving the awards.

The council member also highlighted the warmth and hospitality of the islands residents as key to achieving this achievement. Receiving this award on behalf of my fellow countrymen and women is a great honor, he said.

Tatiana Paez, a Tripadvisor representative, explained that winners are selected based on the quantity and quality of reviews shared by travelers from around the world on the platform.

Beatriz Tinajero, President of the Cozumel Hotel Association, celebrated this being the second consecutive year the island has received these awards.

Its proof that were in a little piece of paradise, and we all take pride in caring for it. These partnerships allow more people to discover this gem we hold in our hands.

Chacon Mendez announced that they are already working in coordination with Tripadvisor to offer training to tour operators, hotels and restaurant workers with the goal of continuing to improve service quality and strengthen overnight tourism, a key strategy for Cozumels sustainable economic development.
For Florence native and mother of four Rachel Cole, earning a nursing degree was not something at the top of her mind when she graduated from high school 15 years ago.

She bounced around a bit, attending colleges in Georgia and Pennsylvania, and had her first child before circumstances led her back home to Florence, and ultimately, to Francis Marion University.

My life looked exactly the opposite of what I thought it would be, Cole reflects. I definitely shouldnt be sitting here today, but for whatever reason, God had a plan and here I am.

When she returned to Florence, she knew it was time to continue on the track she had initially started a decade earlier  becoming a nurse. Her mother, Danette Cole, a longtime nurse at McLeod Health, served as a wonderful example and a constant source of encouragement.

My mother was a nurse, and being raised by someone with such compassion and a desire to serve others had a profound impact on my decision to enter nursing.

In the summer of 2023, Cole took her first classes at FMU, completing the prerequisites needed to begin her journey in the nursing program that fall. Returning to school after many years away  and with a 2-year-old at home  was daunting, but the nursing faculty immediately put her at ease.

I cannot imagine a better place to learn than Francis Marion, says Cole. From the first day I stepped into the classroom through this final semester, the experience has been so positive. Our professors push us to become the best nurses we can be. I know Im prepared for the future because of what I learned in the classroom from my professors and through the hands-on experiences Ive had working in different hospital settings.

Outside of her coursework, Cole had the opportunity to participate in the Honor Flight program last summer. This program takes veterans to Washington, D.C., to honor them for their service, with each veteran paired with a volunteer companion. This experience was deeply meaningful to Cole and left a lasting impact on her.

I could not have imagined the impact the Honor Flight would have on my life, she says. I learned so much from the group of veterans I had the honor of travelling with. The stories they shared about their service will stay with me and shape the way I care for veterans in the healthcare system.

Cole remains in touch with Joseph Dennis, the Navy veteran she was paired with. Dennis, who served during the Vietnam War, was deeply appreciative of Coles care and made the trip from Savannah to attend her graduation.

Rachel is an amazing young lady, says Dennis. She was very inquisitive about my time in the military and took the best care of me. Her kindness and compassion will carry her far in her nursing career.

As Cole prepares to begin her nursing career in neurosurgery at McLeod Health, shes already looking to the future. She plans to pursue a doctor of nursing practice at FMU, drawn to the advanced opportunities it offers.

One thing is certain: when Rachel Cole sets her mind to something, she will achieve it.

When I think of Rachel, I think of someone who dreamed of making a difference and pursued that dream with determination, says Dr. Rhonda Brogdon, chair of FMUs Department of Nursing. She is the calm in someone elses storm. Everything she did throughout this program was marked by heart, compassion, and competence. She is going to be a phenomenal nurse.
DECATUR, Neb.  Call it divine intervention. A heaven-sent gift. Maybe even a miracle.

However you define it, the gift of a building for the new Decatur Museum was a prayer answered.

Nearly one year after a fire destroyed the museum's historic building and most of its contents, the museum's board has received ownership of the former Holy Family Catholic Church, a century-old building the parishioners decided to give to the museum.

Yes, give. Free.

"It was kind of disbelief," Museum Board President Jane Judt said, recalling the meeting in which the parish offered the church building. "This was quite a gift. I don't know if we could have afforded to buy it."

The museum board received the deed to the church building and adjacent church hall last week, just before the one-year anniversary of the loss of the museum, which was housed in one of Decatur's most historic buildings. Known as the A.B. Fuller House, it was built in 1875 by Azariah Bemis Fuller, who came to Decatur in the 1850s and was a prominent businessman.

The museum board bought the then-vacant house in 2006 and restored it. Displaying historical items donated by local residents, the museum's first floor opened in 2008, the second floor in 2010. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

Tragedy struck May 4, when an early morning fire caused extensive damage to the building. The three layers of exterior brick acted as a chimney, pushing flames and heat higher inside, consuming the building's interior and most of its contents. The state fire marshal has listed the cause as undetermined. Lightning is a suspected cause.

A couple display cases and file drawers survived the fire, enabling museum volunteers to salvage some smaller artifacts. All the other items that had been donated throughout the years were lost to the fire, and the building had to be demolished.

"The thing I really feel bad about are things about the school since Decatur doesn't have a school anymore," Judt said.

Within a week, the museum board met. Members were determined Decatur wouldn't be without a museum, too.

"Our first meeting after the fire, we went around the room and everybody wanted to continue our mission," Judt said. "I guess we weren't ready to quit. Everyone enjoys working with history. Each of us has our own little niche. This is just something we like to do."

Despite having no site in mind, the board began raising money to buy display cases and other furnishings and necessities for a new museum. Local residents again donated historic items for future displays.

The board looked into a couple possible sites, but the buildings were either too small or were in poor condition.

Then Holy Family church members approached and asked if the museum board would be interested in their building. Because of dwindling membership, it was probably a matter of time before the church would close.

It was an easy offer for the museum to accept.

"We respect the building, and they know we would respect the building and take care of it," Judt said.

After the parish celebrated its final Mass in January, most of the furnishings were removed from the church, which was built in 1924 and remodeled in the 1980s or '90s. The museum inherits a building that will require no remodeling and is ready to move into. The church hall, built in 1968, has a full kitchen and will be available to rent for family gatherings, parties and other events. Located at the junction of two highways in town, it's in a visible location to attract visitors.

"We couldn't have done much better" for a new site, Judt said.

With deed to the property in hand, the museum's volunteers now begin the task of setting up a new museum. They won't be starting completely from scratch.

Information that was contained in books of family histories was all stored on computer, along with much of the museum's research and scanned copies of numerous historic photos, so a historical narrative of Decatur survived the fire and will be available to researchers. There are display cases and office equipment to buy. Displays utilizing items donated in the past year to organize. They hope to open this summer.

It'll be a lot of work, but it's a task museum board members have been waiting a year to undertake.

"I think our board is all ready to start again," Judt said.

They start over with much gratitude to the Holy Family parish and the generous donation of a building that for 100 years served as a place of worship.

It now will preserve the spirit of the community.
Sign up for the Surge, the newsletter that covers most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday.

Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, a newsletter that has written 3,400 kilos of words about politics, saving 258 million American lives.

You will not believe how much politics happened this week. President Donald Trump pissed off Canada so much that they elected another lib, and Trump is delighted. Amazon had a chance to break Trump politically, but got scared. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has the chance to take a committee chairmanship at long last, but committee chairmanships are for pikers. And Mike Waltz is taking on the Big Apple!

Lets begin with the fight over Medicaid cuts in the House, and what this big bill is really all about.

1. Chip Roy

The Medicaid cuts are the point.

Congressional Republicans have reached the moment theyve been waiting forwriting up their sprawling bill to enact Trumps legislative agendaand are, at this moment, stuck. They cant settle on a way to enact hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts that doesnt scare the crap out of both moderate members and Trump. On SNAP benefits, another major target for cutting, theyre running into the same issue. It raises the question: Why are they forcing themselves to spin their wheels like this? They could find a way to get their tax cuts through accounting tricks or less controversial cuts. Thats what the Senate will end up doing, anyway.

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The thing is, there are varying interpretations of the purpose of the one, big beautiful bill. The popular understanding is that Republicans want to renew trillions in tax cuts, and they need to find some spending cuts to lessen the deficit impact. But for conservatives, like Texas Rep. Chip Roy and other deficit hawks, the purpose of the bill is to rein in mandatory federal spending programs. They see this moment as a generational opportunityperhaps the last theyll get before a debt crisis hitsto do so. In a letter to their colleagues on Thursday trying to salvage proposed Medicaid cuts, Roy and other conservatives wrote, If the House budget reconciliation package does not include structural Medicaid reform that achieves desired Republican outcomes, we will be setting up massive tax increases and benefit cuts in the future. Theres been an intraparty battle brewing between those who view tax cuts as the point and those who view spending cuts as the point, and now its reaching a crescendo. Wed observe that the path of least resistance almost always wins in the end, which is why Roy is so distraught in the first place.

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2. Mark Carney

Publicity is publicity.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney won a full term in the countrys election this week, completing a shocking turnaround for the countrys Liberal Party, which looked doomed as recently as a few months ago. He defeated Conservatives supposed PM-in-waiting, Pierre Poilievre. Poilievre represented the closest thing to major-party MAGAism in Canada, and until recently, he appeared to be cruising to power. In the end, Poilievre didnt even hold on to his seat. What changed over the past few months was Donald Trump, whos infuriated a nation of largely polite people with his strange efforts to destroy Canada economically and then annex it. This didnt create a receptive electoral environment for Trumpian right-wing populism in the country.

Did Trump feel rebuked? Of course not. In an interview with the Atlantic published this week, Trump was bragging about his effect. You know, until I came along, remember that the conservative was leading by 25 points, he said. Then I was disliked by enough of the Canadians that Ive thrown the election into a close call, right? I dont even know if its a close call. Hes simply pleased with his ability to have shifted a race so quickly. The direction of the shift doesnt matter.

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3. Jeff Bezos

Sorry, sirwont happen again.

Early in the week, Punchbowl News reported that Amazon would soon show how much Trumps tariffs are adding to the price of each product. We dont know that theres a single more powerful move a private sector company could make to destroy Trumps presidency right now than Amazon breaking out tariff costs at checkout. The White House would treat it as a declaration of warand it did, at first, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt immediately calling the move a hostile and political act while a pissed Trump called up Amazon chairman Jeff Bezos to complain.

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But the report didnt make sense. Dont get us wrongit would make great sense for Amazon to allow retailers to show consumers why their prices are up. But this is not the path Bezos has chosen. Instead, hes chosen to protect his business interests and federal contracts by sucking up to Trump personally, whether thats through Mar-a-Lago visits, inauguration appearances, donations, or muzzling the major newspaper he owns. Hes not going to abruptly change course while Trump still has years left in his term. The whole dustup ended quickly, with Amazon saying such a plan was never in consideration for its main site. One subsidiary had thought about making this change, but wont, and will be imprisoned in CECOT for its thought crime. A decent pen simply costs $399 now, and there is no reason for it.

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4. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Does she want the committee job anymore?

Late last fall, veteran Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly defeated New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a closely watched race to serve as top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. It left a bad taste in the mouths of those Democrats who felt the party needed a young, galvanizing face in this prominent positionwhich involves an equal mix of serious investigative work and flashy cable news appearancesrather than a septuagenarian in poor health. Connolly announced this week, though, that he would step aside from the post after a few months (and wouldnt run for reelection) because his cancer had returned.

So, is AOC now a lock to take control of the committee? The biggest issue is whether shes still interested. Since the last committee election, AOC has been touring the country to packed audiences in the tens of thousands, serving as a primary face of the reawakening resistance to Donald Trump. Her star has arguably never been brighter. So does she really want to commit herself to serving atop a House committee, and all of the duties that entails, when she could be selling out the Superdome? Or laying the groundwork for  you know  a bigger job in a few short years?

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5. Mike Waltz

Moving on to bigger and brighter group chats.

Knives were out for national security adviser Mike Waltz well before he invited a journalist onto a group chat to discuss classified bombing plans in Yemen. Waltz always stuck out as too hawkish for the MAGA national security team; Signalgate, more than anything, provided his enemies an opportunity to push him out. But in the immediate aftermath, Waltzs job was spared because Trump didnt want to give the media a win so early in his administration. Now that its been more than a month since the episode, though, Trump can finally eject him from the building and argue that it was an independent decision. Trump did so on Thursday but gave Waltz a soft landing, announcing that he would nominate him to serve as ambassador to the United Nations. (Thats the job that was originally given to New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, before Trump decided to keep her voting in the House of Representatives for eternity.)

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This works out all right for everyone involved: Trump gets to provide some accountability for Signalgate without fully giving in to the haters; his MAGA foreign policy team has taken out potentially the last Russia is bad buzzkill in the building; and Waltz gets a Senate-confirmed position and a nice apartment in Manhattan. Oh, and while were talking about his Senate confirmation? Democrats will get a lengthy, televised opportunity to run through Signalgate again.

6. Shri Thanedar

Dont you just love primary season?

Shri Thanedar is a second-term Congressman representing Detroit. He is a wealthy Indian American in a plurality Black district, and he is constantly getting primaried. He already has two primary challengers, one a former state senator and another a state representative. What this means, then, is that its time for Thanedar to attempt some stunts. On Monday, the same day that state Rep. Donavan McKinney announced his primary campaign in the district, Thanedar introduced seven articles of impeachment against Trump. This was a significant source of irritation to House Democratic leaders, who view it as a distraction, as well as to a few members who were surprised to see theyd been listed as co-sponsors. Thanedar has further used his official office budget (i.e., taxpayer money) to advertise his impeachment efforts on billboards in his district. Thats not a new tactic for him, either; he was by far the top spender of official office money on ads in 2024. In an interview with the Detroit News, Thanedar said of his impeachment articles that my duty to my constituents is that I speak out when injustice happens and not wait for what is politically right or whats the opportune time to do it. We dont know, it seems an awful lot like he waited for the opportune time to do it.

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7. Dick Durbin

Its not retirement time yet.

Senate Democrats had a troubling episode earlier this week. They were forcing a vote to kill the national emergency Trump invoked for his Liberation Day tariffs. This is something they had a majority for; a similar resolution addressing the Canada tariffs passed earlier this year with four Republican votes. This, time, though, it didnt work. The vote failed in a 4949 tie as two supporters missed the vote. Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse was at a conference in South Koreasomething Democratic leaders knew aboutwhile Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell was out sick. Not only did that vote fail, but then Vice President J.D. Vance showed up to cast a tiebreaker on a subsequent vote to ensure the resolution couldnt get a revote later on. Democrats tried to spin this afterward as a secret political win for them, because theyd forced Republicans to go on the record owning the tariffs. But losing a vote you were supposed to win looks an awful lot more like a screwup to us. The vote came a week after the Democratic whip, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, announced that he would retire at the end of the term. Well, how should we put this? Some of the quotes he gave after the voteI dont think anything went wrong. We just needed more votessuggest that he may already have one foot in a Fort Myers timeshare.
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Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson surprised an audience at a judicial conference in Puerto Rico with a barnstormer of a speech on Thursday in defense of judges who are facing threats and harassment from President Donald Trump and his allies, who have instigated attempts to remove them from the bench and put them in danger simply for doing their jobs. The attacks are not random, the justice told the audience, according to reporting by Politico. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity. The justice also decried the smears as attacks on our democracy that ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.

On this weeks Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discuss the necessity of this full-throated response from a sitting justice and the reason Jackson was uniquely suited to offer it. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: Chief Justice John Roberts offered up a sort of anodyne and milquetoastbut, in his own way, somewhat forcefuldefense of the judiciary a few weeks ago, when Donald Trump was attacking district court judges by name. Weve been waiting to hear more from on high, and this week Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson took it upon herself to be the judicial Lorax with a really strong, unequivocal, robust defense of the judiciary, given in very personal terms, which received a rip-roaring, grateful audience response. What is it that the justice was signaling?

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Mark Joseph Stern: I want to focus on a part of her speech that may reveal what might be going on in her head here. She said: I do know that loneliness. It is very stressful to have to decide difficult cases in the spotlight and under pressure. It can sometimes take raw courage to remain steadfast in doing what the law requires. And she urged judges to keep going, keep doing what is right for our country. I do believe history will vindicate your service.

Its important to remember that most of Trumps attacks have been directed at district court judges, some of whom were in the room on Thursday. And Jackson was a district court judge for nearly a decade. She spent years toiling away in the courtroom, and she must know that its a fundamentally different role from being an appeals court judge. I like to say that appellate judges have fake jobsthey get to be philosopher kings, dispensing the truth from on high. But district court judges have real jobs that are immensely difficult. You have to learn the intricacies of the rules of civil and criminal procedure. You have to conduct your courtrooms in compliance with those rules every single day. You have to deal with objections and an endless stream of motions and disputes between the parties in multiple cases at once. Its easy to forget, for instance, that while Judge James Boasberg was dealing with the case involving Venezuelan migrants, he was also overseeing a landmark antitrust case over Facebooks alleged monopoly. He had to do all this stuff at the same time, because that is the life of a district court judge.

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Its also very difficult because when you issue a decision, its just your name on it. When youre part of an appeals court, or the Supreme Court, youre one of several judges, and the headlines say: Supreme Court rules. But when youre a district court judge, its only you. You have to put your name at the bottom of that opinion, and the headlines may well have your name in them. It takes away some of the legal fiction that people are a court. When we talk about the 5th Circuit, we say the 5th Circuit. But when we talk about Judge Boasberg, we say Judge Boasberg. And that leads to much more personalized attacks by the other side. It makes it easier for bad actors like the president and his allies to whip up hatred against the judge as an individual. I think it puts their lives more at risk. There are more threats targeting them directly, and not just at the courthouse but at perhaps their own private residences. Weve seen a huge surge in threats against district court judges.

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I think that Jackson is reaching out to those judges, who are truly on the front lines of this battle for democracy and civil rights against the Trump administration. Shes saying: I know it is lonely. I know it is difficult. I know in many ways it is far more difficult than what an appellate judge does, but stay the course. Find that courage. Because if you cannot stand up to these bullies, then theres nobody who will, and hope is really lost. Ill also note that none of the conservative justices were ever district court judges. But Jackson was. And I think shes saying: I wont be so casually cruel about overturning your hard work. I will stand up to defend your interests, even if my own colleagues will not.

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Im thinking of a couple of through lines. One is the indispensable conversation we had with Sherrilyn Ifill, who talked about what a civil rights lawyer does; why a district court judge matters in litigation, making extensive findings of fact that become the opinion; and what it means when an appeals court just vaporizes all that. It connects up to our conversation just last week with Skye Perryman, who said the same thing: This battle over facts and law is being fought on the ground in the district courts. This is the work of doing justice, in the face of deception, lies, and distortion of both facts and law. This is where the battle is being waged.

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Its not an accident that the justice got a standing ovation, and I think its not an accident that she was the person who gave voice to this from the Supreme Court. The other thing Im mindful of is that whenever we talk to district court judges, one of the things they say is that 90 percent of their lives are done in obscurity. There may be one blockbuster case, with the cable trucks out front. But they dont live under the klieg lights. They live in dusty books with their law clerks. And it is just a shock to suddenly become front-page news. This is not what they trained for or how they do their work. And to suddenly become a punching bag is really shocking.

This is lonely, isolating work. And to suddenly be the recipient of death threats or to have your children require securitywhich weve seen around the countryis not something that they are used to. This isnt a public-facing job. But its moving and important when a judge stands up to the Trump administration, and its contagious too, right? This kind of behavior from one district court judge makes it OK for the next judge to do it. And its incredibly inspiring to hear Jackson give voice to that.
Captain Corey Callahan drove the 8,000th winner of his illustrious career on Friday afternoon, May 2 at Harrahs Philadelphia, guiding I See A Star to a 1:56.1 victory in an $18,750 trotting contest for developing horses.

Callahan settled the four-year-old Bar Hopping-Take It Off Girl mare, the choice of the Friday Philly crowd, in fourth early and sat there during fractions of :28.2 and :57.4, then moved out to follow the cover of second choice Herecomesdajudge (Tyler Miller), who was advancing towards the 1:26.1 three-quarters. Herecomesdajudge put in bad steps on the far turn, leaving Callahan and I See A Star uncovered but with a clear path to the front, and the pair won safely for trainer/owner Brian Emerson, with Herecomesdajudge regaining his equilibrium and closing well to regain second. The Brodster (Andrew McCarthy), who was on the front end most of the way, rounded out the top three.

Callahan, 47, had seasonal highs in 2015, when he won 636 races and guided horses to earnings of more than $9.85 million. The Captain, currently fifth in wins on the local scene and tied for third at Harrington Raceway, has been consistent for the better part of two decades now. His lifetime earnings stand at $119.1 million.

Callahan achieved his milestone triumph in the co-feature of the afternoon; the headliner was a $19,444 event for trotters one step above that group on the class ladder. In that contest, Little Expensive left to command from the outermost post for driver Tyler Miller and got early pedestrian fractions of :29 and :58.4, with major rival Frank Leahy (David Miller) in the pocket. The two-holer likely got bottomed out as the victorious Muscle Hill-Seviyorum gelding unleashed a :26.4 third quarter to the 1:25.3 third pole, then continued out to an open-length victory in 1:54.2. Julie Miller trains the five-year-old gelding for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Jean Goehlen and VIP Internet Stable.

George Napolitano Jr. widened his lead atop the Philly driver standings by guiding four horses back to Victory Lane on Friday.

There will be a special live Kentucky Derby Day card of Standardbred racing on Saturday, with first post at noon. Patrons can of course stay and watch and wager on the big runners race from Kentucky early in the evening. Philly will then close out its racing week on Sunday at 12:40 p.m.

(With files from Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association/Harrah's Philadelphia; photo of Corey Callahan being congratulated on his career milestone by Mike Harant, Executive Director of the PHHA, in the winner's circle)
Merrow ($2.10) and driver Leon Bailey won the featured $7,639 conditioned pace at Vernon Downs on Friday, May 2.

Starlit Jackson (Justin Huckabone) charged straight to the front and led to the quarter in :27.3. Merrow brushed on by heading down the backstretch and was first to the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:26.4 with Cant Touch Nasty (Chris Long) challenging first-up. As they made the turn for home, Merrow found another gear and won easily in 1:54.2. Cant Touch Nasty followed five lengths back with Starlit Jackson holding on for third.

Merrow is a three-year-old Stag Party-Siobhan colt owned by Suheil Ashkar of Liverpool, New York. A winner of an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division and leg of the Harvest Series during his 10-race freshman season, Merrow has launched his sophomore campaign with back-to-back wins at Vernon while under the care of trainer Joe Sansone.

Bailey drove three winners on the 10-race card while David Dewhurst had three training wins.

Live harness racing returns to Vernon Downs on Saturday, May 3 with a post time of 5:05 p.m.

(With files from Vernon Downs; photo of Merrow from a previous win at Woodbine Mohawk Park)
In this week's Rewind Robert Smith takes a look back at the world of harness racing as it existed during the decade of the 1960's. In his monthly Years Ago feature he revisits the times from about 60 years ago. He recalls some familiar names and happenings from back then. The decade of the 1960's was a very exciting and prosperous time in harness racing history; many great things were happening.

1962 - "Birthday Boys" Capture Daily Double at Old Woodbine

Two young drivers at the current Old Woodbine race meeting accounted for both ends of the daily double on the July 24th card. In the opening race the winner was Danny Wilmac, a four-year-old pacer from the MacMillan Stable of Ancaster handled by Bill Wellwood. In the second race, Wes Coke of Petrolia Ont. was the victor behind his own 13-year-old gelding Denny's Counsel. A crowd of 5,899 was on hand for the evening of racing. This was just the second season for racing under the lights.

Just a short time prior to this event on July 16th young Wes turned 19. A few days later on July 24th a slightly older Wm. turned 22. Despite their young years, each of these fellows were in charge of their own stables at this time; training and driving as well as all of the other duties involved.

Both drivers have very familiar last names as Wes's father Cecil is a veteran horseman now competing at Connaught Park. Bill Wellwood is a third generation horseman, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Jim and his uncle Harold. Incidentally the daily double paid $18.20; no report on whether either winning driver held a winning ticket!

1964 - Brother Hy Scores 65th Lifetime Victory

On September 19, 1964 what has to be considered a racing rarity if nothing else occurred. In the 9th race feature, an Invitation Handicap Pace, the eight-year-old Brother Hy was the winner for driver Stan Williams. In winning, he took a new lifetime mark of 2:05.1. So far nothing too rare but the oddity creeps in when you realize this was the 65th lifetime win of his lengthy career. "Brother" was owned for his entire career by Alex Hyatt of Petrolia, Ont. and at this time was racing out of the Stan Williams stable. Much of his career he was handled by Earl Hyatt the son of owner Alex Hyatt.

Brother Hy was one of the winningest horses of his era as he posted a huge 85 visits to the winner's circle over a lengthy racing career that spanned 10 racing seasons. During the years 1959 through 1968, he faced the starter a total of 237 times but earned just over $18,000 a sign of the low purse structure in that time of Canadian racing.

Horses like Brother Hy brought much joy to their owners and also had a great fan following. The gelded chestnut son of Brother Harmony started his racing career at age three in 1959 racing for Ken Bogart. He was part of the opening night program when London's Western fair Raceway started night racing in 1961 winning one heat of the inaugural night's feature race.



Brother Hy pauses in the Rideau Carleton winner's circle following his 65th career victory with Stan Williams in the sulky for owner Alex Hyatt of Petrolia, Ont. Members of the Williams clan continue to be involved in the sport. Stan's grandson Jeff Williams (son of Dale) is a current trainer on the Ontario circuit. He spent many years honing his skills in the Bob McIntosh stable.

1968 - Super Wave Sets New Record At Richelieu Park

A Saturday night crowd of 10,034 fans at Montreal's Richelieu Park on July 20, 1968 saw the crack two-year-old pacer Super Wave set a new Canadian record for age and gait. The youngster, owned by Dr. George Boyce a London, Ont. veterinarian, was a convincing winner as driver Jack Kopas gave the colt a flawless drive to defeat his nine rivals in the $17,750 Canadian Juvenile two-year-old stake for colts and geldings. The record of 2:01 4/5 was the fastest mile ever for a two-year-old pacer on a Canadian track at that time.



Super Wave had to score from the tough 10th position but it did not seem to deter his winning effort. Away rather cautiously Kopas edged up to fourth place on the backstretch and from there took control of the race as he literally coasted to the wire. The heavily favoured Del MacTavish Sr. Stable entry of Byron Dares and Greg Hanover were installed as the betting choice and finished 2-3 behind the Shadow Wave sired colt, with Byron the only real threat.



Fractions for the mile were 30:0; 1:01.3; 1:33.3 and the mile in 2:01.4. The record mile eclipsed the former standard established by the ill-fated Golden Blend in 1965 when that colt twice set the mark of 2:02. He first turned the trick at the Three Rivers track and later duplicated the identical time at Richelieu Park. The victory was Super Wave's sixth in eight season starts and boosted his current earnings to $14,651.

Note: I did not ever get to meet Dr. Boyce Sr. but I have been fortunate enough to know his son Dr. Robert Boyce and I thank him for his encouragement in my attempts to chronicle the history of our sport.



Jack Kopas and the great Super Wave share a moment together. Originally purchased for $5,000 he went on to win almost $500,000 for London, Ont. owner Dr. George Boyce DVM (U.S.T.A. photo)

1969 - Insko New Money Winning Champion

At the conclusion of the 1969 racing season a new money winning driver was crowned as Del Insko topped all reinsmen. The then 38-year-old horseman originally from Minnesota tallied $1,635,463 in purses that year. Born in 1931 I believe he is still with us, certainly one of the last from his glorious era.

His signature toothpick became a subject for a world class cartoonist as shown above. Throughout his career Insko was seldom seen without the familiar "sliver of wood" clenched in his teeth. Just think, today a piece of plastic just wouldn't cut it!

Bonus Quiz Question? - If anyone cares to identify the three people in the drawing above, go for it.

Blast From The Past

In the decade of the 1960's one day race meetings held at small town tracks were still popular. This photo was taken during the race day at Rodney, Ont., a town just west of London. The crowd size indicates their popularity.

Quote For The Week: "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." -- Albert Einstein

Who Is It?

Can you identify these four fellows who were the nation's top race winning drivers of the 1965 season? This photo was taken at Roosevelt where the trophy was awarded to the gent on the far left.

Who Else Is It?

Can you correctly identify this father and son duo in the Old Woodbine winner's circle? They both went on to long careers in the sport and were very well known in days gone by. Both have left us but they are still well remembered.

(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)
A Gering student who turned tragedy into advocacy will be recognized later this month by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) during its annual Hero Awards Ceremony on May 20 in Lincoln.

Anna Meier, a Gering High School junior, has been named a recipient of MADDs Volunteer of the Year Award. During a press conference on Thursday at the Gering High School, Meier, who is also Miss Scotts Bluff County Teen Queen, talked about work she has done with young people to educate them on the impact of alcohol use and drunken driving.

Jennifer Sibal, Gerings director of communications, praised Meier. Annas advocacy is rooted in her own story, one shaped by the loss of her father due to impaired driving. And, instead of turning inward, she turned outward, sharing her voice for advocacy and awareness, helping others to understand the life-long impacts of impaired driving.

Meiers father, Richie, died at 50 years old in September 2023 after being involved in a UTV accident. Asked about her advocacy, Meier said, Alcohol affected my dads life throughout my entire childhood. When he passed away, there was a lot of emotions, and I felt, without letting grief take over my life, you have to get out, just get out in your community and do things that make you happy. ... You cant just let it take over you. You have to get out, and not let that be who you are as a person, that youre more than that and you can come back to that and be stronger than you were before.

Meier has shared her story in the classroom, such as last week when she presented her program Power of You(th) to more than 80 Gering Middle School students on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use to teens. She has talked on MADD Victim Impact Panels, spoken before first responders during an Air Link conference, as well as being involved in events like National Night Out. Shell also be a keynote speaker at the Hero Awards Ceremony.

Her advocacy has been amplified through her participation in the Gering High School Public Service Academy, a partnership with Gering High School and the Gering Police and Gering Fire Departments. Meier nominated the Gering Police Department for its leadership, resulting in the department also being recognized later this month with MADDs Hero Award in Education and Awareness.

Gering Police Capt. Jason Rogers talked about the academy, which launched in 2021 and aims to provide work-based learning opportunities for public service careers. The program has grown to encompass a variety of areas of public service, from court careers to public safety careers such as police and fire.

The program was born in recognition of a need to have students in the area return to pursue careers as adults.

Rogers said that the first year of the program, organizers learned that the teens in the program wanted to really get out and they really want to experience some stuff. Teens are able to do ride-alongs with officers, learn about emergency vehicles operation and visit the departments gun range. They are also able to see firsthand the work that agencies and organizations do.

Weve been able to expand activities that we can offer these students so that they really get a true sense of what each agency offers for them to come back to in the future.

John Boyd, criminal justice teacher at Gering High School, said that the program expanded from just being focused on public safety, to public service, such as health and human service careers.

A lot of our students who are interested in things like helping others dont just want to go into law enforcement, he said. They want to be lawyers. They want to be social workers. They want to be a mental health practitioner for someone in need of a juvenile counselor. So weve expanded it just a little bit to give students a few more options for rotations.

Partner agencies have included the Gering Police and Fire Departments, the Nebraska Judicial Branch, Scotts Bluff County Detention Center and others.

The career academy has been blessed to have students who are thoroughly involved in the experience, Rogers said. He also noted that prior students are pursuing interests in public service, with one working in the correctional system with an end goal of wanting to be in law enforcement, serving on the Gering Fire Department and others attending college for criminal justice degrees.

What the program is doing is planting those seeds, he said.

The award that Meier is receiving is another form of validation that our program is working, he said, saying he looks at it from the standpoint of seeing a student find their passion and what they think their future is going to look like.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) on Thursday announced charges against a 36-year-old Yemeni national for allegedly deploying the Black Kingdom ransomware against global targets, including businesses, schools, and hospitals in the United States.

Rami Khaled Ahmed of Sana'a, Yemen, has been charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of intentional damage to a protected computer, and one count of threatening damage to a protected computer. Ahmed is assessed to be currently living in Yemen.

"From March 2021 to June 2023, Ahmed and others infected computer networks of several U.S.-based victims, including a medical billing services company in Encino, a ski resort in Oregon, a school district in Pennsylvania, and a health clinic in Wisconsin," the DoJ said in a statement.

Ahmed is accused of developing and deploying the ransomware by exploiting a vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server known as ProxyLogon.

The ransomware worked by either encrypting data from victims' computer networks or claiming to steal that information from the networks. Post encryption, the ransomware dropped a ransom note on the system and directed the victim to send $10,000 worth of Bitcoin to a cryptocurrency address controlled by a co-conspirator.

Victims were also allegedly asked to send proof of the payment to a Black Kingdom email address. The ransomware is estimated to have been delivered on about 1,500 computer systems in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Also tracked under the name Pydomer, the ransomware family has been previously linked to attacks taking advantage of Pulse Secure VPN vulnerabilities (CVE-2019-11510), Microsoft revealed in late March 2021, noting that it was the first existing ransomware family to capitalize on the ProxyLogon flaws.

Cybersecurity vendor Sophos described the Black Kingdom strain as "somewhat rudimentary and amateurish in its composition," with the attackers leveraging the ProxyLogon vulnerability to deploy web shells, which were then used to issue PowerShell commands to download the ransomware.

It also said the activity bears all the hallmarks of a "motivated script-kiddie." Then later that August, a Nigerian threat actor was observed attempting to recruit employees by offering them to pay $1 million in Bitcoin to deploy Black Kingdom ransomware on companies' networks as part of an insider threat scheme.

If convicted, Ahmed faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with assistance from the New Zealand Police.

The charges come amid a raft of announcements from U.S. government authorities against various criminal activities -

The DoJ unsealed an indictment charging Ukrainian citizen Artem Stryzhak with attacking companies using Nefilim ransomware since becoming an affiliate in June 2021. He was arrested in Spain in June 2024 and extradited to the United States on April 30, 2025. If convicted of the charge, Stryzhak faces up to five years' imprisonment.

Tyler Robert Buchanan, a British national suspected of being a member of the notorious Scattered Spider cybercrime group, was extradited from Spain to the United States to face charges related to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Buchanan was arrested in Spain in June 2024. Charges against him and other Scattered Spider members were announced by the US in November 2024.

Noah Michael Urban, another Scattered Spider member who was arrested in January 2024, pleaded guilty to similar charges earlier in early April 2025. He also agreed to pay $13 million to 59 victims as part of his plea agreement. The arrests notwithstanding, Scattered Spider has been observed using updated phishing kits mimicking Okta sign-in portals and a new version of Spectre RAT to gain persistent access to compromised systems. "Changes observed in 2025 allude to new developers and/or technical obfuscation decisions being made," Silent Push said.

Leonidas Varagiannis (aka War), 21, and Prasan Nepal (aka Trippy), 20, the two alleged leaders of a child extortion group 764 have been arrested and charged with directing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The two men are accused of exploiting at least eight minor victims.

Richard Anthony Reyna Densmore, another member of 764, was sentenced to 30 years in the U.S. in November 2024 for sexually exploiting a child. Members of 764 are affiliated with The Com, a disparate collection of loosely associated groups that commit financially motivated, sexual, and violent crimes. It also includes Scattered Spider.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) designated Cambodia-based conglomerate HuiOne Group as an "institution of primary money laundering concern" for Southeast Asian transnational cybercrime gangs by facilitating romance baiting scams and for serving as a critical node for laundering proceeds of cyber heists carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). HuiOne Pay's banking license was revoked in March 2025 by the National Bank of Cambodia.

Ransomware Attacks Surge as Payoffs Dwindle

The developments come as ransomware continues to be an enduring threat, albeit increasingly fragmented and volatile, as sustained law enforcement actions are causing major shifts in observed tactics. This includes the growing frequency of encryption-less attacks and the trend of cybercriminals moving away from traditional hierarchical groups in favor of a lone-wolf approach.

"Ransomware operations are becoming increasingly decentralized, with a growing number of former affiliates choosing to operate independently rather than remain tied to established groups," Halcyon said.

"This shift is being driven by several factors, including increased law enforcement coordination, successful takedowns of major ransomware infrastructure, and a broader push by actors to avoid attribution through brand rotation or unbranded campaigns."

Data compiled by Verizon shows that 44% of all analyzed breaches in 2024 involved the use of a ransomware strain, up from 32% in 2023. But there is good news: More victims than ever are refusing to pay ransoms and fewer organizations are willing to pay the ransom demanded.

"For the calendar year 2024, the median ransom paid comes up as $115,000, which is a decrease from $150,000 in the previous year," Verizon said in its 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR). "64% of the victim organizations did not pay the ransoms, which was up from 50% two years ago."

According to Coveware, the average ransom payment for the first quarter of 2025 was $552,777, a 0.2% decrease from the previous quarter. The media ransom payment, in contrast, climbed 80% by $200,000.

"The rate of companies that opted to pay a ransom, either to procure decryption keys or to suppress a threat actor from posting the breached data on their leak site, rose slightly in Q1 2025," the company said.

The ransomware payment resolution rate for the period has been tallied at 27%, down from 85% in Q1 2019, 73% in Q1 2020, 56% in Q1 2021, 46% in Q1 2022, 45% in Q1 2023, and 28% in Q1 2024.

"While attacks are assuredly still occurring and new groups continue to spin up each month, the well-oiled ransomware machine that early RaaS groups built is plagued with complications that seem unlikely to resolve," it added.

Despite these setbacks, ransomware shows no sign of stopping anytime soon, with Q1 2025 witnessing 2,289 reported incidents, a 126% increase compared to Q1 2024, per Check Point. Ransomware attacks, however, have witnessed a 32% drop month-over-month in March 2025, with a total of 600 claimed incidents.

North America and Europe accounted for more than 80% of the cases. Consumer goods and services, business services, industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and construction and engineering were the sectors the most targeted by ransomware.

"Ransomware incident volumes are reaching unprecedented levels," Dr. Darren Williams, Founder and CEO of BlackFog, said. "This presents ongoing challenges for organisations dealing with attackers focused on disruption, data theft, and extortion. Different groups will emerge and disband, but they all focus on the same end goal, data exfiltration."
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.
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.
Last Tuesday, Gwynne Dyer headlined his Express column Stupid old men. You could substitute all sorts of adjectives before the words, old men, to describe the characteristics of the cohort that has had the most influence on the world we inhabit. Greedy, self-righteous, racist, arrogant, selfish, a multitude of negative words readily suit the clique.

At first, angrily thinking about the subject of todays column, I was focusing on Caribbean men in leadership positions who have been sleazy lechers, foisting themselves on hapless females and males with impunity.
A Guatemalan woman who just gave birth in Tucson  and who was facing a rapid deportation, with or without her U.S. citizen newborn  appears to have now been placed in normal deportation proceedings and will be given a notice to appear in immigration court, according to federal officials.

The woman, who was eight months pregnant when detained by Tucson sector border agents earlier this week, is still in federal custody and was discharged from Tucson Medical Center on Friday, two days after giving birth, according to a statement Friday afternoon from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency that oversees the Border Patrol.

An attorney familiar with her case said he was told the womans baby will remain at TMC for at least another day.

The woman was arrested earlier this week after entering the U.S. outside a port of entry near the Tres Bellotas Ranch, south of Arivaca, according to the CBP statement.

She has not yet been formally processed and no formal proceedings have commenced, the statement said. Once her processing is complete and an NTA (notice to appear) is issued, she will be given the opportunity to contact an attorney.

The CBP statement also said that under U.S. law, there is no statutory right to an attorney in immigration proceedings until a Notice to Appear has been issued. ... At all times, agents followed the law and adhered to CBP procedures. No entitlements were denied.

The statement appears to mark a reversal from the governments initial stance on the Guatemalan womans case, as a notice to appear in court would not be issued to someone subject to expedited removal, which is a rapid deportation process, without a hearing before an immigration judge.

On Thursday, a CBP spokesman had told the Arizona Daily Star that the woman was facing expedited removal and would be given the choice to take her newborn with her when she was deported, or leave the baby in the U.S. As a citizen, the baby cant be deported, the spokesman said.

Tucson attorney Luis Campos, who has offered pro-bono legal services to the woman, said he was advised Friday by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security attorney that agents would share Campos number with the woman and she would be permitted to call him, if she wanted to.

Thats a change from the agencys position on Thursday, when CBP officers prevented Campos from speaking with the woman while she was recovering from giving birth at TMC, even though she had requested to speak with a lawyer.

The CBP officers, who were posted outside her hospital room, would not let Campos speak with the woman without a signed G-28 form, identifying him as her lawyer. But the officers also wouldnt let Campos, nor hospital staff, bring her the form to sign, Campos told the Star Thursday.

After days walking through the Southern Arizona desert, the woman was apprehended by the Border Patrol earlier this week and put into detention. When she went into labor, agents transported her to TMC, Campos said.

An advocate who became aware of the womans situation contacted Campos Thursday, when the woman asked to speak to an attorney, Campos said.

Since the woman had been facing expedited removal, the situation was urgent, Campos said, as she could have been deported immediately without having a chance to pursue legal remedies that might be available to her.

She is clearly subject to removal, but she may have viable defenses to assert if given the opportunity, he said Thursday. 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.

Its not yet clear if the woman will be released from federal custody, pending her immigration hearing.

Migrants apprehended near the border  as well as those arrested in the U.S. interior who cant prove theyve been here for at least two years  now face rapid deportation under President Donald Trumps expanded use of expedited removal.

Trump signed an executive order in January 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 risk the safety of vulnerable people seeking protection in the U.S.

Prior to CBPs determination that the woman will get a court hearing, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said in a Friday emailed statement that the womans pending rapid deportation was the result of Trumps unnecessarily cruel Executive Order that incorrectly declares there is an invasion at our southern border.

People in the United States, regardless of legal status, have a fundamental right to due process that has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court as recently as April 7, 2025, Romero said in the statement to the Star. Denying this mother access to legal representation is both inhumane and a violation of her basic rights.

I am deeply concerned about the consequences of this federal overreach. It is unacceptable to treat a medical facility as an extension of xenophobic policies, especially when a newborns health and safety are at stake. I urge the federal government, and its agencies, to act with compassion and respect for due process, the mayor said.

TMC declined to comment on the situation to the Star, via a spokesman, on Friday.

Willing to help

Campos said he believes the 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.

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.

Guatemala is experiencing high levels of violence now, Gaspar said, and thats 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 theyre 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 dont have anywhere to go. The violence over there in Guatemala, its really peaked, he said.

He said hes 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.

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 Trumps 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.
Officials from several federal law enforcement agencies on Friday touted efforts to cut the supply of weapons moving from the U.S. into Mexico.

While the public focuses on keeping narcotics and immigrants south of the Arizona border, an equally important initiative it to keep weapons and cash from being smuggled into Mexico to be used by cartels, they said.

We have pivoted, and we needed to pivot to think of these cartels (as terrorist organizations) Interim U.S. Attorney of Arizona Timothy Courchaine said during Fridays news conference near the Nogales port of entry. Because the violence in Mexico, the violence they introduced into the United States, is abhorrent ... They send drugs and people north, and they profit from it. And in return, they get guns and money south.

The guns and cash help cartels expand their criminal enterprises that are responsible for the most heinous, violent crimes affecting the communities and neighborhoods in the U.S., said Brendan Iber, the special agent in charge of the ATF.

Guadalupe Ramirez, director of operations for the Tucson office of Customs and Border Protection, said the agencys focus on outbound inspections has created a significant increase in the cost of doing business for violent transnational organizations and will continue to serve as a valuable tool in our efforts for border operations. He noted that in addition to weapons, these searches have stopped child abduction, turned up fleeing criminals, controlled substances, currency and stolen vehicles.

Tools, including weapons and currency-detecting canines, are utilized to search vehicles and people headed south at the border. New trafficking trends and concealment methods are popping up every day, but the trickier the smugglers get, so do the severity of punishments for their alleged crimes.

Im telling you right now ... the ATF will work day and night, weekends, holidays, whatever it takes to identify these individuals, these organizations, these groups that are responsible for trafficking all these firearms over there, Iber said.

The Tucson Field Office of Operations, which is responsible for all of Arizonas legal ports of entry, has seen a slight increase in the number of weapons and ammunition seizures headed south into Mexico, the Arizona Republic reported. In the first six months of the 2025 fiscal year, officers had 49 seizure events, confiscating 29 handguns, 56 long arms and three explosives, the Republic said, citing CBPs open data portal.
One industry sector that has always been a bellwether for the economy is residential real estate. I recently spent time with David Godlewski, President/CEO of The Southern Arizona Homebuilders Association (SAHBA), to gain insight into Tucsons economic landscape through the lens of residential construction.

Founded in 1953, SAHBA is a trade organization representing members across all aspects of the residential home building industry, from large builders to small subcontractors.

SAHBA offers a wide array of services, including workforce development, government advocacy, learning, and networking.

What I discovered is that SAHBA goes beyond simply representing and serving home builders  it advocates for the environment, partners with government and serves as a voice for an industry that enhances Tucsons competitiveness against similar-sized cities like Austin and Albuquerque.

This nonprofit organization comprises 335 members serving the residential housing needs of Pima, Cochise, and Santa Cruz counties. SAHBA works closely with municipalities to foster growth through responsible, high-quality housing development.

Meeting environmental challenges

SAHBA members navigate increasing pressures from all sides to deliver high-quality, environmentally sound housing. These challenges include material costs, qualified personnel shortages and environmental and government regulations.

Living in the desert presents unique challenges regarding water consumption.

Pima County, in conjunction with the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, has implemented water conservation policies that significantly impact home builders.

Rather than resisting these policies, SAHBA and its members embrace them, believing they benefit both the environment and consumers.

Focusing on market-driven desires, home builders deliver construction that is energy efficient, particularly in water usage.

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index measures a homes energy efficiency, including water consumption. A score of 70 is considered energy efficient, with lower scores indicating greater efficiency. SAHBA members consistently and voluntarily build homes with HERS scores in the 50s, demonstrating their commitment to sustainability.

Economic indicators and growth

Assessing home building as an economic indicator for Tucson, Godlewski believes the industry is strong and growing. During the boom of 2005-2006, approximately 10,000 new homes were built annually. The housing crisis of 2008-2009 dramatically reduced this number to less than 2,000 per year.

Current demographics in Southern Arizona support building 5,000 to 5,500 new homes annually. In 2024, about 4,500 new homes were constructed, with expectations for 2025 to continue at this level  a positive sign for the regional economy.

Cascading economic benefits

New home construction contributes to the economy in multiple ways beyond a single transaction. For example, businesses considering relocating to or launching operations in Tucson prioritize high-quality, abundant housing for their employees.

SAHBA members meet this demand through various subdivisions, from smaller infill projects with just a few homes to larger master planned communities with hundreds of homes. This expansion is evident in municipalities such as Marana, Vail and Sahuarita.

A new $450,000 home supports dozens of businesses during construction. Once occupied, homeowners use products and services from numerous local businesses, creating a multiplier effect throughout the community.

Workforce development

SAHBA also focuses on workforce development through collaborative programs with JTED, Pima Community College, and the Job Corps. These initiatives help develop the next generation of skilled workers for the home-building industry in Southern Arizona.

Passion for home industry shows

Passion for the new home building industry by Godlewski  and by extension SAHBA  is evident in the wide array of services and value they provide to members. It is also evident in their collaborative approach to working with all municipalities to support responsible growth.

SAHBAs greatest contribution, as the voice of homebuilding and residential development, is in jobs created, tax revenues, and all of the resulting economic growth that cascades from their efforts. One nonprofit organization helping to turbocharge an entire industry.
PHOENIX  Courting another legal fight with the Legislature, Gov. Katie Hobbs said Friday that she is not going to seek Senate confirmation of her choices to head state agencies.

Im quite frankly done with Jake Hoffman and his agenda, Hobbs said of the Queen Creek Republican who heads the Senate Committee on Director Nominations. It is that panel that gets to screen gubernatorial choices, a part of the process that gives the Senate the power to advise and consent on the picks.

Im not going to send anyone else to him to go through this circus that he continues, the governor said.

However, the last time the governor stopped sending names to the Senate it ended up in court, with a judge ruling that her scheme to have agencies run indefinitely by unconfirmed executive deputy directors was illegal. Hobbs bristled Friday when reminded of that ruling and asked how long she thinks she can avoid submitting new nominations.

Youll have to ask Jake Hoffman or the Senate president, she said, raising her voice. I dont know the answer.

But Hobbs appeared to be setting the stage for another court fight.

If somebodys upset about it, they can sue me again, Hobbs said.

She did not address the fact that her last legal battle over the confirmation process did not end well for her.

Hoffman told Capitol Media Services Friday that the Senate will wait to see what exactly Hobbs plans to do about who heads her agencies before deciding whether to take legal action. But he called the governors action a childish temper tantrum and emotional meltdown.

But whats clear is that, from her unhinged statements at the press conference today, shes once again making rash, emotional decisions and, quite frankly, flying by the seat of her pants without any due diligence or thought behind her actions, Hoffman said.

All this occurred just days after the governors picks to head two major state agencies quit after Hobbs said it became clear that the Republican-controlled Senate would refuse to confirm them.

That was confirmed just hours later when Hoffman said that Carmen Heredia, the governors choice to head the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, and Jennifer Cunico who she tapped to be state health director, were unqualified nominees. That left the question of who Hobbs would nominate to replace them.

You know, if Im being really honest with you, why would anyone want to go through what these folks are going through, the governor said. They are being dragged through the mud because of one persons political agenda that has nothing to do with their careers in public service.

And she said both have done amazing work for the state, that is totally separate from indicted fake elector Jake Hoffmans political agenda and conspiracy theories.

That was referring to the fact that Hoffman is one of 11 Republicans indicted by a state grand jury after they submitted documents to Congress following the 2020 presidential election saying that Donald Trump had won the Arizona primary and that the states electoral votes should be tallied for him even though he had been outpolled by Democrat Joe Biden.

They, along with others who are accused of helping advance the plan, are facing charges of conspiracy, forgery and conducting fraudulent schemes and practices. A trial is set for January.

All that, however, still leaves the question of who will run the state agencies if there is no director, much less someone who has been confirmed.

Were going to move forward in the best way possible in the current environment, Hobbs said. And what that includes, she said, is having the agencies be run with interim directors rather than submit new nominees to the Senate  and to Hoffman.

If all that sounds familiar, it should.

During her first year in office in 2023, some of the governors picks were confirmed and a few were rejected.

But that still left 13 by September of that year who were in a governmental limbo, allowed to serve as director for up to a year. If they were not confirmed in that time, the governor would be legally required to name someone else.

But Hobbs, rather than waiting, then withdrew those 13 names.

The governors action left each agency without a director. She then used a procedural move to name each nominated-but-unconfirmed director as an executive deputy director, doing the same job as before  but as a deputy director not required to get Senate confirmation.

The Senate then sued.

In a 17-page decision last year, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney said that Hobbs was arguably within her power to withdraw the names of her nominees after she could not get them confirmed.

Where she broke the law, Blaney said, was in giving those deputies the exact same duties and powers they would have had as Senate-confirmed directors.

The governor ... took those actions for an improper purpose, culminating in an improper result  one that violates Arizona law, he wrote.

Blaney also took a slap at Hobbs for arguing that state law allows the appointment of deputy directors to agencies, even without directors who are subject to Senate confirmation over them.

That argument improperly elevates form over substance, the judge said.

He said that under Arizona law, directors run their respective agencies and are appointed to their positions through a statutorily defined process  meaning Senate review and confirmation.

That process requires oversight by the legislative branch, Blaney said. Here, the governor willfully circumvented that statutory process and eliminated the legislative branch from its executive role.

Hoffman defended the role of his committee in doing in-depth reviews of each nominee. And he also noted that some of the governors choices have made it through the process.

A total of 15 of her picks have been confirmed, with four rejected outright. Another seven nominations  including the most recent two  have been withdrawn.

There are still nine nominations that have yet to get a hearing, Hoffman said.
At age 15, Aleida Gehrels stood on the balcony of her familys home in Holland and watched German paratroopers descend from the predawn sky.

It was May 10, 1940, and the Nazis had just launched the all-out invasion of Western Europe.

What followed for the Netherlands was five years of occupation, extermination and eventual famine that claimed the lives of more than 200,000 of its residents, roughly half of them Dutch Jews and Jewish refugees murdered in the Holocaust.

Aleidas hometown was among the last European cities to be liberated, just a few days before Germany surrendered for good.

May 8 will mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe, but Aleida cant believe that much time has passed. Even at age 100, she still remembers V-E Day like it was yesterday.

Its really hard to believe, because the war will always stay with you, the Dutch immigrant and long-time Tucson resident said. Whatever else happens in my life, World War II is always there.

Invasion

Aleida was born on March 16, 1925, and grew up in Leiden, a university city near The Hague. As the youngest of the DeStoppelaar familys 13 children, she had six brothers and six sisters, the eldest of whom was 20 years older than her.

Aleida was only 4 when her father died of a heart attack at age 52. When the war began 12 years later, she was still in school and living in the familys cramped, three-story house with her mother, five of her youngest siblings and their housekeeper.

We knew it was going to happen, she said of the invasion. It was still a surprise.

The family was awakened by the roar of propellers. It sounded like 30, 45, 50 airplanes coming over, very noisy and pretty low, Aleida said.

They sprang from their beds and crowded onto the second-floor balcony so they could see what was being dropped on them  soldiers, not bombs.

It was very terrifying, she said. We saw paratroopers just coming down right in front of us, which was something that we would never have thought would happen.

The Dutch fought back at first, but the government quickly surrendered after the Luftwaffe bombed the center of Rotterdam and threatened similar attacks on other large civilian targets. After that, Aleida said, the Germans were free to invade with no more resistance. That was the first week of the war.

Soon after, Hitlers troops marched into Leiden and stationed themselves in the small 11th-century castle that overlooks the city from a man-made hill.

They were in tanks and in jeeps and all that, and they actually marched right by our house, Aleida said. We didnt pay attention to them. We didnt go outside and look at them. We knew they were our enemies.

No one had any illusions about what the invasion meant for the Netherlands sizable Jewish population. The Germans immediately began rounding people up, with a special focus on Amsterdam, the adopted home of Anne Frank.

We had Jewish people hiding in our neighborhood, Aleida said. We also had young men hiding in our neighborhood to avoid being sent to German labor camps.

One of them was a communist student from Amsterdam named Jan, who lived for a time in an upstairs room at the DeStoppelaar house and was not allowed to go outside. Aleida said their secret guest brought along a small radio the family would use to try to listen to the regular morning broadcasts by the Dutch government-in-exile in London. The Germans would jam the signal as soon as the introductory music began to play.

For news of the war, they relied on members of the underground in Holland, who risked their lives to publish and carefully distribute their own small newspaper. Thats how her family learned about the Allied landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944, Aleida said. D-Day, I think, was the beginning of hope.

By then, two of her brothers had escaped from Holland and traveled to England to join the military, Gerard as a paratrooper and Aard as a merchant marine.

They would survive the fighting in Europe but not the peace that followed. Aleidas daughter, Jo-Ann Gehrels, said the men returned to the Netherlands as heroes, only to die by suicide a few years later  two more suspected casualties of what would come to be known as post-traumatic stress disorder.

World War II also took another DeStoppelaar brother, Cas, who was an administrator at a coffee plantation in Indonesia when Japan invaded what was then a Dutch colony. Aleida said Cas was rounded up with others from the Netherlands and executed in a Japanese prison camp.

Starvation

Life was hard in Holland during the first few years of Nazi occupation. It grew infinitely worse in the latter stages of the war.

When the Dutch government-in-exile ordered a railroad strike in late 1944 in hopes of speeding the collapse of the occupying forces, the Germans responded by cutting off all food and fuel shipments to the Netherlands densely populated western provinces.

It was the beginning of what came to be known as the Hunger Winter, Aleida said. The stores were empty, the schools were closed, and people struggled to find food and keep warm as bitter cold settled over the countryside.

What you could find most often during the Hunger Winter was tulip bulbs. That became our main food, actually, she said. We wouldnt eat them now. After the war was over, we never touched them.

The desperate population also learned to survive on the edible parts of hyacinth plants. They tasted just awful, Aleida said, but they were nutritious, and we had piles of them. As you may know, that area of Holland is whats called the Keukenhof. Its all tulips and hyacinths and all that.

The DeStoppelaar sisters would go out during the day to scrounge for food or carry a pan to the citys soup kitchen to collect the familys ration for the day.

We would have that one meal at lunchtime, and that would fill you for a while, but then there wouldnt be anything else in the evening, so we really were hungry, Aleida said.

They had no electricity, so their house was lit with candles. She remembers sitting around in the flickering light with her sisters, their stomachs growling as they reminisced about ham sandwiches and chicken eggs and all the other delicious foods they missed. Talking about it seemed to help somehow, Aleida said.

Occasionally, they also discussed all the different ways they would like to see Hitler tortured to death. That helped, too.

At night, they often drank tea for dinner and crawled into bed early under whatever blankets they had to escape the cold.

We lost a lot of weight, but no one died. None of my sisters or my brothers died of starvation, Aleida said. But it was tough. It hurt.

Liberation

Liberation Day finally arrived for Holland on May 5, 1945, when the German army agreed to lay down its guns and withdraw.

Word soon went out through Leiden that the Allies were planning an airdrop of food and other supplies in their area on May 7. Aleida called it a day Ill never forget.

Everybody left their homes and walked to a park in the center of the city, where a flight of really big warplanes from the Royal Canadian Air Force soon appeared overhead, she recalled. They dropped the food, but also they dropped little messages that came floating down. They said things like, Be courageous, We love you, Well take care of you, and The war is over.

It wasnt just the townspeople who came to the park that day, either.

The most interesting part was that the German soldiers who were still in our town, they came also, Aleida said. They didnt have weapons anymore, so they just came and looked up at the airplanes. We had no contact with them, but they were there.

Though she couldnt muster any empathy for them at the time, looking back now she cant help but feel sorry for those last German conscripts who were sent to guard her city at the end of their doomed campaign.

I know they were not starving, but they were very, very young. They were just kids going back to a country in ruins. It must have been very hard, Aleida said. Its just a matter of chance where youre born, right? They were born in a Nazi country, and they grew up in a Nazi country. Thats not their fault. Thats not the way we thought right after the war. But now that we are wiser, we see it that way.

The Nazis were mostly gone from Leiden when the Canadian ground troops arrived a few days later. Aleida said they rolled in on tanks and jeeps just as the Germans had five years earlier, only these men were waving and hanging from the sides of their vehicles with big grins on their faces.

They were wonderful, and they had everything that you could wish for in their trucks, she said. They threw chocolate bars, cigarettes, coffee, everything that we had not seen (in years). That was liberation.

Relocation

Aleida said much of Holland enjoyed an amazingly quick recovery after the war, and so did she.

In 1946, she was working as a travel agent at the port in Rotterdam when a man approached to ask about the badge she was wearing with her maiden name on it. He said he served with someone named DeStoppelaar in the war. It turned out to be her brother, Gerard.

And just like him, Tom Gehrels had also escaped from occupied Holland to train as a paratrooper in England. Then he joined Britains secret Special Operations Executive so he could parachute back into the Netherlands to assist the Dutch Resistance, with which he had served as a teenager.

Tom was also on a personal mission: to track down the whereabouts of his oldest brother, Cor, who had been sent to a concentration camp in Germany for helping Jews in Holland. Sadly, he never found Cor, who ended up dying in the camp a few weeks before the war ended.

Soon after their chance meeting in Rotterdam, Aleida and Tom started dating. By the following year they were married.

They emigrated to the U.S. in 1951 so Tom could complete his doctoral studies in astronomy at the University of Chicago. They moved to Tucson in 1961 so he could join fellow Dutch astronomer Gerard Kuiper at the University of Arizona as one of the first members of the newly formed Lunar and Planetary Laboratory.

Tom would spend the next 50 years at the U of A, developing instruments for NASAs Pioneer space missions to the outer planets, setting up mountain-top telescopes to track near-Earth asteroids and studying the evolution of the universe.

When Tom died in 2011 at the age of 86, fighter jets from the Royal Netherlands Air Force flew over the U of A campus during his celebration of life to honor his wartime service.

His wife of 64 years still lives in the same house where they first settled in Tucson and raised their daughter and two sons.

Celebration

Aleida ended up with a lengthy career of her own after earning a Ph.D. in French literature from the U of A in 1969.

Nepotism rules at that time kept her from working at the same university as her husband, so she became a high school teacher instead, first at Palo Verde, then as the first instructor hired at what later became University High. Madame, as she was affectionately known, taught French and art history at UHS for 21 years.

Then in 1998, the year after she retired, Aleida went back to the U of A at age 73 to earn a four-year degree in biology, in part so she could keep pace with her astronomer husband and their three adult, science-trained children.

I was the only one that knew nothing much about science except what the family would tell me. I thought thats not so good, so I went back, she said. It didnt help anybody except me, but I had a wonderful time with it.

Until last year, when she was merely 99, Aleida could still regularly be seen pedaling her red tricycle around her Catalina Vista neighborhood with her dog, Bowie, in tow.

She has slowed down a little bit since then, but she still found the energy for not one but two parties for her 100th birthday on March 16.

The first was a private event in  where else?  the Century Room at Hotel Congress. We had a jazz concert, just for our friends and family, Aleida said. It was wonderful.

That was followed the next day by a block party in Catalina Vista that drew more than 100 people, including some of her former students. Jo-Ann Gehrels said it was amazing to watch her mother remember them by name and recall details about their high school days.

At last check, Aleida didnt have anything specific planned for the 80th anniversary of V-E Day, but she said she might take a moment to mark the occasion during one of the regular, late-afternoon happy hours she and her daughter host in the neighborhood.

At least thats what theyve done in years past, Jo-Ann said. I think when we remember, we do a toast.

Perhaps this year, the glass they raise to liberation will have some nice champagne in it.

Of course Ill remember it, Aleida said. How could she ever forget?
Legislation increasing oversight of sober living homes in Arizona has been signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs, two years after state officials announced that a Medicaid fraud scheme had targeted Native Americans seeking drug and alcohol treatment.

The bill, sponsored by three Republicans, amends state law for the regulation and licensing of sober living homes. It places new demands on the Arizona Department of Health Services, though a lawmaker from the Navajo Nation expressed concern that the bill does not go far enough in addressing root causes of the fraud.

The bill, expected to take effect in the fall, was among dozens she had signed into law. The governor did not explain her decision to sign the legislation, but she has been vocal in her support of reforms over the past two years to help authorities go after bad actors.

The legislations passage comes after the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and ProPublica reported in January that former state Medicaid officials had failed for years to stem the $2 billion fraud scheme, despite repeated warnings. Starting around 2019, people were lured into substance abuse treatment programs and housed in sober living homes where operators often allowed patients to continue using drugs and alcohol, according to officials. Meanwhile, many providers excessively billed the states American Indian Health Program, Medicaid insurance available to tribal citizens, for treatment they did not deliver.

At least 40 people died in sober living homes from the spring of 2022 to the summer of 2024 as the crisis escalated, Maricopa County Medical Examiner records reviewed by the news organizations showed. Victims advocates say they are certain the schemes toll is far higher. In interviews, victims relatives told AZCIR and ProPublica that they had been left in the dark about the circumstances of their loved ones deaths, including not knowing the names or addresses of the facilities where their family members had been staying because no one had informed them.

I believe that this bill will set standards, Rep. Cesar Aguilar, a Democrat from Phoenix, said before voting for the measure. It will force businesses to actually help the most vulnerable.

The League of Arizona Cities and Towns, a nonprofit that lobbies on behalf of municipalities and that supported the measure, said in a news release that a noteworthy component of the bill includes mandating timely reporting to the Arizona Department of Health Services  in addition to family members and emergency contacts  when a resident dies, overdoses or suffers severe harm in a facility. The health department will also be required to notify local governments when new licenses are issued to operators of sober living homes, which the league said will improve transparency and community awareness.

Under the bill, the health departments director will set standards and requirements for sober living homes to maintain a drug- and alcohol-free environment and promote health and addiction recovery. Health officials could revoke or suspend licenses depending on the severity of a violation or issue fines of up to $1,000 for each day that a violation goes unaddressed.

At a minimum, the health department will conduct annual inspections of facilities and report to lawmakers on the number of complaints received regarding licensed or unlicensed facilities and how many resulted in investigations or other enforcement actions.

The bill received bipartisan support. However, critics said it did not address additional factors that contributed to the fraud scheme: Many victims stayed in unlicensed facilities and, despite warnings, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the states Medicaid agency, was slow to grasp the scope of the fraud and stop it.

It wasnt until May 2023 that AHCCCS and the governor, who took office that year, announced a sweeping investigation of hundreds of facilities and launched a hotline to help victims who were recruited into fraudulent programs or displaced after AHCCCS suspended payments to the businesses. The agency has since enacted a series of reforms in response to the fraud. In an interview last year, a deputy director for AHCCCS also acknowledged that the agencys American Indian Health Program lacked safeguards for fraud.

Supporters of this years bill have touted support from tribes.

Reva Stewart, who is Dine and an advocate for victims of the scheme and their families, opposed the bill. She anticipates the measure will make it more burdensome for licensed facilities to help people seeking treatment, while failing to stop the unlicensed homes, where most of the harm was done. AZCIR and ProPublica found that officials botched response to the crisis resulted in Native Americans losing access to behavioral health services that were being provided to them.

Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, a Democrat from Coalmine Mesa on the Navajo Nation, was also critical of the legislation. She voted against it, noting that a bill she sponsored last session would have required more accountability not only from the health department related to its oversight of the homes but also from the Arizona Corporation Commission, where the businesses must be registered.

Hatathlie, whose niece died in one of the homes, said this years Republican sponsors of sober home legislation did not include her in their discussions.

Were actually not solving the problem, she said during a Senate floor vote last month. So to say its good enough now, when we still have people dying and getting lost in the system, is a disservice to human lives. These are my relatives. These are my family members.

Sen. Frank Carroll, the bills lead sponsor, didnt immediately respond to an email and phone calls requesting comment.
PHOENIX  Arizona wont be taking money away after all from state universities and community colleges that offer courses in diversity, equity and inclusion.

In a series of vetoes late Friday, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs rejected a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature that would remove all state funds from any school that had even one course the legislation declared unacceptable. That would have included anything that relates contemporary American society to whiteness, institutional racism, unconscious bias, gender identity, social justice, race-based reparations and gender-based inclusion, and thats just a partial list.

Mesa Republican Sen. David Farnsworth said he wrote the proposal after reading a book in a course on cultural diversity he is taking at Rio Salado Community College.

Such legislative efforts, combined with President Donald Trumps order to stop DEI programs or lose federal funding, led University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella to send a letter recently to Senate President Warren Petersen listing steps hes taking to eliminate DEI at the university.

In her veto message, Hobbs did not address specific concerns raised by Farnsworth but instead focused on the effects the bill would have.

Our state universities and community colleges play a vital role in developing Arizonas workforce, improving our economy, and strengthening our qualify of life through transformational research, she wrote. Jeopardizing their state funding with a bill that lacks clarity attacks future stability and would lead to negative effects on the states workforce and economy.

All totaled, Hobbs on Friday found fault with 23 proposals that reached her desk, bringing her veto tally so far this ongoing legislative session to 75. That is two more than she issued during the entire 2024 session. Her record  in fact, the record for any governor in state history  is the 143 bills she vetoed in 2023.

Also getting her veto stamp Friday was a proposal by Sierra Vista Republican Sen. David Gowan to impose personal fines of $5,000 against any elected or appointed official who knowingly and willfully violates existing laws that preempt cities and counties from enacting any local regulation of firearms.

Hobbs called it unnecessary. There are existing mechanisms to challenge city ordinances, she wrote.

Thats true, according to Michael Infanzon, lobbyist for the Arizona Citizens Defense League, which has filed such challenges, most recently to a Pima County ordinance imposing a fine of up to $1,000 on people who fail to report the theft or loss of a firearm within 48 hours. And, in fact, a judge struck down that ordinance. But Infanzon said such rulings havent deterred officials in some cities and counties from continuing to enact restrictions. He said civil fines that officials would have to pay from their own pockets would make them think twice.

Hobbs also declined to be told by state lawmakers that she must enforce, administer and cooperate with federal actions, orders and programs that relate to the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

That proposal was one of several being pushed by Republicans who say they want state and local officials to do all they can to help the Trump administration round up and deport those here illegally. This one, sponsored by Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, not only would have imposed the requirement on the governor but also on the attorney general as well as all cities, towns and counties.

Hobbs called this, too, unnecessary.

When I assumed the role of governor, I pledged to uphold both the U.S. Constitution and the Arizona Constitution, as did each of you, she wrote in her veto message to lawmakers. Hobbs said she has worked with the federal government to secure the border, stop the flow of fentanyl and disrupt cartel operations.

But she said these are decisions that must be made locally.

Arizonans, not Washington, D.C. politicians, must decide whats best for Arizona, the governor said.

Hobbs also rejected a related proposal that would have required county jails to daily transmit to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement the name, address, date of birth, gender and Social Security number of anyone arrested for certain offenses. These ranged from larceny and shoplifting to burglary, assault on a law enforcement officer and any other offense that resulted in death or serious bodily injury.

Existing state law already bans sanctuary cities, Hobbs wrote in her veto message. I expect state and local governments to uphold the law and work with the federal government to secure the border. However, this (measure) places extreme burdens on local law enforcement.

Hobbs also objected to legislation crafted by Prescott Republican Sen. Mark Finchem putting new restrictions on unemployment benefits, payments available to lose their jobs through no fault of their own, including through layoffs. The cost is borne by a premium on employers, with the rates paid by each linked to how often they release employees.

Finchems proposal would have tightened some requirements for recipients to seek employment. But it also would have barred the Arizona Department of Economic Security from paying benefits until they checked, weekly, a series of state and federal databases.

This legislation creates unnecessary delays for workers, burdens for employers, and costs for the state, Hobbs wrote.

The governor also nixed legislation that would make voter registration rolls available on the internet.

Proponents said that would enable any individual to have access and report inaccuracies. But Hobbs said it poses risks that the information will be misused or used for commercial purposes.

Hobbs also vetoed legislation that would make the cast vote record  essentially a digital representation of every vote cast  a public record. She said she believes it would put voter privacy at risk.

Also rejected were two measures making changes in groundwater regulation, as Hobbs said she is trying to work with lawmakers to come up with a comprehensive plan.

I am disappointed that neither of these bills would move toward solving the water policy challenges that Arizona residents and communities are facing today, she wrote. To see more effort misspent on pointless bills that would only weaken groundwater protections is a continued affront to rural Arizonans who have asked their legislature for years to address rural groundwater challenges.

Other bills she vetoed Friday include:

 Allowing the state treasurer and public retirement funds to invest up to 10% of their holdings in virtual currency such as Bitcoin. Arizonans retirement funds are not the place for the state to try untested investments like virtual currency, the governor said.

 Prohibiting state agencies, boards, commissions and departments from using any programs on DEI in the hiring, training and promotion of employees. Hobbs dismissed the legislation as Detrimental, Ineffective, Nonsensical, and Objectionable.

 Requiring school districts to prepare budgets for three years. It would do nothing to improve the budgeting process for school districts, Hobbs said.

 Eliminating the ability of transgender people to get an amended birth certificate. I encourage the Legislature to focus on real issues that matter and impact peoples everyday lives, she wrote.
Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Reporter Follow Randy Krehbiel 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 long-simmering scandal involving the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services finances heated to full boil on Friday with the revelation that the agency might not make its next payroll.

That possibility seemed to have lessened by late in the day, with the Mental Health Department saying it would indeed make its mid-May payroll, but the departments constantly shifting financial outlook inspired very little confidence among lawmakers and Gov. Kevin Stitt.

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, Speaker Kyle Hilbert said in an early afternoon statement.

Friday morning, House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said in a press release that legislators learned the previous evening that the Mental Health Department needed $23 million to pay employees through the budget year that ends June 30. At least some of that would have to be made available by Wednesday to meet the mid-May payroll.

State Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, chairman of a special House committee investigating the department, soon confirmed Munsons statement.

By early Friday afternoon, however, Hilbert released a statement saying he had been assured by Mental Health Commissioner Allie Friesen that the mid-May payroll would be met  but that additional funds would be needed by May 21.

This did not seem to make Hilbert any happier about the situation.

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.

Still plans to hire an independent financial expert

On Friday afternoon, Stitt wrote to Hilbert and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton that he plans to hire a highly respected, independent financial expert from outside ODMHSAS to take control of the departments finances on a temporary basis and to untangle what state investigators have described as the most confusing budgeting weve ever seen.

Stitt also told Hilbert and Paxton that he will soon appoint a previously promised special investigator and has directed Oklahoma Health Care Authority Chief Executive Officer Ellen Buettner and officials within ODMHSAS to conduct a top-to-bottom review of all Medicaid and federally funded functions within ODMHSAS.

This, apparently, is in response to questions about whether federal Medicaid money has been improperly spent. The Health Care Authority administers most of Oklahomas Medicaid but does not directly oversee some mental health-related aspects.

The state mental health commissioner is appointed by the governor. Friesen and her predecessor, Carrie Slaton-Hodges, were hired by Stitt.

Known investigations of the Mental Health Department include those by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the Legislative Office of Fiscal Oversight, the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector, and the departments own inspector general. A criminal embezzlement charge is pending against a former high-ranking official accused of taking money intended for the departments independent foundation.

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 Governors Office to ensure continuity of services and stability for our workforce while addressing long-standing structural issues that have impacted the agency.

The department also issued a later statement saying: ODMHSAS will be making payroll as scheduled.

State employees generally are paid twice a month, meaning three pay periods remain in the current fiscal year.

The second Mental Health Department statement went on to say the current administration continues to demonstrate our philosophy of uncovering problems and partnering with appropriate stakeholders to fix them in a meaningful way.

Our leadership team remains boldly focused on righting the wrongs within a system that has desperately required reform for decades. We are insistent on radically shifting the culture of the agency to allow for transformation into a mental health system that is focused on excellence across all divisions.

The governor said his office is working with Mental Health to ensure operations continue and employees are paid on time.

Friesen is asked to testify before House committee again

Lawson said he was told late Thursday that the Mental Health Department would not meet its next payroll without additional funds. Upon learning of the shortfall, he called a meeting of the Houses investigating committee for Monday morning. Hilbert said Friesen has been asked to testify under oath at that meeting. She testified before the committee on April 17.

Paxton 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 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.

Munson, in her Friday morning press release, 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, he 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 years 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 Friesens dismissal.

As Munson suggested, $23 million may not be the extent of the departments 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 may be needed to make the department whole.

Blancett also noted that the owner of a private prison housing 2,200 inmates in Lawton 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.
Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

OKLAHOMA CITY  Controversial new social studies standards for Oklahoma public schools were allowed to stand this week only after Republican lawmakers held lengthy discussions and Gov. Kevin Stitt cooled to the idea of an intervention, Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton said.

The Legislature might have acted to reject the standards, which were approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education in February. Some board members later said that they felt that they had been misled and rushed to vote by Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters. Two weeks ago, Stitt said he thought the process that was followed deserved a review.

But that apparently wont happen, as the Legislature failed to pass any resolution rejecting the standards before a May 1 deadline. Democrats at the Capitol expressed their frustration in recent days by delaying floor action on legislation. They had filed resolutions proposing to reject the standards and noted that some Republicans had pledged to support a similar resolution drafted by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond.

I dont know what (Walters) is communicating to the Republican caucuses thats making them feel comfortable about these standards, because our continued concern is that theyre age-inappropriate, politically charged and theres so many religious undertones, said House minority caucus leader Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City.

Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, the minority party leader in the Senate, said Republicans have repeatedly failed to hold Walters accountable for things like campaign ethics violations and decisions made to give hefty bonuses to political advisers paid with funds of the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Its especially hurtful that we could not hold (Walters) accountable on the social studies standards, Kirt said. When we do finally get an opportunity to take a stand on something thats clearly gone awry and has been a bad choice by the superintendent, were not taking that.

At his weekly press availability held on Thursday, Paxton, R-Tuttle, said the decision not to vote on any resolution was not made lightly.

I had several members of the Senate who came to me in favor of sending those standards back, since the governor was saying we needed to do that and we had a lot of constituents (who) had contact with senators and said the exact same thing, Paxton said. I talked to the governor three different times over the weekend just to verify that he was still calling for that, and he was all the way up until Sunday (April 27), and then Sunday evening when I talked to the governor he said, Well, you all can kind of do with it what you want to.  I wouldnt say he pulled back support of it, but he wasnt going to help us with accomplishing that.

On Monday, Paxton said Republican senators huddled for about 1 hours and brought Walters into their discussions. Many senators also talked to state school board members.

We had a very robust discussion, and after that was all over we realized there was not enough support within our caucus to move (a resolution) forward, he said.

Paxton was asked about claims that Walters had been dishonest with school board members about the standards and how they were presented before their vote.

I dont want to use the word that he was dishonest in it. Hes a statewide elected official, and he made his presentation, he said.

He suggested that if OSBE members had been uncomfortable with what transpired they should have resisted taking any vote.

If I was handed a 400-page document that was not highlighted and you could not tell what was in there, I dont think I would have voted for it, he said. Thats their responsibility. Even as new members, youre not forced to vote yes or no on anything or to vote on anything. You can always step back and say, Im not comfortable with this.  That would have been the preferable way to do it rather than to let it come to the Legislature and counting on us to do it.

At his own weekly meeting with the press, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said that Walters did a good job in his meetings with lawmakers convincing them that the social studies standards were presented accurately to OSBE members. He allowed that some members who had only recently been appointed to the board may have felt rushed to vote in February.

At the end of the day, they were appointed when they were appointed, and so that kind of created a time crunch, he said.

We as the Legislature this week chose to follow the historical precedent of not intervening in this process that the elected state superintendent oversees, Hilbert continued. As Ive said from the beginning, ... we needed to be on the same page, the House and Senate, and at the end of the day we couldnt build a consensus on those items, on what if anything we wanted to change.

Oklahoma House Democrats call for social studies standards to be sent back to board
It wouldnt be an ABC Federal Election night without Antony Green, last night was his final after three decades with the public broadcaster.

Former Prime Ministers, from both sides of politics, paid tribute to Green for his knowledge and authority in calling election results for Australians.

I came here on a six month contract in 1989 to do a research book for the 1990 federal election, he told viewers at the end of a long live broadcast, Green recalled.

Ian Carroll, who hired me, took a punt. There were 150 applicants, but there was only one with serious computer skills. He thought You can talk to the engineers, which I did. We designed the computer system, somehow Iended up on camera. People like Kerry OBrien, Paul Lyneham, all backed me over the year,. Quentin Dempster, many other people. Theres been so many engineers and computer programmers Ive worked with them. Ive always had to be very cautious, that Im prepared to work stupid hours, but I cant ask programmers to work ridiculous hours like me.

Look, its been fabulous fun. I enjoyed developing websites. Ive enjoyed educating people on how the systemswork. Ive enjoyed the work I did on reforming the Senate system, and Im a bit overwhelmed by all this. Its the biggest bunch of flowers Ive ever had in my life. Thank you for all, its just been fabulous fun.

But it also wouldnt be an ABC election night without technical failures.

Greens struggles with his high tech screen came as early as 6:22pm, but worse was to come when servers crashed and ABC was unable to show results for around an hour.

What a night to send off the best in the data biz.
The Netflix thriller 'Exterritorial' follows Sara Wulf as she tries to find her kidnapped son and expose government truths in the process

The Netflix film Exterritorial is a nonstop action thriller.

The German movie follows Sara Wulf (Jeanne Goursaud), a former Special Forces soldier, who desperately tries to find her son after he's kidnapped in the US Consulate in Frankfurt. The young boy, Josh (Rickson Guy de Silva), was taken while he was in a playroom in the consulate, while he and his mom were awaiting approval for a visa, so they could move to America.

After she sees her son missing from the playroom, Sara becomes panicked and the security officers in the consulate are unwilling to help her. They instead try to convince her that she came to the consulate alone, and there is no record of her son being there with her.

The film, which takes place entirely within the confines of the consulate, shows Sara using her military training to fight off security officers trying to stop her from finding her son. One security officer in particular, Erik Kynch (Dougray Scott), becomes fixated on trying to stop Sara at all costs, but his motives don't become apparent until the end.

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As the movie unravels, Sara is forced to face her past in Afghanistan and the ambush that nearly killed her and how it relates to her son's kidnapping.

So, how does Exterritorial end? Heres everything to know about why Sara Wulf's son was kidnapped and the conspiracy that led to his disappearance.

Warning: Exterritorial spoilers ahead!



How does Exterritorial end?

Sasha Ostrov / Netflix Jeanne Goursaud Exterritorial

Throughout the film, Sara Wulf unleashes her military training to make her way through the consulate and get answers about her son's kidnapping.

After initially thinking that Josh was kidnapped as part of a drug ring, she later finds out that her time in Afghanistan is the reason that she's fighting for her and her son's lives. When Sara was overseas, her team was ambushed by the Taliban, and the resulting explosion killed eight of her fellow soldiers, including her son's father. Sara was the only soldier who survived the ambush.

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Before she entered the US Consulate in Frankfurt with her son, a journalist investigating the incident called her and asked if she could identify anyone from a video. At the time, Sara was unable to recognize anyone.

However, after her son was taken, she finds out that security officer Kynch was also a soldier in Afghanistan at the same time as her. Sara soon realizes that he had met with a member of the Taliban prior to the attack and sold them information on her team's plan.

Kynch initially vehemently denies any involvement and convinces everyone that Sara is suffering from a hallucination caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Luckily for Sara, she meets a woman named Irina (Lera Abova) who is also being held in the US Consulate against her will. Irina reveals that she is the daughter of a rich German criminal who was killed by the government and that she contains a USB drive with proof of the assassination.

Sasha Ostrov / Netflix Jeanne Goursaud as SARA on the set of Exterritorial

In the midst of Sara trying to find her son, she and Irina fend off two trained assailants who are trying to abduct her, so she cannot uncover the German government's murder.

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The two women then make their way to Kynch's office, where they find out that he's been the mastermind behind the whole ordeal. Sara comes to the conclusion that Kynch kidnapped her son as part of a larger plan that would result in Sara's death, so she could never expose him for leaking information to the Taliban.

Sara and Irina make their way to a warehouse within the consulate, and Irina gets into the back of a truck leaving the facility so she can safely escape.

Sara then escapes the consulate and heads to Kynch's daughter's school, taking her to a locked room and demanding that Kynch come in and talk with her.

During the intense conversation, Kynch finally admits to leaking information to the Taliban for money prior to the deadly explosion. He also explains that German kidnappers paid him to abduct Irina. He was going to blame the abduction on Sara and kill her in the process, thus silencing her from exposing his secrets.

Kynch pulls one last move in the confined space and shoots Sara in the stomach, while also shooting himself in the leg, so he can claim she shot him first. However, Sara crawls to the intercom where she plays Kynch's entire confession, which she recorded on his daughter's toy, to the rest of the generals.



What happens to Sara and her son in Exterritorial?

Sasha Ostrov / Netflix Jeanne Goursaud, Rickson Guy Da Silva Exterritorial

Sara successfully rescues her son Josh after proving her innocence at the end of Exterritorial.

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While Sara is recovering from her gunshot wound, she sees Josh, standing over her and smiling. Eight weeks after the incident took place, Sara calls Irina  who is safely in the U.S.  to let her know that she and her son are preparing to finally move to the country.

Sara is still living with the aftermath and PTSD from the explosion, but she seems to be handling it in a healthier way.

In the beginning of the film, Sara saw a helicopter that triggered her PTSD and caused her to fight a teenage boy. However, at the end of the film, Sara sees another helicopter and while she is entranced, she is able to manage the stress and smiles with her son instead.

What happens to Eric Kynch in Exterritorial?

Sasha Ostrov / Netflix Dougray Scott Exterritorial

Immediately after Sara plays the recording of Officer Kynch's confession, the other officers turn on him and arrest him.

Sara confirms at the end of the movie that Kynch has been detained in the U.S.

She also reveals that his co-conspirator Sergeant Donovan (Kayode Akinyemi) has in turn been arrested.



Will there be a second Exterritorial movie?

Sasha Ostrov / Netflix Jeanne Goursaud, Rickson Guy Da Silva Exterritorial

A sequel to Exterritorial has not been officially confirmed.

However, the movie quickly climbed to the No. 1 spot of most-watched movies on Netflix after its American debut on April 30.



Read the original article on People
HA NOI  Vietnamese businesses seized the opportunity at the SIAL 2025 agriculture and food exhibition to align with Canada's ongoing trend of diversifying markets and supply chains, participating with greater scale in both the number of enterprises and variety of products.

The Vietnamese companies showcased a wide range of goods, from raw input materials for production chains to high-value processed food products.

Tran Thu Quynh, trade counsellor at the Embassy of Viet Nam in Canada, said Viet Nam had six enterprises participating as suppliers of raw input products such as rice and spices, as well as deep-processed items including dairy products and chocolate. These are new and creative product lines from Viet Nam that the Canadian and broader American markets are not yet familiar with.

Roberto Magnato from the Canadian Export Development noted the significant interest in exploring opportunities for Canadian companies to export to and sell in Viet Nam. Equally, there is strong demand among Canadian firms for sourcing raw materials and products from Viet Nam for local processing and manufacturing.

He stressed the importance of leveraging existing free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) between Canada and Viet Nam.

In recent years, Viet Nam has exported over US$10 billion worth of goods annually to Canada. Around $4 billion of this has been routed through US suppliers, given Canadas reliance on its southern neighbours supply chain. Ongoing trade tensions between the two countries are opening up more direct opportunities for Vietnamese products to enter the Canadian market.

Sales Director of Lotus Rice Company Vu Thi Hue stated that their participation in the fair aims to reach more customers and partners. The company also seeks to better understand the market to attract a broader customer base, considering Canadas significant size and potential.

Le Thi Hoai Thuong, deputy general director of the Viet Pepper Company, expressed the companys desire to continue participating in future fairs and hoped for greater support from the Viet NamTrade Office in Canada and domestic agencies to help bring more Vietnamese products to the Canadian market.

In the first two months of 2025, Viet Nam exported $1.7 billion worth of goods to Canada, up 12.9 per cent compared to the same period last year. If this growth rate is sustained, Viet Nams exports to the country can exceed $11 billion this year, with a trade surplus of approximately $10 billion.

This indicates that while tariff threats present challenges, they also offer opportunities for both sides to enhance market and supply chain diversification and reduce dependence on a single market.  VNS
HA NOI  The non-governmental organisation Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) has called on the Government to urgently issue a national list of wild species allowed for commercial breeding, warning that gaps in current regulations are being widely exploited to legalise illicit wildlife through licensed farms.

The call comes in the wake of a major court ruling on April 23, in which the Peoples Court of Hoc Mon District in HCM City sentenced a man named T.V.T. to ten years and six months in prison for the illegal captivity of endangered wild animals.

The case highlighted how existing licensing loopholes are allowing traffickers to use commercial breeding operations as a cover to legitimise wild-caught animals.

In November 2019, environmental police and local authorities uncovered 57 wild animals at T.V.T.s registered facility in Xuan Thoi ong Commune, Hoc Mon District.

The animals included clouded leopards, Asiatic golden cats, binturongs, small-clawed otters, yellow-cheeked gibbons and others listed in Viet Nams highest protection category.

Although T.V.T. provided inventory documents certified by local forestry units to claim legal origins for the animals, police later found most of this paperwork to be falsified. Some of the animals had reportedly been turned in by the public and handed over by forest rangers, while others were purchased on the open market.

Investigations further revealed that T.V.T. was not only licensed for a facility under his name but also operated several other wildlife farms registered under the identities of other individuals. These facilities had been granted commercial breeding permits for a large number of species, some of which scientists say cannot be bred in captivity for commercial purposes, such as the big-headed turtle.

ENV warns that such cases are not isolated.

According to Deputy Director Bui Thi Ha, the misuse of registered breeding facilities to legalise wild-caught animals is a widespread and growing problem enabled by regulatory gaps.

Currently, registered commercial farms in Viet Nam are permitted to breed at least 39 globally threatened species. However, ENV says many of the animals in these farms originate from the wild and are simply passed into the legal market.

Ha noted that the practice poses a serious threat to biodiversity, not only within Viet Nam but also throughout the region.

It is imperative that the Government urgently issues a national list of species that can be legally farmed for commercial purposes. Such a list will provide a clear framework to guide enforcement and ensure that farming activities support conservation rather than undermine it, she told Suc khoe & oi song (Health & Life) online newspaper.

ENV argues that the list should be regularly updated and scientifically informed, helping to eliminate ambiguity in enforcement while also supporting sustainable livelihoods for legal breeders.

A national breeding list will help prevent illegal trade, reduce pressure on wild populations and simplify procedures for both regulators and farm owners, said Ha.

In the long term, this must go hand-in-hand with stronger law enforcement and improved wildlife management policies to ensure that commercial farming activities are transparent, accountable and aligned with conservation goals.  VNS
BERLIN  Fifty years after Viet Nams reunification on April 30, 1975, an exhibition titled Vietnam 75  A Historical Reflection on the Vietnam War has opened at Berlins Babylon cinema, offering a vivid window into one of the most defining periods in Viet Nams history against invaders.

The display, blending paintings and photos, draws international audiences and the Vietnamese community in Germany into an emotional reckoning with Viet Nams struggle for independence.

Curated by Claudia Opitz, Peter Steiniger, and Sebastian Kopcke, Vietnam 75 presents a chronological narrative of the war through the eyes of artists and photographers who lived through or deeply studied the war.

The works capture the anguish, iron will, and resilience of a nation under siege, from the early days of the revolutionary movement to the great victory on April 30, 1975.

No artwork can fully convey the horrors of war, but this exhibition is an attempt to honour the Vietnamese peoples decades-long fight, Opitz said.

The curators also pay tribute to international voices of solidarity, including East German documentary filmmakers Heynowski & Scheumann and photographer Thomas Billhardt, whose searing images brought the wars realities to the world.

The exhibition is accompanied by screenings of classic Vietnamese revolutionary films, including Chi Tu Hau (Sister Tu Hau), Em be Ha Noi (The Little Girl of Hanoi), and Lan Song Moi (New Wave), subtitled in Vietnamese, English, and German.

These showings have resonated deeply with the Vietnamese community in Germany, particularly younger generations seeking to reconnect with their roots.  VNA/VNS
The Head of Mission from the Polish Embassy, Joanna Skoczek, wrote for Viet Nam News ahead of the countrys Constitution Day.

Every year on the 3rd of May Poland celebrates its Constitution Day. It is an opportunity to look back at our history and the tireless efforts of our ancestors to protect the nations identity and sovereignty.

I am very often asked about the similarities between Poland and Viet Nam. Despite the geographical distance, we share a lot of them, starting with deep respect for family and community values, to the strong spirit of entrepreneurship, to the challenging geographic location and sometimes troublesome neighbourhood. The latter is also the reason why both our nations express such an interest and respect for history. We both know that nations should be aware of their past to draw lessons for the present and the future.

The Constitution we remember on that day dates back to the year 1791. It has been adopted at a pivotal moment, when the existence of Poland as an independent state was at stake. Our then neighbours, afraid of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth political position, but also aware of its internal weakness, started to take away the pieces of the countrys territory and interfere in its politics in order to destabilise our homeland.

Adoption of the May 3rd Constitution was a patriotic and brave, although desperate, attempt to save the country from the imminent danger of collapse. The Polish Constitution of 1791 was the first in Europe and only the second in the world, after the American one of 1787. Although the document had not lasted long, it brought about the foundation of a modern state, creating the legacy that helped national idea to survive through the years of foreign occupation that lasted for 123 years.

Even if in the years and decades following the adoption of the constitution Poland did not enjoy full independence and was not sovereign neither in its internal affairs not in the external relations, the spirit of this first modern basic law endured in the thinking about the statehood and political system. Three pillars of power, hereditary monarchy, legal protection for peasants and bourgeoisie, as well as resignation from the veto right in the parliament, constituted the background of a more just, equal and stable society.

I strongly believe that this story sounds familiar to our Vietnamese friends. As I am writing these words, Viet Nam is about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its reunification, after the long period of foreign occupation and partition of the country and nation against its will. What helped to survive through these tough times was national identity, perseverance, dignity and pride. Traditions, language and culture were conveyed between generations, from mothers to daughters and fathers to sons. The pursuit of freedom and longing for independence were imprinted in the national DNA and enabled the nation to rise, to win and to succeed.

The very same description may be applied to Polish fight for freedom and independence, against foreign invaders and occupants. What helped the Polish nation to endure without the statehood and on occupied territory, was faith that one day the wheels of history will turn in our favour.

When you compare our two histories, it becomes evident why Poland and Viet Nam get along so well and why we celebrate this year 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations in the spirit of mutual trust, respect and friendship.

I see international relations as a net of diverse and complementing bonds. Interest in culture can ignite the passion for learning the language. A meeting and exchange with tourists may result in mutually enriching experience, a discussion about culture, traditions, or history. A business encounter will result in an in-depth conversation about the opportunities offered by our respective countries, their wealth and beauty. A tourist visit can open the doors for successful business cooperation.

Fond memories and close relations maintained by the thousands of graduates of the Polish universities with Poland and our Embassy show the strength of the bonds of friendship. At the Polish end, we have a strong and very well integrated Vietnamese community that calls Poland its home and is instrumental in shaping and maintaining relations between our societies and countries.

As two peace loving nations, Poland and Viet Nam should work hand in hand to contribute to peace, security and development in our regions and worldwide. Our respective histories show that the universal beliefs, ambitions, goals and ideals are stronger and more important than differences. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam has dispatched a military delegation to participate in Russias Victory Day Parade, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Unions triumph in the Great Patriotic War.

The deployment follows an invitation from the Russian Ministry of Defence. A total of 86 Vietnamese military personnel were selected from the Army Officer School No.1 and other units based on their exemplary competence, physical fitness, and discipline.

The Ministry described the event as a symbolic occasion to honour the sacrifices of Soviet and allied forces, including Vietnamese revolutionaries, during World War II. The participation also reflects Viet Nams foreign policy direction and comprehensive strategic partnership with the Russian Federation.

Despite a tight training schedule and differences in parade pacing, the Vietnamese troops carried out intensive rehearsals and rapidly adapted to the Russian climate and conditions.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam has conducted diplomatic communications and lodged diplomatic notes of protest to the countries concerned regarding activities that violate Viet Nams sovereignty over Hoai An Reef and other related features in Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago.

Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang has made the statement on Saturday, in response to the medias question concerning Viet Nams reaction to the recent activities of China and the Philippines staking claims at Hoa An, Tri Le, and Cai Vung reefs, which are part of the Spratly Islands of Viet Nam in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea).

The spokesperson reaffirmed that Viet Nam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Spratly Archipelago in accordance with international law, as well as its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over maritime zones established in conformity with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The deployment of personnel to features under Viet Nams sovereignty without Viet Nams permission constitutes a violation of its sovereignty, complicates the situation, and runs counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), as well as current efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), according to the spokesperson.

Viet Nam demands that the relevant parties respect Viet Nams sovereignty over the Spratly Archipelago, refrain from actions that further complicate the situation, comply with international law, seriously implement the DOC, and work together to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, she said.

Hang further affirmed that Viet Nam remains committed to resolving territorial and sovereignty disputes in the East Sea, including those involving the Spratly Archipelago, through peaceful means in accordance with international law.

The three half-submerged Hoa An, Tri Le, and Cai Vung reefs are all internationally referred to in international maritime documents under the same English name of Sandy Cay reef.  VNS
BA RIA  VUNG TAU  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a solemn ceremony to honour and express gratitude to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national liberation at the Hang Duong and Hang Keo cemeteries in Con ao District, southern Ba Ria  Vung Tau Province, on May 3.

Fifty years since the nations complete reunification, Con ao Island has emerged from its past as the so-called "hell on earth." The sacred land bears witness to the noble sacrifices of generations of revolutionaries, a chapter etched in the nations history as an immortal epic and a torch lighting the path to national glory.

At the Con ao temple, located at the Hang Duong Cemetery, PM Chinh laid wreaths and offered incense in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, heroic martyrs, and countless compatriots and comrades who laid down for the countrys independence and freedom, especially the 20,000 patriots and revolutionaries who perished in the Con ao prison system over its 113-year history.

At the Hang Duong Cemetery, the resting place of over 1,900 revolutionary soldiers and patriots imprisoned across generations, the PM observed a moment of silence and offered incense and flowers in gratitude to those who shed their blood and youth, dedicating their lives to the nation.

Earlier the same day, the PM visited the Hang Keo Cemetery, where approximately 10,000 prisoners were buried after being killed by French colonial forces during the early 20th century and the brutal 19401941 crackdown. There, he also laid wreaths, burned incense, and observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the revolutionary martyrs and patriotic compatriots who sacrificed their lives for the homeland. He pledged unity and determination to build a more prosperous, strong, and happy Viet Nam.

Also on the morning of May 3, PM Chinh visited and presented gifts to war invalid Nguyen Xuan Vien, a former Con ao prisoner, and to the family of Vo Thi Thanh, a relative of fallen martyr Le Nhien.

The PM affirmed that caring for war invalids, sick soldiers, families of fallen martyrs, and those who have rendered meritorious service to the revolution remains a consistent policy of the Party and State, and a time-honoured moral tradition of the Vietnamese people.

He called on local Party committees and authorities to implement policies for national contributors in the most effective and compassionate manner, expressing his hope that policy beneficiary families will continue to set examples and educate younger generations in the spirit of patriotism, contributing to the ongoing development of the homeland.  VNS
HA NOI  The upcoming state visit to Kazakhstan by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse is expected to open new avenues for cooperation and further deepen the relationship between Viet Nam and the Central Asian nation.

Kazakhstan is the first stop on General Secretary Lams tour to four countries, including Azerbaijan, Russia and Belarus, from May 5 to 12. This marks the first state visit to Kazakhstan by a top Vietnamese leader in 13 years, and notably the first ever by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam.

The visit from May 5-7 comes at a time when traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Kazakhstan are experiencing positive development. It is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties across numerous fields.

Robust political-diplomatic ties

Viet Nam and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations on June 29, 1992. Since then, their traditional friendship has been steadily strengthened and expanded. Viet Nam officially opened its embassy in Kazakhstan in July 2008, while Kazakhstan opened its embassy in Viet Nam on March 30, 2015.

There has been a consistent exchange of high-level visits. On the Vietnamese side, notable visits to Kazakhstan include those by Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet in June 1994, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in September 2009 and again in May 2015 for the official signing of the Viet NamEurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement, President Truong Tan Sang in April 2012, and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in October 2017.

From Kazakhstan, visits to Viet Nam include those by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in October 2011, Speaker of the Mazhilis (Lower House) Zhakupov Kabibolla Kabenovich in March 2015, Speaker Nurlan Nigmatulin in November 2019, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi in August 2022, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in an official visit in August 2023.

The two countries have maintained bilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as Deputy Foreign Minister-level political consultations. The Viet NamKazakhstan Intergovernmental Committee on Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation holds alternating meetings, with the latest 11th session taking place in Kazakhstan in May 2024.

Viet Nam and Kazakhstan closely coordinate at multilateral forums and international organisations, especially the United Nations. Kazakhstan supported Viet Nams candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council for the 202325 term, the Executive Board of UNESCO, and the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (20222026). Viet Nam supported Kazakhstans membership in the Far East Group of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Sustained growth of economic-trade cooperation

Kazakhstan is Viet Nams second-largest trade partner in the EAEU, following Russia. Meanwhile, Viet Nam is Kazakhstans second-largest trade partner in ASEAN, after Singapore.

Bilateral trade turnover reached US$349.2 million in 2020, $622.8 million in 2021, and $584 million in 2022. In 2023, two-way trade stood at $401.8 million, and by 2024, it had surged to $800 million, an increase of 99 per cent year-on-year.

Viet Nam mainly exports mobile phones and components, machinery, computers, electronics, agricultural products such as rice, cashew nuts, and pepper, seafood, canned fruits and vegetables, clothing, and footwear to Kazakhstan. In return, Viet Nam imports raw materials including unprocessed lead and zinc, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metal products.

According to Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Viet Nam Kanat Tumysh, the two countries  both signatories to the Viet Nam-EAEU Free Trade Agreement, effective since October 2016  enjoy multiple advantages for economic collaboration. For example, Vietnamese firms can boost exports of fruits and vegetables to the broader Central Asian region through Kazakhstan, which experiences harsh winters that hinder local agricultural production. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan can export its abundant and competitively priced beef and lamb to Viet Nam, where these products are typically costly.

These prospects could be significantly enhanced by the development of a new rail transport corridor, the "Middle Corridor", connecting Viet Nam with China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and ultimately Europe.

Kazakhstan can serve as a strategic gateway for Viet Nam to deepen economic and transport cooperation with the EAEU and Central Asia, expanding access to European markets.

In terms of investment, Kazakhstan currently has six foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Viet Nam with a combined registered capital of over $500,000. On the other hand, two Vietnamese-run instant noodle enterprises are operating in Kazakhstan.

The two countries continue to strengthen cooperation in culture, tourism, education and training, transport, energy, local government exchange, and people-to-people diplomacy.

Regarding tourism, since September 2019, Kazakhstan has unilaterally waived visas for Vietnamese citizens for up to 30 days. The first direct flight between the two countries was launched in November 2022, and more routes have been added connecting popular tourist cities. In 2023, over 62,500 Kazakhstani tourists visited Viet Nam, rising to 150,000 in 2024.

In education, a bilateral agreement was signed on September 15, 2009. Each year, both countries exchange three undergraduate scholarships on a reciprocal basis.

Cultural exchanges have included cultural days held in each others countries (in September 2012 and June 2013), the Viet Nam Day in Kazakhstan event (August 2017) held as part of EXPO-2017 in Astana, and a performance by the Viet Nam Symphony Orchestra in June 2017 to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. In 2021, the Kazakhstan Embassy held Kazakh Film Days in a Nang. In 2023, the two sides initiated a lecturer exchange programme in the field of music.

In scientific research, Kazakhstan seeks to collaborate with Vietnamese and other Asian scholars in studying the history, origins, and intercultural interactions of Asian civilisations.

The Vietnamese community in Kazakhstan numbers around 50 individuals, most of whom are settled, holding permanent residence cards and engaged in stable livelihoods. A small number are students or university lecturers on fixed-term contracts.

The state visit to Kazakhstan by General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, along with the high-level Vietnamese delegation, affirms the consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State to strengthen traditional friendships and comprehensive cooperation with friendly nations in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. The visit is expected to give a boost to bilateral cooperation and generate more partnership opportunities.  VNS
HA NOI  The upcoming state visit of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to Viet Nam is expected to strengthen political trust and foster deeper, more effective cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

The state visit will take place from May 4-6, during which he will attend the United Nations Day of Vesak. This marks his first visit to Viet Nam as President, following his inauguration in last November, and coincides with the 55th anniversary of Viet NamSri Lanka diplomatic relations (July 21, 1970  2025).

Enduring ties marked by high-level engagement

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1970, Viet Nam and Sri Lanka have maintained strong and dynamic relations. Sri Lanka has consistently expressed warm sentiments toward Viet Nam and regards the country as a model of economic growth and international integration.

High-level exchanges have long played a pivotal role in enhancing bilateral ties. Viet Nams key visits included those by Prime Minister Pham Van ong in 1978, President Truong Tan Sang in 2011, and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in 2013. On the Sri Lankan side, prominent visits include President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2009, Speaker of Parliament Chamal Rajapaksa in 2013, and Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, who participated in the Vesak celebrations in 2014. In a recent move to reinforce inter-parliamentary relations, Sri Lanka launched the Sri LankaViet Nam Parliamentary Friendship Association in March, enhancing legislative cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

The two nations have also established three key bilateral cooperation mechanisms: the Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation; Political Consultations; and the Joint Subcommittee on Trade. Viet Nam and Sri Lanka continue to work closely together at international and regional forums.

Expanding economic and sectoral partnerships

Sri Lanka has formally recognised Viet Nams full market economy status, with annual two-way trade reaching approximately US$200 million, primarily Vietnamese exports. Both sides aim to elevate bilateral trade to $1 billion in the coming years.

To date, Sri Lanka has 32 valid investment projects in Viet Nam, with a combined registered capital of $43.07 million, placing it 62nd among 148 foreign investors in the country.

Beyond trade and investment, cooperation across finance, agriculture, education, transport, culture, tourism, religion, and people-to-people exchange continues to gain traction. More than 30 bilateral agreements underpin this collaboration, including the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (2005), the Agricultural Cooperation Work Plan for 20242026, the Education Cooperation Agreement for 20232026, and the Air Transport Agreement (2012).

Cultural and religious cooperation, particularly in Buddhism, has emerged as a central pillar of the bilateral relationship. Shared Buddhist values of peace and compassion form a unique spiritual and cultural bridge between the people of both countries.

A shared vision for future cooperation

As Viet Nam and Sri Lanka are celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations, both nations are poised to deepen ties further, leveraging mutual trust and shared development goals. President Dissanayakas visit underscores Sri Lankas strong commitment to its traditional friendship with Viet Nam and reflects the shared resolve to expand collaboration across traditional areas, while opening new avenues in digital transformation, digital economy, energy transition, artificial intelligence, and connectivity.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam highlighted the significance of President Dissanayakas participation in the UN Day of Vesak 2025 as Guest of Honour and keynote speaker. His attendance reaffirms Sri Lankas respect for Viet Nams role as host of this major international event and underscores their close cooperation in promoting Buddhist values.

The Vesak celebration serves as a vital platform for both countries, home to rich Buddhist traditions, to assert their leadership in safeguarding and promoting Buddhist principles, including peace, tolerance, and sustainable development. President Dissanayakas presence at Vesak 2025 is expected to further strengthen the bilateral relationship and affirm both nations contributions to global cultural initiatives.

Looking ahead, with a strong foundation built over more than five decades and positive socio-economic momentum in both countries, Viet NamSri Lanka relations are set to flourish in the years to come.  VNS
VINH PHUC  Police in the northern province of Vinh Phuc have detained a South Korean national who was the subject of a red notice issued by Interpol for illegal online gambling operations.

The individual, identified as Kim JiWon, 31, was discovered during a residence inspection at the Lafortuna apartment complex in Vinh Yen City. Police found that Kim had not registered a temporary residence and lacked valid work documentation, raising suspicions of illegal stay.

Further investigation confirmed that Kim was wanted internationally. He had previously received a suspended 10-month prison sentence in South Korea in 2019 for organising cross-border gambling, and is currently sought by Interpol for allegedly operating an illegal online betting site.

According to police, Kim holds a degree in robotics programming from Bucheon University and initially worked in the technology sector in South Korea before moving to Cambodia to join an online gambling promotion network.

He later entered Viet Nam in February 2024 under the sponsorship of Plan In Vietnam CO LTD. However, Kim left the company in September 2024 without notifying immigration authorities and continued to reside in the country using his temporary residence card, moving covertly between provinces.

During questioning, Kim admitted to violating Vietnamese immigration laws and acknowledged his activities in the country.

Police imposed an administrative fine of VN17.5 million (approximately US$690) and issued a deportation order. He has been transferred to Detention Facility No.1 under the Ministry of Public Security for further processing.  VNS
HCM CITY  A press centre was officially launched on Friday (May 2) to serve the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations (UN Day of Vesak 2025) in HCM City from May 6 to 8.

A press conference providing updated information about the upcoming UN Day of Vesak 2025 was also held by the Viet Nam Buddhist Academy in HCM City, the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and the International Council for the Day of Vesak (ICDV).

The UN Day of Vesak 2025, hosted by VBS, will take place from May 6 to 8 at Campus II of the Viet Nam Buddhist Academy in HCM Citys Binh Chanh District.

The event coincides with Viet Nams celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975  2025), as well as the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's National Day (September 2, 1945  2025).

Speaking at the press conference, Most Venerable Thich uc Thien, vice president and general secretary of VBS Executive Council, and vice president and general secretary of the UN Day of Vesak 2025s organising committee in Viet Nam, said the main theme of the UN Day of Vesak 2025 is Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development.

The celebration is expected to welcome around 1,300 international delegates from 85 countries and territories, including heads of state and global leaders; and nearly 1,500 domestic delegates.

It will officially open on the morning of May 6. This will be followed by keynote presentations on the main theme, an international academic conference on May 7, and the closing ceremony on the morning of May 8.

Nearly 13,000 volunteers, including more than 500 students, will take part in activities during the event.

In his remarks, Venerable Dr. Tampalawela Dhammaratana, permanent vice president of ICDV, highly appreciated the solidarity and harmony of the Venerables in coordinating the organisation of the Vesak Festival for the fourth time in Viet Nam, as well as the great contribution of journalists from domestic and foreign news agencies in capturing and spreading the celebratory atmosphere across platforms.

He also expressed his absolute confidence in the success of the UN Day of Vesak 2025 held in HCM City.

Opportunity to showcase Viet Nams image, people to the world

Various spiritual activities will be held during the event, including the enshrinement and veneration of the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha at Thanh Tam Pagoda in Binh Chanh District from May 2 to 8, and the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang uc at the Viet Nam Quoc Tu Pagoda in District 10 from May 3 to 10.

Viet Nam welcomed Shakyamuni Buddhas sacred relics  a national treasure of India  on May 2, marking the first time the venerated artifacts have been brought to and enshrined in the country.

Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac, head of VBSs Central Cultural Affairs Committee, said the UN Day of Vesak 2025 will also include various Buddhist cultural activities.

Highlights include a grand memorial and gratitude ceremony for heroic martyrs marking the 50th anniversary of national reunification, an international lantern festival for national peace and global harmony on the evening of May 6, and an international Buddhist art performance at Sa La Theatre in Thu uc City on the evening of May 7.

A Buddhist cultural exhibition featuring 87 national treasures and a culinary festival will be held at Lang Le Park in Binh Chanh District. Other rituals include the traditional Buddha bathing ceremony and the Buddhist flag hoisting ceremony.

According to the organising committee, hosting the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 is an opportunity to present Viet Nam and its people as peace-loving, friendly, united, and harmonious.

It is also a chance for international friends to witness a dynamic, innovative, and prosperous HCM City 50 years after national reunification, and to see how Viet Nam has integrated and developed in the new era.

Hosting the event at the Viet Nam Buddhist Academy in HCM City affirms the countrys consistent policy of respecting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion, reflecting the vibrant reality of religious freedom and the achievements of religious communities in the 50 years since reunification.

The Viet Nam Buddhist Sanghas role as the host also highlights its growing influence within the global Buddhist community.

Through scholarly forums and cultural-social activities, international delegates will gain deeper insight into Viet Nams Buddhist traditions, which have evolved alongside the nation for over 2,000 years. The spirit of socially engaged Buddhism and its significant contributions to Viet Nams nation-building are symbolised by the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang uc, which will be enshrined and venerated at this years Vesak.

Moreover, the 2025 UN Day of Vesak represents a proactive effort by the VBS in advancing people-to-people diplomacy, strengthening mutual understanding, and fostering cooperation and friendship between the Vietnamese people and the international community.

The HCM City Vesak declaration will mark Viet Nams contribution to the UN mission to achieve the millennium development goals for peace and sustainable development.

More information about the event can be found on its official website https://www.undv2025vietnam.com

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.  VNS
BA RIA  VUNG TAU  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 3 attended a gathering in southern Ba Ria  Vung Tau Province in tribute to Vietnamese revolutionaries who were imprisoned by enemy forces.

The event marked the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975  2025), as well as the liberation of Con ao (May 1, 1975  2025). It brought together over 700 delegates, including former political prisoners and their relatives, from 49 cities and provinces across the country.

At the gathering, the former political prisoners, living witnesses to history, revisited the nations proud and glorious struggle. They shared unforgettable, often painful memories of a time marked by heroic resistance and unwavering loyalty to the Party during their years of imprisonment on the sacred land of Con ao.

To date, the National Liaison Committee for Vietnamese Revolutionaries Imprisoned by the Enemy has connected with over 63,000 surviving former political prisoners and tens of thousands of martyr families, organising more than 500 reunions, seminars, and tribute activities nationwide.

In the past decade, the Committee has mobilised more than VN60 billion (US$2.3 million) from various organisations and individuals to build charity houses, offer scholarships for the children and grandchildren of former prisoners, and provide medical support to over 5,000 disadvantaged members.

The Committee has also worked with publishers to release more than 50 books and over 20 documentaries, reportage films, and historical materials that preserve the memories of former prisoners. Additionally, over 300 thematic talks have been held at schools to educate younger generations on revolutionary traditions.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that during the nations struggle for liberation, millions of outstanding Vietnamese sacrificed their lives and shed blood for the Fatherland. Among them, former political prisoners stood as shining examples of unyielding revolutionary spirit, inspiring others and strengthening the nations will to triumph over all enemies.

No words can fully express our gratitude to those who fought and sacrificed for the Fatherland and the people, the Prime Minister said.

He described Con ao as a "special revolutionary school," where countless steadfast cadres were forged, many of whom later became distinguished leaders of the Party and State.

The PM pledged to uphold that legacy and called on all Party members, agencies, and the people, especially the youth, to honour it by living, working, studying, and contributing to the nation in ways worthy of the sacrifice made by the former prisoners, fallen heroes, and revolutionaries.

He noted that after 80 years since the August Revolution, 50 years of reunification, and nearly 40 years of oi moi (Renewal), Viet Nam has achieved remarkable, comprehensive progress. From a country once under blockade and hardship, Viet Nam's economy reached $476.3 billion in 2024, ranking 32nd globally, with a per capita GDP nearing $4,700.

Peoples living standards have improved significantly; the Human Development Index is high relative to the countrys development level; and the World Happiness Report ranks Viet Nam 46th out of 143 countries in 2025, up eight places from 2024. Viet Nams international prestige continues to rise.

PM Chinh expressed his hope that the former political prisoners, with their steadfast spirit, will continue to contribute their wisdom and efforts to national construction and defence. He called on them to serve as exemplary role models for younger generations, helping instil pride in Viet Nams heroic past and acting as spiritual pillars for local authorities and communities.

He urged ministries, sectors, and localities to continue upholding the tradition of paying gratitude, ensuring policies and support for former political prisoners, wounded soldiers, martyrs families, and revolutionary contributors are continually improved.

The PM also urged relevant ministries to build a comprehensive database on political prisoners and their heroic, arduous struggles, and on behalf of the Party and State, extended his sincere appreciation for the work of the National Liaison Committee.

Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, he affirmed the Party, State, and people are striving to elevate Viet Nams standing among the worlds powers, safeguard national independence and freedom, and usher the country into a new era of prosperity and development. This, he said, is the most meaningful way to honour the sacrifices and contributions of the revolutionaries and former political prisoners who devoted to Viet Nams independence, peace, and unity.

On this occasion, the PM also presented meaningful gifts to the former political prisoners and their families, as a tribute to their service and sacrifices in the nation's struggle for liberation and peace.  VNS
Two weeks ago, Highlands Coffee inaugurated its new roasting plant, Highlands Cai Mep, in the Phu My Industrial Zone in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Covering nearly 24,000 square metres and with a total investment of nearly $21 million, the facility marks a significant milestone in the brands 25-year journey. In its initial phase, the Cai Mep plant has a production capacity of approximately 10,000 tonnes of coffee per year, with the potential to scale up to 75,000 tonnes annually once fully operational, making it one of the largest coffee roasting facilities in the country.

Domestic drinks chains set to step-up. photo Le Toan

David Thai, founder and CEO of Highlands Coffee, said that the plant is equipped with modern, German-imported machinery and operates with international-standard automation.

As a brand born in Vietnam and closely tied to the Vietnamese people for the past 25 years, Highlands Coffee takes great pride in its national roots and carries the ambition to elevate Vietnamese coffee onto the international stage, said Thai. This roasting plant represents our commitment to the essence of Vietnamese coffee.

To realise its goal of boosting Vietnamese robusta globally, Highlands has partnered with Simexco Daklak to develop its raw material sources and create high-value coffee products. Under this partnership, Simexco Daklak will supply both commercial and speciality-grade robusta beans in line with Highlands standards, while also developing dedicated farming regions to ensure traceability and enhance quality through sustainable cultivation practices.

In turn, Highlands Coffee Roastery will have exclusive purchasing rights to Simexcos products, which will serve as core ingredients in brand-building and the promotion of Vietnamese robusta coffee.

According to BlueWeave Consulting, the Vietnamese coffee market is projected to reach $1.1 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of over 8 per cent.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the food and beverages sector recorded impressive growth in 2024, reaching 10.9 per cent and surpassing $28.8 billion in revenue. The industry is witnessing the rapid growth of franchised beverage chains, with both domestic and international brands racing to expand.

With rapid urban population growth and shifting consumer behaviours, Vietnams coffee market is becoming a fertile ground for major chains, independent coffee shops, and production enterprises alike. Numerous modern coffee factories are being established to meet demand.

Capitalising on this opportunity, American powerhouse Starbucks is also aggressively expanding in Vietnam. Mai Ho, general director of Starbucks Vietnam, said, The company plans to open 10 additional stores by June, bringing the total number to 135 across 19 provinces and cities.

In April, Starbucks opened its Starbucks Reserve Bitexco outlet in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the return of its Reserve model to the city. Located in the iconic Bitexco Financial Tower, one of Vietnams tallest buildings, the two-storey outlet features Starbucks classic menu on the ground floor, while the upper floor is dedicated to its Reserve coffee bar and Mixology counter.

Along with moves from foreign players, local brands are altering their strategies to grab more market share.

In March, Trung Nguyen Legend held the groundbreaking ceremony for Southeast Asias largest coffee plant, located in Tan An 2 Industrial Cluster in the Central Highlands city of Buon Ma Thuot.

This is Trung Nguyen Legends fifth plant in Vietnam and its second in the city. It represents the brands fourth initiative towards building a closed-loop coffee production chain that generates no waste, optimises resources, and protects environment.

Elsewhere, The Coffee House was earlier this year acquired by Golden Gate, which operates restaurant chains Kichi Kichi, Gogi House, and Manwah.

Golden Gates 2024 audited financial report revealed that in January, Golden Gate completed the purchase of 99.98 per cent capital of VN Tea and Coffee Service Trading JSC, the owner of The Coffee House chain, totalling $10.3 million. At the end of 2024, Golden Gate made a deposit worth over $2 million for the deal.

The deal takes place amid The Coffee Houses lacklustre performance. Last year, the chain shut down over 30 outlets.

Industry expert Hoang Tung said that with a sound restructuring strategy from the new owner, the coffee chain is well-positioned for a strong recovery. The Coffee House has a loyal customer base, and its remaining outlets are strategically positioned, providing a significant advantage for Golden Gate as it seeks to expand in the industry, Tung said. Another bright spot is its technological capabilities, particularly in collecting and analysing customer data via its app.
Vingroup broke ground on the Vinhomes Green Paradise coastal urban tourism initiative in Can Gio district of Ho Chi Minh City. According to the developer, Vinhomes Green Paradise will cost $18 billion, span 2,870 hectares, and accommodate up to 230,000 people.

On the same day, Hanoi commenced construction of an intersection between Ring Road 3.5 and Thang Long Boulevard in Hoai Duc district, with a total investment of nearly $100 million.

Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa Peoples Committee began the second phase of Nam Song Ma Avenue, which extends from Quang Hung ward to the end of Quang Tam ward. The 5.6km undertaking is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Infrastructure boom drives real estate market growth

Construction of the T2 terminal at Dong Hoi Airport in the central province of Quang Binh also started, with a total investment of $70 million. The initiative, led by Vietnam Airports Corporation, involves the construction of a terminal spanning 12,000sq.m, parking spaces and green areas. The T2 terminal, designed to handle three million domestic passengers per year, is expected to be operational by the end of this year.

According to the Ministry of Construction, with the goal of completing construction of 3,000km of expressways by the end of 2025, major projects such as the North-South Expressway, another route connecting the eastern and southwestern regions, and key routes linking the northwest and Central Highlands are being implemented.

This ministry, together with local authorities and the Vietnam Expressway Investment and Development Corporation, are implementing 28 projects that seek to be completed by the end of 2025. By 2030, the total length of expressways in Vietnam will reach 5,000km.

In Ho Chi Minh City, metro line 1 from Ben Thanh to Suoi Tien began commercial operations at the end of December 2024. Additionally, the Thu Thiem area in Thu Duc city is emerging as a new urban development centre, with important infrastructure projects such as bridges and tunnels.

The Thu Thiem pedestrian bridge started construction in April, and other bridges connecting to districts 4 and 7 are in the pipeline. The 48-km metro line 2 from Ben Thanh to Tham Luong is also expected to start construction at the end of 2025 and be completed in 2030.

In the southern province of Dong Nai, the Xuan Que-Song Nhan Industrial Park is benefiting from infrastructure development, thanks to its location near major projects like the North-South Expressway and upcoming Long Thanh International Airport.

According to Avison Youngs forecast, in 2025, Ho Chi Minh City will have about 50,000 apartments from 17 new projects.

Some notable projects to be launched include the Masteri Grand View tower complex in Global City, developed by Masterise Homes, King Crown Infinity by BCG Land, and The Gio Riverside by An Gia Group.

Sales are expected to rise due to investment and asset accumulation demand. Furthermore, improvements in transport infrastructure will provide strong momentum to support demand for residential projects in Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding areas.

Duong Tong, a real estate broker, stated that since the beginning of the year, the number of customers purchasing apartments in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong has been increasing, and liquidity is very promising.

This prospects will be clearer when the Metro Line 1 extending from Suoi Tien in Ho Chi Minh City to Binh Duong New City, is expected to begin construction in 2027 and be operational in 2031, Tong said. The quick connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong, combined with the commercial potential from transport infrastructure, promises significant price increases for real estate in the region.

As infrastructure continues to develop rapidly, areas surrounding major projects such as the Long Thanh Internatonal Airport in Dong Nai province, Thu Thiem Bridge, and Ring Road 3 of Ho Chi Minh City are attracting the attention of investors and homebuyers.

These areas are becoming hotspots, contributing to the growing demand for real estate, from residential properties to commercial, industrial, and resort projects.

According to Hoang Hung, a real estate broker in Ho Chi Minh City, in addition to increasing real estate value, the modernisation of transport infrastructure also attracts investors and residents to move to suburban areas.

Developed infrastructure helps expand urban space, alleviating pressure on the city centre. Areas once considered far from the centre, such as Dong Anh and Hoai Duc in Hanoi, Cu Chi and Nha Be in Ho Chi Minh City, or neighbouring areas like Binh Duong and Dong Nai, are now becoming hotspots due to better connections, Hung said.

Moreover, infrastructure development leads to population movement, increasing demand for housing. Many urban areas have been invested along new routes, particularly fuelling the trend of real estate investment anticipating infrastructure development, he added.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien Former director Vietnam Institute of Economics Can Gio, a remote district of Ho Chi Minh City, has long been considered one of the most disadvantaged and distant areas of the city. However, with the launch of the coastal mega tourism urban a port, a metro line, and a bridge, Can Gio is proving its potential for a significant transformation. Strategically located on the vital waterway route from the East Sea to Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio boasts numerous advantages in marine economy, ecotourism, and renewable energy. These factors are key to promoting sustainable development while also ensuring national defence and security. However, for many years, Can Gio has been viewed as a remote and less-developed region of the city. The idea of transforming Can Gio into an ecotourism and leisure urban area has been envisioned for over 30 years and has now been concretised in Ho Chi Minh Citys development plan towards 2030 and beyond. The launching of the Can Gio coastal tourism urban project by Vingroup in April marks the first step in this major change. The need for a coastal urban area in Can Gio is not a new concept. Decades ago, Ho Chi Minh City had plans to develop along the coast, but these plans were never realise due to the lack of connectivity between the island and the city centre. As the countrys largest economic engine and a special urban area, Ho Chi Minh City requires a maritime-focused development strategy, especially as the city explores regional integration with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces. The construction of the coastal tourism urban area and many other infrastructure ventures in Can Gio will not only boost Ho Chi Minh Citys development, but also have a broader impact nationwide. They will become driving forces, propelling the southern coastline towards modernity, integration, and high-tech applications. Can Gio will become a hub for attracting human, financial, and technological resources. This is not just a standalone project, it is a strategic national undertaking. It will also benefit from other large-scale programmes currently being implemented in Ho Chi Minh City, forming a powerful and comprehensive development cluster. Moreover, it demonstrates the critical role of the private economic sector in driving growth. It can be seen as a source of national pride and affirms the correctness of the Party and states strategy of placing trust in the private sector to accelerate economic development. However, to enable the private sector to fully realise its potential, conducive mechanisms, powers, and development space must be created.

80 key infrastructure projects launched nationwide to mark 50 years since reunification On April 19 at the newly launched Terminal T3 of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presided over the groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony of major national projects and key infrastructure works in celebration of 50 years since national reunification. Participating at various sites across the country were former Politburo members, high ranking officials, and local authorities. The ceremony was conducted in both in-person and online formats, simultaneously connecting across all three main regions, from the main site in Ho Chi Minh City to each of the project locations. According to ministries, sectors, and local authorities, 80 projects are being launched or inaugurated during this occasion, with a total investment of approximately $17.8 billion. Of this, $12.2 billion is allocated for new groundbreaking projects, and $5.6 million for completed projects. State budget contributions amount to $7.4 million, while $10.4 million comes from non-budgetary sources. These include 40 transport infrastructure projects, 12 industrial and civil construction projects, 12 education projects, nine socio-cultural initiatives, five public health projects, and two irrigation works. In his address, PM Chinh, invoking the spirit of speed and boldness from the historic April days of 1975, officially declared the commencement and completion of the nationally significant and strategic projects led by both central and local governments, to be realised in 2025.

Industrial real estate remaining lucrative The number of new industrial parks is set to increase, thanks to rising foreign investment in the manufacturing and processing sector, and industrial land rental prices and supply predicted to rise.

Real estate investors must analyse every factor Recent discussions surrounding provincial mergers have drawn significant public and investor attention, particularly within the real estate sector.
In late March, Lam Dong Peoples Committee approved construction of the Bao Loc-Lien Khuong Expressway project under a public-private partnership model.

The scheme has a total funding of $780 million, with state budget funding accounting for 44 per cent of the total in Phase 1. The remaining $400 million will be mobilised by the investor.

The committee has decided to select the investor through a domestic open bidding process. The investor proposing the initiative will be entitled to incentives following current regulations. The selection process is expected to take place this year.

This is one of three sections of Dau Giay-Lien Khuong Expressway. The project will not only enhance connectivity with the national transportation system but also reduce travel time between the Central Highlands and the southern key economic region, as well as economic and industrial centres along National Highway 20, said Tran Duc Loc, vice chairman of Lam Dong Urban Development Planning Association.

Earlier this year, Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa provinces sought approval of the Dalat-Nha Trang Expressway plan.

The expressway is a proposed build-operate-transfer highway venture aiming to connect the popular tourist destinations of Dalat and Nha Trang. It would be part of the eastern portion of the North-South Expressway.

According to the plan, the undertaking would have an 80.8 km-long four-lane with an estimated total financial backing of more than $1 billion to shorten the travel time between the two tourism cities by two hours. Over $700 million of capital will come from the state budget, while the developer will raise the rest.

Inter-provincial highways facilitate faster and more reliable transportation of goods and people, which is crucial for businesses that rely on efficient supply chains and logistics. It will also help to reduce transportation costs, making businesses more competitive and profitable, said Yoshihiro Wake, an expert from Abeam Consulting Vietnam.

Highway infrastructure often leads to the development of industrial parks and zones, which are attractive locations for foreign investment due to their access to transportation and logistics, he added.

Many experts believe that interprovincial expressway projects will help establish a backbone transportation axis for expanding provinces and cities. They open up new development spaces, unlock resources, and create strong momentum for local development, particularly in attracting foreign funding.

For instance, after Ho Chi Minh City incorporates Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, it will cover an area of 6,500 square kilometres, providing space for large-scale infrastructure ventures that connect urban and rural areas and develop industrial, residential, commercial, and tourism zones.

Ho Chi Minh City will be able to efficiently connect suburban areas with the city centre through new transportation routes and modern infrastructure initiatives. With its strategic location in the southeast region, Ho Chi Minh City could become a vital trade gateway, connecting not only domestically but also with international markets, particularly in ASEAN and East Asia.

Currently, the city and Binh Duong province have a relatively well-connected transportation network, with key national highways and bridges linking the two localities. However, transportation connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau remains limited, with travel between the two often taking considerable time, especially during holidays, due to traffic congestion.

To address this, key infrastructure projects are being implemented, including Ho Chi Minh City-Moc Bai, Ho Chi Minh City-Chon Thanh, and Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressways, and the expansion of Ring Road 2.

Alongside vertical-axis expressways, the southeast region is also developing numerous ring roads and expressways to establish a robust transportation framework. The most notable is Ring Road 3, passing through mega-urban areas planned for merger, including the expansions of Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Tay Ninh localities.

The merger of localities also facilitates the implementation of interprovincial transportation infrastructure projects. Previously, local roads funded by local budgets were fragmented due to limited financial resources, leading to small-scale, prolonged ventures that caused monetary waste and delayed effectiveness, said Nguyen Hong Chung, general secretary of the Vietnam Industrial Park Finance Association.

Now, with the larger scale of a province and prioritised central funding, the selection of priority routes is optimised, investments are faster, and projects are completed efficiently. Combined with new approaches and mechanisms, fragmented and small-scale investments will be significantly reduced, Chung added.
Over the decades, the country has pursued economic growth within a framework of political stability while refining its legal system and institutions. As a result of these reforms, by 2023, Vietnam had established diplomatic relations with 189 countries and concluded over 90 bilateral trade agreements and approximately 60 investment promotion and protection agreements. This political flexibility and pragmatism provides foreign businesses with stability and predictability. In recent years, Vietnam has demonstrated a clear policy commitment to international agreement compliance and business environment improvement, signifying its growth as a responsible member of the global economic order.

Kim Nyoun-Ho, chairman, Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Vietnams economic growth has been powered by open trade policies, an abundant young workforce, and proactive government policies to engage foreign direct investment which has flourished since the 1990s, with industrial foundations strengthened particularly around Vietnams World Trade Organization accession, when South Korean, American, European, and Japanese companies established manufacturing operations.

Vietnam has participated in global supply chains through various free trade agreements, rapidly enhancing the competitiveness of its key export industries, including coffee, rice, electronics, textiles, footwear, and furniture. Infrastructure development in transportation, ports, and energy has also driven growth.

The digital transformation of traditional services has been particularly impressive, with conventional motorcycle taxis evolving into advanced transportation services, delivering enhanced safety, convenience, speed, and reasonable pricing that support broader economic activity.

Recently, foreign investment has increased in franchise industries, digital economy, AI, semiconductors, and green industries, with the Vietnamese government actively supporting these sectors. The combination of consistent government policies, private sector dynamism, and improvements in education has established Vietnam as ASEANs most dynamic economy.

ICT development has also significantly contributed to Vietnams socioeconomic advancement. As of 2024, Vietnams ICT industry generated approximately $166 billion in revenue, accounting for 11 per cent of GDP. The proliferation of smartphones and internet infrastructure has reduced the information gap between urban and rural areas, forming the foundation for growth in e-commerce, digital finance, online education, and other sectors.

Electric vehicles and e-scooters are spreading more rapidly than in other countries, while advanced technologies like smart manufacturing, automation, the Internet of Things, and AI are being applied in industrial settings, greatly improving productivity and quality. The government-led digital transformation strategy is showing tangible results, and the startup ecosystem and venture investment environment are growing rapidly. Technology adoption is also expanding in healthcare, agriculture, and energy sectors, improving living standards. Particularly, green energy and carbon reduction technologies will be key drivers of Vietnams future growth.

South Korea and Vietnam already share profound cultural connections that can be further strengthened through various initiatives. Currently, approximately 10,900 students are learning the South Korean language in 79 secondary schools across Vietnam, with TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) exam registrations growing dramatically to reach around 60,000 annually. Beyond historical and economic cooperation, broadening cultural understanding is essential. The Korean Wave, through K-dramas and K-pop, already has significant influence in Vietnam, providing a foundation for expanded cultural exchange. Effective approaches include expanding youth exchange programmes, collaborative projects between artists and creators, and experiential events centred on food, fashion, and traditional culture.

Additionally, academic and research cooperation between universities, youth camps, and expanded language education support will deepen understanding among future generations. Sister city relationships and local-level cultural exchanges are also meaningful approaches.

Culture is the key to mutual understanding, and through respecting and learning about each others cultures, the two countries can build a deeper partnership. Through such exchanges and development, Vietnams culture is also advancing, and just as Vietnamese cuisine like pho has gained global recognition, Vietnamese culture is poised to claim its place on the world stage.

Globally, Vietnam has established itself as a strategic central nation in ASEAN and is expected to become a vital link in global supply chains within the next decade. New airports, ports, highways, and railways will provide the foundation for this role. Vietnam is preparing to transition from a manufacturing powerhouse to playing a major role in global value chains through digital and eco-friendly industries.

Alongside economic growth, Vietnam will strengthen its global leadership by actively engaging in shared international values such as climate change response, sustainable development, and environmental, social, and governance management.

Vietnam can create synergies with South Korea through strategic cooperation in joint market development, tech collaboration, and talent exchanges. I am confident that within the next decade, Vietnam will emerge as both a bridge connecting Asia with the world and a centre for innovation and sustainable growth.

South Korea and Vietnam move to buck pandemic Vietnam and South Korea are expected to resume an increase in trade and investment thanks to an agreement to facilitate entry for the movement of persons into their respective territories, which have been deterred by the health crisis.

South Korea and Vietnam to share blockchain know-how Last week, an event on tech cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea saw the participation of nearly 100 attendees, including experts, entrepreneurs, and investors.

South Korea and Vietnam hold business forum in Seoul The South Korea-Vietnam Business Forum, co-hosted by the South Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Vietnamese Planning and Investment Ministry, was held in Seoul on July 1 to mark the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to the country this week.
In addition to the North-South high-speed railway that was approved in-principle in 2024, the Ministry of Construction is also preparing a pre-feasibility study for the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway, aiming to put it into operation synchronously with the North-South railway. This line is about 174km long, expected to receive investment before 2030.

Transit-oriented focus the right strategy

By 2055, the railway will be able to transport over 26 million tonnes of goods and more than 18 million passengers per year. The route will have 12 stations across the provinces of Binh Duong, Long An, Tien Giang, and Vinh Long, as well as Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho city.

With new high-speed railways, Vietnam has a great opportunity to apply transit-oriented development (TOD), especially for the Mekong Delta region. TOD is a planning and development strategy that integrates public transport and compact urban areas around stations and depots to attract public transport use and improve land use efficiency.

Experience of TOD in developed countries is built on strategic factors such as long-term planning, high-density development around traffic hubs, and implementing policies to reduce the use of personal vehicles. In this model, the public sector focuses on planning, building infrastructure, and operation, while the private sector participates through public-private partnership (PPP) projects, playing an important role in construction and ensuring service efficiency and quality.

The effectiveness of TOD in countries is to reduce dependence on personal vehicles, enhance the quality of urban life, and encourage economic growth through efficient land use.

Jurong East in Singapore is an outstanding example of the transformation of real estate according to the TOD model. After 25 years of development, the area within a 500m radius of Jurong East mass rapid transit station has changed remarkably to become a new urban centre. Jurong East is oriented to become a new urban area and is expected to be Singapores second central business district.

Currently, there is a dense combination of countless apartment projects, offices, shopping malls, schools and other commercial properties around the station.

Elsewhere, China is a noteworthy case study due to its ability to rapidly build and operate high-speed railway. In particular, Shenzhen boasts the largest and most modern metro network in China with 17 railway lines with a total length of 567km, which was built within only 20 years.

Luohu Station in Shenzhen is a notable example of the TOD. Since it was put into operation in 2004, the real estate value here has increased significantly thanks to its convenient access. Ten years later, large-scale complex projects such as shopping malls, offices, and high-end apartments have sprung up with high density, creating a multifunctional urban ecosystem.

Development orientation

In the six provinces and cities that the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway runs through, they can be divided into two groups: localities with population density of over 800 people per sq.km (Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Can Tho City) and the group under that rare (Vinh Long, Tien Giang, and Long An).

According to the planned distribution map, seven of the 12 stations will be in the latter three locations. Obviously, each station will be an opportunity for TOD, especially for the localities with less prominent in the Mekong Delta region.

Long An province is oriented to become the centre of sustainable economic development in the southern region. The province currently has 18 industrial parks (IPs), 700 hectares of clean industrial land, and is a bright spot attracting investment. The Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway will lure the second resource of population and labour.

To effectively develop TOD in this province, railway stations should become new urban centres. Around Tan An and Thanh Duc stations, high-density multi-storey buildings should be built in combining with commerce centres and offices for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

To connect traffic, it is necessary to build a road network and bicycle or electric vehicle lanes from the station to residential areas and IPs, integrating park-and-ride. All IPs in Duc Hoa and Ben Luc can be directly connected to the station via the inner-city buses, thereby creating a green and modern community for employees and experts there.

Meanwhile, Tien Giang is located in the centre of the railway line and will have three stations. These are all uncrowded areas, so there is a lot of room for development. TOD here needs to take advantage of the role of an agricultural and light industrial centre to create a mixed urban area along the railway line.

Around the stations, a mixed urban area should be built with mid-rise housing, small commercial centres, and modernised wet markets. The outer arc can become an agricultural service hub, supporting the fruit growing industry - the provinces strength. Mini shuttle buses from the station to My Tho city and neighbouring districts, connecting with National Highway 1 and My Tho port.

Vinh Long province is an important junction near the end of the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway line. Similar to Tien Giang, the areas of two stations are not crowded, so they need motivation to call for investment and residents. TOD in this province needs to focus on the role of transit and modern agricultural urban development.

Around the two stations, a medium-density urban area should be built. The outer belt area can become an agricultural product distribution centre, utilising My Thuan bridge, railways, and waterways. A transit network to Vinh Long city, Binh Minh, and Vinh Long ports should be developed, and a smart parking system could be placed near the station to support passenger and cargo transit, reducing the load on roads.

Traps to be avoided

Regarding socioeconomic development in these three provinces, affordable housing for workers and agricultural employees must be developed, which currently accounts for most of the local workforce, along with schools, medical centres, and public parks. Green parks and roofs should be used to reduce urban heat, combined with a drainage system to prevent flooding. Smaller companies should set up offices in the TOD area, utilising railway transportation to export agricultural products and fruits.

For these provinces, and the three larger localities, capital for TOD can be mobilised from the local budget and/or PPP model. In addition, inviting foreign developers, especially in commercial real estate, will quickly create vitality in each suburban area.

However, complicated administrative procedures are a major barrier to implementing the TOD in Vietnam, similar to the situation in Indias New Delhi, and Philippines Manila. Despite ambitious policies and plans, the operation of urban railways and the implementation of the TOD in these two cities have not yet achieved the expected results. Serious traffic congestion and air pollution are still occurring due to lack of connectivity and synchronisation in urban development.

The first reason is the overlapping of authority between agencies, along with the complicated approval process, leading to the delay of TOD projects, increasing investment costs and missing opportunities. In addition, the approach of applying stereotyped development policies without specific action plans depending on the travel culture and socioeconomic context has led to developments that are not suitable for actual needs.

Slew of improvements in proposed railway rules Amendments to the Law on Railway are necessary to institutionalise the Partys policy, create breakthroughs for development, and solve existing limitations in implementation.

Vietnams railways to attain rise in private participation While amendments to the law regarding railways are expected to give domestic and international businesses a legal thumb-ups, it will still take time for the industry to develop fully.

Hoa Phat Group breaks ground on high-grade steel and railway track plant Vietnamese steelmaker Hoa Phat Group will begin construction of a new factory producing high-quality steel and railway tracks this month as part of its ambition to contribute to national transport projects.
How do you evaluate the potential of Vietnams food and beverages (F&B) market for the US suppliers and investors, and what segments are key for them?

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper

As our two countries celebrate 30 years of relations, I am happy to say that Vietnams F&B market presents strong potential for American suppliers and investors due to Vietnams rapid urbanisation, growing middle class, and increasing demand for high-quality imported food. When looking at any market, US companies will expect to find transparent, stable, and predictable business conditions conducive to their interests.

American suppliers have a strong presence in Vietnams market, particularly in meat and poultry, including beef, chicken, and pork, along with fresh fruit. Grains and oilseeds, including soybeans, wheat, and corn, as well as tree nuts, play a major role in food processing and animal feed, while processed foods and beverages from the United States continue to gain popularity.

We look forward to working with counterparts in the Vietnamese government on market access for high-quality US plums, lemons, and mandarins. Also, I am very excited that blueberry season in the United States has started. High-quality US fresh fruits such as blueberries and cherries are also popular with Vietnam consumers.

For investors, Vietnams food processing sector offers significant opportunities, especially in local manufacturing. Hotels and high-end restaurants are important buyers for premium products like American beef and wine. US fast food and restaurant chains are expanding, reflecting a demand for American dining experiences.

The e-commerce and food delivery sectors are also booming, creating openings on digital platforms, while cold chain logistics are increasingly vital as imports of perishable goods grow.

Besides introducing and promoting American products to Vietnamese markets, do you have extra activities to boost Vietnamese F&B products for import to the United States?

Trade shows provide valuable opportunities to showcase products, network, and exchange information. The Food and Hospitality Trade Show in Hanoi attracted over 10 American agricultural organisations, highlighting strong industry connections. Additionally, numerous trade shows in the United States offer further opportunities for collaboration.

As we celebrate 30 years of US-Vietnam relations, we will be holding more special events this year and encourage everyone to follow Mission Vietnam social media platforms for updates.

Are there any programmes to help Vietnamese enterprises improve their quality and safety standards in production and processing to meet the requirements for products imported to the United States?

We collaborate with Vietnams Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE) to encourage predictable, transparent, and science-based food regulations. The US Department of Agricultures Global Agriculture Information Network also offers timely insights on the agricultural economy, products, and key issues.

During my meeting in March with Minister Do Duc Duy, we discussed shared goals in boosting agricultural trade, sustaining plant and animal health, and advancing cooperation as our countries work together towards greater prosperity for American and Vietnamese fishers and farmers.

Does the US Department of Agriculture have any suggestions to help Vietnamese authorities speed up their digital and green transformation to more effectively control the quality of agricultural products?

The US Department of Agriculture works closely with the MoAE, providing recommendations and guidance to strengthen agricultural trade and cooperation. I know that the ministry has ambitious plans for the agricultural sector and collaborates closely with programmes like One Commune, One Product, and others to drive growth and innovation.

The US side is also working closely with the MoAE to implement the Fertilise Right initiative, which works with Vietnamese rice farmers in both the Mekong River Delta and the Red River Delta to use fertilisers more effectively, as well as to develop alternatives to chemical fertilisers. This is being done in close coordination with the ministrys project involving production of 1 million hectares of high-quality rice.

Seizing opportunities in F&B With an average annual growth rate of over 10 per cent, the food and beverages (F&B) market in Vietnam is a dynamic sector. Director of Consumer and Marketing Insights at NielsenIQ Dang Thuy Ha discussed with VIRs Oanh Do the latest consumer trends helping businesses achieve success in the market.

Dynamic M&A landscape felt in food and beverages Vietnams food and beverage market remains a fertile land for investors to step up merger and acquisition activities, with a focus on expanding product portfolios and developing markets.

Cutting-edge tech reinforces F&B market potential Vietnam is becoming a keen destination for food service equipment manufacturers who are seeking to take root in the market.
The World Bank assessed that Vietnam is a remarkable development success story. Economic reforms since the launch of economic reforms in the 1980s, coupled with beneficial global trends, have helped propel the country from being one of the worlds poorest nations to a middle-income economy in one generation.

Real GDP per capita soared from less than $700 in 1986 to $4,700 last year, an increase of 6.7-fold, and the share of the population living in poverty with less than $3.65 a day (in 2017 purchasing power parity) plummeted from 14 per cent in 2010 to around 3 per cent last year.

Samsung continues to lead the way as the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, photo Le Toan

Economic growth grew nearly 7.1 per cent in 2024, with the government expecting the rate to be 8 per cent or more this year, before rising to double-digits from 2026, driven by increasing global demand, restored domestic consumer confidence, and foreign direct investment (FDI).

For more than two decades, economic prospects in Vietnam have been closely tied to export growth. While in the early years, agriculture and light manufacturing led the way, the main drivers now are electronics, electrical machinery and metals, said Jonathan Pincus, dean of the School of Public Policy and Management under Fulbright University Vietnam. Inbound FDI, which has risen at an annual average rate of 12 per cent since 2006, has financed Vietnams closer integration within East Asian production systems.

Figures from the Ministry of Finances Foreign Investment Agency showed that last year, total newly registered capital, additional capital adjustments, and foreign investors capital contributions and share purchases were estimated at nearly $38.23 billion, slightly down 3 per cent on-year. The total disbursed sum was $25.35 billion, up 9.4 per cent on-year, marking the highest disbursement level ever recorded. In Q1 this year, the respective figures were estimated to have come in at nearly $11 billion and $4.96 billion, up 34.7 and 7.2 per cent on-year, respectively.

FDI is now found in 19 economic sectors of Vietnam, with total registered capital of nearly $510.5 billion for 42,760 projects, led by the manufacturing and processing sector ($313.6 billion) followed by real estate business ($75.2 billion); production and distribution of electricity, gas, and air conditioning ($42 billion); and accommodation and catering ($13.9 billion).

Pivotal roles

At a policy dialogue on Vietnams semiconductor and AI development organised in Hanoi in March, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that over the past years, FDI has proclaimed its role as a dynamic economic sector, making positive contributions to Vietnams achievements in growth, development, and integration into the world economy.

FDI has also had a positive impact on reforming and innovating economic institutions, improving the business investment climate and the state management apparatus, and improving Vietnams prestige and status in the international arena, he said.

A few months ago, PM Chinh made a trip to Europe, where he met with leaders from major corporations such as Visa, Amazon Web Services, and Trip.com, and especially tech giants like Google, Siemens, Qualcomm, and Ericsson. They shared their intentions to invest and expand activities in Vietnam, particularly in technology, semiconductors, and AI.

On April 16, Jilei Hou, Vice President of Engineering at US chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung in Hanoi, saying Qualcomm wishes to build a large AI research and development (R&D) centre in Vietnam. This will be the third-largest R&D centre for the group in the world, following those in India and Ireland.

DPM Dung said Vietnam boasts advantages for developing the AI and semiconductor industries, noting that the country already has a relatively strong ecosystem for the sector.

Vietnam is trying to climb global value chains (GVCs) with more added values for its products. It is also making major investments in technology infrastructure and has ambitious plans for training human resources, he added.

According to Jonathan Pincus, in recent years, China has emerged as an important investor in Vietnam, especially in the computer, electronic equipment, rubber and plastics and metal products industries.

FDI flows from China to Vietnam have increased nine-fold since 2015, reaching a high of $4.59 billion in 2023. Although the headline number declined in 2024, an unknown share of the $6.3 billion from Singapore, and the $2.2 billion from Hong Kong, is also of Chinese origin, Pincus said, while expecting that Vietnam will outperform its ASEAN peers in 2025.

Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) have been providing jobs for over 4.5 million direct local labourers and millions of indirect labourers. They hold 25 per cent of total national development investment capital, and create over half of industrial production value. They are also responsible for 20 per cent of the state budget and a similar ratio of GDP.

In the first quarter of this year, FIEs total export turnover, including crude oil exports, hit $73.82 billion, up 9 per cent and holding 71.8 per cent of Vietnams total export revenue. This is demonstrated by an on-year rise in exports largely created by FIEs, such as mobile phones and spare parts ($14 billion mainly by Samsung), machinery and equipment (12.37 per cent), and garments and textiles ($8.7 billion).

Samsung is the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with total registered capital of $23.2 billion for its six factories, an R&D centre, and a sales entity in the localities of Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. Its revenue and export value in 2024 hit $62.5 billion and $54.4 billion, respectively.

I will do my best to lead Samsung Vietnam to further development, maintaining its position as the largest FIE in Vietnam. Samsung will continue boosting its cooperation with the Vietnamese government towards the shared benefits of the two sides, said Na Ki Hong, newly appointed president of Samsung Vietnam.

Climbing GVCs

Over the past months, the Vietnamese government has continuously worked with foreign big groups specialised in high technology, semiconductors, and microchips. Vietnam is now focusing on luring in high-tech FDI with big spillover effects in the sectors of AI, semiconductors, and blockchain, which will help the country climb GVCs.

To foster a more business-friendly environment, Vietnam has implemented reforms, including better land policies, fiscal restructuring, and industrial development strategies.

According to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), structural challenges are dampening Vietnams growth potential. Insufficient physical infrastructure, the mismatch between workforce skills and industry needs and the underdevelopment of domestic micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and supporting industries further hinders Vietnams progress in moving up the GVCs, AMRO said.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), emerging factors impacting GVC participation include geo-economic shifts, sustainable development trends like decarbonisation and the energy transition, along with the digital transformation.

These factors present risks and opportunities, depending on how actively GVC actors in Vietnam adapt. Geo-economic shifts require continued investment and business reforms, the ADB said.

The ADB pointed out that limited domestic linkages with lead FIEs and insufficient collaboration among local suppliers are major challenges in improving GVC participation. The lack of innovation and tech absorption capacity hinders firms ability to upgrade within GVCs. Currently, the country faces labour productivity issues and significant skill gaps, particularly in high-tech and digital fields.

According to the World Bank, without increased investments in the tertiary education system, the availability of skilled technical workers will likely become increasingly difficult for businesses, making Vietnam difficult in climbing global GVCs.

Universities and training providers are not adequately preparing workers for positions in high-tech sectors. While 80 per cent of training institutions believe that their graduates are adequately prepared for entry-level positions, fewer than 40 per cent of employers think recent graduates are prepared, especially for higher skill positions, the World Bank stated in a report on Vietnams startup performance released last year.

Companies interviewed by the World Bank team report that universities are good at producing raw engineering and programming talent, but many recent graduates from universities and colleges do not yet have sufficient experience to take on positions in emerging technology areas.

OzaSa Haruhiko, chief representative in Hanoi Japan External Trade Organization The current advantages of the investment environment in Vietnam include market size/growth potential, low labour costs, and stable political and social conditions, all higher than the ASEAN average. The stable political and social conditions are attributed to the efforts of the Vietnamese government, and Vietnams stability stands out, especially in the context of increasing global tensions. Historically, low labour costs and high quality of employees have been highly valued, but stable political and social conditions have always been a significant strength of Vietnam. While there are other countries aiming for growth like Vietnam, some experience political and social turmoil. In contrast, the country has consistently maintained stability, allowing foreign companies to invest with confidence. Japan is said to be top in terms of the cumulative amount of foreign direct investment disbursed in Vietnam, and it also ranks first in terms of official development assistance. These investments have significantly contributed to the promotion of industries and infrastructure development in Vietnam. Additionally, Vietnam and Japan signed the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and are both part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, facilitating smoother trade and investment. These factors are crucial for ensuring specific business activities between the two countries. In recent times, there has been a growing focus on the exchange of personnel. Currently, approximately 570,000 Vietnamese people are employed in Japan. The number of highly skilled Vietnamese workers has more than tripled since 2018. Some companies are now considering expanding into Vietnam, aligning with the return of these skilled workers. Moving forward, human resources are expected to become a crucial foundation for business. Vietnams increasing importance in the global economy and its involvement in addressing global challenges are much welcomed by the international community. This, in turn, will lead to greater trust from foreign investors.

New facilities back up high-tech FDI wave High-quality foreign direct investment inflow has been reinforced in Vietnam, demonstrating trust in the countrys various attraction mechanisms.

FDI inflows can be growth innovator Vietnam stands at a critical juncture in its economic transformation. Emerging technologies like AI and semiconductors offer a rare chance to move beyond low-cost manufacturing and become a regional innovation hub. To be a leader of Southeast Asias digital future, Vietnam should accelerate the sustained effort to attract the next wave of foreign investment and help shape the regions tech landscape.

Vietnam - an exception in terms of FDI attraction The Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) released its annual report on foreign direct investment (FDI) for 2024 on April 16, affirming the potential Vietnam has to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub.
As the vice chairman of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and a lawyer member of the Milan Bar, with my own firm having offices in Vietnam, Malta, and Singapore, I have had the privilege of witnessing this transformation firsthand since 2007.

Federico Vasoli, managing partner, dMTV Global

Vietnams economic growth has been impressive, driven by robust manufacturing, trade expansion, and strategic policy reforms. The governments proactive measures, including a $20 billion stimulus package and fast-tracked structural reforms, have bolstered economic stability and positioned Vietnam as a strategic trading partner amidst rising global protectionism.

However, recent developments have introduced new challenges. The United States has proposed tariffs on Vietnamese exports, which could significantly impact export competitiveness and deter foreign direct investment. These tariffs present an opportunity for Vietnam to reassess its growth model, transitioning towards higher-value industries and more equitable economic practices. This shift would enhance Vietnams competitiveness and make it a more attractive market for Western businesses.

Vietnam has demonstrated swift action in response to these challenges. Diplomatic efforts are underway to negotiate bilateral agreements and ease trade tensions.

Domestically, Vietnam is accelerating public investment and deploying a preferential credit package to support infrastructure, technology, and domestic consumption. These measures are designed to mitigate the impact of tariffs and maintain economic momentum.

Furthermore, Vietnam is on the cusp of regulating virtual assets, with the government developing legal frameworks for digital assets. This move reflects a growing focus on fintech and blockchain integration, positioning Vietnam to pull in substantial investment in the digital sector. As a law firm with expertise in this area, we have seen how clear regulations can draw in significant business by mitigating risks and fostering innovation.

This approach allows for the testing of new financial products and services under controlled conditions, providing an environment conducive to innovation and experimentation, and this is particularly true with the planned opening of an international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

To sustain its economic momentum, Vietnam must address key areas, namely simplification of legislation and procedures and cutting red tape, and investment in education. It should invest heavily in education to develop a more and more skilled workforce open to the global economy. To address all these challenges, Vietnam needs to streamline its regulatory framework and offer legal certainty that make investments more appealing.

The EU, with its rich educational resources and legal frameworks, is well-positioned to welcome Vietnamese students and talents and provide benchmarks. This can help bridge cultural and economic gaps, fostering a more globalised and competitive talent pool.

The recent visit of the Chinese president highlighted Vietnams strategic position in regional diplomacy, and aimed to strengthen ties with Vietnam, particularly in trade and supply chains, amid escalating US-China trade tensions.

The two nations have finalised several agreements across various sectors, including rail infrastructure and digital economy advancements. This visit demonstrates Vietnams delicate balancing act between major economic powers, as it seeks to maintain strong relations with both China and the US.

With its strategic location, improved business environment, and emerging digital asset market, Vietnam remains an attractive destination for investors and businesses alike. In the coming years, Vietnams ability to adapt and innovate will be crucial.

The countrys strong foreign investment inflows, particularly in manufacturing and high-tech sectors, are positive indicators of its resilience. Infrastructure development and digital transformation are also expected to play pivotal roles in sustaining growth.

By addressing regulatory complexities, investing in education, and leveraging digital assets, Vietnam can achieve even greater economic heights.

As Vietnam celebrates the reunification anniversary, it is poised to continue its remarkable economic journey, and the countrys proactive response to trade challenges positions Vietnam well for future growth.
Belgian scholars immerse themselves in Tujia ethnic culture

Xinhua) 09:21, May 03, 2025

An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting Youzhou ancient town of Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Qiu Hongbin/Xinhua)

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.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
Acclaimed Welsh actor Mark Lewis Jones to headline FOCUS Wales Film Festival

Acclaimed Welsh actor Mark Lewis Jones will headline the FOCUS Wales Film Festival  North Wales only BAFTA Cymru-qualifying film event  in Wrexham next week.

The star will appear live on Friday 9 May at 7pm at Coleg Cambria in conversation with festival host and producer Robert Corcoran.

Together, theyll explore Marks journey from his roots in Rhos to the big screen, his most iconic roles, and what lies ahead in his career.

Marks extensive credits include major TV series such as Stella (BAFTA-nominated), Apostle (dir. Gareth Evans), Rebecca (dir. Ben Wheatley), and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

He won Best Actor at the BAFTA Cymru Awards for The Passing / Yr Ymadawiad and was honoured in 2024 with the BAFTA Cymru Sian Phillips Award for his outstanding contribution to Welsh screen culture.

Most recently, he starred alongside Martin Clunes in ITVs hit drama Out There.

Im delighted that Mark Lewis Jones will be speaking at the festival in Wrexham this year, said Robert Corcoran.

His story is truly inspirational  from Rhos to Hollywood  and we cant wait to share that journey with audiences here.

Also appearing at this years festival is Gruff Rhys, who will introduce a special screening of his documentary American Interior on Saturday afternoon, before headlining the music festival later that evening on the Library Field / Llwyn Isaf.

The FOCUS Wales Film Festival will also showcase a huge selection of short films from new and emerging talent across Wales and the globe.

The BAFTA Cymru Qualifying Short Film Competition will feature 55 entries across drama, comedy, animation, thriller and other categories.

In addition, 17 films will screen out of competition, including 6 locally made productions and 11 films from across the Celtic Nations.

The full programme includes industry panels, keynotes, networking events, and much more. Speakers include representatives from Ffilm Cymru, Creative Wales, S4C, BBC and others.

The full timetable can be found here and the FOCUS Wales app.

Film Festival Passes, offering access to all film screenings are priced at just 20. Alternatively, festival wristbands are available, offering access to the full FOCUS Wales programme across film, music and the conference. All options are available here.

The 2025 edition of the FOCUS Wales Film Festival will take place on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 May at Coleg Cambria.
Ambitious cancer treatment target could be dropped in Wales

This article is old - Published: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025

A key ambition for 80% of cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days could be dropped because services have little chance of hitting the target, a committee heard.

Eluned Morgan, Wales first minister, announced plans to raise the performance target from 75% to 80% by 2026 while she was health secretary in 2022.

But, appearing before the Senedds public accounts committee today, NHS Wales deputy chief executive Nick Wood suggested the 80% target could be scrapped.

I think we need to reflect on experience and whats happened in the years since, he said.

Mr Wood pointed to a report on NHS performance published on Monday following a review by an advisory group which was appointed by the Welsh Government.

He said: I think some of their recommendations are helpful in terms of stating at this point that its probably ill-advised to move the target to 80% when there isnt really a realistic proposition of us getting to 80% over the next 12 months.

Stepping away

The so-called single cancer pathway  which was introduced in 2019, replacing the urgent and non-urgent pathways  runs from first suspicion of cancer to the start of treatment.

None of Wales seven health boards have hit the 75% target since August 2020 and latest statistics for February showed 60% started treatment within 62 days.

Mr Wood added: A continued focus on getting to 70% then 75% would be a more advisable approach. Weve not made a formal decision in terms of stepping away from that 80%.

I think it would be fair to say that we need to review that position and focus on continuous improvement from the current position of 60% before we consider going further.

The 80% target was described by the report as an example of ministers reaching for new policies or initiatives in preference to focusing on delivery of existing plans.

Clearly unacceptable

Baroness Morgan said at the time: By 2026, 80% of people who receive a cancer diagnosis should start first definitive treatment within 62 days from the first point when cancer was suspected. We will make sure that those with the greatest need are seen first.

The Conservatives described the 80% aim as not ambitious enough while Plaid Cymru pointed out services were failing to hit the 75% target even before the pandemic.

Ministers accepted all the reports recommendations, at least in part, in its response which set out a focus on skin, breast, lower gastrointestinal, gynaecological and urological cancers.

Mark Isherwood, who chairs the public accounts committee, pressed witnesses on the failure to meet the existing 75% target during the meeting on May 1.

Mr Wood described the performance as clearly unacceptable, adding: The target is very challenging but it doesnt necessarily reflect the experience of a huge number of people who are on the cancer pathway. It only reflects those who go through and have treatment.

Lack of leadership

Mr Wood told the committee more than 13,000 people in Wales were told they did not have cancer in February. They would have all been on the cancer pathway at some point but are not part of the performance element of 62 days, he said.

Pointing to consistent increases in referrals, he added: Its unacceptable that were only on 60% but there is a lot more below the headline figure which I think is important.

He welcomed an Audit Wales report which found a lack of national leadership, saying: We accept the recommendations and would recognise the issues described within the report.

Asked whether the existing target is realistic considering rising demand, Mr Wood stressed the importance of setting an ambitious aim supported by clinical evidence.

Tom Crosby, the national cancer clinical director who was involved in establishing the single cancer pathway in 2019, described the policy as the right approach.

Unwarranted variation

The clinical oncologist said: We must not normalise long waiting times for patients.

Raising concerns about unwarranted variation of services across Wales, Prof Crosby stressed that performance against the target is only one measure of the quality of care.

Labours Mike Hedges asked about work to drive improvement in the number of patients being diagnosed early, saying: Late diagnosis is causing serious problems.

We know [there are] some cancers where nearly everybody is diagnosed at stage three and stage four  and they have very, very poor survival rates.

Keith Reid, deputy chief medical officer in the Welsh Government, pointed to the example of the roll-out of bowel cancer screening and proposals for a targeted lung cancer programme.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Welsh Government urged to address epidemic of violence in schools

This article is old - Published: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025

Senedd members demanded urgent action to address an epidemic of violence after a 14-year-old became the first person convicted of attempted murder in a Welsh school.

Natasha Asghar led a debate in the aftermath of the schoolgirl being sentenced to 15 years detention on Monday for stabbing two teachers and a pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman.

The Conservatives shadow education secretary expressed concerns about record levels of physical assaults on teachers and a tripling of fixed-term exclusions from 2015 to 2023.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, she said, warning of chronic under-reporting of violence.

Ms Asghar pointed to extremely concerning statistics which showed the exclusion rate for pupils for additional learning needs more than doubled to almost 12%.

Horror

She told the Senedd: Something is clearly seriously wrong when over 50% of pupils with ADHD have indeed been excluded during a school year.

Ms Asghar said a unions survey found nearly three in five teachers believe social media negatively impacts pupil behaviour, leading to increasing misogyny and sexism.

She quoted Sharron Daly, a teacher from Bridgend, as saying: An awful lot of young people come to us without boundaries at home and then that comes into the classroom.

Plaid Cymrus Cefin Campbell  whose brother, a teacher at the Carmarthenshire school, was hailed a hero after trying to restrain the girl  spoke of his deep personal regret.

Mr Campbell, who himself attended the school, said: Its a regret thats echoed in the tight-knit, friendly community of Ammanford, amid horror that this kind of wholly intentional attack was perpetrated by a young woman with a knife in her hand. 

Worrying trends

The former lecturer had no doubt the pervasive nature of social media has exacerbated issues such as bullying, misogyny and racism.

He added: It is crucial, therefore, that we recognise the significant impact of social media on student behaviour and develop clear policies for schools to manage its negative influence.

Addressing education secretary Lynne Neagle, he said: A year has now passed since the events at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman and no solutions have been proposed by the government on safety in schools. We cannot wait for another similar attack before you respond.

Labours Carolyn Thomas stressed that worrying trends following the pandemic around children and young peoples behaviour in school are not unique to Wales.

Similar evidence is shown throughout the UK and even internationally, she said.

Palmed off

Adam Price, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, told the Senedd: The attack has sent a tremor through every staff room and every kitchen table in the country.

It is the lightning bolt that shows the storm already overhead; violence, once exceptional, is edging towards routine  an ugly new normal.

Mr Price added: The tragedy in Ammanford was not unforeseeable. No-one shouted louder than deputy head Ceri Myers: between January and the morning of the attack, he emailed the Welsh Government seven times pleading for guidance on challenging behaviour.

In an interview with ITV, he said he was palmed off.

The girl who stabbed Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and another pupil had already brought a knife into school the year before. The signs were there  the system didnt see them.

Responding to the debate on April 30, Lynne Neagle said Estyn will publish a thematic review on school behaviour on May 8  the same day as a summit on the subject.

Unacceptable

The education secretary told the Senedd: I am deeply concerned about this, about the impact that poor behaviour has on our childrens ability to learn and succeed on our education workforce and about the impact that it has on the image of the profession.

She refuted the notion that the then-deputy head was palmed off, saying: Ceri Myers never wrote to [the] Welsh Government about anything to do with knives nor violence. He raised concerns about behaviour and in particular about things like vapes.

He had a full response on a number of occasions and also met officials.

Mr Price responded: Here was a senior leader in Ysgol Dyffryn Aman setting out the truth and, well, the cabinet secretary was saying, I refute that, I listen but if I dont like what teachers are telling me then Im going to ignore it. Thats unacceptable.

Senedd members voted 35-13 against the Tory motion, with Plaid Cymrus amendment also falling before the Welsh Governments amendment was agreed  25-13 with 10 abstaining.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Wrexham storage business thrives thanks to 40,000 community loan

This article is old - Published: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025

A Wrexham-based self-storage business is celebrating rapid growth after securing a 40,000 loan from BCRS Business Loans  part of a record-breaking year for the community lender.

Wynnstay Self Storage Ltd used the funding to transform a two-acre site into a fully operational storage facility, now home to 60 units and space to house 80 caravans and motorhomes.

Owner Matt Pritchard said the finance helped turn underused land into a thriving business.

I own the land so deciding to put it to good use made a lot of business sense, said Mr Pritchard.

I contacted BCRS to see if they could provide the finance to allow me to put in the infrastructure to house the containers, whilst also purchasing the storage units themselves.

Dealing with James at BCRS was straightforward, and he took time to understand the business proposition.

After securing the finance I purchased ten additional units and am pleased to say that we have been operating at full capacity since.

He added: The site is full and we have further space to develop so this is part of the next growth stage for the business.

 I know the demand is there as we have a mix of short and long-term customers, and if a space becomes available, its taken within a week.

To see the land more efficiently utilised is pleasing and Im thrilled to see how this finance has quite literally opened doors to customers. Im looking forward to seeing what the next chapter brings.

Wynnstay Self Storage is one of 124 businesses supported by BCRS Business Loans in the last financial year.

The lender issued nearly 10 million across Wales, the West Midlands and surrounding areas  a 68% increase in the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) funded compared to the previous year.

In total, 9.9 million in loans safeguarded 889 jobs and created 317 new roles, contributing 51.2 million to the regional economy.

More than a third of this lending went to the UKs most disadvantaged areas.

CRS Business Loans chief executive Stephen Deakin said: We are thrilled with last years performance, which demonstrates our commitment to supporting businesses when they need it the most.

We have been able to substantially increase our lending activity which has resulted in jobs protected, new roles created, and millions added to the regional economy.

As a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI), BCRS Business Loans operates as a non-profit distributing company through a story-based approach to lending, issuing loans between 10,000 and 250,000 to help grow and support recovery plans.

Since BCRS Business Loans was founded in 2002, it has provided loans to businesses, with a focus on supporting entrepreneurs and businesses in economically disadvantaged areas.

In Wales, BCRS Business Loans manages smaller loans through the Investment Fund for Wales (IFW), also operated by the British Business Bank, in the lenders first expansion into the Principality.

IFW offers smaller loans from 25,000 to 100,000, debt finance up to 2 million, and equity investment up to 5 million to support Welsh businesses.
Several police agencies from across Nevada gathered on Friday to honor fellow first responders at the 38th annual James D. Hoff Peace Officer Memorial ceremony.

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony with multiple performances, honorable awards given out, and traditions carried on including the 21-gun salute.

"Thank god we had no officers who were killed in the line of duty last year," said Reno Police Officer Hunter Mercurio. "Unfortunately, we will be putting an officer on the plaque next year."

That officer is 46-year-old Jason Roscow with the North Las Vegas Police Department. He died in a shooting in February.

Reno Police Chief Kathryn Nance says it's important our community honors our local officers since they risk their lives every day.

"A lot of times they don't see that, the scary stuff, the bad stuff, the stuff that officers go through on a daily basis," said Nance. "It's just another opportunity for us to recognize them."

Five officers received the James D. Hoff Survivor Plaques for protecting the community in critical emergencies that nearly got them killed.

"These plaques are not taken lightly, and these officers were in some pretty dangerous situations and by the grace of god came out of it okay," Mercurio says.

One of them was Sergeant Christopher Rivera who was involved in the Carson City shooting on New Years.

"It's humbling," he said. "I recognize that there were seven other officers there with me as well that helped out and it was a team effort that came through and just the training and experience is what kept everybody safe."

Saturday is the 12th annual Nevada Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Ride. To learn more, you can click here.
The University of Nevada, Reno, hosted their Innovation Day on Friday.

It is an annual event where engineering students showcase their senior projects, according to a release from the University.

This year, those projects included a respirator for firefighters that filters out toxic particles in smoke.

A proposal to connect the University and downtown Reno was also included in the showcase.

The University says 100 teams participated in this year's event.
A Jefferson County man with a lengthy criminal history has been sentenced to prison for soliciting the murder of federal prosecutor in Birmingham.

A judge on Friday sentenced Michael Roman Black, 32, to 35 years in prison for planning the shooting of a federal prosecutor, and 17 years for drug and gun charges previously filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Alabama, according to Middle District of Alabama Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson.

Black, who was from the Bessemer area, was convicted last year.

Middle District prosecutors tried the case since the threat was against a prosecutor in Birmingham, which is in the Northern District.

Black was previously convicted in state court on a reduced charge of manslaughter in the 2011 shooting death of an 18-year-old in Bessemer. Black was also 18 at the time.

According to court records in the federal case, Black was jailed in Hoover in February 2023 after federal charges were brought against him by the Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorneys Office.

Black was being held on drug and gun charges.

While in custody, authorities said, Black told another inmate about his plan to have one of the federal prosecutors working on his case murdered by two associates on the outside.

Black shared specific details of who he planned to contact and that he would have them shoot the prosecutor while she was in her car.

Law enforcement learned of this threat and, after confirming its legitimacy and seriousness, developed an operation to successfully thwart the murder plot.

When questioned by federal agents, Black made false statements in an attempt to cover up his plan.

On March 28, 2023, a federal grand jury in Birmingham indicted Black for making a threat to murder a federal official, solicitation to commit murder, and making false statements to a federal agent.

Michael Blacks plot to target a federal prosecutor was not only an attempt to evade accountability for his crimes, but it was also a brazen act of vengeance, Davidson said.

Such conduct strikes at the heart of our judicial system and must be met with severe consequences. I commend the investigators and prosecutors whose swift actions protected a life and ensured justice was served.

Black in 2011 was charged with murder in the shooting death of 18-year-old Luman Jones. He pleaded guilty in 2014 to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

It was not immediately clear how many years he actually served.

The attempt to orchestrate violence against a federal prosecutor is a grave assault on public safety and the principles of justice we rely upon, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer.

The DEA remains unwavering in its commitment to stand alongside the U.S. Attorneys Office to safeguard those who dedicate themselves to upholding the rule of law.

The DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, Hoover police and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office investigated.

Criminal Division Chief John J. Geer, III from the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted.

After a thorough investigation, Michael Black is being held accountable for plotting to assassinate a federal prosecutor, said Christopher DiMenna, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge, Birmingham Field Office.

Todays sentence makes clear that those actions will not be tolerated.
A former Mobile police officer turned himself into authorities on Friday on charges in connection to a July 2024 wreck that fatally injured a motorcyclist.

According to jail records, Roy Adams Jr. was charged with homicide by vehicle.

The Mobile Police Department said that the charges were brought by the Mobile County District Attorneys Office.

According to the department, Adams resigned about three weeks ago.

Adams has not been employed with the department for approximately three weeks, and his separation was not related to the investigation. He resigned voluntarily, the department said.

The charges stem from a wreck on July 9, 2024 involving Adams and motorcyclist, Sumner Howard, 67.

According to news reports at the time, the crash occurred at about 11 p.m. as Adams was driving on Mobile Infirmary Boulevard toward Kenneth Street.

Adams pulled up to an intersection as the light was red but proceeded to turn on his emergency blue lights and go through the red light. Adams was going about 20 miles per hour.

Howard was heading westbound on Old Shell Road and had a green light as he arrived at the intersection.

As Howard was going through the light he crashed into the back of Adamss vehicle.

Howard was transported to the hospital for his injuries but died over two weeks later.

AL.com contacted the district attorneys office for further comment regarding the charges brought against Adams.
Looking for a new favorite dish -- or maybe a new Alabama restaurant to try? Us too.

Thats why we rounded up some of our favorite dishes weve eaten recently across the state. From fried catfish to whole duck, theres a little something for everyone on this list.

As always, if you have suggestions for dishes we should try, let us know!

(Check out our April picks here and our March picks here.)

The cast-iron skillet baked pimento cheese with charred pumpernickel bread appetizer has been on the menu at Blueprint on 3rd in Birmingham since the brasserie opened in June 2018. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

Baked pimento cheese at Blueprint on 3rd

3000 Third Ave. South in Birmingham

While we generally prefer our pimento cheese served cold on a Tazikis baked pita chip or between two slices of Continental Bakery sourdough bread, the gooey awesomeness of this addictive appetizer from Blueprint on 3rd executive chef James Huckaby has made us rethink that position. Its been on the menu since Birmingham restaurateur Dean Robb opened his bustling American brasserie in the summer of 2018, and we never go there without ordering it. The Blueprint kitchen crew bakes the house-made pimento cheese in a small cast-iron skillet and serves it with focaccia toast points for dipping and spreading. Add bacon to take it to another level.  Bob Carlton

A meat lover's pizza at La Trattoria, a new restaurant in Montgomery's Old Cloverdale neighborhood. Amber Sutton

A large pizza at La Trattoria

503 Cloverdale Road in Montgomery

Who doesnt love pizza? At La Trattoria, a new restaurant in Montgomerys Old Cloverdale neighborhood, you can get a wide variety of New York-style specialty pizzas with every topping imaginable as well as soups, pastas, salads and even homemade gelato. During a recent visit, I gave their meat lovers pizza, which comes covered in pepperoni, sausage, bacon, ham and ground beef, a try and was in love at first bite. Something to note, though -- their large pizzas are exactly that. I was full after a single slice, but was delighted to know Id be getting to relive the meal via leftovers for the next few days. Also, if gelato isnt your thing, they also have plenty of other desserts, including limoncello cheesecake, cannolis and more, to try.  Amber Sutton,

Tacos at El Azteca Restaurante in Huntsville, Ala. Matt Wake

Tacos at El Azteca Restaurante

2723 Clinton Ave. W. in Huntsville

Welcome to the taco triangle: Bandito Burrito, the El Cazador taco bus, and El Azteca Restaurante . All long-running local joints located within about 550 feet of each other on Governors Drive and Clinton Avenue in West Huntsville. Bandito and The Bus are much more Huntsville famous. But in my opinion, smoky Aztecas tacos are just as good or better. El Azteca anchors the small Clinton Center commercial space, also home to La Michoacana Ice Cream and the barbershop JJ Barber. The dining areas festive and comfy, with a bar in the back and fast service. On a recent visit, I dug into Aztecas asada, lengua, pastor and pollo tacos. Street taco style, double wrapped in small tortillas, and garnished with cilantro, onion, sliced juicy lime, refreshing cucumber and surprisingly effective radish. All four were excellent but the pastors my favorite. Marinated pork topped with pineapple chunks  a savory-sweet six-gun. Deft smoky sapor differentiates Aztecas pollo taco from the typical flock. Theres something appealingly primitive about consuming cow tongue, and the lengua heres homecooked stew tender. The asada tacos aces, too. And dont be shy with the avocado jalapeno sauce brought out to the table with tacos. Its a tube of green awesomeness.  Matt Wake

The Natchitoches Crawfish Pies at the Original Oyster House are described as a taste of Louisiana." Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

Crawfish across the Coast

Spring is crawfish time on the coast. If you let Mardi Gras, Lent and Easter distract you from that tasty reality, its not too late. For my own personal crawfish fest, I turned to the Original House in Gulf Shores, where I could get savory Natchitoches Crawfish Pies (A taste of Louisiana with seasoned crawfish-and-rice filling served piping hot in a pastry crust, $12 for a half-dozen) as an appetizer course before my Crawfish Po-Boy ($17), a sandwich served with such a ridiculous portion of fried crawfish tails that you could barely see the sandwich part when it was served. There are, of course, a lot of ways to get your seasonal fix. If youre lucky, the spirit will move a friend or family member to put on a boil with all the fixins; if not, many seafood markets will hook you up with a ready-to-eat bounty. If you seek the social experience of a boil, youll find plenty of community and commercial options. A small sampling: The Haberdasher, at 113 Dauphin St., has already had a couple of weekend boils, and theyre old pros at this: You can buy a wristband in advance. (Keep an eye out for details of the next one.) The Brickyard, at 266 Dauphin St., will be serving mudbugs along with Grateful Dead tunes from East LA Fadeaway on May 17. The Central Midtown community art center and Central Presbyterian Church will present a community crawfish boil May 18. The Grand Mariner, near the mouth of Dog River, is advertising regular Sunday boils starting at noon. Check your favorite seafood restaurant or watering hole for more. (If youre at the beach, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism has a whole guide to crawfish season.)  Lawrence Specker

Taj India, a restaurant in Birmingham, has a popular lunch buffet on weekdays. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)

Lunch buffet at Taj India

3028 Clairmont Ave. in Birmingham

Indian food lovers in Birmingham know exactly where to go at lunchtime. For decades, theyve been lining up for the buffet at Taj India, a mainstay in Southside. Fans moaned when the restaurant, which dates back to 1986, announced it was moving in 2023 from its longtime home in Highland Plaza. But Taj Indias new location  on Clairmont Avenue, in a building that formerly housed Bogues Restaurant  has lost none of the charm of the original. And the lunch buffet remains a winner, weekdays at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can fill a plate (or two) with Taj Indias delicious appetizers, vegetarian dishes, meat entrees, salads and dessert. Spice levels vary, depending on the dish  a good thing for newbies  and everything on the buffet is well presented and enticing. Dont forget to try the naan (yummy Indian flatbread). And remember: Its perfectly fine to go back for seconds.  Mary Colurso

A Half Peking Duck with scallion pancakes, local lettuces and house-made condiments at Current Charcoal Grill in Birmingham, Ala. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)

Whole Peking Duck at Current Charcoal Grill in Birmingham

1625 Second Ave. South in Birmingham

To celebrate Current Charcoal Grills one-year anniversary, the restaurants executive chef and partner Luke Joseph has put this classic Chinese dish back on the menu. The Whole Peking Duck serves four guests and is paired with fresh lettuces and seasonal vegetables from local farmers, a trio of house-made condiments and a plate of scallion pancakes. Its the ideal dish for sharing, with the pancakes serving as a soft blanket for guests to wrap around the crispy skins and tender meat from the duck and eat them like they would a taco. The whole duck was one of the first concepts Adam (Evans, Josephs chef-partner at Current) and I discussed when we started planning this restaurant over a year ago, Joseph says. It was on the menu when we first opened, but we took it off. Now, after six iterations, its back and better than ever. Joseph prepares a limited number of whole ducks each night, so early reservations are strongly recommended. Guests may also pre-order the duck 24 hours in advance by calling the restaurant at 205-829-1625. A Half Peking Duck, which serves two, is also available.  Bob Carlton

Fried catfish at Katy's Katfish in Rainsville, Ala. Haley Laurence

Fried catfish at Katys Katfish

1382 Main St. E. in Rainsville

Whenever people visit me in Northeast Alabama, they often insist on eating catfish, and Katys is where I take em. The restaurant is located in a cozy log cabin that has a lot of history, and the menu is filled with cozy Southern comfort food at good price points. I always go for the fried catfish fillets -- theyre flavorful and some of the best around. Another popular dish there is the homemade chicken fingers. Both of em are so tasty that they made it on Alabama Tourisms list of 100 dishes to eat before you die.  Haley Laurence
Sloss Furnaces National Landmark is the new location for Magic City Flow Fest, a hip-hop festival in Birmingham. (AL.com file photo/Tamika Moore)

Magic City Flow Fest has changed its location from Legion Field to Sloss Furnaces, organizers announced this week.

The new hip-hop festival, planned for Oct. 18 in Birmingham, has a high-profile lineup that includes Mobile native Flo Milli, Rick Ross, Waka Flocka Flame, Ying Yang Twins and more.

The location change brings BIG opportunity: TWO stages, more space for vendors, and, most importantly, a chance to showcase the incredible local talent Birmingham has to offer, the festival team announced on social media.

Were incredibly grateful to the City of Birmingham and the Parks & Rec Department for their time, support, and collaboration throughout the planning process, the announcement said. Their partnership has been invaluable, and were excited to continue working together on Magic City Flow and across future events. Were confident this move will take Magic City Flow to the next level.

Magic City Flow originally was scheduled for a venerable stadium known as the Old Grey Lady at 400 Graymont Ave. West. Legion Field is an iconic landmark in Birmingham that will celebrate its 100th year in 2027.

Its also the traditional location for the Magic City Classic, the annual HBCU game featuring Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University. This years Amazon Magic City Classic is set for Oct. 25 at Legion Field, according to the event website.

In an April news release, organizers from Iron Hills Productions called Magic City Flow Fest a kickoff party for Magic City Classic Week, in partnership with the City of Birmingham.

The move to Sloss Furnaces, about 5 miles east of Legion Field at 20 32nd St. North, shifts the event to another Birmingham landmark  a former ironworks that covers 15 acres and already has permanent stage in a shed on site.

The City of Birmingham owns both Legion Field and Sloss Furnaces.

Iron Hills Productions will use Sloss Furnaces for two other festivals in October, Furnace Fest and the Iron Hills Country Music Festival.

Furnace Fest, a three-day event that focuses on heavy rock, thrash, punk and metal, is scheduled Friday through Sunday, Oct. 3-5. Iron Hills, a two-day festival featuring country artists, is set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12.

With the location change for Magic City Flow on Oct. 18, the team at Iron Hills Productions will present three music festivals on three consecutive weekends at Sloss Furnaces.

Iron Hills Productions is committed to making Birmingham a destination for live music in the South, Allena Beall, COO of Iron Hills Productions, said via the April news release. Were excited to partner with the City of Birmingham on Magic City Flow to kick off Magic City Classic Week. With three back-to-back festivals this October  Furnace Fest, Iron Hills and Magic City Flow  were not just throwing festivals. Its about building culture, growing community and helping put Birmingham on the map as a destination for live music.

Tickets for Magic City Flow Fest are on sale via the festival website. Prices are $109.95 for Early Bird General Admission, $139.95 for Early Bird GA+, $249.95 for Early Bird VIP, $999.95 for a Boss Pass (called the ultimate VIP experience).

A Student Bundle costs $109.95, and includes general admission tickets to Magic City Flow Fest and the Magic City Classic. A student ID is required for entry, organizers said.
Authorities have released the name of a teen fatally shot in Montgomery.

Police on Friday identified the victim as Jaydon Lewis. He was 18 and lived in Montgomery.

Officers and fire medics were dispatched at 10:14 p.m. Thursday to a report of a person shot in the 900 block of West South Boulevard.

Sgt. Tina McGriff said they arrived to find Lewis critically wounded. He was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting remain under investigation. No additional details have been released.

Anyone with information is asked to call Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, Montgomery police at 334-625-2831 or the Secret Witness tip line at 334-625-4000.
After several tornadoes hit a trailer park in the northern Alabama town of Muscle Shoals on April 5, Haley Lowery joined efforts to help the roughly 20 displaced families, most of whom are Hispanic.

Several of them are still displaced three weeks after the tornado, Lowery told AL.com this week.

Theres still a lot of families that are in hotel rooms, she said. There are families that are in temporary living situations that were trying to find some homes for right now, and theres a language barrier also  a lot of them dont speak English.

And some will never be able to come back.

Two weeks after the tornado, city officials placed notices around the park, ordering the demolition of 10 damaged structures out of about 70 mobile homes, prohibiting repairs or rebuilding, and asking all occupants to vacate immediately. The order includes the demolition and removal of such structures within 60 days.

Failure to comply will result in the City undertaking demolition and removal, with the associated costs assessed as a lien against the property, collectible in the same manner as a property tax, said the notice signed by the fire marshal and the building official.

In a series of email exchanges with AL.com, building official Jason Jones defended the move, including an additional instruction not to have any new trailers replace the removed ones. He said the citys zoning does not permit mobile homes at that location close to city hall, after a damage, if the repair cost is more than half of the value.

The trailer park is considered a legally nonconforming use, commonly known as grandfathered in because it existed long before the zoning regulations enactment.

Its been a B-2 (business) and R-3 (residential) zoning for a long time, Jones said. Mobile homes are not allowed in either zoning.

Jones explained the rationale for the decision to order the structures removal and the prohibition of replacement. The city came to the decision based on the damage being beyond 50% of replacement cost, he said, citing a city ordinance to that effect.

The citys zoning ordinance ends a propertys nonconforming status if it would require more than half of the replacement cost following a damage.

Joseph Pounders, who owns half the trailer park, objects to being unable to replace the one mobile home that must be removed from his side of the property but told AL.com he has not decided on a course of action.

The trailer park, which he and his sister inherited from their father, has been in that location since the 60s and the citys growth has brought development close to it.

I was here before they were, have been here since the 60s, and the city has moved out on us as they grow and now, they are telling me that I have a trailer standing and pull it out that I cant put another one back in its place, Pounders said.

If its not got out of there and cleaned up, they are going to put a lien against my property on the taxes if they have to come in and clean it up themselves, he added.

When AL.com visited the location this week, the devastation caused by the tornado was visible everywhere, with several buildings damaged by big trees uprooted by the storm.

Resident Juan Sales, who spoke Spanish and used a translation app to communicate, told AL.com that those whose homes were affected by the storm are no longer there.

The ones from these houses that are already destroyed, they already left, they moved, Sales said in Spanish through a translation app.

Both Lowery and Jones said there is a language barrier in communicating with the storm victims, who mostly speak Spanish.

We talked with a couple of them and explained the situation but there is a language barrier even with someone they had translating, Jones said.

They needed someone who could speak Spanish to help the advocates communicate with the storm victims, Lowery said.

Efforts to help the displaced include setting up a GoFundMe, which has garnered $725 out of a goal of $5000 as of May 2, and a collection of donations, including clothes, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, diapers, wipes and canned food.

Support for housing people in hotels has come from churches and the Red Cross, Lowery said.

And then were kind of just paying out of pocket here and there too, to help out until we can find them somewhere to go, she added.

Everybodys donated plenty of clothes and furniture and stuff like that, but now were at the point where we are trying to get people out of the hotel rooms, she said. Weve been raising money to get people in homes, either trailers or apartments, if they can get approved.

Weve been trying to help everybody get into a new home potentially that they will own, or even if they have to rent somewhere, help them with the first deposit and everything, helping them get in somewhere. And then those that dont have vehicles, were working on getting some kind of transportation for them for the time being.

Lowerys particularly delighted at the opportunities for some residents to own their own spaces following the donation of at least two trailers.

Thatll be like homes they will own forever, she said. Theyre getting the bill of sale and theyre able to own them, so they dont have to worry about paying rent anymore or any of that stress.
Talladega College named West Point, Georgia, native Willie Todd Jr. as its 22nd president on Saturday.

Todd has served as the president and chief executive officer of Denmark Technical College in Denmark, South Carolina, since 2020. He will assume the role of Talladega president on July 1. Walter Kimbrough has served as interim Talladega president since June 2024 after Gregory J. Vincent retired.

His experience and dedication will be invaluable as we navigate the next chapter of Talladega Colleges rich history and continue on our path forward to build back better and stronger, said Rica Lewis-Payton, chair of the board of trustees. I look forward to working with President Todd, and I believe that he is equipped with the skills and experiences to help the college achieve its goals.

Todd, who holds a Ph.D. in English from Georgia State University and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., said he was honored to be chosen to lead Talladega College, an institution with a powerful legacy and boundless potential.

This institution was founded in defiance of limitation and in pursuit of possibility, he said. That legacy calls us to lead with boldness and integrity. As a proud product of an HBCU (Albany State University) and a lifelong servant of these sacred institutions, I believe the time has come to reimagine liberal arts education as a dynamic force for the future.

Todd said he looks forward to forging a culture of true collaboration, grounded in shared vision and mutual respect, with the Board of Trustees, administration, students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater Talladega College community.

Todd has 32 years of higher education leadership experience.

Talladega College said he has led an impressive turnaround at DTC.

Infused with his passion for advancing Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Todd reimagined DTCs future through a bold vision, compassion, creative problem-solving, and a student-centered approach that expanded student leadership while building a culture of care, the college said in a news release.

Under Todds leadership, DTC experienced an 870% increase in fundraising with over $32 million raised in five years, a 400% increase in scholarship offerings, an over 98% placement rate, a 54% increase in enrollment along with increases in their retention and graduation rates, a 1,104% increase in revenue generated by DTCs Workforce and Continuing Education program, over 50% of DTCs deferred maintenance issues have been addressed and probationary status Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges was lifted within one year.

He won numerous awards during his tenure, including 2022 CEO/President of the Year by the South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners, the 2021 Shining Star by the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs and the Diamond Award for excellence in education, leadership, philanthropy, humanitarianism and community engagement from the Not Alone Foundation and the Academy of the Diamond.

Todd also served as president of the Presidents Council for the South Carolina Technical College System in 2023-2024, making him the first DTC leader to take on that role.

Prior to taking on the role of president, Todd served DTC as vice president for academic affairs and student affairs. Before his arrival at DTC, Todd served as the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Wiley College (now Wiley University), vice provost and associate vice provost at Norfolk State University and he served in various positions at Clark Atlanta University and Albany State University.
New homeowner Richard Turner, second from right, talks with Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley Volunteers on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Scott Turner/AL.com

The housing affordability crisis in the Huntsville metropolitan area continues to grow, according to the Habitat for Humanity chapter that serves the area.

Jeremy Foulks, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley, offers his organizations waiting lists as proof.

There are more than 500 families on the waiting list in Madison County. Another 100 are on the list in Limestone County, which is part of the metro.

We havent even opened up the door in Jackson County yet, Foulks said of the third county that has been added to the area.

Both the Madison County and Limestone County lists have grown so large, theyve been cut off. Habitat for Humanitys home repair program that was started a couple of years ago has been frozen as well.

Weve got 10 or 15 families on a waiting list for that as well, he said. Were at the end of the funding for some of that. Weve got a little bit of funding coming in for home repairs. We want to keep that going. Were looking for new partnerships.

Just a few years ago, Foulks said the organization was able to get to every family on the list if they qualified for a home.

Anybody who came through and got qualified, got into a home, he said.

The lists for homes have grown because the cost of renting and buying a home has grown in the fastest growing large city and two of the fastest growing counties in the state in Limestone and Madison counties.

According to the Waller, Weeks and Johnson Rental Index through the Alabama Center for Real Estate, the average rent in the Huntsville metropolitan area was $1,426 per month as of March, the third highest in the state behind Tuscaloosa and Daphne.

According to ValleyMLS data, the median sales price in Huntsville in March was $327,000. In Athens, the sales price was $310,000.

High rent, issues with landlords fixing things, thats what were seeing, said Anissa Hillman, Habitats affordable housing program manager. We have people living with family who cant afford a place of their own. Theyre living with their mother. They are having to split up the kids. This opportunity helps them bring that family back together at a lower mortgage.

The apartment complex, they didnt want to fix anything, said Rebecca Fazzingo, who moved into a Habitat home with her son Richard Turner on Lake Drive in north Huntsville on Saturday. The air conditioner went out. The utility bill was $448 a month.

She and her son can expect a house payment between $600 to $650 a month, including property taxes and home insurance. Their 30-year mortgage is interest free and only includes the cost to build the home and purchase the land, Foulks said.

Fazzingo raised five children in an apartment complex. She looks forward to her older children and 10 grandchildren coming to visit her and Richard in their new home.

Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley is constructing 32 homes in north Huntsville in neighborhoods near Meridian Street. May 3, 2025. Scott Turner/AL.com

The qualifications

Candidates for a Habitat home must be living in substandard or poverty housing. Partnership is the second criteria. They must put in what Foulks calls 300 sweat equity hours.

He said Habitat families are working with other nonprofits such as Manna House, Salvation Army, Downtown Rescue Mission, the ARC of Madison County and the Humane Society.

They also put in 100 hours working on their own home alongside between 10 to 20 volunteers.

Habitat homeowners must also go through several hours of homeowner education. That includes financial literacy, community development, a mortgage class because there is a mortgage with each home and a landscaping class.

The final criteria is the ability to afford the home.

It was a long journey, but it was worth it, Fazzingo said. Many classes, financial class  Weve done a lot of volunteer work, a lot.

Home construction costs rising

The ability to provide affordable housing for families who qualify is becoming more of a challenge, Foulks said.

Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley has a budget of a little more than $4 million.

The difficult part is even though we are raising more money, the cost of building these homes have significantly increased, Foulks said. Pre-Covid, these houses would cost us between $80,000-$90,000 to build. Today, we budget about $137,000 to build these homes.

He attributes part of the increase to the cost of building materials which has risen because of supply chain issues resulting from the pandemic. Foulks said Habitats team is forecasting up to a 15% increase in construction costs from tariffs put in place by the Trump administration after talking with suppliers.

But the biggest challenge is finding the land to purchase for the homes, Foulks said. He said the organization has received offers from people wishing to donate land, but often the land is in an area that is prone to flooding.

This fiscal year, Habitat will have 16 houses at some point under construction, either starting, in the middle or wrapping up.

In this street, four (families) have already moved in, Foulks said of the neighborhood on Lake Drive where all of the homes are Habitat homes. Well have 32 homes in this community when were done with it.

Habitat completed 11 homes last year.

This staff and volunteers are doing amazing work, Foulks said. The past two years, weve brought on a new home repair program. Theyve done 20 plus home repairs already this year. Last year, we took on Jackson County. Weve finished our first home repairs there. We have our first house in Athens going up now, and it is nearing completion.

In addition to volunteers, Foulks credits 39 corporate sponsors and other donors, as well as the city of Huntsvilles Community Development Department, which has helped Habitat find grant funding to fund home construction.
U.S. Space Force Commanding General B. Chance Saltzman, who was in town Friday for the premiere of the documentary Always Above about Space Force at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. Scott Turner/AL.com

Are you ready to move to Huntsville? is a question U.S. Space Force Commanding General B. Chance Saltzman says he is asked all of the time.

That is because people often confuse the newest branch of the armed services he commands with U.S. Space Command, which may be on its way to the Rocket City under President Donald Trumps second administration.

I have to remind people thats Space Command, not Space Force, said Saltzman, who was in town Friday for the premiere of the documentary Always Above about Space Force at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Whats the difference? Space is space, Saltzman said he is asked. The Department of Defense organizes its warfighter activities around 11 combatant commands. One of those is U.S. Space Command. It is responsible for taking guidance and direction from the president and Secretary of Defense for any activities you would consider warfighting in the space domain.

And Space Force?

It provides the forces; it provides the equipment; it provides the training of personnel, the combat ready forces to the combat commands to do all of the work, to do the activities that are required to meet those military objectives required by the president and the Secretary of Defense, Saltzman said. Thats the key difference. One is the authority to execute combat operations. The other is the services responsibility to make sure that the forces that are going to do that work have the right equipment, the right training, the right size, they have the right operational concept, the right tactics. All of that work is done by the service.

U.S. Space Force Commanding General B. Chance Saltzman discusses the newest branch of the armed services at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on Friday, May 2, 2025. Scott Turner/AL.com

Saltzman offered no revelations as to whether U.S. Space Command will actually come to Huntsville, or when it will happen. But he and Retired Brig. Gen. Damon Feltman, interim president of the Space Force Associations Huntsville Chapter, said Space Force does have a presence in Huntsville.

They said Space Force has a relationship with two space-oriented agencies in Huntsville: NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center and Missile Defense Agency. It also has relationships with some of the more than 35 aerospace industries that have a presence locally.

Obviously the science, the research, the human space flight, the technology advancements you get with NASA are tremendously valuable on the national security side, Saltzman said. We collaborate on best practices, the safety of flight, the safety of launches. Can we do this properly? Can we do it well? Can we do this together? We share a lot of information and lessons learned. We stay very well connected.

Saltzman said Space Force Guardians  as those in Space Force are called  serve in the astronaut corps.

And we have Guardians spread across NASA to continue the kind of collaboration and bring the best practices across.

Saltzman also called the Missile Defense Agency a critical partner.

We have ground-based radars and space-based sensors that help us to do the missile warning mission, which is just the beginning part of the continuum of operations that include missile defense. Obviously, if you cant identify threats, you cant negate those threats.

Saltzman said threats against U.S. satellites from other countries in the last couple of decades played a role in the creation of Space Force, which was created in 2019. Feltman told AL.com that Space Force acts similar in its relationship with the U.S. Air Force as the U.S. Marine Corps does with the U.S. Navy. The Space Command answers to the Secretary of Defense.

In addition to satellite and missile defense, the Space Force is also involved in combating cyber warfare.
UNITED STATES - Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., has introduced a bipartisan bill to support rural hospitals. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

Alabamas newest congressman estimates that six more rural hospitals could close in his district in the coming years.

That would leave just two rural hospitals, outside of Mobile and Montgomery, across the 13 counties Rep. Shomari Figures represents.

This is not sustainable, and its an issue that goes beyond health care access, said Figures, a Democrat from Mobile. It significantly impacts the economic vitality of rural communities because businesses and people do not want to be in areas that do not have hospitals.

In April, Figures, along with Brian Jack, a Republican Congressman from Georgia who previously served as the White House Director of Political Affairs during Donald Trumps first term, introduced a bill to help save rural hospitals.

It would provide grants up to $5 million for rural hospitals to support operational costs, which is currently something that is restricted on the federal level, according to Figures.

Its a bipartisan piece of legislation which is critical, Figures said. I think it shows the urgency of this issue and shows the prevalence of this issue and how this issue is not one that discriminates along party lines.

Hospitals could also have the opportunity to receive the grants more than once, so long as its not within the same five-year period.

Figures told AL.com that as hes traveled throughout his district, stretching from Mobile to Montgomery to Russell County on the Georgia line, hospital closures are the top issue constituents bring up.

If the rural hospitals close in Butler County and Crenshaw County, all of those people will then begin to flood into Montgomery County, which already has the problem with Jackson Hospital being in bankruptcy, and so this is an issue that that is impacting us in a very unique way in the state of Alabama, and one that we have to be serious about fixing, Figures said.

At least seven rural hospitals in Alabama have closed since 2011. And more than half of the states remaining 52 rural hospitals are at risk of closing, a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, with 22 identified as being at immediate risk of shutting down within the next three years.

Along with U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, who represents Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Black Belt communities in west Alabama, Figures believes we probably have, if not the worst two, certainly two of the worst healthcare access and outcome districts in America.

State legislators have tried addressing the issue during the legislative session, proposing solutions like improved tax credits for rural hospitals and establishing a tax-deductible fund to support rural hospitals, which have both passed the House chamber.

Medicaid expansion, which is a solution many say would bring more substantial support to rural hospitals, is still not being considered, according to lawmakers and experts. When Jackson Hospital filed for bankruptcy this year, officials stated that in 2023 alone the hospital spent over $45 million on the care of uninsured patients.

But Gov. Kay Ivey and other state officials have rejected calls to expand Medicaid, something that must be done on a state level.

And while on the federal level, grants and funding have been cut, including for health programs and possibly Medicaid, Figures still believes that if the bill was passed, the Department of Health and Human Services would distribute the funding.

Look, we definitely understand the environment that were in, Figures said. But we also understand that the environment that were in locally is one that requires action and some tangible results if were going to keep our rural hospitals open and keep our rural communities being a place that can grow, thrive and even be able to sustain themselves.
On a Saturday night in late April, the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) doled out awards, one of which went to Alex Thompson of Axios. The judges said he deserved the award because, Thompsons aggressive reporting on Biden, especially leading up to and after the Trump-Biden debate, revealed that the presidents cognitive decline was impacting his ability to do his job, information the White House tried to conceal. After the debate, Thompson was the first to report that Biden was at his best from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- a stunning revelation.

Thompsons aggressive reporting only started in the fourth year of Bidens term, and the bulk of it happened after that debate, not before it.

The reporters who actually broke the ice on coverage of Bidens decline were the Wall Street Journals Annie Linskey and Siobhan Hughes. Their June 4, 2024 piece, Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping detailed some of the challenges White House staff faced in propping up a diminishing U.S. president.

Then, of course, came the Titanic of presidential debates on the 24th of June, when Bidens obvious mental decline was on full display, sinking the Biden presidency.

How Did They Miss This?

Anyone who has had a loved one with serious cognitive issues knows that obvious warning signs reveal themselves over years, not days, weeks or months. And so, by June 2024, a thriving meme ecosphere had robustly grown up around Bidens deteriorating mental condition. His constant confusion fed an appetite for viral online videos where an American president couldnt navigate the steps to Air Force One or follow simple stage exiting cues.

Joe Bidens mental challenges werent just fodder for social media. They now seem to have dictated how his 2020 campaign routinely put a lid on his schedule early in the day, and how tightly controlled were all of his interactions with the press.

So, if everyone else could see it why didnt the news media?

In his remarks at the WHCA dinner in April, Axioss Thompson said, President Bidens decline and its cover-up by the people around him is a reminder that every White House, regardless of party, is capable of deception We, myself included, missed a lot of this story. And some people trust us less because of it We bear some responsibility for faith in the media being at such lows.

Notice that Thompson frames this as though he couldnt see what millions could see. Journalists tend to pride themselves on having above average powers of observation, combined with a natural curiosity and the perseverance to get answers to important questions. In this case, Thompson plays the victim of the Biden administrations deception. Why couldnt he see? Why wasnt he curious? Why didnt he investigate?

That goes for the rest of the news media as well. There were no questions in briefing rooms, and no investigative reports prior to June 2024, and even as the press had to endure routinely being humiliated, screamed at, and shooed, without pushback, from photo ops by Biden staffers.

Faking History

And so in 2025 a new campaign has begun, one designed to create a narrative where the media was duped into thinking Biden was okay, but as soon as it found out it exposed it all.

Perhaps the richest example of this is a book co-authored by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axioss Thompson titled Original Sin: President Bidens Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. Apparently, the book relies on interviews with over 200 people with insights as to what the public wasnt allowed to see. While the book acknowledges a White House cover-up, it distances the media from its own complicity in ignoring or downplaying Bidens struggles.

In fact, Tapper himself attacked Lara Trump during a 2020 interview when she raised the issue of Bidens cognitive decline. He accused Trump of mocking a Biden stutter and said she had no standing to diagnose somebodys cognitive decline.

The news media now want Americans to believe that they were on top of this story in timely fashion. Books and awards and now a series of exposes from all corners of the journalistic world are taking first crack at a fictional historical narrative that the media hopes will stick.

Can You Get Ahead of History?

One of the most common damage-control strategies is to try to get ahead of a negative story. Its pretty simple. Just break the bad news yourself instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you. That way, you can shape the accepted narrative by being first.

Thinking more long-term, if you want to define the historical record, you have to create a dominant media narrative. Future Americans will consume a historical record defined by repetitive media reports from today, which will be used as source material for books and documentaries, all to suggest that the Biden administration was 100 percent to blame for the deception.

Journalists want to manipulate the public into thinking they fulfilled their duty as members of the Fourth Estate.

This is not healthy for the republic. Conservatives need to set the record straight for the very same reasons the media is working so hard to fictionalize that record. History is at stake. Now is the time for conservatives to make sure the historical record is accurate.

Consider this. If the media, even now, is really interested in the truth, then why are they not asking who actually was in charge when Biden couldnt competently carry out the duties of the office?

Their silence on this question says all you need to know about journalistic integrity in 2025.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
A Vermont superintendent and an attorney for a public school that prohibited a young student from wearing a shirt that states There are only 2 genders now claim the school did not discipline her, and that it has consistently [done its] very best to protect free speech in schools. These officials are using local media to gaslight the Vermont public and the school community. The schools own emails reveal what actually occurred.

Peoples Academy Middle Level school in Morristown, Vermont, repeatedly disciplined thirteen-year-old student M.P. for wearing a school-prohibited T-shirt. Only when she retained legal counsel did school officials relent (though even then, she was initially threatened with discipline by a teacher). Thomas More Society special counsel Adam Hochschild alleged in a letter to school officials that M.P. had been removed from class, reprimanded, punished with in-school suspension, and admonished that her prohibited shirt was hate speech.

After the school conceded that M.P. would henceforth be permitted to wear the shirt and that her free speech rights would be respected, the matter should have ended. However, Vermont school superintendent Ryan Heraty and legal counsel Pietro Lynn then claimed in an interview with a local newspaper that the school had never disciplined M.P. and always strove to act impartially. This is classic gaslighting, in this case dismissing the young girls complaints as if the school, not she, was the victim.

The article in the Vermont Community Newspaper Groups News & Citizen references the letter from Thomas More Society and states, The student was never disciplined, according to Lynn and Heraty. Lynn is further quoted as saying, Schools generally do their very best to protect free speech in schools[.]

Heraty is quoted in the article:

Weve been put in the middle of this culture war thats using the public school system as a place to play out national politics, and we really dont want any part in national politics.

These are simply false statements. M.P. was disciplined. Peoples Academy Middle Level school fully embraced the social justice transgender ideology that it inflicted on M.P. The school didnt just happen to find itself in the middle of this culture war  the school was waging it against a young girl, and still is, as reflected in the article.

This is what actually happened: On more than one occasion, the Peoples Academy Middle Level school principal pulled M.P. out of class for wearing the verboten T-shirt, condemned the shirt as hate speech, and refused to allow her to return to class unless she removed the shirt or hid its message  hardly doing their very best to protect her free speech rights.

At the time, the school admitted in writing that it had disciplined her. In a September 2024 email to M.P.s parents, school principal Jessica Wills stated:

Today your daughter wore a shirt to school that caused harm to our learning community. ... The shirt there are only two genders is an act of harm that targets gender identity. ... You chose to take her home today, as an unexcused absence, rather than take one of our three options of providing her with a clean shirt, bringing her other clothing, or having the shirt turned inside out.

In December 2024, right after M.P. again bravely wore the shirt in direct protest against this violation of her fundamental free speech rights, the principal wrote:

I have asked [M.P.] to keep her shirt covered up several times now, she didnt want to. I offered her an alternative space to work where she would be alone, and she opted for that instead of being in classes. I will not always have an available separate space for her.

The school backed down only after the familys counsel this year demanded that the school stop censoring and disciplining M.P. Even then, the next time she wore the shirt, a teacher took her out of class and told her she would be written up.

The statement that M.P. was never disciplined suggests that being called to the office, denied liberty to return to class, and made to sit alone in a separate room from other students is not discipline. It is a false statement.

These officials would not directly respond to my specific inquiries about their public statements to the media, again displaying the opposite of being in the middle of an ideological dispute they have imposed on students. In an email, I asked Ryan Heraty:

You claim in the interview that the student was never disciplined. Is that accurate? Was she at any time told that she could not wear the shirt stating There are only two genders, or sent out of class, written up, isolated, or otherwise censored?

I received the following evasive response, which restates the faux claim that the school is victim, and not victimizer, in this dispute:

Let me do my best to answer all of your questions with one statement. We believe that all of our students should feel like they are welcome and belong in our schools. We also follow Vermont law in [sic] regards to any curriculum materials. Unfortunately, public schools are often used as a platform for political division and that is causing significant harm. We do our best to keep the focus on teaching and learning.

This school administration does its best to dissemble and deny accountability for its overt politicization of gender theory in the classroom. This superintendent and legal counsel followed up the abuse of M.P. by the public school with a hit job against her and her parents in the local media  hardly doing their best to keep the focus on teaching and learning.

When I emailed attorney Pietro Lynn, he responded, I am not authorized to communicate with you about the matter. Apparently, Lynn was authorized (and paid?) to communicate untruths to a sympathetic local media outlet, but not to answer as to how he could claim that M.P. was not disciplined for her shirt.

I directed Lynn to Vermonts Rules of Professional Conduct, which apply to him as an attorney but not to dishonest school superintendents. For example, Rule 4.1. (TRUTHFULNESS IN STATEMENTS TO OTHERS) provides that in the course of representing a client a lawyer shall not knowingly make a false statement of material fact or law to a third person. Rule 8.4. (MISCONDUCT) states, It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: ... (c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; (d) engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.

Readers can judge for themselves whether Pietro Lynn violated Vermonts Rules of Professional Conduct by stating to a newspaper that M.P. was not disciplined for wearing her shirt to school and that the school protected her rights. Lying to the media after the T-shirt event was just one more slur against this child and her family, publicly denying responsibility for egregious official policy and conduct.

Author, pastor, and attorney John Klar raises grass-fed beef and sheep in Vermont. His Substack, Small Farm Republic, is based on his 2023 book Small Farm Republic: Why Conservatives Must Embrace Local Agriculture, Reject Climate Alarmism, and Lead an Environmental Revival. John is a staff writer at Liberty Nation News.

Image: jarmoluk via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Once again, we attempt to engage in constructive dialogue with terrorists concerning nuclear disarmament. This movie has been played before and does not have a happy ending. In fact, it has been playing for over ten years. Even longer if you consider Bill Clintons failed nuclear disarmament deal with North Korea in the 1990s.

Offering to negotiate with Islamic terrorists is a statement of weakness. They fully understand our weaknesses, but we utterly fail to understand their fanaticism. Islam is closer to a barbaric political movement more akin to Nazism than the Judaeo-Christian belief system codified in the Ten Commandments. The business about thou shalt not kill or thou shalt not bear false witness doesnt hold amongst the Iranians and their proxies.

During both world wars, Muslims aligned themselves with two different German tyrants to kill Americans. No one seems to remember this or, if they do, feel that it is pertinent to understanding todays Islam. Nor do Westerners take seriously the barbarity with which Muslims fight, although October 7 should have given us a hint.

Image created using AI.

The recent failed talks with Hamas, the worthless 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, and the ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon that lasted only a day are indicative of the futility of negotiations with people who have religious permission to lie and their Prophets exhortation to spread their faith through fire and sword. I cannot understand why diplomats like Presidential Envoy Witkoff are surprised when people who have never honored a peace agreement fail to negotiate in good faith.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is an Iranian-American political scientist, Harvard-educated scholar, and businessman. His accreditations are numerous, and he warned of the dangers and consequences of the deadly Iranian nuclear game:

Tehran has played this game before: Agree to talks. Make vague promises. Extract sanctions relief. Then quietly continue nuclear development under the radar. This formula has worked for more than two decades. Right now, the only reason Iran is talking is to stall, to promise just enough to prevent America from striking it -- We are almost there! -- to keep its regime and avoid seeing its uranium centrifuges and enrichment sites blasted to rubble. The regime does not want war -- but it also cannot accept total nuclear disarmament. The Islamic Republic has smoothly outmaneuvered every administration. It has accepted deals to avoid confrontation, then quietly violated them. With each round of negotiations, Iran gained what it needed -- time, money, legitimacy -- and gave away nothing it could not reverse.

The same essay contains other information Trump officials would do well to recognize, such as former parliamentary speaker Ali Motahhari admitting that Irans nuclear goals were always about war, not energy.

Nor is the threat coming solely from Iran. Rafizadeh warns that China and Russia are helping Iran achieve its nuclear weapons goals before Trumps negotiation deadline passes.

The phrase, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, applies here. Both China and Russia believe it would hurt America to destroy Israel, which is Irans primary goal. Additionally, China gets much-needed energy from Iran, while Iran, along with North Korea, has been sending weapons to Russia. Rafizadeh explains,

Now with Trumps ultimatum delivered on March 7 to Irangiving the regime a two month deadline either to give up its nuclear and missile programs or face severe consequences Beijing and Moscow have simply been accelerating Tehrans efforts to join the nuclear club and to possess at least six nuclear bombs before Trumps deadline expires.

What Europeans and other Israel foes in the West refuse to acknowledge is that Israel is the front line in Islams war against the West. If Israel falls, the Muslim world will turn its full attention to Europe, flooding it with refugees in a way that will make 2015s mass migration look almost inconsequential.

We have already seen what mass Muslim migration has done to Europes prior status, which was very peaceful, a combination of the externally imposed Pax Americana and the internal reality of very old cultures that had ironed out most criminal behavior.

We have all read of accounts such as the mass rape of white girls by Muslim gangs in England, something the government quietly accommodated. Thus, in exchange for political support, the Labour Party had the police look the other way. Meanwhile, in gun-free Sweden, the Muslim immigrant gangs have gone beyond guns to hand grenades and IEDS.

One of the most recent examples of extreme Islamic violence occurred in France on the night of April 14. In eight cities, Islamic gangs engaged in orchestrated raids against prisons across France, using arson (reminiscent of whats happening in Israel now) and automatic weapons. The entire attack, essentially an act of war, was in response to a government attempt to crack down on drug smuggling and trafficking.

BREAKING:



A coordinated attack against French prisons across the country took place last night.



Gangs attacked a large numbers of prisons with automatic gunfire or setting cars of staff ablaze.



The attacks took place in:



- Toulon

- Aix-en-Provence

- Marseille

- Valence

- pic.twitter.com/LflVViWuOT  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) April 15, 2025

While Americas overall Muslim population is smaller than Europes, wherever Muslims and their fellow travelers are concentrated, violence follows. In Dearborn, Michigan, they call for Death to America. In Chicago, Muslim students scream, America is the cancer. Islam is the cure. Down with Democracy. Down with capitalism.

Islamic propaganda, paid for by various Islamic states, is promoted in numerous colleges across our country to subvert our society. We have passed legislation to curb this, but have excluded Qatar, a state sponsor of terrorism as bad as Iran. Qatari money purchased this exclusion.

This violent propagandizing will lead to European-style attacks from inside our country. You cannot treat the symptoms without attacking the source of the problem. Iran.

Iran, through its proxies, is encircling the Western World. Thus, Hezbollah operations in the Western hemisphere have partnered with the Mexican cartels and China in drug trafficking since the mid-1980s. Hamas came to Mexico in 2022 to aid in the construction of terror tunnels into Americasomething they could do because of the construction expertise they gained in Israel.

Iran is exercising control in Iraq. Meanwhile, despite Israels damage to Hezbollah and Hamas, those organizations are still alive, with their leaders having retreated to Turkey, Qatar, and Malaysia. Additionally, Iran has formed a new terror group to undermine the existing Sudanese government. They will keep going into the African continent unless stopped.

With or without nuclear weapons, the Mullahs are dangerous, but once nuclear, the danger becomes exponentially worse.

President Trump is not operating like a wartime president faced with an existential threat. And yet we are at war. We have been in regular conflict with Iran since the 1979 hostage crisis and the 1983 bombing in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. Marines. When we didnt retaliate, Iran understood that the U.S. was a paper tiger. And so, in the 21st century, they freely funded and directed the Iraqi insurgency.

It's time for President Trump to stop with the threats already and just strike. The Iranians are taking his measure, and they are not impressed.
How much authority does a school have over the conduct of a student off school property, not during school hours and not in attendance at any school-related activity? Sane Americans would assert the answer is self-evident: none. The Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III School District in Missouri disagrees.

A 13-year old boy, W.G., ended up with a three-day suspension for cyberbullying for a Facebook post of a homenot schoolart project. Did he harass another student? Threaten someone? Disparage school authorities? Insult mom, the flag and apple pie? None of the above, though school authorities might have liked the latter. Heres what the cyberbully did:

Graphic: Facebook Screenshot

He glued eight Dr. Pepper cans into the rough shape of a gun and posted his creation on Facebook. Some busybodies, apparently perpetually outraged parents of the school district, took offense and complained to school authorities. Sane, rational school authorities should have gently pointed out W.G.s creation violated no school rule, and particularly so since it was not a school project and wasnt done on school property. Sorry, but we have no authority in the matter. Besides a gun made of empty Dr. Pepper cans glued together isnt a threat to anyone who isnt mentally ill and hopelessly paranoidwhats wrong with you anyway? Thank you for your concern and let us know if he glues anything else together.

This despite the District Superintendent admitting: school officials had found no credible evidence of any danger.

Apparently, the Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III School District isnt sane or rational, and has a skewed view of its authority, which has caused W.G.s parents to respond:

Shortly afterward, the boys mother filed a lawsuit, led by Goldwater Institute attorneys, against the school district, claiming the school had violated the boys (called W.G. in the lawsuit) First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights. W.G. was not holding the can art in his arms nor was he displaying it in any manner that suggested the can art could potentially be used to endanger any person, and the photo contained no threatening language or anything that would suggest harm to anyone or anything, the lawsuit stated. Although the School District quickly became aware that the Plaintiff had not threatened anyone, the School District decided that they must punish W.G. W.G. brings this lawsuit to ensure that schools may not punish a student for sharing non-threatening creative expression with other students outside of school hours, even if others mistakenly believed that the students creative expression could be construed as a threat.

We dont know if school authorities, who admitted there was no credible evidence of any danger, tried to involve local police. If they did, presumably the police did their sworn, professional duty and laughed them out of the building: The kid did what?! And you think we should arrest him for gluing some Dr. Pepper cans together? No thanks; well pass on this one. Thank you for your concern and let us know if he glues anything else together.

First Amendment law is clear. Student speech and behavior can be regulated on campus during school hours and at school sponsored events off campus for the purpose of maintaining discipline and a proper academic environment. Speech that presents a knowing, intentional credible threat of harm may not be constitutionally protected. Remember in this case the Superintendent admitted there was no threat, but punished W.G. anyway despite having no jurisdiction to punish him at all. The District has been less than forthcoming:

Unfortunately, because the lawsuit involves a student, we are significantly limited in what we are legally permitted to share publicly. For now, we can only say that we have legal counsel, who will present our side of the story and defend against these allegations.

There are always two or more sides to any story, however, lets review the known facts:

*W/Gs conduct had no connection to, or effect on, school.

*Because his conduct had no connection to, or effect on school, and was constitutionally protected expression, the school district has no authority to punish him for that conduct.

*The District Superintendent admitted W.G.s conduct represented no threat, ignored the authority issue and punished him anyway.

*No sane adult could possibly see glued together Dr. Pepper cans as any kind of threat to anyone or anything.

What other side of the story is going to chip away at these facts?

One would hope the Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III School Districts school board has a majority of responsible adults willing to have a meaningful chat with the Superintendent and bid him issue a groveling admission of stupidity, a sincere apology and a check to cover all of W.G.s court and attorney costs.

Somehow, I doubt W.Gs parents are holding their breath waiting for that sort of sanity.

On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Perhaps the worst, most hostile and weaponized division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) under Bidens Handlers was the Civil Rights Division (CRD). Charged with enforcing Americas civil rights laws, it became a hotbed of leftist, woke activism. Not only did the CRD refuse to equally enforce the law, it blatantly discriminated against white people on the theory it was not possible to discriminate against them, and/or active current discrimination against whites was necessary to atone for past discrimination against Blacks.

Graphic: X Screenshot

The CRD also delighted in harassing and hamstringing Americas police departments. It used coerced consent decrees to force essentially eternal DOJ daily supervision of local police agencies under the control of hand-picked judges and specially appointed and lavishly taxpayer funded monitors. Such consent decrees required agencies to abase themselves, agreeing they were systemically racist and evil and forcing them to spend millions, avoid enforcing the law against protected victim classes and drown them in unnecessary and abusive paperwork.

In proving such agencies evil, the CRD/DOJ relied on disparate impact theory. If the Black population of Anytown, USA was 13%, but Blacks were arrested for 72% of all violent crimes and 63% of all traffic violations, the only possible explanation was racism. That objective research reveals Black Americans account for most of such arrests nationwide didnt matter. The CRD operated on what ought to be, not what is, and they absolutely hated Normal Americans and were determined to see they got what they deserved, the MAGA, racist nazis.

And thengasp!despite the best efforts of the White House, DOJ, and various corrupt local prosecutors and judges, Donald Trump was reelected. And thendouble gasp and death rattle!Harmeet Dhillon, just a few weeks ago, became chief of the CRD, and she did just what cracktivist prosecutors at the CRD feared shed do: she demanded they enforce the law in an ethical, equal, non-partisan manner.

Graphic: X Screenshot

She told attorneys in a memo last week that, from now on, woke ideology is out and the rule of law is in. She put the civil rights division on footing to protect civil rights. She told lawyers they would target antisemitism, anti-Christian discrimination, and dismantle the notoriously racist diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, and to "govern yourself accordingly."

Of the more than 340 CRD lawyers, some 100 took a buyout offer that expires in September.

Dhillon told Blaze TV's Glenn Beck that "no one has been fired by me since I came." "And en masse, dozens and now over 100 attorneys decided theyd rather not do what the job requires them to do and I think thats fine because we dont want people in the federal government who feel like its their pet project to go persecute, you know, police departments based on statistical evidence, or persecute people praying outside abortion facilities instead of doing violence," she told Beck. She continued, "Thats not the job here. The job here is to enforce the federal civil rights laws, not woke ideology."

Attorney General Pam Bondi has also made clear she knows the DOJ has many stealth leftists remaining, people who will subvert the rule of law, keep DEI alive and sabotage the Trump Administration, and shes committed to identifying them, giving them the opportunity to act ethically, and if they refuse, firing them.

Democrats, of course, are screaming bloody murder about Dhillon requiring non-partisan, ethical enforcement of the law. Theyre also worried about a CRD that actually prosecutes rather than enables election fraud. Justice Department attorneys removed from the CRD and reassigned elsewhere in the DOJ are bitterly complaining theyre being forced to work outside their areas of expertise. Such tragedy. Such entitlement.

If these highly compensated, irreplaceable public servants feel their stellar talents are being underutilized they have until September to accept a generous buyout offer. Surely litigators of their ability can make much more in the private sector if theyre willing to give up the power to bend Americans to their will, which Ms. Dhillon isnt going to let them do anymore anyway. Thats their real gripe. Try it now and theyll get fired.

The best part for Normal Americans is this is exactly what they voted for: public servants required to obey the law and serve the public. AG Bondi has every power to do what shes doing, to assign her personnel where she pleases, and to demand they obey the law and equally enforce civil rights legislation.

Graphic: X Screenshot

Democrats gleefully wielded that power and not for good. They made all manner of new rules and theyre squealing in anguish now that their new rules are being applied to them.

Its long overdue music to normal Americans ears.

On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
What kind of a government tries to shut down its political opponents?

A night-haunted dictatorship, which is what Germany is descending into, the outcome of its COVID lockdowns, its migrant surge, its self-induced energy dependence, its enfeebled green economy, and its social wokery.

According to a German expat paper, the Munich Eye:

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has classified the entire Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as confirmed right-wing extremist. This decision has prompted reactions from various political factions, with opposition parties such as the SPD, Greens, and Left Party welcoming the classification. In response, AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla announced plans to take legal action against what they describe as damaging and politically motivated claims that threaten democracy. Weidel and Chrupalla argue that the classification is an unjust attack on their party, asserting that it seeks to discredit them ahead of a potential governmental transition. They emphasize that the ruling represents a targeted effort to intervene in the democratic process and is fundamentally political in nature. The classification was made public in Cologne, where the Office for the Protection of the Constitution cited the party's extreme positions as undermining human dignity and fostering an overall hostile attitude towards migrants and Muslims. This assessment reflects an ongoing concern regarding the party's ideological direction and its implications for German democracy. In light of the new classification, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister President Daniel Gunther (CDU) has voiced support for initiating a ban on the AfD, stating that their anti-constitutional stance has long been evident, especially as they are already recognized as right-wing extremist in three German states. He called for swift action by the federal government to protect democracy. Former East Commissioner Marco Wanderwitz (CDU) echoed this sentiment, urging for a ban process to be initiated urgently. He stressed that the recent classification should serve as a clear indication of the AfD's threat to democratic values.

German after good German came out in favor of repressing the country's second-largest political party, whose map distribution can be seen here -- almost all of economically dreary East Germany went for AfD except for Leipzig and a part of Berlin that went for a party identified as "Left." Two pockets of western Germany -- Duisberg and Kaiserslautern, described in several reports as economically depressed rust-belt regions, also went for AfD.

What it looks like is an overbearing majority party -- the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, operating in tandem, are working to stomp out any embers of resistance to their longtime decadent rule, with significant failures to its record -- lost energy independence, the release of hordes of unvetted migrants from stone-age societies such as Afghanistan into their country, a failure to enforce crime laws, greenie regulations creating a lousy economy, capital flight and even the loss of old growth forests for wind farms, grotesque social trends favoring sexual perversions, and the COVID lockdown record which did so much damage to the quality of life.

Wokesterism has absolutely permeatede the society under their rule, extending to well beyond the state -- note that the German Catholic Church is financed through taxes on Catholics, making it a state organ, and now its outcome is the same as Lenin smashing churches and Hitler smashing synagogues, except that now, the nullification is from within:

German and Catholic no longer belong in the same sentence for this German sect. This must be opposed and denounced y the Cardinals gathered in Rome and every bishop around the world. https://t.co/IGphChUZ0j  Bishop J. Strickland (@BishStrickland) May 2, 2025

AfD is a relatively new party, has been making steady gains in election after election, particularly among the youth, and now stands on the cusp of being entitled to some kind of coalition-level power as the next vote in the runoff beckons.

As the Munich Eye piece noted above:

Weidel and Chrupalla argue that the classification is an unjust attack on their party, asserting that it seeks to discredit them ahead of a potential governmental transition. They emphasize that the ruling represents a targeted effort to intervene in the democratic process and is fundamentally political in nature.

So it's obvious the German rulers want to join the tyranny trend in Western Europe, with France banning its leading candidate for office from running for president, and the U.K. jailing internet critics. They seem to want to outdo them all, because neither France nor the U.K. have sought to ban entire political parties, though they may be just upstream of it, heading for the falls, too.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with customary courage, called them out for their anti-democratic activity:

Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. Thats not democracyits 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  Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 2, 2025

He got this grotesque backtalk from some anonymous bureaucrat speaking mendaciously from behind the German government transom:

WOW! Look at the German Foreign Offices direct response to Secretary Marco Rubios post 



It seems to me that the people who more align with extremism are the ones who are siccing their spies on their political opponents pic.twitter.com/fSAFh53IVm  MAGA Kitty (@SaveUSAKitty) May 3, 2025

Yes, either they are lying about German history or they really believe the National Socialist Party of Germany during the time of Hitler, with its fingers in every corporate pie and its murder of millions of Jews, was somehow right-wing. That would be the same German ruling parties that support Hamas and import millions of stone-age antisemitic migrants into their country -- the rulers of a country whose Jewish citizens are leaving. Who again, are the million little Hitlers?

Meanwhile, a corporate-state type (fascism, again, anyone?) from Germany stated this, which reflects a lot of the thinking of the German rulers:

Compare the statements by Dmitry #Medvedev and Marco #Rubio: What kind of a reality is this, when in parallel assaults against Germany's defence of democracy vis-a-vis AfD #extremism Putin's violent attack dog Medvedev sounds moderate as compared to Trump's Secretary of State? https://t.co/T5OVjqJqQj pic.twitter.com/jBTudHV1dk  Reinhard Butikofer (@bueti) May 2, 2025

Maybe it would help if Germany's rulers didn't act like Nazis to start with, give Putin ammunition, you fool

It's a terrible slide downhill for this once most admired and efficient of nations, the touchstone of prosperity and the example for all. Now it's moving hard towards dictatorship, a really ugly one directed at the powerless young people and the economically run down parts of the country.

When President Trump questions the value and money-pit expense of NATO, it's very likely the fact that these countries are rapidly slipping into tyrannies that makes them so unworthy of America's defense. Should we be defending countries with these values, countries that can no longer change course because they have banned their opponents? That have stomped out the aspirations of their young and turned foreign rapists loose on them? Or should we tell them they're on their own, we don't expend billions to defend satrapies and tyrannies against, what, other tyrannies? It makes no sense to defend countries that have decided to become tyrannies.

We are not the same.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
When Barack Obama said manufacturing jobs arent coming back, he forgot to tell J.D. Vance.

On Thursday, Vance told Fox Newss Bret Baier he was shocked at the level of next-generation technology he saw at a South Carolina steel manufacturing plant. I didnt fully appreciate how high-tech this steel facility was, said Vance. These are jobs of the future, making American steel, building bridges and automobiles, homes for the American people. And doing it in an incredibly sophisticated way.

Vance is right. And its why he should encourage President Donald Trump to make a huge investment into the jobs of the future by approving Nippon Steels $21 billion into the American steel industry.

Steels bid to take over U.S. Steel would be a massive boon for the American economy, especially in parts of the country that have been harmed by the loss of manufacturing jobs under previous administrations. The original bid, offered in December 2023, invested $14.1 billion plus over a billion dollars upgrading a Mon Valley, Pennsylvania plant and another $300 million invested in a Gary, Indiana plant.

These investments would add the technology updates Vance was talking about, refurbishing plants that have languished for years with technical upgrades and years of equipment usage extensions. And U.S. Steel has promised that the investment  which recently cranked up to a total of about $21 billion, including $5,000 checks to each American worker in the company  would also include opening a technical training center in western Pennsylvania.

As Vance noted, Trump has taken heat for wanting the jobs of the past. These are jobs that then-president Barack Obama said in 2016 were just not going to come back. Of course, some politicians have paid lip service to the future of manufacturing. The Biden administration invested billions of dollars in so-called green energy policies that were designed to replace old manufacturing processes and technologies.

But  and brace yourself  this was mostly a waste of taxpayer money that actually hurts the environment and doesnt add to the economic pie. Nippon Steels investment, meanwhile, will actually create positive environmental impacts by upgrading efficiencies and capabilities in old equipment. On the human level, the investment will directly impact 22,000 Americans and their families and communities. It will also temporarily employ thousands of others who will upgrade facilities and run the training center in western PA.

And its all from the private sector, meaning that it will expand Americas economic pie. It will increase the tax base. And it will bring relief to Americans whose professional, financial, and familial futures are uncertain right now.

With all the cards laid out, its time for President Trump to change his mind. He opposed the Nippon Steel deal on the 2024 campaign trail, and Vances home state company Cleveland Cliffs has offered a competing bid to purchase U.S. Steel. But with $575 million in Biden-era climate funding about to end for Cleveland Cliffs and around 2,000 layoffs announced by the company in recent months, the path to the jobs of the future is clear.

And it doesnt involve wasting taxpayer dollars for political agendas. It happens by encouraging private investment that bypasses the arrogance and neglect of Washington elites, and goes right to the hardworking American people.

Image via Pxhere.
Sure, it's a weather balloon, but sometimes these weather balloons turn out to be right.

Axios is reporting that Stephen Miller is in line to be President Trump's National Security Advisor, now that Mike Waltz has been asked to lead the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.

President Trump's top policy adviser, Stephen Miller, is garnering buzz inside the White House as a top candidate to be the next national security adviser, five sources familiar with the situation tell Axios. Why it matters: Miller  the deputy chief of staff and the brain behind Trump's controversial immigration crackdown  is one of the president's longest-serving and most-trusted aides. Miller's name surfaced shortly after Trump removed Mike Waltz as national security adviser on Thursday and nominated Waltz to become the next United Nations ambassador.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is temporarily taking over Waltz's responsibilities, but sources familiar with his thinking say he's busy enough running the State Department. Zoom in: Miller already is the administration's Homeland Security adviser, and is an aggressive defender of the administration's legal push for immediate deportations of unauthorized immigrants without court hearings. One White House source told Axios via text that Miller has made the Homeland Security Council run "like clockwork," and that it's "infinitely more effective than the NSC [National Security Council] with a tiny fraction" of the staff.

That would be the knife-sharp advisor who was last seen fileting the media beast:

Stephen Miller is the assassin the leftist lapdogs of the legacy media dread the most. He exposes their pathetic inability to tell simple truths day after day after day with a terrifying lack of pity.



Love this guy! pic.twitter.com/0vgVZzSMXe  James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) May 1, 2025

He is hyper-competent, having engineered the border crackdown which is Trump's strongest success so far; he has been a Trump loyalist from the very beginning of the first Trump term, serving through all of it; he's an able communicator, he never waivers, and he is said to get on very well with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another stellar appointee in the Trump administration now.

He could be called the sharpest knife in the Trump drawer.

As National Security Advisor, he could give the job a lot of heft -- and the best part is that our enemies will fear him. Imagine being an Iranian mullah and watching that Miller takedown of the press, as well as the uncompromising success at the border? Would you want to mess with that guy?

Don't think they don't watch this sort of thing -- back in 1981, when Ronald Reagan fired the air traffic controllers for defying the law by going on strike, the Soviets watched intently and adjusted their calculations accordingly. The mullahs, Russia's Vlad Putin, China's Xi, Venezuela's narco-dictatorship, Cuba's and Nicaragua's satraps, and assorted thugs and thieves running other countries are going to sit up and pay attention.

All that will serve to prevent a lot of mayhem from happening. Recall that Putin feared what Trump would do during his first administration, which is why he held off on invading Ukraine until the more predictable Joe Biden came in and began his reign of incompetence. Once that was in place, the coast was clear to invade Ukraine.

Miller, though, would be even more unpredictable for Putin, never having leaked, never having made mistakes -- and likely to get in his face if does something stupid.

Miller knows the mind of the left, having been raised a conservative in Santa Monica, surrounded by an ocean of raging, crazy, unhinged, intolerant leftists. He knows who the friends are and who the enemy is and doesn't make any errors distinguishing them.

He looks nonchalantly old beyond his years, not bothering to install hair plugs like aging Joe Biden did in his middle age, but actually, he's very young, only 39 years old. That he doesn't care about swamp vanity priorities sends the secondary message to them that he's not one of them.

Meanwhile, his long record of hard work and competence speaks for many more productive -- and dare we say it -- great -- years ahead serving President Trump, making what Trump envisions and speaks of become the cold hard reality.

A Stephen Miller as NSA chief sounds like a beautiful thing. Bring it on!

Image: Screen shot from X video.
Its happened again.

You know the story.

An illegal alien with a long rap sheet, released from custody to prowl the streets. Murders someone.

Andres Fernandez De La Paz, illegal alien from Cuba, charged in execution of man in front of his family in Houston



- Released into US by Obama admin

- Long rap sheet

- Under FBI investigation for years

- Ordered deported in 2019 but released after Cuba refused him



Story coming pic.twitter.com/pW4BUX1vWX  Border Hawk (@BorderHawkNews) May 1, 2025

In this latest case (that I know of as I write this), he is an illegal alien from Cuba who had previously killed a man, who fatally shot a Texas father in front of his two children on April 27th.

Thirty-six-year-old Andres Fernandez De La Paz was captured on home surveillance video fatally shooting a 34-year-old Harris County, Texas, father in front of his family. The wife of the victim says De La Paz previously threatened to kill her entire family and flee to Mexico.

The murderer illegally entered the U.S. in 2016 and was to be removed in 2019. He was last released from prison less than 6 months ago, in November of 2024. De La Paz, who was the subject of multiple ICE detainers, apparently ran a credit card skimming scheme in his spare time.

I think we all know what this means: De La Paz will be Democrats next love interest.

Im sure hes already got a GoFundMe page. Id bet his bail will be reduced, and he will be let out of prison again in a jiffy.

Democrats will fall all over themselves to visit the Texas man.

Multiple Democrats will say something like, Why, hes the victim! He was driven insane by Donald Trumps crazy and damaging policies! What chance did he have in a MAGA-ridden society like ours?! He may make an appearance on The View and have an ode written to him.

The mainstream media, as always, has carried the Democrats water and de-emphasized De La Pazs immigration status  to the extent it has even covered the heinous crime.

So, whats next? Democrats may well run him in an election after his release. Unless he transitions while hes in the slammer, in which case they will run she/her or they/them.

Image: X video screen shot
Sometimes, Trump is just playin' around.

And when he does, the left has a cow -- and then he kicks back and enjoys it.

You'd think they'd know enough not to take the bait by now ... but they don't.

So now we have this:

( @realDonaldTrump - Truth Social Post )

( Donald J. Trump - May 02, 2025, 10:29 PM ET ) pic.twitter.com/5jk7fz1DeM  Donald J. Trump  TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) May 3, 2025

... which is pretty funny.

It was obviously keying off pope portraits from centuries past, such as Diego Velazquez's Pope Innocent X, circa 1650:

Image: Wikimedia Commons, via Picryl // public domain

Or Jacques-Louis David's Pope Pius VII, from 1805:

Image: Wikipedia // public domain

It also reminds me of what his ally, President Nayyib Bukele once did, posting a pic of himself dressed in some grand and heroic costume around the time when he was trolling as 'the world's coolest dictator' -- once again, solely to freak out the left.

Trump, recall, said he liked to borrow from Bukele. Maybe Barron and Don, Jr. showed him that picture, which seems unavailable for now.

But sure enough, Trump got the result he was looking for -- the left melting down:

Literally the official White House and POTUS Instagram accounts posted this pic of Donald Trump as the pope. Like nothing is sacrilege to this man. pic.twitter.com/xvVVvPT1eU  Cynthia McLeod (@SunnyCynthia) May 3, 2025

Less than two weeks after the Pope died, the White House reposts this from President Trumps Twitter (ridiculously renamed X) account. The Trumpies are a disgrace and embarrassment to this country and everything it used to stand for. pic.twitter.com/vyLkNeaGHU  Hans Kristensen (also on Bluesky) (@nukestrat) May 3, 2025

Trump rebuked for posting AI image of himself as pope: pathological megalomaniahttps://t.co/EbLEV7j0D3  South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) May 3, 2025

Its disrespectful and offensive for #Trump to depict himself as the Popeespecially following the passing of a leader known for humility, compassion, and moral clarity.



We need a successor who embodies those same virtues.



I am so embarassed that 77 million people voted for pic.twitter.com/DokbUVvevK  Krutika Kuppalli, MD FIDSA (@KrutikaKuppalli) May 3, 2025

The meme is the message.



Trump as pope is a cheap, tacky throwaway joke. But "cheap, tacky, throwaway" is the White House brand now. Everything is disposable and ephemeral. Nothing is lasting and real.  Bethel McGrew  (@BMcGrewvy) May 3, 2025

This is blasphemous. It is irreverent and disrespectful. The Pope just died and was laid to rest, last Saturday. Trump broke protocol at the funeral by wearing a bright blue suit. Then he fell asleep. And this is what he does? pic.twitter.com/XjKzidPcOM  Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) May 3, 2025

Trump's representation of himself as the Pope is sacrilegious and anti-Christian. He mocks Christian values like humility and care for the vulnerable, and his advisors are too afraid to say the emperor has no clothes. He's courting the ugliest parts of American history, from  Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) May 3, 2025

Donald Trump just posted a photo of himself as the Pope.



It's full-on lunacy at this point. pic.twitter.com/7be1cIgUwK  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) May 3, 2025

Less than two weeks after the death of Pope Francis, the White House posts an AI image of Trump dressed as the pope. I wonder if New York's Cardinal Dolan, just appointed by Trump to some "religious liberties" panel, finds it funny, or appropriate.https://t.co/wFQP9NBr09  Dan Barry (@DanBarryNYT) May 3, 2025

Hopefully, he did.

Trump posts image of himself as pope on Truth Social. Critics erupt https://t.co/Y802MmdkWN pic.twitter.com/3evhjREB0B  The Independent (@Independent) May 3, 2025

He knew the adage coined by Salena Zito, that leftists take Trump "literally, but not seriously," while middle Americans take him "seriously, but not literally," still applies.

Meanwhile, smarter heads recognized that one needs to laugh once in awhile:

It is important to have a sense of humour in this life.



President Trump jokes about Canada become the 51st State, Canadians cut their nose off to spite their face.



President Trump jokes about becoming the next pope, Catholics: https://t.co/JX26fo26EM  Fr Calvin Robinson (@calvinrobinson) May 3, 2025

A MESSAGE FROM POPE DONALD JOHN TRUMP THE FIRST: pic.twitter.com/oDkGmwrnjx  Shawn Farash (@Shawn_Farash) May 3, 2025

Trump had been noodling around with the idea a bit earlier, actually, enjoying the idea of being pope and jacking with them, before he posted the picture:

President Trump: Id like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice. He goes on to suggest that Cardinal Dolan of New York would make a good pontiff.

pic.twitter.com/3byaaOcrmL  Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) April 29, 2025

In the end, he got their goat, which was the idea. There's nothing sacrilegious about posing in a pope costume. Little kids do it on Halloween all the time. What's more, this same harrumphing class howling about 'sacrilege' and 'blasphemy' has been sickening silent about real sacrilege and blasphemy coming from Democrats -- from Joe Biden suing the Little Sisters of the Poor to force them to bankroll abortions, to the Washington state lawmakers who just voted to force priests to break the seal of confession, a violation of the First Amendment if there ever was one.

Most Catholics found the whole Trump-pope trolling funny because we all know he's not gonna get elected pope.

But not the left. Trump knows he can always count on the left to take the bait -- because they never learn.

Image: X meme screen shot
Google TV has seen multiple changes in recent months. More recently, Google TV got multiple free channels alongside the Free TV button on its remote. Google is now looking to introduce a simplified setup process for your Google TV device. Its worth noting that the new set-up experience will show up on a few TVs first.

Google TV has announced a simplified setup process involving Android and iOS devices

If you already use Google TV, you must be aware that the current setup process isnt tad long either. However, the new simplified process can at least make it faster. In The Keyword post from yesterday, Google explained that the setup will change in a few ways.

First, when you first turn on the TV, your Android phone will automatically notify you that your device is ready. Thereafter, you can log in smoothly. If you are on iOS, youll get a QR code for simplified setup of your Google TV device.

Google TV Streamer  $99 Pick up the best Google TV streaming device on the market today. Google TV Streamer is just $99 and offers 4K HDR and Dolby Vision support. Buy at Amazon

Besides a simplified setup experience, Google is also changing how apps are installed during the set up process. While there arent many details around it, it could be that youll have to wait a little less for the app to get all the necessary installation files before you can browse.

Google also notes, worry less about running out of storage down the line. This could mean that those files might be lightweight too. Thats not all; Google TV will also be able to connect to your home devices more quickly. Explaining the same, Google notes that you can, Use Google Home speakers to pause the TV, search for movies or shows, and control smart home devices.

Image: Google

You can experience the new setup process on select Hisense TVs

The new set up process will first be available on Hisenses 2025 U7 series and 2025 U8 series. The company will expand this simplified set up process to other Google TV devices, including Walmart-exclusive Onn Streaming devices, later down the line. Lets not forget that the Chromecast with Google TV is also getting a third-party revival, in the form of the Thomson Cast 150.
Labor supporters celebrate at a reception for Anthony Albanese in Hurlstone Park, New South Wales. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPA

Australias centre-left prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has won a second term with a crushing victory over the opposition, whose rightwing leader, Peter Dutton, failed to brush off comparisons with Donald Trump and ended up losing his own seat.

Albaneses Labor party scored an unexpectedly comfortable win on Saturday, after a five-week election campaign dominated by the cost of living and global economic uncertainty.

At the turn of the year, Labor was struggling in the polls, but Dutton ran a campaign derided by commentators as one of the worst in Australian political history, and the former police detective struggled to clearly dissociate himself from some Trump-like rhetoric and policies.

Albanese, 62, had pitched himself as a steady hand to guide Australia through a period of global turbulence turbocharged by Trumps tariff war. He becomes the first Australian prime minister to serve consecutive terms since 2004.

With counting continuing into Sunday morning, Labor was projected to win comfortably more than 76 of the 150 lower house seats needed to form a majority government, with an increased share of votes bucking a recent trend against the two major parties.

Addressing the party faithful in Sydney, Albanese said voters had chosen Australian values, including fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all.

Australians have voted for a future that holds true to these values, a future built on everything that brings us together as Australians, and everything that sets our nation apart from the world, he said.

In an apparent reference to Trumps policies, Albanese said he would choose the Australian way.

We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else. We do not seek our inspiration from overseas. We find it right here in our values and in our people, he said.

Labor was certain to add to the 77 seats it held going into the election, with the opposition Liberal/National Coalition projected to receive its lowest ever national vote and to lose further seats.

In a six-minute concession speech, Dutton accepted full responsibility for the partys wipeout, which included losing his own seat, and said that the party had unfortunately been defined by our opponents in this election.

Its not our night, as I point out, and there are good members, good candidates, who have lost their seats or their ambition, and Im sorry for that  we have an amazing party, and well rebuild.

The Australian conservative partys loss mirrored that of the recent election in Canada where the centre-left Liberal party won a fourth-term despite being well behind in the polls in the leadup to the election.

Like Dutton, Canadas Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, lost the seat he had held since 2004 in an election dominated by the impact of Trumps presidency.

Meanwhile, most if not all of the inner-city teal independents elected at the previous poll in 2022 seemed certain to retain their seats, with several other independents, some in regional areas, having a good chance of adding to their number.

However, it was a disappointing night for the Greens, who were projected to lose two of the three Brisbane seats they sensationally won in 2022, even as their national vote remained static at around 13%. Even the apparently safe Melbourne seat of their leader, Adam Bandt, seemed in a certain amount of jeopardy.

Dutton was first elected in 2001 and is one of his partys most senior members. He has held a number of ministerial positions, including defence and immigration, since 2013.

He had consistently led in the national polls since the end of 2023, but the USs decision to place tariffs on Australian exports made associations with Trump detrimental to the opposition partys brand.

The opposition leader avoided mentioning the US president during the election campaign, even as some of his senior colleagues referred to Trumps slogans at political rallies.

Months before the campaign officially kicked off, Dutton had announced a government efficiency unit to scale back waste, mirroring the Elon Musk-led so-called department of government efficiency in the US.

The oppositions Indigenous affairs spokesperson, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who used Trumps slogan during the campaign, accused the media of slinging mud and smearing the party for making links to the US president.

Donald Trump doesnt own those four words, the senator said on ABC, referring to the Make Australia Great Again slogan she used.

Counting to determine the final shape of the House of Representatives and the Senate (the upper house) will take several days, if not weeks in the case of a few seats.

Voting is compulsory in Australia and is based on a preferential voting system. Voters number candidates in order of their preferences for both houses.

The rise of independent challengers has complicated the counting process, with complex preference flows requiring more time to determine the final two candidates.

Australia has had six different prime ministers in two decades after a series of leadership changes amid internal politics.
ADAMS20250504

Thursdays local elections and the Runcorn by-election have been variously described as a bloodbath, the end of two-party politics and (by an ecstatic Nigel Farage) as a Reformquake. For once, though, the hyperbole is at least partly justified.

Reform UK really did achieve a nationwide breakthrough across the North, the Midlands and even parts of the South. It took control of 10 councils and now has two directly elected mayors. Its victory in Runcorn and Helsby, a seat close to Labours Liverpool stronghold, has clearly rattled Downing Street. Many Tories seem traumatised.

What now? Reform has shown that it is a highly professional election-winning machine, but it has yet to prove that it can deliver competent local government. If Mr Farage and his 677 new councillors merely talk about efficiency and cutting waste, but do little else, the party will lose momentum.

In our highly centralised system of administration, much local spending is mandated by Whitehall. Councils have no power over migration, though they may try to resist Labours plans to impose large numbers of asylum-seekers in hotels or rented housing. Reform-led local authorities should leave it to their colleagues in Westminster to make national policy, such as leaving the ECHR  or be guilty of the charge of grandstanding that they have levelled at Labour and other parties of the Left.

So, what are the tests by which Reform should be judged at local level? First, it should carry out the promise to eliminate staff and policies devoted to DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). The same applies to officials who spend their time (and taxpayers money) promoting solidarity with Gaza or other causes for which councils have neither the responsibility nor the resources.

Eliminating waste is not as easy as it sounds. Mr Farages boast about having a Doge (Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency) in every council should be taken seriously but not literally. The challenges will often be humdrum: renegotiating contracts for services such as filling potholes, or ending working from home. Reform must put business before pleasure.

The second test will be to delay and, if possible, dismantle the expensive apparatus of net zero at the local level, especially where national policies are coercive. Reform councils will run into opposition from Ed Milibands Energy Department, but they now have proof of wide public support. There should be no performative lawbreaking, in the manner of the far-Left. But the answer to Sir Keir Starmers accusation of ideological zealotry is to show as little zeal as possible in carrying out deeply unpopular policies  for example, penalising small businesses with extortionate charges to drive their vans.

It is on transport, indeed, that councils still have considerable leeway to make policy. It is vital that Reform wages war on anti-motorist schemes such as low traffic neighbourhoods, lower speed limits and cycle lanes. Many local authorities treat motorists as milch cows, using fines and charges to fund their own improvidence. The best councils are fair to all road users.

Anyone who thinks local elections make no difference should go to Birmingham: choked with rubbish, paralysed by strikes and bankrupt. Reform voters will not only expect better services, but also lower bills. They know that doubling council tax on second homes is not only unfair but bad for the local economy. Nor will they accept annual hikes that have left the average Band D council tax bill at 2,280. Reform has ridden the wave of a taxpayers revolt. Now it must keep its promise to offer better value for money.

What of the shellshocked Conservative Party? Most of its councillors in the 16 local authorities where it has just lost control are decent, hardworking and competent. It is hardly their fault that they are still atoning for past sins at national level. They and other loyalists are understandably angry. Some are bound to blame the leadership. Last years general election was a painful defeat; this one feels existential.

Kemi Badenoch therefore finds herself with a mission that has just got more impossible than ever. What must she do? She needs to make it clearer that under her the Tories will never revert to the consensus of the Blair-Brown and Cameron-Osborne years. If she hopes to be compared to Margaret Thatcher, she must earn that right by forging her own brand of radical Conservatism.

As a self-made woman and the first British African to lead her (or any) party, Mrs Badenoch has a good story to tell, but many voters have yet to hear it. Leadership speculation is a displacement activity, when what is needed is hard work. The Tories, who are still the second largest party in local government, need to show that they alone understand the crucial importance of enterprise to every community. Mrs Badenoch must champion cuts in business rates to contrast with the job-destroying fiscal follies of the Labour Government.

There is still everything to play for. By the time of next years even bigger local elections, the public will be able to judge how well Nigels Reform has served local people, and whether Kemis Conservatives are at last putting country before party.
The SpaceX facility in Boca Chica, Texas. Photograph: Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Voters in a small patch of south Texas voted this weekend to give Elon Musk a town to call his own, officially creating a new city called Starbase in the area where Musks SpaceX holds rocket launches.

A couple of hundred residents of what was previously known as Boca Chica decided to make their unincorporated neighborhoods into a town that will grant them the authority to pass city ordinances.

The ballot, which also named a senior SpaceX representative as its mayor with 100% of the early vote, was never really in doubt.

Most of the 283 eligible voters were SpaceX employees or had connections to the company, whose billionaire chief has long wanted a human mission to Mars.

Starbase, Texas, Musk wrote on his social media platform X, Is now a real city!

His post came after polls closed and unofficial results published by Cameron County showed an unambiguous 97.7% backing for the project.

Musk himself is registered to vote, the Cameron County election coordinator, Remi Garza, told Agence France-Presse, but the South African-born 53-year-old had yet to cast his ballot when the early voting period closed on 29 April.

The creation of Starbase puts Musk in the unusual position of holding sway over a company town, a distinction that has more in common with Gilded Age industrialists than most modern US businesses. It is a small victory for the worlds richest man as he pivots away from his job as de facto leader of the department of government efficiency  a role that has elicited furious backlash and hurt his public image as well as his businesses.

Much like with Doge, Musk will not officially be in charge of Starbase. The entirety of the future city revolves around SpaceX, however, and it is almost entirely made up of the companys employees and their kin. The Starbase population, as of 2025, is a little over 500 people, 260 of whom are SpaceX employees. The others are mostly family members of workers, according to Bloomberg.

The towns new mayor, 36-year-old Bobby Peden, has worked at SpaceX since 2013 and is vice-president of test and launch operations in Texas. Peden, along with two other city commissioner candidates who are also SpaceX employees, ran unopposed.

Starbase sits on a tiny piece of land near the Mexican border on a small bay that feeds into the Gulf of Mexico. Prefabricated houses, Airstream trailers and palm trees line the streets. An imperious golden bust of Musk stands nine feet tall outside the town. A plaque on its pedestal reads ELON AKA Memelord.

Last month, vandals defaced the statue by peeling off layers of foam and fiberglass from its cheeks. There is an employee-only restaurant called Astropub with a neon red Occupy Mars sign behind the bar. One of the main boulevards is called Memes Street.

Although creating Starbase is probably somewhat of a vanity project, one which Musk has been touting for years, it does grant the potential city and its SpaceX leadership powers over what to do with the land. Company workers submitted identical statements to a legislative hearing in April arguing that creating the town would help with logistics and coordination around issues such as road closures during test launches, the Associated Press reported.

Opposing Starbase

The incorporation of Starbase has also faced protests and pushback from others in the area. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network activist group has been holding protests and urging Texans to email their state representatives to oppose the incorporation. The group argued that creating Starbase would allow SpaceX to close access to the public beach in the town whenever it wants and block others from using the public land.

Boca Chica Beach is meant for the people, not Elon Musk to control, the organization said in a statement on its site. For generations, residents have visited Boca Chica beach for fishing, swimming, recreation, and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe has spiritual ties to the beach. They should be able to keep access.

Musk has in previous years made grand pronouncements about the future of Starbase while urging employees to move to the town. Starbase will grow by several thousand people over the next year or two, he posted on X in 2021.

SpaceX has become an increasingly valuable part of Musks empire as Teslas performance has tanked and the government has turned to SpaceX for billions of dollars in contracts related to space travel.

Musk has relocated his primary residence and businesses to Texas in recent years. He lives in a $35m sprawling compound in Austin that houses three separate mansions. During his backing of Trumps re-election last year, he temporarily uprooted and moved to the swing state of Pennsylvania.

Musk then took up residence in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building while serving as senior adviser to Donald Trump, but left the White House in late April as he shifts back to overseeing his companies.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report
Recep Tayyip Erdogan (l) with Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar at the Teknofest at Ercan airport in Lefkosia. The Turkish president was in northern Cyprus on Saturday to inaugurate a new presidential residence and parliament complex. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has warned protesters in breakaway northern Cyprus not to sow seeds of hatred amid mounting discord over Ankaras perceived attempts to Islamise one of the worlds most secular Muslim societies.

In a whirlwind visit to the Turkish-occupied territory on Saturday the leader had tough words for Turkish Cypriots who have stepped up demonstrations against policies he openly endorses, not least a controversial law allowing headscarves to be worn in schools.

Those who try to disrupt our brotherhood, to create a rift between us, and to sow the seeds of hatred  will not be successful, he said as he inaugurated a new presidential residence and parliament in the self-styled state.

Later, as he addressed a technology festival, he went further, telling trade unions that opposed the measure: If you try to mess with our girls headscarves in the Turkish republic of northern Cyprus, I am sorry, you will find us against you.

On Friday thousands of Turkish Cypriots took to the streets of Nicosia, the countrys war-split capital, chanting hands off our land as they denounced the legislation.

In a speech before a crowd metres away from Turkeys embassy compound, Selma Eylem, who heads the Cyprus Turkish secondary education teachers trade union, said the regulation was tantamount to imposing political Islam on a society that not only prided itself on its secular identity but inherently secular way of life.

We say, once again, to the representatives of the AKP [Erdogans Islamist-rooted party]: Keep your hands off our children and keep your hands off our society.

Erdogan had hoped to use the trip to showcase Ankaras continuing support for a community that it had in 1974 sought to rescue when Turkish troops were ordered to invade Cyprus, seizing its northern third.

The military operation had followed a rightwing, Athens-backed coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece. In the more than 50 years that have elapsed, the territory, which unilaterally declared independence in 1983, has been recognised by no other country but Turkey.

Ahead of his visit officials had said that Erdogans focus would be on the opening of the big government complex, financed by Ankara with the aim of promoting international acceptance for the isolated entity.

On Saturday the Turkish president insisted that in the wake of decades of failed peace talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots only a two-state solution could be discussed to resolve the wests longest running diplomatic dispute.

The two-state solution is the joint vision of Turkey and northern Cyprus, he said. Any new negotiation process must be between two sovereign states.

Fridays demonstration, which followed almost daily protests over the hijab law, was organised by more than 100 trade unions and civil societies many of which still advocate the islands reunification as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.

Partly because of Kemalism but also because of eighty-two years of British colonial rule, Turkish Cypriots are by far the most secular Muslims in the world, said Hubert Faustmann, professor of history and political science at the University of Nicosia in the internationally recognised south.

For Turkish Cypriots who have long opposed Ankaras ever-expanding influence in the north, the regulation, he said, was further proof of the leaders determination to not only erode long-held secular traditions but ultimately alter their own identity.

What we are witnessing is a cultural clash, Faustmann said. The legislation on headscarves is seen as part of a package of continuous attempts by Erdogan to unwind the secular character of the community.

With the backlash showing no sign of abating, Turkish Cypriots appear determined to have the measure repealed  even if it has been vigorously defended by the communitys leader, Ersin Tatar, a close Erdogan ally who argues the law protects students from discrimination.

If we are to save ourselves we have to continue this struggle, said Sener Elcil, a veteran former trade unionist.

Increasingly, he lamented, Turkish Cypriots had been made to feel like a minority in our own land as a result of hundreds of thousands of mainland settlers moving to the north.

Religion was never a point of division on this island but after years of building mosques that Turkish Cypriots dont even go to, they want to make it one in our schools, he added. Now, more than ever, we need to stand up to Erdogan and have our voices heard.
Irish deputy premier Simon Harris has said he doesnt believe that weapons are been flown through Irelands airspace to Israel.

But he said it was a real challenge to know what is being carried through Irish skies and said more work was needed in this area.

The Tanaiste was speaking on RTEs The Late Late Show, where he was asked about his leadership of Fine Gael, neutrality and Donald Trumps 100 days in office.

Tanaiste Simon Harris (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

He said he had spoken to officials in his department on Friday about the Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban trade between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements.

The bill had been stalled until after Novembers general election, after which the Government suggested that new legislation was now required.

Were going to have to do more (on Palestine), Mr Harris said.

I meant it when I said I think we should legislate in relation to the Occupied Territories.

I will fulfil the commitment of the programme for government to bring forward legislation in relation to the occupied territories, we have to do everything humanly possible here, use every lever at our disposal, he said.

He said that delays in passing legislation were about ensuring it is legally robust.

Ive been talking to officials in my Department on it as recently as today, and we will bring forward legislation, and Ill have a further update on what I hope is the timeline for that next week.

Asked if weapons were being flown through Irish skies to Israel, Mr Harris said: I dont believe it is.

But he admitted more international co-operation was needed to find out what is being flown through Irish skies.

I think we obviously need to see if theres more that needs to be done in relation to that, he said.

The information available to me is that people need to seek consent before any such flights take place, and there is no information available to me in relation to that happening.

I think this is a fair point you ask. I also have to be very conscious that when planes fly well above our skies, the ability of Ireland on its own to know exactly what goes through Irish airspace is a real challenge.

I do think we need to work at an international level in terms of the treaties that govern those issues.

I accept theres more that needs to be done in relation to that.

Mr Harris, who is the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, said that children in Gaza are being starved and there are reports of basic pain-killing medication being unavailable.

Hamas, let me be clear, is a despicable terrorist organisation, they offer the people of Palestine no future, he said.

What happened in Israel on October 7 is a disgusting terrorist attack. All the hostages should be released, of course.

What is happening to the people of Gaza is despicable, disgusting, unconscionable and a humanitarian catastrophe. And weve got to continue to do everything we can, (use) every lever in Ireland and at a European level to help bring about a ceasefire.
Jack Draper can establish himself as the most in-form player in the mens game with a second major ATP Tour title in two months in Madrid on Sunday.

The 23-year-old, who is yet to drop a set, has already guaranteed himself a spot in the top five of the rankings and can move to within a handful of points of world number four Taylor Fritz with victory over Casper Ruud in the final.

Draper made a huge breakthrough by winning the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in March, but victory in one of the biggest tournaments on clay, which had been considered his weakest surfaces, would be a major statement.

He would be the first man this season to win two Masters 1000 titles, while he would also close to within 100 points of Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the Race to Turin standings, which measures performances in 2025.

An ATP Finals debut in November already looks very much on the cards, and Drapers sensational form has certainly not gone unnoticed in the locker room less than a month out from the French Open.

After becoming the Londoners latest victim, Italian Lorenzo Musetti said: Jack at the moment I think, if (hes) not the best player in the world, (hes) one of them. Hes really a complete player.

Andy Murray is the only British player to win Masters titles on hard court and clay, with the Scots second Madrid crown coming 10 years ago.

Draper has long been considered the heir to Murrays throne, and he attributes his elevation to the very top of the game to a leap in confidence in both his body and his game.

Finding the right balance between aggression and solidity has been key. Draper spent a brief period working with former top-10 player Wayne Ferreira last summer and, while the South Africans efforts to make him an all-out attacking player did not sit right, they helped him find the right path.

Draper told a press conference: I got to 50 in the world by counter-punching and being defensive, and then I was in a bit of a crisis last year thinking, Wheres my game going to go? What do I need to change?

I tried to maybe go the opposite end of the spectrum and try and hit every ball as hard as I can. It didnt really work that experiment. What was important was I learned how to be defensive and do all those things but also attack when I need to attack.

I think Ive got the balance a lot better now. Im a big guy but Im not just a guy who hits big serves and can hit a big winner. I can do everything on the court and I think thats what all the top players are able to do.

Having confidence in his body has also taken time, with Draper dogged by injuries earlier in his career and frequently breaking down physically.

Coming through three best-of-five-set matches at the Australian Open in January after a hip injury affected his build-up proved the challenge he needed.

That gave me massive physical and mental belief that I could push myself to places Ive never been before, he said.

Jack Draper slides into a forehand (Manu Fernandez/AP)

I kind of went from thinking that I was weak and I wasnt going to be able to carry on to then feeling, Wow, Im actually pretty strong.

Whenever I do gym stuff now, I really try and push myself because I know that Im going to have moments like (against Musetti) where the match gets really physical and, if Ive done all that work and I know Ive done it, then I feel like Im well prepared and I can push myself to the place I need to go.

Draper goes into a first meeting with Ruud as the higher-ranked player but the Norwegian, who will return to the top 10 on Monday, has significantly more experience on clay having twice reached the French Open final.
Lucy Powell faces calls to step down over her comments on the gang grooming issue - Eddie Mulholland

Lucy Powell, the Labour Cabinet minister, is facing calls to resign after dismissing the grooming gangs scandal as a dog whistle issue.

Ms Powell, the Leader of the House of Commons, accused a political commentator of blowing a little trumpet when he brought up a Channel 4 documentary on the subject.

Her remarks were branded as a disgusting betrayal of the victims, who called for her to retract her statements or step down.

Tim Montgomerie, the founder of ConservativeHome, said in a discussion about diversity spending by councils on BBC Radio 4s Any Questions: I dont know if you saw the documentary on Channel 4 about rape gangs.

The Reform supporter was then interrupted by Ms Powell, the MP for Manchester Central, who said: Oh, we want to blow that little trumpet now, do we? Yeah, OK, lets get that dog whistle out.

Mr Montgomerie added: There is a real issue where There were so many people in local government, in the authorities, who, for good reason, were worried about upsetting community tensions, that those girls went undefended.

The documentary, Groomed: A National Scandal, told the stories of five girls who were sexually abused by rape gangs.

Tim Montgomerie was accused of blowing a little trumpet when he brought up the documentary about the grooming gang scandal - Tim Clarke

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: Labours Lucy Powell thinks its a dog whistle to demand arrests and accountability for the rape gangs. What a disgusting betrayal of the victims. They are part of the cover-up.

Katie Lam, a shadow Tory whip, wrote on X: If the Leader of the House of Commons does not, in fact, think that industrialised child sexual torture is just a dog whistle and a little trumpet, she should take it back and say sorry.

If she does actually think that, she has no business being in Cabinet and should resign.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: This shocking outburst from a Labour Cabinet minister belittles the thousands of girls and women who were raped by grooming gangs over decades.

We have consistently called for a national enquiry in Parliament, which has been blocked by Labour ministers who dont seem to know or care about the disgusting crimes which have been perpetrated.

Anyone who has seen the shocking Channel 4 documentary will know that it is clearer than ever that this is not a dog whistle. To dismiss thousands of victims who were raped and the cover up that followed is sickening.

A Labour MP even appeared to question her future on Saturday night, saying: Ive already messaged No 10. The TV programme that was being referred to was interviewing girls from Manchester, where she is the MP. She has apologised, but

Rejected calls for national inquiry

Labour was criticised earlier this year over its handling of the grooming gangs scandal, where thousands of children were sexually abused by gangs of men, predominantly of Pakistani heritage.

The Government has so far rejected calls for a full national inquiry, but is awaiting the findings from an audit by Baroness Casey into grooming, its scale, nature and profile of the gangs behind it, including the characteristics of offenders.

But figures from Reform, the Conservatives and some within Labour have said that a statutory inquiry is necessary for justice.

Oldham, in Greater Manchester, is one of the areas where locally-led inquiries into the grooming gangs scandal are being held.

Mr Montgomerie announced in December that he would be defecting from the Tories to Reform over broken promises on immigration.

He told Radio 4: One good thing about having a new party is it will ask difficult questions. Theres no legacy of vested interests, and there is a real issue.

I think Britain is one of the most tolerant countries in the world, and there always needs to be more progress on racial issues, there always needs to be more progress.

But its not so much the amount of money that is spent on employing diversity officers. You talk to a lot of civil servants, the amount of time they now have to spend monitoring this issue, above all others, is [extraordinary].

Ms Powell responded: What absolute nonsense.

She added: Go and sit in council for a day and actually see what theyre dealing with. Youve got no idea, Im afraid.

Ms Powell issued a statement on X saying she wished to clarify her remarks.

She said: In the heat of a discussion on AQ, I would like to clarify that I regard issues of child exploitation and grooming with the utmost seriousness. Im sorry if this was unclear. I was challenging the political point scoring around it, not the issue itself. As a constituency MP, Ive dealt with horrendous cases. This Government is acting to get to the truth and deliver justice.

A Reform UK spokesman said: If yesterdays local election results werent enough, Lucy Powells abhorrent comments truly demonstrate how out of touch the Labour Party is.

She does not take the mass rape of young girls by predominantly Pakistani men seriously. The mask has slipped.

After these comments, Keir Starmer should consider if Lucy Powell is fit to serve.

Labour and Ms Powell have been approached for comment.
Protesting farmers drive their tractors past Houses of Parliament - Paul Grover for The Telegraph

A Labour peer has come under fire for saying farmers protesting in Whitehall against the Governments inheritance tax (IHT) raid did not look very poor because of their shiny tractors.

Lord Foulkes, a minister under Sir Tony Blair, said that the protesters who had come to Westminster drove sparkling, new, expensive tractors.

He suggested that Conservative opposition to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves raid against farmers was because they always want to make the rich even richer.

The remarks prompted fury from farming and rural organisations, who said they only widened the divide between countryside and Westminster.

A key argument from the farming community against the IHT raid is that farmers are typically asset rich, but income poor.

Lord Foulkes claimed Tories how oppose the tax raid on farmers only want to make the rich even richer - Patrick Seeger/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Challenging a colleague, the Labour peer told the House of Lords on Thursday: Did my noble friend notice that, when the farmers blocked Whitehall with their tractors  sparkling, new, expensive tractors  they did not look very poor?

Has he noticed that, when the Tories talk about tax, they always want to make the rich even richer?

Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said: This Labour peer has revealed what Labour really thinks about the countryside: that all family farmers must be rich and Labour is happy to tax them out of existence.

Labour ministers excuses for pushing through the vindictive family farm Tax dont add up but they dont care. With their super-majority, city-dwelling ministers have calculated they can target and tax the countryside and family businesses.

The Government has so far refused a U-turn on its planned changes to agricultural property relief, which would introduce a 20 per cent inheritance tax on estates worth more than 1 million.

Farming and rural organisations have said the tax could be ruinous for family businesses and risks creating a mental health crisis among older farmers.

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance, accused Lord Foulkes of being out of touch.

He told The Telegraph: The family farm tax and general government approach to rural policy so far is clearly damaging Labours reputation in rural areas.

I suspect there are numerous Labour rural MPs that shudder when colleagues deliver such out-of-touch commentary.

There is a concern within the countryside that many in Labour are pursuing this dangerous tax for ideological kicks and comments like this only widen the divide between countryside and Westminster.

Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers Union, said: Trying to link having a valuable machine which is part of the working capital of the farm, often on higher purchase rather than owned outright, it feels like theyre looking for excuses not to change rather than recognising the genuine problems.

It comes after Labour lost more than 180 councillors in the local elections, with Reform UK making sweeping gains in rural areas such as Lincolnshire.

In response to Lord Foulkess remarks, Lord Livermore, Labours growth minister in the Lords, said: It is incredibly important that the decisions we take make the tax system fairer and more sustainable, and I believe that is absolutely what we are doing.

Despite a very tough fiscal context, we are maintaining considerably more generous reliefs in this sector than exist anywhere else in the tax system.
The Royal Parks policing unit was founded in 2004, but specialist park keepers have patrolled the areas since 1872 - Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Scotland Yards decision to scrap its dedicated Royal Parks unit after more than 150 years has prompted fears of a crime surge.

The Metropolitan Police has announced that the specialist unit will be disbanded from November 1 and its officers moved to local teams in a bid to help cope with a 260 million funding shortfall.

Around 77 officers and 17 special constables are currently responsible for responding to serious crimes, protecting wildlife and policing events, such as the Changing of the Guard, across 5,000 acres of Londons royal parkland, including Hyde Park, Regents Park, Richmond Park, Greenwich Park and Bushy Park.

The decision to scrap the unit has drawn criticism, with warnings that criminals will take advantage of the move to target walkers, cyclists and families enjoying the parks facilities.

Criminal incidents reported in the parks have already risen by around a third from 76 in the year between 2022 and 2023 to 101 in between 2023 and 2024, according to the Royal Parks latest annual report.

These include cyclists being forced off their bikes with threats of violence, sexual offences, mobile phone thefts and drug dealing.

Other incidents have included gangs chasing deer with dogs at night to remove their antlers and sell them online.

Criminal incidents in the Royal Parks have already increased, including attacks on the wildlife - Nick Moore/Alamy Stock Photo

The dedicated Royal Parks policing unit has existed since 2004, taking over from the Royal Parks Constabulary, which was set up in 1974. Before that, park keepers were responsible for policing the areas since 1872.

In a letter announcing the decision, Metropolitan Police Commander Owain Richards stated: It is with regret that we have taken the tough decision to no longer have a dedicated Royal Parks policing team.

The Royal Parks charity, which spends around 65 million a year managing and maintaining the historic parkland, has expressed its disappointment and has pledged to work with the Met in a bid to ensure public safety.

Gareth Roberts, the Liberal Democrat leader of Richmond Council and a member of the London Assembly, warned that a rise in crime was almost inevitable, with an area the combined size of Heathrow and Gatwick airports being left largely unpoliced.

Mr Roberts, who is also a Royal Parks trustee, said: This is a huge mistake. At a time when residents are already concerned about the visibility of policing, this decision will do nothing to reassure them. The loss of the specialist policing team would leave them more vulnerable to crime and anti-social behaviour.

Decisions like this undermine public confidence in local policing. Losing this specialist team places an additional burden on already overstretched local policing resources and risks leaving our parks unprotected.

Dr Tina Challacombe, chairwoman of Friends of Greenwich Park, has said she is concerned for the future safety and security of park visitors - Escapetheofficejob/Alamy Stock Photo

Rachel Blake, the Labour MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said she was deeply concerned by the move.

She told Sky News: With crime in the parks rising, removing a dedicated and experienced police presence is a serious mistake. These officers have specialist knowledge that cannot simply be replaced by a small number of overstretched neighbourhood officers.

At a time when both the Government and the mayor are investing in policing, I am calling for the Metropolitan Police to provide a like-for-like replacement of Royal Parks officers to protect the safety of everyone who uses these vital green spaces.

A spokesman for the Royal Parks said: We are disappointed with the Metropolitan Police Services decision to close its dedicated Royal Parks police unit.

We want to reassure the public that we are working closely with the police over the next six months to ensure a plan is put in place to maintain public safety once the unit is fully disbanded.

Dr Tina Challacombe, chairwoman of the Friends of Greenwich Park committee, said: We are very sad and disappointed to lose the parks police. We are concerned for the future safety and security of visitors to the park and also the enforcement of traffic regulations.

The Yards funding shortfall has led to a reduction in 1,700 police, staff and community support officers.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, blamed the cuts on chronic underfunding of the Met by the previous Conservative government and said the reductions had been made to protect neighbourhood policing.

A Met spokesman said: Park users and partners can be reassured the Met will continue to respond to emergency calls, patrol hotspot areas, investigate crimes, and support events in Royal Parks across London.

The Met is prioritising neighbourhood policing and sees this as a positive opportunity to integrate the Royal Parks into local community crime-fighting plans and ensure a wider pool of officers understand the unique requirements of parks policing.
A municipal worker washes the bronze monument of the Soviet Union Marshal Georgy Zhukov in St. Petersburg, Russia - ANATOLY MALTSEV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Russia has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of making a direct threat to its World War II commemorations on May 9, after the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not take responsibility for ensuring safety on the day.

On Monday, Putin declared a three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9  when Putin will host international leaders, including Chinese president Xi Jinping  and May 10.

But Mr Zelensky on Friday dismissed the truce as theatrics and said Ukraine wont be playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putins exit from isolation on 9 May.

This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war, Mr Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president added that we cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore, we will not give you any guarantees.

Russia responded by calling his statement a direct threat.

He is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and celebrations on the holy day, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Leaders of around 20 countries have accepted invitations to join this years celebration, according to the Kremlin. Russian officials have promised grand celebrations for the occasion, during which Putin will seek to rally support for his troops fighting in Ukraine.

Armoured vehicles rehearse for a Victory Day military parade - Yulia Morozova

The Kremlin spokesperson said that Russia wanted a definitive response from Kyiv regarding the ceasefire, and that Putins three-day offer was a test to assess Kyivs readiness for long-term peace.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias security council and a former Russian president, also weighed in, calling Mr Zelenskys statement a verbal provocation.

(Mr Zelensky) understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10, Mr Medvedev said.

The Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and Washington in March, and has since made only slim contributions to US president Donald Trumps efforts to broker an end to the three-year Russian invasion.

The United States has warned it could abandon efforts to broker a ceasefire if it does not see progress towards an end to the war.

Washington is seeking a complete, durable ceasefire and an end to the conflict, rather than a three-day moment so you can celebrate something else, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said this week.

In a meeting with journalists, Mr Zelensky said that Mr Trump had started looking at things a little differently following their one-to-one Vatican meeting.

He added that the brief 15-minute meeting, which took place on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral, was the best that the two men have had together.

I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently. Well see. Thats his vision, his choice in any case, the Ukrainian president told journalists.

Mr Zelensky spoke to journalists at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday - HANDOUT

Mr Zelensky said that he and Mr Trump agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards peace in the war in Ukraine.

He also said he raised the topic of sanctions, and that the response of the US president to this question was very strong.

Russia and Ukraine continued tit-for-tat exchanges on Friday night and Saturday. A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, wounded 47 people and damaged residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles, officials said.

Meanwhile, Russias defence ministry said its air defences shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.

In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to mayor Andrey Kravchenko.

On Saturday, Kyiv destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, Ukraines GUR military intelligence agency announced on Saturday, in what it said was the worlds first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone.

Its statement on social media said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiisk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea.

Outmanned and outgunned by its larger, wealthier Russian adversary, Ukraine has turned to drone warfare in the air and at sea as a way to fight back throughout more than three years of full-scale war.

Ukraines seaborne drones, which are much cheaper and smaller than conventional ships, have wrought havoc on Russias Black Sea fleet.

Ukraine has previously said it shot down a Russian military helicopter in December 2024 using a missile fired from the same type of seaborne drone.

The Russian defence ministry did not comment on the Ukrainian claim, but an authoritative Russian blogger believed to be close to the ministry said the jet had been shot down.

Ukraine also worked to repel an overnight Russian attack on Kyiv, officials said early on Sunday.

Witnesses told Reuters they heard several explosions which sounded like air defence systems.

05:08 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thank you for following our coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The live blog is now closed.

04:08 PM BST

Explainer: Why Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9

Victory Day is one of Russias most important public holidays. For Vladimir Putin, it is an opportunity to project to his people an image of Russia as a powerful nation of winners, standing on the right side of history in defeating fascism.

Nazi Germanys unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 pm on May 8, 1945, marked as Victory in Europe Day by France, Britain and the United States.

In Moscow it was already May 9, which became the Soviet Unions Victory Day.

Soviet leader Josef Stalin decreed a holiday, and the first victory parade on Red Square, featuring captured German insignia, was held on June 24, 1945.

Under Putin, Victory Day increasingly became a muscular display not only of marching battalions but also of Russias latest weaponry, including warplanes, tanks, and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

03:12 PM BST

Zelensky hails Albaneses election win and calls for stronger ties

Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese on his election win on Saturday, saying he hoped to further strengthen ties between Kyiv and Canberra.

Ukraine sincerely values Australias unwavering support and its principled stance on ending Russias war and securing a dignified and lasting peace. We look forward to further strengthening our productive partnership, Mr Zelensky said in a post on X.

02:57 PM BST

Watch: Ukraine claims first in the world destruction of manned enemy aircraft with sea-based drone

Credit: Telegram/@DIUkraine

02:26 PM BST

Ukraine says it shot down Russian fighter jet from sea drone for first time

Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet using a missile fired from a seaborne drone, Ukraines GUR military intelligence agency said on Saturday, in what it said was the worlds first downing of a combat plane by a maritime drone.

Its statement on social media said the fighter had been shot down by a military intelligence unit called Group 13 on Friday over waters near Novorossiysk, a major Russian port city on the Black Sea.

Outmanned and outgunned by its larger, wealthier Russian adversary, Ukraine has turned to drone warfare in the air and at sea as a way to fight back throughout the three years of full-scale war.

Ukraines seaborne drones, which are much cheaper and smaller than conventional ships, have wrought havoc on Russias Black Sea fleet.

01:55 PM BST

Watch: Huge blaze as Russian drone strikes Velykyi Burluk

Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

01:36 PM BST

Trump sees things differently after Vatican meeting, Zelensky says

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Donald Trump has started looking at things a little differently following their one-to-one Vatican meeting.

I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a little differently. Well see. Thats his vision, his choice in any case, the Ukrainian president told journalists.

He added that the brief 15-minute meeting, which took place on the sidelines of Pope Francis funeral, was the best that the two men have had together.

Mr Zelensky said that he and Mr Trump agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow was the correct first step towards peace in the war in Ukraine. He also said he raised the topic of sanctions, and that the response of the US president to this question was very strong.

Volodymyr Zelensky meets with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of Pope Franciss funeral at St Peters Basilica at the Vatican - Telegram /@ermaka2022/AFP via Getty Images

The White House had earlier described the meeting as very productive.

It was the pairs first face-to-face encounter since Februarys disastrous Oval Office showdown. During that meeting, Mr Trump had told Mr Zelensky, you dont have the cards, and that he was not winning against Russia.

On Friday, the United States also said it would no longer mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia after Vladimir Putin refused to sign up to a ceasefire.

The State Department said it was 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.

01:16 PM BST

Kremlin says it wants a definitive Ukrainian response to Putins offer of a three-day ceasefire

The Kremlin has said it wanted a definitive response from Ukraine to Russian president Vladimir Putins offer of a three-day ceasefire to coincide with World War Two victory commemorations this month.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky already appears to have ruled out such a ceasefire, saying he is only ready to agree if the ceasefire will last at least 30 days, an idea Putin has said needs a lot of work before it can become a reality.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putins three-day offer was a test to assess Kyivs readiness to search for a peaceful settlement to end the war.

Putin on Monday declared the three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 - when Putin will host international leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping - and May 10.

12:56 PM BST

Russia accuses Zelensky of making direct threat to May 9 events

Russia on Saturday accused Volodymyr Zelensky of threatening the security of its World War II commemorations on May 9, after the Ukrainian president said Kyiv would not take responsibility for ensuring safety on the day.

He is threatening the physical safety of veterans who will come to parades and celebrations on the holy day, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram. His statement ... is, of course, a direct threat.

12:39 PM BST

In pictures: Latest from Ukraine

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky talking with journalists during a press conference in Kyiv - UKRAINE PRESIDENCY/AFP via Getty Image

Firefighters try to extinguish fire broke out after Shahed drone attack on a residential apartment in Kharkiv - tate Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

Debris from a Russian drone in Kharkiv - Viktoriia Yakymenko/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

12:17 PM BST

Putins three-day truce is theatrical performance, says Zelensky

Earlier we reported that Volodymyr Zelensky had dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin as theatrics but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.

In new comments published online, Mr Zelensky also reportedly said: This is more of a theatrical performance on his part. Because in two or three days, it is impossible to develop a plan for the next steps to end the war.

11:58 AM BST

Medvedev says nobody can guarantee Kyivs safety if Ukraine attacks Moscow on May 9

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias security council, said nobody could guarantee that Kyiv would survive to see May 10 if Ukraine attacked Moscow during World War Two victory celebrations on May 9.

Russian president Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in May to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two.

The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run on May 8, May 9 - when Putin will host international leaders including Chinese president Xi Jinping - and May 10.

Responding to Moscows offer of the three-day ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready as long as the ceasefire would be 30 days in length, something Putin had already ruled out in the near term.

Mr Zelensky said Ukraine, given the continued war with Russia, could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries who came to Moscow for the traditional May 9 victory parade.

We cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They are responsible for your security, and therefore we will not give you any guarantees, he said.

Mr Medvedev, a former Russian president who has emerged as one of Moscows most outspoken anti-Western hawks since the start of Russias war in Ukraine, called Mr Zelenskys statement a verbal provocation and said nobody had asked for Kyivs security guarantees for the May 9 events.

(Zelensky) understands that in the event of a real provocation on Victory Day, nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10, Mr Medvedev said.

11:47 AM BST

Watch: Moment Russias Novorossiysk hit by Ukrainian drone strike

Credit: Reuters

Video footage shared on social media Saturday captured the moment of a Ukrainian drone attack on a building in the Russian port city of Novorossiysk.

Reuters was able to confirm the location by the building structures and road layout seen in the video which matched file and satellite imagery. Reuters was not able to independently verify the date of the video however the incident was confirmed by statements from local authorities and corroborating aftermath videos from the location.

Andrei Kravchenko, the mayor of Novorossiysk, declared a state of emergency on Saturday after he said the attack had damaged residential buildings and injured at least five people, including two children.

There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, whose air force said Russia had attacked Ukraine overnight with 183 drones and two ballistic missiles.

11:33 AM BST

Russia says it shot down 170 drones overnight

Russias defence ministry said it shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.

In southern Russia, five people, including two children, were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to mayor Andrey Kravchenko.

11:22 AM BST

Zelensky says wont play Putins games with short truce

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin coinciding with Moscows World War II commemorations, but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.

Ukraine wont be playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putins exit from isolation on 9 May when some international leaders are expected in Moscow, he said.

11:09 AM BST

US State Dept approves possible sale of F-16 fighter jets

The US Department of State has approved a possible deal to provide training and equipment for F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine.

It includes the potential sale of F-16 training and sustainment, along with related equipment, to Ukraine for $310 million, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The sale could include aircraft modifications and upgrades, flight training, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts, repair, ground handling equipment, classified software, classified publications and support.

11:05 AM BST

In pictures

A Ukrainian military unit takes part in the rehearsals of the VE Day 80th anniversary procession in the early hours of the morning in London - Chris J Ratcliffe

A fire burns at the site of a drone strike near a residential building in Kharkiv - SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

At least 47 people were injured, including one child, according to the National Police. Scores injured in drone attacks in Kharkiv - SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

10:50 AM 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.

We will continue to help, but we will no longer fly around the world as mediators in meetings, said Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson.

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.

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.

Read more here

10:41 AM BST

Russian drone attack wounds 47 in Kharkiv

Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv - REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova

A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, wounded 47 people, local officials said.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations in the city late Friday. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles were damaged in the assault, according to Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Following the attack on Kharkiv, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged stronger, more decisive support from the countrys allies.

While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defence. Strong and real decisions are needed from our partners  the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace, he wrote on social media.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Saturday that Russia fired 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight. Of those, 77 were intercepted by Ukrainian defences, while a further 73 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. The Air Force also reported that Russia launched two ballistic missiles.

10:39 AM BST

Russias Medvedev says Trumps statement about US World War Two role was pretentious nonsense

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, has said that president Donald Trumps assertion that the US had done more than any other country to win World War Two was pretentious nonsense.

Mr Trump posted on social network Truth Social late on Thursday that nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance in both world wars, and that we did more than any other country, by far, in producing a victorious result in World War II.

Mr Medvedev, a former Russian president who has emerged as one of Moscows most outspoken anti-Western hawks since the start of Russias war in Ukraine, made his own statement.

Trump recently announced that the US made the biggest contribution to victory in World War Two and that he will introduce a special holiday on May 8. A holiday is not a bad thing, but his first statement is pretentious nonsense, Mr Medvedev said.

Our people sacrificed 27 million lives of their sons and daughters in the name of destroying accursed fascism. Therefore, Victory Day is ours and it is May 9! So it was, so it is, so it will always be! wrote Mr Medvedev.

10:37 AM BST

Welcome to our live blog

Good morning and welcome to our Ukraine-Russia live blog.
A protest camp at Swarthmore College on 24 April 2024 in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Photograph: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

On the morning of 3 May, the Swarthmore borough police department disbanded a four-day pro-Palestinian encampment on Swarthmore Colleges campus and arrested nine activists.

The demonstration calling on the college to divest from the tech company Cisco due to its ties to the Israeli government was a rare uprising in an academic year where higher-education institutions have been quick to quash them. One current and one former Swarthmore College student were among those arrested, while the rest were from outside the college community, the colleges president, Valerie Smith, said in a statement.

With rising concerns about safety and security on campus, a continued and growing presence of individuals unaffiliated with the college, warnings from outside law enforcement agencies and no signs that protestors were willing to engage in conversation that would bring the encampment to an end, Smith said, I felt we had no choice but to seek outside assistance from local law enforcement.

Related: They staged protests for Palestine. The consequences have been life-changing

Around 7.30am on 3 May, Q, a Temple University student who is using a pseudonym out of fear of legal repercussions, was outside his tent at a Swarthmore College pro-Palestinian encampment in Pennsylvania when he said that he received a call from Swarthmore College students.

They told him that they had seen dozens of police cars approaching the campus entrance in the distance and that a sweep of the encampment was imminent. Q started filming the sweep on his phone as about 40 officers swarmed the campus. As nine students stood with their arms linked together, he said, he watched law enforcement grab the activists and pin them to the ground.

Theres a bunch of people all filming, Q, who was not arrested, told the Guardian, watching the police do this insane thing that has never happened in most peoples memory.

A member of the Philadelphia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Q said that he had been informed of the encampment through the chapters network and helped organize the protest. During the few days the encampment existed, Q said that activists hosted reading circles and taught each other political education: It was crazy to see how admin was responding by threatening repeatedly.

Related: Trump news at a glance: Rubio tangles with Germany; crackdown on campus protests continues

In a 1 May statement to the campus community, Smith said that the protesters had vandalized campus property. Should they continue to fail to disperse and violate the colleges policies and the law, Smith said, we will have no choice but to escalate our response as we consider all actions to bring the encampment to an end.

The sweep of Swarthmore Colleges encampment comes as a total of nine Swarthmore College students  eight current and one former  were given notices of their interim suspension beginning on Thursday for erecting the encampment earlier in the week. Students on leave of absences are considered former students and the interim suspension could affect their eligibility to resume their enrollment, Swarthmore College spokesperson Alisa Giardinelli said in an email. The students in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, were suspended without due process and were told to evacuate from campus, said Swarthmores SJP in a 2 May statement.

The interim suspension bans students from campus, Giardinelli said, and they must complete a student-conduct process before being allowed to return or access the schools resources and services. It is up to the discretion of a students faculty members whether they can continue their work remotely. Due process exists in legal proceedings, Giardinelli said. Swarthmores student-conduct process, like those of many universities, is administrative in nature.

Spade, a Swarthmore College student who is using a pseudonym out of fear of retaliation, said that he took a break from the demonstration to shower in his dorm room when he received an email from the colleges dean of student conduct. The email stated that he was now on interim suspension, meaning that he was ineligible from taking classes and being involved in college social activities or sports, pending an investigation. He had three hours to pack up his belongings and vacate the campus, which he did, moving into a friends apartment in Philadelphia.

I was obviously feeling quite surveilled, kind of shocked and then quite angry, Spade said, because the school was suspending students for protesting.

SJP had used social media to encourage activists outside of the college to join the encampment, Smith said, and they ignored repeated requests to vacate Trotter Lawn, where they erected the camp. We informed students multiple times, both verbally and in writing, that they were violating several policies in the student code of conduct. Students were instructed to disband the encampment and leave Trotter Lawn, and repeatedly warned that failure to do so would lead to interim suspensions.

Swarthmore College is one of 60 schools under investigation for what the Trump administration considers antisemitic harassment on campus.

Protesters at a handful of higher-education institutions have started campus encampments this spring in a revival of last years pro-Palestinian movement in opposition to Israels war on Gaza, where at least 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October 2023, when roughly 1,100 Israelis were killed. But this year, pro-Palestinian campus protests have been dampened by crackdowns and punitive measures from the Trump administration.

Related: Trump repeats legally dubious threat to take away Harvards tax-exempt status

On Yale Universitys campus in late April, hundreds of student protesters set up an encampment that dispersed within a couple of hours. Some of them are facing disciplinary action from the university. And at Tulane University, seven students are facing punitive measures including suspension or expulsion for attending an off-campus protest in New Orleans demanding the release of the pro-Palestinian former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil.

For Spade, his future at Swarthmore College remains in limbo as he awaits the results of an investigation. Hes concerned that the disciplinary action could jeopardize funding for research projects that hes working on at the school, the ability for him to study abroad in the future, or even him being allowed to return to the campus in the fall.

Still, Spade said that reflecting on the destroyed higher-education institutions in Palestine helps put his interim suspension into perspective. Any repression we face here is completely minuscule compared to what were actually fighting for, Spade said, which is an end to the genocide.

 This article was amended on 3 May 2025 to correct an inaccurately referenced 2024 Yale encampment. Also, an earlier version reported that 62,000 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023; this was based on a previously maintained Al Jazeera tracker that included information from the Gaza health ministry and other sources. The article was amended on 7 May 2025 to give, consistent with wider Guardian reporting, the health ministry figure, which is 52,000.
Guardian Australia ordered an Uber Eats vegetarian sausage and a meat sausage with sauces and onion. It cost $11.60 for both sausages including delivery and a service fee. Photograph: Caitlin Cassidy/The Guardian

Democracy sausages have long been a fixture of the Australian election  but this year food delivery behemoth Uber Eats is cashing in on the beloved tradition.

Uber Eats is offering voters democracy sausages on 3 May for hardworking Australians who dont have access to a snag on election day.

But unlike the regular democracy sausages, which are a fundraising opportunity for the schools, churches and community halls where polling centres are located, these snags are prepared at democracy sausage stores operated by Maverick, an external marketing company.

In Sydney, for instance, they are being cooked and packed for delivery at a temporary kitchen available for hire in Ultimo, according to Uber Eats.

Related: As Australia heads to the polls, big parties brace for rise of independents

The sausages are only available in certain inner parts of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday from midday until sold out, with 1,000 available in each city. Users outside the delivery zone are told they can buy ingredients to construct their own on the Uber Eats app.

Guardian Australia ordered a vegetarian sausage and a meat sausage with sauces and onion on Saturday afternoon. It cost $11.60 for both sausages including delivery and service fee. Uber said $3.50 for every sausage would be donated to Australian Red Cross partners, to the maximum value of $10,500.

The products arrived in less than 30 minutes, in green boxes which read democracy sausage delivered. Inside the boxes were a single sausage on a piece of white bread, sauce sachets and another quote reading exercise your democratic bite.



The sausages, which were reasonably cold, were contained in a sheet designed to look like ballot paper. But rather than listing candidates, the paper ticked the customers preferences for sauces, onion and variety of sausage, with a disclaimer noting this is not an official voting form.

The managing director of Uber Eats Australia, Ed Kitchen, said thousands of Australians were likely to miss out on democracy sausages as not every polling place had a barbecue.

For those of you able to make use of a local sausage sizzle, I strongly encourage you to support the community fundraising efforts first and foremost  thats what Ill be doing, he said.

The company enlisted celebrity chef Iain Huey Hewitson to promote the deal. He said he was pleased to don my sausage suspenders to help ensure finding a democracy sausage is obtainable this year in areas where the local school might not be turning over these tasty morsels.

Some social media users raised their eyebrows at Uber capitalising on the trend.

Many polling centres are located at schools, which take the opportunity to fundraise by offering a barbecue, cake stall, or selling plants or books.

Related: Coalition braces for tough result as Albanese hopes to be first PM to win re-election since Howard

That is so unAustralian, one user posted on Facebook. Schools or community groups are meant to make a few dollars selling a sausage sizzle. Not some big corporations.

Another labelled it a thoughtless tone deaf publicity stunt, while a third simply wrote: who wants a cold limp sausage? Its democracy manifest.

The democracy sausage has grown in popularity in recent years and was listed as the word of the year by the Australian National Dictionary Centre in 2016, cementing its place in the Australian lexicon.

Alex Dawson from the Democracy Sausage project had uploaded more than 1,600 sausage stalls and other stands operating around the nation to its grassroots website days out from the election, 900 more than the last federal election in 2022.

There were reports of election day sausage sizzles at every continent in the globe this year  including Antarctica.

According to Kate Armstrong at the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD), the term democracy sausage was coined around 2010 when a Snag Votes website first listed and mapped polling places offering a sausage in bread.

The popularity of the democracy sausage is in part due to voting being compulsory in Australia, she said.

Polling places are typically primary schools and community halls, and polling days are on Saturday  naturally this presents an ideal opportunity for local associations and parents and friends groups to fundraise by setting up food- or refreshment-based activities around their polling place.

Early on it was cakes, jams and even crafts, but with the rise in popularity of the portable gas barbecue in the 80s, this extended to the much-loved Aussie sausage sizzle.
Labor MP for Macnamara in Victoria Josh Burns and his girlfriend, Victorian MP for the Animal Justice party Georgie Purcell, pose for a selfie amid celebrating supporters after Burns retained his seat in the Australian federal election. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/The Guardian

Fears of a Labor bloodbath in Victoria in the federal election were utterly confounded, with the Liberals recording a statewide swing against them and the party all but certain to lose several seats.

Late on Saturday night, according to the Australian Electoral Commission, Labor had won 23 of the states 38 seats while the Coalition was at six  three held by the Nationals and three by the Liberals. Independents had three, with six still in doubt. The Liberals had seen a swing of nearly 2% away from them.

The Liberals had campaigned hard in the state, running advertising tying Anthony Albanese to the long-serving and poor-polling state Labor government, led by Jacinta Allan, in the hope of clawing back outer suburban seats such as Aston, Chisholm, Dunkley and McEwen, and gaining seats such as Bruce, Hawke and Gorton.

Related: Anthony Albanese claims a piece of history as scale of Labor victory stuns raucous crowd | Josh Butler

Even senior members of Victorian Labor expected a swing away from the party of about 1.5%-2.5%  with some members of the state caucus actively considering a leadership challenge against Allan if several seats were lost.

But instead, there was a swing of about 1.8% towards the party, on top of the 54.8% two-party-preferred result in 2022, itself a high-water mark.

Labor was expected to hold Chisholm, Dunkley and Aston, as well as winning the seats of Deakin and Menzies from the Liberals.

In Deakin, one of the most marginal seats going into the election, Labors Matt Gregg was expected to defeat the Coalition housing spokesperson, Michael Sukkar, while in Menzies, Labors Gabriel Ng was on track to take the seat from the Liberal MP Keith Wolahan.

Victorian Labor insiders claim the result in the eastern suburbs is a repudiation of the Coalitions election commitment to cut funding to the Suburban Rail Loop  one of the state governments flagship infrastructure projects, which runs through the three electorates.

In Macnamara, which stretches across Melbournes inner bayside suburbs, Labors Josh Burns was expected to retain the seat, defying expectations that a result would take days, as it was among the tightest three-cornered contests in the country in 2022.

About 10% of the electorates population is Jewish, making it the second-largest Jewish electorate in the country. The community was angered by what it said was Labors failure to stand firmly with Israel amid the war in Gaza, sparked by the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023.

Burns, one of the few Jewish MPs in federal parliament, also faced a relentless campaign from Advance Australia and J-United during the campaign. But there has been a 5% swing towards him.

I honestly didnt think this night would happen. We had blue to the right and green to the left, but the red army turned up, Burns told party faithful at Port Melbourne Bowling Club.

We have had a lot thrown at us and the lesson is one where you have to be true to yourself and this party.

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, suffered a 5.4% swing against him in his seat of Melbourne, leaving the seat in doubt on Saturday night. Bandt remained ahead on primary votes, but Liberal preferences were expected to flow to Labor.

Bandt did not address the swing against him when speaking to supporters, but said the party was confident it would retain between one and four MPs in the lower house. He said he was confident the Greens would retain the Queensland seat of Ryan.

The Greens were also behind in the seat of Wills late on Saturday night, despite a huge campaign mounted by the former state leader Samantha Ratnam.

From the numbers we have tonight, we have had at least a 10% swing towards us, Ratnam told the Greens election party in Melbourne. We still have a lot of counting to go  watch this space.

Related: Andrew Bolt says it was the voters who were wrong as Sky News commentators grieve Dutton election loss | Amanda Meade

The Liberals attempt to win back ground from the teals also looked set to fail, with Amelia Hamer in Kooyong and Tim Wilson in Goldstein both behind Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel respectively.

Speaking at Trades Hall, Allan said Victoria had yet again defied the polls.

A lot of commentators and conservative politicians have built a career on kicking down on our state, our party and our unions  and every time we prove them wrong, the premier said.

The incredible results for Labor in our state arent despite whats happening in Victoria, but because of whats happening here in Victoria.

Tony Barry, a former senior Liberal staffer now with the political consultancy RedBridge, blamed the Liberals poor showing in Victoria on the state branch, which has been bitterly divided since the former leader John Pesutto expelled Moira Deeming from the party room in 2023.

At the end of 2024 Deeming won her defamation action against Pesutto, who then lost the leadership of the party. She was promoted by the new leader, Brad Battin, as his representative to the western suburbs days before the federal prepoll opened.

The great problem for the Liberal party as a whole is to rebuild such a broken institution, Barry said.
Voice of America broadcasts in 50 languages worldwide. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/AP

A federal appeals court has foiled a plan to return more than 1,000 Voice of America (VoA) workers to their desks after an earlier court ruling granted a temporary stay on Donald Trumps executive order dismantling the US taxpayer-funded news service for overseas listeners. Now it seems unlikely that broadcasters will return to work until the case has been resolved by the courts.

A Saturday ruling by a divided DC circuit court panel essentially decided that the courts must defer to the executive branch on employment matters. Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas  both Trump appointees  found that the lower court likely did not have jurisdiction to order the employees back to work. Their ruling paused the part of the lower court order requiring the administration take all necessary steps to return USAGM employees and contractors to their status prior to the executive order.

Judge Nina Pillard, a Barack Obama appointee, said in her dissent on Saturday the decision was tantamount to silencing Voice of America for the foreseeable future.

Related: A cocktail for a misinformed world: why China and Russia are cheering Trumps attacks on media

VoA was effectively shut down after Trump signed an order on 14 March dismantling or shrinking seven agencies including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

The USAGM is an independent government agency that oversees VoA and distributes congressionally appropriated funds to several non-profit broadcasters that provide news and information in almost 50 languages in countries with limited or no access to independent media sources.

After nearly every affected network sued, US district judge Royce Lamberth, a Ronald Reagan appointee, granted a preliminary injunction in late April, ruling that the executive order was arbitrary and likely exceeded the presidents authority.

The Department of Justice appealed. On Thursday, a Washington DC federal appeals court, which included two Trump appointees, partly upheld the lower court ruling that would have enabled VoA to resume broadcasting while the appeal played out.

VoA staff would have been able to begin a phased return to the office and resume programming next week, according to an email from the justice department shared with the Washington Post. Some VoA and USAGM staff had had access to their government email accounts restored.

But that ruling was bad news for the other publicly funded broadcasters.

The Trump administrations freeze on congressionally approved funds for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks will remain in place while the lawsuit makes its way through the court.

Related: Trump news at a glance: Rubio tangles with Germany; crackdown on campus protests continues

While VoA is a federal entity, the other broadcasters are private non-profit organizations. The funding freeze has already forced them to make staffing cuts and reduce content.

The USAGM had, until now, enjoyed bipartisan support, due to the vital role VoA and the other foreign-news broadcasters play in advancing democracy and US interests by reaching about 360 million people in countries that have little to no independent press.

The Guardian has contacted both the USAGA and VoA for comment.

Diana Ramirez-Simon contributed reporting
Forensic officers investigate after a bomb blast killed a woman in Thessaloniki - Alexandros Avramidis/Reuters

A woman linked to a series of bank robberies has died after a bomb she intended to plant exploded in her hands.

The 38-year-old woman was carrying the device to place it outside a bank in the Greek city of Thessaloniki at around 5am on Saturday.

She was rushed to hospital with mutilated hands, as well as injuries to her head and left-hand side, but died from her wounds.

It appears that she was carrying an explosive device and planned to plant it at a banks ATM, a senior police official told Reuters news agency.

Something went wrong and [it] exploded in her hands, the official added.

According to local police, the woman had close ties to a Greek anti-authoritarian group and had previously been arrested following a bank robbery.

Possible ties to extreme Leftist groups

She was detained after a Kalashnikov assault rifle was found in her backpack.

It is thought that she was associated with a jailed bank robber and was accused of involvement in several crimes, including sending a parcel bomb to the Thessaloniki appeals court in February last year.

The incident is still under investigation by anti-terrorism officers.

Greeces organised crime directorate has taken over the investigation of Saturdays blast and officials said they are investigating the womans possible ties to extreme Leftist groups.

Konstantia Dimoglidou, a police spokesman, said investigators were trying to determine the possible scenario that she was carrying a device that exploded.

The area where the explosion occurred has been sealed off by authorities to allow for evidence collection.

The blast damaged the surrounding shop fronts, buildings and cars in an adjacent parking lot. Photographs of the area showed piles of rubble, shattered glass and damaged cars.
Updated May 3, 2025 at 1:12 AM

Three top Senate Republicans say President Donald Trump's budget proposal falls short of his promises to boost U.S. military spending.

Under the president's discretionary request, the Defense Department's budget would rise by $119 billion to top $1 trillion. But that extra spending is a one-year only supplement to jumpstart Trump's priorities, including a next-generation missile defense shield, new U.S. shipbuilding capacity and military-led border security missions.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky; and Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi  who respectively chair the powerful appropriations and defense committees  say the one-time increase won't have the lasting effect of a permanent addition to the defense budget.

They argue that, in effect, Trump's spending increase amounts to a bonus, not a raise.

The Department of Defense base budget would remain at $892.6 billion under the president's proposal, which, without growth to account for inflation, represents a cut in real-terms, Wicker said in a statement.

Collins, the head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a statement she has "serious objections to the proposed freeze in our defense funding given the security challenges we face."

"Ultimately, it is Congress that holds the power of the purse," Collins wrote.

"It's a supplement," McConnell, the head of the Appropriations subcommittee for Defense, said in a statement posted to the social media site X. "America cannot expect our allies to heed calls for greater annual defense spending if we are unwilling to lead by example."

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks during a press conference, Thursday, April 24, 2025, at CVG Centre in Erlanger, Ky.

The request amounts to "a fifth year straight of Biden administration funding, leaving military spending flat," said Wicker, head of the Armed Services Committee.

The senators cited the need for increased military spending to deter rising threats around the globe from China to Iran.

Two Trump administration officials told reporters May 2 that they believe reconciliation is the most "durable" way to provide additional money to the Pentagon  although it represents one-time payment, not a recurring funding stream.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McConnell: Defense spending falls short in Trump budget
Greg Pease/Getty Images

Airbnb's CFO said fewer foreigners are booking nights in the US than last year or earlier this year.

Airbnb CFO Ellie Mertz also said Canadians, in particular, are pulling back on travel to the States.

Canadians are visiting Mexico, France, Brazil, and Japan instead, she said on an earnings call.

The number of foreigners booking Airbnbs in the US has decreased from last year and earlier this year, with Canadians "traveling at a much lower rate," according to Airbnb's CFO.

CFO Ellie Mertz said during Airbnb's first-quarter earnings call Thursday that US reservations from foreign travelers were down, citing "economic uncertainty" as a factor.

"We absolutely have seen a decline in popularity of foreign travelers coming to the US," she said on the call.

"Guests who would have in a prior year come to the US are simply choosing a different location," she added.

Nights booked by Canadian guests to Mexico increased 27% between March 2024 and March 2025, according to Airbnb's letter to shareholders about first-quarter earnings.

In earnings calls this week, executives at Hilton and Booking Holdings, which owns Booking.com, Priceline.com, and Kayak, said that Canadian travel to the US had flagged, spotlighting Mexico as a place with upticks in Canadian visitors.

On the Airbnb earnings call, Merrtz said that Canadians are traveling more domestically. She also said they visit Mexico, Brazil, France, and Japan.

"In this moment, it's not necessarily that people don't want to travel, they are just using different destinations," Mertz said.

Canadians have expressed dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's tariffs and remarks about annexing it as another state. Some have boycotted travel to the US.

Mertz also said that even if Canadians and other international travelers are choosing destinations outside the US, foreign travelers to the States only make up about 3% of Airbnb's business.

She said most nights booked on Airbnb in the US are by domestic travelers, and only a "single-digit percentage" of global nights booked come from international travelers to the US.

Shares of Airbnb closed higher by about 1% on Friday after the company reported earnings that were roughly in line with expectations.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky told investors and analysts on the earnings call that he believes the booking platform has endured during past periods of economic stress because it offers travelers options at affordable price points.

"We started Airbnb during the Great Recession of 2008. People turned to us for a more affordable way to travel, and they started hosting Airbnb to earn extra income. Then, in 2020, when the pandemic hit, we provided a way for people to travel close to home," he said. "Today, things feel uncertain once again. But just as we've shown in the past, as the world changes, Airbnb will continue to adapt."

Read the original article on Business Insider
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I recently received an email in my inbox from Choire Sicha at New York Magazine in which he wondered how hed have to cut costs in what he aptly called these "rapidly brewing chaos times." Its a question thats clearly in the zeitgeist, as right around the same time, we both saw a similar Emily Sundberg Feed Me substack query, where she asked her readers this: "Considering were probably entering a recession, what costs do you anticipate cutting first?"

If you're thinking, "What fun times we're in!" while trying not to panic, you're not alone. Like Sicha, who probably didn't want to linger on that depressing thought, I, too, decided to focus instead on the much more enjoyable question of the things wed never give up, no matter what.

Sicha took inspiration from Sundberg and crowdsourced his audience with that same question via a Google form (gotta love the simplicity and effectiveness). I ran around the Delish test kitchen, riffing on the prompt to see what answers I could get from my very busy colleagues. Turns out people do uh, not love to be hit out loud with "We are probably entering a recession," so I experimented with changing the lead-in to the equally alarming but somehow less shocking, "If you were suddenly very poor" Here are their answers.

"I wont give up getting my groceries deliveredI cant do it. [My kid] is going through multiple gallons of milk a week right now, and its still cheaper to get it delivered from Aldis than to shop at my local store."

-Megan Belair, Editorial Business Manager

Burcu Atalay Tankut - Getty Images

"Mama needs a steak sometimes, what can I say? And ordering nice coffee out."

-Sam Caccamise, Senior Editor of Audience Development



"Nespresso pods, the double-shot espresso kind. I could settle for drip coffee, but I just dont want to. These would be my second purchase after rent."

-Cat Sillars, Temporary Community Producer



"Coffee beans from a small batch coffee roaster are the luxury I will never give up, no matter how expensive they get! My husband and I grind the beans for our French press coffee whenever we're working from home, and it's an essential part of our morning. I'd also never give up my Greek yogurt. It's already pretty expensive, but it hits that perfect balance of health and luxury that makes me feel nourished and treated whenever I eat it."

-Taylor Ann Spencer, Food Editor



"My immediate thought is good coffee, the beans I buy are like $18/lb, and Im not giving them up. And one dirty martini per week. I could make them at home, but they just taste better when I order them out."

-Samantha MacAvoy, Senior Editor

"I get a window into a life without a good chef's knife whenever I cook at a friend's house or an Airbnb...and it's a life I do not want to live. I would rather gnaw on a whole pineapple than attempt to cut one with a dull knife."

-Gabby Romero, Associate Editor



"Nut butters, specifically cashew butter. Its a sacrifice Im not willing to make; Im so enamored with cashew butter. Its part of my whole raison detre."

-Rob Seixas, Senior Food Director

"Chobani extra creamy oat milk stays at the ready in my fridge. I use it with everything when I need a plant milk (coffee! oatmeal! smoothies!), and I would begrudgingly pick up a different oat milk if necessary, but I would be very, very unhappy about it."

-Taylor Worden, Digital Culinary Editor



Funwithfood - Getty Images

"Definitely eggs. The fun thing about them being so expensive lately is that Ive really learned Im never not going to buy them. Turns out I eat them every single day, and cannot go without."

-Anya Ptacek, Temporary Recipe Developer

"I will never sacrifice my matcha lattes. We non-coffee drinkers need something to bring us joy in the morning!"

-Amanda Mactas, Temporary Associate Editor

"There isnt a damn thing I wouldn't cut or get cheaper. I have so many other problems, I dont need luxuries to be one of them."

-Rebecca Simpson Steele, Visual Director

"Coca-Cola. Is that a luxury? Some people would say I could save money by just drinking water, but I am not one of them. And tacosI practically have a taco addiction, enough that my mom has expressed concern. I hate making them at home, so I will always go out for them."

-Lindsey Ramsey, Senior Director of Content Operations



Martin Steinthaler - Getty Images

"There is no financial collapse on earth that would pry Parmigiano Reggiano out of my hands. The king of cheeses has many imitators (including a certain green shaker), but none of them hit the same."

-Gabby Romero, Associate Editor



"I will never give up iced coffee (though I will give up ordering it out if I have to), so this machine will be my saving grace. It has a special function that brews cold brew (I don't like the prepackaged stuff), so this has been a game changer."

-Katelyn Lunders, Digital Director



"Matcha (if I can find it, theres a shortage). Ill buy it out if Im really desperate, but a lot of them suck, so I really like to make it at home."

-Izabela Campos, Assistant Social Media Editor

"Good olive oil! A lot of the cheap olive oil is cut with who knows what, so I would go to the ends of the earth for the good stuff."

-Damian Calvo, Director of Photography

"Have a bad day? Eat a clementine. Need a quick snack? Eat a clementine? No dessert, but want something sweet? CLEMENTINE! I need my bag of clementines at the ready, and will close my eyes and buy them no matter the price if necessary."

-Taylor Worden, Digital Culinary Producer

"Nordicware sheet pans. Theyre heavy, they never warp, and they are miles beyond their competition. You can get sheet pans almost anywhere, but I will never not buy these."

-Makinze Gore, Senior Food Editor

I'll never give up buying myself a little treat at the grocery store, whether that's an actual sweet thing (I recently got myself hooked on freeze-dried skittles) or just a new frozen pizza I've never seen before. Life's too short not to have a little fun with your food!

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Five people were forced to deal with the threat of alligators and anacondas during a harrowing 36 hours in the Amazon

Credit: Bolivian Civil Defence Vice Ministry / Reuters

Five people survived 36 hours perched on top of a crashed plane in the middle of an alligator-infested swamp in the Amazon.

The small plane was discovered by fishermen in Bolivias Amazonas region on Friday, 48 hours after it went missing.

The plane had been forced to make an emergency landing, leaving all on board  three women, a child and a 29-year-old pilot  stranded.

The group is said to be in excellent condition, according to Wilson Avila, director of the emergency operations centre in Bolivias Beni region.

Andres Velarde, the pilot, said that engine failure had prompted an emergency landing near the Itanomas River. The plane quickly began to lose altitude, forcing Mr Velarde to land the craft in a swamp at the edge of a lagoon.

The group then crowded on top of the planes roof and were surrounded by alligators that came within three metres of them.

Mr Velarde added that he suspected that the fuel leaking from the plane kept the predators at bay.

The group also spotted an anaconda in the water, he said.

While awaiting rescue, they ate local cassava flour that one of the passengers had brought with them.

We couldnt drink water and we couldnt go anywhere else because of the alligators, Mr Velarde said.

Helicopter rescued stranded group

The Cessna 172CP plane, flying from the town of Baures to the north-central city of Trinidad, 112 miles away, went missing just one hour after taking off, prompting a joint search between the Ministry of Defence and the Bolivian Air Force (FAB).

The FAB conducted two flights over the estimated crash site, searching for more than six hours.

An EC-145 helicopter, equipped with a crane and tracking systems, was sent to the crash site to rescue the stranded group.

People frequently use air taxis in the Beni area, due to the lack of paved roads and the poor maintenance of those that do exist.

Ruben Torres, director of the Beni region health department, said, there was a lot of speculation about the case, and many theories after the plane seemingly vanished.

I am truly pleased because, in the end, all the institutions collaborated effectively to locate the missing individuals and save those lives, he told Reuters.

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I had a wonderful time visiting Poland with my kids, and a few things surprised me during my visit. Jamie Davis Smith

I'm an American who visited Poland for the first time and was surprised by a few things.

I was impressed by the public transportation options I found and the tasty food.

The country had more communal gathering spaces than I expected and lovely architecture.

Many Americans planning summer trips to Europe head to popular tourist spots in Italy or Greece.

However, I've wanted to visit Poland for years to learn more about the country's history and explore some of my own Polish roots. This summer, I finally had the chance to go.

What I found surprised me, and Poland defied all of my expectations in the best way.

I was surprised by how well some of its cities mix old and new architecture.

Buildings in Poland had a lot more color than I expected. Jamie Davis Smith

I had always imagined Poland as a stark, gray country with a sterile Cold War feel  perhaps because much of what I know about it is based on its roles throughout history.

Instead, I was astonished to find that its cities, like Krakow and Warsaw, which I visited, had a modern vibe, charming neighborhoods, and a fascinating mix of old and new that blended seamlessly.

Although the cities I visited in Poland have plenty of nondescript Cold War-era buildings, they are interspersed with a handful of ornate pre-World War II buildings, charming old towns, ultra-modern glass skyscrapers, and impressive Soviet-designed structures.

The country's landscape is also more diverse than I imagined.

I can't believe how beautiful Zakopane was. Lazy_Bear/Getty Images

Although Poland is surrounded by land on three sides, it still has beaches and a beautiful range of landscapes.

I was particularly astonished by the beauty of Zakopane, a town at the base of the Tatra Mountains.

After taking a cable car up thousands of feet, I was greeted by incredible views of Zakopane's aqua-blue lakes and verdant valleys that impressed me more than the Swiss Alps.

When I visited in the summer, this mountain town seemed like a true haven for hikers and nature lovers.

Public transportation options also impressed me.

I was surprised that many parts of Poland are well-connected by modern public transportation options. Jamie Davis Smith

I was especially impressed by the local public transportation systems in the two major cities I visited in Poland.

Warsaw's public transportation network includes buses, trams, and subways. I used an easy-to-use app to seamlessly navigate around the city throughout the trip.

In my opinion, the public transportation options in Warsaw were as good as those in my hometown of Washington, DC, and Philadelphia, where I grew up.

Krakow felt very walkable, but I also appreciated the city's robust bus and tram system. Trains connect Krakow to several popular nearby sites, including the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and museum.

I came across many communal spaces and loved seeing them filled with people.

I watched many people gather along the streets during parts of the day. TomasSereda/Getty Images

Many stereotypes I'd heard painted Poland as a cold place, but I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and numerous communal spaces I encountered in the country.

Places I visited, like Krakow, had many lively parks and town squares filled with restaurants, shops, and open spaces where people could gather.

I saw families playing and groups taking yoga classes in parks. One evening, I visited a vibrant open-air food market and enjoyed seeing many people lingering over drinks to chat and listen to live music.

Even smaller towns, like Zakopane, had main streets designed for pedestrians and promenades with seating areas that seemed perfect for gathering.

The food was great and fairly affordable.

I had some incredible meals in Poland. Jamie Davis Smith

Before my trip, I wasn't super familiar with Polish cuisine beyond pierogi, the country's beloved dumplings that are often boiled and filled with mashed potatoes.

I ate plenty of them throughout my stay, and was delighted to find that most of the food I ate in Poland wasn't as beige or basic.

In reality, the country surprised me with its wide selection of diverse and modern cuisine.

I found many high-end restaurants, some serving Polish fusion cuisine and others serving classics like pasta and steak that I'd find back home. One Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant served me dishes that looked almost too pretty to eat.

Because Poland is a relatively affordable country compared to the US, I felt like I could eat like a queen here, even though I was traveling on a budget. It was awesome to dine at Michelin-starred restaurants that I would never have been able to afford in the United States.

For example, a five-course tasting meal in Krakow's Michelin-starred Bottiglieria 1881 starts at about 60 euros, or $68. A similar dining experience in the US can easily cost more than double that.

With the exception of one mediocre fast-food restaurant my kids insisted on trying, every meal I had in Poland was delicious.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Palestinians clamber to receive donated food at a distribution center in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on April 7. - Jehad Alshrafi/AP

United States and Israeli officials are discussing a mechanism to deliver aid to Gaza that bypasses Hamas, an Israeli source familiar with the matter and a State Department official told CNN. The official said an announcement could be made in the coming days.

The initiative to deliver aid comes as a total Israeli blockade of aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave approaches its third month, and after US President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late last month that weve got to be good to Gaza.

The delivery mechanism in the works would allow aid to reach the Palestinian population with safeguards to ensure it is not diverted by Hamas or Islamic Jihad, according to a State Department spokesperson.

An unnamed private foundation would manage the aid mechanism and the delivery of the humanitarian supplies into Gaza, the spokesperson said.

Safeguards are finally in place. Israel remains secure, Hamas empty handed, and Gazans with access to critical aid, the spokesperson said, adding that the mechanism helps fulfill President Trumps commitment to help Gaza. The spokesperson described the project as an element of creative thinking but did not provide any details on how it would function in the besieged enclave.

The US expects the United Nations and international aid organizations to work with the framework of the foundations mechanism in order to ensure that supplies do not reach Hamas, the spokesperson said.

Axios initially reported on Saturday that the US, Israel and representatives of a new international foundation are close to an agreement on how to resume the delivery of aid, citing two anonymous Israeli and US sources

The Israeli source who spoke to CNN would not say if a deal was imminent.

For two months, Israel has carried out a total siege of Gaza, refusing to allow in a single truck of humanitarian aid or commercial goods  the longest period Israel has imposed such a total blockade.

Israel says it cut off the entry of humanitarian aid to pressure Hamas to release hostages. But international organizations say its actions violate international law, with some accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war  a war crime.

While taking questions from reporters late last month, Trump was asked whether the topic of aid for Gaza came up during his recent conversation with Netanyahu.

A child carries a tray of food past a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians inside the destroyed Rashad Al-Shawa Cultural Center in Gaza City on April 21. - Jehad Alshrafi/AP

Gaza came up, Trump responded. And I said: Weve got to be good to Gaza because people are  those people are suffering.

Theres a very big need for medicine, food and medicine. Were taking care of it, he said.

Late last year, ahead of the total Israeli blockade of Gaza, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned that the risk of famine persists across the entire territory, projecting that 16% of the population would be in famine by April.

A massive wave of deaths

Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, the head of the pediatric department at Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza warned on Saturday that a looming health catastrophe is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands in the enclave.

We are facing the danger of a massive wave of deaths due to malnutrition if the current humanitarian crisis continues unaddressed, he told CNN.

Earlier Saturday, two-month-old Janan Saleh Al-Sakkafi died due to malnutrition at Al-Rantisi Hospital, Dr. Munir Al Barsh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza told CNN.

The World Food Programme says it is ready to surge enough aid into Gaza to feed the entire population of about two million for up to two months. UNRWA, the main UN agency supporting Palestinians, said it has nearly 3,000 trucks filled with aid waiting to cross into Gaza. Both need Israel to lift its blockade to get that aid in.

Netanyahu is under intense pressure from far-right members of his fragile governing coalition to continue fighting in Gaza and withhold aid as a means of pressure against Hamas.

Last month, Defense Minister Israel Katz said his government is working on a mechanism through civilian companies to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza at a later stage, prompting a severe backlash from extremist politicians.

As long as our hostages are languishing in tunnels, there is absolutely no reason for even a single gram of food or any aid to enter Gaza, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said at the time.

Katz later clarified that no humanitarian aid is set to enter Gaza.

In early April, COGAT, the Israeli agency that manages policy for the Palestinian territories and the flow of aid into the strip, announced a new authorization mechanism designed to prevent Hamas infiltration into humanitarian organizations.

The mechanism is designed to support aid organizations, enhance oversight and accountability, and ensure that assistance reaches the civilian population in need, rather than being diverted and stolen by Hamas, it said, without giving any details as to when it would be implemented.

CNNs Ibrahim Dahman contributed to this report.

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Food & Wine / Richard Clatworthy / Getty Images

After selling millions of cookbooks worldwide, opening more than 70 restaurants, and earning a feature in Netflixs Chefs Table: Legends thanks to an acclaimed culinary career, British chef Jamie Oliver is shifting his focus to something new: teaching.

Oliver has recently announced his plan to launch the 10 Skills Food Education Platform  a complimentary collection of resources designed to teach children vital cooking skills  in the United States. However, 10 Skills extends beyond a mere curriculum; the resources provided aim to transform childrens lives and prepare them for future success. Having already implemented the program in 500 schools across the United Kingdom, Oliver now seeks to inspire further change across the Atlantic Ocean.

Even for people who dont fall between the ages of 11 and 14, this platform is filled with accessible information on learning to cook that anyone can use. While speaking with Oliver about the inspiration and hopes behind the 10 Skills platform, he also shares actionable tips for feeding yourself or a family on a budget that are increasingly relevant in our current economy.

Whether youve never learned to cook, want to nurture long-term skills for your children, or are seeking advice on budget-friendly grocery shopping, Jamie Oliver likely has an idea that will help.

What is the 10 Skills Food Education Platform?

This program provides schools with the guidelines, information, and knowledge necessary to teach students aged 11 to 14 how to grocery shop, budget for food, and cook. It offers tools such as a skills map, lesson plans, recipes, videos, worksheets, and assessment tools essential for teaching these skills. Furthermore, all of its resources are free of charge.

10 Skills really tries to give you a nice mixture of recipes that can suit many sorts of scenarios and many budgets and keep things nutritious and show you quick, easy ways to get more veggies in and stretch food, Oliver told Food & Wine.

As its name implies, students will learn fundamental cooking skills that they can use to create a wide array of dishes. Oliver says examples of this include making soups, core pasta sauce recipes that can incorporate different proteins or vegetables, salad dressings, and even crafting a Sunday roast.

Courtesy of Netflix Chef Jamie Oliver is introducing his 10 Skills Food Education Platform in the U.S.

Why is learning to cook while young so important?

For Oliver, teaching students how to feed themselves revolves around fostering independence and the lifelong skills theyll need to succeed. He emphasizes that understanding core cooking techniques makes people feel free, it makes them feel empowered. It makes them feel that a recipe is not like a law, it's not a club you're in or you're out. It's just trying to navigate you to something delicious.

Related: 16 Dishes Every Beginner Cook Should Learn

When children leave school not only knowing how to cook for themselves but also how to do it on a budget, they will have more control over their finances and health. If you teach kids about food, where it comes from and how it affects their body, they're not just healthier, but they're happier and they're more productive. They're off work less because of sickness Oliver notes.

As the chef points out, food can also be leveraged to help students learn about other core subjects. Baking and budgeting require math; a history and geography lesson underlies the origins of virtually any dish, and cooking itself is highly dependent on chemical reactions. For kids who struggle to learn through more traditional classroom methods, working hands-on in a kitchen might be an invaluable teaching tool.

Courtesy of Netflix Oliver hopes to foster independence and empowerment through the ability to cook.

How does Jamie Oliver teach cooking on a budget?

Although the 10 Skills platform aims to help students, the British chef shares insights through the program and with Food & Wine that can assist anyone grocery shopping on a budget.

To start, he highlights that communication is key. Talk to someone at the butcher or seafood counter, and tell them what your budget is. Theyll be able to recommend items that work with the amount of money youre able to spend, and they can advise on the best options for each price point. Theyll also help you navigate how much of an ingredient you can purchase if its priced by the pound.

Related: This Program Is Teaching Incarcerated People Fine Dining Techniques and Hospitality  and That Theyre Human

Oliver suggests another communication-based tactic that everyone who goes to a grocery store can try: Inquire at your supermarket about when ingredients are marked down. He says to Ask them when do you discount? What time do you discount? Is there a pattern to it? They don't [care]. They'll say, Yeah, cool. Four oclock every day we come along with a little gun and we'd put reduced on everything. [Or theyll say] At this time, we give away a load of stuff for free to charities and people that need stuff through this app.

The only catch here is that in order to be flexible and use the ingredients that are most affordable for you, youll need to know how to cook. But luckily, Oliver is working to ensure that the next generation can.



Read the original article on Food & Wine
Prosecutors retrying Karen Read in the killing of her boyfriend are laying out a minute-by-minute accounting of what they say happened at the suburban home of a fellow law enforcement officer where John OKeefe was found unresponsive on a snowy morning three years ago.

A witness who was with Read when she found her police officer boyfriend in the snow spent days on the witness stand this week in a courtroom outside Boston, often under intense questioning from a defense lawyer who sought to emphasize what he described as inconsistencies in her testimony.

The events cited by special prosecutor Hank Brennan were not recorded on a home security camera or seen by an eyewitness. But the prosecution has said that shortly after midnight on Jan. 29, 2022, data captured on OKeefes iPhone shows that he never entered the home of Brian Albert, a now-retired Boston police sergeant whom Reads attorneys have said may have played a role in the death.

Karen Read and John O'Keefe.

The prosecution has alleged that after a night of drinking  and an argument  Read dropped OKeefe at Alberts home for a gathering. Instead of leaving, Read backed her Lexus SUV into OKeefe and left him for dead outside in Canton, south of Boston, Brennan alleged in his opening statement.Read, who is charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a collision causing death, maintains her innocence and said she was framed by Albert and others who sought to cover up OKeefes death.

More on the Karen read murder trial

Reads widely publicized first trial ended with a hung jury last summer. The proceedings exposed allegations of police misconduct and prompted state officials to take the unusual step of firing the cases lead investigator, Michael Proctor, between trials.

Proctors role in the second trial remains unclear. He has not been called to testify, though he has been listed as a possible witness for both the prosecution and defense.

Albert has not testified during the second trial, but during the initial proceedings, he said that OKeefe never entered his home. If he had, Albert said, he would have been welcomed with open arms.

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan questions ARCCA crash analyst Daniel Wolfe during the retrial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., on Tuesday.

The details from OKeefes phone included location, health and battery temperature data. Ian Whiffin, a forensic investigator who examined the data, said the most accurate information extracted from OKeefes device showed that it likely remained outside Alberts home all night.Location data showed that the device arrived at the house at 12:24 a.m., Whiffin said. Fourteen minutes later, the data showed it was near a flagpole in the front yard where OKeefe was found unresponsive roughly six hours later.

Whiffin said the devices battery temperature data showed a steady decline, dropping from 77 degrees shortly after midnight, when it was in Reads SUV on the way to Alberts home, to 50 degrees by 1:36 a.m.

Based on the totality of the information weve described, my opinion is the device didnt move far away from the flagpole, Whiffin said.

Karen Read sits at the defense table during her murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., on April 30, 2025.

This is at odds with the account of events by Read and her defense team. Theyve said she dropped OKeefe off at Alberts home and watched him go inside, where theyve alleged he was likely beaten and bitten by a dog that belonged to Alberts family at the time.

Defense attorney Robert Alessi pointed to other data analyzed by Whiffin to support that account. At 12:31 a.m.  seven minutes after OKeefes device arrived at Alberts home  health data showed the device moving 36 steps, or roughly 84 feet. Under questioning from Alessi, Whiffin said he had given the measurement less weight because it was based on low-accuracy data.

When asked if the data could have been diminished because the device was taken inside Albert's home, Whiffin said yes.

The defense attorney also scrutinized the battery temperature data cited by Whiffin. As part of his analysis, the investigator conducted experiments on an iPhone similar to OKeefes, placing it in a freezer and leaving it outside on a day when the temperature was 33 degrees.

In the first test, Alessi said, the temperature of the devices battery plummeted 50 degrees in 15 minutes. In the second, he said, it fell 30 degrees in 13 minutes.

Those figures were far more dramatic than the drop recorded on OKeefes phone, Alessi said, noting that even though the device was outside in a blizzard, it took an hour or more for the batterys temperature to fall 27 degrees.

Whiffin acknowledged that he did not know the temperature on Jan. 29, 2022, and said he was unaware of what factors may have influenced the battery's temperature, including whether the device was in OKeefes pocket or if it was in a case.

Other key pieces of evidence that Brennan cited in his opening statement and is expected to lay out in detail in the coming weeks include vehicle data showing Reads SUV reversing outside Alberts home and DNA from OKeefe that was found on the Lexus bumper.

Witness Jennifer McCabe continues her cross examination testimony during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., on Wednesday.

After Whiffins testimony, defense attorney Alan Jackson spent hours grilling Jennifer McCabe, who had been at Alberts home during the gathering and was with Read when she found OKeefe near the flagpole shortly after 6 a.m. The defense has said Read panicked after she realized OKeefe never returned from Alberts house and, later that morning, began searching for him with McCabe and a third woman.

McCabe testified that nothing unusual happened at Albert's home  people were listening to music and talking, she said  though her account has drawn scrutiny from the defense. Jackson pointed to text messages from McCabe to her sister, who is married to Brian Albert, and suggested that they may have coordinated their account of Jan. 29 with others in an effort to do "damage control" and cover up O'Keefe's death. McCabe denied those allegations.

Jackson also questioned McCabe about comments she attributed to Read. After they arrived at Albert's house and found O'Keefe, she said she heard Read repeatedly tell a first responder I hit him." And she testified that Read asked her to search Google for how long it takes to die in the cold.

Jackson pointed out that McCabe did not mention the incriminating statement when she testified before a grand jury or spoke to investigators in the aftermath of OKeefes death.

Instead, Jackson said, she recounted a question Read posed to her over the phone before they began searching for OKeefe  Could I have hit him? The defense also said an extraction of McCabes phone showed her Google search was done at 2:27 a.m., hours before OKeefe was found.

Whiffin, who reviewed the extraction, testified that the search was done at 6:23 a.m., not 2:27 a.m. And McCabe testified that she was certain of what Read told the first responder.

I went out to help her look for John and then we found one of my closest friends on the front lawn, she said during an emotional exchange. Every police officer I spoke to, I tried to answer their questions the best I could. It took me hours, and, in some cases, days to remember all the things that Ms. Read had said. I was in a state of shock."
One of the key witnesses in the Karen Read murder retrial continued to testify for a third day Friday on the events surrounding the death of Read's boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, who was found unresponsive in the snow outside a Massachusetts home in 2022.

Prosecutors allege, following a night of drinking in Canton, that Read struck O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV outside of a get-together at another officer's home and left him to die in a blizzard in January 2022. An autopsy found that the 46-year-old died of hypothermia and blunt force injuries to the head.

After a jury was unable to reach a verdict in the initial murder trial last year, Read is being retried on charges including second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of a collision causing death. She has pleaded not guilty and maintains her innocence.

PHOTO: Karen Read talks with her attorneys during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., May 2, 2025. (Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise via AP)

Jennifer McCabe, a friend of O'Keefe who had testified during the first trial, took to the stand for the third day during the retrial on Friday in Dedham, Massachusetts.

In her extensive testimony this week, McCabe recounted that she had attended a social gathering at a bar the night before O'Keefe was found unresponsive in the snow with him, Read and others. McCabe was also at the get-together following the gathering at the bar at a home belonging to her sister and brother-in-law, a Boston police officer.

McCabe and another friend of O'Keefe's -- Kerry Roberts -- another key trial witness who testified last week -- drove with Read through a blizzard to search for O'Keefe after he never came home the night before, ultimately finding him outside McCabe's sister's home unresponsive.

McCabe testified Wednesday that while talking to a first responder at the scene, she heard Read say, "I hit him, I hit him, I hit him."

MORE: Karen Read murder retrial: Key witness Jennifer McCabe takes the stand

Defense attorney Alan Jackson grilled McCabe on her recollection of the events of that day and in the days, weeks, months and years after, highlighting inconsistencies in her various testimonies and against police reports.

In one instance, Jackson noted that, after receiving a call from O'Keefe's niece and Read that O'Keefe was missing, McCabe had called her sister, though she did not mention that call while testifying to the grand jury that indicted Read on the manslaughter and murder charges.

"There's nothing nefarious," McCabe said about the call, testifying that her sister did not answer and she didn't remember calling her.

Asked by Jackson on her use of the word "nefarious," McCabe said, "There's nothing about me calling my sister that is nefarious, and I feel like you're insinuating it might be and it's not."

PHOTO: Witness Jen McCabe takes the stand at Norfolk Superior Court during the Karen Read trial in Dedham, Mass., May 2, 2025. (Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise via AP)

Jackson also questioned McCabe about a broken taillight on Read's SUV. McCabe testified that Read first mentioned the broken taillight in the early morning call with O'Keefe's niece, though Jackson said that wasn't included in a police report. McCabe stood by her account.

When pressed on forgetting certain details from that time, McCabe said, "There are certain things I'll never forget."

Jackson's cross-examination also focused on McCabe's Google search for how long it takes to die in the cold. She testified this week that Read asked her to Google that after finding O'Keefe in the snow, with the search made after 6 a.m. Though Jackson said there is evidence it was made at 2:27 a.m. that morning, hours before O'Keefe was found. McCabe denied she made the search at 2:27 a.m. and said she searched it later that morning, upon Read's request.

Jackson also alleged that a group chat including McCabe and several family members showed they were colluding in the days following the death to coordinate their statements, which McCabe denied.

MORE: Key Karen Read murder trial witness Kerry Roberts says victim has been 'forgotten'

As he wrapped up his cross-examination, Jackson grilled McCabe on the moments after they found O'Keefe in the snow outside her sister's home, and why she didn't run in to check on her sister and brother-in-law.

"The reason you didn't go inside the house is because you knew better," he charged.

McCabe said she wasn't worried because "something happened on the front lawn that had nothing to do with anything inside that house."

"You weren't worried about them at all because you knew what really happened, didn't you?" he countered.

"At that moment, I didn't know that he was hit by a vehicle and there was taillight found next to him," she responded.

PHOTO: 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/AP)

On re-direct, special prosecutor Hank Brennan questioned McCabe on her state of mind upon finding O'Keefe.

"I was shocked, confused, nervous, scared, anxious -- my friend was lying there on the ground, I didn't know what happened," she said.

On the Google search, McCabe affirmed that Read asked her to search how long to die in the cold, and that she had never attempted that search before then.

Brennan brought up McCabe's texts with Roberts later that day, including one in which Roberts texted, "I can't stop seeing him in the snow, Jen, this is awful."

"Is your state of mind collusion?" Brennan asked McCabe, to which she responded, "No."

McCabe has been dismissed as a witness. The trial adjourned for the day, with a forensic scientist from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab on the stand.

Following McCabe's testimony on Wednesday, Read alleged McCabe was lying on the stand, saying she never told the witness to make a Google search that morning.

"Every statement's different. Under oath. Not under oath," she said. "This is very similar to what we saw a year ago."

Key witness in Karen Read murder retrial testifies for 3rd day originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The woman convicted of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart over two decades ago was arrested Thursday for violating her sex offender probation.

Wanda Barzee, who abducted then-14-year-old Smart with her husband Brian David Mitchell in 2002, is accused of illegally visiting Liberty Park and Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The 79-year-old reportedly told the Salt Lake City Police Department that God encouraged her to visit the green spaces and sit on the benches and feed the ducks, according to KUTV.

Wanda Barzee was shown wearing a prison uniform in this photograph taken in April 2016. AP

She was not allowed to visit parks due to her sex offender status, according to court records obtained by the outlet.

Barzee was reportedly released on the condition that she call authorities once a week, attend court hearings and not commit any criminal offense.

The two parks are located less than 10 miles from her Salt Lake home, according to KUTV.

In 2002, Barzee and Mitchell, who was a street preacher, went through an open window and abducted Smart from her Salt Lake City bedroom at knifepoint.

The teen was raped on a near-daily basis, and lived with the couple in run-down homes and campsites in Utah and San Diego.

Smart was found nine months later after a good Samaritan saw the trio walking in the suburb of Sandy, Utah and called police.

Elizabeth Smart was abducted when she was 14 years old. REUTERS

Barzees husband, Brian David Mitchell, is serving a life sentence after being convicted of raping and kidnapping Smart. AP

Mitchell was sentenced to life behind bars after being convicted of raping and kidnapping Smart.

In 2010, Barzee was sentenced to spend 15 years in prison. But her time behind bars was cut short.

She was set free five years early in 2018 when Utah authorities said they had miscalculated the amount of time she should have served.

Barzee was on supervised release for five years, required to receive mental health treatment and she was banned from contacting Smarts family.

Smart has spoken out about Barzees early release from prison and decision to live by an elementary school. AP

Smart, now a married mother in her 30s, was outraged that Barzee was able to leave prison early and demanded that she go to a mental health facility instead of being free.

Smart claimed the freed felon saw me as her slave. She called me her handmaiden. She never hesitated to let her displeasure with me be known.

Smart also spoke out when the parolee decided to rent an apartment near an elementary school shortly after her sentence ended.

Every possible caution and protection should be taken when it comes to protecting our children. Whether a person is deemed a current threat or if they have a history of child abuse, neglect, sexual violence, etc., prudent measures should be taken, including housing them as far away as possible from schools, families and community centers, Smart wrote in a statement.
Bob Baffert, the trainer of Citizen Bull and Rodriguez, stands with Rodriguez on Thursday prior to the running of the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Rodriguez was scratched from the Derby on Thursday night. - Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

It was 1:30 AM in Monrovia, California, not far from the states biggest racetrack. One of the horse trainers based at the track, Tim Yakteen, was awoken by a strange sound in front of his home.

When he checked the footage from his security camera, he saw at least two men in a truck taking photos of his house and, most curiously, rifling through his trash on the curb.

It frightened Yakteen, who had children at home. He filed a police report, thinking it was someone casing his house for a home invasion.

He couldnt have been more wrong.

In fact, the shadowy figures were private investigators, hired by a top racetrack in Kentucky to investigate Yakteens former boss  the legendary trainer Bob Baffert  to try to find evidence that the famous white-haired horseman doped his horses.

Investigators had come to Yakteens house because, at the time, he was training some of Bafferts horses. Baffert himself was suspended from racing after one of his horses, Medina Spirit, had tested positive for a common anti-inflammatory during the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The drug was legal to use during training, but small amounts of it had been found in the horses post-race blood and urine samples on the day of the race  which was against the rules of racing.

Baffert had long operated under a cloud of suspicion inside and outside of racing, thanks in part to his larger-than-life public persona and his utter domination of the competition on the racetrack  not to mention a series of other petty drug infractions in big races leading up to the 2021 Derby. That history  along with a trademark pair of purple sunglasses  had made him the face for an American public that might only pay attention to horse racing on the first Saturday in May, when the Derby is run.

When Medina Spirit tested positive, Baffert became infamous. NBCs Saturday Night Live pilloried him during its Weekend Update segment, falsely suggesting that the horse had been given an anabolic steroid. The racetrack that hosts the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, banned him for three years  and moved to hire the private intelligence firm to probe more deeply into Bafferts practices, I report exclusively in my new book, Death of a Racehorse.

Trainer Bob Baffert of Medina Spirit, raises the trophy after winning the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby with Medina Spirit, his seventh career Kentucky Derby win. - Andy Lyons/Getty Images

But after more than two years of reporting, I found that the story of Bob Baffert is not a tale of a singular sinner, but instead a parable for a sport struggling to explain its welfare and medication practices to an American public that increasingly disapproves of it.

On Saturday, Baffert will return to the Derby for the first time since 2021. He brings a horse called Citizen Bull. Hes not the favorite, but no one counts out Bob Baffert when it comes to the Kentucky Derby: Hes won it six times, including with two horses who went on to sweep racings elusive Triple Crown.

Baffert under the microscope

Medina Spirits positive test in 2021 turned the harsh glare of public attention on a sport that had already struggled with negative press after a series of high-profile fatal injuries in 2019 at the California track where Baffert is based  none of his horses among them  and the 2020 federal indictment of dozens of trainers and vets up and down the East Coast for doping.

In its statement announcing its initial suspension of Baffert, Churchill Downs emphasized the safety of horses as paramount to its decision, which was lauded by animal welfare groups. Baffert challenged the suspension, and in subsequent court proceedings, Churchill Downs executives were frank about the reasons behind the ban: The positive test  and a series of public appearances Baffert made defending himself  were a danger to [Churchill Downs] brand, the companys president testified.

And it hired 5 Stones Intelligence, a private intelligence company that had been used by other top industry groups to try to go after dopers. Several years before, 5 Stones had put together a package of information on trainers suspected of doping and given it to the FBI  which ultimately led to the federal prosecutions in 2020.

Medina Spirit, ridden by jockey John Velazquez, crosses the finish line to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby. - Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Under the Churchill Downs contract, 5 Stones tailed Bafferts stable hands and surveilled the outside of his gated home in La Canada, California. It was not clear whether Churchill, which worked through a law firm, put Bafferts name on the contract. Still, he was indisputably one of the top targets  if not the top target  of the probe, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the work told me.

But neither Medina Spirits positive test in the Derby nor any of Bafferts other recent positives had been for an illegal performance enhancer  dope. It had been for an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid called betamethasone, one of an array of perfectly legal therapeutics that racing rules allow trainers to use during training, but not on race day.

Five Stones ultimately appeared to find no credible evidence that Baffert uses any banned performance enhancers on his horses, according to my sources. The track ended the contract after only a few months of effort by the private eyes.

Indeed, in more than two years of reporting, I too was unable to identify any information to suggest that Baffert  despite a record of positive tests for therapeutics  dopes his horses. Although Baffert is often treated as extraordinary, a close examination of available records shows that, when it comes to drug violations, Bafferts record is basically in line with several other top trainers in the sport  trainers who dont draw the same national attention.

For example, in less than a year between 2022 and 2023, Todd Pletcher  a prominent East Coast trainer  racked up six positive tests. Most were for common anti-inflammatories, and one was in a top race for a drug that is not allowed in any setting for racehorses. Pletcher has pinned the rash of positives on too-sensitive lab testing and has denied giving any drug that was not allowed under the rules of racing.

Bob Baffert is interviewed after a training session prior to the running of the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. - Grace Bradley/Getty Images

Baffert throughout has maintained his innocence, arguing that Medina Spirits positive arose from an ointment given to the horse for a skin rash  a credible explanation but not a provable one, according to lab testing experts. For three years, he has felt intensely, and personally, aggrieved  and singled out. He tried, and failed, to meet with the CEO of Churchill Downs, a former GE executive named Bill Carstanjen.

The bias against me, its just horrible, he told me in early 2023, when he was still banned from Churchill Downs. The only thing that gets me through this is I know we didnt do anything wrong. We were treating the horse for a skin rash. Its not what they said it was.

Churchill Downs declined to respond to my repeated requests for comment during the course of reporting this book.

A sport struggling with its image

The sport of racing has long struggled with the perception that it is rife with doping  even the term dope originated in horse racing around the turn of the century  and has struggled to explain to the public why it permits such a vast number of legal medications for training  everything from anti-inflammatories to sedatives  and how those differ from illegal performance enhancers.

Animal welfare advocates argue trainers are masking pain to run injured horses, while horse racing professionals say that many of those drugs are comparable to providing palliative care to professional human athletes and are part of the humane management of a performance animal.

The reality lies somewhere in the middle, and there is fierce debate inside of the industry about how those drugs should be regulated to balance the need to keep horses safe while still allowing trainers and owners to manage a horse with the end goal of getting him to the races  which drugs should be allowed, in what quantities, and how close to a race.

Medina Spirit, center, the winner of the 147th Kentucky Derby peeks from his stall after arriving at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore on May 10, 2021. - Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post/Getty Images

But the nuances of that debate are jumbled in the public eye, where violations like Bafferts are often deemed doping violations in national headlines.

We message them like pets, but we treat them like livestock, one racing professional said to me.

A new federal law, passed in late 2020 after the Justice Department indictments became public, established a uniform national authority governing medication and safety regulations. In states where it operates, it has had a profound impact on fatalities, accounting for a 27% drop from 2023 to 2024.

But some states are fighting the law. And even as it has standardized testing for therapeutic drugs, it still permits a wide range of them to be used.

The response to Bafferts return to the Derby has been mixed. Some other trainers have lauded his return, arguing that the penalty Baffert faced for a small overdosage of a routinely used drug was disproportionately harsh. Yet, during the post-position draw  held the week before the Derby and attended by fans  boos could be heard when the first of Bafferts horses was drawn.

Bob Baffert walks with Rodriguez on Thursday prior to the running of the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. - Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Churchill dropped its ban against Baffert last summer, shortly after it ran the marquee 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. Baffert issued a public statement that he accept(ed) responsibility for Medina Spirits positive test. It was all over, and he was free to return this year.

It wasnt personal with Bill (Carstanjen), he told me. It was just business.

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Lorenzo Sisti / Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in 'Another Simple Favor' (2025).

Another Simple Favor, the sequel to A Simple Favor, came to another twisted ending.

The movie stars Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, as they reprise their roles of complicated best friends, Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers, five years after the latter sent the former to prison for killing her sister and father and attempting to murder her. Of course, Emily mysteriously found new high-powered attorneys who cut her prison time in half.

Emily wastes little time in getting back to her roots and finds Stephanie at a bookstore, where she is reading an excerpt from a book she wrote about their story. After her grand entrance, Emily tells Stephanie that she needs to be her maid of honor for her upcoming wedding in Capri, Italy, or she'll sue her for using her name in the book.

Despite fearing that Emily is using the opportunity to get revenge, Stephanie takes the leap and flies to Capri for Emily's wedding to Dante Versano (Michele Morrone).

Of course, nothing is ever as it seems, and Stephanie quickly learns that Emily's fiance is part of an Italian mob, while Emily's aunt also appears out of nowhere. Throughout the film, several characters' lives are mysteriously taken, and people are wrongly framed. The truth is eventually revealed in a crazy plot twist.

So, how does Another Simple Favor end? Heres everything to know about who dies, who killed them and that wild twist.

Warning: Another Simple Favor spoilers ahead!



How does Another Simple Favor end?

Lorenzo Sisti / Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection Allison Janney and Elizabeth in 'Another Simple Favor' (2025).

As the idyllic Italian wedding plays out, Stephanie begins to notice that something is off with Emily, whose birth name is Hope McLanden, and her family.

The night before the wedding, Emily's future mother-in-law Portia Versano (Elena Sofia Ricci) surprises her by flying in her mom Margaret McLanden (Elizabeth Perkins) and her Aunt Linda McLanden (Allison Janney).

Emily is not pleased with the surprise and lets her mother-in-law know it. Meanwhile, Stephanie is also suspicious and later learns that Aunt Linda is wanted by the FBI in connection with several mysterious deaths.

The plot thickens after Emily and Dante get married in a picturesque ceremony over the cliffs of Capri. During the reception, Stephanie sees Dante get shot and killed by an unknown person and immediately runs to alert the rest of the wedding attendees.

Stephanie's whereabouts prove suspicious to the other guests, and she is put under house arrest and believed to have murdered Dante  who also happens to be the leader of the Versano crime family.

While she's locked in her room, Stephanie receives a visit from a grieving Emily who tells her that she believes Stephanie is responsible for her husband's death and wants to send her to prison. However, Stephanie notices that something is off with Emily and realizes that she isn't who she appears to be.

Stephanie escapes house arrest and visits Emily's mom, Margaret, who tells her that she gave birth to triplets  Hope, Charity and Faith. Margaret's sister, Linda, delivered the girls and told her that Charity was stillborn. Margaret raised Hope (who later changed her name to Emily) and Faith. As fans saw in the first movie, Faith and Hope rebelliously set their house on fire to kill their abusive father and run away. In A Simple Favor, Faith returned to try to blackmail Emily, so Emily drowned her.

Stephanie realizes that Charity  who was believed to have been dead  was actually alive at birth, and Aunt Linda stole her to raise her as her own. Aunt Linda treated Charity as a pawn in her past cons and used her for a final grand scheme in Italy by making her impersonate Emily. To make matters more convoluted, Charity developed an eerie obsession with both of her sisters and identifies the three of them as one person.

Aunt Linda and Charity conspired to kidnap and drug Emily, so Charity could marry Dante, kill him and become the widowed wife to receive his fortune. Aunt Linda and Charity also threatened to expose Dante's secret  that he was only marrying Emily as a front, because he was in love with the competing Italian mob's leader.

However, their plan starts to crumble when Emily escapes and she and Stephanie confront Aunt Linda and Charity near a cliff. Aunt Linda wants to kill both Stephanie and Emily so she and Charity can live with the Versano's money, but Charity refuses to kill Emily because of her obsession.

She steals the gun from the woman who raised her, shoots her and pushes her off the cliff. With the three women remaining, Emily convinces her sister to pretend to be her and take accountability for all of the murders. The final scenes of the movie show Charity walking into the courthouse as Emily and getting convicted.

Meanwhile, the real Emily flees the scene and goes into hiding as a new person. The film ends with her meeting up with her supposed mother-in-law, Portia, who asks her for "a simple favor."

Who dies in Another Simple Favor?

 Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection Henry Golding in 'Another Simple Favor' (2025).

The list of victims in Another Simple Favor grew with each scene.

The first person who dies is Sean Townsend (Henry Golding), Emily's ex-husband and father to her son. Townsend attends the wedding as their son Nicky Nelson's (Ian Ho) guardian and informs her that he'll be seeking sole custody.

After the rehearsal dinner, Townsend  who has been heavily drinking  is showering in his room when a mysterious figure appears and injects his finger with a serum. He becomes unconscious and falls through the glass shower door just a few seconds later. Stephanie initially thinks that Emily killed him because of the custody dispute, but Charity later admits to killing him to help her sister.

The next victim is Dante, the man who married Emily (who was actually Charity pretending to be Emily) just a few hours before his death. Aunt Linda later reveals that Charity killed Dante out of jealousy.

During their trip to Italy, Stephanie notices that a brunette woman is following her and learns that she is an FBI agent (Taylor Ortega). After Stephanie escapes house arrest, she finds the agent, but her hope for a safehouse gets foiled when someone stabs the agent in the back. Charity also confesses to killing the woman as her third victim in Italy.

Meanwhile, Emily's mom, Margaret, also pays for revealing the truth about Charity's birth to Stephanie. Aunt Linda visits her and smothers her to death with a pillow after Margaret admits to telling their family's secret.

The murder spree comes to an end in one of the final scenes when Charity kills the woman who raised her, Aunt Linda.



What happens to Emily Nelson?

 Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection Blake Lively in 'Another Simple Favor' (2025).

In a major plot twist, Emily asks Charity to take her identity for good.

During their cliffside confrontation, she convinces Charity that the only way she can prove her love for her is to take her identity and confess to all the crimes she's committed. The movie ends with Charity acting as "Emily" as she walks up the courthouse steps before she's sent to prison for several life sentences.

While the fake "Emily" is in prison, the original "Emily" is in hiding in Italy. She lets her son Nicky return to the United States with Stephanie raising him as her own.

The movie ends on a cliffhanger when she's approached by her mother-in-law Portia, who assures her that they are "family" and will keep her secret  as long as Emily does "a simple favor" for her.



What happens to Stephanie Smothers?

 Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection Anna Kendrick in 'Another Simple Favor' (2025).

Stephanie was initially at a crossroads at the beginning of the film. Her true crime podcast began taking an emotional toll on her, while her book about her first encounter with Emily also wasn't selling.

However, after learning some of the McLanden family secrets, she jumps back into the true crime game and helps Emily solve the murders.

Stephanie then uses her knowledge and first-hand experiences to write a second bestselling book about all the Italian murders  leaving out some key details, of course.

She continues raising her son Miles Smothers (Joshua Satine) while also taking on raising Nicky as her own. At the end of the film, Emily calls Stephanie about the arrangement, and Stephanie assures him that she'll treat him how Emily would.



What happens to Emily Nelsons third sister, Charity?

Lorenzo Sisti / Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection Blake Lively in 'Another Simple Favor' (2025).

After waiting years to meet her fellow triplet, Charity becomes overwhelmed with love for Emily when she meets her and expresses that she wants to live life as "one" person.

Charity's obsession with her sister later becomes her downfall, as she takes the blame for all of the murders and goes to prison. However, her dream of becoming "one" with Emily is completed, in a way, because she takes over Emily's identity before turning herself in.

Will there be a third A Simple Favor movie?

 Amazon Prime Video /Courtesy Everett Collection Michele Morrone and Blake Lively in 'Another Simple Favor' (2025).

The ending of Another Simple Favor  when Portia asks Emily for her own "simple favor"  perfectly tees up the series for a third movie.

A third movie in the A Simple Favor franchise has not been confirmed, but director Paul Feig previously teased that the ending was made to feel like there could be.

We definitely set it up so [that] the story can continue, Feig told Decider in May 2025. I always like to have that open door, if you will. Who knows? Well see how the movie does and all that.



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Police investigate the scene where a county deputy was struck and killed by a vehicle on Friday, May 2, 2025 in Cincinnati. (WCPO via AP)

A man who struck and killed a county deputy with his car Friday is the father of a teen who was shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer a day earlier as officers were responding to a call about a stolen car, police said. Authorities said the crash appeared to be intentional.

The driver of the car, 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., was charged with aggravated murder in the deputys death, police said.

Hinton appeared in court Saturday, with a wall of deputies standing at the back of the room. A prosecutor said evidence and witnesses will show that Hinton drove directly at the deputy in an attempt to kill him. A judge ordered that Hinton be held until another hearing on Tuesday.

An attorney representing Hilton said in court that he has no prior felonies and understands it's a serious charge, WLWT-TV reported.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement that he was sickened by what appears to be an intentional act of violence.

Just a few hours before the crash, Hinton and other family members met at the police chiefs office Friday morning and watched a police body camera video showing an officer shoot the teen, said Michael Wright, an attorney hired by the family of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton.

Rodney Hinton could not make it through the entire video and did not say a word, said Wright, who is not representing Hinton on the crash charges.

He was distraught, he was upset, Wright said Saturday.

In a statement issued later on behalf of Ryan Hintons family, the law firm offered heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of the deputy who was killed. The firm called it an unimaginable tragedy for the community and said the teen's family was heartbroken by the events and devastated for the deputy's family.

The Hamilton County Sheriffs deputy was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati on graduation day when he was hit by a car that drove into an intersection, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said.

Authorities did not identify the deputy, who retired from the department a few months ago but was continuing to work off-duty assignments, said Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey.

He was so well-liked and so well-known, McGuffey said. What a tremendous loss we have all suffered."

Authorities said the circumstances of the crash were being investigated.

If the facts show this act was intentional, as the charge suggests, I will throw the full force of the law at the perpetrator, Hamilton County prosecutor Connie Pillich said in a statement Friday.

Ryan Hinton was shot twice and killed by police Thursday during a chase. The officer who fired told investigators that the suspect pointed a gun at him, said Cincinnati's police chief. Police showed photos during a news conference Friday of a semiautomatic handgun that they said he was carrying and another gun that was found in the car.

One officer could be heard in body camera video released by police saying hes got a gun, hes got a gun" before several shots were fired as Ryan Hinton was running behind an apartment complex.

While the blurred images did not clearly show Hinton pointing a gun as he and the officer were running, Theetge said the officer told investigators that he had the firearm in front of him, it was pointed at the officer and the officer feared for his life.

There was no indication that Hinton fired at police before he was shot, she said.
Chelsea, Michigan  In the Southern Michigan town of Chelsea, which has a population of about 5,000, the local bookstore has quite a story of its own.

It's a story that began when Michelle Tuplin, owner of Serendipity Books, decided to relocate her business to larger space.



"I knew it was going to be great," Tuplin told CBS News.

But she didn't know how she was going to transport about 9,000 books to the new space a few blocks away.

"The actual logistics, the details, not so much," Tuplin said.

Of course, she could have carried them all. But moving that many book boxes would have been challenging to say the least. She could have hired a hero with a truck, but that was cost-prohibitive.

So how then did she hope to move all those volumes to their new homes? With a kind of bucket brigade, but with books instead. Making it work would require a good chunk of the town to volunteer.



"Well, that was the math thing that I never quite figured out," Tuplin said of how many people would need to show up. "So I thought, OK, we'll just ask for help, cross our fingers, and hope for the best."

So, it was with that blind faith that Tuplin showed up to move her bookstore last month and found enough volunteers to stretch the whole route twice over: two lines made up of more than 300 volunteers.

"It was overwhelming," Tuplin said.

For those of us who can't even get close friends to help with a move, this defied logic. But Chelsea residents say they were craving something that day, community. In our divided country, here was a gathering that was neither a rally nor a protest.

"All generations, all together, working toward something," one of the volunteers said of the experience.

"And exactly what life, I think, should be," said another.

As for Michelle, she says it restored her faith in humanity.

"I think there's a basic trust that people are generally good. And that was massively emotional."

Daughter reflects on iconic photo that shows reunion with her father, a Vietnam prisoner of war

Mike Waltz leaving post as Trump's national security adviser | Special Report

The Rule of Law | Sunday on 60 Minutes
More than twelve years after Aliza Sherman was fatally stabbed in downtown Cleveland, police arrested a man on Friday in connection with her death.

A grand jury has indicted Gregory Moore, 51  Shermans former divorce attorney  on charges related to the fatal stabbing of the 53-year-old nurse and mother of four while she was waiting outside of his office building on March 24, 2013. The indictments include one count of aggravated murder, one count of conspiracy, six counts of murder and two counts of kidnapping.

Security footage captured a hooded person running from the scene of the crime, but the person, now believed to be Moore, was never identified. The case remained unsolved at the time.

Aliza Sherman.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations took on Shermans case in 2021, months after NBCs Dateline featured Sherman's case  speaking with her daughter Jennifer, eight years after the killing.

The Sherman family has waited over a decade for answers regarding their mothers homicide, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. OMalley said in a statement. 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.

It does not appear that Moore has been assigned an attorney.

The indictment states that on the Sunday that Sherman was killed, Moore texted her to meet him at his office building at 4:30 p.m. and to let him know when she was leaving.

While Sherman waited outside the building, Moore or an unnamed conspirator approached her from behind and stabbed her more than 10 times, leading to her death, according to the indictment.

The indictment alleges Moore texted and called Sherman before and after he allegedly killed her.

These texts and requests for calls were for the purpose of creating false evidence that Moore was unaware of Shermans assault, the indictment says.

The grand jurys indictment said Moore killed Sherman to prevent her divorce trial, which was scheduled to start the following day.

The indictment states that at the time of Shermans murder, Moore was being investigated for sending bomb threats to the courthouse on the days he had to appear in court to similarly avoid trials. Moore knew he was being investigating for the bomb threats, according to the indictment.

In 2017, Moore pleaded guilty to inducing panic related to the bomb threats and falsification for giving authorities misleading statements during the Sherman investigation.

Moore will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date, prosecutors said.
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.

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.

"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.

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".

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.

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,)
Susana Moreira, 41, a degenerative muscular dystrophy patient, looks at her husband in her bedroom in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP)  As a child, Susana Moreira didnt have the same energy as her siblings. Over time, her legs stopped walking and she lost the ability to bathe and take care of herself. Over the last two decades, the 41-year-old Chilean has spent her days bedridden, suffering from degenerative muscular dystrophy. When she finally loses her ability to speak or her lungs fail, she wants to be able to opt for euthanasia  which is currently prohibited in Chile.

Moreira has become the public face of Chiles decade-long debate over euthanasia and assisted dying, a bill that the left-wing government of President Gabriel Boric has pledged to address in his last year in power, a critical period for its approval ahead of Novembers presidential election.

This disease will progress, and I will reach a point where I wont be able to communicate, Moreira told The Associated Press from the house where she lives with her husband in southern Santiago. When the time comes, I need the euthanasia bill to be a law.

A debate spanning more than 10 years

In April 2021, Chiles Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to allow euthanasia and assisted suicide for those over 18 who suffer from a terminal or serious and incurable illness. But it has since been stalled in the Senate.

The initiative seeks to regulate euthanasia, in which a doctor administers a drug that causes death, and assisted suicide, in which a doctor provides a lethal substance that the patients take themselves.

If the bill passes, Chile will join a select group of countries that allow both euthanasia and assisted suicide, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain and Australia.

It would also make Chile the third Latin American country to rule on the matter, following Colombias established regulations and Ecuadors recent decriminalization, which remains unimplemented due to a lack of regulation.

As long as my body allows me

When she was 8 years old, Moreira was diagnosed with shoulder-girdle muscular dystrophy, a progressive genetic disease that affects all her muscles and causes difficulty breathing, swallowing and extreme weakness.

Confined to bed, she spends her days playing video games, reading and watching Harry Potter movies. Outings are rare and require preparation, as the intense pain only allows her three or four hours in the wheelchair. As the disease progressed, she said she felt the urgency to speak out in order to advance the discussion in Congress.

I dont want to live plugged into machines, I dont want a tracheostomy, I dont want a feeding tube, I dont want a ventilator to breathe. I want to live as long as my body allows me, she said.

In a letter to President Boric last year, Moreira revealed her condition, detailed her daily struggles and asked him to authorize her euthanasia.

Boric made Moreiras letter public to Congress in June and announced that passing the euthanasia bill would be a priority in his final year in office. Passing this law is an act of empathy, responsibility and respect, he said.

But hope soon gave way to uncertainty.

Almost a year after that announcement, multiple political upheavals have relegated Borics promised social agenda to the background.

A change in mood

Chile, a country of roughly 19 million inhabitants at the southern tip of the southern hemisphere, began to debate euthanasia more than ten years ago. Despite a predominantly Catholic population and the strong influence of the Church at the time, Representative Vlado Mirosevic, from Chile's Liberal Party, first presented a bill for euthanasia and assisted dying in 2014.

The proposal was met with skepticism and strong resistance. Over the years, the bill underwent numerous modifications with little significant progress until 2021. Chile was then one of the most conservative countries in Latin America, Mirosevic told the AP.

More recently, however, public opinion has shifted, showing greater openness to debating thorny issues. There was a change in the mood," Mirosevic said, citing the rising support for the euthanasia bill among Chileans.

Indeed, recent surveys show strong public support for euthanasia and assisted dying in Chile.

According to a 2024 survey by Chilean public opinion pollster Cadem, 75% of those interviewed said they supported euthanasia, while a study by the Center for Public Studies from October found that 89% of Chileans believe euthanasia should always be allowed or allowed in special cases, compared to 11% who believed the procedure "should never be allowed.

Suffering, the only certainty

Borics commitment to the euthanasia bill has been welcomed by patients and families of those lost to terminal illnesses, including Fredy Maureira, a decade-long advocate for the right of choosing when to die.

His 14-year-old daughter Valentina went viral in 2015, after posting a video appealing to then-President Michelle Bachelet for euthanasia. Her request was denied, and she died less than two months later from complications of cystic fibrosis.

The commotion generated both inside and outside Chile by her story allowed the debate on assisted death to penetrate also into the social sphere.

I addressed Congress several times, asking lawmakers to put themselves in the shoes of someone whose child or sibling is pleading to die, and theres no law to allow it," said Maureira.

Despite growing public support, euthanasia and assisted death remains a contentious issue in Chile, including among health professionals.

Only when all palliative care coverage is available and accessible, will it be time to sit down and discuss the euthanasia law, Irene Munoz Pino, a nurse, academic and advisor to the Chilean Scientific Society of Palliative Nursing, said. She was referring to a recent law, enacted in 2022, that ensures palliative care and protects the rights of terminally ill individuals.

Others argue that the absence of a legal medical option for assisted dying could lead patients to seek other riskier, unsupervised alternatives.

Unfortunately, I keep hearing about suicides that could have been instances of medically assisted death or euthanasia, said Colombian psychologist Monica Giraldo.

With only a few months remaining, Chiles leftist government faces a narrow window to pass the euthanasia bill before the November presidential elections dominate the political agenda.

A sick person isnt certain of anything; the only certainty they have is that they will suffer, Moreira said. Knowing that I have the opportunity to choose, gives me peace of mind."

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
The cicadas are back  well, some of them.

Brood XIV has begun to emerge in some eastern U.S. states. The brood emerges every 17 years, and is considered the second largest periodical cicada brood, according to the University of Connecticut.

Researchers use past emergences to predict where and when periodical cicadas will appear again, said Gene Kritsky, a professor at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati and founder of the Cicada Safari app, which is used to track the emergence of cicadas. The group gathers data on the insects and creates a map of where theyve been spotted.

In this broods case, the group last emerged in 2008. This year, they are slated to appear in states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Heres what you need to know about Brood XIV and where theyve been spotted so far.

Where have cicadas started to emerge?

So far, most of the cicadas added to this years Cicada Safari map are in western North Carolina and parts of Tennessee.

As of May 2, cicadas have been photographed in the following areas:

Asheville-area, North Carolina - 140 sightings

South of Knoxville, Tennessee - 25 sightings

Nashville-area, Tennessee - 17 sightings

Sporadic sightings were also reported in Georgia and southwestern Ohio.

To keep track of cicada sightings, download the Cicada Safari mobile app, visit www.cicadamap.msj.edu or www.cicadas.uconn.edu/broods/brood_14.

There may be stragglers: Not all cicadas are Brood XIV

Known for the buzzing sound they make, cicadas are part of the same order as insects such as stink bugs, bed bugs, aphids and cicada families.

Brood XIV only occurs in the eastern half of the U.S., Kritsky said.

Both Kritsky and researchers at the University of Connecticut run mapping programs for cicadas, and because there are so many broods of cicadas, knowing which group they belong to can be difficult, experts say.

Brood XIV occurs eight years after Brood VI, four years after Brood X, four years before Brood I, and so on. Because of the timing of it all, there may be stragglers, or cicadas from other groups, the University of Connecticut said.

From a practical perspective, stragglers from any of these broods complicate mapping efforts, because populations may be difficult to assign to a brood, wrote the researchers. There will be substantial numbers of stragglers in 2025, and if they are mistaken for Brood XIV emergences, these mistaken records will create the impression that Brood XIV has grown suddenly and substantially larger, when no such thing is true.

Researchers said this year, Brood XIV emergences will be dense and widespread, while stragglers will be more patchy and scattered.

Brood XIV: See the 2025 cicada map

Based on past behaviors, the group is likely making its appearance in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and in nine southern counties in Indiana, said Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, a group that gathers data on the insects.

This map shows roughly where Brood XIV is expected to make an appearance this spring, however, experts say it can be tricky to know exactly which counties will have confirmed sightings.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia  the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cicada map 2025: States where Brood XIV has already been sighted
By Jonathan Stempel

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people are in Omaha, Nebraska, to attend the annual shareholder weekend for billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

Buffett, 94, is expected to answer shareholder questions over four and a half hours at Berkshire's annual meeting on Saturday.

Vice Chairman Greg Abel, 62, who is expected to succeed Buffett as chief executive, will join him. Vice Chairman Ajit Jain, 73, will join for two and a half hours.

The meeting will be broadcast on CNBC and livestreamed on cnbc.com.

Here are some facts about Buffett and Berkshire.

BUFFETT'S LIFE

*Personal life

Warren Edward Buffett was born on August 30, 1930, in Omaha. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Columbia Business School.

Buffett has been married to Astrid Menks since 2006. His first wife Susan Thompson Buffett died in 2004, and he had three children with her: Susan, Howard and Peter. Susan Buffett and Howard Buffett are Berkshire directors.

Buffett likes steaks and enjoys candies from See's, which Berkshire owns. He estimates that one-fourth of his calories come from Coca-Cola, a longtime Berkshire investment.

*Net worth

$168.2 billion as of May 2, ranking fifth worldwide, according to Forbes. Elon Musk, the head of Tesla and adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, ranked first.

Buffett owned 14.4% of Berkshire and held a 30.4% voting stake in the company as of March 5.

*How Buffett took charge of Berkshire

In 1965, Buffett was a shareholder in Berkshire, then a struggling New England textile company. He agreed to sell back his shares for $11.50 each, but management provided a term sheet that showed $11.375. Buffett was angered, and decided to buy all the shares he could. He won control of Berkshire on May 10, 1965, and began building his conglomerate. Though the textile business closed in 1985, Buffett kept the Berkshire name.

*Philanthropy

Buffett has since 2006 donated about $43.3 billion to the Gates Foundation and $15.1 billion to four family charities. His three children will distribute his Berkshire holdings, which account for about 99.5% of Buffett's wealth, after his death, and must decide unanimously on each commitment. Donations to the Gates Foundation will stop after Buffett dies.

*Home

Buffett has lived since 1958 in the same house on a well-trafficked Omaha street, where he primarily works. He paid $31,500 for it. Built in 1921, the five-bedroom, 2-1/2-bath, 6,500-square-foot home on 0.72 acres was assessed at $1,224,500 in 2025. Annual taxes are $20,457. (Source: Douglas County, Nebraska)

*Famous Buffett quote

"Lose money for the firm, and I will be understanding. Lose a shred of reputation for the firm, and I will be ruthless." - September 4, 1991 congressional testimony about Salomon Inc, where Buffett became interim chairman to restore order after a Treasury auction bidding scandal.

FACTS ABOUT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY

*Leadership

Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer; Greg Abel and Ajit Jain, vice chairmen; Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, investment managers.

Abel and Jain have day-to-day oversight of Berkshire's non-insurance and insurance units, respectively. Combs and Weschler handle some stock investments. Buffett handles major capital allocations and investments.

*Portfolio

Berkshire Hathaway owns 189 operating businesses and dozens of stocks.

*Major stock investments

Apple was Berkshire's largest stock holding at the end of 2024, even though Berkshire sold 600 million shares during the year. Berkshire also has multi-billion dollar stakes in many other U.S. companies, and stakes close to 10% in Japan's five largest trading houses.

*Financials

Berkshire Hathaway posted record operating profit for the third straight calendar year in 2024, helped by its insurance businesses.

*Stock price

Through May 2, Berkshire shares were up 18.9% this year while the Standard & Poor's was down 3.3%, as new U.S. tariffs and recession worries rattled markets. The conglomerate had a market value of $1.14 trillion.

Between 1965 and 2024, Berkshire's stock price posted a compounded annual gain of 19.9%. It outperformed the S&P, which rose 10.4% annually, including dividends (pre-tax).

* Some of Berkshire's operating businesses

Alleghany, Benjamin Moore, Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, BNSF, Borsheims Fine Jewelry, Brooks, Business Wire, Clayton Homes, Duracell, Forest River, Fruit of the Loom, Geico, General Re, HomeServices of America, IMC International Metalworking, International Dairy Queen, Jazwares, Johns Manville, Lubrizol, Marmon, McLane, National Indemnity, Nebraska Furniture Mart, NetJets, Oriental Trading, Pampered Chef, Pilot Travel Centers, Precision Castparts, See's Candies, Shaw Industries

*Select acquisitions

See's Candies, $25 million (1972); Geico, $2.3 billion (1996); Dairy Queen, $590 million (1998); General Re, $15.9 billion (1998); NetJets, $725 million (1998); Clayton Homes, $1.7 billion (2003); PacifiCorp, $5.1 billion (2006); Iscar, $6.1 billion (2006-2013); Marmon, $8.9 billion (2008-2014); Burlington Northern Santa Fe, $26.5 billion (2010); Lubrizol, $9 billion (2011); NV Energy, $5.6 billion (2013); H.J. Heinz, $12.1 billion (majority stake, 2013; now part of Kraft Heinz); Van Tuyl (now Berkshire Hathaway Automotive), $4.1 billion (2015); Precision Castparts, $32.1 billion (2016); Duracell, $2.9 billion (2016); Pilot Travel Centers, $13.6 billion (2017-2024); Alleghany, $11.5 billion (2022). (Sources: Barclays, Berkshire)

*Employees

Berkshire employs 392,396 people. Its main office has 27, including Buffett.

*Annual meeting attendance:

12 (1965), about 24 (1979), 1,000 (1986), 4,100 (1995), 13,000 (2000), 21,000 (2005), 42,000 (2015, Buffett's 50th anniversary running Berkshire). (Sources: Omaha World-Herald, Berkshire, Reuters)

*Succession

Buffett has not publicly signaled any plans to retire. Abel is expected to become CEO when Buffett retires, cannot continue or dies. Combs, who has been Geico's chief executive since 2020, and Weschler may succeed Buffett as chief investment officer, though Buffett said at Berkshire's 2024 annual meeting that Abel could fill that role. Buffett's eldest son, Howard, is expected to become non-executive chairman.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Omaha, Nebraska; Editing by Deepa Babington and Stephen Coates)
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.

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)
The air traffic control tower at the Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. - Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Some helicopter flights to the Pentagon have been put on hold by the US Army pending an investigation after two planes at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were forced to abort landings last week as a US Army Black Hawk helicopter approached the Pentagon nearby.

12th Aviation Battalion has suspended rotary wing flight operations into the Pentagon pending the outcome of an internal inquiry, an Army spokesperson, Heather Chairez, told CNN.

The Black Hawk helicopter was overlying the Pentagon helipad on Thursday, as instructed by air traffic controllers, when two commercial planes had to be ordered to abort landings at Reagan airport to prevent them from being too close together.

Helicopters near the airport have been under intense scrutiny since the January 29 midair collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter from the same unit. The crash killed 67 people.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating along with the Federal Aviation Administration, which said air traffic controllers instructed Delta flight 1671 and Republic flight 5825 to perform go-arounds at the Reagan Washington National Airport due to a Priority Air Transport helicopter inbound to the Pentagon Army Heliport around 2:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

In a Sunday statement, US Army spokesperson Capt. Victoria Goldfedib said, While conducting flight operations into the Pentagon in accordance with published FAA flight routes and DCA Air Traffic Control, a UH-60 Blackhawk initiated a go-around after Pentagon Air Traffic Control told them they were not cleared to land, overflying the Pentagon helipad while maintaining all approved flight procedures. As a result, DCA Air Traffic Control issued a go-around to two civil fixed wing aircraft to ensure the appropriate deconfliction of airspace.

Goldfedib added that the incident is being investigated. The United States Army remains committed to aviation safety and conducting flight operations within all approved guidelines and procedures, she said.

Following the incident, the ranking Democrat who sits on the senate committee overseeing the FAA called on the agency and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves.

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 DCA, said Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington. This comes less than a week after this brigade resumed flights in the National Capital Region.

Sen. Ted Cruz, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said he would pursue legislation to keep the flying public safe from Army helicopter flights that are dangerously close to the airport.

I believe its time for the FAA to act swiftly and assert control over the national airspace so the Army stops running air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Cruz said in a post on X.

The closest proximity of the first aircraft, Delta Flight 1671 to the helicopter was 0.89 miles and 400 feet, according to information the FAA shared with Congress. The second flight, Republic 5825, came within 0.4 miles and 200 feet of the helicopter.

It appears the Blackhawk operation did not proceed directly to the Pentagon Heliport, said a preliminary FAA report shared with members of Congress. Instead that took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport.

The early FAA report says the helicopter was not in a restricted area put in place by the agency in the days after the January 29 midair collision.

The Black Hawk in question was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the same unit involved in the crash over the Potomac.

Flight corridor near airport under scrutiny

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, at the NTSBs recommendation, banned helicopter traffic on a four-mile stretch over the Potomac River following the January crash of the American Airlines flight and the Army helicopter.

Duffy told CNN on Friday the Pentagon may need to look into ground transportation more often, which he said may be a safer option, rather than putting commercial flights at risk. The air traffic controllers did the right thing by diverting the flights, he added.

While the helicopter in Thursdays incidents was not in the banned area, planes at the airport are stopped for necessary helicopter flights  such as when President Donald Trump leaves the White House on Marine One  which has led to flight delays and diversions.

We remain concerned about the significant potential for a future midair collision, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a briefing in March.

The collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and the Army Black Hawk helicopter occurred on January 29 under clear skies over some of the countrys busiest and most tightly controlled airspace.

The passenger jet was moments away from touching down when it was struck on the right side by the military helicopter at an altitude of roughly 300 feet, investigators said. The helicopter was on a training mission.

A preliminary analysis of the flight data and voice recorder on board the Black Hawk indicated its altimeter may have been inaccurate and the pilots may not have heard some calls from the Reagan National Airport control tower, NTSB officials said last month.

Investigators uncovered 15,214 near miss events between 2021 and 2024 nationwide where aircraft were within one nautical mile of colliding, with a vertical separation of less than 400 feet. Additionally, there were also 85 cases where two aircraft were separated by less than 1,500 feet, with a vertical separation of less than 200 feet, according to the NTSB.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Alexandra Skores, Aaron Cooper, Ray Sanchez and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Paging All Fans of The Pitt: Katie Chats With Noah Wyle

If youve got a pulse and a social media feed, this wont surprise you in the slightest: The Pitt is a full-on phenomenon.

The excellent Max series (which you can stream right here) is an up-close-and-personal look inside the bustling emergency room of a Pittsburgh hospital. The series is told in real time, so the 15 episodes of season one amount to 15 hours of a consecutive ER shift  each episode represents a single hour in the lives of these unforgettable doctors, nurses, and patients.

Its riveting, and the ratings back that up. The Pitt averaged 10 million viewers per episode over its first season, making it one of the top three most popular series in Max history, and its already been renewed for more episodes. Heres the scoop on what to expect in season two, including which beloved characters well be seeing again.

Fans of this stellar show are everywhere, and our own Katie Couric is certainly one of them. I love this show so much, she wrote on Instagram. Granted, there are many scenes where I close my eyes because I am very squeamish. But Im blown away by the humanity and relevance of The Pitt. Its brilliant and beautiful.

So you can only imagine how excited she was to talk with Noah Wyle, who stars as Dr. Robby, an attending whos still processing his traumatic experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic. Wyles also an executive producer on the show, and hes no stranger to high-quality hospital acting, as 90s TV fans remember well: He also played Dr. John Carter on the medical classic ER.

But thats enough pre-op preamble: Its time to scrub in and see the entirety of Katies cant-miss conversation with Wyle in the video above, stat.

Here are just a few of our favorite moments from their interview:

Why Wyle returned to medicine on screen after ER

Wyle initially vowed never to play a doctor again, but changed his mind post-Covid after receiving letters from frontline workers. He felt a responsibility to continue portraying their stories: I felt a certain responsibility to continue to be part of their medical journey.

He and ER producer John Wells wanted to show how the healthcare system and its workers had changed since the pandemic: Every show after Covid needed to reflect those radical changes. And I hadnt really seen one yet do that.

On mental health and in medicine

Wyles character Dr. Robby serves as a lens on the emotional toll on healthcare workers. He discussed the concept of secondary victim syndrome (the distress experienced by those workers), and how poorly the system supports its own: Doctors need to be in charge theres a real stigma about reaching out for help, because you should be able to handle it  cause thats the job.

His emotional breakdown scene in The Pitt, including a moment where he recites the Shema (a Jewish prayer), drew praise for its authenticity. Wyle says that after enduring a period of searching for meaning during the pandemic, he found it cathartic to portray his conflict onscreen. [During Covid] I was thinking, God, itd be great to have a nervous breakdown. Wouldnt that feel so good to just fall on the floor and sob? And then, five years later, I gave myself the opportunity to have that moment  I just invited the world to watch it.

On The Pitts commitment to authenticity

Wyle described how the cast underwent a two-week medical bootcamp to portray their roles with realism: They went home with their suture kits and sewed up chickens, did what they needed to do and came back ready.

He also defended the shows decision to have no music playing during emergency scenes, saying, We really felt that if youre going for authenticity, you know, wheres the music coming from? As soon as you hear violins, youre gonna feel manipulated to feel sad. As soon as you hear drums and percussion, youre gonna feel an accentuated sense of tension. But that feels like a manipulation.

From ER to The Pitt  and the legal drama in-between

Originally, Wyle and Wells hoped to revisit ER through his former character Dr. Carter, but legal disputes with Michael Crichtons estate forced a pivot: When we ran into issues with the rights  legal and logistical  it became problematic. The negotiations broke down. We had to ask ourselves: What was the story we really want to tell? It was about healthcare workers post-Covid. So John Wells said, Lets just do that. It became liberating to tell a new story without being shackled to old characters.

The post Paging All Fans of The Pitt: Katie Chats With Noah Wyle appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Losing a pet is one of the hardest days of our lives, and it can be just as hard on our other pets as well. TikToker Aubs lost her dog of 11 1/2 years last week, and it's been difficult for her family, including her other dog and cat, to go on without him.

She recently ordered portraits of her pets and hung them behind their living room couch. When her 15-year-old cat Lily noticed Gunner's photo, she had the sweetest, most heartbreaking reaction. Watch to see what Lily does when she sees her brother's photo. You might want to grab a tissue, too!

My heart broke for poor Lily! It's like she thought her real Gunner was in the photo, and she reached out for him. Poor sweet Lily!

In another post, Aubs shared that Lily has been sleeping in Gunner's bed every night, too. It's clear that she misses her brother and is grieving for him just as her humans are.

Related: Tuxedo Cat Mourning Dog Brother By Napping in His Bed Has Everyone in Tears

Commenter Reactions to Lily Seeing Gunner's Photo

This one hit everybody straight in the feelers, and viewers left more than 5 thousand comments about the sweet video. @freeasfuq shared, "She's looking for his scent, probably confused as to why she can see him but not smell him." @Peachtree said, "OMG I have never seen anything like this. She absolutely knows who she is looking at in disbelief. Im so sorry for you and your family's loss."

@Meg Hamilton said, "This is the sweetest and also the saddest thing Ive ever seen!! Im so sorry for your loss and for Lily's!" @Kristal Phillips spoke for all of us when she said, "Im so sorry, were all crying right along with you!" @attagirlx0 added, "Joke's on you because I planned on crying today."

Commenter @julesvissher shared, "I hate when people dont understand that pets have feelings and need comfort too. They must be so confused."

The American Kennel Club explains that our pets do grieve, "While we cant just ask them, we can observe them  and most evidence seems to indicate that, yes, dogs experience grief in some form. In fact, its likely that they feel all of the emotions that go along with grief when they lose both human and canine companions during their lives."

They recommend allowing your pet to grieve and giving them some time alone. "Spend time with your pet when he wants it, ensure he gets plenty of exercise, and observe him when he eats so that he gets the necessary nutrition to stay healthy." They also suggest a new friend will help, but if that isn't in the cards for your family, playdates with others can also help.
A new study finds that how fast cells divide may determine whether cancer develops, offering hope for new prevention therapies. (CREDIT: CC BY-SA 4.0)

A hidden clue may explain why some mutated cells become cancerous and others dont: how fast they divide.

A new study from researchers at Sinai Health in Toronto reveals that the total time it takes for a cell to complete one full cycle of divisioncalled the total cell cycle duration, or Tccan predict whether it will develop into a tumor. Faster-dividing cells are more likely to turn cancerous, while slower ones often escape this fate.

This discovery adds a new layer to what scientists know about cancer and its origins. It suggests that simply having cancer-causing mutations isnt enough. How a cell responds to that mutationand especially how quickly it dividesplays a key role in whether it will eventually become a tumor.

Cancer Without a Cause?

Cells in your body collect mutations throughout your life. These genetic errors can happen for many reasons: environmental exposure, inherited traits, or random mistakes during cell division. But surprisingly, most mutated cells never become cancer.

An in vivo strategy to identify a cancer cell-of-origin hallmark. (CREDIT: Nature)

Dr. Rod Bremner, Senior Investigator at Sinai Healths Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, explains it this way: An average adult has millions and millions of cells which have mutations in them, yet thankfully, we dont develop cancer all the time.

His team wanted to understand why. If mutations alone dont trigger cancer, what does?

To find out, they started by studying retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer found mostly in children. Researchers looked at cells that had mutations in the Rb genea well-known tumor suppressor. This gene normally controls how and when cells divide.

Interestingly, mice with mutated Rb genes didnt develop tumors in most tissues, even though the cells were dividing in unusual ways. In fact, when Rb-deficient embryonic stem cells were introduced into early-stage embryos, those cells ended up in nearly every adult tissue. But only the pituitary gland developed tumors. The rest of the cells stayed normal despite having dangerous mutations.

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This raised a critical question: What makes some cells give in to cancer and others resist, even with the same genetic error?

Speed Matters More Than You Think

Dr. Bremner and his colleague, Dr. Danian Chen, decided to look at the rate at which cells divide. The team introduced different mutations known to cause cancer in a range of tissueslike the lung, retina, and pituitary gland. They found something striking.

In every case, the cancer developed from the cell type with the shortest cell cycle. That is, the fastest-dividing cells were the ones most likely to turn cancerous.

This pattern held true for various genetic mutations. For instance, the combination of Rb and p53 loss caused tumors in fast-dividing neuroendocrine lung cells. Other mutations like KrasG12D and BrafV600E triggered tumors in alveolar type 2 cells, which also have short Tc values.

Even in tissues with different kinds of mutations, the link was the same: shorter cycle time meant higher risk.

Tumour suppression without increasing cell death, senescence or immune infiltration. (CREDIT: Nature)

Further analysis showed that extending Tcslowing down the division rateprevented tumors from forming. And this suppression happened even when typical defenses like immune clearance or programmed cell death didnt activate.

In one model, blocking a specific pathway in the SKP2p27CDK2/CDK1 axis stopped cancer from developing. This approach didnt affect other features of the cells, like their ability to undergo apoptosis or immune detection. It worked purely by changing the pace of division.

Normal Cells, Not Dead Ones

This research challenges the idea that only cell death or immune surveillance keeps cancer in check. In fact, many of the bodys mutated cells dont diethey just stop dividing abnormally and behave like normal cells.

The most common way that mutated cells escape cancer is just by becoming normal cells, said Dr. Bremner. They divide abnormally a little bit and then they stop and look like any other normal cell.

Tumour suppression without altering DNA damage, aberrant angiogenesis or apical polarity defects. (CREDIT: Nature)

In other words, not every mutated cell triggers an immune response or self-destructs. Most simply return to normal growth patterns, especially if their division pace is slow enough to avoid dangerous buildup.

This helps explain why people dont constantly develop tumors, even though their tissues are full of cells carrying cancer-associated mutations.

Rethinking Cancers Origins

For years, scientists have studied the hallmarks of cancertraits that almost all tumors share, like uncontrolled growth, resistance to death, and the ability to attract blood vessels. But the new findings suggest theres another hallmark worth adding: total cell cycle duration.

Its not just what mutations are present that matters. Its also how the cell behaves afterward. A faster cycle appears to be a key ingredient in the mix that leads to cancer.

Tumour suppression without altering cell lineage. (CREDIT: Nature)

The researchers also emphasized that Tc can identify the cell of origin for various cancersthe original cell that turned malignant. In all models tested, the cell with the shortest cycle turned into cancer, even when different mutations were introduced at different times.

This could help scientists understand where specific cancers start and why some cells are more vulnerable than others.

A New Path for Prevention?

The most exciting part of this work is its potential for new treatment strategies. If slowing down cell division can keep tumors from forming, then future therapies could aim to adjust Tc in high-risk individuals.

Our work suggests that we might be able to intervene in cancer-prone cells to slow them down a little bit with the right therapeutic agents, said Dr. Bremner. But first, we need to understand the mechanisms governing cell cycle rate in different cell types.

Tumor suppression without rescuing aberrant angiogenesis and apical polarity. (CREDIT: Nature)

The research hints that one day, treatments could focus on enhancing the natural resistance that most cells already show. Instead of killing cancer cells, doctors could stop tumors from forming in the first placejust by giving cells a little more time between divisions.

Theres still much to learn. But these findings offer a fresh way to think about cancerone that focuses not just on genetics, but on timing.

Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News.

Like these kind of feel good stories? Get The Brighter Side of News' newsletter.
Adobe/Allrecipes

When I asked my husband to take me to Dairy Queen on our weekly date night, he looked surprised. Our closest DQs are each a 30-minute drive away, and neither of us could even recall the last time wed been to one. When, puzzled, he asked, Why Dairy Queen? I gave him an answer hes used to getting as someone married to a food writer. Theres a viral, secret menu Blizzard there I want to try, I said.

Into the car we went, taking a drive down Floridas Highway A1A to Cocoa Beach, a touristy area thats home to renowned surfer Kelly Slater. Cocoa is a popular vacation spot, and when we pulled into the packed Dairy Queen parking lot, it was clear that people crave Blizzards and Dipped Cones even when theyre away from home.

What Is Dairy Queens Cookie Jar Blizzard?

The Blizzard I drove 30 minutes to try isnt on Dairy Queens menuat least not now. The Cookie Jar Blizzard is a discontinued DQ menu item that lives on as a secret off-menu item and a favorite of Dairy Queen employees. In fact, a viral TikTok posted by a Dairy Queen in Castle Rock, Colorado, shows an employee making it, proclaiming the dessert Jonathans favorite Blizzard.

But whats in employee Jonathans favorite Dairy Queen dessert? The Cookie Jar Blizzard starts with a vanilla Blizzard, mixed with cookie dough, Oreo pieces, and hot fudge. This sweet treat isnt on the Dairy Queen menu, and you wont find it in the DQ app.

How to Order Dairy Queen's Cookie Jar Blizzard

To get your hands on a Cookie Jar Blizzard, you have to order in person and ask for a vanilla Blizzard with cookie dough, Oreos, and hot fudge.

I placed my order right at the counter, and the cashier didn't even bat an eye about it. They simply charged me $7 for a medium Blizzard (which comes with one free add-in) and an extra $1 for the additional add-ins. Nine dollars later, I was headed out of the Cocoa Beach Dairy Queen with a Cookie Jar Blizzard and two spoons, ready for a date night walk on the beach while we shared our newly acquired sweet treat.

Is the Cookie Jar Blizzard Worth Getting?

Terri Peters

In another TikTok about this made-to-order Blizzard, a creator calls the dessert one of her favorite employee suggestions from Dairy Queen. After trying the Cookie Jar Blizzard, I can see why its a favorite. The Oreo pieces blended perfectly throughout the creamy vanilla ice cream and the hot fudge provided the perfect hint of chocolate. But the real star was the chocolate chip cookie dough, which channeled memories of dipping into the cookie jar as a kid and nibbling on freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. In fact, even after we had eaten our fill of the Blizzard, I found myself using my spoon to fish out more cookie dough pieces.

The dessert definitely got pricey with the $1 add-ins, but it was a fun splurge to share with my husband on our date night. Whats more, the off-menu Dairy Queen Cookie Jar Blizzard was easy to order right at the counter, and thats saying a lot coming from an introvert who lives for mobile ordering.

More of a Dipped Cone fan than a Blizzard lover? There are plenty of popular Dipped Cone varieties to check out at Dairy Queen as well. Or, if your closest DQ is even farther away than mine, you can always try making a copycat Dairy Queen Blizzard at home. Just dont forget the cookie dough pieces. I promise theyre a total game changer.



Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
An Abu Dhabi state-backed investment firm is making a major $2 billion investment in a crypto business deal that could serve as a major boost for Trump family crypto venture World Liberty Financial, according to Zach Witkoff, co-founder of World Liberty Financial.

USD1, World Liberty Financial's so-called "stablecoin" -- a digital asset designed to maintain a stable value -- is expected to be used to complete Emirati investment firm MGX's $2 billion investment transaction in crypto exchange Binance, Witkoff said during an appearance with President Donald Trump's son Eric Trump at a crypto convention in Dubai this week.

"We are excited to announce today that USD1 has been selected as the official stablecoin to close MGX's $2 billion investment in Binance," Witkoff announced in a video recording of the event posted on X. "We thank MGX and Binance for their trust in us, and I think it's only the beginning."

MORE: Trump's new crypto venture is light on details, heavy on potential ethics landmines

After once deriding cryptocurrency as a "scam," President Donald Trump last September announced he and his sons Eric and Don Jr. were throwing their support behind World Liberty Financial, though its business model was largely unclear. This week's development is the latest example of a foreign entity making a major investment that could boost a Trump family business.

Cryptocurrency and ethics experts told ABC News that the timing and scope of the Trump family's foray into cryptocurrencies raise questions about whether investors -- including those from overseas -- could try to leverage their investments to curry favor with the administration. Critics have raised issues with the Trump administration's regulatory role over cryptocurrencies while he stands to personally benefit from cryptocurrency ventures.

"Essentially, the president is taking the weakness in our current ethics laws that allow a president to continue to hold financial interests in businesses while he's in a position of presidency to just a whole new level in this administration," said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan government watchdog.

Trump has yet to release his financial disclosures as president, so it's unclear what arrangements he has made to ensure a firewall between his personal businesses and his presidency. Last month a White House spokesperson told Reuters in a statement that "President Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children. There are no conflicts of interest."

PHOTO: The Trump Organization executive vice-president Eric Trump participates in a session during the Token 2049 crypto conference in Dubai on May 1, 2025. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images)

The USD1 announcement was made during what the organizers described as a "fireside chat" between Eric Trump and Zach Witkoff, a son of Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, which was moderated by Justin Sun, a Chinese-born crypto mogul who became one of World Liberty Financials' biggest investors the day before Trump's inauguration by purchasing $75 million worth of its other coin, WLFI.

A month after that investment, SEC lawyers under the Trump administration moved to halt an alleged fraud case against Sun.

Zach Witkoff during the event also announced that World Liberty Financial will be "natively integrating" its USD1 coin with Tron, a cryptocurrency founded by Sun, boasting that they will be "minting" hundreds of millions of dollars to billions of dollars of coins from the arrangement.

Much of World Liberty Financial's operation is still shrouded in mystery, but its founders have touted its ambitious goal of integrating their venture into the everyday traditional retail system.

During the event, Zach Wikoff said he wants to walk into a deli in New York City or the Four Seasons in Abu Dhabi and freely use World Liberty Financial's tokens. Eric Trump, in response, jokingly admonished Zach Witkoff for using Four Seasons Abu Dhabi as an example, and not Trump Tower.

Zach Witkoff claimed World Liberty Financial's USD1 coin, backed "one-to-one by short-term treasuries and cash equivalents," will become "the most transparent, the most regulated, stablecoin in the world."

MORE: Trump has made millions hawking merchandise. Now he could face conflicts of interest

The Trumps and the Witkoffs have together raised at least $550 million for World Liberty Financial coins, according to the New York Times.

During this week's event, Eric Trump also discussed additional Trump business ventures in the UAE, saying that the Trump Organization was able to speed through a permit for a new skyscraper with the highest swimming pool in the world -- expected to be in the Guinness Book of World Records -- just within the last month.

ABC News' Karem Inal contributed to this report.

Trump family crypto venture tapped as part of $2B Emirati-backed investment deal originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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.

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.

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)
Shelburne Police Department Vermont Man Left Home to Run an Errand and Disappeared. His Body Was Found Almost a Month Later

A Vermont man who has been missing for nearly one month was found dead, 80 miles away from his home.

According to police in Shelburne  located 7 miles outside Burlington along Lake Champlain  87-year-old Ronald Van Mynen, who was first reported missing on April 1, was found dead in New York on Wednesday, April 30.

The Shelburne Police Department first shared a missing persons flyer for Van Mynen two days after he was last seen. Investigators noted at the time that he was considered endangered due to several medical issues and a memory impairment.

At the time, local outlets ABC 22 and NBC 5 reported that Van Mynen was last seen in Grand Isle, a city 30 miles north of Shelburne, just before 7 p.m. on April 1. He asked a passerby for directions back to his home and allegedly headed southbound on Route 2 driving a silver BMW X3.

Shelburne Police Department Van Mynen.

Van Mynen had reportedly been heading to South Burlington to run errands, and he did not have a cell phone with him.

"This particular case presented some obstacles because the victim did not have any sort of tracking device. He did not have his phone with him," Shelburne Police Corp. Matthew Denis told WCAX. "The only destination we were aware of was the dry cleaners, which is a short drive from here."



Police told the outlets that Van Mynen called his wife from a gas station in Alburgh, located north of Grand Isle near the Canadian border, later that night. Investigators said that he left the gas station and headed north  marking the last time anyone saw the 87-year-old until April 30.



Shelburne Police Department Van Mynen.

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The New York State Police notified officials in Shelburne on April 30 that they had recovered his car in Mountain View. According to a police statement, a contractor hired to open a seasonal camp in the town came across the car, which was stuck on a camp road. The contractor found Van Mynen "a short distance from the car."



State police were called to the area, and using information submitted by Shelburne police to the National Crime Information Center database, were about to identify his body and alert local police.

"The investigation in New York is ongoing, but at this time, it does not appear there is anything criminally suspicious about the victim's death," Shelburne police said.



Read the original article on People
by Dario Salvi

The cardinal has dedicated his work to defending a community that is part of the country and its history. The principle of citizenship, fraternal but frank dialogue with Islam and the courage of transparency are the cornerstones of his mission. Among the most significant moments was the Pope's visit to Iraq. For the Conclave, the hope is for a pope capable, like Francis, of reading the signs of the times.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - A pastor for a persecuted community that has been fighting for years to keep the Christian presence alive in the land of Abraham, demanding equal rights for all Iraqis according to the principle of citizenship and advocating frank but sincere dialogue with the Muslim world.

Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldeans of Baghdad, since the time when he was Archbishop of Kirkuk - his appointment dates back to 2003, the year of the US invasion and the fall of Saddam Hussein - has experienced the difficulties and challenges of a nation ravaged by war and jihadism.

Nevertheless, he has responded with courage and fidelity, even welcoming Pope Francis on his first post-pandemic apostolic journey in March 2021, when Covid-19 still posed a global health and economic threat.

From that historic visit by the pontiff, which included a stop in Mosul, once an ISIS stronghold, and a meeting with the highest Shiite authority, Ali al-Sistani, a church was born in Ur, recently inaugurated, bearing witness to the common roots of the three great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Born on 4 July 1948 in Zakho, northern Iraq, he completed his early studies in Mosul before entering the local seminary of St John founded by the Dominicans.

He was ordained a priest on 1 June 1974 in Mosul, where he remained until 1979 serving in the cathedral. He then moved to Rome and Paris, where he obtained two doctorates in Eastern Patristics and History, before returning to Iraq as rector of the patriarchal seminary from 1979 to 2002. Called back to Mosul, the future primate led the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help until his election as archbishop of Kirkuk in 2003.

Ten years later, he was elected Chaldean Patriarch at the Synod convened in Rome by Benedict XVI, succeeding his predecessor Emmanuel Delly III, who resigned due to age limits. First as a prelate and then as the highest authority of the Iraqi Church, he repeatedly denounced the exodus of Christians and appealed to the central government and local administrations to guarantee them a future in their homeland.

Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal in the Consistory of 28 June 2018 and he is currently a member of the dicasteries for the Eastern Churches, for Culture and Education, and for Interreligious Dialogue, as well as being a member of the Council for the Economy.

Last February, speaking about the imminent inauguration of the church in Ur of the Chaldeans, the Ibrahim Al-Khalil Church, the cardinal described the place of worship as a message, a sign of openness and an international place of pilgrimage for Christians and Muslims. Like the Church of the Baptism on the Jordan and the Abrahamic Family House in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it represents a sign that we need today because they unite humanity and represent a meeting point for all religions.

The multi-purpose building, which is also a social and cultural centre, is intended to be an encouragement to the Iraqi Christian community, which has been decimated over the last two decades, so that while in the past there were at least 1.5 million faithful, today only a few hundred thousand remain.

Moreover, the church in Ur recalls one of the most significant moments experienced by Iraqi Christians - and by the patriarch himself - in the last twenty years: the visit of Francis, the first pilgrim pope to the land of Abraham and messenger of peace, dialogue and hope for a community trying to recover from the jihadist madness of the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).

With his presence, said the Chaldean patriarch, the Holy Father restored dignity and visibility to a Christian population that has been decimated over the last 20 years by war, displacement and forced emigration.

By coming among us, he continued, he sent a message to the Iraqi people and to all the nations of the Middle East: no more war, no more violence. He has once again affirmed the need to respect human dignity and freedom, together with encouragement for the Christian minority, urging them to remain in their own land. Francis was a prophet for us who came to tell us to take courage, not to be afraid.

In recent years, Cardinal Sako has experienced first-hand the challenges of a nation where Christians are victims of external interests and political struggles cloaked in religion, which have led him to take dramatic action.

The most obvious case occurred two years ago when the Chaldean primate decided to move the patriarchal seat from Baghdad to Erbil in response to the " deliberate and humiliating' campaign by President Abdul Latif Rashid to annul the recognition of the patriarchal decree.

This measure undermined the role and authority of the cardinal himself, disavowing a centuries-old tradition in order to strike at the highest Catholic authority. Behind the president's decision was a power struggle launched by a self-proclaimed Christian leader who, supported by pro-Iranian militias active in Iraq, aimed to take control of Christian assets and property.

In an interview with AsiaNews, Cardinal Sako described the withdrawal of the decree as moral assassination and the transfer of the patriarchal seat as an extreme protest. I will return to Baghdad only when it is withdrawn, he added.

The matter was resolved between April and June 2024 when Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani restored full powers and authority to the cardinal.

It was very nice to return, recalls the cardinal, after having fought this battle, based on justice. This firm and peaceful protest [concepts underlying the decision and which he reiterated several times and with force] shows that the Church must not be afraid and must at the same time be transparent.

This approach, marked by rigour and transparency, has also earned him the respect and, in some cases, true friendship with Sunni and Shia Muslim religious leaders. It is a relationship that can be built by safeguarding one's presence and bearing witness to one's faith, without being drawn into proselytism, which is the approach of some Protestant sects.

In this context, Pope Francis' visit to Iraq was once again fundamental, as it changed the Muslim mentality, observes the cardinal, also providing the keys to a greater understanding of our faith. With a view to interreligious dialogue, he added, I think the meeting with al-Sistani can give a further boost. There is something moving within Islam, and the steps taken with the Sunni world in al-Azhar can be retraced with Shiite Islam in Najaf. A dialogue that is not based only on words, but on friendship and love. The Pope has sown the seeds; now it is up to us as the local Church and as Christians to water and nurture this seed.

Cardinal Sako dedicates a final reflection to the memory of Pope Francis and their last meeting in October last year, when he told me that Iraq is in his heart. A phrase that struck me deeply, because he spoke of the whole country, of Christians and Iraqis in general.

The words of Francis, concluded the cardinal, who is preparing to participate in the Conclave, are also a call for the future pope: he must be for everyone, not only for Christians but also for those who do not believe. He must be a messenger of peace and brotherhood. Pope Francis has been able to read and understand the signs of the times better than anyone else.
Today's news: since 2003, incursions by settlers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem have increased by over 18,000 per cent; According to RSF, press freedom has never been so difficult, with China and North Korea occupying the lowest positions; At least six people have been killed and 55 injured in a stampede at a Hindu temple in Goa; An armed man has killed three people in southern Thailand, with suspicions falling on an Islamic separatist; Hong Kong police have arrested the father and brother of Anna Kwok.

IRAN

The government has announced the withdrawal from Parliament of a draft law that sought to punish violence against women, after the extremist fringe linked to the ayatollahs distorted it, rendering it ineffective. Activists and critics see this as a new setback for women's rights. Originally proposed by the administration of former President Hassan Rouhani, it aimed to increase penalties for physical abuse and provide support services for victims. However, amendments significantly altered its fundamental principles, causing it to fail.

ISRAEL - PALESTINE

Israeli settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem have increased by more than 18,000 per cent since 2003, when Israeli authorities began allowing raids on Islam's third holiest site, ignoring Waqf directives. According to estimates, 53,488 Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa in 2024, an increase of 18,507% since 2003 (a total of 289 incursions). In 2022 - before the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 - 47,935 settlers stormed the compound protected by police, soldiers, religious leaders and parliamentarians.

CHINA - NORTH KOREA - CAMBODIA

Press freedom is at its lowest level globally in over 20 years, and economic pressures are undermining journalism. This is according to the annual report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which, for the first time since 2002, describes the global situation as difficult. The bottom three places were occupied by China (down six places to 178th), North Korea and Eritrea. Cambodia, an ally of Beijing, also fell 10 places to 161st.

INDIA

At least six people died and 55 were injured in a stampede that broke out in a temple in the western coastal state of Goa, where hundreds of Hindu devotees had gathered for a ceremony that triggered a stampede. The incident, not uncommon during Hindu religious gatherings where huge crowds gather in confined spaces without security measures, occurred last night during the annual Shri Lairai Zatra festival in the village of Shirgao, popular for its fire walking.

THAILAND

An armed man shot and killed three people, including a child, in southern Thailand, in an area that has been the scene of a decade-long separatist struggle. The attack took place late yesterday evening in a residential area of Tak Bai district, Narathiwat province, one of three provinces with a Muslim majority. Police believe the suspect, who is still at large, is linked to an Islamic rebel group.

HONG KONG

Police have arrested the father and brother of Anna Kwok, who is wanted by the authorities, on charges of managing her finances in various capacities. This is the first case in which the National Security Law imposed by Beijing has been applied to the family members of a wanted person. Kwok is the executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council and one of 19 overseas activists wanted for collusion with foreign forces.

SYRIA

According to the UNHCR, more than 1.4 million Syrians have returned to their country of origin since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime on 8 December 2024. The UN agency adds that reconstruction remains a major challenge due to the destruction caused by 14 years of conflict and calls for international support. Housing, healthcare, education and livelihoods are needed for those returning.

RUSSIA

The major Russian state project for the Development of the Unmanned Flight System, launched in 2024 at the behest of Vladimir Putin, has completely stalled. So far, it has produced only 1,429 drones instead of the 2,717 planned and has postponed the remainder to a later date due to delays and insufficient funding from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Industry.

UZBEKISTAN - UNITED STATES

The US Department of Homeland Security has thanked Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his cooperation in organising the repatriation flight of 140 illegal Uzbek, Kazakh and Kyrgyz migrants to the United States. They were taken to Tashkent on a Boeing-787 operated by Uzbekistan Airways, in an operation financed by the Uzbek government, which promises to continue cooperation for mutual security as an example to all.
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3 May 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The ongoing dialogue between Azerbaijani officials and their counterparts at the London Stock Exchange (LSE) marks an exciting chapter in the growing economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. The recent discussions surrounding the potential for Azerbaijani companies to trade their securities on the LSE have opened doors to new opportunities for financial growth, fostering deeper integration into global capital markets.

This potential move to the LSE is part of a broader strategy to provide Azerbaijani companies with dual listing opportunities, enabling them to tap into international capital markets. Its a forward-looking step that promises to enhance the visibility of Azerbaijani businesses on a global scale. By gaining access to one of the worlds most influential stock exchanges, Azerbaijani companies would not only bolster their own growth prospects but also contribute to the diversification of their economy.

Importantly, the collaboration could provide foreign investors with greater access to Azerbaijani markets, helping to increase their awareness of the opportunities that exist within the countrys expanding capital markets. This move is poised to attract a more diverse pool of investors, fostering increased interest in Azerbaijan's robust economic sectors, including energy, construction, and technology.

The talks between the Azerbaijani delegation and representatives from the LSE are also noteworthy in their broader geopolitical context. With the economic ties between Azerbaijan and the UK already strong, this new phase of collaboration has the potential to reinforce the financial connections between the two nations. It is a strategic alignment that will likely see mutual benefits, with the LSE benefiting from greater exposure to emerging market opportunities and Azerbaijan gaining a platform for its companies to reach international investors.

Moreover, such discussions underscore the importance of data and analytics in the global financial landscape. By leveraging LSEs extensive data and analytical capabilities, Azerbaijan can provide foreign investors with better insight into its financial markets, thus increasing investor confidence and stimulating the flow of capital into the country. This, in turn, will further strengthen the economic ties between Azerbaijan and the UK, creating a solid foundation for future growth.

It is also worth noting that this engagement signals Azerbaijan's commitment to developing its domestic capital markets. With the LSE as a potential partner, Azerbaijan can benefit from an exchange of expertise, facilitating the development of local financial infrastructure and promoting the long-term sustainability of its capital markets. Such cooperation is essential in creating an environment conducive to the growth of local businesses and attracting foreign investment in the years to come.

As Azerbaijan continues to embrace modernization and diversification, the countrys financial sector is emerging as a key player in the global economy. The discussions surrounding the LSE offer a glimpse into the future of Azerbaijani companies on the world stage, where access to international capital and investor networks will be crucial in driving sustainable growth and development.

In conclusion, the potential listing of Azerbaijani companies on the London Stock Exchange represents a significant step toward increasing the countrys global financial footprint. It is a reflection of the growing maturity of Azerbaijans economy and its readiness to engage more deeply with the international financial community. The coming years could see Azerbaijans businesses gain a stronger presence in the global capital markets, a development that will undoubtedly benefit both the country and its international investors.
3 May 2025 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

From April 30 to May 2, 2025, an Azerbaijani government delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov paid an official visit to Nepal. The visit aimed to bolster bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors and initiate the first round of political consultations between the two countries, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.

The visit, during which Deputy Minister Mammadov was received by Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Sharma Oli. He also held a bilateral meeting with Nepals Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.

Nepali officials welcomed the Azerbaijani delegation warmly, praising the visit as a sign of growing diplomatic engagement. Both sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.

One of the key highlights of the visit was the inaugural round of political consultations between the foreign ministries of Azerbaijan and Nepal. These talks were led by Deputy Minister Mammadov and Nepals Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai. The consultations covered bilateral and multilateral political relations, as well as current and future cooperation in trade, energy, tourism, agriculture, and humanitarian fields.

The sides also assessed collaboration within international organizations positively and emphasized the importance of strengthening mutual support in multilateral formats.

A roundtable discussion was held between Azerbaijani institutionssuch as the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Agriculture, State Tourism Agency, and AZPROMOand their Nepalese counterparts. Hosted at the Nepal Investment Board, the meeting provided a platform for Azerbaijani officials to deliver detailed presentations and explore areas for partnership.

In addition, Deputy Minister Mammadov delivered a keynote lecture titled Azerbaijans Foreign Policy: Challenges and Opportunities at an event organized by the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA). The audience included prominent political figures, think tank leaders, government and NGO representatives, and policy experts. Mammadov engaged directly with participants in a Q&A session following his speech.
3 May 2025 12:02 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Poland Andrzej Duda, Azernews reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I congratulate you and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Poland - the Constitution Day.

I believe that the ties of friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Poland will continue to evolve and expand in line with the interests of our peoples.

On such a remarkable day, I extend my best wishes to you, and wish your friendly people peace and prosperity," the letter reads.
3 May 2025 13:15 (UTC+04:00)

On May 2, 2025, Yalcn Rfiyev, Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, traveled to the Republic of Kenya on an official visit, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The Ministry noted that this visit marks a significant milestone in the growing diplomatic relations between the two nations. During his stay, the first round of political consultations took place between Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kenyas Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in Nairobi.

Led by Deputy Minister Rfiyev and Abraham Korir SingOei, Kenyas Deputy Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the meeting reviewed positive dynamics in bilateral relations, covering political, economic, trade, humanitarian, and parliamentary cooperation. The discussions also delved into broader international collaboration across various platforms.

Over the past two decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries engaged in an extensive exchange of ideas regarding the future development of their relationship. The consultations highlighted significant opportunities in various sectors, including Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), digital economy, and the promotion of Azerbaijans innovative ASAN Service model. In addition, both sides expressed their shared commitment to deepening cooperation in energy, mining resources, agriculture, tourism, and education.

The discussions also underscored the importance of multi-lateral formats, especially within the frameworks of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement, with a focus on expanding mutual cooperation on the international stage.

Regional and international issues of mutual interest were also exchanged during the political consultations, marking a step towards enhanced diplomatic engagement.

During his visit, Deputy Minister Rfiyev was received by Kenyas Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi. The importance of the first-ever political consultations was emphasized, with both parties agreeing that it would contribute significantly to the further strengthening of bilateral and multilateral ties.

Additionally, the visit included a special meeting between Deputy Minister Rfiyev and Kenyan youth. This event was organized by the Kenyan youth champion and President of the International Youth Network, Charlene Ruton, further fostering people-to-people relations.
3 May 2025 14:50 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiyes Minister of National Defense, Yasar Guler, has held a meeting with Azerbaijans Deputy Minister of Defense, Aqil Qurbanov, during his visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Azernews reports, citing Turkish Media Outlets.

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced the meeting, which took place in the capital Lefkosa, where both officials were present in connection with the TEKNOFEST aerospace and technology event.

The meeting underscored the continued close ties and defense cooperation between the two brotherly nations, further strengthening the strategic partnership within the regional context.
3 May 2025 16:30 (UTC+04:00)

Armenia must provide precise information about the burial sites of Azerbaijani victims, said the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva, Azernews reports.

In a statement released on Saturday, Aliyeva addressed the recent discoveries of mass graves in the cities of Shusha and Khojaly.

"During excavations conducted in April near the liberated city of Shusha in the Republic of Azerbaijan and on the Askeran-Khojaly road, two mass graves were found. The human remains discovered in these graves are believed to belong to civilians. Traces of violence on the remains further confirm the facts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis during the First Karabakh War.

According to the available data, 3,990 people have been registered as missing due to Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan. As a result of the identification work on the human remains found in mass graves on the liberated territories, around 170 Azerbaijani citizens have been identified so far, with identification efforts ongoing.

We regret to report that, despite repeated appeals from our side, Armenia has failed to fulfill its obligations under international law and has evaded providing Azerbaijan with information about prisoners, missing persons, and hostages for over thirty years.

Armenia, as a party to international treaties, must adhere to its commitments and provide accurate information on the burial sites of the murdered individuals. The international community, in turn, must exert serious pressure on Armenia to ensure that this information is handed over to Azerbaijan," the statement reads.
3 May 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

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The social media platform TikTok is reportedly considering the construction of a 1 billion data processing center (DPC) in Finland, Azernews reports.

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3 May 2025 18:05 (UTC+04:00)

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has canceled the visa-free travel agreement between the United States and Romania, Azernews reports, citing foreign media sources and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Although Romania was officially added to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program on January 9, 2025, the agreement had not yet taken effect and was scheduled to come into force around March 31. However, the Department of Homeland Security decided to pause the programs implementation to conduct additional assessments.

Following these reviews, the DHS concluded that the agreement posed concerns regarding border and immigration security, and officially terminated the program as of May 2, 2025.

The original visa-free arrangement had been negotiated and approved during the administration of President Joe Biden, Trumps predecessor. The revocation marks a reversal in diplomatic travel policy, likely to affect thousands of Romanian travelers and potentially strain bilateral relations.
3 May 2025 19:10 (UTC+04:00)

Since 2014, the number of sanctions imposed by Western countries on the Russian Federation has nearly reached 29,000, Azernews reports, citing Russian media outlets.

As of April 2025, a total of 28,937 sanctions have been applied, the majority of which are not directly related to trade relations. The countries responsible for the largest number of sanctions are the United States, Canada, and Switzerland.

Following these three nations, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom have also implemented significant sanctions. The European Union is also mentioned as part of this group, and it is currently working on the preparation of the 17th sanctions package against Russia.
3 May 2025 19:40 (UTC+04:00)

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The exemption of tariffs for small-value shipments is an internationally recognized practice adopted by many countries. It not only provides foreign exporters with greater market opportunities but also significantly reduces costs for domestic importers. Both manufacturing industries reliant on these small-value, tax-exempt goods and consumers have benefited substantially from such policies, said Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

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3 May 2025 22:25 (UTC+04:00)

A gunman has shot dead three people including a child in Thailands insurgency-hit south, police said Saturday, as authorities pursued the suspect, Azernews reports, citing Arab News.

The attacker opened fire late Friday in a residential area of Tak Bai district in Narathiwat province, one of three Muslim-majority provinces in Thailands far south gripped by a decades-long separatist insurgency.

Three people were killed, including a nine-year-old girl and a 75-year-old man, police said.

One victim died at the scene, and two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, local police officer Watthana Thurarat told AFP, adding that two more people were wounded.

Police believe the suspect, who remains at large, is linked to a rebel group, Watthana said.

Violence frequently rocks the kingdoms southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, where separatists seeking greater autonomy for the religiously distinct region have killed more than 7,000 people since 2004.

However, attacks on unarmed civilians in residential areas remain relatively rare, with most targeting security personnel.

In 2004, Thai security forces shot into a crowd of protesters outside a police station in Tak Bai, killing seven.

Subsequently, 78 others suffocated in the back of military trucks after they were arrested  a deadly crackdown widely seen as a trigger for the southern unrest in the Buddhist-majority country.

Last year, a Thai court dismissed the long-delayed Tak Bai case, brought by victims families against seven officials, when the statute of limitations expired.

Analysts have warned the decision could further inflame tensions in the region.
When cooperation knows no borders, humanity builds "Sun" on Earth

09:30, May 03, 2025 By Guo Shuang, Larry Neild, Luo Yu ( Xinhua

A vast device is seen at a preassembly hall of the world's largest fusion experiment machine, the ITER Tokamak, in St Paul-Lez-Durance, France, Nov. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

ITER, popularly known as "Artificial Sun," said it had completed all components for the world's largest, most powerful pulsed superconducting electromagnet system, showcasing what global cooperation can achieve in the pursuit of clean energy.

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.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
3 May 2025 23:55 (UTC+04:00)

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Three of seven major Japanese trading companies expect to post lower consolidated profits for the year ending in March 2026, citing uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies, Azernews reports, citing Nippon.

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UPDATE - FINAL RESULTS

Parliament seat for Runcorn and Helsby - flipped from Labour to Reform.

Control of local councils (24 up for election) Reform 9; Liberal Democrats 3, No Overall Control 12. (Prior to election: Conservatives 14, Labour 1, No Overall Control 9)

Of those councils with No Overall Control, a combination of Reform and Conservatives would have a clear majority in 7, and could form a coalition by adding Independents in 3 others)

Change in number of local councilors by party Reform gained 648 seats more than it previously held, while LIberal Democrats gained 146, and Greens 41.

Conservatives lost 635 seats, Labour 198, and Independents 97. (Conservatives started with 936 seats and Labour with 291 seats)

Mayors (6 up for election) Labour 3, Reform 2, Conservatives 1

Neither Reform nor the Conservatives held any of these mayor's seats prior to the election. Of the three Labour incumbents reelected, two of them only beat the Reform candidate by one percentage point, and the other one by only three points.

Election background The UK currently has a very unpopular Labour prime minister. When this group of local government seats was last contested in 2021, a very popular Conservative prime minister, Boris Johnson was in office and the Conservative Party ran very strong that year.

The right was handicapped by a divided opposition between Reform and Conservatives. If the two parties had fielded joint candidates, for example, Labour would have lost all of its mayors. This divided opposition is largely responsible for Labour's losses not being much more severe. There are voices in both parties calling for a combined effort in future campaigns.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/02/local-council-elections-2025-live-results-mapped-england/

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

The British media are already calling the 2025 elections a "Reform-quake" after the populist nationalist anti-immigration Reform Party led by Brexit hero Nigel Farage. Although many local votes will not be counted until today, Reform has already racked up key wins in races that have been counted.

The single most important election of the night, was the by-election (special election) for the Parliament seat of Runcorn and Helsby, vacated when a Labour MP resigned after he was convicted of assaulting a constituent. This former Labour safe seat was captured by the Reform Party, with the Conservatives a distant third place. Reform flipped the seat despite a massive effort by Labour to hold it, pouring in everything they had.

Reform flipping Runcorn and Helsby from Labour is already having major implications. There are even rumors of Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigning. Analysts have noted that if the swing to Reform at Runcorn was repeated on a national level, it would give the Reform Party a 200 seat majority in the House of Commons over all other paries combined.

Another early victory was in the newly created mayorship of Greater Linconshire, where Reform's Dame Andrea Jenkyns won in a landslide. Jenkyns, once a Conservative Party star, was 16 points ahead of the Conservative candidate, who ran second. On local councils where counting was completed, Reform was winning seats away in large numbers from both Labour and Conservatives, and also from smaller parties like the Liberal Democrats._

UPDATE: Completed counts now show that the Reform Party has won control of Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Durham, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Kent, and Lancashire. In Northumberland, Reform and Conservatives together will have a solid majority and are expected to form a coalition.

UP{DATE: There were also a couple of bright spots for the Conservative Party, which ousted Labour from the mayorship of its former stronghold of Peterborough, and also ousted Labour and took control of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough council. In both of those former Labour strongholds, Labour ran third, and it was the Reform Party in a strong second place

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2048931/local-elections-2025-live-blog-reform-labour

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14670639/Reform-Runcorn-election-Recount-former-safe-Labour-seat.html

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news-corner/political-earthquake-reform-uk-topples-tory-strongholds/

____________________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL POST:

Voters in parts of the UK will go to the polls May 1 in local elections that will be closely watched for trends in British politics. The electorate is widely expected to move right. There is also a by-election (special election) for a vacant seat in Parliament where a Labour incumbent resigned after being convicted of assaulting a constituent.

British local elections are staggered in different years. The 2025 set of local elections will include 14 county councils, 8 unitary authorities, 1 metropolitan district, and 6 mayoralties.

This will be the first election in which the populist nationalist anti-immigration Reform Party, led by Brexit hero Nigel Farage will be a factor. Reform in now the leading party in the country on voting intentions for the next parliament, but there are always local quicks in local government elections. Reform has been doing quite well in a string of by-elections for vacant local government seats, picking off seats from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, and independents. There have also been several dozen local elected officials who have resigned from other parties, mostly the Conservatives, to join Reform.

Public approval of the national Labour government is at historic lows. What may partially save them, however, is the right of center vote being split between the Conservatives and Reform. Labour pulled a number of maneuvers to delay this set of elections as long as they could for fear of it becoming a bloodbath for their party.

The Parliament seat up for grabs is Runcorn and Helsby, which has been considered a Labour safe seat. Polls have shown this election, however, to be a real horse race between Labour and Reform. The Conservatives also have a candidate who is not in real contention and their only impact might be as a spoiler for Reform by splitting the vote.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14669823/The-Reformation-UK-politics-Labour-Tories-Nigel-Farage-Reform-polls-close.html

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2048931/local-elections-2025-live-blog-reform-labour

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/labour-descends-into-civil-war-as-britons-vote-in-local-elections/
Florida passed a state law to crack down on illegal immigration which, among other things makes it a state misdemeanor for an illegal alien to enter the state of Florida. The extreme left anti-American ACLU doesn't like it and has sued in federal court to stop it. As usual, they judge shopped for a crooked highly partisan Obama judge who will put political agendas ahead of the law, Kathleen Williams.

Obama hack judge Williams ordered Florida Attorney General James Uhlmeier to "pause" enforcement of the Florida law until the case is over. Uhlmeier has declined, saying he will do his job and keep enforcing Florida law, saying the Obama judge has "overstepped" in demanding he stop.

Hooray for this courageous state official to stand up to judicial tyranny by a partisan hack judge. There ought to be 24 hour mass demonstrations demanded this crooked Obama judge resign and leave Florida. Williams is an unelected, unaccountable political appointee and should not be allowed to play politics like this.

https://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/05/02/florida-attorney-general-to-defy-judges-order-to-halt-enforcement-of-florida-immigration-law-n2188621
Sunday trading hours in Belfast are to be extended for a pilot period. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church has hit out at a pilot scheme extending Sunday trading hours in Belfast.

On Thursday evening, Belfast City Council agreed plans for the scheme, which will allow shops to open from 10am on Sundays during the six-week pilot period.

An amendment to the plans asking for the issue to go back to committee, supported by the DUP, SDLP, Green Party, UUP and TUV failed.

The plans were backed by Sinn Fein and Alliance.

As things stand, larger shops in Belfast can only open from 1pm to 6pm, while smaller stores have more flexibility.

Reverend Robert Johnston of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church said members were concerned and saddened by the pilot plans.

Those who support this further extension of Sunday opening argue that it will revitalise the heart of the city on Sundays, with a particular focus on tourism, he said.

While we are supportive of the idea of revitalising our capital city, there are ways of doing this which do not involve extending the opening hours of shops on a Sunday.

Some politicians and trade unionists have expressed concern for the rights  or lack of rights  of shop workers, including the right to have a family life. We understand that shops in several European countries are closed on Sundays for this very reason.

Retail NI has recommended that the council set up a Sunday morning working group, made up of business representatives, trade unions and others to agree an inclusive way forward and a plan for the summer months.

The bodys chief executive Glyn Roberts said: The remit of this group should be wider than just the City Centre and include all parts of the city in a new plan for Sunday morning.

To completely deregulate Sunday trading and create another normal shopping day shows a poverty of ambition and ideas for the city.

It is an idea that belongs to the past and not to a modern progressive 21st century city.

We need new thinking to animate Sunday mornings and offer shoppers and visitors something different.

This proposal will provide large multinationals with even more trading time, directly at the expense of small independent retailers who use trading time on Sunday mornings to sustain their business.
The festival was attended by more than 136,000 people

A Belfast fashionista has picked up best dressed honours at the annual Punchestown Festival.

The 2025 meet was the biggest ever held at the Co Kildare venue, with a record 136,651 people turning out and enjoying the racing and fine weather.

Belfast woman Ciara Denvir took the crown in the Bollinger Best Dressed competition on Friday, winning a trip for two to Paris, the Champagne Region. Reims and the Bollinger Estate, as well as a years supply of Champagne Bollinger.

Denvir stunned onlookers and judges with a carefully curated monochrome ensemble, which she said was entirely taken from her own wardrobe.

The Belfast woman wore a cream and black hat designed by Awon Golding Millinery London, which she teamed a cream and black polka dot blouse by Coosy Studio (a Spanish brand), a black skirt by Romanian brand ATU Body Couture and a belt she's had for over 20 years.

Her Dior earrings were several years old, while her statement green Prada shoes were bought last year in the sales. Finally, her bag was by Irish designer August Night and a ring from Boodles.

The item was a gift from her husband, Peter Boyle, to mark their 25th wedding anniversary. Its purchase led to an invitation from the brand to join them for at the festival.

"I feel absolutely overwhelmed and completely excited, I couldn't believe it, Denvir  who previously won RTEs home of the year  told the broadcaster.

"Ive never been to the races before, and never entered a best dressed. I am looking forward to a wonderful and beautiful prize."

Jockey Rachael Blackmore meeting junior racegoers at Punchestown. Pic: Annalee Delaney

Head Judge Jess Colivet said Ciara was elegance personified.

"We were looking for a curated look from head to toe, and I just felt this woman was elegance personified, she said.

"Her outfit was a beautiful monochrome classic look with a twist, and then the bravery of wearing that green shoe. She wore her look with confidence, elegance and style, a great winner for Bollinger.

The festival finale, Ballymore Family Day on Saturday saw 33,158 junior racegoers, families, socialisers and racing fans descend on the track compared with 25,396 on the same day last year.

Conor ONeill, CEO Punchestown commented The glorious weather ensured another beano festival here at Punchestown.

"Whether youre 5 or 95 there has been something for everyone here at Punchestown this week and thats what its all about.
We arrive at the Strakka estate, where the late-morning sunshine spears through the gnarled olive trees. Many date back to Venetian rule, some 500 years ago  a testament to the enduring resilience of these plants, which provide Cyprus with an abundance of fruit rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Three once-ordinary school walls have been transformed into striking symbols of youth, creativity and community as part of Northern Irelands renowned Hit the North (HTN) Street Art Festival.

Through a collaboration with Translink and organised by Seedhead Arts, the initiative has turned Belfast Royal Academy (BRA), Holy Family Primary School, and Currie Primary School into dynamic showcases of public art  and the pupils themselves helped guide the creative vision.

At BRA, an evocative 7m x 14m mural now adorns a prominent gable wall at the schools main entrance.

Painted by street artist Eoin McGinn  better known as EMIC  the piece depicts a young pupil, coat and backpack on, accompanied by an owl perched on their shoulder.

In the distance, York Street Stations silhouette roots the scene in the local urban landscape.

But this is no simple portrait.

Theres lots of little hidden symbology within the image, said EMIC, who also serves as the lead curator of the HTN Festival.

It links transport and movement to being on a journey  not just through education, but through life.

The owl, the path, the colours - it all represents youth, making friends and growth.

He described the work as dreamlike, a reflection of those quiet moments when thoughts wander during a commute.

Im using blues and greens and a little bit of pink, he added, echoing colour themes used in Translinks York Street Underpass project last year.

Its that state when youre lost in your head  a daydream state.

The BRA mural is based on a brief co-created by the schools students and teachers and it is one of three street art projects bringing beauty and meaning to school grounds across the north of the city.

This wasnt just about somebody coming in to put art on your wall, said Hilary Woods, Principal of Belfast Royal Academy.

This was working with our pupils to see what school meant to them and what transport meant to them.

Mrs Woods was inspired by the existing street art at York Street Station Underpass and felt compelled to involve her students in something similar.

Art lifts our spirits, it improves our surroundings and it makes pupils think more, she said.

This mural is very visual, very prominent  but more importantly, its something they were part of.

They helped devise it. They now understand how street art operates.

The schools third-year students first visited York Street Station before taking part in dynamic art workshops with local street artists.

Through these sessions, they learned how to scale up their work, explored careers in the creative industries, and gained hands-on experience using spray paint as a powerful tool for artistic expression.

Their earlier participation in Translinks Poetry in Motion workshops had already sparked a deeper connection to public transport as a source of creative inspiration.

That same group helped shape the mural's direction, bringing their voice into the creative process.

For Mrs Woods, the mural goes beyond aesthetics.

She said: Its about connection between our school and the community, our pupils and the city, the symbolism of being on a journey. It links North Belfast, our pupils lives and the power of education. It gives them a sense of belonging.

Translink, a key partner in the festivals school project, sees public art as an extension of its civic mission.

This collaboration is deeply aligned with our Better. Connected strategy, said Michael Holmes York St Station Programme Manager

Were committed to creating inclusive, inspiring, and accessible public spaces around our transport infrastructure.

The newly completed York Street Station is not only a gateway to the city, but a place that connects people through creativity, education and sustainable travel.

Northern Irelands public transport provider Translink noted that up to 1,000 BRA pupils use York Street Station daily.

Engaging schools like Belfast Royal Academy, Holy Family Primary and Currie Primary in this way builds a tangible connection between young people and their environment, Michael added.

As part of the wider HTN Festival  which runs from May 2 to 4  Translink is also delivering a Street Art Bus Tour and Workshop Programme.

The tour will guide participants through Belfasts evolving urban art gallery, including murals along the York Street underpass and new additions on Translink property.

Adam Turkington, the founder of Hit the North, described this years festival as a turning point.

This year, we made the decision to pull away from international corporate brands and work with local suppliers - people truly invested in Belfast, like Translink he said.

Its allowed us to form more meaningful partnerships and our work with Translink is a highlight.

The school murals represent a new strand of our festival that we hope to expand in the future.

The 2025 HTN Festival features more than 60 artists, both local and international, including names like Hera, Slim Safont, My Dog Sighs, Jack Lack, Jo Caslin, Roo and Asbestos.

But for many, its the school projects  deeply rooted in community and student voices  that feel most resonant.

EMIC, who has painted across the globe and just returned from a project in Hong Kong, believes public art has a unique role in Belfasts future.

People tell me how street art at York St Station Underpass and beyond brightens up their daily commute, he said.

It enhances the visual landscape and creates a moment of interaction with urban space.

Thats what were doing here  changing how people see their surroundings, and showing young people that they have a voice, right here on their school walls.

In North Belfast, art is no longer confined to galleries  its walking alongside pupils, painted on the very walls that shape their everyday lives.
Dr Mike Ryan said the world is breaking the bodies and minds of the children of Gaza (Niall Carson/PA)

An executive director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the world is breaking the bodies and minds of the children of Gaza.

Irishman Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies programme, said people are complicit in what is happening in Gaza if they fail to act.

It comes as aid workers warn of an escalating humanitarian crisis following two months of an aid and food blockade.

Speaking this week, Dr Ryan described what is happening to the people of Gaza as an abomination.

We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza, Dr Ryan said.

We are starving the children of Gaza, because if we dont do something about it, we are complicit in what is happening before our very eyes.

We are complicit. We are causing this, you, us and everyone who does nothing about it, its horrific.

The children of Gaza should not have to pay the price, as all children have done in the past, for the sins of anyone around them. This just has to stop.

Any right-thinking human being will stand up and say, this just must stop. As a doctor, as a physician, as someone watching more than 1,000 children without limbs, thousands of children with spinal cord injuries and severe head injuries from which theyll never recover, thousands and thousands of children with severe psychological distress that they may never recover from.

We are watching this unfold before our very eyes and were not doing anything about it. As a physician, Im angry. Im angry with myself that Im not doing enough.

Im angry with everyone here. Im angry with you. Im angry with the world.

This should not be happening. It cannot continue. We have to stop.

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This is an abomination. Its an abomination. We have to ask ourselves the question, how much blood is enough to satisfy whatever the political objectives are of any regime.

It comes after Tanaiste Simon Harris called on the international community to act now to avert further disaster.

No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza in over eight weeks as a result of the Israeli blockade. Children are starving. Hospitals are running out of basic painkillers, he said in a statement.

The World Food Programme has said that its food stocks are now depleted. Life-saving aid is available and urgently needed, but trucks cannot cross into Gaza.

It is unconscionable that the current suffering is continuing. This is the longest ban on aid entering Gaza since the start of the war.

The situation is unacceptable. In the circumstances, obstructing life-saving aid is a violation of Israels international obligations.

Ireland calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid.
The Duke of Sussex has claimed the King will not speak to him because of his legal fight over his UK security, but that he does he want a reconciliation with his family.

In a BBC television interview after losing the latest round in his court battle, Harry, 40, said this, at the heart of it, is a family dispute.

When asked if Charles had been approached to use his influence in Harrys legal problems, the duke appeared to imply the King was a hindrance, a comment likely to deepen the rift with his father and his brother, the Prince of Wales.

He said: Ive never asked him to intervene, Ive asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their job.

Harry said his father will not speak to him because of his legal dispute (Steve Parsons/PA)

The health of the King, who is being treated for cancer, was highlighted by his son, who said: And I said, life is precious. I dont know how much longer my father has, he, he wont speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.

Harry, who appeared emotional and close to tears through much of the interview, offered an olive branch, saying he could forgive my familys involvement, naming Charles, the Prince of Wales and his stepmother the Queen, in events since he began dating his wife Meghan in 2016.

The rift between the Sussexes and the royal family opened significantly following their interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which they alleged a member of the family was concerned about their son Archies skin tone before he was born.

Then the duke claimed in his controversial memoir, Spare, that William had physically attacked him, that the King put his own interests above Harrys and was jealous of Meghan.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to California in 2020 (Yaroslav Sabitov/PA)

In a series of interviews to promote the book, Harry attacked the reputation of Camilla, saying her willingness to forge relationships with the British press made her dangerous, and he said she tried to rehabilitate her image at his cost.

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, said Harry.

He added But you know, I would love reconciliation with my family, and said there was no point in continuing to fight anymore.

Harrys level of security changed in 2020 when he and Meghan stepped down as working royals and moved to California for financial and personal freedom, and he suggested the royal family and officials hoped his realisation of the increased safety risk would force us to come back.

The duke lost a Court of Appeal challenge over his security arrangements while in the UK and said in the TV interview he cant see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK.

He failed in his appeal against 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 UK.

Harry has been fighting to challenge his level of security protection in the UK (Lucy North/PA)

But 2020, when that decision happened, I couldnt believe it. I actually couldnt believe it, said Harry.

He added: I thought, with all the disagreements and all of the chaos thats 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.

He also told the BBC: 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.

The duke said the protection given members of the monarchy was a form of control, saying: I think what really worries me more than anything else about todays decision, depending on what happens next, it set a new precedent that security can be used to control members of the family.

And effectively what it does is imprison other members of the family from being able to choose a different life.
The White House plans to cut staffing at the CIA and other intelligence agencies, as per reports.

The staff cut will include the National Security Agency, Trump administration officials told members of Congress, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

A person familiar with the plan but not authorised to discuss it publicly confirmed the changes to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The administration plans to reduce the CIA workforce by 1,200 over several years and cut thousands of positions at the NSA and other intelligence agencies.

President Donald Trump arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

The Post reported that the reductions at the CIA include several hundred people who have already opted for early retirement. The rest of the cuts would be achieved partly through reduced hirings and would not likely necessitate layoffs.

In response to questions about the reductions, the CIA issued a statement saying CIA director John Ratcliffe is working to align the agency with Mr Trumps national security priorities.

These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position the CIA to deliver on its mission, the agency wrote in the statement.

A spokesperson for the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Ms Gabbards office oversees and coordinates the work of 18 agencies that collect and analyse intelligence.

The CIA and NSA have already offered voluntary resignations to some employees.

The CIA also has said it plans to lay off an unknown number of recently hired employees.

The new administration has also eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes at intelligence agencies, though a judge has temporarily blocked efforts to fire 19 employees working on DEI programmes who challenged their terminations.

Mr Trump also abruptly fired the general who led the NSA and the Pentagons Cyber Command.

Ratcliffe has vowed to overhaul the CIA and said he wants to boost the agencys use of intelligence from human sources and its focus on China.
Depressing reality is it suits governments to conflate paramilitary leadership with peacekeeping  they dont have the stomach to take on terror gangs
Unionism is making a familiar mistake over Nigel Farage... UK might not survive another divisive PM

Unionism has long spurned the very things which enhanced support for the Union, and clung to that which undermined it. Now its doing this again with Reform's divisive leader.

Reform leader Nigel Farage.

Sam McBride Sat 3 May 2025 at 08:00

Irish nationalists werent cheering yesterday as news of Nigel Farages successes came in. They should have been.
Locals appalled as disguised thugs cruise estate in car, stopping outside select houses

Catholic families living in a religiously mixed area of north Belfast have been warned they are under threat from the UDA.

Police visited several houses in Skeogneill in the past week to inform the occupants they were being targeted by a criminal gang. At least one family has moved out as a result.
Shutterstock.com

Anxiety can be deeply troubling, not only for the victims but also for their loved ones. It is especially challenging, particularly for Christians who are often told that anxiety is a sign of a lack of trust in God. When anxiety isnt addressed, it can begin to affect your daily actions. It can also leave you with scars. First Corinthians 10:13 tells us, God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but it can still be difficult to trust God when anxiety is weighing your heart down. Scripture references anxiety a great deal, even though the word itself isnt used often. Some versions of scripture references the word, other versions do not use the word directly. Other words like distress, heaviness, trouble and care are otherwise used.

Several Bible verses appear to speak to the causes of anxiety. One Bible character we may be able to learn from is Jacob, whose story is referenced in the book of Genesis. His anxiety appears to be a result of a damaged relationship and a guilty conscience. Other examples in the Bible point to anxiety being fueled by things like unfulfilled desire, deep concern and fear of death, to name a few.

The Bible tells us that there are some situations where anxiety occurs because of sin. One example can be found in Matthew 8:23-27, which says, And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, Save us, Lord; we are perishing. And He said to them, Why are you afraid, O you of little faith? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, What sort of man is this, that even winds and the sea obey him?' In this instance, when the disciples became distressed during a storm, Jesus rebukes them due to their lack of faith. He then rebukes the waves and the wind. This Bible passage reveals that we don't have a thing to fear as long as we are walking with Jesus.

Its also important to note that anxiety isnt always a result of sin. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 7:32 that an unmarried man is anxious about pleasing God. On the other hand, a married man is anxious about pleasing his wife. In this case, anxiety is a result of deep concern, not sinful fear.

Most of us will struggle with anxiety at some point in our lives. You may even be dealing with an anxious soul right now. There are so many things taking place in our world now that can make us feel troubled, anxious and fearful. Thankfully, there are several passages that we can turn to when anxiety takes hold of our lives. One of those passages is Luke 12:22-36, which says, Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens. They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? This passage reminds us that the Lord takes care of the big things and the little things. When were anxious, it can cause us to get so worked up that our problems feel like they are bigger than they are. When we cast our cares on God, we can completely trust in His wisdom.

Another great book to turn to when youre dealing with anxiety is the book of Psalms. King David, who wrote the book of Psalms, was writing during a season of trouble. Psalm 27:1 says, The Lord is my light and my salvation  whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life  of whom shall I be afraid? This passage speaks to the fact that the Lord was Davids light and salvation. God brought light to Davids life. While he could despair in darkness, he didnt despair in it. Davids life was filled with the Lord, and light-filled his life. Another great passage is Psalm 46:1, which says, God is our refuge and strength, a present help in time of trouble. When scripture refers to God as a safe haven, it tells us that God can protect us from all things. Ultimately, we dont need to fear people or situations that threaten our well-being. This includes situations that are physical and spiritual in nature. No situation we may face in this life that is outside of the control of God. We can counter all anxiety with God.

We often think about the book of Revelation when it comes to the end times and the Second Coming, but some passages speak to letting go of fear. Revelation 1:17 says, Then [Jesus] placed His right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last." This is a reminder for so many of us who are anxious today. Fear is something we all experience, but it doesnt glorify God. The gospels tell us that the disciples were often frightened, expressing panic, anxiety and worry. Thankfully, the Lord always comes through in the right moments, like when he said, fear not. This is something we are called to do as well.

The best way to deal with anxiety is by turning to the Bible and trusting the Lord. You can begin doing this by immersing yourself in the Word. The more time you spend reading and engaged in scripture, the more you will uncover the truth. While its hard to combat anxiety, believing God is in control can make way for it to no longer paralyze you.

Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.
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Cj Garner and Marcus Lyon, who together own The Common Table, plan to keep the lease on the current space just up the road and are contemplating reimagining the original location as a breakfast and lunch spot.
It's town meeting season. Here is a list of each town meeting in 2025 and what to expect. After the meeting, check back here for results ...
PITTSFIELD  Two hundred and fifty years ago, in a small tavern in the heart of Pittsfield, three revolutionaries quietly hashed out plans for the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Ten days later, the raid they helped shape  and fight  became the first American offensive victory in the Revolutionary War.

On Thursday, the Berkshire County Historical Society, Berkshire Athenaeum and the Berkshire Museum commemorated the semi quincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the May 1, 1775, meeting at Eastons Tavern.

During the event, about 30 local historians, history buffs and curious locals celebrated the meeting and its far-reaching impacts alongside a familiar face from the past: John Brown, Pittsfields own Revolutionary War spy, who returned  sort of  thanks to reenactor Tim Abbott.

THE MEETING

In the final days of April 1775, Capt. Edward Mott of Connecticut and a crew of about 15 men set out north from Hartford, Conn., on a mission to capture Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point in New York.

The forts had substantial stores of cannon and artillery, but had been left in relative disrepair, making them ideal targets for the burgeoning rebellion, according to Gordon Roberts, a historian at the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Originally, Mott planned to keep his band small until he reached modern-day Vermont, because we meant to keep our business a secret, Mott wrote in his journal, published 75 years later by the Connecticut Historical Society. Once he got closer, he hoped to join forces with the Green Mountain Boys and raise a few more men before sneaking across Lake Champlain and taking the forts by surprise.

However, he changed his plans after passing through Col. James Eastons tavern in Pittsfield. There, Easton and the lawyer-turned-spy Brown convinced him that, because the area farther north was generally poor, it would be difficult to get a sufficient number of men there, wrote Mott of the encounter.

With Brown and Eastons help, Mott raised around 40 recruits in Pittsfield and Williamstown before converging with Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys on the shores of Lake Champlain. It was there they met Benedict Arnold, who had requested money and horses from the Massachusetts provisional government for the same purpose.

Early on the morning of May 10, the combined forces successfully captured Fort Ticonderoga, in an attack that  thanks to its secrecy  was almost bloodless, according to Abbott. It basically involved scaling the back of the fort and walking through the gate at night.

Several months later, Col. Henry Knox, using draft horses and sledges, dragged the spoils of the captured forts to Boston, along a route now known as the Knox Trail.

The captured firepower proved critical as the war grew more intense.

The importance of taking Fort Ticonderoga cannot be understated, Jonathan Lane, Revolution 250 coordinator, told The Eagle. The provincial forces could not have driven the British from Boston without the heavy artillery and mortars that they captured.

THE COMMEMORATION

Thursdays commemoration kicked off in Park Square with a retelling of that pivotal night in 1775.

James Easton and John Brown are largely forgotten in popular history, said Roberts, but when you string together the events their actions caused, they ended up playing a huge role.

From there, reenactor Abbott stepped into character as Brown, offering the spys view of the meeting and its aftermath. Afterward, the crowd crossed the street to the plaque marking the site of Eastons Tavern  now the Berkshire Museum parking lot.

Learning that a small tavern in a small town played such a critical role is incredible, Abbott told The Eagle. If that hadnt happened, who knows how different things might have been?

The day wrapped up at Patricks Pub, where attendees passed around two artifacts destined for the museums Mobile Museum Unit: a reproduction of a beer flagon unearthed during 2020 renovations, and a soon-to-be-completed replica of Browns embroidered vest.

Its exciting to get this wealth of information, said attendee Amanda Murtaugh, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, knowing that it all happened right here in town.

EVENTS AHEAD

As the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence approaches next year, the Berkshire County Historical Society and Revolution 250 have a variety of events planned that together will highlight the myriad ways the revolution touched the region.

There is a lot that will be coming down the pike, said Lesley Herzberg, executive director of the historical society. So many parts of the revolution touched or played out in the Berkshires.

Among the highlights: a costumed reenactment of the Fort Ticonderoga raid on May 9, 10 and 11; revolutionary music concerts at Bidwell House; reconstructions of liberty poles rising in towns throughout the county; and a series of exhibitions at the Berkshire Museum, the Norman Rockwell Museum and Chesterwood.

ECHOES OF THE REVOLUTION TODAY

Though centered on a moment long past, Thursdays commemoration had an undercurrent that felt very much alive.

Abbott, reflecting on the meaning of the gathering, connected it to a larger, ongoing story of defiance and civic responsibility.

I think what makes this moment feel particularly powerful is that we are looking at the resistance of people from an overreaching authority, he told The Eagle. It's an interesting opportunity to look back and think: What did it take to do that? How did it actually happen? What did it feel like?

That connection wasnt just theoretical for everyone present. John Dickson, one attendee, arrived straight from a protest.

And it was no accident, Dickson said. These two events are connected. I can protest because of the sacrifices and the vision people like John Brown had all the way at our countrys beginning.

Roberts summed the feeling underlying the event up with a quiet warning: If we dont remember the foundations of our democracy  moments like this largely forgotten one  I think we have to ask ourselves, will it crumble?"
LENOX  It was help wanted time at Town Hall at the Lenox Chamber of Commerce's job fair. At least 70 job-seekers connected with 18 employers at the April 30 event.

Over 100 jobs were up for grabs.

BBL Hospitality, owner of the soon-to-open Element Lenox Berkshires hotel on Pittsfield Road, was among the companies with the most openings, along with Tanglewood, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and Miraval Berkshires Resort and Spa.

Element, a 88-room hotel, is set to open in mid-June, said Tom Gabriel, BBL vice-president of business development. Currently, reservations for the Marriott-branded property are being taken for mid-July and beyond.

Up to 25 full- and part-time year-round positions were up for grabs.

Were looking for stability, keeping people invested in their jobs, working through the peak season as well as wintertime, said Jeff Michaelson, BBL vice president of hotel operations.

The hotels general manager, Elissa Towle, noted that she has a great pool of applicants already for a new brand and property.

Short- and long-stay visitors, typically a week or more, are accommodated, she explained.

Tanglewood is still staffing up for its 10-week summer season with training set to start in mid-June, said Karla Woodward, the Boston Symphonys talent acquisition manager.

More than 30 positions remain open for parking and gate attendants as well as patron services representatives. About 300 people are employed at the orchestras summer home.

Hiring is less challenging this year, Woodward commented, thanks in part to a strong group of returning employees.

Miraval was still looking to fill 20 more seasonal restaurant, landscaping and grounds slots, said Monique Blake, its human resources director.

Open in Lenox for more than five years, the resort has retained many seasonal and year-round staff members, making hiring easier each season, she added.

At the Kripalu desk, human resources specialist Kevin Hoosier said the spa is ramping up to fill as many as 30 full- and part-time posts, including hospitality, IT, programming and administrative roles.

The year-round staff averages around 300, he said, rising in the summer for seasonal jobs such as outdoor guides.

Filling the openings has been somewhat easier this year, using the PayCom job search website, he noted. Its been smooth sailing, Hoosier said.

Representing the Brava and Ombra downtown Lenox restaurants, Sarah Delisle pointed out that, by keeping much of its staff through the years, its easier to fill out the remaining half-dozen positions for the summer. The two eateries employ 35 to 40.

Trustco Banks Phil Celentano acknowledged it was getting more difficult to find employees for its Pittsfield and nearby New York state branches.

There was one day with five interviews set up, and nobody showed, he recalled while occasionally, others start their first day of work, but leave at lunchtime. But there are good people around, you just have to look for them, said Celentano.
PITTSFIELD  The resistance to President Donald Trump has been reborn.

Thats been apparent in the series of protests since Trumps inauguration and myriad letters to The Eagle from readers expressing their discontent with his administration. Since taking office, Trump has moved to cut the size of the federal government, freeze funding for initiatives he disapproves of, ramp up deportations, crack down on dissent and launch America into a trade war thats worrying even members of his own party and shifting tariff policy nearly daily.

Youve got to do something, Patti Lentine said while attending a March 23 rally in North Adams, voicing what many have felt at other rallies. Shes not alone  through recent demonstrations, thousands have taken action.

Berkshire residents are shocked, angry and scared for the future. Many have expressed disapproval of Trumps administration and Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency, whose cuts have been felt in the Berkshires. The county also has seen at least 10 people arrested by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement officers with little public information released on those detentions. The deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia  which the Trump administration has admitted was a mistake  was top of mind for residents at one rally.

If it can happen to him, it could happen to me, one protester, who declined to give her name for fear of retribution, said at an April 19 Pittsfield protest.

Berkshire County does not exist in a vacuum. Actions taken in Washington, D.C., directly affect the county, which were seeing with Trumps cuts and tariffs that threaten to upend the lives of local residents, especially the most vulnerable.

This has prompted Berkshire residents to once again take to the streets in protest with the help of groups like Greylock Together, which helped organize the countys Hands Off! and Stand Up! rallies, in addition to individual organizers.

The late House Speaker and Massachusetts Congressman Thomas Tip ONeills famous expression has never been more relevant: All politics is local.

Quote What can be done about this? The protesters at recent Berkshire rallies have shown us the answer: Keep speaking up for what you believe in. Your voice is powerful  if it weren't, this administration wouldn't be going after speech.

Whats different this time

The recent wave of rallies have striking similarities both in turnout and passion to the 2017 protests against Trump, which also drew thousands. But something is different this time.

Everythings at stake, Beth Gordon said at the Great Barrington Hands Off! protest. Thats a sentiment thats been repeatedly shared in recent local anti-Trump events.

In 2017, opposition to Trump was fueled by his rhetoric and behavior, but it was still unclear how his administration would ultimately shape up. It was still early. He also wasnt trying to close government agencies yet.

But since then, there has been an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol inspired by his lies about the 2020 election  lies that he still has not withdrawn. In fact, hes since tried to rebrand Jan. 6 as a day of love and has pardoned the participating rioters.

Hes now trying to drastically reshape the federal government and country as a whole through DOGE and tariffs. Because of federal uncertainty, more local food bank shelves have been bare, some have reported struggles getting assistance with Social Security, and businesses and organizations that rely on imports of any kind are left in limbo.

Trump is also more emboldened to crack down on free speech, evident by his administrations visa cancellation of a Tufts students visa over an op-ed she co-wrote and efforts to punish organizations and individuals who disagree with him. Hes also expelled The Associated Press from the White House press pool. This comes as his actions have drawn dissent from even members of his own party, especially regarding his inconsistent tariff policies.

Hes pushing more boundaries this time around particularly through executive orders, many of which have been struck down by federal judges. Hes testing the protections of free speech, too, which is why his administration authorized ICE to arrest the student at Tufts. Even if she wins her case and is released from custody, the arrest creates a chilling effect for those who dont agree with Trump, especially immigrants.

What can be done about this? The protesters at recent Berkshire rallies have shown us the answer: Keep speaking up for what you believe in. Your voice is powerful  if it werent, this administration wouldnt be going after speech.

The ability to criticize anyone and anything has been vital to Americas success. It lights incompetence and falsehoods ablaze and helps reveal the way forward for a better world. So, too, does speaking for what you believe in.

Dont lose your voice. No matter his power, Trump can never take that away from you.
State orders Pittsfield schools to release redacted report of investigation into alleged PHS misconduct The decision rejects the Pittsfield School Committees assertion that the report, which shares the results of an investigation kicked off by alleged misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School, was exempt from the state public records law.

We were glad to hear the state Division of Public Records ruling that the citys school district must release the Pittsfield High School report. That ruling is in line with our previous calls for the people of Pittsfield to be able to see the results of an investigation paid for with their tax dollars  a big step forward for transparency after the School Committees concerning steps backward toward secrecy in recent weeks.

Initially, the Pittsfield School Committee made promising pledges to be open with the public about the process and results of this probe  a necessary commitment to throwing some disinfecting sunlight on these dark developments in the district. But that changed last month when School Committee Chairman William Cameron made an abrupt about-face on the plan to release the report, announcing that city school officials would only release an executive summary of the reports findings.

Our Opinion: What a trying moment demands amid Pittsfield High School investigation We all owe it to the students we must protect and the facts we must seek to resist the ugliest urges that rage and indignation provoke. That means not only holding the School Committee accountable for a transparent investigation but having the discipline to not prejudge that investigation and let the full fact-finding process play out.

When this investigation first took shape, we highlighted the potential pitfalls of hiring a law firm to do the job. If a law firm is compiling a report stemming from an investigation into deeply controversial matters, that firm will err on the side of extreme caution in determining what should be shielded from public view in order to maximally protect its client  in this case, the district. Were not knocking Bulkley Richardson & Gelinas or any other law firms over this reality  that is their job. But as the Division of Public Records stressed in its ruling, theres good reason to err on the side of transparency when it comes to public records  and an investigative report on grave misconduct and managerial concerns at PHS funded by the citys school district (i.e., taxpayers) is definitely a public record that the people of Pittsfield deserve to see.

We are strong advocates for official transparency as an important principle in itself. In this case, though, its not just transparency per se that is at issue. The subject of this report and whatever facts it has unearthed are of legitimate public concern, especially for student families who deserve to know exactly whats been going on in the Berkshires biggest high school and what the district can do to correct course after a string of disruptive and potentially dangerous controversies within Pittsfields public education system. That critical public concern is underscored by the event that prompted the states ruling. Ciara Batory, a city school parent, sought the PHS report through a public records request. When the district summarily denied that request from a concerned constituent, she appealed to the state, which resulted in the Division of Public Records ruling that the report must be released.

In an email to The Eagle, Ms. Batory explained why she pursued the records request: Pittsfield residents deserve transparency when it comes to the actions of public officials within taxpayer-funded institutions, she wrote. I am speaking out because I believe our community must demand accountability and prioritize the safety of its youngest members above all else.

Hear, hear. We commend Ms. Batory for standing up on behalf of not just her family but the entire school community to demand the requisite transparency from the part of Pittsfields government to which parents entrust their children nearly every day. Truth and transparency always matter, but those principles particularly matter here and now in a district that is only in this position because it has lost public trust and must now take the difficult but necessary steps to regain it. At minimum, that will require complying with the states order to publicly release a minimally redacted version of the PHS investigation report.

To be sure, there could be legitimate privacy and liability exposure concerns to consider when releasing the findings of an investigation like this one. Those concerns can be addressed by making minor redactions to the report before publicly releasing it, rather than blocking the publics view of the report while releasing an executive summary of the facts that district officials find suitable for general consumption. After all, such a summary released in lieu of the report itself would be received by the school community with all the skepticism the district has stirred around itself  a primary reason why this investigation was necessary in the first place.

Further, privacy and liability concerns are considerations to weigh against the need for maximum reasonable transparency, not blanket excuses for secrecy. The notion that any privacy claims or litigation threats grant preemptive power to cover up a report paid for with taxpayer dollars would totally undermine the letter and spirit of public records law. According to Secretary of State William Galvin (whose office oversees the Division of Public Records), state law holds that Every government record in Massachusetts is presumed to be public unless it may be withheld under a specifically stated exemption.

While Chairman Cameron has claimed that Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 214, Section 1B would provide such an exemption in this case, the Division of Public Records ruling strongly disagrees. [Chapter 214] does not specifically, nor by implication exempt any particular records from disclosure, Public Records Supervisor Manza Arthur said regarding the ruling. Where the public interest in obtaining the requested information substantially outweighs the seriousness of any invasion of privacy, the private interest in preventing disclosure must yield.

Pittsfield School Committee seeks clarity from state Division of Public Records on PHS investigation report Committee member William Garrity said he was in favor of that neutral third party option  allowing the Division of Public Records to decide what parts of the report can and cannot be released.

At the Pittsfield School Committees first meeting since the states ruling, Chairman Cameron said he would be seeking further clarification of this matter with the Division of Public Records. Fair enough  so long as this is truly an exercise in seeking clarity rather than a stalling tactic. Let the chairman put his arguments about what and how much should be redacted from the released report to state public records officials, and let them objectively assess those arguments on balance with the need for the utmost reasonable transparency. Then, the chairman and the rest of the committee should follow public records law and the principles of transparent governance, which both demand the same thing: Let the people of Pittsfield see the report on the state of their school district paid for with their tax dollars.
Roger Armstrong and Eddie Santos, rear, prepare a boat for the season at the Onota Boat Livery in Pittsfield by attaching an awning. The next few days may not be ideal for boating, with rain dominating the forecast.
How US tariffs are going to affect MedTech industry in India

May 03, 2025 | Saturday | Views | By Ayush Singh, Practice Member, Healthcare and Lifesciences at Praxis Global Alliance

Tariff delivers a severe blow to the cost-competitiveness of Indian MedTech exports

The recent 26% US tariff on Indian medical device exports poses a critical challenge to India's expanding MedTech industry. This tariff directly undermines cost-competitiveness, particularly impacting the crucial low-value, high-volume consumables segment.

While India's rate is lower than China's 34%, this slight advantage is overshadowed by the tariff's overall cost increase and the significant non-tariff barriers, notably the stringent US FDA regulatory process. The tariff magnifies existing vulnerabilities: India's heavy import dependence and its significant MedTech trade deficit with the US.

Indirect effects, like rising global component costs and potential tariff circumvention by competitors, add further complexity. Although threatening near-term export growth and investment, this situation compels a strategic response: accelerating market diversification, strengthening domestic manufacturing via 'Make in India', and moving up the value chain. Success requires a coordinated effort from industry and government, emphasizing bilateral negotiations, domestic innovation, and enhanced sector resilience.

Introduction: Navigating a disrupted growth trajectory

Indias MedTech sector, valued at approximately $14 billion, has emerged as a vital pillar for both economic growth and healthcare advancement. The industry ranks fourth in Asia and is propelled by robust domestic demand and a growing export footprint. The United States stands as Indias single largest export market, absorbing roughly 21% of Indias MedTech exports (~$700 million in FY24).

The landscape shifted abruptly in April 2025 with the introduction of a significant 26% US reciprocal tariff. This measure, exempting pharmaceuticals but targeting MedTech, injects considerable uncertainty and demands immediate strategic attention.

The tariff shock: Decoding the new competitive landscape

The 26% tariff represents a sharp escalation. Compared to competitors, India faces a complex situation: lower than China (34%) and Vietnam (46%), but considerably higher than the EU (20%) or Turkey (10%). Other Asian rivals like Japan and Malaysia face slightly lower rates (around 24%).

This means India's marginal tariff advantage over China is unlikely to translate into significant market share gains. The focus instead shifts to the competitive pressure from lower-tariff nations and the fundamentally altered trade dynamics.

Immediate impacts: Cost pressures, eroding competitiveness

The tariff delivers a severe blow to the cost-competitiveness of Indian MedTech exports. This is especially acute for high-volume, low-value consumables  traditionally a strength for Indian firms operating on thin margins.

Absorbing a 26% cost increase is often untenable, threatening profitability. Even with a tariff advantage over China, the risk remains high that US buyers will switch to suppliers from lower-tariff regions or domestic US producers now shielded by the tariff. This clearly jeopardizes India's US market share and export growth.

Systemic challenges: Beyond the tariff

The tariff issue exacerbates deeper, pre-existing challenges:

The non-tariff barrier wall: Industry consensus highlights the US FDA's stringent, costly, and time-consuming approval process as a far greater barrier than the tariff. The stark contrast with the lower regulatory hurdles for US firms entering India creates a significant asymmetry

Industry consensus highlights the US FDA's stringent, costly, and time-consuming approval process as a far greater barrier than the tariff. The stark contrast with the lower regulatory hurdles for US firms entering India creates a significant asymmetry Deep import dependence: India remains heavily reliant on imports to meet its domestic MedTech requirements, especially for advanced equipment and critical components. This dependency also extends to manufacturing inputs, leaving the sector vulnerable to global price fluctuationssuch as those triggered by US tariffs on components imported from China

India remains heavily reliant on imports to meet its domestic MedTech requirements, especially for advanced equipment and critical components. This dependency also extends to manufacturing inputs, leaving the sector vulnerable to global price fluctuationssuch as those triggered by US tariffs on components imported from China The transshipment risk: Competitors, particularly from China, might evade higher tariffs by routing goods through third countries (like the UK or UAE) with lower US duties. This practice could neutralize any relative tariff advantage India possesses

Competitors, particularly from China, might evade higher tariffs by routing goods through third countries (like the UK or UAE) with lower US duties. This practice could neutralize any relative tariff advantage India possesses The trade deficit dilemma: India's significant MedTech trade deficit with the US (importing $1.5 billion vs. exporting $700 million in FY24) limits negotiating leverage and makes retaliatory tariffs risky, potentially hindering access to essential US technology

Strategic imperatives: Responding to the disruption

The tariff shock necessitates urgent strategic recalibration:

Diplomacy and advocacy: Sustained government-led negotiations with the US are crucial. The goal should be tariff relief and, critically, reciprocal action on non-tariff barriers to level the playing field

Sustained government-led negotiations with the US are crucial. The goal should be tariff relief and, critically, reciprocal action on non-tariff barriers to level the playing field Aggressive market diversification: Reducing reliance on the US is now essential. Indian firms must strategically target and invest in penetrating alternative markets across the EU, Middle East, Asia, and Africa

Reducing reliance on the US is now essential. Indian firms must strategically target and invest in penetrating alternative markets across the EU, Middle East, Asia, and Africa Fortifying domestic capabilities: The 'Make in India' initiative gains renewed urgency. This requires effective use of PLI schemes, boosted R&D, and fostering a robust domestic ecosystem for components and raw materials

The 'Make in India' initiative gains renewed urgency. This requires effective use of PLI schemes, boosted R&D, and fostering a robust domestic ecosystem for components and raw materials Ascending the value chain: The pressure on low-margin goods should accelerate the shift towards developing and exporting higher-value, complex devices where innovation offers a competitive edge beyond price

The pressure on low-margin goods should accelerate the shift towards developing and exporting higher-value, complex devices where innovation offers a competitive edge beyond price Seizing shifting opportunities: Firms should explore openings to capture market share vacated by highly tariffed Chinese goods and attract "China+1" FDI seeking diversified manufacturing hubs for global (non-US) markets

Recommendations for Indian Medtech firms

Accelerate market diversification: Proactively identify and invest resources in penetrating alternative export markets Enhance operational efficiency: Focus rigorously on cost optimisation across the value chain to mitigate tariff impacts Invest in strategic R&D: Prioritise innovation to develop higher-value products, reducing reliance on pure cost competition Explore collaboration: Consider domestic or international partnerships/JVs to access technology, share regulatory burdens, and expand market reach Engage with government: Provide data-driven insights to support negotiation efforts and advocate for supportive domestic policies

Conclusion

The 26% US tariff is a significant shock, exposing vulnerabilities but also demanding transformation within Indian MedTech sector. Immediate pressures on costs and market share are undeniable.

However, this challenge also provides a powerful catalyst for long-overdue strategic shifts. Success requires a decisive response: skillful diplomacy, determined market diversification, and a focused national effort to build a self-reliant, innovative domestic MedTech ecosystem.

By embracing this disruption as an impetus for change, India's MedTech industry can navigate the current turbulence and emerge more resilient and strategically positioned for the future.

Ayush Singh, Practice Member, Healthcare and Lifesciences at Praxis Global Alliance
Future of patient recruitment lies in strategic, supportable engagement

May 03, 2025 | Saturday | Views | By Puneet Kumar, Clinical Research Consultant, Founder, Medivista Research (India)

Revolutionising patient recruitment in India with a site-centric and tech-enabled model for sponsors

image credit- shutterstock

I'll start the article by introducing the Recruitment Drift Syndrome. What does it signify?

Patients drift away before the site is ready to recruit. But what about commitments we (Site team) were given while filling feasibility and during site selection visit?

India is experiencing a significant change in the clinical research landscape. The nation is becoming a considerable location for international clinical trials due to its fast expanding pharmaceutical industry, rising disease load, and advancements in digital healthcare. A major problem, nevertheless, even with the large patient base and expanding infrastructure i.e. Patient recruitment.

More than 80% of trial delays worldwide are caused by delayed patient recruitment, and socio-cultural complexity, ignorance, and low interaction between sponsors and investigators create additional obstacles in India. With more than 20 years of experience as a clinical research professional, I have seen firsthand both the problems and the solutions that can change this story.

A site-centric, technology-enabled paradigm designed specifically for India is presented in this paper. It enhances patient recruitment while fostering long-lasting relationships between sponsors and clinical sites.

The Actual Situation; Difficulties in Recruiting Patients:

Insufficient Patient Knowledge

The majority of patients in India are not aware that clinical trials are a viable therapeutic option, despite the country's high disease burden. Few people think about taking part, mostly because they are afraid, feel stigmatized, or don't know enough about it. Overworked Sites and Investigators

Site staff frequently handle several studies with little assistance, which restricts their ability to successfully recruit, interact with patients and search patient outside the site. We should not forget that oversee the clinical study is not a primary job of Investigators involved in this, they have other tasks as Clinician, Academician, Member of different committees and vice versa. Issues with Eligibility and Protocol Complexity

A high screen failure rate is caused by strict inclusion/exclusion criteria and inadequately localized methods. Fewer Referrals to Doctors

Private practitioners and trial locations are not in communication. The majority of doctors are neither encouraged nor trained to refer qualified patients to the trial site. Insufficient Technology Use

Digital technologies that facilitate recruitment, engagement, and data flow are frequently lacking for sites and investigators especially in tier-2/3 cities.

Presenting the Tech-Enabled and Site-Centric Model:

Sponsors need to reconsider their recruitment approach in order to overcome these obstacles. A successful model needs to be:

Adaptable to the local environment (Plan A might work for Site X but not for Site Y).

Digitally connected (referral & outreach dashboards, digital pre-screening tools, and EMR/OPD data integration).

Focused on the referral network and location (e.g., feedback loops, doctor education programs, referral mapping, feedback loops, ethical honoraria, certificates, or acknowledgments).



This is a model that has worked well in many studies although providing outcome seen in Ophthalmology and Paediatrics.

Using Sites as Strategic Centres

When equipped with the appropriate tools and ecosystem, sites become more than just places to conduct trials; they are also recruitment engines.

Sponsors ought to:

Work together to determine viability with site input on reasonable schedules

Co-create recruitment objectives and metrics

Assign coordinators specifically for site recruitment.

Making Use of the PICs Framework





Presenting the PICs Framework, a strategy model for locating and enlisting physicians to refer patients to trials:

PICs = Potential + Interested + Comfortable doctors

Impact on Sponsors:

Increases referral rates and site-level enrollment forecasts.

Targeted engagement results in fewer screen failures.

Online Promotion and Pre-Screening

To lessen the workload for coordinators, sponsors ought to invest on e-consent, chatbot-assisted patient education, and pre-screening systems that are coupled with EMR/EHR tools.

Employ geo-targeted advertisements to inform particular patient groups.

To assess interest, use mobile-friendly pre-screeners. Use dashboards to share pre-screening data with websites.

Content for Localized Patient Education





Convert recruitment brochures, trial summaries, and other site or study specific material into local languages.

Culturally relevant content increases engagement delivered via SMS or WhatsApp,.

Honoraria and Referral Partnerships Openness (Under guidelines of Ethics Committee or Regulatory Body).





Through fair recognition, referral acknowledgment, and MOU-based referral systems, promote moral and open doctor collaboration.

Arrange referral summits every three months with involved HCPs.

Provide documentation of every referral touch points that is audit-safe.

Real-World Application:

Ophthalmology study in Lucknow:

Using the PICs model including tech-enabled support, our team activated over 100 referral doctors (Government Hospitals/Private centres/Clinics/Diagnostics centres especially doing OCT) in around 6 months across same city and periphery of 300 km. Within 30 days:

Referral-to-consent ratio improved by 41%

Completed enrolment 22 days ahead of schedule

Doctor engagement satisfaction increased

Site had finished at 2nd in global ranking

Paediatric study in Delhi and Lucknow:

Our team actively approached more than 120 referral physicians in the same city over the course of about six months (Government Hospitals, Private Centres, Clinics, and particularly Paediatricians, including Mohalla Clinics). In ten days, we started getting referrals and finally came to conclusion:

450 subjects were enrolled at 3 sites in 2 cities in around 6 months

100 subjects were enrolled in just 4 weeks at Lucknow site

were enrolled in just at Lucknow site Referral-to-consent ratio improved by 85%

Trial completed enrollment 10 days ahead of schedule

Strategic Recommendations:

Create referral-ready procedures while taking Indian site constraints into account. The study startup phase budget for digital pre-screening tools. Include the PICs model in the outreach and site viability plan. Assist sites undergoing digital transformation, from EMR integration to WhatsApp outreach. Create a site-sponsor-doctor triangle that encourages cooperation rather than only observation. Small budget for recruitment leads to substantial impact to the clinical trial cycle.

Conclusion:

India has enormous potential for patient recruitment, but sponsors need to think beyond the box. In addition to expediting their deadlines, sponsors can establish credibility within the local clinical research ecosystem by developing site-centric, digitally enabled, and referral-smart models, such as the PICs framework designed by the author.

The future of patient recruitment lies in strategic, supportable engagement  and the time to act is now.

A well-crafted and practical recruitment strategy, tailored to the real-world challenges of the site, facilitates faster link with the right patients and drives the accomplishment of research goals.

In research, time isnt just money  its medication, momentum, and meaningful outcomes.

Every delayed enrolment in any clinical study is a step away from hope  for the patient, the doctor, and the data.

Puneet Kumar, Clinical Research Consultant, Founder, Medivista Research (India)
Three ambitious software engineers have pleaded guilty to stealing more than 3,500 worth of goods during a series of thefts from Ikea in Dublin.

Monnisha Nimma (27), Ms Sai Radhika Kavuri (32) and 34-year-old Sri Ravikiran Garimella, each with an address at Station Walk, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty on Friday to stealing from the furniture chains Ballymun outlet on three dates in January.

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Detective Garda Anthony Galbraith told Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court that on January 11th, 18th and 25th, the two female defendants and Mr Garimella, and two others, who have not been identified, took a large quantity of materials and failed to pay for same.

They left the store twice with 1,350 worth of property and goods valued at 852 the next time.

Following enquiries, the detective went to their shared home on February 16th and searched the property, recovering a significant portion of the loot. One person was arrested and made full admissions.

Detective Garda Galbraith said the other two later came to Ballymun station with more stolen goods.

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They stole the goods from Ikea in Ballymun. Photo: PA Wire/PA Images

The detective said most of the property, valued in total 3,526, was recovered and in a saleable condition. He added that they were cooperative, held their hands up and made admissions, and he said that was unusual.

Judge Cronin noted that the three defendants, who did not address the court, had no prior convictions and had never come to Garda attention before.

The court heard that, but for the quantity, the three housemates could have been eligible for an adult caution instead of a court prosecution.

Their solicitor, Carol Slattery, said that her well-educated clients were from India and came to Ireland about five years ago. The court heard the defendants, who are on bail, had work visas and were full-time software engineers.

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Ms Slattery described them as young and ambitious with good future job prospects who wished to become Irish citizens, and this case could have a severe impact on that.

The solicitor said they realised the seriousness of their situation and the consequences they faced, were apologetic and would take any opportunity to rectify this wrong.

Ms Slattery said that they had no reasonable explanation other than "foolishness of the highest order".

Ireland Man accused of murdering mother said deceased 'wen... Read More

However, the solicitor submitted that they were unlikely to reoffend and pleaded with Judge Cronin to consider a restorative justice approach given their lack of previous convictions, the guilty pleas and their cooperation.

The detective confirmed he had already discussed that with Ikea; the firm was agreeable to participate, having previously engaged in the restorative justice process in similar prosecutions. Detective Garda Galbraith said Ikea was more than happy to do so again in this case.

Judge Cronin remarked that that was helpful because few victims wish to be involved.

She adjourned the case until July for a probation report on their suitability for inclusion in the programme, which, if completed, can spare first-time offenders a criminal conviction.
The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI) at Clonskeagh in Dublin has accused a radicalised wing of the Muslim community of intimidating and trying to silence one of its leading members, according to The Irish Times.

A dispute over control of the centre deepened on Friday when the ICCI criticised attacks on social media against Dr Eid Zaher, who had pleaded during the week for a resolution.

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In a letter circulated on Muslim-community WhatsApp groups last Wednesday, Dr Zaher, secretary to ICCI imam Sheikh Hussein Halawa, called on an unnamed senior official at the ICCI to step down in favour of the public interest and to prevent further harm, The Irish Times reported.

He also appealed to wise and thoughtful members of the Muslim community in Ireland to kindly encourage this senior official to step down.

The ICCI has been closed since an alleged physical altercation at a meeting on April 19th, to which gardai were called.

An auditor has been appointed by the Al Maktoum Foundation, which built and funds the ICCI, to investigate alleged financial irregularities there.

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In a statement following social media posts about Dr Zahers intervention this week, the ICCI said it was deeply saddened by the radicalised behaviour of certain individuals within our community who have attacked, intimidated, harassed, insulted and defamed Dr Sheikh Eid [Dr Zaher].

He is a member of the religious Dawah department of our mosque (which gives religious guidance), it said. Such actions to silence dissenting voices are unacceptable and were a cowardly attack and yet another example of the extremist tendencies of certain elements within the community, it said.

Freedom of expression is a deeply valued principle and an integral part of the shared norms ... in Irish society, the ICCI statement said.

We pray for the enlightenment and reform of these radical elements so that the mosque and centre can reopen in an atmosphere of peace and security for our employees, the children and the community, it said.
An executive director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the world is breaking the bodies and minds of the children of Gaza.

Irishman Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies programme, said people are complicit in what is happening in Gaza if they fail to act.

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It comes as aid workers warn of an escalating humanitarian crisis following two months of an aid and food blockade.

Speaking this week, Dr Ryan described what is happening to the people of Gaza as an abomination.

We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza, Dr Ryan said.

We are starving the children of Gaza, because if we dont do something about it, we are complicit in what is happening before our very eyes.

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We are complicit. We are causing this, you, us and everyone who does nothing about it, its horrific.

The children of Gaza should not have to pay the price, as all children have done in the past, for the sins of anyone around them. This just has to stop.

Any right-thinking human being will stand up and say, this just must stop. As a doctor, as a physician, as someone watching more than 1,000 children without limbs, thousands of children with spinal cord injuries and severe head injuries from which theyll never recover, thousands and thousands of children with severe psychological distress that they may never recover from.

We are watching this unfold before our very eyes and were not doing anything about it. As a physician, Im angry. Im angry with myself that Im not doing enough.

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Im angry with everyone here. Im angry with you. Im angry with the world.

This should not be happening. It cannot continue. We have to stop.

No aid has entered Gaza in over 8 weeks. Children are starving. Hospitals are lacking basic medicine.

This is the longest blockade since the war began and is completely unacceptable.

Ireland calls on Israel to lift the blockade & allow humanitarian aid in immediately. pic.twitter.com/Mx3c1YDUUe  Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 2, 2025

This is an abomination. Its an abomination. We have to ask ourselves the question, how much blood is enough to satisfy whatever the political objectives are of any regime.

It comes after Tanaiste Simon Harris called on the international community to act now to avert further disaster.

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No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza in over eight weeks as a result of the Israeli blockade. Children are starving. Hospitals are running out of basic painkillers, he said in a statement.

The World Food Programme has said that its food stocks are now depleted. Life-saving aid is available and urgently needed, but trucks cannot cross into Gaza.

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It is unconscionable that the current suffering is continuing. This is the longest ban on aid entering Gaza since the start of the war.

The situation is unacceptable. In the circumstances, obstructing life-saving aid is a violation of Israels international obligations.

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Ireland calls on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and allow for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid.
A Russian drone strike on Ukraines second-largest city has wounded 47 people, officials said.

Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations in the city late on Friday.

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Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and vehicles were damaged in the assault, according to Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.

The Kharkiv Prosecutors Office said that Russian forces used drones with thermobaric warheads.

In a statement on Telegram, it said thermobaric weapons create a powerful blast wave and a hot cloud of smoke, causing large-scale destruction. The prosecutor said its use may indicate a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law.

Following the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged stronger, more decisive support from the countrys allies.

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While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives. Ukraine needs strengthened air defence. Strong and real decisions are needed from our partners  the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace, he wrote on X in the early hours of Saturday.





Right now, Russia is yet again attacking Ukraine. Kharkiv has been hit by dozens of "Shahed" drones. Residential buildings, enterprises, and civilian infrastructure have been damaged. As of now, more than 40 people have been reported injured. Rescuers and relevant services are pic.twitter.com/cC2PYfPVRl  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) May 2, 2025

The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia fired 183 exploding drones and decoys overnight. Of those, 77 were intercepted by Ukrainian defences while a further 73 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

The Air Force also reported that Russia launched two ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile, Russias Defence Ministry claimed that its air defences shot down 170 Ukrainian drones overnight. The ministry said eight cruise missiles and three guided missiles were also intercepted.

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In southern Russia, four people were injured in a drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to Krasnodar region governor Veniamin Kondratyev.

The latest wave of attacks comes after the US and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraines vast mineral resources, finalising a deal that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns President Donald Trump might scale back support during peace negotiations with Russia.



Russia carried out an attack on Kharkiv (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Speaking to journalists in Kyiv on Friday, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine is prepared to pursue a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States.

He said the ceasefire could start on any date and last for a full month, offering time for meaningful steps toward ending the war. Lets be honest  you cant agree on anything serious in three, five, or seven days, he said.

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Mr Zelensky said that Moscows announcement of a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in the Second World War is merely an attempt to create a soft atmosphere ahead of Russias annual celebrations.

It looks unserious, he said. So that Putins guests on Red Square feel comfortable and safe.

The Ukrainian leader reiterated that Kyivs military actions will remain mirror-like, responding to Russias moves.

He acknowledged that implementing a complete frontline ceasefire without robust international monitoring remains nearly impossible but emphasised that the 30-day window offers a credible start.

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He confirmed ongoing efforts to convene a meeting of international advisers, meaning the next round of the negotiations with the US.

He also expressed hope that it could happen in Ukraine, saying it was a positive sign that such a gathering is under discussion despite recent personnel changes in Washington.
Pakistan has test-fired a ballistic missile after tensions with India spiked following last weeks deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region.

The surface-to-surface missile has a range of 450 kilometres (about 280 miles), the Pakistani military said.

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India blames Pakistan for the April 22 gun massacre in the resort town of Pahalgam, a charge Pakistan denies.

Pakistans military said the launch of the Abdali Weapon System was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missiles advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features.



A Kashmiri woman walks near her home in Tilawari village (Dar Yasin/AP)

Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated those behind the successful test.

Missiles are not fired toward the border area with India. They are normally fired into the Arabian Sea or the deserts of south-west Balochistan province.

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Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali said Saturdays missile was named after a prominent Muslim conqueror of India, underlining its symbolic significance.

The timing of this launch is critical in the current geopolitical context, Mr Ali told The Associated Press. He said the test was intended as a strategic signal to India after it threatened to suspend a crucial water-sharing treaty.

Indias navy said on April 27 that its vessels had successfully undertaken anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long-range precision offensive strike.

Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in Indias Foreign Ministry, said there was anger across the country following the gun attack. The 26 victims came from 13 different states.

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Internationally, there is enormous sympathy for India and little patience with Pakistan, said Mr Malik. I dont believe anybody in India wants a full-fledged war. Even so, there is domestic pressure and diplomatic space for a sharp, targeted, and limited response.

The ongoing muscle flexing by both countries troops was reflective of the tense mood and also apparent in the unremitting hostilities on the Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Kashmir, he said.

Kashmir is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety.



Kashmiri villagers stand outside their home (Dar Yasin/AP)

They have fought two of their three wars over the stunning Himalayan region and their ties have been shaped by conflict, aggressive diplomacy and mutual suspicion, mostly due to their competing claims over Kashmir.

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The latest flare-up led the two countries to expel each others diplomats and nationals, as well as the closing of airspace.

On Saturday, India suspended the exchange of all mail from Pakistan through air and surface routes and slapped an immediate ban on the direct and indirect import of all goods from its neighbour.

India has also banned Pakistani-flagged ships from entering its ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from visiting Pakistani ports.

Indias military said on Saturday that Pakistani troops had fired at positions across the border for a ninth consecutive night. The statement called the firing unprovoked and said Indian troops responded promptly and proportionately.

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Pakistan did not confirm the exchange of fire at the Line of Control.

The incident could not be independently verified. In the past, each side has accused the other of starting border skirmishes.
While procrastinating over a deadline recently, I turned on ABC TV and watched an episode of Long Lost Family  the British documentary where families are reunited by the heavenly Davina McCall, who, lets face it, is probably not faking those tears when she witnesses parents meeting their long-lost (now adult) children because the reunions are so incredibly moving. As someone who grew up with an absent father, I adore a good bit of TV reunion action. It provides a comfortably distant, yet vaguely resonant, happy-ever-after.

I had the opportunity to meet my own father when I was in my mid-20s. Until then, he had been the ghost my mother never spoke of (If you cant say something nice and all that). What I did glean about Dad during my childhood was that he was some sort of genius, and that he drank too much. I also knew we had a silent phone number because of him but wasnt sure why. Back in the 80s you didnt question your parents (hark, the chortling of my grown Gen Z children).

Weve seen the tear-soaked TV reunions on windy beaches, but my reality was different. Credit: iStock (posed by model)

Fast-forward through childhood and university; I was working in the Queensland District Court as a judges associate. Criminal court provided a birds-eye view of family dramas playing out like endless cinematic tragedies; stunning stories involving flailing parents and damaged kids. Then one day, I received a phone call from a paternal aunt I had never met: Would you like to meet your father? Hed like to meet you.

Twenty-three years of silence, then my own personal episode of Long Lost Family? Yes! I was ready. Will we look alike? Laugh alike? Will I, too, gain the happiness that only a handheld professional camera shoved in a snot-teary face after decades of absence can capture? On telly at least, this moment is the truth laid bare. Hearts beating through vulnerable rib cages; first hellos muffled by mouths buried into down coats (think breathtaking windy Devon coastlines  or in my case, a Hobart parkland). Would it be overwhelmingly wonderful and validating? Or disappointing and downright strange? My sister and I were agog with curiosity  she, a clinical psychologist, me, a wannabe novelist  and obsessed with the tapestry of human motivations that wove together a life. We were all in.
The dramatic growth of a Hindu sect has ignited a feud between worshippers and residents in one of Melbournes most exclusive suburbs over the noise, traffic and smells generated by an inner-city temple.

The Melbourne branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the primary organisation of the Hare Krishna movement, has been based on Danks Street in Albert Park for almost 50 years.

ISKCON temple president Aniruddha Dasa. Credit: Joe Armao

But the growing Indian diaspora has fuelled a resurgence in members, pushing the Albert Park temple to capacity as complaints from locals intensify about the temple kitchen that pumps out thousands of meals weekly.

A petition with 182 signatures calling for the kitchens relocation was presented to Port Phillip Council earlier last month, claiming the temple was now a commercial activity for an industrial site.
Berlin: Germanys spy agency has classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as extremist, enabling it to step up monitoring of the countrys biggest opposition party, which decried the move as a blow against democracy.

An 1100-page experts report found the AfD to be a racist and anti-Muslim organisation, a designation that allows the security services to recruit informants and intercept party communications and revived calls for the partys ban.

Alice Weidel at the AfD party headquarters in Berlin after elections in February. Credit: AP

Central to our assessment is the ethnically and ancestrally defined concept of the people that shapes the AfD, which devalues entire segments of the population in Germany and violates their human dignity, the BfV domestic intelligence agency said in a statement on Friday, Berlin time.

This concept is reflected in the partys overall anti-migrant and anti-Muslim stance, it said, accusing the AfD of stirring up irrational fears and hostility.
Day Shift May 1: B Squad 25-004608- 4400 BLK Ringgold Road- Child Locked in a Vehicle A store employee called in saying a female who was inside attempting to cash a check. The witness stated the woman had left her 5-month-old in her vehicle while it wasnt running for approximately 20 minutes or more, with the windows slightly cracked.The party was charged with Child Endangerment and transported to the Hamilton County Jail.

25-003234  1517 Tombras Ave  Warrant Service A woman was taken into custody on East Ridge Warrants for 911 Violations. She was transported to the Hamiton County Jail.

25-004602-3600 BLK Ringgold Road-Theft Management reported a subject (identified) had been switching the tags on various items through the store. The total of the theft was over $60. Loss prevention did not wish to pursue charges, but did want the incident documented and the suspect trespassed.

25-004604  700 BLK Germantown Circle Side Miscellaneous The caller reported that partys unknown making false claims about her and her family, including contacting the Department of Children's Services about unsafe conditions for children. She stated these accusations were false, including the claims about children being at risk, considering there are no children in her residence. The complainant believes these claims stem from the residents sharing the other side of her duplex due to the occupants having a negative interaction with each other on a previous date. At this time, the complainant requested a report for documentation of the alleged offenses.

25-004606  4100 BLK East Ridge Drive  Disorder The caller reported a disorder between her neighbors and East Ridge Animal Services. Officers spoke with both parties who appeared to be having a cordial conversation and advised all was well.

25-004607  4300 BLK Ringgold Road  Hold-Up Alarm Police responded to a hold-up alarm. It was found they were testing the alarm and did not require an emergency response.

25-004609  2000 BLK Tombras Avenue  Assist EMS Hamilton County EMS requested police assistance with traffic control while they loaded a patient.

25-004610-3700 BLK Fountain Ave-Property Police responded to the apartments for a tree limb that had fallen on a vehicle and caused damage to the rear passenger door.

25-004613  3600 BLK Ringgold Rd Food City  Property Damage Police responded to accept a report for property damage. The reporting party stated that a woman driving a white Dodge Caravan removed groceries from her shopping cart and left it in the middle of the parking lot, allowing it to roll and hit the driver side door of his blue Chevrolet truck. He stated that when he confronted the woman she said, Oops. Two dents were observed on his vehicle.

25-004614  2000 BLK Prigmore Road  Burglary The victim reported his home was burglarized at an unknown date and time. No suspect information was provided beyond stating it may have been his ex-girlfriend and her brother. Detectives were notified.

25-004617  5700 BLK Roper St  Wellness Check Police were asked to do a wellness check after a co-worker overheard her mention of self-harm. The party was found inside her residence and was well. She revealed a superficial cut on her ankle but had no suicidal ideations.

25-004618-400 BLK Donaldson Road-Suspicious Person Police checked the area for an individual knocking on doors around the 400 BLK of Donaldson. The subject was not located.

25-004621  600 BLK Camp Jordan Parkway  Civil Matter The complainant reported he was experiencing adverse reactions including lesions on his feet after having treatment at a nail salon. The complainant stated the business refused to issue a refund and wanted to know how he could recoup his money. Police advised the complainant of civil court proceedings.

Night Shift May 1: D Squad

25-004622  1517 Tombras Avenue  Warrant Service A woman was taken into custody on an East Ridge warrant for Aggravated Nonemergency Contact of 911. She was transported to Hamilton County Jail.

25-004632-4100 BLK Ringgold Rd- Runaway Officers received a call about a juvenile who ran away from home. They located the juvenile on Bennett Rd. The juvenile ignored commands and then ran from the police. The subject was located and had sustained an injury from jumping a fence. The parents took custody. Attachments for runaway, evading, and resisting stop, halt, frisk are being sought.

25-004634  3700 BLK Fountain Avenue  Aggravated Assault Police responded to the above address at the request of EMS. Officers determined A woman was involved in a domestic dispute with her fiance. During the disorder, the fiance struck her with a vehicle. Police were unable to determine the identity of the suspect. Further investigation will be needed for warrants to be obtained.
Representatives of Cleveland Creative Arts Guild have established two scholarships with Lee Universitys Department of Communication Arts in honor of John Simmons and Billie Nipper. Members of the honorees families attended a presentation ceremony held in the Squires Library art gallery on Lees campus.

The Cleveland Creative Arts Guild decided to endow scholarships in theater and visual arts to promote local Bradley County students pursuing studies in these areas and provide assistance in attending Lee University, said Mr. Simmons. Hopefully these awards will stimulate interest in the arts throughout the region.

The Cleveland Creative Arts Guild was founded in 1965 to provide an outlet and encouragement for local artists, with departments in writing, drama, arts and crafts. The Guilds principal fundraiser was the annual Nillie Bipper Arts and Crafts Festivala playful name derived from Billie Nippers own name. Both John Simmons and Billie Nipper served as longtime coordinators of the event, where Billie also began showing her own work.

This is a tremendous gift, and we are thrilled to receive this opportunity to continue the great work of the Creative Arts Guild by investing in the next generation of artists in Bradley County, said Dr. Williams, chair of Lees Department of Communication Arts. These scholarships will create terrific opportunities for students pursuing their dreams of the arts at Lee. We are excited to help local students take the next step in pursuing their careers in art and theatre through these scholarships.

The Billie Nipper Memorial Scholarship honors her for the years of service to the Arts Guild and her accomplishments as a self-taught artist. She became well known for her paintings of walking horses, including works commissioned for winners of the annual Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, Tn., as well as for various celebrities. She made her work available commercially through numbered prints.

The John Simmons Visual Arts Scholarship honors and recognizes his years of contribution to the Arts Guild and to the students he instilled with his passion for the arts through his years as an instructor at Lee University. Simmons retired from the art faculty at Lee and has been instrumental in working with the Communication Arts Department on this presentation, along with donations to its permanent gallery, located in Squires Library, of art pieces from various Guild artists.

The scholarships will be awarded with first priority given to a full-time Bradley County incoming freshman majoring in visual arts or theatre with financial need. Second priority, if there is no incoming freshman meeting the prerequisite, goes to a sophomore or above with the same promise and need. Third priority, if neither of the above two are met, goes to any student from outside Bradley County with a major in visual or theatre arts. The Financial Aid Committee shall have discretion for awarding the scholarships. The intention for these scholarships is that the recipients will continue to instill a love for the arts to future generations.

For additional information, please contact jsimmons@leeuniversity.edu or christinewilliams@leeuniversity.edu.


Carley Kirkpatrick, a senior nursing major at Lee University, received the Regional Educational Scholarship from the Tennessee Nurses Foundation for the East Tennessee region.

I am incredibly proud of Carley and her accomplishments over the last few years in our program, said Briley Williams, visiting lecturer for Lees School of Nursing. Her motivation and perseverance to succeed in the School of Nursing and fulfill the calling God has placed on her heart, despite facing lifes challenges, are truly worth rewarding! Those qualities undoubtedly played a role in her receiving this scholarship, and we, in the SON, are so proud of her.

The Regional Educational Scholarship is awarded to an individual in each of the three regions in Tennessee (west, middle, and east) in the amount of $5,000.

Ms. Kirkpatrick, a non-traditional student in her final year of Lees nursing program, is a mother of three and grandmother of one. She belongs to the Nurses Christian Fellowship and the Student Nurses Association. Outside of school and work, Ms. Kirkpatrick runs a non-profit organization, Adrians Attic, created in memory of her late brother. Through this initiative, she is able to provide free prom and formal wear to teens in need within the community.

Thanks to TNFs generous support, I am one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a nurse, said Ms. Kirkpatrick. This scholarship has lifted the financial burden of tuition, allowing me to focus fully on my final year of schooling. This investment in my education means the world not only to me, but also to the patients and families I will one day serve.

After graduation, Ms. Kirkpatrick plans to pursue a nurse practitioner degree to further her mission of delivering compassionate care to older adults, particularly in geriatric and hospice settings.

The Tennessee Nurses Foundation is an organization formed by the Tennessee Nurses Association, which advocates for nursing research and excellence. Its mission is to elevate the professional image of nursing, support higher education, facilitate leadership development, encourage nursing research, and promote the professional health and well-being of nurses.

For more information about the Tennessee Nurses Foundation, visit tnurses.care/TNF.

For more information about Lees School of Nursing, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/nursing/.
County School Board Chairman Joe Smith has asked Supt. Justin Robertson to find $898,000 in alternative budget reductions while sparing cuts to school nurses, magnet school busing, the school print shop and two teacher jobs at the Washington Alternative School.

That would achieve a balanced budget using the projected $577.2 million in expected revenue.

Other board members, including Karitsa Mosley Jones and Ben Connor, said they would only be satisfied with a budget that reflects the "true needs" of the system and avoids any cuts. That would cost $603.6 million.

Ms. Jones said, "I'm voting no to any budget that eliminates anything - period. If we never ask for what we need, we will never get it."

County Mayor Weston Wamp and County Commission Chairman Jeff Eversole have advised the schools that a property tax increase is not in the offing this year.

A balanced budget presented by Supt. Robertson filled a $6 million gap with a number of reductions, including gaining $2.8 million by having each school reduce .5 position. There would be $1 million cut from capital maintenance, $200,000 by reducing benchmark tests and $107,300 by tightening up on a program that provides cell phones to certain on-call employees.

Supt. Robertson listed a $200,000 saving that would keep magnet school busing, but have students go to hub stops rather than getting door to door service.

He said the schools are expecting $2 million in new funding from the state.

Board member Jodi Schaffer said it appeared that cuts to the central office only amounted to "smoke and mirrors." She noted that the full contingent of social workers and student support personnel are still included.

Board member Felice Hadden said there had been "a big public outcry" on cutting 23 special education support personnel. She said, "I want those back in." She said those are "hands on working with our most vulnerable."

Supt. Robertson said that reduction "is what the staffing model produced." He also said there are already 40 unfilled special education positions.

Ms. Hadden said if Washington Alternative loses two teachers "I feel like they are being cut off at the knees." Supt. Robertson said "success programs" have been added at several schools that are handling some of the students that normally go to Washington Alternative.

On the print shop, the superintendent said that operation cannot continue to lose money. He said it may be possible to try it for another year and see if that budget can be balanced.

Ms. Schaffer said more reductions could be made in the central office. She said, "I don't feel like the administration is listening to us. This is the board's budget."

Supt. Robertson said, "We've offered a lot of options (for balancing the budget), but a lot of them have been shot down."

During the discussion, board member Larry Grohn asked about a program to recruit "teachers of color."

He noted that there are groups in the schools of MTOC and FTOC. Supt. Robertson said that stands for Male Teachers of Color and Female Teachers of Color.

Mr. Grohn said, "I can't imagine if we had a White Teachers Association."

Supt. Robertson said 13 percent of students are black males, but only three percent of teachers are black males. He said the schools strive for a diverse faculty.

Gary Kuehn, school board member who was a former principal, said he hired a black teacher "who kept so many of them (black male students) in school while mentoring them."
An East Ridge Man charged in Chattanooga Federal Court with terrorizing prisoners during the Bosnian civil war has been found not guilty of all charges.

The jury deliberated on Friday afternoon before finding in favor of Sead Miljkovic, who adopted the last name Dukic after coming to the U.S.

Miljkovic was charged with three counts of inflicting torture on prisoners under his supervision as well as passport fraud. If convicted, he faced a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

He was represented by attorneys Bryan Hoss and Logan Davis.

Attorney Hoss said, "We deeply respect the jury's careful attention to the evidence in a case that spanned decades and continents. This verdict affirms the principle that justice in America depends on facts, not fear or assumptions."

Attorney Davis said, "We are grateful for the jury's service and proud to have defended Mr. Miljkovic against these serious and historically complex allegations."

Two men had come 5,600 miles from Bosnia to testify that Miljkovic beat them while they were on work details at the Stari Grad medieval castle three decades ago.
County Attorney Rheubin Taylor was hired in 1993 to serve Hamilton Countys legal needs. His knowledge of Tennessee municipal law is unsurpassed in our region. I believe Taylor was the first or second person of color to serve as a county attorney in the state of Tennessee.

Yes, that mattersclimbing mountains counts.

When Attorney Taylor was appointed in 1993 by County Executive Dalton Roberts, there were only 8,698 Black law students in 173 ABA-approved law schools across the entire nation, according to multiple sources. For Taylor to rise to the level of county attorney in 1993 was simply amazing. Of course, so was Dalton Roberts.

After an estimated 32 years of dedicated service, it is simply unjust for Taylor to be treated with open political disdain. During the previous County Commission meeting, a commissioner reiterated the same records preservation request over and over. The request sounded more like an accusationthat Taylor would remove files needed for seamless county operations.

We can expect fabrications of recordkeeping debacles within the County Attorneys Office to be forthcoming after Taylor exits his position of 32 years. This would be consistent with the well-publicized situation involving the mayor.

What a sad way to end 32 years of faithful service.

The removal of Attorney Taylor was cited as generational by a member of the Commission. Of course, generational is a sugar-coated explanation for why Attorney Taylor was relieved of his position.

Upon being sworn in, the mayor entered the County Attorneys Office seeking forced retirementciting Taylors age and years of service as the basis for the request. The mayor has created legal liability by using age and years of service as justification for Attorney Taylors removal.

Employers cannot hire or fire employees based on age, race, gender, or religion. This is well established.

I have lost track of the published costs in taxpayer-funded legal fees that began when the mayor hired a Knoxville attorney. This is how casually government treats public dollarswhere forcing political will turns into costly litigation. The total costs were easily around $200,000 for the three sides represented.

Clearly, the path forward will be much brighter for Attorney Taylor, free of the hostile work environment he has endured in recent years. Even for a seasoned attorney, it would be stressful to have political hacks circling like vultures.

Thank you, Rheubin Taylor, for your 32 years of service to Hamilton County. Its not that I always agreed with your decisions, but I have always respected you.

April Eidson
Hamilton County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to 6580 block of Charbell Street Friday at 10:30 p.m. to investigate a domestic incident. Deputies found the suspect, Zachariah Legate, had committed aggravated assault against a victim. Police also found that Legate had thrown rocks at the victims car and struck the victims dog with a rake.

Additionally, active warrants were confirmed for Legate, including two counts of harassment and a failure to appear in court.

It was said Legate barricaded himself inside the residence, refused to come out, and made several threatening statements towards responding deputies. As a result, HCSO SWAT was notified and responded to the scene.

After an additional warrant was obtained, SWAT entered the residence and took Legate into custody. He resisted arrest and declined to allow the staged EMS crew at the scene to evaluate him. Legate was then transported to a local medical facility for review.

Following the investigation, in addition to his outstanding warrants, Legate will be charged with the following: aggravated assault, simple assault, cruelty to animals, evading arrest, resisting arrest and assault on a first responder.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, additional charges may be issued, including potential charges of assault against responding deputies.
So much concern is being expressed over the alleged lack of due process for people who, being removed from our soil, somehow were able to slide by the due process required to enter our country legally in the first place. This is not a new phenomenon, however, as many Americans focus their priorities of concern on matters abroad or, at the least, overextend their attention to foreign shores.

Yet, ironically, many or most of the same Americans are willing to give up their own due process when simply applying for a job. Within the matrix of the process, which must be completed online, not only does one have to surrender personal data and autonomy over that data, but one must also surrender the right to a trial by jury should legal trouble arise during employment. This agreement must be finalized even before applying ,even for the most mundane jobs.

All one needs to do is actually read what is required to be checked off as an agreement during the application process. Then, one might need to obtain a law degree to understand it, all just to work and earn money. Yet, silence prevails, while empathy is thrown toward employers and the "free market."

Until elected representatives acknowledge this, we, the citizenry, are the ones being deprived of our due process.

Joshua Card
Pope Francis leaves with Indigenous peoples after praying in a cemetery at the former residential school in Maskwacis, near Edmonton, Canada, July 25, 2022.
Omaha Tribe member Mark Parker, of Macy, Neb., takes a photo as workers dig for the suspected remains of children who once attended the Genoa Indian Industrial School, July 11, 2023, in Genoa, Neb.
Home News Over a dozen Christian leaders urge Trump to protect Afghan Christians from deportation

More than a dozen Christian leaders have written a letter to President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem calling for protections for Afghan Christian refugees amid concerns about their deportation.

The letter, published Friday, begins by praising the Trump administration for prioritizing "international religious freedom as a central pillar of American foreign policy." The Christian leaders urged the administration to "continue this vital work by ensuring that Afghan Christians, among the most vulnerable religious minorities in the world, are not returned to danger."

Led by Myal Greene of the Evangelical charity organization World Relief, additional notable signatories include Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission President Brent Leatherwood, Open Doors US CEO Ryan Brown, Family Research Council Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs Travis Weber and Focus on the Family Vice President of Government and External Relations Tim Goeglein.

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Brian Orme of Global Christian Relief and Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion & Democracy were also among those who signed the letter.

"Afghanistan is among the most dangerous places in the world for Christians," the signatories wrote. "Conversion from Islam is considered apostasy under Taliban rule and is punishable by imprisonment or execution."

The letter cited reports stating that Afghan Christians who came to the United States after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and ensuing Taliban takeover now face "the terrifying prospect of forced return to a country where their faith puts them at daily risk of death." They highlighted how "one group of Afghan Christians has received notice that they had only one week to self-deport, despite the fact that the U.S. asylum process often takes years to complete."

The signatories say that demanding "that Afghan Christians self-deport within days effectively strips them of that opportunity, placing their lives in direct jeopardy."

"Forcing them to return under such circumstances would be a tragedy in the making and a blight on America's record of defending persecuted Christians," the letter added. "It is critical that our nation continue to provide refuge to those whose lives are at risk because of their faith, including Afghan Christians. Protecting them is not only consistent with America's values; it is a direct extension of your Administration's commitment to defending religious liberty around the globe."

"We respectfully ask you to ensure that Afghan Christians in danger are granted protection in the United States," the letter continues. "Doing so would fulfill your Administration's commitment to advancing international religious freedom and demonstrate America's steadfast support for those who risk everything to live their faith."

Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security indicated it would not renew the Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Afghans in the country, with potential deportations that could begin in May. Temporary Protected Status was granted to people fleeing Afghanistan in 2022.

Weber of the Washington-based Christian conservative activist organization FRC asks the Trump administration "not to throw out the baby with the bath water" as "legitimate reforms to our immigration system are underway."

"Keeping a pathway for persecuted Christians to receive refugee or asylum status is an important part of the United States' effort to promote religious freedom," Weber said in a statement.

"President Trump has rightly called attention to anti-Christian bias. One of the areas in which this bias must be rooted out are the refugee and asylum programs of the United States, many other Western countries, and that of the United Nations."

In response to The Christian Post's reporting that a group of nearly two dozen Afghan Christians attending the Church of the Apostles in Raleigh, North Carolina, were informed last month that they had a week to leave the country, the Rev. Franklin Graham of the Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse insisted that he was not "aware of any Afghan Christians that have been deported at this point, and I know this is being discussed in Washington at the highest levels."

Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is an influential voice in American Evangelical politics who has a strong relationship with Trump. Samaritan's Purse had helped connect hundreds of Afghans who resettled in the U.S. with churches that can support their needs.

"I spoke with Senator Lindsey Graham about it, and I know that other leaders are discussing the issue with the President. I have been told that the deadline has been pushed back in order for cases to be reviewed. We believe this will be resolved, and I appreciate the efforts to try and help Afghan Christians," he told CP.

In response to an inquiry from The Christian Post, U.S. Customs and Border Protection declined to comment about any specific cases while explaining that "CBP has issued notices terminating parole for individuals who do not have lawful status to remain." The agency stressed that "This process is not limited to CBP One users and does not currently apply to those paroled under programs such as [Uniting for Ukraine] and [Operation Allies Welcome.]"

Since last month, members of the Church of the Apostles in Raleigh have been urging the Trump administration not to deport Christian refugees from Afghanistan after they were ordered to leave the U.S. within days before their asylum claims were heard by a judge.

Some of the refugees in question have previously "experienced torture [in Afghanistan] for no crime other than conversion," according to Julie Tisdale, a seminary student who attends Church of the Apostles.

"Their journeys to the United States were harrowing, long and complicated, but they all entered the U.S. legally," Tisdale wrote in an op-ed for The Christian Post. "That is not actually an easy thing to do. Immigration authorities interview individuals to assess whether they face a credible fear of persecution and torture in their home countries."
Home News Trump's week in review: Religious Liberty Commission launched; NPR, PBS to be defunded

President Donald Trump surpassed the 100-day mark of his second presidency this week, which saw his administration lighten up on some tariffs as the stock market continues to recover and launch a new commission to promote religious freedom.



The week also saw the launch of an investigation into one of the nation's largest school districts and the defunding of media outlets that have long benefited from public funding.



Here are five developments that unfolded over the past week.

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Home Opinion Why Apostle Paul would have expelled Mormon founder Joseph Smith

Many Christians have a neighbor, a co-worker, or even a relative who is a Mormon. Christians and Mormons in America share many of the same national and community commitments, and generally strive to be loving, kind, respectful and patriotic.

Mormons believe four books were inspired by God: The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and the Bible. The founder and first prophet of Mormonism authored the three Mormon books. Joseph Smith (1805-1844) claimed he received golden plates from an angel named Moroniin 1827 containing information that was translated into the Book of Mormon.

There are of course many major discrepancies between the Bible and the three Mormon books. Mormonism rejects the Trinity, while also claiming that God was once a man. In addition, Joseph Smith manufactured "another Jesus" (2 Cor. 11:4) who is a created being. In actuality, the "Jesus" of Mormonism does not exist. This imaginary god is a counterfeit Christ that can help no one!

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Mormons essentially place their soul into the hands of Joseph Smith by believing the renegade prophet's newfangled doctrines. Mormons assume Smith's writings were inspired by God even though his revelations clearly contradict the Bible. And it wasn't just Joseph's doctrine that was aberrant, but his insatiable appetite for sexual immorality.

Joseph Smith had up to 40 wives, including 10 teenagers and 11 women taken from living husbands. Smith's behavior was as deviant as the imprisoned cult leader and polygamist Warren Jeffs with his 78 wives. The second president of the Mormon organization was Brigham Young, who followed Joseph's licentious example by having 56 wives.

No one should hold Mormons today responsible for the sins of their founder, especially since the Mormon church began prohibiting polygamy in 1890. But what Mormons are culpable for today is choosing to surrender their soul to the pernicious doctrines introduced by a wolf in Mormon clothing.

Joseph Smith's "first known affair was with a 16-year-old teenager named Fanny Alger who was living with Smith and his first wife Emma in their Kirtland, Ohio, home." Smith "further cemented his reputation for fooling around by making moves on a then-married teenager, Zina D. Hunington, whom he asked on October 25, 1841 to become another one of his multiple wives. Smith informed her (using a line he also employed with Emma and others) that he was ordered to do so by a sword-wielding angel who was threatening to kill him if he disobeyed." Joseph Smith's "moves to seduce other men's wives were so brazen and notorious that they led one distraught husband, Orson Pratt, to attempt suicide in Nauvoo, Illinois, on July 14, 1842."

Imagine the Apostle Paul engaging in sexual sin with several single women, let alone a bevy of married women and teenagers. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit would never have used an unrepentant, sexually immoral individual to write a single New Testament letter, let alone the 13 or 14 epistles written by Paul.

While God never endorsed polygamy in the Old Testament, He did surprisingly allow it to take place at times. Nevertheless, polygamists were barred from leadership in the New Testament church (see 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). The bottom line? The Apostle Paul would never have allowed a serial adulterer like Joseph Smith to serve as an elder in a New Testament congregation.

Imagine if Joseph Smith belonged to the church in Corinth. Paul taught the Corinthian Christians how to discipline anyone in the church who was sexually immoral and unrepentant: "Expel the wicked man from among you" (see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13). St. Paul would have made sure that Joseph Smith was kicked out of the congregation.

Compare the spiritual darkness within Joseph Smith's soul to the light of the New Testament which instructs believers to "keep the marriage bed pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral" (Hebrews 13:4). Joseph Smith's selfish agenda to seduce women opened his heart to embrace many false and deceptive doctrines, which in turn have lured millions of young Mormons into spiritual deception. (See the insightful resource, "Ten Lies I Told as a Mormon Missionary.")

Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely" (1 Timothy 4:16). Joseph Smith's life and doctrine were diametrically opposed to sexual purity and true doctrine. Christians, and especially Christian leaders, are required to "abstain from sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Will you believe the inspired and inerrant Word of God, or the fanciful opinions of a wayward prophet who slept around with dozens of women?

Paul wrote, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18). Any spiritual leader who deliberately and repeatedly devotes his body to sexual sin invites demonic input into his thoughts, writings and revelations.

Mormon historian Richard Bushman says "the 'signal feature' of Smith's life was 'his sense of being guided by revelation.'" And since Joseph Smith's life and doctrine violated Scripture so explicitly, he obviously was not getting his revelation from the Holy Spirit. Instead, a dark angel seized upon an ambitious and sexually immoral young man who became an eager medium for "a different Gospel" (Galatians 1:6) and the launching of a new religion.

In my CP op-ed, "Why a Former High Priest Left Mormonism," Mike Wilder testified that after coming to faith in Christ, "I took off my Mormon garments I had been wearing for 30 years ... and I put on a cross at that point ... because in 30 years in the LDS church I never heard one sermon about the blood and the cross."

If you are a Mormon, be assured that God loves you, and the Holy Spirit can introduce you to the real Jesus! Stick with the Bible, and completely disregard Joseph Smith's deranged doctrines and fanatical tales. Thankfully, many former Mormons have met the real Jesus and been born again through the real Gospel! (see John 3:1-18).
When Main Street Medina presents this year's farmers market on the Medina square, they will include a community resources table each week. Emily Canning-Dean, Special to Cleveland.com

MEDINA, Ohio  In an effort to connect the community with more resources, Main Street Medina is adding a new element to this years farmers market.

Main Street Medina Events Director Angela Mansier said this years farmers markets will include a community resource table.

We plan to have it right by the midblock crosswalk on Broadway each week, she said. We plan to rotate different nonprofit agencies. One week we could have Cups Cafe or the Childrens Center or Hope Recovery.

Mansier said the hope is to foster relationships between the community and some of the area nonprofit organizations.

We want to have this community resources table in the same spot every week so people will think hey, I wonder who is here this week, she said. It will give them a chance to sit down and meet with the people from these organizations and find out what resources they might qualify for. Many of them have the biggest hearts and want to help people, but one of the biggest obstacles is getting the word out about their organizations. We hope this will help make it a thriving market for the whole community.

The farmers market opens May 17 on Medinas historic square. Weekly hours, through Oct. 4, are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The market averages 65 vendors of locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, heirloom produce, local meats, cheeses, homemade jams and jellies, nut butters, local honey, fresh bread and baked goods, and even pet treats.

The farmers market also participates in programs to help alleviate food insecurity. Individuals who qualify for Ohios SNAP program can use their card to make purchases at any of the farmers market vendors.

SNAP participants can go to the farmers market tent, swipe their card and receive wooden tokens to be used to purchase products at the market booths.

In addition, the farmers market is partnering with Produce Perks Midwest to offer Produce Perks for fruits and vegetables, with a dollar-to-dollar match of SNAP benefits up to $25.

Produce Perks may only be used for locally grown fruits and vegetables.

The market also supports WIC and Farmers Market Senior Coupons.

The farmers market will once again offer the distribution of $7,000 in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Coupons at the May 17 market.

These $140 coupon booklets will be given out to the first 50 qualifying people.

Follow the Main Street Medina Farmers Market on social media to see updated information about this distribution.
Cedar Point's Top Thrill 2 is expected to open today, May 3, weather permitting. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

SANDUSKY, Ohio  Cedar Points highly anticipated Top Thrill 2 roller coaster is expected to operate today -- if Mother Nature cooperates.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture, which inspects and permits amusement park and fair rides throughout the state, late this week certified the coaster to operate. Today is opening day at Cedar Point.
"Dr. Bethune of potato": Belgian agronomist cultivates EU-China friendships

09:52, May 03, 2025 By Ding Yinghua ( Xinhua

Over the past two decades, Serneels has crossed continents more than 60 times, tirelessly traveling into China's rural heartlands. His mission: to help Chinese farmers grow better potatoes and train the next generation of agronomists.

BRUSSELS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A group of Belgian students walks through a greenhouse on the outskirts of Chongqing, China, where fields of tender seedlings stretch out beneath their feet. Leading them is Francois Serneels -- a Belgian agronomist affectionately nicknamed "Dr. Bethune of Potato," after the Canadian surgeon Norman Bethune who became a hero in China for his dedication to the Chinese people's fight against Japanese aggression in 1938.

Captured in an old photo stored on Serneels' phone, such a field study in China with Belgian students is a familiar scene for Serneels.

The picture shows that Belgian agronomist Francois Serneels (second from left) was conducting on-site teaching at a potato production center in Wuxi County, Chongqing, in 2017. (Xinhua)

Serneels likens his connection to China to a childhood comic book adventure. "My story with China is a little like Tintin's," Serneels said, referring to The Blue Lotus, a classic Belgian comic he read as a child. "In the story, a young reporter goes to China and becomes friends with a Chinese guy. I visited China later in life and can say my best friend is a Chinese guy."

That friend is Che Xingbi, an agronomist from Chongqing. The friendship began in 1999, when Serneels went to Beijing for the first China International Agricultural Expo and the first International Conference on Plant Protection. There, he presented a predictive system developed by the Hainaut Provincial Research Center in Belgium to help farmers combat potato late blight -- a fast-spreading disease that devastates potato crops.

Che was intrigued and invited Serneels to Wuxi, a remote mountainous region in northeastern Chongqing, where local farmers were struggling with repeated outbreaks of the disease. The Belgian system proved transformative. In the years that followed, potato yields in Wuxi rose significantly, and the humble tuber became a pillar of local poverty alleviation efforts.

Today, the system is used in around 16 provincial-level regions in China, helping farmers avoid major losses.

Che credits much of this success to Serneels' professionalism and dedication. Jiang Ning, another close friend of Serneels and a professor at the University of Mons in Belgium, recounts an anecdote about Serneels. During a trip to Hulunbuir in Inner Mongolia, Serneels' luggage did not arrive, but the first item he purchased was a pair of high-top rubber boots -- essential equipment for fieldwork. "That choice showed Francois's focus on getting the job done," Jiang said.

Over the past two decades, Serneels has crossed continents more than 60 times, tirelessly traveling into China's rural heartlands. His mission: to help Chinese farmers grow better potatoes and train the next generation of agronomists. He often brings Belgian students or fellow scientists along.

The picture shows that Belgian agronomist Francois Serneels (right) inspected harvested potatoes in Wushan County, Chongqing, in 2011. (Xinhua)

FROM "WIN-WIN" TO "ALL WIN"

Their cooperation on this system, already in application for years in China, fed back into the method Serneels and his Belgian colleagues used to approach agricultural technology back home.

Belgium's original potato late-blight warning system was largely manual. "Farmers used to go to the weather stations, note down the temperature and rainfall, and call the scientists by phone," Serneels explained. "We would then draw curves and analyze how the blight is developing manually. By 1999, only a basic automation of the system had been achieved."

Such methods were impractical in China, given the country's vast agricultural areas. That challenge prompted Serneels' Chinese partners to develop advanced computing and data transmission systems to fully automate the process. "We designed the first system, but we got back a much more powerful version from China," Serneels said. "It was a real win-win cooperation."

That upgraded version is now also in use in Rwanda, Guinea, and Bangladesh. Serneels calls this expansion "the cherry on the cake," and "a very interesting example of shared progress for humanity."

With the world confronting urgent challenges, including climate change, food insecurity, and energy shortages, Serneels said he believes such collaboration is essential. "Europe has advanced research, and China has vast fields for application and innovation. Put together, as we did with the potato system, we can achieve great things."

The picture shows that in 2012, at Wuxi County, Chongqing, Belgian agronomist Francois Serneels (first from right) observed the growth of potatoes in the field with his students and Chinese partners. (Xinhua)

FIELD STUDY BUILDS UNDERSTANDING

Having witnessed the transformation of rural China firsthand, Serneels is passionate about showing his students these changes. Almost every year, he organizes trips for Belgian students to visit China, sometimes leading groups of up to 57 participants, with a strong focus on rural immersion.

Guillaume De Vriendt, a student from Condorcet University, said he had discovered a China largely unfamiliar to most Westerners and often misrepresented by stereotypes.

Serneels said he believes that personal experience is the key to deeper understanding. "Only by seeing rural China, staying a few days, and meeting local students, farmers, and scientists can they begin to understand the real China."

The results have been encouraging: more than 20 of his students have returned to China for extended internships or research projects after their initial visits.

To explain cultural differences while highlighting common ground, Serneels often compares cheese and tofu: "In Europe, we have hundreds of cheeses; in China, many kinds of tofu. Cheese is transformed milk; tofu is transformed soy protein. The tastes differ, but both are symbolic and nutrient-rich," he said.

Recognizing commonalities, he believes, is key to lasting collaboration across borders.

Tourists visit Longchi Village in Wuxi County, southwest China's Chongqing, May 2, 2023. China is witnessing a travel boom during this year's five-day May Day holiday. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

On the eve of another trip to China with a new group of students, Serneels offered a simple blessing in Mandarin: "Yi lu ping'an," which means "safe journey." For him, this farewell expression is also a quiet hope for the future of China-EU relations as the two sides observe the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations this year.

"China and the EU have a long road ahead," he said. "But by walking it together, we can build a more stable, trusting, and fruitful partnership - a journey like a well-tended field that promises a lasting harvest of friendship and progress."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chaolan)
U.S. President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One to depart for Alabama, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 1, 2025.

A federal judge on Friday struck down President Donald Trump's executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie in a blistering opinion calling the president's efforts "an unprecedented attack" on the U.S. judicial system.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell issued a permanent injunction barring the enforcement of any part of Trump's order from March, which focused on the firm's representation of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and its work with billionaire donor George Soros.

"No American President has ever before issued executive orders like the one at issue in this lawsuit targeting a prominent law firm with adverse actions to be executed by all Executive branch agencies but, in purpose and effect, this action draws from a playbook as old as Shakespeare, who penned the phrase: 'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers,'" Howell wrote.

"The importance of independent lawyers to ensuring the American judicial system's fair and impartial administration of justice has been recognized in this country since its founding era," Howell wrote, referencing John Adams' decision to represent eight British soldiers charged with murder in connection with the Boston Massacre.

She said Trump's order "violates the Constitution and is thus null and void."

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night.

Trump's executive order limited Perkins Coie employees' access to government buildings, revoked security clearances at the firm, and ordered the heads of all federal agencies to terminate contracts with the firm and refrain from hiring employees who worked there.

Howell had grilled Justice Department lawyer Richard Lawson at a hearing over the measure last week, and Lawson was unable to answer basic questions about the other firms that had reached deals with the White House to avoid their own executive orders.

Howell also used a footnote in Friday's order to criticize firms that took deals with the White House, writing that "some clients may harbor reservations about the implications of such deals for the vigorous and zealous representation to which they are entitled from ethically responsible counsel, since at least the publicized deal terms appear only to forestall, rather than eliminate, the threat of being targeted in an Executive Order."

Trump's "multi-year history of lodging public attacks" on Perkins Coie and "his promises during the 2024 campaign to act on his displeasure" toward the firm if he won further demonstrates that the executive order "was issued to seek retribution against plaintiff for the Firm's representation of clients in political campaigns or litigation, about which President Trump expressed disapproval, dating back to 2017," Howell wrote.

"This purpose amounts to no more than unconstitutional retaliation for plaintiff's First Amendment protected activity," Howell wrote.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a commencement address at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S., May 1, 2025.

President Donald Trump on Friday downplayed concerns about potential economic trouble, saying everything would be "OK" in the long term, even if the U.S economy experienced a recession in the short term.

Asked twice by "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker whether it would be OK in the long run if there were a recession in the short term, the president said, "Look, yeah, it's  everything's OK. What we are  I said, this is a transition period. I think we're going to do fantastically."

Following up, Welker asked Trump if he was worried about a recession, to which he responded, "No." Asked whether he thinks one could happen, Trump replied, "Anything can happen, but I think we're going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country."

The remarks come as analysts on Wall Street are increasingly worried that the country could face a recession due to Trump's changing tariff policy.

"Well, you know, you say, 'Some people on Wall Street say'  well, I tell you something else. Some people on Wall Street say that we're going to have the greatest economy in history. Why don't you talk about them?" Trump said during the interview at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

"There are many people on Wall Street say this is going to be the greatest windfall ever happen," the president added.

According to initial measurements released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, the U.S. economy shrank by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, a reduction largely driven by a fall in exports and a boost in imports ahead of Trump's expected tariffs.

On Wednesday, while meeting with members of his Cabinet, Trump deflected blame for the first-quarter gross domestic product numbers, saying they were a result of the economy former President Joe Biden left behind.

"You probably saw some numbers today," Trump said, "and I have to start off by saying, that's Biden."

"That's not Trump," he added Wednesday. "Because we came in on January, these are quarterly numbers, and we came in and I was very against everything that Biden was doing in terms of the economy, destroying our country in so many ways."

Since the start of his administration in January, Trump has sought to impose tariffs on America's largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and China.

Early last month, the president paused the introduction of larger tariffs on most countries for 90 days, just days after imposing them. His partial retreat fueled a rally in markets, which as of Friday recovered the losses they suffered after his initial tariff announcement on April 2.

At the same time, Trump slapped even more tariffs on China, raising the tariff rate on the Asian nation to 145%.

Still, the president has repeatedly dismissed concerns that the tariffs on China will have major effects on the prices or availability of consumer goods in the U.S.

During the Cabinet meeting, he told reporters, "Somebody said, 'Oh, the shelves are going to be open.' Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know? And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally."
While Erika Roberts was a high school student growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, she participated in a two-week exchange program that took her to Munich, Germany. She didn't know it at the time, but that experience would shape the rest of her life. Fast forward to 2016, when Roberts was a freshman in college, studying biochemistry with a pre-med focus in Massachusetts. Even as she worked towards earning her Bachelor's degree and attending medical school, she was feeling unfulfilled. "I was a young adult who wanted to experience the world and all that came with it," she tells CNBC Make It. "All the places I toured in high school promised diversity, community and personal growth but the reality felt different. I decided I needed to seek out my own challenges if I wanted to truly experience this. I just didn't feel like I was working towards a future that I was excited about."

Roberts moved to Germany to attend medical school. Erika Roberts

At the same time, Roberts started to think about what life would really be like if she transferred to a different school, specifically one back in Germany. Unlike the United States, in Germany, you don't need a Bachelor's degree to attend medical school. Instead, students enroll in a six-year program that is divided into three stages, with exams administered after each one. Most public universities in Germany are either free or offer lower costs compared to those in other countries. All of these factors continued to influence Roberts' thinking. She considered this move to be her best option because she could become a dermatologist without more lengthy schooling. Roberts started to pick up the German language again after briefly taking classes in high school. "I set out to challenge myself and to meet people from all over the world. That's definitely not something that you necessarily get in the States unless you're in a major city," she says. "I feel like Europe does a better job of treating young adults in a way that gives you the responsibility so you're exposed at a younger age, and you know what to do versus in the States it's more waiting until you're 21 and then all of a sudden all hell breaks loose." Roberts attempted to discuss attending medical school in Germany with her dad, but he dismissed the idea. He wanted her to finish her education in the United States. But when Roberts ended her freshman year with a 3.9 GPA, her dad changed his mind and gave her the green light to continue her studies in Germany. "My dad was like, 'Okay, if that's what you think is really the right direction. You gave the typical route a try and if it still feels like you need to go and figure that out, then sure you can try it out'," she says.

Roberts lived in this apartment with two roommates for five years. Erika Roberts

Roberts completed her freshman year of college in 2017 and registered at a language school where she also planned to live while getting settled in Germany. Just a few weeks after registering, Roberts got on a plane and headed to Germany. She lived in a dorm at the language school for less than a year before moving in with her boyfriend at the time's family. That living arrangement ended when the two broke up. She moved into a shared apartment with two other people where she lived for about a year. Eventually, Roberts landed in an apartment with roommates and lived there for five years. When she first moved in, she paid 565 euros or $648 a month. By the time she moved out, her rent was 659 euros a month or $751. Today, Roberts lives on her own but isn't comfortable disclosing what she pays in rent. Instead, she shared that her total expenses outside of rent are 749 euros or $859 a month. According to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, those monthly expenses include 230 euros for groceries, 144 euros for health insurance, 24 euros for a gym membership, 28 euros for her cellphone bill and 38 euros for transportation. She also pays 85 euros for medical school tuition and typically spends 200 euros going out to eat or hanging with friends. "Taxpayers make it possible to keep the fees of public universities so low, so I'll have the chance to properly pay back my share once I am working here," Roberts says.

Roberts is studying to be a dermatologist. Erika Roberts

Roberts has noticed that since living in Germany, she structures her days differently, has healthier eating habits, and overthinks things a lot less. "I think coming from my Philadelphia experience of wanting to be really individualistic and seeing how people exist here in that universe of not trying to do that has been balancing me out," she says. "[It's] making me confront who I genuinely am outside of what the world around me is telling me I'm supposed to be." Roberts has been in Germany for almost eight years now, she says she loves the sense of safety, access to good food and accessibility. Being there has also forced her to learn how to adapt. "Recognizing the environment that you're in and the rules that dictate that environment is really essential for understanding how to succeed," she says. "What I have definitely noticed is how slowly over the years, I've adapted the German culture more. I've grown up here in so many ways. I've grown into the person that I am now."

Roberts says she doesn't see herself moving back to the U.S. permanently anytime soon. Erika Roberts
Gregory Abel, Vice Chairman overseeing non-insurance operations for Berkshire Hathaway, meets shareholders in the exhibition hall during the Berkshire Hathaway Inc annual shareholders' meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., May 3, 2024.

Warren Buffett plans to hand over the reins of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025 to Greg Abel, who has been working for the legendary investor for more than two decades and has a long track record as a business operator in his own right.

Abel has been on Berkshire Hathaway's board since 2018, and his current title is vice chairman of non-insurance operations. That role puts Berkshire's businesses in areas like utilities, railroads and retail in his purview.

The utility and energy industry is where Abel, 62, cut his teeth before becoming Buffett's right-hand man. He first joined Berkshire when Buffett's firm struck a deal for a controlling stake in MidAmerican Energy, where Abel was an executive, in 1999. He later served as the CEO of that company, which was renamed Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

One key role for Abel in recent years has been his involvement with Berkshire's growing position in five Japanese conglomerates. Abel said during Saturday's shareholder meeting that he expects Berkshire to hold on to those Japan investments for decades to come.

Abel has been known as Buffett's heir apparent since 2021, when the late Charlie Munger revealed the decision at a shareholder meeting. The well-telegraphed move has given Abel time to win over shareholders and other key stakeholders at Berkshire.
Credit and debit card issuer Capital One sees a path to make its blockbuster acquisition of Discover Financial even sweeter than investors currently expect it to be. It requires going abroad. At the heart of Capital One's announced $35 billion all-stock deal for Discover, set to close next month, is Discover's payment network  a rare asset in the U.S., with Visa , Mastercard and American Express as its primary rivals. By owning Discover, Capital One will become both a credit card issuer and a payment network operator, a lucrative setup that only American Express enjoys in the card business. Capital One's new structure is expected to deliver billions of dollars in benefits  partially by using Visa and Mastercard less  and it is the main reason why the Club flocked to the stock earlier this year. It also will make Capital One the largest U.S. credit card issuer. The financial benefits could become even larger if Capital One is successfully able to expand Discover's presence internationally. That was a key message that Capital One's longtime CEO, Richard Fairbank, drove home on the company's earnings call on April 22, just a few days after the deal secured approval from U.S. regulators. The comments offered investors a closer look at Fairbank's vision for the soon-to-be combined company and, notably, how the merger could exceed its projection by 2027 of $2.7 billion in annual "synergies"  a catch-all term for the benefits added by a deal. Discover's payment network generally trails Visa and Mastercard internationally. But if Capital One can close this gap, Fairbank said that would motivate the company to shift more of its Capital One-branded credit cards away from the networks of Mastercard and Visa than currently assumed in the synergy estimate. "When we announced the deal, we also said that we saw potentially significant long-term strategic and economic opportunities that we did not include in our synergy estimates or the deal model," Fairbank said on the earnings call last month. "This would involve moving even more of our business onto the Discover network than what we put into the deal model. The path to get there is to build international acceptance of the Discover network and to enhance and elevate the Discover Global Network brand." Global expansion of Discover's network will create a "flywheel effect" for the combined business, the CEO said. "All roads lead through building more international acceptance and then really leaning into the global brand associated with that network," he added. That should be music to long-term investors' ears, even if the additional payoff takes time. COF YTD mountain Capital One Financial (COF) year-to-date performance Benefits breakdown Capital One has multiple levers to pull to unlock value from Discover even before a bigger international push comes into play. The company's estimate of $2.7 billion in annual synergies by 2027 has two main buckets: Expense savings and network benefits. The company sees around $1.5 billion of synergies on the expense side  specifically, that figure includes 26% savings on Discover's operating expenses and 10% of its marketing expenses, partially offset by some investments in Discover's network. Capital One hasn't detailed how, exactly, those costs will be reduced, but headcount reduction is typically part of a merger this size. "You don't need two CFOs or two CEOs anymore. You don't need two HR departments," Bank of America analyst Mihir Bhatia said in a CNBC interview. He also pointed to more efficiency with infrastructure and bulk discounts for Capital One as a result. On the network side, Capital One expects synergies to the tune of $1.2 billion by 2027. The key to achieving these benefits is moving payment volume onto the Discover network that previously ran on Visa and Mastercard, saving on some fees previously paid to those rivals to facilitate the transactions. Bringing the Discover network in the fold will generate "significant revenue that doesn't come with assets or credit risk, driving both growth and diversification of our revenue," Fairbank said last year on an investor call after the deal was first announced. "Owning a network allows us to enjoy the benefits of vertical integration," the CEO said. "Owning a network allows us to deal more directly with merchants rather than a network intermediary, create more value for merchants, small businesses and consumers, and capture the additional economics from vertical integration." While Capital One plans to shift its entire debit-card volume over to the Discover network, only "a portion" of its credit-card business will be moved away from Mastercard and Visa to begin with, Fairbank said on the April 22 earnings call. In other words, Capital One will still lean on Mastercard and Visa  albeit less so than before. Debit card advantage Capital One's debit-card business will receive a distinct regulatory benefit from running on the Discover network: It will no longer be subject to the so-called Durbin amendment, which put a cap on the swipe, or "interchange", fee that can be charged for each debit-card transaction in an attempt to lower costs for merchants and consumers. The amendment was a part of a sweeping Wall Street reform following the 2008 financial crisis and named after Democratic Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin, who announced his retirement late last month. The way the legislation was written, though, made it so the cap on swipe fees exempted companies that both issued cards and operated a network, and American Express and Discover are the only ones. "As a result, [Capital One] will be able to charge more," said Bhatia, who has a buy rating on Capital One's stock. "Our analysis suggests that the difference is pretty meaningful." In a note to clients earlier this year, Bhatia estimated that Capital One could generate more than $500 million in additional revenue by moving all of its debit volume to Discover's network. That projection is based on Capital One's 2023 debit volumes of $66 billion and Discover's 1.26% swipe fee on debit transactions compared with 0.49% for Mastercard. Capital One's ability to exceed the initial deal targets will not come overnight, though. It could take at least three to five years to build Discover's international presence in a materially larger way, according to Bhatia. Capital One must build more partnerships to convince large swaths of merchants to accept Discover's network. "It is hard to imagine [Capital One] executing it in the short term. It's just a heavy lift. You think of someone like American Express. They've been trying to raise international acceptance for years. It just takes time because you have to go country by country, city by city," Bhatia said. "Outside the U.S., people just don't know the Discover brand [yet]. You have to make sure people understand." Bottom line In the near term, however, Jim Cramer believes the benefits of the Discover acquisition should start showing up in Capital One's share price. The Club initiated Capital One on March 6 and has been building the position gradually over seven subsequent buys. We most recently added shares on April 21 , the first day of trading after the deal cleared its final regulatory hurdle. "I would say that this still is the stock that has the most possible upside in the next month [out of the Club's portfolio]," Jim said during last Wednesday's Morning Meeting. "We are going to have more synergies when the deal closes in May." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long COF. 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.
A used Range Rover Evoque vehicle for sale at a Land Rover dealership in Tucson, Arizona, US, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Jaguar Land Rover has restarted shipments of vehicles to the United States after pausing them in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, London's Times newspaper reported on Saturday.

The first shipments of JLR vehicles bound for the U.S. for almost a month left Britain on Wednesday, the report said.

JLR, which is owned by India's Tata Motors , did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

It said in April it would pause shipments of its Britain-made cars to the U.S. for a month as it considered how to mitigate the cost of Trump's 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks, which came into effect on April 3.
The image  which first appeared on Trump's Truth Social account  was posted days before Catholic cardinals are set to begin a conclave to elect the next pope .

The White House posted an AI-generated photo of President Donald Trump depicted as the Roman Catholic pope late Friday night, days after he joked that he'd "like to be pope."

Courtesy: The White House via X, formerly Twitter

Trump attended Pope Francis' funeral in Rome last weekend, during which he also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On Tuesday, days after returning from Francis' funeral, Trump joked to reporters outside the White House that he'd "like to be pope," adding, "that would be my number one choice."

He followed up by saying that he has "no preference" over who is ultimately selected.

Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, met with the Roman Catholic pontiff a day before his death.

Francis died of a stroke that ultimately led to irreversible heart failure, according to a death certificate issued by the Vatican.

The post of the AI-generated image sparked widespread social media response, with some users defending it as a joke and others strongly denouncing the image.

The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state's bishops, strongly condemned the post.

"There is nothing clever or funny about this image," said in a post on X.

"We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter," the group said.

"Do not mock us."

Former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, an outspoken Trump critic, criticized the post and said it "affirms how unserious and incapable [Trump] is."
OMAHA, Nebraska  Warren Buffett on Saturday criticized President Donald Trump's hardline trade policy, without naming him directly, saying it's a big mistake to slap punitive tariffs on the rest of the world.

"Trade should not be a weapon," Buffett said at Berkshire Hathaway 's shareholder meeting, an annual gathering in front of thousands in Omaha, Nebraska. "I do think that the more prosperous the rest of the world becomes, it won't be at our expense, the more prosperous we'll become, and the safer we'll feel, and your children will feel someday."

Trade and tariffs "can be an act of war," added the legendary investor. "And I think it's led to bad things. Just the attitudes it's brought out. In the United States, I mean, we should be looking to trade with the rest of the world and we should do what we do best and they should do what they do best."

Buffett's comments, his most direct yet on tariffs, came after the White House's rollout of the highest levies on imports in generations shocked the world last month, triggering extreme volatility on Wall Street. The president later went on to announce a sudden 90-day pause on much of the increase, except for China, as the White House sought to make deals with countries. The pause has stabilized the market somewhat.

Still, Trump has slapped tariffs of 145% on imported Chinese goods this year, prompting China to impose retaliatory levies of 125%. China said last week it is evaluating the possibility of starting trade negotiations with the U.S.

Buffett explained that protectionist policies could have negative consequences over the long term for the U.S., after it's become the leading industrial nation in the world.

"It's a big mistake, in my view, when you have seven and a half billion people that don't like you very well, and you got 300 million that are crowing in some way about how well they've done - I don't think it's right, and I don't think it's wise," Buffett said. "The United States won. I mean, we have become an incredibly important country, starting from nothing 250 years ago. There's not been anything like it."

Investors had been waiting to hear from the 94-year-old "Oracle of Omaha" for his guidance to navigate the uncertain macroenvironment as well as his assessment on the state of the economy. The trillion-dollar Berkshire's vast array of insurance, transportation, energy, retail and other businesses, from Geico to Burlington Northern to Dairy Queen, leave Buffett uniquely qualified to comment on the current health of the American economy. The first-quarter GDP was just reported to have contracted for the first time since 2022.

Berkshire said in its first-quarter earnings report that tariffs and other geopolitical events created "considerable uncertainty" for the conglomerate. The firm said it's not able to predict any potential impact from tariffs at this time.

Buffett has been in a defensive mode, selling stocks for 10 straight quarters. Berkshire dumped more than $134 billion worth of stock in 2024, mainly due to reductions in Berkshire's two largest equity holdings  Apple and Bank of America. As a result of the selling spree, Berkshire's enormous pile of cash grew to yet another record, at $347 billion at the end of March.
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An end of an era was announced in Omaha Saturday as Warren Buffett said he will soon ask the board of Berkshire Hathaway to have Greg Abel replace him as CEO at year end. While Buffett is 94 and Abel was designated as CEO successor in 2021, it nonetheless came as a surprise to the thousands of admiring shareholders gathered for this year's annual meeting to once again hear the investing legend opine on the future of the company. "Tomorrow, we're having a board meeting of Berkshire, and we have 11 directors. Two of the directors, who are my children, Howie and Susie, know of what I'm going to talk about there. The rest of them, this will come as news to, but I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year end," said Buffett, in the final few minutes of the meeting. In 1965, Buffett bought what was then a failing New England textile mill, and over six decades transformed the company into a one-of-a-kind conglomerate with businesses ranging from Geico insurance to BNSF Railway. Buffett is handing over his reins on a high note as Berkshire shares just reached a new peak, giving the conglomerate a market cap of nearly $1.2 trillion.



The "Oracle of Omaha" said he will still "hang around" to help, but the final word on company operations and capital deployment would be with Abel, 62, currently the vice chairman of non-insurance operations for Berkshire.

Warren Buffett and Greg Abel walkthrough the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3, 2025. David A. Grogen | CNBC

"I could be helpful, I believe, in that in certain respects, if we ran into periods of great opportunity or anything," he added. Buffett, who owns more than $160 billion in Berkshire as its largest shareholder, said he wouldn't sell a single share of the stock after he transitions to this new phase. "I would add this, the decision to keep every share is an economic decision because I think the prospects of Berkshire will be better under Greg's management than mine," said Buffett, who used a cane to walk around the meeting, but answered questions for four hours with surprising energy and clarity for his age. Buffett sang Abel's praises in front of some 40,000 shareholders Saturday, saying his more hands-on managerial style is working better for Berkshire's 60-plus subsidiaries. "It's working way better with Greg than with me because, you know, I didn't want to work as hard as he works," Buffett said. "I could get away with it because we've got a basically good business, very good business." The Canadian executive, born in Edmonton, Alberta, has a 25-year tenure at Berkshire under his belt. Abel joined Berkshire in 2000 when the conglomerate bought MidAmerican Energy, where he eventually became the CEO in 2008. Prior to that, Abel worked at CalEnergy where he transformed the small geothermal firm into a diversified energy business. When it comes to capital allocation, Abel said he will carry on Buffett's patient value investing style and he stands ready to deploy Berkshire's monstrous $347 billion cash fortress whenever a good opportunity presents itself. "It's really the investment philosophy and how Warren and the team have allocated capital for the past 60 years," Abel said. "Really, it will not change. And it's the approach we'll take as we go forward."

Buffett's new role?

Buffett and Abel told CNBC's Becky Quick after the shareholder meeting that the pair would discuss at the Sunday board meeting what Buffett's role will be formally next year. Buffett is currently also chairman of the conglomerate. "I think they'll be unanimously in favor of it," Buffett said of the board's pending CEO decision Sunday.

Warren Buffett speaks during the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3, 2025. CNBC

So it's not clear whether Abel will also assume the chairman role. Buffett told The Wall Street Journal earlier this year that his son Howie Buffett would become nonexecutive chairman after his death to preserve the company culture. It's not clear whether this move will impact that decision. "It surprises me, but it impresses me," said Ron Olson a Berkshire board director, after the shareholder meeting Saturday. "I am very anxious to see Warren become the Charlie Munger for Greg Abel." After the announcement that apparently Abel didn't even know was coming, the meeting ended with a standing ovation for Buffett.

The crowd reacts during the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3, 2025. CNBC
The Trump administration announced on Friday that it is revoking Romanias recent entry into the US visa waiver programme, with four months after it was initially approved by the outgoing Biden administration.Romania was slated to join the programme  allowing its citizens to travel to the US for tourism or business without a visa for stays of up to 90 days  following an announcement on 9 January. At the time, the Biden administration confirmed that Romania had met rigorous security criteria, including intelligence-sharing agreements with US law enforcement agencies on terrorism and serious criminal activity. The policy was expected to take effect around 31 March.However, the Department of Homeland Security paused the rollout in late March, launching a formal review of Romanias admission. That review concluded with a decision to rescind the designation, citing concerns over maintaining the programmes integrity and safeguarding border and immigration security."We are grateful for Romania's close partnership over the years to enhance security cooperation. Romania may be reconsidered for (visa waiver program) admission in the future," said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement.Romania had been the 43rd nation added to the visa waiver scheme and the fourth admitted under President Biden, following Croatia, Israel and Qatar. Countries admitted to the programme often see an increase in tourist numbers, as travel to the US becomes more accessible.The decision comes at a time when the US is witnessing a downturn in international tourism. According to recent government statistics, foreign air arrivals in March dropped by approximately 10 percent compared to previous months.Despite the reversal, American citizens can travel to Romania without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.(With inputs from agencies)
Internal police emails obtained by The Denver Gazette show that Aurora officials knew at least eight months before boarding up an apartment complex taken over by a Venezuelan gang that the transnational criminal organization had deeper roots in the Denver metro area than previously disclosed.
Despite the hype that AI is going to fundamentally reinvent work, it has, as yet, had little to no effect on workflows, according to new research.

A report by economists from the University of Chicago and the University of Copenhagen, Large Language Models, Small Labor Market Effects, found that AI chatbots only saved workers about an hour a week, and in some cases, actually created new tasks.

AI chatbots have had no significant impact on earnings or recorded hours in any occupation, wrote researchers Anders Humlum and Emilie Vestergaard. Our findings challenge narratives of imminent labor market transformation due to Generative AI.
Thanks to one musically inclined It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia superfan, there finally exists a rave worthy of the Golden God.

Out of all the rabid online fandoms in the history of situational comedy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is unique in that, no matter how hard the fans try, they will never be able to match the chaos and depravity of the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia characters  and, boy, do they try. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fans are the kind of comedy-lovers who will do something like painstakingly stage a production of The Nightman Cometh for a proposal, or submit 56,213 inquiries to the Transportation Security Administration about their spaghetti policy at the airport.

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Put simply, Always Sunny fans are just more devoted to getting real weird with it than other comedy fandoms are, so it makes complete sense that, sooner or later, an Always Sunny-obsessed DJ was going to put together a 76-minute Always Sunny-themed rave set and play it to a packed house of partiers messed up on riot juice and enough inhalants to make Charlie catch a mild buzz:

SUNNY RAVE IS A FAN-MADE TRIBUTE AND NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE SHOW OR WITH FXX, UNDER SECTION 2.14 OF BIRD LAW. Filibuster, dj pressed wrote in the description of the above video, although he should be warned that FX has the phone number of the greatest bird lawyer in Philly in the unlikely event that they decide that Always Sunny shouldnt be associated with heavy intoxication and spastic dancing.

According to sunnyrave.com, dj pressed is open to suggestions as to which city hell take The Gang Raves Their Asses Off next. In addition to Denver, dj pressed has performed to fandom-friendly show in Reno, Cleveland, Austin and Las Vegas, though fans would do well to read through his extensive, five-sectioned spaghetti policy to make sure that they arent in violation before trying to book the rave.

However, and much like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia itself, fans shouldnt go into The Gang Raves Their Asses Off blindly, as the content may not be suitable for all ravers. Beyond the normal precautions that every music fan must take when packing into a warehouse at three in the morning while riding a chemical reaction between numerous mind-altering substances, any partiers attending The Gang Raves Their Asses Off should be warned: If a middle-aged man wearing nothing but cowboy boots and boxer briefs comes up to you and asks for the time, run, or else youll end up on public access television wearing a diaper and grinding on your sister.
Bill Maher is clearly still dealing with the fallout of his friendly meal with President Trump, which has, so far, sparked a massive fan backlash and inspired a Larry David short story set in Nazi Germany. At least Maher has been celebrated as a modern hero by Bill Maher.

On this weeks episode of Real Time, Maher was mostly quite critical of his former dinner companion. But things got a little awkward when the subject of being embarrassed to be seen visiting the White House came up.

Last month, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer went viral for seemingly trying to distance herself from Trump while literally standing in the Oval Office. According to CNN, Whitmer visited the White House with a bipartisan delegation to discuss a laundry list of issues affecting her state.

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But she was caught off guard after being invited into the Oval Office and lauded by Trump in front of the press, despite the fact that he once called Whitmer an aspiring dictator, and admonished her for not properly thanking the federal agents who thwarted a plan to kidnap her. When a photographer tried to snap a photo of Whitmer, she put a folder up in front of her face. Which, in retrospect, is only a slightly better hiding strategy than closing your eyes and covering your ears.

While discussing the controversy around Whitmers White House trip, Maher noted that Trump actually punked her twice. Thats because Trump showed up in Michigan this week and shared a controversial hug with the governor.

Now shes historys greatest monster for that, Maher complained. And I would just like to say  I was trying to help her the other week  just own it like a certain talk show host did when you meet the president. Its okay, hes the president.

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The two situations seem to be pretty different. For one thing, Whitmer was at the White House for reasons that in no way involved Kid Rock. And it does seem as though Whitmer has owned the Oval Office visit to some extent, even recreating the folder snafu during a recent interview.

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Whitmer is already suffering significant political repercussions for the hug. But considering how Mahers playdate with Trump was received by much of the public, the host giving Whitmer advice on how to navigate this situation is a little like the captain of the Titanic offering iceberg dodging tips.
I used to think I understood the Blair creature. Now I am not so sure. Was his rebellion last week against Net Zero madness a real change of mind, or just the result of spending more time with oil producers in the Gulf?

Who can be sure? But it obviously made the Labour leadership very cross, for they forced him to issue a sort of retraction. So maybe something important is happening. What if the whole Blair project now unwinds?

I first met him before he was famous, at some legal dinner in the old Great Western Hotel at Paddington in London, one of those bright-eyed, bright-voiced people who seems to be enthusiastic about everything but has little original to say.

I once tried to interview him a few years later when he was Shadow Home Secretary. Gosh, it was dull. I had to pester him to get anything out of him that was not boring or scripted.

The only new fact I learned was the name of the student rock band for which he had once sung, Ugly Rumours. He fought so hard not to tell me that you might have thought I had asked him for some nuclear launch codes.

Sir Anthony Blair wears full Knight of the Garter regalia in 2013

I heard it rumoured elsewhere that when he was Labours shadow employment spokesman he had once actually run away from a TV crew rather than give an opinion on a train strike.

For an entire election campaign, in 1997, he doggedly refused to take questions from me rather than discuss his choice of school for his own children, as contrasted with what he planned to inflict on everyone elses.

I tried to find out about his wife Cheries little-known attempt to become an MP, in Margate in 1983, and had the New Labour attack dogs set on me, as if she had stood for Parliament in private.

What were they afraid of? In her election leaflet she referred to him as The barrister, Anthony Blair, and I have ever afterwards used his full name instead of the matey Tony.

I was convinced the couple were far more Left-wing than we were being told, not least about Ireland. Ive always thought his surrender to the IRA in 1998 rather confirmed this suspicion.

I enjoyed Michael Heseltines exposure of his membership of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, after he denied it. One biographer ludicrously describes Blairs 1980s activity in the hard-Left Labour Co-Ordinating Committee (LCC) as if it was a moderate organisation.

The real mystery must surely be why a young lawyer, newly living in west London, should have joined the (then inactive) Redcliffe branch of the Chelsea Labour Party in 1975. Labour in those days was nearly dead. Many of its branches were empty, thanks to death and desertion. At that time, many enthusiastic socialists had wandered off to the revolutionary Left.

Labour was in government  always bad for recruiting because it has to take unpopular decisions.

Former prime minister Tony Blair and now Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, pictured together in 2018

This was the era of entryism, when members of Trotskyist groups joined empty Labour Party branches undercover, planning to take over the machinery and (above all) the selection of MPs. It would bear fruit ten years later when the Left surged into power in much of the party.

But surely Blair was not involved in any such thing? Theres certainly no direct evidence of it, so I cannot possibly accuse him of it.

But there is this curious thing. In an extraordinary interview with Professor Peter Hennessy, on BBC Radio 4, in August 2017, Blair revealed something which would have wholly destroyed his political career if it had come out in, say, 1995. He recalled that his first reading of an admiring biography of Leon Trotsky, the most militant of all the Russian Bolsheviks, had been like a light going on and had changed his life.

Then, giggling, he said that, yes, for a while he was actually a Trot, that is to say a follower of the same Leon Trotsky. This, he said, was for not longer than a year.

Well, maybe. Whod have any record now?

MI5s once huge files on subversives for that era were destroyed while Blair was in office. But when Prof Hennessy asked Blair what happened next, the former premier began to say When I was in the, in the, and suddenly changed course to In the early Seventies. This was plainly not what he had been about to say. It sounded much more as if he was about to name the Marxist sect to which he had belonged.

Well, what was he in? Why did this apparently unpolitical leader of a college rock band go out of his way to join Harold Wilsons stodgy, middle-aged Labour Party, as soon as he left Oxford?

'Is it possible that the apparently naive, open-faced Bambi-like Blair has all along been a cunning Marxist-Leninist, cynically pretending to take positions he didnt really hold, while concealing his true objectives?'

At the time, revolutionary students utterly despised the Labour Party as a sell-out.

I know all this because I, too, was a Marxist at university and for some years afterwards, a fact I do not conceal and readily discuss, unlike the many members of Mr Blairs Cabinet who also had Marxist pasts.

So is it possible that the apparently naive, open-faced Bambi-like Blair has all along been a cunning Marxist-Leninist, cynically pretending to take positions he didnt really hold, while concealing his true objectives?

Has his hard, realistic Marxist training now kicked in to warn him that Net Zero is a danger to his own cause?

If so, I have to say, as an ex-Marxist myself, that he is dead right. Trotsky would have done the same.

Overmighty police are too big for their boots

Back in the 1970s people started to say that the trade unions had become overmighty subjects of the realm. They had got too big for their boots. There was some truth in this.

Today I think it is the police who have grown too powerful for their own good and for the good of the country.

If the unions could be curbed, then the police need the same treatment. Ive had recent brushes with them myself, over the Letby case. It was clear that they would have liked to shut me up.

Now I note that, in the recent case of a columnist on another paper who was interviewed on her doorstep by police officers, over something she had written, the Essex Police press office actually advised the paper involved that its approach was dangerous and added: I would very strongly urge you not to publish anything on this. This is not what the police are for.
A few years ago, in what was hailed as the conference speech that set him on the path to Downing Street, Keir Starmer declared his mission was to transform Labour into the political wing of the British people. Ive just asked Andy, a former soldier in the Lancers who lost several of his comrades in Northern Ireland, how he thinks thats going.

Theyre just like the old lot, he says grimly. They dont listen. They get in and they do what they want.

Im in Ashby, a small suburb of Scunthorpe, where Reform candidate Andrea Jenkyns is poised to snatch the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty. From the high street you can see the ruddy towers of the nearby steelworks, which the Government has just pledged to rescue  and if necessary, nationalise. Surely thats something Andy approves of?

I worked there, he tells me. They should have stepped in years ago. Everyone around here could see it coming.

So how is he going to vote, I ask. Reform. Weve got to do something about immigration. Its daft whats going on. In the war we had a handful of Spitfires, and that was all it took to stop Hitlers entire army. Today hed have to get a few small dinghies and hed be across.

Nigel Farage reacts as Reform wins the Runcorn and Helsby by-election - by just six votes

Five minutes down the road, outside what on this sweltering day is the appropriately named Sunshine Hall, I pop the same question to Joanne, a carer who has just voted.

Reform, she replies. Im not racist but, sorry, the country needs sorting out.

She takes the hand of her young niece and clutches it tightly. The immigrants who come dont understand the rules. At least the ones round here. They get everything on a silver platter.

Shes immediately followed by Laura, a local nurse. I voted Reform, she tells me defiantly. I want the country back. It doesnt feel like Britain any more.

The anger of the residents of Scunthorpe is not necessarily surprising, given the areas long legacy of industrial decline. So I travel up the coast to Cleethorpes.

Against the balmy backdrop, this vigorous seaside town appears to be defying some of the hardships visited upon its neighbours. Papas fish and chip shop on the pier  Britains Best  is doing a brisk trade. Families are playing on the sand. A billboard boasts of the 18 million investment that is set to redevelop the historic seafront.

Reform leader Nigel Farage joins Dame Andrea Jenkyns to celebrate her win as Great Lincolnshire's new mayor

Then I get talking to Karen, a local barmaid. When shes not at work she volunteers at her local church, currently doubling up as a polling station. She begins by expressing her concern at what she sees are Keir Starmers

illiberal views on trans rights. Were all different under God, she explains. But then, almost apologetically, her tone shifts.

I hate to say it. But I do feel like were becoming a dumping ground. Weve had an issue on the beach with immigrants propositioning young girls. Theres a lot of rage building, and this is where it comes from.

The sprawling new Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty boundary stretches from the Humber as far down as South Holland. So I head for Grantham, one of the few parts of the country comfortable enough to return a Tory MP at the last election. As I pull up outside the Guild Hall polling station the statue of Margaret Thatcher shoots a steely gaze at the betting shop and mini-market that represent the changing face of the nations high streets.

Change the former grocers daughter would no doubt have disapproved of.

Barry, a former railway worker, isnt keen on the change hes witnessing either.

Labours let us down on immigration, he tells me. They promised to stop the gangs and theyve gone back on it.

Labours let us down on immigration, Barry, a former railway worker, tells Dan Hodges. They promised to stop the gangs and theyve gone back on it. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer works the phones ahead of the local elections

His wife Amanda agrees. I actually voted Labour at the last election. She looks down at the floor. But I just couldnt bring myself to this time. As they leave, Pat, a local jeweller, breezes by. Shes rushing to drop off her postal vote. I voted Reform, she shouts over her shoulder as she passes. Why? I shout back.

She stops for a second, turns, and smiles. You know why, she says.

In the wake of Reforms destruction of Labour and the Tories in Thursdays elections, the British political establishment is preparing to indulge in yet another ritualistic Dance of the Dead.

Polls will be conducted. Reports commissioned. Reams of analysis produced. All to answer the question: What happened, and what should we do? Theres no need. To paraphrase Tony Blair, there are three reasons for Nigel Farages triumph. Immigration. Immigration. And immigration.

Every single issue the voters have with the present Government, and its predecessor, is channelled through that prism.

Anger over winter fuel, pensions and disability cuts? How come we can afford hotels for migrants but we cant look after our own?

Disillusionment the change Labour promised hasnt materialised? Look at the small-boat invasion. Its actually getting worse!

Fury expressed through the gritted refrain that all politicians are the same?

Theyve been promising to take back control of the borders since Brexit. The Tories lied, and now Labours lied.

This morning senior politicians in both the ranks of the Government and Official Opposition are clinging forlornly to the fiction that Thursday was an electoral spasm, after which normal service will be resumed. They are utterly delusional.

This is the last time the voters will grasp our political class by the lapels and try to shake some sense into them. The British Establishment is on its final warning.

Either Keir Starmer and his ministers listen and act  and it is solely up to them, given Kemi Badenoch has consigned her party to political irrelevance for the next couple of years  or they may as well hand Nigel Farage the keys to Downing Street today.

'In the wake of Reforms destruction of Labour and the Tories in Thursdays elections, the British political establishment is preparing to indulge in yet another ritualistic Dance of the Dead,' writes Dan Hodges. Pictured: Reform leader Nigel Farage

There is nowhere left to cower. The Government faces a binary choice. Labour either moves to withdraw Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights, introduces a form of offshore processing, accelerates enforced removals, slashes legal migration and then broadcasts it from the rooftops.

Or it can wait three or four years, and see those policies introduced by a Reform government, possibly in coalition with Robert Jenricks New Conservatives.

That is it. There are no cheat codes. There can be no more deflections. Or self-comforting conceits that a bit more cash thrown at the NHS, breakfast clubs and the living wage can somehow buy off a furious electorate.

On Thursday Britain didnt just speak, it screamed till it was turquoise in the face. STOP IMMIGRATION!!!!

Keir Starmer wanted to be the political wing of the British people. In response they have thrown the ballot box at him.

He had better not force them to reach for an electoral Armalite.
Thursdays local elections mean that it is now life or death for this Labour government  and for the Labour Party.

The fate of the last Conservative government is a stark warning of what can happen to a great political party when they lose the trust of the people. Boris Johnson won big in 2019 and six years later no one listens to a word they say.

On the doorstep, the message was the same everywhere: people have had enough.

Enough of low wages and skyhigh bills. Enough of high streets being left to rot.

Enough of crumbling infrastructure and public services that dont work. Enough of broken promises. Enough of a political class that listens to lobbyists and consultants, not citizens  and lets officials, lawyers and quangos overrule democratic politics.

The late Pope Francis said that we are not living through an era of change, but a change of era. He was right about that.

The era of Tony Blair and New Labour was one of globalisation, of free movement and the European Union. Everybody should go to university and industry was a dirty business best left to China.

Questioning any of it, we were told, would be as futile as debating whether autumn should follow summer.

Thursdays local elections mean that it is now life or death for this Labour government  and for the Labour Party, writes Labour MP Dan Carden

The late Pope Francis said that we are not living through an era of change, but a change of era - he was right about that, writes Dan Carden

The era of Tony Blair and New Labour was one of globalisation, of free movement and the European Union. Everybody should go to university and industry was a dirty business best left to China, Dan Carden says

Well, the world we are in now is very different. It is an era of nation states, of war, of industry. Donald Trump is pursuing protectionism in the White House as part of a Great Power rivalry with China. A land war drags on in Europes periphery. Suddenly, national production, where things are made and who makes them, matters again.

Its an era that demands security, sovereignty and solidarity. An era that cries out for Labour values  if only we can rediscover faith in our own tradition. That tradition is embodied in Ernest Bevin, Aneurin Bevan and Barbara Castle. Labour was always a patriotic party: built by the working class, for the working class, of the working class.

And it was the working class that turned its back on Labour last Thursday. They understand that the present system is not working in their interests or for their values. People feel abandoned  not just economically, but morally.

They look at Westminster and see strangers in charge. More and more, they are turning to Reform. Not because they think Nigel Farage has the answers, but because, as one voter put it: He cant be worse than the rest of them.

In their eyes, the political establishment has for decades failed to provide a well-run health service, build the homes we need or control immigration and asylum. Voters are resolved to punish those responsible. The democratic politics on which we pride ourselves only works when people believe that they matter. It hasnt worked like that for a long time.

It doesnt work for you, but it works for Westminster.

Over decades, Westminster has snuffed out the role of civic society in our body politic. Whats been left is a cumbersome state thats large and bloated but ineffective, as well as a rigged market that entrenches low pay, low productivity and oppresses every aspect of our lives.

Families are pulled apart by unaffordable housing, insecure jobs and public services that cant cope. The sense of common purpose has been lost.

Well, the world we are in now is very different. It is an era of nation states, of war, of industry. Donald Trump is pursuing protectionism in the White House as part of a Great Power rivalry with China, writes Dan Carden

More and more, they are turning to Reform. Not because they think Nigel Farage has the answers, but because, as one voter put it: He cant be worse than the rest of them', writes Dan Carden

I lead a group in the House of Commons called Blue Labour. And we believe the party can still be saved  if it remembers who it was built for. We believe Keir Starmer could be a great prime minister.

But that will only happen if he turns words into action, if he governs with the strength now needed. We see glimpses of the right direction. But its time to set out a strategy for national renewal.

We believe Brexit was a turning point in our national story. But we are yet to grasp the opportunities the Leave victory gave us. The role of government is to protect our freedoms, defend our democracy and uphold the peace of the realm. And that starts with sovereignty.

Politicians have to face the truth: globalisation and neoliberal economics have hollowed out our industries, stripped us of skilled jobs, auctioned off the family silver to profiteers, and enabled oligarchs to leech our wealth and stash it in offshore tax havens.

The Chinese have the same symbol for threat and opportunity, and Trumps election is exactly that. The world order is being shaken up and Britain must assert its place within it. Sovereignty requires us to hold our own and have the strength to lead, as we have on Ukraine.

It begins with restoring the strength of our Armed Forces. Vladimir Putins invasion has changed Europe. If Britain is to lead, it must be able to act.

Increased defence spending is not only a security matter, but a platform for rebuilding our economy. It can be the spark for wider re-industrialisation  reviving sectors that improve lives, from medical manufacturing to steel, aerospace and clean, home-grown energy  while creating secure, unionised jobs.

If we dont do this, then all the mistakes of the Tories will be repeated: an endless shuffling of the deck and projects that vanish. Its time to get Britain building and making again.

Dan Carden leads a group in the House of Commons called Blue Labour. They believe the party can still be saved  if it remembers who it was built for. They believe Keir Starmer could be a great prime minister

The world order is being shaken up and Britain must assert its place within it. Sovereignty requires us to hold our own and have the strength to lead, as we have on Ukraine. It begins with restoring the strength of our Armed Forces. Vladimir Putins invasion has changed Europe. If Britain is to lead, it must be able to act, writes Dan Carden

This also requires a new approach to education. I would close half our universities and turn them into vocational colleges. We need to renew the skills required for production, not produce an endless stream of graduates for email jobs and human resources.

Artificial intelligence is a potential blessing as well as a menace. If we ensure it serves workers instead of replacing them, AI can become part of the next industrial revolution  anchored in public investment and national purpose.

I represent one of the most deprived areas in the country  Walton in Liverpool. It is a place blighted by despair. I want that to change, and I believe it can.

Labours mission is in its name  with a decent job comes personal dignity and pride.

We can be proud again  of our industry, history and purpose. Labour can deliver national renewal, but only by rediscovering its tradition and cause.
A man who was once the head of Florida's execution programme revealed one death went so horribly wrong that he needed therapy to come to terms with it.

Ron McAndrew, now 88, witnessed executions using the electric chair in Florida, but one traumatising death never left him and the botched execution led to the prison ending the use of the electric chair.

The former prison warden didn't aspire to be a correctional officer but he had climbed the ladder after being hired in a Miami prison in 1979.

McAndrew watched over the execution of three inmates in total, including murderer John Bush who was sentenced to death for his part in the kidnap and murder of 18-year-old Frances Julia Slater.

John Mills Jr. was sentenced to the chair for the abduction and murder of Les Lawhon in Wakulla County, Florida, in 1982.

However, the execution of Pedro Medina, a Cuban refugee, was something McAndrew claimed he would 'never forget' and was the death that made him stand down from his role.

Executed in 1997 for the murder of 52-year-old former school teacher Dorothy James, the circumstances of his execution elevated objections to the use of electrocution as a means of capital punishment.

Speaking to The Sun, McAndrew revealed the chair malfunctioned, saying: 'We didn't electrocute this man. We literally burned him to death.'

Ron McAndrew, now 88, witnessed executions using the electric chair in Florida, but one traumatising death never left him and the botched execution led to the prison ending the use of the electric chair

Medina's last words before being executed were 'I am still innocent', before the electric chair known as Old Sparky, malfunctioned, causing flames to shoot out of Medina's head.

He said: 'His body was on fire and there was no way I could stop it. I had to let it run its course.'

McAndrew revealed he witnessed the flames coming out from the inmate's head, and said there was a horrific smell.

Speaking in a Death Penalty Action video, he explained: 'I heard a pop and within a few seconds the smoke and fire came up from under that helmet and in fact it came up into my face.

'The smoke got blacker and blacker and blacker, the electrician who is wearing these big lineman gloves had his hands ready to take the helmet off his head, he looked at me and said "continue?"

'But there was no way we could stop at that point, I said "absolutely continue", the room started filling with smoke, the smoke went upstairs, all the inmates on death row could smell the burning flesh.

'I had it all over my body, I threw my clothes away that day, I couldn't scrub hard enough to get that smell off me... it was a bad day.

'I believe he knew he was being burned to death. This is much less then we should be as Americans, much less.'

Convicted killer Pedro Medina enters court under heavy guard in Orlando in a January 1997

The electric chair (pictured in Florida State Prison) is still a permitted execution method, but it is not the primary one. While lethal injection is now the standard, inmates on death row can request execution by electrocution

Despite Medina's cruel crimes, the executioner claimed he also felt some sympathy for him because of his 'sad story'.

His family were poor and Medina and his brothers used to rob food and beg tourists for money.

The brother used to put all the money they gathered into a basket at the end of the day and buy bread and cheese to eat.

'That's the day I had to sit down and have a real serious talk with myself about what I was doing,' McAndrew admitted.

The horrendous incident resulted in the governor sending McAndrew to Texas to learn more about the lethal injection.

After that botched execution, Florida State Prison adopted for the new lethal injection method going forward.

However, the former correctional officer vowed to never stand in the 'death room' ever again and he called the secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections and asked to 'get the hell out of there'.

McAndrew was transferred to the Central Florida Reception Centre in Orlando.

The electric chair, nicknamed Old Sparky, was the focus of attention by the media during a rare press tour of Florida State Prison in 1989

The experience changed his outlook on the death penalty forever, which he called a 'premeditated, ceremonial, political killing'.

McAndrew claimed it was a 'horrible joke' to leave a man in a cell for 30-years but then kill him when he's an old man.

He claimed that life without parole is the better option because it leaves the possibility of innocence open and the prisoner can 'contribute to society' by working.

He insisted governors use capital punishment as political tools for popularity, claiming the number of executions rise during election years.

The former correctional officer revealed that he was forced to go to 13 years of therapy following his experiences on death row.

He claimed if he could turn back time, he says he would turn down the offer he received to work on death row.

The electric chair is still a permitted execution method, but it is not the primary one. While lethal injection is now the standard, inmates on death row can request execution by electrocution.
READ MORE: The WORST wedding dress mistakes and what you should be wearing as a 2025 bride

For an increasing amount of bridal parties, bachelorettes are appearing to become more and more of a spectacle - both emotionally and financially.

But those who have been nominated to be part of a future 'wedding squad' may want to start saving up even more - for 'pre-hens' are now reportedly on the rise.

TikTok videos have shown a flurry of gatherings, curated ahead of the official celebrations, which feature drinks, nibbles and a quite night in with your girls ahead of the big party festivities that may include trips abroad, clubbing, and copious amounts of booze.

Elsewhere, stationery brands have been sharing customised keepsakes they've been commissioned to make for the day - from ornate welcome signs to mini-quizzes about the couple and drinks menus.

UK-based Ellis Warren took to her social media to gush about her 'pre-hen get together' with bridesmaids, ahead of their official trip to Paris.

Cocktail pitchers, goody bags and charcuterie boards were aplenty, as were printed out itineraries of their upcoming French getaway.

And Keavy from Scotland also shared a clip where loved ones made DIY food 'boards' for a 'pre-hen' ahead of a bachelorette party.

Meanwhile, Sophie, who got married last year was surprised with a Greek-themed 'hen-do warm-up'.

TikTok videos have shown a flurry of gatherings, curated ahead of the official celebrations, which feature drinks, nibbles and a quite night in with your girls ahead of the big party festivities that may include trips abroad, clubbing, and copious amounts of booze

Elsewhere, stationery brands have been sharing customised keepsakes they've been commissioned to make for the day - from ornate welcome signs to mini-quizzes about the couple and drinks menus

Keavy from Scotland also shared a clip where loved ones made DIY food 'boards' for a 'pre-hen' ahead of a bachelorette party

Rebecca Nowell, from Manchester also shared videos from a laid-back wine tasting 'pre-hen party' she hosted for a bestie, while Amanda Woodward, who's tying the knot this year, was also greeted with 'pre-hen' festivities from her 'bride squad'.

The trend certainly appears to be on the rise and ranges in formality, with many hosting chill evenings whilst others go out of their way to create customised invites for the event.

Speaking on the popular bridal forum, UK Brides, it has elicited largely positive reactions, with many excited to party.

'That is sweet if a little funny,' one shared. 'Hopefully it will not detract from the big night though.'

'That is funny, and you should have a lot of laughs, just make sure there is a big enough gap between the penultimate one and the real thing so you won't be too knackered, lol,' another added.

A third shared that they enjoyed the 'pre-hen' hosted by their friend, as it was 'a good way to get everyone together as we hadn't all met before'.

Meanwhile, Sophie , who got married last year was surprised with a Greek-themed 'hen-do warm-up'

However, those taking part in future festivities may be worried about additional costs.

'A pre-hen is a smaller celebration, often held months, and sometimes years, ahead of the actual hen do and wedding,' Zoe Burke, wedding expert and Editor of Hitched.co.uk, told FEMAIL.

'They're a great way for those in the nearlyweds wedding party to meet and break the ice, and can also be super handy for the planning of the actual hen!

'But as the average cost of a wedding continues to rise (up 34 per cent since 2021, to 23,250), as well as the cost of attending a wedding, it's really important that those involved in the planning of a pre-hen are mindful of the costs.'

Zoe added that while getting together to 'prioritise fun and connection' is important, brides-to-be must make sure they're realistic about the budget.

'So many nearlyweds and their wedding parties are constantly taking in social media content that shows lavish celebrations, with detailed themes, but people will enjoy themselves more if they aren't worried about how much it's costing them,' she said.

'We're definitely noticing a growing interest at Hitched in more pared down, simple celebrations that prioritise smaller guest lists to keep costs manageable.

'It's all about striking the balance - making incredible memories without breaking the bank.'

Amanda Woodward, who's tying the knot this year, was also greeted with 'pre-hen' festivities from her 'bride squad'

It comes following reports that stag and hen dos are becoming increasingly lavish affairs as trips abroad are setting guests back 1,519 on average as of last May.

Partygoers are having to fork out eyewatering amounts of cash to attend celebrations outside the UK, with travel and flights alone costing on average 376, according to the money app Wise.

Guests travelling abroad were also found to splash out 396 on food and drink on average, as well as 385 on accommodation and 362 on activities.

Meanwhile, those who are a bit more strapped for cash, should look no further than the UK, with the average price for stag and hen do in Britain costing on average 854, almost half than what it would cost to travel abroad.

Stay at home brits typically end up spending just 200 on travel, 235 on accommodation, 211 on activities and 208 on food and beverages.

Wise also found, through a survey of 3,000 adults that, despite the eye watering costs 51 per cent of people said they would be willing to spend more money if they we able to participate in more cultured activities.

This might be wishful thinking however as just 39 per cent of people said they would choose a slightly more cultured itinerary while 17 per cent said they would keep it 'traditional' with the likes of exotic dancers and fancy.

A majority of people were also less concerned about keeping costs down, with just 43 per cent saying it would be a priority for them.

But setting a budget is also not always that easy as 30 per cent of people who had previously organised a stag or hen party found it to be one of the biggest challenges.

Setting a date for the event was also a challenge for 28 per cent of people who were surveyed.

Arun Tharmarajah, director of European payments at the app, commented: 'Stag and hen parties have definitely had an 'upgrade' in recent years but this can come at a cost - plus throw up all kinds of dilemmas. It's particularly tricky for older best men, bridesmaids and guests who are organising and attending these more 'grown up' events.'

'Our research shows that as you get older and particularly when you're in that sweet spot of stags, between 25-44, when everyone seems to get married your tastes in these events do change.'
Tom Hardy may have confirmed that his hair isn't all natural.

During an interview with Hits Radio UK's Will Best, the 47-year-old broke his silence on the longstanding rumor.

'You've got your own hair and everything,' he said to Best, before adding, 'I've got someone else's.'

It's unclear if he's referring to a hair transplant or some kind of toupee, or if he was simply just joking.

Regardless, the candid admission sent the internet into a spin, with fans speculation about the A-lister's mane.

'I think he might just be making a very dry and very funny joke. Its not possible to get hair transplants from someone else,' one wrote.

'Must be a hair piece then because he was balding a few years ago!' argued another.

Tom Hardy may have confirmed that his hair isn't all natural. During an interview with Hits Radio UK's Will Best, the 47-year-old broke his silence on the longstanding rumor

'Nothing hotter than a secure man. Own your s**t and you get hotter my dudes!' wrotr a third.

Older photos of the Venom actor show him with what appears to be a receding hairline compared to his current look.

Hardy is currently headlining Guy Ritchie's new drama series, Mobland.

MobLand delves into the story of two crime families engulfed in 'a battle that threatens to topple empires and ruin lives,' according to the synopsis.

So far, the series has received a respectable 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes and many viewers have shared positive verdicts.

One fan posted on X: 'Just watched Episode 1 of #Mobland. I love everything Guy Ritchie, having Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan & Helen Mirren in the mix is such a deal sweetener.

Another said: 'The show has so much potential, like Im already sold with just one episode. Yes, yes, yes!'

Older photos of the Venom actor show him with what appears to be a receding hairline compared to his current look. (Pictured in 2010)

While someone else penned: 'Tom Hardy, Paddy Considine, Helen Mirren and loads more. Looks a good series.'

A fourth wrote: 'Tom Hardy in a mob series, sign me up!'

One viewer said: 'I just watched the first episode of #Mobland streaming on Paramount+ think its going to be a great series.'

Someone else added: '#Mobland is a series I can watch all day, every day.'

However, not everyone has been impressed by the gangster drama and one said: '#Mobland ep 1 was not good, the cliche plot the bad accent.'

Hardy is pictured at the Havoc premiere in London on April 15

Hardy has insisted on having a lavender diffuser in his movie trailer to help him relax on set.

The Hollywood actor made the demands while filming Venom 3 in New York City.

The 27-items he was attempting to request from producer Peter Heslop for his trailer were revealed by The Sun.

His must have items include an IV drip, 60 strawberry ice cream vapes, M&S low alcohol Czech lager and Molton Brown peppercorn shower gel.

He attempted to email these demands to producer Peter, but instead the email went to namesake Pete Heslop, a 31-year-old IT worker from London.
Prince Harry showed anger, bitterness, and a desire for righteousness during his scathing BBC interview on Friday, according to a body language expert.

The 40-year-old royal sat down for a conversation with Nada Tawfik after losing his appeal in court over his security. Harry said he was 'devastated' after losing his battle for taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards when in the UK - putting him on the hook for 1.5million in costs.

The prince said he felt 'let down' and described his court defeat as a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch up', blaming the Royal Household for influencing the decision to reduce his security.

He also revealed that his father no longer speaks to him, he will not bring his wife or children back to the UK, and that he's had 'so many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

Body language expert Judi James described the sit down as Harry's 'mic drop' moment.

She told FEMAIL that the father-of-two's 'start-off stare suggested a man whod found more toys to throw out of the pram'.

'As he threw them there were non-verbal signals that suggested relish and even pleasure,' Judi continued.

'He licked his lips constantly and at one point half way through, as he warmed to his themes of dark conspiracy he even changed his position, pulling at his jacket and settling back into his chair as though getting even more comfortable for his disclosures of "all of the truth".'

Body language expert Judi James told FEMAIL that Prince Harry's stare 'suggested a man whod found more toys to throw out of the pram'

Judi added that the royal's body language also signalled 'moments of disgust', as he appeared to sneer at certain points

Harry's 'wry smile' was 'another signal of satisfaction' according to Judi, who said the expression 'appeared frequently to suggest a man suffering, but bravely'.

In addition to the smile, there were what the expert described as 'some staccato wry laughs too, especially when he spoke of the zero chance of being able to "take my family back to the UK".'

Judi told FEMAIL that Harry's body language also signalled 'what looked like moments of disgust'.

She said: 'Saying nobly that "I love my country", he added "despite what some people in that country have done", with his left nostril performing a sneer of disgust.

'When he said "the other side won, keeping me unsafe", his lips clamped into a grimace of disgust.'

The body language expert added that she saw 'a desire to mask some of his inner emotions' through Prince Harry's 'eyelid-fluttering or stutters'.

The prince (pictured) also displayed a 'wry smile' at points during the sit down according to Judi James, who described the expression as 'another signal of satisfaction'

However, she noted: 'There was a sense of co-ordination or latent synchronization with his wife, too. During her recent podcast interview Meghan was seen tearing up as she spoke of her husband, and Harry returned the favour here."

Describing the moment this happened, Judi said: 'When [Harry] said "the most important thing for me is my wife", he produced the moment of peak drama with a long silent pause as he looked down in a cut-off, and when he looked up he averted his gaze although the watery nature of his eyes was visible. Harry even pulled his nose with one hand in a childhood gesture associated with trying to stop crying."

During the interview, Harry listed the members of his family he is willing to forgive, in a manner Judi described as 'happily'.

She explained: '[He said] "I can forgive my father, my brother" but then he performed a small "side" gesture of another eye-flutter and that wry smile before adding, meaningfully, "my stepmother".'

Judi noted that the duke's feelings about his father 'seemed to work on a small loop'.

She explained: 'He referred to the fact that "life is precious" or that "Im acutely aware of the fragility (of life)" when asked about his fathers cancer, and he looked down and sucked his lips inward in what looked like an expression of regret, but then his "looping" method saw him quickly drop the ball of guilt back in Charless court, with a "he wont speak to me" or a "no, he wouldnt want to talk about it".'

King Charles III and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex inside Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022

According to Judi, the prince implied that 'the only people to blame from now onward are the senior royals', as opposed to himself by showing a series of 'dismissive shrugs' while saying he had 'now found out the truth...if they don't want that'.

She continued: 'When asked if things could be resolved with his family his non-verbal response was a roll of the eyes and a cynical and loud puffing out of air to suggest it was unlikely.'

Judi also discussed Harry's verbal tone during the interview, saying he implemented an 'almost constant use of "upspeak" or "rising inflection".'

This is 'where the voice rises slightly at the end of each phrase, which is said to create the suggestion of helplessness, again suggesting Harry is keen to gather sympathy and support here by sounding like the victim'.

However, she noted: 'But his choices of words were strong, like the way the royals are "imprisoned" if they want a different life, or the "dark" claim that "some people want history to repeat itself", or his "I have uncovered my worst fears".'

England's second most senior judge, Sir Geoffrey Vos, yesterday told the Duke his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument'.

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

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.

During the broadcast, 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.'

In response to the interview, Buckingham Palace said Harry's security issues had been 'examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion'.
Richmond-upon-Thames is the older mum capital of England and Wales, MailOnline can reveal today.

In the affluent London borough, the majority of babies are now born to women over-35.

Rates of 'geriatric motherhood' have trebled in dozens of authorities since the early 1990s.

It reflects how women are increasingly choosing to put off having children until later in life in order to pursue a career.

At the same time, figures show teenage pregnancies have slumped to all-time lows.

For Richmond-upon-Thames, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded 1,674 births in 2023.

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Of those, 838 (50.1 per cent) were to women over the age of 35.

This means they fall into the category now known as advanced maternal age (AMA), with 'geriatric pregnancy' considered an outdated term.

The equally affluent borough of Kensington and Chelsea ranked just behind (47.4 per cent), followed by Elmbridge in Surrey (43.7 per cent).

Camden (42.8 per cent) and Westminster (42.8 per cent) rounded out the top five.

Bolsover, in Derbyshire, had the fewest number of new mums aged 35 and over (13.8 per cent), while Blaenau Gwent has the fewest in Wales (14.4 per cent).

The Vale of Glamorgan (27.2 per cent) had the highest in Wales.

When the ONS began recording the topic in 1993, the City of London was the only area where 30 per cent of live births were to women over 35.

By 2023, 68 authorities  just over a fifth of all the 300-plus councils in England and Wales  had hit the threshold.

The rising average age of mothers has been linked to women choosing to pursue careers over starting a family in their twenties, as well as financial pressures like the cost of childcare.

Kerry Gadsdon, from the ONS, said: 'The reasons behind when and if women have children are very personal.

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'This may be driven by a range of factors including financial pressures and the timing of other life events such as partnership formation and moving into your own home generally happening later.'

Dr Ippokratis Sarris, director of the King's College London fertility clinic, said: 'Fertility naturally declines with age, particularly after 35.

'The chances of pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, high blood pressure, and chromosomal abnormalities like Downs syndrome, increase.

'Fertility treatments, including IVF, also become less effective with age, with success rates falling significantly after 40.

'However, advances in fertility treatments and obstetric care mean that more women than ever are able to have healthy pregnancies later in life.

'Its important that as healthcare professionals we support womens choices by providing accurate information about how age impacts fertility and pregnancy, to help individuals make informed family planning decisions.'

The findings come after MailOnline last month revealed how fertility rates have plunged in every local authority in England and Wales over the past decade.

Amidst the so-called 'baby bust', some boroughs saw a 60 per cent decline in women having children since 2013.

Experts fear the freefalling rates will trigger an 'underpopulation' crisis with women in England and Wales, on average, now only having 1.44 children.
Nine million patients would need to move GPs if surgeries adhered to 'safe limits', startling analysis shows.

Under widely accepted guidelines, practices should have no more than 1,800 patients on their lists for every full-time equivalent GP employed.

Yet MailOnline's investigation exposing the abysmal state of general practice today reveals 3,000 breach this threshold.

That is close to half of all GP surgeries open in England, with the offenders catering for almost 30.6million patients between them. Getting them within the safe threshold would mean either purging them of 9.4million patients or hiring another 5,200 family doctors.

Experts say the system is like an 'elastic band stretched to breaking point, with MPs branding it a 'national scandal'.

Ministers are under renewed pressure to fix the crisis in general practice and banish the hated 8am scramble for appointments millions face every morning.

MailOnline readers can see how dire the situation is in their area by using our search tool.

Simply type in your postcode or town to see how practices within a 5-mile radius of your home fare, in regards to how many patients are competing for GP time and how many doctors actually work there. You can also your surgery's actual name to see its results, if it happens to be located further afield.

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The figures  for March this year, the latest NHS data available  are listed in terms of the number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) GPs.

FTE is considered a more accurate measure compared to a simple headcount, given how swathes of doctors only work part-time.

Monks Park Surgery in Bristol had the lowest ratio of doctors to patients in the data  one per 47,249.

This was followed by The Bowling Green Street Surgery in Leicester (1:44,325) and Jai Medical Centre in Edgware (1:38,050).

Yet neither had the equivalent of one full-time GP.

For GP practices meeting that criteria, Wembleys GP Pathfinder Clinics recorded the highest ratio of 1:18,151 patients. It runs five sites across north west London but all of its books are linked to the one site at Hazeldene Medical Centre.

The Modality Enki Medical Practice in Birmingham ranked second under that method (1:14,014).

Such figures are far above the widely accepted 'safe' ratio of 1,800, peddled by trade magazines, industry leaders and local NHS committees.

The British Medical Association (BMA) warns even that threshold is too high.

GPs tasked with bigger lists might feel rushed or overworked, which experts warn can increase the risk of missing early signs of serious illness in patients.

MailOnline's audit found 48.9 per cent of the 6,219 practices with available data were above the safe threshold.

Sixty surgeries exceeded the 10,000 ratio, including 14 with at least 20,000 patients for the equivalent of one full-time GP.

NHS Digitial's statistics are self-reported by practices and, therefore, may have been logged incorrectly.

Some practices's may have list-sizes inflated by so-called 'ghost patients'. These are patients who may have died or relocated but are still registered.

The analysis doesn't include nurses or other patient-facing roles who might carry out appointments.

The GP crisis has been bubbling away for years, despite multiple ministerial promises to fix it.

In total, there are now 28,281 fullly-qualified full-time GPs in England. Numbers have dwindled over the past decade despite attempts to recruit thousands more.

Many are retiring in their 50s, moving abroad or leaving to work in the private sector because of soaring demand, paperwork and aggressive media coverage in the NHS.

Studies suggest most GPs, who pocket up to 110,000/year on average, now only work three days per week.

At the same time, the population has also grown, exacerbating the problem.

It means millions of patients are rushed through, in scenes compared as 'goods on a factory conveyor belt'.

Some have described it as being impossible to see a GP, with a Glastonbury-esque to get an appointment.

Patient satisfaction has, as a result of the never-ending appointments crisis, plunged to its lowest level in four decades.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting earlier this year announced a 900million package which the Government claimed would 'bring back the family doctor' and finally end the scramble for appointments.

As part of the agreement, from this October surgeries will be required to let patients request appointments online during working hours.

GPs will also be freed from 'pointless box-ticking' exercises to give them more time.

This represented the first time in four years the Government and GP representatives have agreed reforms to GP contracts.

Edward Argar MP, shadow health and social care secretary, said: 'GPs are the backbone of the NHS in our local communities, working incredibly hard to deliver for their patients, but they remain under real pressure, added to by the cost of Labours NICs Jobs Tax.

'Under the last Conservative government, 50 million more GP appointments a year were delivered compared to 2019, and thousands more GPs were recruited in England to help make it easier for patients to see their doctor.

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'The Labour Government must ensure their GP contract announcement earlier this year isnt just a headline, but genuinely delivers real change in reality for GPs to allow them do what they do best - treat patients.'

Jess Brown-Fuller MP, Liberal Democrat primary care and hospitals spokesperson, said: 'Millions are being forced to endure a standard of care that is simply unacceptable and potentially unsafe.

'We have heard countless stories of people waiting anxiously, in pain and unable to get the care they need. It is a national scandal.

'The Conservative partys shameful record brought us to this point but the Labour government has done next to nothing to turn this awful situation around.

'Ministers can no longer sit idly by and just accept this situation as the new normal. GPs are leaving in their droves and with an ageing population we cannot allow this to deteriorate further.'

Dr Katie Bramall, chair of the BMAs general practice committee in England, said: 'GPs and anyone who has tried contacting their own practice already appreciate that we have a huge shortage of GPs in this country.

'We are stretching the ability and capacity of our family doctors to breaking point.

'We urgently need a national GP retention strategy and funding to recruit GPs who are actively completing their training programmes and looking for work.

'We would even argue 1,800 patients per GP is too many and needs to be reconsidered in light of the number of patients with complex and multiple illnesses rising, which has a knock-on impact on the amount of work needed to deliver safe patient care.

'We need Government support and funding into general practice, so we can bring back the family doctor, and give patients the best care possible.'

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'As of last month, every full-time GP is on average responsible for a huge 2,254 patients, 111 more than five years ago.

'This is really concerning as the workloads we are facing arent sustainable for GPs and arent safe for patients.

'Our own polling found over three quarters of GPs think that patient safety is being compromised by their excessive workloads.

'GPs and our teams are now delivering more appointments than ever before - nearly two million more a month than last year  but with just over 150 more qualified GPs than in 2019.

'Were working incredibly hard to deliver more and more but we dont have the GP numbers to keep up - and its our patients who are bearing the brunt when they cant get the care they need when they need it.'

She added: 'General practice is struggling, but with the right investment and initiatives to recruit and retain GPs - and break down barriers to qualified GPs securing employment - we can turn this around.

'We just need to be given the right tools to enable GPs to get back to delivering the care that we want to deliver and that our patients need.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'GPs and the wider NHS workforce have been overworked for years, with staff burnt out and demoralised.

'Through our Plan for Change, this government is rebuilding general practice, making GPs work easier and more efficient by cutting red tape and easing the burden by hiring more than 1,500 GPs since October.

'As we move more care into the community, our reforms will end the 8am scramble, bring back the family doctor and free up their time to concentrate on what they do best - spending more time caring for patients.'

What the GP practices said

Saurabh Johri, of Bowling Green Street Surgery in Leicester, said: 'The national figures only take into account salaried GPs. Bowling Green Street Surgery has several regular GPs who have worked at the surgery for a number of years and are not salaried, therefore will not appear in the figures. In addition, care delivery at GP Practices has changed significantly with a wide mix of specialist health professionals available to patients. Depending on their condition, our patients will see one of our Advanced Practitioners, Pharmacists, a First Contact Physio or Nurse to ensure GP appointments are there for those who specifically need a GP. This allows us to continue to meet increasing demand and ensure patients receive the right care for their needs.'
Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has once again sparked rumors she has undergone a facelift.

The ex-Secretary, 77, was photographed with notably smooth facial complexion on Wednesday evening when she stepped out on a date night with husband Bill in New York City.

The internet was soon awash with scores of comments about her surprisingly youthful looks, with many people speculating that she'd had a facelift.

Now top plastic surgeons have weighed in on the debate.

'She's doing maintenance for sure,' Colorado-based Dr Chris Thiagarajah told the Daily Mail.

'A little bit of filler in the cheeks, laser skin resurfacing or other skin work. I'm seeing that and think it's possible  but that's it.'

This type of cosmetic work differs from a facelift because patients do not have incisions or need their skin pulled back.

Dr Michael Niccole, from CosmetiCare in Newport Beach, California, added: 'There's no question Hillary Clinton has had some form of non-surgical facial rejuvenation.

'Her skin appears smoother, and the fine lines are significantly reduced, which is typically the result of either a chemical peel or skin resurfacing treatment.'

Hillary, 77, looked remarkably taut faced and wrinkle free in the new pictures

Chemical peels are when chemicals are used to exfoliate the skin to improve its appearance, while laser resurfacing is when concentrated beams of light are targeted at specific areas to minimize fine lines, wrinkles and pigment issues.

Both surgeons caveated their claims by stressing they have not examined Clinton in person and could only base their opinions on photos.

Clinton's representatives had not responded to the Daily Mail's request for comment at the time of publication.

When comparing Wednesday's photo to a picture of Clinton from 2023, the experts pointed specifically to the lack of lines on her forehead and around her eyes

This, they said, could have been achieved with Botox in these areas.

They added that she may also be using microneedling, which can give the appearance of tighter skin.

This is a minimally invasive procedure that involves puncturing the skin with very fine and sterile needles to stimulate its natural healing process and the production of collagen.

The procedure typically costs between $200 and $700 per session.

The surgeons cautioned, however, that lighting, make-up and camera angles could also be distorting the appearance of Clinton's face.

Meanwhile, Dr Boris Ackerman, a top plastic surgeon who has carried out more than 1,500 facelifts and teaches other surgeons the technique, said he does not believe Clinton has had a recent facelift.

'Looking at these photos, I can tell she definitely did not have surgery,' he claimed.

Clinton pictured above at the DNC convention in August, 2024, and in September 2023

'She still looks age appropriate; her cheeks are more drooped, she has jowls, a heavy neck and elongated upper lip  which would be reduced by a facelift,' he continued.

'But she has most definitely had some type of skin resurfacing done by a laser or chemical peel, which creates smoother skin and eliminates creases. In short, her skin looks as though she has lived in Iceland all her life  and had little sun damage.'

This is not the first time Clinton has faced speculation over potential tweakments.

Rumors that she'd had a face have been reported as far back as 2015.

Journalist Edward Klein claimed Clinton set up a 'mini-operating room' in her home in Chappaqua, New York, to get plastic surgery done ahead of her run for president.

Surgeons gradually tweaked her cheeks, eyes, neck and forehead, Klein reported.

He continued: 'If it had started to make her look weird, she would have stopped it immediately. It was a pretty big deal and required multiple visits.'

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Her spokesman denied the allegations at the time, saying: 'Someone should do a book about Ed. They could call it, "Bulls**t: The Problem With Anything Ed Klein Writes'.

In 2016, Dr Thiagarajah suggested that Clinton had received surgery to open up her eyes.

This is ptosis surgery, he told the Daily Mail at the time, or an operation to tighten the muscle that lifts the upper eyelid to give eyes a more open, alert and refreshed look.

It differs from a bletharoplasty, which is when skin is removed from above the eyes to enhance their appearance.

'This kind of surgery can be done medically, to help you see better, or cosmetically, to make you look more awake, alert, all that kind of stuff,' he said.

Rumors of plastic surgery resurfaced again in 2019 after she appeared looking particularly youthful at an event on Broadway, New York.

Journalists reported how her glowing skin was noticeably smoother and her cheeks more defined than earlier that same week.

Aesthetic expert Dr Ross Perry, founder of www.cosmedics.co.uk, said at the time that Clinton had been 'genetically blessed' with good skin - but claimed it could also be a result of Botox, injectable dermal fillers and Blepharoplasty.

Clinton's appearance at the Democrat National Convention in August last year sparked yet more rumors.

One viewer wrote online: 'Me Googling deep plane facelift after seeing Miss Hillary Clinton looking absolutely snatched at the DNC'. A second said: 'Is this really Hillary Clinton? If so, it must be the facelift of the century'.

Clinton's team did not respond to a request for comment.

But in 2015, Clinton said in response to a poke at her blonde hairdo: 'All our presidents come into office looking so vigorous. And then we watch their hair grow grayer and grayer.

'Well, I may not be the youngest candidate in this race, but I will be the youngest woman president in the history of the United States!

'And the first grandmother, as well. And one additional advantage: You won't see my hair turn white in the White House.'
Thousands of older patients are being left on antidepressants for decades that puts them at risk of memory problems and life-threatening falls, experts warn.

More than one in five over-65s are now taking antidepressants  more than double the number of 20 years ago.

Doctors warn that as patients age, complications from taking the pills become more likely. Research also suggests older patients could be at greater risk of withdrawal symptoms.

Despite this, some experts accuse GPs of allowing patients to remain on antidepressants indefinitely and failing to offer elderly people safer forms of depression treatment, such as talking therapy.

Last month, The Mail on Sundays GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon wrote that she was concerned some patients were remaining on the drugs long after their mental health issues have subsided.

In response, this newspaper heard from dozens of patients who had been taking the tablets for more than decade.

One 75-year-old from Derby has been taking antidepressants since 1990. Despite regular trips to the GP, Bill Jennings says no one has ever suggested he come off them.

Heather Hicks, a 76-year-old from East Sussex, says she has been on the tablets since 1996 after they were prescribed to help with marital problems. She has tried to stop taking them three times but has been unable to due to withdrawal symptoms.

More than one in five over-65s are now taking antidepressants  more than double the number of 20 years ago. Pictured: File photo

I wish the GP had suggested counselling rather than prescribing a drug that is so difficult to stop, Ms Hicks says.

Experts say it is crucial GPs identify older patients who can safely come off antidepressants.

We know that there are patients who have been on antidepressants for a very long time, who perhaps no longer need them, says Robert Howard, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at University College London.

More than eight million people in the UK take antidepressants. There are no NHS guidelines setting out the length of time patients should stay on them, though they are told to take them for at least six months after symptoms subside.

The most common antidepressants are known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by increasing a chemical in the brain, serotonin, linked to good mood. But they have a number of potential side-effects, including agitation, nausea, dizziness, loss of libido, and, in men, erectile dysfunction.

In most cases, these symptoms are mild and generally improve over time. However, experts warn that these symptoms can become more debilitating in old age.

Most concerningly, older patients on antidepressants who suffer dizziness are at risk of falls that can lead to life-threatening bone fractures.

Though if they do try to come off them there is also the risk of suffering withdrawal symptoms, including restlessness, trouble sleeping and mood swings.

Doctors warn that as patients age, complications from taking the pills become more likely. Research also suggests older patients could be at greater risk of withdrawal symptoms. Pictured: File photo

Some experts argue that GPs are to blame for the rising number of older people left on antidepressants  but admit that patients are not always being offered viable alternatives.

Studies show that less than 6 per cent of patients referred for talking therapy are over-65, despite making up nearly 20 per cent of the population.

Many of these older patients are never seen by a mental health specialist, theyre just bunged on antidepressants by their GP, says one psychiatrist. And then, because the GPs dont check up on them, these patients remain on the tablets indefinitely.

However, the GPs disagree. The elderly often get depressed because theyre lonely and socially isolated, says Professor Dame Clare Gerada, former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Treatment which involves some social engagement, like group counselling or therapy, would be great for these patients.

But NHS waiting lists for these treatments are years long, largely because so many young people have mental health issues now.

So theres not really any other option other than antidepressants. However, we need to get better at working out which patients can eventually come off them.
The Sleep Room: A Very British Medical Scandal by Jon Stock (Bridge Street Press 25, 432pp)

The Sleep Room is available now from the Mail Bookshop

An airless hospital dormitory in perpetual semi-darkness, day and night. A musty smell of sweaty slumber and human breath. Occasional moans of bewilderment.

Eight young women, some as young as 14, lie in a state of drug-induced sleep for weeks at a time, 20 hours out of every 24. Theyre known as the Sleeping Beauties.

Every six hours, theyre chivvied awake by nurses and led stumbling to the lavatory.

Without their knowledge or consent, theyre given frequent bouts of electro-convulsive therapy, causing them to jerk and twitch, rubber plugs jammed between their teeth.

This is not science fiction. It really happened, to hundreds of patients (most of them girls and young women) in the 1960s and early 1970s, in the Sleep Room in Ward Five of the Royal Waterloo Hospital. The theory was that deep sleep therapy, or continuous narcosis, combined with ECT, would upset patterns of behaviour and re-programme troubled minds.

The doctor who ran this dystopian hellscape was William Sargant, the tall, striking physician in charge of psychological medicine at St Thomas Hospital, of which the Royal Waterloo was an annexe.

He believed that mental ill-health was a physical condition, which needed to be treated as such. He had no time for Freudian talking therapy, or what he called sofa merchants.

His control over the sleeping patients was total. With the Sleeping Beauties safely in their sedated state they wouldnt be in a position to protest.

Who would send a daughter to such a place? The answer was middle-class mothers at their wits end when their daughters refused to eat, or get rid of an unsuitable boyfriend; or who was stubbornly recalcitrant, wayward or depressed.

Sargant's Ward Five was located in The Royal Waterloo Hospital opposite Waterloo Station

Sargant promised parents that his treatment would be like a re-set of their daughters brains. Sometimes it worked for a short time, but Sargant had no interest in long-term results. Often, there was a relapse.

Sargant still features in my nightmares, says the actress Celia Imrie, one of six former Sleep Room patients who provide their raw testimonies in Jon Stocks horrifying expose of Sargants Sleep Room.

Imrie was sent to Ward Five by her mother in 1966, aged just 14. She was suffering from anorexia that had started when, after applying for a place at the Royal Ballet School, she had discovered a rejection letter on her mothers desk, saying she was too big ever to become a dancer.

She was so heavily drugged with the antipsychotic Largactil (which so dulled the senses that it was known as liquid cosh or the chemical straitjacket) that she had double vision and couldnt stop shaking.

I was injected with insulin every day, too, she says. I think I had what was called sub-coma shock treatment  you werent given enough insulin to induce a hypoglycaemic coma, but it was enough to make you drowsy, weak, sweaty and hungry.

Celia Imrie was put under Sargant's care at the age of 14 while struggling with anorexia

Once, Sargant took her with him to a hospital lecture theatre, to be his exhibit. I had to take my clothes off so students could see how thin I was.

She has tried to find her hospital records, but they have vanished or been destroyed. So shes not sure whether she had ECT, though she guesses she did.

She was powerless under the treatment of the 58-year-old Sargant, with his piercing eyes like washed black pebbles. He was treated like a god, breezing in through the swing doors, worshipped and obeyed by everyone.

She realised the way to get out was to eat. My recovery had nothing to do with him or his barbaric treatments.

I didnt wake up for six weeks, recalls Linda Keith, whose parents checked her in to Ward Five in 1969 when she was a 23-year-old Vogue model. My parents always referred to me as being ill rather than the more accurate description of me: a pleasure-seeking, music-obsessed drug addict. What they wanted was a tame, house-trained lapdog.

What they got, after submitting their daughter to Sargants treatment, was a woman without a mind. Id been rendered completely helpless. During the narcosis, Linda was subjected to 50 sessions of ECT.

The result was that she could no longer choose anything and needed help with the simplest tasks. I wasnt happy or unhappy. I wasnt there.

She had also forgotten how to read. After being discharged, she went to see Sargant at 23 Harley Street, and asked him when she might read again. He said he didnt know. Then, she recalls, he came on to me. He tried to hug me and kiss me on the mouth. I ducked and hit him so he went over onto the ottoman pouffe.

Before being sent to Ward Five, Linda had an affair with Keith Richards (who would later write the song Ruby Tuesday about her) but left him for Jimi Hendrix.

A few years after Sargant had stopped treating her, she bumped into him in Bond Street and called him a monster to his face.

To read this disturbing book is a stifling experience. Stock powerfully evokes the eerily subdued atmosphere of the Sleep Room and brings out the sinister creepiness and the arrogance of Sargant.

He discovers that Sargant himself had been admitted to Hanwell Asylum in 1934 for depression. It was here that he became convinced that insanity would one day be perceived as a series of physically treatable disorders.

He wanted to save people from being incarcerated in asylums for months or years (that was an admirable aim) and he believed that a short, sharp, 12-week shock would do the trick. All very well in theory  but as this book shows, the results could be disastrous.

Sargant's treatment caused model Linda Keith to lose her ability to read

Another patient, 15-year-old Sara, suffered terrible memory loss, a kind of severe Alzheimers, and the antipsychotic drugs left her with a permanent Parkinsonian tremor.

Stock also suggests that Sargant shared his research with, or might even have been partly funded by, Porton Down, the MI5, MI6 and the CIA. In the 1950s, Porton Down conducted LSD experiments on young corporals, who took part in exchange for a bit of money. The aim was to disorientate people so that they forgot how to lie.

Its all very murky, and Stock doesnt quite nail Sargants involvement.

By far the most memorable aspect of this disturbing book is the unforgettable image of those drugged, sleeping girls incarcerated in the top floor room overlooking Waterloo station.
Fulvia by Jane Draycott (Atlantic Books 20, 288pp)

Fulvia is available now from Mail Bookshop

In 43BC the Roman matriarch Fulvia arranged for Ciceros decapitated head to be brought before her.

In full view of the crowd she spat on his remains and then retrieved a hairpin from her elaborate coiffure and stabbed his tongue.

It was her revenge for Cicero publicly claiming she was nothing but a shameless and wanton courtesan.

This was not how women were to behave in Ancient Rome. As Jane Draycott explains in this fine biography of Fulvia, public utterance was the preserve of men such as Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

A Roman matron, by contrast, was expected to run the family estate and supervise the servants while her husband was busy in the Senate or leading an army.

But Fulvia, who was independently wealthy thanks to an inherited fortune, had other ideas. She was, said the historian Plutarch disapprovingly, a woman who took no thought for spinning or housekeeping and instead wished to rule a ruler and command a commander. Trouble, in other words.

The first inklings of Fulvias ambition came in 52BC, when her first husband, a popular politician called Publius Clodius Pulcher, was murdered by a rival called Titus Annius Milo. Instead of being prostrate with grief, Fulvia set about getting vengeance. She stripped her husbands body and displayed his wounds to stir up the mob.

It worked: Milo was charged with murder and Fulvia appeared as a prosecution witness, something unheard of for a woman. Milo was found guilty and sent into exile, while Cicero, who had acted as his counsel, spent the rest of his life plotting his revenge against the woman who had so publicly defeated him.

From here Fulvia moved on scandalously fast. Her next husband was another demagogue who would be killed fighting in North Africa. She then married Antony (of Cleopatra fame). Cicero spitefully claimed that Antony had married Fulvia only for her money to pay off his debts.

Cicero also sneered that Antony was so henpecked that he handed over control of his Italian interests to Fulvia when he left Rome in 41BC to visit the eastern provinces. Far more likely, suggests Draycott, is that Antony knew just what a competent and confident caretaker Fulvia would be.

Bloody Revenge: After Cicero had described her as a shameless and wanton courtesan, Fulvia arranged for his severed head to be brought before her and she proceeded to pierce his tongue with her hair pins

She tactically married off her teenage daughter to Octavian, Antonys chief rival, as a way of neutralising his threat. Octavian, however, quickly divorced his wife and started publishing obscene poetry (too rude to quote here), claiming his mother-in-law had pestered him for sex.

Fulvia raised an army against him, leading her troops into what became known as the Perusine War. It was at this point her luck ran out and she was exiled.

How much of this is true, let alone fair? Draycott argues that Fulvia is the victim of centuries of misogyny and slipshod scholarship. Once Cicero set the ball rolling with his spiteful portrait of her as a woman as cruel as she is greedy, it was open season.

Generations of big-name historians including Plutarch, Livy and Suetonius piled in with spicy anecdotes about Fulvia without fact-checking them. It was more important to them to tell a cautionary tale about the disastrous consequences of women getting ideas.

Draycott is too scrupulous a scholar to suggest that she has uncovered new facts about Fulvias life. Instead, she makes a persuasive case that, in the Roman Republic, any woman who dared do things differently was virtually certain of going down in history as an evil femme fatale.
The Thinking Machine by Stephen Witt (Bodley Head 25, 272pp)

The Thinking Machine is available now from Mail Bookshop

In summer last year, Nvidia topped $3trillion in market capitalisation. It became the most valuable company in the world.

How did what was once a niche vendor of video game hardware achieve this? Stephen Witts thought-provoking, occasionally alarming book sets out to answer the question.

Much of Nvidias success is down to its long-serving CEO, Jensen Huang. Forget Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Jensen Huang is probably the most influential tech bro alive today.

He deserves this wide-ranging account of his life and the meteoric rise of his company, although he probably wont appreciate it. When told about the book, Huang said, I hope I die before it comes out.

By any standards, Huang is a remarkable, charismatic man. A colleague once said of him, Interacting with Jensen is like sticking your finger in the electrical socket. He was born in Taiwan and spent his early childhood in Thailand.

He arrived in rural Kentucky as a ten-year-old in 1973, despatched 8,000 miles from his parents to a foreign land where he could barely speak the language.

He was bullied and the school he attended sounds like a penal institution. There was an illiterate who introduced himself by showing off the scars from his assorted stab wounds. Huang taught him to read and he became his protector against the bullies.

After graduating from Stanford University, he worked in Silicon Valley. In 1993, he and two others founded Nvidia, the name echoing the Latin for envy. They wanted other tech firms to become green with envy at their future successes.

Huang, as described by Witt, appears to have had a Jekyll and Hyde approach to management. Often charming and self-deprecating, he could turn on employees who failed to meet his exacting standards. He would scream at his victims in front of their peers.

Jensen Huang's company Nvidia is worth roughly $3 trillion

His own commitment to Nvidia is legendary. His hobbies, one colleague told Witt, are work, email and work. Like all great entrepreneurs, his willingness to risk all is astonishing. His greatest gamble came in 2013. Nvidia had been highly successful as a producer of GPUs (graphics processing units) for computers.

Huang became an overnight evangelist for AI. He sent out an email on Friday evening saying that we were no longer a graphics company, one Nvidia employee tells Witt. By Monday morning, we were an AI company.

Plenty of people see potential dangers in AI. Huang will have none of this. Im so tired of this question, he says and launches on one of his famous rants when Witt persists in raising the subject. His company has surfed the wave of AI to accumulate incredible riches. As Witts book makes scarily clear, our future may depend on whether Huang is right.
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Every May Im full of anticipation for days at Ascot, the Chelsea Flower Show and Wimbledon  yet always faced with the same dilemma. What will I wear? If this fashion panic sounds familiar, fear not. Ive learnt some tips over the years that have served me stylishly well.

Shirt, First Academy.

Dress, Cos.

Sunglasses, Gucci.

Bag, Hewi.

Sandals, Toteme

Keep outfits simple. The sleekest people are those who choose well-cut shapes and avoid cheap fabrics.

The sleekest people are those who choose well-cut shapes and avoid cheap fabrics. Stick to your own style. Leaving your comfort zone will just make you feel uncomfortable and who wants that when youre supposed to be having fun?

Leaving your comfort zone will just make you feel uncomfortable and who wants that when youre supposed to be having fun? Avoid panic buying by browsing regularly and adding favourite looks that suit your body shape to online wish lists.

by browsing regularly and adding favourite looks that suit your body shape to online wish lists. Remember, if you cant find a dress a tailored trouser suit will never fail, or make you look frumpy.

a tailored trouser suit will never fail, or make you look frumpy. Swerve dowdy big prints and cap sleeves. If youre not keen on your upper arms and thus find sleeveless tops or dresses challenging, the answer is a tailored blazer or cropped jacket.

If youre not keen on your upper arms and thus find sleeveless tops or dresses challenging, the answer is a tailored blazer or cropped jacket. Keep things modern with a new trend. For example, choose a piece in one of this seasons hit shades  butter yellow, mocha or pale pink  then mix with a neutral such as white to dial up the freshness.

For example, choose a piece in one of this seasons hit shades  butter yellow, mocha or pale pink  then mix with a neutral such as white to dial up the freshness. For events such as Wimbledon , pale yellow, creamy white or pinstripe are suitably sleek choices. For a day at Ascot, focus on your accessories  a fabulous hat, heels and clutch can make the simplest dress look amazing.

, pale yellow, creamy white or pinstripe are suitably sleek choices. For a day at Ascot, focus on your accessories  a fabulous hat, heels and clutch can make the simplest dress look amazing. Check out UK labels that are great for event season such as The Fold, Jane Atelier, Reiss and Cefinn. Further afield I also love House of Dagmar, Rohe Frames and Toteme.

such as The Fold, Jane Atelier, Reiss and Cefinn. Further afield I also love House of Dagmar, Rohe Frames and Toteme. For inspo, look to my event dressing muses. Actress Kelly Rutherford always nails special pieces by Sezane, Massimo Dutti and The Frankie Shop; Gwyneth Paltrows pared-back style is a favourite of mine; and, of course, theres the queen of understated sleek, the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

@thestylistandthewardrobe

@youmagazine

THE DREAM JEANS

Finding the perfect white jeans for summer isnt easy. But I can recommend this barrel-leg pair by Frame. Cut with a little slouch, theyre very flattering on.

NET GAINS

See-through shoes are back again and add a fun twist to an outfit. These mesh flats by Kurt Geiger are on point.

SPOTTED

Filming for Emily in Paris season five starts this month, yet it appears Camille Razat (pictured right at Armanis Milan show in February) isnt among the cast returning to the Netflix show. Was the script not gripping enough  or was she too busy working on fashion collaborations with H&M and Emporio Armani?
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With Lurpak the price of gold bullion and a takeaway coffee requiring the sale of a kidney, many of us are reassessing our salon spend. Moving cut and colour into the non-essential column on the family spreadsheet.

But I dont think abandoning the hairdresser is necessary for many of us. It just requires honest conversations and being savvy with our money.

Colourist Josh Wood is in a good position to give advice as he owns both a hair salon in Londons Holland Park (clients include Kylie and Elle Macpherson) and a line of affordable at-home colour products. He says the days of salons making price discussions feel awkward are gone. We are all about building a realistic relationship with the customer and leaning into any budget constraints. Ultimately, he says, its a case of, How are we going to keep you looking good while factoring in your time and financial limitations? Clients will just leave salons completely if they feel they cant be upfront about what they can afford.

To ensure you save at the salon, here are our top tips

Get a low-maintenance cut. More architectural shapes, such as a bob or a pixie cut, need regular trims every six to eight weeks to stay looking sharp, says Wood. Ninety per cent of our clients have long, layered styles that require fewer visits.

More architectural shapes, such as a bob or a pixie cut, need regular trims every six to eight weeks to stay looking sharp, says Wood. Ninety per cent of our clients have long, layered styles that require fewer visits. Blondes should go for balayage (hand-painted highlights) rather than an all-over one-colour tint. The regrowth is less obvious so you can go for longer between appointments, Wood advises. Less expensive still is getting some face-framing lights and keeping the crown dark.

(hand-painted highlights) rather than an all-over one-colour tint. The regrowth is less obvious so you can go for longer between appointments, Wood advises. Less expensive still is getting some face-framing lights and keeping the crown dark. Embrace your roots. When I started in hairdressing, we were taught to get the colour starting as close as possible to the scalp. Now, he adds, theres a trend for more natural, more obvious roots. Fortuitous, as it means you can often go two months before needing a touch-up rather than one.

When I started in hairdressing, we were taught to get the colour starting as close as possible to the scalp. Now, he adds, theres a trend for more natural, more obvious roots. Fortuitous, as it means you can often go two months before needing a touch-up rather than one. Ask your hairdresser for a smudging kit. Many bougie salons have long offered a small pot of the custom-blended dye theyve just used, so clients can cover up their own roots on extended holidays (jealous, much). The rest of us can ask for the same to stretch time between salon visits by an extra month. Wood now sells Colour Extender Kits (from 36, joshwoodcolour.com). Their blending brush dispenses powder to cover greys while the coloured gloss keeps colour fresh and rich, helping to delay your next salon appointment.

Many bougie salons have long offered a small pot of the custom-blended dye theyve just used, so clients can cover up their own roots on extended holidays (jealous, much). The rest of us can ask for the same to stretch time between salon visits by an extra month. Wood now sells Colour Extender Kits (from 36, joshwoodcolour.com). Their blending brush dispenses powder to cover greys while the coloured gloss keeps colour fresh and rich, helping to delay your next salon appointment. Alternate your colour sessions with a (cheaper) gloss treatment and a blow-dry. Having an in-salon gloss treatment will de-brass, deep condition and refresh colour. Clients love how glossing brings back that freshly coloured feel, says Wood.

and a blow-dry. Having an in-salon gloss treatment will de-brass, deep condition and refresh colour. Clients love how glossing brings back that freshly coloured feel, says Wood. For brunettes, adding lighter streaks will spell fewer salon visits. A woman who is brunette but has lots of grey needs the highest maintenance  we have public figures with hair like this who come to the salon every ten days, says Wood. Adding some caramel or golden streaks means grey regrowth is not so obvious, so you can come less often.

A woman who is brunette but has lots of grey needs the highest maintenance  we have public figures with hair like this who come to the salon every ten days, says Wood. Adding some caramel or golden streaks means grey regrowth is not so obvious, so you can come less often. Allow yourself to go grey. Many of my millennial clients want to avoid the colour-maintenance trap their mothers are in, Wood says. So they accept their natural colour to save expense and time. A great grey does often require some salon expertise, though. I use a gloss to neutralise any brassiness, says Wood. And, as we dont go grey in a regular pattern, I add strategic lowlights to make the grey more polished.

Killer colour boosters

LOreal Paris Cool Silver A one-step, ten-minute hair treatment that reduces brassiness and breakage. Comes in three shades from light to dark grey.

Glaze Super Color Conditioning Gloss Neutralises any orange tones and leaves hair soft and shiny.

Josh Wood Airbrush Root Spray Disguises regrowth and lasts till the next wash.

NAME TO KNOW

Beauty brand Environ is famed for its potency  its skincare contains the max permissible levels of anti-ageing vitamin A. Previously only sold in approved salons, its also now available in Space NK where consultants have been trained to advise on the best products for your skin type (from 25, spacenk.com).

Youll never make it as a model because you are too small and much too slim

What a magazine editor told a 16-year-old Twiggy

TOP TRAVEL BUDDY

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume adds shine and delivers a divine meadow-like scent. Now it comes in this dinky travel size (19 for 15ml, cultbeauty.co.uk).
Boomer: Fancy a cuppa?

Gen Z: Id love one. My matcha powders on the counter.

Disgusting. It looks like something youd put in a dodgy cigarette.

Theres a raft of supposed health benefits, according to your Boomer bible The Telegraph. Everything from stronger bones and improved memory to defence against cancer.

Live to 100 but the trade-off is swapping my beloved Yorkshire Tea for milky pond water? No thanks.

Its actually a very specific form of leaf tea, grown in the shade in Japan, steamed and dried without being rolled, and then ground to a powder  16.49 from Holland & Barrett.

I bet the farmers whisper affirmations at the leaves while they grind them.

Dont be ridiculous. The best is ground by hand and as it takes an hour to prepare just 30g of the stuff, theres not much time for blessing it.

Matcha the day: the current go-tos for trendy tea are Blank Street and Bubbleology

All that for tea that tastes like the contents of your shoe after a rainy walk. When I tried it, it was like chewing wet hay.

Youre in the minority. Demand is so great that The Japan Times warns of a global matcha shortage  despite farmers more than tripling their output since 2010.

You wont catch my tea causing a geopolitical incident. Not unless Peta takes issue with those old PG Tips chimps.

Animal exploitation and fusty breakfast tea? Thats seriously cursed vibes. Didnt you see the survey showing only a quarter of 20-somethings ever drink a normal tea?

What do you suggest? That me and the UKs other 51 million tea drinkers switch to what one Times reader rightly labelled boiled grass water?

Its an acquired taste, but celebs love it.

Dua Lipa has more pics on Instagram with her iced matcha than with her boyfriend.

Its an aesthetic.

I can get the same aesthetic with a blender and tin of mushy peas. Itll probably taste better, too.

You need to try Blank Streets 3.90 matcha. The US-founded chain is so popular that TikTokers travel from Newcastle to its 35 London stores. One of its bestsellers is the white chocolate matcha latte with oat milk, chocolate syrup, vanilla extract and matcha.

Any options that arent going to send my body into glycaemic meltdown?

Bubble tea. The Taiwanese drink has garnered 4.5 billion views on TikTok and there are more than 400 cafes in the UK.

I dont want bubbles in my tea, thanks.

Theyre not bubbles, theyre chewy tapioca balls, duh. And its made with oolong tea, which cuts the risk of heart disease and strokes.

Chewy balls in oolong tea? Sounds like when they have to pop the fish eyes on Im a Celebrity

Wrong. The UKs biggest chain, Bubbleology, sells tasty flavours like Strawberries and Cream for 5.79. And its pink! So Instagrammable.

Drinking battery acid laced with chewy balls in the name of healthy living. What happened to builders tea and cake?

I didnt even know how to make a normal tea until I saw influencer Jessica Cuspineras TikTok tutorial (230,000 views and counting).

Brew haha: chimpanzees starred in PG Tips ads for almost 50 years, until 2002

Where can you go wrong with making tea? Its sticking a bag in a mug, not bomb disposal.

One viewer wrote, How much time, exactly, should the tea bag be in the hot water?

Easy! Steep the tea for exactly five minutes in boiled water, remove and add a splash of milk, as per the late Queens butler.

Another Gen Z-er thought you put the tea bag in cold water then heated it all in the microwave.

Save me! So much for youngsters finding a junior job, making good tea and working their way up.

Asking an intern to fetch your tea  thats definitely reinforcing outdated work hierarchies. Id call HR.

Its a test of character. And youd know exactly what to tell someone looking for a job who didnt know how long to leave in the tea bag?

Youre not a matcha?

Chai a bit harder.
When Hannah Viney hit 'rock bottom' with her cocaine addiction last year, she was bingeing 'for three or four days each week and putting drugs before everything else'.

Her 124,000-a-year interior design business had failed two years before because she couldn't keep up with the work. She was making what money she could as a cleaner.

'By the end, I was using four times a week, going without sleep and food for days at a time. I had extreme exhaustion  I was barely getting through the first two days after each bender  my skin was bad, my hair was falling out. Basically, I couldn't function.'

Her addiction is far from uncommon. According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 1,118 deaths involving cocaine registered in 2023, 30.5 per cent higher than the previous year.

Viney once crashed her car while sleep-deprived. Most of her relationships in London, where she had lived and worked from the age of 20, had broken down. Her lowest moment came last March: staying at her parents' Oxfordshire home while they were on holiday, she went on a four-day bender of booze and drugs.

'I had no other way of dealing with my emotions, other than drugs. It was four days of psychosis and loneliness.'

Hannah, 31, who has 155,000 followers on TikTok, has been sober for more than a year

By the time her brother and cousin found her by chance  they were hosting a dinner at the house  she had passed out in her childhood bedroom. 'My brother started crying, it was a difficult moment, I still find it hard to speak about.'

Viney was part of a drug-using community in the UK that gets through an estimated 117 tons of cocaine annually (according to the National Crime Agency) and is the biggest market in Europe.

But that four-day binge at her childhood home served as a turning point in her drug addiction, and the next day Viney went to her first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

'I eventually started going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings, too. For the first six weeks of my recovery, I barely spoke to anyone. I went to meetings every day. I cried, came home and that was it. Those weeks were hell.'

Viney, now 31, is telling me her story after a year of sobriety. When I meet her on Zoom, she is affable, chatty and beautiful, with high cheekbones and tousled blonde hair.

She has also, much to her surprise, become massively popular as TikTok's cocaine agony aunt, with 155k followers and 2.4 million likes (@hannahameliaviney). She isn't a trained therapist, though she's found that it's her anecdotes and disarming openness that resonate with viewers.

'I get hundreds of messages each day from people who want to talk about their drug use,' she says.

Her first video was posted just three months after she got sober. 'Initially, I started posting because I wanted to show real-time recovery, every single day,' she explains. 'I wanted to talk about my experiences, what I was feeling. Having the TikTok feed also helped to keep me accountable. I just never expected it to be so immediately popular.'

The podcast she launched last summer, Class A People  on which she interviews fellow recovering addicts  had 12 million listeners in the first three months of broadcasting; the addiction charity Turning Point has become her first sponsor and she is speaking at Glastonbury Festival this June.

Viney's drug problem began when she moved to London in 2014 aged 20. She got a job as an estate agent in West London where she was one of the youngest people in an office of 27- and 28-year-olds.

Cocaine is so normalised in the capital, she says, it was 'everywhere'. Trying to fit in at work, she would regularly go to her managers' houses to do lines of cocaine with her colleagues.

While she would max out her overdraft every month, she's reluctant to discuss exactly how much she was taking or spending.

'Something I've learnt since getting sober is that it's unhelpful to other addicts because they might read this and think, "Oh, well, I don't do that amount, therefore I'm not an addict" or "I don't do that, therefore I don't have a problem".' But it was 'a lot  by the end of my using, I shouldn't really have survived'.

In terms of money, 'I probably could have bought two houses with the amount I spent,' she says. 'Picking up drugs had become second nature. I didn't even bat an eyelid  didn't give it a second thought. I saw my drug dealers as my friends.'

Since last summer her life has changed completely. Though she's living with her parents, the success of her TikTok channel and podcast has given her a sense of purpose. 'They don't make loads of money,' she admits. 'I make maybe 200 from each podcast sponsorship, and TikTok pays me when my videos do well.'

Cocaine is normalised in London, Viney says. It was 'everywhere'

Followers are drawn by her charisma (her approachable, friendly demeanour reminds me of a young Davina McCall) and the grim fascination of following a person's sobriety journey in real time.

Every video starts with, 'Hello, my name's Hannah and I've been in recovery from drugs and alcohol for X months'

Then she goes on to bare all. Since the start of her recovery she has documented her lowest moments in her old life, such as taking cocaine while on a trip with her mum, as well as the challenges of sobriety.

There was the friend's wedding when she struggled as the only teetotal person in a roomful of drinkers: 'After a point I just didn't feel part of it I felt lonely today,' she told her followers that evening, still dressed in her wedding outfit.

Then there was her first Cocaine Anonymous meeting, where she was greeted by a familiar face: 'I had the same drug dealer for ten years,' she tells me, 'and the first day that I walked into Cocaine Anonymous, he was the greeter at the door.'

Distinctly lacking in the evangelism that has become part of much sobriety content  she's upfront about the fact that sometimes the parties were fun  Viney appeals to users who aren't quite ready for a 12-step programme.

It's the religious element, she says, that puts off some of her younger followers (many of the steps in AA require a person to relinquish themselves to a higher power). She now hosts weekly Zoom meetings for anyone interested in talking about their substance misuse but not keen to try a traditional programme.

'There's no pressure, so people can log on and just listen. People will message me saying, "I don't want to go to AA, CA or NA because I don't think I've got that big a problem", so the Zooms are more about finding community, a relaxed space for people to think about their relationship with drugs and alcohol.

'People would much rather send me a long paragraph on TikTok messenger than talk to a friend or a loved one,' she says.

She thinks the word 'addict' is too confronting  but many come to her knowing they have a problem.

'Society has told us that an addict is a person on a park bench, drinking, with a needle hanging out of their arm. They think "that's not me, therefore I'm not an addict". But then they see one of my videos and it hits a nerve.'

Viney says her biggest regret is the toll her addictions took on her family  something she is working to repair. She grew up in a middle-class family in Oxfordshire, where her parents ran their own business. They were supportive and loving. 'I feel ashamed of how I treated them  I just wasn't present,' Viney says.

She would miss family engagements and, when she did show up, acted as if it was a burden to see them 'because I was always high or dealing with a hangover'.

It was difficult to admit the extent of her problem to her parents. 'They've had questions, and I've tried my best to answer them, but it's been tough on them. No one wants to hear that their child became an addict,' she says.

Viney's mum has sent her a card every month since she started her recovery. 'She writes things that she's noticing about me, which are coming back now that I'm sober.' In the last one, she said 'You have a sense of purpose. It is a pivotal time for you. Doors are opening. New opportunities are appearing.'

Viney is now in the process of writing a book. 'I finally have a sense of peace,' she says. 'For the first time in ten years I'm not dealing with a negative voice in my head telling me I've f**ked up again, I've lost control, I've let someone down. I finally feel free.'
We moved into the flat in January of last year, my boyfriend and I. By then we had been going out for about two years. I assumed living together would be straightforward, and it has been. I look forward to seeing him every evening; he is a good cook; he is practical; he is tidy.

The trouble is that we have, it transpires, very different concepts of temperature, ventilation and smells. Those concepts being: he gets cold all the time, would live in a home that was hermetically sealed and does not mind the aroma of food. I, however, rarely get cold and could have had a good career as a sniffer dog. I smell everything  strongly and unpleasantly.

And so we entered into a window war. I would wake up early, get out of bed, go into the kitchen to make my tea and open the window. Half an hour later, he would wake up, get out of bed, go into the kitchen to make his coffee and push the window shut. The evenings were worse. My boyfriend would cook entire meals with the windows closed, the useless extractor fan fixed on a measly setting. I would walk through the front door, sniff twice and know we were having mushrooms for supper. Candles and diffusers were no help: next morning I got up and the food smells remained.

I confided in a friend at the pub. Living together was lovely, I said, but there was this weird and tricky thing about cooking and smells and windows. Oh, she said, setting down her glass, her voice becoming suddenly serious. You have to have the windows open. Always. Apparently her cousin  a boy who also didnt mind smells  never cooked with the windows open. He was a vegan so was always making stews. Eventually, she said, The smell of chickpeas baked in to the walls. The thought of our otherwise happy flat becoming a giant legume scared me so much that I went home that evening, opened all the windows and sat in the living room for a while so it could air out. It was midnight  and late January.

I felt mad sitting in the cold, but I shouldnt have: in fact, I was pre-empting a trend.

Last month, the TV presenter and property expert Kirstie Allsopp advised people to practise luften, a German ritual that involves opening windows wide every day, no matter how chilly it is, for at least ten minutes. As Allsopp explained, It is the way to deal with the majority of mould and damp problems. She didnt mention that it is also the way to deal with pesky cooking smells but Im sure she thinks that, too.

Consequently there were lots of articles with headlines like, I tried Kirstie Allsopps easy (and free) trick for fixing black mould  the results were remarkable and Struggling with mould? Kirstie Allsopp swears by this simple German trick. Of course, what people on the internet are branding a new home hack I think a lot of others just call common sense. Still, opening the windows has, sort of, gone viral.

When I proudly told my boyfriend about luften, he said that having the windows open for ten minutes in the morning was quite different from having them open for hours in the evening while cooking as, in an ideal world, I would. I ignored this, obviously.

I am not alone in long-running window wars  wars that are, it transpires, fought over matters other than just cooking smells. My bosss partner likes their house to be heated to T-shirt weather all year but will also infuriatingly open the bedroom window above the radiators that are on full blast. And hes not paying the bills!

A cold-averse colleague also describes a 20-year-long (and ongoing) battle with her husband over a back door that leads from their kitchen to a draughty conservatory. She doesnt like the cold so keeps the door shut; he doesnt bother. I can be in the living room with the door shut and I still know hes got that bloody door open. And, obviously, I cant just ask him not to do this, I have to passive-aggressively, with a massive sigh, heave myself off the sofa, pointedly slam the door shut and go and put a jumper on until the downstairs has heated up again.

These battles dont end when the weather warms. One member of YOU magazine staff reckons this time of year is, actually, the worst for the window wars. After a few days of sunshine, its like a switch flips. My husband goes, Right! and turns off all the radiators and opens all the windows  at all times. But its still freezing in the evenings.

Another says she specifically likes the windows to be closed in summer, rather than winter, because of her hayfever. Open windows let the pollen in. She is convinced her boyfriend buys her pollen-heavy flowers, like lilies, so that the flat itself becomes polleny and shes forced to crack open a window. (I admire his tactics.)

Also: noise. The same colleague whose husband now has the windows open constantly says that shes woken up by birdsong at 5am. The dawn chorus is at its peak in May! I grew up under the flight path, so am immune to sounds. My dad, however  who sleeps with the windows open  was woken up, for 26 years, systematically, every day, at 4am by the clamour of the first plane. He has now moved house.

These conflicts arent just at home, either. Safety measures mean you cannot open the windows yourself in either a simple room at a Premier Inn or a suite at The Ritz. Michelle Obama complained that the worst thing about living in the White House was not being allowed to open the windows on security grounds. There are many reasons why I will never become the first lady and/or the leader of the free world  not having been born in the United States, an (at best) flimsy understanding of geopolitics  but the idea of being unable to open windows in my own home is the primary obstacle.

After a year and a bit, my boyfriend and I still havent worked out a window system that suits us. And there is, I admit, one actual snag, that comes with keeping the windows open all the time. Not that its cold, or that its noisy, but that stuff can get in: like mice or, worse, moths.

But that is another battle altogether.
EAT

Local legends Kyoto is the Japan of old: cobbled streets and low-slung wooden machiya houses host to fashion boutiques and ramen joints (for which the culinary scene is famous). Duck down alleys in search of sashimi (above) as well as miso broth, rich and thick, slurped among chain-smoking salarymen. Near Ritsumeikan University is no-frills (and no website) Omurice Hitomi, full of locals eating the 2.80 lunch special: omurice aka egg omelette draped over ketchup-laden fried rice, served with a rich demi-glace sauce alongside delicious miso soup and pickles.

Quick bites At Kaiten Sushi Chojiro (chojiro.jp/global), sushi glides by on a conveyor belt. Order tuna akami (lean cuts) and otoro (fatty belly), iridescent mackerel and Hokkaido sea urchin, stacking empty plates until the counter before you resembles a mini Stonehenge.

On the go 7-Eleven sells surprisingly good snacks (the egg sandwich was beloved of late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain). McDonalds Teriyaki McBurger (2.15) is a tasty pork patty in sticky-sweet sauce with a habanero kick.

STAY

Haute history Sowaka (sowaka.com, doubles from 739, above) is a ryokan, or inn, in a historic building in the geisha district of Gion. Rooms blend traditional charm with touches of modern luxury  the ladies who once frequented this place would probably have appreciated the Dyson hairdryers.

Mountainside magic Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu (princehotels.com, doubles from 250) occupies a landmark site: a former elementary school completed in 1933. The building climbs up the side of a mountain, full of original features including wooden beams and arched windows that flood the space with natural light. Rooms (many of them former classrooms) are elegantly minimalist and overlook Kyoto city down below. Theres a wet room, stacked with luxury Natura Bisse skincare products, where the deep tub will rinse away your jet lag.

Dusk drinks Head up to Hotel Seiryus K36 rooftop bar for a tot or two of yuzu whisky (12). The views of Kyoto are breathtaking, especially at sunset.

LOVE

Rail travel The bullet train (Shinkansen) from Tokyo to Kyoto is magnificent, prowling into the station like a giant white cat. It costs 75 for the 513km, two-hour journey  and you wont find coffee spills on your tray table.

Go wander From Kyotos sci-fi city centre its easy to reach the old side. Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine (inari.jp) and Kinkaku-ji (shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji, above) for its golden temple and sacred, soul-enriching grounds.

Retail therapy Discount superstore Don Quijote (donki.com) is a vertical city of retail psychosis  a visual feast  where youre faced with floor after floor of commercial improbability. It has everything, and no class distinction. Think Gucci meets gutter: designer handbags slum it with bulk-buy underwear and towers of instant ramen, while Rolexes share shelf space with row after row of vibrators. With an armful of face creams, a fishing rod and some French champagne, youll realise youve found the soul of Japan, which has mastered the art of irreconcilable contradictions.
Walking into interior designer Alex Legendres home in Shoreham-by-Sea is like stepping back more than 100 years in time. It has its origins in the late 1800s, and features including the Edwardian entranceway, weathered floorboards and patches of peeling wallpaper remain intact. I felt drawn to the bones of the building, and to the joy to be found in its imperfections, says Legendre.

Alex has retained many of the propertys original features, among them this fretwork arch, and sourced reclaimed pieces throughout for added authenticity. For similar reclaimed doors try retrouvius.com.

What made her buy the house  which she shares with her partner Ging, a cafe owner  was picturing how her existing collection of antiques would complement its features.

A galley kitchen and central island make the best use of this narrow room, maximising storage space. Hard surfaces are softened with textural plasterwork and rustic runners. The pendant lamps are from pooky.com, the shades from @lightingbystacie, specialists in reclaimed lights and chandeliers.

Behind a run of glazed doors is this larder cupboard, with its raw plank shelving. Glass jars with wooden lids integrate sublimely with vintage bottles and ceramics.

As co-founder of lifestyle emporium Igigi General Store, in Hove, East Sussex, which closed in 2022 after 24 years in business, Legendre had a lock-up full of pieces collected over the decades: reclaimed materials and one-of-a-kind antiques including an old bath, original taps, chandeliers, antique fabrics and boxes of decorative finds. A hoarder, she says, I buy items I Iove and keep them in mind for future projects.

Alex has kept the front bay window a largely blank canvas with simple screening. She reupholstered the sofa herself using antique linen.

Browsing boot fairs and retail stores, Legendre has gathered pieces celebrating different cultures and textures. Furniture reupholstered in linen can be found alongside jute rugs, Turkish tapestries and distressed-leather chairs. A particular find is the artisan style brass tap/faucet from high-street store Wren Kitchens, which gives the impression of designer detailing when paired with a vintage marble sink.

Made by julieadams curtains.co.uk, the draped Roman blinds in the bedroom are heavier than the voiles in the living room (opposite), to more effectively screen the light. The pedestal table is one of Alexs favourite items, brought from her previous home.

The only structural change involved removing the wall between the dining and sitting rooms to increase the light and create an open-plan kitchen/dining space from the former pantry, galley and larder.

A small but ultra-deep bathtub was sourced to fit along a narrow wall under the window, with a wall light overhead. A selection of woven storage baskets can be found at period ironmongery specialist willowandstone.co.uk.

Mindful of her carbon footprint, Legendre seeks out pre-loved furniture that has seen years of daily use  notched surfaces, galvanised metal, bare wood, waxed details and natural fibres. Spanning many periods, it works as a whole; the palette looks monochrome at first, but on closer scrutiny reveals hints of colour in the form of clay, wood and leather.

Alex has a collection of fixtures from architectural reclamation yards waiting for the right place to be used. Case in point: this stairway (from frenchloft.com), which she brought in during the renovation.

I choose pieces that will continue to look better with age, says Legendre. It is an approach that works for the whole house.

The paint here is a mixture of three pigments (Bone, Still and Ibiza) by limewash specialist bauwerkcolour.com. It was applied in washy brush strokes to build up the layers. The wooden light switches and sockets are from shop.switchtowood.co.uk.

This is an edited extract from Colourful Homes for the Soul by Sara Bird and Dan Duchars of The Contented Nest, which will be published by Ryland Peters & Small on 13 May, 25. To pre-order a copy for 21.25 until 18 May, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over 25.

 Ryland Peters & Small
The clock is ticking for '60 Minutes.'

The once-esteemed CBS News flagship program is in a tailspin, according to insiders.

After the abrupt resignation of a top producer and a jarring on-air diatribe against the network's corporate owner, delivered by one of the show's most prominent anchors, things appear to be going from bad to worse.

Sources familiar with '60 Minutes' staff have exclusively revealed to the Daily Mail that the beleaguered newsmagazine program  plagued by ethics complaints and wilting under outside scrutiny  is in chaos, even as it braces for another blow.

On Thursday, the New York Times reported that Paramount, the parent company of CBS News, is entering into talks with lawyers for President Donald Trump to resolve claims that '60 Minutes' deceptively edited an interview with his 2020 presidential opponent, Kamala Harris.

Shari Redstone, daughter of the late media magnate Sumner Redstone and the person effectively in control of Paramount, has said that she wants to resolve the dispute.

Perhaps, it is no coincidence that Redstone is also seeking to sell Paramount to a major Hollywood studio  a sale that requires the Trump Administration's approval.

Meanwhile, all this is playing out against the backdrop of an American media institution is disarray.

In the final minute of Sunday evening's program, '60 Minutes' host Pelley (pictured) shocked audiences with a rogue monologue criticizing Paramount after Owens' departure.

Pelley claimed that 'Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways,' pointed out the pending merger and said that Owens (pictured) concluded that he had 'lost the independence that honest journalism requires.'

Sources familiar with '60 Minutes' staff have exclusively revealed to the Daily Mail that the beleaguered newsmagazine program  plagued by ethics complaints and wilting under outside scrutiny  is in chaos, even as it braces for another blow.

In the final minute of Sunday evening's program, veteran '60 Minutes' host Scott Pelley shocked audiences with a rogue monologue obliquely criticizing Paramount after the sudden departure of executive producer Bill Owens earlier that week.

Pelley claimed that 'Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways,' pointed out the pending merger and said that Owens concluded that he had 'lost the independence that honest journalism requires.' So, he quit.

Insiders tell the Daily Mail that Pelley's rebuke was kept quiet among in-the-know staffers until airtime and the network was left reeling by the public airing of dirty laundry.

Morale in the CBS newsroom had already plummeted following Owens' farewell last week, said sources, and Pelley's stinging criticism only made things worse for panic-stricken executives forced to do damage control.

'Pelley's monologue feels like another self-inflicted wound for '60 Minutes,'' Catherine Herridge, a former CBS News senior investigative correspondent, told the Daily Mail. Herridge  who was fired by CBS News last year and has alleged that news executives there attempted to censor her reporting on the Hunter Biden laptop scandal  said network alumni are lamenting the state of the program.

'Former '60 Minutes' staffers have complained to me that it is not the '60 Minutes' of Mike Wallace, Steve Kroft and tobacco industry whistleblowers,' she said, referencing the program's heyday. Now, Herridge, whose independent journalism is available at Catherine Herridge Reports, said the program is known for botching news, not breaking it.

''60 Minutes' has dismissed some of the biggest political stories of the last decade as conspiracies, including the Hunter Biden laptop,' she observed.

Former CBS News journalist Catherine Herridge (pictured) said that the program is now known for botching news, not breaking it.

Paramount is reportedly entering into talks with lawyers for Trump to resolve claims that '60 Minutes' deceptively edited an interview with his 2020 presidential opponent, Kamala Harris.

CBS claims they cut down Harris's answers for clarity and brevity, but critics alleged the edit made Harris's answers to questions on the Israel-Hamas war seem more coherent.

Indeed, veteran '60 Minutes' correspondent Lesley Stahl insisted in a 2020 interview with Trump that the contents of the Biden laptop could not be verified, which Herridge slammed as 'disappointing and wrong' and 'suggested a lack of journalistic curiosity.'

More than two years later, the network admitted the laptop's authenticity.

Then in January of this year, the Anti-Defamation League expressed outrage over a '60 Minutes' report that featured accounts from former State Department officials who painted US support for Israel as problematic.

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt accused the show of portraying a one-sided account: 'Where are the counter perspectives to those interviewed? Where is the mention of the nearly 100 hostages  including Americans - STILL in captivity!? What kind of journalism is that?' he tweeted.

'60 Minutes' latest issues spring from an October interview of Vice President Harris during her bid for the executive office.

President Trump sued Paramount and CBS a few days before the November election for $10 billion, alleging 'deceptive' editing of Harris's interview.

In February, the FCC probe requested that CBS make the full transcript of the interview public.

CBS claims they cut down Harris's answers for clarity and brevity, but critics alleged the edit made Harris's answers to questions on the Israel-Hamas war seem more coherent than they were.

'While the edit that sparked the controversy was not a technical foul, a fair-minded review showed '60 Minutes' did Harris big favors in the edit room,' Herridge said. 'It transformed rambling, word salad responses into a crisp, succinct broadcast segment.'

But even that is not the end of the '60 Minutes' saga.

According to Herridge, 'the heavy-handed edit of the Harris interview raises legitimate questions about whether, in October 2023, '60 Minutes' gave President Joe Biden the same favorable treatment in the edit room that concealed his cognitive decline.'

Of course, within a year, Biden dropped out of the race as the Democratic presidential candidate.

Herridge has called for the release of that unedited video and transcript as well.

Reports that '60 Minutes' corporate owners are preparing to settle Trump's lawsuit must come as another damaging smack to the staff at CBS News. But, perhaps, it may signal a new era  one in which the reputation of this legacy brand is restored.

Only time will tell.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

A.M. writes: I am 81 and my wife is 73, and we have been scammed out of our life savings.

I was called by a man who said he was from Capital Group, offering investment bonds.

He sent details showing the investments were safe, and on his instructions I transferred 200,000 to the bank account of Kenneth Jones Solicitors, followed by a further 300,000.

When no interest arrived, I called Capital Group and they knew nothing about it.

Gone quiet: Ajaz Ali, managing director at Kenneth Jones Solicitors

Tony Hetherington replies: This is a real tragedy. There is a genuine investment company called Capital Group, but you have been dealing with someone who stole its name as well as the name of a real person on its staff. When you checked, you found the real company and thought you were safe.

The investment bonds were decent enough, too. They came from National Grid and Tesco, and when you checked you found they existed and they offered the rates of interest you had been quoted.

Sending your money to a firm of solicitors added even more reassurance that you were on safe ground. Kenneth Jones Solicitors in Stoke-on-Trent is a genuine law firm.

You sent 200,000 to invest in Tesco bonds, and 300,000 for National Grid bonds.

The fraudster then told you that bonds from Metro Bank would pay better interest than Tesco, so you handed over your last 30,000.

Capital Group is an international company. When you called its London office to ask why no interest had arrived, it handed you over to its office in Los Angeles. Staff there realised you had been swindled and told you to call the police and to check with your bank, Lloyds.

Your bank confirmed that your money had gone to the Barclays account of Kenneth Jones Solicitors, and staff at Lloyds even contacted the law firm and were told the cash had arrived.

But when you called the solicitors, you were told twice that the head of the firm would call you back, but no call came. You also emailed, but they failed to reply.

The law firm is headed by Ajaz Ali, a qualified solicitor. He has so far refused to tell you  or me  what happened to your money. You might have thought that when over half a million pounds landed in his firm's account, it would have to be accompanied by your instructions as to what he should do with it.

Perhaps he followed instructions from the crook (not knowing what the truth was) who had told him what to do when the money arrived. But at the moment we just do not know.

Capital Group  the real one  told me it would do everything it could to help. I have also been in close contact with the watchdog, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and with Staffordshire Police.

The SRA says it has 'serious concerns', adding: 'We are investigating and will take prompt enforcement action if we identify misconduct.'

The watchdog is now liaising with the police.

The loose end in all this is Ajaz Ali and his law firm, which has said nothing. If he now decides to break his silence and reveal where your money went, I'll be happy to publish it here.

Metric meter mix-up

N.D. writes: In January I switched to British Gas, and in March they sent me a bill for 1,424.

The problem is that they are converting the gas units into cubic feet instead of cubic metres.

I have spent three days on the phone to British Gas, but I am banging my head against a wall!

Confusion: British Gas are converting the gas units into cubic feet instead of cubic metres

Tony Hetherington replies: British Gas offered to send an engineer to check your meter, but you knew the fault lay in the way the reading was turned into a bill, using the wrong multiplier.

It was as if you had gone to a petrol station, put ten litres of fuel into your car, and then been charged for ten gallons.

You told me that between March and April you contacted British Gas no less than 22 times. Two people you spoke to seemed to understand the issue and said they would sort it out, but you never heard from them again.

You helpfully sent me a photo of the meter, and I pointed out to British Gas that the registration number on it did not match the number shown on the bill.

This was the key to unravelling what had gone wrong. A new meter had been installed recently, using metric readings instead of your old one's imperial system.

British Gas said your previous supplier failed to record the meter change. Your bill has now been slashed by about two thirds, and you will also be getting 300 from British Gas as a goodwill payment to back up its apology for not sorting this out sooner.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Many of us will be encouraged by the recent declaration that 70 is the new 50. This assertion did not come from a cosmetics firm or health spa, but from the respected International Monetary Fund.

Based on improvements in physical and mental health, the agency argues that people in their seventies today are as intellectually sharp and as strong as fifty-somethings were just a quarter of a century ago.

And it looks set to continue, not least because people are increasingly conscious of their fitness and nutrition. Under-30s are in the vanguard but they are not alone. A recent survey suggests that consumers of all ages would rather spend their cash on wellbeing than almost anything else.

Longer lifespans are great, but they do present society with challenges on elder care  and make it even more important to build our investment portfolios so we can enjoy the extra years.

Here are three shares that should profit from current trends.

Gym Group

Chief Executive of The Gym Group, Will Orr, has developed a plan for growth - focused on retaining members, attracting new ones and expanding the chain

More than 11 million Britons are members of a gym, and this is good news for low-cost chain The Gym Group. Founded by former squash champion John Treharne in 2007, it started with one outlet in West London and today has almost 250 dotted across the country.

Treharne had a strategy in mind from the start  low-cost, no-frills gyms that offer clean, well-equipped spaces, friendly staff and flexible membership. The formula continues to this day.

Members can join from as little as 14.99 per month and average prices are less than half those of fancier clubs and chains.

Times have changed since 2007, however. Fitness fads have evolved and most new members come via social media sites.

When Will Orr joined as chief executive in 2023, the business had rather lost its way  investors were frustrated and the shares had fallen to below 1.

Orr developed a plan for growth, focused on retaining members, attracting new ones and expanding the chain, while keeping a weather eye on profits.

Results for 2024 were encouraging. Sales rose 11 per cent to 226 million, underlying profits were 24 per cent ahead at 48 million and membership numbers increased 7 per cent to almost 1 million. Crucially, the financial returns are rising on new and existing gyms.

Orr aims to open around 50 more gyms over the next three years, funded from cash within the business.

Brokers are supportive too, expecting strong growth in sales and profits this year and next. That makes the shares seem undervalued at 1.40.

Encouragingly, Orr spent 30,000 of his own cash on stock just last month, buying 22,000 shares at 1.37. Follow his lead.

Traded on main market Ticker: GYM

Contact: tggplc.com

Camellia

Extensive research has shown that tea, in moderation, can reduce the risk of heart disease, manage blood sugar levels and boost immunity against disease.

Welcome news for a nation of tea drinkers, and also for Camellia, the worlds largest independent producer. Based in Kent, each year Camellia handles more than 100,000 tons of tea leaves from plantations in India, Bangladesh and East Africa.

They can be found in almost every UK cuppa but are also sold around the world.

New chief executive, Byron Coombs, has been selling non-core businesses, bolstering the balance sheet and focusing on growth

The group also specialises in avocados and macadamia nuts, both of which have been credited with health benefits.

Camellias avocado estates are in Kenya, where production has soared to more than 15 million tons in recent years.

And American and Japanese consumers are big fans of macadamia nuts, using them for salads and confectionery.

Results for 2024 were encouraging. A new chief executive, Byron Coombs, has been selling non-core businesses, bolstering the balance sheet and focusing on growth.

Dividends have been reinstated, with expectations of steady increases to come.

Profits fell year-on-year but a plan to enhance value for shareholders is due to be unveiled later this month.

Camellia is built for the long term and its choice of crops plays into global health trends. At 46, the shares should deliver sustainable rewards for patient investors.

Traded on Aim Ticker: CAM

Contact: camellia.plc.uk

Target Healthcare

One consequence of improvements in health is longer life expectancy. In 2013 the UK boasted 10.4 million over-65s. Today, there are around 13 million.

But many will be affected by conditions such as dementia and frailty in later years. Target Healthcare caters to these senior citizens, helping them to enjoy their old age rather than suffer through it.

Investment expert Joanne Hart lists three shares that should profit from current trends

The company was founded by Kenneth MacKenzie when he discovered that most care homes did not offer private bathrooms. Appalled, he set up Target. Today there are 94 sites, with 6,400 bedrooms, almost every one of which has ensuite facilities.

Target owns the properties and leases them to care home operators, mostly small businesses.

MacKenzie takes welfare seriously and results suggest he is doing a good job. Rents are rising, profits are growing and brokers expect a dividend of 5.88p for the year to June, which is rising steadily. Target shares have risen more than 25 per cent to 99p since Midas recommended them 18 months ago, but the price is still low as assets have been independently valued at 1.12 a share.

MacKenzie is keen to expand his business. Recent bid activity in the sector proves that predators are circling too. At 99p the stock is a buy  and the near 6 per cent yield is an added attraction.

Traded on main market Ticker: THRL

Contact: targethealthcarereit.co.uk
The cyber attacks in the news have been aimed at Marks & Spencer, the Co-op and Harrods, but this is not just a issue for retailers. Hackers can strike almost any firm, in any line of business, at any time and anywhere in the world.

The terrifying truth for business leaders  and for investors  is that the risk is practically universal. FTSE 100 bosses and entrepreneurs running small firms are living in fear they could be next.

Cyber attacks have cost UK companies 44 billion in lost revenue over the past five years and have affected 52 per cent of firms, says insurance broker Howden.

Some have called in former hostage negotiators, skilled in dealing with blackmailers and terrorists. Others have claimed on their insurance policies to pay ransom demands, fuelling concerns that the very existence of such cover encourages the criminal gangs.

Typically, they find a way in through chinks in a company's cyber armour, such as the IT systems of a supplier.

Under attack: Hackers can strike almost any firm, in any line of business, at any time and anywhere in the world

A hacking gang known as DragonForce claimed responsibility for the attacks on M&S, Co-op and Harrods.

Some experts said they bore the hallmarks of a group of teenage blackmailers under the name of Scattered Spider.

Whichever criminals were involved, they launched the devastating assault over the Easter bank holiday.

Top brass at M&S will be highly reluctant to pay a ransom, as and when a demand is made. Typically, this happens via the dark web and hackers demand payment in cryptocurrency.

Experts say the retailer's case, now in its third week, is a classic 'ransomware' attack, where data systems are infiltrated, disabled and only unfrozen when a ransom is paid.

The damage done to M&S is there for all to see. Shelves have been emptied. Customers have been unable to place orders via its website and app, warehouse staff have been sent home and the retailer's popular click-and-collect service remains suspended, though contactless payments in store have been restored.

Even recruitment has been paused as fears grow that the cyber crisis could take months to resolve.

There are concerns that working from home could be a risk factor. According to M&S's latest annual report: 'The sophistication and frequency of cyber-attacks continue to increase' as the company operates 'a hybrid work model'.

Outsourcing IT by using contractors is also an issue. M&S adds: 'Our reliance on key third parties for selected services and/or hosting of data also exposes us to risks from vulnerabilities in their cyber and data controls.'

The Co-op admitted on Friday that hackers had been able to access a 'significant number' of its customers' personal data, including names and addresses but not passwords or financial information such as credit card details of its 6.2million members.

In November last year Co-op's rival Morrisons was hit by hackers who targeted its warehouse technology supplier Blue Yonder. The NHS, the Guardian newspaper and the British Library have also been subject to ransomware attacks  causing serious short-term disruption to their systems.

In some cases, the damage is fatal. Foreign exchange firm Travelex collapsed six months after a ransomware attack at the end of 2019. Administrators cited the incident as a key factor.

'It's a threat to all of us,' said George Weston, chairman of Primark owner Associated British Foods. Cyber crime is 'a risk you're never fully on top of, no matter how hard you work at it'.

Sleepless nights: M&S shoppers are unable to buy items online, such as pyjamas modelled by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

His views are echoed by Barclays chief executive CS Venkatakrishnan, who said the bank spent 'a lot of time, attention and money on' cyber security.

He added: 'This I think is for the foreseeable future close to the top of any business leader's list of things to worry about and spend time on.'

Of the M&S attack he said: 'We always try to stay one step ahead but, as this incident seems to indicate, it is a very dangerous world out there so we do our best to protect ourselves, learn from others.'

At Lloyds, finance chief William Chalmers said the bank had invested hundreds of millions of pounds in cyber security.

The scale of the threat to businesses across the board was laid bare in a recent Government report, which said: 'For the serious and organised crime gangs behind the global fraud industry, ransomware is an increasingly lucrative part of their operations.'

Ransomware attacks on UK firms 'significantly increased between 2024 and 2025', the report added, with an estimated 19,000 companies falling victim to a ransomware attack over the period.

The National Cyber Security Centre reckons 76 per cent of UK businesses experienced a cyber security incident in the past year.

Most were from lower-level 'phishing' attacks, where fake emails or websites are used to gain access to a user's password or credit card details to harvest cash.

Smaller firms are not immune and can be seen as a softer touch.

One key question is whether companies are employing enough board directors with expertise in this field.

Most chairmen and chief executives are in their 50s or above  decades older than the teenage hackers of Scattered Spider who grew up online. If anything, boardrooms seem to have grown weaker in this respect.

In 2021, nearly 40 per cent of company boards had a director with specific responsibility for cyber security. This has fallen sharply to just over a quarter.

That, says Oli Buckley, professor in cybersecurity at Loughborough University, is unsatisfactory.

'Ultimately the buck stops with the chief executive and the board,' he added. 'Boards don't need to become experts in the technical minutiae such as firewalls or encryption, but they do need to be actively engaged, ask the right questions, and ensure the right structures are in place.'

The cost of ransomware attacks has led to the growth of cyber insurance.

Policies generally cover business interruption losses incurred during an attack and the cost of restoring IT systems afterwards.

They also pay ransom-related costs, such as negotiation or legal advice, and even the payment itself  up to a set limit.

'Most of our members offer cover where they will reimburse the payment of a ransomware demand,' said Chris Mather, an underwriter at the Lloyd's Market Association.

'Ransomware claims make up a big chunk of overall cyber claims. It's a very popular cover.' But payouts are only made after sanctions and financial crime checks have been carried out.

'Payments can't be reimbursed that have been made to prescribed individuals or entities such as terrorists,' said Mather.

It is unclear how many companies pay up to stop a cyber attack.

Only half of businesses have a rule or policy not to pay ransomware demands. 'Cyber insurance is not a silver bullet,' Prof Buckley said.

'Insurers require organisations to demonstrate strong cybersecurity controls before offering comprehensive cover, in the same way your contents insurance depends on you having locks on the doors.'

For investors, cyber-security is a key issue, given the damage it can do to share prices.

M&S shares, which had been rising strongly, have been hit. The price has fallen more than 8 per cent, wiping 700 million off the company's stock market value (see chart).

Susannah Streeter at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown said: 'It's a wake-up call for organisations to ensure their IT systems have fortress-like security given the determination of hackers to cause widespread disruption, and both financial and reputational damage.'

The problem is that, however hard a business tries to secure its systems, it has to be watertight all of the time, whereas the hackers need only be lucky once.

Additional reporting by Emily Hawkins, John-Paul Ford Rojas and Richard Marsden
Female entrepreneurs still face huge barriers trying to finance ventures, a new report reveals this week.

Discrimination against mid-life women is thwarting their ambition and depriving the economy of as much as 250 billion, the study found.

Women starved of bank finance or venture capital funds are forced to rely on savings or remortgage. So just 19 per cent of startups are led by women. Trinny Woodall, boss of make-up brand Trinny London, is among those to speak out.

'Fundraising wasn't easy at first. I often was the only woman in the room,' she said. Some male investors could not see the potential as they were not the target market for cosmetics.

Speaking out: Trinny Woodall is founder of make-up brand Trinny London

Woodall set up the firm in her kitchen in 2017, selling her home to obtain funding. The brand, which focuses on mid-life women, is now pushing for annual sales of 75 million.

The report was compiled for HSBC by a network for mid-life women called Noon led by writer Eleanor Mills. It found 69 per cent of mid-life female entrepreneurs got going with savings or homes loans against 4 per cent from individual 'angel' investors, 3 per cent from bank loans and 2 per cent from venture capital.
Simon May not only penned the theme tune to EastEnders, but also composed the music for Howards' Way, Eldorado and Crossroads, as well as a string of hit singles, writes Dan Moore.

The composer, 80, started his career, after graduating from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, as a modern languages and music teacher, before catching the eye of BBC producers with his co-written musical Smike. This led to EastEnders where he also penned the chart-topping Nick Berry single Every Loser Wins.

A father of four, Simon lives with Rosie, his wife of 50 years, in Guildford, Surrey. He is currently considering new venues for his popular musical, Rick!, which is based on Washington Irving's classic story, Rip Van Winkle.

What did your parents teach you about money?

My father, Don, ran a furniture business. He was an altruist and philanthropist who was more concerned about his customers than making a profit.

With this in mind, I'd say the best advice I got from my father and mother, Eileen, was that money is not the most important thing in the world.

In a way, I wish they had felt more able to give me the experience of their lives, even when I was doing well. Advising me to save in the good years for the lean times would have been welcome, but they just didn't think like that. I've tried to make up for that with our children.

Key worker: Simon May not only penned the theme tune to EastEnders, but also composed the music for Howards' Way, Eldorado and Crossroads

Was money tight when you were growing up?

My brother, Michael, and I had a reasonably comfortable upbringing. We weren't wealthy but we were not short of a roof over our heads, food or an education.

As a child, my parents made sacrifices to send us both to public school in Wiltshire  Dauntsey's School. They prioritised our education and we benefited so much.

What has been your biggest money mistake?

It was a massive financial mistake on my part. I personally financed a concert tour for the Simon May Orchestra through my company. We booked Drury Lane Theatre and Fairfield Halls in Croydon, among others. The result was that we lost an eye-watering six-figure sum.

Have you ever struggled to make ends meet?

Yes, due to that tour, and to say Rosie and I were struggling would be an understatement.

It was a very stressful 12 months. We had to sell our home, a beautiful thatched cottage, when our youngest was three and the oldest 13. It was a great life lesson and I became far more budget conscious.

What was the best year of your financial life?

Undoubtedly 1986  EastEnders had been released and Howard's Way was massively popular. I also had a string of chart hits including Every Loser Wins, Marti Webb's version of the Howards' Way theme and Anita Dobson's EastEnders single Anyone Can Fall In Love.

We had a few nice holidays off the back of our success, and we bought our home for a song  as in the songs paid for it!

What was your best financial decision?

To invest in our children's education. They went to state and independent schools, which gave them a balanced education.

What is the most expensive thing you bought for fun?

An original Wurlitzer jukebox, which has pride of place in our kitchen-lounge.

I bought it in 1970 for the equivalent of 10,000 in today's money, just before I met Rosie.

When she moved in, 90 per cent of the records on it were my hits and recordings. Just like my wardrobe was packed with my clothes. Over time, I found that all the records on the jukebox were

Rosie's and all the wardrobe space was taken up with her clothes.

In harmony: Simon, centre left, with his 1970s vocal group Rain

Do you save or invest in the stock market?

I am a reformed spender. Rosie has Premium Bonds, while I have recently opened a cash ISA into which I deposit money each month by direct debit.

I taught for many years and had a teacher's pension, but I had to cash it in one year when all four of our children were in private education. Now my pension is my copyrights for EastEnders, Eldorado and so on.

Do you own property?

We have just moved into a lovely two-bed apartment which overlooks the centre of Guildford, with a tiny mortgage.

When we moved from the nearby village of Bramley, I went through the ceremony of cutting up all my credit cards  apart from my American Express, which is handy when we go on holiday.

What is the one little luxury you treat yourself to?

Instead of three weeks in an average hotel, we prefer to spend one in a luxury hotel.

If you were Chancellor, what's the first thing you would do?

I would back off the National Insurance contributions hike and put a heavy tax on crypto dealers and investors' profits instead. Employers should not have to face a crippling NIC levy.

I would also stop penalising our farmers, so we are less reliant on imported produce. The Government's policy on farming is the most ridiculous and spiteful policy, apart from putting VAT on private schools. This tax penalises parents who want the best for their children, who, in turn, will greatly benefit the economy in years to come.

Starmer has done a sterling job on foreign affairs, but he needs to rethink these domestic matters.

What is your number one financial priority?

Now that we've moved and our lives are getting more settled, I'd like to get back to speaking publicly with NMP Live. I really enjoy entertaining, and it brings in welcome funds.
While the true identity of DB Cooper has been a mystery for decades, an expert says he could be unmasked in months.

The enigma behind Cooper - the man who jumped out of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 with thousands in cash after handing a stewardess a note demanding the ransom on November 24, 1971 - has long stumped the FBI.

Over the years, several names have been tossed around from Richard McCoy Jr. to Vince Peterson, but no one has officially taken the crown as the real DB Cooper.

'I think it's a very real possibility we figure out who this guy was this year,' independent Investigator Eric Ulis told DailyMail.com. 'So it's actually really, really pretty thrilling.

'So I feel very good that ultimately, there's a real possibility we're going to have a pretty good idea who this guy was within the next 10 months, by the end of this year.'

Cooper was flying between Portland and Seattle when he made his heist, demanding $200,000 in cash and four parachutes in exchange for keeping the 42 souls onboard alive.

He wanted the money once they landed in Seattle and the mysterious man then ordered the pilots to refuel and head toward Mexico.

While 10,000 feet over Washington, he left from the rear of the plane with the ransom strapped to his waist.

The enigma behind Cooper - the man who jumped out of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 with thousands in cash after handing a stewardess a note demanding the ransom on November 24, 1971 - has long stumped the FBI

Pictured: The infamous Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, which Cooper hijacked

A JCPenney clip-on tie may lead to the breakthrough in his identity as it was left behind during the infamous hijack. Now a speck of a chemical on the discarded tie has opened the door to an explosive theory that could finally reveal the true identity of the elusive suspect

The famous conman then disappeared into thin air, leading to a 50-year investigation into the hijacker's real identity.

However, there have been a few recent updates that offer promising leads.

A JCPenney clip-on tie may lead to the breakthrough in his identity as it was left behind during the infamous hijack.

A speck of a chemical on the discarded tie has opened the door to an explosive theory that could finally reveal the true identity of the elusive suspect.

While the FBI closed its investigation into Cooper in July 2016, the tie remains in the bureaus possession. Only a handful of people have ever been allowed access to it.

Over a 20-year period the FBI interviewed more than 1,000 suspects, but the real culprit has never been revealed.

DailyMail.com takes a look at the top suspects for the bewildering plane hijacker.

DB Cooper smoked many cigarettes while on the flight and used a matchbook made in Oak Ridge to light it. Ralph Cooper was a longtime employee at Oak Ridge and had a brother named Dan Cooper (picutred), who was shot by police

1. Dan Cooper

DB Cooper smoked many cigarettes while on the flight and used a matchbook made in Oak Ridge to light it.

Ralph Cooper was a longtime employee at Oak Ridge, working there from 1962 to 1997, and he had a brother named Dan.

Dan Cooper was accidentally shot dead by police in August 1960 while helping law enforcement search for a fugitive cop killer near his home in Heiskell, Tennessee. His father, Kaley Cooper, was also shot but survived.

The Cooper family later sued the local sheriff, seeking $400,000 in damages: $200,000 for the death of Dan Cooper and $200,000 for the injuries sustained by Kaley Cooper.

The family lost the Kaley Cooper suit, meaning they missed out on a $200,000 settlement - the same amount requested by DB Cooper a decade later in 1971.

There is no concrete evidence linking the shooting of Dan Cooper to the DB Cooper heist, but Ulis thinks it might be worth looking into.

However, Ulis theorized its possible that DB Cooper was a colleague of Ralphs and used his brothers name as an alias in a wink-and-nod reference.

Its possible that DB Cooper knew of this story because it was well-reported in the media at the time, Ulis said. Maybe it was a subtle reference, or maybe its just a name he subconsciously latched onto.

Who knows? But its something interesting to consider as this investigation moves forward,' Ulis said.

The children of Richard McCoy Jr. believe their father was the real DB Cooper , and claim they have the parachute to prove it

2. Richard McCoy Jr.

McCoy's children - Chante and Richard III 'Rick' McCoy - had always suspected their father may have been DB Cooper but had refrained from coming forward until their mother died as they believed she was complicit in the crime.

When she passed away, they reached out to amateur investigator Dan Gryder to tell their story.

The YouTuber said he discovered what he believes to be the parachute and rig used by Cooper while visiting the McCoy family's North Carolina property in July 2022.

'We stumbled upon this happenstance, which caused us to have access to this building, and we went up in that building and we looked around it,' he told the DailyMail.com.

'We didn't find [the rig] quickly. It took me and two other people like four hours. We all discovered that together, equally, and completely random.'

Cooper's hijacking demands had included that authorities give him four parachutes, which were supplied by a local skydiving center.

Gryder explained that the parachute found in the McCoy's storage unit has the same unique alterations as the chutes in the Cooper hijacking.

Another crucial piece of evidence is a logbook that aligned with Cooper's hijacking over Oregon as well as the Utah hijacking McCoy was convicted of that took place months later.

What stands out is that McCoy had a test jump on September 1971, two months before the Cooper heist, and again on March 1972, one month before the Utah hijacking.

Ameuter Investigator Dan Gryder with the parachute he believes belongs to Cooper

On April 7, 1972, McCoy commandeered United Airlines Flight 855, another Boeing 727, en route from Newark, New Jersey, to Los Angeles, California.

He demanded $500,000 in cash and parachuted out the plane as soon as he had the money. He was arrested after the FBI received a tip from a concerned citizen.

McCoy was later sentenced to 45 years in prison for the heist, but later broke out of the maximum security with three other prisoners. The hijacker was eventually shot and killed by agents in his Virginia Beach home after being tracked down in 1974.

Gryder explained that the North Carolina farm was owned by McCoy's mother and she had kept those items in memory of her son.

'She was kind of a hoarder of emotional things, pictures, letters, scrapbooks. This was her prized son. She was very proud of Richard Floyd McCoy. She knew full well that he did two hijacking. Those rigs and those artifacts became treasured family heirlooms,' he said.

McCoy's grave is on the property and his headstone lists his military accomplishments including his experience with parachuting - implying he was capable of making the jump on November 24, 1971.

For years the authorities have sought answers and Gryder told DailyMail.com that the FBI is taking his new find very seriously and conducting DNA tests.

'Finding the parachute is not conclusive, it's not going to solve it, that's all circumstantial. What the FBI is going to have to have is solid DNA, and that is the path,' Gryder said.

Money found that matched the ransom bills given in the heist

'Their entire goal is a positive DNA lock, and that's the end towards which they are working.'

Gryder told DailyMail.com there are parts of Rick's DNA that lined up 'perfectly' with that of DB Cooper, possibly indicating a partial match of a relative. He added that investigators are now seeking to exhume the body for further testing in a bombshell revelation.

'All [the McCoy children] were able to tell us is that there's DNA markers that are present, and they have X amount of those that line up perfectly like Swiss cheese models where all the holes in the Swiss cheese eventually line up, but they need more of those markers, and where they have fallen down is the difference between the son's DNA and the necktie versus actual Richard Floyd Mccoy,' he said.

'Indisputable DNA, which would give them more of those markers, is what is what they're looking for. That that's where they were at on the thing. And that's how come they've requested to exhume the body, which is a huge deal.'

Michigander, Walter R. Reca, allegedly admitted he was Cooper to a friend, 2018 recordings showed. Reca died in 2014 at the age of 80

3. Walter R. Reca

Michigander Walter R. Reca allegedly admitted he was Cooper to a friend, 2018 recordings showed.

The 82nd Airborne paratrooper, who went on to become a covert intelligence operative for several governments, says he handed a stewardess a note announcing the hijacking that said: 'This is a hijack and I've got explosives.'

'She said: "I can't believe you're actually hijacking this airplane." I said: "I can't believe it either but I'm serious,"' Reca recalled.

As a result of his admission, a team of investigators in Michigan are certain that Reca is the true identity of Cooper.

They claim that 'Cooper' was a former Army paratrooper and war veteran who survived the jump and went on to become a high-level covert intelligence operative for several governments.

Reca died in 2014 at the age of 80.

Petersen worked as a Boeing subcontractor at a titanium plant and fits the evidence left behind by the infamous hijacker

4. Vince Peterson

Ulis also previously claimed in 2023 that Vince Peterson, an engineer, could be the culprit.

Petersen worked as a Boeing subcontractor at a titanium plant and fits the evidence left behind by the infamous hijacker.

He would have been 52 at the time of the crime and has been long dead.

Ulis - who was five when the plane-jacking occurred - first landed on Petersen's name after analyzing microscopic evidence left on the clip-on black tie DB left before he parachuted out of the plane.

Several of the particles found were consistent with specialty metals used in the aerospace sector, such as titanium, high-grade stainless steel and aluminum, Ulis explained.

The sleuth claimed he found 'three particles of a very rare alloy of titanium and antimony that have a very specific balance, a very specific blend.' Ulis then paired the alloy with a US patent given to the Boeing subcontractor in Pittsburg.

The company is no longer around which but Ulis managed to interview a man who worked there as a supervisor and pointed to Peterson.

Peterson is also a match for the physical description of DB, which Ulis described as 'between the ages of 45-50, clean-cut, conservative, with a high forehead and roughly six foot one'.

After hearing the description, the supervisor reportedly responded immediately, saying: 'That sounds like Vince Petersen.'

Sheridan Peterson was one of the chief suspects in the notorious 1971 hijacking

5. Sheridan Peterson

Sheridan Peterson was one of the chief suspects in the notorious 1971 hijacking.

Peterson, who once admitted even his friends believed it was him, died on January 8, 2021, in Northern California, according to an obituary posted online.

His cause of death is not clear, but he leaves behind a son and daughter.

Peterson long claimed that, at the time of the skyjacking, he was living in a mud hut in Nepal working on a 'protest novel' about his experiences in Vietnam.

But he also toyed with the idea he could be the mysterious DB Cooper on several occasions over the years and his ex-wife once said she believed it could have been him.

Investigators long suspected Peterson could have been the notorious hijacker due to his time in the Marines and work for aerospace giant Boeing.

He also loved skydiving and was a smokejumper - the name for the highly trained firefighters who parachute into wildfire zones - and was prone to quirky risk-taking, such as experimenting with homemade bat wings.

Within weeks of the November 24 hijacking, FBI agents showed up to interview Peterson's ex-wife at her high school counseling office in Bakersfield, California.

Asked if her ex-husband could be DB Cooper, she replied: 'Yes, that sounded like something he'd do.'

Many years later in 2004, the FBI took a DNA test from Peterson to compare it against a clip tie that DB Cooper left behind on Northwest Orient flight #305.

After the test was taken, he was never publicly ruled out by the FBI - unlike other suspects who were DNA tested.

Peterson has also reveled in the speculation surrounding him, writing in a 2007 essay for trade publication Smokejumper that 'the FBI had good reason to suspect me'.
It was a dangerous love triangle marked by betrayal, passion, wealth and intrigue  all of it set against the ominous, overcast beauty of the mountainous Pacific Northwest.

One man was a well-regarded dog trainer to the stars, the other was a security consultant and firearms enthusiast, and the woman at the center of the case was a lithe blonde heiress who insists to this day she was nothing but a victim when the fallout of her relationships descended into murder.

Theres never been any doubt that Linda Opdycke's security guard boyfriend, Michiel Oakes, fatally shot her ex-husband, canine expert Mark Stover, in Washington State in 2009.

Oakes admitted to the crime at a trial.

But the events leading up to that killing remain murky. When the judge handed down Oakes sentence of 26 and a half years, he said, [I have] more questions now than I did when we picked a jury.

A new podcast - produced by 48 Hours+ called Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, The Heiress and The Bodyguard - is attempting to explore the missing pieces more than 15 years after the murder.

To be able to tell a story with this detail, I think listeners will be fascinated as we go on this rollercoaster ride,' Peter Van Sant, the host of Trained to Kill, told the Daily Mail. 'Its just an extraordinary journey.

The veteran correspondent first heard about the murder in his childhood stomping grounds of Anacortes, Washington, when he got the heads-up from one of his best friends who lives about 10 miles away.

The call came not long after Stover vanished in October 2009.

Dog trainer Mark Stover and heiress Linda Opdycke were together for 14 years, three of them married, before their 2007 divorce. He was convicted of stalking her the following year

Firearms and security expert Michiel Oakes began a relationship with Opdycke after the divorce. He admitted to the 2009 killing of Stover, whose body has never been found

He called me up and said, Youre not going to believe this,' Van Sant recalled.

He described the region as a place of peace and tranquility and remarkable physical beauty.

Here was this horrible, horrible murder case that stunned not only the people of Anacortes but the people of the state of Washington.

Stover, 57, was last heard from on Oct. 27, 2009, two years after his divorce from Opdycke. His body still has not been found.

In 2008, before his disappearance, the dog trainer was convicted of stalking his ex-wife. While some close to Opdycke thought the stalking had subsided, the new couple believed Stover just started trailing Oakes instead.

Oakes admitted to killing Stover out of self defense.

However, a jury didn't believe his story.

In October 2010, after more than three days of deliberations, Oakes was convicted on charges of premeditated first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 26 and a half years in prison and has been there ever since.

But many have questioned whether Oakes acted alone  specifically zeroing in on Opdycke and her father as possible co-conspirators. They were never charged and always denied involvement.

An evolving romance

It all began in the early 1990s, when wealthy socialite Opdycke  the daughter of Washington tycoon Wally Opdycke  looked for a dog trainer in the phonebook. She found Stover, a trainer for the pooches of the stars.

In fact, hed built such a reputation as a dog whisperer that his clients included some of the states wealthiest residents: Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.

I dont know how to explain it, Mimi Howard, one of Stover's clients, told the Seattle Times two months before the murder trial. It was like he spoke dog.

His talents didnt immediately impress Opdycke, however, who told Van Sant during a 2010 interview for CBS's 48 Hours that she found Stover arrogant and he actually rubbed me the wrong way initially.

Yet he seemed also to know a fair amount about dogs, so I thought, Lets try this out.

The new podcast includes audio clips of the interview with Opdycke, quotes from Stover's sister, Van Sant's pre-trial conversations with Oakes and snippets of threatening voicemails left by the murder victim.

Van Sant told the Daily Mail that, in the more than 10 years it's been since he covered the case for the 48 Hours show, he's 'always wanted to do, in a way, the movie version... which is what this [podcast] is.

'We have so much material we were never able to get to - so much detail and inside information. The podcast is, journalistically, for me... just a treasure.'

Despite her first impressions and the fact that she was 12 years younger than Stover, Opdycke told Van Sant she was quickly drawn in by the trainer's incredibly bright, eccentric, charismatic and very witty personality.

He asked her on a fishing date and they bonded over their love of the outdoors. They soon became not only a couple but business partners as well. The couple opened a dog training enterprise on a private Washington Island owned by Opdyckes family.

By 2002, the business was raking in millions, and the pair decided to tie the knot, marrying in Las Vegas.

In the years after the wedding, Opdycke claims Stovers behavior became increasingly erratic. She told Van Sant she had learned Mark was really somebody different than I had thought he was.'

Oakes, pictured with Opdycke, said his girlfriend had no involvement in Stover's killing. He claimed self defense, saying Stover had been threatening his family and had suggested a meeting at his home where he shot at Oakes first

Oakes reenacted the murder as he said it went down during his trial. But a Washington State jury still found him guilty of premeditated first-degree murder. He was sentenced in 2010 to 26 and a half years in prison

He was in rages and he had tantrums all the time, everyday  and it was very, very difficult to live with. I saw him becoming more aggressive with people, for example, on the property.

Much of the difficulty stemmed from the trainers preoccupation with finances, she said.

The last few years of being in a relationship with him was incredibly difficult, she continued. The more the business began making money, the more obsessed he became with money I would buy maybe a $5 item at the grocery store and he would be in a rage about it.

'For example, an avocado - that was too much money [and] really upset him.

She told Stover she was leaving him in 2005.

He went just sheer white, Opdycke told Van Sant. His eyes went just crazy. He clenched his hands and fists and he was just in a shaking rage.

He says, Youve got war! Im not going to grant this to you. Youve got a big fight on your hands.

From love to obsession

Opdycke left Stover living on her familys island and moved to the other side of the state, putting a mountain range between the two of them as Stovers behavior escalated.

He left her frightening and threatening voicemails which Van Sant plays on the podcast. Stover can be heard growling, This is war this is g****n war. Youve wrecked my life enough.

He was driving all over the state to try to find me, she continued. I probably had 50 or 100 calls on any given day.

He told me that he would hunt me down and he was going to ruin my life.

Stover started turning up in her new town 150 miles away and even in her house. She believed he was also surveilling her bedroom as Stover was able to accurately recount details of a romantic encounter shed shared with his former best man.

If she wanted to hurt him and really knock his feet out from under him, says Stovers sister, Vicky Simmons, then the relationship with his best man could be about the worst thing she could choose to do.'

Stover finally granted her a divorce in 2007. Throughout the process, she said he remained hostile and oddly fixated on getting back photos from their wedding.

Linda was arming herself, undergoing self-defense training and consulting police. Officers initially didn't have enough evidence to arrest Stover for stalking, but a neighbor eventually caught him stealing her trash.

He was arrested and convicted of stalking in 2008, but sentenced to just one year of probation  though, he had to surrender all of his guns. (Stover, Oakes and Opdycke were all avid hunters, each with their own arsenals.)

His family believes that, at that point, he gave up on Opdycke. There were no more reported stalking incidents.

An 'unlikely romance' rocks the boat

But Opdycke and her new boyfriend, Oakes, believed the dog trainer was actually refocusing on Oakes instead.

The pair had met when the heiress, still allegedly fearing for her life from Stover, hired Oakes to conduct a security analysis of her home. He was several inches shorter than her and divorced with four children - it was an unlikely romance, Oakes later said.

But Opdycke said he was somebody that honestly I have been waiting my whole life [for].

Stovers friends and family say the trainer had also moved on to a new relationship, but Opdycke and her new love claim hed begun stalking Oakes.

Oakes' children, sitting with Opdycke, sobbed and screamed in court after he was convicted

Oakes lost his appeal in 2015 and remains in prison. A new podcast chronicles the murder, the details behind the love triangle and stalking, and probes questions that remain unanswered

Oakes later claimed Stover repeatedly approached him and threatened his children, demanding wedding photos and even following the couple to Montana.

During that time, an anonymous phone call warned police that Stover was armed and transporting drugs. When he was pulled over while driving locally in Skagit County, Washington, cops found small amounts of weed and cocaine in the car.

Stover insisted he was innocent and hired a private investigator, who told Van Sant that he suspected Linda and/or her father were out to get him.

He told me he would not be surprised if they want to have me killed, Leigh Hearon, a private investigator, said.

Stovers fears were not unfounded.

What happened to Mark Stover?

Employees of Stovers dog training facility went to his home on Oct. 28, 2009. They saw that his attack dog had been shot in the face, and the property was bloodied.

It wasnt long before Oakes was arrested - he was pulled over for trespassing near the scene of the crime after two women reported spotting what looked like a body being transported between two vehicles.

But officers never checked the back of Oakes car.

According to officials, Oakes made purchases at a nearby Walmart on the day of Stovers disappearance - he bought rope and wrist weights.

Oakes testified at his own trial. He reenacted the killing and claimed it was out of self defense. He wrestled his lawyer, showing jurors how he shot Stover with his own gun after Stover shot him first. Oakes, however, had been wearing a bulletproof vest.

Oakes told detectives and a jury that he didnt immediately call police because he feared no one would believe his story. He claimed at trial that hed dumped Stovers body at the end of a dock about a mile from the victims house  though that area was searched and there was no sign of the victim.

Prosecutors scrutinized Opdycke when she took the stand, seemingly insinuating shed been involved. She reiterated that she had no liability in the case, and Oakes told Van Sant, too, that the murder had been about my children and me and Mark Stover He started a gun fight, and I won.

Oakes lost the case and his appeal in 2015.

His supporters had mounted a detailed online defense of the father of four through FreeOakes.com, arguing that Michiels decisions reveal nothing but a man cornered by the malicious attacks of another, striving only for the peace and safety of his family. In a certain light, these decision may cast question on Michiels reasoning, but these questions fall far short of the standards for criminal conviction.

The site explained that Oakes wore bulletproof gear to all meetings with Stover, that his Walmart purchases had been part of a backup getaway plan if attacked by the trainer and that his weird behavior after the murder resulted from an acute stress reaction, a result of narrowly surviving the attempt on his life.

Van Sant says he believes many questions will remain unanswered, unless there is a discovery, somehow, of remains.

He hopes his podcast might leave someone inspired to finally put their hand up or pick up the phone and make a call.

I believe there are others out there who have more detail than I do, he tells the Daily Mail.
For decades, two gangs have dominated the Scottish mafia scene: the Daniel family in Glasgow and the Richardsons in Edinburgh.

The gangs are allies, and although they have had their rivals - notably the Lyons of Glasgow - they have kept their turf and remained powerful players in the criminal underworld for years.

But now they are both at risk of being annihilated. A top-level Irish gangster based in Dubai nicknamed Mr Big has blamed the two gangs for stealing a 500K shipment of cocaine and has put '100K' bounties on kingpins Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel and Mark Richardson.

Using a mysterious gang of violent mercenaries called Tamo Junto (Portuguese for 'We are together'), Mr Big has started a violent gang war using shootings and firebombs in his effort to make the Daniel and Richardson clans go 'extinct'.

But while their deaths might clear the path for Mr Big to sell cocaine largely uninterrupted into the country, the eradication of those two gangs could also ignite a more widespread turf war as young gangsters vie to become Scotland's next godfather.

A former Scottish police detective speaking on the condition of anonymity told MailOnline: 'If it all goes horribly wrong with [the Daniels and Richardsons] and there's a vacuum, someone is going to fill it.

'Where there's money to be made, there will be serious and organised crime. If a vacuum is created, there could be a power struggle.'

Furthermore, MailOnline can reveal exactly who these young mobsters are and where their gangs operate using detailed gangland maps of both major Scottish cities.

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Kingpin Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel (pictured), who was scarred in a grisly attack by rival gangsters armed with a meat cleaver, is being targeted in a fresh gang war with the elusive Irish criminal Mr Big

His Edinburgh-based associate, mob boss Mark Richardson (pictured), has also been targeted. A former police detective said if the Daniels and Richardsons are wiped out a more widespread gang war could take hold in Scotland

They will be watching closely as the top-tier gangs make their next move.

Mr Big is reportedly thirsty to bag a murder and it is believed 'Bonzo' has fled the country.

Richardson however is stuck in solitary confinement in HMP Moss, where he is seven years into a nine-year sentence for having a Glock handgun and being part of a 65-mph police car chase in north Glasgow.

Even so, it is believed he has sent a group of men to Dubai, where Mr Big is based, to track down the gangster and his cronies.

Meanwhile, analysis by MailOnline has identified 344 gangs who could engage in a sprawling gang feud across Edinburgh and Glasgow to claim the title of Scotland's godfather.

And although some gangsters have claimed they will try not to harm members of the public, the ex-detective speaking to the Mail was sceptical.

He said: 'What goes on in the real world is murky and horrible. These people just don't care.

'People are just collateral damage if you get in the way. That's just how cold and callous they are.'

Explaining the gangsters' mindsets, former international drug smuggler turned Harley Street addiction counsellor Mark Dempster said: 'You get people whose egos are fragile.

'It's no different to when you have mafia - when you disrespect someone, they have no choice but to kill you. It's all about feeding the egos for the people in power.

Mr Big's enforcers in Scotland have filmed themselves setting homes on fire in their campaign of violence

Homes and shops supposedly connected with the Daniels and Richardsons have been targeted with firebombs

In Edinburgh, one home's window had a visible bullet hole (pictured) after a related attack last month. Police Scotland have arrested at least 20 people in connection with the violence in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Messages from Mr Big's enforces Tamo Junto said the Daniels and Richardsons should 'leave Scotland immediately'

'No matter how much any [crime] family gets, they want more. It's the same process of expanding their empire. They have got to commit violence.'

A source close to Richardson allies the Daniel crime family told MailOnline the existence of gang crime in Glasgow would 'never change'.

A key point is that although such periods of sustained violence are rare, this turf war presents a rare opportunity for hundreds of eager and younger gangsters.

The ex-detective said: 'The gangs are capable of anything. They don't make idle threats. There will be action.

'It's a vicious circle. Drugs are probably the main driver. That's where the big money is.'

He said key mobsters like the Daniels and Richardsons had been able to keep afloat by laundering their drug and blood money through fronts such as 'nail bars and Turkish barbers' used as 'washing machines' to make dirty money look like legally-made cash.

But while the top gangs got rich, for years, some of the smaller gangs have been on the fringes of the big time, only helping out with minor jobs for the main mob.

Now this gangland crimewave could be their chance to make it in the major-league - and gain the respect and cash that comes with it.

While speaking to MailOnline, a different former policeman, Simon McLean, 66, dissected layer by layer how Scotland's criminal underworld is structured.

McLean was an undercover cop who infiltrated the gangs during his 28-year career.

He said: 'You don't have a hierarchy, what you have is an all-encompassing spread.

'Because of the lengths of time they've been in business, they've got tentacles all over the country.'

This beauty salon in Glasgow was targeted by a firebomb in April. Police discovered a cannabis farm in an unconnected neighbouring house

Pictured: The charred remains of a carpet shop owned by an associate of the Daniel family

McLean said that instead of an organised crime syndicate broken into different gangs and levels, there was a patchwork of gangs - as displayed in MailOnline's maps.

Instead of a series of ranks from high to low of mob boss to low-level criminal, location and criminal speciality plays a bigger part, he said.

McLean explained: 'You get these hubs of crime. You've got categories of smaller, mostly geographic gangs.

'In Glasgow, the Gorbals is drugs-orientated. Springburn is more travelling criminals. Posill is shoplifting and extortion. Partick was huge in the day for shoplifting. You could go into certain pubs there and buy or order anything.'

Further detailing the life of a hypothetical gangster, he said: 'There might be a lieutenant within the mob. He might be well-trusted, working with them for years and I live or work on my patch [on the fringe.]

'He will only tell me what I need to know to keep that patch running and he might sacrifice me at some point because he's got something more important.

'And he's informing as well. Every one of them is informing to keep their own operations intact because they've all got competitors.

'They're all fighting each other all the time and trying to keep territories.

'The most important thing to say is that these people are always going to do what they do.

'They're just people like you or I who have these affiliations and relationships with the criminal world, and it's built on trust and mistrust and competition because they're all chasing the same thing.'

Police Scotland is 'working tirelessly' to build cases against criminals fighting in the growing gang war but even so, the next few weeks could decide innocent Scots' living conditions for years to come.

Alistair Fraser is a Scottish gangs expert. He is a Professor of Criminology at the University of Glasgow, and part of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research.

While speaking to MailOnline, former undercover policeman Simon McLean, 66, (pictured) dissected layer by layer how Scotland's criminal underworld is structured

He told MailOnline reporter Chris Matthews (left) the gangs were not 'hierarchy' but 'an all-encompassing spread'

Explaining the gangsters' mindsets, former international drug smuggler turned Harley Street addiction counsellor Mark Dempster (pictured) said: 'When you disrespect someone, they have no choice but to kill you'

One of his most recent reports was a policy brief into 'the past and present of violence reduction in Scotland'.

Prof Fraser told MailOnline there was 'a need for urgent and sustained investment in what has been termed ''social infrastructure'' for young people' to prevent them joining gangs.

He said: 'In the aftermath of Covid-19 and funding constraints, community participants [of his report] identified that support and 'safe spaces' for young people who are facing multiple disadvantages was harder to access, and less readily available.

'In one case, a youth project that had originally been converted into a Covid-19 testing centre now lay derelict.

'As one youth worker stated: ''There are these spaces but they're lying empty, so there needs to be people actually in them and facilitating activities.''

'There is a lack of understanding  and corresponding fear  of young people's use of social media.

'Changes in society have led to increased use of technology, and the opening up of ''digital communities'' for children and young people that are not always well understood by adults.

'There is a need for youth practitioners and social media platforms to learn from young people about how to maintain ''safe spaces'' across community and digital sites.'

Police Scotland has arrested at least 20 people in connection with the recent spate of fire bombings throughout Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: 'The arrests over the past week highlight the ongoing work that officers have been doing to target those responsible for these attacks.

'While we believe these incidents are linked to rival groups who are targeting each other, I want to make it clear this violence will not be tolerated.

'As well as carrying out these days of action and disruption activities, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes, including exploring forensic opportunities and analysis of digital devices.

'While this may not be as visible, please be assured we are working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of enquiry.

'We have had a good response to our appeals and I want to thank the public for their help and information so far.

Glasgow (pictured) and Edinburgh could erupt into a wider gang war if the two main clans in Scotland are killed off, a former detective warned

Like Glasgow, Edinburgh (pictured) has already seen a spate of firebombs as part of Mr Big's campaign to kill the Daniels and Richardsons

'The support of our communities is absolutely vital when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims. Your information really can make a difference.

'If you know anything about who is responsible for these dangerous and abhorrent acts, please do the right thing and speak to us.'

Anyone who can assist their enquiries is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.

Policing and justice are devolved matters under control of the Scottish rather than the UK Government.

A Scottish Government spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are investing a record 1.62billion for policing in 2025/26  an increase of 70million on 2024/25, and Police Scotland took on more recruits last financial year than at any time since 2013, with further intakes planned throughout 2025.

'The reported incidents in Glasgow and Edinburgh are an operational matter for Police Scotland, and it would not be appropriate to comment on a live investigation.

'We strongly encourage anyone who has information to report it to Police Scotland or anonymously through Crimestoppers.'
It was just after midday at the riverside community of Playas del Cuyabeno when the mob attacked.

A British man was said to have been dragged out of a police station in Ecuador, taken out into the street and 'set on fire until he died'.

Police said Michael Hann had been arrested for his own safety earlier that day, on April 20, after being 'beaten by local residents' who accused him of a fatal shooting.

Such stories have become commonplace in the country, which only a few years ago was one of the safest in Latin America.

Authorities have lost their monopoly on violence, pitting the state against vicious gangs, cartels and, in some cases, even residents undeterred by threat of prison.

With violence spiralling, the government has borrowed from the playbook of Nayib Bukele, the strongman ruler of El Salvador whose brutal crackdowns on gangs have horrified global onlookers.

But Ecuador's gangs, strengthened by drug money from neighbouring Colombia, are far more resilient than those to the north, and even prison guards have their price in a country riddled with corruption.

In only a few short years, peace has made way for an imported normalisation of beheadings, car bombs, public hangings and hostage taking. On Valentine's Day, a man gunned down had his head cut off and sent to his wife, his heart cut out and sent to his parents, according to police.

President Daniel Noboa has not given up yet, carrying out almost nightly raids on gang strongholds and showing off impressive hauls of guns and drugs designed to assure the public. His show of resistance helped secure an historic re-election in April.

But in an increasingly insecure country, with no clear clear path to recovery, there is still no sign that Ecuador is any closer to ending the scourge of lawlessness and disorder blighting its streets.

Hann (pictured) was dragged from a police station by an angry baying mob and burned alive

Residents have not been spared from the violence gripping the nation

A trio of severed heads are found wrapped in black bags after a cartel killing spree

Security forces stand guard at a polling station during the presidential runoff election in Guayaquil, Guayas province, Ecuador, on April 13, 2025

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'Ecuador is changing,' President Daniel Noboa assured his supporters in his victory speech last month after securing re-election.

'Ecuador has already chosen a different path. And that path will allow our children to live better lives than we did.'

Such words carry weight in a country worn down by half a decade of brutal gang violence.

In 2019, it was one of the safest countries in the region, with a homicide rate of 6.7 per 100,000 people.

By comparison, the U.S. had a homicide rate of 5.0 per 100,000 in the same year, according to the FBI. Mexico's was 29.31.

But growing demand for drugs, including cocaine, in foreign markets has galvanised Ecuadorian gangs, resulting in larger - and bloodier - turf wars.

These clashes have seen the homicide rate inflate rapidly in recent years, with local estimates suggesting this had risen to 45, or even 47, per 100,000 by 2023.

The country had been rocked by a spate of bombings, kidnappings and attacks on civilian infrastructure as rival gangs compete with each other and the state for influence in an increasingly weary nation.

Civilians are not exempt from the attacks; in April 2023, nine victims, aged 28 to 79, were gunned down in broad daylight at a fishing port in Esmeraldas. Government officials said rival drug pushers were the likely targets, probably shot for not paying protection money.

The same month, the bodies of three women - aged 19, 21 and 22 - were found dumped in a shallow grave in the city, apparently tortured and with their throats slit after disappearing on a beach trip. Relatives said they did not believe the killings were linked to drug trafficking.

A month prior, three severed heads were found wrapped in black bags. One was still a teenager, his devastated mother said, tasked with identifying the remains.

Other gang members have been publicly hanged and left on bridges as a warning to rivals.

Women murdered in Esmeraldas in April 2023 were identified as (left to right) Yuliana Macias (21), Denisse Reyna (19) and Nayeli Tapia (22)

The bodies of girls found murdered on the banks of the Esmeraldas River, Ecuador

A blood-soaked head is found in a bag alongside a hand-written warning message, seemingly from the Mexican Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in the Ecuadorian city of Esmeraldas

A body left to hang in Esmeraldas was low enough to hit cars passing under the bridge

A bag of human remains was found having fallen from a rope suspending it from a bridge in the city of Quevedo

While running on a centrist platform, Noboa risks falling victim to the allure of populism in his bid to wrestle back control.

His promises for growth are said to be overstated, public spending has soared - and now he seeks to spend $52 million on a mega prison for the country's worst offenders, mirroring's El Salvador's descent into an unending 'state of emergency'.

Noboa will point to his success in bringing down the homicide rate, which fell to 39 per 100,000 in 2024. But that progress had been largely undone by the turn of the new year, with recorded killings reaching record highs January and February.

In March, at the height of the run-up to the election, at least 22 people were killed in the key port city of Guayaquil after rival trafficking factions exchanged shots.

Guayaquil has borne the brunt of the violence, strategically situated on the Babahayo River with access to the South Pacific Ocean -- useful for moving drugs to the United States.

Gun battles broke out across the northern neighborhood of Nueva Prosperina on March 6 between members of criminal group Los Tiguerones, one of the most powerful gangs in the country.

'The problem is that they know each other, they know where they live, and they're fighting over who has power over that territory,' local police chief Pablo Davila told reporters.

Images and videos posted on social media showed several heavily armed men running around the district during the violent attack.

Police launched an offensive in response, carrying out around 200 searches and seizing guns and ammunition. Fourteen people, including two minors, were arrested in the area.

But police are doubtful their raids have all that much impact.

'We can take these guys off the streets but there will be two more outfits that spring up in their place,' one officer said as suspects were led away.

Noboa, then seeking re-election, said military and police officers would be allowed to respond to the violence in Guayaquil without fear of being punished for acting with a heavy hand.

CCTV video footage in Esmeraldas' Artisanal Fishing Port showing people running after armed men fired on the port in Esmeraldas, Ecuador on April 11, 2023

A military vehicle stands guard at a polling station during the presidential runoff election in Guayaquil, Guayas province, Ecuador, on April 13, 2025

Detainees, weapons, drugs an ammunition are presented to media members after an operation carried out in the neighborhood where at least 22 people were killed on the eve in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on March 7, 2025

A man prepares bazuco, a low cost drug derived of processing cocaine, in Guayaquil on April 11, 2025

The gangs, considered terrorist groups by the government, operate with little regard for such threats.

Police are underprepared and underpaid, unwilling to enter some neighbourhoods. And with the backing of established Mexican gangs, few targets are off limits for the gangs.

In June last year, an Ecuadorian MP was murdered outside a circus in the city of Manta during a livestreamed interview.

Cristhian Nieto, 34, was gunned down with his wife as he ushered children towards their seats, after telling a journalist how happy he was that his event had been a success.

It was not immediately clear who shot Nieto. Local media referenced the sprawling crime epidemic and gangs linked to the cocaine trade, as well as the shooting of the mayor of San Vicente Brigitte Garcia in March that year and the assassination of the mayor of Manta Agustin a year before.

Gangs also assassinated presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023, and set off car bombs in front of government buildings.

Foreign targets are no safer. In December 2023, a former British consul and his Colombian mistress were snatched outside Guayaquil by Los Tiguerones, bundled into his car and taken to a remote farm in the countryside.

The gang members demanded millions from Colin Armstrong, then 78, before freeing partner Katherine Paola Santos, now 30, to deliver a phone to his son for negotiations.

Ms Santos was fitted with what she believed was a bomb vest and told that if she went near a police station it would detonate. She was left to deliver the phone to Mr Armstrong's son, Nick, who had replaced him as consul.

Mr Armstrong told The Times this week that he had no idea whether he would survive the ordeal. He had read recently of a kidnap victim losing fingers. When his captors asked if they had tracking implants (to deter kidnap), he feared they might 'produce a razor to find out'.

Hostage negotiators worked carefully in the delicate hours that followed to keep Mr Armstrong alive and bring down the ransom. Mr Armstrong promised he would pay out, and was eventually freed 'by a roadside near a brothel'.

Police picked him up from the scene and he was taken to see a doctor, 'in pretty good shape', considering. Police chief Cesar Zapata said the motive for the crime was 'economic' but he would not indicate how much, if any, of a ransom was paid.

Officers said they confiscated a huge stash from the gang during a raid, including five grenades, six firearms, 1,500 cartridges, 30 detonating fuses - and 'several kilos' of controlled substances.

Colin Armstrong, then 78, and partner Katherine Paola Santos are pictured together in Jamaica

Footage showed Ms Santos having an explosives vest removed by a bomb disposal expert

Footage from the conflict in early 2024 showed the body of a man, said to be a police officer, lying on the side of the road in a pool of blood. He appeared to have been shot in the head

With the state struggling to address the root of the problem - foreign demand for drugs and the appeal of such criminal careers against the alternatives - inter- and intra-cartel violence has spiralled.

A month after the arrests, the country erupted again with gang violence. Guards at La Regional prison in Guayaquil discovered early on January 7 that Los Choneros leader Adolfo Macias was not in his cell.

News quickly spread. Incarcerated gangsters across the nation began rioting. Guards were taken hostage and shot or, in some cases, hanged.

Beyond the prison walls, explosions rocked major cities. At least 10 people were killed in the first few days. Machete-wielding thugs threatened to execute anyone they found on the streets of Ecuador at night. Citizens took up arms to defend themselves.

One video showed the body of a man, said to be a police officer, lying on the side of the road in a pool of blood. He appeared to have been shot in the head.

The 'civil war' escalated when gang members wearing balaclavas stormed the state-owned TC Television in Guayaquil and pistol-whipped staff to the floor.

Images from the television studio were broadcast across the country, impossible to ignore. It seemed Ecuador was in the midst of a coup, or a civil war. Unchallenged, the gangsters brandished knives, dynamite and machineguns in a show of force.

Making clear who was in charge, gang members then shared footage of kidnapped officers as one was made to read a statement: You declared war, you will get war. You declared a state of emergency. We declare police, civilians and soldiers to be the spoils of war.'

A day later, Noboa declared a state of emergency, allowing the government additional powers. The army was sent in to take back the prisons. On January 9, he acknowledged the 'internal armed conflict' and ordered the army to 'neutralise' nearly two dozen gangs.

Armed men wearing balaclavas bursting into the studio of public television station TC in drug violence-torn port city of Guayaquil

Men with their faces covered entered the set of the TC Television network in the port city of Guayaquil and shouted that they had bombs

Armed soldiers stormed Ecuadorian prison, El Rodeo, on June 5, 2024 as they hunted for drugs and weapons within the compound

Soldiers entered El Rodeo prison to conduct a search amid a spiral of murders, in Portoviejo, Ecuador

Inmates were pictured sitting on the ground with their hands behind their heads as military officials searched the prison

The first military operation was carried out in June in La Pradera after five people were murdered and another seven were left injured after an armed attack on May 20.

Days later, pictures emerged of military commanders raiding a prison and rounding up gang members in an effort to cleanse the facility of weapons and drugs.

Soldiers stormed the Manabi N4 Detention Centre in Poroviejo on June 5, 2024, took back control and posted photos of the inmates sat down in columns, reminiscent of Bukele's boasts from the CECOT max security prison in Teoluca.

A permanent military presence was established in a third of the country's 36 prisons as the military looked to restore order.

'We are facing a very dangerous enemy, very prepared, well equipped and with a lot of economic power,' said Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo at the time.

Noboa's position is not easy. Rights groups share their alarm at the 'imminent risk' to inmates inside the country's prisons. Opposition politicians have said Noboa has led the country into 'dictatorship'. He has been accused of surrounding himself with family and friends and contradicted by the central bank and IMF on promises to boost growth.

Breaking apart the gangs will require structural reform, offering viable career alternatives to citizens, and restoring the state's monopoly on violence - a deterrent to any would-be militant groups. At present, Ecuador has the lowest growth estimates in South America; GDP fell for three consecutive quarters last year.

Pictured: Packaged drugs found during a search of the largest prison in Ecuador

Bullets are seen lined up on a counter after they were found during a search of a prison

The pandemic made matters worse, turning hungry children and unemployed adults into easy recruits for criminal groups, with criminals demanding payments from businesses and terming the fee a 'vacuna' (vaccine) -- as in immunity from crime.

'COVID came and went and left us vaccines, but a different type of vaccines,' said Holbach Muneton, president of the National Federation of Provincial Chambers of Tourism of Ecuador.

Convenience stores, auto part shops and pharmacies have floor-to-ceiling metal bars that prevent customers from entering from the sidewalk. Malls have metal detectors at the entrances, and bars and restaurants have fewer tables and close early.

Belen Diaz, a resident at a gated community in Guayaquil, said she has adapted by carrying two phones - one main and one to hand over to thieves.

'We dont know who were friends with anymore,' she said. 'Im going to stay single forever. I cant go dating on these weird apps. I mean, imagine, they could kidnap me!'

Such uncertainty makes the task ahead a huge challenge. Gang violence will deter investment and opportunities for legitimate businesses to grow without fear of extortion, corruption or violence.

President Noboa promises to have the answers. But peace, still within living memory for most Ecuadorians, is still not clearly within reaching distance.
It is one of England's most historic cities - steeped in medieval tradition and well-known as the murder site for an iconic archbishop who was slaughtered in his very own Cathedral.

But locals in Canterbury, a UNESCO World Heritage destination, are worried a new crime is being silently committed in this day and age, as their beloved High Street gets more and more packed with US candy stores, vape shops and e-scooters.

When MailOnline visited on a sunny afternoon this week, our reporter spotted six phone and vape stores in close distance of one another.

It is not surprising given polling by the Mail earlier this year revealed there are now more than 3,500 of these shops across Britain's high streets.

The universities of Kent and Christ Church College, which bring a younger student population to the city, have heightened the turnaround of visitors, along with the steady influx of tourists.

Butter Market square - a renowned stretch of road outside Canterbury Cathedral - is decked out with two Harry Potter themed shops just within a few yards of each other.

The area was packed with European tourists, and a guide who had run tours over the past 25 years stated the city had 'changed entirely' adding this was 'mainly due to the number of houses' and 'one in three shops' being 'food shops'.

An 83-year-old man, Roger Moore, echoed his point.

Butter Market square (pictured) - an iconic stretch of road outside Canterbury Cathedral - is decked out with two Harry Potter themed shops just within a few yards

He added: 'There are a lot more American shops being introduced to the High Street - like those candy stores - and fast food stores'

Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest Christian structures in England and is also well-known as the murder site of the archbishop Thomas Becket

Roger Moore said: 'There is a rich history to this area. I mean, I think they used to do nothing else in Canterbury except pray'

He said: 'There is a rich history to this area. I mean, I think they used to do nothing else in Canterbury except pray. I'm not sure how much that history is reflected here today.

'Entry to the Cathedral was free believe it or not. They never used to charge for it and I see a lot more guided tours around now with foreigners.'

Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest Christian structures in England and is also well-known as the murder site of the archbishop Thomas Becket.

Currently, entry costs 19.50, with a standard adult ticket.

Conquest House - an ancient property on Palace Street in Canterbury has now been put up for sale. It is well-regarded as the place the knights who murdered Becket planned their attack and is older than the Cathedral itself.

Turning his attention to the High Street, Mr Moore said: 'The old shops seem to have disappeared and there are a lot of empty shops now.

'Even all the banks are gone now from the High Street. I was born in 1942, during the war years, and it's interesting the way things are going.'

Earlier this week, new data revealed the number of high street banks has fallen from almost 15,000 in 1986 to less than 6,000 today.

Two phone and vape stores can be seen in close proximity of each other, with a Starbucks sandwiched between them

The House of secrets Harry Potter store by Canterbury Cathedral was empty when MailOnline visited

The Chamber of Ducks Harry Potter-themed store was just a few yards away, also next to the Cathedral

Conquest House (pictured) - an ancient property on Palace Street in Canterbury has now been put up for sale

Building societies have also faced a similar decline, falling from almost 7,000 to 1,900.

'There are a lot more American shops being introduced to the High Street - like those candy stores - and fast food stores.

'There was a large grammar school too but they tore that down. Canterbury is not really a place where you grow up anymore.

'Kent is a bit of a thoroughfare to be honest so there are a lot of people coming through, such as asylum seekers,' Mr Moore said.

A former contract manager for a building construction company, he added: 'I am 83 now and you get to a stage though where it's just like whatever - what the hell.

'You see different types emerging now. People don't want to lay bricks - they want to write poetry.'

He also referenced having seen 'four coppers' nearby recently - adding 'well, you get trouble anywhere these days'.

Peter Thompson, 68, who has lived in Canterbury for 35 years, made a connection between police raids and the High Street's vape stores.

Peter Thompson (pictured), 68, who has lived in Canterbury for 35 years, made a connection between police raids and the High Street's vape stores

Ms Brooker said pedestrianisation hadn't stopped e-scooters from going up and down the high street

Locals have said Kent is 'a bit of a thoroughfare' so there are a lot of people coming through

Canterbury is also known for its canal system - a series of rivers and waterways that run across the city

He said: 'These vape shops and mobile shops - they come and go every five minutes. There have been raids round that corner.

'You can see all the fast food shops on this end of town and there are barbers stores all over the place. There used to be a Mothercare there for mothers and also a Woolworths but a lot of these shops have shut now.

'I've been here so long and it's changed a lot. Only a few months ago a man was killed down there - it doesn't feel as safe as it used to.

'E-scooters run up and down the High Street now even though it's pedestrianised so I'm not sure how much of a difference that has made.'

Speaking on the city's heritage, Mr Thompson said the last council had 'got rid of the market' that was over 600 years old which was 'a shame'.

Jane Brooker, 58, was selling strawberries at her fruit stand in the High Street and also commented on the changes to shops.

She said: 'I'm not being funny - everyone says, what is a vape shop for? There can't be that amount of vape shops to be able to pay their rent. It's not good for the High Street.

'Everything is becoming about addictions - lots of people walk in looking at their phone, not chatting to each other.'

Jane Brooker (pictured), 58, was selling strawberries at her fruit stand in the High Street

A young couple who gave their view on changes to city, Olly and Chloe (pictured), commented on some of the transport issues

Ms Brooker, who has traded on the spot for 10 years but whose husband has traded there for 20 years, said her store only took cashless payments and pointed to a nearby American fast food chain store saying none of her staff went there due to it going cashless.

She said: 'We take cash payments. If it's got the king's head on we should be able to spend it.

'I feel that life has become very insular - we are being groomed as much as possible to stay at home.'

A young couple who gave their view on changes to city, Olly and Chloe, commented on some of the transport issues.

Chloe, 20, said: 'Access to the Westgate tower is blocked off so it's one way. The traffic is so bad. I think they (the council) want it all to be a one way system - it takes about 25 minutes to get into town.'

Speaking of Canterbury generally as a city, the pair were mostly positive, with Chloe saying 'everyone's quite civilised'.

Asked about the Harry Potter shops, Chloe said: 'Nobody actually goes there - except maybe the tourists.'

When MailOnline visited a shop called "House of Secrets" in Butter Market square, it was empty. Beyond the two stores close together, a few shops had adopted similar writing to the film's iconic font - including one vape store called "The Medieval Scribe".

When MailOnline visited the High Street on a sunny day this week, our reporter spotted six phone and vape stores in close distance of one another

It might not be surprising as polling by the Mail earlier this year revealed there are now more than 3,500 of these shops across Britain's high streets

A few shops had adopted similar writing to the film's iconic font - including one vape store called "The Medieval Scribe"

Karen Dobson (centre), who was enjoying the sun with two friends, said: 'I think the council should look at the city and the shops should reflect its heritage'

Karen Dobson, who was enjoying the sun with two friends, said: 'I think the council should look at the city and the shops should reflect its heritage but instead what we are doing is taking the character away from Canterbury.

'I've seen about three or four vape shops raided by police and there seem to be more and more of these popping up here.

'There's this whole religious ethos and that's the overall thing about Canterbury but it's being lost. When people introduce new buildings to any area they should consider its history.'

There were a number of boarded up shops in view on the High Street.

One business saying it was worried about its trade was the House of Agnes B&B on St Dunstan's Street.

Owner Sandie de Rougemont, who has previously been on the Channel 4 show Four in a Bed said she was worried about unfair competition due to the licencing of Air BnBs in the area.

She said: 'Im fed up with paying out thousands per annum for endless safety checks, licenses and business rates whilst the tinpot moneymakers and their cosy Airbnbs dont have to do anything other than find a cleaner.

'And they pay those cleaners cash in their pocket, whilst I employ my cleaners and pay NI, pension and holiday pay.

'The playing field is not equal in any respect.'

More than 13,000 stores on UK high streets closed their doors in 2024, according to figures released by the Centre for Retail Research.

There were a number of boarded up shops in view on the High Street, some of which were previously independent businesses

The European Market store sold vapes, and was in the tradition of a few other outlets that had European flags sticking out of them

An Italian ice cream store can be seen in an alleyway facing Canterbury's historic medieval cathedral

One business saying it was worried about its trade was the House of Agnes B&B on St Dunstan's Street
Staycations at Butlins, hours spent running around theme parks and beach days powered by hot sugary donuts and sticks of sickly sweet rock is the image conjured up in most people's minds when they think of Skegness.

However, people who live in the 'run down' and 'outdated' town centre have revealed a soft underbelly which goes unnoticed by tourists spending most of their time immersed in the attractions.

In the summer months, the 20,700 population of Skegness swells to upwards of 250,000 with visitors piling on to crowded trains fora taste of seaside nostalgia.

But that novelty has worn off for 'depressed' residents and struggling local businesses who are left wondering when they will see results from the almost 5million loan taken out by Lincolnshire County Council to improve the town.

Skegness thrived in the 19th century when railways made it a popular escape for working-class families but in 2023 it ranked bottom in Which? Magazine's 2023 poll of seaside resorts in Britain.

Tony Singh Talwar, owner of Massive Clearance Shop on the high street, told MailOnline how the use of Class A drugs is fuelling a rise in homelessness in the town.

The 44-year-old said: 'It's very sad to see and it comes down to drugs. I know some homeless people because I have helped them get off the streets.

'They were claiming benefits but end up spending them on drugs and then find themselves homeless. The only people benefitting from that are the dealers.'

Mr Talwar couldn't be sure if the drugs are being distributed by county lines or homegrown dealers but another local, 65-year-old Paul Canning, suspects the majority are holiday-makers looking to make a quick buck.

A general view of Skegness, Lincolnshire, where thousands of people flock to every summer

Tony Singh Talwar (pictured), owner of Massive Clearance Shop on the high street, told MailOnline how the use of Class A drugs is fuelling a rise in homelessness in the town

Many local businesses have been forced to close their shutters which locals say adds to the 'run-down' look of the town centre

The retired aircraft electrician said he has also seen homelessness rising in the area, adding: 'You see quite a few people sleeping in the doorways of the many closed and boarded up shops.'

Paula Carter, who owns a caravan in Skegness and has visited annually for 12 years, said she too has 'noticed more homeless people this year'.

When MailOnline visited the town centre, homeless individuals were slumped on the footpath of the high street  some were even unconscious.

In January, East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) spent 70,000 to install four emergency sleeping pods in the district after a report revealed the number of rough sleepers had increased from 167 for the whole of 2023/24 to 152 in the first nine months of 2024/25 alone  three quarters of those were in Skegness.

Earlier in the month, the council defended its management of the issue following backlash on social media over a homeless man who was found dead on the street in December 2024.

ELDC said they offered him accommodation on 'many occasions' but he refused their help and added that seven out of the 17 rough sleepers who had been offered assistance that week had also turned it down.

Councillor William Gray said the authority had found more people on the streets with lifestyles he described as 'chaotic' last year, with mental health issues and drug and alcohol addiction among the main problems preventing them from maintaining a tenancy.

Locals said crime is not an issue during the day, but Mr Talwar admitted he gets 'scared' at night as people under the influence of Class A's 'switch' and anti-social behaviour begins.

Retired aircraft electrician Paul Canning (pictured), 65, told MailOnline he has seen 'quite a few people sleeping in the doorways of the many closed and boarded up shops' and suspects tourists are dealing drugs to locals

A restaurant with a sign announcing they had closed around the festive season in 2024 and another warning people the 'site is being monitored'

Paula Carter (pictured), who owns a caravan in Skegness and has visited annually for 12 years, said she too has 'noticed more homeless people this year'

The town thrived in the 19th century when railways made it a popular escape for working-class families but in 2023 it ranked bottom in Which? Magazine's 2023 poll of seaside resorts in Britain

He spoke of fights breaking out, drunk out-of-towners getting rowdy as they pour out of nightclubs and penniless homeless people stealing food to stay alive.

'Mental health issues are quite bad here, a lot of people are suffering from depression,' he explained.

The cheery businessman who greeted us with a beaming smile began to weep as he candidly spoke of his own struggle with depression as someone who spends most of his time in Skegness.

People complained about the state of the town centre and acknowledged the stark difference compared to the lively resorts and theme parks which are about a 15-minute drive away but feel like 'an entirely different world'.

Ms Carter, who was walking her dog Archie, said: 'A few of the pubs are getting quite run down, there are a lot of shops that are derelict and boarded up, and some markets never really open anymore. It's a real shame.'

'There seems to be even more fast-food joints now, like kebab shops and Asian take-aways, which is surprising as we already had so many. They are replacing more traditional spots where you could get fish and chips or a roast dinner.

'I think it tarnishes the image of the town. It's all well and good if the demand is there, but if there isn't then they will end up having to close.'

Locals said crime is not an issue during the day, but Mr Talwar admitted he gets 'scared' at night as people under the influence of Class A's 'switch' and anti-social behaviour begins

People complained about the state of the town centre and acknowledged the stark difference compared to the lively resorts and theme parks which are about a 15-minute drive away but feel like 'an entirely different world'

In January, East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) spent 70,000 to install four emergency sleeping pods in the district

The 56-year-old believes many businesses fail because they stay open during the quiet winter months instead of closing for refurbishments to bring their 'out-dated' look up to a better standard which would in-turn attract more customers in the summer to tide them over for the year.

She said the nicknames 'Skeg-Vegas' and 'Skeggy' have caused people who have never visited to form misconceptions about the town which come across as 'classist'.

'There is lots of gambling, arcades and a big love of bingo here but being associated with Las Vegas brings a tacky element.

'You can even buy towels and trinkets that say 'Skeg-Vegas' which I don't really approve of,' she said.

Despite her gripes, Ms Carter 'absolutely loves' Skegness for its 'gorgeous' beaches, 'lovely' people and the fact there is 'something for everybody'.

She encouraged people to 'stop being judgemental and come down to have a look for themselves'.

Earlier this month, former leader of Lincolnshire County Council Martin Hill defended the authority's 469million debt after criticisms from Reform UK.

Mr Hill argued that major new developments which would improve the town would not be possible without borrowing.

Comparing it to a 30-year mortgage and highlighting the 'cheap rates' at which they borrow from the Public Loans Board, Mr Hill listed off plans for 'major projects like bypasses, new schools and fire stations'.

Leader of Lincolnshire County Council Martin Hill (pictured) defended the authority's 469million debt against criticisms from Reform UK, arguing that major new developments which would improve the town would not be possible without borrowing

Mr Hill listed off plans for 'major new building projects like bypasses, new schools and fire stations'

Fantasy Island theme park is around a 15-minute drive away from Skegness town centre

One local woman said the nicknames 'Skeg-Vegas' and 'Skeggy' have caused people who have never visited to form misconceptions about the town which come across as 'classist'

But this week Reform kicked the Conservatives out of power on Lincolnshire County Council winning 44 out of 70 seats.

The Tories had been in control of the council for nearly 30 years.

Reform secured 73,207 votes across the county  more than Conservative and Labour put together.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns was crowned the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in this week's elections.

Reform's deputy leader and Boston and Skegness MP Richard Tice described the party's success in the county as a 'seismic change'.

Speaking at the count at Grimsby Town Hall, Dame Andrea said it marked a 'new dawn in British politics'.

She will now represent about 1.1 million people who live in the combined county for the next four years.

The former Tory MP, who won with 42% of the vote, said: 'I want to ensure that Lincolnshire is the best place to bring up your children, to retire and live. My ultimate goal is that Lincolnshire thrives.'

Last month, Nigel Farage announced all 70 Conservative seats in Lincolnshire were being contested by candidates from Reform UK in the upcoming county council elections and dubbed the current council as 'broken'

The party leader also revealed eight defections to Reform by local Skegness Urban District Society (SUDS) councillors, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Skegness

Residents expressed concerns over how the loans are being spent due to a lack of visible changes in the town centre

Mr Talwar said: 'The centre is 100 per cent run-down and outdated, so it does need these investments, but being a member of the public, we always question where is this money and our taxes going?'

It is now unclear what will happen to the county council's huge debt and what the future holds for Skegness.

Shopowner Mr Talwar expressed concerns over how the loans are being spent due to a lack of visible changes and believes councils 'should never take out loans' as they 'generate enough money from our taxes'.

He said: 'The centre is 100 per cent run-down and outdated, so it does need these investments, but being a member of the public, we always question where is this money and our taxes going? You don't actually see any of it going back into the community, there isn't enough being done.

'The council say they can't even afford Christmas lights which I find hard to believe. It's little things like that which make you question where the cash is actually going.'

As Skegness relies heavily on tourism, locals, business owners and councillors were glad to hear last week's news of East Midland Rail's (EMR) 26million investment into its railways with hopes it will provide more trains to meet the high demand from holiday-makers.

People were glad to hear last week's news of East Midland Rail's (EMR) 26million pound investment into its railways with hopes it will provide more trains to meet the high demand from holiday-makers

The town's 'run-down' main railway station is also undergoing a 3.3million refurbishment

Skegness relies heavily on tourism, so investment in railways to bring more visitors was music to a lot of people's ears

Every summer, Uber driver Kay Farmer witnesses the chaos that a lack of frequent trains with enough capacity brings.

The 59-year-old told MailOnline: 'They don't add any extra carriages, especially on busy change over days like Fridays and Saturdays, so you have people queuing up down the street.'

She said the carriages become extremely crowded with people who paid for a ticket not even being able to get a seat, adding: 'When I pick them up every week, they say 'I've been stuck on that train and the kids have had to sit on their suitcases'.

'So, I think this investment will be a good thing as it won't put people off coming here.'

Councillor Davie and the CEO of Butlins Jon Hendry-Pickup were also optimistic about the investment bringing in more tourists.

Mr Davey said: 'Skegness is still the fourth most popular seaside resort in the UK, but we have less visitors than we did when I was growing up and we had the trains coming in from Sheffield and Leicester. So, I am certainly hoping for more frequency of journeys.'

He was also positive about the town's 'run-down' main railway station undergoing a 3.3million refurbishment as 'having a welcoming arrival point is incredibly important' for tourism.

Butlins' Skegness branch has managed to avoid a decline in visitors and still welcomes 550,000 people a year, partly due to its popularity as a brand but also boosted by new attractions and upgraded venues thanks to a recent 20million investment.

But Mr Hendry-Pickup did not argue with resident's complaints about the town centre, telling MailOnline: 'You want to try and make sure you keep current and relevant, and try and keep everything in the type of condition that you want it to be. We try to do that at Butlins.

'Investment into the area to bring more people in is definitely going to be a good thing.'

Butlins' Skegness branch has managed to avoid a decline in visitors and still welcomes 550,000 people a year

CEO of Butlins Jon Hendry Pickup were also optimistic about the investment bringing in more tourists

Butlins recently invested 20million into its Skegness branch to bring new attractions and venues to the park for its visitors

The sparkling new Sky Park and Studio 36 music and events venues at Butlins in Skegness were added as part of the investment

James Mellors, director and owner of Fantasy Island theme park just across the road from Butlins, agreed that the prospect of improved rail services is good news for tourism

Entry to Fanatasy Island is free and there are many shows and performances going on inside one of their huge under-cover venues

An aerial view of Fantasy Island theme park in Skegness which is about a 15-minute drive from the town centre

The business tycoon said that his guests only complaint is that it takes a long time for them to get to Skegness, adding: 'That's why the investment into trains, from our point of view, is good news, because if they don't want to drive and they don't want the uncertainty of traffic, then they've got that option.'

James Mellors, director and owner of Fantasy Island theme park just across the road from Butlins, agreed that the prospect of improved rail services is good news for tourism.

The 47-year-old said: 'The trains, unfortunately, are not big enough. They're not on time. There's so many problems with the trains, including return tickets being priced at 50 per person  that a lot of money for a family of four, for example.

'So, any investment in infrastructure to allow people to get to the coast is greatly receive but it's not just about having nicer trains, it's about making them affordable to the right people.'
For two decades, residents of Circleville, Ohio, were tormented by hundreds of vile and threatening letters from a mystery writer, who seemingly knew all about their affairs, scams and other dirty secrets.

Many of them focused on Mary Gillispie, a school bus driver, and her alleged affair with superintendent Gordon Massie. In 1983, things came to a head when a booby trap was laid on Gillispie's bus route, apparently aimed at harming her.

But even after one of Gillispie's relatives, Paul Freshour, was jailed for setting the deathtrap, the odious letters kept coming. It raised doubts about his guilt and fueled speculation about any sidekicks and other writers.

Now, a handwriting expert who has compared the so-called 'Circleville letters' against Freshour's known writings, told the Daily Mail it's 'quite clear' he was behind the abusive writing campaign that rocked the Buckeye State.

Speaking upon the release of her book about handwriting mysteries, Beverly East said Freshour left behind a trail of breadcrumbs showing he was the writer who terrorized his neighbors for all those years.

For East, the telltale signs were repeated spelling errors, the shapes of numbers and the letters ('M,' 'W' and 'G'), the layout of text on the page and how prefixed words, such as 'un-comfortable' and 'un-happy,' were hyphenated or separated.

'There was so much crossover between the Circleville letters and Paul Freshour's writings that it was quite clear,' East told the Daily Mail.

'He was the writer.'

Local beauty and school bus driver Mary Gillispie was the first and primary target of the 'Circelville letters'

Handwriting sleuth Beverly East says she's cracked the code and knows who really wrote the letters

Still, East said, studying the 'vile' letters was no small task. She had to ignore the controversy and noisy debate about the scoundrel's identity so she could carry out her careful analysis of the notes.

'I just focus on the documents, because that's what tells me my story,' East said.

'I shut out of my mind all I've been told and systematically went through the letters in chronological order and pulled out certain things. Then I go back two days later to check that I'm seeing the same things - there's no guessing in it.'

What happened in Circleville?

Circleville, a small city in Pickaway County known for its pumpkin festival, was ripped apart in the 1970s when the menacing, mystery letters - often capitalized and full of spelling errors - turned up in mailboxes across town.

The letters were threatening and ominous, telling recipients they were being 'watched' and accusing them of everything from embezzlement to domestic violence, affairs and even murder.

Hundreds of letters - perhaps even 1,000 - were sent over the years, often postmarked from nearby Columbus. Police investigated them, but never managed to identify a writer.

'Failure to comply and you shall suffer: no one can help: no one can protect you: Obey: Obey,' one of the letters read.

Gillispie was the first to receive a letter - she then became the main target.

The attractive, married mom was accused of having an affair with Massie, who was also married.

In one letter, the writer ordered Gillispie to 'report him.'

'I know you are a pig and will prove it and shame you out of Ohio,' read the letter.

'A pig sneaks around and meets other womens husbands behind their backs, causes families and homes and marriages to suffer.'

Gillispie's husband, Ron Gillispie, started receiving letters accusing his wife and high school sweetheart of cheating.

In August 1977, she was visiting family in Florida when Ron allegedly received a phone call from the elusive writer. He told his children he was going to meet and confront them, so he got into his truck and drove off.

Ron was later found dead, after reportedly crashing his truck into a tree in what was ruled a single-vehicle accident.

Police on the scene reportedly found a .22 caliber revolver underneath his body, which had been partially ejected from the vehicle. They determined it had been fired only once.

A coroner ruled Ron's death an accident.

The letters alleged Mary was cheating on Ron with her boss, school superintendent Gordon Massie

Paul Freshour was jailed for 10 years for attempting to murder Mary with a booby trap, but the letters kept on coming

An early letter to Mary Gillispie, using the writer's trademark capital letters and intimidating language

But the unusual circumstances led to fervent speculation that Gillispie's husband had shot at the letter writer and was subsequently murdered.

After Ron's death, Gillispie and Massie struck up a romantic relationship - they claimed it had only started after the onset of the written campaign.

Then, the letters grew even more menacing, eventually threatening Gillispie's daughter.

In February 1983, Gillispie saw an obscene sign about her daughter hanging on a fence along her bus route.

She pulled over and tried to tear it down, only to find it was connected to twine and a mysterious box.

Inside the box was a loaded gun set up to fire when interfered with, evidently aimed at harming Gillispie. But the booby trap was assembled poorly and did not trigger.

State investigators traced the firearm back to Ron's brother-in-law, Freshour. Freshour was then charged with attempted murder.

The convicted felon's then-wife, Karen, said she had seen letters around their home and believed he was the mystery writer.

She said at the time that Freshour was furious with Gillispie for cheating on Ron - though her evidence has been questioned, as the couple was going through a messy divorce.

While dozens of letters were brought in as evidence at his trial for the alleged booby trap, Freshour was never charged as the ominous writer.

In 1984, he was sentenced to seven to 25 years for attempted murder.

Even with Freshour behind bars, the letters kept coming.

Freshour himself received one while in prison that said he had been 'set up'.

After the death of her husband Ron, Gillispie and Massie had an open romantic relationship

Hundreds and perhaps even 1,000 of the menacing letters were sent from the late 1970s until they abruptly stopped in 1994

The letters did not stop coming until 1994, the same year that Paul was released from prison

Mary Gillispie found a booby trap with a loaded gun in 1983 that was widely believed to be linked to the letter-writing campaign

Prison guards suspected Freshour was somehow managing to send the letters from inside, but never proved it.

Reports of letters stopped in 1994, the year he was released.

Freshour died of a heart attack in 2012 at the age of 70 and maintained his innocence until the end.

Some locals said the attempted murder conviction was wrong, calling Freshour a law-abiding, college-educated family man.

They pointed instead to Karen, saying she was motivated by the couple's divorce proceedings, which were initiated in October 1982.

At the time, a witness had described seeing a man who did not resemble Freshour at the spot of the booby trap.

Over the years, other people have been identified as the mystery writer - including another school employee and a convicted murderer who confessed to writing them.

Detectives reportedly failed to carry out basic tests - such as saliva swabs from the envelopes - and nobody was ever charged with writing the letters. Police have said the case is closed.

Now, handwriting expert East is confident they were all written by the same person, and that Freshour 'was the writer'.

As part of a 2021 episode of CBS's 48 Hours show, she studied some 100 letters from the '70s to the '90s and compared them to more than a dozen other letters and documents known to have been written by Freshour.

East included samples in her new book, Whose Signature is it Anyway?, about analyzing handwriting to solve crimes.

Mary's husband Ron died in suspicious circumstances in 1977 after he told his kids he was going to confront the mystery letter writer

Mary was the most frequent target of the letters, which smeared her as a cheater and bad mom

Handwriting sleuth East says the letters were so unpleasant that she had to take a shower after she had spent time studying them

In her book, Beverly East compares the trademark writing styles from the Circleville letters and Paul Freshour's known writings

Freshour and the Circelville letter writer very frequently spelled the same and similar words incorrectly, says East

It is 'quite clear' that Freshour was the lone writer of all the letters, East said.

In her investigation, she highlights distinctive traits in his writing style - including the way his Gs resemble a 6 and his unusual way of writing the numbers 2 and 3 in zip codes.

'When I'm looking at anonymous writing, I always start with things that the writer was not thinking about,' East said.

'I look at dates, the positioning of text, margins, parts of a person's habitual writing pattern.'

Still, she added, Freshour could have had an accomplice to help him mail the letters sent while he was locked up.

She recalled the 'awful, mean-spirited and sexually aggressive' letters sent to Gillispie and others, saying she had to take a shower after reading them.

'I think it was a man scorned,' East said, presenting her own theory about what motivated Freshour.

'I think maybe he fancied [Mary], and she brushed him off, and then it just became this.'
Shocking pictures reveal a newbuild estate left in ruins after a 'teenager' who looked to be 'about 15 years old' hijacked a JCB and rammed into several homes.

The newly-constructed council housing in Darlington, Durham, was left looking like a demolition site after it was driven into on Sunday evening, leaving seven properties seriously damaged.

Residents told MailOnline they saw 'a young lad' driving around in the digger and assumed he was 'nicking it', only to then hear the houses being smashed down.

The Neasham Road estate is a new housing development by the council, aimed at providing affordable housing.

The finished project will consist of 150 homes, some of which are already completed and inhabited by families, while others are nearing completion. However, the recent incident, which has prompted a police investigation, could disrupt this timeline.

A woman who lives in the Neasham Road estate told of how she rang the police as soon as she saw what looked to be a teenager driving the JCB.

She said: We saw the digger out the back here. He was right out the back of our fences, we thought he was going to come through there. But luckily he didnt.

I was watching telly and I saw through the window and thought "thats a bit strange that the workmen are around the back at this time of night."

Footage which circulated online showed the damage left behind, with bricks collapsing after being rammed into with a digger

The video shows large holes in the sides of houses, with debris all over the ground

Images taken from above show the extent of damage caused by the incident last Sunday

A row of newbuild houses were left in ruins after a 'teenager' was seen driving into them with a JCB

'Then I thought "hold on its a weekend, they dont work weekends."

'So I went out and spoke to the neighbour next door and she said "are you seeing what Im seeing?"

'I said "Yeah, it isnt the workmen is it?" and she went "no".

'And then as I phoned the police the digger disappeared but then we saw him at the back where those houses are.

'Well at this point we couldnt see but we heard it. You could hear the smashing, it was horrible.

'But there was nothing we could do apart from call the police.

'We thought he looked about 14 or 15. It was just a young lad.

'He wasn't a man, he was a teenage child.'

The woman lives on the side of the estate that is completed, while beyond the fencing and some green, the remaining homes are still under construction - which is where the incident involving the JCB took place.

The JCB was initially being driven around on empty land behind the occupied homes, but was then driven round the back to the houses on the construction site before being rammed into the newbuilds.

The council are now said to be awaiting a decision from structural engineers as to whether any of the homes need to be demolished as a result of the damage.

The woman explained: The woods behind here went on fire just before it happened.

Residents in the part of the site that is completed and let out said they witnessed 'a young lad' in the digger on Sunday evening

People viewing the footage online speculated that 'someone didn't get paid' and carried out the rampage in retaliation

One resident told of how she had seen 'a young boy' in the digger and called police straight away

Behind the houses, which are still closed off for construction, are rows of houses on the estate which are already occupied with families

'We heard a load of children over the back and the fire brigade were over there putting a fire out.

'And then the next thing I saw the digger at the back of the fence and I thought what the hell is going on.

'He didn't look very old at all. I thought he was with the group of kids because you could hear the kids shouting when he was in the digger. I presume they were shouting to him.

We thought hed driven it on to the main road because we couldnt see him.

And then we saw the flashing lights in between those houses back there.

'You could just see the digger and hear the noise.

'And then we saw him go off that way on foot. But the police hadnt turned up by then.

I was on the phone for about 10 minutes with the police. I was trying to give him a running commentary of what was going on.

'I said "Jesus Christ you can literally hear something being smashed."

'I said "it sounds like hes ramming, Im surmising but hes ramming into the houses."

There has been speculation on social media that the damage was carried out as a revenge attack by contractors in a row over payment.

The resident commented: 'Well that's the thing. I thought well a child really wouldn't do that much damage.

'They'd probably do damage, but I wouldn't have thought like this. Why would they destroy seven houses?

The site is a new housing development by Darlington Borough Council. Some houses are already completed and occupied, while others are still under construction

An overhead view of the newbuilds, to be used as affordable housing

'So it does sort of fit in that somebody hasn't been paid, and they've paid somebody to go and destroy it.

'At the end of the day, if that's the case, then they should've paid that lad's wages, and they wouldn't have had all this.

'Because there are crazy people out there who would take revenge like that.

'He could have taken it out on any of us really. We're lucky it wasn't these houses with people living in them.

'There's crazy people that would have gone into the houses here, and there are a lot of children.

'He wasn't a man, he definitely was a teenage child.

'You're dubious of what you say or calling the police because then if they know where you live are they going to come and attack you?

'The estate isn't turning out to be what I expected it to be.'

Another couple who live in the estate also said they witnessed the scene from their windows.

They said: 'We looked out the window and saw someone stole the digger truck.

'Obviously its a Sunday so you dont really expect the construction workers to be out, they never work the Sundays.

'So we thought someone had just nicked one and were going to take it off to pinch, but obviously then weve seen what damage theyve done with it.

We just saw the digger go past the house but then obviously hes gone round back there and destroyed all those houses.'

Durham Police have said there is an investigation underway, and are appealing for any information from the public

Neasham Road is a council development which, when completed, will be comprised of 150 homes

A video of the aftermath went viral on social media, with it generating more than 9.6k likes and 3.2k shares.

Those online speculated that the incident was linked to a row over money.

One person commented 'Who hasn't been paid?', while another wrote 'Looks a main contractor hasnt payed a subcontractor'.

However, this has not been confirmed by police nor the council.

A Durham Police spokesperson said: An investigation is underway after several houses were damaged in Darlington.

'Police were called to the new build estate on Hurworth Moor, just off Neasham Road, at 8.50pm on Sunday (April 27) following reports that a male was driving a JCB into unoccupied houses.

'On arrival at the scene, officers found seven houses had been damaged, along with the JCB.

'An investigation was launched and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.'

Darlington Borough Council said they could not comment on the details of the incident as it is the subject of a police investigation.

However, Cllr Matthew Roche, Darlington Borough Councils cabinet member for health and housing, said: 'The Neasham Road site is part of our ambitious programme to build hundreds of much-needed social homes and its disappointing, to say the least, that this has happened.

'The council is working closely with Police as they investigate. We would urge anyone with any information to pass it on to the Police.'
Sharks, bears and ferocious wild cats are the known culprits for some of the most vicious animal attacks in the world.

There are around 70 shark attacks and 40 bear attacks reported globally each year - but these predators do not even rank amongst the top ten deadliest animals to humans.

The animals responsible for the most human fatalities are actually some of the smallest creatures in the wild, according to BBC Science Focus and data from the World Health Organization.

A tiny insect, weighing only 2.5 milligrams, kills the largest number of people each year by infecting them with deadly illnesses.

Similarly, an excruciating bite from a blood-sucking insect that you've possibly never heard of ends 10,000 lives annually.

Most shocking of all, however, is the mammal posing the largest threat to humans - which is responsible for around 400,000 deaths each year.

Hippos, snakes and lions are among the most dangerous animals, but some of the deadliest predators for mankind are a lot more surprising.

10. LIONS

Lions kill approximately 200 people each year. Their sharp claws can inflict deep wounds and their bite is strong enough to crack human bones and skulls. Pictured is Franco Luis Ferrada Roman being mauled by two lions after he broke into their enclosure in a Chilean zoo

Many people would assume the king of the jungle would be one of the biggest killers of mankind, but lions only kill around 200 people each year.

Their sharp claws can inflict deep wounds and their bite is strong enough to crack human bones and skulls, according to the BBC.

Lions attack out of hunger and in a bid to protect their young. They are also known to charge at creatures who get too close to their pride.

Even though lions aren't as responsible for as many human deaths as other predators, the creatures are still incredibly dangerous. One of the most horrific lion attacks in recent history occurred at Chilean zoo in 2016.

Franco Luis Ferrada Roman, who survived the attack, broke into a lion enclosure and stripped naked before jumping into the middle.

Once he was inside, two lions pounced on him and began to 'play' with his body as other zookeepers attempted to intervene.

The two African lions were shot dead in order to save the man's life as there were no fast-acting tranquilisers available at the time, the zoo director said.

Roman, 20, was dashed to hospital for treatment and was said to be in grave condition after suffering several injuries to his head and pelvic area.

According to reports at the time, a suicide note was discovered in the pocket of the young man. The note reportedly made allusions to the apocalypse as being a reason for his attempt to take his life.

9. HIPPOS

A hippo charged at a zoo keeper at the Changsha Ecological Zoo in China's Hunan province in 2023 after he tried to break up its fight with another territorial bull in their enclosure

Although the species is a herbivore, hippos kill 500 humans annually, data revealed.

Hippos have incredibly sharp canines measuring up to half a metre in length and a bite force of 1,800 psi - nearly three times the bite force of a lion.

These teeth are typically used for fighting, but one bite could easily cut the human body in two, according to the BBC report.

Hippos are extremely territorial and have been known to tip over boats and attack humans who get too close to their habitats.

A hippo charged at a zoo keeper at the Changsha Ecological Zoo in China's Hunan province in 2023 after he tried to break up its fight with another territorial bull in their enclosure.

The zoo keeper - who had entered the enclosure to feed the animal - scrambled out of the pen in a desperate bid to avoid a fatal attack.

Amid the rush to run for his life, he slipped over on the wet concrete surface entrance with the hippo ready to launch what could have been a devastating assault.

With the furious hippo baring its huge teeth in a threatening display, the man used his arms and feet to prevent the hungry animal from closing in on him.

The hippo momentarily left its keeper alone as it continued to feed on greens but as the man stood back up, it charged at him again just as he was leaving the enclosure.

That time, however, he was able to run to safety.

8. ELEPHANTS

Last month, a ferocious elephant attacked a jeep full of tourists on safari at Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. The massive animal used its trunk to reach inside the vehicle, causing panic among the passengers. The elephant almost toppled the car with its efforts. The elephant even started to chase after the car until it realised the jeep was getting out of reach

Elephants kill a reported 600 people each year, typically by trampling.

The creatures are one of the most dangerous animals in the world, mostly due to their size and strength.

An African elephant can weigh up to eight tonnes and an Asian elephant up to five-and-a-half tonnes.

Elephants have been known to pick humans up with their trunks and smash them to the ground, as well as gore them with their tusks.

A surge of fatal elephant attacks last year saw locals in Thailand arm themselves with homemade 'ping pong' bombs to scare off the animals.

Unfortunately, the devices seemed to have the opposite effect and made elephant encounters even more dangerous for villagers.

Last month, a ferocious elephant attacked a jeep full of tourists on safari at Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.

The massive animal used its trunk to reach inside the vehicle, causing panic among the passengers. The elephant almost toppled the car with its efforts.

The elephant even started to chase after the car until it realised the jeep was getting out of reach.

7. CROCODILES

Last month, a brazen tourist was attacked by a crocodile in the Philippines after climbing into its enclosure to pose for selfies. He was trapped in the pen in agony for up to 30 minutes before the crocodile's caretaker risked his own life by climbing inside and rescuing him

While crocodiles have the strongest bite force of any animal in the world, the reptiles are only responsible for roughly 1,000 human fatalities this year.

The Nile crocodile has a bite force of up to 5,000 psi - the strongest in the world - and is known to crush its prey with its bite before swallowing it whole, BBC Science Focus reports.

The saltwater crocodile has second-most-powerful animal bite, with a bite force of 3,700 psi. This species is known to chomp down on their prey and perform a death roll, making the experience even more painful.

Last month, a brazen tourist was attacked by a crocodile in the Philippines after climbing into its enclosure to pose for selfies.

The male visitor, 29, is said to have mistaken the 15ft reptile for a statue at the zoo in Zamboanga Sibugay. He clambered over a chain-link fence and waded through the water before grinning as he produced his smartphone.

Horrified onlookers screamed at the man to leave as the angry female crocodile named Lalay surged toward him, sinking her fangs deep into his arm.

He wailed in pain as the predator clamps her jaws around his arm, refusing to let him leave the enclosure. She then latched onto his thigh and flipped over several times, trying to maim him in a brutal death roll - a savage method used by crocodiles to tear their prey apart.

The tourist was reportedly trapped in the pen in agony for up to 30 minutes before Lalay's caretaker risked his own life by climbing inside and rescuing him. The reptile handler was said to have slammed a piece of cement onto Lalay's head, prompting her to loosen her grip.

6. SCORPIONS

Scorpion stings account for approximately 3,000 deaths annually worldwide. Most scorpion stings are painful, but not life-threatening as only 25 species of the arachnids carry venom that is deadly to humans

Scorpion stings account for approximately 3,000 deaths annually worldwide.

Most scorpion stings are painful, but not life-threatening as only 25 species of the arachnids carry venom that is deadly to humans.

Scorpion stings can cause serious health complications, particularly in children - with some studies reporting higher mortality rates in young children.

Several instances of scorpion deaths have been recorded around the globe, primarily in regions with higher scorpion populations, like India, Brazil, and Egypt.

A five-year-old girl died in 2022 after being stung by a scorpion while trapped on an uninhabited island between the Greek and Turkish border.

A few years earlier, a 54-year-old Indian woman died after being stung by an Indian Red Scorpion.

5. ASSASSIN BUGS

Blood-sucking assassin bugs, which are the primary spreader of Chagas disease, are responsible for 10,000 human deaths per year

60 Minutes presenter Tom Steinfort was left flapping and jerking around in extreme agony after being deliberately bitten on the hand by an assassin bug in 2023

Blood-sucking assassin bugs, which are the primary spreader of Chagas disease, are responsible for 10,000 human deaths per year.

Named after the Brazilian doctor who discovered it in 1909, Chagas disease is a potentially deadly illness spread by blood-sucking insects.

The disease spreads easily through blood transfusions and can be passed from mother to child through the placenta during pregnancy.

Approximately a quarter of victims who contract the disease develop enlarged heart or intestines that can burst causing sudden death.

If caught early enough, the disease can be prevented with an intense 3-month drug treatment. However, because of the lengthy incubation period and costly medication, Chagas is often left untreated.

Assassin bugs are a serious threat in the regions of Central and South America.

A 60 Minutes reporter was left flapping and jerking around in extreme agony after being deliberately bitten on the hand by an assassin bug in 2023.

Presenter Tom Steinfort took on the challenge as part of an interview with 'venom aficionado' Dr Sam Robinson, who studies insect bites as part of research into drug discovery.

Footage of the excruciating incident showed Steinfort hopping around and flapping his arms after being stung on the hand.

A bite from an assassin bug is extremely painful as the same salivary secretion is injected through the skin as they use to kill their prey.

Symptoms of a bite include intense burning sensations followed by a lump at the site of the bite lasting for several days.

4. DOGS

An east London woman, 66, was left needing a tetanus shot and with horror face injuries after she was mauled by two unmuzzled XL Bullys outside her home in May 2025

Man's best friend is responsible for 59,000 deaths per year.

Seven dog attack deaths were recorded across England and Wales in the year ending June 2024, the Office for National Statistics reports, however this data may be an underestimate due to registration delays.

Although deaths from dog attacks are relatively uncommon, WHO reports that dogs are the 'main source of human rabies deaths'.

Dogs contribute to up to 99 per cent of all human rabies transmissions, according to the healthy authority.

Rabies can be transmitted by saliva through bites, scratches, and direct contact with infected areas.

3. SNAKES

Last October, a man was forced to bite a giant anaconda to stop himself from being crushed to death in a Brazilian river

Snakes kill 138,000 people around the world each year, according to WHO data.

Around three times as many people are left with amputations and other permanent disabilities caused by snakebites, the data states.

The majority of snake bite incidents occur in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The most common snake deaths occur from venomous bites.

A study published in Nature Communications in 2022 revealed that the majority of deaths from snake venom occurred in South Asia - the area from Afghanistan to Sri Lanka, including Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

In India specifically, the mortality rate was calculated to be four deaths by snakebite for every 100,000 people - much higher than the global average of 0.8.

The region of sub-Saharan Africa came second, with Nigeria having the greatest number of deaths of 1,460, according to the report.

Last October, a man was forced to bite a giant anaconda to stop himself from being crushed to death in a Brazilian river.

In a desperate bid to save himself, the man chomped down on the snake near its head, while another man grabbed its tail and a third tried to uncoil the water boa from a wooden boat.

More than half a minute passes until it eventually gives up and unwraps itself from its would-be victim.

2. HUMANS

The second deadliest threat to humans are other humans, with around 400,000 homicides recorded per year. Pictured is the crime scene of a fatal shooting in Throggs Neck, Bronx, New York City on April 13, 2025

The second deadliest threat to humans are other humans, with around 400,000 homicides recorded per year.

The global homicide rate per population of 100,000 was 6.2 in 2019, World Health Organization (WHO) data revealed.

Around 80 per cent of homicides occurred in males, with the highest rates among males ages 15 to 29.

The homicide rate in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024 was 9.5 per million population, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This rate is 'relatively low' when compared to regions such as the Americas or Africa, which in 2021 recorded rates of 150 and 127 per million, respectively.

1. MOSQUITOES

Russian tourist Vladislav Larionov, 34, died from malaria on April 10 after being bitten by a mosquito during a holiday in Zanzibar. He is pictured with his wife Kamila

Mosquitoes are the 'world's deadliest animal', killing more than 725,000 people each year. They infect millions of people with illnesses, including malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Zika and West Nile virus.

Malaria is a major cause of illness and death worldwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths in 2022.

Just last month, a Russian tourist died from malaria after being bitten by a mosquito during a holiday in Zanzibar.

Vladislav Larionov, 34, and his pregnant wife Kamila had travelled to Zanzibar at the end of February.

Upon returning to Ulyanovsk, Russia, Larionov developed flu-like symptoms, including a high fever of 39C (102.2F). Initially misdiagnosed as influenza, his condition deteriorated, leading to hospitalisation and a diagnosis of malaria.

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Larionov died on April 10, after spending a month in intensive care.

Africa accounts for 95 per cent of malaria infections worldwide and 96 per cent of deaths, BBC Science Focus reports.

UK health authorities also issued an urgent warning to travellers in March record number of deadly dengue fever cases were imported into Britain last year.

The disease was historically known as 'breakbone fever' in the 1700s because the pain it caused was so severe people felt like their bones were breaking.

Cases of the tropical disease, which can cause agonising pain in the joints and muscles, landing in the UK surged to 904 in 2024, the highest level ever recorded.

Officials have now urged travellers to take precautions to prevent catching the virus, which is spread by mosquito bites, while overseas.
When a teenage boy made fake nude photos of a group of girls at his school and posted them online in October 2023, the school claimed there was little they could do.

Some of the victims at Aledo High School in Texas were so humiliated by the crime, and by the lack of action, they transferred to other schools.

But one of the group, Elliston Berry, just 14 at the time, wasn't prepared to take what had happened to her sitting down.

She enlisted the help of US senator Ted Cruz to force social media companies to take down the images after they initially refused.

The women didn't even know who was behind the vile attack until Berry filed a Title IX investigation, which is the formal process used to make sex, harassment, or violence claims against their schools.

Berry's brave actions two years ago - she is now 16 - will see her stand next to Donald Trump at the White House as he signs the first federal law in the coming weeks punishing those who use AI to make deepfake pornography.

The landmark 'Take it Down Act' will make it a crime punishable by jail terms of up to three years and fines determined by the court for those those who create naked photos release them without consent.

The law also requires social media companies to take down 'deepfake' images within 48 hours.

'When this first happened, everyone was kind of at a loss, especially when we brought it to the school board,' Berry, who is still at Aledo High School, told DailyMail.com.

'No one really knew what to do. No one had really heard of this issue. That's why it's so important the "Take it Down Act" has finally passed, because we finally have that backboard and handbook to help others.'

In March, 16-year-old Elliston Berry (left), shared her story alongside First Lady Melania Trump. The Aledo, Texas teen was the victim of deepfake bullying. She was a guest of FLOTUS at the Capitol, sharing her experience to generate support of the 'Take it Down Act'

Berry has also been invited to Capitol Hill twice by First Lady Melania Trump to garner support and awareness of the 'Take it Down' Act.

She will never forget the moment she realized innocent photos she'd posted to Instagram had been transformed into fake nudes of her at just 14 years old.

'When I saw it, I thought, 'That looks completely real. This is not my body, and it looks so real,' the sophomore explained.

'It really was shocking how someone was able to...take my clothes off completely, all using AI, and completely manipulated the entire photo.'

She had no idea who'd created the images. Then similar fakes of her friends were shared online.

'It happened to my entire friend group. So day by day, he posted more of my friends, and ultimately, just exploited by whole friend group,' she said.

When she appealed to the school to find out who had done this to her, they refused to tell her, citing his privacy.

'They didn't know what to do, so we were stuck trying to fight for ourselves. We filed a Title IX investigation, which ultimately lead to us knowing the identity of the person.'

Months after she was first targeted, Berry learned a classmate she has known since 8th grade and once gifted her a Bible was behind the AI-generated photos.

Elliston Berry (pictured) was just 14-years-old when she discovered fake nude images of herself were circulating around Aledo High School in October 2023

Berry (right), McAdams(center) and her stepfather Mark (left) will sit in Melania's box when Trump addresses a Joint Session of Congress Tuesday night

Berry shared her story while lobbying with the First Lady for a bill that would make it a federal crime to post revenge porn and deep fakes online

'Honestly, we were friends,' Berry said. 'He had given me a Bible and we had conversations about the Lord and things like that, so when this first happened, I was shocked he would even think of me in a sexual way.'

The boy was placed in-school suspension, Berry said, before he transferred to another campus.

'None of us ever got an apology. We never learned why he did it. We still have no idea.'

Berry and her friends were the unfortunate victims of a vile new crime that is spreading through schools like an out-of-control wild fire.

She's been contacted by students from across the Lone Star State, sharing their own experiences with AI deepfake porn.

'It's honestly been really healing to be able to help others and honestly try my best to prevent this from happening to anyone else,' she said.

'I can take what he did and I can make it into something good.'
In the five decades he has spent behind bars, Robert Maudsley has had plenty of time for writing letters. Missives sent include observations on his favourite television shows  wildlife programmes with David Attenborough  and requests for improvements to his accommodation.

But this week a hitherto unseen side to Prisoner A9388AA emerged  Maudsley is in love. 'My dear sweet Loveinia,' the handwritten notes to the 69-year-old he refers to as his 'girlfriend' begin, praising her for 'being there for him' and pouring out his thoughts.

'All the kindness, thoughtfulness and love you have shared with me through these last short years can get me through anything,' he writes. 'My beautiful Loveinia, the more love we experience in our lives, the more the bad experiences tend to fade into the distance and we can live our lives to the full.'

The letters are signed off with the name Bob, and are always followed by three kisses. Such saccharine sentiments could hardly be in starker contrast to the reputation that has grown up around Maudsley during his 51 years in prison, of which 46 have reportedly been spent in solitary confinement  a world record.

Because Bob, who is also Britain's longest-serving prisoner, is better known by the array of nicknames earned from the brutal killings of the four men he despatched with his bare hands.

He was initially known as 'Blue' because that was the colour the face of his first victim turned as he slowly strangled him.

Then he became known as 'Spoons', after killing a fellow prisoner and leaving the body with a spoon sticking out of the skull and with part of the brain missing.

That gave rise to the unfounded belief that he'd actually eaten the organ, prompting the moniker that he is perhaps best known by  Hannibal the Cannibal.

Some believe Maudsley's purpose-built cell was the inspiration for Hannibal Lecter's in The Silence of the Lambs

Two more gruesome murders followed in a single day, both fellow inmates. Having killed them, he handed a guard his bloodied, home-made knife, saying: 'There'll be two short on the roll call.'

Ever since, Maudsley has been regarded as Britain's most dangerous prisoner. Such was the risk he posed, special arrangements were made for his incarceration.

In 1983, he was moved in to an underground glass and perspex cell at Wakefield, a Category A jail dubbed Monster Mansion on account of the criminals it holds.

Some believe Maudsley's purpose-built cell was the inspiration for Hannibal Lecter's in The Silence of the Lambs.

To that background, it's hard to imagine why anyone would want to befriend Maudsley, let alone exchange love letters with him. But, as the Mail reveals today, the woman in question shares an extraordinary link to her pen pal.

Like Maudsley, Loveinia Mackenney's father was convicted of four gruesome killings. The murders, as outlined in a 'macabre' Old Bailey trial, involved corpses being cut up and incinerated.

Jailed in 1980, Harry 'Big H' Mackenney  so called because of his 6ft 5in height  was given a whole-life tariff and would spend time in Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight. Maudsley was also there for a number of years, although it is not known if the two were there together.

Throughout her father's time inside, Ms Mackenney was a regular visitor, supporting him as he fought to prove his innocence  something he achieved in 2003, aged 72, when he was cleared by the Court of Appeal on the grounds that the main witness had been found to be a pathological liar.

Relatives of Ms Mackenney say she is a 'kind and compassionate' person and that the case of Maudsley had 'resonated' with her

While there is no suggestion that Maudsley, 71, is innocent of any of his crimes, the background to his offending has long elicited sympathy in certain circles. Abused by his father, his first victim was a paedophile. The three who followed in prison were also sex offenders.

Relatives of Ms Mackenney say she is a 'kind and compassionate' person and that the case of Maudsley had 'resonated' with her.

It is understood she first learned about the killer after watching a 2020 documentary about his life.

'Imagine what he has suffered down the years,' Ms Mackenney said in an interview with a tabloid newspaper. 'I cannot comprehend what he has been through and what he continues to go through.

'He needs all the support he can get. I am not just a pen friend, and if you see the letters from him, you will understand that. My heart breaks for him and my heart goes out to him... we have shared so many similar experiences.'

Ms Mackenney spoke about their 'relationship' after Maudsley shared the surprise news with her that he had been transferred from Wakefield to Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire. In a letter dated April 18, he revealed he was on

F Wing at Whitemoor, having been relocated ten days earlier.

The wing specialises in handling prisoners with personality disorders and includes what is known as the Close Supervision Centre  where there is limited or no association with other inmates.

Jailed in 1980, Harry 'Big H' Mackenney  so called because of his 6ft 5in height  was given a whole-life tariff and would spend time in Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight

The move came after Maudsley clashed with officers at Wakefield when belongings including his TV, radio and PlayStation were temporarily removed from his cell as part of a wider search of the whole prison for hidden weapons.

Maudsley threatened to go on hunger strike unless they were returned. In his letter to Ms Mackenney, Maudsley said the transfer was linked to the problems he had been having at Wakefield, but that 'due to certain restrictions etc am not able to write as freely as I would wish to'. But a source told the Mail he was moved because

he was viewed as being 'a threat' to prison officers.

'He's been a management issue for a while and has become very difficult to deal with,' he said. 'He was warned he would be moved if he continued to be a problem.

'For people like him who are institutionalised and will never be released, being moved from somewhere relatively secure to a new environment is a very big deal.'

A prison officer at Whitemoor said dealing with Maudsley had so far been relatively straightforward, but that no chances were being taken. 'He is a very unstable, unpredictable individual so he can never be allowed to interact one on one with a prison officer,' he said. 'He has a highly structured routine and his cell is unlocked individually by a minimum of two officers, usually three.

'Every interaction with Maudsley is pre-planned and should be risk-assessed. There are no casual encounters between prison officers  he is just too dangerous.

'Our aim is to take the stress out of every situation, give Maudsley forewarning of any disruptions to his routine so that he doesn't see them as a form of punishment.'

He added: 'Although he is dangerous, he is also very vulnerable.'

While it appears Maudsley didn't want to be moved, there was a time when he was desperate to get out of Wakefield, claiming his treatment there was inhumane.

In 2000, he wrote to a newspaper: 'What purpose is served by keeping me locked up 23 hours a day? Why even bother to feed me and to give me one hour's exercise a day? Who actually am I a risk to?

'As a consequence of my current treatment and confinement, I feel that all I have to look forward to is psychological breakdown, mental illness and probable suicide.

'Why can't I have a budgie instead of flies, cockroaches and spiders which I currently have? I promise to love it and not eat it. Why can't I have a television in my cell to see the world and learn? Why can't I have any music tapes and listen to beautiful classical music?

'If the Prison Service says no, then I ask for a simple cyanide capsule which I shall willingly take and the problem of Robert John Maudsley can easily and swiftly be resolved.'

But in recent years, the conditions of his imprisonment have improved, with relatives saying he has grown used to the 'solitude' and would not want to leave.

Speaking recently to Channel 5's Evil Behind Bars documentary, Maudsley's nephew, Gavin, gave fascinating details of his life at Wakefield. This included access to books, music and a games console, on which he likes to play chess and violent video game Call of Duty.

Gavin revealed that he, his father Paul, and Maudsley's brother Kevin were regular visitors, bringing in treats such as banana-flavoured milk  a favourite.

'It is all banter and having a laugh,' said Gavin, who refers to his relative as Uncle Bob.

'He will bring a flask of hot water with him and some tea bags so he can make us a cup of tea. Wakefield used to be his hell but now it has settled down and he is comfortable and treated as a human being. He knows he is on a whole life tariff and he has told me he will serve out that sentence to the best of his ability because he knows what he done was a terrible thing.'

But he added: 'He's asking to be on his own because he knows what can happen. Put him with rapists and paedophiles  I know because he told us  he is going to kill as many paedophiles as he can.'

Ms Mackenney echoed those concerns, telling the Sunday Mirror: 'It is a disaster waiting to happen. He does not want to be alongside other men because of the abuse he suffered as a child.

'You can tell from his letter to me what a terrible state he is in, his handwriting is shaky. He no longer has his TV, he has no radio. He was a model prisoner on his own, but I think they have targeted him. They are victimising him for no reason. People see him as a monster, they call him Hannibal the Cannibal. I know that he is far from that.'

Others take a much less sympathetic view. 'He has something of a fanbase both inside and outside of prison because he murdered sex offenders, so in many people's eyes he has done nothing wrong,' said a prison source. 'Maudsley is regarded by prison officers as a 'double Category A prisoner'. It's not an official term but is a reflection of the danger he poses.'

The fourth of 12 children born to a violent lorry driver, Maudsley and his three older siblings spent their early life in a Catholic orphanage in Crosby, Merseyside. But he was returned to the family home, where he was subjected to a regime of violence and deprivation. He would later say that when he killed, he saw his parents' faces in place of his victims.

'If I had killed my parents in 1970, none of these people need have died,' he once said. 'If I had killed them, then I would be walking around as a free man without a care in the world.'

At 16, Maudsley ran away to London, working as a rent boy. He killed for the first time in 1974 when a builder picked him up for sex, showing him photos of a young girl he had abused. Maudsley strangled the man and then handed himself in to police. Deemed unfit to stand trial, he was sent to Broadmoor.

In February 1977, he and another inmate took a child abuser hostage, torturing him for nine hours. The man was found with his head 'cracked open like a boiled egg' and with a spoon hanging out.

While it entered legend that he had eaten some of the man's brain, the sharpened spoon handle had in fact been thrust into his ear canal to kill him. Maudsley was convicted of manslaughter and sent to Wakefield, where, in July 1978, he murdered two more inmates.

His first victim was lured into his cell, where he cut his throat with a knife made from a soup spoon. He then crept into the cell of another prisoner, and smashed his head against a wall before using the homemade weapon to prise open his skull.

While at Parkhurst, he met psychiatrist Dr Bob Johnson, who, after three years of counselling, believed Maudsley was making great strides. But without warning, the treatment was cut off and Maudsley returned to Wakefield.

Dr Johnson said this week he believed Maudsley would now pose little risk, saying his previous isolation had been 'inhumane, extremely expensive and entirely unnecessary'. 'I think the handling of Maudsley is an indictment of the prison system. We are a civilised country and what we are doing is locking people up for 50 years without doing anything about it.

'Maudsley... had an appalling childhood and he was getting his revenge, which is now out of his system, as far as I can see.'

And what of Maudsley's new 'girlfriend'? 'I think it is quite remarkable,' the professor said.

'The fact is he has got warm, positive emotions. He has got social skills instead of killing skills. So he is solving his problems by increasing his social contacts. People may doubt the validity of it, but something is there.'

Yet whatever his new-found romantic inclination, given Maudsley's history  not to mention the ancestry of his new amour  it is unlikely he will be given the benefit of the doubt any time soon.
President Donald Trump is so desperate for a new Air Force One jet that he asked a Florida-based company to overhaul a plane once used by the Qatari government.

The moves comes amid years-long delays in the provision of two replacements for the aging presidential planes that the president commissioned during his last time in office.

After becoming frustrated at Boeing's apparently inability to deliver the order Trump wants L3Harris, a defense contractor, to transform the luxury aircraft previously used by Qatar by the fall, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Back in February, Trump traveled to Palm Beach International Airport and toured the plane on the tarmac.

Based on pictures of interior, which boasted leather furniture along with glimmering floors and ceilings, it matched perfectly with Trump's famously opulent taste in decor.

Its a major setback for Boeing, which had been tapped during Trump's first term to deliver a new pair of state-of-the-art planes to replace the old ones that have been in service since George H.W. Bush administration.

Boeing has fallen so behind on the $3.9 billion project that it now fears it won't be able to finish building the planes before Trump leaves office. They were supposed to be finished last year, but a series of supplier and engineering snags has caused the project to take years and go billions over budget.

Behind the scenes it appears Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg's visit to the White House on April 18 did nothing to smooth things over.

President Donald Trump is done waiting for Boeing to make his new Air Force One fleet, instead tasking defense contractor L3Harris with the job of remodeling a jet once owned and used by the Qatari government

The interior of the plane is filled with plush carpeting and leather couches

Pictured: A conference room with deep cushioned chairs that are adjustable with the push of a button

A glimmering corridor inside the plane that jives with Trump's famous love for anything and everything gold

Pictured: The used Qatari-plane sits on the tarmac at Palm Beach International Airport on February 15, 2025. Trump toured the plane that day

L3Harris, while not necessarily a household name like Boeing, does have the distinction of being the sixth-largest defense contractor in the United States.

The interior of the plane, done by famed French interior design firm Alberto Pinto Cabinet, is filled with ornate suites, staterooms, lounges and dining rooms. Nearly every room on board has plush carpeting, leather couches and golden furnishes.

The conference room has gorgeous tan and cream chairs with deep cushions that are adjustable with the push of a button. The corridors of the plane are lined with reflective, gold-colored walls that are reminiscent of Trumps design choices at his own properties such as Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan.

The plane is considered one of the most lavish in the world and once listed for about $400 million, according to the Business Jet Traveler.

And now it has the enormous task of retrofitting the Qatari jet with the most advanced communications and defense systems in the world in order to make the aircraft fit for the American commander-in-chief.

These apparatuses give the president the ability to have a mobile command center in the sky so he can make crucial decisions in event the US were militarily attacked.

The concept of transporting the president in his own private plane first came about in World War II.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's advisors at the time thought traveling by passenger plane would be risky, while going by sea was out of the question because of German U-boats patrolling the waters around Europe.

Technology has certainly advanced leaps and bounds since then. The planes Trump and other modern presidents fly on can withstand electromagnetic pulse attacks and can refuel mid-air, which means they have unlimited range.

Still, the two aging 747s in Trump's fleet increasingly require heavy maintenance, which could limit his transportation options when he needs to go overseas.

That's why current White House officials were furious after learning that Boeing told federal officials in November that it wouldn't be able to finish the planes it had been working on since 2017 until 2035.

Pictured: The current Boeing 747 jet that is being used as Air Force One. It has been in service since the days of George H.W. Bush, who served as president from 1989 to 1993

As a last ditch effort to save things with Boeing, Trump dispatched Elon Musk to try to speed things by authorizing the billionaire Tesla founder to give the plane manufacturer breathing room on certain onerous regulation imposed by the Air Force and the White House.

Trump administration officials have also talked about the possibility of suing Boeing, The Journal reported.

As a last ditch effort, Trump even dispatched Elon Musk to try to speed things up with Boeing by authorizing him to give the company breathing room on certain onerous regulation imposed by the Air Force and the White House.

At a February investor conference, Ortberg said Musk is 'able to pretty quickly ascertain the difference between technical requirements and things that we can move out of the way.'

Although Trump has left Boeing in the dust, it has been indicated that the company will continue working on the pair of jets, even if it takes another decade.

However, it's likely that L3Harris will run into serious challenges achieving Trump's wish of having his chosen plane ready in a matter of months, according to Andrew Hunter, the Air Forces acquisition chief during the Biden administration.

The abbreviated timeline will likely limit how many modifications Trump will be able to have done.

'You could do some paint, you could do some communications upgrades, and I suspect it would be hard to do too much beyond that on that timeline,' Hunter told The Journal.

The new Air Force One, which will already have a much more luxurious interior, could have a much bolder exterior as well.

That's because current military officials have reportedly discussed painting current Air Force One jets red, white and blue.

Daily Mail reached out to the White House and Boeing for comment.
You could have cut the atmosphere with a steak knife as Simon Patterson crossed the threshold of Court Four at Latrobe Valleys Magistrates Court.

Looking dead ahead, he bowed to Judge Christopher Beale, walked to the witness box, and then turned and briefly eyeballed the dock.

There sat Erin Patterson, a dark-haired woman Simon married 18 years ago but hadnt seen since the autumn of 2023. Flanked by two uniformed police officers, she wore a baggy pink shirt and brown trousers, along with something of a frown.

The 50-year-old housewife had good reason to feel glum. For she is currently on trial for the murder both of Simons parents, Don and Gail, along with his aunt Heather. She also stands accused of the attempted murder of his uncle (and Heathers spouse), Ian.

Simon, a civil engineer with whom Erin has two teenage children, was appearing as the first witness for the prosecution.

Dressed in a blue suit, and speaking in a soft Australian accent, he swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

So began Thursdays cross-examination, which extended into yesterday and will continue on Monday. It marked the first significant exchanges in a courtroom drama that is sparking intense interest from true-crime enthusiasts across the world.

The trial of Erin Patterson, scheduled to last six weeks, has brought a bona fide media circus to Morwell, a small and somewhat impoverished mining town in rural Victoria, a few hours drive south-east of Melbourne.

The trial of Erin Patterson, scheduled to last six weeks, has brought a bona fide media circus to Morwell

Don and Gail Patterson, victims of the suspected mushroom poisoning incident on July 29 in Leongatha, Victoria

Ive been here all week and was one of a handful of reporters (there are only six official press seats in the tiny court) who enjoyed a ringside seat throughout Simons first day.

To understand the intense public fascination in the case, we need only detail the bizarre nature of Erins Pattersons alleged crime.

Specifically: she is accused of poisoning her husbands relatives by deliberately feeding them a lunch of beef wellington, made with toxic death cap mushrooms.

This deadly dish was served with mashed potatoes and green beans at a small family gathering on Saturday, July 29, 2023.

The venue was Erins home on the outskirts of a small town named Leongatha, half an hours drive from Morwell in a dairy farming region named Gippsland. At the time of the incident, she and Simon had separated and were living apart, sharing custody of their children.

No alcohol was served, since the Patterson family are devout members of a local Baptist Church.

By all accounts, everything went down well. The court was told that, in the immediate aftermath, Heather, 66, declared the beef wellington to have been delicious and beautiful.

Yet later that night all four of Erins guests fell seriously ill with vomiting and diarrhoea. The next day, they were rushed to hospital. Within a week three of them had died, in highly-distressing circumstances involving multiple organ failure, detailed by prosecutor Nanette Rogers.

Simon's aunt Heather, who died from the mushrooms pictured with her husband Ian who survived after several weeks in a coma

Ian, the 68-year-old sole survivor, spent several weeks in a coma and survived with the help of a liver transplant. Hes expected to give evidence next week.

The prosecution case can be summed up as follows: the fatal incident, which attracted global attention at the time, was the culmination of an intricate murder plot which had been planned and executed by Erin Patterson over the preceding months.

No motive has been suggested, but relations with her estranged husband appear to have become strained during this timeframe.

Outlining how Erins scheme was allegedly executed, Rogers told the jury how she cooked five individual beef wellingtons, each of which consisted of eye fillet steak, surrounded by mushroom pate in a parcel of pastry.

Four of the portions were made using a mixture of supermarket mushrooms and death caps, she said. They were served on large, grey-coloured dinner plates. The fifth, which did not include the highly poisonous mushrooms, seems to have been placed on a smaller, orange plate which Patterson kept for herself.

Later that day, the court heard how all four guests began to feel seriously ill, suffering vomiting and diarrhoea so severe that they were hospitalised the following morning.

Erin also showed up at hospital, another 24 hours later, complaining of an upset stomach. She initially refused treatment and left, before returning later.

But she never fell seriously ill. The Crown alleges that she was faking symptoms of poisoning. They argue that it formed part of a cover-up designed to convince the authorities that she, too, had eaten the contaminated meal.

Simon Patterson makes his way out of court on Thursday

That, in a nutshell, is the case for the prosecution. But Pattersons defence is offering a very different interpretation of events. Their case hinges on convincing the jury that the poisoning of Simon Pattersons parents and aunt, and the near-death of his uncle, was instead what Erins barrister Colin Mandy has called a tragedy and a terrible accident.

Mandy has told the jury that Erin takes full responsibility for preparing the deadly meal and feeding it to her guests and concedes she behaved erratically in its aftermath.

However, Erins side insists that she did not deliberately use death cap in the dish.

Arguments over which of these two very different versions of events is right will, it seems, hinge on a number of intriguing sub-plots outlined to the jury.

One of them involves the exact provenance of the deadly mushrooms, which in the Australias south-eastern state of Victoria typically grow under oak trees following rainy periods in April or May.

The prosecution has claimed that Pattersons mobile telephone data indicated that, during those months of 2023, she twice visited areas near a town called Loch where rare sightings of death caps had been logged on a website named iNaturalist. Her death caps were then preserved using a food dehydrator, they say.

Although Patterson has denied owning such a device, the court heard she had purchased a model made by Sunbeam from a homeware store in Leongatha on April 28, the day of her first visit to Loch.

Police established that Patterson visited a local rubbish tip to dispose of the food dehydrator on August 2, four days after the deadly lunch.

Erin Patterson is accused of poisoning her husbands relatives by deliberately feeding them toxic death cap mushrooms

The court was this week shown a CCTV footage of her unloading an item matching its description from a red car. Forensic analysis of a device recovered from the tip revealed Erins fingerprints on it, as well as traces of death caps.

At the time the photo was taken, Erin was denying to public health authorities that she used foraged or wild mushrooms and instead claimed to have made the dish using fresh mushrooms from a local branch of Woolworths as well as a bag of dehydrated ones from an Asian supermarket in Melbourne.

However, she was unable to identify this shop and investigators who visited every such premises in the area did not find any products matching their description.

In court, Erins defence team have attempted to square this circle by conceding that her various initial claims about the mushrooms were untrue, but arguing that she lied because she panicked.

Mandy told the jury: She did forage for mushrooms. However, he added, she denies that she ever deliberately sought out death cap mushrooms.

As for the dehydrator, he said: She admits that when she was interviewed by police on the same day one of the lunch guests died, she lied about getting rid of the dehydrator.

So much for the mushrooms. A second major sub-plot revolves around Pattersons use of mobile telephones. The prosecution says she used two devices in the run up to the incident, but only one was ever recovered by police. It appears to have been given a factory reset at least three times in the days that followed the lunch.

The devices were used to access Facebook, on which Patterson seems to have spent significant time in true-crime forums participating using various usernames and posting images of mushrooms and food dehydrators.

Erin Patterson as she appeared in court on Monday

Yet more fascination surrounds the reason why the four guests had been invited to the lunch in the first place.

The court was told that roughly a month earlier, Erin had told her estranged husband Simons parents that shed found a lump in her elbow that was being tested via a biopsy and an MRI scan. She then told them she was organising a meal to discuss some medical issues she had and to get advice about how to break it to the kids.

During the lunch itself, she told her guests that shed been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. They had a discussion about it being best to be honest with the children, the court was told.

But it later emerged that Erins claims about her health were also false. An examination of medical records uncovered no evidence that she was suffering from any form of cancer.

The prosecution contends that Erin told porkies about her health to ensure and explain why her children would not be present at the lunch. In her defence, Erins team have conceded that she has indeed never been diagnosed with cancer.

However, they insist the issue is entirely irrelevant to the question of whether she deliberately poisoned her relatives.

Into this maelstrom of intrigue strode Simon Patterson, a mild-mannered 50-year-old who, prior to this weeks trial, has never publicly discussed the events leading to the death of his parents and the arrest of his estranged wife. His testimony was at times emotionally charged, with proceedings having to briefly pause when he came close to tears.

Relatives in court were also handed tissues by the staff.

Simon Patterson entered court with his media cohort Jessica O'Donnell

Erin, who has a couple of friends supporting her in court, became agitated just once, when the jury was shown a family tree carrying the names of various relatives, including the three who she stands accused of murdering. As their names were read out, she appeared to dab her eyes.

During his day-and-a-half on the stand, Simon told how hed met Erin in the early 2000s, when they both worked for Monash Council, in suburban Melbourne.

They married in 2007 and settled in Western Australia. A first child, whose identity is protected via a court order designed to protect the privacy of minors involved in proceedings, was born two years later.

First cracks in the marriage appeared shortly after the childs birth, when Erin decided to fly home early from a road trip the young family was undertaking in a camper van, leaving Simon to spend over a week driving home with a four-month-old infant. Simon told the court he believed she suffered from mental illness  post natal depression  especially after our son was born.

From this point on, their relationship was strained. Although they took part in marriage guidance counselling, and lived together for periods, they would frequently separate.

It was always her leaving me, he told the jury. A second child, who came along in 2014, failed to improve things on the domestic front, and they separated more permanently in 2015 when Erin bought a new home.

Though living apart, Simon and Erins relationship was for years largely friendly, the court heard. Indeed, he had hoped they would eventually reconcile.

By now living in Gippsland, where many members of Simons extended family were based, they shared custody of the children and ownership of various homes, and went on a number of foreign holidays as a family.

Simon Patterson was cross examined by his wife's legal team (pictured)

Erin was a wealthy woman, having inherited $2m AUD (approximately 1m) from her grandmother shortly before they married, along with a further significant sum when her mother died in 2019. She was, by all accounts, generous with her money, giving interest-free loans to various members of the Patterson family. Money has not been the most important motivation to either Erin or me in our decisions, is how Simon put it.

Things changed, however, one day in 2022, when Erin discovered that Simon had described himself as separated on his tax return. She claimed this would have tax implications for her and began demanding child support. Soon there were squabbles over medical bills and school fees.

At one point, Erin messaged Simons parents on the app Signal, asking them to intervene over a financial dispute, but they responded that the couple ought to sort the matter out between themselves.

In court Simon was also asked about Erins self-image, with his wifes counsel Colin Mandy suggesting that shed become unhappy at having put on weight over the years. I think Erin is not particularly happy with how she is. I dont think she has a high self-esteem, he responded.

A number of angry text messages exchanged by the couple were shared in court. In October 2022, in one message, Erin responded angrily to an invitation Simon had sent her to his mothers 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, she complained.

By the summer of 2023, their relationship had deteriorated to the extent that Simon felt too uncomfortable to attend the fateful lunch, to which hed been invited alongside his parents, uncle, and aunt. The jury was then shown a text message he sent to Erin on the eve of the meal, apologising and saying hed be happy to talk about your health and implications of that at another time.

Erin responded: Thats really disappointing. Ive spent many hours this week preparing lunch for tomorrow which has been exhausting in light of the issues I am facing and spent a small fortune on beef eye fillet to make beef wellingtons because I wanted it to be a special meal as I may not be able to host a lunch like this for some time.

The Trial of Erin Patterson is available now, wherever you get your podcasts. Listen here

That, of course, would turn out to be true. For the question of whether Erin Patterson will ever be free to invite lunch guests again now lies in the hands of a jury.

They will bear witness to proceedings over the coming weeks alongside a small army of journalists, bloggers, and real-life crime enthusiasts who have booked out every local hotel room.

Morwell certainly makes a bizarre setting for this major news events. Following the closure of a local power plant, it has become one of Australias poorest towns, with drug addicts and alcoholics pestering visitors and so few shops and restaurants currently open on its largely shuttered high street, that jurors are forced to rub shoulders with tables of reporters and lawyers working on the case during breaks in proceedings.

When you are outside at lunchtime or at other times, your paths may cross with lawyers, Justice Beale warned them this week, seemingly following one such incident.

If they ignore you, dont think they are being rude. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done, and if there is any interaction between jurors and members of the respective legal teams, its not a good look.

And in that spirit, the bizarre yet utterly compelling trial of Erin Patterson continues.
Both were, to be frank, at an age when they presumed romance - the fireworks, the anticipation, the butterflies in the stomach - was far behind them.

How utterly endearing then to find that Jenny Francis, 51, and Danny Wright, 49 - the couple who so captured all our hearts on ITV dating show, My Mum, Your Dad, last year - are not only still together but now talking about marriage as their 'ultimate goal'.

The pair met in April last year after Jenny's son Malachi, 20, who appeared alongside her on the show - in which children of single parents put them forward for matchmaking - signed her up as a contestant. Danny, meanwhile, was put forward by his 20-year-old daughter Tallulah.

And so strong was the attraction that Jenny had already told Danny she loved him before the show had even aired on television.

'I didn't want to say it first and then it just came out by accident,' Jenny confesses in this exclusive joint interview. 'I was in Danny's kitchen. It was so early on, before the show even aired!

'My girlfriends were like, don't you say it first! I just thought life is too short, you've just got to say how you feel, you could be dead tomorrow.'

Silver-haired Danny was a little more cautious about showing his feelings at first.

'I'd resigned myself to being single for the rest of my days,' he admits. 'Mentally, I was trying to be guarded about it, regardless of the fact that the feelings were there.'

Jenny Francis, 51, and Danny Wright, 49, captured the nation's hearts on ITV dating show My Mum, Your Dad last year

During the final week of the series, Jenny expressed some doubts as to whether the relationship would last, given she's based in Cheshire and Danny lives in Sussex

The couple are not only still together but now talking about marriage as their 'ultimate goal'

But 12 months on, it is Danny who brings up the M word.

'We've talked, not in-depth about marriage and moving in, but we both understand that that is the ultimate goal,' he reveals. And long term, he has plans to move to Cheshire where Jenny lives.

'It's beautiful. I would love to live up there,' he says. 'When I go there, I feel immediately relaxed because it's such a lovely area. We could retire up there.'

For now, though, the couple are juggling their blossoming relationship with the needs of their children - between them, they have five - and that means a 600-mile round trip to see each other as Danny still lives in Eastbourne, East Sussex, to be near three of his children, while Jenny lives in Altrincham with her only son Malachi.

'It's difficult in the short term,' admits Danny, a sales controller. 'Jenny does 90 per cent of the travelling. I'm quite rooted in Eastbourne at the moment. My job is quite demanding, as well as my son being young.

'I've been up a few times, and can get up for the odd weekend here and there, whereas Jenny has more flexibility in her life. I wouldn't say it's made it easier but it's made it possible. Without that bit of flexibility it really would have been a problem. But like I've always said, anything worth having, is always going to need effort putting in.'

Their two blended families have yet to meet en masse because of the logistics involved but the couple, who have just returned from their first holiday together, are hopeful it will happen sooner than later.

Meanwhile, Danny has formed a strong bond with Jenny's son, Malachi, who she raised alone and Jenny has become close to Tallulah.

So strong was the attraction that Jenny had already told Danny she loved him before the show had even aired on television

Jenny split from her son's father 15 years ago, and they divorced four years later. She is reluctant to talk about the break up but admits that the experience left her nervous about dating again

My Mum, Your Dad star Danny said: 'We're just a normal couple and we'll bicker and fight. When we're together we very rarely have a cross word'

'It was the nicest thing, the first thing Jenny did when she first came to stay with me was to ask for Tallulah's phone number,' says Danny. 'She wanted to take her to lunch, get to know her.

'Now these two have become close. They'll go off to get their nails done when I'm at work, go out and have lunch. It's heartwarming really. Jenny has made her feel really included.'

Danny's youngest son Leyton, seven, has also fallen for Jenny.

'I have Leyton quite a lot through the week,' says Danny. 'Most times when I pick him up after work his first words are: 'Is Jenny home?'

'If she's staying here, she'll have his dinner ready for him, they'll play, and be rolling around on the floor.'

Problems when they do come - as they do in all relationships - only surface when the couple are not together and thankfully, despite the distance between them, the longest they've been separated so far is a month.

Danny reflects: 'We're just a normal couple and we'll bicker and fight. When we're together we very rarely have a cross word. It tends to be more when we're in different ends of the country. Jenny will have a crappy day, and I've had a crappy day, I'm a bit more relaxed but for Jenny she'll overthink things.

'I might make light of something but she'll snap and tell me I don't take things seriously.

Viewers saw the pair grow close from the moment they enjoyed their first date

'But one thing Jenny is extremely good at is she will snap out of an argument really quickly. I do love that about her. I can't stand people who sulk. And even if you haven't had a row, you've got to figure out what you've done for them to stop talking to you. I can't deal with that.

'I've always said to Jenny if you've got a problem with me, tell me, and we'll fix it. So that's how we deal with things.'

The couple clearly adore each other and seeing them act like besotted teenagers is enough to make even the most hard-hearted soften - especially when one considers the bumpy road both had before they found each other.

Indeed, Danny has both been the victim and the bad guy in matters of the heart, splitting with his wife - the mother of two of his children, Ellis, 22, who now lives in London, and Tallulah, 20 - after having an affair.

This, he insists, is something he's still ashamed of.

He then went on to have another relationship after his divorce, from which he has his seven-year-old son Leyton. During emotional scenes on the show, hosted by Davina McCall, Ellis revealed that Danny had been left heartbroken when his ex-partner left him for another man.

Reflecting on the bumps in his romantic path, Danny, who also has an older son, Ashley, 28, said: 'I was married to my wife for about 10 years but we were together for a long time before that. I've only been married once.

'We had a lovely life and maybe a bit of boredom set in. Somebody paid me a bit of attention at work, and it turned into an affair.

MailOnline can reveal the couple are the only contestants from the second series who remain in a relationship after striking up a close connection in the retreat

'Even after we separated, sold the house and moved on, I never admitted it to anybody until I did the programme.

'But my ex-wife and I have a really good relationship now. She was my biggest supporter going into the show. And a big part of the show is having to talk about your past relationships and I thought there's no point hiding anything. The only way to deal with this is complete honesty.

'The difficult thing for me was I was so ashamed of what I did. I came from a broken home myself and never wanted that for my children. So for that to happen because of me, I was so ashamed of myself. I still am.'

Jenny split from her son's father 15 years ago, and they divorced four years later. She is reluctant to talk about the break up but admits that the experience left her nervous about dating again.

'I still have insecurities,' she says. 'I still feel that it could possibly go wrong. I overthink things. And I've got to battle with that inner voice sometimes. I think that's just through life experience and what you've been through.

The only black woman to take part in the second series, Jenny admits she thought this meant she'd never get the guy.

'When I went in, I thought I've not got a chance! I'll just have a nice time and see what happens. But never did I think that I'd walk away with THE guy.'

While Danny hasn't observed any negativity towards them as a couple because of Jenny's race, she has, and says: 'You can just sense it. There were comments like 'Oh I didn't see them two together' and there were certain comments online. In the back of my head, I'd be like, 'Why are you thinking that?'. I kind of knew what it was.'

Danny adds: 'Jenny is the first black girl I've ever dated. The racism part...it makes me angry. You want to reach out and say: 'Stop being so vile' but luckily there hasn't been much hate online. I've been surprised at how much love we've had.

'The most offensive it got for me was when a couple of people said I looked like Gary Barlow and another then replied 'He's more Ken Barlow than Gary.'

As for the 'ultimate goal' of marriage, when might that happen?

Danny admits: 'I have thought about it. But what I don't want to have is a long engagement. In my mind, when it gets to that stage, I'd like to propose and then get married.

'We've talked about it. Neither of us wants the big wedding. The important bit for me is to call Jenny my wife. That means more to me than any big day itself.'
A South Carolina high school dance teacher has been suspended and charged following allegations of an 'inappropriate relationship' with a student.

Victoria Montgomery, who has taught dance at Hilton Head Island High School since 2021, is accused of sexual battery of a student.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office confirmed Friday's charge came after district officials received a tip suggesting an 'inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student.'

Montgomery, 32, was placed on administrative leave two days before the formal accusation.

Authorities believe the student involved is one of Montgomery's own, but they are working to determine when the relationship began.

No details have been release on the age or grade level, but WSAV reports the student is 18 years old.

The Beaufort County School District has since issued a statement acknowledging the situation.

South Carolina high school dance teacher Victoria Montgomery has been charged with sexual battery of a student

Montgomery was placed on administrative leave from her role at Hilton Head Island High School two days before the criminal charges were filed

'We have become aware of a situation involving a staff member and student at HHIHS,' the statement read.

'Because this involves both a personnel matter and a law enforcement investigation, we are unable to provide additional details or comment further,' the district said.

'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.'

District spokesperson Candace Bruder reiterated the district's position and assured parents that all of Montgomery's classes will now be covered by certified educators or substitute teachers.

'Classes taught by this individual will be covered by a certified educator or a substitute teacher and families of students enrolled in these courses will be notified via email,' she added.

A similar statement was sent directly to parents, notifying them of the situation and assuring them of the district's cooperation with law enforcement.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office confirmed the charge came after district officials received a tip suggesting an 'inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student. Pictured: Hilton Head High School teacher Ms. Montgomery celebrates her pregnancy

No details have been released about the age or grade level of the student concerned. Pictured: A heavily redacted Beaufort County Sheriffs Office indictment

'We recognize that situations like this can raise concern, and we are taking this very seriously. Be assured the situation is being addressed accordingly in cooperation with law enforcement.'

Montgomery previously taught in Flint, Michigan, and worked in education in Indiana before joining Hilton Head Island High, according to WSAV.

Montgomery's future with the district remains in question.

Depending on the findings of the investigation, she could face disciplinary action up to termination. Her teaching license may also be reviewed by the South Carolina Department of Education.
Votes will start to be counted on the east coast after 6pm, two hours later WA will join the party.

So what are the seats to watch this evening?

Daily Mail Australias political editor has crunched the numbers, hit the phones to talk to candidates and party officials, and come up with the following as his assessment of the state of play seat by seat in the battlegrounds that matter.

Use this as your yardstick throughout the evening for how the election is unfolding, and we will circle back to these seats as the results come in.

As well as any others we might have missed, but thats unlikely.

Labor held seats at risk from the Coalition:

I think in descending order these are the Labor held seats most at risk of falling to the Liberals, with their margins in brackets.

Gilmore in NSW (0.2 percent) Aston in Melbourne (3.6 percent) Bullwinkel in Perth (3.3 percent) Paterson in NSW (2.6 percent) Werriwa in Sydney (5.3 percent)

After these five it becomes more difficult for the Liberals to pick up further Labor seats, but I still have them as the narrow favourites in three more, but all three are very close:

Lingiari in the NT (1.7 percent) Hawke in Victoria (7.6 percent) McEwen in Victoria (3.8 percent)

After that I can see three 50-50 toss of the coin seats the Coalition are fighting to claim:

Bennelong in Sydney (0.04 percent) Tangney in Perth (2.8 percent) Bendigo in regional Victoria (11.2 percent)

Beyond the above there are nine more seats Labor holds that the Australian electoral commission classifies as marginal, but I dont see Labor losing any of them except maybe Blair but even then I think theyll just miss out.

Lyons in Tassie (0.9 percent)

Robertson in NSW (2.2 percent) Boothby in Adelaide (3.3 percent) Chisholm in Melbourne (3.3 percent) Parramatta in Sydney (3.7 percent) Hunter in NSW (4.8 percent) Reid in Sydney (5.2 percent) Blair in Queensland (5.2 percent) Bruce in Melbourne (5.3 percent)Finally, a few roughies that arent even marginal

Labor seats to keep your eyes on where big swings might go the Liberal Partys way, but not by enough to win, unless something extraordinary happens which you never know in one or two of them.

Dunkley in Victoria Shortland in NSW Horton in Victoria Pearce in WA Whitlam in NSW

Labor has its eyes on a number of Liberal held seats it hopes to win.

The ones I think they are a chance of picking up (in order) in are:

Sturt in South Australia Braddon in Tasmania Bonner in Queensland Menzies in Victoria Bass in Tasmania Deakin in Victoria Leichhardt in Queensland

They should win some of these. If they pick up more than two or three, majority governnent for Labor is well and truly on the cards.

Beyond the above showdowns between the major parties, what out for the following contests.

Labor might get Fowler back off the independent who won it at the last election.

Labor might get Griffith back from the Greens, perhaps even Brisbane too.

But Labor is at risk of losing Richmond on the NSW north coast to the Greens.

The Nationals might lose Cowper to an independent. And Liberals are trying to stave off an independent in Wannon and a Teal in Bradfield.

The Liberals hope to win against teals in Curtin, Kooyong and Goldstein. They want win all three, but thats the order of likelihood in my view. They might not win any of them.

Liberals will also reclaim the seats of Moore in WA, Monash in Victoria and Calare in NSW. Sitting Coalition MPs in all three seats were elected three years ago but defected to the crossbench. All three are running against their old parties as independents this time around but I expect them all to lose.
A woman was caught on camera defecating on another driver's car in a disgusting act of road rage vengeance following a heated confrontation in suburban Pennsylvania.

Christina Solometo, 44, can be seen in vile footage dropping her pants, squatting on the hood of a silver sedan, and leaving behind a trail of excrement in broad daylight.

The revolting act of retaliation has shocked the small community of Prospect Park, where such antics are rare.

'This can't happen in this community,' Prospect Park Police Chief Dave Madonna said flatly in an interview with NBC 10.

'No town wants this to happen in their town. The recognition a town gets over this kind of thing - it's really unwelcome. We don't want this.'

The foul incident earlier this week near the intersection of 4th Avenue and Madison Street, after a minor traffic dispute between Solometo and another female driver.

While the other driver honked and cursed, Solometo could be seen leaping out of her black car, stormed toward the other vehicle and with disturbing speed, delivered a steaming pile of revenge onto the victim's hood.

The clip ends with the woman casually walking back to her vehicle, grinning away.

A woman was caught on camera defecating on another driver's car in a disgusting act of road rage vengeance following a heated confrontation in suburban Pennsylvania (picture caption: Instagram/greg_____ferrari)

Police arrested Solometo and she is facing a slew of charges, including indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, harassment, and depositing waste on the highway

Police say 44-year-old Christina Solometo of Ridley Park is the woman seen in the footage that sees her dropping her pants, squatting on the hood of a silver sedan and defecating

The entire incident was caught on video by a stunned bystander, who then posted it to Instagram.

The graphic footage was both grotesque and bizarrely clinical in its execution.

Police told TMZ that Solometo has since been fully cooperative with the investigation.

She is now facing a slew of charges, including indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, harassment, and depositing waste on the highway.

But what stunned investigators even further was what Solometo said after being identified.

According to court documents she allegedly told police, 'It was a clean poop. I didn't even have to wipe.'

Solometo allegedly claimed she acted out of restraint rather than rage.

'The other driver called me a bad name,' she said. 'So I dropped a deuce instead of turning violent.'

The clip ends with the woman casually walking back to her vehicle, grinning away

Police are seen taking Solometo into custody

That explanation did little to soothe public officials. Chief Madonna emphasized that despite the laughter online, the department is not amused.

'I know it's being joked on a lot. There's all kinds of puns and innuendos online,' he said. 'But bottom line, we are treating it seriously.'

The owner of silver sedan has not filed an official complaint.

Solometo's family said there's more to the story than what the video shows, but have so far declined to elaborate further.
Missing Madeleine McCann's parents have posted a poignant message to their missing daughter on the 18th anniversary of her abduction.

Kate and Gerry McCann updated their official Find Madeleine Facebook page just hours ahead of the milestone of when she went missing during a family holiday in Portugal on May 3 2007.

The toddler vanished while in the resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve and since then there has been no positive sighting and no one has been charged with her abduction, but her parents have never given up hope.

In their message  which also marked what would be Madeleine's 22nd birthday later this month - they also made a heartfelt nod to missing and displaced children in the UK and war torn Ukraine and Gaza.

Kate and Gerry said: 'As we arrive at the 18th anniversary of Madeleine's abduction, we'd like to thank our faithful supporters once again for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine.

'The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to 'leave no stone unturned' is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.

'May is also the month which includes 'International Missing Children's Day' (25th). We continue to remember all missing children and their families, both here in the UK and abroad, thinking especially of all the children displaced from their homes & families in Ukraine & Gaza at this time.

'We're very grateful to the UK Charity, 'Missing People' for their ongoing, invaluable work, & to all organisations, charities and police forces who remain committed, despite many challenges and limited resources, to finding & bringing home the many missing and abducted children.

Madeleine McCann's parents Kate and Gerry McCann posted a tribute on the official Find Madeleine page on Facebook on the 18th anniversary of her disappearance

The couple also posted a poignant message celebrating Madeleine as 'the very beautiful and unique person she is'

Gerry and Kate said that 'no matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day'

Undated handout file photo of Madeleine McCann, who went missing 18 years ago - she would have been celebrating her 22nd birthday on May 13

Kate and Gerry McCann (pictured in 2011) said in the anniversary post that they would 'leave no stone unturned' in their quest to find Madeleine

Madeline went missing during a family holiday in Portugal on May 3 2007. The toddler vanished while in the resort of Praia da Luz on the Algarve and since then there has been no positive sighting and no one has been charged with her abduction

'May is also Madeleine's birthday - her 22nd this year. No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to 'celebrate' her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.'

The post contained a montage of pictures of Madeleine with the caption:' No matter how near or far she is, Madeleine continues to be with us, every day.'

Kate and Gerry signed off the message which was posted on Friday night, ahead of Saturday's anniversary and they are expected to attend a prayer vigil in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, to mark her disappearance.

Earlier this week it emerged that police would be keeping an eye on the event after Kate and Gerry were allegedly stalked by a polish woman called Julia Wandel who has visited their home and called them claiming to be their missing daughter.

Wandel has since been arrested and is in custody ahead of her trial in the UK later this year after she was arrested at Bristol airport on her way to visit Rothley and Kate, 57, and Gerry, 56, are due to give evidence.

Convicted rapist and paedophile Christian Brueckner, 47, has been named as the prime suspect for her abduction and murder by German police but since the announcement five years ago he has not been charged with any offence.

The German was living in the Algarve at the time of Madeleine's disappearance and is currently serving a seven-year jail term for raping a woman in the same area and he is due for release in the autumn.
A whirlwind five-week election race will end with democracy sausages, colourful corflutes of eager candidates and last-minute campaigners outside polling stations.

An estimated 12million Australians are expected to head to the polls to have their say on the next federal government.

Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are expected to be out campaigning on Saturday in the hopes to win some final votes.

Voting is compulsory for all citizens aged 18 and over, with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) threatening a $20 penalty for those who don't cast their vote.

The fee jumps to $222 and could even mean a court date if the fine is left unpaid.

Tools such as 'Build a Ballot' are designed to help voters calculate their 'match level' with local candidates.

Daily Mail Australia has provided this comprehensive guide to ensure your voting experiences goes as smoothly as possible.

Voting is compulsory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and over and around 12 million people are expected to head to the polling centres in the federal election (voters in Bondi are pictured)

Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are expected to be out campaigning on Saturday in the hopes to win some final votes (pictured, queues in Marrickville on Saturday)

Among the 7,000 polling places across Australia, 1,890 will have a sausage sizzle (pictured)

When and where can I vote?

You can vote at any polling place in your state or territory on election day, the AEC has said. There are also designated interstate voting centres.

Polling places, which open from 8am to 6pm, are usually at local schools, churches, community halls and public buildings.

There are over 7,000 polling places and Australians can find their closest centre by checking the AEC website.

Of this number, 1,890 will have a sausage sizzle - also known on election day as 'democracy sausage' - for voters, according to the democracysausage.org map.

What do I bring?

Nothing. A volunteer at the centre will ask for a voter's name and address before giving them a ballot paper.

The AEC told the Herald Sun that phones are allowed in the voting booth for those making a call or wanting to use Google.

But filming or taking photos of AEC staff, voters, people's votes, the electoral roll or certified lists is not allowed.

Pets are allowed in booths, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese bringing his dog Toto to the polls in 2022.

Centres which forbid dogs on the premises may have restrictions.

Phones are allowed in the voting booth for those making a call or wanting to use Google

You can vote at any polling place in your state or territory on election day, the AEC has said. There are also designated interstate voting centres (pictured, voters in 2019)

What do I wear?

There is no dress code for voters but restrictions on campaigning outside polling centres (no closer that six metres) can impact clothing.

'If a voter wears a pin, shirt or hat with a campaign slogan into the polling place, casts their vote and leaves then it may not be considered as campaigning,' an AEC statement said in 2023.

'However, when inside a polling venue a problem could arise if a voter is seen talking about the material or gesturing towards it.'

The commission suggests avoiding potential issues by not wearing campaign material into a polling place, or to at least bring along a piece of clothing to cover up.

How do I vote?

The AEC has stated that how someone votes is their decision and, while candidates or campaigners might offer a 'how to vote' cards, it remains the individual's choice.

On arrival at the centre, voters will be handed two ballot papers by a volunteer: a small green one for the House of Representatives and large white one for the Senate.

Federal elections use a preferential voting system where voters must mark a preference for every candidate on the green paper and mark a preference for a designated number on the white.

People must not identify themselves on the ballot, this includes avoiding writing a name, initials or signing the paper - otherwise it cannot be counted.

Pets are not forbidden from polling booths either, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heading to vote with his dog Toto on election day in 2022 (pictured)

Campaigning is forbidden within six metres of a polling centre, the AEC has said (stock image)

What happens if I don't vote?

Failure to vote in the upcoming Federal Election may lead to a $20 administrative penalty and the AEC will send a letter with instructions on how to pay it.

Some valid and sufficient reasons for not voting on May 3 could include being too ill to make it to the polls, a natural disaster, or some other accident.

A person can advise the commission of the reason will be reviewed, along with any specific circumstances.

If the reason is deemed invalid, the AEC will notify the person that they are required to pay the fine - which if left unpaid could up to $222.

Emma Louise Pearce failed to vote at the 2016 federal election and was taken to court by Commonwealth prosecutors.

After telling the court she disagreed with the voting system she was hit with a $180 fine, legal costs, and a criminal conviction.

The same year, Darwin man Frank Bost refused to vote on principle and took his case to court.

He pleaded guilty to violating the Commonwealth Electoral Act and was ordered to pay $308 including a fine as well as the Australian Electoral Commission's legal fees.
A judge wiped away tears in court after he told a teenager he would spend more than a decade behind bars after he stabbed another teen to death.

Pasawm Lyhym, 16, ran for his life before he was stabbed twice in the back with a 35cm knife after a fight between two groups of teenagers on May 18, 2023.

Lyhym was unarmed when he was killed near a bus interchange in Sunshine, in Melbourne's west.

His killer, who can't be identified because he was 17 at the time, handed himself in to police 12 days after Lyhym was killed.

In Victoria's Supreme Court on Friday, Justice Michael Croucher sentenced the 19-year-old to 13 years in prison with a non-parole period of eight years.

Justice Croucher broke down as he told the man he had 'excellent prospects of rehabilitation' but highlighted the 'tragic consequences' of knife crime.

'No good can come from carrying weapons like these. It just has to stop,' he said.

The judge accepted it was not the teen's intention to kill Lyhym and that his actions were impulsive.

Pasawm Lyhym (pictured) was stabbed to death by a Melbourne bus stop in 2023

Judge Michael Croucher weeped as he talked about the consequences of knife crime

He became emotional and wiped away tears as he read out the statements.

'He has no previous criminal history. He has the full support of his loving and law-abiding family, as well as from four of his former school teachers, who see great goodness in him,' he said.

'In those circumstances, I am satisfied [his] prospects of rehabilitation are excellent.'

Lyhym's family were also in the courtroom and they too shed tears as their victim impact statements were read out by Justice Croucher.

'Our home is filled with an unbearable silence, his laughter replaced by tears and heartbreak,' the family said in their statement.

'No parent should have to bury his or her child.'

Justice Croucher told the court it was a sad case and that it may have been the boys' young ages that had made him feel emotional.

The court heard that Lyhym was part of a group of teens who were set upon by another group after school. Two of them had machetes in their bags.

Pasawm Lyhym (pictured) ran for his life before he was stabbed after a fight between two groups of teenagers in 2023

The killer partially hid his face with a ski mask during the attack before he stabbed Lyhym, who tried to use a shopping trolley to defend himself.

Justice Croucher said the teen was too quick for Lyhym as he tried to flee the scene.

'While they were both still running in the same direction, he lashed out with the knife at Pasawm from behind, stabbing him twice to the back,' he said.

Justice Croucher said he was moved after seeing videos from Lyhym's funeral which showed a song written by the boy's father.

'I know that there is nothing this court can say or do to salve, let alone heal, the grief and pain suffered by Pasawm's loved ones,' he said.

'The sentence I must pass is not a reflection of the worth of his cherished young life for a start, such a precious thing is immeasurable.'

The 19-year-old will be sentenced next Friday to give the Adult Parole Board time to consider the Justice Croucher's recommendation that he serve some of his time in youth detention.

'In my view, it would be preferable if he could remain in youth detention to complete his formal education and any vocational courses that might be available, Justice Croucher said.

'In particular, given his impressionability, his callow nature, and the likelihood that he would be subjected to undesirable influences in an adult prison.'

The teen will be eligible for parole in May 2030.
Nigel Farage sent shockwaves through the political establishment yesterday.

In a stunning breakthrough, Reform seized control of a string of major councils across the country  and inflicted a humiliating defeat on Labour in a by-election in the previously safe seat of Runcorn and Helsby.

Mr Farage last night hailed his party's performance as a 'Reform-quake' and claimed it signalled 'the end of two-party politics'.

He said Reform had had 'the Labour Party for lunch' and 'wiped out' the Conservatives in parts of England.

Mr Farage said the results marked 'the beginning of the end' for the Conservative Party, with Reform now 'the main opposition party' despite having just five MPs.

Projections suggested the results would put Mr Farage on course to be Prime Minister if they were repeated at a General Election.

Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice said: 'The big question we were asking ourselves was: Are Reform posing a major challenge to the traditional dominance of British politics by Conservatives and Labour?

'Is that challenge really there? And I think we now know that the answer to that question is yes.'

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Labour and the Tories were both on track last night to lose around two-thirds of the seats they were defending.

From a standing start, Reform won more than 650 seats  similar to the number lost by the Conservatives.

Labour, which was defending far fewer seats, looked set to lose around 200.

The Tories lost control of every council they were defending including some in heartland areas such as Kent.

In Durham, which Labour held for more than a century until recently, the party was left with just four seats out of 98 as Reform swept to power.

The results leave Reform in control of some of England's biggest authorities, putting the party's novice councillors in charge of budgets totalling billions.

Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'disappointed' by the results, but insisted he understood the reasons for voters' disaffection and would respond. 'I get it,' he said. 'We must deliver that change even more quickly. We must go even further.'

Kemi Badenoch apologised to hundreds of Tory councillors who lost their seats. She said 'protest is in the air' against both main parties and acknowledged she faced 'a big job to do to rebuild trust with the public'.

However, writing in this newspaper, Boris Johnson said the results were 'no earthquake' and insisted the Tories under Mrs Badenoch have a 'good and growing' chance of winning the next election because the Labour Government is 'so bad'.

Nigel Farage sent shockwaves through the political establishment yesterday. In a stunning breakthrough, Reform seized control of a string of major councils across the country  and inflicted a humiliating defeat on Labour in a by-election in the previously safe seat of Runcorn and Helsby

The Reform surge began at 6am when Sarah Pochin (pictured) won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes

Mr Farage branded Sir Keir a 'coward' for failing to campaign in what had been one of Labour's 50 safest seats until MP Mike Amesbury was forced to quit after assaulting a constituent on a drunken night out

Kemi Badenoch apologised to hundreds of Tory councillors who lost their seats. She said 'protest is in the air' against both main parties and acknowledged she faced 'a big job to do to rebuild trust with the public'

On a dramatic day:

Mr Farage said Reform-led councils would ban working from home, slash waste and resist Government efforts to house Channel migrants in local hotels.

Sir Keir faced a Labour backlash as even those who were victorious blamed public anger over cuts to winter fuel payments and benefits for the disastrous results across the board.

Labour sources said the PM was drawing up plans for a crackdown on illegal migration in a bid to neuter Reform's appeal.

Sir Ed Davey said the Lib Dems were now 'the party of Middle England' after taking control of Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Shropshire and gaining more than 140 seats.

Senior Tories rallied round Mrs Badenoch, with former rival Robert Jenrick saying it was 'complete nonsense' to suggest he would be doing a better job.

Reform's newly elected Lincolnshire mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns used her victory speech to call for asylum seekers living in hotels to be rehoused in tents.

The Greens hailed a new era of 'five-party politics' after gaining more than 40 seats and taking 11 per cent of the projected vote.

Mr Farage hit out at Labour's 'lunatic Net Zero policies' as Reform took control of Doncaster Council in Ed Miliband's political backyard.

The Reform surge began at 6am when Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes.

Mr Farage branded Sir Keir a 'coward' for failing to campaign in what had been one of Labour's 50 safest seats until MP Mike Amesbury was forced to quit after assaulting a constituent on a drunken night out.

Addressing activists in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, Mr Farage said council staff 'working on climate change, diversity initiatives or.... who think that you go on working from home, I think you all better be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly.'

He said Reform councils would also 'resist' asylum seekers being 'dumped into the north of England, getting everything for free'.

Speaking later to newly elected councillors in Staffordshire, Mr Farage said: 'It is a seismic change in British politics.

'It is of a proportion nobody could even have dreamt of. We want our country back, we want to re-establish the right values around family, community and country.'
John Fetterman's current and former staffers have lashed out at their boss, claiming the Pennsylvania Senator is not well and has behave erratically since being treated for depression.

The Democrat has been seen by many as a member of his party made for the Trump era and he has even made overtures toward his political enemies since the inauguration.

However, a bombshell story in New York Magazine features several concerning accusations about Fetterman's behavior, including not taking medicine prescribed after he spent time in a mental health facility in 2023.

Only one staffer would go public with the claims and Fetterman has personally denied them. Some of the anonymous staffers shared marital strife and political disagreements with his wife Gisele.

Former Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson is the most public face of the story, titled 'The Hidden Struggle of John Fetterman.'

One year after Fetterman's release from the traumatic-brain-injury and neuropsychiatry unit at Walter Reed Hospital, Jentleson wrote a letter the division's director who treated Fetterman there.

'I think John is on a bad trajectory and I'm really worried about him,' Jentleson wrote in the 1,600-word email with the subject line: 'Concerns.'

He added that the senator 'won't be with us for much longer' if he doesn't change his behavior, with Jentleson claiming these are 'the things you said to flag, so I am flagging.'

John Fetterman's current and former staffers have lashed out at their boss, claiming the Pennsylvania Senator is not well and has behave erratically since being treated for depression

The Democrat has been seen by many as a member of his party made for the Trump era and he has even made overtures toward his political enemies since the inauguration

One of the things he was told to flag: that Fetterman purchased a gun, though Jentleson admits the senator 'takes all the necessary precautions, and living where he does I understand the desire for personal protection.'

Jentleson is referring to the hard-scrabble small town of Braddock where Fetterman served as mayor and still lives.

Fetterman is accused of everything from the physical - 'not taking his meds' to eating fast food multiple times a day - to the mental - lying, 'self-centered monologues,' 'conspiratorial thinking; megalomania' - among his issues.

The senator is also allegedly obsessed with social media despite admitting it was an 'accelerant' of his depression and driving 'recklessly' to the point that staffers refused to ride with him and a police officer said it was 'a miracle no one died' after one accident last June.

Jentleson also argued that 'every person who was supposed to help him stay on his recovery plan has been pushed out.'

The former chief of staff later said in an interview a year after writing the letter that he's telling his side of the story because he believes Fetterman's trajectory has taken him out of consideration to lead the Democrats going forward.

'Part of the tragedy here is that this is a man who could be leading Democrats out of the wilderness but I also think he's struggling in a way that shouldn't be hidden from the public.'

Quite the opposite, as The Intercept recently reported that Fetterman's campaign is bleeding money and losing small-dollar donors ever since his meeting with Trump.

Former Chief of Staff Adam Jentleson (pictured) is the most public face of the story

The former chief of staff added that the senator 'won't be with us for much longer' if he doesn't change his behavior, with Jentleson claiming these are 'the things you said to flag, so I am flagging'

The author, Ben Terris, spoke to Fetterman ahead of publication and got a text message from him asking: 'Why is this a story?

He added that the number of staffers leaving is typical for Washington and he is the 'best version' of himself right now.

Fetterman also denied claims that towards the beginning of his first term, he had to be spoken with for 'an hour' with staffers 'trying to trying to convince him, to talk him out of some crazy fantasy' that he wouldn't be allowed in the Senate.

He also said there is no truth to accusations that he began to 'sour' on his own party after bipartisan efforts to prevent him from wearing his trademark hoodie and shorts to the Senate floor.

Things became somewhat more complicated when asked about arguments over Gaza and meeting with Donald Trump with his wife Gisele, herself having come to the U.S. as an illegal migrant.

Fetterman called their disagreements 'very common in political marriage' and said Gisele 'has her own voice.

Gisele, for her part, told New York Magazine that Jentleson is trying to harm her husband and lied to her about his health.

'I would talk to John's 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 said.

The author, Ben Terris, had a tense interview with the senator

Only one staffer would go public with the claims and Fetterman (pictured left) has personally denied them. Some of the anonymous staffers shared marital strife and political disagreements with his wife Gisele (pictured right)

Jentleson, who stepped down from his position in February 2024, replied to Gisele's comments: 'I stand by everything I said, and I hope Senator Fetterman gets the help he needs.'

Things got more tense when Terris asked whether Fetterman wanted to comment on what was supposedly coming out of his camp.

The politician - who 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.

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.

Jentleson (pictured) also argued that 'every person who was supposed to help him stay on his recovery plan has been pushed out'

One of the things Jentleson was told to flag: that Fetterman purchased a gun, though Jentleson admits the senator 'takes all the necessary precautions, and living where he does I understand the desire for personal protection'

'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.

Jentleson adds that the shocking stroke Fetterman suffered doesn't mean the senator has to be this way permanently.

'He's not locked into a downward trajectory; he could get back in treatment at any time, and for a long time I held out hope that he would. But it's just been too long now, and things keep getting worse.'

Terris was reportedly left out in a hallway with a few of Fetterman's aides after initially questioning him but was eventually let back in.

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.'

'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.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Fetterman for comment.

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.

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.
Starmer is poised to toughen his stance on illegal migration in a bid to neuter Reform's appeal.

Labour sources said the Prime Minister plans a series of interventions on the issue in the coming weeks, after party activists said failure to tackle the Channel migrant crisis was repeatedly raised on the doorstep during the local election campaign.

In opposition, Sir Keir vowed to 'smash' the people smuggling gangs, describing the Tories' Rwanda deportation scheme as a 'gimmick'.

But despite creating a new Border Security Command, more than 11,000 people have crossed the Channel illegally so far this year  up 40 per cent on 2024.

This week ministers announced plans to bar foreign sex offenders from claiming asylum in the UK.

They are also looking at moves to speed up the removal of those who arrive illegally and are even examining options to process the claims of migrants abroad.

Sources said the Government would table amendments aimed at toughening up controls on both legal and illegal migration, including restrictions on foreign students taking low-skilled jobs.

Starmer is poised to toughen his stance on illegal migration in a bid to neuter Reform's appeal.Labour sources said the Prime Minister plans a series of interventions on the issue in the coming weeks, after party activists said failure to tackle the Channel migrant crisis was repeatedly raised on the doorstep during the local election campaign

In opposition, Sir Keir vowed to 'smash' the people smuggling gangs, describing the Tories ' Rwanda deportation scheme as a 'gimmick'. Pictured: A group of migrants attempting to cross the Channel on Christmas day

But despite creating a new Border Security Command, more than 11,000 people have crossed the Channel illegally so far this year  up 40 per cent on 2024. Pictured: Migrants being brought in to Dover last year

Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, backed the move after Durham County Council, run by his party for a century until 2021, was seized by Reform yesterday in a result which left Labour holding just four of the 98 seats.

Mr Akehurst said voters had 'serious and legitimate concerns about illegal immigration and we have not looked strong enough'.

He said the party must also tackle the cost of living crisis to regain support, adding: 'There is a sense of communities having been left behind for a very long time. Unless Labour addresses their economic decline, it is understandable people will look at more radical alternatives.'

Sir Keir made no mention of immigration yesterday when he responded to the 'disappointing' election results, saying only that he wanted to go 'further and faster' on Labour's pledge to deliver 'change'.
Downing Street will reportedly ramp up efforts to stop housing asylum seekers in hotels as they worry the policy has seen voters support Reform UK's opposition to it.

Senior Labour politicians believe the approach is having a negative effect on the government's popularity and is playing directly into Nigel Farage's hands, according to The Telegraph.

Taxpayers across the country are said to be furious as around 2billion per year is splurged on migrant accommodation, with an estimated 38,000 migrants housed in more than 200 hotels.

And Farage, who yesterday saw his party storm the local elections and take control of ten councils, has promised to help 'enraged' locals in Reform-held areas as asylum seekers are 'dumped' in their communities.

He said: 'People are so enraged because they get up early in the morning, they go to work, they pay their taxes and they see young men crossing the English Channel, being dumped in the north of England, getting everything for free, and then once they are given indefinite leave to remain, put to the top of the social housing list.

'It is unfair. It is irresponsible. It is wrong in every way and I don't believe Starmer has got the guts to deal with it.

'We, at the national level, have got the guts to deal with it and we will resist central Government plonking hundreds of these young men in these counties that we now control.'

After Labour's high-profile cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits, there are growing fears in the party that disillusioned voters are now questioning why such a large portion of funding is being funneled into housing asylum seekers.

Downing Street will reportedly ramp up efforts to stop housing asylum seekers in hotels as they worry that the policy has seen voters support Reform UK's opposition to it

Senior Labour politicians believe the approach is having a negative effect on the government's popularity and is playing directly into Nigel Farage's hands

A group of males is seen outside one of the hotels currently housing migrants in November

While the government has legal duties to ensure refugees seeking asylum are cared for in the UK, figures at Downing Street will allegedly look to force the Home Office into taking quicker action.

Labour have already reduced the number of migrant hotels from a peak of around 400, but they will look to cut it even further.

Although councils do not have the ability to veto the use of hotels for housing migrants, Mr Farage said that he would urge his newly elected politicians to push to close down such schemes.

He told The Telegraph: 'We are going to fight very hard to do so. We will resist, resist, resist.

'People hate them. They see a sense of total unfairness that they are working themselves to bits to pay tax for young men who can illegally come into the country and be given everything for free.

A worried group previously gathered in Manchester to protest against asylum seekers being housed locally

Anti-immigration protesters clashed with members of Stand Up To Racism outside Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham

'It is a sense of unfairness now bordering on a sense of anger. Our voters won't want it.'

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer faced calls from various Labour MPs to urgently change tact after Labour slumped to its joint worst vote share at a local election.

The Prime Minister was even urged to rethink net zero by figures within his own party earlier this week after Sir Tony Blair attacked his green agenda.

This raised questions over Ed Miliband's survival in Cabinet, but Downing Street insiders have allegedly insisted there will be no change to their net zero policy.

The Prime Minister was even urged to rethink net zero by figures within his own party earlier this week after Sir Tony Blair attacked his green agenda - this raised questions over Ed Miliband's survival in Cabinet

Responding to his critics, the Prime Minister said: 'The message I take away from these results is we must deliver that change even more quickly, we must go even further.'

However, Labour MP Diane Abbott Labour MP said Starmer was not understanding the problems looming over the party.

She said: 'Labour leadership [is] saying the party will go further and faster in the same direction. They don't seem to understand that it is our current direction that is the problem.'

MailOnline has approached the Home Office for comment.
A world champion bagpiper caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage during a drunken wrecking spree in his 45,000 electric car.

Accountant Jonathan Greenlees smashed into four other cars - including the same one twice - while he was more than three times over the limit.

It was Greenlees' own hi-tech Polestar car which first alerted the police to him crashing while the sound of several loud bangs brought witnesses out into the street.

Greenlees admitted driving dangerously and drunk while he was supposed to be staying at the Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire on 14 April this year.

The 51-year-old resigned as Finance Director of Securigroup Ltd the day after his arrest and just six months after taking up the post with the Glasgow-based company.

Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson told Perth Sheriff Court that the dangerous driving lasted for almost 30 minutes and was recorded in full by Greenlees' own dashcam device.

She said: 'From around 11pm people in the neighbourhood and roads around Crieff heard a series of collisions and came out into the street to investigate.

'The exited their homes and found the accused sitting in the driver's seat of his vehicle, a black Polestar. Police arrived ten minutes later.

A world champion bagpiper caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage during a drunken wrecking spree in his 45,000 electric car. Accountant Jonathan Greenlees (pictured) smashed into four other cars - including the same one twice - while he was more than three times over the limit

It was Greenlees' own hi-tech Polestar car which first alerted the police to him crashing while the sound of several loud bangs brought witnesses out into the street. Greenlees admitted driving dangerously and drunk while he was supposed to be staying at the Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire on 14 April this year. Pictured: Perth Sheriff Court

'They noticed damage to multiple vehicles and traced the accused within his vehicle and trying to start it. He was asked if he was injured and replied that he wasn't.

'He was asked to exit and it was clear he was dazed, confused and slurring his words. An ambulance attended and they assessed that he was fit for custody.

'He identified himself as the driver. The usual procedures were carried out and the accused provided a lower reading of 70 mics [limit 22 mics]. He was arrested and placed in a locked cell.

'His dashcam footage shows the entire event and lasts for about half an hour. It shows how dangerous the driving is - striking multiple vehicles, stalling and running up onto the kerb.'

Defence solicitor Jim Brady told the court his client believed he had suffered a reaction to taking medicine and alcohol during the evening and could not remember what happened.

He said: 'This incident came as a result of a combination of alcohol and a very unusual reaction because of medication [Citalopram] the accused was taking.

'He can't recall leaving the table, the hotel or even driving the car. He had been taking the medication for two years or longer than that and there has never been any incident where the consumption of alcohol has resulted in anything at all.

'He was going to be staying at the Crieff Hydro. He would not normally risk driving at all, having taken any drink. His colleagues told him how much he had had to drink, and it was four to five glasses of wine.'

Greenlees, Wykeham Road, Glasgow, admitted driving drunk from Crieff Hydro car park, on the A822 towards Muthill and on various other roads in Crieff on 14 April.

He also admitted driving dangerously and colliding with several stationary cars, driving at excessive speed, failing to maintain lane discipline, repeatedly driving on the wrong side and striking the kerb.

Sheriff Alison McKay deferred sentence for social work reports, a restriction of liberty order assessment, and for the dashcam footage to be played in court. Greenlees was ordained to appear.

She said: 'I would suggest he drove at the higher end of dangerousness, and put not only his own safety, but the safety of the public at risk.

'I am pretty sure all people who take anti-depressants are warned about the danger of taking alcohol at the same time. Maybe he has been getting away with it for two years.'

Greenlees was in the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band when he was crowned Champion Piper at the National Mod Piping Competition in Oban in 2015. He has won numerous world titles.
A disturbing incident at a Minnesota playground has sparked outrage and generated an unexpected controversy after a woman was filmed directing a racial slur at a five-year-old black child - only to later raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in online donations.

The viral video, recorded at Soldiers Field Memorial Park in Rochester, shows a white tattooed woman holding her toddler while being confronted by a man who accuses her of calling a young black boy the 'N-word.'

When questioned, the woman does not deny the accusation and responds, 'If that's what he's gonna act like,' before repeating the slur toward the man filming and making an obscene gesture.

'So that gives you the right to call the child, 5-years-old, a n*****, the 'N-word?' the man asks her incredulously before the two engage in a disturbing back-and-forth.

The confrontation reportedly began after she claimed the child took a toy from her son's diaper bag.

The video, initially shared by social media influencer Michael McWhorter (known as TizzyEnt), quickly garnered more than 10 million views across social media.

As its reached audiences around the country, the incident has sparked widespread condemnation from community members, civil rights organizations, and local officials.

The Rochester branch of the NAACP launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the child and his family, aiming to raise funds for legal advocacy and broader social justice efforts.

A woman was filmed directing a racial slur at a five-year-old black child - only to later raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in online donations

As of Sunday morning, the campaign for the child and his family had raised over $341,000.

But in a surprising turn, the woman involved in the incident, identifying herself as Shiloh Hendrix, also initiated her own crowdfunding campaign, claiming that the viral video had caused her and her family significant distress and ignited threats.

Her campaign rapidly gained traction has has raised more than $593,000 with a $1 million goal because she had been 'threatened to the extreme by people online' and needs to relocate.

'My name is Shiloh and I have been put into a very dire situation. I recently had a kid steal from my 18 month old son's diaper bag at a park. I called the kid out for what he was,' the fundraiser reads.

'My family members are being attacked. My eldest child may not be going back to school. Even where I exercise has been exposed,' it continues.

The page goes on to claim that since the video was posted, her Social Security Number has been leaked along with her address and phone number.

'I fear that we must relocate. I have two small children who do not deserve this. We have been threatened to the extreme by people online. Anything will help! We cannot, and will not live in fear!' it states.

The woman, Shiloh Hendrix, has since initiated her own crowdfunding campaign, claiming the viral video had caused her and her family significant distress and had resulted in threats

The substantial amount of support show toward Hendrix has drawn criticism, with many questioning the motivations behind the donations and expressing concern over the message it sends regarding accountability for racist behavior.

Wale Elegbede, the president of the Rochester branch of civil rights group the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), said the incident is 'deeply disturbing and unacceptable.'

Rochester Mayor Kim Norton also addressed the incident, stating, 'Not In Our Town! Hate has no home here,' and emphasized the need for the community to do better.

The Rochester Police Department has confirmed that it is actively investigating the incident and gathering information.

Rochester Parks and Recreation said it is aware of the 'deeply disturbing video' recorded at one of its parks 'that contains racial slurs' and reminded anyone who witnesses such an incident to contact the non-emergency public safety line.

Legal experts have noted that while the woman's language is protected under the First Amendment, any accompanying threats or actions could potentially lead to charges such as disorderly conduct.

Community leaders and organizations are continuing to advocate for justice and support for the affected child and his family, emphasizing the need for systemic change to address and prevent such incidents in the future.
The RAF has begun using new drones which fly ahead of F-35s and Typhoon jets and make them effectively invisible to enemy radar.

The uncrewed StormShroud craft, manufactured in Luton, Bedfordshire, came into operation on April 2.

Fitted with Leonardos BriteStorm EW suite, the drones are capable of jamming enemy radar from long distances, allowing for a stealth attack, The Times reported.

Sir Keir Starmer visited the defence contractor's headquarters on Friday and was given a showcase of the new autonomous drone's capabilities.

The prime minister said that BriteStorm was 'really inspiring' and vowed that the UK would 'stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protest UK and European security.'

The PM added: 'StormShroud is an incredibly forward-looking piece of kit and capability that will help us as we go forward.'

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton called the rolling out of StormShroud a 'seminal moment' for the RAF as it strives to retain its competitive advantage.

He added: 'Autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionise how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support.'

The StormShroud drone, manufactured in Luton, Bedfordshire, came into operation on Friday

The unmanned craft flight ahead of RAF fighter jets and jam enemy radar, making the aircraft effectively invisible

Sir Keir Starmer visited the defence contractor's headquarters on Friday and was given a showcase of the new autonomous drone's capabilities

An RAF spokesperson said: 'StormShroud will support RAF F-35B Lightning and Typhoon pilots by blinding enemy radars, which increases the survivability and operational effectiveness of our crewed aircraft.

'Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) are not new to the RAF, and StormShroud has been developed using lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as other operational theatres around the world. 

'The RAF's exploration of ACPs is part of its broader strategy to embrace technological advancements and maintain its position as a world-leading air force.

'The ACP Strategy is clear that the best way to optimise our strength against increasingly sophisticated adversaries is through a blend of crewed and un-crewed autonomous platforms operating together.

'Its a more agile, adaptable and cost-effective model that significantly reduces the risks faced by pilots in conventional aircraft when flying and fighting in hostile environments.

'UAS have revolutionised modern warfighting, both offensively and defensively, as recent conflicts ranging from Ukraine to the Middle East have shown. In a world of increasing threat to the UK and our NATO allies, StormShroud will serve as a powerful deterrent to potential aggressors.'
Almost every primary school head has said they cannot cater to all their special needs pupils, amid warnings over Labour's VAT raid on private education.

A snap poll of 750 heads in the mainstream primary state sector found 98 per cent do not have the resources to meet the needs of all their special needs pupils.

In addition, four in five - 82 per cent - said they have such pupils in mainstream classes because there is no room in specialist provision.

The survey, by the NAHT union, comes amid warnings Labour's VAT on private school fees may force pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into the state sector.

Many SEND families say they moved their child to private because of poor provision, but are not rich enough to cover the new 20 per cent tax.

A spokesman for parent group Education Not Taxation said: The concerns raised by the NAHT echo the lived experience of thousands of parents and children across the country.

One in five children in independent schools has one or more special educational needs.

'Many of these children moved to these schools because state schools couldnt meet their needs, despite their best efforts.

Labours proposed education tax risks forcing SEND children out of independent schools into already strained state schools, worsening education for all.

Almost every primary school head has said they cannot cater to all their special needs pupils, amid warnings over Labour's VAT raid on private education

A snap poll of 750 heads in the mainstream primary state sector found 98 per cent do not have the resources to meet the needs of all their special needs pupils (stock image)

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT union (pictured), said: 'Too many schools have children who should be getting specialist support. 'School leaders are frustrated that they can't fully meet the needs of the pupils in their care, and we know many parents are frustrated too'

The survey, released at the NAHT's annual conference in Harrogate, found that 94 per cent of heads said meeting the needs of SEND pupils was harder than this time last year.

One respondent said SEND funding in the state sector was 'diabolical' while another said the lack of provision is 'detrimental' to all pupils' education.

A third said: 'Staff have to manage extremely difficult and stressful situations in class without enough support or specialist help and resources while trying to meet the needs of all the other children too.'

Many of the children placed in mainstream settings have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) specifying specialist provision but no such places are available to them.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary, said: 'Too many schools have children who should be getting specialist support.

'School leaders are frustrated that they can't fully meet the needs of the pupils in their care, and we know many parents are frustrated too.'

It comes after a High Court case last month revealed Labour considered exempting the 100,000 SEND pupils in private schools from its tax raid but concluded this would cost the Treasury too much.

Pupils with EHCP plans are exempted, but these make up only a small proportion of the total number of those with SEND.

A Government spokesman said: 'Fewer than 0.1 per cent of pupils are expected to move schools this year as a result of ending tax breaks for private schools, set against over one million spare places in schools across the country.

'Ending tax breaks for private schools will increase investment in state education - raising 1.8 billion a year by 2030.

'Pupils with the most acute needs, including those in private schools due to their EHCP, will not be impacted by this policy. Work has already begun to rebuild families confidence in and reform the broken SEND system we inherited.'
The exact amount Prince Andrew paid Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre in an out-of-court settlement could now be revealed after her death by suicide.

The payout figure, which has never been disclosed, may become clear as her estate is bequeathed to her estranged husband and three children.

The American-born mother-of-three was found dead at her farm in Neergabby, Australia on April 26. She was 41 years old.

Ms Giuffre settled out of court with Prince Andrew in 2022 after she accused him of sexual assault.

The Duke of York has consistently denied the claim but it was reported at the time that he paid her around $12million.

Following Ms Giuffre's death last month, questions have arisen about what will happen to the money that remains.

Like in the UK, in Western Australia the contents of a will become public record once probate is completed.

However, sometimes sensitive financial or family information could be redacted if the document is contested.

In other instances, courts have issued suppression orders on the contents of wills to protect victims of abuse or minors.

Virginia Giuffre claimed she was sexually abused by Prince Andrew at the behest of Epstein's associate, jailed British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, when she was just 17

Virginia Giuffre , one of the public faces and advocates for the victims of historical pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, died by suicide last month. She was 41 years old

An undated handout photo taken at an undisclosed location and released on December 2, 2021 by the United States District Couty for the Southern District of New York shows Virginia Giuffre

Ms Giuffre's death by suicide came after a life of tireless advocacy on behalf of herself and other alleged victims of Epstein's sex crimes.

She was born in California in 1983 and was shattered as a grade-schooler when she was sexually abused by a man her family knew.

She spent time as a runaway, was shuffled through foster homes and lived on the streets at just 14. She was first forced into sex trafficking by Miami sex trafficker Ron Eppinger.

Eventually, Giuffre got free of Eppinger reunited with her father Sky, according to The Miami Herald.

At 16 in mid-2000, her father was working in maintenance at Mar-a-Lago resort, the private club owned by Donald Trump, and got her a job as a locker room attendant.

That's when she said she met Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of Robert Maxwell, a former member of parliament and publisher of several British newspapers.

Giuffre said that Maxwell offered her the opportunity to work as a massage therapist for Epstein.

'They seemed like nice people so I trusted them, and I told them I'd had a really hard time in my life up until thenI'd been a runaway, I'd been sexually abused, physically abused,' she told the BBC.

'That was the worst thing I could have told them because now they knew how vulnerable I was.'

Epstein and Maxwell groomed her to sexually service both of them as well as other clients, she said in an interview and a sworn court affidavit.

She claimed in 2011 that she was sex trafficked to Prince Andrew on three occasions by Epstein and Maxwell, the first time when she was 17.

The Duke of York has consistently and vehemently denied her claims, as has convicted sex offender Maxwell, who Giuffre claims acted on Epstein's behalf. Epstein died in a New York prison in 2019.

'It started with one and it trickled into two and so on and before you know it, I'm being lent out to politicians and academics and royalty,' she said.

Virginia Giuffre, with a photo of herself as a teen, when she alleged she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew, among others

In recent weeks, she had made troubling posts on social media - including a spate of hospital admissions, a quad bike accident and her claims she had 'four days to live'

Giuffre came forward publicly after an initial investigation in 2005 ended in an 18-month Florida jail term for Epstein, who made a secret deal to avoid federal prosecution by pleading guilty instead to relatively minor state-level charges of soliciting prostitution. He was released in 2009.

She attempted to tell her story in subsequent lawsuits against her alleged abusers.

The men, including Epstein and Prince Andrew, denied the allegations and assailed Giuffre's credibility.

She acknowledged changing some key details of her account, including the age at which she first met Epstein.

But many parts of her story were supported by documents, witness testimony and photos - including one of her and Andrew, with his his arm around her bare midriff, in Maxwells London townhouse.

Giuffre said in one of her lawsuits that she had sex with the royal three times: in London during her 2001 trip, at Epstein's New York mansion when she was 17 and in the Virgin Islands when she was 18.

'Ghislaine said, "I want you to do for him what you do for Epstein,"' Giuffre told NBC News' Dateline in September 2019.

Andrew categorically rejected Giuffres allegations and said he didn't recall having met her.

His denials blew up in his face during a November 2019 BBC interview.

Viewers saw a prince who issued incredulous rebuttals - such as disputing Giuffre's recollection of sweaty dancing by saying he was medically incapable of perspiring - and showed no empathy for the women who said Epstein abused them.

Within days of the disastrous interview, Andrew stepped down from his royal duties.

He settled with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, agreeing to make a 'substantial donation' to her survivors' organization.
A former federal prosecutor in Florida who was caught on camera repeatedly stabbing a driver during rush hour traffic is hoping to have his case thrown out as part of a 'stand your ground' defense.

Patrick Scruggs, 40, was filmed attacking motorist Blake Sharp, 35, in the middle of the Howard Frankland Bridge in September 2023.

Scruggs appeared in court on Friday, asking for his multiple charges of aggravated battery, assault and burglary to be dismissed.

The former rising star in the US Attorney's Office in Tampa is asking for the charges against him to be dropped under a law which permits an individual to use force, which could even be deadly, in instances of self-defense or to defend against violent crimes.

Sharp was on his way to work after dropping off his kids at school at the time when the incident with Scruggs took place.

The driver maintains he had a medical emergency at the wheel which caused him to pass out and accidentally accelerate into Scruggs' car when he regained consciousness.

'My first memory is waking up with someone stabbing me,' Sharp testified. 'All I could think of was trying to call my wife and tell her I wouldn't be coming home because some psychopath was stabbing me.'

Video of the incident shows Scruggs shattering the driver's side window with the butt of a knife and then lunging inside, stabbing Sharp multiple times.

Patrick Scruggs, 40, once a rising star in the US Attorney's Office in Tampa, finds himself at the center of a criminal case after being caught on video repeatedly stabbing a man

Video shows Scruggs smashing the driver's side window with the butt of a knife and then lunging inside, stabbing the driver multiple times

Scruggs, (pictured) stabbed 35-year-old Blake Sharp as he was on his way to work after dropping off his kids at school

Scruggs briefly walks away before briefly returning to stab him again.

Now his legal team are arguing that he was acting to protect other motorists from what he believed was a drunk driver.

But Sharp, who has a long criminal record and is currently serving a two-year sentence for a separate battery case, hit back at this in court.

'Just because I'm a felon does not give your client the right to stab me,' he told the court.

According to witnesses, the chain of events began when drivers spotted Sharp's Lexus stopped in a traffic lane on the Howard Frankland Bridge.

One passerby, Ahmad Gahaf, told the court during Friday's hearing how he approached to help.

'I said, "Open the window, I help you",' Gahaf recalled.

The judge has yet to issue a ruling on the stand your ground motion. If Scruggs is granted immunity from prosecution then the charges will be dropped

Patrick Scruggs is seen standing on the Howard Frankland Bridge the morning of September 26, 2023 where the incident took place

But as Sharp stirred, he suddenly accelerated, smashing into Gahaf's car and then veering into Scruggs' passing Honda Civic.

Moments later, Scruggs emerged with a pocketknife in hand.

Court records show Scruggs tried shouting at Sharp to turn off the car and get out.

When he didn't comply, Scruggs shattered the driver's side window.

A struggle ensued and Scruggs is seen on video stabbing Sharp in the arm multiple times.

'He's bleeding! I just stabbed him! He needs an ambulance!' Scruggs reportedly shouted to a 911 dispatcher, according to court documents.

Scruggs' actions didn't stop with the stabbing. Witness Ahmad Gahaf says that when he tried to intervene, Scruggs then turned the knife on him.

'He almost stabbed me too,' Gahaf told reporters.

Witness Ahmad Gahaf said when he tried to intervene, Scruggs then turned the knife on him

Bystander, Amanda Post, filmed part of the incident from her car - but said she was terrified to be seen in case Scruggs turned on her

Another bystander, Amanda Post, filmed part of the incident from her car, but said she was terrified to be seen.

'I was afraid if he saw me take a video of it, he could break down my window and come after me,' she said.

In court filings, Scruggs' attorneys argued that the former prosecutor was trying to stop a potentially intoxicated driver from endangering others.

'(Scruggs) intervened to stop Mr. Sharp's efforts to flee the scene,' the motion reads. 'If he had not done so, he and other morning commuters would have been in danger.'

The defense also noted Sharp's criminal history and suggested he may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Medical records showed normal blood sugar levels, contradicting Sharp's claim that he suffered a diabetic episode.

Scruggs testified that he feared for his life and the lives of others when he saw Sharp attempting to flee.

'I thought he was going to kill someone,' Scruggs said on the stand. 'I had to stop him.'

Under Florida's 'stand your ground' law, in place since 2005, individuals are not required to retreat before using deadly force if they believe it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.

Scruggs has asked a judge to throw out the charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and burglary under Florida's expansive self-defense statute

If the judge agrees that Scruggs acted reasonably, he could be declared immune from prosecution.

In a surprising development, new court filings revealed that Sharp has worked as a confidential informant for Pinellas County in the past.

Defense attorneys are now seeking access to communications between Sharp and prosecutors to determine whether he received favorable treatment in exchange for cooperation.

'I aided them in busting a lot of fentanyl dealers,' Sharp admitted in a deposition. He insisted, however, that he was not working with the state at the time of the bridge incident.

The defense has also filed a Brady motion, requesting all potentially exculpatory evidence, including anything that could undermine Sharp's credibility.

The judge has yet to issue a ruling on the stand your ground motion, but both sides agree that the outcome could dramatically reshape the trajectory of the case.

If Scruggs is granted immunity, the charges will be dropped. If not, he could face trial later this year.
Stan Lee's daughter has settled her multimillion-dollar lawsuit against her father's former road manager.

J.C. Lee's scathing lawsuit, filed in 2019, accused Max Anderson of elder abuse and stealing millions of dollars' worth of memorabilia, autograph revenue and appearance fees during the final years of the Marvel icon's life.

The suit alleged that Anderson misappropriated over $21 million, including more than $11.6 million in autograph revenue, according to Variety.

The comic icon's protective daughter also claimed that Anderson took valuable collectibles, such as Bob Kane's original Joker drawing and props from Marvel movies, while he was overseeing her father's memorabilia dealings.

The case, which was set for trial next week, was resolved after both parties filed a notice of settlement on Thursday.

According to the court filing, the settlement agreement resolves all disputes between J.C. Lee and Anderson. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

'A settlement agreement has been executed and once its terms are satisfied, it resolves all of the issues and disputes between and among the Parties,' the attorneys said in a joint notice.

At the heart of the lawsuit was Anderson's alleged mismanagement of Lee's memorabilia collection, which began after the two met at San Diego Comic-Con in 2006, Pedestrian reported.

Stan Lee's daughter, J.C. Lee, has settled her multimillion-dollar lawsuit against her father's former road manager. Pictured: Stan Lee and JC Lee at Stan Lee Hand And Footprint Ceremony held on July 18, 2017 in Hollywood, California

JC Lee's scathing lawsuit, filed in 2019, accused Max Anderson of elder abuse and stealing millions of dollars' worth of memorabilia, autograph revenue and appearance fees during the final years of the Marvel icon's life. Pictured: Stan Lee and manager Max Anderson

Anderson, who co-owned a comic book store, worked with Lee for about a decade before their professional relationship ended in 2017.

J.C. Lee's legal team argued that Anderson had promised to create a 'Stan Lee Museum', but instead stored valuable items at his own business, often without Lee's knowledge or consent.

While Anderson maintained that many of the items collected for the so-called museum were either lost or discarded, J.C. Lee's legal team disputed this, pointing to Anderson's own legal troubles over missing memorabilia.

Notably, Anderson had filed a lawsuit claiming original movie props, such as Nebula's arm from Guardians of the Galaxy and X-23 claws from Logan, were stolen or damaged.

The lawsuit also claimed Lee signed an agreement before he died granting Anderson a worldwide license for use of his name and likeness in perpetuity for a dollar, as per the Hollywood Reporter.

The years-long case also highlighted claims of financial exploitation as Anderson was accused of coercing his former boss into working long hours at conventions, even when his health was in decline.

The lawsuit alleged Anderson pocketed millions in appearance fees and autograph revenue, including at least $11 million in autograph sales and $10.2 million in appearance fees.

Anderson, in his defense, stated that he was not compensated in cash but was paid in signed collectibles, which he later sold.

Anderson, who co-owned a comic book store, worked with Lee for about a decade before their professional relationship ended in 2017.

Stan Lee, the creative force behind Marvel's greatest characters, passed away in 2018 at 95

The settlement comes after a turbulent period for Lee's estate. Pictured: Stan Lee and JC Lee arrive for the Premiere Of 'With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story' on April 19, 2012

Court filings also revealed explosive testimony, including from Anderson's twin brother, who worked security at some events, and who claimed to have seen Anderson handling 'duffle bags' of cash, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Additionally, Anderson's ex-wife was prepared to testify about the 'stacks of cash' he kept in a bedroom safe.

The settlement comes after a turbulent period for Lee's estate.

Stan Lee, the creative force behind Marvel's greatest characters, passed away in 2018 at 95.

Since his death, his legacy has been mired in allegations of financial abuse, including earlier claims against Keya Morgan, another former business associate, who was charged with stealing $222,480 from Lee's memorabilia signings.

Morgan's criminal case ended in a hung jury and subsequent dismissal.
The White House is planning to axe thousands jobs at the CIA and other intelligence agencies, officials told members of Congress per The Washington Post.

A person familiar with the plan but not authorized to discuss it publicly also confirmed the changes to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The administration plans to reduce the CIA workforce by 1,200 over several years, and cut thousands of positions at the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies.

The Post reported that the reductions at the CIA include several hundred people who have already opted for early retirement.

The rest of the cuts would be achieved partly through reduced hiring and would not likely necessitate layoffs.

In response to questions about the reductions, the CIA issued a statement saying CIA Director John Ratcliffe is working to align the agency with Trump's national security priorities.

'These moves are part of a holistic strategy to infuse the Agency with renewed energy, provide opportunities for rising leaders to emerge, and better position CIA to deliver on its mission,' the agency wrote in the statement.

A spokesperson for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The White House is planning to axe thousands jobs at the CIA and other intelligence agencies at the CIA officials told members of Congress. Pictured: CIA Director John Ratcliffe

The job cuts will take place over the next few years and will extend to the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies

Gabbard's office oversees and coordinates the work of 18 agencies that collect and analyze intelligence.

The CIA and NSA have already offered voluntary resignations to some employees. The CIA also has said it plans to lay off an unknown number of recently hired employees.

The new administration has also eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs at intelligence agencies, though a judge has temporarily blocked efforts to fire 19 employees working on DEI programs who challenged their terminations.

Trump also abruptly fired the general who led the NSA and the Pentagon's Cyber Command.

Ratcliffe has vowed to overhaul the CIA and said he wants to boost the agency's use of intelligence from human sources and its focus on China.

Rated as one of the most conservative members during his tenure in Congress, Ratcliffe spent time on the House Intelligence Committee before being tapped to serve in Trump's first administration.

It comes amid increased scrutiny of intelligence agencies in the wake of Signal gate, when former national security adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added the editor of The Atlantic to a classified group chat.

Editor Jeffrey Goldberg was exposed to sensitive information about plans to strike the Iran-backed Houthi militant group in Yemen.

It comes after national security adviser Mike Waltz was fired from the role in the wake of the Signal chat scandal in which a journalist was mistakenly added to a classified group chat

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the plans which would impact several of her departments

The scandal was a huge embarrassment for the Trump administration and led to far right activist Laura Loomer meeting with the president and convincing him to fire several people involved.

Waltz has since been unceremoniously dumped from the agency and shipped off to be ambassador to the United Nations.

He has been replaced in the interim by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The CIA has also recently been back in the spotlight following the release of a tranche of documents related to the assassination of John F Kennedy.

The release of 2,182 PDF documents totaling 63,400 pages came more than 60 years after the president was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas.

The so-called JFK files shed little extra light on the infamous 1963 murder itself, but did expose the CIA's shadowy influence and concerns that the agency was operating as a deep state.

But online sleuths have uncovered some intriguing details about the assassination.

One document was a memo released on a passage from the left wing political magazine Ramparts from June 1967 about intelligence agent, CIA informant and former US Army Captain John Garrett Underhill Jr.

The CIA has been in the spotlight again following the release of the JFK assassination files

The release of 2,182 PDF documents totaling 63,400 pages came more than 60 years after the president was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas

'The day after the assassination, Gary Underhill left Washington in a hurry. Late in the evening he showed up at the home of a friend in New Jersey He was very agitated,' the passage starts.

'A small clique within the CIA was responsible for the assassination, he confided, and he was afraid for his life and probably would have to leave the country.

'Less than six months later Underhill was found shot to death in his Washington apartment. The coroner ruled it a suicide,' the passage continued.
A Qantas employee has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition after falling six metres from an aerobridge at Sydney Airport.

Emergency services were called to the airport at about 1pm on Saturday following reports the female worker in her 40s had fallen onto the tarmac.

Paramedics treated her for critical head and internal injuries before she was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in an induced coma.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as airport staff rushed to secure the area while paramedics worked to stabilise the woman on the tarmac.

Travellers have been warned operations at domestic terminal three may experience delays as police investigate the incident.

The circumstances surrounding the fall will be investigated by the Australia Federal Police (AFP) and the area is currently cordoned off.

A Sydney Airport spokesperson said: 'Earlier today an airline employee fell from an aerobridge in the T3 Domestic Terminal. They were attended to by first-aid responders and transferred by ambulance to hospital for further treatment.

'Safe Work NSW has also been notified. Our focus is on the welfare of the injured staff member and assisting Safe Work NSW with their enquiries.'

Pictured is the hole the Qantas employee fell through on Saturday

The woman fell five to six metres after falling off a aerobridge (pictured)
Behind the scenes Labor insiders are bullish about their chances of winning Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson.

The Brisbane suburban seat is held by the Opposition Leader on a slender margin of just 1.7 per cent, making it one of the most marginal Liberal held seats anywhere in the country.

Anthony Albanese visited the electorate on the final full day of campaigning during the week, but Labor have been bullish many times before and fallen short of kicking Dutton out of parliament.

While the Opposition Leader might have struggled with his popularity nationally during this campaign, he's long been popular in his own electoral backyard.

But Dutton has been forced to spend most of the campaign elsewhere, trying to take votes off Labor in other marginal seats he hopes to win to form government.

Has that hurt his chances locally?

Probably not, it's most likely Labor hype rather than reality.

But that said, at last weekend's Canadian election the leader of the Conservative Party lost his seat when losing the election.

Behind the scenes Labor insiders are bullish about their chances of winning Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson (the Opposition Leader is seen voting with his wife Kirilly on Saturday)

Anthony Albanese visited Mr Dutton's electorate on the final full day of campaigning on Friday (the Prime Minister is seen voting on Saturday)

And just like the Coalition here, they were ahead in the polls a few months back before everything changed.

If Dutton were to lose his seat, irrespective of how well he did elsewhere around the nation it would completely change the narrative tonight.

Even if Labor loses its majority, forced into a minority power sharing arrangement, if the Opposition Leader loses his seat and the election, it's hard to spin the result as anything but a disaster.

And Dutton's election night speech would certainly be glum, as would the faces of his supporters up in Brisbane where he'll be addressing the media later this evening.

In the election's aftermath the jostling for who becomes the next Labor leader would start immediately if Dickson falls to Labor, whereas it might not happen at all if it doesn't, assuming Labor is stripped of its majority tonight.

So Dickson is well worth keeping an eye on tonight, but you'd think Dutton will scrap home. Even if he's unlikely to scrap home in enough seats elsewhere to win.
Prince Harry chillingly insinuated his downgraded security status could leave him and his family to suffer the same fate as the late Princess Diana, who died in a fatal car crash in Paris in 1997.

In his bombshell interview with the BBC, Harry, 40, also warned that without the same security provisions given to other senior members of the royal family, he has become a greater risk to 'some people' who wish him harm.

Speaking about his fears for himself, wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, he declared: 'I don't want history to repeat itself. Through the [court] process, I have discovered that some people want history to repeat itself.'

Harry was aged just 12 when Diana was killed along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and her driver and security guard Henri Paul, in the early hours of August 31, 1997.

Diana suffered fatal injuries when the Mercedes-Benz car they were travelling in crashed into the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in the French capital.

A later inquest in 2008 concluded that Diana, 36, had been unlawfully killed by the 'grossly negligent driving' of Paul, who was being chased by a swarm of paparazzi vehicles at the point of the crash.

Harry 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.

He added: 'Im sure that some people out there, probably most likely the people that wish me harm, consider this a huge win.'

Prince Harry chillingly insinuated his downgraded security status could leave him and his family to suffer the same fate as the late Princess Diana, who died in a fatal car crash in 1997

Diana, pictured with Harry as a youngster, was killed along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and her driver and security guard Henri Paul, in the early hours of August 31, 1997

Harry was aged just 12 when Diana was fatally wounded in the crash. Pictured: The young prince with brother, William and his uncle, Charles Spencer at Diana's funeral in 1997

His claim that his family is at greater risk in the wake of the court decision comes as:

The duke, who left Britain in 2020 for a life first in Canada and later in California, also 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 said he was 'devastated' after losing his battle over taxpayer-funded bodyguards  which additionally puts him on the hook for 1.5million in legal costs.

The Duke of Sussex candidly spoke about his disappointment and 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 has had 'so many disagreements' with his family, some of whom 'may never forgive' him for writing a book.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond wrote in the Daily Express that the only way Harry would feel comfortable enough to return to the UK with his family would be if he is formally invited - as this would guarantee him the security 'he believes he needs'.

However, his 'bombshell of an interview' might only strain relations further.

She wrote: 'At the root of the rift is the question of trust.

A later inquest in 2008 concluded that Diana, 36, had been unlawfully killed by the 'grossly negligent driving' of Paul, who was being chased by paparazzi at the point of the crash. Pictured: A sea of floral tributes were laid outside the gates of Kensington Palace

The Duke of Sussex's appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over the level of protection he and his family is about his family's right to security and safety, the court heard

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

Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, pictured on Friday as he rejected Harry's appeal

'Harry's father and brother do not trust Harry to keep conversations private. And this loudspeaker of a diatribe against them is not going to make them change their minds.'

Bond also commented on the situation on Sky News, saying that the Duke was 'bristling with anger, isn't he, and resentment. And mistrust of the royal household.

'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.'

Reflecting on Harry's BBC interview, royal expert Professor Kate Williams told Sky News: 'This is a very significant moment in what will be written about by the historians of the future about Harry.'

It came after Harry last night launched a blistering attack on the King, who he complained 'won't 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 Majesty's courts to reinstate his police bodyguards.

Members of the Royal Family depart Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Commonwealth Service in London on March 9, 2020

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.

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.'

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.

Harry's statement in full that he issued last night following the loss of his court appeal

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.

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 a 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.'

Harry has said he fears for the security of his family. Pictured: Meghan and Harry in New York last month

In the astonishing interview, Prince Harry revealed he did not know how long his father Charles had left (pictured together in 2022)

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.'

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.'

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 King's private secretary Sir Clive Alderton  sat on the Ravec committee. He said: 'There is a lot of control and ability in my father's 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.
Nigel Farage has vowed to reject migrants from Reform-run councils as he promises to make Trump-style cuts across local governments, slashing work from home jobs and positions in climate change and diversity.

In a speech in County Durham, where Reform replaced Labour, who were at the helm for almost 100 years, the Reform Leader said his party would 'resist' housing asylum seekers in their local authorities.

He claimed migrants were being 'dumped into the north of England, [and] getting everything for free,' before adding: 'It is unfair, it is irresponsible, it is wrong in every way and I don't believe Starmer has got the guts to deal with it.'

It is understood the Home Office runs the asylum seeker housing system, so it is not clear if Reform-run council would have the ability to block migrants.

The Reform leader also pledged to imitate Elon Musk's drive in the US to cut federal spending after being appointed the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Trump.

Now, Farage, 61, whose party caused a political earthquake as they nabbed hundreds of local seats across the nation yesterday, and gained control of ten councils, has issued a stark warning for certain council roles in Durham.

The controversial political figure told workers, where Labour was previously the biggest party, to seek 'alternative careers very, very quickly,' if they were in roles relating to climate change, diversity or if they worked from home.

But experts have said there is very little left of council budgets to cut, with much of what is currently spent going towards services that must be supplied by law.

Mr Farage raised his hands as the incredibly tight result was read out in the Cheshire seat yesterday morning

Nigel Farage was joined on stage by Dame Andrea Jenkyns winner of Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty (L), and Sarah Pochin winner of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election (R)

Farage has pledged to imitate Elon Musk's drive in the US to cut federal spending after being appointed the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Trump

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It comes as the 'Reform-quake' saw the Tories lose every council - 676 seats in total - as it found itself squeezed between Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, while Labour saw 186 seats slip away.

The jubilant Reform party now runs a swath of big authorities for the first time - securing majorities on Kent, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire county councils after a Conservative collapse.

In the Runcorn & Helby by-election, the party gained a new MP, Sarah Pochin, while elsewhere in Greater Lincolnshire they scored their very first metro mayor, former Conservative MP, Dame Andrea Jenkyns.

In an ominous warning, Farage recalled that people had mocked him for saying he would be the next PM, adding: 'They're not laughing now, are they?'

When queried about his party's priorities, Farage told Today on BBC Radio 4: 'We are deeply dissatisfied with the way that county councils and unitaries in Britain have been running their budgets.

'We look at the millions a year being spent, in many cases, on consultants. We look at the money being spent on climate change; on areas that county councils, frankly, shouldn't even be getting involved in.'

He promised to bring in auditors to assess long-term contracts as well as to introduce a 'change of culture'by putting an end to working from home, adding: 'That won't be a magic wand, it won't solve every problem, but it will be a good start.'

When asked if he would be able to show how much money had been saved in the next six months, he answered yes while also pressing the need for a DOGE-style department in every country.

Reform UK celebrating the historic local election victories in Paddock Wood, England.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the public were 'fed up' with Labour, but admitted they are not yet ready to trust her party and were instead turning to 'protest' outfits

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'Local government has gone under the radar for way too long,' he said: 'And if youre a council tax payer and your bills going up 5 per cent every year, I think you deserve something better.'

And while the Reform leader warned council cuts could result in 'life or death choices', chief executive of the Local Government Information Unit think tank, Jonathon Carr West, argued funding had already been significantly slashed.

He said the party had removed only around a third of their spending power with their proposals, adding most big council's funding largely goes on adult social care and children's service, which are statutory duties.

'They are literally life-or-death issues. Sending someone to Mr Smiths house to make sure he takes his medication  its not an optional extra, thats what keeps him alive,' he told The Times.

'Safeguarding vulnerable children  these are all things that, as a society, we want to happen. Local authorities have a legal duty to make that happen.'

Mr Carr-West revealed the majority of local authorities would have a debt of 100 million or more as well as huge funding gaps for essential services.

And while he confessed it was 'compelling' to suggest some areas could be fixed if money was not 'wasted' in other places, it wasn't 'realistic' to say the hundreds of millions needed could be found through efficiency savings.

It comes after Farage and his party made several Freedom of Information requests, where they discovered councils were spending money on several things like free driving lessons for asylum seekers and trips to the South of France for civil servants.

According to The Times, one council was dishing out a 1,000-a-day on a pothole consultant, as well as spending on diversity officers and net-zero schemes.

However Mr Carr-West argued 'not a lot of money' was used in these areas, adding that there were 'merits' to these programmes, as well as pointing issues relating to diversity was about complying with the legislation under the Equality Act.

A projected national vote share from the local election results put Reform on 30 per cent, ahead of Labour on 20 per cent, the Liberal Democrats on 17 per cent, and Tories on 15 per cent.
Votes will start to be counted on the east coast after 6pm, two hours later WA will join the party.

So what are the seats to watch this evening? Daily Mail Australias political editor Peter van Onselen has crunched the numbers, hit the phones to talk to candidates and party officials, and come up with the following as his assessment of the state of play seat-by-seat in the battlegrounds that matter.

Use this as your yardstick throughout the evening for how the election is unfolding, and we will circle back to these seats as the results come in. As well as any others we might have missed, but thats unlikely.

Labor held seats at risk from the Coalition:

I think in descending order these are the Labor held seats most at risk of falling to the Liberals, with their margins in brackets.

Gilmore in NSW (0.2 percent)

Aston in Melbourne (3.6 percent)

Bullwinkel in Perth (3.3 percent)

Paterson in NSW (2.6 percent)

Werriwa in Sydney (5.3 percent)

After these five it becomes more difficult for the Liberals to pick up further Labor seats, but I still have them as the narrow favourites in three more, but all three are very close:

Lingiari in the NT (1.7 percent)

Hawke in Victoria (7.6 percent)

McEwen in Victoria (3.8 percent)

After that I can see three 50-50 toss of the coin seats the Coalition are fighting to claim:

Bennelong in Sydney (0.04 percent)

Tangney in Perth (2.8 percent)

Bendigo in regional Victoria (11.2 percent)

Beyond the above there are nine more seats Labor holds that the Australian electoral commission classifies as marginal, but I dont see Labor losing any of them except maybe Blair but even then I think theyll just miss out.

Lyons in Tassie (0.9 percent)

Robertson in NSW (2.2 percent)

Boothby in Adelaide (3.3 percent)

Chisholm in Melbourne (3.3 percent)

Parramatta in Sydney (3.7 percent)

Hunter in NSW (4.8 percent)

Reid in Sydney (5.2 percent)

Blair in Queensland (5.2 percent)

Bruce in Melbourne (5.3 percent)

Finally, a few roughies that arent even marginal Labor seats to keep your eyes on where big swings might go the Liberal Partys way, but not by enough to win, unless something extraordinary happens which you never know in one or two of them.

Dunkley in Victoria

Shortland in NSW

Horton in Victoria

Pearce in WA

Whitlam in NSW

Labor has its eyes on a number of Liberal held seats it hopes to win.

The ones I think they are a chance of picking up (in order) in are:

Sturt in South Australia

Braddon in Tasmania

Bonner in Queensland

Menzies in Victoria

Bass in Tasmania

Deakin in Victoria

Leichhardt in Queensland

They should win some of these. If they pick up more than two or three, majority governnent for Labor is well and truly on the cards.

Beyond the above showdowns between the major parties, watch out for the following contests:

Labor might get Fowler back off the independent who won it at the last election.

Labor might get Griffith back from the Greens, perhaps even Brisbane too.

But Labor is at risk of losing Richmond on the NSW north coast to the Greens.

The Nationals might lose Cowper to an independent. And Liberals are trying to stave off an independent in Wannon and a Teal in Bradfield.

The Liberals hope to win against teals in Curtin, Kooyong and Goldstein. They want win all three, but thats the order of likelihood in my view. They might not win any of them.

Liberals will also reclaim the seats of Moore in WA, Monash in Victoria and Calare in NSW. Sitting Coalition MPs in all three seats were elected three years ago but defected to the crossbench. All three are running against their old parties as independents this time around but I expect them all to lose.
Australian politics has been rocked by the news the co-founder of One Nation, David Ettridge, has died after a long battle with cancer at the age of 79.

The former politician is believed to have passed away on Wednesday in South Australia.

Ettridge, who was also a former menswear model, founded the One Nation Party alongside Pauline Hanson and David Oldfield in 1997, holding the role of national director until 2000.

He and Hanson were jailed in August 2003 after they were found guilty of fraudulently registering One Nation in the District Court of Queensland.

The pair were eventually acquitted and their convictions were overturned two and a half months later in the Court of Appeal.

The two politicians reportedly fell out after they were released from prison, with Ettridge claiming on ABC's Four Corners in 2017 that One Nation abandoned him.

Ettridge claimed he had been left with debt, costing him his home and personal wealth, after the party didn't compensate him for his legal fees.

One Nation rejected this claim and told him to cease contact with the party.

Co-founder of the One Nation party David Ettridge (pictured) has died at the age of 79

Ettridge founded the One Nation Party alongside Pauline Hanson and David Oldfield in 1997

Following the fallout, Ettridge declared One Nation was 'non-existent' in 2004 while speaking to The Age.

'It exists in the minds now of a handful of people who are clinging to a cadaver and those people, I think, are just lonely souls who need somewhere to go for monthly meetings.'

The same year, he also published the book 'Consider Your Verdict' which suggested, whether someone is a 'pollie' or a 'brickie', the workplace can be tricky.

The book promised to give the reader the 'edge to survive'.

Before entering politics, Ettridge worked in sales and marketing including for promotional companies Australia Made and Buy Australian.

He was described as 'cheerful and bluff' and he reportedly took part in an advocacy and fundraising campaign for UNICEF in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Ettridge, who battled cancer for more than a decade, is survived by his wife Ashley, three daughters and his grandchildren.
Hours before polls close, Labor sent out mass texts about a decision from the Greens that could 'put in jeopardy' its ability to form a government.

The party slammed the Greens' decision not to give preference instructions in two key Melbourne seats, giving the Liberals an advantage.

'The Greens have made a decision to NOT preference Labor in the critical seat of Deakin held by the Liberals by 375 votes and other critical marginal seats,' the text on Saturday afternoon said.

'Preferences are critical in keeping Dutton out and this decision by Adam Bandt will put in jeopardy Labor forming government.'

The party also took to social media to condemn the move, saying on Saturday afternoon: 'Adam Bandt and the Victorian Greens are helping Peter Dutton become Prime Minister.

'The Greens' open ticket in Deakin is helping Michael Sukkar win, taking Dutton one step closer to the Lodge and keeping ultra-conservative Sukkar in his seat.

'Adam Bandt needs to explain his decision. The Greens should be embarrassed,' it said.

Along with the marginal Liberal seat of Deakin, the other Melbourne electorate where the Greens had not given preference instructions was the marginal Labor seat of Menzies. The decision has handed Liberal incumbents Michael Sukkar and Keith Wolahan an advantage.

Labor sent out mass texts (pictured) about the decision by the Greens on Saturday afternoon

The party is slamming the Greens' decision not to give preference instructions in two key Melbourne seats, giving the Liberals an advantage
Adam Bandt was humiliated on election day by a voter who asked him to pose for a selfie - and then accused him of exploiting the Jewish community for his own political gain.

The Greens leader was asked to appear in the short birthday message video by a man named Zac at a polling booth in North Melbourne on Saturday.

A beaming Mr Bandt obliged, thinking he had a fan, before Zac flipped the script on him while filming his startled reaction.

Zac had asked Mr Bandt to send a birthday message to his friend, Zoe, but the encounter quickly went sideways as the Greens leader realised he had been set up.

'I'm Zac and this is Adam,' Zac said before Mr Bandt waved his hand and wished Zac's friend Zoe a happy birthday.

But then Zac blindsided him by adding: 'And let's say this together: I've demonised the Jewish community for my own political gain.'

Mr Bandt immediately turned his back on Zac and walked off at the mention of the Jewish community, before he resumed handing out Greens how to vote flyers.

The Greens leader and MP for Melbourne has previously been called out for his party's support for Palestine and not strongly condemning Hamas throughout the Israel-Gaza war.

Adam Bandt was accused of 'demonising' the Jewish community for his own political gain while out campaigning in Melbourne on election day

The Greens leader was duped into appearing in the video by a voter, Zac, who said it would be a birthday message to his friend Zoe but Bandt then turn his back on him after he was duped

Days after the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack in Israel, Australian Jew Paul Roberts confronted Mr Bandt on ABC's Q&A on October 9, 2023.

Mr Roberts asked if the Greens were able to 'dissociate themselves from the Australian protesters which call for a Palestine to replace Israel'.

Mr Bandt said his party had already condemned the terrorist group but when host Patricia Karvelas asked Mr Roberts if he was happy with the answer given he said 'no'.

In 2024, Anthony Albanese accused the Greens of 'deliberately and consciously' spreading misinformation about the war and demanded its MPs condemn protests against parliamentarians' offices.

Several high-profile Labor MPs and the US Consulate in Victoria had their offices vandalised by pro-Palestine protesters in the weeks leading up to June.

Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi herself also garnered heavy criticism over her refusal to condemn Hamas in August of that same year.

The NSW Senator had previously minimised pro-Palestine graffiti on the Australian War Memorial as 'paint on a building'.

Mr Bandt has previously faced accusations of sympathising with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas throughout the Israel-Gaza war

Mr Bandt had hoped that his party would be able to use a hung parliament to force Labor to scrap negative gearing and revive free university education in the run-up to the 2025 Federal Election.

The Greens have also campaigned to make dental visits claimable on Medicare.

The party currently holds four House of Representatives seats, but Labor and the Liberal parties are campaigning to regain, from the Greens, inner-city seats in Brisbane.
Prince Harry said he had 'uncovered shocking truths' as he took a blistering swipe against those responsible for downgrading his security status just hours after losing his high-profile court battle to reinstate police protection when in the UK.

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 level of security.

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, rejected that argument and backed the original decision made by Ravec.

In an extraordinary interview with the BBC on Friday, Prince Harry appeared to take aim at his father, King Charles III and said his jaw dropped when he discovered the Royal Household sat on the 'secretive' committee.

He insinuated that more could have been done by the monarch, as well as the Kings private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, who had a position on Ravec.

Harry told the BBC: There is a lot of control and ability in my fathers hands.

'Ultimately this whole thing could be resolved through him.

He bolstered that claim just hours later by issuing a statement again taking aim at Ravec's decision, which he described as 'a reckless action' that 'knowingly put me and my family in harm's way.'

Prince Harry said he had 'uncovered shocking truths' as he took a blistering swipe against those responsible for downgrading his security status

He insinuated that more could have been done by his father, King Charles III, as well as the Kings private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, who had a position on the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec)

Prince Harry went on to detail that he, Meghan and their children had been 'subjected' to threats made by neo-Nazis and extremist groups, including Al-Qaeda

Harry continued: 'This legal action has been a last resort, but one that has uncovered shocking truths, starting with the fact that the Royal Household are key decision-makers on RAVEC and my sole representation for matters regarding my safety.

'In this process I've also learned the names of all those involved, many of whom retired immediately after playing their part.'

He added: 'To this present day, the Royal Household remain my sole representation on RAVEC for evert visit and could call for this assessment to be done at any point.

'The only possible conclusion that can be drawn is they choose not to, because they know the outcome would prove that my security should never have been removed in the first place.'

Harry went on to detail that he and his family had been 'subjected' to threats made by neo-Nazis and extremist groups, including Al-Qaeda.

The Duke of Sussex 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 had argued that the removal of Met Police armed bodyguards when he is in the UK has left the royal's life 'at stake'.

Harry believes he has been 'singled out' and 'badly treated' for 'unjustified, inferior treatment' since Megxit five years ago

Harry's statement in full that he issued last night following the loss of his court appeal

But Sir Geoffrey Vos, the Master of the Rolls, told the duke his 'grievance' over downgraded security had not 'translated into a legal argument' and ultimately he was unsuccessful.

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.

And a Buckingham Palace source said that the intervention of the monarch into Harry's security arrangements would have been 'improper'.

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

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.'

Harry's statement on Ravec followed a bombshell interview where he dished out the details of his strained relationship with his father, which a royal expert described as a 'sad and sorry saga'.

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 Professor Kate Williams 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.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said the Duke was 'bristling with anger'.

She said: 'And resentment. And mistrust of the royal household.

'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.'

During his interview with the BBC, Harry said the King 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.

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, 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'.

Members of the Royal Family depart Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Commonwealth Service in London on March 9, 2020

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.

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.'

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.
It's one of the most attractive villages in Britain which styles itself 'the Venice of the Cotswolds' but today the town of Bourton-on-the-Water is united - after a pair of much-loved geese who had made their home there were run over and killed.

The birds - called George and Mildred or Harry and Hermione depending on the age of the resident - were so popular in the town that it was not uncommon for locals to take a detour in order to catch a glimpse of them on the stretch of riverbank that had become their home.

But on Wednesday at around 5:30pm, their lives were cut short by a van driver who hit them as they attempted to cross a busy road in order to enjoy what had become their customary evening nibble of grass on the opposite side.

So upset are locals that plans are even being discussed to build a permanent memorial to the two wild geese on the riverbank where they had made their home.

And many have laid flowers at the scene of the collision.

Summing up the sense of sadness was a post on the town's Facebook page which read: 'RIP you absolutely beautiful pair. .always remembered'

Trevor Clements, 73, whose home overlooked the patch of grass where the geese hung out every evening told of the chaos that greeted him when he arrived home on Wednesday evening.

Mr Clements, a retired Royal Mail sorting office worker, said: 'There were feathers everywhere. The police were here and cars were backing up from the spot where the poor birds had been hit.

The birds - called George and Mildred or Harry and Hermione depending on the age of the resident - were very popular in the town of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds

On Wednesday at around 5:30pm the birds' lives were cut short by a van driver who hit them as they attempted to cross a busy road

Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most attractive villages in Britain which styles itself 'the Venice of the Cotswolds'

'The guy who hit them in his van was being given a good talking-to the officers, but they had to let him go because hitting a wild creature is not an offence, apparently.

'The geese must have been trying to cross the road, as they did every evening at that time, when the van struck them. You can still see the remnants of blood and feathers in the road where it happened.

'I feel so sad that they have gone. They turned up around 18 months ago and had stayed at the same spot on the river ever since.

'They became part of the fixtures and fittings of the town. Everybody loved them.

'But you'd have been a fool to try and get too close to them because the male was extremely protective of the female and if you walked over to them, he'd start hissing and chasing after you with his outstretched neck.

'Every evening, they'd waddle over the road and just sit on the grass here nibbling away for an hour or two, then trudge back across the road to the riverbank.

'To be honest, I'm amazed they haven't been run over before because this is a busy road and although it is a 20mph speed limit, few motorists comply.

'I've seen cars and vans whizzing along this road at speeds of up to 50mph regularly. They treat this stretch of road like they're at Brands Hatch.

Trevor Clements, 73, whose home overlooked the patch of grass where the geese hung out every evening told of the chaos that greeted him when he arrived home on Wednesday evening

'You can still see the remnants of blood and feathers in the road where it happened,' Mr Clements said

Many locals have laid flowers at the scene of the collision in respect to the birds

James Walker, 40, said that when he picked his daughter up from school, she always made him drive to the other end of town in order to see the geese

'It won't be the same without our beloved George and Mildred sitting on the bank opposite and paddling in the little river there. We are all absolutely gutted that they're gone.'

One local even took it upon himself to find a pet crematorium in order to give them a proper send-off. It is understood the birds' ashes will be incorporated at the prospective memorial site.

Another local, James Walker, 40, said that when he picked his daughter up from school, she always made him drive to the other end of town in order to see the geese.

'She's a massive Harry Potter fan and she christened them Harry and Hermione,' said Mr Walker, who runs The Den cafe in the busy town.

'I had to break the news to her that they had died and she was distraught.

'She looked forward to seeing them after school every afternoon and often walked through the town to see them during the holidays and weekends.

'She adored them.'

Geese George and Mildred were named after the 1976 sitcom featuring a married couple adapting to life in an up-market housing estate

'To be honest, I'm amazed they haven't been run over before because this is a busy road and although it is a 20mph speed limit, few motorists comply,' one local said

Retired midwife Jan Thomson, 86, described the geese as 'part and parcel' of life in the bustling town

'One thing for sure - life is not going to be the same around here without our beloved George and Mildred,' said Ms Thomson

Retired midwife Jan Thomson, 86, described the geese as 'part and parcel' of life in the bustling town.

She said 'They've been our neighbours for 18 months and I can't believe they're gone.

'I loved watching them on the riverbank every day. They seemed so happy and loyal to one another. They were inseparable.

'It is tremendously sad that they have been killed, especially like this. The only saving grace is that they died together so neither will have to spend the rest of their lives missing the other one.

'It also occurs to me that it could have been a three-year-old child who was hit. Why don't people concentrate when they're driving?'

'One thing for sure - life is not going to be the same around here without our beloved George and Mildred.'